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Classic Railroad Quiz (at least 50 years old).

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Posted by Miningman on Thursday, August 3, 2017 4:23 PM

RME- You are right on with the answer..Class of '44 it is. Nice, Congrats.

As to why the colour scheme, it is likely they consulted or asked some model railroad fellow and made up something that was not an infringement on a copyright. Who knows, maybe orange paint was handy dandy, CN would have had a lot of it around. 

The movie was a bit of dud. 

RME
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Posted by RME on Thursday, August 3, 2017 12:50 PM

The movie is "The Class of '44" which was supposed to be the sequel to 'Summer of '42'.  Made in 1973.  The "B-unit" is a steam heat car. 

Notable is that the other side of the locomotive still has the zebra stripes!  Only the part 'needed' in the shot, which is apparently right at the end of the film, was custom painted. 

I'd be highly interested in finding out how this particular color scheme and striping was chosen!

Here is the IMDB page for the movie.

Good find!  Sorry I'm on the road and not able to watch for things like this.  Let's see what develops for NP Eddie's question...

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Posted by NP Eddie on Thursday, August 3, 2017 9:44 AM

ALL:

The main idea in this forum is for people to research and discuss obsecure items. I enjoy meeting new found railfans.

My questions are:

The GN used NP rails from Northtown to Coon Creek. A GN train from Northtown to Coon Creek was carded as westbound to the Creek and then became eastbound once on GN tracks. Why? Similarily on the NP Skally line, a train running from White Bear Lake to St. Paul was westbound and from St. Paul to White Bear Lake and points north was eastbound. Why?

Do your research and have fun doing it.

Ed Burns

Happily retired NP-BN-BNSF from Northtown. 

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Posted by Miningman on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 7:19 PM

As Saul Goodman says " s'all good man".

Next time I go on vay-cay I'm leaving the electropic gadgets at home.

The larger issue is that we are down to a very very few participants in the Classic Quiz. 

We are stuck in a Morbious Loop and a very narrow range of questions. 

Perhaps that is turning people away. 

Took NDG's advice and went on to Sudbury. The CPR station downtown was a busy place when I was there in the early 70's. Now The Canadian comes through some woe begone thing way the heck out of town. 

Now if I can safely pass by the Casinos without the temptation I shall be in Southern Ontario tonight. A few days bugging old friends and old relatives and then Stateside. 

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Posted by SD70M-2Dude on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 2:52 PM

I don't think it's too difficult, and was able to find the answer but I just asked a question so it's someone else's turn. 

Unfortunately neither side will be able change the other's opinion on the other thread but we (myself included) find it so tempting and frustrating that we continue to Bang HeadBang HeadBang Head

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by Miningman on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 1:04 PM

No replies to the "what movie was it?" regarding the mocked up NYNH&H units in Toronto!

Instead of everyone posturing endlessly over Climate Change and personal attacks on each other how about participating in the Classic Quiz and learn something railroad-ey that you never knew before. 

I don't think this is too difficult to find but will post the answer tonight.

Also...the PGE Mikes of 1947, see above previous post with picture,  are these the last Mikes built in North America? Any one know? 

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Posted by Miningman on Monday, July 31, 2017 1:41 AM

Just to backtrack a wee bit, re the Pacific Great Eastern

Found this. 1947! New order from CLC, Kingston. These must be among the last Mikados ever ordered by anyone in North America.

163 last PGE steam locomotive part of two engine order. CLC 2409 October 1947. CLC photo. 
Cyl. 20" x 30" Drv. 57" Press. 225 lbs. t.e. 40,300 tender same as first order.

 

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Posted by Miningman on Sunday, July 30, 2017 11:40 AM

Dave and all- Well yes, that has been established. 

The question is " What is the name of the made for TV movie" these were painted up for. 

I have checked and found clips. 

Hint- movie centers right around the time Dave's generation was coming of age. 

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Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, July 30, 2017 4:06 AM

This was never a New Haven paint scheme, and the New Haven never owned an FL-9 B Unit.  The only EMD cab units the New Haven ever owned were FL-9 A-units with the McGinnis paint scheme.

These are not New Haven locomotives.  They are pseudo New Haven lcomotives for some TV or Cinema caper.

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Posted by Miningman on Sunday, July 30, 2017 1:55 AM

Have read that the CN lease of BCR is for 640 years or something like that, renewable every 15 years. Also that if CN "abandons" a line it goes back to the province BUT ..CN can buy it back for one dollar! I don't know details but it's something along those lines. It's an eye opener!

OK.. will try this. 

Now just what in the heck is the NYNH&H doing in Toronto? 

I can tell you the locomotives were not sold to any Canadian Road. 

 

So what is this all about?  Ever seen a New Haven diesel in Canada?

Here is "proof". 

OH GEEZ!....have to modify my question as the answer is in the photograph and I cannot edit it out! 

So PartII- What was the name of the made for TV movie these went to Toronto

Super bonus if anyone can find a clip!.

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Posted by SD70M-2Dude on Sunday, July 30, 2017 1:30 AM

Miningman

1) Province's Great Expense

2) Prince George Eventually

3) Please Go Easy

4) Past God's Endurance

I have seen others, but those four are the ones I expected. 

The full story of the BC Rail sale/lease will probably never be revealed, but there certainly was a lot of under-the-table clandestine stuff.  Fortunately it did wind up being a lease, as CN has repeatedly explored abandoning the mountainous line north of Squamish, potentially all the way to Exeter on account of the heavy grades, tough terrain & weather and lack of local traffic (KVR all over again).  I suspect the only reason that line remains intact is the clause in the lease agreement which requires the entire property to be handed back to the Province in good condition.  The same goes for the remote Dease Lake line (Takla subdivision), which carried mainly logs during its operating eras and has seen no trains since 2008, but remains in the timetable as an 'active' line. 

Deggesty's musings reminded me that there once were serious proposals to Vancouver Island to the mainland, at one time Victoria was proposed to be the CPR's Pacific terminus, with the line crossing over by island-hopping on bridges north of where Campbell River is now.

Anyway the torch passes to Miningman (or whomever he hands it off to), and it seems like pretty much every railroad got slapped with at least one bad nickname, right up to today.

Crash Spill eXplode is my personal favourite, although Certainly No Rush is up there too.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by Firelock76 on Saturday, July 29, 2017 5:20 PM

Not unusual for railroads to get nick-names based on their initials.  Here in Richmond VA the RF&P, the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac was once called the "Relatives, Friends and Parents" since jobs on the 'road were so prized and hard to get you had to know someone who worked there before you could get hired yourself!

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Posted by Deggesty on Saturday, July 29, 2017 10:12 AM

Yes, I did mean North Vancouver.

Johnny

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Saturday, July 29, 2017 10:07 AM

I presume you meant Vancouver.  It would be a bit difficult to build a line to Victoria.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by Deggesty on Friday, July 28, 2017 3:16 PM

I really enjoyed the cartoons that were publishe in Trains at time when plans were being made to build it up to Prince George and down to Victoria.

Johnny

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Posted by Miningman on Friday, July 28, 2017 2:30 PM

The Railroad in question is the Pacific Great Eastern.

aka

1) Province's Great Expense

2) Prince George Eventually

3) Please Go Easy

4) Past God's Endurance

Quite a convoluted tale of political shenanigans and $$$'s That really never ended. 

Still sort of continues on today with the deal for the CN lease, which is incredible really. 

Loved the Caribou logo within the circle. 

Maybe I can come up with a question tonight but travelling to Thunder Bay and not sure. Anyone is free to jump in. 

Using Timmies wi-fi at the moment, SD70M-2 Dude trick. 

PS- Lots of wealthy retired Mining Executives and Geologists here in Kenora, it's their preferred and chosen spot. As to why I'm not in their ranks, well..don't ask!

 

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Posted by Deggesty on Friday, July 28, 2017 10:43 AM

I recall the Prince George Eventually.

Johnny

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Friday, July 28, 2017 10:34 AM

Please Go Easy, Province's Greatest Expense are two of them.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by SD70M-2Dude on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 9:26 PM

Guess I should ask a question now eh?  This one should be pretty easy but it's all I got.

A ambitously-named railroad was started in the early 1900s with the intention of becoming a connecting segment of a transcontinental system, but the money ran out before any connections were achieved.  This failure led to the locals coming up with numerous disparaging nicknames for the line, using the intials of the actual name.  Name four of the nicknames.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by rcdrye on Monday, July 24, 2017 7:00 AM

Pretty sure the DH-2 a Voith transmission, similar to the type use more or less successfully on DB and BR in Europe, and later on the K-M and Alco diesel-hydraulics.  I don't think EMD engineers respected the torque curve for the 567, resulting in a sluggish start with a tendency to overheat the transmission.

I'm sure the bolster was offest for those "Maximum Traction" trucks on the DH-1.

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Posted by SD70M-2Dude on Monday, July 24, 2017 2:10 AM

RME

I have my suspicions what some of the issues were...

Do tell.  Great photos too

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by RME on Monday, July 24, 2017 1:57 AM

Exactly so.

EMD had diesel-hydraulic experimental locomotives considerably earlier than GMD.  This is the reason you see "GMDH-1" instead of just DH-1 for the locomotive type miningman cited: the locomotive with the different-sized wheelsets was EMD's "DH-1", from 1951.  This had Allison transmissions driving just the outer sets, with the inners as idlers, like an inside-out RDC.

The second locomotive was intended as a full switcher replacement, and is DH-2 (but note, not GMDH-2).  Here are a couple of 'better' pictures:

Note the early use of Flexicoil-style trucks, and the evidence that a 'standard' 900hp 567 was used as the powerplant.  Note also that EMD is promoting 'hydraulic drive' in the display.  I am still looking for a 'free' version of the technical descriptions of this transmission.

Pictures of this locomotive are relatively rare, because (as I understand it) after the demonstration runs were complete locomotive 105 was rather promptly converted back to diesel-electric, and then used at EMD as a plant switcher.  Between those two pieces of information, it's pretty clear that the approach that was used Did Not Work Very Well.  (I have my suspicions what some of the issues were...)

Note the tell-tale truck swap.

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Posted by SD70M-2Dude on Monday, July 24, 2017 1:36 AM

RME

Now tell me how the engine in the 'other' link differs from a SW-8...

Hydraulic transmission instead of a main generator and traction motors.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

RME
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Posted by RME on Monday, July 24, 2017 1:15 AM

SD70M-2Dude
Those trucks sure look funny, am I seeing things or is one wheel smaller than the other?

Good eye!  (And the small wheels have no power to them, either).

Now tell me how the engine in the 'other' link differs from a SW-8...

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Posted by Miningman on Monday, July 24, 2017 1:03 AM

Well half a loaf does have 3 axles so maybe! There may not be a -2. 

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Posted by SD70M-2Dude on Monday, July 24, 2017 12:33 AM

RME

And what about this?

Those trucks sure look funny, am I seeing things or is one wheel smaller than the other?  Since your link went to a "DH2" reference my wild guess is that this is a DH1 (gotta have 1 before 2, but apparently not 2 before 3...).

On another note, could the GMDH-3 have been named for its 3 axles?

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by SD70M-2Dude on Monday, July 24, 2017 12:29 AM

RME

That's the second GMDH-1, the one that subsequently went to South America.  Unless I am mistaken, these locomotives used the same class of prime mover that is in the RDCs, 6-110.

Another is still in regular use out my way, at the Kaybob gas plant near Fox Creek, AB (150 miles northwest of Edmonton).  As the video notes it has been repowered, but I can't remember what engine type offhand.  I do know the traveling mechanics who service it though, and will ask next time I see one of them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMJcbwReQvw

And great to see the quiz has been restarted!  Although I am not a frequent poster on the quiz threads I always read them, and have learned a lot from the expert-level questions.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

RME
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Posted by RME on Sunday, July 23, 2017 11:51 PM

Miningman
As regarding your photo it looks like Baldwin built the front end !...nice cab too!

Hint: it is related to this:

 

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Posted by Miningman on Sunday, July 23, 2017 11:19 PM

600 GMDH-1 A1713 9/1958 600 hp hydraulic unit testing/demonstrating on St.Marys Sub. in 1958. 
Bill Thomson 

Eventually sold 5/1962 to Federal Railways of Brazil. No other 600 hp units were built aside from 1001.

H means Hydraulic!  I don't know what a GMDH-2 is either. So good question!

As regarding your photo it looks like Baldwin built the front end !...nice cab too! 

RME
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Posted by RME on Sunday, July 23, 2017 10:46 PM

That's the second GMDH-1, the one that subsequently went to South America.  Unless I am mistaken, these locomotives used the same class of prime mover that is in the RDCs, 6-110.

One of the four is now 5'6" gauge!

There's also a GMDH-3, which is 'half a loaf' for the critter crowd, with an 8V-71 -- interesting, because RDC repowers with Detroits were apparently generally considered underpowered failures:

I have no idea whatsoever why there was no GMDH-2.  Someone here will know, so let's ask that next.

And what about this?

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