Citrus & Boulder RR Gets a Makeover

Photos by Steve Gurley, KY7W

Here in August of 2008, I have a whole new batch of pictures to post from Steve's back yard.  He has added 10,000 acres to his backyard railroad scenery by way of murals painted on his yard walls.  Don't tell the City of Tempe of this land acquisition, they'll tax it for sure!

The rain fell on Steve's back yard Citrus & Boulder model railroad in Tempe in early September 2007 (email with the pics was dated September 6).

Citrus & Boulder Railroad

Set against a steep cliff that resembles a backyard block wall, the Citrus & Boulder Railroad survives the rain as it winds around a large lake, which resembles a swimming pool!

The C&B RR garden-scale railroad has been growing in size, filling both the back yard and some rooms of Steve's house.  Steve has added shelves to add sidings and a second deck of expansion in at least one room, from my monitoring on the 147.12.

More C&B Pictures from August 2008

Thanks to my hanging on to e-mail, I have recovered some pictures of Steve's back yard murals:

Idaho Springs Crossing

 The Grain Elevator

Boulder Station

The Outpost, Thunderstorm approaching

Idaho Springs Falls and bridge

...

Please see Kathy's Memorial for more Citrus & Boulder pictures.

Sounding Rocket

I had this picture on my computer desktop for a few years before I lost track of it a few years ago.  Steve shot this picture in the eastern sky in Tempe one early predawn A.M.  These trails were caused by a sounding rocket launched from White Sands, New Mexico.

Love Birds

These Peach Faced Love Birds (actually African Parrots) breed in the Phoenix Metroplex.

Gila woodpecker.

"Gila" is a Spanish word pronounced as if it were spelled as hee-la.

Which reminds me of a guy who went to California from the east coast.  He struck up a conversation with one of the locals, who asked him, "Where are you staying?"

"I found a good motel in El Ca-john," replied the visitor, adding that he was also planning to take in Yo-seh-might Valley.

The local, more aware of local names such as El Cajon, told his new friend the town is called El Ca-HONE.  And that the valley is called Yo-SEM-it-tee.  "You see, around here the J is pronounced as an H."

The Easterner thought it over for a moment, and figured if the J is an H, then the H must be a J.  He said, We are jeer from New Herzy, and were thinking of coming again next Hanuary!"

The tourist next visited Phoenix, and found a motel in Temp, Arizona......