step-in-shit township?

Shamrock Inn, Old Bridge, NJ

we're in pennsylvania...

:shy: So I stopped at an old haunt ...

unc is paying attention, we are in PA folks!

jewels,
How are you doing with that Fay storm thing going on in Florida? OK I hope.
But I hope your real reason for visiting Old Bridge NJ was not to get away from Fay but rather so we can drag race to see who's the boss with the hot sauce....Old Bridge Township Raceway Park is where "Englishtown" drag strip is, one of the best drag stips in the U.S. So get some racegas and let's go. Btw, that's not where I am now.


This is close enough for me, so jorgelito has it!!!!

I am at the famous Horseshoe Curve National Monument near Altoona, PA.

Partly because my parents never owned a car, and partly just because we liked to take trains to places once in a while, I actually have been on Pennsylvania Railroad trains a few times going around the Horseshoe Curve...I remember being about 7 or 8 years old and facinated by the whole Horseshoe Curve experience on our way from Philadelphia to visit relatives in Cleveland.

For your visual and geographical pleasures, here it is:

Horseshoe Curve is a famous railroad curve in central Pennsylvania in the United States (it is a horseshoe curve).

It was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad and later used by the Penn Central, then Conrail. It is currently owned by Norfolk Southern Railway, and used by Amtrak's Pennsylvanian service. It is located in Kittanning Gap at the summit of the Allegheny Front, approximately 5 miles (8 km) west of Altoona. The bend is a tight arc of approximately 220 degrees. It comprises two separate curves; on the north side, the radius measures 637 ft (194 m), tightening to 609 ft (186 m) on the south side. The curve was built in response to the difficulty of constructing a railroad through the summit of the Allegheny Mountains. It was designed by J. Edgar Thomson and Herman Haupt, opening on February 15, 1854. It was such an important location that it was guarded by Union soldiers during the American Civil War and a number of additional conflicts.

The curve has been in nearly continuous operation since 1854. Originally comprising two tracks, it was widened to four tracks 1898–1900. Conrail removed one of the tracks in 1981 and the Curve remains in this three-track configuration. It has long been a popular tourist attraction, and is accessible via the Horseshoe Curve Funicular, a funicular railway running to a small park built by the PRR in 1879 at the summit of the ridge. A visitors' center with a trackside observation area is maintained at the site.

The curve's importance to railroad traffic in the U.S. was such that the Nazis attempted to sabotage it in Operation Pastorius during World War II.[3] The curve was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1966, and is now a part of the National Register of Historic Places.

Altoona's minor league baseball team, the Altoona Curve, is named after this railroad landmark.

The location is also noted among geologists for its excellent rock outcrops, including the Devonian Catskill Formation.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...oeCurvepan.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ecurve3old.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...hestnutfla.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ecurve1952.jpg

The funicular car that takes you up to the Curve:http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...efunicular.jpg

A couple pics of the 150th Anniversary Commemorative celebrations at the Curve:
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...50thcommem.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...y4thcommem.jpg

And for the Xbox/Playstation crowd, we even have electronic digital versions...actually this is from a TrainMaster computer simulator to train the train guys....hahaa...get it? ;)
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...esimulator.jpg

So here's my toast to the great Horseshoe Curve

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...rbeerlabel.jpg

The drawings showcase the curvature more than those particular photos; I wonder if you have played that "train game"...:surprised:

"showcase" perhaps from "artistic license"? ...and no, I have not played that game. But in my line of work, the major railroads of North America are our most important and primary customers, and when I visit their facilities I have seen the various training methods used to teach new engineers how to control the throttle, brakes, etc...sort of like we've seen in flight simulators used to train pilots, even astronauts...and this TrainMaster package is used for that purpose. Simply drop three quarters into the slot and off you go ;)

WTF? Are you kidding? I totally threw that up in sheer frustration, LOL!

Awesome photos Nick, thanks for the little tour of Horseshoe Curve and sharing your personal story. You learn something new everyday.

Ok kids, pack yer bags we're goin' on a trip.

Where in the World Am I?

Hopefully, almost over ... still winds of about 20 - 40 mph right now ...
I see you know my hometown! Drag racing and the first and best flea market where Mom could buy a hand-carved lion claw oak table for a quarter and have to buy stripper and stain to clean it up ... yeah yeah yeah. Spotswood, I think, has the most watering holes per capita or square inch or something ...

northern hemisphere?

western hemisphere?

Yes

Yes

in the U.S.?

No sir.

in canadia?

Island?

No sir.

No.

Mexico?

No

Scroll down for hint:










I'm in the New World

Central America.

Are you in Central America?

hmmm, "new world"...I'll have to think about that clue.


OK, nevermind, Tully beat me to it.

Are you in South America? ...of course I refer to the part above the equator in the NH

Yes.

Yes.

Panama?

belize?

No.

No.

You guys are close. I am enjoying eco-tourism and in the town of an "active" landmark.

Costa Rica?

Yes. Getting "hot"!

Arenal Volcano National Park?

Yes! Good job! I hope it wasn't too easy?

I was thinking Arenal, Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna were all acceptable. I was there in spring of 2006. Awesome place, great times. Costa Ricans are really laid back and nice people. Very mellow. I was taken aback, plus I could actually understand and speak their Spanish because they are slow.

Arenal Volcano is active. I actually watched it spew lava and such. Quite frightening actually. My tour guide assured me that we were on the opposite side of the lava flow.

Costa Rica has one of the richest and most diverse flora and fauna around. From the dense rain and cloud forests, to the sandy beaches, Costa Rica is a lovely place to visit.

Ok Tully baby, you're up!

I'd love to visit Costa Rica soon. The guy I work for was there for a couple months last year so I got his good reports, too. If it doesn't get too popular in the next 10 yrs, I can see retiring there or somewhere in Central America.

While Tully is getting to his next place, I hope you don't mind if I get all graphic on us, again.

This is a nice collection of photos of flora and fauna in Costa Rica....hmmm, if I ever have two more daughters, I might name them Flora and Fauna 7 days in Costa Rica - a set on Flickr

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...20pics7/11.jpghttp://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...nal_park_5.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...nalvolcano.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ionalPark3.jpghttp://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...orEruption.jpg

That's awesome Nick. I love it when people add pictures, personal stories to the "game". It makes it so much more fun and interesting, so no, of course I don't mind.

I would have posted pics but it is kind of a hassle; I'm not that computer savvy. Costa Rica was an amazing trip - "La pura vida!"

ok, cowboy...time to get up...

I'm up, I'm up... my net not so much. Thunder storm last night, quite the show.

Anyway go!

Tul,
I can see how a young guy wanting to look attractive needs to avoid that "bed head" thing....I found this pic on my kimpewter called "Tully hair net"

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...llyhairnet.jpg

so I assume this is what you're using...good move, young man :thumbsup:


OK...are you and your hair net in the EH?

Northern Hemisphere?

Yep, that's what I use. How'd know?

And yes I'm in the EH
-----Added 22/8/2008 at 11 : 50 : 45-----
Yes

Greenland?

Are you in China?


I believe Greenland is in the WH....OOPS! my bad...I now see that part of Greenland is in the EH. Sorry.

http://www.skydocballoon.com/Hemisphere1.jpg


Well, now I'm back to my original comment...it appears the Greenland is west of the Prime Meridian so I'm thinking it's all in the WH...?

http://www.cockpitgps.com/class/hemisphere.gif

The clues would say no.
-----Added 22/8/2008 at 12 : 19 : 36-----

No

Sorry lads, I had some sort of directional dyslexia. Reading Eastern, yet thinking Wester. I mean, for fuck's sake, I almost asked about Cananda or the US? I just thought Greenland was more esoteric. Well, fuck me.

So.

Europe?