Thank You.
Great story about Roscoe Turner. The fellow "saw it all" in aviation, tremendous advancements.
Here's another picture of 100% CPR equipment everywhere you look. Schrieber is on the Algoma Division around Lake Superior on the CPR.
The real authentic Canadian at the station. Equipment, cars and loco's all about.
Now I have heard of Gilmore. They were the major corporate sponsor of "Golden Age of Aviation" racing pilot Roscoe Turner. Roscoe even flew around with a pet lion cub named Gilmore!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roscoe_Turner
What a cool guy! There were giants on the earth (and over it) in those days!
No but there was this ...talk about a Tiger in your tank, how about the British Lion!
Miningman Firelock'76 ...There sure was! Ask and you shall receive!
Firelock'76 ...There sure was! Ask and you shall receive!
Wow, I had to pick myself up off the floor after seeing that!
Looks like the "Wars Of The Roses" crossed the Atlantic and started up again in Canada!
Now this may be asking TOO much, but did someone come up with a pink Tudor rose brand of gasolene?
That "Supertest" logo is one of the best looking gasolene company logos I've ever seen, just gorgeous!
Is anyone as suprised as I am that what's called "petroliana", that is gas station collectables, are as hot as they are right now? Maybe I shouldn't be, it's all fueled (no pun intended) by nostalgia.
That "White Rose" gasolene logo is pretty nice as well. Was there a "Red Rose" gasolene for the House of Lancaster adherents?
The link to the fella with the B/A history is a great read. Wow! Terrific stuff.
Still not sure who bought out who but for sure it's all Gulf now.
Of course we all set off those alert hoses on our bikes...en route to school so we would detour a little and set 'em off...must have had those Stateside as well.
White Rose and B/A were exactly across the street from each other Brant St. and Prospect in Burlington. Both are gone. Strip malls now.
The world changed big time.
...and don't forget these guys
http://www.kijiji.ca/b-ontario/supertest-gas-pump/k0l9004
All that diversity and proud independent companies that were household names, gone. Big box stores now.
Sustainability new big buzz word, for a while now. Well things sure were sustainable back then and with a lot less people.
You can't fool an old horse fly!
A B/A in the US? Not that I'm aware of. The only gas stations I remember from growing up in New Jersey were Esso (later Exxon), Texaco, Mobil, Flying A, Shell, Sunoco, Sinclair, Gulf, and Cities Service (who became Citgo). These were big names in the 50's and early 60's, then Hess came along. There were also quite a few independent operations, usually selling gas for a few cents less a gallon than the big names, the only one of those who's name I remember now was Merit.
Around 1970 or so there was a drug bust at the Merit on Route 17 in Paramus, my home town. One of the employees was selling marajuana on the premises, which led everyone to call it "The Grass Station" for years afterward!
Above photo is a CPR D4g 4-6-0 in Bobcaygeon, Ont., mid 50's with B/A tank cars. Line abandoned in June 1961. Entire scene and objects in this picture is gone, gone, gone.
Neat thing I recall from my under 10yr days- B/A gas stations gave away a quite elaborate coloured cardboard punch out/cut out of their gas stations. It had the double garage bays and the pumps, and of course the sign on a pole. That was so cool. Scaled for Dinky toy cars, the smaller ones. Had that thing for years until it got all ratty from use.
Did you folks have B/A in the States?
Another one for NDG
The turnaround for State Line Lookout's still there, my friend Shotgun Charlie and I used it when we went to Tappan to visit the Old and Weary but were there just a little too early, so we headed south for a lunch at State Line.
Then we went back up to the Old and Weary and spent too much money. Oh well, but we're not sorry!
It occurs to me that you should come down from Buffalo by way of I-90 and then I-81, and time the trip to do Steamtown in Scranton. You can then go down I-84 and miss all the construction south of Wilkes-Barre and all the traffic on I-80 or 287. There is a spectacular view from the highway as you head toward New York State. And (1) you can detour to the Port Jervis area and drive the 'Hawk's Nest'; (2) visit what's left in Campbell Hall and Maybrook; (3) visit and walk over the preserved Poughkeepsie "Bridge Over The Hudson"; (4) drop south on 87 and cut over to see the Moodna Viaduct on the Metro-North Port Jervis line -- or ride in on the train to 'do' New York without having to worry about the car; then cut over on 287 to the Palisades Parkway and take it all the way south. There is, or used to be, a turnaround to get to the State Line Lookout exit, through the center median, just south of the "exit" for the Scout camp; if you miss it, just go to exit 2, about 2 miles south, and go back north a bit. The food is only available 9:30 to 5:00, so don't miss the schedule. Here is the menu as a PDF.
Go back south after this (there is another little 'swoop' through the median), and get off at the last exit before the George Washington Bridge. (If that makes you too nervous, get off at Palisade Avenue, dogleg right (west) and then left (south) onto 9W) Both 9W and the 'last exit' go into Lemoine south, which runs into Palisade, which goes past Hiram's.
When done at Hiram's, you reverse the directions I gave you to 46, then get on the Turnpike south (following the eastern extension if you want to see the ex-PRR in action) and then take the NEAR exit that goes to I-78 west. This goes into I-81 through Harrisburg (still an interesting place for trains) and eventually down to connections with several roads to both east and west Maryland.
Tony Bourdain was a couple of classes ahead of me at ESB. He was head and shoulders the coolest person I ever met, even then.
Miningman, should you only have time to visit one place, and one only, I'd make it the State Line Lookout Inn. I love both Hirams and State Line, but the view from the latter tips the balance. The food at Hirams is great, celebrity chef Anthony Bordain visits when he's in town (he grew up in Leonia NJ not far away) but the view from Hirams is strictly urban sprawl.
www.njpalisades.org/directionsStateline.html
You can Google Hirams as well, search Hiram's Roadstand.
Of course if you can visit both, so much the better!
And if you've really got the time, for things "rail" check this place out, not too far away...
www.oldandwearycarshop.com
A fantastic rail hobby shop in Tappan NY. A good selection of all gauges, and in addition to which he usually has a good selection of railroad artifacts for sale (God knows where he finds them!) plus an interesting selection of railbooks, some current, some out of print and collectable. When I'm in the area I always try to make time to visit the place. Mapquest or Google the current location for directions, the directions on the website are for the old location.
RME- Thanks for this. Printed! The route back home will be different. After Maryland, heading West, skirting Chicago but not the Illinois Railway Museum. Have a couple of old buddies working there. Love that place. Then on to Havre, more friends there as well, weep for the Milwaukee, then turn right real sudden like and head for the border. With a 25% premium on US greenbacks I'll be much poorer by then anyway!
MiningmanSo I'm heading to Maryland this summer crossing at Buffalo. Are any of these places "en route" or do they require some serious sidetracking?
It depends, somewhat, on what end of Maryland you're going to.
Five Guys is a national chain, but some of the locations are better than others as far as food preparation and fry, er, portion size are concerned. Alas! I don't have any firsthand experience with the ones on your prospective route, but you may want to use their Web site to find likely areas close to the way you go.
You might want to do the PIP overlook on the return trip; you can only get there easily from the northbound direction, which you get on from Fort Lee a couple of miles north (and on the other side of the George Washington Bridge approach mess that so hampered Christie's Presidential hopes!) from Hiram's. This works out nicely if you come into the New York area either via the Turnpike (95) or highway 81/78 to Newark and onto the Turnpike north at that junction. Follow the "Lincoln Tunnel" signs (the "E" exits, not the western extension "W"s) but don't actually get off at 16E for the tunnel, and you will have a lovely view, from Harrison across nearly to the west portals, of the NEC traffic to and from Penn Station. Then exit to Rt. 46, get off I believe on E. Columbia to Rt. 5, and go up the back side of the Palisades on that road (much of which used to be an interurban ROW). If I remember correctly you turn right (east) on Central Blvd at the end of 5, then left (north) on Palisade ... this is not the Palisade Blvd down at the bottom, or Palisade Avenue in Englewood, both of which are east-west roads ... to 1345, which is the Roadstand.
Leaving there, bear left on Lemoine when you come to it, then follow up to the ramp onto the PIP just past Wilson Avenue. Or, if you want a good interactive view of both the GWB and upper Manhattan, keep going (Lemoine turns into 9W here) up to Palisade Avenue in Englewood Cliffs, turn right under the PIP, and enjoy the view, and the road, down to the boat basin. Then come back up and jump on the PIP north right at the top of the hill.
I don't remember just how far up the "right" scenic overlook is, but I think about 6 miles or so. Any of them are worth a look, especially at dusk or just after when all the lights of Yonkers and beyond are on.
If you want to take the Thruway back up toward Buffalo, just run up the Parkway to the intersection at 287 and go west/north ... keeping in mind that you could stop at Suffern to see the north end of the NJT ex-EL commuter operations.
So I'm heading to Maryland this summer crossing at Buffalo. Are any of these places "en route" or do they require some serious sidetracking? Won't be in any kind of a rush, timetable is whatever it is but if it's not horrendously inconvenient then what the heck.
That 500 foot elevation view of the Hudson River sounds too good to skip.
Ah Callahan's, I remember them as well, right across the street from Hiram's, with the big hot dog on the roof. There's a story there.
Late 80's, early 90's or so the owner of Callahan's succumbed to the offer of a real estate developer and sold the property. Located in Fort Lee we can imagine how much money he made. Hiram's has steadfastly refused to sell, they take being a North Jersey institution VERY seriously.
Anyway, several years ago the grandson of the Callahan's owner decided to take up the family business again. He started with a food truck, lo and behold the business took off spendidly, and now he's got a place in Norwood. I can't say how good it is, I haven't been there, but by all accounts it's a great success.
White Castle? I haven't been to one since 1985. Last visit was a great disappointment, they weren't as good as they were in years past.
I don't remember a bug problem at either Hiram's or Callahan's, but I DO remember the blizzard of moths that used to hang out at Dairy Queens in the summer! Jesus, Mary and Joseph...
Firelock76"Hiram's Roadstand", 1345 Palisade Ave. in Fort Lee NJ.
Cue Boris Badenov voice: 'What for you leaving out Callahan's?'
I see they now have a location in Norwood, which indicates they must have gone considerably upscale from their mid-Seventies 'cachet'.
Back in the day, you needed to bring your own Flit or No-Pest Strips to either Hiram's or Callahan's if you wanted to finish undisturbed. I went to the dark side early and patronized the Castle in Fairview, where they still had an employee or two who knew how to fold the box from flat with one hand while picking up the burger with the other - I think they could do a whole griddle's worth in less than a minute. Still giants in the earth in those days.
While we are on the subject of acknowledging error, the 428A was a Westinghouse motor, not GE.
The P5a had similar designs of motor (625 in GE, 425A Westinghouse). The L6 did not share the motor load to the bull gear across two armatures and pinions; this doesn't seem to have hurt their longevity (although it may have had some influence on why most L6s were never given finished electrical gear even though apparently complete mechanically).
Can't let the subject of burgers go just yet...
Should any of you find yourselves in Northern New Jersey close to New York City let me recommend the following two places.
"Hiram's Roadstand", 1345 Palisade Ave. in Fort Lee NJ. "Burgers, Dogs, and Brew, Since 1932." A real throwback roadside joint my father used to take us to when we were kids. Still there and the burgers are "melt-in-your-mouth" good! Can't beat the funky atmosphere in there either.
"The State Line Lookout Inn." It's located in the Palisades Interstate Park off the Alpine exit of the Palisades Interstate Parkway. Dates from 1937, a WPA project and the interior's hardly changed since then, and at a 500 foot elevation on the Palisades the views of the Hudson River are magnificent! Dad used to take us there too, and the burgers are superb! Only downsides, they close at 5:00 PM, and watch your speed on the PIP, the park cops show no mercy!
NDGGG1s had TWO 2 Traction Motors per driving axle.
Ah, but not exactly. Two armatures, yes, and two pinions, but in a common case. GE called the 627 and the 'better' 428 that followed it (as in the DD2 and the wartime plans for electrification to Pittsburgh) 'twin motors' -- there were older versions, too, with much larger fields and armatures that wouldn't fit 'underfloor', dating back to WW1 times.
Yes 5 Roses Flour brings back lots of memories. Lake of the Woods Flour Milling in Keewatin, Ont. way in the North. It was started by Van Horne himself and the CPR was always involved. The big plant in Keewatin was supposedly the largest in the British Commonwealth. Closed 1967.
Now Five Roses and Robin Hood Flour are owned by Smuckers. Robin Hood in the news lately due to huge recall on it's Flour.
MineMill Union was a large and powerful one. Huge struggle between it and United Steelworkers takeover in Sudbury, Ont. 25,000 underground and in the mills and smelters right up into the mid seventies and that's just with INCO ( International Nickel Co. of Canada). Another 8,000 non union staff.
In a wrong headed move, the stockholders, and by inference, the Government, the Mining Industry and the people of Canada, sold out our sovereignty in managing and market price control of metal commodities with the sale of INCO to the Brazilian company Vale. Today Vale has only 2,000 employed total in Sudbury. Making it all worse, Falconbridge and Noranda, both giants, sold out about the same time to the Swiss company Xstrata, which subsequently sold out to hedge fund Glencore.
Result- we provide concentrate only to China and South America not a finished metal to the world.
Mining Industry strikes were ugly and as NDG recalls, "War".
My second daughter was born a week into a nasty strike. I was on staff, as a junior geologist, and all of us were called in for midnight before the strike to secure the mine's ( I was at the Frood Mine ). INCO sent in a helicopter to take me and another fellow out to be with our wives and see our newborn but as we took off shots were fired at the helicopter from the picket line. Pilot landed immediately and I was in now stuck inside and did not see my new born daughter for almost 6 weeks. INCO tried to negotiate just to let the 2 of us out but no dice from the Union.
They would pile up huge stacks of tires along the chain link fence and set them on fire, thick black stinky smoke coming into the buildings and offices. 24/7 Crazy stuff. I wonder if they can do this sort of thing today?
Thinking we are smarter and calmer but who knows.
Well thank you RME and NDG. Esso stations are all across the land up here in the Great White North. Used to be Esso and Ford were the exclusive sponsors/advertisers for Hockey Night in Canada but thats been gone for years and years. Now it's everyone and anyone.
We broke 0C today so the snow is starting its long retreat to oblivion.
-15 at night though so it's a slow process. Days are significantly longer than before, hours on each end.
Have a 3 day PR event upcoming working with the Saskatchewan Mining Association, then 5 days fly in at a Uranium Mill ( Mineral Processing..the term "Milling" is becoming passé)) with the senior class as they "job shadow", so I may disappear for a bit. Easter break coming up though first.
Terrific stuff guys, RME, NDG, Wanswheel, Firelock76 and all on Classic Trains Forum..I think we are getting closer to finding out the secret to life, universe and everything,.
MiningmanI thought ESSO was only used in Canada, but it appears I am wrong. Of course it meant Standard Oil, as folks just called it S O and that became Esso.
Much more to it than that. "Esso" was the pre-'59 slogan of Standard Oil of New Jersey, one of the companies resulting from the mandated breakup of the Standard Oil trust in 1911. It remained a brand of 'Humble Oil' (which also used 'Enco' in the South and elsewhere) until the rebranding as "Exxon" (one of the more pointless things in the '70s). I grew up with Esso Extra as the proper name for high-test gasoline, and interestingly enough in some locations Exxon diesel fuel is still branded Esso.
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