It's That Time Of Year Again, When I...

[Flintlock76]

How about a sandwich made with a kaiser roll and bacon fried on the backhead?

Maybe some hot dogs roasted in the firebox?

[Overmod]

Flintlock76

Add a hot cuppa coffee and a good cigar and it's heaven on earth!

And black-bean soup with sherry, and a good bowl of wassail.  (And a stolen Coke and a couple of Oreos, in a few hours... )

[Flintlock76]

NKP guy

 

 

Flintlock76

Snow, church bells, and a steam whistle.  Almost moves you to tears, doesn't it?

 

 

   They absolutely do!  And don't forget the scent of coal smoke in the crisp winter air!

 

Add a hot cuppa coffee and a good cigar and it's heaven on earth!

[Jones1945]

Flintlock76

Both those videos were superlative Overmod!  I know they've been linked before, but it's always good to see and hear them again.

Isn't it something how snow, church bells, and steam locomotive whistles complement each other perfectly?  

The logical mind knows that yes, the diesel locomotive and by extension the electric locomotive provide greater operating efficiency, less maintanance costs, better availability, and higher profitablility.  We all know and accept that.

But by all that's holy when the steam locomotive went it took all the magic with it.  Nothing on rails since has ever captured the public imagination like the steam locomotive did.  It's what still brings people trackside when a steamer runs, and not just here, but everywhere.  

And maybe it's because a steam locomotive fits so well with the season of the birthday of the Prince of Peace.  The steam locomotive is one of the very few inventions of man that's never allowed itself to be sucessfully perverted into a weapon of war.  

Snow, church bells, and a steam whistle.  Almost moves you to tears, doesn't it?

Well said! Many early diesel streamliners were great and unique, especially those UP City series, but they didn't have the same level of charm as steam-streamliner in my heart. :  )

[NKP guy]

Flintlock76

Snow, church bells, and a steam whistle.  Almost moves you to tears, doesn't it?

   They absolutely do!  And don't forget the scent of coal smoke in the crisp winter air!

[Flintlock76]

Both those videos were superlative Overmod!  I know they've been linked before, but it's always good to see and hear them again.

Isn't it something how snow, church bells, and steam locomotive whistles complement each other perfectly?  

The logical mind knows that yes, the diesel locomotive and by extension the electric locomotive provide greater operating efficiency, less maintanance costs, better availability, and higher profitablility.  We all know and accept that.

But by all that's holy when the steam locomotive went it took all the magic with it.  Nothing on rails since has ever captured the public imagination like the steam locomotive did.  It's what still brings people trackside when a steamer runs, and not just here, but everywhere.  

And maybe it's because a steam locomotive fits so well with the season of the birthday of the Prince of Peace.  The steam locomotive is one of the very few inventions of man that's never allowed itself to be sucessfully perverted into a weapon of war.  

Snow, church bells, and a steam whistle.  Almost moves you to tears, doesn't it?

[Miningman]

Thank You Overmod... very well done.

Reminds me a lot of the Carillion Tower in Simcoe. My home was near adjacent to it and the Carillion Bells could be heard quite clearly, indeed throughout the whole town. Of course they played Christmas music.

The CNR/Wabash mainline was 2 blocks away. The CP Electric Line about the same. A mile or so away was the CASO. All those sounds were there. 

 Performances are held May through December. Relax and enjoy the free, 23 bell Carillon performances in Simcoe’s down town park system along the Lynn River. This is the second carillon installed in Canada. Built to honour Norfolk’s War heroes, it was dedicated on June 17th, 1925. The Norman architectural style stone tower is 60 feet high and contains 23 bells. The heaviest bells is 1,568 lbs, the smallest is 60 lbs. The total bells’ weight is 8,561 pounds. Coordinated by the County Carillonneur—Jim Nicholls—22 volunteers play nine months of the year on a regular basis. They also undertake special performance for Remembrance Day ceremonies, Friendship Festival and Panorama. Guest concerts are presented periodically.

[Jones1945]

Thanks Wayne.

"Wonderful memories to be had, many reasons to be glad. Loving wishes all for you. Countless dreams you have made true. Merry Christmas!"

Love that song you shared, especially the lyrics at the end of the song. I have some very good, "visionary" dreams since last week, I believe 2020 will be a great year. 

The first toy trainset that my father bought and gifted to me wasn't an American trainset, but we did place the track around the Christmas Tree and the gifts. The apartment building's lobby was heavily decorated with tons of Christmas decorations until the New Year. I always asked my parents, why can't people just keep all those decorations forever?

 

Overmod

Yes, it's that time of the year again.  Find a comfortable chair, turn the lights down, and...

This one is impressive and inspiring! Thanks a lot for posting, Overmod.

A Vision comes to my mind when I listening to it: I can see the camera angle flying around those named crack trains of different railroads at night, during Christmas in the past, maybe the year 1946, from the Lark, Empire Builder, to the 20th Century Limited, and the Trail Blazer. On the PRR train's lounge car, a mentor from Pennsylvania explaining how interesting the Franklin poppet valve gear was designed to a new young friend he met on the train., showing him the bright future of steam-power locomotive in America. The young man was really really grateful deep in his heart...

[Overmod]

Yes, it's that time of the year again.  Find a comfortable chair, turn the lights down, and...

[Miningman]

Well thank you for that Flintlock/Wayne.

 I think I was born a train nut..Old home movies when I was just a toddler are a record of me running outside when I heard the whistle saying "Coal train, Coal train" .. ".pick me up "... my Dad would have to hoist me up so I could get a better look. That was in Hamilton and the line was the CN main to Niagara Falls.  Of course I called all trains a coal train, pretty sure it was referring to the steam locomotive. 

Theres a huge mall in the way of all that now. Also no more 'coal train'. 

 

[Deggesty]

Thanks, Wayne.

No, I had no train to play with when I was little. I had to wait until I was out in the world before I was able to play with trains.

[Flintlock76]

Go looking for a cool video to post by way of a Christmas card to you all.  Found one!

Now some may say this isn't really a "Classic Train" thing, but sometime's you've gotta "believe."  

And how many of you didn't  get involved in this hobby by way of a toy train?  Hmmmmm?

Enjoy the ride, and my best wishes to all of you for a Merry Christmas, a Happy Holiday season, and the best of New Years!  You ready?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWXZrvO1JS0