A traffic signal for a Train?

Traffic signal for trains.
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

Yes.

My wife was laid off from her job of 4 years recently and decided to sign up with a temp. agency. She was immediately assigned to a three month temp job for a business in the industrial area of Salt Lake.

Just north of her temporary place of employment is a railroad industrial spur. The spur crosses Pioneer Road just south of California Avenue. What is interesting about this crossing is that instead of being controlled by crossing gates, both automobile and train traffic is controlled by traffic signals.

The trains cross California Avenue, travel behind the the convenience store that you can see in the background before crossing Pioneer after getting a green signal.

What is interesting is that Pioneer Road is only two lanes but California is four lanes but train traffic across California is only protected by cross buck signs and no signals.

The Convenience store is also interesting in that it once had a fast food restaurant with a drive through window that was taken out some time ago. However the order board is still next too the building with some of the menu still present.

You never know what interesting things you might find if you just keep your eyes open.

Miami MetroRail Ghost Platform

Miami MetroRail Ghost Platform Government Station
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

In downtown Miami the main transfer station between the MetroRail heavy rail system and the downtown people mover system called MetroMover is at Government Station.

The station is four stories however, the first one does not have any Metro activity. The second floor has the platforms for the Metromover along with Metro Dade Transit customers service and various shops and fast food places.

The MetroRail platforms are located on the fourth level.

The oddity is the third level of the station. While 99% of the people that ride the system everyday just ride the esculators pass the third level in order to reach the fourth, few venture to see this other MetroRail platform.

While the MetroRail line is generally a north-south affair with some east-west jogs, there was a plan to build a actually east-west line that would pass the airport and come into the Government station at this platform. The plans for that east-west line are long dead so it looks like this "ghost" platform may never see an actually passenger.

So if your travels every take you to Miami, be sure to check out this unusual sight.

Ducks and Geese walking down the sidewalk

Ducks and Geese walking down the sidewalk
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

Always having your camera with you is one of the first things you learn as a photographer because you never know what you might encounter along your journey.

I attend a Toastmasters Club that is held at Anna's Restaurant in Murray at noon on Friday's. One day after I pulled into the parking lot I noticed a large group of ducks and geese walking down the sidewalk.

There is a seasonal pond plus a year around stream just to the south of the restaurant so seeing ducks and geese in the area is not unusual. What was unusual was that this group was walking down the sidewalk in single final procession better than most humans could.

They walked about a half block before stopping and resting in a grassy section next to the parking.

So remember, always carry your camera.

The Westward Ho

The Westward Ho Sign and the tower of the Circus Circus in Las Vegas, Nevada
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

Here is another picture form the same trip as the previous entry and you will notice that once again it was raining.

Since we knew that the Westward Ho was scheduled to be closed in just a couple of weeks I stopped to get a picture of the marque sign on the way to the airport.

Maybe the rain fit with the reason for taking the picture in the first place.

Las Vegas Monorail

Las Vegas Monorail
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

Yes it does rain in Las Vegas!!

My family used to have an annual family reunion in Las Vegas during the Columbus Day weekend. However, the temperature that weekend was pretty hot so after my father passed away we changed a date to a couple of weeks later.

Well it was much cooler but then again it rained almost the whole weekend. This picture was taken from the third level of one of the hotel parking garages looking south toward one of the new towers going up at the MGM Grand.

New Condos Everywhere....

View from Miami Radisson Hotel
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

While in Miami to do a presentation last November, I stayed at the Radisson Hotel which is located on the north side of downtown.

This shot was taken from my 9th floor window looking toward the north looking at 5 new condominium projects that were under construction at the time.

I only had my little Kodak C743 camera with me but I was pretty impressed with the pictures it took.

Wig Wam Motel Rialto California

Wig Wam Motel Rialto California
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

This shot taken from Foothill Blvd (old Route 66) is of the Rialto, California Wig Wam Motel. There was originally several of these motels most of them along Route 66 with this one having been recently restored.

If you stay at this motel, your room is one of the individual tee pees.

We have not stayed there yet but plan to on our next trip to Southern California to visit family.

Frater Lake in NE Washington State

Frater Lake in NE Washington State
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

One day I had some business up in Colville, Washington and decided to take a side trip on the way home. I came upon this lake on Washington Highway 20 about halfway between Colville and the end of the highway near Tiger, Washington.

The lake was so peaceful and serene with a nice reflection. I originally took this picture with my first SLR camera that I ever owned which was a Nikon EM that lasted me 18 years. I then scanned it in with a HP scanner that only worked when it felt like it.

I love traveling the 2 lane highways of America because you just never know what you are going to find or who you will meet.

Ricks Burgers Tacos in Pasadena California

Ricks Burgers Tacos Pasadena California
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

This little unassuming Burger stand sits at the corner of El Molino and Foothill Blvd in Pasadena, California. It opened a year before I was born and has survived the onslaught of mediocre fast food chains and other competition over the years. What it may not be able to overcome is a developer that can make more money from Condos after buying the land the Rick's sits under. Fortunately the present real estate market has put the development on hold so we get to enjoy Rick's a few more times.

Rick's has been part of my life for many years. Just after I was born we lived in a place just three blocks away from Rick's (which was later bulldozed to build Interstate 210). My mother would put me in my stroller and push me down there so she could have lunch.

I cannot tell you how many meals I have had at Rick's over the years. I have never found a place that makes a combo bean/beef burrito that could compare to Rick's.

After leaving Southern California for green pastures, I still would stop at Rick's ever time I would return for whatever reason. Then on my trip in November of 2006 I saw the announcement that Rick's was being forced to either move or close.

I took this picture on the way to my brothers house in Victorville, California thinking it my be the last time I see this place that has been a part of my life for so many years.

Well I have been able to enjoy Rick's a few more times since that trip and hopefully we can enjoy it again in April when we make another trip to Southern California.