<from the Park Car dome of the westbound Canadian - the Canadian Shield - personal foto>
G'day Gents!
Time again to get a leg-up on the Acknowledgments! Good to see the daylite support continuing! Shane ‘n Nick being the most recent! . . .
Customer Acknowledgments (since my last narrative):
Thursday - October 2nd <all times Central daylite>:
Page 29 - Eric <EricX2000> at 12:47 PM <10:47 AM Sandbox time>: Sounding like a broken record <remember those!?!?!?> many THANX for bailing us out during a time of inactivity. With the "You Post, I Post" scheme of things, even a few lines HELPS!
Is THIS the "one" in your Quiz
And yes, I'm waiting for the day when we'll receive enuf SNOW to justify the use of that Monster MoSheen of a rotary snow eater-upper! <grin>
As always, THANX for the visit ‘n ROUND!
Page 29 - Fergie <Fergmiester> at 1:20 PM <3:20 PM ADT>: A super-fine mid-daylite visit from our Resident Canadian Maritime Mariner, who for all intents ‘n purposes <no Boris, NOT all in tents and porpoises! Good Gawd Gertie . . . > appears to be striving to earn the title of regular at the bar! Hmmmmmm, wonder if he'd make it thru the initiation Hmmmmmmm.
I do believe we can chalk up this latest Post as being your FIRST that has met the full criteria of INCLUSIVE - INFORMATIVE ‘n INTERESTING <aka: I3 >. This of course provides us with more line with which to hang you with, my friend, when you fail to continue the practice! <yikes>
The way I figure it when it comes to fotos - once they get into the PhotoBucket - which is the time consumer - then it's simply a matter of downloading at one's leisure. I've got zillions by now . . . as you KNOW. Procrastination is a killer when it comes to this drill. <ugh> Anyway, we're really only looking for some Wednesday material from your layout. We've got plenty from the crew for the remainder of the week. So, don't pressure yourself . . .
Meatloaf! We'll be there with napkins "tucked" ‘n appetites at the ready! <ummmmmmm> Some hearty brown gravy, I presume Some red wine for Carol, ‘n I'll stick with a tankard of Keiths - thanx! <grin>
Fair warning: Never, ever fall to complacency with the Proprietor when it comes to the <tweeter>! ‘nuf said . . .
Comment regarding kids, litter ‘n wet nurse all ring bells - been there done that ‘n sooooooo glad it's over! <phew>
Ladies Moi What I'm only possessive of Cindy - the blonde ABBA gal ‘n Anne Murray! Then of course, there's "me bride" <as Pete would say>, the gal around the corner <ooooooops> - best to quit while ahead, eh <grin>
Extra mayo ‘n fries most definitely will destroy that "pool boy" physique you're trying to achieve! But not to worry, the Keiths will "flush" it out . . .
Enjoy having you with us ‘n appreciate the visit!
Page 29 - CM3 Shane <coalminer3> at 2:23 PM <3:23 PM EDT>: Another PM surprise from the guy who said . . . doesn't matter - you DID make it "in."
BoSox won! BoSox won! They seem to have the "whammy thing" on the Angels when playoff times comes ‘round. I recall being in SoCal when they eliminated them back in the mid/late 1980s . . . I really wasn't rooting for either team then, as I was immersed in other things. But on that particular evening, some of the crew dragged my sorry caboose to a sports bar, ‘n in between mugs of brew, I observed the place go from a frenzy to a morgue-like atmosphere as your Sox put it to ‘em. Anyway, jumping to an opening game win in a 5-game series is a big deal . . . Looks like Manny has shown that the Dodgers made a good move, eh We'll see how all of this shakes out, but wouldn't it be something to see the long-haired <expletive> play in Fenway wearing Dodger blue <actually, traveling grey>
You mentioned Slap Shot the cult hockey film the other day . . . I think it's on the agenda for an ENCORE at the Emporium. A most funny flick ‘n one that Paul Newman did an excellent job in. Surely wish the sequel wudda been made with the same cast, rather than that near 10 year delay . . . anyway, we'll get to see it again - promise!
Oh yeah, I've drooled over those fine looking cars that Walthers came out with. BUT, I'm holding the line. My inventory of passenger cars is complete <sez the guy who just shot a wad on steam locos for no reason other than he wanted ‘em!> . . . <grin>
And . . . petrol has dropped to a tenth under $3.50 up at "Collusion Corner." Still a long, long way from where it had been prior to the two recent Gulf hurricanes . . . <barf>
Many thanx for the visit - quarters ‘n ROUND!
Page 29 - Nick <nickinwestwales> at 5:20 PM <11:20 PM GMT>: Greetings, Lad! You've gotten the hang of it quite well ‘n your "bookmark" helps a great deal in keeping our Bar by the Ballast in a prominent position!
Your "dress" remark reminds me of when I was stationed <posted> in California. I called it the breakfast cereal state: the land of fruits, nuts ‘n flakes. <ooomigosh!> How mean spirited, eh
Pete's on the wing . . . see previous comments including mine to YOU regarding the relay of your fone number.
Book-packer by trade, eh Well as long as the salary "spends" - why not, sez I!
Three horseshoes And Jerusalem from a previous Post Hmmmmm.
Appreciate the visit!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tom
And here we are -back again-Leon,a top up here please,and I`m sure the boys will join me-also,could you ask/tell Boris & Copperkettle to make sure the friers are on,there is fish to be cooked this night and if crispy golden fries are not forthcoming questions will be asked-long dark difficult questions............
O.K:- to the business of the night...
ALLAN-Glad you enjoyed the pix mate -as I am sure you will appreciate,with a layout of any size,one starts by sketching out the rough framework then fills in the details a bit at a time-this is about where I am at just now-delighted that it is running again,will concentrate on the detail stuff during the winter season when extended running sessions are impractical.....
ERIC-11 DAYS AND COUNTING !!!!!-don`t worry mate ,you will be astonished by the length of the `Honey Do` list you will be presented with when you finally think that your time is your own......And if you have nothing else on-perhaps a small layout,to give your collection somewhere to `stretch their legs`-R.E. My layout-the big hill is about 1:40-steep but not impassible-the 1:80 climb through the reverse curves is harder.....The train is 6 cars-3x Lima & 3x Hornby-the Lima cars have metal wheels and the Hornby plastic-which adds a lot to the drag factor..
TOM-My dear friend-I can FEEL your pleasure..-Would have LOVED to have been at that gig with you and Carol-one of the greats-can take vicarious pleasure-from your enjoyment of a great show -wonderful
Now to couplers-must confess-have had no probs with either Athearn or Walthers gear-apart from bending the `tail` up to clear turnouts,which I assume is standard practice.... Model Power are the tricky ones-hard to sort,need lots of shimming-frankly not worth the effort if you have a rake of them-just the outer cars,leave the rest as horn-hooks........Now-Expo `67-Somewhere in the family vaults we still have my grandads slides from there-can remember being Hannahs age and seeing this whole different world on the projector...big goggle eyes.....
Glad you enjoyed the layout pix-and some fine ones of your own -now-a token freight on the high line-now theres a thought ...........Thanx for passing along my number to PETE--like you,I cant be doing with the metric system-multiples of ten..wheres the sense in that-it`s madness-12 is the multiple of choice-is a natural divisor of the earths circumferance and so much more...........
FERGIE`s B/date-I feel we should run a book on this-Vito will hold the stakes-I will put my dollar on 1957....
ERIC-A strange loco-no flanges on the wheels......
TOM-(again)-another fine set of pix-with the appropriate descriptive plates-top man
FERGIE-glad you enjoyed the pix-rules/guidelines-it`s a thin line.....-now :-mud wrestling-for the expert,we recommend jello wrestling-the same thrills and spills,but tastes a lot nicer afterwards-this observation made without predjudice..............................
SHANE-Glad you enjoyed the pix-Am a big fan of piano jazz-to peel it back a bit further,huge fan of Johhnie Johnson (Chuck Berry`s piano man) -actually wrote many of Chucks`s songs-never credited with anything....hmmmm---whilst we are on the subject-saw some footage of a Jeff Beck band at the Crossroads blues festival or something-just him,a 14 year old girl playing bass and a mad drummer-check it out-totally beyond belief-a complete wake up call to any aspiring guitar player......And this is a man who only plays the guitar when he can be bothered--left me undecided between laughing and crying-comes with the rating....
O.K:-lets post this before it gets lost
Right then-its grab a plate time:-tonight we have,cod in beer batter,plaice in breadcrumbs,lemon sole poached in wine and herbs,smoked mackeral with hot breads,middle cut wing of skate in black butter sauce,grilled red snapper,all with crispy golden fries,petits pois and side salad
Or for a bar snack,a pint of prawns with a tray of dipping sauces or a basket of scampi,also with the sauce tray......
Enjoy
Speak soon
Well then gents-Its been an interesting day-please accept a drink with the ghost of the landlord of the 3 Horseshoes inn,Llangwm.......................
Take care now-
Well good evening Leon,and you thought you could close up early.A keith's my good man oh and what the heck the shrimp Nick whipped up smell mighty fine Our one day trip ended up as a day and three quarters.Since we were only an hour from Kingston we ended going up there as well ( I have two aunts there ) ended up on one of the aunts doorstep and she wouldn't dream of us taking her out for dinner so she cooked for us and we talked into the late hours and ended up on her pull out couch. Oh well so we made it back late this evening.I must say though that the RCAF Museum in Trenton is almost as good as the Canadian Warplane Herritage in Hamilton ( the only thing that makes them less perfect is that their planes don't fly ) seriously though they are a first class operation and even though the building is under renovation they still make a great show,and well worht the visit.
Tom-It's good that the concert was so good for you,not that it shouldn't be. Gordon's a favourite of mine as well. Great new features on the steam locomotives as well sir Mikes are a fan fav of mine and the brit info's always interesting.Nice to see a few more action shots from the Canam as well.
Wasn't the info on that school car neat. Too bad we were there on a day it's closed as the interior is completly restored right down to the calss room and the front third of the car that was the teacher and his families living area.Once the highways were finally built there just wasn't a need anymore,but at one point CN CP and BC rail all operated school cars in the northern areas .
I don't figure that the windows on any plow are more than a formality,but safety says they gotta be there.
Pete-Safe travels my friend.Don't get to used too that warm beer, as we are not gonna serve it here.Best we will do for you is to microwave a bottle for you should the need arrise.
Fergie-Wow in with a vengance this week that's grrrreat as a certain tiger would say.Loved the shots from the MESS I know that your pressed for time on your trip but if you can get to the RCAF Museum in Trenton try to,it's worth it truly is I'll pput up a few more Goderich shots,lots more semi dissassembled units there and others just stored.Rail Link / Rail America own teh Goderich and Exeter now, still lots of traffic but they are now cursed with Rail Links run em till they drop then go find or lease something else mentality.
Shane-Ah yes the worth of any railway is it's shops. The GEXR used to have a great shop ( still do ) but the new owners are more about the bottom line than anything else.
Nick-Great photo's of the old layout,looks like things are progressing ( farther than my own at the moment )
Eric-Couple neat pictures from you the last couple days.Love the closeup of the boxpok drivers on that one locomotive. NYC unit Great snow eater as well Happy almost next retirement as well,down to the final ten days and counting I see.Time to build a layout I think. Not sure about your mysetry pic,the shot Tom put up certainly seems like a winner though.
Allan-Glad that you liked the shots from Goderich. The trip to the RCAF musuem was wonderfull.Their main exhibit is the only Handely Page Halifax bomber that is in tact in the world ( she'll never fly ) but the ten years of restoration and reassbly on her has her looking quite good and they are still at it.The Halifax really was bomber commands man work horse but tehy aer always over looked by the Lancaster. Over 40,000 sorties were flown over Eurpoe and Africa by Halifax Bombers ( 30,000 by number 6 group RCAF )
Rob
Well Leon another Keiths if you don't mind,the first one dissapeared somehow. So a few shots from the RCAF Museum on CFB Trenton in Trenton Ontario.
The Museum itself,converted repair hanger on the base.
Part of the memorial stones project at the Museum. Along the airpark they have paths and beside the paths are comemerative stones for RCAF and allied pilots,past and presant ( families request and pay for them ) This grouping was done by Vetrans affairs for all the RCAF VC recipients.
Cairn raised for the number six bomber group RCAF with all the squadron crests.
Three shots of Halifax MK111 NA337 currently under cosmetic restoration.This is ten yeasr worth of work,remembering that this aircraft was recovered from 400+ feet of water in a Norwegian lake after it was ditched there in 1945.
Good evening Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!
Leon, I just want a cold Tui, that's it. It's almost time to go to bed.
I guess Pete has touched down in the old country by now. I hope he will have a nice and interesting vacation and that his camera will work all the time! No soda pop or anything else liquid in the black bag.
Tom – Thanks for the link to the Grand Canyon Rly video. I noticed that two of the former RDC’s were included in the consist. When we rode the train to Grand Canyon it was behind #29! No, you are wrong, the brunettes will be easy to find. In my opinion all girls with black hair are also considered being brunettes! But what I meant was that maybe there will be time at the next Rendezvous for me to explain the difference between the old country brunette and the Hooter’s brunette! And the ABBA brunette!I know it wasn’t Fergie’s birthday, but since he was nice enough to wish all of us a Happy Birthday I wanted to do the same thing for him. Thanks for the photos from MoT! I just noticed something I missed before. The caboose and refrigerator car next to the semaphore are sitting on an short stretch of track with no connection to the other tracks! Chesapeake & Ohio #2727 is a very impressive locomotive! I wonder if the headlight is original?
The headlight.
Nice Santa Fe ad! I am afraid you picked the wrong locomotive, that is not the one in my picture. I’ll reveal the answer tomorrow (Friday). Fergie – I agree, I hope that GC #29 will find a new home and be hauling trains again. I think GC Railways is doing something they will regret. CM3 – You are right, I tried to remove you and Tom using Photoshop but it didn’t work. I don’t know what to do. Maybe I can paste something on top of you? Nick – Wow, living in a former pub! Have you found the bar?You are so right! I have already seen the Honey Do list. It is loooong! I bet the 1:80 climb through reverse curves on your layout is a tough one. Wow. Thanks for the info!Rob – I would love to build a layout, but I don’t have room for any. I have some ideas, hopefully I will be able to do something about it. No, I am afraid Tom picked the wrong locomotive for my mystery picture. It is a well known type from the 1800’s. Thanks for the report and pictures from the RCAF Museum! Airplanes have always interested me! I was in the Air Force during my military service. Interesting to see that Halifax recovered from a Norwegian lake. It looks real nice. Amazing, considering all the years it spent in the lake. Do you know the name of the lake?
A last snowy picture!
Round for the house!
Eric
<On order for my modest hardcover RR book library!>
Friday's Grin
Lines To Make You Smile
Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.
End o' the work week <for many> has arrived ‘n the prospect of a slow weekend at the Bar by the Ballast looms. Not a problem - it's FALL in Can-Am County ‘n time to be outdoors, doing things other than sitting at a keyboard ‘n screen.
Oktoberfest activities begin in earnest this evening in Mentor Village. Big Tent entertainment - vintage train rides - flowing brew - dancers ‘n dancing. Should be a grand time for those who enjoy having fun!
Check out our breakfast bill o' fare, fill up your coffee mug ‘n grab a few pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery case . . .
Comments from the Proprietor
It's "You Post, I Post" at the Bar by the Ballast!
Page 29 - Nick <nickinwestwales> at 7:03 PM ‘n 7:20 PM ‘n 7:24 PM <1:03 AM ‘n 1:20 AM ‘n 1:24 AM Friday GMT>: A fine < I3> Post from our Resident Londoner in Wales!
What I had to say regarding the Lightfoot concert was from the heart ‘n I'm glad it came thru that way. I'm hardly in a position to be a critic of his or any other performer's work - but what I can offer are my feelings at the time of attendance. It truly was an experience to remember ‘n cherish. Just fantastic.
Regarding those couplers, I will say that when the Can-Am Railway was constructed, one "baseline" I strived to achieve was to ensure the track was on the level. You may recall my description of a previous layout where the cork roadbed expanded ‘n contracted so much, thereby causing me serious grief with uncouplings, derailments ‘n PP operation. So, perhaps my coupling challenge wasn't quite the same as those you've experienced IF "levelness" is an issue. I have NO grades - none - zero, zip, zilch. The scenery rises ‘n falls, giving illusion where needed . . . something picked up at a model RR show.
Now, I'm not saying that I don't use shims ‘n washers to keep those <censored> couplers at the acceptable heights - for I do. And I've found that with passenger cars, it becomes even more of a pain in the Patoot between manufacturers <ConCor - Rivarossi - Walthers - IHC - Proto>. Once matched, all's right with my world of trains! <grin>
A shame that Pete will miss the Thursday nite Special Menu from our Chief Chef! <burp>
One fine day we shall have to discuss the twists ‘n turns behind the decisions put upon us by those who "know better." The Metric System being just one topic - ‘n we'd have to get to the bottom line before the impact of good ale ‘n fine wine takes its toll. <grin>
You continue to amaze me with things like "multiple of 12" . . . it never occurred to me in relation to the earth's circumference. There's much more to our humble musician than meets the eye! Hmmmmmm.
Back to the couplers: Ya know, methinks that the horn-hooks are less problemsome <especially when the uncoupling pin gets sheared!> than the knuckle variety. I've reconfigured my passenger fleet to the knuckles ‘n what a pain in the Patoot that was! And they do not provide the kind of reliability expected, given the cost of those <censored> things! I've tried several brands ‘n have yet to find the "fool proof" brand. Sometimes just reversing the car in the consist will "do it" - but hardly ever can figure out what caused the problem. <arrrrrrgggggghhhhh> The joy of the hobby, eh
One of these days I'm going to call you ‘n work out an arrangement whereby you will meet me at whatever airport is convenient to you - then I'll spend a few nights in your part of the Isles in whatever Inn you select for my humble needs - ride some trains drink lots of beer - listen to some live tunes from your band <but NOT too LOUD!> - drink more beer -ride more trains! Then a return to mid-continent USA with an experience to carry me through the remainder of my continuum on this planet. Ahhhhhhh, to dream!
Land of the 3 horse shoes I must've missed something along the way . . .
Many thanx for the fine bill o' fare in the food department - ROUNDs ‘n good cheer ‘n chat!
Friday - October 3rd:
Page 29 - Rob <trolleyboy> at 12:47 AM ‘n 1 AM <1:47 AM ‘n 2 AM EDT>: "In" with a bewitching hour two-fer from Count Robulla! <bwaaaaaaaahahaha> Well, we're in the right month for it - Halloween is at the end! <grin>
Appears you had a fine day ‘n your fotos came through just fine!
Every time I view those WWII flying MoSheens, my thoughts go to images of skies full o' planes, all laden with bombs to help put an end to the industrial might of the madmen who plunged Europe ‘n other places into a nightmare. It's good that there are places where one can go to see them up close ‘n personal! I liked that shot of the VC recipients - nice touch with the red rose.
Absolutely, the school cars were a part of our collective history ‘n it's good to know that there still is evidence of their existence!
I'll bet those who man the ploughs have some interesting stories to tell - especially from back in the day when things were ALWAYS tougher, meaner ‘n worse-er than today! <grin>
Appreciate the visits, fotos, chat ‘n good cheer!
Page 29 - Eric <EricX2000> at 2:06 AM <12:06 AM Sandbox time>: And another Nite Owl on the scene, this time our Sandman!
All girls with black hair are brunettes Say what!?!?!?! That one "lost" me . . . <grin>
Now that snow picture IS what I'd call a winter's scene! Lovely, absolutely wunnerful! <grin>
Figured it had to be one of those two relics sitting over where the RDC is at MoT StL . . . for some reason, I'm having a problem finding my other fotos . . . so, I'll just wait for your answer.
You ‘n Pete "wonder" about the most amazing things! But then again, being "detail" kinda guys, it figgers! I'm guessing - but why wouldn't the headlight be original - or if not the first one - one that was in use at the time of retirement Guess that kinda info simply isn't available to the general public. Hmmmmmmm. Nah - I'm NOT going to browse to find out! <grin>
Another < I3 > Post from our Resident NOCTURNAL Desert almost-RETIRED Swede! Thanx for the ROUND . . .
Reminder: Ruth has the bar from 9 AM until Leon the Night Man comes in at 5 PM ‘til closing.
TODAY is Pizza ‘n Beer Nite! - and - Steak ‘n Fries Nite!
Saturday is Steak ‘n All The Trimmings Nite!
Dinner begins at 5 PM so come early ‘n often!
Cindy is our Saturday bartender!
Boris, serve ‘em all of the "spiked" OJ they can handle!
Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox. Gas is at $3.75 here this a.m. Weather cool and clear skies promised throughout the weekend.
Baseball-related quote for the day and one of my favorites from Yogi, "Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
Well, as promised we are back at our old spot. I trust everybody is getting ready for Oktoberfest. Boris does look snappy in the bison hide lederhosen and boondockers, I must say. A quick heads up from our reporter high atop Majestic Mount Mentor - he sends greetings to all and says that these seasonal festivities should get everyone "warmed up" for the darts tournament.
NHL season opens (for real) on Saturday. For Eric, the Penguins and Senators will be playing in Stockhom. Other exotic opener is the Rangers and Lightning in Prague. We do get Pitsburgh Sports Network here (part of the package is we get to suffer with the Pirates) but I have not checked to see if the Pens will be on or not.
Rob - Visits like that are fun. Folks will say, "There's nothing in the hosue to eat," and the next thing you know you have a full dinner with homegrown vegetables and made from scratch biscuits, pie and coffee. Thanks for sending the RCAF pictures of the memorials - well done! Also the Halifax restoration looks good as well. IIRC, there are none of those flyable?
Eric - As near as I could tell from looking at the C&O engine when I was out there, most of it was original equipment. I enjoyed the snow picture. BTW, had to scrape frost off the car this a.m. - first time this season. The K9 Korps is in his element as we have to drag him into the house. They said the temperature in Phoenix was dropping to the 90s on TWC this morning.
Nick - Appreciated your comment and musical observations - natural talent is so frustrating to us mortals! Thanks to the ghost of the landlord for his hospitality - he's a good storyteller but very soft-spoken; you have to listen very hard.
OSP was in with all kinds of comments and observations - the fun part with N scale passenger cars is weighting them so they'll stay on the rails when backing through switches. I used (and still do when I have a chance to do anything with the models) roof flashing for car weights. It works quite well. Back years ago MRC made some wonderful N scale models of C&O lightweight cars - I really had to put the weight in them but they run good now. MRC freight cars were also excellent but they had a metal floor so weight was not a problem. They were one of the few out there to do anything in the way of Atlantic Coast Line freight equipment.
Speaking of school cars, the New York Central ran an RDC train up in Kanwha County to get the kids to and from school. I know I have a schedule for it somewhere - it gives me something else to hunt for now.
Go Sox - work safe
Another Friday ‘n another end of the work week visit from Shane!
Just returned home after getting the "okay" for another 3 months of living from my Doc . . . <phew>
Here's something from our sub-basement archives room that hasn't been seen ‘round here in awhile . . .
The Passenger Railroad Fallen Flags of "Our" Place #20
Here's another Fallen Flag for the gang from Classic American Railroads:
Spokane, Portland & Seattle (SP&S)
<A form of this was initially Posted on 11 Oct 2005, Page 134 at "Our" Place I>
http://cs.trains.com/forums/129/991587/ShowPost.aspx
Caveat: The information provided is NOT all inclusive and is reflective only of the periods mentioned.
Headquarters: Portland, OR Mileage in 1950: 968 Locomotives in 1963: Diesel: 93 Rolling stock in 1963: Freight cars: 3,547 Passenger cars: 48
Principal routes in 1950: Portland-Spokane, WA Portland-Seaside, WA Portland-Eugene, OR (subsidiary Oregon Electric Railway) Wishram, WA-Bend, OR subsidiary Oregon Trunk Railway)
Passenger trains of note: Columbia River Express [Portland-Spokane) Empire Builder (Portland-Chicago) Oriental Limited (Portland-Chicago) Western Star (Portland-Chicago) North Coast Limited (Portland-Chicago) Mainstreeter (Portland-Chicago)
Of note: SP&S handled GN's Empire Builder, Oriental Limited and Western Star between Portland and Spokane; SP&S handled NP's North Coast Limited and Mainstreeter between Portland and Pasco, WA
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Some drumheads of the SP&S
Enjoy! Tom
Good afternoon Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!
Hi Ruth, this is becoming a nice habit to see you almost every day! Yes, I know. Hmm, I think I'll have a ham sandwich and a Tuborg Gold, please! Tomorrow? Okay!
Just a brief stop to check if the Oktoberfest has started yet. Seems kind of slow though. I guess most people work.
I happened to stumble over this picture last night. It shows how I am rewarding my colleageue, Per, a resistor from the X2000. He managed to burn it during the first test runs in the fall of 1989. He was the first to do it but not the last.
I don't think he has it framed on the wall. The electric in the background is a class Rc1 from 1967. Photo: Christer Sjöborg
Ruth, a round for the house!
I'll be back later.
Thanx to Eric, our Sandman, I'm able to provide yet another spate o' fotos from the adventures of The Proprietor ‘n Bar Chandler, begun a few weeks ago . . .
Why Because it's "You Post, I Post" at this Watering Hole by the Wayside!
Here's the NEXT TO LAST batch . . .
Rule of Six Suspended <by two>!
(1) Historic Barrett Station now used as a visitor's center, gift shop ‘n snack bar
(2) Panama Canal lock towing locomotive #662 at StL MoT <Kirkwood>
(3)
(4) Chicago & Illinois Midland 2-8-2 Mikado #551 at StL MoT <Kirkwood>
(6) The Sellers Turntable
(7)
(8)
Enjoy!
God evening Captain Tom and all present!!
Leon, a cold Tui, please1
Aha, I think we might be up to something tonight. The Octoberfest!! I'll be back later to have a lot of fun and a lot to eat! No sauerkraut though!
Thought I should show this old, classic interurban now. It is today residing at the Orange Empire Railway Museum, Perris, CA. Interesting place!
Pacific Electric #314.
Hi Tom and all,
Leon, seeing it is now OKTOBERFEST time, a round of LARGE STEINS of Tui`s for all the guys` please, and some brockwurst sausages` to go with it!
Eric. We are getting signs of spring now with some trees` starting to leaf and all our fruit trees` in blossom. Some fine pix of your X2000, rotary snowplow, Class R 0-10-0 loco, the headlight, another snowy pic for Tom, the X2000 resistor and the trolley.
Fergie. Good to see you in.
CM3. Good to see you sir. Good baseball quote for the day.
Nick. You must be really chuffed to get your trains running again after all your hard work on the trackwork. A great dinner menu, I am back on my "See food diet" again!
Rob. Nice to hear you had a great trip to the RCAF museum, it`s good to find that they`ve saved and restored a Halifax bomber there, pity it wo`nt be able to fly, from the looks of your photos they have done a superb job of the restoration, the VC plaque memorials and the cairn for 6 Group RCAF look very nostalgic.
Tom. Great to hear your Doc gave you a warrant of fitness. Glad you enjoyed the Gordon Lightfoot concert, nice link to the Fox Theatre and the GC RR`s #29 on Youtube. Anne Murray is a real favourite of my bride too. Another fine set of pix from the St L MOT from Pete`s visit with you. A good Passenger Train Nostalgia #23 with the Santa Fe AD and the Fallen Flags #20 on the SP&S RR.
See ya, Allan
Many thanx to Eric 'n Allan for providing some business at the bar on this Friday evening! Comments in the 'morrow's Acknowledgments . . . .
We're at a multiple of TEN - time to remind all on-lookers of the way we do things 'round here <from Page One>.
"Our" Place III was locked today by Kalmbach, so "Our" Place IV has begun on this 31st day of July 2008.Final statistics for "Our" Place III:REPLIES: 1,254VIEWS: 25,965PAGES: 63* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *The links to the old bars:#1 - http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/451/991587/ShowPost.aspx#991587#2 - http://cs.trains.com/forums/201/991960/ShowPost.aspx#991960#3 - http://cs.trains.com/forums/63/1500733/ShowPost.aspx#1500733<Note: #1 had 451 Pages - #2 had 201 Pages - #3 had 63 Pages . . . hmmmmmm> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *What's different Nothing! Same crew, same way of doing things and hopefully the same supporting cast that has kept us afloat all this time.History: "Our" Place began on April 12th, 2005 on the General Discussion (Classic Trains) Forum.Concept: An adult bar & grill for all who are interested in and familiar with "Classic Trains." The conversations are as they would be in a neighborhood bar, where people know one another and share stories, photos and other information relevant to the idea of the Forum - Classic Trains. All of this with some humor thrown in and the rest is simple.Objective: Have fun!Ground rules: Leave ALL emotional baggage and "attitudes" on the front porch. Be inclusive with your comments through the acknowledgment of the other guy's efforts. Hit ‘n run Posts are not welcome.Greet the bartender upon entering and order a drink or food. Pretty easy, eh
Final statistics for "Our" Place III:
REPLIES: 1,254
VIEWS: 25,965
PAGES: 63
The links to the old bars:
#1 - http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/451/991587/ShowPost.aspx#991587
#2 - http://cs.trains.com/forums/201/991960/ShowPost.aspx#991960
#3 - http://cs.trains.com/forums/63/1500733/ShowPost.aspx#1500733
<Note: #1 had 451 Pages - #2 had 201 Pages - #3 had 63 Pages . . . hmmmmmm>
What's different Nothing! Same crew, same way of doing things and hopefully the same supporting cast that has kept us afloat all this time.
History: "Our" Place began on April 12th, 2005 on the General Discussion (Classic Trains) Forum.
Concept: An adult bar & grill for all who are interested in and familiar with "Classic Trains."
The conversations are as they would be in a neighborhood bar, where people know one another and share stories, photos and other information relevant to the idea of the Forum - Classic Trains.
All of this with some humor thrown in and the rest is simple.
Objective: Have fun!
Ground rules: Leave ALL emotional baggage and "attitudes" on the front porch.
Be inclusive with your comments through the acknowledgment of the other guy's efforts. Hit ‘n run Posts are not welcome.
Greet the bartender upon entering and order a drink or food. Pretty easy, eh
Good Evening Captain Tom and Scurvy
This talk of me being a regular... Bite yer tongues@!!! I'll have none of that as I am a rover, a wonder'r A Gypsy at Heart!
Lisa and I have just returned from yonder watering hole at end of drive and ahad a succesful nite of libating...
Anyway. Rob lovely pics of the museum sire I look forward to more.
To end the evening with a nite cap I offer the following, plagerized as it maybe none the less informative!
Canadian National'sHalifax and Southwestern Railway
By Jim Simmons
Preface
So often tales of Canada's railway heritage stop at Montreal with the area east, especially east of Moncton N.B., being the vast wasteland. The Maritimes too, have a story to tell of their railway heritage. This is just one such story of a once proud line servicing Nova Scotia's South Shore from Halifax to Yarmouth. The railway servicing the for-mentioned area was one of the Canadian Northern roads, namely, the Halifax and Southwestern, before C.N.R. amalgamation in the 1920's.
Being that my father and grandfather, and numerous other family members were all "railway people" accounts for my avid interest in railways, Canadian National in particular. My father was a locomotive engineer and grew up in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, the heart of Halifax and Southwestern country. My grandfather was a conductor on "The Owl", a local from Bridgewater to Yarmouth, N.S. As a boy, I fondly remember weekend outings to the Bridgewater area and seeing the majestic Bridgewater station, or riding parallel to the tracks near New Germany, N.S. watching the Bridgewater to Middleton freight.
The Halifax and Southwestern, in name has long been gone although was known locally as the "Southwestern" to the day of its demise. All traces of the line are fast disappearing with the only remnant being a short industrial spur from Southwestern Junction in Halifax to Lakeside on the outskirts of the city. If a railway could operate on sentiment alone, this line would have been among the first to have its future assured.
The Halifax and Southwestern Railway did not retain its identity after its takeover by Canadian National as its Canadian Pacific owned cousin, Dominion Atlantic did, but it is interesting to note that the Halifax and Southwestern did exist on paper well into the 1950's.
This work is dedicated to my father who fostered my interest in railways and the many individuals who worked on the "Southwestern" in its many names throughout the years. (The Southwestern Division, The Bridgewater Sub., The Chester Sub., ...)
The Beginnings of theHalifax and Southwestern
The "H&SW" as it was known or to others the less complimentary monogram of the" Hellish Slow and Wobbley" came into existence in 1901 and was the last sizeable railway to be built in Nova Scotia. The Halifax and Southwestern's existence was owed to two enterprising businessmen of the day, William MacKenzie and Donald Mann. Among the sterling empire builders who dominated the Canadian scene in the opening years of the 20th century none were more widely known or more potent than the firm of MacKenzie and Mann.
MacKenzie and Mann promoted what was to become one of the most colossal flaps in the history of North American rail transportation, the Canadian Northern Railway System. In 1904, Sir Wilfred Laurier, looking around for a popular issue for the impending federal election, embraced the Grand Trunk's hopeful vision, and the Canadian Northern was doomed. Yet such was the genius and audacity of the MacKenzie and Mann combination that may very well might have succeeded but for the appearance on the scene of The Grand Trunk Pacific and The National Transcontinental.
In the spring of 1901, MacKenzie and Mann approached the Nova Scotia government with their offer of a railway from Yarmouth to Halifax. At the time, they owned more than two thousand miles of railway in Canada. The premier of the day, George H. Murray, was flattered by their interest and the agreement was quickly pushed through the proper channels. The Halifax and Southwestern was born and within weeks, construction was begun at both ends of the line.
MacKenzie and Mann, undaunted by the failure of the Canadian Northern Railway, went blithely ahead. The eastern railhead was at Montreal and they tackled the problem of reaching the Atlantic in reverse, by starting in Cape Breton, where they built the Inverness Railway. They then projected the Halifax and Southwestern Railway, which would at last give the South Shore of Nova Scotia a direct rail link with Halifax.
MacKenzie and Mann had been subcontractors on the construction of the C.P.R. short line across Maine, and like the C.P.R. they bought or leased land where they could and built only when they had to. Compared to their predecessors, MacKenzie and Mann moved at lightning speed, completing the Bridgewater to Halifax section of the line in late 1904 and in 1905 the section from Bridgewater to Barrington Passage was opened to traffic. On December 19, 1906, the first passenger train reached Yarmouth from Halifax, and a regular tri-weekly service was instituted on December 22. In 1910, the line transported no fewer than 202,000 people. Before the automobile began to makes its competition felt, totals finally reached the figure of over a quarter of a million passengers a year.
Canadian National Railways, who took over the line in 1919, applied for abandonment in various stages between 1976 and 1993, with the entire line being abandoned except a short piece servicing industries just outside of Halifax. With the systematic abandonment of the line, the station at Bridgewater became surplus, with all of the administration being moved to Chester Subdivision offices. Although the railway was once a thriving enterprise in Bridgewater, its activity steadily declined from the 1930's onward. Many attempts were made over the years to restore the long vacant station but the question of its preservation became academic. In 1982, just slightly more than seven years before its 100th birthday, the town witnessed the tragic end of this historic building as it was destroyed by fire, its remains, unsalvageable.
-- Chronicle Herald: --December 23, 1982
BRIDGEWATER - Fifty volunteer firemen fought unsuccessfully Wednesday to save Bridgewaters' historic Canadian National Railways station. The 92-year-old building burned to the ground.
Hundreds of residents and Christmas shoppers lined the streets and the town bridge as black smoke billowed into the sky and drifted down the Lahave River.
The fire department was called to the Lahave Street building at 11:30 a.m. when smoke began filtering out of the abandoned building's boarded up windows.
The blaze was well under way by the time it was noticed, Bridgewater Fire Department Chief Frank Gow said.
Chief Gow said firemen were unable to get the water right in on the flames.
Two firemen were injured. One fell on ice and broke two ribs and another got cinders in his eyes.
The Bridgewater Heritage and Historical Society had been working for two years on plans to restore the C.N.R. station, one of the few remaining historic landmarks in the town.
Florrie Little, society president, said the fire means a great loss to the town, future citizens, and the many tourists and visitors who come here each summer.
Ms. Little said the restoration of the building was nearing completion, and work was to have started this spring.
A recent examination showed it to be in very good shape, and only superficial repairs were needed.
The old C.N.R. station was also part of a Bridgewater Chamber of Commerce project in 1978 when it sponsored a "Save the Station" program under the leadership of Mr. Ozzie Stiles. Mr. Stiles said that the station was one of the town's few historic structures and leaves a void.
He said that at one time the station employed more than fifty people, and was the centre of all activity in the town. Mr. Stiles said that the building had great potential, perhaps for a tourist information centre or a craft shop. He said during the time that he headed the campaign to save the station he received letters from all over Canada, the U.S., and Europe from interested people who supported the idea of keeping the station operating as a tourist attraction.
Six Bridgewater fire trucks were used, and a backup crew remained on standby in Lunenburg.
Bridgewater firemen remained on the scene throughout the day to ensure that the fire was kept under control. Cause of the blaze is under investigation.
South ShorePassenger Service Ends
-- Halifax Chronicle Herald --October 27, 1969
Mixed train 244, Yarmouth to Halifax, disembarked its last passengers Saturday night at the C.N, terminal in Halifax to mark the end of a passenger service to the South Shore area of the province, which was more than sixty years old.
There was no fanfare, no special celebration, at the end of the line for the train.
The three cars, one for baggage, one for express mail, and another for passengers, were quickly shunted to one side and the two engines returned to the roundhouse in Fairview. Only a handful of railway personnel were aware that it was the last passenger run for the train.
Last Trip
Engineer Charlie Hatfield, Truro and Bridgewater, who replaced the regular engineer, John Woodsworth, had the distinction of making the last trip carrying passengers on the line.
Mr. Hatfield, leaning out of the engine, described the trip as fairly "normal" and "uneventful."
It wasn't always so!
Only a few short years ago passengers formed the nucleus of the South Shore train service. During the Second World War and up until the late 1940's, trains carrying passengers only made a trip both ways daily on the track. In addition, a mixed train made a daily round trip from Liverpool to Halifax and return.
First Class
The passenger train included a parlor car with dining facilities and a regular first class coach.
The final passenger train No. 244 bore little resemblance to its earlier counterpart.
Conductor Vince MacInnes, Dartmouth, who has been on train 244, Yarmouth to Halifax, and train 243 for the return trip, was on the run for about 11 years and has enjoyed it, he says.
The details in his log book for the final trip seems to indicate it.
"Depart Bridgewater at 1:55 p.m. (Atlantic Standard Time) with 20 cars and 14 passengers. 'Entrained' or picked up two additional cars in Mahone Bay and detrained 14 cars at Fairview."
When train 244 arrived in Halifax, it had 3 cars and 11 passengers. Total number of passengers for the trip from Yarmouth where the trip originated to Halifax was 49.
Mr. MacInnes and the other crewmembers on train 244 E.A. Meagher, Halifax, and G.E. Hemsworth, Halifax, both trainmen, will continue on the run in the future but with one major difference. No passengers!
The passenger car will be replaced by a "van "or caboose" for the crewmembers.
The train will be totally converted to freight and express mail and will retain its schedule on a trip from Yarmouth to Halifax on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with a return trip to Halifax on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
No Passengers
Removal of the passenger car from the train will mean that there will be no passenger service west of Halifax, except for the service that Dominion Atlantic Railway still operates.
Lost to the passengers, who frequented the train will be such nostalgic names such as Pubnico, Tusket, Barrington, Barrington Passage, Port Clyde, Lockport, Port Mouton, and French Village, which were among the 20 stops made during the run.
Although there was no special event to mark the occasion, one railway employee perhaps summed it up when he commented that it was "the end of an era. The car should go to a museum."
The Middleton Branch
The Middleton Branch, which was at one time, the former Nova Scotia Central, ran from Bridgewater to Middleton in the Annapolis Valley, a distance of 55 miles. A branch from this was also constructed from Nictaux, just outside of Middleton to Port Wade. This was the former Middleton and Victoria Beach Railway. This branch was 39 miles in length and mainly serviced the mines at Torbrook and Nictaux. Times for this section of the Middleton Branch were not always bountiful. Through a combination of many events - ore smelting costs, a fire destroying much of the mining machinery and the onset of the First World War led to the demise of this section. In a little over a decade after the closure of the mines, Canadian National Railways, which by this time had absorbed the Halifax and Southwestern, formulated a petition proposing the abandonment of the section of the line between Port Wade and Bridgetown, Canadian National Railways claimed to the Board of Railway Commissioners that earnings on the branch of track per mile for the years 1920 - 1922 were only $233, $374, $279 respectively.
To further plead its case, C.N. determined that a large maintenance outlay would have to transpire in the form of bridge rebuilding and other structures if operations beyond Bridgetown were to be viable. Local government adamantly voiced its displeasure to the Board of Railway Commissioners asking that service be reinstated for that part of the line. It was stated that one of the terms of agreement of the Halifax and Southwestern takeover of the Middleton and Victoria Beach Railway was to provide suitable facilities and train service. Failure to do so would put residents and local businesses at a great disadvantage.
A public meeting was held in March of 1925. Although the original proposal put forth by the C.N.R. had been modified, with abandonment restricted to the portion of track between Granville Centre and Port Wade, the Board of Commissions felt it had no obligation to compel the company to resume operations under deficit conditions. The Board denied the application for restoration of service.
By 1927, all the bridges and structures on this portion of the Middleton Branch were removed and all remaining tracks subsequently removed by the mid 1940's. Today, no trace of what was once an important part of the areas economic and industrial framework exists other than the cement turntable at Port Wade which was used to reroute the engine for the return trip.
In 1939, Canadian National again applied to abandon a portion of this line, a 15-mile section between Middleton Junction and Bridgetown.
This was never acted upon and the line was spared by the advent of the Second World War and the improved economic conditions that came to Nova Scotia in its wake. In 1965, the Board of Transport Commissioners rescinded its 1939 order authorizing the abandonment because it had never been put into effect.
Because of the time that had passed since the issuance of this order it was decided that if the railway now wished to still proceed with closing down the section, it should reapply for permission.
At the time of its application to abandon the trackage in 1939, the C.N.R. estimated that $93,493 would be required to rehabilitate that portion of the line.
At the same time as the C.N.R. request for abandonment, the C.P.R. applied to construct a 26-mile line running from its Kentville subdivision to the C.N.R. Middleton subdivision.
The farmers and other residents of the area opposed the twin proposals on the grounds that apple warehouses along the Canadian National route would no longer be able to serve the purpose which they were originally built, that frost damage would likely occur in having to move the fruit from warehouses to stations on the D.A.R. during winter, that snow conditions in the region were such that roads were impassable for long periods during the winter months, that freight rates would be increased if the abandonment application was approved, and that the connecting branch line proposed to be built by the C.P.R. from its main D.A.R. line would cross the main highway between Middleton and Bridgetown, contrary to the policy of eliminating level crossings.
Despite these objections, both applications were approved by the Board of Transport Commissioners in March 1939.
In a 1965 interview Canadian National said that it had no intention of abandoning this section of the line as it handled freight traffic to and from a number of expanding developments including Acadia Distilleries.
The Middleton Branch from Middleton to Bridgewater continued under C.N.R. administration until its abandonment.
The Blueberry Express
The Middleton mixed to many of the locals, became known as "The Blueberry Express " - it runs so slowly that it is possible to get off while the train is in motion, pick a handful of blueberries, and board the rear of the coach as it passes. This tale probably has been repeated everywhere on the continent where a weary little train goes about its duties.
To many people between Middleton and Bridgewater, "The Blueberry Express" was the mixed train which, wandered, daily except Sunday, over Canadian National trackage to the Valley.
M. Allen Gibson best described the memory of "The Blueberry Express " in a newspaper article many years ago.
It is waiting for us, standing in front of the station in Middleton. Behind the locomotive are five freight cars, followed by a wooden baggage car and a wooden coach. The atmosphere is of an older, long gone day. The engine is number 1120, a G16a ten-wheeler. It was built in Montreal in 1912 and boasts 57-inch drivers.
The conductor arrives, sauntering up the platform with a flimsy green clearance form in his hand. "All aboard" he cries and waves to the engineer.
Wheezing and clanking, the engine backs the train slowly away and along Dominion Atlantic trackage to the junction with the line to the South Shore. There is one lady passenger aboard who insists that the conductor will have to reverse her seat. "I simply cannot ride backwards", she protests. It challenges his powers of persuasion to convince her that the train will he running frontward in a few minutes.
At the junction, the brakeman closes and locks the last switch, swings the languid "highball" and climbs aboard the coach. The first mile is downgrade towards the Annapolis River and the train quickly accelerates.
The Annapolis Valley, with its orchards and farms is soon crossed and number 1120 blows for Nictaux, a charming little village nestled at the foot of the mountain. It is at this point that the railway begins its climb into the hills. Without stopping at the station, the train tackles the long, steep grade ahead.
Almost at once, the trackside scenery changes from the fertile plain to the rock and forest of the mountainside. To the left of the right-of-way, the Nictaux River plunges over the rocks and through the gorges that mark its course. It is spectacular viewing but it must have challenged the ingenuity of the construction engineers.
Clinging to the river bank, the rails twist and climb. Speed drops to a crawl. Whenever the locomotive comes into view around a curve, one has a glimpse of smoke and steam belching skyward and of slowly moving siderods.
The coach creaks and sways. Occasionally, a dirt road crosses the railway. At some of these intersections, there is a tiny station and we ramble on through Alpena, Albany, Squirelltown, Scragg Lake, and so on. Wild animals are to be seen at trackside, unperturbed by the noisy passage of mixed train 254.
Springfield is the first community of any size since leaving Nictaux. At this point, the train is well over the mountain; having completed the 28 miles from Middleton right on scheduled time - 28 miles in an hour and a half!
-- Halifax Chronicle Herald --October 1, 1959
A Beloved Blueberry - The decision of Canadian National Railways to abandon its cross country passenger service between Bridgewater and Middleton was probably inevitable in view of its decreasing patronage, Nevertheless, there are hundreds who will receive the announcement with regret, for this train which has been to many the original "Blueberry Express", possesses a large place in their affections.
In bygone day, the line was an important connection between the Valley and the South Shore. Before the Halifax and Southwestern was constructed, travelers from points in Lunenburg County journeyed over it to link up with the Dominion Atlantic services on route to Central Canada and the Eastern States. Even over its years as part of the Canadian National System, it has continued as an important artery.
It was a leisurely service, powered, until the diesels came, by stocky little steam locomotives whose clanking side rods announced arrivals long before waiting passengers could see the train rolling and bouncing toward them. What a host of memories are stirred! Boyhood days at a camp at Pinehurst were filled with the comings and goings of the train bringing other campers and the welcome mail; one thinks again of the shoppers and hunters for whom any place along the track was a stop; and, where stations were built, they were masterpieces of architectural imagination combining stonework with tasteful frame construction. During war years, the line was traveled by thousands of naval personnel moving between the South Shore and HMCS Cornwallis. Now, a victim of the progress to which it contributed, the mixed train, "daily except Sunday" is soon to make its last run.
But long after those folk have gone who can recall the ancient coach with its pintsch gas lamps, the sound of the lonely whistle echoing along the Lahave, and the sight of a smudge of smoke above the forest at Squirreltown, this train will be remembered in the delightful legend of the "Blueberry Express." For this was the train, so they said, which moved so slowly that one could hop off the head end of the coach, gather a handful of berries, and board the rear as it passed by. It is doubtful whether anyone ever did this, but such a story as affection breeds. By it, this train will be immortalized beyond Nova Scotia and by generations that may never know the music of flanges screaming on the curves along the Nictaux River.
Crashes and Wreckson the Halifax and Southwestern
With the 1919 Canadian National takeover, came vast improvements in the entire Halifax and Southwestern line. Early rail lines were known for frequent accidents and the Halifax and Southwestern is not to be omitted.
There were a number of spectacular crashes on the H&SW, one of the worst being on February 9th, 1907, just a few short months after the railway was open to through traffic from Halifax to Yarmouth. On that morning, freight extra No. 5 left Bridgewater at 5a.m. via Mahone Junction (11 miles out) for Lunenburg, a total distance of 18 miles. The train was hauled by locomotive #1, an eight wheeler. Behind extra No. 5, were two flat cars piled high with lumber, next came three empty flats. Then, 14 more lumber loads also loaded high and as it turns out, not too securely. There was no van. There were only four men in the crew instead of the usual five. The conductor rode in the cab with the engineer and the fireman. The lone brakeman existed as best as he could on the last lumber car exposed to the cold February weather.
The trip began to jinx right from the start. Extra No. 5 stalled on the grade out of Bridgewater east, and the yardmaster had to summon a pusher to get her started again. There after, the extra crawled at a snail's pace up the grades from Bridgewater to Maitland. Their Conductor Walter Driscoll decided that they would never make Mahone summit with the load they had and set off three empties at Maitland siding. At the end of three hours they were only eight miles from Bridgewater when another train came up from behind and gave them a push into Blockhouse, ten miles from Bridgewater and about a mile and a half from Mahone Bay Junction. From Blockhouse, Extra No. 5 toiled along with her 16 loads and to the surprise of everyone on board, almost made it to the summit, stalling only a short distance from the crest.
This train was remarkable for its day being that every car was equipped with air brakes, and the fact that after it stalled it was able to cling to the steep face of the grade instead of rolling back down the hill. A point much stressed by council at the official investigation. Apparently, it was also maintained that there may have been air brakes on the whole train, but air was only coupled up to the five cars closest to the locomotive. The engine was low on steam and Conductor Driscoll said that while Engineer Lou Barteaux was waiting to build up pressure to tackle the hill, he would save time by walking down the track to the junction switch, which he knew was set for the Halifax main line and throw it for the Lunenburg/Mahone branch track.
Meanwhile, No. 3 mixed train at 7:10a.m. had left Lunenburg for Mahone Junction to await the arrival of the regular Halifax bound train bound for Liverpool to pick up passengers and express to eventually connect with the Dominion Atlantic Railway at Middleton.
This train had been at the junction for some time before Extra No. 5 had reached the summit, had done some necessary shunting, and was now in front of the station, heading west. The engine had not yet been recoupled and freight cars were standing some car lengths down the platform from the passenger cars taking on way freight - a fortunate chance that was to keep a bad wreck from becoming a major disaster.
There happened to be a great amount of bustle on the platform, passengers and intending passengers, friends who had come to see them off, and general mail and express transactions. Farther up near the engine and freight sheds, Section Foreman Willis Low stood waiting for the Halifax train.
Engineer Barteaux, back on No. 5, blew two shorts, indicating intention to move ahead, and at the rear the second engineer watched No. 5's exhaust and manipulated his throttle to synchronize his speed with that of the lead engine. Under this combined power, the sixteen loads walked up the summit. Had the pusher engine coupled her air to the train and stayed with it down the hill, a tragedy may well have been averted. However, No. 5's air held the train so easily on the backslope that no precaution occurred to anyone. When the last lumber car topped the crest, the helper blew a short blast, the brakeman pulled the pin and the helper started back to her own train.
As the lumber train started away fast, Barteaux gave her a touch of air to ease her down but the brakes did not hold. The engineer pulled the reverse lever over and whistled to the brakeman in the rear for hand brakes. Fireman Tom Lynch sprang to the brake wheel on the tender and clubbed it up tight, but the slight drag had little effect. Barteaux was busily working steam against the weight of the train, the same result as gearing down a car on a steep hill. The steel drivers against the steel rails had little effect and No.5 surged on to her doom. Conductor Driscoll, hurrying down the track and still 1200 yards from the switch, heard the whistling and clamor behind him and realized that his train was running out of control. As the engine shot by, her drivers in reverse, Barteaux leaned from the cab and shouted something about "losing his air."
From Mahone summit approaching the main line, the mountain descends in a long, sharp, right hand curve, and about all an engineer could see was a few hundred yards of track and a wall of woods.
The junction switch was about 4400 yards west of the station, and if set to go to Lunenburg the train continues to proceed to a right hand curve to the station and beyond. Barteaux knew from the time card that the mixed train should be standing in the station and he blew his whistle long and urgently, first to warn the crew and passengers to get out of the way and secondly in hope that there might be some trainman near the switch who would sense the danger and throw the switch to the Lunenburg line. At the same time, he manipulated the sand and the steam to attempt to get a grip on the track and check as much as possible the onward rush of the engine.
At the junction, the whistling was heard, but not even the crew of No. 3 seemed to have attached any significance to it. When at last the runaway freight careened into view around the curve only 400 yards away, it became apparent that a collision was inevitable. Everyone at the head end of the express became rooted to the spot. People and passengers at the other end of the platform hardly had time to take in what was going on and most of them didn't even realize that there was even any danger until it was all over. Barteaux continued to blow his whistle to the last second. Then he and Fireman Lynch unloaded and escaped serious injury. A moment later with a crash that was heard miles away, No. 5 plowed into the passenger engine and both were instantly buried under four piled up flat cars and an avalanche of flying lumber which also demolished the freight shed. The passenger engine and a box car were driven back until they hit the passenger cars, but this secondary impact was so reduced that only one causality resulted on the train. This was Harry Martin, another H&SW engineer who had been on sick leave and was travelling to Bridgewater to report for duty. He seems to have been the only one to have taken alarm at the whistling, and had just opened the heavy side door of the baggage car to see what was going on when the crash threw it back on one of his hands crushing it severely.
Death and disaster prevailed outside. The startled people on the platform were not slow to realize but for the chance circumstance that the mixed engine had been standing in a position to break the first shock of the collision, the lumber would have rained down right on top of the group, resulting in 30 or more fatalities rather than the actual 4. As the roar from the escaping steam faded away, people ran to the wrecked engines and traced the cries and groans that came from the debris, discovering that three men were trapped but still alive. Low, the section foreman had been buried under a handcar and 10,000 feet of lumber in front of the freight house. Willing hands attacked the grotesquely piled lumber but Low was dead by the time they reached him. He had been hit in the face by a flying plank and his nose driven into his skull. He also suffered a great many other serious injuries including spinal, yet, with all this he lived for some time after the crash.
Enos Crooks, Fireman of the passenger/mixed train had been thrown from his cab and buried under a rain of timber. His left leg had been torn off below the knee; both wrists broken and his right leg holed in such a way as to expose the arteries. In addition, both hips were fractured and there were internal injuries. He lived for a short time after being rescued but died on route to hospital.
Engineer Willard Phelan of the passenger/mixed was extracted from the wreckage of his locomotive cab. Flying timber had severed his left leg, his right fractured in several places and severe internal injuries. Phelan never lost consciousness and as rescuers lifted him from the wreckage he said, "Boys, it's all over for me. My poor wife and child!" He then asked, "What happened to Enos, did he get away?" By 12:30 p.m., the passing track at the junction had been cleared away and H&SW officials rushed Phelan by special train to the Victoria General Hospital in Halifax where he died at 8:30 p.m., conscious to the last.
An inquiry was held and the verdict was that Extra No. 5 was carelessly overloaded and insufficiently manned thereby greatly contributing to the collision.
Crooks left a wife and two children at Lunenburg, Low, a wife and nine children at Fauxberg near Mahone Bay, and Phelan a wife and child at Bridgewater.
On another occasion, February 24,1911, the grim reaper again rode the rails. No. 12 train from Port Wade to Lunenburg derailed about 1/2 mile from New Germany. The rear trucks of the third and forth cars from the engine went off the tracks but remained coupled to the engine and alongside the tracks. The fifth car and two other cars of freight, together with the baggage car and passenger coach, went down the embankment and on their sides. The baggage car immediately took fire destroying all the mails and baggage. The baggagemaster, Orrin M. McLaughlin was found later pinned underneath the baggage car, having been partly consumed by fire. The brakeman, Lockhart B. Sargent was found underneath the passenger coach, crushed, it would seem as if he was thrown through the window.
This incident and others of similarity ushered in the end of mixed trains. In the subsequent investigation of the cause, the findings of the jury were that, as far as could be ascertained, the cause was rotten ties. Two other points that were strongly brought forth were the force of sectionmen maintaining the road was of insufficient numbers and the routine of attaching passenger coaches to heavy freight trains.
It may have been only coincidence but these wrecks marked the turning point in the flood of railway accidents that had been steadily mounting for half a century.
In a few short years after these tragic wrecks, many new and revised safety standards were adopted and the new Railway Board had begun to put "teeth" into its safety requirements. By 1914, railways adopted the Safety First Department, which so drastically reduced the once common hazards of railroading. In 1915, the Workers Compensation Act was passed guaranteeing the welfare of workers in all classes of industry.
In the years since the Halifax and Southwestern, the line continued to grow. Mighty Mikados and Pacifics roared over the hills where little Moguls and Ten-Wheelers struggled in the early 1900's. Eventually, the H&SW and later the C.N.R.'s, what finally became known as the Chester Subdivision, lost its bulk of passenger traffic to the automobile and busses until finally withdrawn on October 27,1969. Inevitably, freight traffic followed with the improvements in the highway system and the entire line was systematically abandoned between 1976 and 1993. The only remnant of the line that remains is from Southwestern Junction to Lakeside, just outside of Halifax.
-- Halifax Chronicle Herald --March 1993:
Dear Editor,
On March 5, 1993, the haunting sound of the engineer's whistle was silenced forever on the South Shore. C.N. caboose #79850 rolled into history as it made its final run from East River.
Many local residents along with members of C.E.P. Local 434 watched in despair as the brakeman waved his final farewell.
Not only is it a farewell to an era, it is also a sad farewell to the many jobs dependent on the rail line. Our government has not only destroyed our rail line; they have also destroyed any hope we had of improving our environment.
What could have been a safe, profitable, and environmentally friendly means of transportation is gone. We leave our children the legacy of hundreds of trucks congesting our highways and polluting our air. Future generations will not understand how we allowed this to happen.
We in the labour movement, along with concerned citizens and businessmen, struggled unsuccessfully to save our rail lines. It is small consolation that we fought many battles. In the end, we lost the war.
Have a good nite all and stay safe!
Fergie
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959
If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007
Good evening again!
Hi Leon, let me have the Filet Mignon with mushrooms! Yes, baked potatoe and a cold Keith's, please.
I can hear that the track gang is in the back celebrating the start of the Oktoberfest at Mentor Village! Quite a few people and among them is the brunette, I promised to take her to Mentor Village after I am done with my steak!
Tom – Black hair girls are brunettes in my world! The #2727 was built 1944. Did they have that kind of headlights then? I don’t know but I have a feeling they did not. Maybe Shane knows?Spokane, Portland & Seattle! Kind of unknown railroad for me.Thanks for the photos from MoT! The picture of Barrett Station reminds me, I never had anything to eat or drink there. Next time!CM3 – So I am asking you, did that kind of headlights (like the one on #2727) excist in 1944? Frost on the car? Wow, I feel sorry for you! Have you ever considered moving to the southwest? Yes, we had only 93˚ today but we will probably hit 100 again next week. Allan – The spring is the best time of the year! Especially if you live in a place where the winters are cold and snowy! I guess you also have some migrating birds coming back. Fergie – Hello Gypsy! A most interesting story on the Halifax and Southwestern Railway! Both on how it was started and the end of it plus the bad accidents, especially the one ivolving train #5 with too little braking power. What a feeling as an engineer to realize that your braking power is not sufficient! I have saved a copy of this story! Thanks! Here is the answer to the quiz!
These flangeless drivers are sitting on this locomotive:
A very poor picture of Baltimore & Ohio Railroad #173, a "Camel" design. Can now be seen at the Museum of Transportation at Kirkwood, MO. It was impossible to get a good picture of this locomotive.
Good evening Leon, a stein of Carlsburg if you don't mind oh and what the heck top up those who are still able to see straight out of at least one eye. Good to see some regular action over the day today thanks guys
Tom- A good day and evening today concidering the absences etc Nice to see the SP&S piece again.More good pics from the MOT as well.That was an interesting looking turntable,the Panama canal locomotive looked uniques as well.From the looks of it I'm guessing it was an electric of some type.
Nice to see the satff in full Oktoberfest regalia,H&H's leather lederhosen are still hard to gaze upon while sober though ( should increase beer sales though )
The RCAF museum is well done in all respects,quite a few roses lying about.Last Saturday was their anual dedication ceremony for new stones along the memorial walkways.I'll be attending next eyasr as we are having one placed for my uncle ( now deceased ) who was a CF100 and CF104 pilot in Germany, and later when he was too old to fly jet fighters he flew Hercules transports out of CFB Trenton.
Shane-Good to hear that they have you back where you belong at work Nice to know that the roving reporter is starting to entrnch himself a top Mount Mentor. The Mentor Oktoberfest is agood warm up for the darts match.
You are correct about the Halifax. According to the lead restorer who we chatted with while we are there and confirmed by the dedication ceremony DVD we purchased. This Halifax is the only one left in the world that is remotly complete.There are noses and tails and such displayed heer and theer but this is the only complete bird. It won't fly again though as it's airframe was too badly damaged by it's shooting down and subsquent ditching. Not the mention it's 60 years of being on the bottom of a lake.Also the uniques slide valve radials are not available anymore.they were luckey in that all four original engines came up with the wreckage
Eric-I don't have the name of the Lake readily available ( it was unpronouncable ) if that helps Great photo of the snow and the x2000 " award ceremony ".Nice shot of the blimp,my understanding is that the Orange County Museum has three of them two are operational.
Allan-The layout of that musuem is wonderfull. Most of the major Squadrons have set up various cairns around the property.It's one of those has to be seen museum's.
Fergie-More shots will be forth comming Great info on the CN in Halifax,a long but good read but oh so typical of the waning of passenger services in Canada and right on topic too.
Hey Leon another top up as the party seems to be in full swing in the pool room,Boris is supervising ( he will physically toss the first fighters ) and H&H are standing ready for full triage work So sounds like a perfect time for another Carlsburg
Eric-Back in with more stuff for us. Interesting loco that B&O unit , I wouldn't have guessed that one in a million years. No wonder you couldn't get a good shot , just a ton of stuff stored on or near it
Lets see as promissed a few more shots from Goderich and the RCAF museum.
A CF100 in the AVRO Canada trials paint schme used before acceptance into the RCAF and Belgian airforces.First jet fighter my uncle Don flew were the CF100 Canuck.
A CF104 N starfighter built by Canadair of Montreal.Painted in 424 squdron markings from when the squadron was based in Baden Baden. Second and last fighter type my uncle Don flew.
A T33 Silver Star ( A Canadian built F86 Shooting Star ) in 426 Red Indian Squdron Markings,these are still in service as trainers and Electronic warfare simulators.
A mix of Rail Link power by the Goderich Station including the two F7's ( ex CPR ) that were formerly used on their Timber Train in Temiskaming Ontario.
Couple more Ex GEXR Geeps in various states of repair/canibalization.
Another CN plow at the ready , this one in the yard in front of Stratfords VIA station.
Yes, it is Saturday at our Bar by the Ballast ‘n a good time to kick back with a hot mugga Joe, some pastries ‘n an order from our Menu Board featuring <light> ‘n <traditional> breakfasts.
Had a SCARE this day when opening up. Noticed that there was a "data dump" deposited with us - a throwback to days <daze> at "Our" Place when some thought QUANTITY was the idea, whereas we've been stressing QUALITY for years. Plus at the last couple of iterations of "Our" Place, the move has been to FOTOS w/narratives or just plain chat preferably of the inclusive kind.
Remember, Gents - there is NO rush to be LOCKED again, as we amass these Pages in haste . . . the LOCKMASTER lurks! <uh oh>
Given it's Saturday 'n Pete's gone . . . this could be "it" for the daytime.
Friday - October 3rd <all times Central daylite>:
Page 29 - CM3 Shane <coalminer3> at 9 AM <10 AM EDT>: And a good start was had with the arrival of our Resident WVA Connection!
I see the BoSox have jumped to what appears to be a route of the Angels of Anaheim <some call Los Angeles- HA!>. Appears the Chicago teams are finding themselves with their collective backs up against the wall <Ivy for the lil' bears> . . . I still think it would be interesting to see Joe Torre's Dodgers take on those Bahstun Sox if for no other reason than to witness <via the tube> Manny's reception at Fenway. Yeah, that would be worth it. Plus, I'm a HUGE Joe Torre fan - he was pretty much run out of town <St. Louis> by the media when his Cardinals teams failed to bring home the bacon. Hmmmmmmm. Seems there was a bit of success with the Yankees . . . Hmmmmmmm. But, what do I know For what it's worth - I've been unable to root for the Dodgers since they abandoned Brooklyn! So, it could be a World Series where I really could care less . . .
Don't quite know what it IS with pro-sports teams having to open up in lands far from home. Ah yes, it's ALL ABOUT THE MONEY! <barf>
Thanx for the inclusive comments, ROUND ‘n quarters!
Page 30 - Eric <EricX2000> at 2:03 PM ‘n 7:31 PM <12:03 PM ‘n 5:31 PM Sandbox time>: A long time between customers ‘n it was YOU both times!
Yeah, just what a guy needs to hang on his "I love me wall" - a burned out resistor of the HUGE kind! <grin>
Am I "sensing" some "attraction" between our Sandman ‘n Ruth our red haired beauty behind the bar Hmmmmmmmm. Will Lars EVER know Hmmmmmmm. Can Eric run fast enough! <yikes>
Always liked that Interurban shot of yours!
Not to worry ‘bout the sauerkraut, "Our" Place is NOT participating in the Oktoberfest, aside from letting Mentor Village use our Big Tent in the back, plus providing some libations for the throngs. The "dress up" by our crew is simply OP-SHUN-UL . . .
As always, thanx for your good cheer, inclusiveness of comments, fotos ‘n ROUND!
Page 30 - Allan <Gunneral> at 8:03 PM <2:03 PM Saturday NZ DST>: Any time our Resident Downunder Boom-boom Kiwi shows up is a good day at the bar! Always a pleasure, Mate!
Your bride has good taste in female singers! <grin>
As you are witnessing signs of new life in trees ‘n shrubs, we're beginning to see the turning of leaves as fall takes hold. With the super-wet year we've had, it's gonna be a tad late for the brilliance - but when it comes, it should be breathtaking, fer sure, fer sure. LUV this time of year - LUV it!
Yeah, my Doc asked how I'm doing with watching this ‘n that. I told him I'm being careful, but living my life as I see fit ‘n plan to continue on that way. He smiled ‘n said, "It must be working, for you're doing fine." Ha! I'm only doing fine thanx to the chemical industry <aka: pharamacy> given the number of pills I must swallow 3 times a day. Yeah, I'm doing really well. Ha! <grin>
Do appreciate your taking in what the crew offers up at the bar. Means a lot to know that it isn't just being "thrown out" into the Ether . . .
Thanx for the visit, chat ‘n ROUND!
Page 30 - Fergie <Fergmiester> at 9:12 PM <11:12 PM ADT>: Back to the ways of selective recognition along with a "twist" - far too long ‘n lengthy piece <which I'll have to get A-ROUNDTUIT to digest>! <yikes>
Not to worry, I'll not make THAT mistake again in thinking that you're a Regular!
Nite out with the Mrs. and that's what you came up with Hmmmmm. <grin>
Do thank you for thinking of us <I think>!
Page 30 - Eric <EricX2000> at 11:47 PM <9:47 PM Sandbox time>: Back again for a nite-cap I see!
I NEVER wudda guessed what loco those flangeless drivers came from - NEVER! Thanx . . . I think! <grin>
Black is black, brunette is NOT! <geesh>
Regarding the headlight discussion - as I said, perhaps the light is the last one used before that loco went into retirement as opposed to being the original. I'm doubtful we're going to find out . . . but something to ponder, eh
Ah, Mentor Village after dark is a most exciting place for a man ‘n his woman to stroll about. <snore>
Your endorsement of that "thing" provided by Fergie makes me want to read it - but not this morning - far too much going on ‘round here ‘n time is fleeting, at the moment. Pehaps later . . . Had one of our mowers bite the dust yesterday - seized up 'n popped a seal at the same time. What a mess . . . gonna get a replacement either today or Monday. Fortunately, we have an older one that I keep for "back up" - started right up.
Frost on cars is a rarity for us - we keep ‘em in the GARAGE! <grin>
Yes, the ooooooompah music coming from the Big Tent does have a festive ring to it, eh Always liked the festival, ‘n it's a shame we no longer host Oktoberfest. Perhaps another time . . .
Tip of the cap to ya, Mate for the support shown in keeping "Our" Place a vibrant place for those who enjoy the things we do ‘round here AND the way we do ‘em! ROUND helps a whole lot too!
Saturday - October 4th:
Page 30 - Rob <trolleyboy> at 12:07 AM ‘n 12:25 AM <1:07 AM ‘n 1:25 AM EDT>: Our Manager turned up at the wee hours once again, in his Count Robulla outfit with another spate of airplane ‘n train shots along with some fine chat of the inclusive kind!
Geeps look good - from a distance. Sad to know they are being "eaten" . . .
I think the "party" in our pool room has more to do with the weekly "tournament" of the track gangs as opposed to anything else. H&H, our ace medical staff <yikes> has indeed established a triage - but their idea of it is a wee bit different from anything I've ever encountered. Pouring pitchers of brew into the wound, followed by a belt of hard stuff <that THEY consume> is hardly something Florence Nightingale came up with. <yikes>
Enjoyed your foto spate, visits ‘n chat - thanx for taking the time ‘n making the effort!
Reminder: Cindy has the bar from 9 AM until Leon the Night Man comes in at 5 PM ‘til closing.
Good afternoon Captain Tom and all present!!
Cindy, glad you are here! Yes, I would like #2, please! No, not super sized, just regular!
Not too many here this time of the day. Guess some went to Mentor Village already! Took a picture late last night at the Mentor Village Station but not many wanted to leave town with the last train.
Rob – I’ll ty to find out the name of that lake in Norway, shouldn’t be to hard. I don’t know how many blimps they have at the Orange Empire Museum that are operational. I’ll try to find out that too. That will keep me busy for a little while! Thanks for the photos from the RCAF museum! The Starfighter is one of my old favorites! Are the locomotives shown in your photos from the Goderich Station still in use? I understand that some of them are not. Tom – Ruth? What do you mean? All I can say is that my high school love was red haired. I can run pretty fast!I think the headlight on #2727 is not the one it had in 1944. I think the old light was replaced by the present one in the 50’s. My guess.Yes, I think you should read that article Fergie posted. Interesting!!
Some random photos.
Boris has started the barbeque grill behind Our Place. Maybe he used too much diesel fuel to get it going?
North Freedom, WI.
Hopper truck.
Brake equipment.
Good to see Eric has visited during our daylite on this festive Saturday in Can-Am County! That's some "barbeque" that Boris has going - looks like a 3-alarm-er to me! <yikes>
Terrific shot of the Mountain Village rail depot - I remember you taking fotos in the dark! <grin> More comments in my next round of Acknowledgments . . .
Aprpeciate the good cheer, Eric - thanx for keeping things going, which of course "enables" me to provide THIS:
Another spate of RANDOM FOTOS from my Rail trips ‘n Rendezvous attended:
(1) Freight ops at Brantford, ON while waiting for Toronto-bound VIA Rail <Rendezvous I>
(2) VIA Rail station Halifax <2007 Canada Rail Adventure w/Pete>
(3) Southbound "Coastal Classic" at Anchorage <2006 Alaska Rail Adventure>
(4) "Landmark" building mural - now a Sheraton Hotel downtown St. Louis <Rendezvous II>
(5) Pete ‘n Tom icebound at home w/Juneau <after Chicago trip - Jan 2007>
(6) From the northbound Chaleur en route Gaspé <2008 Canada Rail Adventure>
Enjoy the weekend!
Well Guten aben mein Leibchen (or something like that) ,just place a bookmark whilst I peruse the offerings,---Leon Let us celebrate the turning of the seasons with litre steins of splendid Bavarian & Bohemian (in the geographical sense) ales-slipped in through the back door and through the pool room-delighted to see the track gang celebrating Oktoberfest with their traditional obscure,faintly insanitary and possibly illegal rituals-at least Boris was having a whale of a time
Right-well as the weather is entirely failing to behave ( 4" of rain due by tomorrow night and a significant down payment already made.....) how about a couple of `sunshine `pix whilst we are waiting....
img{}/img
Here we have Prince of Wales running around the morning service at Aberystwyth,just prior to going off to the shed for fuel & water-the platform area is the former bay for the Aber-Carmarthen std gauge line
Another summers day-this time on the North-West Somerset coast--West Somerset Rly,
Back in Wales-Llanberis this time (the village at the base of Snowdon) -an early morning shot from down the line and a passing shot of the incline to the first Quarry level
O.K:-to business-back in a bit,
Well here we are again-and seized by the spirit of the Landlord of the 3 Horseshoes,Llangwm ( and as a respite from the noise made by the hooligans from the rugby club making their somewhat loud and wobbly way home) ,might I be permitted to stand a round for the house ?-oh my,the rain has just started again and how-bouncing off the pavement....
O.K:- to business
ROB-no need to apologise-family is IMPORTANT-and you can`t beat a home-cooked meal and a bed for the night -Looks like a fine day out at the museum-had no idea there were any Halifax`s left-now-what does AVRO Manchester do for you ?????--appreciate that the Halifax was the precursor of the Lanc in many ways and the `colonial & commonwealth` squadrons got them whilst the `home` squadrons got the brand new Lanc`s-a debate for another day I fear.......thanks for kind words R.E layout progress-has been a good summer-much of it invisible-(Wiring and stuff) but successful.....Was an interesting feature in recent M.R about trolley lines-dont know if you caught it-worth a look...B.T.W-pix of memorials-good work mate -they did,so we wouldn`t have to---respect
ERIC-Yes it would seem my house was once the village pub-Love it -in fairness it has served as an after hours venue for many years-was pleasantly suprised to find it marked as such on the 1843 O.S map----Now then-you may have the time but not the space for a layout-how much space do you have available ?-Nicks instant plan service has the layout for YOU.................
TOM-How ya doin mate ? -glad to hear you have the green light from the docs`--(always a worry I know..)-So then-Vintage train rides-does this mean we could be seeing the old green & black cars with some old time power...???
Suprised at you not noting the multiples of 12--360 degrees-as a life long seafarer-believe it was the Greeks that sorted that one out-long before the Romans got on the scene-anyway-its suprising the things you take as read without looking further
Now Horseshoes-there is a different thing again-is down to Celtic mysticism-the tradition is that the `little people`-the fairies,pixies (corruption of Picts-the original Britons) were scared of iron (as well they might be-their weapons were made of bronze-didnt hold up to iron swords) and the legend developed that they would steal your babies unless you protected your house with an Iron horseshoe above the door......
All of this was working quite nicely until the Roman Legions turned up in 54 B.C and kicked the living *** out of everybody until they toed the party line.........
Anyway-the belief persists that a Horseshoe above the door will bring luck to a house.....
Also-the village Blacksmith ( as a worker of iron) would be both respected and feared-see references to VULCAN-the lame smith of the old gods-so valued by the community that they would break his legs so he couldn`t escape to another village-another great gig...........
All of this aside:- would be great to host you over here-check out some of the great Welsh slim gauge lines,drink some beer,cook you some meals you wouldn`t find anywhere else,drink some rum,brandy,whisky etc-run a session on the S.o.B lines,then check out your home town ---One day my friend-one day..............
SHANE-I feel the Landlords mantle gradually settling on my shoulders-is obviously destined to be given the amount of my life spent serving beer to idiots...I too use cast off`s of roof flashing for car ballast-its free and it works-you can keep the weight low down in the car..
ERIC-A grand ceremony of the `burned resistor ` award-I trust that a speech was given.......
Love the pic of P/E#314-there is a train with a `face`-......
TOM-What is that Panama canal engine all about-we need to know dear boy-you cant just plant that and run.......
ALLAN-What ho mate- bit of a poor weekend for the north-the Falcons gave a good display against the Dragons but they were overrun at the end-such is lfe-the Dragons have had a mauling from the Irish clubs so far ( go Munster..!!) but it`s now time for the E.D.F cup
FERGIE-An excellent read mate-full marks -got more to say but the drink has me.....good luck with the trackwork..........
O.K gents-this is me for the early rickshaw home-may your dreams be sweet and your problems few-speak soon
<personal foto from ExpoRail>
I see Nick has made it "in" with a two-fer to entertain our nite crew 'n staff on this Saturday!
Saving the "meat" for my AM Acknowledgments . . . I'll just offer a snippet here 'n there to a most enjoyable set of Posts!
Fine foto spates - as always!
Hoping Pete got your fone number - I didn't receive a call-back from his bride AND the Wolfman's cell fone was OFF. Had to leave a message . . .
Of course I knew about the multiple of 12 in the most general of terms - just didn't think of it when factoring in the Earth's cirumference. <geesh>
Panana Canal lock-towing locomotives best explained within the sign - just "click" the foto to enlarge!
Oh yeah, those Oktoberfest vintage train rides feature steam locomotives hauling some fine heavyweights of the "back in the day" kind.
Many thanx for the enlightenment regarding the "horseshoe" over the door! Lots in that explanation to sock away in my grey matter for future use!
And that will just about do it for me - I'm zonked. Tuff day in the yard doing those things that mount up over the warmer months that ONLY can be taken care of as the temps cool. And I did 'em 'n am paying for it! <groan>
Have a fine weekend, Nick 'n remainder of our <GoR>!
Leon, the usual round of Tui`s for all the guys` please.
Fergie. A very interesting write up on the Canadian National`s Halifax and Southwestern Rly.
Rob. It would be great to visit the RCAF museum, will have another visit to it`s web site and have a look around. Another fine lot of pix of the planes and more pix from your Goderich trip.
Nick. A fine set of Welsh Rly pix from Aberystwyth and Llanberis and the North Somerset Rly collage. Looks as if the Falcons will have to do without Wilko again with his latest injury last week.
Eric. Some of the migrating birds we get down here travel from as far away as Siberia. The only negative about spring is having to take the lawn mower out of it`s layover and start mowing the lawns again. Some fine pix of the Mentor Village station at night and that set of random shots.
Tom. It`s much the same for me as far as the pills go, although I only take mine twice a day, see the Doc every 3 months too. A fine selection of Random Fotos` from your Rail Trips and Rendezvous, a nice shot of you, Pete, and Juneau at your place.
Good evening Leon , I trust that you are surviving the throngs of drunken Mentorites , no Boris not Meterorites you can take the viking helmet off <sheesh>Anyway a stein of Carlsburg sir and set up a round for the rest of the gang.
Tom-Good to no you've been given another three months or million miles whatever comes first that should make Cindy happy as well.Great random photo's today,love the shot of the Alaska loco,I do love that paint scheme.
We did our museum members night with a steak and corn bar-b-q and corn roast.It was well attended capped it off with some night runs down the line,along with some vintage colour 8mm films of the TTC in the late 50's early 60's.All in all a good night,nice to see the new display barn almost up as well,twenty years of fund raising and there it almost is
I too have given up trying to decifer H&H's medical skills,at least I pursuaded them that the bone saws and civil warfeild medicine guide need not be operated by them.
Eric-I'd love to know the name of that Lake, shouldn't be too hard to find,the Halifax being dredged out was CBC news worthy.
As to the loco's in Goderich I'd say about half are spare parts a qaurter are stored servicable the other quarter they use and then they have brought in a bunch of leased six axle power.
I've no doubt that you can out run Lars, but can you out run the buckshot best leave his red head alone. <uh oh >
I've always liked the Starfighter as well , not teh most attractive fighter plane,certainly not the safest one to fly,but there were a lot of Airforces that were equipped with them.I have some familial attachment to them as well.Although I do remeber my uncle Don not particularly enjoying flying them.Indeed there is a Cairn at the msueum dedicated to the 120 personal killed while they were operational in Canada from 1962-84.I was shocked by that number as I knew the plane had the reputation to be a widow maker but that memeorial stone hit home.
Nick-Couple great shots. Steam engines are always wanted and drooled over here at the bar by the ballast.
The Manchester was I thought a wonderfull looking bomber,if it wasn't for it the Lancaster would not have come about,seeing as they were essentially the same plane.Yes indeed the Halifax's equiped most of the Dominion air forces , more Canadians served in them than on Lancs,however more Lancs were built in Canada than in England funny how that works out.
Allan-Glad you've been enjoying the photo's.I'm glad that you found the museum's web site,they have a well put together museum,I feel that you would enjoy it should you ever be able to get over and see it in person.
Okay Leon another round if you don't mind. I'll drop off a few more random shots before I sign off for the day.
A MLW M420 on a train in Welland Ontario (1994) a year or so before it and it's sisters were retired.
A "2000" shot of Amtrak P42 on the Niagara Rainbow train seen at the St Catharines Ontario VIA station.
A mixed bag of power in GO's Guelph jct yard in the early 90's. F7APCU's an F40 ( gone from the roster now ) along with a CP RS18 in the background.
One of the new GO engines at the Aldershot Station
enjoy
Good evening Captain Tom and all present!!
Leon, just give me a cold Tui, please!
I and the brunette spent the evening at Mentor Village participating in the Oktoberfest! That was something else! Yes, she was there too!
Tom – Hope you have recovered from your tough day in the yard! You have to be careful! Nice collection of photos! Including the one of Juneau (and some people)! The light house en route to Gaspé looks kind of almost freezing. Nick – 4” of rain! I am glad I’m not there. Depressing, isn’t it? But at least you don’t have to showel it, like snow. Strange looking (it’s too small!) diesel engine, No 57, in your photo! Is it some kind of 1/2 scale locomotive? Nice pictures!Right now I don’t have any space at all for a layout. But, as I mentioned the other day, I have some plans that may give me some space in a year or so. I short speech was given when the resistor was awarded to Per! Allan – Birds from Siberia? That is a long flight! I know exactly what you mean about having to take the lawn mower out of the shed. We have a kind of grass that doesn’t grow until it is at least 80˚F so we don’t have to mow the lawn in the winter.Rob – I found the name of the lake where the Halifax bomber crashed. It is Mjøsa (in Norwegian) or Mjösa (in Swedish). You’ll find the lake at the point of the arrow on the map below. Wikipedia had this information:The other Halifax, NA337 of No. 644 Squadron RAF at Tarrant Rushton, was retrieved from the bottom of Lake Mjøsa in Norway in 1995 after being shot down in April 1945. It was brought back to Canada and restoration was completed in 2005. NA337 is a Halifax A Mk VII Special Duties aircraft built by Rootes Motors, Liverpool and resides at RCAF Memorial Museum at CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario, near Kingston, Ontario.You can read the information on the Halifax bombers on this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handley_Page_HalifaxQuite a few people died flying the Starfighter!! I didn’t know it had that kind of reputation.
Seattle, WA.
Good Morning Captain Tom and Crew
Realizing this is Sunday Morn and we normally don't wake the dead,as we is closed! hopefully ( I dare say it) Our Master at Arms will take exception...
Yes today is our Chief Benefactors 213th Birthday No I am not talking about Tom
Gentlemen! I give you
Alexander Keith
Here's a link to the Grand Master himself!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Keith_(brewer)
Those who Like it. Like it alot!!!
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter