Cliff Powers' Mississippi, Alabama & Gulf - The Magnolia Route

[BandOGuy]

Those are THE BEST looking trees I've seen in modeling.
Cliff. Are you up for posting a "How To" for us?

[tabooma county rwy]

Tom,


Once again, thanks for posting some many great photos of Cliff's layout, areas that I hadn't seen before.  Your photography skills are excellent and really show off this fine layout.  I really hope to get down to Mississippi someday and visit his layout too.


The utility poles you showed (and thanks for calling them "utility poles" (vs "telephone poles) (spoken from a retired electric utility guy)) - the braces are called "push braces" and are used when guying (stringing guys wires in the opposite direction of the push brace) is not feasible, due to terrain or right of way issues.  Not that you really needed to know that, but thought you might find it interesting...


Al Carter

[maandg]

Looks great Tom!  I'm really enjoying your photo essay!!  Here are a few of my favorite shots from your most recently covered areas...

[ACL1504]

Tom,


Once again, thanks for posting some many great photos of Cliff's layout, areas that I hadn't seen before.  Your photography skills are excellent and really show off this fine layout.  I really hope to get down to Mississippi someday and visit his layout too.


The utility poles you showed (and thanks for calling them "utility poles" (vs "telephone poles) (spoken from a retired electric utility guy)) - the braces are called "push braces" and are used when guying (stringing guys wires in the opposite direction of the push brace) is not feasible, due to terrain or right of way issues.  Not that you really needed to know that, but thought you might find it interesting...


Al Carter

Al,

I'm very happy you and others are enjoying this fantastic layout. Although I appreciate your belief in my excellent photography skills, I'm not sure your nose isn't getting a bit longer at the moment!  I've come to realize that one can be a dunce with the camera but a great layout is always a great layout.

Thanks for the info on the utility poles. I like the look Cliff got from using them. So far I'm only up to about 100 things I'd like to use on my new Atlantic and Southern, of course all these came from visiting Cliff or watching the DVD.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Cliff,

I'm happy you are pleased with the photos. I'm trying my best to make them look right.

As I mentioned before, I like your street level view of the areas I've shown. I'll have to remember that for the next layout I visit.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Cliff has really captured the feel and look of the South! The Church in the next photo says it all. When my Babe and I drove to Brandon to visit Cliff we saw hundreds of old churches and many like the one he has on the Magnolia Route. Not to mention the thousands of old live oaks and magnolia trees all through Mississippi. Most southern country churches have the brick foundation posts as seen on or under this church.



No surpirse either that its a Baptist Church afterall, we are in the Bible Belt!

Imagine you find yourself in Brandon, Mississippi in the early to mid 1950's! You came back only to visit your parents for a week in July, a very hot July. You were a day late as the floorboard push starter on you old 1938 Chevy was not working half the time and you, your wife and two children slept in the car at the corner Gulf station while a new push starter was ordered. You didn't have the money for a motel room and the new starter.

On the morning you arrived at your parents home, you were telling your dad about the starter hoping upon hope he would offer to pay for the repair. You were not fond of the thought of asking your dad for money but the cost of the starter took a portion of the family vacation money! On Sunday morning the kids were fussing and you knew they were getting on your dad's last nerve. You decide to go for a ride in the country. You take advantage of the situation and ask to borrow your father's flathead 6 cyl., 4dr. 1951 Ford. It didn't have a radio as he didn't want to spend the extra $50 for a factory installed one. You didn't care as you knew your wife would be humming some tune.

After several miles of driving on the dusty roads you realize the car is filling with fine road silt but its to hot to roll up the windows. You notice you and the family are covered in a bronze colored dust and the kids on the back seat have dirt rings under their necks. You notice the dust is on your white t-shirt and wonder if the dust is now in your favorite pack of cigarette rolled in your right sleeve. Its all over the metal dash and you rub your hand across the dash exposing a highly polished dash. You are now thinking how much trouble it will be to clean your dad's car knowing he will expect to get it back clean.

It's getting hotter in the morning when you come upon the River Bend Trading Post. The kids see the 7-UP and Pepsi sign on the wall and the big red box cooler in front. They start screaming, "Daddy, Daddy can we stop and get a cold drink"? You look at your wife and she turns to the kids and says, "Not now, maybe Daddy will stop on the way back"! You drive on as the kids slink back into the seat mumbling, "We never get to stop and get cold drinks"! You drive on.

The country road then crosses a railroad track and to the right you see the Jourdon River. There are many cars parked under the shade of the trees and you notice folks are swimming and cooling off. You look in the rearview mirrow and the kids are still on the seat and you are thankful they don't see the people swimming in the river. You drive on. You pass planted fields of green and notice a farm off in the distance. The road takes you up a slight hill and across an old wooden vehicle bridge crossing the railroad tracks. You stop, hoping to see a train or at least hear a whistle. After a few minutes of nothing, you drive on and off the old wooden bridge. The wood planks rattle and bang on the supports as you cross. The noise gets the kids off the seat and to the left rear window.

You come to a farm and wonder if this is the farm you saw a few miles back down the road. There is an old oak tree with a tire swing hanging from one of the old branches. You press the accelerator, to late, the kids have seen the swing. "Daddy, Daddy, can we stop and swing"? You reply, "NO"! "We never get to do anything. What a dumb vacation" echo's from the rear seat. You drive on but not before the car is filled with farm smells. The kids slink back on the seat pinching their noses.

After a few more miles, one of the kids starts saying, "When are we going to stop? I have to go peepee"! You pull over on a curved part of the road. Your wife gets out and opens the right rear door. The angle of the car on the road and the door will hide the fact the act is taking place. You look around and to your great surprise you notice an old country church. Its now near the noon hour and you can hear a song coming from the church. It sounds like the old Baptist Hymnal of Salvation. You can barely hear something like, "Just as I am without one plea ..............." You notice the church sign says KILN BAPTIST CHURCH!

The door is closed and you decide its time to go back to your parents home. Maybe you'll stop by the River Bend Trading Post and get everyone an iced cold drink. Maybe they have Moon Pies and a big round jar of Tom's Salted Peanuts! A Grapette will be good, maybe an Upper Ten or Nehi Strawberry or even a RC Cola Black Cherry drink. They all are so good. Maybe I'll just get a Pepsi and hope one day they'll make a Diet Pepsi!

[ReadingBob]

Great story Tom.      What a wonderful layout.  (I said that before but it's worth repeating everytime.)

[S&S RR]

Cliff

I have been back to this thread several times studying the pictures.  This is a great layout - I hope we will see more!

[BandOGuy]

Hey, Moderator!
The Karma bump up thingy ain't working. And I don't have $50.00 to get it fixed.

[S&S RR]

Hey, Moderator!
The Karma bump up thingy ain't working. And I don't have $50.00 to get it fixed.

The Karma thing hasn't worked for months.  Not sure why it's still there.

[gnatshop]

John, the karma thing worked long enough for me to get a -16!
Scary to think if it was still workin'!

Tom, I felt like I was ridin' along in that '51 Ford!
Maybe I was - I felt the urge to peepee when I read it.
When we stop at the River Bend Tradin' Post, I want a Hires Root Beer!

[BandOGuy]

John, the karma thing worked long enough for me to get a -16!
Scary to think if it was still workin'!

You can never have too much karma. 

[ACL1504]

Great story Tom.      What a wonderful layout.  (I said that before but it's worth repeating everytime.)

Bob,

Thanks, much appreciated. Yes, indeed, this is a wonderful layout!

Tom

[ACL1504]

Cliff

I have been back to this thread several times studying the pictures.  This is a great layout - I hope we will see more!

John,

Thanks for coming back and yes, it is a great layout. Not to worry, I have more pictures coming very soon.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Hey, Moderator!
The Karma bump up thingy ain't working. And I don't have $50.00 to get it fixed.

BandOGuy,

Thanks for stopping by and wanting to give me a little karma! I need all I can get.

Tom