Neat story! Thanks for sharing it.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
Good story. You were a student at UI and Montana?
charlie hebdo Good story. You were a student at UI and Montana?
Yes, and add UNLV to that list. I started out at the U of Ill back in '61 - 62. I didn't like it much so I transfered to the Univ of Montana, where I graduated with a BS in Forestry with a major in Timber Mgt. I worked in that field until the big crash of '78 which lasted thru at least '82, leaving me with not much of a future in forestry. My wife had graduated from U of Mt too, but had a rough time finding a job in the tight market. We pulled up stakes and moved to Vegas, where she found a job in 3 days and I got skunked. I remember one place I went to look for work and was told the place was closing in 3 days. That wasn't too far out of line. It took me a while to come to the conclusion that my degree was useless,, so I went back to schhol to get a business degree. I graduared UNLV with majors in accounting and IT and wound up on the dean's list for 2 semesters. So yah, three schools, 2 degrees, and 3 majors.
GN_Fan charlie hebdo Good story. You were a student at UI and Montana? Yes, and add UNLV to that list. I started out at the U of Ill back in '61 - 62. I didn't like it much so I transfered to the Univ of Montana, where I graduated with a BS in Forestry with a major in Timber Mgt. I worked in that field until the big crash of '78 which lasted thru at least '82, leaving me with not much of a future in forestry. My wife had graduated from U of Mt too, but had a rough time finding a job in the tight market. We pulled up stakes and moved to Vegas, where she found a job in 3 days and I got skunked. I remember one place I went to look for work and was told the place was closing in 3 days. That wasn't too far out of line. It took me a while to come to the conclusion that my degree was useless,, so I went back to schhol to get a business degree. I graduared UNLV with majors in accounting and IT and wound up on the dean's list for 2 semesters. So yah, three schools, 2 degrees, and 3 majors.
You were ahead of your time as a non-traditional student and retraining for a different career. Congrats!
I don't think I was ahead of my time, not at all. I just could see the writing on the wall and I had to do what needed to be done, as I'm a survivor at heart. What was a bit strange tho was to be 45 and the oldest fossil in class. All of my classmates could have been my children! And OMG, it was HARD. I was taking max loads of some the hardest courses imaginable, working 2 jobs to keep the family afloat and still maintain something of family life. I had to petition the Drean of the School of Business to go into overload if I were two meet my goal of a second degree in two years flat. Luckiliy, I was granted the overload. Summer school, max loads during normal semesters....but I met my goal. I wound up getting up at 3AM to cram for an exam because my wife and 13 year old son needed some attention in the evening from a totally freaked out husband and father. It was NOT an easy time in my life, but it was neccessary. My wife went on to pass the CPA exam and my son eventually got his CPA and a Masters in Business. We're doing OK as old expat geezers retired in Italy and our son is sitting pretty well too. But it's been a pretty wild ride to say the least. Adventure is our motto....you only have one life....so live it to the max!
You are very modest. Not easy.
I always wanted to recreate the beginning of a Death in Venice and take a ship from Trieste to Venice, rather than arrive by train as I usually do.
When I was in the navy, I took a ship to Trieste and then took the train to Venice. In 1978 in Trieste you could see that the streetcar tracks had been recently paved over and there were two old streetcars that looked like Peter Witts sitting in a train yard as well as several steam engines. I rode my bike to a locomotive service area and there were several steam engines there with the smokebox doors open. I didn't see any active steam but an officer on my ship, a fellow train buff saw a steam engine switching cars in the harbour area.
Another thing about Italy, I was there in 2004 in Florence and Siena and at every station, the infrastructure of steam was still present- water columns and so forth and there was a 2-6-2 sitting near the Siena station that obvously wasn't a derelict. An excursion loco I would think .
charlie hebdo You are very modest. Not easy. I always wanted to recreate the beginning of a Death in Venice and take a ship from Trieste to Venice, rather than arrive by train as I usually do.
54light15 When I was in the navy, I took a ship to Trieste and then took the train to Venice. In 1978 in Trieste you could see that the streetcar tracks had been recently paved over and there were two old streetcars that looked like Peter Witts sitting in a train yard as well as several steam engines. I rode my bike to a locomotive service area and there were several steam engines there with the smokebox doors open. I didn't see any active steam but an officer on my ship, a fellow train buff saw a steam engine switching cars in the harbour area. Another thing about Italy, I was there in 2004 in Florence and Siena and at every station, the infrastructure of steam was still present- water columns and so forth and there was a 2-6-2 sitting near the Siena station that obvously wasn't a derelict. An excursion loco I would think .
I spent 2 weeks in Trieste back in 1968 and wound up on a bluff overlooking the old port. As I was pretty much on a pre-wedding (long story) I could not investgate the steam loco switching down below. After getting married, I flew back to the US with my new bride following a month later. Those two weeks were a blur and I don't remember much about anything other than my love. Anyway, we stayed in the US until 2005 when we left to retire here. By then, the old port was abandoned and a new one built toward Muggia that could accomodate larger ships. The old port is slowly being renovated but the yard lead to the port has been permanently severed and the yard lies abandoned, the orphaned tracks still in place.
There are really 2 passenger stations here. Trieste Centrale is served by Trenitalia and is the only one used at this time, with around 35 westward trains daily for all destinations. The other station, Campo Marzio, was the western Terminus of the Trans-Alpina Railway that linked Trieste with Vienna via parts of what is now the Slovenian and Austrian railway systems. The year was 1906 and Trieste was part of Austria and was it's only port. WW I interveened and the Austr-Hungarian empire was disolved. Then in 1945 when Yugoslavia was formed and became Communist under Toto, the link was permanently severed.
Presently, the station is being renovated and the steel and glass trainshed rebuilt after it's removal during WWII. The local RR club occasionally runs both steam and electric "fan trips" out of the station and has a big collection of vintage equipment, including several steam locomotives. With two leads you can still take multiple routes via several junctions. One lead out of the station and main rail yard limbs a moderately steep grade out of the port, piercing a ridge right behind our building, then climbs steadily until it reaches Villa Opicina, up on the Carsian Plateau not far out of town. From there it connects with the Trenitalia lines going into Slovenia and a connection with the Slovenian Railway. There's a Y near Opicina station, and the other leg leads down the hill to Aurisina and the main trunk line to Venice and Gorizia. The latter then connects with a branch of the Sovenian Railway, which was the orginal Trans-Alpina. The line out of the yard is well maintained but lightly used because of the grades.
Frieght trains entering Trieste leave the Trieste-Venice mainline just before entering Trieste Centrale via a long single track tunnel that passes under our building and under the high grade line. We live on the 9th floor and still can hear the rumble of the trains passing underground. There has been rumors of Trenitalia restarting passenger service to Slovenia, but I don't thinkit has started yet.
And yes, Trieste had a jillion tram lines that ran everwhere. But like in the US, they were seen as old fashioned and abandoned in the '60's. There is however, the Opicina Tram, a funincular with both a 28% funincular grade and interurban style running. It runs from Piazza Garibaldi in town, then up the hill to Opicina. It's currently out of service due to a cornfield meet about two years ago. The state was cash strapped and repairs were delayed. I understand that it will run again in the spring, if COVID will allow it.
For what it's worth, Milan, Naples, and Turin still run Peter Whitts. I've had the privelege of riding them in Milan a few years back. Pretty snarfy. And the water columns are still standing around here also.
Really interesting stories everyone. Thanks for sharing.
My journies on a Pullman train have been twice; a week apart. The first was on the 'North Briton' Leeds to Newcastle, UK to see family in Northumberland. Being only four years of age and being told to 'sit still' was a difficult thing to do.
The return journey was much the same. I was just in awe at the opulence. The train staff attending to people's needs.
One train journey that really sticks in my mind (not on a Pullman service, so I hope you allow me to tell).
From being born I lived with my Aunt and Uncle and two cousins (Jean 8 year old and Margaret 6). We were going to Bridlington (by the sea) for a weeks holiday.
It was a Saturday morning. Everything was packed. A train to catch 9.37am from Leeds City station.
Uncle could not travel until later. He worked a six day week.
There we were, Aunt, Jean, Margaret and I at the station. At only four years of age I could not believe how dark, and very smoky the ticket office area was. My Aunt bought the train tickets and immediately a Porter put our luggage on his barrow, "Which train, Madam?"
"Bridlington," Aunt replied and off we scurried to the platform.
We boarded the train and stowed our luggage in the racks above. Looking out the window a huge railway clock was staring at us. 09.03. Another two people boarded our compartment; a husband and wife.
Aunt looked on the on the platform. A tea lady was serving teas. There was no queue.
"I'll get us some tea," Aunt said and with her handbag got of the train and headed towards the tea lady.
It was now 09.07. Aunt was being served. "CHUFF, CHUFF, CHUFF. The train departed the platform. Jean looked out on to the platform. Aunt was besde herself seeing the train depart.
We screamed and cried. The husband and wife in our compartment were also shocked. It was a little time before we calmed down.
The Ticket Inspector came to inspect our tickets. We had none. Aunt had them in her handbag. I think it was the fact we had tear-stained faces that he believed us.
On arrival at Bridlington we struggled with the luggage to the barrier to leave the station. The Ticket Inspector was wary of our story and he told us to wait at the barrier until the next train from Leeds arrived. The husband and wife waited also.
Thirty minutes later, relief. Aunt was rushing along the platform.
Hugs and tears and all was well again. The husband and wife (who we never knew) were thanked and a holiday began.
(We found out later the train we boarded and departed 09.07 was an extra one because of extra demand.)
Thanks for reading.
Stay safe.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Great story! Fortunately, there was frequent train service then.
There still is frequent service in the U.K. For example, I went from Waterloo station to the town of Ford on the south coast as there is a huge model train shop next door to the station. I was thinking, how long will I have to wait before the next train to London? I was thinking about the time I took Amtrak from Saratoga Springs, New York to Penn with two trains a day. Looking at the schedule in the station, I saw that trains to London ran ever twenty minutes. I never actually went to the town of Ford, but all that is at the station is a platform with not much around it except for the building with the model shop.
charlie hebdo Great story! Fortunately, there was frequent train service then.
Yes. Just after WW2 nearly everybody took their weeks holiday within a two week period. They also wanted to go to the coast. Therefore extra trains were provided. At the ticket office the officer assumed by the time we would arrive at the platform the 09.07 would have departed, so told my Aunt the train would depart 09.37. The Porter had us racing for the 09.07.
Those were the days.
Regarding NorthBrit"s tale, recall that British Pullmans were (are?) the equialent of North American 1st-Class all=parlor trains, not overnight sleeping-car service.
The Brighton Bell . London - Brighton, was DC MU-electric
The Bournmouth Bell was the last in steam, I believe, still so in 1960.
Normal seating was back-back with tables between facing chars. Two seats one side, one on the other.
Tea and biscuts complimentary.
A dream to replicate this Jerusalem - Tel Aviv via the old scenic line (Samson's Cave) with restored British steam as power.
daveklepper Regarding NorthBrit"s tale, recall that British Pullmans were (are?) the equialent of North American 1st-Class all=parlor trains, not overnight sleeping-car service. The Brighton Bell . London - Brighton, was DC MU-electric The Bournmouth Bell was the last in steam, I believe, still so in 1960. Normal seating was back-back with tables between facing chars. Two seats one side, one on the other. Tea and biscuts complimentary. A dream to replicate this Jerusalem - Tel Aviv via the old scenic line (Samson's Cave) with restored British stem as power.
A dream to replicate this Jerusalem - Tel Aviv via the old scenic line (Samson's Cave) with restored British stem as power.
That would be fantastic!!
The Brighton Belle is currenty being restored to service-I'm sure looking forward to riding it. I had a look at it at the Barrow Hill roundhouse a few years ago and work was well underway. It's just like restoring an automobile (which I have done) except everything is a lot heavier.
http://brightonbelle.com/
Was thre any connection between the US's PULLMAN and British Pullman?
Electroliner 1935 Was thre any connection between the US's PULLMAN and British Pullman?
The first Pullman Railway Coach to enter service in the UK was in 1874 from Bradford Forster Square to London St Pancras after an assembly of imports from the United States, in an operation pioneered by the Midland Railway, working with the Pullman Company in Chicago. The coach "Midland" was of clerestory roofed design with balconies at both ends. The concept of luxury coaches spread to the other UK railway companies thereafter.
The PCC was formed in 1882 and named after the Pullman concept pioneered in the United States by the American railroader George Pullman. The company entered into contracts with the railway companies to operate Pullman services over their lines.
Electroliner 1935Was thre any connection between the US's PULLMAN and British Pullman?
TL;DR -- not really, not for any part of sleeping-car history most people have any practical interest in here.
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