Yo Mon, It's Spring

At long last, after a long snowy winter, the worm has turned and the warmth of spring renewal is upon us.

The winter blues give way to the warming reds of spring.

Once a hippy, always a hippy.

Blowing in the wind.

On my way to get a new photo for my driver's license, I stopped at the Alto Tower in Altoona, PA long enough to get the next three shots of the daily Amtrak train as it approached the Altoona train station.

After my mug shot I drove over to the Railroad Museum for a few quick snaps before heading back up the mountain.

Located behind the old Railroad Museum is this outdoor display of an old Pennsylvania Railroad passenger coach sitting on a turntable. The car was named the Mountain View and was built by The Pullman Company. The breeze way crosses over the tracks but also allows visitors to watch as the trains pass under them.

Originally used to help in the construction and placement of the rail cars in the previous photograph, this Elkhart Wreck Derrick, which once served Conrail, is now itself part of the display.

Out of view and out of mind is this old caboose awaiting restoration.

Now that the worst of the snow has passed, the snow plow and other equipment sits at the PennDOT shed in Patton, PA.

A road grader and front end loader sit in the sunshine hoping they have seen the last of the winter.

Sign of the time.

It won't be long before these trucks are out patching up the potholes left over by the winter freezing and thawing.

Three Sure Signs of Spring

Always the first of the spring flowers, the crocus doesn't need the April Showers.

Over the winter we put out slices of fruit like this orange for the birds. Now the flies are feeding on the left overs.

The warming temperatures also give the succulents like these Spider Hens and Chicks a chance to renew themselves.

An Early Spring Sunrise.

Our first Rainbow of 2010.