Attn: Rappannahock Terminal

No problem at all! (I think this will be a long post )

I think my start was something that will look very similar to a lot of train weirdos.

I started at age 7 with the classic Märklin set. After this I went throug all scale and companies, from Z, N, HO, O and G.

From German railways, French Railways, Belgian railways through british railways to American Railways where I have found all what I want.

I also learned through a lot of mistakes and errors (I have now 45 years of experience)

With a couple of friends I have built a small HO swithching layout 40' by 1' for exhibition purposes.

This became a hugh success not because of the high revet counting quality but because we created an atmosphere acommpanied with sound that blasts out of 7 big speakers under the layout.

Of course this is very noisy in comparison to HO models but, as I said before it adds greatly to the all atmosphere and people like it.

Myself, after making a big mistake in going in N scale (I want not to offend N scalers) because this was not my cup of tea.

After being in Ho and O scale, I established that when you are once in big scales it is a mistake to go back to smaller scales.

Now I'm building in my attic a HO scale railway with my own company the Rappannahock Terminal, of which I will post a couple of pictures of my paint scheme later.

Onb the other hand I'm very fond of the G scale live steamers of which I have now 5 American types.

I also have my own company in G scale: the Emerald Valley RR. That paint sheme is different from the HO one and is black for the steamers and maroon for the diesels.

the Ho and G scale companies are both connected to the CSX main line. It's a pity for me as I am a 150% Conrail fan.

In my house I have several sets of Conrail locomotive number plates that were removed durting repainting in NS or CSX, I also have lots of other items of Conrail.

I think I could go on for some time!!

But everybody who comes to Belgium and has to pass around Ghent (beautiful city!) is hereby invited to visit my home, ride on the Rappannahock Terminal, have a train chat and also has to taste a couple of our famous Belgian beers!

Cheers!




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Paul Van Herwegen
Rappannahock Terminal Railway

 

Well Alan,

Your always welcome!!! We can taste a Palm, Duvel,Koninck, Westmalle, Witkap, Leffe, West Vleteren, Judas, Gentse Tripel, Brigand, Kasteelbier,after these we will have to take a serious break and then we can go on with, Maredsous, Tarwebier....... and then we start to discuss about what the wright scale could be to model.....???????

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Paul Van Herwegen
Rappannahock Terminal BEER Railway

[This message has been edited by Rappannahock Terminal (edited 13 August 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Rappannahock Terminal (edited 13 August 2000).]

 

I really like belgian beer, and I can't see straigheit efter onnlyy too fo tem.

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When in doubt, empty your magazine.

 

When we were on the train from Belgium to Italy the other week and on the return journey the very friendly and helpful stewards (who were Belgian students doing summer vacation jobs - very very hard work for probably not fantastic pay) dispensed tins of Jupiler beer which is probably just an ordinary beer you can buy in any bar or supermarket but I can tell you that we were so hot, dry and tired on those trains (especially at the Milan end) that those beers were like nectar and wenr down without touching the sides!

Ben

 

Well, seen all the positive posts about Belgian beers, let's set up a "beer forum", first post gets a free "Bush Beer" (strongest Belgian beer. 12% Alc.volume)

Or make a choice of one of the other 1,547 available on the following list
http://www.dma.be/p/bier/1_11_uk.htm#B

paul

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Paul Van Herwegen
Rappannahock Terminal Railway

[This message has been edited by Rappannahock Terminal (edited 24 August 2000).]

 

The list is fantastic! However, if absolutely pushed to choose one favourite beer above all others it would have to be a pint of Camerons (very closely followed by Hook Nortons, Home Ales, Hardy & Hansons, Batemans, Hartleys and Jennings) (This is from my real beer drinking days of 20/25 years ago and some of these brews may not even exist any more).

Nowadays I'm happy just to knock back a couple of those little bottles of St Omer you get on trips across the Channel to Auchon Hypermarkets!

Ben