The Jersey Central's fabulous "Blue Comet!"
Here's a story from todays nj.com, about the great train that ran from Jersey City to Atlantic City from 1929 to 1941, and inspired one of Lionel's classic train sets.
https://www.nj.com/news/2019/04/whats-a-blue-comet-and-why-is-it-a-part-of-enduring-jersey-shore-lore.html
How nice, someone remembers. It's not just down South that "...old times there are not forgotten!"
Here's the clip from that famous "Sopranos" episode. Language alert!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld0l37eFpEU
$8,000 bucks for a Blue Comet Lionel? I would have a heart attack before the hit men got there saving them their bullets.
Even if the hit men couldn't do it that day, they could still save their bullets because his wife would kill him.
Great scene though. Don't mind at all that the Santa Fe Diesel took a bullet. The Hudson falling into the abyss is symbolic.
When Bobby says " he doesn't care" referring to his sons interest in the hobby and then later falls into the layout dead destroying it, I'm thinking that would be a fitting way to go. My kids don't care either despite being brought up with it so if I do a face plant into the layout breathing my last so be it.
Well the gals have always loved their Chessie sleepware and their kids love Thomas so maybe there is hope yet, on a cutesy scale anyway.
Great marketing and concept on the part of the Jersey Central. They certainly were the big little railroad.
Interesting story about that "Sopranos" sequence.
It was filmed in an actual train store, "Trainland" in Lynnbrook Long Island, NY. The creator of the series, David Chase, ia a toy train fan himself and was familiar with the place. Rather than create a toy train store on a set he went for the real thing. The "shot-up" trains and boxes are on display at the store for all to enjoy.
"Trainland" had a sign in the front window after the show aired that said...
"Bobby Baccala 'bought it' at Trainland!" Don't know if it's still there.
There were two layouts created for Bobby to fall into, but only one was needed. The actor playing Bobby, Steve Schirippa, got it done in one take! Both layouts, plus Bobby's home layout, are on display at the New Jersey High-Railers train club in Paterson NJ, there to be seen by all on open-house days.
The O Gauge tinplate "pre-war" Blue Comet set Bobby never got to run is a reproduction, no original sets in as-new condition were able to be found. $8,000 didn't surprise me, as far as mint condition pre-war Lionels are concerned the sky's almost the limit. If Bobby had priced a mint condition Standard Gauge set THAT would have given him heart failure!
I've got an MTH Blue Comet set myself. Every time I run it I think of poor Bobby and pray for his soul.
The Blue Comet was the idea of Roy B White when he headed the CNJ, later he became president of the B&O.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Flintlock76It was filmed in an actual train store, "Trainland" in Lynnbrook Long Island, NY
Flintlock I was going to ask if that was a actual store, thanks for answering my question. Minding reading as a side hobby??
From Mike
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEptNZ939g8&list=PL1wXYceuN6A29QI8hXPGEymhbsZmm4kI1
And a great idea it was too, Balt! It was fun while it lasted and created a legend. You can't ask for more than that!
Blue Comet lives again !
The pride of the Jersey Central.. the real Blue Comet
tarheeltracks Flintlock76 It was filmed in an actual train store, "Trainland" in Lynnbrook Long Island, NY Flintlock I was going to ask if that was a actual store, thanks for answering my question. Minding reading as a side hobby??
Flintlock76 It was filmed in an actual train store, "Trainland" in Lynnbrook Long Island, NY
Brother, if I could read minds I wouldn't get in all the trouble I do with Lady Firestorm!
And thanks so much for that video Mike! It's priceless! Rogers E. M. Whittaker, Oliver Jensen, railfan and Lionel collector Tom Snyder, who could ask for more?
Sadly, all no longer with us.
Tom Snyder's Standard Gauge layout is also on display at the New Jersey High Railers as well.
www.njhirailers.com I've been there, it's stunning. Overwhelming actually.
Interesting comparing the two photos, one of the former FEC Pacific 1975 excursion engine, and the actual Comet Pacific from 1929. Those Jersey Central Pacifics were beasts!
Here's a brief video of some in action. Scroll down to see it.
https://www.johnpmedia.com/dvds/along-the-jersey-central-volume-1
None were saved. Damn it.
I've got that DVD, it's excellent!
Flintlock76Those Jersey Central Pacifics were beasts!
The Comet gets all the love, but someone should find pictures and stories for that other CNJ name train, the Bullet (to my ancestral city Wilkes-Barre instead of down the glamorous shore). The O scale model of its power is prettier than the Blue Comet power... put them side by side and you'll see.
A few degrees of separation
Looking like Superman! The Roy B. White. Mikes Photo of the Day.
B&O's future president Roy B. White referred to on CNJ stationery
OvermodThe Comet gets all the love, but someone should find pictures and stories for that other CNJ name train, the Bullet (to my ancestral city Wilkes-Barre instead of down the glamorous shore). The O scale model of its power is prettier than the Blue Comet power... put them side by side and you'll see.
http://njrails.tripod.com/20th_Century/CNJ/The_Bullet.htm
"The Bullet started its service on November 7th, 1929. It's short life ended on July 12, 1931."
The color used on the MTH O gauge CNJ "The Bullet" is different from some of the HO scale pro painted brass version of it. From what I saw on the web, I also prefer the color used on the real CNJ "The Bullet" to "The Comet" (as long as it was not painted with radium! ), the golden strip on the driver, sand dome, steam dome, the cylinder; the shiny stainless steel headlight grill and the handrail around the smokebox door make her look very elegant.
Google image search "OVERLAND CNJ G-3 4-6-2 #834", her (copyrighted) pic or the version I prefer will show up.
Jones 3D Modeling Club https://www.youtube.com/Jones3DModelingClub
Miningman Blue Comet lives again !
Once again, I can't resist ....adjusted the color temperature a little bit.
Nice restoration job on that photo Mr. Jones! And I'll bet that's just what the day looked like!
This is the best I could come up with for an image of "The Bullet." If you scroll over the picture of the model you can pick up the details.
https://mthtrains.com/20-3136-1
Very striking indeed. Maybe if Joshua Lionel Cowan had traveled to Wilkes-Barre he'd have done a model of "The Bullet" as well.
Here's some "Trainland" action for everyone. The first video has Ken Bianco Jr. showing us the tinplate Blue Comet used in the "Sopranos" show. Be patient.
The second has Ken Bianco Sr. describing the filming
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WruDSmQNsYs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ryMlE296Ys
This comes courtesy of Mike, a fine song born just as the Blue Comet was dying, and sung by the great Ella Fitzgerald.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjyySdw0fOE Germaine to the geography.
I'm so glad everyone's enjoying this thread, by the way!
Miningman$8,000 bucks for a Blue Comet Lionel?
AND a reproduction no less. For just a bit more, you could have that train's VERY BIG BROTHER:
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Thanks Penny. Well heck you might as well get both then! Put it on a credit card that way it doesn't count right?
Ok 'this is the don't shoot the messenger segment'... From Mike
Overmod states :
" The Comet gets all the love, but someone should find pictures and stories for that other CNJ name train, the Bullet"
MiningmanFrom Mike https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEptNZ939g8&list=PL1wXYceuN6A29QI8hXPGEymhbsZmm4kI1
Interesting that E. M. Frimboe when questioned about the coming of ConRail considered that it would be a complete disaster. I suspect, without the passing of the Staggers legislation, it most likely would have been. At the time the video was made there wasn't any idea that Staggers type legislation was anywhere in the future.
My goodness! Look at those hats on the ladies!
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
Flintlock76 Here's some "Trainland" action for everyone. The first video has Ken Bianco Jr. showing us the tinplate Blue Comet used in the "Sopranos" show. Be patient. The second has Ken Bianco Sr. describing the filming https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WruDSmQNsYs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ryMlE296Ys This comes courtesy of Mike, a fine song born just as the Blue Comet was dying, and sung by the great Ella Fitzgerald. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjyySdw0fOE Germaine to the geography. I'm so glad everyone's enjoying this thread, by the way!
Awesome effort Wayne!
Although the plot was quite gruesome, I think Ken and their staff really love how their shop was chosen to appear in a popular TV show. Actually, if there was more fake blood and better sound effect when Bobby falling on the layout, it would be more amusing... to me. By the way, if it wasn't Trainworld/Trainland who uploaded a video of the HO scale PRR S2 steam turbine engine on youtube, I probably never pick up this hobby again.
And yes, that's the O gauge "The Bullet" I mentioned in my previous post. I guess CNJ #834 "The Bullet" was supposed to be a section of the famed Comet, wasn't it? But the Blue Comet falling down faster than a bullet, therefore "The Bullet" only lasted less than two years and in later years, the train was powered by CNJ's Camelbacks occasionally. Just as many railfans have said that If The Blue Comet lasted a little bit longer, CNJ would have encountered a resurgence of The Blue Comet due to wartime traffic. Some good things never last...
Jones1945 Flintlock76 Here's some "Trainland" action for everyone. The first video has Ken Bianco Jr. showing us the tinplate Blue Comet used in the "Sopranos" show. Be patient. The second has Ken Bianco Sr. describing the filming https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WruDSmQNsYs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ryMlE296Ys This comes courtesy of Mike, a fine song born just as the Blue Comet was dying, and sung by the great Ella Fitzgerald. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjyySdw0fOE Germaine to the geography. I'm so glad everyone's enjoying this thread, by the way! Awesome effort Wayne! Although the plot was quite gruesome, I think Ken and their staff really love how their shop was chosen to appear in a popular TV show. Actually, if there was more fake blood and better sound effect when Bobby falling on the layout, it would be more amusing... to me. By the way, if it wasn't Trainworld/Trainland who uploaded a video of the HO scale PRR S2 steam turbine engine on youtube, I probably never pick up this hobby again. And yes, that's the O gauge "The Bullet" I mentioned in my previous post. I guess CNJ #834 "The Bullet" was supposed to be a section of the famed Comet, wasn't it? But the Blue Comet falling down faster than a bullet, therefore "The Bullet" only lasted less than two years and in later years, the train was powered by CNJ's Camelbacks occasionally. Just as many railfans have said that If The Blue Comet lasted a little bit longer, CNJ would have encountered a resurgence of The Blue Comet due to wartime traffic. Some good things never last...
The Asst. General Passenger Agent - H. E. Simpson also became President of the B&O later in his career.
Miningman $8,000 bucks for a Blue Comet Lionel? I would have a heart attack before the hit men got there saving them their bullets. Even if the hit men couldn't do it that day, they could still save their bullets because his wife would kill him. Great scene though. Don't mind at all that the Santa Fe Diesel took a bullet. The Hudson falling into the abyss is symbolic.
That would have made "The Sopranos" a comedy but I like your alt script for the show. "When Bobby heard the price of The Blue Comet free-freedom edition, he faints and falls into the shelve turning them into domino which blocks the front door of the shop. Whole Trainland is in panic mode: customer screaming, crying for help. The Shop owner calls the police immediately and the hitman knows their original plan is not going to work at this point..."
Miningman When Bobby says " he doesn't care" referring to his son's interest in the hobby and then later falls into the layout dead destroying it, I'm thinking that would be a fitting way to go. My kids don't care either despite being brought up with it so if I do a face plant into the layout breathing my last so be it. Well the gals have always loved their Chessie sleepwear and their kids love Thomas so maybe there is hope yet, on a cutesy scale anyway. Great marketing and concept on the part of the Jersey Central. They certainly were the big little railroad.
When Bobby says " he doesn't care" referring to his son's interest in the hobby and then later falls into the layout dead destroying it, I'm thinking that would be a fitting way to go. My kids don't care either despite being brought up with it so if I do a face plant into the layout breathing my last so be it.
Well the gals have always loved their Chessie sleepwear and their kids love Thomas so maybe there is hope yet, on a cutesy scale anyway.
Yes, I have never imagined that the show "Thomas the Tank Engine" is still alive and kicking! This show probably turned many kids and teenagers into railfans, therefore, although some of the characters look kind of creepy, I hope this show or Thomas himself could stay on the roster as long as he can.
Ok this is mostly for Overmod but everyone else too.
The original stories were very well written.
They date from the Second World War. and were published in the early post war years. I was given three of the original books as a child in the early 1950s (The Three Railway Engines, Thomas the Tank Engine and Henry the Green Engine). I still have them.The first two were reprints but I think the Henry book may have been a first printing.
The earliest of the TV series used No 1 gauge models based on Maerklin chassis with some larger scale models used with stop frame animation. Today they use computer generated animation.
The earliest stories used the plots from the books, but more recently new plots with less basis in real operation but more politically correct have been used.
Despite this, the stories have been very popular on TV, and are supported by the toys which provide play value as toy trains always have.
Peter
MiningmanOK 'this is the don't shoot the messenger segment'... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNmtNHdfQBg&t=23s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNmtNHdfQBg&t=23s
But that's a Hudson!
(I watched the end part repeatedly and still can't believe the car pulled that hill...)
Miningman Truman, Hoover, Ike and Einstein hanging out in Jersey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E52FQ2qEpEI
AND Fleet Admirals Nimitz and Leahy are in attendance as well!
Looks like Ike, Nimitz, and Truman are receiving honorary degrees.
And oh wow, those ladies hats! Real 1940's grandma hats!
Overmod Miningman OK 'this is the don't shoot the messenger segment'... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNmtNHdfQBg&t=23s But that's a Hudson! (I watched the end part repeatedly and still can't believe the car pulled that hill...)
Miningman OK 'this is the don't shoot the messenger segment'... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNmtNHdfQBg&t=23s
I never thought I'd see a Hudson with a case of "Bassetosis." What's "Bassetosis?" Ever try to wake up a Basset Hound that doesn't want to get up?
I'll tell you, that old Chevy promo film does a great job explaining basic physics and how there's no "free lunch" when it come to automotive design.
A couple of things. I wanted to get back "on the air" last night but fell asleep watching a Smithsonian Channel show on a giant volcano under Yellowstone National Park that's going to blow up any time soon and destroy life on earth as we know it. I guess I nodded off when it didn't happen.
Anyway, Becky posted a great example of Lionel's Standard Gauge Blue Comet set from the 1930's. The last time I saw one of those engines, and engine alone, it had a $15,000 price tag on it! Mr. Jones' scenario of Bobby having a heart attack almost happened to me! Mind you, that Standard Gauge set was for rich kids only, back in 1937 it had a $75 price. That same amount of money at the time would have bought you a Winchester 30-30 rifle and a Colt .38 revolver, and you would have had $5 change coming to you!
The O gauge set Bobby was handling was $30 in 1937. That would have gotten you the Colt.
"If the Blue Comet lasted just a little bit longer..."
Well we could say that about a lot of things, like the New York, Westchester & Boston, the trolley network of North Jersey and other places, and some other 'roads. World War Two and the rationing of gas and rubber would have given a lot of them a new lease on life, if only for a while for some, maybe longer for others.
I still almost can't believe that a 4 hour 20 minute timing, with steam, would be possible the 'long way round' via Jim Thorpe (as Mauch Chunk would have been known then) considering the rather heroic arrangements CNJ has to make after it crosses the Delaware and turns north. Let alone that it would be almost perfectly achieved!
In case anyone wonders: the Depression killed this train; it only lasted about 2 years total, and of course didn't get to experience streamlining -- would be highly interesting to see what sort of counterpart of the Crusader the 'family' might have come up with for it. But it was amazing while it lasted...
Flintlock76"If the Blue Comet lasted just a little bit longer..." Well we could say that about a lot of things...
Well we could say that about a lot of things...
But we do have 'comps' for this particular question: remember the Amtrak ACE? If they couldn't make the service work with THOSE operating assets, you can imagine what it would have been trying to go via Red Bank (and forgoing all the logical traffic 'sources' on That Other Route).
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