Courtesy: http://www.viarail.ca/
G'day Gents!
Nearing the end of the week here at the Tavern by the Tracks - Thursday in mid-continent USA brings cloudy skies, dropping temps and a bit more like "it" for the last of winter. We had 70s (F) the past few days, short sleeves, etc. Now the "chill" in the air is baaaaaaaack, and it's grrrrrrrrrrrreat!
Pour yourself a cuppa Joe, check out the Menu Board for our <light> ‘n <traditional> breakfasts and sample a selection or three from The Mentor Village Bakery!
The "call" went out and was answered quite well, especially in the AM - but then again, perhaps it wudda happened anyWHO!
Thanx, Gents! Somewhat of an abupt ending to the conversation, as we experienced ALL STOP rather early ‘round here.
NO WINNERS for the 10,000th Post Contest. However, HONORABLE MENTION goes to Pete (March 12th) and CM3 (March 15th) who really did a great job "thinking through" the numbers. For them, the "prize" is: a weekend's stay at Can-Am Gorge in the "Our" Place Cabin! Transportation, food ‘n beverages provided by the establishment! <grin>
The count?? 9,013 over on the "original" Thread - and - 658 here; add 'em up!
If you recall, Can-Am Gorge is where I take Boris ‘n Leon for their Sunday "excursions." The critters of the gorge need a week to recover from their visit . . . ENJOY!
Thanx to all who participated!
Reminder: St. Patrick's Day here at the bar on Saturday, March 17th. Be sure to wear something GREEN!
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (since my last narrative):
Lars at 7:59 AM ‘n 8:45 AM ‘n 1:43 PM yesterday: Much appreciation for stepping up. I've got another couple of days of "more of the same" - so things ‘round here are just gonna have to perk along in my absence.
Those submissions on the American Flyer and Lionel electric trains surely brought back a smile for me. THANX!
CM3 at 8:54 AM yesterday: The "LunG Eyland Railroad" to West Egg! <envy>
What a GREAT prize for answering the Literary Quiz from Shane! <grin>
Appreciate the "self-help" package - the hammer came in handy. Although I'm not sure why it was contained in a glass case with the markings "In case of severe stress, break glass, remove hammer, and hit yourself squarely between the eyes."
BK at 11:24 AM yesterday: Good to see ya and appreciate the Euro trainsets. Nice!
Yours was a surprise in that I didn't expect two days in a row and . . . .
Comments the other day about the hockey Blues were "right on." The new ownership here really has gone overboard in rebuilding the team and changing coaches in mid-stream really helped. While this year is a "wash," they should be very competitive next year.
Doug at 10:13 AM ‘n 3:19 PM yesterday: Thanx for the TWO appearances in mid-week!
Haven't had time to check out your epistles - but I'll get a ROUNDTUIT!
Hope your meeting went better than mine. I was at a subdivision board of directors "thing" and if you've ever been involved with those things, then you know . . . .
Pete at 4:15 PM yesterday: The final Post of the day belongs to the Wolfman. Who wuddathunkit, eh Rather early to put the brakes on things, but such is life here at the "hit ‘n miss" bar ‘n grill. Happens.
Your comment in a previous Post regarding things being thrown at passing trains reminded me of a trip we were on in Canada. While heading into Halifax, about 20 minutes out, we passed beneath a series of highway overpasses. It was out in the country, as most of Nova Scotia is, and things were serene as we sat up in the Park Car dome taking it all in. Then all of a sudden BANG - the sound of a near explosion. I had a glimpse of three kids standing above the passing train and then a blur. They threw something rather large down at the train and it hit the front window of the dome car. We were seated right behind it. Fortunately, the double paned material didn't give way, but the damage was done. A real mess.
The incident was reported and from what we read in the local papers, they caught the kids. Cudda been a lot worse than it was and I wonder what kind of "punishment" these "darlings" received.
No complaints, thus far, with the contracting work. They are doing a fine job and doing it fast. Have some trees coming down tomorrow too - a different contractor. Should be quite the "scene" in front of my house with trucks and heavy equipment all over the place. Oh well, it will give the "gawkers" something to look at!
Thanx for trying to maintain the mid-late afternoon "slot"!
James at 7:54 AM today: THANX for thinking about us!
Reminder: Ruth has the bar from 9 AM until Leon the Night Man comes in at 5 PM ‘til closing. Tonight is Fish ‘n Chips Nite! with dinner beginning at 5 PM.
Boris
Ahoy Cap'n Tom 'n fellow travelers at the bar!
Ruth my deAH, you are indeed a splendid sight on this cool morning in Mentor Village. A hot cuppa Joe with one of those "BK" splashes will be a fine way to begin things for me.
CONGRATS to Wolfman 'n Shane for the HONORABLE MENTION AWARD! Surely did a fine job with the 10,000th Post Contest and I'm sure you'll delight in your weekend at Can-Am Gorge!
Have some administrative matters to take care of, so I'll be over at my "office" table trying to make sense of the invoices Boris signed for after yesterday's delivery. <geesh> Without a permanent Bar Chandler 'round here . . . <groan> Not to worry, Wolfman, you are doing a fine job and I'll see to it that the proper ladel is provided for your next "dip" into the tub!
No problems, Cap'n! We do what we can to keep the ship on course. I too was surprised as I went thru the posts from yesterday to note that all activity halted after Pete came in. Is there a message in that
Didn't expect to see our barn weevil in attendance, but there he was! I will have to make the time to read thru those contributions. Just the kinda stuff I can get "into"! Thanks!
Heading into the weekend and as I recall, Wolfman is going to be away (again)! Well, at least with Sunday now an "officially CLOSED" day, the inactivity doesn't hurt quite as much.
We're pretty much set for St. Paddy's Day as the last of the shipments are expected this afternoon. Kitchen is well stocked, barrels of brew are waitin' to be tapped and the tent will be put up tomorrow out back. I've heard the locals are lookin' forward to this year's activities, especially with the bands that Cap'n Tom lined up. He found some 70s Irish rock bands that are in need of work: Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, The LeperKhanz, The Tossers, The Puguglies, 'n The Bleeding Irish. Should be an interesting, if not LOUD, event! <grin>
I'll be heading up to 44th street for the march up 5th Avenue for the start of THE parade.
Once again, our bunch will be more toward the rear, so we'll have plenty of time to get going as things begin at 11 AM (eastern). Should be a gudun once again. I think our unit should be called the Squarehead Brigade of Paddy Svenson.
Patrick Svenson was an Irish cop in all respects except for appearance. Blonde, steel blue eyes and about as Scandavian as one can imagine in stereotypical terms. Irish mother, Norwegian father and could outdrink and outlast any ten men at any bar on any given night! Great guy who has gone off to Valhalla; RIP. Perhaps one day I'll share some of that with y'all . . .
Connection with CLASSIC TRAINS??? Paddy had a great Lionel train layout, one of those that rivaled the department store window displays; no joke. He also used to travel aboard 'em whenever 'n wherever he could. They had a summer place down on the "shore," which to those who are unitiated to the gab of Staten Island refers to the Joisey shore. Anyway, he'd make the trip up to Manhattan just to board the southbound train to a place called Lavalette (near Tom's River). Always thought he was just a bit ecentric when it came to that, however, one does NOT argue with an Irish cop, huh <grin>
Apologies to any who are deserving of "something" from me . . . If I missed ya, I'll catch up on the next visit!
Ruth, a refill if you please as I better get crackin' . . .
Until later!
Lars
Ahoy Cap'n Tom ‘n fellow travelers at the bar!
<phew> Finished up the invoices and now to figure out a way to replenish the upstairs tub! This weekend's "do" will pretty much exhaust the ready cash on hand for the Gals of "Our" Place who will be working "full ahead" from tonight thru Saturday. Such are the concerns of management!
Ruth, time for a Larsman special hero of ham, Swiss, mustAHd ‘n buttAH along with two large pickles from the barrel. A saucer of brine for Tex, a tray of seeds for Awk, a bucket of ice cubes for Frostbite ‘n of course a LARGE jar of pickled pig's feet for Boris (still rewarding him for his splendid work in the Penthouse Suite!). <grin>
I'll take a Keiths Ale (Cap'n Tom's favorite) and why not a round for the house? - Keep the change my deAH!
Sorry I cannot stay too long as the time is "ticking" here in the east and once again, the Mrs. has an "agenda" and I'm at the top of it! Woe is me and the plight of being retired and underfoot.
Never been involved with neighborhood or subdivision "things." As you know Cap'n Tom, "the island" is layed out quite the way other places 'round the country are. We live in a very established place and I don't believe there ever was anything resembling an organization for the homeowners. We're pretty much watching out for one another and doing our best to keep the area presentable. However, we DO have relatives on the left coast and my oh my they seem to get wrapped around the axle quite a bit over things I'd probably not recognize as "issues." Glad I'm removed from it.
So, what's going on with the contractor work? I understand tree removal, but what else, huh? At least it's keeping you close to home and therefore out of trouble!
Looks like I didn't even come close in Shane's literary contest.
Nice going to Pete 'n Doug - and to the guys who at least tried!
Figured I'd drop off something from the past as I don't think our leader will be ‘round very much and I know he likes to provide a bit of the "classic stuff" just to keep us honest. Surely wouldn't want the "zillion or so" eavesdroppers to be disappointed!
Anyway . . . . From trolleyboy Rob on Dec 14th, 2005, page 292 of the "old" thread:
Okay a couple of shots from the "trolleybarn" Grand River railway class B Baldwin-Westinghouse steeple cab at Preston ontario 1960 Niagara St Catharines and Toronto rotary snowplow # 18 at the Welland ave Yard. 1955 Montreal Transportation Commission (MTC) car #2132's builders shot at the Canadian Car and Foundry Plant in Montreal. 1927 Cornwall Street Railway snowsweeper # 1 at 7th street in Cornwall. c1947 enjoy Rob
Sure do miss our Ontario Connection and my "count" has him absent without leave (awol) for 2 weeks THIS TIME! Really something I never thought would happen from a guy who used to be a 'fixture' and really a true supporter of what we do here and the way we do it. <sad>
One more Ruth, then I really gotta skedaddle . . .
Until the next time!
Hi Tom and all.
A pint of Bathams Bitter today please RUTH and of course it is Fish 'N' Chip Nite.
DOUG enjoyed the 2nd part of the locomotive boilers about the joining of the safe ends of the boiler tubes, very interesting,although the testing method does not seem very high tech.
I hope you had a good meeting last night and perhaps we might get a report.
JAMES Have a good trip to Chicago.
LARS Thanks for the congratulations on the Honorary mention prize, although having seen the Can-Am Gorge in person there seems to be a lot of wild life in the vincinity like bears, perhaps Tom is thinking the same about all activity ceasing at the bar after I have been in.
Glad you have sorted out the invoices after BORIS had got hold of them, especially as it was a big delivery for St Patrick,s Day. With the great bands line up we are sure to get through a great deal of the dark liquid.
I wonder if the will be any photos of the parade you are in.Perhaps we can hear about Patrick Svenson at the rendezvous,he sounds as though he was a great guy..
Great pics from the Trolley Barn, as you say we do miss ROB.
Thanks for the round .
TOM Glad the work at home is going well. I dare say Juneau is paying great attention to the work and the contracters.
That's is great prize from CM3 in the quiz. Talking of the hammers in the glass cases. In the UK they have them to break the windows in train cars in an emergency. I recall a cartoon that was in a Brit railway mag that had about 6 hammers all getting smaller.
I wonder what was in the mind of those things when they dropped that object on the dome car you were in,good job the glass held. I really can't comprehend the mentality of those who would do something like this
Was down to Pat's Place the other night and the train which serves the local factories was being switched and made up,I suppose like it has been for many many years. It really is great to watch the different types of cars being sorted. Anyway one of the boxcars was from the Stockton Terminal and Eastern Railroad. I looked up the name on the web and it appears it came from Stockton California, so it was a long way from home.
Well RUTH I will have the beer LARS offered to get and get ready for, and then I will sort out the new beer deliveries.
Pete.
Hi Tom and everyone, a round for the house
Lars, I'm sorry about your friend Patrick.
Toms River station 1951
http://67.15.20.45/images/1/1950OldsRocket88depotTomsRiverNJ0451rp.jpg.47756.jpg
Pennsy Brill car 1951
http://67.15.20.45/images/p/PRRTomsRiverPA0451rp.jpg.15298.jpg
Alaska Brill car, Moose Pass 1951
http://67.15.20.45/images/s/Scan312.jpg.26542.jpg
Boston & Maine RDC 1964
http://67.15.20.45/images/images2/s/ST_J_RDC.jpg.67611.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/179/409234831_a8cdd11d48_b.jpg
http://jcrhs.org/B&O.html
Mike
Good morning Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!
Hello Leon! Still awake? Who is in the kitchen? Ooops, I think I just want a cup of coffee! Keep the change!
Was not able to make it to the bar last night, but now I am back! A lot of interesting stuff to read! Boiler inspection, Operating Lionel Milk Car, and B&O on Staten Island just to mention a few.
Tom – I have quite a few pictures from Amtrak and the X2000. I still have hundreds to scan whenever I get the time. Plus I have about 5-6 hours of video. Plus about 50-60 written reports. It will give me something to do when I retire. (280 days!)I don’t know why they used the letter "Z" for that locomotive. Class A would have made more sense. I guess one reason is that the Swedish State Railways had steam locomotives from Class A to R at that time so they wanted to distinguish the electrics from the steam locos by using Z. The picture along the Mississippi was taken somewhere north of La Crosse, WI and before we crossed the river to the Minnesota side. I don’t remember how much time that guy who tried to blackmail the railroad got. Probably to short. Next time I talk to my former boss I can ask him. He has a very good memory. Lars – You have pain “down there”? I thought it caused severe headache! Very interesting reading about the American Flyer!! I don’t know if I have seen any American Flyer train though. Now the company has been gone for 40 years! Operating milk car! I guess I missed something when I grow up. Maybe it is time to look for one! There is obviously going to be a big party on Saturday in the back of this place! I have to see what I can wear that is green! Some nice pictures from trolleyboy Rob!
Something similar! Pacific Electric.CM3 – Thanks for the info on the air masks! I have that issue of Trains so I have to look it up! 18% of the coal used for locomotives in 1920! That is more than I thought. Thanks!Doug – The “old man” is back! Hope you don’t need the cane just yet. Very informative reading about the Flue removal and inspection! It really explains the whole procedure! I always learn something new when visiting Our place! BK – I guess you have more expensive gas than we do here in Phoenix. Today it is hard to find any gas for less than $2.60. Most stations charge $2.70. You pay about US $3.16 per gallon.Some very nice pictures of nice model trains! Fleischmann and Trix! In the fifties Fleischmanns HO trains were not to scale, they were 1:76 instead of 1:87. I don’t know why. Pete – I am afraid the railroad did not pay any extra money for the test of that derailment device. But it was interesting, gave me a good idea of how much force you are controlling when operating a locomotive. Nice picture of the railcar! Is it a photo run they are taking pictures of or is there another reason all the people are lined up? Stockton, CA? Here is a picture from the Santa Fe station.
James – Have a safe trip!Mike – Nice pictures of Brill cars and a RDC! The Alaska Railroad Brill car looks different! Two pictures from Stockholm. I tried to determine when they were taken, but it is hard, I think they are pretty recent. Some interesting reading too, about B&O on Staten Island!
Eric
*Idiot of the Week #7
Arkansas: Seems this guy wanted some beer pretty badly. He decided
that he'd just throw a cinder block through a liquor store window,
grab some booze, and run. So he lifted the cinder block and heaved
it over his head at the window. The cinder block bounced back
knocking him unconscious. It seems the liquor store window was made
of Plexi-Glass. The whole event was caught on videotape.
Yep, Here's your sign
(Please note that all of the above people are allowed to vote)
STAY ALERT!
They walk among us .. and they REPRODUCE ..!!!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
FRIDAY the end of the work week (for many) and time to gear up for a great weekend! A good way to prepare is to start off the day with a <light> or <traditional> breakfast from our Menu Board; pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery and a mug of freshly ground ‘n brewed coffee.
Reminder: St. Patrick's Day here at the bar tomorrow, Saturday, March 17th. Be sure to wear something GREEN!
Lars at 10:23 AM ‘n 1:28 PM yesterday: Sounds to me as if St. Pat's Day is gonna be a "biggie" for the Larsman and company! I never had occasion to march in that parade, although there were others. The most memorable was the one for General Douglas MacArthur. I'll always remember passing the reviewing stand and saluting the General. I was a Boy Scout and leading my patrol in what turned out to be a huge outpouring for a great American. Parades were fun . . .
I think in everyone's life, there's a Paddy Svenson. I know that I've been fortunate enough to have befriended a few guys who just went down in my memory as "one of a kind" - but that of course makes no sense, since I just said "a few"! <grin> RIP indeed.
Lavallette, NJ surely rings a bell for me. My high school sweetheart's family used to rent a place there every summer and I took the train down from Penn Station. Wonder if . . .
Subdivision matters tend to border on politics - and to my way of thinking, it's bar far the lowest rung on that ladder. I really detest this stuff and at times (like now) regret my involvement. But then again, no vote - no ‘itch, if yaknowwutImean! <grin>
Work ‘round the ranch centered on tearing out a blacktop driveway and a length of concrete walkway to our home. Nothing I had to do, except make ready for it - ya know, protect things from being destroyed by the heavy equipment (sprinkler system, shrubs, etc.) So, it has been a bit unsettling trying to stay ahead of ‘em without being a pain in the patoot. I'm thankful they came early, but it has caused me to alter my otherwise serene lifestyle. <grin>
Having four sweetgum trees removed from the front of our property. Just had it with ‘em - those gum balls are everywhere and all of the time! Prolific breeders they are. <uh oh> Time for them to go to sweetgum heaven. Replacing ‘em with trees that don't leave behind the remnants of their "frolic."
Good to see Rob's work continuing on thru your efforts. One thing nice about this way of communicating, is that we have an archive that just won't quit, eh
Don't really have anything to add regarding our man in Ontario other than to repeat - once again - it really does come down to desire. If one wants to do pretty much anything within reason, one can find the time. We all have our priorities and it is an individual choice. Of course we miss him, but perhaps no more so than others who have abandoned ship. I think Rob is out there, and we may still see him - just give him time.
Have a GREAT time at the parade and I hope the weather turns out to be a "blessing," but of course this is THAT time of year, eh
THANX for the two appearances yesterday - every little bit helps and yours was a BIG effort!
Pete at 4:06 PM yesterday: Always enjoy having you aboard and in spite of your plans to be away tomorrow, I'm sure you'll leave us with a well stocked, and orderly back bar and cellar of kegs!
Mention of the Rendezvous brings to mind that before too long, we'll be saying "next month." I recall the excitement last year at this time as the weeks passed by to what turned out to be a great time. Now here we are, making ready for the 2nd go ‘round. The only "downer" is that neither Ted or Rob are amongst us as - with the former gone, gone, gone and the latter in some sort of a limbo state. I'll be the only "returnee" for the Rendezvous. I wouldn't have thought that this time last year . . .
Safe trip to ‘n from KCity and perhaps you'll get a chance to at least drop in for a "quickie" before departing. Just a few lines . . .
Good Morning Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox. My apologies to all yesterday, but work prevails sometimes as I spent the day quarreling with authorware problems - joys of developing online versions of training materials. Gas is $2.70 this a.m. Weather report today is "U Pick ‘em" We have the following up and going in WV today (depending on where you are) - winter storm warnings, snow advisories, flash flood watches, and flood warnings.
Now, on to the stack of stuff and some additional material as well.
Barndad continues his postings on care and feeding of locomotives. Replacing staybolts is even more fun (if that's possible) than flues. Then, of course, we can go and inspect fireboxes and replace stuff in there. Lots fun when they drop bricks.
BK stopped by for a visit and left some model pictures.
Lars added some interesting material as well. Milk car, milk car - I have one somewhere at the house. I never did get the livestock car, although it was one I coveted as a youngster. I appreciated your comments on the Jersey Shore. When I was married to my future ex-wife, her grandmother worked summers in Ocean Grove, or as she called it, "Ocean Grave," given the age of some of the inhabitants. Anyway, PRR's Jersey Coast Line was certainly a mixture of trains and equipment as I am sure you (and it sounds like OSP) remember. Also, thanks for the traction pictures.
James -Made a quick stop and is "on the road" again.
Mike posted some interesting pictures. Look close at the picture of the P Company motor car; trailing car is a baggage-RPO; most righteous choice, sir.
The B&M RDC in the "midsummer" shot at St. J is an example of the later RDC scheme applied by the railroad. The E.T. and H.K. Ide bldg. is a feed facility which has been a St. J landmark for years. St. J. was, in the day, one of my favorite places to go as you could see Maine Central, Canadian Pacific, and St. J and LC. Incidentally, there are some truly vintage freight cars in the photograph.
St. Johnsbury was the western terminus of the Maine Central's Mountain Division; home of the famous Frankenstein Trestle (it's real name, BTW, not a nickname). Herewith a list of stations (heading west):
Portland
Westbrook-Cumberland Mills
So. Windham
Newhall
Steep Falls
Mattocks
Brownfield
Fryeburg
No. Conway
Intervale
Bartlett
Crawford Notch
Quebec Junction
Whitefield
Lunenburg
Gilman
Concord
St. Johnsbury
The line traversed three states: Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
Incidentally, and this is for OSP (hang in there, chief, and watch the trees) the CPs pair of E8s showed up over there every so often; they did look nice in the snow.
Last, but not least, Eric sent along some comments and a picture.
For our traction friends, the Boston Elevated (aka the MBTA), Boeing trolleys are making their last trips even as we speak. Most of them will be cut up, one is probably going to Seashore, and several others will be converted into ice removal cars. Today's Boston Globe has a story about it. These cars are running out their lives on the Riversaide line which, most of you know, started life as a Boston and Albany branch line which featured tank engines (of tremendous size) pulling commuter trains.
Work safe
Hello Tom and all in - pint of Holden's Mild please (as Pete seems to think this is a good one)
This cathing up business is not going well - you guys are posting stuff faster than I can read up - what with one distraction and another.
Anyway news is this: after some time spent talking to some pretty helpful call centre operatives (and no doubt some rip off charge yet to appear on my phone bill) my personal e-mail should now be up and running.
Tom, if by way of a test you would like to 'ship me a message' I could establish if this is indeed the case that it works from here. I know you have flagged up discussions had off line (re meets etc) so if it works I would in future be able to recieve them.
No great urgency in this of course. I probably won't check the e-mail more than once per day so don't expect an immediate reply.
Hope all is well - soory I've been unable to acknowldeg posts - it is just I've not read em yet!
All the best
DL
PS - Trip reports to come:
Day out at the Great Central
Trip to Derby
Trip to the Essex Country side and the East Anglian Railway Museum
London via the East Coast route (with eve meal in the diner)
London via the Midland route
Ruth, a double "hit" of whatever "splash" BK uses in the coffee. I'm getting fortified for the day's activities. Gotta get over to the lodge and help out with the things we need to get done for tomorrow's parade. Well, wouldn't ya just know it, the weather forecast has "ice pellets" forecast for tomorrow! Ice pellets! Good grief Charlie Brown, what next
Temps are expected to remain at or just above freezing (F) which is gonna make for one chilly march UP 5th Avenue. There is ALWAYS a wind in those canyons of Manhattan, so it's "longie" time for me. My bet is there'll be more than a few flasks passed around.
Our group has really dwindled down in number and we've had to join forces with others just to keep up a respectable appearance. I can recall the days when we had over 200 guys. No more. I'm a son of a son . . . . no, not the Jimmy Buffet song - Son of a son of a sailor. In my case, son of a son of railroad men who turned out to be a sailor! Anyway, the Norwegian community is still here, just "watered down" and getting more difficult to recognize. Ah, the "melting pot" that is America.
Looks like some interest has developed regarding my late friend Paddy Svenson. Well, not to worry, gents, when his time came (as it will for all of us) and he went out a happy soul. He had a good 20 years on me, but for some reason, we hit it off quite well. Used to kid him alot about being in the Son's of Norway - sort of a half-a'd version, if you follow my drift! <grin> Talk for the rendezvous? Not a bad idea!
Noted the gas prices in WVA from Shane. We're at $2.80 right now at my "favorite" station. They don't DO a thing, do they?? I mean, there was a time when the oil was checked, tire pressure too, wash fluid filled and of course gas pumped AND the windshield washed.
These places need to change the name from "service" to "U-Pump 'n Pay" - I must be a dino . . . .
Good to see Pete, Mike, Eric 'n Shane "in" and of course our leader, Cap'n Tom!
Hang in there, Cap'n, work must get done and the guys who do it are out there "humping" to put food on the table. You're doing your part to feed the economy! Also, those gum ball trees have caused many a sane man to go bezerk! Get rid of 'em! We used to have some chestnut trees, but they all were zapped by some sort of disease many years ago. Loved the trees and the richly brown looking nuts weren't bad over an open fire (as the song goes!) but ohhhhhhh what a mess.
Tom's right about those American Flyer trains of years gone by. Eric, they were really fine trains and I too had those "fights" with my friends about 'em - being a Lionel kinda guy as I was. <grin>
I see DL across the pond has dropped by! Good to see ya, mate and I hope this bodes well for some resumed activity! Sorry I can't chat, for I'm on a short string myself . . .
Let me "drop" this one on ya, then I'm gone-zo . . . doubt that I'll be around 'til Monday, BUT I'll try if the opportunity presents itself AND I can navigate the keyboard! <grin>
Here's one from Rob back on Feb 17th, 2006 on page 272 of the "old" thread:
Good day again folks,here's a bit of "lite" reading. Seeing as how tom and Lars have both picked up an NYC theme today here's an ad to go along with their efforts today. CLASSIC AD'S # 4 THE EMPIRE STATE EXPRESS The New Empire State Express Again New York central makes transportation history with a new streamlined Empire State Express Her is really a new way to travel- new in luxury - new in the relaxation and pleasure it offers you. Built of stainles steel with interiors as comfortable as they are beautiful. smart solarium observation ; tavern lounge and dining cars. all seats reserved in Parlour Cars and Reclining Seat Coaches. Same low fares ! Westbound LV New York..... 9:00 am Ar Buffalo ......... 4:50pm Ar St thomas......7:45pm Ar Detroit.............9:55pm Eastbound LV Detroit............8:30am Ar St Thomas...10:32am Ar Buffalo.............1:30pm Ar New York.........9:30pm This train travelled accross the TH&B in southern Ontario as a shortcut between Ny and Detroit. This was listed in the New york Central's/ michigan centrals time table dated November 30 1941. The service started in service westbound on Dec 7 1941 and eastbound dec 8 1941. Note the start dates for the train. I imagine that it did not get much fanfare.
This train travelled accross the TH&B in southern Ontario as a shortcut between Ny and Detroit. This was listed in the New york Central's/ michigan centrals time table dated November 30 1941. The service started in service westbound on Dec 7 1941 and eastbound dec 8 1941. Note the start dates for the train. I imagine that it did not get much fanfare.
Ruth, I'll see ya at the party! <oooooooops>
Good morning Tom and gang! Had a nice meeting in Chicago the other night. A member had many pix of his tours through India. I believe he rode on 4 different gauges, sometimes under steam. An excellent presentation, enjoyed by all attending.
Gas was $2.41 here yesterday, by the way, and here's a quickie post from me ... more old rail terms
Railroad Lingo from October 1932 Railroad Stories
Diamond Cracker - Fireman
Dick - Railroad detective
Dinger - Yardmaster or assistant yardmaster
Dog Catchers - Crew sent to relieve another which may have been overtaken by the sixteen-hour law
Dog House - Caboose
Donkeys - Section men
Dolly - Switch stand
Dolly Flapper - Switch tender
Donicker - Freight brakeman
Dope - Orders, official instructions; also composition for cooling hot journals
Double Header - Train hauled by two engines
Douse the Glim - To extinguish a lantern by a sudden upward movement
Double - In going up a hill, to cut the train in half and take each section up separately
Drag - Heavy train of dead freight; any kind of slow freight train
Drawbar Flagging - Leaning up against the drawbar of the caboose to protect the rear end of a train instead of walking back a safe distance
Drill Crew - Yard crew
Drink - Water for locomotive
Drone Cage - Private car
Drop - A switching movement in which cars are cut off from an engine and allowed to coast to their places
Dropper - Car rider on hump
Drummer - Yard conductor
Dynamiter - A car on which a defective air mechanism sends the brakes into full emergency when only a service application is made by engineer
Eagle Eye - Locomotive engineer
End Man - Rear brakeman on freight train
Eye - Signal
Family Disturber - Pay car
Field - Yard
First Reader - Conductor's train book
Fist - Operator's handwriting
Flag - An assumed name
Flat Wheel - A wheel with flat spots on the tread; also an employees who walks lame or limps
Flimsy - Train order
Flying Switch - See drop or high-daddy
Fly Light - Miss a meal
Fog - Steam
Footboard - The step on the front and rear ends of switch or freight engines
Freeze the Hub - Cool a heated journal
Frog - Implement for rerailing wheels; also X-shaped plate where one track crosses another
Galvanizer - Car Inspector
Gandy Dancer - Track laborer
Gangway - Space between rear cab post of locomotive and tender
Garden - Freight yard
Gate - switch
General - Yardmaster
Glim - Switchman's lantern
Glory - String of empties; death by accident
Goat - Yard engine
Go High - To climb to the top of box cars to receive or transmit signals or apply hand brakes
G.M. - General manager
G.Y.M. - General yardmaster
Gon - A gondola or steel-sided, flat bottom coal car
Grabber - Conductor
Graveyard Watch - 12:01 A.M. to 8 A.M.; any midnight shift
Grunt - Engineer
Greasy Spoon - Railroad eating house
Grease Monk - Car oiler
Green Backs - Frogs for rerailing cars or engines
Groundhog - Brakeman
Gun - Torpedo; the injector which forces water from tank to boiler or locomotive
Gut - Air hose
Hack, Hay Wagon, Hearse - Caboose
Ham - A student or otherwise poor telegraph operator
Harness - Passenger conductor's uniform
Hay-Burner - Hand oil-lantern; inspection torch
Head Man, Head Pin - The brakeman who, on freight trains, rides engine
Heel - Cars on end of track, with brakes applied
Herder - Man who couples engines on and takes them off on the arrival and departure of trains
Highball - Signal waved by the hand or by lamp in a high, wide semi-circle, meaning, to come ahead at high speed. Word originated from old-time ball signal on post. It was raised by pulley when track was clear.
Highball Artist - A locomotive engineer noted for fast running
High-Daddy or Hi-Daddy - Flying switch in which cars are cut off behind the engine and switch is thrown after engine has passed
High Iron - Main line or high speed track
Highliner - Main line fast passenger train
High-Wheeler - Passenger locomotive; fast passenger train; highball artist
Hitting the Grit or Gravel - Falling off or getting kicked off car
Hog - Locomotive, formerly only Consolidation type.
(to be continued)
A passenger in a taxi leaned over to ask the driver a question and tapped him on the shoulder. The driver screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb, and stopped just inches from a large plate glass window. For a few moments everything was silent in the cab, and then the still shaking driver said, "I'm sorry but you scared the daylights out of me." The frightened passenger apologized to the driver and said he didn't realize a mere tap on the shoulder could frighten him so much. The driver replied, "No, no, I'm sorry, it's entirely my fault. Today is my first day driving a cab. I've been driving a hearse for the last 25 years."
A quick pint of Holdens Mild please RUTH on this busy Friday
At least I was not last in yesterdayMIKE Thanks for the Budd railcar links. I have to say my favourite is the Pennsy car at Tom's River, although they are all good pics.
Thanks for the B&O link. I wonder if there is a photo of the SIRT locomotive polished up for Churchill's special train. I wonder how long the engineers overalls stayed white.
ERIC Thanks for the photo of the X2000 at Stockton California..
Alan went to the Hartz with an organised party and I think they are others taking the photos, I am not sure if the railcar was doing a runpast or it is on a normal service train.
Great picture of the Pacific Electric locomotive. The Pacific Electric appears to be a very interesting line from what little I have read about it.
DL Great to see you in.Good you are getting the e-mail working.
It seems you are going to be busy travelling the rails. it will be good to get a report on the East Anglian Railway Museum as it is many years since I have been there.
If you are ever in Wolverhampton near the station is the Great Western pub which sells a great pint of Holdens as well as Bathams.
LARS.Hope you are well protected from the 'Ice Pellets' tomorrow, as you say the flasks will be very popular.
Thanks for the encore from ROB..
DOUG Many thanks for Part 2 of the Railroad Lingo many of the terms I am seeing for the first time.
Enjoyed the joke.
TOM I bet that video of the robber in the Idiot of the Week raises a few laugghs when it is shown
Yes the Rendezvous is getting nearer.
We are off to KC in a while and I hope I can get near a computer tomorrow.. I have made sure the bar is well stocked
For St Patrick's Day I though I would do something on the railways of Ireland. What better place than the works railway of Arthur Guinness & Co.
The brewery in St James Gate in Dublin was served by a narrow gauge tramway of about 8 miles total length of 1 Foot 10 inch gauge. And about 1950 had 19 steam and a diesel locomotive.
There was also about 2 miles of the Irish broad gauge track (5 ft 3 in) in the works. A very novel feature was that the narrow gauge locos could be lifted in to a broad gauge ‘ ‘Haulage Wagon' in which, through a system of rollers shafts and gears the wheels of the narrow gauge loco drove the wheels of the haulage wagon and it was able to haul the 5ft 3in gauge trucks.
I have found a great link to the railways although it was written in December 1968, when the broad gauge was already closed and I don't think that the narrow gauge line lasted much longer.
http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/22/Guinness.htm.
It is good to see that some of these novel locomotives have been saved. In fact one of the locos built for the broad gauge of Guinness's railway was the first loco in the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, now very impressive collection.
http://www.rpsi-online.org/locomotives/loco3bg.htm.
Well Ruth allow me to get a round in and I'll put a round in behind the bar for tomorrow.
Good afternoon Tom and friends. Could I get a bottomless draught (in a cup to go)and buy a round for the house? I've got to get caught up on my acknowledgements, to be sure, but can't do it now, as my bride (who had surgery this AM), is sending me out on a mission. In the mean time, here's part III of the Lingo series, with one more to go!
Hogger, Hoghead - Locomotive engineer
Hog Law - Federal statute providing that all train or engine crews tie up after 16 hours of continuous service; also called dog law
Hole - Side track where one train pulls in to meet another
Home Guard - Employee who stays with one railroad, as contrasted with boomer
Hook - Wrecking crane or auxiliary
Hopper - A steel-sided coal car with a bottom which allows unloading through it
Hoptoad - Derail
Horse ‘er Over - To throw over the reverse lever
Hot - With plenty of steam pressure (applied to locomotive)
Hot Box - Overheated journal or bearing
Hot Shot - Fast train of any class
Hump - Artificial knoll at end of classification yard over which cars are pushed and allowed to roll to separate tracks on their own momentum
Humpback Job - One on a peddler freight
Hut - Caboose; sometimes cab or locomotive
Indian Valley R.R. - An imaginary line where one could always get a good job. It does not refer to the 21-mile road in California between Paxton and Engels
Iron Skull - Boilermaker
Jack - locomotive
Jam Buster - Assistant yardmaster
Jay-Rod - Clinker hook
Jewel - Journal brass
Jerk Soup, Jerk a Drink - To take water from a track pan without stopping
Jerry - Section foreman
Jigger - Full tonnage train of dead freight
Johnson Bar - Reverse lever on a locomotive
Juggler - Member of way freight crew who must load and unload less-than-carload freight at station stops
Keeler - Water can for hot or heated journals
Kettle - Locomotive
Kick - see drop
Kicker - Triple valve that sticks and throws brakes into emergency with application of air and sometimes by a bump of the train
King - Freight conductor; sometimes applied to yardmaster
King Snipe - Foreman of track gang
Knowledge Box - Yardmaster's office
Ladder, Lead - Main track of a yard. From it each individual track leads off.
Lightning Slinger - Telegraph operator
Liner - Passenger train
Lizard Scorcher - Cook
Louse Cage - Caboose
Lung - Drawbar
Main Iron, Main Stem - Main track
Main Pin, Master Mind - An official
Manifest - Fast freight, usually made up of merchandise and perishables
Marker - Rear end signal
Master Maniac - Master mechanic
Moonlight Master Mechanic - Night roundhouse foreman
Meal Book - Pie card or grazing ticket
Mill - Steam locomotive; typewriter
Modoc - Employees' train
Monkey - Brakeman on hump riding cars
Monkey House - Caboose
Monkey Motion - Walschaert and Baker valve gears on locomotive
MTVS - Empty cars
Mud Chicken - Surveyor
Mudshop - Yard clerk
Niggerhead - Seam exit on top of boiler from which pipes to injector, etc., issue
No-Bill, Non-Air - A non-union railroad worker
Nose On - Couple on with head end of engine
Number Dummy, Number Grabber - Yard or yard clerk
Nut Splitter, Nut Buster - Machinist
Old Man - Superintendent
OP - Telegraph operator
O.R.C. - Conductor, member of the Order of Railway Conductors
Ornament - Stationmaster
O.S. - To report a train by a station to the dispatcher
Outlawed - Applied to a crew that has worked 16 hours, the limit allowed by law
Paddle - Semaphore Parlor - Caboose
Patting Her on the Back - Hooking up the reverse lever as speed is attained
Parlor Maid - The hind brakeman or flagman on a freight train
Peddler - Local way freight
Peck - 20 minutes allowed for lunch
Pig - Locomotive
Pig Mauler - Locomotive engineer
Pig-Pen - Roundhouse
Pike - Railroad
Pin - Sometimes a brakeman
Pin Ahead and Pick up Two Behind One - Cut off the engine and pick up three cars from the siding, put two on the train, and set the first one back on the siding
Pin For Home - To go home for the day; see "Pull the pin"
Pinhead - Brakeman
Pink - Caution card
Pinner - Switchman that follows
Pin-Puller - Switchman who cuts off the cars
Plug - One-horse passenger train; also, in old days, the throttle; hence engineers were called "plug pullers"
Pounding Her - Working locomotive to capacity, regardless of grade, etc.
Possum Belly - Tool box under caboose
Pound Their Ears - Sleep on the job, also any kind of sleep
Pull the Pin - To uncouple a car by pulling up the coupling pin, hence to resign or quit a job
Putty - Steam
Did you know that heaven and hell are actually right next to each other? They are separated by a big chain-link fence. Well, one day hell was having a big party and it got a little out of hand. God heard the ruckus and arrived to find his fence completely smashed by the wild partiers. He called the devil over and said "Look, Satan, you have to rebuild this fence." Satan agreed. The next day God noticed that the devil had completely rebuilt the fence...but it was 2 feet further into heaven than before. "Satan!" beckoned God. "You have to take that fence down and put it back where it belongs!" "Yeah? What if I don't?" replied the devil."I'll sue you if I have to," answered God."Sure," laughed Satan. "Where are you going to find a lawyer?"
Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!
Leon, St. Patrick or not, I would like my favorite, you know what! Yeah, Rumpsteak Café de Paris! That is right!! Quiet evening? Oh, really. Preparing for tomorrow, hmm. Ruth is? Oh, they are? No, I promise, not a sound!
Not too many visits this Friday afternoon, but still some interesting reading!
Tom – Another complete idiot! I checked on YouTube to see if that video was available. I didn’t find it but it might be there. I have a little widget in my computer that is counting down the days and I am checking it whenever I remember. I know what you mean about those old photos, but I have actually started and spend a couple of hours every week going through them. I am finding pictures that I didn’t remember I had at all. I noticed the guy with the “Miller” shirt when I scanned that picture. Since I like Miller better than Bud I let him stay.CM3 – Boston Elevated, the Boeing trolleys, do you know how long they will be around before they are all gone? Is it a matter of days, weeks, or months? I am planning a trip to see some friends in Boston and would like to (if at all possible) get some pictures before it is too late.DL – We are looking forward to your trip reports, Sir!Lars – Ice pellets! That doesn’t sound good at all. How about moving the party to a warmer place? Too late I guess, it’s just a matter of hours now. You got it wrong about gas stations. It is not “U-Pump ‘n Pay”, it is “U-Pay ‘n Pump”! The important thing first! And don’t forget the extra 9/10 of a penny added for each gallon. I had a friend in Baraboo, WI, who had a real nice Lionel train layout. I have to find my pictures of it and show you. Anyway, he passed away a number of years ago and I wonder what happened to his trains. Thanks for the Empire State Express ad!Doug – I hope your bride is doing fine after her surgery!$2.41 for gas? You better fill up now before it is too late! In Phoenix it is too late.Thanks for more Railroad Lingo! I am saving it all! Pete – The Pacific Electric is (was) a very interesting railroad, running interurbans and freight. Interesting links about Guinness Brewery Tramways! They really had a lot of tracks around that brewery!
Some pictures with green things or details. Maybe some of them have been showed before.
Narrow gauge, 600 mm, Mallet locomotive.
Green light!
West of Flagstaff, AZ.
What does not belong in this picture?
Norwegian State Railways, Class EL 1.
Some coaches from the 30's.
(courtesy: http://www.rpsi-online.org/)
Good Morning Gents!
St. Patrick's Day Saturday is here! Time to start up with a cuppa Joe, some pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery and of course a selection from our Menu Board for a <light> or <traditional> breakfast!
Green beer & green snacks all day!
St. Patrick's Day Wisdom
When told about the election of a Jewish mayor in Dublin, Ireland, Yogi responded, "Only in America!" (yogi-ism)
Acknowledgements (since my last narrative):
CM3 at 8:56 AM yesterday: Back to the early morning slot, eh No matter WHEN, it's a pleasure having you aboard to share in the RR wisdom you impart to the gang!
Enjoyed the Maine Central "stuff"!
Didn't appear as if you "got" all of the most current Posts - Forum's Gremlins at work.
Thanx for the quarters 'n round . . . bon weekend!
DL at 10:53 AM yesterday: Great knowing that you may be resuming your activities with us . . . I'll ship off an Email to you shortly - that's good news! We really don't pass too much info via Email, however, there are times when "things" are best left out of the Ether.
Lars at 11:08 AM yesterday: Sounds like a real bummer in my former home town - weatherwise that is. Nothing chills or dampens the St. Paddy's Day spirit in New York City - nothing. I'm confident all who participate in the parade and follow-on festivities will be oblivious to the weather conditions! <grin>
Thanx for another trolleyboy Rob Post . . . I guess if he's no longer with us in mind 'n body, we have ways to keep him going in spite of whatever is keeping him away.
Enjoy the day and not to worry 'bout this joint - we'll surive!
Doug at 12:00 PM 'n 2:52 PM yesterday: A double "hit" from the barn weevil! Great continuation of the RR terms . . . just gotta love 'em.
Sounds like your Chicago meeting was worth the time 'n effort.
Much appreciation for the "help" today!
Pete at 1:44 PM yesterday: An early, but welcomed Post from our Assistant Bar Chandler. I see all is ready for today's festivities - thanx for the extra-effort. Of course being absent on one of the biggest days of the year for us isn't going to hold you in high esteem of our Manager. Then again, where the is HE Not here, of course!
Nice early start to the St. Pat's Day 'stuff," especially focusing on Guinness! How appropriate. Fine links too.
Have a safe trip and we look forward to having you back with us . . .
Eric at 1:51 AM: Your all GREEN Post surely is a nice touch for this fine day! Many thanx. -
Enjoyed the Pix, with that GREEN emphasis too!
Ruth 'n Lars are planning WHAT 'n WHERE
Best to keep a bit quiet 'round these parts when it comes to preferences in brew. Miller isn't very well thought of in the
ENCORE! Saturday 'n Photo Posting Day!
RAILWAYS of EUROPE #5 - Irish Rail (IE)
Initially Posted on Page 279 of the original Thread on Mar 17th, 2006
Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) (IE) Used with permission from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Formatting differences made necessary due to Forums requirements. Some heralds from other sources. Iarnród Éireann (IÉ; in English Irish Rail), is the national passenger railway system in Ireland. Established on 1 February 1987, it is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann. It runs all internal intercity, suburban and commuter railway services in the Republic of Ireland and it operates the Enterprise service between Dublin and Belfast jointly with Northern Ireland Railways. In addition to Iarnród Éireann and Northern Ireland Railways, Bord na Móna operates a 3ft-gauge large industrial railway (the largest railway system in Ireland, but it does not carry passengers). Organisation At the time of its establishment Iarnród Éireann referred to itself as Irish Rail, and introduced the four rails IR logo; however, the initials IR were often defaced as IRA on signage. In 1994, the company brought the Irish form of its name and related initials to the fore, and these remain the corporate branding today. The Irish word iarnród translates literally into English as iron road, or formally railway. Iarnród Éireann services are divided across several separate operating areas. Services Advertising for Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) Intercity in Galway, 2005 Iarnrod Eireann's services are branded under three main names; InterCity, Commuter and DART. The InterCity services are long-distance routes (not necessarily to cities, but radial from Dublin). The Belfast-Dublin service run in conjunction with Northern Ireland Railways is branded separately as Enterprise. DMU services out of major cities are branded as Commuter. The DART brand is used for a north-south high frequency EMU service on the eastern side of Dublin. A separate timetable is published for each sector annually. Regional services (e.g. Limerick-Rosslare Europort) are regarded as Commuter services with fairly new Commuter Dmus being used on the service.. Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) No. 215 (IE 201 Class) at Grand Canal Dock DART station, 2001 (GNU Free Documentation) Ireland: Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) No. 206 (IE 201 Class) at Colbert Station, Limerick (2006) (free use) Dublin is the main hub in Ireland's railway system. The two main intercity stations are Connolly Station and Heuston Station; intercity services radiate to/from Cork, Limerick, Tralee, Galway, Waterford, Rosslare Europort, Sligo, Westport and Ballina. The majority of commuter services are based in Dublin, which has four commuter routes as of 2006. These are: Northern (Dundalk), Western (Maynooth/Longford), South Western (Newbridge/Kildare/Portlaoise) and South Eastern (Arklow). Additional commuter services run from Cork (to Mallow and Cóbh) and from Limerick (to Ennis and Limerick Junction). As the Commuter livery is used on all DMU railcars as of 2006, a number of other services also run under the name. These include Mallow-Tralee, Manulla Junction-Ballina and Limerick-Rosslare Europort, as well as the Dublin-Sligo and Dublin-Rosslare "InterCity". The north-south route along Dublin's eastern coastal side is also host to DART, Ireland's only electrified heavy rail service. Quality of service varies from route to route. The Enterprise is well regarded, despite problems with punctuality. There have been ongoing problems with excess power drain on the locomotives, with one or two locomotives overheating and bursting into flames while in service. Breakdowns are a regular occurrence as a result. The Cork - Dublin route, also quite well regarded, was the "premier line" of the Great Southern and Western Railway, one of the biggest pre-Córas Iompair Éireann operators. Journey time and rolling stock are quite good on this route with brand new rolling stock (mark 4) about to enter service. Network Catering Iarnrod Éireann's Network Catering unit provides a trolley service of food and drink, a snack car and (on some routes) a restaurant service. It also operates restaurants at Connolly Station and at Dún Laoghaire. According to Irish Rail's annual report, the unit lost €270 000 i
ENCORE! Saturday - n - Photo Posting Day!
Brews of the Ould ‘n Nua Sod Bell's Kalamazoo Stout. Brewed in Michigan. A relatively small head of medium and large bubbles, brown rather than the much whiter heads of the other stouts. Mouth-filling flavor balanced among roasted, bitter and creamy, with a lingering finish of all of these flavors. Beamish Genuine Irish Stout. Brewed in County Cork, Ireland. Classic downward-foaming head that resolves to about 10 percent of the total glass but lingers in a creamy form. Full-bodied but smooth, with gentle coffee notes at the start and a hint of bitter that goes away at the finish. Schlafly's Irish Stout. Brewed in St. Louis. First pour results in about 40 percent head of medium bubbles, which lingers. Smooth with hints of bitter, resolving back to a smooth finish. Murphy's Draught-Style Stout. Brewed in England. Pour results in parfait layers of foam, resolving to a fine layer of bubbles at about 10 percent of the glass. Noticeable coffee aroma and flavor upfront, otherwise smooth with little bitterness. Guinness Extra Stout. Brewed in Canada. Head takes up about 40 percent of the pour, diminishing slowly. Nice multiflavored character, with a hint of coffee and a touch of warm spices. Boulevard Irish Ale. Brewed in Kansas City. Moderate head, sweet notes in nose that repeat in the relatively complex flavor. Smithwick's. Brewed in Ireland. Medium head, amber-brown color. Good body, remarkable overall balance and smoothness. Harp Brewed in Canada. Light head, golden color, fairly neutral nose. Light to medium body, nicely smooth and balanced. George Killian's Irish Red. Brewed in the U.S. Medium red-amber color. Notes of malt in the nose and flavor. Medium body, smooth and balanced. Murphy's Red Beer. Brewed in Holland. Formerly known as Murphy's Irish Amber. Gold-brown-red color, large head of medium to fine bubbles, medium body. Pleasantly drinkable, but not much depth. Guinness Draught. Brewed in Ireland. Classic downward-foaming head, with little left when foaming ceases. Interesting sandalwood/incense notes in the nose, decent body and medium bitter flavor, but little dimension to the flavor. Wexford Irish Cream Ale. Brewed in England. Lots of bubbles generated by the in-can "widget," but small head after they resolve. Golden-brown color. Medium-light and smooth body, but with bitter tones that make for an overall unbalanced effect.
So, whadilyahave??
Tom
Good morning Tom and gang! I'll have a light breakfast please, and submit the following before I get called away to do house stuff. Got to say that DL already kicked us off with some very fine pix this A.M., complimented by Irish Railway ‘n' beer type material from the boss!
Most of my pix are from the latest IRM Rail and Wire, but I'm tossing in some of my own if I have them on hand. The pix are from the "Trolley Pageant" in 2006
Chicago, Aurora & Elgin 309/308 train. These two interurban cars were originally built for the Aurora, Elgin & Chicago, a predecessor of the CA&E - 308 in 1906 by the Niles Car & Manufacturing Company and the 309 in 1908 by Hicks Locomotive & Car Works, who only built two interurban cars, both for the AE&C, cars 309 and 310. Both survived in operation until CA&E passenger service was suspended in 1957
Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee 251. This 56'1" car was built in 1917 by the Jewett Car Company; its passenger compartment seats 24, and there is also a large baggage and express section. It received the Silverliner upgrade in the 1950s. The simulated-fluted side, an effort to copy the look of the contemporary streamliners, is actually just painted on - it was accomplished by first painting the side silver and then applying "shadow stiping." Done correctly, the effect was so good that people often had to touch it to assure themselves that it wasn't contoured like metal fluting.
Chicago Transit Authority 41/22 train. These 48' cars were built by the St. Louis Car Company in 1959. They ride on St. Louis B3 PCC trucks. Unlike most other CTA rapid transit cars, which were "married pairs" (with operator cabs at the outer ends only), these cars are double-ended cars with operator cabs at both ends so they could be operated as single cars. At first, CTA 22 and 41 worked on the Evanston Line where they replaced older, wood-bodied rapid transit cars.
Chaicao, Aurora & Elgin 431, a steel interurban car built by Cincinnati Car Company in 1927. At 111,000 pounds, the "Cincy's" were the heaviest cars owned by the CA&E. Each 52'11" car could seat 54 people. A former CA&E motorman boasted that these were the road's fastest steel cars, with a balancing speed of about 90 mph. There is sparse data available to back up that claim, however, and the manuals suggest balancing speeds five to 10 mph slower.
The Milwaukee Electric & Light Company D13; this car was built in 1920 by the Differential Car Company. It is a 40'6" double-ended wok motor with a patented "Differential Dump" side-dump bed that was once used to spread ballast and other materials along the side of the tracks. On this day, it was towing a 45'8" double-track flat car, E58, that was built by the TMER&L in 1907.
Illinois Terminal Railroad 101 (in St. Pattrick's green!)
This 53'8" long suburban car was built for the Alton, Granite & St. Louis in 1917 by the American Car Company.
The center-door car seats 54. During its service life, 101 ran between St. Louis, Missouri, and its Illinois suburbs.
Initially Posted on Page 278 of the original Thread
Mentor Village Gazette Vol. II, Number 3 . . . . . . . . Friday, March 17th, 2006 . . . . . . . . . Free
St. Patrick's Day Edition
SECTION ONE of TWO
This is a Special Edition and will be a departure from our "normal" bill of fare! So, sit back, relax and ENJOY a bit o' fun on us! HIGH JINKS IN THE BORDER COUNTRY - Exclusive - By: Howard Ayhangin, Staff Reporter As all residents of our fair town will be aware, the annual Saint Patrick`s day celebration is upon us once again, when the sleepy border community of Mentor lets down its hair and parties the weekend away. Whilst a certain amount of high-spirited or `collegiate` behaviour is both expected and tolerated, this years revels have generated an unforeseen `raising of the stakes` between the two principal factions, The Loyal Lodge-Orangemen with a tradition stretching back to King William & Queen Mary and The Sons of Erin, Greens to a man, who can claim a lineage linking them to the High Kings of Tara. For the benefit of residents new to our village-and perhaps even in the wider world, some background on why Mentor holds this day so close to its collective heart. The tradition dates back to one of the most significant days in the village`s history, March 17th,1857-The day the railroad came to town. Long years in the building, the Atlantic, Borders & Western Railroad was the brainchild of one Herr Kommandant Tomas Weber, a retired navy man with a long history of distinguished service in the Imperial German fleet. Aided & abetted by his surveyor, "Fast Eddie" Kramer-a dissolute Southern Gent & former saloon bar & riverboat pianist and his engineering Chief, Stoneface Austin, a maverick Canadian woodsman and eccentric advocate of `hanging things on poles, to make the place look neater` and other such heretical notions. Herr Weber chose to employ mainly Irish navvies to build his road through the mountains, which they did with the combination of hard work and harder play that is a tradition of the race. Mentor was chosen as both the principal division point on the new line and the site for the golden spike ceremony, which was performed by Frau Weber, with her customary grace, on the 17th March,1857. (As an aside,the ceremony was due to take place the previous week and no reason was ever given for the postponement. The Gazette can now,149 years later, reveal the true reason. In researching this piece, I came across a hand-written note in the company`s files from one Eammon Ironhand, gang-boss to Mr Austin. In this, Mr Ironhand petitions most strongly for a delay-his reasons:-That the principal bridge over Mentor Gorge was at that point held together with wooden dowels, the requisite nuts & bolts having been sold out of stock. That the hooch for the Golden Spike party was still at a dangerously combustible stage of the fermentation process and that sure and the boys will be havin` a drink wi Paddy next week anyway so why lose a days work....Advice which it would seem, management were quick to listen to.) From that day onward, the fortunes of Mentor, and with it, the rest of Can-Am County, have gone from strength to strength with March 17th the day upon which they celebrate thier collective good fortune. This year however, the customary pranks and pratfalls have started earlier and been far more numerous than in recent years-perhaps in anticipation of next years Centennial & a Half party of a lifetime ( See article in Arts & Ents.section). My first awareness of this phenomenon occurred when the taxi in which I was traveling intercepted a message on the police band calling for assistance at the Can-Am International Air Freight Terminal (The Zeppelin sheds in village-speak ) a swift re-negotiation of rates with the driver and we were on our way. On arriving at the launch field I was presented with the bizarre sight of two females, identical in every degree, save for the green & orange sashes across the shoulders of leather dress uniforms that would make anything Hitlers' Luftwaffe came up with seem camp. More bizarre was that they were being forcibly ( if somewhat tentatively )restrained from tearing each other apart. I later discovered that the two ladies-Miss Hilda Gruberschnaffeloberleutnantleipzigschnitzel and her twin sister, Miss Helga Smith had been arguing over a man, an assistant chef in local tavern `Our Place`. It seems all three are recent immigrants from the same small region of central Europe-Lake Snagow in the Carpathian foothills of Wallachia and are embroiled in clan-marriage agreements dating back to the mass executions of the peasants carried out by local overlord Vlad Tepes during the 1400`s. This assistant chef, in an effort to integrate himself, had joined the local `Greens` in the mistaken belief that they were a lawn-bowling club, such as he`d seen on B.B.C World Service broadcasts, one sister had joined him ,the other ,in a fit of pique, had joined the Loyalists and the stage was set. My next exposure to Mentor Madness took the form of the now notorious "Green River" incident-for three straight days, every river in the County ran emerald green-A mystery which remains unsolved, although a number of tech support staff from C-A.U chemistry dept are still `helping with enquiries`. The retaliation to this was no less bizarre-two days after the rivers turned clear again the first reports drifted in of orange animals being seen up in Mentor Park, initially these were dismissed as being seen through the bottom of a bottle, however, once Rangers c
SECTION TWO of TWO
This is a Special Edition and will be a departure from our "normal" bill of fare! So, sit back, relax and ENJOY a bit o' fun on us! Glossary O' Terms Leprechaun: Irish fairy. Looks like a small, old man (about 2 feet tall), often dressed like a shoemaker, with a cocked hat and a leather apron. According to legend, leprechauns are aloof and unfriendly, live alone, and pass the time making shoes...they also possess a hidden pot of gold. Treasure hunters can often track down a leprechaun by the sound of his shoemaker's hammer. If caught, he can be forced (with the threat of bodily violence) to reveal the whereabouts of his treasure, but the captor must keep their eyes on him every second. If the captor's eyes leave the leprechaun (and he often tricks them into looking away), he vanishes and all hopes of finding the treasure are lost. Blarney stone The Blarney Stone is a stone set in the wall of the Blarney Castle tower in the Irish village of Blarney. Kissing the stone is supposed to bring the kisser the gift of persuasive eloquence (blarney). The castle was built in 1446 by Cormac Laidhiv McCarthy (Lord of Muskerry) -- its walls are 18 feet thick (necessary to thwart attacks by Cromwellians and William III's troops). Thousands of tourists a year still visit the castle. The origins of the Blarney Stone's magical properties aren't clear, but one legend says that an old woman cast a spell on the stone to reward a king who had saved her from drowning. Kissing the stone while under the spell gave the king the ability to speak sweetly and convincingly. It's tough to reach the stone -- it's between the main castle wall and the parapet. Kissers have to lie on their back and bend backward (and downward), holding iron bars for support. Can you imagine kissing something that has had people's lips all over it for 500 years? Yuck! from: http://www.beaverislandrealty.com More Laffs A cop pulls up two Irish drunks, and says to the first, "What's your name and address?" "I'm Paddy O'Day, of no fixed address." The cop turns to the second drunk, and asks the same question. I'm Seamus O'Toole, and I live in the flat above Paddy." * * * * * * * * * * Padraic Flaherty came home drunk every evening toward ten. Now, the Missus was never too happy about it, either. So one night she hides in the cemetery and figures to scare the beejeezus out of him. As poor Pat wanders by, up from behind a tombstone she jumps in a red devil costume screaming, "Padraic Sean Flaherty, sure and ya' don't give up you're drinkin' and it's to Hell I'll take ye'". Pat, undaunted, staggered back and demanded, "Who the hell ARE you?". Too that the Missus replied, "I'm the divil ya' ***ed old fool". To which Flaherty remarked, "***ed glad to meet you sir, I'm married to yer sister." * * * * * * * * * * Pat and Mick landed themselves a job at a sawmill. Just before morning tea at yelled: "Mick! I lost me finger!" "Have you now?" says Mick. "And how did you do it?" "I just touched this big spinning thing here like thi...***! There goes another one!" * * * * * * * * * * The Irish attempt on Mount Everest was a valiant effort, but it failed: They ran out of scaffolding. * * * * * * * * * * An Irishman went for an interview with one of the major blue chip computer companies. When the interview was over the interviewer told him that all applicants had to complete a test. The interviewer took a piece of paper and drew six vertical lines in pairs of two on the paper and placed it in front of the Irishman. "Could you please show me a clever way to make this into nine?" After thinking for a while the Irishman took the pencil and drew a canopy of leaves on top of the three pairs of lines, and handed the paper back to the interviewer. The interviewer looked at the drawings and said: "But that is not nine!" "Oh yes it is", said the Irishman with a broad Irish accent
ENCORE! Saturday ‘n Photo Posting Day!
at "Our" Place!
We are CLOSED on SUNDAYs!Starting Sunday at the Mentor Village Emporium Theatre!
. . . March 18th thru 24th: Crack Up (1946) Starring: Pat O'Brien, Claire Trevor, Herbert Marshall, Ray Collins & Wallace Ford - and - Fools' Parade (1971) Starring: James Stewart, George Kennedy, Kurt Russell, Struther Martin & Ann Baxter. SHORT: The Three Stooges - Art In Hollywood (1940).
Crack Up (1946)
PLOT SUMMARY:
An art critic and forgery expert George Steele (O'Brien) is arrested by the police as he tries to break into the Manhattan Museum. He tries to explain that he was in a train wreck and had to get back to the museum. The problem is that there have been no train wrecks in months. Then Steele, unsure himself what happened, tells his story, via flashback, of the bizarre events leading up to his arrest. Steele eventually realizes that he has been set up and that the crime also involves expensive art forgeries.night, convinced he was in a train wreck...which never happened. In flashback, shortly after proposing to x-ray some old master paintings the museum has on loan, Steele is called on an unplanned nocturnal rain trip. He suddenly sees another train ahead, speeding toward his... Is George indeed cracking up, or is there a plot to discredit him? The mystery grows murky with shadowy menace...
from: amazon.com
Fools' Parade (1971)
Stewart, Martin and Russell have just been released from prison. Stewart has a check for $25,000 with which the three ex-convicts now plan to open a store, but it can only be cashed in the town of Glory. The bank president hires Kennedy to eliminate Stewart in order to gain possession of the money. Romance enters the picture when the three ex-convicts take refuge in a bordello. Eventually they secure Stewart's money and expose the evil banker.
SHORT: Art In Hollywood (1940)PLOT SUMMARY: Featuring Moe, Larry & Curly
Hollywood celebrities display the fruits of their artistic hobbies, including sculpture, portrait drafting and leather craft. Moe, Larry & Curly collaborate on a painting, and wind up covered with more paint than the canvas.
from: threestooges.net
Enjoy and see y'all on Monday!
Good evening Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!
Leon, I'll have a juicy Filet Mignon, medium. Don't forget the mushrooms! Fries, please.
I can see that the Captain has been busy here today! A bunch of very Irish posts! And Barndad has been here as well bringing a number of very nice pictures.
Tom – I am afraid I can’t tell anything about Ruth and Lars. I promised Leon not to tell. I think Lars himself will say too much one day. I wonder why Cindy is always helping you? About gas prices, I read in the paper this morning that AAA expect the gas price to be over $3 later this spring and summer in the Southwest and California, but the rest of the country would have gas up to $0.50 cheaper per gallon! I wonder why Ireland has broad gauge tracks? That is something we have to find out. Interesting info and pictures on IR and Irish rail!I have never tried any Irish beer. Did I miss something? A most interesting story about Mentor and people living in that area!! It is amazing that so much is going on without people outside the area knowing anything! Hmm. Have those wooden dowels been replaced yet? A number of good stories!! I don’t know why, but I have heard some of them but then it was all about Norwegians. Don’t tell Lars!I guess the movies for next week, especially Murder Makes Strange Partners, is something my mrs will like. She is watching the Court TV channel every day!Doug – Thanks for pictures of all interurbans in the Chicago area! Some of them even have the correct color for today! Are those pictures from IRM?
Since it is Saturday I'll post some more pictures in no particular order, some without any greens stuff.
Toronto train in proper paint scheme.
Albany, NY.
Patrick's own Brill M-55!?
Silverton, CO.
Ahoy Cap'n Tom 'n fellow travelers waitin' for the bar to open!
'Tis the Larsman, Manager of this fine establishment, with the clean-up duty on this fair Sunday. Boris 'n Leon are hard at it, and I'm trying to figure out some of the oddities found 'round here. A green garter belt (who wears those these days??) in the overhead fan!
What's this - Tom 'n Cindy, Lars 'n Ruth! Sounds like the makings of a movie to me! <grin>
The Penthouse Suite in a shambles - well, let's just say, 'used"!
All the stock behind the bar pretty well depleted!
Boris' shed looks like it too had been the scene of some "heavy lifting"!
The Rat's Patoot Room must've been used as a "holding cell," for there are phone numbers all over the walls and other "script" not suitable for prime time viewing!
Wonder how the pool tables wound up outside??? And WHO carried them there??
Don't even want to describe the condition of the rest rooms! <ugh>
Party tent out back is still standing, which totally surprised me. And where did that Alco PA come from that is sitting on our siding
Judging by the looks of things, a fine time was had by one 'n all here at the bar by the ballast on St. Paddy's Day! <grin>
The parade went well, although our unit got "bumped" to another slot. Something about "crashers" in the line up. Happens pretty much every year. I know a bunch of firemen were really upset about being swtiched and it nearly led to some ugly stuff. The weather was simply rotten - cold - wet - some ice - but nothing to dampen the spirit of those marching or watching. A great time for the Irish and all who pretended to be, if just for the day.
Some really great stuff from you, Cap'n Tom and may I say right off, without YOU, this place would vanish. A five- to you Sir!
Really nice to see the Encore of the Mentor Village Gazette - brought back some smiles from the past. That opening article from Nick surely was reminiscent of better times and he surely is missed by me, and no doubt, you. Appreciate seeing it all again!
The Irish Railways "thing" also was a most appropriate offering for the day and in spite of the PP turnout 'round here, it remains for the guys to check out when they trickle in during the week. I know the reworking takes time 'n effort, something you aren't afraid or unwilling to give.
Doug 'n Eric provided some very good "stuff" too and many thanks to the three of you for doing your part! We all have other things in our lives, but it does mean a lot to our Cap'n to have some support on these occasions where he tries to make it a happy time for all of us.
Hey guys! I KNOW the place is CLOSED, but you always can slip your messages through the mail slots and they will get posted . . . that's a given.
Well, I gotta get back to cleaning up. Now where in the world has Boris wandered off to??? I hear something in the kitchen. Bet he's "into" the Irish stew - and I mean "into." He thinks the huge kettle is for bathing.
Good morning Tom and friends. I'll have a light breakfast please. We sure trashed the place once again according to manger Lars' descriptions. How much can one building endure? Thanks for the new films at the EmporiumTom, as well as the old Gazette. To answer Eric's question, yes, those cars are at the IRM. I have several others that I had hoped to post, but I was kept too busy to get them scanned and typed. I am working on another very long post, but for now, here is the last part of:
Stopper Puller - Member of the crew that follows the engine in switching
Strawberry Patch - Rear end of caboose by night
String - Cut of cars; several cars coupled together
Strings - telegraph wires
Suck by it - Make a flying switch
Swell Head - Conductor
Tallowpot - Locomotive fireman
Taking Her by the Neck - Phrase used to describe an engine pulling a drag up a grade
Tank - Locomotive tender
Teakettle - Leaky, old locomotive; any small engine
Thousand-Miler - Starched blue shirt worn by railroad men, especially boomers
Tie ‘Em Down - To set hand brakes
Toad - Derailer
To Get the Rocking Chair - To be retired on pension
Toepath - Running board
Top Dresser Drawer - Upper bunk in caboose
Train Line - Pipe that carries compressed air to operate the air brakes
Traveling Grunt - Road foreman of engines
Traveling Man - Traveling engineer or fireman
Trick - Shift, hours of duty
Underground Hog - Chief engineer
Varnished Wagons - Passenger coaches, especially wooden ones
Walk up Against the Gun - Go up a stiff grade with the injector on
Wabash - To corner cars going into adjacent tracks
Wagons - See buggies
Washout - Violent stop signal made by waving both arms in a downward arc by day, and swinging a lamp in a wide, low semi-circle across the tracks by night
Way-Car - Caboose
Whale Belly - Steel car, or any type of coal car
Wing Her - Set the brakes on a moving train
Wye - Tracks running off the main line or lead, forming letter "Y"; used to turn cars or engines where there is no turntable
Yard - System of tracks for making trains or storing cars, (Boomer's version: "System of tracks surrounded by a fence and run and inhabited by a bunch of natives who will not let a train in or out")
Yard Geese - Yard switchman
Y.M. - Yardmaster
Zulu - Emigrant outfit traveling by rail
The local bar was so sure that its bartender was the strongest man around that they offered a standing $1000 bet. The bartender would squeeze a lemon until all the juice ran into a glass, and hand the lemon to a patron. Anyone who could squeeze one more drop of juice out would win the money. Many people had tried over time (weight-lifters, longshoremen, etc.) but nobody could do it.One day this scrawny little man came into the bar, wearing thick glasses and a polyester suit, and said in a tiny squeaky voice " I'd like to try the bet" After the laughter had died down, the bartender said OK, grabbed a lemon,and squeezed away. Then he handed the wrinkled remains of the rind to the little man.But the crowd's laughter turned to total silence as the man clenched his fist around the lemon and six drops fell into the glass. As the crowd cheered, the bartender paid the $1000, and asked the little man "what do you do for a living? Are you a lumberjack, a weight-lifter, or what?" The man replied "I work for the IRS."
A smile to begin the week!
If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be.
(A Yogi-ism!)
Still has that "stale smell" ‘round here - Boris, break out the air fresheners, willya!!?? <ugh>
Soooooo, it's Monday once again and time to start off with a freshly ground ‘n brewed cuppa Joe <unleaded> or <regular>, pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery ‘n a <light> or <traditional> breakfast from the Menu Board!
St. Paddy's Day at "Our" Place may not have witnessed a crowd of regulars, but the word spread throughout the Village of Mentor and the place was hoppin' - inside ‘n out. The gals made good money on tips, the gropings were minimal (or at least those that were admitted to), Irish jigs were "created" ‘n danced to, the food kept comin' from the kitchen and aside from the expected rowdy behavior on the part of the track gangs and motorcycle "clubs," a good time was had by all. Yes, clean-up is still continuing along with repair work. Fortunately, we took in a sufficient amount of green backs to cover the costs and still have some left over for ‘nother day!
Much appreciation to Doug ‘n Eric for making a "live" appearance on "the day" - made it feel more like old times.
Manager Lars and the clean-up gang (Boris ‘n Leon) get an "honorable nod" for duty above ‘n beyond. The cabin out at Can-Am Gorge is YOURS whenever you'd like!
Doug at 11:58 AM Saturday: Hate to start off with a "correction" - but the Post you referred to was from Eric, not DL. There ARE differences between Brits ‘n Swedes ya know!
A real, real SHAME that trolleyboy Rob is once again amongst the missing, as those traction - interurban Pix are terrific. Well done, Mate - well done! Providing descriptions ALWAYS adds to the interest and you've not let us down in that department either.
Eric at 6:51 PM Saturday: Most happy to see ya aboard on Saturday evening and I'm surprised you found your way to the bar, it WAS that crowded, eh
Gas pricing in this country is pretty much like weather forecasting - stick ‘round and the changes are sure to come.
Ah, the mere mention of Cindy brings a song to my ears and an extra beat to my aging heart. She's MINE, MINE, MINE . . . . <grin> Can't offer anything regarding the "rumored connection" between Lars ‘n Ruth. <uh oh>
My bet is Pete WILL jump on that question of yours regarding the gauge of the Irish tracks . . . .
You NEVER had ANY Irish brew????? NEVER as in N-E-V-E-R
When we go to Maggie O'Briens for lunch during our Rendezvous in May, I'll be sure to introduce you to it!
That story in the Mentor Village Gazette you referred to was written by Nick (nickinwestwales) who was by far one of the most interesting and full ‘o fun chaps we've ever had ‘round here. He is sorely missed and . . . . oh well. Anyway, his description of the Village and people within it pretty much should give one ‘n all a good sampling of life in these parts!
And as far as those ‘stories' go, yes - one can attribute them to all sorts of folks - the laffs are all the same.
Enjoyed your Pix spread - especially liked the GO train in Toronto and the Silverton shot. Spent many a day ‘n nite up in Toronto, but never made it to Sliverton. Perhaps one day . . . .
Lars at 11:04 AM yesterday: How very nice of you to get the boyz movin' on Sunday. Ya know, they are petty much used to being catered to on that day. But it seems like you got ‘em to turn to with little or no difficulties.
Can't begin to imagine the ‘slop' you put up with during the parade. From the Pix I saw on the tube and in browsing the New York papers online, looked to me as if one ‘n all had a grand time of it. Noted that Brooklyn had TWO parades of their own!
St. Louis had TWO as well - just the way it worked out. The downtown parade has always been scheduled for the Saturday closest to the 17th, whereas the other, in an Irish enclave of the city, is always held on THE day. So this year, they fell into place. I haven't attended one of those in well over two decades. But the party goers "say" it is still a blast . . . .
Not to worry about the guys Posting on Sundays. My way of looking at it goes like this: everyone deserves at least one day "off" from this stuff. However, should someone wish to drop some Pix or narrative - the mail slots ‘work' quite well!
Thanx again for taking on the Manager's job, much appreciated!
Doug at 5:45 AM today: Nice way to begin the day with more RR terms from the barn weevil.
Reminder: Ruth has the
PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #26
Initially Posted on Page 164 of the original Thread
Here's something to enjoy regarding the Chicago, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (The Milwaukee Road) from an advertisement in Classic American Trains
"Gee, Daddy, they had a private car just for us ladies."
That's right, young lady. There is a combination Touralux-coach, with 8 berth sections and 24 reserved coach seats exclusively for women and children on The Milwaukee Roads OLMYPIAN HIAWATHA.
The tastefully decorated Touralux sleeping cars have individually lighted and air conditioned berths. Yet berth cost and fare on a round trip between Chicago and Seattle is about $37 less than in standard sleepers.
You can travel in comfortable, reclining chair coaches . . . for less than 2 cents a mile . . . round trip between Chicago and Seattle only $76.20 plus tax.
While the OLYMPIAN HIAWATHA offers these unique advantages for the thrifty, it also provides de luxe Pullman accommodations. No matter what your choice, you enjoy fine food, friendly service and a fast schedule of 45 hours between Chicago and the Pacific north coast over a gloriously scenic route.
You can go to California via Seattle-Tacoma at little or no added rail fare.
Ask your local railroad agent, or write: F. N. Hicks, Passenger Traffic Manager, 708 Union Station, Chicago 6, Illinois.
OLYMPIAN Hiawatha
Daily service between
CHICAGO-MILWAUKEE-TWIN CITIES -MILES CITY-BUTTE-SPOKANE-SEATTLE-TACOMA
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad -
THE MILWAUKEE ROAD
Enjoy!
Good Morning Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please; round for the house, and $ for the jukebox. I'll pass on the "stew" today, especially since Boris fell into the vat....We had abt three inches of snow (which is gone already), followed by cold which feels as if we were back in February. The K9s are enjoying it, even though we had to change the smaller one's diet as his "stuff" was caught up in the recall.
Lars stopped by with parade stories and some material about the ‘Empire State Express." You are correct in thinking that the news from Hawaii knocked the debut of the train "off the front page." See if you can find a copy of Decade of the Trains. It has a first-hand account of the inaugural trip of the "Empire," and how the war news caught up with the train en route.
Barndad stopped by twice with more railroad words which we can print. Pete was also here with commentary.
Eric - The final run of the Boeings was supposed to be last Thursday or Friday, but the snow might have changed that. I would think that there should be more than a few of them stored at Riverside - good hunting. Also, remember that you need to get a photo permit to take pictures on the MBTA; a trip to their website or a visit to the MBTA page on RailroadNet will give you the information that you need. Make sure you get this squared away before you go. Also, thanks for the pictures you included with your post.
Barndad was here with some fascinating pictures and information about traction operations in and around the Second City.
OSP has the "wires smoking" with his many posts. St Patrick's Day material, a primer on Irish beer (brought back fuzzy memories of various celebrations at Sully's - near the Boston Navy Yard - at least it was in crawling distance of home.) I also appreciated a reprise of the Mentor Gazette.
In spring, a young man's thoughts turn to - baseball! I have heard rumors that the Intrepid Reporter may venture down from Mt. Mentor for opening day. We know that the Mentor nine is always a force to be wreck, no let's make that reckoned with. After all, who else has spring training with real springs and who needs pitching machines when the catapult is still around. If Boris can get around on an inside pitch from that machine, the boys may do all right this year. It's kind of hard to pitch him high and tight because that's his usual condition. Stay tuned...
My, my, OSP has outdone himself with some vintage movies. "Crack Up" is a good one which has several sequences on New York Central commuter trains. "Fool's Parade" - hot !@# - a movie filmed in West Virginia. Some fine B&O sequences and some good shots of the old WV Penitentiary in Moundsville. The Stewart sequences with the glass eye are worth the price of admission - run, don't walk to view both of these - see you at the concession stand.
Many thanks for rerun of MILW ad, too.
Ruth, you magnificent creature, how ‘bout a mugga Joe with one of those "BK splashes," a couple of pastries from the bakery case and another ‘round of "spiked" juice for the gang! Keep the change . . .
Hardly a soul around as of late and it was good to see that Doug, the barn weevil, made the time to begin our day 4us!
The railroad terms lists are worthy of copying. Many thanks! Maybe one day I'll compile a ‘sailor's list,' that may shake a few timbers ‘round the forums, huh <grin>
I noticed that no one picked up on the Tuesday theme, so I'll sit back for another week. No point in going through the effort if we don't have the participants. Things they ain't what they used to be.
ANOTHER Milwaukee Road post from Da Boss! Will IT evAH cease!
Shane popped in with a great compilation for us and of course, ‘sprang' for the drinks!
That Empire State Express "thing" was an Encore originated by one trolleyboy Rob - remember him?
Snow in the "hills," huh Well, compared to what we've been putting up with, it all "figgers"! <moan ‘n groan>
Hope your dogs are OK. That's quite a "scare" with the contaminated food. Wonder if Juneau has been fed any of that stuff???? Hope not.
I'd surely enjoy a baseball report from our "Ace Reporter." Saw where my Mets dropped one to Tom's Cards yesterday. Really wasn't a good game, but then again, it IS spring training, with emphasis on the TRAINING. Can't put too much stock into what goes on during these exhibition games, ‘cept that we all DO! <grin>
Picked up on that "blurb" regarding photos of the MBTA. Same thing in these parts, and I suspect everywhere else in these times. Permits, permits, permits - why not fingerprinting and DNA samples?? I best shut my trap, it may come to that! <ooooooooooooh>
The Mrs. made me promise to get a move on with our reservations for our annual trip to the left coast. We'll fly this time, no more California Zephyr <sniff sniff> <snurf snurf> Last time was perhaps the LAST time. Love the train, love the SIGHTSEER Lounge, don't care for the downward spiral Amtrak has taken with on board service, amenities and especially "things gone wrong" in the dining car. <boo hiss> As a Classic Named Train, those days are apparently way behind ‘em. Too bad.
So, if all holds on course, I should be unpacking my bags from the Rendezvous, repacking for the left coast and off we go. Expect to be gone for a minimum of three weeks.
Got a call from Phil down in Marathon and he said a couple of real estate "types" are asking ‘bout us. They seem to think we're on the verge of buying . . . . . Hmmmmmm. We're thinking ‘bout heading down there for a "quickie trip," just to see what they have for us. Phil will give us the word. If we go, it will have to during the week, as weekends look a bit "tight" for us right now.
We also have a "live in" to take up part of the hospice care, but that's on a Monday - Friday basis until further notice. Just couldn't keep up with the needs, even with spreading the "duties" ‘round the family. So, we'll see how this works out. She's a very nice lady, happens to be of Scandanavian descent (which doesn't hurt in this household!!) and used to manage a long-term care facility. Couldn't have asked for a better qualified person. She ‘n the Mrs. hit if off "instantly," and I've been ‘warned' to keep my "sailor tongue in check"!! Huh
I'll leave y'all with these . . . .
Who needs SPRING, when looking at these
Back after the weekend in Kansas City, I won't ask about the smile you have I'll just have the Bathams please RUTH..
I see the bar is still stading after the hectic St Patrick's Day, with the track gang and the motorcycle club not causing the usual damage.
DOUG Many thanks for completing the railroad lingo posts. I will transfer them on to word.
Great pics of the Trolley Cars at the IRM. That certainly looks like Stainless Steel Fluting on the side of the Silverliner car with the shadow striping and I wonder what is like travelling in the Cincy Car on the CA&E at 90MPH. I do hope Rob is able to view your pics.
ERIC I must admit I am not sure why the main lines of Ireland settled on 5 feet 3 inches for the track gauge. I will have to find out,The Railway Magazine in Britain used to have a month a year in the 1950s which featured the Irish railway scene so I will have a look through and see if there is any info.I believe some locos built for the Northern Counties Committee were contrusted at the Midland Railway of England's Derby works although I cant recall seeing any photos of any of the locos being built.
Thanks for the pics of the 'Green' trains.That TV in the trolley does look out of place.The NSR EL-1 electric looks a locomotive full of caracture.
Enjoyed the pic at Silverton. When we travelled the line it was only open to Cascade Canyon as it was winter, on the day we travelled we woke to it snowing with big flakes,it was a great trip on the line. It would be good to go back and travel the whole length of the line one day.
LARS Glad you had a great time in the parade despite the weather.
As a pennance for not being in the bar on St Patrick's Day I will load all the empties in the box cars and make sure there are plenty of full kegs .The appearance of the Alco has meas well.
Seems as though you will be on California when Tom and I will be in Canada.
Many thanks for the great Alaska Railroad posters.The one with the wolf and the Northern Lights is a great painting.
CM3 On what MBTA line did the Boeings run on.It would be good to see a photo of one.
Thanks for the info on the films at the Emporium this week.
TOM What can I say about the Saint Patricks Irish Encore Day except to you SIR.
It has been a few years now since I have travelled the Irish rails and I believe there is a lot more DMUs running now than when I was last there.The photo of the Irish 0-6-0 on the steam special captures the scene over there exactly..
Really enjoyed the edition of the Gazette and the jokes. Nicks description of the origins of the railroad in Mentor and why we never say Hilda's second name.is a masterpiece.
I see this year is the 150th annivesary of the railroads completion at Mentor, perhaps later in the year we should have a cavalcade of locomotives to celebrate the event, the regulars could pick the 10 locos they would most like to be in the cavalcade and have a gala day at Our Place as the event takes place. A limit of 2 non North american locos per pick perhaps.
Another Our Place coincidence. I see you have posted a Milwaukee Road Ad, well on Saturday as part of the weekend, we visited the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition at Union Station in K.C. Outside the station, next to the KCS preserved diesel, was a Pullman Car 'Jefferson River' although it looked in UP colors it had 'Milwaukee Road' painted on one side just below the roof line.
I did try a Murphy's Red, which was on your beer list and I had a lunch of Corned Beef, Red Potatoes and Cabbage in the Harvey's House at Union Station, very good it was too
Leon, just a cup of coffee! You did a good job cleaning this place! Oh no, you keep the change!
All of a sudden it was hard to connect when I clicked on Reply. Got a message, Can not connect, and after trying again I had to wait for a very loooong time before t finally worked and a connection was established.
Lars – I am loking forward to that movie starring Cindy, Tom, Ruth, and you! I hate to ask, but who used the Penthouse Suite? Is the damage report complete or can we expect more “bad news”? Is the structure (of the bar) still okay? I heard some strange sounds when I opened the door. I would say that Amtrak is being forced to cut back on the on board service by the politicians! Amtrak has to cut the costs even if it means that they will lose passengers doing so. Two real nice ARR posters! Especially the top one with the Northern Lights! Beautiful! Doug – I am looking forward “To Get the Rocking Chair”! Thanks for the rest of the Railroad Lingo!!One better look out for the IRS-guys! They know how to squeeze every penny out of you. Tom – I am glad to hear that there is money enough to cover the cost for all repairs! Reading Manager Lars' report made me think that we would have to use tape to put things together. Yes, the bar was crowded Saturday eveing. And the noise was unbelievable! It was impossible to order any Irish brew because of the noise and it was so crowded that there was no room to write anything. Nice ad for Milwaukee Road! $76.20 for a round trip for 2X 45 hours!! Not even a dollar per hour! CM3 – I hope your dog never got any of that bad food! Too bad, too late to see the Boeings in service then! I’ll check MBTA’s site before I go. I don’t understand why they require a permit for taking pictures. Doesn’t make sense at all. Considering all cell phones with built in cameras, is it okay to use those phones? If it is, how do they know that one is not taking pictures? But thanks for the info!! Pete – You won the Grand Prize! The TV does not belong in that narrow gauge passenger car! But since you called it a trolley I don’t know if the jury is willing to give you the prize <grin>. But I admit, it is hard to tell. The NSR EL-1 electric is still in running condition. The actual station in Silverton is located outside the town and I don’t think any trains stop there. One day I will go back and ride the train!
I think I showed this pix before, but here it is again. Durango, CO.
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