Think of this as a 'placeholder' for NKP's proposed thread of this name ... and intent. If he starts one I'll ask the mods to redirect any postings there.
This is for POSITIVE reminiscences of things past, or discussion of other topics, in a friendly and hopefully respectful manner, as 'gentlemen' and 'ladies' might with good whisk(e)y or cocktails in hand in the Tip Top Tap at 100mph.
"Non-convivial" action should be reserved for, and directed to, the Sour Grapes forum.
Well if we're all riding the "bar car" let's not forget to wave at the people trackside.
Why? Well, as Mike Yuhas, "Trains" magazine advertising sales rep once put it...
"I grew up along the Long Island Railroad, and always waved at the trains, but nobody every waved back. Except the people in the bar car, they ALWAYS waved back!"
Wonder why?
One of the best lines in "Trains" magazine, EVER!
Thanks to Overmod for his positive response and his urging us in a good direction.
I'll be glad to contribute the first Reminiscence:
In 1983 my Mrs. and I travelled to Moosonee, Ont. via Toronto. We stayed at the Royal York Hotel and had a fine room overlooking the station with a good view of the yards. The train watching that evening was memorable.
The following day we rode on a railroad I had never heard of until a couple of months previous. The Ontario Northland's Northlander was a European-built trainset with large windows, and our ride took us through some stunning scenery. I remember the Lake Simcoe area as being so attractive that it almost hurt not to be able to get off and walk around or stay there. We arrived in North Bay by evening.
I had called to ask the ONR if I could get a cab ride the next day from Cochrane to Moosonee but they politely refused. As a consolation prize, however, they offered me a complete tour of their shops and yard at North Bay. A friendly fellow from middle management took me all around, let me see everything and never rushed me. It was a great afternoon.
About 3:30 AM we boarded the overnight VIA train to Cochrane. We had never slept in sections before. The wide berths, the heavy wool blankets and the gentle ride got us to Cochrane all too soon.
We had breakfast in the station restaurant and then boarded the Little Bear, the version of the Polar Bear Express that had flatcars with automobiles, a few box cars, a dining car (!) and a combination of old coaches and even older (c. 1920's) coaches. I remember there being some attempt at seating whites in the old cars and Indians in the even older cars.
Never having been a shy and retiring sort, I boldly asked the conductor to ask the engineer if I could have a cab ride. He, too, politely turned down my request. But, he offered, would my wife and I enjoy riding in the caboose, instead?
So the day was spent in the caboose...by ourselves, as the conductor and others sat elsewhere. My wife and I enjoyed our private dome car, as it were, and I got to experience a little bit of what working in a caboose must have been like. Because it was July we had the windows open the entire way to Moosonee and I will never forget the overpowering pine-scented air, the wide rivers, the monotony of the pine forest, the sight of the train going around curves, etc. It was possibly the best train ride I ever experienced.
Returning home I scored another caboose ride, this time back to Cochrane, where we were just in time to enjoy the local fair before our evening VIA train to Toronto.
Every time I have been to Canada I have been treated with respect and kindness. To me they are the best people in the world.
So raise a glass of CC or whatever and join with me in singing:
"God save The Queen
and heaven bless,
The maple leaf forever!"
Flintlock76 Well if we're all riding the "bar car" let's not forget to wave at the people trackside. Why? Well, as Mike Yuhas, "Trains" magazine advertising sales rep once put it... "I grew up along the Long Island Railroad, and always waved at the trains, but nobody every waved back. Except the people in the bar car, they ALWAYS waved back!"
Two stories.
Along the line of our daily short (1.5 hour) trips, we pass a small settlement that once hosted a large lumbering complex. Aside from a few camps and a communications tower, there's not much there any more. It's known as "Minnehaha."
There's a crossing at Minne that is actually just a driveway to reach what was, at one time, a hotel. Even as houses go, it's not all that large.
All summer, the elderly owner is there, and almost without fail, is out to wave to the train. I always try to wave "just in case" he's out there, and certainly encourage the passengers to do the same.
Second, my mother's family often visited my grandfather's brother's home in Big Moose, NY. The old NYC Adirondack Division runs through Big Moose and back in the day was fairly busy.
My late aunt Eleanor, youngest of the siblings, would occasionally be trackside when the trains came through. The crews all waved to the cute little girl, but she never waved back.
When questioned why she didn't wave to the crews, she replied, "I don't know them..."
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Dude-- The video you posted on sour grapes is pretty amazing. Nice to see the Caboose too! I really miss them.
Think the same thing about Overmod and thought to myself many times 'does this guy know everything'. Can he dice onions with his thoughts? Does he have to wear a dimmer switch because he's so bright?
We should confer upon him as being inducted into the C.A.S.O. the 'Order of the Fontaine'.... has to do a doughnut run first though.
Flintlock/Firelock should be awarded 'Keeper of the Roundhouse and Fire'.
Chapter 5-- What to do? 52 acquired T1's arrive in St. Thomas
Oh shucks Vince, now I'm blushing!
Oh, and great man that he his Overmod doesn't know everything. He knows almost everything!
Now Mike, the banished "Wanswheel," he knows everything! Or at least where to find everything.
Which is why his exile infuriates us so much!
Wayne
PS: While we're talkin' Canadian, anyone know where I can find Schenley's OFC here in the US? That fine whiskey that's "Only For Catholics," as Lady Firestorm's father used to say.
PPS: Allow me to nominate David Klepper for Professor Emeritus Railroadianus and Transit Gloria Mundi!
Flintlock76 Oh shucks Vince, now I'm blushing! Oh, and great man that he his Overmod doesn't know everything. He knows almost everything! Now Mike, the banished "Wanswheel," he knows everything! Or at least where to find everything. Which is why his exile infuriates us so much! Wayne PS: While we're talkin' Canadian, anyone know where I can find Schenley's OFC here in the US? That fine whiskey that's "Only For Catholics," as Lady Firestorm's father used to say. PPS: Allow me to nominate David Klepper for Professor Emeritus Railroadianus and Transit Gloria Mundi!
Note: Wayne [Flintlock76] I'd like an 8x10 copy of that photo of ya' blushing....Especially, if it was under a cover, with the EGA!
As to Overmod. I somehow feel we have crossed paths,in another place ??
I have to agree with you avout our 'banished' compadre... "wanswheel" His 'exit' was a sore point for a lot of posters here. That was a poor way to handle a situation, IMHO.
As to the Canadian 'product'; when I was imbibing, there was not anything any better...'cept maybe a really old, Jack Black, and branch water. [A topic for another time, and place]
My first exposure to Canadian hospitality was in the summer of '56 and'57; the occasion was a trip to visit a school frind of my Dad's; their island cabin on L Huron. In '57 we drove up to Pointe au Baril and boated out to the Ojibway Hotel and then to their place. The next year we went up into Canada, and caught the Canadianne, and rode overnight to Point au Baril; on that wonderful train. Fell in love with all things Canada in those couple of months spent on those trips.
Also agree with your PPS on Dave Klepper I wish him Health and Happiness; in his adopted land.
Flintlock76Oh, and great man that he his Overmod doesn't know everything. He knows almost everything!
Compared to Mike, I know very little, I think. (And can often find comparatively little when it comes to researching the vast majority of what I don't know...)
Big Boy passed through town outside my balcony at 1:55pm today. Very impressive!! Worthy of a shot of Ardbeg (an Islay single malt).
charlie hebdo Big Boy passed through town outside my balcony at 1:55pm today. Very impressive!! Worthy of a shot of Ardbeg (an Islay single malt).
Cool! I'll bet you could have sold tickets! $$$$!
A little extra spending money never hurts!
Flintlock76 charlie hebdo Big Boy passed through town outside my balcony at 1:55pm today. Very impressive!! Worthy of a shot of Ardbeg (an Islay single malt). Cool! I'll bet you could have sold tickets! $$$$! A little extra spending money never hurts!
I only wish it were easy to post a video on this antiquated site. The Ardbeg was perfect.
In the 70's I lived in a rural-ish area about a half mile away from the Milwaukee Road line in western South Dakota. (A half mile south of Murphy Siding in fact.) I liked watching trains go by. We always had time to study the locomotives and the cars because the trains went fairly slow.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
charlie hebdoI only wish it were easy to post a video on this antiquated site.
It's a space issue - and storage does cost money. By not hosting the dozens of videos we all know would be posted ("Here's my video of locomotive 1234 passing Podunk" - which is posted right after a dozen other points of view of the same exact thing), as well as myriad images, well, they're saving money.
We're kind of lucky to have these fora, sponsored by Kalmbach and without the plethora of advertising (I know there is some) you get on other such sites.
That said, you can post a link in most cases. The file just has to be posted elsewhere on the 'Net.
tree68 charlie hebdo I only wish it were easy to post a video on this antiquated site. It's a space issue - and storage does cost money. By not hosting the dozens of videos we all know would be posted ("Here's my video of locomotive 1234 passing Podunk" - which is posted right after a dozen other points of view of the same exact thing), as well as myriad images, well, they're saving money. We're kind of lucky to have these fora, sponsored by Kalmbach and without the plethora of advertising (I know there is some) you get on other such sites. That said, you can post a link in most cases. The file just has to be posted elsewhere on the 'Net.
charlie hebdo I only wish it were easy to post a video on this antiquated site.
It is easy enough to post the video's to YouTube and then crosslink the YouTube video to this site.
What I find beyond belief - all the Kalmbach forums are not running the same software. This forum does not have spell check like all the forums under 'Trains Magazine' heading. The forum under the 'Classic Trains' heading does have spell check. Beyond these two headings, I don't go into the other headings enough to know how those forums operate.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD tree68 charlie hebdo I only wish it were easy to post a video on this antiquated site. It's a space issue - and storage does cost money. By not hosting the dozens of videos we all know would be posted ("Here's my video of locomotive 1234 passing Podunk" - which is posted right after a dozen other points of view of the same exact thing), as well as myriad images, well, they're saving money. We're kind of lucky to have these fora, sponsored by Kalmbach and without the plethora of advertising (I know there is some) you get on other such sites. That said, you can post a link in most cases. The file just has to be posted elsewhere on the 'Net. It is easy enough to post the video's to YouTube and then crosslink the YouTube video to this site. What I find beyond belief - all the Kalmbach forums are not running the same software. This forum does not have spell check like all the forums under 'Trains Magazine' heading. The forum under the 'Classic Trains' heading does have spell check. Beyond these two headings, I don't go into the other headings enough to know how those forums operate.
That is really a head scratcher.
As I recall the Trains Magazine forum did have spell check--and I appreciated it. DO yu recall posts soon after it was dropped, bewailing the absence of spell czech?
Johnny
Deggesty As I recall the Trains Magazine forum did have spell check--and I appreciated it. DO yu recall posts soon after it was dropped, bewailing the absence of spell czech?
Yes.
Another quirk: Quick Reply still has it, so if you don't need to do any formatting like separate paragraphs, you can use it and still have spell check.
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"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
A memory from when I worked for CP
steve14A memory from when I worked for CP Along the Mississippi just below Marquette, IA, hirailing railroad west (upstream) towards La Crescent. It is early spring and the ice is not completely out. At the open areas eagles gather to fish. I check our track and time to see how long we have and then stop to admire. Looking through the bare trees between the track and the river we can see perhaps 15 or 20 white crowns. Some are on the ice, others in the trees on both sides of the river. One is picking over a recent catch and others eye him jealously. One or two move closer to try and take the prize. The air is still and the temperature is a little above freezing. I hear the horn of the eastbound coming into Marquette. We have to get going to get into town and clear for him. I look forward to coming back again in the fall for a wild day of color. The amazing thing is that I actually get paid to do this.
Sounds like the days of MofW operating on a 'Track Car Lineup' and protecting yourselves against the listed trains, rather than todays MofW Track Authority that give you 'possession' of the track within the designated limits.
Zardoz, that is beautiful; your use of homophones is delightful!
As I recall, back in grammar school we were warned of only a few homophones---and you have shown us many, many more!
Just a simple track and time order giving authority between 2 points with an expiration time. In this case probably from Guttenberg (about MP 78) to McGregor (about MP 96, just short of Marquette to allow the train room to work the Wye) and time to be clear.
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