USS Albacore

Near the Interstate highway in Portsmouth NH is the museum dedicated to the USS Albacore. The Albacore was a research submarine used to explore hull shapes that were optimized for underwater speed. In its day this was a revolution in underwater hydrodynamics. The development of hull shapes realized by the Albacore combined with the nuclear powerplant realized on the Nautilus led to the development of the submarines as we know them today.

There is quite the story to the creation and politics that led to this experimental vessel found on the subs website:   http://www.ussalbacore.org/

Its usefulness as a development article came to an end when the last of the engine replacement parts were no longer available. It is nice to see it preserved and open for tours.

One of several propeller combinations explored

Many of the propellers used on various trials

Notice the rudder at the aft end of the sail

Off to Maine - Overview

The 2016 National Convention of Narrow Gauge Railroad modelers was held in Augusta Maine. We decided to go and explore this part of our country and check the area out. We arrived a few days early to explore the countryside.

This is an overview of the trip. I'll do future posts of trip highlights/

Taking a red eye flight saved a few bucks and allowed for some beautiful night time photography of the city lights

We chose a Mazda 3 as our rental car. This is a "drivers car" and was great for zipping around the back roads of Maine. Plus it got as high as 47 mpg.

On the way to Maine from Augusta we stopped at the USS Albacore Museum. The Albacore was a research submarine used to develop more efficient shapes for submarine hulls . It established the standards for the submarines in use today.

This was a very efficient hull design and allowed the sub to travel at high speed

We stopped in Freeport, Maine to explore the L.L. Bean store

Great door handles

One of the first of many enjoyable seafood dinners

One of the other diners brought his pet Blue Macaw to sit on his shoulder. You don't see that often...

Maine was the home of two foot gauge railroads. This restored insulated box car was used for the creamery

We rode in a Model T railcar and met the narrow gauge steam engine along the way. A bit of switching allowed us to bypass the train

This was fun to ride

The sea coast was fun to explore

Various coves along the coast offered reasonable dining and great views

Hurricane Hermione stirred up wave action as far north as Maine which made for some spectacular action of the waves breaking on the rocks at Schoodic Point

More narrow gauge RR's to explore

The maritime museum folks at Bath ME told us to come by on Wednesday afternoon and watch the first ship of the new Zumwalt Destroyer class head down river for delivery to the navy. Very impressive to see!

We went to enjoy the modelling on display at the convention and were not disappointed

They captured the look and feel of Maine harbors quite well

George Selios has created what is arguably the "Louvre" of model railroads in Peabody Massachusetts. He opened it up for tour for folks attending the narrow gauge convention. It was spectacular!

One of many scenes on the railroad

The Kennedy Presidential Library is located in Boston

It enjoys a wonderful view of the harbor

While in Boston we toured a Fletcher class destroyer restored to its WWII configuration

A side trip to Hyde Park, NY allowed us to explore Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt's home and presidential library/ This is a "must see" if in the area.

There is a massive former RR Bridge over the Hudson river which is now a walking/bike path which offers fabulous views of the  Hudson valley

One of the last remaining examples of a WWII Destroyer Escort can be found in Albany NY. It is painted in the appropriate "Dazzle" camouflage scheme. 

The NY State museum in Albany has a well done display on the aftermath of the 9-11 events and the clean up effort. Most sobering...

We made it back to the mountains just as the aspens started to change color.