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"Our" Place reborn! 3rd Year of adults 'n REAL Classic Trains in a special environment! Locked

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Posted by pwolfe on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 4:16 PM

Hi Tom and all.

A pint of Holden's Golden Glow please RUTH.Thumbs Up [tup]

ERIC Thanks for the congrats on the 200th post.Thumbs Up [tup]

 I found the map with Goraghwood station on it on the web, it seems it is one of quite a few on the line between Dublin and Belfast in Northern Ireland that are now closed.Sad [:(]

Not too sure about the braking arrangement in IrelandAshamed [*^_^*] but I would have thought the modern stock was air braked, but I seem to recall reading that the wagons used for the beet traffic was vacuumed braked, perhaps Nick may know more.

I did talk to a driver who had worked a royal train in steam days,Bow [bow] he said they were issued with new overalls and the locomotive was spotless. I think he said he got a letter to remember the day byThumbs Up [tup]. I will have to bring my ‘BR Headcodes'  small book to the rendezvous.

The 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington will be in 2025 and the Liverpool & Manchester will be in 2030.I wonder though if there will be a big event like there was for the 150th on the main line. If the British railways are still privatized with many companies will one have the money to stage a big cavalcade and by then steam locomotives may no longer be allowed on the main line tracks. It would be good though to think that the NER locomotive that has appeared in the last 3 S&D cavalcades could make it to the 200th anniversary.Approve [^]

Yes those engines at the Guinness brewery are interesting.

Many thanks for the Grand Canyon Railway photo.Approve [^]Thumbs Up [tup]

CM3 I found these photos of our trip from Providence Rhode Island to Sturbridge Mass. I am not sure of the locationSigh [sigh].

 

The locomotive looked very well cared for and there was this caboose.

TOM It was probably best I did not return on Monday, as I would have made less sense than I usually do(if possible)Big Smile [:D].

I am enjoying the discussion at the bar in what is considered a ‘classic' locomotive or car on North American RailwaysYeah!! [yeah]. I wonder if it is the same over here nowadays, as in Britain, that there is a least one of a certain type of locomotive preserved when they finish service, this is far different than the late 1960s and early 1970s when a few British diesel and electric classes disappeared without a single member of the class saved.

I am not surprised curling is popular in Nova Scotia it is very big in Scotland. I believe Scotland took the gold medal at a recent OlympicsBow [bow], I wonder if your bride's sister has been over to Scotland to play in a curling contest.Question [?]

The beer I had mixed was a ‘Black and Tan' half Guinness and half pale ale (it would be half a bitter in the UK). Other mixed beers that were popular in England were half of mild and a small bottle of brown ale and a drink called Light and Bitter I think,it was popular around London and the south. A popular drink was a Shandy half beer, half lemonade a great drink for a hot day after work in the garden etc.

It certainly is worrying getting water in the basement and not knowing where it is coming from,Thumbs Down [tdn] after our experience with basement work I really hope you are able to get a good pro to carry out the work.Yeah!! [yeah]

Many thanks for the photos of the building of the Polar Express shelf systemThumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]. It really is a great model of #1225 when enlarged in the photoWow!! [wow]Approve [^] and I think Lionel done a good job with the design of the box. It will be good to see photos of your system progressingThumbs Up [tup].

Watched Johnny Cash on you tube while reading the lyrics,Thumbs Up [tup] seen some of the scenes from Southern Missouri on the local news and they got it real bad with floodsSad [:(]Thumbs Down [tdn]. I guess the rivers and creeks heading for the Missouri River round here will be getting a bit high.

I have a photo in a book of a steam train in South Wales heading through a station where the floodwater is nearly level with the platforms Shock [:O]with the photographer by the footbridge to avoid the bow wave.

Well RUTH I'll have the pint Fergie has boughtThumbs Up [tup].

Pete.

  • Member since
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  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 683 posts
Posted by EricX2000 on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:56 PM

Good evening Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!

Yes, Leon, it is a typical evening for a Rumpsteak Café de paris tonight! Keith's, please! And a round for the house!

A beautiful day, 80˚, here in the desert! No rain, no storms.

Tom –  No cigar? That’s okay. But I am sure Wyatt at least knew somebody from Ireland!Smile [:)] Maybe even shot one?!Oops [oops]

Sorry to hear about the water problem. Do you have any water line outside along that wall?Question [?]

Grand Canyon Railway is doing pretty well.Thumbs Up [tup] I have to go up to Williams, AZ, and have a look at it again.

Nice photos of your Polar Express train!Thumbs Up [tup] I bet the locomotive must be pretty heavy if it’s all metal? How long did it take for you to build the Polar Express Railroad (layout)? Question [?]

Thanks for the Johnny Cash video.Thumbs Up [tup] One of my favorite country singers singing a very good song, Five Feet High and Rising!


Five Feet High and Rising. Mississippi River, June 1993, view from the train.


CM3 –  Thanks for the additional info on Old Colony!Thumbs Up [tup] You don’t hear many stories about former railroads being rebuilt! I like that kind of stories!

I agree with your comments about what is classic!Smile [:)] Age is not the most important factor.

Fergie –  Glad to learn you are back home!Smile [:)]

Pete –  Thanks for the info on the Irish brake systems!Thumbs Up [tup] You are most likely right, otherwise they would not have any vacuum brake equipment on a brand new locomotive.

A letter to remember the day when he operated a train with king and/or queen. Probably signed! Something to frame and hang on the wall!Smile [:)]

Providence & Worcester! I have been to Worcester but I  didn’t know anything about this (obvious) shortline. Nice photos!Yeah!! [yeah]



Narrow gauge roundhouse. Vadstena, Sweden 1971.

 

 

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, March 20, 2008 7:52 AM

<personal foto>

G'day Gents!

Sun emerged ‘round 2 PM yesterday ‘n things began to look more promising. Basement situation is down to an annoying trickle <translated: only need to change the diapers half as often!> Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

A blue sky morning but it's most deceiving - many parts of this area are in dire straits with the flooding yet to come. We're okay . . .

Time to draw a mugga Joe, grab a few pastries ‘n order a <light> or <traditional> breakfast from our Menu Board! C'mon, it's really easy . . . ‘n you can't beat the price! <grin>

Comments from the Proprietor

Anyone other than Moi notice that our Manager is MIA Question [?] Most unusual - hope all's well up in Ontario. Coincidence brewing - I tell him I'm coming up ‘n he makes himself scarce! Hmmmmmmm. Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

Customer Acknowledgments (since my last narrative):

Wednesday - March 19th: <all times Central daylite>

Page 200 - CM3 Shane <coalminer3> at 9:05 AM: Many thanx for the Emails these past couple of days! Thumbs Up [tup] Some fine insights to be shared with the gang - go fer it!

Most definitely transited the Cape Cod Canal, of course with a priority. I can still "see" those canal workers waving at "that new Coast Guard cutter" as we made turns meant for the open seas. A most competent bunch of mariners were we . . . didn't have much time to "lollygag" as there was serious work dead ahead ‘n on both sides! <uh oh>

I'm STILL waiting for the NH RR Color History book <backordered for months>! <arrrgggghhh>

Certainly would think that design has to be included within the criteria for determining whether a loco is in-line to become a Classic. Yeah, that makes sense to me. Thumbs Up [tup]

No one was more surprised <'n delighted> than I when the Lionel Berkshire came out of the box as a metal beauty to behold. Surely reminded me of my childhood Pennsy 6-8-6 turbine in terms of weight ‘n quality.

Visit, quarters ‘n ROUND very much appreciated! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

Page 200 - Fergie <Fergmiester> at 2:48 PM: Business ‘n ROUND appreciated! <KaChing> KaChing>

Page 200 - Pete <pwolfe> at 4:16 PM: Enjoyed the hour with you on the fone . . . many subjects discussed ‘n the time flew, as always. Thanx! Thumbs Up [tup]

"Cute" lil' NH switcher - makes ya wanna make it sit up ‘n give it a treat! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg] Like that Providence & Worcester caboose - very "cool"! Yeah!! [yeah]

No, my sister-in-law hasn't been out of Canada for curling matches . . . but she's been a "bunch" of regionals, provincials, etc. It's a sport that requires quite a bit of skill, so I've learned by observation . . .

"They" say one shouldn't "knock it" ‘til one has "tried it." Lemonade ‘n beer just sounds perfectly AWFUL to me. Kinda like mushy peas! <yikes> Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

Amazed that a train would be able to maintain forward momentum with water as high as you described . . . bow wave indeed! <grin> Just gotta luv those nautical terms, eh Question [?]

Thanx for jumping in on the vacuum brake "thing". . . doubt Nick will pick up on it though . . . could be surprised, we'll see.

Really like that Johnny Cash video - the song is one of my favorites. The man had all kinds of personal demons, but once he strapped on that guitar, magic ensued. At least that's my not-so-humble OH-PIN-YUN. Thumbs Up [tup]

Many thanx for the fine inclusive Post, visit ‘n fotos! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

Page 200 - Eric <EricX2000> at 11:56 PM: Most quiet evening - over 7 hours since Pete's Post! Wow!! [wow]

The water line to the house is rather far from where the problem is, plus it is "down" the grade quite a bit and very deep beneath the ground. The problem only occurs when we have very heavy rains, so I'm ruling that one out. But thanx for bringing it up - sometimes one thought leads to another, etc. Thumbs Up [tup]

What a fine stone building that round house is! Talk about quality in workmanship! Wow!! [wow] Also that shot of the 1993 floods here in my part of the world brought back a memory or three. My bride ‘n I took the train to KCity right after the line reopened ‘n the devastation along the Missouri River was immense. Hard to describe it to anyone who has not been in or near major flooding. To this day there are signs of that flood ‘n probably will remain for decades - landscape scoured, things ripped up ‘n deposited far from where they belonged, etc. Thumbs Down [tdn] Nice shot though .

The actual construction of my Polar Express shelf system took only a few days. Once begun, it went rather quickly - I'm like that. <grin> Other aspects like the backdrop of nite sky, rope illumination ‘n meager landscaping took longer. Whole thing from inception to completion - about 2 weeks.

Appreciate the ROUND, visit, chat ‘n fotos! 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.

Thursday is Fish ‘ Chips Nite!

Friday is Pizza ‘n Beer Nite! - and - Steak ‘n Fries Nite!

Saturday is Steak ‘n All The Trimmings Nite!

Dinner begins at 5 PM Dinner [dinner] so come early ‘n often! Yeah!! [yeah]

Cindy is our Saturday bartender! Yeah!! [yeah]

Boris, serve ‘em all of the "spiked" OJ they can handle! Thumbs Up [tup]

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

 

Happy Railroading! Siberianmo
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: WV
  • 1,251 posts
Posted by coalminer3 on Thursday, March 20, 2008 12:58 PM

Good Afternoon Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox.  Winter is back today as we had a lot of heavy rain and high wind last night which turned to snow as soon as the cold front passed by.

Fergie was by.  What are you looking for in the way of pictures?  You can always cheat and say that your engine servicing facility is small and power is sanded by hand with buckets.  However, from the pictures I have seen of the power on your layout, it would take a lot more than that.  Anyway, let me know what you are hunting for and I'll see what I can find. 

Pete - Your remarks on the Royal train brought back to mind (maybe kicked it forward after Boris hit me on the back of the head with a pool cue - he hates it when I make him play by rules that are not of his making) a story told by my maternal grandmother. 

She came to this country from the U.K., "A bit before the Great War," and did not get back home until 1953.  She told me, "Every time I wanted to go back I was either short of money, or somebody would start another war with submarines."  I do miss her, even today.  She was turned out of school one day to line up trackside with her schoolmates to see the Royal train go by.  She recalled it was the, "Only time I got to see Queen Victoria." 

I'll bet you made those pictures on the P&W.  My first thought was the Valley Railroad, but then you said you were going from Providence to Sturbridge.  The NYNH&H, IIRC, never had power like that, but the paint job is a nice tribute.  The P&W is, of course, alive and well.  One of my ancestors was a station agent on the original Providence and Worcester, back before it was swallowed by the New Haven.  Years back, Ed Lewis did a book on the P&W titled, again IIRC, The Blackstone Valley Line - regrettably it is long o/p. 

The reincarnated P&W was spun off into a short line that is in some ways more of a regional railroad now.  They venture out onto the NEC as well.  I have pictures from their first weeks of operation - all Alco RS3s; geez! More stuff to bring to the Rendezvous.  Keep this up I'll need an 18-wheeler.

Eric - Good comments and I enjoyed the picture of the narrow gauge roundhouse.

OSP - On target with your comments about Johnny Cash, sir - well said!  E-mail rec'd and answered.

Work safe

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • 280 posts
Posted by DL - UK on Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:10 PM

Hello Tom and all in

This is a pretty hopeless hit and run post really - so i can only amend by leaving a LARGE round for the house for all the regulars. I just wanted to wish all the best for the holiday season and hope everyone has a great time. Will try to be back on form soon - things have been from busy to busier in the last few weeks and that is very annoying.

Best wishes to all!

Darn it - I'll have a bitter quickly whilst I'm here too!

Very best wishes

DL

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Chesterfield, Missouri, USA
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"Our" Place reborn! An adult bar 'n grill for the discussion of Classic Trains!
Posted by siberianmo on Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:44 PM

G'day Gents!

Was beginning to wonder if we'd have anyone on board today - saw two of our regulars "peeking in," but neither of 'em put up a thing - nary a foto - nothing! That is perplexing to me in that any one of our guys should be able to quickly determine that things have been dormant for 3, 4 or more hours - that of course should ring an "alarm" - Post something! <groan>

Great to see CM3 Shane 'n Dan. Gotta make comment on Dan's "hit 'n run" Post. His kind of H&R is far more acceptable than those who are either pretending to be one of us or have no clue. Why Question [?] Because he WANTS to be here - he isn't Posting elsewhere while avoiding us 'n really is a participant who has provided reams of meaningful material of relevance to what we're all about - CLASSIC TRAINS <with a twist of fun thrown in!>. That's the way the Proprietor sees it . . . Thumbs Up [tup]

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

I figured that if no one Posted today, the following wouldn't get "released" - for my idea is to Post after someone visits, rather than back-to-back from me to the Ether. <exceptions on special days>. Anyway, here's a little something that some may enjoy from the archives . . . .

Great Railroad Bridges - #4

<Initially Posted on Page 405 , 04 Sep 2006, of the Original Thread>

Used with permission from Wikipedia.com

 

Quebec Bridge

The Quebec bridge, with the Pierre-Laporte bridge in the background.

Carries

3 lanes of roadway
1 rail line
1 pedestrian walkway

Crosses

St. Lawrence River

Locale

Quebec City, Quebec, and Levis, Quebec

Maintained by

Canadian National Railway

Design

Cantilever bridge

Longest span

549 m (1,800 feet)

Total length

987 meters (3,239 feet)

Width

29 m (94 feet) wide

Opening date

December 3, 1919

Coordinates

46°44′46″N, 71°17′16″W

The Quebec Bridge in Canada crosses the lower Saint Lawrence River to the west of Quebec City, and Levis, Quebec.

The Quebec Bridge is a riveted steel truss structure and is 987 meters (3,239 feet) long, 29 m (94 feet) wide, and 104 m (340 feet) high. Cantilever arms 177 m (580 feet) long support a 195 m (640 feet) central structure, for a total span of 549 m (1800 feet), the longest cantilever bridge span in the world. It is the easternmost complete crossing of the Saint Lawrence.

The bridge accommodates three highway lanes, one rail line, and a pedestrian walkway; at one time it also carried a streetcar line. It is owned by the Canadian National Railways.

History

Background

Before the Quebec Bridge was built, the only way to travel from the south shore of the St. Lawrence in Levis to the north shore at Quebec City was to take a ferry. As far back as 1852 a project for a bridge over the St. Lawrence River at Quebec was considered, and again, in 1867, 1882, and 1884.

A March 1897 article in the Quebec Morning Chronicle noted:

The bridge question has again been revived after many years of slumber, and business men in Quebec seem hopeful that something will come of it, though the placing of a subsidy on the statute book is but a small part of the work to be accomplished, as some of its enthusiastic promoters will, ere long, discover. Both Federal and Provincial Governments seem disposed to contribute towards the cost, and the City of Quebec will also be expected to do its share. Many of our people have objected to any contribution being given by the city unless the bridge is built opposite the town, and the CHRONICLE like every other good citizen of Quebec would prefer to see it constructed at Diamond Harbor, and has contended in the interests of the city for this site as long as there seemed to be any possibility of securing it there. It would still do so if it appeared that our people could have it at that site. A bridge at Diamond Harbor would, it estimated, cost at least eight millions. It would be very nice to have, with its double track, electric car track, and roads for vehicles and pedestrians, and would no doubt create a goodly traffic between the two towns, and be one of the show works of the continent.

First design  

Collapse of August 29, 1907

  

By 1904, the structure was taking shape. However, preliminary calculations made early in the planning stages were never properly checked when the design was finalized, and the actual weight of the bridge was far in excess of its carrying capacity. The dead load was too heavy. All went well until the bridge was nearing completion in the summer of 1907, but then the local engineering team under Norman McLure began noticing increasing distortions of key structural members already in place.

McLure became increasingly concerned and wrote repeatedly to supervising engineer Theodore Cooper, who at first replied that the problems were minor. The Phoenix Company officials were claiming that the beams must already have been bent before they were installed, but by August 27 it had become clear to McLure that this was wrong. A more experienced engineer might have telegraphed Cooper, but McLure wrote him a letter, then went to New York to meet with him on August 29, 1907. Cooper then agreed that the issue was serious, and promptly telegraphed to the Phoenix Bridge Company: "Add no more load to bridge till after due consideration of facts." The two engineers then went to the Phoenix offices.

But the message had not been passed on to Quebec, and now it was too late. That same afternoon, after four years of construction, the south arm and part of the central section of the bridge collapsed into the St. Lawrence River in just 15 seconds. Of the 86 workers on the bridge that day near quitting time, 75 were killed and the rest were injured. Of these victims, 33 were Mohawk steelworkers from the Kahnawake reserve near Montreal; they were buried at Kahnawake under crosses made of steel beams.

Second design

After a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the collapse, construction started on a second bridge. Three engineers were appointed: H.E. Vautelet, a former engineer for the Canadian Pacific Railways, Maurice FitzMaurice from Britain, who worked on the construction of the Forth Bridge, and Ralph Modjeski from Chicago. Vautelet was President and Chief Engineer. The new design was still for a bridge with a single long cantilever span, but a much more massive one. On September 11, 1916, when the central span was being raised into position, it fell into the river, killing several workers.

Completion

Construction was ultimately completed in August 1919, at a total cost of $25 million. On December 3, 1919, the Quebec Bridge opened for rail traffic, after almost two decades of construction. Its center span of 576 meters (1890 feet) remains the longest cantilevered bridge span in the world and is considered a major engineering feat.

  

Post-completion history

The bridge seen from the Parc Aquarium du Québec.

The bridge was designed and built primarily as a railway bridge, but the streetcar lines and one of the two railway tracks were converted into automobile and pedestrian/cycling lanes in subsequent years. In 1970 the Pierre Laporte Suspension Bridge opened just upstream to accommodate freeway traffic on Quebec Autoroute 73.

The Quebec Bridge was declared an historic monument in 1987 by the Canadian and American Society of Civil Engineers. On January 24, 1996, the bridge was declared a National Historic Site of Canada.

The bridge is privately owned by Canadian National Railway, although CN receives federal and provincial funding to undertake repairs and maintenance on the structure.

Trivia

  • The next longest cantilever bridge spans are on the Forth Bridge over the Firth of Forth in Scotland, completed in 1890. It has two main spans each just 90 feet (27 m) shorter than that of the Quebec Bridge.
  • Some have claimed that a portion of the collapsed bridge has been used over the past century to smelt rings used in the Iron Ring issued in the Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer ceremonies, administered for graduating Canadian engineering students. This is possibly apocryphal, as the bridge was steel, not raw iron. Nonetheless these rings, voluntarily carried on the little finger of the working hand of professional engineers in Canada, are meant to serve as a reminder to engineers of their social responsibilities to follow the ethical requirements of their profession.

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Enjoy! Thumbs Up [tup]

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

Missed any Question [?]

#1 - Hell Gate . . . Page 154

#2 - Forth Railway Bridge . . . Page 179

#3 Lethbridge Viaduct . . . Page 190

Happy Railroading! Siberianmo
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: mid mo
  • 1,054 posts
Posted by pwolfe on Thursday, March 20, 2008 2:54 PM

Hi Tom and all.

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

ERIC. It would be interesting to know if Wyatt Earp had any runins with any Irish navies who visited a town he was Marshal of while building a railroad line nearbyShock [:O].

I well remember seeing pictures of the 1993 floods in this area, as it was well covered by the BBC news in England at the time. The bride filled sandbags with others to help protected the houses in a small town called Rocheport she said it was strange as it was very hot here with no rain but because the Missouri River was that high, the creeks and rivers that fed into it backed up and burst their banks as well as the Missouri flooding. I have seen a photo of Jefferson City in the flood and it is unbelievable. As Tom says, there is still reminders of that flood, across the river from us was a small town named Cedar City which  there are just a couple of houses now, but the road system is still there it is a good place to first learn to drive.

Yes I hope CM3 can help with the location of the small New Haven loco.Thumbs Up [tup]

Many thanks for the photo of that great looking roundhouse at VadstenaApprove [^]Thumbs Up [tup]; I noticed the right hand drive bus.

CM3 Many thanks for the story of how your Grandmother saw Queen Victoria;Thumbs Up [tup] quite probably the car the queen was traveling in is at the National Railway Museum in York. The only time I have seen the Queen is when she arrived by special train at Rugby for a visit, I had hoped the train would have been steam hauled but it was hauled by two diesels, in immaculate condition of course. I believe it was policy to have two diesels on the Royal Train, as one time a nearly new diesel failed and the Queen had to be rescued by a steam locomotive taken off a frieght train, no doubt causing great embarrassment (not to mention sore butts) to the local railway management.

Thanks for the info on the New Haven Diesel and the P&W cabooseThumbs Up [tup]. I recall that a kind gentleman in a tourist information office in Providence drew us a map when he found out we were going to Old Sturbridge Village with a short cut on it, which involved a road that started as a minor highway but got narrower the farther north west we went, but true to his word it did save quite a few miles than if we had taken the major routes. Next time we are up there I will have to get a Delorme map, which shows all the roads as well as railroads.

I have found another box of photos that the bride took, when I go through them there may be a clue to the town where those photos were taken.

Looking forward to your photos at the rendezvous.Thumbs Up [tup]

DL Happy EasterThumbs Up [tup]. Thanks for the beerApprove [^], hope works eases a bit and you able to join us at the bar again soon.Thumbs Up [tup]

TOM It was great to talk to you yesterdayThumbs Up [tup] as you say when we are on the phone, like when we are at the TrainWreck saloon, time does indeed seem to fly by.Yeah!! [yeah].

I too am missing Rob and hope he is OK.

I guess the game of Curling originated on frozen lakes and ponds many years ago, it is strange that by sweeping in front that can keep the stone Question [?](not sure what the name is) running farther, it must take a great deal of skill to release the stone with the right amount of force to get it to stop on the target.Bow [bow]

I have found the lemonade over here is a lot different to the lemonade in England, there it is clear with nowhere near the full taste of it here. I must admit I like the American lemonade a lot better to drink on its own hereApprove [^]. I would not dream of making a shandy out of Bathams or Holdens etcShock [:O], far too good a beer and probably there is a hefty fine for doing it in the areas where they are brewedBig Smile [:D].

Did you see the fairly recent film of the story of Johnny Cash,Question [?] as you say, one of the true giants of the music world whose songs will live onBow [bow].

Many thanks for the Quebec Bridge EncoreThumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]. Very similar to the Forth Bridge in appearance, I think it indeed is a major engineering featBow [bow]. It is a real shame that the collapse of the original bridge need not have cost lives if the message had gotten to the workers earlier and it is sad in the second attempt there was a major accident that caused the loss of 5 workers.Sad [:(]

Even if the metal in the Engineer's ring is not made from the original steelwork I think it is a great tradition.Approve [^].

I had a look through the photos and I think this is the bridge taken by you from the dome car on the Chaleur.

  

This is one of my photos taken on the approach to the bridge I believe.

A couple of photos from my first visit to the U.S.Thumbs Up [tup], I won't have you guess the location as you seem not to like my prizesShock [:O]Big Smile [:D].

Sadly the Union Station area is a lot different when we visited on the Rendezvous II.Sad [:(].

I guess this RoadRailer was at the old Amtrak station at St Louis.

Well RUTH I am off out in a while so a round pleaseThumbs Up [tup] and the Fish 'N' ChipDinner [dinner] later Approve [^].

Pete

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: NZ
  • 242 posts
Posted by Gunneral on Thursday, March 20, 2008 8:40 PM

Hi Tom and all,

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

Pete. Nice link to the Guinness Brewery Tramway, very interesting site, hope you find those photo`s of the O3 diesel shunter you were looking for soon.Confused [%-)] Nice pics of Tom`s Quebec Bridge and the ones` of your first trip to the US.Approve [^] Saw the current? Royal Train a couple of times in North Wales in the late 50`s when it was visiting Caenarfon [Nick will know the proper spelling?] Gatland was very reticent about coaching the Lions when he was intervewed about it, he is probably thinking ahead to when the Lions` may beat the AB`s, he will get the order of the Brass Razoo over here if they do!Wink [;)]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

Rob. Hope you are OK over there and not being affected by that big storm causing all the flooding. Enjoyed all your train pics from your lost roll of film, and the write up on Classic CNR Steam #4 about the Passenger mixed trains to Niagara Falls.Approve [^]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

Eric. Will keep you up to date with the NZ railways buy back news as it occurs. A very nice selection of GREEN pics, very apt that the 2nd Class Saloon is painted green, graphic shot of those floods in 1993, and a really nice shot of the narrow guage Roundhouse at Vadstena, were you driving that bus in the photo?Smile [:)]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

Fergie. Good to see that you got back to port safe and sound!Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

CM3. Interesting info on the NH branch lines in Massachusetts in the Old Colony area and liked your thoughts on Classic Rail equipment, and liked your Grandma`s story about lining up to see Queen Victoria pass by in the Royal Train, it was a tradition to do that over there from what I remember, although it may have fallen off since we left the old country in 1969.Confused [%-)]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

Dan. Nice to see that you popped in for a quick visit.Approve [^]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

Tom. E-mail received with thanks, hope you and your bride are on the mend now, a shot of the RIGHT STUFF can`t do you any harm I should think!Whistling [:-^] Good to read the flooding in your basement is easing a bit now, hope you get to the root of of where it`s coming from and be able to fix it. That NZ electric loco that Lars posted is an EF Class used on the North Island Main Trunk Line, mainly used on Express Freights`, they are also used to haul the Overlander passenger train as well, their is some info about them at;

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

A really nice set of pics on your Polar Express shelf layout system, and a great Johhny Cash song and video on You-tube to singalong with,Smile [:)], plus a very interesting Great Railroad Bridges #9 write upon the Quebec Bridge with a nice shot you took of it that Pete posted.Approve [^] Hang on in there!Wink [;)]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

See ya, Allan 

                      

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • 901 posts
Posted by nickinwestwales on Thursday, March 20, 2008 8:58 PM

My dear friends-welcome to the page 200 party Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]-Leon-those bottles of bubbly in the fridge..bring `em through old thing-and a couple of bottles of the extra-special holiday Cognac,oh-and lots of glasses-and a broom-this can get fairly messy..............You can see where I am going here-brandy and champers-a delightful cocktail,but not one to embrace if you have any form of responsible behaviour required within the next 24 hours....no ?-well then Leon-pop that cork dear boy and lets get started...................

Right-as my last gesture of responsibility for the evening--lets all eat before the drink completely ruins us,its thursday,so-(da daaaa!!!)

Starters:-

soup-French onion

baked filo parcels of crab,spring onion,ginger & lime

crepe au gratin stuffed with scallops,mussels & cockles in a provencal sauce

monkfish,bacon,button mushroom & baby corn kebab

Mains:-

Jack Sound lobster with selection of sauces,garlic & herb bread & a big chefs salad

Trout stuffed with lemon buttered breadcrumbs

pan fried Dover sole

middle cut wing of skate in black butter sauce (a special request for my dad)

grilled swordfish steak with selection of sauces

all with either veg or salad  and choice of potato dish

north sea cod in beer batter with mushy peas & chips

Likewise-battered sausage & chips,pie & chips ,saveloy & chips.... and little sachets of ketchup so acidic you could etch cheap jewellery with it--sorry,flashing on my youth there

 Jamaican platter:-

Jerk chicken,grilled red snapper,HOT chilli prawns,fried plantains,rice with red beans and peas Red Stripe beer and lots of rum & reggae

 

Or if anyone wants something else-come and tell me and I`ll knock it up for you-right I`m off to the galley,frankly I dread to think what I may find there.............

later-Chef [C=:-)]

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 683 posts
Posted by EricX2000 on Friday, March 21, 2008 1:28 AM

Good evening Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!

Leon wha... hello Nick! What is going on? Page 200 party?!! Wow, just a few days after the big St. Patrick’s Day party! This will be a long night! But who cares! Fish? Don’t you have any of that welsh black something? I would love that!Smile [:)]

Tom –  I guess you are right, the only way to find out about your water leakage is to dig up the outside along the basement wall. Do you have any underground drainage around the basement that might partly clogged?Question [?]

Workmanship, yes.Smile [:)] I like to look at old buildings, they are often built very solid with quality in workmanship. Somewhere I have a few pictures from inside that roundhouse, but i have not been able to find them. Yet.

I saw the Missouri River from the sky a number of times in 1993 when everything was flooded. Huge areas under water.Wow!! [wow]

Two weeks for the whole Polar Express layout? That is quick! Yeah!! [yeah]

Thanks for the article on theQuebec Bridge!Thumbs Up [tup] I’ve read some about it and the two collapses, but this was more detailed.

CM3 –  You better be careful and not let Boris be behind you. Especially not when he has his pool cue in his hands.Wink [;)]

DL –  Thanks for the round!Thumbs Up [tup]

Pete –  Runins with any Irish navies? Life is better than so! Wyatt Earp was born in Monmouth, Illinois, in 1848, of Scotch-Irish stock! So he was part Irish! Check this link, it tells the story!

http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1998/8/1998_8_76.shtml

So now we know why the Second Class Saloon is green!!!  I’ve been to Tombstone and seen a reactment of the OK Corrall gunfight. I am just trying to recall where I may have any pictures of it. Maybe I only have it on video.

As I mentioned to Tom, I saw the Missouri River from above a number of times in 1993 when huge areas were flooded.

You noticed the right hand drive bus in my photo. I took that photo when I worked as a bus driver and that was the bus I was driving that day in 1971.Smile [:)]

Nice photos!Thumbs Up [tup] You visited the US the first time in the winter? Wrong time of the year! What year was it?Question [?]

Was that RoadRailer coupled to the Amtrak train?Question [?]

Allan –  Looking forward to get the news from NZ whenever they happen! Smile [:)]

Yes, I was driving that bus in my photo. Worked a little bit more than ten years as a bus driver. The photo below shows the same bus at the same time and location from the inside.






A small town in the old country. Hudiksvall, Sweden 1959.

 

 

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 Friday, March 21, 2008 6:41 AM

<personal foto>

Friday's Grin

Brain Cramps

Question: If you could live forever, would you and why?

Answer:"I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever,"

--Miss Alabama in the 1994 Miss USA contest.

 

G'day Gents!

The end of the work week <for many> and what better time to reinforce the day than with us Question [?] Coffee's ready - pastries freshly baked ‘n our <light> ‘n <traditional> breakfasts are ready to order! Thumbs Up [tup]

I've got a heft schedule of things to do 'n places to go . . . so this may be "it" for me today.

 

Comments from the Proprietor

Good news, Boris! Heard from your buddy up in Ontario 'n he's fine - just a bit out of it after back-to-back loooooooong days <daze> selling toys! <somehow that sounds like . . . never mind!> Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg] Call back the dogs 'n search party - he'll be baaaaaaaaack! Thumbs Up [tup]

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

Looks like I made the 4,000th Reply! CONTEST over - Eric correctly picked the date! Since only HALF of the contest was won - only HALF the prize will be awarded! One half of any dinner on the Menu Board for a week - one half of a mugga brew for a week and one half of a weekend nite in the Penthouse Suite! <uh oh>

WHO will make the 4,000th reply at the bar AND when

Participants:

(1) Pete sez Rob on Mar 22nd

(2) Rob sez Pete on Mar 16th

(3) Eric sez Allan on Mar 21st

(4) CM3 Shane sez Rob on Mar 13th

(5) Ron sez Rob on Mar 10th

(6) Allan sez Pete on Mar 15th

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

 

Customer Acknowledgments (since my last narrative):

Thursday - March 20th: <all times Central daylite>

Page 200 - CM3 Shane <coalminer3> at 12:58 PM: A good Post to eavesdrop - enjoyed it! Thumbs Up [tup]

Email working well! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

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

 

Page 200 - Dan <DL-UK> at 1:10 PM: Don't know what it is you do to earn your keep, but it surely must be demanding. Nevertheless, gotta keep to what's important - ‘n this stuff is hardly that. <grin> Anyway, glad you've been thinking of us ‘n wish you ‘n yours a Happy Easter season too!

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

 

Page 200 - Pete <pwolfe> at 2:54 PM: Having driven to-from KCity a few zillion times along I-70, I can attest to the fact that on either side of the bridge at Rocheport - NOTHING looks at all the way it did prior to the Great Flood of 1993. "Good for Laura" - I admire those who pitch in when help is most needed. Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

Yes, we have the Johnny Cash DVD <Walk the Line> in our modest library <about to overtake our living spaces!> ‘n it's a decent portrayal from what I've read.  Another good one is RAY <Ray Charles> - both provide much insight into the personal travails of those two American music icons.

That is "my" shot of the Victoria Jubilee Bridge <not the Québec Bridge> as we returned from our ill-fated Gaspé trip, crossing the St. Lawrence Seaway at Montréal. Thumbs Up [tup]

From my limited knowledge of curling, I do believe your terminology is "right on."

I'd know that "green train" anywhere! That shot is at St. Louis Union Station . . . and yes, I think your quiz prizes are terrible! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg] I traveled to-from KCity aboard a few of those cars when they were attached to the stern section of Amtrak <special train for Transportation Day some February's ago>.

Amtrak #34026 is a Superliner I coach <I looked it up!> First time I've ever seen a RoadRailer attached to Amtrak. Note that the markings on it are Amtrak as well. Wow!! [wow]

Enjoyed eavesdropping your comments . . . also, thanx for visiting "my other Thread"!! Yeah!! [yeah]

Nice fotos, Mate ‘n thanx for the ROUND! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

 

Page 200 - Allan <Gunneral> at 8:40 PM: Many thanx for a fine, inclusive Post. The link worked well too! Thumbs Up [tup]

As mentioned <above> that bridge foto of mine is of the Victoria Jubilee Bridge . . . I've never crossed the Québec structure . . . perhaps one day.

I'm still a ways off from looking a brew in the eye <or anything else in a bottle> . . . it's that way. <ugh>

Many thanx for the visit 'n ROUND! Thumbs Up [tup] Thumbs Up [tup]

 

 

Page 200 - Nick <nickinwestwales at 8:48 PM: Menu delights from our man in Wales! Wow!! [wow]

 

Friday - March 21st: <all times Central daylite>

Page 200 - Eric <EricX2000> at 1:28 AM: Congrats on winning HALF the CONTEST! Enjoy your prizes <half of 'em, that is!> Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

Problem in getting anyone out to check the problem since we've had so much snow 'n rain over the past several weeks - "they" say it might be a couple of weeks as they are responding to emergencies . . . no drainage lines. This is a foundation issue . . . <barf>

Your URL caused a WPP <wide page phenom>! Thumbs Down [tdn] But a good link nonetheless . . .

Thanx for stopping in - sorry I gotta run, but it's gonna be a looooooong day. 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 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 our Saturday bartender! Yeah!! [yeah]

Boris, serve ‘em all of the "spiked" OJ they can handle! Thumbs Up [tup]

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

 

Happy Railroading! Siberianmo
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 1,431 posts
Posted by Bergie on Friday, March 21, 2008 9:34 AM

Spring maintenance time...

I'm to start a new edition of this thread. Dragging around 200 pages is having an impact on the forum performance.

Thanks,
Bergie

(I'm doing this to all the big threads throughout the Trains.com forums... I'm not singling out or picking on your thread. This is strickly a maintence issue.)

Erik Bergstrom

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