There's a great story about Roscoe Turner I read in an aviation magazine years back.
When the United States entered World War Two Roscoe learned that friend and fellow racing pilot Jimmy Doolittle had returned to the Army Air Force and had been commissioned a lieutnenant colonel. Roscoe sent him a letter saying "Look Jim, why don't you put together a squadron of us old racing hands? We've forgotten more about flying than these kids coming in will ever know!"
Doolittle relied back, saying this was a new war and a new era, and that old-timers like Roscoe and himself had to step back and let the new generation have their turn, so forget about any special squadron.
Several months later came the Dolittle Raid on Tokyo. When Dolittle returned to the US Roscoe sent him a telegram, and it said...
"YOU S.O.B!" All in good fun, of course!
For those that missed it in String Lining here is the picture NDG posted regarding the "border fence".
Iron ore mined in the great Missabe region of Minnesota, hauled ship/rail to Sault St. Marie, Algoma Steel Mills. One of their products is rail as shown in the picture.
Then hauled out West and build the CPR with many prairie branch lines to every farm community in Saskatcewan and Alberta which produced enough wheat to feed the world and build a nation.
Then the rail is all ripped up because suddenly branch lines are a dumb idea. Then sold to the USA which uses them as a deterrent to vehicle traffic running in drugs, especially Quads and dune buggies things, along the border with Mexico.
How all this happens, came about, occurs today, where we are, all of that is mind boggling.
Note Algoma Steel stamping on the rails in the above photo. 80#, but year is cut off In photo.
Here is the second, or front half of that panoramic photo with the CPR Canadian at the station in Schrieber, Ont. Now we can see the units, all multimark scheme. More of the yard, still with all CPR cars only. Lots of newsprint cars as big paper mill right there. 3 paint schemes, block, script and the multimark.
Good size string of stockcars as well with what appears to be the newer double deck one's on the far left.
Late 60's early '70's pretty vibrant times, everything going nicely, taxes low, lots of work for those that want to. Pre Oil crisis, but maybe the very start of "globalization". These were good times for the Mining Industry...has never been the same since.
Also please note in the above photo the lack of graffiti anywhere. If you went in and spray painted those boxcars, or the station or anything else in town you would be found and caught, pay to fix it and spend time in jail or juevey, scare the beejjeesus out of you and have a record. Also lack of junk and litter anywhere. "Don't be a litterbug" promo worked really well, Millenium generation worst litterbugs, along with overall declining enforcements and no body care's attitudes.
I simply do not get it.
You know a lot of folks smoked back then, very acceptable, common, yet you rarely saw a cigarette butt on the street or all over the place. Friends, acquaintances, offered each other smokes all the time, stop and chat. If you saw a cigarette butt you would point it out and go make a tsk tsk sound and probably clean it up yourself. Sidewalks were clean, Wayne cleaned the curbs. Here comes Wayne! Is Wayne still out there? Sometimes at least? Even public drinking fountains...nice ones.
Note also the people of Schrieber liked hanging their laundry out to dry, ...certainly rarely see that anymore and many townships and development's won't let you hang out your laundry anymore.
Pourquoi?
Sometimes I see on the news Americans cannot even fly the American Flag on their own property. What? Huh? Eh?
Some idiotic condo association or something says it's against the rules?
After 911 I flew my American Flag for a year from my porch, high up, dead centre. First thing I did, instinctively. Never had any problems at all and my American friends visiting, mostly Port Huron NTrak guys appreciated it.
Folks in the North, like Schrieber, are very hearty. Long way to anywhere, long cold snowy winters, few entertainment choices ...hockey and curling in the winter and it didn't cost anything near, not even adjusted, as to what it is today. "User" fees for everything. A hockey stick was $7 for a CCM, good one, Made In Canada, now $350 for a cheapo. Forgotten people today, politicians give lip service only. Northener's suffer, get nothing...and expensive!
No vision.
Firelock76 Several months later came the Dolittle Raid on Tokyo.
Several months later came the Dolittle Raid on Tokyo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZdvwYPzItA&t=27m53s
Wow, lot's and lot's of neat stuff here! I hope and pray we can avoid WWIII. I'm scared to death that the Looney Toon Administration in DC Comics might be the one to push the pretty red button first. However, the entire planet is going to hell in a hurry. Gads guys and gals, what's the rush?
Everyone who is Everywhere West and Everywhere Else have a Blessed and Happy Easter as we remember the True Meaning of this special and unique event that took place some 2000 years ago. I won't preach any Old Time Religion. I let the good folks who run the Railroad Evangelist Association do that.
wanswheel Firelock76 Several months later came the Dolittle Raid on Tokyo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZdvwYPzItA&t=27m53s
One of my very favorite books when I was young was the saga of the Ruptured Duck in "Thirty Seconds over Tokyo". Oddly enough, I have never seen the movie.
I am still delighted that we were a nation that could build an aircraft like a B25 and then figure how to launch it reliably with a full warload off a carrier. And that we had the restraint not to engage in a decapitation strike or hit "propaganda" historical targets for vengeance.
Have a question regarding today's Photo of the Day, featuring B&O P-6 Pacific on the BR&P at Du Bois, Pa.
The tracks are elevated a bit and running across some kind concrete things witha very wide spacing. What is this for?
Q2- Photo is Sept.'55 ...Was the BR&P the last bastion of B&O passenger steam?
MiningmanThe tracks are elevated a bit and running across some kind concrete things witha very wide spacing. What is this for?
I have a suspicion this is a photographic 'artifact'. What I think you are seeing is rods or connections from the interlocking tower, on supports, well to the photographer's side of the actual 'track structure' which is normal ties and ballast on grade.
Ah ha! An optical illusion of sorts. Makes sense.
Thank you RME.
RME Ruptured Duck
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Catalog/HeraldryMulti.aspx?CategoryId=14&grp=2&menu=Uniformed%20Services
https://ia601208.us.archive.org/BookReader/BookReaderImages.php?zip=/9/items/marylandtamsjour33n0mary/marylandtamsjour33n0mary_jp2.zip&file=marylandtamsjour33n0mary_jp2/marylandtamsjour33n0mary_0004.jp2&scale=2&rotate=0
http://www.rupturedducknoseart.com/
RME, if you ever get the chance to see "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" don't pass it up! It's a fine, fine film, one of the few made during World War Two that holds up well. A great human story, with little to no "slam-bang" over-heroics and a minimum of propaganda. A great story well told.
I've got the book as well, and I can't say one's better than the other, they complement each other beautifully.
Interestingly, Dolittle's first aircraft choice for the mission was the Douglas B-23, a rather obscure bomber to us now, not many were built. It was a bit faster than the B-25 (not by much) and had a longer range. However, it had a wider wingspan than the B-25 and wouldn't fit on a carrier deck, so they went with the B-25, which was an all-around better performer at any rate.
The B-23 was popular after the war for conversion into executive transports, so quite a few survived in flying condition for many years. I don't know if any are flying today, but there are some in museums.
The BR&P was one of several last bastions of B&O steam. Passenger service on this line ended later in 1955. Steam was also used on the B&O line between Pittsburgh-Wheeling-Columbus and Cincinnati up until its demise in mid 1956. The CINCINNATIAN (Detroit-Cincinnati) had occasional steam until very early in 1957. The North Vernon-Louisville branch also saw occasional steam but I am not sure when it ended.
Miningman Have a question regarding today's Photo of the Day, featuring B&O P-6 Pacific on the BR&P at Du Bois, Pa. The tracks are elevated a bit and running across some kind concrete things witha very wide spacing. What is this for? Q2- Photo is Sept.'55 ...Was the BR&P the last bastion of B&O passenger steam?
I saw a Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg lantern for sale at a hobby shop about three years ago but passed on it. The price was pretty reasonable too.
Absorbed into the B&O in 1932? I should have grabbed that lantern, dammit!
Bill613a- Thank you. Did some more digging and research. The train in that picture was the last of the passenger service on the old BR&P and it only had a month to go with all passenger ending in October on the line.
A very handsome railroad indeed, many stations and towers had that flared roof...seen throughout the system.
Too bad...how about an alternative history where it evolved into a high speed passenger line Rochester-Buffalo-Pittsburgh. Folks waving, as they whiz by, to the frustrated and terrified drivers on the interstate desperately trying to avoid all the big rigs and crazy texters.
Found some pictures and narratives of that CNR train from Hamilton to Port Rowan that I took with my grandma for several summers, as I related earlier in the thread. Cannot believe my good fortune in finding these. E-10-a class Mogul 80 (ex 902 nee GTR 1000 CLC 913 1910)
sits with its short train (Mixed 233) in James Street station in Hamilton. This Daily Except Sunday Mixed train would continue running until Saturday, October 26, 1957 when Ten-Wheeler 1541 would make the last run. One of seven 2-6-0's assigned to the old Great Western roundhouse nearbyfor use on branchlines to the southwest ending at Lake Erie.
After street running on Ferguson Avenue a stiff grade up the Niagara Escarpment (a.k.a. Hamilton mountain) will challengethe tiny Mogul with its small train. The Simcoe wayfreight and other freights each with a sister engine will get a big Mikado to assist it up grade on the Hagersville Subdivision 12 miles to Glanford or 17 miles to Caledonia.
I can smell the fresh air blowing off the beach mixed with the smell of Fries, Malt Vinegar, Burgers and hear all the kids on the beach.
All rails are long gone, tore up, nothing left. CPR went here also, coming down from Brantford on the Lake Erie and Northern Interurban, and yet another CNR branch paralleling the LE&N up to Brantford. Everything is gone. Port Dover is a biker town today, every Friday the 13th thousands of motorcycles converge on the town. Good for business, but I shake my head.
Sitting with its short train at Port Dover. From here it is back to Hamilton.
Have to love the internet, at times anyway.
Found a colour picture of those little Moguls that plied the rails between Hamilton and Port Dover, and next to the Lake Erie and Northern to boot. Caption states it's a Grand River Railroad interurban at the LE&N station in Port Dover. Both the GRR and the LE&N were part of CPR's electric lines.
CNR 83 leaving Port Dover with Mixed 235 for Hamilton passes GRR 624 interurban car about to leave LE&N station for Brantford. April 8,1955 J.Wm.Hood
In today's Photo of the Day, 5/30, you can see the dispatchers phone through the window of the station.
Does that bring back memories. In the early 60's I had one of those "Rocket Radio' crystal radio sets with the aligator clip you had to fasten to something to get a ground. I was running around all over the place looking for things to hook up to when I dicovered the wire on the folding mount for the dispatchers phone. That worked like nothing else I ever tried!
Great memory!
Bruce
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
My how times have changed. Check out the Photo of the Day showing the (segregrated) Tip Top Grill lounge car on the Milwaukee Road Olympian Hiawatha from artwork in a 1947 booklet offered by MILW. Two Afro-American employees are shown serving all white customers in a Post-WWII America both wearing spotless uniforms and smiles on their faces.
Despite the fact this is not an actual photograph I wonder if these two gentlemen had recently served their country with pride, The Land of the Free, during WWII in the Armed Forces of the United States of America?
What is not only sad but disgusting as well is that the United States still hasn't begun to live the dream of the late great Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 50 years and counting after he made his historic speech in the nation's capitol, Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963.
Today, in 2017, the country appears to be more divided than it even was during those turbulent days of the 60s when Afro-Americans were marching for their own freedom, demanding to be treated with dignaty as Human Beings! Was that too much to ask of a country where so many of their loved ones had given their lives in several wars so America could remain free?
America is again at a crossroads and must now make a sober decision for the future of this great country:
United We Stand or Divided We Fall
What is your choice?
If you like trains and are a Believer then visit: www.railroadevangelist.com
The REA magazine All Aboard is free and can be read online.
Do not think that the Milwaukee Road was subject to Jim Crowe Law's, so I very much doubt the Tip Top was segregated.
Employment of Blacks by the railroads and Pullman are legendary and for a long time was a very good job that paid quite well.
Even up here in Canada, Blacks were the mainstay in sleeping car service and many dining cars.
Miningman Employment of Blacks by the railroads and Pullman are legendary and for a long time was a very good job that paid quite well.
Blacks were pretty much restricted to "Red, White and Blue" Jobs (REDcap, WHITE linen [porters & waiters] and BLUE denim [laborers]) for a very long time. Black firemen were common in the South but they never got promoted to the right side of the cab. Pullman porters also never got promoted to Pullman Conductor.
I'd completely forgotten about the crystal radio I had Bruce, until you brought it up. Indeed, a trip down Memory Lane for me! The latest Photo of the Day of two Pennsy 2-10-4 double heading is a memory I wish I could add to my list. Steam vanished early in Texas except for the SP lookalike 0-6-0 that served Dallas Union Terminal into the 60s before being replaced by a rebuilt ATSF SW switcher. Even if you weren't raised on the PRR it is hard not to fall in love with The Standard Railroad of the World!
I regret I couldn't witness the summer and autumn of steam in 1956 on Pennsy when it borrowed some Santa Fe 2-10-4s to help out moving coal trains in Ohio. Watching videos of them in service a long long way from home rails still stirs my heart of Texas which is as big as the Lone Star State itself!
My first overnight on a purely Canadian sleeper was in 1951, and the porter was white. It is true that during the salad Pullman years, black porters, and porters, now called car attendants, were always black, never were promoted to Conductors. But they were promoted to Porter-in-Charge. On certain runs, possibly never south of the Mason-Dixon, unsure about that, with only one Pullman on the train, the Porter-Charge served as Pullman conductor as well as porter. The only conductor per se was the regular railroad conductor. And the porters-in-charge were always blacks. I presume their salaries were higher than regular porters.
In the black community, porters were the upper-middle class, earning more than the more disadvantaged population in general. Randolph, head of the porters' union, was one of the four founders of the NAACP. The Rabbi who officiated at my Bar Mitvah, Stephen Samuel Wise, was one of the others. A third was the pastor of the Riverside Church (endowed by Rockefeller), I think the name is Homes, but I can be corrected. Anyone know the name of the fourth?
My understanding concernin porters in charge is that if there was only one Pullman on a rain, its porter was in charge, and if there was more than one Pullman on the train, a conductor was in charge of all of them.
Johnny
Dave, how was your Bar Mitvah? I had to learn several Bible verses before I could be confirmed. This special occasion took place in St. Andrews Episcopal Church. on April 17, 1957, in Carrollton, TX. I partook of my first Holy Communion on that long ago Sunday, receiving the "Body of Christ" which was then "washed down" with the "Blood of Christ", which, after having been blessed by Father Fields, consisted of Mogan David Wine!
The latest Photo of the Day features an interior view in the observation car of the GM Train of Tomorrow. Note that the passengers are all white. In mid-section you can see an Afro-American male attending to his duties.
One of the saddest tragedies of the 20th Century that continues to this day in our ultra-modern high tech super-dupper United States of America in Century 21 is the sheer fact that Dr. King's dream still hasn't come true.
We continue to loose men and women servicing in our Armed Forces who make up each race, color, creed, and religion, fighting and dying together on foreign soil far far from their home with a solid hope that Dr. King's dream will still be fulfilled where human beings can live work and play together, without fear of becoming a victim of violent crime themselves or one of their loved ones.
Regardless of your religious conviction, may I ask everyone of you to take a moment today and please Pray for World Peace. Together, we can all win this one, which is called LOVE!
Thank you,
Joseph Toth, Jr.
I think there has been more progress in achieving equality in both the USA and Canada than you are giving credit. I saw the transformation take place in the Army during the Eisenhower years, and he was solidly against segregation. I get Physics Today, and that community is really doing a lot to achieve equality. I do have a lot more to day on this matter, but that should be in personal corresondence via my email address, daveklepper@yahoo.com. Ditto with the situation in countries around the Mediteranian, including Israel.
My Bar Mitzvah was at the Reform "Free Synagogue," now the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue," and was basically a Conservative, not a Reform, service, with far more Hebrew than usual in that synagogue. The regular congregation was outnumbered by my relatives, who were mostly Orthodox, even though my parents were Reform. I led most of the service. Rabbi Stephen Wise sat and smiled on the platform most of the time, but did give a hopeful sermon, with the event between Germany's surrender and the end of the war that summer. Again, I can tell you more in direct corresondance.
But I had not met my goal of riding the complete subway-elevated system by the time of my Bar Mitzvah. Still had not been to the end of the line at Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, or to Pelham Bay Park.
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