Hello Tom
I'll have a pint of Harvey's please.
Tom - thanks for the Railway Express article (plus other comments) - I'd not understood how that worked (don't think we had any equivalent arrangement in the UK but others will correct me - so I learned something interesting there, although the UK railways did have a ‘common carrier' obligation - the requirement to shift any article that anyone might care to ask them to move, which of course road hauliers had no obligation to do, thus allowing them to easily undermine rail on competitive flows in the early days of the haulage industry, whilst the railway had to maintain a whole host of wagons to shift this and that even if the prospect of turning a profit from certain cargoes was nil ).
CM3 - interesting post with a range of material.
Rob - nice the see you friend.
Pete - Thanks for your comments. Yes, I've heard of Abbey Pumping Station in Leicester - I've not been there but it does have open days.
http://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council--services/lc/leicester-city-museums/museums/abbey-pumping-station
It seems it is not far from GCR Belgrave Station
An other thing I wanted to mention, which I think you might find of interest esp if you had any yourself - was that I found and bought 3 Transacord steam 7 inch vinyl records. I got these from the shop at Matlock Station where the Peak Rail operation is. They were in mint condition - although I did have to pay 4 quid (2 pints) each! One is of Castle Class locos in Devon, the other 2 are recordings of LNER steam taken at Grantham Station. Transacord's must have had big sales back in the day.
This website gives the full discography with a remarkable range of recordings.
http://www.steamindex.com/library/handford.htm
I wonder whether many of these sound recordings have made it on to CD? I expect they have (maybe you could sample these for a gig Nick?)
Nick - I'm no expert on 0-4-4 steam - although I associate it with pre-grouping stuff - I think the LBSCR had some but I may be imagining that! Really enjoyed your recollections of the Tallyllyn, and the great photographs too - thanks for sharing.
Thanks also for the up date on Haverfordwest - I see the signal box and centre road have gone - no doubt much else too, sadly. Is it unstaffed nowadays?
Cheerio
DL
Good Morning Captain Tom and Crew
I'll have the Tuesday special with a side order of kippers please and I'll pay the tab for the next couple of hours. Yes a knock on the door at three 3am and a smiling Guido kinda wakes you up!
Anyway I'm on dry land for a bit and busy hustling in the garden. I will promise to be a bit more diligent with my posting. Last month though alongside was shear H-E-Double Hockey Sticks as the ship was delayed from refit, which gave us 3 weeks to get ready for ops. went through 2 XO's and had no XO for 5 days so I was bussier than a one armed paper hanger.
BTW Tom. Don't waste your time on the Kieth's Traditional Lager...
Lars: good to see you again! Miss your pics!
Nick: I must have missed something... How did Mooshy Peas get mixed up with Cocoaine and heroine? I haven't had mooshy Pease in a dog's age. Any chance of getting those into next week's special?
Rob: We had several of those in Halifax. Don't see them anymore, which is a shame as the GP's that replaced them look in much worse shape then the switchers.
Love the new exterior
decor on the place, looks good!
Must run
Later All
Fergie
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959
If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007
Hi Tom and all.
A pint of Bathams please RUTH.
NICK That explains the flashes I saw Saturday night. I hope Simon and his Gibson Les Paul has turned up OK.
I was at the Tal-Y-Lyn a couple of years after your visit and I think it was Sir Hyden that I traveled behind. It has been a few years now since I was last there now unfortunately.
Yes Sat night reminded me of when we found that elusive beast the Bathams XXX (it is only sold around Christmas time and it sells out very quickly) on sale at The Railwayman's Arms on Bridgnorth station and were having halves of the normal Bathams Bitter as chasers. I have heard, a secretly taken video of my ‘Satisfaction' routine, has been refused on u-tube as too horrific.
I thought the Met 4-4-4Ts would interest you they look quite handsome tanks with, to me, a smokebox reminiscent of the Great Northern Ivatt Atlantics and a rather short side tank. The Met also had six 2-6-4 Tanks that were converted from SECR class N 2-6-0s built by Woolwich Aresnal, There is a look of the ‘River' class tanks about them I think.
It is sometimes forgotten that LT was still using steam for its work trains up to mid 1971 nearly 3 years after BR had finished with standard gauge steam.
Yes I guess wearing a Shrewsbury shirt west if the Marches would not be a wise move at the moment, still I bet there was not many tears shed when the Mighty Shrews dropped out the league, luckily for just one season, a couple of years a go. Still a Welsh team could win the FA Cup.
That must have been the first rule of shed masters, don't send a good engine away to foreign parts on an excursion.
Many thanks for the photos. I dare say L. T. Rolt has a lot more pulling power than original Tal-Y-Lyn engines.
I will look forward to details of the Haverfordwest changes, what a shame none of the class 120 DMU driving cars were saved for preservation.
Love those old Welsh Highland photos, I guess it is not going to be long now that trains will run again on the line after it as been rebuilt, a great project.
Can we have the Dolly Parton photo first next time
ROB I though I was on to a good thing with all the 3d for the empty bottles and two gons full of empty cans ready for Vito the Hits cousins scrap metal business. But that was before I found that H&H have been flattening the empty kegs by sitting on them as they thought it would be able to handle them better that way, and we have lost the deposit on them.
Yes the Zeppelin has arrived and we are re-stocked again, COPPERKETTLE is very quiet about his Saturday night for some reason.
CM3 Many thanks for the Tonnage Rating for the B&O diesels, the post formatted real well. It is interesting to see how the load allowed varied with the different terrain of the route. I guess when helpers were in usual use, the tonnage allowed took this into account.
DL Yes that is true about the common carrier obligation on British railways, which as you say gave the early road transport a massive advantage.
Thanks for the link to Abbey Pumping Station I see they have a Classics and Railway Day coming up soon, with their narrow gauge railway in operation. I had look in their map and it is indeed quite close to the GCR Leicester North Station. If I recall right the Hoskins's brewery was in the same area as well.
I have had some Transcord records in the past but I think they were mostly borrowed from some one. As you say that is a remarkable range of recordings. I did not know that they were produced on 78s,10inch and 7-inch 33RPM records. I remember the 7 inch 45RPM EPs very well.
I remember a friend had the D for Diesels one, and wondering why at the time, but I bet today it is probably one of the most sought after, It featured the early LMS and Southern diesels 10000 and 10201 if I recall right. There are CDs of the recordings, I have the LMS one, also a couple of cassettes that were given away with the Steam Railway magazine quite a while ago now have made it with me across the pond. On the records the great thing I think is the way the scene is set with the normal sounds until the train can be heard approaching. I can recall, on one recording, how a village church bells are sounding and then an A3 rushes by on London bound express, magical stuff.
Sadly I read that Mr. Handford has passed away quite recently but is great recordings will live on.
On the link, I could not get it to show any of the contents of the records like the Grantham one, could you help those notes on the recordings are great.
TOM Enjoyed our chat yesterday and looking forward to the weekend.
It was sad that the REA service finished. I guess they used the baggage cars on passenger trains to deliver the small parcels with it being delivered to the customer with REA road transport from the station. I have read that UPS use a dedicated train for their parcels over a long distance but not sure of any details.
It would be good to read more about the location of the CP's coast-to-coast line.
I've no idea how Nick got the impression I enjoy a beer or three, and with a new brew pub/restaurant just opening here in Jeff City.
The puter is being real slow loading today, so I will post this and be back with some photos in a bit.
A round please RUTH
Pete.
Another Bathams please RUTH.
Some more photos from the Colorado Railroad Museum.I'm afraid I dont know about the locomotives in the photos. I could not find a guide book(I probably would have lost it if I had found one) I am sure some of the regulars will be able to help identify them
G'day Gents!
Interesting day thus far - CM3 Shane - Dan 'n Fergie in the AM with Pete coming by in mid-afternoon. Speaking of Fergie - haven't seen him here since Mar 22nd . . . apparently hasn't picked up on our 3rd Year Anniversary Bash . . . it's that "coffee shop syndrome" I tell ya! <groan> Anyway - good to see ALL who took the time 'n made the effort . . . specifics in my next round of acknowledgments . . .
Now Arriving on Track #1
A Nickel's Worth of Classic Covers!
Number Two
<Initially Posted on Page 123, 10 Oct 2007 at "Our" Place II>
(1) RR Magazine - 1952 - Destination Pittsburgh
(2) RR Magazine - 1945 - The Mighty Railway
(3) RR Magazine - 1950 - Through the Night
(4) RR Magazine - 1943 - Working on the Railroad
(5) RR Magazine - 1952 - Sea Isle
Enjoy!
Missed the 1st one - see Page 3
Hi Tom and all,
The usual round of Tui`s for the guys` please Leon!
Tom. Looks as if things are easing down a wee bit after that great 3rd Anniversary party, hope you did`nt get too worn out keeping up with everything? Thanks for the flicks for the weekend, the BITD #18 info, with pics, on the Railway Express Agency, the Passenger Train Nostalga on the `86 Canadian passenger train, and the great set of colourful covers in the Classic Covers #2.
Eric. From what I saw of the party it was a real humdinger! Nice pics of the old box car in your old country and the Santa Fe caboose.
Rob. Good to see you back again, and real nice to hear that Heather is feeling so much better now. Thanks again for those couple of smiles` in my mailbox.
Nick. Nice set of pics of the Tallylyn Rly and all the others too.
Dan. Thanks for that link to Tom Rolt`s books will have a check on them. In 1953 I remember that a lot of trips on the Tallylyn Rly were done in the open 4 wheeled goods trucks, they had planks nailed across the top to sit on, OK if it was`nt raining at all! We would volunteer to help with the track formation and track laying in our spare time at the weekends, our nearest big town was Barmouth, their was`nt much night life at Towyn, if we missed the last train back to Towyn we would have to walk across that very long wooden viaduct over the estuary on the way back, you had to watch the gaps in the sleepers very carefully after a few beers`, it was highly illegal to use the bridge and walk on the track of course!
CM3. Good to see you back, an interesting lot of info in those Tonnage Ratings`.
Fergie. Good to see you are back on dry land again.
Pete. Sorry I confused you about my favourite A4 loco mate, I meant favourite class of loco, my order of preference is Silver Link, because I was 1 month old when it did the 1st Silver Jubilee run to Newcastle in 1935, then Mallard because of the World Steam loco speed record in 1938, then Sir Nigel Gresley`s namesake, it`s thanks to people like Billy Butlin and Alan Pegler,and the Barry scrapyard of course, that the UK has such a great collection of restored steam locos`running these days. I can see why those barge pushers were called "butteys", do they just call sandwich`s sarnies in your old home area? When I was very young during WWII we used to eat a lot of "Dripping" butties or "Sweetened Condensed Milk" butties if we could`nt get any Jam in our the rations`. Some nice pics from your Colorado Railroad Museum trip.
See ya, Allan
Good evening Leon,just a round of keith's for myself and the few remaining members of the track gangs. Bit of an interesting day here at the saloon by the siding. Some good stuff to be sure
Tom-Great spate of classic covers No worries about me I was trying to be funny last night oh well,(though I do like the Maple Leaf Forever as a piece of music,it's not PC enough today though ) I see that the bars restocked so we have earned out pay for the week thank-you very much
And to be fair I like Vans not cabooses
CM3-Interesting numbers on those tonnage ratings , I'd hate to see the numbers on a truly mountainous line,thanks for digging them out and "splaining" them to us
Dan-Hey Dan's back in the grove , couple of neat urls and some inetersting chat on UK loco's always love evesdropping on those conversations between the three of you guys.
Pete-Soooo it all makes sence now why I keopt hearing H&H giggling then yelling bookends and then the metalic crunch of what is now the rermains of our empty kegs. Oh well we lost the deposit but Vito can still recycle them into god knows whatLots of neat stories behind the CPR . Tom's right in the sence that it was chartered primarily as a a physical atatchment for all teh provinces of teh new country remembering that betweem Ontario and BC was just underpopualted wilderness as the praire provinces had yet to be created.There was a tangible fear that the US would move in and "aquire the empty virgin spaces"Theres an absolute ton of info out there. if you can find Pierre Burton's books on the Last Spike it explains alot of the political history of the CPR.
Some great steam shots,I can't help you out with the types but they are soem nice looking pieces of equipment.
Fergie-For the record I feel the same way about the new Keith's You must stop being so hard to get along with going through XO's like that
Allan-Yes alls well again. Thanks for your concern though.I've enjoyed the little giggles in our inbox as well
Rob
Something new for everyone to read,might as well contribute to this new bar since it's 13 pages old already
CLASSIC STEAM # 34 THE PEANUT LINE CPR's CORNWALL ROUTE
Over the boom years of the railroad building boom in ontario, the province and country witnessed the chartering,surveying and in most cases the building of hundreds of small railway lines.In the early years most of them actually operated as independant companies till various downturns in economies forced them to amalgamate or die.Even with this there were still dozens of other railway companies on paper, that were in fact just subsidiaries of the larger companies.The Peanut line is one of these.
In 1910 the CPR had been limited to the number of railway charters that it could own.They still remained however anxious to keep adding to their network of branchlines in order to feed their mainlines throughout the country.One method they used to get around these restrictions was for private individuales ( paid by the CPR under the table ) to establish a railway company on paper, obtain a Provincial or Federal charter and hopefully raise the start up funding and capitol. They would then lease this company to the CPR to operate it for 999 years.This was how the Peanut Line as it came to be known was started up.It ran from Cornwall Ontario to St Polycarpe PQ.
From the start of the railway building boom the Grand Trunk had obtained a virtual monopoly along the north shore of Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River. Through the various mergers and amalgamations of the small feeder lines through out this area.When the CPR decided to follow the lake shore they had to locate farther inland, and missed the key port cities of Kingston,Ganaoque,and Cornwall.To obtain lake access the CPR in the case of Kingston took over the Kingston and Pembrooke RY which was already an established resource railway.
In the case of the City of Cornwall, it was forced to create a dummy company.This Dummy corp was known as the Glengary and Stormont.The charter for the G&S laid out a 40 km ( 29 mile ) route from St Polycarpe Jct in Quebec which was on the CPR's Montreal mainline, to Cornwall where it would establish junction points with the GT and the New York Centrals Ottawa branchline.The line was finished in 1915 and was leased immediatly to the CPR.seven stations were built along the line.With main ones at St Polycarpe and Cornwall and small depots at Bridge End,North Lancaster,Glen Gordon,Williamstown, and Glenbrooke.Passenger service was included in the CPR's daily mixed train from Montreal to Cornwall.
It was a small resorce and farm product carrying line ( peanuts at the time being a major revenue sorce hence it's nickname )As small manufacturing plants came on line some finished products were carried as well. In Cornwall itself the line never actually reached the harbour, it stopped at a station several miles away at Pitt street, where it conected and exchanged passengers with the local street railway the Cornwall Street Railway (CSR) A small engine house and turntable as well as a freight shed wre built at this terminal point with the CSR.This yard also connected locally with the NYC and the GT.Passenger servcie ended in 1952 and the CPR finally lifted the line entirly in 1990. The last ten or so years saw one or two local switching trains a day.
Good evening Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!
Leon, I would like a Sugar Cured Ham Sandwich, please! The usual to drink.
Back again after taking care of the tax return last night.
Tom – Yepp, just 29 days until the 3rd Annual Rendezvous! The tent? Who cares, aren’t you more worried about H&H and their restaurant in New York City? By the main track, not a siding! I've heard they are trying to steal Our Place’s customers! Interesting article on Railway Express Agency. Kind of old time’s UPS and FedEx! Must have been something else to ride the train all the way across Canada in those days! Nice magazine covers! Would be very interesting to be able to read those magazines. DL – Glad you liked the artwork! I also like that photo of the freight yard 1959. It looks like the 50’s (which it is)! I just regret I didn’t take many more pictures back then. But film was expensive. CM3 – I took the picture of Our Place at night but managed to change it to daylight by waiting to develop it until the next morning.The MARC engine is on track 15 to be more exact. It was interesting to see those locomotives in 1992 and 93 while they were still running. Push and pull with a cab car at the rear end. I am looking forward to see the pictures!
The cab car.Thanks for the tonnage ratings! I am going to look closer at them later so I’ve copied them. Are those numbers for one locomotive? Some numbers look high for just one locmotive.Pete – To be still going strong at 1:30 AM? It is just a matter of habits. I do a lot of things in the late evening and/or early, early morning. I wouldn’t bet on what H&H are going to do with their restaurant. The loading gauge in Sweden is one of the widest in Europe. The Swedish State Railways used to have quite a few box cars built for traffic to and from the U.K.. They looked like other modern Swedsih box cars but were much more narrow. I haven’t seen any of those box cars for many years. After all the celebration going on last Saturday I am surprised that Our Place is still standing. I guess the tent saved the building. Rest in peace! Nice photos from Colorado Railroad Museum! The locomotives are (from the top):#191, Denver Leadville & Gunnison 2-8-0 Baldwin 1/1880AOC (American Oil Co.) #1, 0-4-0T, ALCOD&RG #683, 2-8-0, Baldwin 10/1890CB&Q #5629, 4-8-4, CB&Q 6/1940More info on this link:http://www.crrm.org/locomotives.htmNick – I am not sure what capacity those old Swedish box cars had. I’ll check it and come back. Glad you liked the photo. Red is a good color for a caboose. I think you are right about the design of the 0-4-4T locomotives.Interesting pictures. That0-4-0 tender tank certainly looks different. I guess the tender was for coal only? I think that is obvious when looking at the same locmotive in the last picture. Rob – Glad to hear that the bride is doing well! Have you checked what is going on with H&H’s restaurant in New York City? Interesting story, the Peanut Line! Didn’t the authorities notice that CPR was behind all those branch lines? Fergie – Hustling in the garden? I thought you were buried in snow up there. But I guess you get more rain than snow along the coast. Allan – You are right about the party! A real humdinger! Glad you liked the photos.
Eric
<personal foto>
Wednesday's Witticism
You cain't never tell which way a pickle will squirt.
Mid-month ‘n mid-week once again ‘n the temps in mid-continent USA have returned to spring-like. Nice past couple of days with the warm up making everything rather pleasant. But wait - "they" are calling for rain on Friday <arrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhh>! Enuf is enuf . . .
Our Menu Board has been updated with the latest in <light> ‘n <traditional> breakfasts. Coffee has been freshly ground ‘n brewed. The Mentor Village Bakery case is brimming with the freshest bakery goods in town. <uummmmm>
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Customer Acknowledgments (since my last narrative):
Tuesday - April 15th: <all times Central daylite>:
Page 12 - CM3 Shane <coalminer3> at 8:39 AM: Okay, it's OH-FISH-UL, I've enrolled myself in Molly Throttlebottoms' Adult Learning Centre class on "How to Decipher Shane's Data - in 3 easy steps or 1 hard one!" <uh oh> Sorry to admit that I have no clue what your locomotive data "says." <yikes> <dumbbell Moi> Perhaps I've not "come down" from my "white knuckle" drive of the day . . . but I need special help! <groan>
Always a treat to have our Resident WVA Connection aboard - neither snow nor sleet nor . . . <grin>
A few songs to brighten up your ‘winter's day' . . .
It Ain't Love But It Ain't Bad
I Still Miss You Baby, But My Aim's Gettin' Better
C'mon Down off the Stove, Granny, You're Too Old to Ride the Range
Don't Cry On My Shoulders Cause Your Rustin' My Spurs
Don't Run Through The Screen Door Honey You'll Only Strain Yourself
Thanx for the chat, quarters ‘n ROUND!
Page 13 - Dan <DL-UK> at 8:39 AM <2:39 PM GMT>: Two days in succession with "normal" contributions - could it be that you're back with us Hope so!
Being a bit redundant, I LUV those scales of measurement you use! Makes perfect sense to Moi!
I'm more convinced than ever that England is indeed the country of museums . . . nice, interesting links!
You've corroborated my contention that government indeed played a heavy hand in the downfall of not only this nation's railways, but others as well . . .
Nice having you with us again!
Page 13 - Fergie <Fergmiester> at 9:12 AM: What Ho! Our wayward Maritime Mariner has found safe haven within the warm confines of "Our" Place III after a long hiatus <aka: absence> since 22 March . . . Yeah, I screwed up on my date of reference back on Page One . . . however, IF you've checked, you'll see the error has been corrected. <grin>
So, what's shaking, Mate Seems you've been everywhere but here! <geesh> No matter, at least you haven't totally forgotten this small, but active group. Recommend you peruse the Pages since your last Post . . . you just may find things of interest. Also, I've sent you a couple of Emails along the way, but apparently they've been "lost in space."
Good to see ya, Fergie . . .
Page 13 - Pete <pwolfe> at 3:23 PM ‘n 4:04 PM: I've not heard of UPS in connection with railroading . . . would certainly be helpful if someone were to research this ‘n provide some elaboration.
Another fine < I3 > Post well worth the eavesdropping! Also, many THANX for dropping "in" over on "my other Thread!"
Fine foto spread - too bad about the descriptions. Here's the link to the Colorado Railroad Museum . . . perhaps some elaborations may be found there!
http://www.crrm.org/
Email sent this day . . .
As always, visit, chat ‘n ROUND most appreciated!
Page 13 - Allan <Gunneral> at 8:13 PM <5:13 PM Wednesday NZ time>: What could be better A ROUND of Tui ‘n a fine < I3 > Post from our friend downunder in Kiwi land.
Not worn out so much as weary from checking to see "who" was logged on . . . saw FIVE UTBs "on" at various times throughout the day. Surely makes one wonder . . . but not that much. Those who wanted to be here took the time ‘n made the effort to do so. It's as simple as that . . . And to think we used to have these "live" events quite often at the Bar by the Ballast. May very well have been our finale ‘n a "gudun" at that.
Appreciate the visit ‘n of course the TUIs!
Page 13 - Rob <trolleyboy> at 10:47 PM ‘n 10:57 PM: A two-fer from north of the border from our Manager!
Some chit ‘n chat, a bit o' this ‘n that along with a NEW Class Steam.
I've never embraced the use of van as related to a caboose. It's simply what one grew up with I suppose. Never quite understood the incessant desire to be Euro with things here in north America. I mean we've been quite successful standing on our own. Probably not alone in that regard; refusal to accept the metric system is a good example. But yeah, I know - heritage, etc. <grin>
Good seeing the return to activity from our Resident Ontario Connection!
Wednesday - April 16th <all times Central daylite>:
Page 13 - Eric <EricX2000> at 12:09 AM: We've had all sorts of "reasons" for folks not making it "in" - but doing taxes is a FIRST! <geesh> As if the 15th sneaks up on people. <grin> I filed ours in early February ‘n got the state ‘n fed refunds about 2 weeks later.
I have a neighbor who makes a ritual out of waiting ‘til the last minute - drops it off near mid-night at the Post Office to ensure the post mark gets placed on the 15th. I think I've upset him <more times than not!> about this, as I told him the PO should NOT remain open at taxpayers expense because of those unwilling or unable to do what the majority of us do. <snark> <snark>
Rendezvous III is approaching . . .
A fine <I3 > Post 'n foto from you ‘n appreciate the visit ‘n chat!
Reminder: Ruth has the bar from 9 AM until Leon the Night Man comes in at 5 PM ‘til closing.
Thursday is Fish ‘ Chips Nite!
Friday is Pizza ‘n Beer Nite! - and - Steak ‘n Fries Nite!
Saturday is Steak ‘n All The Trimmings Nite!
Dinner begins at 5 PM so come early ‘n often!
Cindy is our Saturday bartender!
Boris, serve ‘em all of the "spiked" OJ they can handle!
Tom
Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox. More cold and frost last night - had to scrape the vehicle this a.m. - I am looking forward to the end of that for awhile.
Rob was in with comments and information. You want to see some mountaionous tonnage - look at the end of this post.
Eric - Know what you mean about taxes - all of our paperwork showed up on time for once so I actually got them done early - about six weeks ago - first time in forever that that happened. DC pictures I mentioned are of B&O power and trains - I'll try and remember them.
Fergie - Good to hear from you.
Pete was by with questions. First one related to tonnage and helpers. Helpers were added as needed, IOW as train load dictated. This said, however, helpers were (are) also added if schedule dictates, weather conditions call for it, etc. Digging through rulebooks and employee tts will give you a feel for what goes on where.
There are trains operated for certain shippers. UPS comes to mind here. It's quite easy to tell as most of the loads will be UPS trailers. Some trains also carry trailers for trucking companies. Go trackside on just about any Class I and you will see them. They truly do move right along as they have time constraints written into the contract.
OSP was in with some fine Grafix material. The 1950 cover reminds me of one of Otto Kuhler's etching of steam locomotives.
In repsonse to your questions Let's revisit (try to clarify) tonnage math for a minute.
Yesterday we said, "This is based on a Baltimore and Ohio documents from July, 1968 titled "Condensed Slow Freight Ratings." The math involved is pretty simple, quoting from the document, "The tonnage rating for an entire consist is equal to the sum of the tonnage rating of each unit in the consist." IOW, add ‘em up. "Consist" here means all of the locomotives.
This is pretty straightforward. For example, from Punxy to E. Salamanca, an SD40 can pull 3200 tons of weight. For example if we have a train weighing 5,500 tons we will need 1.7 SD40s to pull the train; the .7 difference will (ideally) be made up by using a locomotive with a little less capacity.
The point here is that you don't necessarily want to overpower things as it is a waste of fuel, etc. This, of course, is not a hard and fast rule as you may need to move power or it's all you have available.
Tonnage ratings can (and often do) differ according to direction. Look at the table again.
Punxy - E. Salamanca
SD40/U30C 3200
SD35 2675
GP40/GP38 2125
GP30/GP35 1825
GP9 1700
GP7/F7 1600
E. Salamanca - Punxy
SD40/U30C 2200
SD35 1800
GP40/GP38 1450
GP30/GP35 1250
GP9 1175
GP7/F7 1100
Punxy to E. Salamanca has a higher tonnage rating than E. Salamanca to Punxy. This tells us that the road is a less rugged Punxy to E. Salamanca. IOW, gravity is always the enemy.
Check this one out - it is the biggest difference I found in looking through the numbers. This is some truly rugged country, but shows what engineering can do to make things easier.
Cumberland - Cumbo (Via North Mountain)
SD40/U30C 4975
SD35 4150
GP40/GP38 3325
GP30/GP35 2850
GP9 2650
GP7/F7 2500
Cumberland - Cumbo (Via Low Grade)
SD40/U30C 11550
SD35 9625
GP40/GP38 7700
GP30/GP35 6675
GP9 6140
GP7/F7 5800
Looking at this kind of information gives you an idea of what operational headaches railroads have to deal with.
Hope this helps.
Work safe
A quick good morning before I head into work. Ruth just a small sampler of the pasteries if you don't mind, and the usual BK blast ( for the vitamins )
Tom-We have the nice warm stuff moving in as well,it's interwesting to see how quickly teh layers are peeling off on the yonger set up here,saw several pairs of shorts & mini dresses topped off with an unzipped parka,ah to be young again.
Tax time has come and went for us ( technically we have till midnight on the 30th ) but I never see the point leaving it to the end espeacially when a refund is pending,why let them get the intrest is how I feel about it There's always that mad dash the last few weeks n days up here as well,the difference being is that the post offices don't stay open late,so if you miss it you miss it.
Van or caboose they are all dinosaurs today. I kind of like the euro feel,guess it's just a Canadian thing.
Say it ain't so you at Molly's. Boris will be sooo happy,I'm sure that he will want to sit beside you.
CM3-I see what you mean with today's numbers. One wonders how things are figured out today,as from what I see trackside ( and Brantfords at the top of the Niagara escarpment grade ) CN seems to over power everything or undepower , there seems to be no reason to it. A 50-100 car train can have three big SD's ( 60's or better ) or two old Wide cab equiped SD40-2's which barely make track speed. Indeed strange.
Eric-I'm not too worried about H&H's New York Dealings,I'm sure it was funded somehow by Vito's Northern cousins,they are just the poster girls for the place ( hows that for an appetite killer )
Neat shots from the MARC looks alot liek the old Go transit sets before they went to all BBR cabcar/coach sets
Hi Tom and all in
Pint of Tui please, as Allan's offering - cheers!
Thanks for your comments, my aim is try and get back to a normal routine, but I see, reading Fergie's message that I'm not the only one with work keeping me away!
Nice pics and comments from Tom, Rob and CM3 - I have no great comments on them but I've certainly enjoyed reading them!
Allan - great to hear those comments about Barmouth - I've been across that bridge on a train - but not since about 1986 when we went there for family holiday (when they were running a regular steam special along the coast line - which, as it happens, they have started to do again during August each year - which is nice to report). You'd enjoy that Rolt book even more given you were ACTUALLY THERE during the pioneer days!
Pete - you're right about that D for Diesels recording - I bet that was a low seller back at the time but would now be fascinating. Reading the web it is obvious that Peter Handford was a top quality sound recordist whose work we can still benefit from. I guess I should watch out for the CDs.
I've made that link work and I'll paste the data - but I'll do it in a separate message as it is a bit of data dump and I'll have to beg Tom's forgiveness for that!
As indeed I will for the following off topic link to a place in Calgary brought to my attention. Tom, I know you've permitted off topic links in the past so hopefully you'll agree that this will be of interest to the regulars
http://www3.museumofmaking.org/dbtw-wpd/machine.htm
has a gret links page too!
http://www3.museumofmaking.org/dbtw-wpd/machine_events.htm
Regards to all
Hi Pete - this is the stuff that was on that link - this is one of the records I actually bought - and this text that was on that link is a transcript of the sleeve notes - which is pretty atmospheric.
Apols to others who are not interested, but I'll leave a round for the house to make up for that (actually I reckon people will enjoy this - but I do apologise as it is not my habit to cut and paste large chunks of text at Our Place!)
EAF86 sleeve notesRecordings of class A.3, A.4, V.2 and other ex L.N.E.R. locomotives at Grantham Station in July and August 1957 .
At Grantham, 105 miles North of London on the East coast main line, a large proportion of North and Southbound expresses stopped for a change of engines.
These recordings were made at the South end of Grantham Station. The engines heard are all as fitted with single chimney, with the exception of Class 'A.2' No. 60508 and Class 'A.4' No. 60022.
SIDE ONEClass 'A.4' Pacific No. 60025 Falcon stands at the up platform heading an express from Newcastle, which it has just taken over; Falcon whistles and starts away, rapidly gathering speed on the 1/200 climb towards Stoke Summ,it, five miles away. In the background another 'A.4' whistles while moving away from the sheds on the down side of the station.
A 'C.12' class 4-4-2:T. No. 67391 clatters down the yard with a few trucks as 'V.2' class 2-6-2 No. 60963 waits at the platform; in drizzling rain, with the up 'Scarborough Flyer'.
No. 60963 starts out, slipping madly on the wet greasy rails by the water column at the platform end;
after more bouts of violent slipping No. 60963 settles down and gets to grips .with the wet rails. As the train passes 'V.2' No. 60893 moves into the up siding to wait until required to take over a train and another'V.2' No. 60961 comes past, running light back to the sheds.
Class 'A.4' Pacific No. 60010 Dominion of Canada whistles and slips away from the platform end, then, with the continuing tendency to slip being most expertly controlled, heads lustily up the gradient with an express for Kings Cross.
'V.2' class No. 60914 backs down towards the station to take over a waiting train as an 'A.4' Pacific, which has just been relieved by the 'V.2', clanks past on the way back to the sheds.
SIDE TWOAs a fickle wind whips across the tracks on a grey, damp, summer Saturday morning, 'V.2' No. 60914 whistles, hisses steam and slips violently before moving a heavy train out of the station. After further slipping No. 60914 settles down to tackle the climb towards Stoke Summit as 'A.4' No. 60022 Mallard sounds a warning whistle and trailing a plume of steam from the safety valves, tears down the gradient, heading North with a morning express for Edinburgh.
Another 'A.4' No. 60021 Wild Swan gets quickly away from the station, after a slippery start and heads for Kings Cross with an express from Leeds.
Class 'A.3' Pacific No. 60054 Prince of Wales backs down towards the up platform, where a relief express from Edinburgh is waiting and a 'V.2' moves into the up siding; as the 'V.2' gradually squeals to a stop class 'A.2' Pacific No. 60508 Duke of Rothesay starts away from signals and heads slowly past, towards the station, with a down express.
The 'A.3' Prince of Wales gets the 'right away' from the up platform and heads the Edinburgh-London express out of the station for the last lap of the journey South.
Argo Record Company Limited, London, 1965
The cover photograph by Colin Walker shows a 'V.2' leaving Grantham with an express for London.
Well, well - a busy morning at the bar with CM3 Shane - Rob 'n Dan dropping "in." Specific comments in my next round of acknowledgments - but thanx for keeping Ruth busy! <KaChing> <KaChing>
MUST make this observation though - there's a world of difference in being too busy for the bar, but not so for elsewhere in the Ether . . . the way I see it, if one WANTS to participate - one WILL. 'nuf said . . .
Now Arriving on Track #3
Select Scenes from the Can-Am Railway
Number One
(1 - 3) Mountain Village
(4) Mountain Depot
(5) West side of mountains
(6) Southbound BC Rail RDCs crossing Can-Am Gorge
Good afternoon barkeep and all present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox.
Quick note to let you know that I will be offline for most of the day tomorrow. I'll try and post in the afternoon, but if not then - Friday for sure!
work safe
Seems that this day has overtaken me with "things to do." Just returned from a 4 hour grass cutting <mower repair> more cutting <more repair> "session," so Boris - best keep your distance with that inflatibile of yours! I'm in no mood for repairs right now <grrrrrrrr>. But go ahead 'n take that small jar of PPF - you've been a "good" Cyclops lately. <grin>
A "heads up" from CM3 Shane 'n somewhere in my feeble mind I seem to recall Pete telling me he'd be away today or at least in the afternoon. Can't say fer sure, but . . .
Now Arriving on Track #2
Classic Drumheads by the Dozen - #2
<Intially Posted on 24 Dec 2007, Page 158 "Our" Place II>
(1) DRG&W - California Zephyr
(2) Erie - Pacific Express
(3) GN - The Cascadian
(4) IC - Panama Limited
(5) KCS - The Flying Crow
(6) L&N - The Pan-American
(7) NH - The Yankee Clipper
(8) NYC - The Pacemaker
(9) NP - North Coast Ltd
(10) PRR - The Broadway Ltd
(11) CRI&P - Twin Star Rocket
(12) Soo - Twin Cities - Seattle
Missed the first one See Page 4
A pint of Bathams please RUTH
TOM Many thanks for the Railroad Magazine Classic covers a good selection covering many years of railroads. It is hard to pick a favorite in the selection I think it is a tie between the old timer, the big engines being prepared at night and Sea Isle, though the other two are good as well.
Great song titles
I see CM3 has provided info on the UPS trains. I recall reading a while back, I think in Trains mag, about the UPS train saying it was the hottest one on the line with a heavy penalty for any late running. If I recall right one company did not run the train anymore as it caused too many problems but they may have been solved.
Thanks for the link; I must have put the wrong info in when I done a search yesterday. Looking at the link I well remember the great art gallery they have there as well as the wonderful railroad equipment.
I always enjoy looking the great Can-Am photos every time I see something I had not fully noticed before, this time it is at the RDCs Mountain Depot station and the huts in the background. The snow in Mountain Village will be a great sight if we get a hot Missouri summer but those guys outside the Second Class Saloon look shadier than ever
Many thanks for the Classic Drumheads by the Dozen with their different designs, today's pick for me are the KCS Flying Crow and the NH Yankee Clipper.
It was tomorrow I may be a bit doubtful for but I am hoping to be able to call in.
Received your e-mail yesterday and sent a reply but sadly no e-mail received today.
CM3 Yes those working timetables are some great reading. I was given a few in the old land. The weekend supplements were good too with details of specials and changes due to engineering work.
Many Thanks for the info on the UPS and other truck firms using the rails and the more info on the tonnage ratings. The very large difference in tonnage allowed over the two different Cumberland to Cumbo routes shows very well how a line's grades affects the limits on each type of locomotive. It must have been an interesting job juggling the motive power available to suit the trains.
ALLAN Yes I can see why Silver Link is your favorite A4.The locomotive certainly a deserved a place in preservation but was I think it was one of the earlier A4s to be withdrawn and I guess Mallard had already been set aside for the nation. It was lucky that some of the A4s were found work on the Glasgow to Aberdeen fast trains after their work on the East Coast Main Line had been taken over by diesels. It gave preservationists the time to save the engines. Yes without Barry scrapyard and Mr. Dai Woodham the British steam scene would be very much the poorer.
I have heard sarnies called butties and even called a ‘piece' I think that one comes mainly from Scotland. I well remember the dripping sandwiches they were quite tasty and I remember one lad you just loved condensed milk ones as well when I was quite young.
They must be great memories helping to lay track in the very early days of the Tallylyn preservation. I wonder if any one in those days thought that there would be the number of preserved lines there is now in Britain.
We used to holiday in North Wales and I can still recall a special that used to run in the Summer that went from Rhyl along the coast to Caernarfon down to the Cambrian coast through Barmouth. Just south of Barmouth bridge we took the long closed line to Corwen and then another long gone line to Fford just outside Rhyl, all steam of course although the details are a bit vague, I have dim memories of seeing one of the old looking outside framed Dukedogs. Happy days.
ROB Good news, apparently with the rise in scrap metal prices we got more money from the scrap kegs that what we paid in deposit, so perhaps I can reduce my bar bill.
Some times I forget that when the railways were built in North America that a lot of the land they went through were very sparsely populated. The railways in Canada must have been a very big part in the development of the country. That sounds a good book to read.
Many Thanks for the Classic Steam on the CPR's Cornwall route. Born in the railway boom where a small company built a line and immediately leased it to a larger company. I see it is another line that is no longer with us.
Perhaps it might be an idea to have a few nicknames railways were known by at the bar. In the UK some were, like the Peanut line, got their name from traffic on the line or a special feature the line went through or a play on the company's initials.
Strange coming from England I don't feel all that European
ERIC I wonder if Sweden sends any traffic to England through the Channel Tunnel. There as been a lot of work in Britain for the railways to be able to take larger freight cars but I think that boxcar would still be out of gauge. I really noticed the difference when I rode on the Renaissance cars with Tom and seeing the gap between the platform and the car side in Montreal station.
The cab car has the look of a RDC in its front end.
Yes we got off light with just the tent being wrecked it could have been a lot worse, H&H are being very quiet about that restaurant but I did see them talking to Vito the Hit and one of his cousins.
Many thanks for the info on the Locomotives at the Colorado Museum. That is a great link to the museum. I see the #1 loco I posted Saturday and we thought may have come from Pike's Peak railway, is a Vauclain compound built by Baldwin a type I have not heard of, it would be good to learn more on this interesting locomotive.
DL Perhaps I saw you during those steam runs through Barmouth. Once we had the Manor to Pwllehi and standard 75069 on anther trip, which stopped in Barmouth if I recall right
Many thanks for the link to the Canadian museum of Making, The virtual tour video is well worthy watching with those marvelous belt driven machine tools. Although by the time I was at the factory the machines were electric driven some of the old lathes, shaping and milling machines looked very much the same. In the Power House of the works there were some old machines in there, including a very old steam driven air compressor that worked with hardly a sound and no vibration at all. Like all machines there it was keep spotlessly clean and you could eat your dinner off the floor, as that was spotless as well.
I will go back again to the other link that lists the web-sites of those great museums, I had a look at the Birmingham Think Tank one and it was good to see the Duchess City of Birmingham and the tramcar.
Many thanks as well for the sleeve notes on Peter Handford's Grantham EP. I am sure Allan will enjoy the notes and will recognize many of the locomotive names. I wonder if Mr. Handford wrote the notes for the records they really are great at setting the scene. Like "As a fickle wind whips across the tracks on a gray, damp summer Saturday morning" Simply magical.
Looking through the sleeve notes it struck me that although the preservation scene has done simply marvelous things not least still, unbelievably, steam on the main line it can never recreate the everyday scene of the sight and sound of those marvelous locomotives in the late 1950s. Being on the platform and seeing the likes of Wild Swan, Mallard, Prince of Wales etc not to mention the tank engines on the locals and the numerous freights hauled by many different classes passing through. I had better stop or I will be crying into the round you bought.
Oh dear I seem to have got really carried away today(ought to be I hear you say) LEON, but I think it has been a very interesting day at the bar,so let me get a round in.
Well good evening one and all and a happy wednesday--Leon-please make with a large glass of the special rum-what the hey,bring the bottle-for TOM who seems to be suffering from acute lawn fatigue and is in need of restoration and jollification-better find him a large steak buttie as well-make it rare enough that a loud noise will wake it up-and a plate of tempting savoury nibbly bits as well please-oh and some beer for me please as well,plus a round for the gang--good man
Now then Boss-before we steal away to a quiet corner in order to swap revolting and unsuitable jokes-thanks for posting that Can-Am set-like all good `adult` pix they tease and tantalise without fully revealing--even after 3 years I still havn`t worked out the exact `lie of the land`and how it all connects together-would dearly love to see a track plan one of these days................
Whilst on the Pikes Perspectives theme (and yes,to my shame,I had forgotten that particular handle) I feel that in fairness we should bear in mind that not all of us are A-active modellers & B-in a position to post pix thereof............
Anyway,got a lot to do this fine evening (including 2 long and difficult `real world` E-mails that need to be composed )-so onwards and upwards.....
Gonna start with P/P pix-they have been seen before but a long time ago,then try and take care of posts and throw in some new scans,just to keep things fresh.............
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Here we have the duty `goat` -a Model Power GP9- lifting a cut of O.N.R newsprint cars (also M/P) up the bank out of the industrial district-the ice house spur is to the right
Here`s a VIA `F` unit combo (..I know-it should be an FP9 not an F9a but that paint job took me bloody DAYS....) easing out of "Bradford" onto the big hill--this whole area is undergoing serious revision
A Clonakilty model village shot-apparently,the building is prototypical even if the train isnt...
Down at the very end of the line-the steel stockholders spur
Heres a `natural light` shot which hopefully conveys an early evening feel-O.N.R 2-bays ready for the off,Propane tanks,reefers & big cyl hprs on the bank
Looks like someone is heading for a fine here Big Otto just LOVES a tow-job in his lunch break
O.K-back in a bit
I've got a rather early appointment to keep on Thursday, so it's best I get to the comments while I have the time . . . have no idea how the ‘morrow will begin with CM3 Shane gone - he's the only "regular" we have in the AM these days <daze> . . .
Nice turn-out for a mid-week day . . .
Page 13 - CM3 Shane <coalminer3> at 8:51 AM: Perhaps it was my inattentiveness or simply too much to digest with the offerings - but the second time ‘round, I GOT IT! Thanx . . . Any of that stuff gonna be on the "test"
I seem to recall a delivery or three being made by REA "back in the day." I know that I shipped "things" back from Alaska ‘n they arrived that way . . .
We don't scrape in our Haus . . . use the garage for the vehicles. Scraping days <daze> are long gone-zo . . . <yay> We've had a couple of frosty mornings, but the warm up has really taken hold as we're in the 70s (F) now with at least one more nice day to look forward to. Then there's rain comin' in for the week's end. <arrrrrrgggggghhhhh>
Thanx for the quarters ‘n ROUND!
Page 13 - Rob <trolleyboy> at 10:22 AM: Perhaps the warm-up above the 49th will continue on through our trip to ExpoRail; hope so! As far as the girls in their less than full attire - "kids" just don't "do it" for me. Nope. The "threshold" advances as one ages. I'm sure there's a formula for that! Oh yeah, any comments regarding YOU being OLD are worth a <tweeting> - you're the YOUNGEST at the bar ‘n have a loooooong way to go. So, don't rush it . . . time WILL indeed move along all by itself. <groan> <grin>
Interesting comic in today's paper - asked the question about how come those who think things are better elsewhere and constantly bring that up, don't move there
This "thing" regarding the Post Offices remaining open to accommodate those who can't get their tax returns ready for mailing before normal closing has been going on for decades. Probably began with humor in mind <but I seriously doubt that!!> Anyway, if those requiring after-hours service need it - they should pay for it. <grumble> <mumble> <snark> <bratzafratz>
There's a Canadian onboard over on "my other Thread," we'll see if he picks up on my invitation . . .
Appreciate the visit ‘n chat.
Page 13 - Dan <DL-UK> at 11:16 AM ‘n 11:23 AM <5:16 PM ‘n 5:23 PM GMT>: A two-fer from our Resident Brit in Sherwood Forest! Now when's the last time that occurred
No problem with anything you have to offer. for it's always quality ‘n always well within the guidelines for what we do ‘n the way we do it.
I've been ENCOURAGING the use of fotos in lieu of long narratives. URLs are fine as SUPPLEMENTAL . . . and of course everyone doesn't have Pix-Posting capability. So, not to worry, Mate!
I enjoyed the narrative of the recording . . . thanx for taking the time ‘n making the effort to provide it to the boyz at the bar! ROUND also very much appreciated as a "token" of your contriteness <or something like that!>
Page 13 - CM3 Shane <coalminer3> at 3:26 PM: Heads up! Many thanx - that's what really HELPS the Proprietor immensely. When a regular can't make it in, it's surely nice knowing in advance . . .
Page 13 - Pete <pwolfe> at 5:20 PM: With the way things have been going for the last several weeks, I'm surprised that I even know the day of the week. But, I digress . . . Oh yeah, no Email response deemed necessary! I did mention that I received yours.<geesh>
Yes, now that you mention it - Thursday does "ring a bell." No, no Boris - <arrrrggggghhhhh> okay - drinks on the house as Boris rang the bell! <grin>
Far too much for me to fully digest in your Post - but I do hope the guys you cited take the time ‘n make the effort to catch your well thought out commentary.
Thanx for the < I3> Post ‘n ROUND!
Page 13 - Nick <nickinwestwales> at 6:26 PM <1:26 AM Thursday GMT>: My tandem-Mate for our OP-SHUN-UL Toy ‘n Model Trains Day! hasn't let us down. Fine selection, as always ‘n the narratives are most helpful too.
Way back at "Our" Place I you ‘n I discussed track planning software. You provided me with some links - I must admit that I never could figure out the "how to." So, I never diagrammed the Can-Am Railway. <groan>
However, you've seen the layout shots <several times> ‘n it really is a simple arrangement. These fotos should give you an idea - on the main level, it's simply distorted ovals within another distorted oval making up two mainlines for trains running in opposite directions. All turnouts <switches> work off either of the mainlines. I have crossovers <not cross tracks> at strategic locations to enable trains to cross from one mainline to the other. The upper level <mountain run> is a point-to-point affair for RDCs. They operate from Mountain Village to Mountain Depot ‘n return. Two consists of 2 cars each - one in BC Rail livery the other VIA Rail.
Now if you'd drag yourself away from Wales for a few days, you could see it, operate it, ‘n check out the beer fridge in the Can-Am Trainroom during Rendezvous III. [swg
(1) First view of the Can-Am Railway as you enter the train room. Looking north to south.
(2) Looking south on the east side of the mountains. Mountain Village in foreground.
(3) Looking north on the east side of the mountains. Look at upper level and you can follow the RDC route by the telephone wires!
(4) Looking north on the west side from Can-Am City & Union Station.
(5) Looking north on west side of mountains - mainlines run between CN yard 'n passing siding.
Comments regarding participants in our Toy ‘n Model Trains Day! <aka: Pike Perspectives Day!> are well taken. However, we are now at "critical mass" with not only that event, but others as well. Dwindling participation leads to curtailment of "things" . . . such is life in the not-so-fast lane, Mate!
Many thanx for the steak buttie - was cooked just right, ‘n the Keiths was especially smooth!
Visit, chat, fotos ‘n good cheer ALWAYS appreciated.
That's IT! See y'all sometime in the 'morrow . . .
Well then-back again,having prepared my notes for responses-and yes I am avoiding the `grown up real world stuff` until later....
So-Leon-another bottle of the rum(to keep the chill away) and a round of Staropramen Czech Pilsner for all-just to show what they have been missing-some change for Herr Wurlitzer also,if you would-tonights episode of the Simpsons ended with that old `70`s classic "Don`t fear the reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult-a fabulous intro that never quite goes anywhere-much like my submissions here I suspect................Hmmmmmmm
Right-to business:-
ROB-Glad all is restored to normal chez nous -I shouldn`t worry about the munitions by the back shed-The galley crew have reassured me that they are planning a 4th July `treat` for the 2nd class saloon......Simon is home once again & in good form-although he has reverted to wrapping his head in tinfoil "to stop the voices" and since H&H` ministrations gets very anxious if he sees anything pink........R.E maple syrup-remember I live in a country where boiled seaweed is treated as a delicacy.................R.E that old Gibson-similar examples currently command about a $50,000 price tag-think Jimmy Page with Zeppelin here-combination of quality of sound and rarity-most of them got broken years ago `cos of a weak spot in the construction
TOM-Hope Carol & yourself enjoyed your meal-One never needs an excuse to spend quality time with a lovely lady ...and since you so kindly offer I will be delighted to take a tankard of the brew of your choice with you...Glad you enjoyed the ramblings-I have always felt that my destiny should have been as a senior reporter for the Mentor Gazette (perhaps even rising to sub-editor in the fullness of time..)...Enjoyed the artwork BTW-those guys sure knew how to capture the atmosphere and excitement of rail travel,back when it was the only way to travel any sort of distance.....P.S-As a musician,I can state with authority-a symbol is a symbol unless its a cymbal...................
CM3-I take your point R.E compounds various-I have a fairly high tolerance (as does the little green pixie next to me....)-I just hope the stuff works-cos I am in no hurry to do it again--Thanks for the tonnage ratings-will be very useful for the layout as well as being interesting in it`s own right -As you note, Boris was active in the Transylvanian league right up until `39 when they declared war on Germany,Russia & (inexplicably) Fiji and turned the whole Carpathian mountain region into a no-go area....As a last thought-I appreciate that you are a private person,but would love to see any model pix you might have lying around...........
DAN-The mention of Transacord reminds me -I am sure I have one of their L.P`s somewhere-badly scratched,the only bit I can remember is an 8F starting a heavy freight-must look it out-if memory serves it has commentary as well.........as to 0-4-4`s-I cant call to mind any Brighton examples(although they did have the D1 0-4-2 tank and the glorious `Jubilee` 0-4-2 tenders-but I am sure you have the right of it-lets not forget the S.E.C.R `H` class while we are there...)-will take a run into town in the next couple of days and get some up to date pix of H/West stn for a comparison
FERGIE-Happy landings mate -dont worry about the Mushy peas/smak/coke thing-like Karl Marx`s grave,its a communist plot.......Mushies are always available for our valued customers.....
PETE-now heres a mixed can of worms.....Am going out on a limb here:-The Rivers were re-built into tender locos after the Stoats Nest crash (right next to my old scout hut BTW )-as far as I can recall the Woolwich moguls were based on that design-27 were shipped out to Inchicore as kits of parts,-is possible that the Met 2-6-4`s were a reversion to the original design,given that they were unlikely to be doing any high-speed work-the failing of the original rivers-they were not stable at speed,hence the crash-(you can see the circular nature of this......)...enough already !!-I may well have this completely wrong-if so please put me out of my misery
Love the Colorado pix-the idea of `Delay Jn` is especially appealing ......nice loco pix BTW
ALLAN-It`s a braver man than me would walk across Barmouth bridge at night (have pix-will post later--is a glorious sight)-an old tale-a young volunteer on the T/Y/Lynn was spotted trying to dig out the soil between the rails--An old employee told him to stop... "Why?" "Duw boy,thats the only thing holding the bloody rails in place....."
ROB-Nice piece on the Peanut Line
ERIC-Dont worry too much about H&H`s rest.-is a lure to disguise the fact that Vito the Hit is currently negotiating with the savage Mugabe for the franchise to run Zimbabwe........Nice one on the Colorado info and the M.A.R.C pic-R.E taxman-apart from the great George Harrison song,I have always felt that they are busy enough without me bothering them-live & let live as it were
TOM-Songs-O.K mate-you sing,I`ll play the guitar-G minor sounds like your key-- -Britain isn`t so much a country of museums as one big museum-but you need to see it to fully appreciate..................Love the drumheads BTW but difficult to fully appreciate without knowing the trains....context I guess....
Anyway-I think thats me caught up-so onto some more pix--P.S for all of you that were hanging out for jacuzzi pix-it was all going perfectly until Madonna showed up drunk and it all kicked off-was happy to get away as it happens......
right:-
Here is my all time favourite 0-4-4t -the Tri-Ang model of the Drummond M7-this was my 2nd engine-long sold and regretted-from the `71 catalogue
Here we have one from the Great Southern & Western (Ireland)
This one is from the Festiniog Railway in North Wales-is more than it seems-the whole thing is articulated-(see below)-this particular engine ended up as a stationary boiler at Boston Lodge works-I understand they have now built a replacement for her
Here is the full version-the double Fairlie articulated (lower pic)-will give more detail next time (beer is starting to catch up)
Here is Irelands solution to the problem of reduced revenue-gotta love that lateral thinking....
Another one from the Emerald Isle to close-here we have an ex Trallee & Dingle 2-6-0t on the Arigna branch of the Cavan & Leitrim line circa 1958-can you believe that mobile hen-house behind the engine was for passengers ?- I just love everything about this pic.....
O.K boys-thats me for the road--Leon give anybody that wants one another pint and I`ll square you away in the morning....As I was walking over,the Cork & Kerry mountains................................
Take care now,
Good evening Leon , I see that the cash register ahs wrung fairly steadily on your shift is well It's a good thing I think just a Guiness for me this evening, and perhaps some pub bits ( chips and wings ) We should do more pub food around here , though I'm afraid of what might pass as chicken wings from H&H.
Tom-Two fine renditions from the Canam room love the shots from the mountain village. Is that big Mike or Slopehead in front of the second class Some interesting drumheads as well
Nick had some inetersting thoughts on the Pikes Perspectives, still always nice to have a bit of variety on a Wednesday. know I'm not old but compared to some of the yuppie larve out there, well lets just say that I've always said that there should be an exam that needs to be written before you can breed. So does that make me an honorary grumpy old man
I'll have to pop over an check out this new Canadian guy,hopefully that other thread is still being usefull
Dan-Nice twofer this afternoon thank-you, couple interesting urls for the museum's and more interesting chat on UK steam.It's amazing how many of the train type record recordings were made ( even o this side of the pond ) I have a couple, recordings on cassette tape that were done of 6218 and 6060 when they were in excursion service in Ontario during the 70's. We also have a 33rpm record with streetcar sounds a PCC on one side and a Witt on the other.
Pete-Yes lots of samll towns in villages indeed the entire western portion of our country was created by the CPR. I think the biggest thing is that alot of the various shortlines and branches dissapeared moreso because there was no great need for as much trackage as they built. Pre 1930 yes but after the highway and car revolution most of the small yield lines were just too speacilized to be profitable without passenger revenue to support them.
Alot of the little lines had nick names like the Peanut line for the most part they were drawn from the comodities that were the main money maker or breaker for them.
See if you can find that book on amazon it is a worthwhile read ( all words and no pictures though )
Nick-Great two part spat of photo's the real and the model nice twin bill to be sure today. That Irish coach certainly looks homemade. It almost seems like it was a boxcar or cattle car in it's former life.
I had to giggle at the tinfoil comment. sadley I know people like that myself Interesting histroy lesson on the guitar as well,yet one more reason I keep comming back here I learn something everyday.
Eric-I see in re-reading tonight I missed one question from you yesterday,the short answer is yes I'm sure the government knew what was going on,it was a wink wink nudge nudge sort of thing. Theer was rules against monopolies but teh govt of the times knew that the railway was the best way to populate the large western expances of the country so blind eyes were turned.Anything to get the infrastructure without having to pay for it themselves.An over symplification to the whole story,but essentially the crux of the story anyway.
A number 2 special, please! Yes, Leon, I know I usually have a Keith's but tonight I feel like having a Tui.
A windy day here in the southwest.
Tom – I don’t drop of my tax return at the post office, I file it via Inernet. The last two years we did it the 15th, but this year we were much earlier and did it the 14th!! I love the photos from the Can-Am Railway!! Very good shots, perfect light! I have to try to do something similar next time. It certainly is a very nice layout! For some reason I like the top picture the best even though it is snowy. Now I know what is missing at Can-Am City! Trolley buses! Street cars! That should be next after the subway is done! I just want to make sure that you will stay busy in the future! Nice drumheads! I am trying to pick the one I like the best, but it isn’t easy. I think I’ll pick #3, The Cascadian.CM3 – That is what I understood, B&O power and trains at DC in your pictures. The tonnage rating in Europe is lower than in the US. Not that the locomotives couldn’t haul heavier trains but that would slow down the trains quite a bit if you have only one locomotive for a 3,000 tons train so instead the trains are smaller or they use locomotives in multiple to improve acceleration and speed. To be honest, to me it doesn’t make sense to have just one SD40 haul 11,550 tons. I guess the line is mostly downhill but with only one locomotive you will probably not be able to control the speed by using the dynamic brakes only when 11,500 tons are pushing from behind.
Trailers on the rails, RoadRailer.
Rob – I hope you are correct about H&H but not about Vito’s Northern cousins. It seems like Vito is everywhere. Thanks for the answer to my question. I thought it would have been strange if the government didn’t know what was happening. But i guess they had a pretty good resaon to pretend it was raining. DL – Good description of the recordings! I have a LP with Swedish steam locomotives, but I haven’t listened to it for many years. Maybe now it is time to do it again. Pete – I don’t know if there are any freight cars going between Sweden and England nowadays. So you saw H&H talk to Vito the Hit and his cousin? That is not good. Can we trust H&H?Nick – Nice photos! I like the weeds growing in the track of the steel stockholders spur! Just like in real life. What scale is the Clonakilty model village? What exactly did Big Otto say when he was called out during the lunch break? I hope no ladies could hear him. Interesting photos of the different 0-4-4’s and other locomotives. The Irish rail bus looks kind of home made. But I guess it worked. What gauge is that 2-6-0T with the hen-house? 1958? It looks like it could be 1938.
Round for the house!
Good morning Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!
Ruth, nice to see you! A cold Tui, please!
It is a quiet morning here at Our Place this beautiful Thursday. Thought I should stop by for a moment and show a few photos in no particular order. I noticed thatsomething strange is going on. Every now and then a picture will not show up. Most of the time they all show but not always. I have to take a chance and hope for the best.
First, plenty of power for this passenger train. Class Dm3 with almost 10,000 hp. Photo Hans Polanik.
X2000 at Union Station, Washington D.C., track 16.
Ottawa, ON, 1993.
RTL 158. Union Station, Washington D.C., track 16.
Have to go. A round for the house!
No summary today - no time 'n hardly anyone around to read it!
Nice to see Nick, Rob 'n Eric keep things going into the wee hours yesterday <Wednesday> and appreciate seeing Eric make an extra effort to keep Ruth awake this day! <grin>
Now Arriving on Track Number One
Heralds - Drumheads - Ads - Covers 'n Stuff #3
Norfolk & Western
The Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W) (AAR reporting marks NW), a US class I railroad, was formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. It had headquarters in Roanoke, Virginia for most of its 150 year existence.
The company was famous for manufacturing steam locomotives in-house at the Roanoke Shops as well as their own hopper cars. Around 1960, N&W was the last major American railroad to convert from steam to diesel motive power.
In the mid 20th century, N&W merged with long-time rival Virginian Railway in the Pocahontas coal region and grew even more in size and profitability by mergers with other rail carriers including Nickel Plate Road and Wabash in adjacent areas to form a system serving 14 states and a Canadian province between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi River and Great Lakes with more than 7,000 miles of trackage.
Norfolk & Western Railway was combined with the Southern Railway, another profitable carrier, to form the Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS) in 1982.
In the late 1960s, Norfolk & Western also acquired Dereco, a combination of the Delaware and Hudson, Erie Lackawanna Railroad, Reading Railroad, and Central Railroad of New Jersey. However, this subsidiary consisting of troubled northeastern US railroads was not merged into the Norfolk & Western. Most of Dereco later became part of Conrail. Some of those portions later also became part of Norfolk Southern when in it acquired the major portion of Conrail in 1999. On September 1, 1981, Norfolk & Western acquired Illinois Terminal Railroad. N&W was also a major investor in Piedmont Airlines. <from: Wikipedia.com>
Train No. 25, the Powhatan Arrow; 6 cars, 70 MPH. Photographed: near Salem, Va., July 11, 1953. <Otto Perry foto - Fair Use>
Southern
The Southern Railway (AAR reporting marks SOU) is a former United States railroad. It was the product of nearly 150 predecessor lines that were combined, reorganized and recombined beginning in the 1830s, formally becoming the Southern Railway in 1894. It was combined with the Norfolk and Western Railway to form the Norfolk Southern Railway in 1982.
Southern and its predecessors were responsible for many firsts in the industry. Its predecessor, the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road, was the first to carry passengers starting in 1833, U.S. troops and mail on steam-powered trains, and it was the first to operate at night.
The Southern Railway was notably the first Class I railroad in the United States to completely convert to diesel motive power. On June 17, 1953, the railroad's last steam-powered freight train arrived in Chattanooga, Tennessee behind 2-8-2 locomotive No. 6330.
From dieselization and shop and yard modernization, to computers and the development of special cars and the unit coal train, Southern often was on the cutting edge of change, earning the company its catch phrase, "The Railway System that Gives a Green Light to Innovations".
Every diesel locomotive Southern owned had to be ordered with a high hood and pointed long hood forward, this was meant for crew safety in case of accidents with vehicles and from the first GP7 to the last GP50, they came with this option until the tradition stopped with the SD50.
In the early 1960s, a popular steam locomotive excursion program was instituted under the presidency of W. Graham Claytor Jr. The steam program survived the merger which formed the new Norfolk Southern in 1982, but was finally discontinued in 1994. <from: Wikipedia.com>
Southern Railway 4-6-2 Pacific #1401 <Smithsonian foto>
Western Maryland
Western Maryland Railway (AAR reporting marks WM) was an American Class I railroad which operated in Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
The oldest portion was the Baltimore, Carroll and Frederick Railroad which was chartered in 1852 and began building west from Baltimore. The railroad was completed to Hagerstown, Maryland in 1872. Within a year, its name was changed to Western Maryland Rail Road Company, and eventually, it became Western Maryland Railway Company.
The Connellsville Extension was built west from Cumberland, Maryland, to Connellsville, Pennsylvania, beginning around 1906 and was completed in 1912. In 1931, the Western Maryland became part of the Alphabet Route, a competitor to more major railroads including the Pennsylvania Railroad.
The West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railway began as a narrow gauge line in 1880, its name and gauge changed in 1881 and in the ensuing years it opened a huge swathe of timber and coal territory in northern West Virginia to use, creating such towns as Elkins, Davis and Thomas. A major connection was made with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway's Greenbrier Branch at Durbin, West Virginia in 1900. Sold to the Gould interests in 1902, it became an important part of the WM in 1905 and contributed heavily to that road's prosperity in the coal and lumber trade down to modern times.
Thus, although never a giant, the Connellsville subdivision of WM handled through midwest fast freight traffic and coal from company-owned mines near Fairmont, West Virginia, and Somerset, Pennsylvania. In 1930, the Pittsburgh and West Virginia Railroad Company reached Connellsville to hook up with the WM. That line operates today as the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway.
In 1964, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) jointly filed for permission to acquire control of the Western Maryland Railway with the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). In 1973, as part of the Chessie System, the Western Maryland ownership went to C&O and it was operated by the B&O. In 1987, it was merged into the C&O which itself became part of CSX Transportation.
Much of the original Western Maryland line has been abandoned including the crossing of the Allegheny Mountains and the Eastern Continental Divide near Deal, Pennsylvania after going through Savage Mountain in a 3,000 ft tunnel. The elevation at Deal is 2,375 ft (724 m).
Portions of the former WM are now operated by West Virginia Central, the Maryland Midland Railway, and Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. Other portions are now rail trails. A portion of the former WM right of way within the city of Baltimore is now used by the Baltimore Metro Subway. <from: Wikipedia.com>
Western Maryland 2-8-6-2 #924 (from: yesteryeardepot.com - foto credit: uniknown)
Missed any
#1 . . . Page 2
#2 . . . Page 5
Hey Ruth I see that yo aer keeoping busy with odds n ends. Is that soem needle work from the ladies knitting circle Very pretty and a much nicer design than what H&H are usually knitting. Mind you they are using chain-mail and not yarn I think I'll just have Tui to try it ( when in Rome as they say )Here's a twenty for your private travel fund.
Eric-Yes it was indeed "rainy"for those early decades of Canada's existance H&H and the northern cousins are a bit of a concern,however what they do on their own time is well there perogative,I'm certainly not telling them how they should spend their free time,that could be hazardous to one's health besides I would hate to loose their usefullness as bouncers and dart team protectors !
Some interesting shots today and last night from you Interesting to see a CPR loco in the lead of the Amtrak train in Ottawa.I ahd always wondered if the fact that European trains ( freight ) were smaller because of the lack of high speed freight trucks or a I just delutional.I would think that high speed freight trains ( speed on the order of regular passenger service there)would have to high an impact on the rail infrastructure and there by slow down service.
Tom-It is slow today but we were forewarned by all those missing today,so it's a good day to catch up on the spring cleaning as it were. Hope your appointments went well for you today.I saw Cindy in town and she was enquiring about you
Nice choice of three roads for todays piece. Three long time favourites for steam heads and coal miners Both the Sou and the N&W had some marvelous steam locomotives working in some of the most gawd awfull trackage and grades.The N&W Pocahontas divison comes to mind and the Southern's "rattrack" am I right CM3 He'll correct me tomorrow if I'm not
Great visuals to back up the text as well
Good afternoon again folks,here is a redo from a theme day that I've kept in my back pocket for one of these slow days.Hope everyone enjoys it.
The First Pullman Trains on The Union Pacific
CLASSIC STEAM #36
The First UP Passenger trains west of Missouri sported a locomotive,mail , and baggage car,passenger coach a sleeper and a business car.These trains held 110 passengers for the kingly fare of $63.33 per person.Second class or Immigrant class tickets ran at $26.81, but the coaches for these fares were just hitched to the back of freight trains and the trip took four to six days instead of the 60 hours for the first class passenger trains.The trip accross the entire country, from New York to San Fran. took just over a week, and cost $150.00 .By today's standards these trips would be nightmarish ( some argue Amtrak still is )but compared to the earlier excursions they were a dream come true and the essence of modern railroading ( at the time ). A year after the historic meeting at Promontory, the cross country fare was reduced to $136.00 for first class and $110.00 for emigrants, who now also got to travel in passsenger trains instead of the back of freights.
Comfort came to UP in the form of Pullman's first Palace Cars. These height of luxury cars were the ornate new plush sleepers which George Pullman and Andrew Carnegie first created in 1867.When Pullman and Carnegie first approached Durant with the idea for sleeper cars the UP's response was a contract requiring that the Pullman cars be kept under UP control. In January of 1868, the Pacific Pullman Company was formed, with UP taking 2600 of it's 5000 shares , Pullman and Carnegie each getting 1200.
These new Pullman cars were an instant hit,which further inspired George Pullman to produce and develope the "Hotel Train" it ran with Dinning Drawing room and Saloon cars which were added to the original sleepers, to create a rolling 5 star hotel.These editions eliminated the need for meal stops and cut down travel time conciderably. The Hotel train ran only one year, but it's short lifespan suggested to the UP what type of deluxe luxurious trains could be produced in the future of rail travel.
The rest is as they say history, Pullman's became standard fare on most railways in the US. Even TH&B and CP handled through Pullman's from connecting routes through Canada. The TH&B handled through sleepers from Chicago and NY from it's NYC parent. And SOO and CP operated through sleeper service on their joint Winnepegger and Wolverine Runs.
Hi Tom and all
Out this morning, but back in this afternoon so a Bathams please RUTH.
NICK Many thanks for the photos of your layout and the Clonakilty Model Village, the line is busy with the newsprint and the F hauled VIA passenger trains. Is Big Otto any relation to Vito the Hit.
Your more you look into it the murkier it gets some times. It seems both the 2-6-0 tender locomotives, the N class, and the ‘River' 2-6-4 tank locos were Maunsell designs introduced in 1917.A major difference I have found is the Ns had 5' 6" driving wheels and the Rivers had 6' drivers. The LT tanks had 5' 6" drivers. I wonder if Woolwich Arsenal produced the Ns and a tank version similar to the Rivers. I wonder if the MET done the conversion in house but it seems a very major job to convert the N parts to a tank locomotive. I think the 2-6-4s were used for freights on the Met so they would not need a high speed. Very interesting.
A link to the LT 2-6-4Ts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Railway_K_Class
Glad you enjoyed the Colorado photos.
The M7 does look a great model in the Southern Green and love those great old photos from Ireland and the Welsh narrow gauge. I wonder if the real ‘Railbus' had normal bus gears, in which the driver had to use a clutch pedal to change gears. What a great holiday it would have been in the mid 1950s touring Ireland and visiting those wonderful Irish narrow gauge lines.
ROB I bet the streetcar LP is a great listen. I have not heard of any streetcar recordings available in the UK, although in the museum at Birmingham there was recording of the sounds aboard a Birmingham tram next to the preserved tram there.
Some of the railways in the UK had nicknames based on their initials like
Manchester South Junction & Altrincham became the Many Short Jerks & Away
The Great Western was the Great Way Round of God's Wonderful Railway depending whether one was a GWR fan or not.
LMS was ‘Ell of a Mess.
LNER Late and Never Early Railway etc.
Thanks for the info on the book. Enjoyed reading about the First Pullman Trains on the UP in Classic Steam #36. I bet there wasn't that many emigrants who could afford the $110 let alone the $150 it was before, it must be quite a bit of money in today's prices.Those new Pullman cars must have been a great improvement on the cars that preceded them.
ERIC In Britain I think its not the tonnage that the locomotives can haul nowadays so much as the length of the frieght train, keeping it within the signal sections, especially the intermodel trains. Of course in steam and early diesel days it was a lot different.
I would have though with HILDA so keen on LEON that she would not want to leave Our Place although they have not been the same since they went on that double-date with two of Vito's ‘boys'
The photo in your first post is not showing at the moment but the others have. Many thanks for the photos. Was the DM3 working an ordinary passenger train or was it a railfan special do you know. The RTL looks an interesting train.
TOM Yes you have had a rough time the last few weeks with the basement when you have been feeling rough with that cough that doesn't seem to want to go away, hopefully things we back to normal real soon.
Great photos of the Can-Am for Nick and it would be good if Nick could come over and see it in person one day.
Great to see #3 of the Heralds Drumheads Ads Covers & Stuff.Three great companies. Seeing as the Norfolk and Western was formed of over 200 companies, it must be a great number of original companies that are now part of Norfolk Southern. The photo on the N&W Power book looks like one by O. Winston Link
I see the Southern Railway was the first class 1 to go completely diesel in 1953 I guess it was not that many yeas before the other class1s followed suit. #1401 sure is a good-looking locomotive.
It seems the Western Maryland had an interesting history, but sadly when it was merged with the larger companies a lot of its tracks were closed, although some parts are still used today. There could not have been many locomotives with the 2-8-6-2 wheel arrangement like #924; it looks just the right engine to haul heavy coal trains over the Allegheny Mountains.
A couple more photos from Colorado
A locomotive running in Denver Zoo.
Rio Grande Southern 'Goose' #2.
At Georgetown Loop I believe.Unfortunatly we arrived too late for a ride but another reason to go back to the Denver area, a great place I thought.
A happy engine at the Museum Of Transportation at Kirkwood.
Well Ruth a round please and of course the Fish 'N' Chip .
The harder I try to catch up, the behindER I get! <groan>
Customer Acknowledgments in brief (since my last narrative):
Page 14 - Nick <nickinwestwales> at 9:22 PM <3:22 AM Thursday GMT>: Back with a 2nd installment of great offerings. Lots of chat with lots of fotos . . . hard to beat. Man oh man, when you're "on, " you're REALLY "on."
Afraid my singing days <daze> are way behind me. Juneau cowers when I begin my solos while down in the confines of the trainroom . . . <grin> Funny how they all "sound" just fine to Moi! <uh oh> Is that the "second thing" to go Hmmmmm.
Hope you catch those Can-Am Railway shots - guess you didn't see ‘em. Forums Gremlins at it again, eh
Page 14 - Rob <trolleyboy> at 11:46 PM: Holding up the night shift again ,eh Well, I suppose it's encouragement for our Nocturnal One to have some company!
Neither of those characters are from the Second Class Saloon "inner circle." That's Pete ‘n Moi!
The more I pick up about you, the more I fully believe you were born a few decades too late! Comment about having to take a test before bringing new life into this world is absolutely <bang on>!! Anyone can be a mother or father, but it takes a hulluva lot more to be a parent! ‘nuf said . . .
Glad you jumped in on the CP story - figgered you would! Anyway, it IS definitely an interesting chapter in RR history.
Welllllllll, I'm seeing a turn away from our bill o' fare for the "Our" Place menu. One thing we will NOT do is turn this joint into anything resembling fast food. Ain't gonna happen. We've been serving up great sandwiches on Mon, Tues ‘n Wed nites - with our "standard" menu items for Thurs - Fri - Sat. Of course, Chief Chef Nick has the liberty to "insert" where ‘n whenever he wishes. Now, I'm open to suggestions . . .
Thanx for dropping by . . .
Thursday - April 17th <all times Central daylite>:
Page 14 - Eric <EricX2000> at 1:24 AM: Not to worry my desert dwelling friend - the tax filing comments are "general" and not specific. Pay as you go is my preference for pretty much everything encountered in life. Exceptions: when Pete is at the TrainWreck Saloon with me - then HE pays!
I don't know this for sure, but with the enormous amount of trucks on the highways, it just doesn't seem that the railroads carry enough of ‘em on the rails for long distance hauls. Now that diesel fuel has topped 4 bucks, perhaps that will change. Then again, wonder if the RRs even have the equipment ‘n infrastructure to handle quantum increases in that kind of traffic Just a rhetorical ramble - don't worry about answering.
And a ROUND along with a fine, inclusive Post!
Page 14 - Eric <EricX2000> at 10:54 AM: Back with an extra-effort ‘n some fine fotos! Many thanx for the attention to our morning doldrums! Have one me next time you're "in."
Page 14 - Rob <trolleyboy> at 1:49 PM ‘n 2 PM: A two-fer from our Manager along with a "donation" to Ruth's "private travel fund." Hmmmmmm - don't wanna know!
Since Pullman is one of my FAY-VOR-ITE subjects - I'll definitely get A-ROUNDTUIT - but not now, Mate. <ugh>
Many thanx for the daylite visit - this joint is far busier than I thought for a day with so many ‘announced' absences . . . not complaing!
Page 14 - Pete <pwolfe> at 3:16 PM: The Bar Chandler kept to his "slot" in spite of the anticipated absence. So the bar is hummin' along.
Far too much for me to keep pace with - but I know the guys will appreciate your attentiveness to their comments along with some fine ones of your own!
A "funky" looking loco with a smile When was that taken <yikes>
The basement has stopped leaking - but with rains forecast, who knows. Work supposedly will begin before month's end - yeah, I'll believe it when I see it. <groan> This <nagging> <coughing> <horseness> ‘n general malaise has really Pd me off . I'm no fun to be around ‘n I KNOW it. <arrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhh>
Doc still sez, "This just has to work itself out." Hmmmmmm. I could've been a Doc . . . how hard is THAT <groan> And I have TWO Docs looking into this . . . best I can say is at least I can get to ‘em without having to get in line. ‘nother story for ‘nother time . . .
Many thanx for the outstanding inclusive Post - no one does ‘em better, Mate! ROUND appreciated too - oh yeah, g'wan ‘n fill up that oversized mug with a Bathams on Moi!
Looking forward to seeing the two of you tomorrow! Drive SAFELY!
Well then gentlemen --Looks like we are a select company this evening so the normal thursday menu has been abandoned-shall we make just the one table and lets see if I can suprise you all.
Leon-I shall order for the table,I think a couple of bottles of the white Cote du Rhone to get us going,better open a bottle or two of that special red for the meat courses-they need to breathe -and perhaps a bowl of the Bombay mix to tickle the palates
Naturally the ladies are invited to join us and add the missing `light touch` to our evening-so:-loosen the belts and sit back-there is no room for lightweights at this table.........
For a starter we have-Chicken & sweetcorn soup-a light bouillon based dish to wake the palate
next up we have-Game Pie-layers of rabbit.pheasant,venison & duck under a raised pastry crust served with a port wine & redcurrant jelly,& sweet onion,apple & ginger chutney
And for the fish dish we have:-a fillet of Lemon Sole,lightly coated in seasoned flour and pan fried, served with steamed new green beans
And for the main course:- Beef Wellington-a whole fillet of Wesh black beef ,with a pork & mixed mushroom pate coat wrapped in puff pastry served with honey glazed carrots,paneed zuchinni (courgettes) and pommes paille (straw potatoes) on a bed of fresh watercress and mustard & pepper leaves
For a dessert,how about pears poached in a cote de Bordeaux dessert wine with a champagne sorbet........
Time to let out another belt notch-here comes the cheese board:- as well as 9 different cheeses we also have 7 different salami`s,more olives than you could shake a stick at ,some rather nice little garlic bread roundels and if I am any judge of a situation-time for the extra-extra special bottle of Cognac to do the rounds
Gentlemen-you may now smoke-if the ladies wish to retire,the lounge bar is yours for the evening,never let it be said that we don`t know how to behave when in company...........
That said,I am a touch wobbly after tonights practice-we had a different drummer sit in -was a thoroughly enjoyable experience-and the tape proves it--apologies for lack of responses,will wait until tomorrow--Now then-you Sir-Cmdr Weber-just `cos you have the top seat doesn`t mean you can hog the port --Ahh ,good man-PETE -this is a fine vintage with a good creamy Stilton-would value your opinion-ROB-have a taste of this mate-and try a wafer of this Spanish salami to follow it down-the flavours just build and multiply...........
Right-better go and check out the galley-someone has to do the dishes (ahhh-poor soul)
Take care guys-speak soon
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