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"Our" Place reborn! An adult bar 'n grill for the discussion of Classic Trains!
Posted by siberianmo on Monday, February 4, 2008 1:59 PM

G'day Gents!

Should make mention of the guys who stopped by thus far today: CM3 Shane - Dan DL-UK 'n Ron DD1. Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

Particular mention to Dan 'n Ron for the effort put into your Posts - believe me - I KNOW how much it takes to do the work. Nice going . . . Thumbs Up [tup] Yeah!! [yeah]

CM3 Shane at 9:17 AM:  - Undoubtedly you 'n Lars are in "heaven" today. Quite a game 'n unless someone was totally brain-dead while watching it, the Giants outplayed the Patriots in every aspect of the contest 'n surely deserved to win it. Perhaps one of the most exciting of Super Bowl games in many years.  

Quarters 'n round appreciated! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup] 

 

 

Dan at 12:17 PM:  - Your trip report may be found on Page 116 on this Thread . . . <for the "challenged" out there - you can either "scroll back" again 'n again until you get to 116 - OR - insert 116 in the URL at the top of your web Page - replace the Page number shown - then "hit" ENTER!> Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

Liked the looks of those cars in your first two links! Thumbs Up [tup] Also the A1 Class steamer is a fine looking MoSheen! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

 

 

Ron at 12:24 PM: - The Super Bowl game was broadcast nationally on FREE TV. Now having said that, I don't know what kind of a set up you have with your "sat" - some require a separate antenna to pick up local stations (CBS - NBC - ABC - FOX) - but anyway, the NFL did not put that game on any kind of a subscription package. That I know. Perhaps someone down your way is trying to make money on the side . . . Hmmmmm.

Shame on me for forgetting about the "Po-Boys"! Yes - I recall, having spent a tour in the south, not to mention the sea deployments . . . . Anyway, it's been added to the list of "hard rolls" baked at The Mentor Village Bakery! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

1936 - not a bad year for trains! Yeah!! [yeah]

Round always appreciated! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

In absence of our Manager 'n good friend, Lars (LoveDomes), thought I'd do a bit of my own version of book covers for the crew . . . . a feature most appreciated over the many, many months the Larsman kept at it!

 

 

Now Arriving on Track Number Two!

Hard Cover Classic Train Books for the Can-Am Library!

Number Two

 

Rites of Passage - A Canadian Railway Retrospective <in the library>

Book Description: Each new railway book by writer-photographer Greg McDonnell is cause for celebration in the North American railfan community. Rites of Passage, a look at over three decades of transition and changes along Canada's rail lines, is his most personal book to date. "For what it's worth," McDonnell writes in his introductory essay, "what follows on these pages is personal, a collection of images and essays drawn from a 35-year effort to capture and chronicle the magic of Canadian railroading, an effort that began with a young boy pointing a borrowed Brownie at a pair of olive-green GMD1's looming out of the early morning fog in Kitchener and quickly grew to be a lifetime avocation, if not a vocation." Rites of Passage is vintage McDonnell, a sensual feast of boiler steam and diesel smoke, high iron and midnight runs across the prairies, wistful memories and critical analysis.
<from: amazon.com>

 

 

Travel by Pullman <in the library>

Book Description: Every evening for much of the twentieth century, 50,000 or more travelers snuggled under crisp Pullman linens, falling asleep in one state and awaking in another. This nostalgic look back at what was essentially a rolling hotel company contracted by the nation's railroads to
Happy Railroading! Siberianmo
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Posted by pwolfe on Monday, February 4, 2008 5:13 PM

Hi Tom and all.

A pint of Bathams to celebrate the Giants win Bow [bow]paid for by Manager Lars please RUTH.Thumbs Up [tup]

LARS Thanks for the drinksThumbs Up [tup]. Congratulations on that great Giants winApprove [^] I thought it was a really good game and a well deserved win.Yeah!! [yeah]

Very good choices for encore SaturdayApprove [^]Thumbs Up [tup], when I think of the knowledge and the great way it is related, it reminds me how lucky we are to have Our Place.Yeah!! [yeah]

ALLAN Thanks for the kind words on my photosThumbs Up [tup]. I have quite a few of the Shildon cavalcade I will post, there are a couple of locos I missed from the front and they are poor going away shotsSad [:(] but if you are keeping a record I will include themThumbs Up [tup].

That is a great photo of Juneau and IApprove [^]Thumbs Up [tup].

I believe this is the famous Causey Arch.

Perhaps you can help meThumbs Up [tup]. This electric locomtive was i believe taken at the Tanfield Railway, I have a feeling that is worked at a colliery in the Newcastle area, I wonder if you have any details on it.Question [?].

  

ROB Glad you enjoyed the photos.Thumbs Up [tup]

Many thanks for the great photos from the museum near Buffalo and the trolley cars from the chartersApprove [^]Thumbs Up [tup].Enjoyed the photos of the RedcoatsApprove [^]

Using two fingers to type will have you in Molly Throttlebottom's ‘Advanced' Typing Class.Wow!! [wow]Yeah!! [yeah],BORIS and I are still in the beginnersSigh [sigh]Big Smile [:D]

NICK Thanks for the info on the hot pokers and the ciderThumbs Up [tup], I must admit I try to steer clear of those ‘Real' cidersShock [:O]. I remember going to Hereford many years ago, and it was hard to get a pint of bitter in some pubs, it was all cider. Do you think it is a good idea to give the ‘Track Gang' any chance of getting their hands on some Somerset ‘Farmhouse Rough' Shock [:O]Smile [:)]

I believe it is called the Avon Valley Railway, where some enthusiasts have re-laid some track on part of the Bristol - Bath section and run steam trains at weekends.Thumbs Up [tup]

Thanks for the kind words on the photosThumbs Up [tup], yes those Victorian and Edwardian locomotive engineers produced some beautiful enginesBow [bow]. A ‘Terrier' was there, photo soon.Yeah!! [yeah]

If you have the book of the cavalcade handy, can you have a look to see if the APT was there, as Dan asked and I could not recall it.Thumbs Up [tup]

Curved Air Approve [^]I remember them in their early days at the Camden RoundhouseYeah!! [yeah]. Wish I still had the picture LP they produced.Sigh [sigh]

ERIC Many thanks for the info and the link to the ex Norfolk and Western M class 4-8-0, and the great photos of the Circus Train at BarabooApprove [^]Thumbs Up [tup]. Noticed all the different circus names on the side of the wagons and equipment.

I think #2253 worked for Polish Railways from 1951 until 1985. One of hoses of the front of 2253 may be for steam train heating, which would have been added in preservation days, the locos work tender first in the NYMR one way, on the line.

I have lightened some of my photos after I scanned them; the only problem at Shildon was the stands were on the north side so making photography against the lightSigh [sigh]. What do you use to clean your slidesQuestion [?], I tried the dust removal but I think the objects on the slides were too big.Sad [:(]

CM3 Glad you liked the photos.Thumbs Up [tup] After the formation of the LMS in 1923 another batch of the 4-4-0 compounds were built, I think they were OK for the ex Midland lines but were not so well liked on the ex L&NWR lines. The L&NWR has some 2-2-2-0 compounds with the driving wheels not connected by a connecting rod but by some sort of clutch arrangementConfused [%-)], it is said after reversing onto a train when starting off forward again there could be the very odd sight of one pair of driving wheels going forward a

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Posted by nickinwestwales on Monday, February 4, 2008 8:48 PM

Well good evening fellow travellers,Leon-a Starop and a large cognac please and a round for the houseHeadphones [{(-_-)}]-thought I had best pop in and pick up those odd bits and pieces I arrived home without on saturdayBlack Eye [B)]Dead [xx(]-2 guitars,my wallet & watch and a front tooth............

Rain continues here (6 months worth in 3 weeks apparently) but does nothing to diguise the smell from the local farmer spraying slurry on the fields-the whole village smells like a winos armpit

So-whats new in downdown Mentor then--

ERIC-loved those circus train pixs-especially that chain drive Mack-a thing of strange beauty (rather like Janis Joplin,but I digress)-glad we got that mastodon pinned down-was even rarer over here-only examples I can call to mind were a pair built for a narrow (3ft) gauge line in Ireland-had something of the look of Anglicised Colorado & Southern `mikes`

ROB-Tighty whities indeed-now she could wait tables here any night of the weekWhistling [:-^]-forgot to mention the pix from Buffalo the other day-Nice-you can hear the bees a buzzing and the grass a growing-it`s strange-a row of derelict cars/autos look like an eyesore,a row of derelict trains retain their dignity somehow................. As to the Zeppelins-homeland security not a problem-we fly em acroos the trans polar route,shut down the engines just off the coast and they show up as clouds on the radar....Whistling [:-^]-there are options there I`m not even gonna look at......Thumbs Down [tdn]

Pirate [oX)]Captain [4:-)]TOM-Thanks for the reference location for DL`s O.N.R tour-most usefulThumbs Up [tup]-whilst there I noted the cover for `Rites of Passage`-had no idea that the S.O.B lines permanent way had been used in a cover shot.......FINE shot of the Alaska road train btw-also the pix of Denali-I have an(Ahem)extremely good friend who hails from Fairbanks and wants to take me up there (literally) and meet the folks..moving swiftly on,pub names-there are (or were ) a number of taverns around London called either the Turks head or the Saracens head-these generally dated back to the crusades (1200 ad or so) and instead of a sign actually had the real thing,dried and shrunken,hanging outside-what a wonderful world we live in,eh....

LARS-So-nothing much happening at your end of the bar then................Wink [;)]Laugh [(-D]-delighted your team won mate-as the man says-its only cheating if they catch you-win ugly or win pretty-it`s the win that counts--enjoy !!!!!!!!!

DL-Just been back to check out your O.N.R report-cracking stuff Smile [:)]-you seemed suprised that staff were friendly and helpful-well-they are Canadian-goes with the territory-joking aside,I guess when you live in a place where -40 is not unusual,you HAVE to pull together-couple of points-I dont doubt your memory,but would have been most unusual to have a GP9 on the point-they are generally reserved for yard work-#697&#698 (Northlander ) are normally a GP38/2 turn since the `Cats` (re-engined FP7a`s) have been retired-although there are also 3 GP40/2 available..The power cars you mentioned are essentially F7b units with the traction motors removed and are train heating units-some were built in house there are also some ex-Milw. Rd units in reserve-there is some speculation on the website that some GO-Trans FP59`s might be in the pipeline---The line west from Cochrane still handles some freight-the Kapuskasing turn plus through C.N workings from Hearst to Noranda and back plus (when you were there) the Smooth Rock trip (think I`ve got the names right)-delighted you have found Mike Robins photo site-if you want to delve further ,there are some wonderful old Kodak style pix of the line in the 50`s &`60 on the UNofficial website.......Fine write up on the G.C.R by-the-by-as new to me as to the rest of the gang,although I have more chance of visiting it,as to the beaver tails,have some pix from about 10 years ago of the G.W car on the Dart Valley when Flying Scotsman was the guest engine(in 60103 guise) plus some from last year,although they are still a bit too raw to look at ,as my late father in law appears in many of them-we tried to get on but the whole coach was full of Les Dawson/Roy Barraclough type old ladies (sorry -a Brit reference) who were unwilling to give any ground....

DD1-Excellent-have spent many years wondering what a shrimp po`boy was-exchange of info-gawd bless the interweb thingy Dinner [dinner]--again,a couple of points from your excellent calender-may 11th-check out the stats for 4468`Mallard` on a test run down stoke bank-I believe she had the edge by 2mph......Jan 20th"something must be done"-still bloody waiting..........but not your fault-dont worry Wink [;)]

PETE-a selection from now & back in the summer when Dan posted his O.N.R report-4-A4`s in steam-now that will be worth a tank of gas to look at..... Spam fritters-Tesco are selling them ready made-just heat in the oven (but keep a bottle of chilli sauce handy)-corned beef(makes a better fritter for my money)-watched a cookery prog the other night that gave traditional Irish corned beef-looked good but yet to try it-essentially,you boil a joint of silverside with salt,pepper & herbs and then serve with steamed cabbage and whole carrots and spuds with the un-thickened liquor as a gravy-then for left-overs,fry cold spuds and onions in a big skillet ,flake the left over meat into it and you have traditional corned beef hash-apparently this is the recipe that the emigres took over to the states in the desperate 1840`s............Sign - Off Topic!! [#offtopic] now then-the Avon railway is based at Bitton)or was when I was there-looked like they had a fair amount of stock-including several coaches with Pines Express boards-cant fault the ambition-but that was 20 years ago-who knows where they are now-class 20`s-got some pix of what looks like the same pair on the S.D.R at Buckfastleigh this summer-will post asap-indeed,they have an excellent collection there-again,is a bit raw,but I am sure Alan would want them to be shared and enjoyed..<

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Posted by trolleyboy on Monday, February 4, 2008 11:04 PM

Good evening Leon, I see that the bar surviveed the fusiliers did thier job ( for once ) and none of them were arrested Thumbs Up [tup] I see that most of them are sleeping it off in the Rats Patoot room. Well just a Keith's tonight heres a couple bucks for a round for the Fusilier's officers should any of them wake up again , if nor use it for the breakfast crowd Thumbs Up [tup]

Dl-Great work on all those urls , some neat stuff in there to be sure.Nexty time your in the Province you should look into doing the tour of the line on the ACR ( if it's still offered )The Sault to Hearst with the night stay over at a B&B in Hearst.

Ron-Another great Monday masterpiece sir even got soem CPR stuff in it Thumbs Up [tup] Thanks for the clear up on the sandwiches, we just call em subs up here.Toasted seems to be the way of them lately.

Tom-Nice book covers mate Thumbs Up [tup] I see a couple of them in there that I have in my humble library.I wonder how much money was lost ( and houses ) in the Sin City over that football result Question [?]

Pete-Actually three fingers , two indexes and a thumb Thumbs Up [tup] Molly will be proudBig Smile [:D] Interesting shots of the Class 20 sorry but that one does not do much for me, an interesting paint scheme though. If you are inetersted in partaking the Arms serve Sunday breakfast from 8:30 to noon , then they break out the pub fare and booze Big Smile [:D]When can we make the reservations for youQuestion [?]

CM3-Thanks for the , locator of those pictures  posted,I hadn't driven that day so I was a bit lost. My friend from Grand Island was driving , as we were hitting all the local and not so local hobby shops and pubs. Pat does like his beer and trains.I've tried to get him to come on in here but at the moment he's packed up his computer,too bad he's a wealth of MLW and Alco info and an all round great guy.I don't know about you but I think that they should bring back the solid tired friction bearing'd Macks,can't get much more simplistic or tough than that Thumbs Up [tup]

Nick - Hmmm maybe we can talk Tom into hiring her to wait tables here every other weekendWhistling [:-^] So H&H make like a cloud with the Zep's interesting plan. I don't want to know why you know what a wino's armpits smell likeShock [:O]Dead [xx(]

TTFN

Rob

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Posted by EricX2000 on Monday, February 4, 2008 11:08 PM

Good evening Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!

Leon, good to see you again! Give a number 3 with lots of ries, please! I'll try a Tui tonight! Thank you!

Monday, a visit to the doctor who declared me a very healthy person. The only restriction is not to lift more than 25 lbs for the next 30 days. 

Tom –  Hold it!Oops [oops] What do you know about a private suite at the stadium? Whistling [:-^]I mean, what is... what do you mean?Angel [angel] Did you get any snow in St. Louis last night?

I like the books!Thumbs Up [tup] Especially the first one, Rites of Passage! It’s on top of my “have to have-list” The cover photo alone is worth the money! At least I have two of the other books, Travel by Pullman and the first Classic American Railroads!

CM3 –  When I get a chance I’ll look for some more circus train photos.Smile [:)]

DL –  Slides can be kind of tricky to scan. Since the picture size is very small all kinds of dirt show up. A lot of it can be removed mechanically, for instance using a lens brush (as you mentioned). Other stains, etc, you have to work on each slide using some kind of software, like Photoshop, to remove them. That means a lot of time consuming job, but it is rewarding when you see the result. Some stains could probably be removed using some kind of chemical cleaner, but I don’t know much about that. Personally I always use a camera lens brush to clean the slides before I scan them and then I use Photoshop or Aperture to fix what is necessary after they are scanned.Smile [:)]

Ron –  Didn’t your local Fox-station carry the Super Bowl? It doesn’t make sense that you should have to pay extra to watch it. Grumpy [|(]

I wonder what light weight passenger train that was pulled at 112.5 mph near Saint-Télesphore, Quebec, Canada September 18, 1936? Question [?]

Pete –  I love the photo of the Causey Arch!Thumbs Up [tup] It looks so old and classic. Beautiful!Yeah!! [yeah]

I usually adjust the light a first time before I scan the slides (or ant photos). Then, if necessary, I’ll do a final adjustment afterwards.

Personally I hardly ever use the electronic dust remover in the scaning program. In my opinion it affects other small details in the photo too. I use a camera lens brush to remove as much dust as I can find and if there some dust lefte I’ll remove that using Photoshop or Aperture.Smile [:)]

The hose for steam heat usually looks different than the air hose.

Steam for heat and hoses for air in behind it. 



Nick –  Glad you liked the circus train photos!



Oldtimer!




Eric

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Posted by DL - UK on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 4:30 AM

Hello Tom and all in

I'll have pancake breakfast please (what with it being Shrove Tuesday of course), coffee and juice too please.

Tom - thanks for the link back to the ONR trip report plus the helpful tutorial. Looks like Nick checked it back quickly too. That Pullman book looks rather good, nice cover pic - atmospheric - reminds me of something Pete mentioned - it's the everyday shots that turn out to be most interesting - I found this out when going through old family pics during the house clear outs over the last couple of years - the slides of everyday scenes, catching things in the background almost by chance - are much more interesting than the posed shot of the historic ‘monument' - seems to be the case that the Eiffel Tower, or maybe Mount Rushmore etc pretty much look the same today as they did 50 years ago, but a casual shot of a tram rolling down the street with a host of background detail (as some of Rob's posts show) takes one to a whole lost world!

Ron - I know what you mean about the TV - last year our aerial blew down in a gale, I did not get round to fixing it for about 8 months. Never missed the TV in all that time!

Pete - that pic of the Class 20s looks like home! Late 1980s perhaps? On the through roads between platforms 3 & 4 - are they readying up to haul a Skegness summer special train perhaps? One certainly has to admire the GCR for the ambition of some of the projects - but I suppose I worry that it is a large financial ‘stretch' - I suppose the ability to bid for lottery funds encourages places to think big (although they stand to lose out now so much cash is being diverted into the Olympics - what is the point of all that just so some people can spend a couple of weeks running up and down?). But meanwhile some more basic things seem to urgently need attention - eg the roof canopy at Loughborough is starting to look in a rather sorry state, and it would be good to see more of the vintage coaches fixed up before they deteriorate further. Mind you - when you look what thy have achieved who I am to question their ambition?

Nick - glad you found the ONR link - and thanks for your comments on the trip report - I bow to superior knowledge on the traction - sounds like you have made the trip to Moosonee? Is that the case. Very interesting place I thought. By friendly staff I meant more friendly than some (but certainly not all) Via employees I think.

You mentioned vintage Kodak pix on the unofficial site - have you got a link by any chance?

"Les Dawson/Roy Barraclough type old ladies who were unwilling to give any ground...." - you would have had no chance - neither would the track gang of course....

Rob - yes, I'd love to do the ACR trip for the whole length. I did spend some time wondering how best to get to The Sault without a car from Toronto. Sudbury - White River is another run I'd like to do. Does that intersect with the ACR (at Franz?) or am I muddled up about that?).

I can understand your comments on the EE Class 20, it won't win any glamour contests! - but it holds a special place for us - as Pete indicated - it was really the first large scale production UK diesel loco - designed for medium weight freights - or heavier when 2 linked, and the first ones were of the production line by 1958 I think - some still in service today so - they represented good value.  Must have been good to see them on fast freights Pete, back in the early days!

Eric - thanks for your comments on slide cleaning - I can see why fixing them up electronically is a good way to go.

Regards to all

DL

 

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"Our" Place reborn! An adult bar 'n grill for the discussion of Classic Trains!
Posted by siberianmo on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 7:16 AM

G'day Gents!

Far too many fine Posts to read this morning - which will delay my AM summary. Soooo, check out this from days gone by . . .

Great Railroad Bridges - #2

<Initially appeared on Page 390, Sep 7th, 2006 on the Original Thread>

Used with permission from Wikipedia.com

Forth Railway Bridge

The Forth Bridge, viewed from the Fife side, straddling the Firth of Forth.

Official name

Forth Bridge

Carries

Trains

Crosses

Firth of Forth

Locale

Edinburgh, Scotland

Maintained by

Balfour Beatty under contract to Network Rail]

Design

Cantilever bridge

Longest span

2 of 521.3 m (1710 ft)

Total length

2528.7 m (8296 ft)

Clearance below

150 ft

AADT

190 - 200 trains per day

Opening date

March 4, 1890

The Forth Bridge is a railway bridge over the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland, to the east of the Forth Road Bridge, and 14 km (9 miles) west of Edinburgh. It is often called the "Forth Rail Bridge" to distinguish it from the Forth Road Bridge. The bridge connects Scotland's capital Edinburgh with Fife, and acts as a major artery connecting the north-east and south-east of the country.

History

Forth Bridge at Night

Construction of an earlier bridge, designed by Sir Thomas Bouch, got as far as the laying of the foundation stone, but was stopped after the failure of another of his works, the Tay Bridge. On Bouch's death the project was handed over to Sir John Fowler and Sir Benjamin Baker, who designed a structure that was built by Sir William Arrol's company between 1883 and 1890. Baker - "one of the most remarkable civil engineers Britain ever produced" - and his colleague Allan Stewart received the major credit for design and overseeing construction work.

Construction

The bridge is, even today, regarded as an engineering marvel. It is 2.5 km (1.5 miles) in length, and the double track is elevated 46 m (approx. 150 ft) above high tide. It consists of two main spans of 1,710 ft, two side spans of 675 ft, 15 approach spans of 168 ft, and five of 25 ft. Each main span comprises two 680 ft cantilever arms supporting a central 350 ft span girder bridge. The three great four-tower cantilever structures are 340 ft (104 m) tall, each 70 ft diameter foot resting on a separate foundation. The southern group of foun

Happy Railroading! Siberianmo
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Posted by coalminer3 on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 8:17 AM

Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox.  Cloudy here today with some heavy weather expected to the north.  We had enough yesterday, thank you.  Gas is holding at $3.09 and has been for awhile.  Nine days until pitchers and catchers report (some of the best words ever put together, IMHO).

Lots of good stuff in the mail this a.m., so let's get started.

DL was by with some interesting information and some good sites to check out.  One that intrigued me especially was a picture of some passenger equipment on what looked to be a card issued by a tobacco company.  Is this so?  If it is, what more can you tell us about it? 

Tobacco companies in the states, for years issued card inserts with pictures of baseball players or other subjects on them.  Boris still has his Sweet Caporal picture of Little Egypt from the St. Louis World's Fair. 

Seriously, though, probably the most expensive baseball card in captivity is the Honus Wagner cigarette card.  BTW, the statue of Ol' Honus that is in front of the present day ballpark in Pittsburgh has been displayed at three different parks - quiz for the day is, can you name the ballparks? 

Anyway, enquiring minds want to know.  Back in the day I remember collecting a set of metal railroad heralds which came in cereal boxes - don't recall seeing or hearing of rr-related cigarette cards. 

DD1 sent some interesting data along - you can see that streamlining was truly  getting started.  The material about the Green Diamond was interesting because some trains were gradually equipped with hw cars before entire streamlined sets of equipment became available and went into service.

Pete - 2-2-2-0s - egad! 

Nick - Speaking of Zeppelins.  I spent yesterday evening watching "Wings" on Turner Classic Movies. This was, of course, the first Academy Award "Best Picture" winner, IIRC.  Truly an epic WWI flying flick (silent) with a great cast.  I know, Boris, you still carry a torch for Clara Bow.

Nick, you'd enjoy it if you have not seen it - Fokkers, Nieuports, Gotha Bombers, early tanks, etc., etc., and attacks on balloons.   For the cultural mavens at the bar, the version on TMC had a musical store done on a Wurlitzer Theatre Organ - classy, classy, classy.  BTW, it is also the first appearance of Gary Cooper in a ‘moom picher, I think.  I can't remember if we have viewed it at the Emporium.  If we have, well, it's worth a rerun.  Maybe Mike can find us a picture of Frank Luke, aka the "balloon buster."

Eric - Let's see; 25 lbs.  That means you can handle one Cracker Barrel breakfast in each had - you can do it!

OSP visited with books (nice picture of the D&H) and some bridge history, too.  Those of you in the book exchange remember the segments on the Tay Bridge.

Well, I'd better get out of here.

Work safe

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"Our" Place reborn! An adult bar 'n grill for the discussion of Classic Trains!
Posted by siberianmo on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 9:19 AM

<personal foto>

G'day Gents!

It's Shrove Tuesday! <check this link>

http://www.pancakeparlour.com/Annual_Events/Shrove/shrove.html

So order up your favorites from our Menu Board - wash it down with a mugga freshly ground' n brewed coffee. And of course if all of that doesn't "do it," there's The Mentor Village Bakery case  - bakery goods from Mama ‘n Papa Grundledink! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

Customer Acknowledgments (since my last narrative):

Monday - Feb 4th: <all times Central standard>

Page 179 - Pete (pwolfe) at 5:13 PM: Most appreciative of your efforts - always - ‘n your fine < I3 > Post is certainly an example of the way we like to converse with one another!

As if we NEED a musical branch to "Our" Place - remember, we've got our own group:

Many thanx for the visit - ROUND too! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

Page 179: Nick (nickinwestwales) at 8:48 PM: There just are some tunes that never seem to depart my rapidly aging cranium - Whiskey in the Jar is one of ‘em! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

A link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiskey_in_the_Jar

All the talk of that Cochrane trip makes me wanna . . . Censored [censored] <grin> Maybe one day . . .

Fairbanks is only worth visiting in the daylite months - I've been there in the dead of winter ‘n wouldn't recommend it. <ugh> Can't speak for the nite-life, but as with any place that has a military population nearby, along with lots of local folks who develop keen thirsts over the "long haul," my guess is there's more than a few bistros about the area. <grin>

Rainin' here too - no evidence of our 8 inch snow - all disappeared by Monday morning. Temps were in the lo-70s (F) yesterday - reached 73 in fact. <yikes> Supposed to be winter. Thumbs Down [tdn]

Was wonderin' if you ‘n your band <your choice of which!> would perform for us at "Our" Place on March 17th Question [?] A treat to last a lifetime, fer sure, fer sure. Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

Appreciate the < I3 > Post, chat ‘n humor - ROUND too! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup] <won't even ask about the front tooth . . . > <uh oh>

Page 179: Rob (trolleyboy) at 11:04 PM: "Can't tell a book by its cover," but with those RR books, I've found the covers to be very revealing ‘n on the money! Thumbs Up [tup] Glad you enjoyed ‘em.

What have I missed Question [?] Hire someone Question [?] Men's underwear - Tightie whities - Say whut Question [?]  Confused [%-)]

You're a sick-O young Mr. Rob - but one of us, fer sure, fer sure! <grin>

Visit, chat ‘n ROUND appreciated! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

Page 179 - Eric (EricX2000) at 11:08 PM: A chain drive Mack truck! Wow!! [wow] Circus shots really reveal all kinds of insights! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

Weather report from here has been unseasonably warm, warm, warm ‘n wet, wet, wet - no traces of snow remain. <ugh> However, cold front en route . . . nothing encouraging being said though . . . <barf>

Can't lift over 25 pounds, eh Question [?] Well, she'll just h

Happy Railroading! Siberianmo
  • Member since
    August 2006
  • 280 posts
Posted by DL - UK on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 10:23 AM

Hi Tom

More pancakes for me please, since it is Shrove Tuesday!

I've been meaning to post up these links which I was prompted to search out when Ron posted the Railplane material. So here goes. Some of this duplicates other stuff a bit but anyone interested may find this worth a look.

As Ron says, it's a Jules Verne / Meccano  / Constructor kit creation - but it's amazing it got built.

I knew about it because I have a reproduction of this great period poster in my own collection :

http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/results.asp?image=10173073

What I find amazing is that the thing got built, and the guy who promoted it paid for it out of his own money (clearly not a shrewd businessman - or otherwise he'd have paid for it out of someone else's money - preferably the government's - so he could have learned a trick or two on that front, but maybe ripping other people off was simply not fashionable then in the way it is now....).

I also find it remarkable that the infrastructure lasted in place until the 1950s. As you can see from these articles it was actually built over a siding. Apparently there is a model in Glasgow transport museum.

Ron's original post read like an account from the original period of construction, along with some great pics.

Here's a link with some pics of the gear in place in the mid 1950s (great Glasgow streetcar sneaking in to one photo too Rob - so take a look)

http://www.dewi.ca/trains/bennie/site.html

Here's a summary of the project:

"In the 1930s an old railway siding near Milngavie was used to test the remarkable George Bennie Railplane System of Transport. An aerial rail was constructed above 130m of the siding, and from it was suspended the Bennie Railplane, a Jules Verne-esque silver cylinder with a large propeller at either end. The line was launched on 8 July 1930, but the idea never gained the financial backing it needed, and Bennie went bankrupt in 1937. The track was removed in 1956, and images here show how it looked, complete with the railplane, in November 1950. - from Undiscovered Scotland website"

More pics from the 1950s of all the kit (control shed still there it says)

http://www.dewi.ca/trains/bennie/struct.html

Close ups of the gondola car

http://www.dewi.ca/trains/bennie/car.html

"In 1950 I visited the test track, about 20 years after the line was built. When I took these photos, the site appeared abandoned: no gates, no locks, no security: I just walked up the steps as though to board a train. "

"The test track and carriage remained until they were dismantled and sold for scrap in 1956. However, there are still remnants of the track's concrete pylon 'feet' and Kelvin Timber now occupies the wooden terminus building/platform. A model and a short film showing the Railplane can be seen at the Glasgow Transport Museum."

Superb quality pics here - note the stained glass window in the car door - Pullman style!

http://discuss.glasgowguide.co.uk/lofiversion/index.php/t6630.html

Interesting relevant newspaper article from Scotland

http://www.milngavieherald.co.uk/milngavie-yesterday/This-piece-of-scrap-metal.1715890.jp

Some good pics here - showing a good view of an LNER N2 tank below the structure

http://www.gearwheelsmag.co.uk/archive/the_bennie_railplane_feature_13.htm

Cigarette Cards

 CM3 - yes - that card was indeed a cigarette card - they were very popular here at one time with manufacturers printing cards of every topic imaginable - railway scenes and locos but also wild flowers and birds, kings and queens, flags etc - anything - with very beautiful artwork. Still a big market in them for collectors I believe.

I'm not an expert, but these links tell you more if interested

http://www.cigarettecards.co.uk/intro.htm

http://cigarettecardinserts.co.uk/

This gives you an idea of the sheer number of sets produced, just by one tobacco brand

http://www.johnrhoggarth.co.uk/cigarett.htm#JOHN%20PLAYER%20&%20SONS.%20(odds)

cheerio

DL

 

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"Our" Place reborn! An adult bar 'n grill for the discussion of Classic Trains!
Posted by siberianmo on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 3:14 PM

G'day Gents!

Man, what a dismal day here in mid-continent USA - temps are dropping, but the rains have been rather heavy with some local flooding. One of those days <daze> where one wonders why even get outta bed! <groan>

Ruth, you've done a fine job squaring away the back bar - those mirrors 'n glasses are sparkling! Wow!! [wow] Yeah, I know about "idle hands" . . . <uh oh>

Boris, good of you to get the critters out for some exercise - was beginning to think this place had turned into an annex for our local zoo. <geesh>

Soooooo, rather slow, but understandable. Seems we're getting far more evening visitors than day lite . . . anyway, here's something from the picture gallery to keep y'all entertained! All of these appeared over on the "Original Thread" . . . .

Here are some Rendezvous Pix (2006 in Toronto)  from Day 2 (the "extra" day!):
(Numbers have been provided so that trolleyboy Rob can provide descriptions as appropriate!)


(1) Halton County Radial Railway




(2) Ted - Rob ‘ Heather




(3) Subway cars




(4) Subway flat cars




(5) Electric locos




(6) Electric locos <dupicate - sorry!>





(7) VIA Rail #9482 & CPR caboose - converted to crew cars



(8) Transit buses




(9) Tom's bus!




(10) Tom's bus!

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

Yeah, I know about the "Six Rule," but what the heck - thought you'd enjoy these anyway! <grin>

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * 

That's it for this day! Thumbs Up [tup]

Tom Captain [4:-)] Pirate [oX)]

Happy Railroading! Siberianmo
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Posted by wanswheel on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 5:48 PM
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: mid mo
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Posted by pwolfe on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 6:08 PM

Hi Tom and all.

A pint of Bathams XXX please RUTH.Thumbs Up [tup]

NICK OH the joys of living in the countrySmile,Wink, & Grin [swg] I did not realize there had been so much rain over there, was it mainly in your part or was it all over.Question [?]

I was racking my brains to think of a 4-8-0 in the UK or Ireland and you provided the answer with those narrow gauge ones.Thumbs Up [tup]

I'm afraid there will be three A4s in steam when they meet up at York. Mallard is to be towed out of the museum but is not in steamable conditionSad [:(], but 3 A4s in steam will be a marvelous sight.Approve [^]

Yes the corn beef over here is completely different to the Fray Bentos I used to know and love. Last St Patrick's Day I had a very good Corned beef dinner at the Harvey's House in Union Station in Kansas CityApprove [^]. This year I will have to try it at the local Irish pub, the landlord takes a party every year to Ireland, he is still trying to make mushy peas.

I think I saw in a railway magazine that they were going to get one of the preserved S&D 7F 2-8-0s to visit the Avon Valley Railway for a short whileApprove [^], I wonder if the class ever did work north of Bath in BR daysQuestion [?], I guess they went to Derby works for overall but I can't recall seeing a photo of them north of Bath.

Lovely picture in my mind with the Les Dawson and Roy Barraclough ladies, and old Les's piano playingBig Smile [:D]. Reminded me of many years ago, when the much missed Midland Red bus company used to run day coach tours, one I went on was to the then newly opened Lakeside and Hathernwaite Railway mainly with quite elderly ladies on it. Anyway we had a lunch in the Lake District and the sight after lunch of a few of the ladies rushing round and putting the miniature jam and marmalade jars in their handbags is a sight that has stayed with me. God help you if you were between the lady and the jam potShock [:O]Smile [:)].

Playing a pub next to the ferry terminal for Irish Rugby fans and then the club at LlanelliShock [:O] You're a better man than I am Gunga DinBow [bow].

ROB What a great way to spend a SundayApprove [^] A good breakfast, a bit of a rest and then a few beers at the St George Arms.Thumbs Up [tup]

As DL says the class 20s were not too good in the looks department but after 50 years some of them are still going strong. I think if it had not been for the English Electric products in the early days of British main line diesels the railways would have been in trouble.

To me these locomotives were the worst looking of the early BR diesels, although they look a bit better in this paint scheme. They got the nickname GOYLES (from gargoyles) from railfansSmile [:)]

A line of class 31s at Rugby station.

ERIC I will have to get a new soft lens brush for my slides, thanks for the info.Thumbs Up [tup]

On the British locomotives the steam heat and the vacuum brake hoses looked a lot more similar in appearance, with the vacuum brake hose being a bigger diameter than air hoses.

Great photo of the chain driven old timer.Approve [^]Thumbs Up [tup]

DL Yes I am the same I love watching those old Ealing black and white filmsThumbs Up [tup], not so much for the plot, but those wonderful background scenes.Approve [^]Yeah!! [yeah]

The class 20s were light engine and they departed in the Toton direction. The class 20s were a novel sight when I first saw them, the only main line diesels before them on the ex LMS lines through Rugby, were 10000 and10001 and the three ex SR diesels 10201-10203, the prototype Deltic had already gone to the Eastern by then I think. The picture in my mind was seeing them by the Newbold water troughs where I spent hours watching the steam locos pick up water,Wow!! [wow] even to my then young mind the appearance of the 20s made me realize that steam was not going to be around for ever and modern traction was coming inSad [:(]. The sound of a pair of 20s idling always reminds me of the East Midlands.Yeah!! [yeah]

Many thanks for the info and those great links to the George Bennie RailplaneThumbs Up [tup] some really great photosApprove [^]. I noticed how immaculate the LNER track was although only a line to the dye works,Bow [bow] a bit different to the state of the track in the 1950s when the line a the Railplane had been abandoned.Sad [:(]

I had not realized that some many different cigarette cards have been produced

CM3 I see DL has answered the question on railway cigarette cardsThumbs Up [tup]. They were also given out for while by Lyon's Maid in certain brands of ice cream Popsicles (we called them ‘lollys'). Even in the 1980s the Tom Thumb cigars had a History of Britain's Railways set of cards, a friend at work collected them for me and I have them in a small album, they are all 3" X 2 1/4" paintings with some great artwork.Approve [^]

Yes it

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  • From: NZ
  • 242 posts
Posted by Gunneral on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 7:42 PM

Wow!! [wow]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Hi Tom and all,

The usual round of Tui`s for all the crew please Leon>Yeah!! [yeah]

Pete. Many thanks for that pic of the Causey Arch and the NCB electric loco, can`t remember that particular one but they used that type of electric loco at Harton and Westoe Collieries in the South Shields area, their is a site on the Westoe one`s, the URL I had posted does`nt work at all so if you Google, "Westoe Colliery electric locomotives UK" it will put you on to a site listed as "erniesphotos fotopic net" site and if you scroll down to "Last day at Westoe"  area you will find some pics there.

     

Their is a Harton battery electric loco at the Stephenson Railway Museum fully restored. Looking forward to your next lot of Darlington parade of loco`s pics. Enjoyed your latest post and pics.Smile [:)]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

Mike. Thanks for the URL`s on Frank Luke and Luke Field AFB, and the pics` of Lars`s team the Jints stadium and Yankee Stadium.Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

Rob. A very nice lot of pics of your`s, that steam loco looks like a Pennsy one by it`s firebox outline? Great shots of the Mentor Home Guard, were they protecting the "Our place" bar by any chance?Wink [;)]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

Eric. Hows your appetite going now?Dinner [dinner]Chef [C=:-)] That was a very nice lot of circus pics of your`s, the Mack truck looks a beauty of a restoration job, a definate "keeper".Wow!! [wow]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

Nick. Sorry mate, thought you were a real Welshman!Wink [;)] I`m not a great rugby fan, I still support the "Toon", Newcastle United, old habits die hard, I can watch all the games over here on Sky Sports TV, but at unearthly hours though! Spent my last year of service at Woolwich, our son was born there in the Military Maternity Hospital in 1963, so I have a lot of fond memories of the Big Smoke.Smile [:)] Enjoying all your humerous quips and the interesting info in your posts`.Bow [bow]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

CM3. Was in with some very interesting info as usual.Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

Dan. Many thanks for those links to the Beavertail pics and info, it`s great to hear they are restoring one to it`s original LNER shape. Very interesting link to the GCR Barnum coaches, it dovetailed nicely with Eric`s circus pics and info. Great links to the Tornado loco site, who would have thought we would see a brand new Peppercorn Pacific ever again!Wow!! [wow] Nice links to the Railplane site, a lot of great info and pics, a great fit in with Ron`s initial post about it.Smile [:)]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

Lars. Great to see your team ,the Jints, won the Super Bowl despite all the hype about the Patriots going all the way for a no loss title win!Wow!! [wow]Yeah!! [yeah]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

Ron. Thanks for the very interesting list of events that occured in 1936, very interesting with all those link ups`.Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

Tom. Enjoyed reading your thoughts on BITD memories, as the old saying goes "Time is a great healer".Wink [;)] Nice pick of flicks for the weekend, Tom Sellick is one of my brides favourites no less!Cool [8D] A really colourful selection of hard cover Classic Train books #2, and a terrific write up with pics of the Forth rail bridge, it looks really spectacular in real life, classic Victorian engineering at it`s best.Wow!! [wow] Enjoyed all the great pics of the Rendezvous in 2006, nice to see a pic of Rob, did you take that bus all the way to Broadway by any chance?Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg] Sounds as if all your snow is disappearing now, hope you are not affected by any flooding?Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

See ya, Allan

  • Member since
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Posted by trolleyboy on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 10:28 PM

Good evening Leon, I think i'll need a guiness or two tonight thanks heers a bit of extra to pay for a round for those still wandering in.

Tom-Yup we've become a bit of a nightime crowd the last couple days, oh well at least the number of customers  holding steady Thumbs Up [tup].Nice to see the article on the Firth of Forth bridge, a good read as always.Nice to see the shots from rendezvous number one again.

 Sorry the hiring bit was a bit of an inside joke. It was a young lady in mens tighty whities in a tv ad I emailed him,If I still have it I'll send it to you to see if she's upto our rigorous standards for bar serving staff.Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

 As always the offer is open to collect you at whichever airport you wish to arrive in,the ACR run is a scenic one.Whistling [:-^]

Dl-Truly amazing stuff on that railplane , even more amazing as to how long it actually survived.He definatly was not the best businesman though.

 To answer your question  no there is no connection to the ACR from Whiteriver, the only physical connection is the line that ran accross to Hearst from Cochrane which is now freight only ( mostly due to the roughness of the rail )

It was a nice tram by the way as well Thumbs Up [tup]

pete-Thanks for the additional info and pics of those deisels. I can see why they were called gargoyals.I guess the class 20's are kind of  like the GP 7's and 9's of our railroads over here.

 Yes those subway cars in Tom's pictures are the G car set ( red ones ) that were tagged. the grafitti has been removed now though so no permanent damage was done to them/ the silver subway cars at the museum are "M" cars built in Montreal during the 60's they were the replacments of the G cars, which have been replaced themselves by the current "T" and "H" series subway cars on the TTC.

Allan-I'm amazed that taking pictures of me didn't break Tom's camera.Tiom's bus is a 1955 bus from Brampton Ontario, it's still operational as well we drive it in the local Santa Claus parade and to a select few other events ,it's the first production buses that had automatic transmssions only three speeds though forward reverse and neutral.It's top speed is only 50mph so I don't think I'd want to ride all the way to broadwayShock [:O]The local militia did a good job of protecting are place, and they looked so colourfull doing it.

Rob

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 683 posts
Posted by EricX2000 on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 12:23 AM

Good morning Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!

Leon, glad to see you are still keeping this place open! An early breakfast would be great! French toast, powder sugar, syrup, a spiked OJ, coffee and a cheese danish, please!

Some interesting photos and other info tonight! Railplane, Forth Bridge, Luke Air Force Base and much more!

DL –  Basically the only time I am watching TV is when it is time for the late news and when I am having breakfast.Smile [:)]

Are you going to try to fix your slides yourself? Question [?]

Thanks for all the info on the Railplane!Thumbs Up [tup] Very interesting. Too sad nothing came out of it.

Tom –  Forth Bridge is really something else!Thumbs Up [tup] Very impressive from all points of view! Interesting facts!Smile [:)]

My car was white of frost this morning. Pretty thick layer of frost and ice. Terrible! Grumpy [|(]Grumpy [|(]

She has to carry me?! Hmm, no I am still too heavy. Better be careful!

Thanks for the info on Canada’s speed record.Thumbs Up [tup] I’ll try to find some photos of that train.

Photos from Rendezvous I I haven’t seen before! I think I recognize the track where those subway cars are sitting. Isn’t tht the same track (and cars) where the graffitti attack took place some time ago? Just 99 days until Rendezvous III!!!!

As an old bus driver I like the photos of the old buses!Yeah!! [yeah]

CM3 –  You are absolutely right, 25 lbs is enough for one Cracker Barrel breakfast in each hand. But in order not to take any chances I’ll have just one breakfast at the time. Wink [;)]

Mike –  Frank Luke and Luke Air Force Base! Not far from where I live.Thumbs Up [tup] Thanks for the photos and the story on Luke Air Force Base! I went to the base in March last year. Very interesting! Smile [:)]

Pete –  The “Broadway” style bus looks very much like buses used by Stockholm Transit in the 1950’s and 60’s. They were designed by Mack but built in Sweden by Scania. There is a small photo below of the Swedish one.

It looks like it was a foggy day when you took the photos of the Duchess 46229. Cold, gray, (miserable?) winter day! I am freezing when I look at it.Grumpy [|(]

Allan –  My appetite is just fine!Wink [;)] It seems like I can’t eat enough, I don’t gain any weight at all. Just like in the young days.

Rob –  Thanks for the answer about those subway cars and the graffitti attack!Thumbs Up [tup]

The “Broadway” bus looks very much like a bus designed by Mack, built by Scania in Sweden in the 1950’s and used by Stockholm Transit for many years. It also had automatic transmission, two speeds forward, reverse and neutral. I’l found a picture, see below.  I never drove any of those buses myself though.







Eric

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Posted by Fergmiester on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 5:03 AM

Good Morning Capt'n Tom and Sundry

I'll go light this a.m. so just a large coffee with an Apple Struddle Danish.

Looking at all the pages behind I have some catching up tado. I do like "Tom's  Bus as it brings back yet more memories of my childhood. TTC had a generation of busses resembling those and it was one of those things I remeber listening to go past the house after Mom put me to bed. As we lived on the old Senlac route. 

Yes I made it home in one piece and even got a day in North Conway though the LHS was closed. Got some pics of the exhibit in Gorham though the Museum was closed.

Anyway I'm now on course for the next two weeks so I shall be scarce as it's 10 hr daze the 1st week and some studying at home. Was in Bed by 10 last night which is totally outta character for me!

 

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  

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Posted by DL - UK on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 6:30 AM

Hi Tom and all in

So, that was a SUPER pancake TUESDAY if you'll forgive the pun! That's enough politics for Our Place! Looks like I might be in before da boss - so I'll have to wait for the Mentor Village pastries but maybe I'll have a coffee while I wait!!

Allan - glad you liked the links etc, same comment to Rob. Rob - I guess the way I'd favour to do the ACR would be out and back on the same route (not the round trip) - tend to like that with a journey - that way you sit one side on one way to see the scenery, then on the way back you sit on the other side. That's my normal modus operndi - seats permitting of course!

Mike - nice WW1 air pics. My grandfather was an RAF pilot in WW1 (well actually RFC as that was what it was called). I think he flew one of these - the RE8

http://www.wwimodeler.com/esc/re8.html

At some point he had a crash on landing (not sure of the circumstances that led to this) - any way it was not serious but it broke the propeller. He had the propeller (or part of the remains of it) made into a walking stick. We still have that stick in the family!

Eric - in answer to your question - yes, I'd like to clean them up myself as it would be more cost effective. I'm going to ask a friend of mine who has a job as an archivist for some tips. He may know where to look to get info. They are old family slides dating back to the 1950s. I don't plan to scan them although I can see the obvious advantages of this. I like digging put the old projector - firing it up and turning down the lights - the sound of someone snoring at the back, the smell of dust burning on the lamp, someone kicking over their drink on the floor in the dark as they find their way back from the bathroom, and the occasional slide put in upside down for good measure creates an atmosphere no computer projector can re-create - I'm sure we'd all agree!

Tom - forgot to remark on your excellent Forth Bridge post. A few years ago I was in Edinburgh and took the train out to see the bridge - there is a local station on both the north and south sides so you can walk down to the shore line under the bridge and admire it close up (after a trip across it of course). I was there in nice weather just like those pics. The Road bridge next to it built in the 1960s is basically falling down (the steel wires in the suspension cables are rusting through and breaking) - they have announced plans to build a new one as they don't think they can find a way to fix the existing one before it gets too dangerous and they have to restrict traffic volumes. There may be 3 bridges in the end - or perhaps they will have to dismantle the 1960s bridge. Meanwhile the Victorian bridge has no such problems!

Pete - you are right about those Class 31s - at least the 20s look businesslike - the 31s look messy. I wonder why such poor regard was given to the ‘look' of many early UK diesel designs. Maybe it was not considered an issue as the industry was nationalised and they were not competing on style terms. At least they reversed this policy and involved a design unit - the outcome of that on the Hymeks and Western's is clear - with their superb styling.

Looks like a heavy dusting of snow at Rugby - and of course no glass in the roof. It was sad the way the old LNWR Rugby station was allowed to get so run down. In a way it was surprising it was not rebuilt like Stafford or Coventry as part of the 1960s modernisation, in retrospect. I would have loved to see the LMS and SR diesels - shame they got cut up. Was Newbold Troughs near your home?

I think the LNER must have re-laid that siding track for the project - as it was immaculate - reading the articles there was obviously much press interest at the time - even if the project was unrealistic to anyone with detailed knowledge of railway economics.

Anyway - News Flash on the Budd LMS Silver Princess car discussed here before. I got my copy of the Friends of the Nat Railway Magazine journal yesterday - inside there is a full page on this car - written I suspect by someone who did research for the Backtrack article you mentioned before Pete. I cant reproduce it all here but it explained that the Budd Co had links with Pressed Steel body building company in the UK and they built this demonstrator in the hope of orders, Pressed Steel would then have built them at Linwood in Scotland. The LMS trialled it - then it went to CIE in Ireland for trials, before coming back to the England where BR bought it, and painted it into Blood and Custard, later Maroon. It had the advantage of being 5 or 6 tons lighter than atypical UK carriage due to the monococque construction used. The author speculated as to what would have happened had BR gone for a stainless design instead of developing the MK 1 in steel from the Bullied designs of the 1940s. he speculated that they would of course have lasted much longer (just as they have in Canada!), but that BR carriage works were more skilled up to build carriages in the trad chassis and frame designs. I also think there was severe shortage of Stainless steel in the UK in the early post war period (lots being required for the nuclear power industry) - and the govt would have been reluctant to have imported it due to the balance of payments situation at that time (which of course was a lot better than it is now....)

Regards

DL

 

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"Our" Place reborn! An adult bar 'n grill for the discussion of Classic Trains!
Posted by siberianmo on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 7:04 AM

<personal foto>

Wednesday's Witticism

After some folks tell you all they know, they keep on talkin'.

G'day Gents!

Methinks it's time to board the Ark - two by two for the critters - no pushing, there's room for all! <grin> Rain, rain ‘n more rain. Had the temps been more in line with the season, we'd be "butt deep to an elephant" in the white stuff. <groan> This morning, the skies are clearing with light snow in the air! Wow!! [wow]

Coffee's ready - pastries fresh - breakfasts set to order! So let's get a move on to jump start your mid-week - Wednesday at "Our" Place! Yeah!! [yeah]

 

Customer Acknowledgments (since my last narrative):

Tuesday - Feb 5th: <all times Central standard>

Page 179 - Dan (DL-UK) at 10:23 AM: Back for a 2nd morning visit for more pancakes! Wow!! [wow] Keeping the galley crew hoppin' Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

Great poster of the Railplane! Wow!! [wow] Structure links of interest as well. Thumbs Up [tup]

What a touch - stained glass window in the Railplane door! Wow!! [wow] And of course, WHY Question [?] Just a tad over the top, methinks . . .

Kinda sad to read about the disappearance from the landscape of the Railplane infrastructure. One only needs to look closely here ‘n there to find evidence of what used to be . . . <groan>

Never had much interest in cigarette cards - however, now I do! <grin>

Many thanx for a most interesting ‘n well thought out Post for the gang! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup] Only thing that would've made it complete wudda been a ROUND! <uh oh>

Page 180 - Mike (wanswheel) at 5:48 PM: A round for the house ‘n URLs for CM3 Shane. Shot across the Harlem River of the Polo Grounds along with the vintage Yankee Stadium. Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

Page 180 - Pete (pwolfe) at 6:08 PM: Yeah I know - you began write-up when Ruth was on duty - but at the time of your Post - she was gone, gone, gone-zo! <grin>

Interesting fotos - those Class 31s are unique, fer sure, fer sure. Thumbs Up [tup] Hanging out of the train in sub-zero (F) temps - must be a story there - chilling your beer, perhaps. <grin>

Yes, those are the cars that were vandalized <graffiti>. . . . <groan> And we had a perfect 3 days for Rendezvous I insofar as the weather <and everything else> was concerned, with just a light drizzle at the close of Day One returning to Brantford aboard VIA Rail from Toronto.

Many thanx for the fine < I3 > Post ‘n ROUND! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

Page 180 - Allan (Gunneral) at 7:42 PM: I consider myself one of the most fortunate of career military men that I know. <grin> All one has to do is visit one of our VA hospitals ‘n the reality hits home, "There but for the grace of God . . . . "

Enjoyed eavesdropping your fine < I3 > Post! Are you certain that you can't find a way to Rendezvous III Question [?] We'd love to meet ya! Yeah!! [yeah]

As mentioned elsewhere - the rains have come ‘n come hard. No immediate flooding problems where we are - but this has been quite a few days. Sub-zero temps not that long ago - 73 (F) on Monday - in the 30s as I type this - thunder ‘n lightning for the past few hours - just a wunnerful evening! <grin>

Many thanx for the visit, chat ‘n ROUND! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

Page 180 - Rob (trolleyboy) at 10:28 PM: Okay - offer accepted! Pick us up at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis - which of course I have to drive to! <grin> Oh, but you said "arrive in," dintja

Happy Railroading! Siberianmo
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Posted by coalminer3 on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 8:16 AM

Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox.  Still warm and cloudy here, but we had wind and rain ROAR through here at about 4:00 a.m.  Kinda like driving the house into a carwash, but nothing like what happened not that far west of here.  We are still standing and it is supposed to be down around 9 degrees by Saturday - man! Does this weather mess you up - I'm not getting old but these temperature changes make you feel like the Tin Man. 

Mike - I knew that you'd accept the Frank Luke challenge.  The movie Fly Boys has a real good sequence of an attack on a Zeppelin.  BTW, seeing the name Del Webb in your post reminded me that he was one of the co-owners of the Yankees which neatly leads us to the Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium pictures.  Excellent - Bronx was certainly "up country" back then.  Incidentally, notice that there are no lights at either stadium - so these were taken back when the phrase "Five O'clock Lightning" meant something. 

OSP won the Honus Wagner quiz.  I  just finished reading a book about the 7th Game of the 1960 "Worlds Serious," as my neighbor used to call it.  Title is The Best Game Ever.  It gives a good portrait of Pittsburgh in 1960 and aside from two minor factual errors (neither of which related to the game description) is quite well written.

Pete was by with good information, stories and pictures.

Good to hear from Allan and Rob with comments

Eric sent us a fine looking bus picture.

Fergie got to No. Conway AND Gorham?  Good for you!  Had a college roommate from Gorham back yrs ago.  I hope you got some shots of the GT station at Gorham - they did a beautiful job restoring it.  What did you think of the Russian Orthodox station at No. Conway?

Last, but not least, OSP was in with pictures and reminiscences. 

Well, I'd better get out of here - boss says it's time for a conference call.  Glad we are a fair distance from our HQ.  Reminds me of the line from Fiddler on the Roof, "God bless and protect the Czar and may he stay far away from us."

Work safe

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Posted by siberianmo on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 8:45 AM

G'day Gents!

Visits from Dan 'n CM3 Shane to brighten this grey day! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

 

Here's Part Deux of the Building of the S-Capades for this Wednesday's OPTIONAL Toy ‘n Model Trains Day!

<Check out Page 176 for Part I; "must" reading if you wanna understand all of this!>

 

The board has been completed - hanging from the hoist system. The first installment of rolling stock has been received!

 

S-Helper <Showcase Line) MoPac F7A ‘n caboose. Note the great looking ballasted track <from same manufacturer>. "Cut out" sections in ballast are for turnout-out wiring, which "plugs in."

 

Trackwork begins!

 

American Models EMD E8A ‘n consist of Illinois Central passenger cars!

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

More next week <maybe>! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

 

Tom Captain [4:-)] Pirate [oX)]

Happy Railroading! Siberianmo
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Posted by LoveDomes on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 9:25 AM

Ahoy Cap'n Tom ‘n fellow travelers at the bar!!

Ruth my deAH, yes ‘tis the Larsman, till down in the Florida keys ‘n still up to my chin in this ‘n that. However, I nevAH stop thinking about youse guyz ‘n this place of OURS! Thumbs Up [tup]

I'm pretty much relegated to once or twice per week "on line" 'n not certain if even that can be maintained. But I'll give it my BEST, count on it! Thumbs Up [tup] It's also time for me to announce that if I can't continue as a regulAH at the bAH, then I most certainly shouldn't keep the Manager's title. So how about it guyz, won't someone step up to the plate!?!?!?!? Look at it this way, Da Bossman does all of the work with the bAH 'n we all know it - this is just a little icing on the cake to help him along. So again, how about it Question [?]

So how about MY JINTS!?!?!?!? It's a great feeling ‘n one that will tide me ovAH for a long, long time. They've won Super Bowls B4, but this one was sooooooo special, so very special! Yeah!! [yeah] Shane 'n I nevAH lost HOPE! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

A round for the house my deAH - a mugga Joe with a jolt ‘n a number three from the board if you please! Boris has fed the crittAHs, so let him have that small jar of PPF. I understand he's not quite "right" aftAH devouring one of the larger versions. <uh oh>

A very well done effort by Da Bossman with the optional toy & model trains submission - both parts are excellent ‘n I look forward to MORE! Thumbs Up [tup] Bow [bow] Thumbs Up [tup] Bow [bow]

Also enjoyed those first rendezvous "pitchAHs" at the trolley museum! Keep ‘em coming, those are great memories that have been put up at the bAH B4 but always worth viewing again. Thumbs Up [tup]

That bridge ovAH in Scotland is a "piece of work," and with the "stuff" put up this day by Dan, it makes the reading even more interesting. Nicely done! Thumbs Up [tup]

I see the Wolfman is mastering his new toy - amazing that he hasn't broken it by now! <grin> Nice photos, Pete! Thumbs Up [tup]

Noted that Rob is somewhere between sanity ‘n submission - headin' for a straight jacket maybe! What in the world are they putting in the watAH up your way Question [?] <grin>

Speaking of which, if youse guyz haven't read the woIds put forth by the man called NICK - you shud! <grin> <triple grin>

And then there's Eric out in the sand box believing that the "brunette" is one in the same as "back when." Oh to be in oblivion! <uh oh> Orderin' "stuff" by the pound from the CrackAH Barrel Question [?] 25 lbs at a "crack," now that's a lot,

Comment from Allan about the service days brings to mind my own in the Navy. My four years went by very quickly, although at the time some months really seemed to drag along. I had a "good' four years with the ‘round the world cruise a "biggie." But it is a bit odd how we can block out the negatives in favAH of the positives when telling a story. Here's to all who've worn "the uniform"! <cheers> <clink>

Can't get to each ‘n every submission guyz - sorry ‘bout that. However, I've "run" down the pages ‘n know who has been in. Thanks to all who've done so well in keeping this place of OURS an active ‘n interesting place to visit! Yeah!! [yeah] Special mention goes to: Shane - Pete - Eric - Rob - Dan ‘n Allan. Also noted some visits by Nick, Ron, Mike ‘n Fergie. As said B4 - an active nucleus surrounded by an interested few keeps things going. Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

Hey boyz! "Tom's Bus" is a GM manufactured model . . . enlarge #9 'n 10 -  the nameplate on the front is biggerin' life! <geesh> Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

 

Time for a Larsman Mobile visit . . .

Western Pacific Color Guide to Freight & Passenger Equipment

Union Pacific Motive Power Annual - 1997

Philadelphia Trolleys

Steam Across America - Vols 1 & 2 (DVD)

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"Our" Place reborn! An adult bar 'n grill for the discussion of Classic Trains!
Posted by siberianmo on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 12:45 PM

G'day Gents!

Another miserable weather day here in mid-continent USA - cold, trying to sleet, wet, wet, wet - no fun. <ugh>

A few Posts to comment on while I'm still on-line . . . never know what the ‘morrow may bring! <grin>

 

Customer Acknowledgments (since my last narrative):

Wed - Feb 6th: <all times Central Standard>

Page 180 - Dan (DL-UK) at 6:30 AM: <previously acknowledged>: Finally got ‘round to reading your Post and as always, found it to be most enlightening. You put together efforts that should serve as examples to others of what this place is supposed to engender! Thumbs Up [tup]

I'm the same way regarding round trip train travel. When we make our Empire Builder excursion to Portland, Oregon from Chicago this spring, we'll view one side of the terrain on the westbound, ‘n the other on the return. Just makes sense . . . but one thing about dome travel - never, never, ever "glue" your nose to the glass. For the idea of a dome is to take in the panorama - not the "slide projector" views of sitting in coach. At least that's the way it seems to me. Many, many travelers never seem to understand this . . . their loss, eh Question [?]

Interesting tid-bit regarding your father's walking stick! Thumbs Up [tup]

Come to the Rendezvous III when the "old projector" gets fired up ‘n the guys get treated to a slide presentation from CM3 Shane at Juneau's house. Your description is straight forward ‘n reminds me of many lecture class either at military schools or later in life, at the university. <grin>

Many thanx for the added info regarding the Forth Bridge AND the "flash" on the Budd Silver Princess. Found both very enlightening, fer sure, fer sure! Thumbs Up [tup]

Thanx for the visit ‘n chat! One day we just MIGHT get a ROUND outta you! <grin> And oh yes, I'll waive that five dollar charge for "coffee only" . . . you've consumed a King's ransom in pancakes. <yikes>

Page 180 - CM3 Shane (coalminer3) at 8:16 AM: Methinks the ROAR you experienced passed through here earlier in the evening. It rained so hard that it seemed as if the house was about to let loose the lines ‘n head out with the tide. Unbelievable downpour. Haven't heard the "stats," but I know we had a couple of inches in a short period of time; pounding rain with lots of lightning ‘n very little thunder. Very strange evening. Juneau was unsettled as he missed out on his evening trek - all I could do was get him out between squalls for "what a dog has to do." Bad nite in Black Rock. <grin.

Mention of the 1960 series brings to mind the period of time when I, die hard Brooklyn Dodger's fan, wound up rooting for those hated Yankees. As you recall, New York City was minus the Bums ‘n Giants as they had fled to the left coast at the conclusion of the 1957 season, leaving what had been a 3-team city with only 1. So, as difficult as it was, my allegiance went to the Yanks. <I was in Alaska for 1959-60, but stationed back in NYC for that series>. Anyway, my heart didn't ‘sink' when the Pirates pulled out the win - the way it ALWAYS had when the Dodgers got themselves on the losing end, year after year after yeare. Just kinda felt sorry for Yogi, who was in left field when "that homer" was hit. Surely seems like yesterday . . . and it WAS - just a bunch of yesterdays in between! <grin>

The 1960 World Series was played between the Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) and New York Yankees (AL). It is most notable for the Game 7, 9th-inning home run hit by Bill Mazeroski, winning the game for the Pirates 10-9, and also winning them their third Championship, their first since 1925.

The Yankees outscored the Pirates 38-3 in their three victories. During the Series as a whole, the Yankees outscored the Pirates 55-27, outhit them .338 to .256, and topped them in total home runs 10-4. This is highest run-scored/runs-against ratio of any team to lose the World Series.

This World Series featured seven past, present or future league Most Valuable Players. The Pirates had two (Dick Groat (1960) and Roberto Clemente (1966)), while the Yankees had five (Yogi Berra (1951, 1954, 1955), Mickey Mantle (1956, 1957, 1962), Roger Maris (1960, 1961), Elston Howard (1963

Happy Railroading! Siberianmo
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Posted by pwolfe on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 3:58 PM

Hi Tom and all.

A pint of Winter ale this rather chilly day please RUTH.Thumbs Up [tup]

ALLAN I tried the link to Westoe colliery you suggested but could not find Earnies photosSigh [sigh], it did give a link to Our PlaceWow!! [wow], and I did find this link to the electric locomotives at Westoe with some good photos.Thumbs Up [tup]

http://www.railfaneurope.net/frameset.html

Glad you are enjoying the photos the Causey Arch looks in great shape. More Shildon photos Saturday all being well and I have found these from the North Tyneside Steam Railway on our visit in 1991.

Peckett 0-6-0ST works number 1970.

Bagnell 0-6-0ST Works No 2994'Thomas Burt MP'

I think it is the museum building in the background of this one.

What do you reckon to Dennis Wise at the ToonShock [:O]Question [?].

ROB Many thanks for the info on the subway carsThumbs Up [tup]. I am really glad the G car set did not suffer any permanent damage in removing the graffitiApprove [^], I don't suppose theCensored [censored] have been caught yetThumbs Down [tdn].

One aspect of the early British diesel double cab designs that did nothing for their appearance was the decision that they needed doors in the ends, so when running in multiple there was a connection between the locos. I think this was very rarely used and disappeared on new locomotives in the early 1960s. Later the doors were welded up, as they were a constant source of cold draughts to the engine crew.

ERIC Many thanks for the Scania bus,Thumbs Up [tup] it does look very much like the one in Tom's photoYeah!! [yeah].It is a classic design. I see the bus is right hand drive it brought a thought to mind, what happened to the buses when Sweden went over to driving on the right as the passengers would be getting on and off into the middle of the road. Did they convert the buses,Question [?] which must have been very expensive.

Yes it was freezing fog on the day of the ‘Duchess' photo, I will tell a bit more about the day in my reply to TomThumbs Up [tup], I will find my notebook.

FERGIE Good to see you in the barThumbs Up [tup]. Hope the skiing trip went well although the LHS was closed.

Those are long hours on that courseShock [:O].

DL What a great family heirloom, that walking stick made from a RE8 propeller that your grandfather flew in World War I.Yeah!! [yeah]

Yes there was not a lot of design into making the early British diesel's appearance better I thought too, although the English Electric ones did have a workmanlike look to them.

Yes Newbold was where I lived; we like to think of it as a village although I guess it is part of Rugby about 2 miles to the town center. The watertroughs were about ¾ mile from the house a track ran along side the line, a great view of the troughs could be seen from the Parkfield Road Bridge.Approve [^]

It is hard to understand now how one of the pioneer main line diesels 10000 or 10001 was not saved for preservationThumbs Down [tdn]. I believe one of the pair was stored at Derby works for a fair time after its withdrawal from service before being cut up.

Many thanks for the info on the Silver Princess.Thumbs Up [tup] Did the journal say any thing about what happened to the car after its withdrawal from BRQuestion [?]

We talked about the Windcutters at the Great Central here is a photo of their first running with Great Western 2-8-0T No 5224. It could be a scene from the South Wales coalfields in steam days. 

CM3 Thanks for the kind words.Thumbs Up [tup]

 Yes it seems the weather is very strange this yearConfused [%-)] with big temperature changes in the space of a few hours.Shock [:O]

LARS I have read Toms post after yours and Tom has said it allThumbs Up [tup], without you as Manager who will control the Chandler not to mention the mascotsShock [:O]. Besides I have heard from a certain personSmile,Wink, & Grin [swg] no one can do the ‘Admin Duties' like you canBow [bow]. Seriously when you can get into the bar I will look forward to your posts.Thumbs Up [tup]

Perhaps I ought to get insurance for the new toy although if they find out my record with camera's etc I think the premium would cost more than the toy didShock [:O]Big Smile [:D]. Glad you are enjoying the photosThumbs Up [tup], and thanks for the kind words.Yeah!! [yeah]   

A greatand varied selection from The La

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Posted by nickinwestwales on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 8:45 PM

Well good evening fellow barflys-it`s that half-way-thru-the -week day again Cool [8D]-now before I start-I do hope all is well with those amongst us who reside below the Mason-Dixon line-the reports on the BBC news tonight suggested that large parts of the south have been flattened by tornados-grim viewing,although,that said,subsequent reports from Afghanistan,Iraq,and Africa did give a broader perspective.................hmmmmm

O.K-Leon-slip the catch on the door,wind up Herr Wurlitzer,remove the breakables and lets have a quiet lads night in around the fire-The Zeppelin "Draig Goch" delivered a keg of Brains Brewery`s finest S.A as well as a cask of the legendary Felinfoel "Double Dragon" so I feel an informal tasting session is in order.........Evil [}:)]Big Smile [:D]- an E-Mail has been sent to our various spouses suggesting that we might all be home a little later than usual,and we may be a little vague about our whereabouts.........................................

O.K-to matters arising :-

DL-The O.N.R-sadly,I have not yet made the trip-all my info is gathered from the UNofficial O.N.R site-if you google (lordy I HATE the way that word has crept into the language Banged Head [banghead] )Ontario Northland you will find it on the first page-..I think you may have to sign up to get access but is worth the effort -is a huge repository of pix and all manner of other stuff there-there is a `notice board` there which I am signed up to which gives all manner of stuff from the various devotees of the line as circular E-Mails-well worth checking out-as a rule,I know if the Northlander is gonna be late in an hour before its passengers do ( the closest I can liken it to is the old Ham Radio network where odd individuals like us would sit in their attics for hours on end waiting for a weak and scratchy signal to come in-recommended reading-"Campbells Kingdom" by Hammond Innes-gives a wonderful feel for those huge empty spaces ).... other points mentioned,Milngavie-pronounced mul-gie by locals..R.E.8-known to their crews as "Harry Tate`s" apparently,after a music hall star of the times...slide shows-oh yes indeedy-we have some old 8mm film of Missisnicks family holidays in Switzerland as a kiddie-the little red train-the Nyon tramway features prominantly,as do some films of 60`s southern electric working-as noted elsewhere-its the background detail that works....

Pirate [oX)]Captain [4:-)]TOM-what ho old thing !!-Lovely shots of my favourite bridge,one I crossed many times during my time living in St Andrews (alma mater of our future king )-the shot from the Fife side is my favourite (as would be for any resident of the old kingdom )-much as it galls me to contradict the all-knowing wikipedia the advert was "Made frae rusty girders"-Irn-Bru is a ghastly syrupy fizzy drink which the Scots swear by as a hangover cure-(btw-it doesn`t work ) --Ian Banks is a fine novelist,either under that name-(real world stories) or as Ian M Banks (hardcore techno sci-fi ) -well work a look-along with Ian Rankin,my fave Scots author-(Inspector John Rebus-world weary detective & Rolling Stones fan.....)...Love the pic of the Flintstones round the piano Thumbs Up [tup]-whilst on the music topic,Oh yes -whiskey in the jar-that song takes me back to my early teenage years when friday night meant the railway hotel in Purley-one would spend the evening rubbing shoulders with Hells Angels,all manner of weird hippies-any kind of drug you could imagine was available,priced to travel,and the juke was pumping out whiskey,back street love,silver machine,smoke on the water,freebird and any number of what are now regarded as rock classics-all at ear splitting volume...sadly ,the version we do is the trad Irish version ,rather than the Thin Lizzy classic with Eric Bell`s beautiful guitar licks-cest la vie......Nice pix from the RDV-dear old TED looks exactly as I imagine him-I wonder how he`s doing-must send him an E-mail....and who is that handsome chap lounging against the front of a route 36 bus....???--Also enjoyed the latest S-Capades update-is there any pleasure to match the arrival of a whole box of new trains,crisp in their boxes and ready to be played with-(well yes,but this is neither the time nor the place......although the unwrapping concept remains...........) 

CM3-how do mate-you mentioned collusion corner-gas prices here are up to about $10.50 on the gallon-although motorway services and inner city garages are charging rather more than that.....however I feel that it is essential that we retain the right to drive a 7 litre SUV 300 yards to do our weekly shop-somebody order another planet-this one`s broken......sorry mate-not having a pop at you,just the general ethos---grrrrrrrrr......Glad you mentioned Frank Luke-as a nipper I used to read the Eagle annual and the like- Luke,Mannock and Ball were (quite rightly) portrayed as heroes and figures to aspire to (life was so much simpler then)-many was the night when I slipped into sleep imagining myself as the pilot of one of those Airfix `planes hanging from the ceiling on cotton lines....for anybody interested ,The Dambusters by Paul Brickhill is recommended-the section where a young Aussie lad called Mick Martin gets `P` for popsy home after completeing his bombing run with 3 out of 4 engines shot out plus most of his controls wrecked is truly inspiring-and lordy ,these were teenagers.........

PETE-first off-the cavalcade-can confirm that the HST was there-is the last picture in the book-was unit 252-001-I`m guessing it was a prototype-can see where the confusion occurs-was the same single large window at the front as the APT-have looked at all the pix in the book and can`t see you in any of them-although I`m sure you looked different thenBig Smile [:D]--yes indeed we have had rain like it`s going out of fashion-not sure if it`s a national thing or restricted to Wales-but enjoyed a perfect spring day today-and celebrated by burning all the rotten timber from the last 2 years demolished fences and stuff-you may have seen the smoke plume...now the -4-8-0`s-the 2 I have are from the Burtonport extension of the Londonderry & Lough Swilly Rly-a line paid for by the govt. to provide employment in an especially destitute area -went from nowhere to nowhere else-the long way-never made a penny in profit and was closed by 1940...I believe the S&DJR 7F`s only worked "in system"-apparently,until the advent of metal brake blocks,they needed the blocks renewing after every trip over the Mendips...nice pix of the Duchess-especially the one with `Sir Lamiel`-north meets south and everybody smiles..that pic of 5224-she surely cant be burning welsh anthracite with smoke like that......have no fear of the club gigs for `Paddys` weekend but the monday night show in the bar-now thats gonna be a tough gig-(see youtube-BIGRIVERBAND for details) .............

ALLAN-many thanks for your kind thoughts-_ I tend to tell it as I see it-but after many years as a chef and musi

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Posted by trolleyboy on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 10:16 PM

Good evening Leon , I hope the fire's stoked cause it's been an awfull day weatherwise for us. Best way to describe it is slush being driven by winds and throw in a bit o thunder and lightening ( almost purple ) to make it a day to remember. Sooo a very large guiness an very large sandwich o and here's a very large tip and some money for a round or three.

Tom-Glad to hear that you haven't been washed away or blown away as has happened to many bits of the south, a grim day to be sure.

  Nice to see part two of the S-capades again , some good looking models. I like the pre-planned wiring notches in the trackwork,espeacilly of those of us who are solderinly challenged.

Dan-Interesting story about the walking stick a neat momento of his service days.The ACR has no-reserved seating so you are able to basically sit where you wish,mind you the scenery is something else not matter which side of the train or how high up you are in it.

Eric-Nice bus shot that Scania does look alot like the classic GM Thumbs Up [tup] They tend to ride rough though no air suspension,not today's modern knealling buses.

Pete-Couple interesting shots today , some fine little preserved tea kettles Thumbs Up [tup], and no theCensored [censored] brats have not been found Thumbs Down [tdn]Thanks for the extra info on the BR diesels. walk through doors unit to unit are a bit of an odity even over hear the F's and E's doors likely never got used all that much as a walk through at any rate , maintenance or repair maybe.

Fergie-Glad you made it back without anything broken or abraded Thumbs Up [tup] Good luck on the coarse.

Lars-Good book covah's as always Thumbs Up [tup] don't worry I'll make sure the bar duties are not neglected. I'll even scowel and  growel at the UTB's when I see them for you Thumbs Up [tup]

Nick-Hmmm, sounds like some interesting micro brew that the Zep flew in the testing should do about right this evening I think.

 Right since you yet to have the pleasure of a ride on the ONR and are an ONR virgin,you ned to get your posterior over here,sample the Arm's  wears with Pete , Tom and myself and whomever else we can scrape up, and see if we can't create a memorable time. ( hopefully without any deportations or any time served in any sort of lock-up )The Northlander is calling to you my friend Thumbs Up [tup]

Rob

 

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Posted by EricX2000 on Thursday, February 7, 2008 12:57 AM

Good morning Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!

Sorry Leon, just a cup of coffee! Keep the change.

I don't know what happened to this evening. It's gone!

Fergie –  Going to bed at 10 sounds like a dream! Lucky you!

DL –  Are your slides mounted in glass frames? If so you should replace them with glassless frames. The glass is like a magnet and are usually getting a layer of some gray stuff that will decrease the picture quality drastically.

I know what you mean about using an old fashion slide projector. That is the best way to find details in the pictures.Wink [;)]

Tom –  I didn’t know that you liked buses that much.Smile [:)] Maybe something to discuss during the Rendezvous?! Buses took more than ten years of my life.

Like the photos of the construction from your S-gauge layout!Thumbs Up [tup] That track with ballast looks very much like the track Märklin had in the 50’s and 60’s! But that is HO. I’ll save my photos until the next installment.Smile [:)]

CM3 –  I like that line from the Fiddler on the Roof! Laugh [(-D]

Lars –  Me in oblivion? No, I know exactly what is going on! Every detail!!! Mischief [:-,]

Who said anything about ordering “stuff” by the pound at Cracker Barrel? But a big CB breakfast is on the heavy side! Wink [;)]

Yes, Tom’s bus was built by GM. But almost all bus makers built very similar buses those years. Even in the old country, Scania (trucks and buses) built basically the same model on license from Mack. Instead Mack bought Scania diesel engines for their trucks.

More interesting books and a DVD!Thumbs Up [tup] This time I’ll pick the first one, Westrn pacific Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment. Smile [:)]

Pete –  Nice photos of those old saddle tank engines!Thumbs Up [tup] Very British!

Sweden changed from left hand traffic to right hand traffic in 1967. It was a big event and expensive. The cost for new and rebuilt/converted buses was very high. In most cases older buses just got doors on the right side and they closed the old ones on the left ide. The driver was left sitting on the right side. But it worked. I was a bus driver when this happened and the change went very smoothly.Smile [:)]

Nick –  Ahh, now I know where all that smoke I saw came from! You were burning some old, rotten timber! Wink [;)]

Rob –  Those Scania buses actually rode real nice.Yeah!! [yeah] 40 ft long and had an 8 cyl. diesel engine. Stockholm Transit had 199 of them, built 1953-54 and in service until the change to right hand traffic in 1967. Most of them were exported to other left hand traffic countries then.


Whitcomb Diesel 50-DE-58a-1. Diesel electric.

 

 

Eric

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Chesterfield, Missouri, USA
  • 7,214 posts
"Our" Place reborn! An adult bar 'n grill for the discussion of Classic Trains!
Posted by siberianmo on Thursday, February 7, 2008 7:16 AM

<personal foto>

G'day Gents!

Must have been a "blue moon" night before last for an event took place that only happens "once in a blue moon." Water in the basement! <yikes> Water beneath the rubber matting surrounding the Can-Am railway - water coming through the walls <strange hydrostatic pressure event>. Water ‘n a colossal mess for me to clean up. Compounding the problem is that the person who owned this place before us had painted the basement floor with WATER BASED paint! You guessed it, a mess - a huge mess. <arrrrrrggggggghhhhhh>  Didn't notice it until a "squishing" sound was heard along with "bubbles" appearing between the joints of the matting - didn't need to know anything further. <triple arrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhh> This morning is gonna be just LOVE-R-LY! Thumbs Down [tdn]

So, I'm gonna skip my breakfast ‘n get right to it - but you guys go right ahead ‘n enjoy the coffee, pastries ‘n <light> or <traditional> bills o' fare! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

Customer Acknowledgments (since my last narrative):

Wed - Feb 6th<all times Central standard>

Page 180 - Pete (pwolfe) at 3:58 PM: Covered lots of ground with that < I3> Post of yours, which is your trademark. Nice selection of fotos - although the first one surely appears "toy like" to me. Anyway, thanx for the effort to provide us with something different to gawk at! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg] Thumbs Up [tup]

Surprised your camera survived the experience of those out of the window fotos - and in those frigid temps at that. Wow!! [wow] Did you have your "black bag" around your neck as you took those shots Question [?] Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]You are a fortunate guy to have the evidence of your trips along with recollections of where they were taken . . . Thumbs Up [tup]

Not to worry, should the Manager's position become "vacant," your supervisor will CHANGE. I'm thinking about Molly Throttlebottom . . . . <hee hee hee> Seems you two have "hit it off" since you enrolled in her typing class LAST year! Not very many "students" get "recycled" for the 2nd time, much less working on the 3rd! <uh oh>

There's an aspect of having a guy like Lars aboard that just cannot be replaced - that being his attention to us all even when he's away from home. Really something else! This guy has communicated from the left coast - from the Keys of Florida ‘n from up in Plattsburgh, NY. Overwhelming majority of the guys who've frequented this joint would never have done such a thing, much less thought to do it. That's one area that makes him a very special character to all of us who give a Rat's Patoot! Yeah!! [yeah]

Can't say that I understood everything you've commented on with your new-found Mates at the bar - but I enjoyed eavesdropping. Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

Thanx for the visit ‘n ROUND! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

That's it for now . . . I'll get to Nick - Rob 'n Eric's evening Posts 'n Mike's latest, later on . . . . Thanx, gents! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

Reminder: Ruth has the bar from 9 AM until Leon the Night Man comes in at 5 PM ‘til closing.

TODAY 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 Dinner [dinner] so come early ‘n often! Yeah!! [yeah]

Cindy is o

Happy Railroading! Siberianmo
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Chesterfield, Missouri, USA
  • 7,214 posts
"Our" Place reborn! An adult bar 'n grill for the discussion of Classic Trains!
Posted by siberianmo on Thursday, February 7, 2008 8:52 AM

G'day Gents!


Back with Part Deux of my AM summary . . . what a morning! ‘nuf said . . .

Customer Acknowledgments (since my last narrative):

Wed - Feb 6th: <all times Central standard>

Page 180 - Nick (nickinwestwales) at 8:45 PM: An unexpected visit from our wandering minstrel in Wales . . . figured you'd be off with the band or recuperating from a session or three . . . Your opening commentary brings to mind a thought: Doesn't matter one bit whether someone is taken from life as a result of a natural disaster or a man-induced incident. Dead is dead. However, when we speak of nature's wrath, I'm unaware of any successful means to defend against it. Wars on the other hand can <and should> be avoided, with only this caveat: Screw the idea of turning the other cheek.

If there's any "benefit" to spending a bit o' time in "Our" Place it's leaving the real world outside. As you so astutely penned some years back, we have our "rules" ‘round here, ‘n leaving one's "baggage" out on the porch pretty much says it all. Nick's Rules are still Posted back in the Pool Room ‘n Rat's Patoot Room! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

"Nick's House Rules" are officially adopted and have been posted in the pool room.

(1) All emotional baggage to be checked at the door.
(2) No ladies of negotiable affection before midnight.
(3) No whizzing in the spittoons at any time.
(4) The Ladies are always right, regardless of circumstance.
(5) Food available until Chef finds the bottle.
(6) Lightly oil & polish barmaids between shifts.

Yeah, methinks we've all learned to NOT take Wikipedia to heart - far too many misstated "facts." But, the stuff isn't bad for the general gist of things . . . some of the material containing references on the other hand are "more betterER"! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

Seriously doubt that I'd be able to handle a room full of abhorrents as you so vividly described. Never was part of my "thing," however there were a few times when . . . . Back around 1959 a shipmate friend of mine arranged for a few of us to fly from Alaska to San Francisco for a weekend. His father was ‘someone' with a freight airline. So off we went from Kodiak to SFran. It was a most memorable weekend in that we wound up at a party - didn't have a clue who was who, or who "belonged' to whom - if you follow my drift. Somewhere it the wee hours keys were being thrown into a box - the rest is up to your imagination. Of course, we sailors had only the keys to our shipboard lockers back in Kodiak. So, we didn't get to "play." <grin>

Oh yeah, there's something "Christmas morning" about receiving ‘n opening boxes of new train stuff. "Works" for me, ‘n apparently you as well! Thumbs Up [tup]

Still prefer the Irish "folk" version of Whiskey in the Jar . . . still rattling ‘round in my cranium . . . <yikes>

Many thanx for another terrific < I3> Post with a STAR! Round appreciated as well! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

Page 180 - Rob (trolleyboy) at 10:16 PM: Appears that monster storm system has impacted pretty much one ‘n all east ‘n northeast of the Mississippi. We were within 50 miles of having it far worse than we did - according to the ‘weather birds,' that is. Counting our blessings - ‘til the next one comes thru. <yikes>

Planning on a get together at the St. George, eh Question [?] Perhaps you have "connections" with Air Canada, for unless ‘n until they price fares to accommodate those of us who'd rather not hock the house for a round trip flight - I'll have to pass. <groan>

Now having said that, just the thought of a reunion of sorts does bring some pleasant thoughts to mind. While the three of us really didn't "do" the St. George the way Pete ‘n I "do" the TrainWreck - next time we'll have to. Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg] You arrange 'n I shall come! Thumbs Up [tup]

Thanx for another fine inclusive Post ‘n ROUND(s)! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

Thur - Feb 7th:

Page 180 - Eric (EricX2000) at 12:57 AM: I'm hardly an aficionado when it comes to most things in life, especially buses. Perhaps RDCs . . . . hmmmmmm. <grin>

Anyway, my fascination with buses began at a very early age as travel where I grew up was primarily by that mode. Secondarily was the Staten Island Rapid Transist (SIRT) which was an electrified rail line, but it faded from sight <in my area> just about when I entered high school. As an aside, there resides quite an interesting Thread I started a few years back on the SIRT . . . for those interested, here's the link:

http://www.t

Happy Railroading! Siberianmo

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