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05 October 2013

Stationary, Missoula


As America’s transportation systems changed, small western train depots often were closed down. Many fell into disrepair or were torn down, while others have been converted to house new enterprises. The really lucky ones exist as well-maintained reminders of where we've been. 

In 1982, the old Drummond Depot was transported from Drummond, Montana, to its present Fort Missoula site, where it houses a railroad history exhibit. Click here to read more and view before and after photos.

04 October 2013

Railbed Backstage, Missoula, Montana



Abandoned homestead buildings always raise to my mind, “Oh, the stories, if walls could speak…”. But until recent Fort Missoula wanders, I hadn’t considered the longevity perspective of a railbed, even with trains being on my "favourite things“ list. 
A reliable source informed me that a railroad spike can stay on the job 35 to 50 years, and sometimes more with exemplary track maintenance. But the routes have stayed basically the same since the first spikes were driven to lay the original rails. Just think of the history that has rolled over the backstage of North American railbeds - troops off to war, adventurers headed west, Mr. Lincoln’s train…. Please add your insight to this list via a Comment below!

03 October 2013

Maple Glow, Missoula, Montana



Today’s photo honours this week’s opening of the NHL season (way to go, Maple Leafs!), and laments that I missed Big Dipper Ice Cream’s limited offering of maple bacon scoops.

02 October 2013

Autumn Sunning, Missoula, Montana


With the Driving Duo home from their successful
‘64 Falcon journey, I’ll turn away from the siren song of classic chrome and take in the beauty of Montana’s fall season. (Which,
in Montana, follows hard on the heels of that muttering time of year, aka road construction season.)

01 October 2013

Curves, Missoula , Montana


Yes, I said it before, but they really just don’t make ‘em like they used to. I gained a whole new appreciation of this '64 Falcon’s beauty while varying my perspectives as cloud shift altered the lighting. Four-door cars rolling off today’s assembly lines just don’t display the design and detail variety of their counterparts from thirty and forty years ago. And they certainly don’t have hood ornaments that make me think of the Silver Surfer.

Click here to indulge in the best of the stockpiled Chevy beauties sold at this past weekend's landmark auction in Pierce, Nebraska.

30 September 2013

Cursive Curves, Missoula, Montana



Two things I learned this past week about a ‘64 Ford Falcon:
1- Only the driver’s side boasts a mirror.
(And thanks to TBHE’s fervent polishing, the reflection in the above mirror back features three siblings in our Falcon family saga.)
 2 - They have a generator that affects the power supply, which can be monkeyed with to finish the last few hundred miles between Missoula, Montana, and Belton, Texas. Well, all but the last eighteen miles. 
 (Full story soon to be released in a video link near you.)

29 September 2013

Simplicity In Chrome, Missoula, Montana



The
’64 Ford Falcon’s temp controls are a prime example of a classic automotive maxim: The simpler the design, the less there is to go wrong. (Kinda like the perfect little black dress.) No requirement for individual climate management or icon-laden dials and knobs; all you need is HEAT - TEMP - DEF to mix it up and drive happy!
Given my hubby’s chrome-must-shine compulsion, I’m surprised at the smudges. Maybe he was saving it for something to do during his turn riding shotgun on the journey to Texas.