Dan Silbaugh
@dsilbizzy.bsky.social
Trains. Narrow Gauge steam. Ska. Industrial Trade Unionist. Mountains. Airplanes. Old Land Cruisers. #uglydogs Sled Dogs. Cats (especially our Feral little guy). Colorado resident. Born and raised New Mexican. Some Alaska too. Airline Pilot.
I just want say thank you Erik for posting such digestible Labor History stories.
This Day in Labor History: February 7, 1894. Gold miners near Cripple Creek, Colorado walked off the job, leading to one of the biggest victories for organized labor in the Gilded Age after the state of Colorado intervened on the side of the workers. The key to victory: the power of the state!
February 7, 2026 at 3:02 PM
I just want say thank you Erik for posting such digestible Labor History stories.
Who is an old guy still playing with trains? Me. It’s me.
RGS20 in Durango is an amazing this to experience.
RGS20 in Durango is an amazing this to experience.
February 1, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Who is an old guy still playing with trains? Me. It’s me.
RGS20 in Durango is an amazing this to experience.
RGS20 in Durango is an amazing this to experience.
Played with trains a lot this week. It was a lot warmer in the South Park earlier this week.
Made a wedge for a valve rod (notice the BLW standard practice behind it), worked on the main rods (not pictured) and found more crap. This had a galvanised pipe attached to it. Should be SCH160!
Made a wedge for a valve rod (notice the BLW standard practice behind it), worked on the main rods (not pictured) and found more crap. This had a galvanised pipe attached to it. Should be SCH160!
January 25, 2026 at 5:16 AM
Played with trains a lot this week. It was a lot warmer in the South Park earlier this week.
Made a wedge for a valve rod (notice the BLW standard practice behind it), worked on the main rods (not pictured) and found more crap. This had a galvanised pipe attached to it. Should be SCH160!
Made a wedge for a valve rod (notice the BLW standard practice behind it), worked on the main rods (not pictured) and found more crap. This had a galvanised pipe attached to it. Should be SCH160!
Just a guy playing with trains (yesterday). The picture of me pointing to the boiler shows why mechanical standards are really important. On the boiler—The two studs on the bottom: 1912. Never leaked. The holes on top? Someone put in straight bolts. They leaked, chewed up the threads.
January 11, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Just a guy playing with trains (yesterday). The picture of me pointing to the boiler shows why mechanical standards are really important. On the boiler—The two studs on the bottom: 1912. Never leaked. The holes on top? Someone put in straight bolts. They leaked, chewed up the threads.
Just me playing with trains again!
This crosshead took nearly a year to get installed. Careful measuring, shimming, reaming tapered holes, making tapered bolts, and then after all that it goes together in about 10 minutes. Very satisfying.
This crosshead took nearly a year to get installed. Careful measuring, shimming, reaming tapered holes, making tapered bolts, and then after all that it goes together in about 10 minutes. Very satisfying.
December 28, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Just me playing with trains again!
This crosshead took nearly a year to get installed. Careful measuring, shimming, reaming tapered holes, making tapered bolts, and then after all that it goes together in about 10 minutes. Very satisfying.
This crosshead took nearly a year to get installed. Careful measuring, shimming, reaming tapered holes, making tapered bolts, and then after all that it goes together in about 10 minutes. Very satisfying.
Best part about being an adult? Probably playing with trains.
Today we mounted the left main rod to measure some things to manufacturer thevtaoered bolts for the crosshead guides). Pretty great seeing all the rods on one side!
Today we mounted the left main rod to measure some things to manufacturer thevtaoered bolts for the crosshead guides). Pretty great seeing all the rods on one side!
December 14, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Best part about being an adult? Probably playing with trains.
Today we mounted the left main rod to measure some things to manufacturer thevtaoered bolts for the crosshead guides). Pretty great seeing all the rods on one side!
Today we mounted the left main rod to measure some things to manufacturer thevtaoered bolts for the crosshead guides). Pretty great seeing all the rods on one side!
Who still plays with trains? I do! Today started out with the South Park Zephyr doing its thing, but it got to be a manageable temperature in the roundhouse, eventually.
Among other things, we finally cut a hole in the oil bunker for human access. And then I welded the access riser on.
Among other things, we finally cut a hole in the oil bunker for human access. And then I welded the access riser on.
November 30, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Who still plays with trains? I do! Today started out with the South Park Zephyr doing its thing, but it got to be a manageable temperature in the roundhouse, eventually.
Among other things, we finally cut a hole in the oil bunker for human access. And then I welded the access riser on.
Among other things, we finally cut a hole in the oil bunker for human access. And then I welded the access riser on.
6th picture. That tracks. She is ferociously good and getting under our feet in the kitchen. 😂
November 27, 2025 at 4:25 PM
6th picture. That tracks. She is ferociously good and getting under our feet in the kitchen. 😂
I can’t stop cackling at this. Or how absolutely true it is!
Well, it's a little clearer now why billionaires are so invested in technology that produces better written emails.
November 13, 2025 at 3:25 PM
I can’t stop cackling at this. Or how absolutely true it is!
Who still plays with trains? Yep. I do!
Finished making a bracket for the firing g valve handle. Fly cut a surface on the angle steel, bored out a hole for the shaft, and generally made it WAAAAY fancier than it needs to be. But I like it. Nobody will ever see it, but it’s cool.
Finished making a bracket for the firing g valve handle. Fly cut a surface on the angle steel, bored out a hole for the shaft, and generally made it WAAAAY fancier than it needs to be. But I like it. Nobody will ever see it, but it’s cool.
November 11, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Who still plays with trains? Yep. I do!
Finished making a bracket for the firing g valve handle. Fly cut a surface on the angle steel, bored out a hole for the shaft, and generally made it WAAAAY fancier than it needs to be. But I like it. Nobody will ever see it, but it’s cool.
Finished making a bracket for the firing g valve handle. Fly cut a surface on the angle steel, bored out a hole for the shaft, and generally made it WAAAAY fancier than it needs to be. But I like it. Nobody will ever see it, but it’s cool.
Another pretty fun day for me. At work, with a layover in Anchorage, so I ran up to Wasilla and put in a day of work on 557. Today I used the mill to make a throttle lock (so it can be locked closed when she it at rest), and the lathe to make a pin to hold it in place on the throttle.
October 25, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Another pretty fun day for me. At work, with a layover in Anchorage, so I ran up to Wasilla and put in a day of work on 557. Today I used the mill to make a throttle lock (so it can be locked closed when she it at rest), and the lathe to make a pin to hold it in place on the throttle.
Who still plays with trains? Me. I do.
October 19, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Who still plays with trains? Me. I do.
Breaking: Middle aged man still plays with trains!
Got interviewed for a short film, saw a rainbow, and finished mounting the throttle body into the steam dome.
Got interviewed for a short film, saw a rainbow, and finished mounting the throttle body into the steam dome.
September 21, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Breaking: Middle aged man still plays with trains!
Got interviewed for a short film, saw a rainbow, and finished mounting the throttle body into the steam dome.
Got interviewed for a short film, saw a rainbow, and finished mounting the throttle body into the steam dome.
Who was playing with trains today? Hint: it’s me!
Fabricated a new throttle valve bracket (attaches to studs inside the steam dome). This weekend we should mount the throttle valve assembly. Old, gross, booger welded junk that came out of this locomotive also pictured for comparison.
Fabricated a new throttle valve bracket (attaches to studs inside the steam dome). This weekend we should mount the throttle valve assembly. Old, gross, booger welded junk that came out of this locomotive also pictured for comparison.
September 16, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Who was playing with trains today? Hint: it’s me!
Fabricated a new throttle valve bracket (attaches to studs inside the steam dome). This weekend we should mount the throttle valve assembly. Old, gross, booger welded junk that came out of this locomotive also pictured for comparison.
Fabricated a new throttle valve bracket (attaches to studs inside the steam dome). This weekend we should mount the throttle valve assembly. Old, gross, booger welded junk that came out of this locomotive also pictured for comparison.
Playing with trains yet again today! New addition to Como: Board member Tom Lawson’s Plymouth critter has arrived! It’s so cute! But it will make moving rolling stock around much, much easier!
September 4, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Playing with trains yet again today! New addition to Como: Board member Tom Lawson’s Plymouth critter has arrived! It’s so cute! But it will make moving rolling stock around much, much easier!
No cheating. Post the last picture you took of your pet.
August 23, 2025 at 7:06 PM
No cheating. Post the last picture you took of your pet.
Played with trains a lot this weekend! Boreas Pass Railroad Day was yesterday in Como. So on Friday we pulled the locomotive out of the roundhouse, and yesterday I spent all day talking to people about the locomotive and the rebuild process, even out on my South Park Rail shirt to talk to folks.
August 17, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Played with trains a lot this weekend! Boreas Pass Railroad Day was yesterday in Como. So on Friday we pulled the locomotive out of the roundhouse, and yesterday I spent all day talking to people about the locomotive and the rebuild process, even out on my South Park Rail shirt to talk to folks.
In tease a band: Six Iron Pandemonium.
Increase a band: Superlime
Increase a band: Tanooki Suit
August 14, 2025 at 1:39 PM
In tease a band: Six Iron Pandemonium.
The most interesting part to me is that even the brown shirts don’t want you using AI to pledge allegiance to them. 🤔
*brown nose/shirts only
August 8, 2025 at 11:27 PM
The most interesting part to me is that even the brown shirts don’t want you using AI to pledge allegiance to them. 🤔
Reposted by Dan Silbaugh
You might assume that the drones will be kept away from major airlines or from medevac helicopters.
And to you I would simply ask "by whom?"
And to you I would simply ask "by whom?"
August 6, 2025 at 2:54 PM
You might assume that the drones will be kept away from major airlines or from medevac helicopters.
And to you I would simply ask "by whom?"
And to you I would simply ask "by whom?"
Today was another one spent playing with trains! Big stuff, all that running gear work we did turned out to be right. My cruiser pulled her in and out of the roundhouse really easily (5 years ago we needed the winch, and it was working hard), which is good because in two weeks there’s a party.
August 3, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Today was another one spent playing with trains! Big stuff, all that running gear work we did turned out to be right. My cruiser pulled her in and out of the roundhouse really easily (5 years ago we needed the winch, and it was working hard), which is good because in two weeks there’s a party.
Trains again today! How’s that for a cutie little Porter Mogul? I’m told there’s a Brooks Mogul a few hours north of here that should be a pretty solid match for the South Park Brooks Moguls. I really need to work my schedule to get there though.
They do railroad museums right here!
They do railroad museums right here!
July 26, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Trains again today! How’s that for a cutie little Porter Mogul? I’m told there’s a Brooks Mogul a few hours north of here that should be a pretty solid match for the South Park Brooks Moguls. I really need to work my schedule to get there though.
They do railroad museums right here!
They do railroad museums right here!
@lucasbrowneyes.bsky.social just wanted to thank you for being a part of making art like Duster. Seriously what a fun, funny, and beautiful story. I’ll cross my fingers HBO picks up as many seasons as the team wants to make.
July 9, 2025 at 1:41 AM
@lucasbrowneyes.bsky.social just wanted to thank you for being a part of making art like Duster. Seriously what a fun, funny, and beautiful story. I’ll cross my fingers HBO picks up as many seasons as the team wants to make.
Playing with trains today! Weather is nice, and hopefully the mud ring studs play nice too! 😂. They were torched off who knows how long ago, so I’m hoping to extract them cleanly so we can put them back into service.
July 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Playing with trains today! Weather is nice, and hopefully the mud ring studs play nice too! 😂. They were torched off who knows how long ago, so I’m hoping to extract them cleanly so we can put them back into service.
Did I play with trains today? Kind of. I played with a machine that we use to play with trains. (Finished adding a DRO to the Bridgeport, and fabricated a custom work holder to bore some holes on the main rods soon)
July 3, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Did I play with trains today? Kind of. I played with a machine that we use to play with trains. (Finished adding a DRO to the Bridgeport, and fabricated a custom work holder to bore some holes on the main rods soon)