Thread: I would like a close up Steam Engine Image as my Avatar. With real Steam. Can you help?

It seems to me sitting here and interacting with my fellow Science Forum Members that I need an active Avartar to denote my progressive and forward looking ideas. Also my wish to carry on my journey with the Science Forum.

Many of you will have noticed that my Contributions mainly centre around the start up Thread I Poste, and then, if called upon, contribute a follow up comment to clarify, or define, more clearly the intent of the Thread.

It's true I'm not a great conversationist on TSF. And I also believe that a little of westwind goes a long way, and, hopefully spreads wide.

I like to feel sometimes I light the Fire, and we gather around and hopefully, get warm. And I am listening all the time, except when I sneak away to get more firewood.

I'm a rambler, a Gambler, most times a surface skimmer without a lot of depth. But I have respect for those who have these attributes. I'm willing to listen, providing I sense constructive well meaning imformation.

I'm not really into covering blank paper with words unless I can feel their sting.

So, what shall we do ADMIN, about my Avatar? westwind.

Are you thinking a stationary steam engine or a King of the Rails?

As a model railroader, I have many favorites I can offer up as suggestions...

Since you work with brass I thought you may like this. But of course could be far from what you are thinking about. wait you said real steam..... back to the drawing board...

I love this. thanks seagypsy. I wan't you to stay on the rails in 2013. All dogs don't bite, maybe you are a little like me in one respect, expecting to find myself wrong footed if I have to fight too many battles.

But my punch line is this. For both of us. Share a little of that unfulfilled Love around with those that need it. It is Soul Destroying to drown in your own stored up Love.

Forgive my suppositions in your case. I'm on my last train ride while you are on your journey with miles to go, be nice to the passengers, for westwinds sake.

As for my Avatar, lets see the one that Never fly can commission for me, then I will have a choice. Your choice for me...I like. westwind.

For Neverfly. You are right Mr. Neverfly. I had envisaged an angled roaring Locomotive emerging out into TSF, perhaps making people run for cover. seagypsy caused me to pause with her offered up brass steam engine, I like it. But lets see if we can find a more active black steam spitting railroading Loco just waiting to take a Mainliner through the Night.

I served my Time in a large Railway Workshop. Newport Workshops, more correctly, Newport Railway Workshops, Melbourne Australia. ( Google ). westwind.

Unfortunately, the forum software doesn't allow animated avatars (I tried). Let me know if you like any of these...or would like other selections. To change your avatar...look up in the top right corner, where it says "welcome, Westwind", and you'll see "Settings". Click on that...then over on the left hand side, you'll see "edit avatar". Just copy and paste the address of the avatar. If you need any help..just let me know.

Let's see...it's 4:30 am there now....I have to go to my sister's graduation in about 4 hours...but will be back somewhere around noon your time.

Images are not suggestions, only to show the locomotives. You won't find the Daylight in black, though. You can find an equivalent GS-4 in black.

Well, patience may be required... As I deal with U.S. locomotives and I don't know anything about Australian railroads. I model the '40's era- all steam cross country lines. It can exclude me to the dominant U.P. railroads, but I'll stray from U.P. to show the mighty machines I admire.
A few favorites are the S.P. Daylight- A true beauty of the rails, she transported passengers with majesty..:

Pennsylvania Railroads T-1, an experimental locomotive that was conceived when diesels were taking over. Alas, this monster never really went into full service, and what a shame... She was a power horse, a 4-4-4-4 in Whyte notation, its tractive effort neared 70,000 lbf - put a load on the rails and this baby could haul it. Shown Brass Model:

Famously, you have U.P.'s Big Boy. A 4-8-8-4 behemoth of the rails, 135,000 lbf tractive effort, U.P. Commissioned this giant to haul heavy loads up steep grades.


Showing a Sonora class Shay; the Shay was a geared locomotive, used primarily for mountain lumber yards and mines. Not your usual siderod operated drive wheel arrangement here. The Shay was a masterpiece in mechanical engineering. One of the top favorites:

Note that the tender and trucks have drive wheels.


There are a great many others, of course...

Victorian- Spirit of Progress

I don't know anything about Australian railroads

They drive on the wrong side of the rails down there.

How about the Mallard, then you to can also become a legend.

Nah- that's British. Thomas the Tank Engine ruined British model railroading.

Originally Posted by Neverfly

Nah- that's British. Thomas the Tank Engine ruined British model railroading.

lol, hey it's alright for you guys to have a talking car in Night Rider, but we have a talking train and everyone's a critic.

KITT was cool... the driver wasn't. But whenever you model a british steam engine, people look and say, "Oh, my son loves Thomas, too!"

WW...if you like any of NF's offerings...I'll shrink them down to avatar size for you.

Originally Posted by MacGyver1968

WW...if you like any of NF's offerings...I'll shrink them down to avatar size for you.

As I said, the pictures themselves were to show the engine, though many variations in pictures can be found.

The Big Boy picture, however, is a unique find. That model is made of Wood and Ivory.

Viewing and drooling can be done here:Woodworkers—Mooney Warther

As usual I'm receiving tremendous support from all Members. Really impressed Neverfly. The Love of Railways in a Human Bean smacks on being level with being a Gardener, or even a Fisherperson. But the Railway tragic comes out on top.

Australians are keen. But our Governments have not kept up and maintained the Infrastructure. The Car is King. We enjoyed a wonderful era of Steam in this Country. Like America, we had the wide open spaces and lengthy Inter-city Mainliners. ( HE HE HE ). wHAT IF WE DID HAVE TWO sTANDARD gAUGES??? ( HE HE HE ), N.S.W. 5 FOOT 3 INCHES, vICTORIA, 4 foot 8 and a half inches. Change trains at Albury N.S.W. on the Border. ( in the middle of the night ).

The Railway Family here in Australia were loved by most people in the days of Steam. We ran on Railway Time. ( The train arrived when it got there ). But it was really a different World then,
people seemed friendlier, pace was slower, time for peroids of Quiet between words spoken. More contemplation. A quiet Milkshake at the Railway Kiosk, etc etc. True, all is true.

So MacGyver1968, I shall take you up on your offer to Shrink Neverfly's Image of the Victorian Spirit of Progress, the train on track coming through the Countryside, the smaller pic. We''ll see where we go from there. LOL . westwind.

is this the one you wanted?

Railroad is not a hobby, not a job... it is a Passion.

That's a mighty handsome avatar there...WW!

Agreed. Keep the sand tanks full; Don't slip your wheels.
Keep your fire stoked, Westwind. Full steam.

Climax Geared Locomotive- just for viewing pleasure:

I was sleeping....yawn...

My contribution for consideration, though I see that you may have already selected a fine steed, is old '69, a working steam engine of the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway in Sgagway, Alaska, that still performs ceremonial duty, pulling the train from the yard to the base of the mountain, where the newer deisels take over to haul the tourists up to the White Pass.

( HE HE HE ). You were sleeping scheherazade. This is exactly what I had in mind when I called for Avatar Pics. I shall treasure your Pic FOREVER. I will copy and frame and have close by, hearing the screeches of grinding to a halt outside my Computer Window Station. All TSF Members alighting, or detraining, even old MacGyver1968 with a xmas pudding for me.

Yes, it is a Passenger off-Liner. You do not have raised platforms?? All of our Stations have raiesd Platforms. At least 3 foot six inches. Hopefully co-inciding with opened Carriage doors.

Lovely Pic, as I say. Cop that Neverfly!!!

Still, I'm no Indian giver, ( can I say that? ). An Australian way of speaking, meaning I'm committed. But I will say this, I've made a Home choice, the Spirit of Progress was the cream of Interstate Expresses running between Melbourne ( Victoria ), and Sydney, New South Wales.

I actually help Service one of the three ""s "" class Locos that pulled the Spirit.

Timetable for the Two Spirits ( running in both directions ), was for overnight running. Arriving at destinations early morning to go to work.

I'm sure a little Googling would turn up something.

Just one more thing, scheherazade, Your you beaut Loco with Carriages was on an away track. Meaning bearing to the left. Away from the Science Forum. Taking me away. Sob Sob.

So I have to stick with the Spirit, It's going my way. Still. your Pic will be there, taking me to the Yukon, to view your Horses and your Vegetables, and bringing you two or three South Australian Reds and Whites. Then we''ll talk Railways if there is nothing better to do.. westwind.

A lot of people travel.

But to take the train is to take a journey.

IMG_0575.JPGscheharezade's Loco.

westwind will frame the downloaded copy and keep it under his pillow.

What do you think of that? westwind.