Nick – thanks for the offer of a beer, mines a Kimberly Mild – sad news is that local paper announced decision taken a few days back that closure would be soon and that was official. That is Green King for you – an independent but fast becoming a Grim Reaper. We have to put up with their brews (IPA and Abbott) all over the place. I know Pete will be sorry to hear this too.
Pete – good point about the cheap tickets – they are usually operator specific so yes, they will be cut back too I suspect. There’s a big story behind the cheap fares which is outside the scope of this post and rarely covered in the media as it is complex to those who don't understand railways – after some ill informed articles about supposed rip off fares I contacted a journalist and suggested he write a detailed story explaining not HOW but WHY. To his credit he did and the story is on this link (of interest if you want to know why UK fares are so crazy). I’m pretty sure I’m the person quoted in the last para. I’ll paste the article of the link does not work.
http://money.guardian.co.uk/consumernews/story/0,,1783832,00.html
The excuse re dropping Gatwick / Brighton is they are increasing the Reading – Gatwick not via London service. In itself this will be good, but a through passenger will still need 2 changes, and the stock will be local commuter stock with little baggage space so no good for airport passengers etc. I missed that Ramsgate service at the time (but was aware of it) I regret missing the Deltic Haulage now of course.
I’ve not been on a moving Pendolino but it looked cramped to me when I inspected one at Euston. I had the privilege of riding on an APT during the time it was put into public service as a relief train back in about 1984 (superb by the way) and that had decent windows and great interior layout which felt spacious enough given the restricted body dimension required to permit tilt within the UK loading gauge. As you know doubt know MK IV was built for tilt profile, and as you say, much better than a Pendolino from the passenger aspect.
I look forward to the rest of your Stirling journey.
Tom, back to The Ocean. I think I should take a note book actually, as I’m often thinking of past journeys and have no notes. But on this occasion I scribbled a few notes on a bit of paper so I could feed back here. I felt I’d got some great advice and I thought a few of the regulars might appreciate my thoughts, judging by the comments by and large people seem interested.
Just a few points though:
Learning Co-ordinator (LC) : Like you I had serious reservations, but the only way I could get in the Park Car was Easterly Class and the LC comes ‘free of charge’. We Brits tend to think that sort of ‘organised’ guidance is rather too forward, and lets face it, those of us used to looking round the depot etc through the fence or in our own time and way don’t need the help, we have our own enthusiasm.
But my fears were unfounded. She was very low key, and basically operated as the Park car steward, and would answer questions people had, in a very interesting style (eg I asked her about the Phantom ship in Chaleur Bay and got a detailed and helpful answer, I also asked her for some museum recommendations in Halifax and that was answered helpfully too) – she did 2 talks unprompted, one about the Lobster industry and one about regional wines, but you could just ignore it if you wanted. To my mind she struck EXACTLY the right note. Later in the evening when only myself and my partner were in the Park Car I was chatting to her and asking about the bedrooms in the car and the car layout (they are used for the crew now the stock is Ren as they don’t have the rooms listed on the computer for booking now the Park Car is seasonal) and it did not occur to me to ask but I’d hardly mentioned my interest in them than she offered to show us the rooms, allowed us to take pictures etc (which was in, after all, her and other staff’s private rest space). I can not speak highly enough of her efforts.
Mind you, it was all I could do to persuade her not to put ice in the Scottish Single Malt my partner chose as an evening drink, but I selected a Canadian Rye whisky on her advice, and she said it was usual to drink that on ice, so I took her advice. Not bad I thought.
One thing I forgot to ask about was the protocol on tipping / gratuity. I know it varies for different staff on the train, but the LC did such a good job and was very kind and helpful I wanted to show our appreciation so gave her 20 Dollars Canadian. Do you feel that was appropriate?
Given the desirability of the Budd cars though I think I might have selected the Chaleur for my journey east (although I did need to get to Halifax to pick up my flight to the UK – which given the reduced time in the flying sardine can that flying to/ from Halifax allows, I just might fly in and out of there every time I need to get to Eastern Canada! Hang the extra cost – the journey was worth it alone in my view).
American Orient Express / Rocky Mounaineer: We think exactly alike, quite clearly. The only thing of interest to me about the AOE was the stock – seemed to have a Skyline and a Park car on the AOE – is that the case? Do the other vehicles in the consist have any pedigree?
Thanks for the movie house tip. Next time you do British theme day maybe I can request some of those BTF films get a showing, perhps mixed in with the selction of the US stuff Coalminer3 mentions?
Cheerio
DL-UK
PS - thanks for the Quebec bridge info - I see there was link with the Forth Bridge - a slim one. Having just crossed it I still maintain it needs a lick of paint!
Guten Tag allerseits!
Wie ist jeder? Es ist Octoberfest, Partei wollen wir!
Back again to acknowledge the fine efforts of our "regular" CM3 and our new found friend, DL in the UK! Appreciate your participation and enjoyed the input. Round appreciated along with the quarters, from our West Virginia "connection."
That brings to mind something along the lines of the "protocol" we have here at the Saloon by Siding:
One MUST greet the bartender upon entering and one MUST order a drink and/or food. Otherwise ONE receives a tweetable offense - in the case of DL, that's ONE offense - no greeting! Punishment is levied in the form of a fine - which most times is buying the house a drink or three! It could get more severe, depending on what the "infractions" happen to be! (These are but a few of the "things" separating us from the other Threads . . . .) <grin>
Oh yes, for the coffee, tea and soda drinkers - it's $5 per drink! You might say! This IS a bar, hardly a coffee shop, diner or ladies auxiliary tea circle! Order some food and the charge is forgiven!
Yes, CM3 - Cards won! It was a good game to watch as the Red Birds looked as if they were all on the same page, so to speak. Getting to the other guys' "best" is always a good way to start out. However, we need 2 more victories, before any chortling begins from me - and then I doubt it will be audible! Mets look as if they just might - maybe - could be in for some difficulty. I concur that Pedro has really not factored in for a long time, but they were relying on El Duke - or whatever he's called. The Dodgers could - might - maybe - pull this out. It should be a good series.
DL - Depending on what one "reads" - I've seen it both ways - protocol for my way of thinking is to reward exceptional service, nothing less - dining is the exception - again, just my Twenty dollar tip in anyone's way of doing things seems most generous to me. The only "tips" I ever received during my career were along the lines of "don't take any wooden nickels!" Now, you'll probably have to be a bit more "Americanized" to figure that one out!
In case anyone has forgotten - the quarters are for our Juke Box (5 plays for 25 cents) - all digitized - we call it Herr Wurlitzer! The repository for the quarters is a rather large pickled pig's feet jar that was named Coal Scuttle, as a result of a "contest" we had some pages back. So, to feed the Coal Scuttle is really putting quarters aside for use in Herr Wurltizer! And, we have two cash registers pretty much at either end of the bar - one is Tilla the other Cashinator - again, products of a "contest."
CM3 - Immediately after graduation from high school (6 AM the following morning) my journeyman plumber Uncle picked me up and off we went to one of his favorite "jumping off spots" before work. While I couldn't look a glass of milk in the eye, he'd have a "shot 'n a beer" to begin the day. No more - just that. We'd also run across many construction guys in that tavern - some were Mohawk iron workers - and they were quite a bunch. Fearless is just one descriptor that comes to mind. I was just an apprentice plumber - and a poor one at that. My name was "kid" and I only spoke when spoken to. My oh my how times have changed, eh
DL - My "problem" isn't with the Learning Coordinator, it's more the idea of it all that totally ticks me off. When one travels the cross Canada train, the "Canadian," usually one of the crew takes care of the appropriate announcements and the like when coming up on scenic and informational places. These people are never in your face, bothersome or otherwise taking away from the ambiance of traveling in a real train to real destinations. When I had learned that not only were the Budd cars coming off the Ocean and that a LC would set up shop in the Park Car - well, nothing more needs to be said."Who needs it?" said I. Obviously some do - some appreciate it - and that's all well and good. Mine are many, many enjoyable trips - in the solititude of the hum of the chatter, the sounds of the car as it moves along the steel rails and the zipping by of the trees, poles and assorted other visuals that always captivate me. Listening to someone tell me what I already know isn't a treat - and that's selfish - but nonetheless, it's how I feel.
I knew that the Park car bedrooms were going to be restricted for crew use. That's another "rub." VIA Rail has screwed up "my train" and I seriously doubt that I'll be back for one of the most pleasant rail journeys in my years - Montreal to Halifax. Ahhhhhhh, but I have so many memories! Our first trip was in 1990 and the last was in 2005. I've traveled the Renaissance version on a weekend visit to a friend in New Brunswick, and that's where my first hand info on those "Chunnel Chuggers" was obtained. There was no Park Car for that particular journey, as VIA hadn't yet finalized the "gimmick" of attracting more tourists.
Through all of my ramblings, it is good to know that you found the Park car to be what I had hoped. You now have locked into your experiences something that very few will ever have. Those Budd cars used to criss-cross most of the USA, along with other "varieties" - domes were "king." All gone now - except of course for the excursions and the like. Must admit, now tha
NOTICE - NOTICE - NOTICE
"Our" Place has been challenged by the boyz over at the 2nd Class Saloon in Can-Am Village to a grudge match of DARTS! Best 3 out of 5 games takes the bragging rights.
So, who amongst you are "up" for this We are looking for a few good men who can handle their darts AND their beer!
We need TWO TEAMS OF TWO . . . . Sign up board is back in the Pool Room, next to the handcuff display. First to sign up will comprise the teams. Post your intentions here as well!
Deadline: Must have names not later than close of business October 18th.
RULES: Those of the Brtitish Darts Organization with counting down from 501.
WANTED: A reporter to "narrate the results" and provide a SUMMARY for the guys at the bar. Contact me by Email if you are up to the challenge for this ESSENTIAL position!
When: In early November - precise dates 'n times to be announced. Games 1 and 3 will be held at the 2nd Class Saloon - transportation provided by Mentor Village Carriages, Vito the Hit, owner-operator. Game 2 will be held in our pool room.
Tom
Hi Tom and all.
Hopefully I can get this in at my usual time. A Kimberley Mild is an excellent drink to start please RUTH. Even if the brewery does close Tom will be able to still get it at Our Place.
NICK Glad you got Lord Beaverbrook working well, it sounds as stong as the prototype.
I too am hoping that we can get the regulars over to travel the British rails one day, of course the "Road to the Isles behind steam is a must.
Interesting point on the light on the pics, I have heard many say that the light in the 60s was the best that there has been for colour pics, also it its amazing how the colour of some locos change in photos, Mallard spings to mind.
Are the Oompah Band really going to play Stones classics this weekend.
MIKE Great post on the Super C Chicago_ Los Angeles freight. Who was Gerty do you know.
Great links, as usual, the artwork on the Santa Fe ADs is very good. Do you think the Oktoberfest loco will be needed Saturday night..
JAMES Thanks for the layout pics. The locos at night is a great photo.
DL-UK. Sad news indeed about Kimberley, am I right in thinking the Trip To Jerusalem in Nottingham sold a range of their ales. There are a lot of Greene King Pubs in my home town. The Abbot is not TOO bad, but it is too strong for a quaffing beer, about their other stuff the least said the better as far as I am concerned, and with some good pubs being turned in to private houses not a good time at all for the British beer drinker.
Thanks for the link to the ticket prices, I know peak fares are unbelieveablely dear, you get the feeling the rail companies would love it if they could get the trains, like airplanes, only reserved seats that have to be booked in advance. GRRRR.
Those are some great DVDs. I dont think the UK DVDs are compatable over here as I have tried one and it wont play on the player although the computer can play it, apparently there is only a few discs it will do this, (about 5 if I recall right). Perhaps one of the regulars knows if there is a DVD player available over here that will play UK discs as well.
Here is part 2 of the trip in June
Tour to Scotland 2006
Part two Newcastle to Stirling
At Newcastle the 7:30 AM from London King’s Cross terminated and after a few minutes 91120 hauled the Mk IV coaching stock off to Heaton Depot for servicing. After the platform was clear the Edinburgh train arrived, having left King’s Cross at 8 AM but with a couple less stops, hauled by electric loco # 91102 Durham Cathedral. An on time departure past the Newcastle Keep which looked over a grand sets of diamond crossings in steam days, the track layout as been much simplified nowadays.
The train is soon speeding north past Heaton depot now mainly serving Diesel Multiple Units. Further north is a triangular junction which is a freight only line heading east and serving and area which was the Northumberland coalfield the area from which the Stephenson’s came from and is known as the “Cradle of Railways”.
Past a couple of lines serving open-cast coal pits and pleasant scenery the train approaches Berwick coming from the south the famous Royal Border Bridge (Mike had a great link showing the bridge in one of the posts at Our Place) is visible from the train as it as to make a long 90 degree turn. Over the bridge our train makes the only stop on this trip at Berwick-On-Tweed.
The reason I took the East Coast route to Scotland was that I had not traveled over the line north of Newcastle for many years. Leaving Berwick the train soon passes into Scotland and onto a part of the line, which runs on top of cliffs alongside the North Sea, this scenic bit of line does not get a lot of publicity unfortunately.
With Edinburgh bay to the east the train is soon slowing for Waverley station.
The station as been extended in the past and is quite difficult to navigate if not a regular user. We had arrived at platform 20, which is separated, from the main part of the station by a wall. So it was over the footbridge in to the main part. I though the train to Stirling would be leaving from one of the North Bays but it was due to leave from the south end of one of the through platform. Luckily it was a couple of minutes late and I was able to make the connection.
Waverley station was known to be tricky in the early days and by tradition the clock on the North British Hotel, by the station in Princes Street, runs two minutes fast.The hotel and clock can be seen in the top left corner of Mike’s first Waverley station link
There is a couple of great links to photos of Waverley in Mike’s post.
Heading north from Waverley the line runs through a shallow cutting with Edinburgh Castle high on a hill on one side and Princes Street on the other, after two tunnels the train calls at Haymarket station. On departure of the station Haymarket loco depot is passed. In steam days it supplied the top-link locos for the East Coast, including the A4 loco for the Non-Stop Elizabethan Edinburgh to London express a duty shared with King’s Cross depot. Later it looked after the Diesel fleet including 8 of the legendary Deltic Express Passenger Diesel-Electrics. Today the modernized depot looks after a large part of the Scottish Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) fleet, of classes 150/2, 156 158 and 170/4.
After heading north for a few miles we head west towards Glasgow, leaving the line to the Forth and Tay bridges and Aberdeen. The magnificent Forth Bridge can be viewed in the distance from this line. I have heard that it is illuminated at night by floodlights a sight I would love to see.
Through Falkirk and a tri-angular junction it is not far to Stirling a pleasant enough trip on the 2-Car class 158 DMU although with the slowest approach to the station stops I can remember in quite a while. The last time I arrived in Stirling was on a steam special after a 10-day tour of S
Good afternoon Tom and all assembled. Ruth I think I could manage a CR and one of the oktoberfest #3's with the extra saurkraut and the honey garlic farmers sausage I had shipped in from Kitchener Waterloo.
Right to the catch up's on yesterdays fine fare and that which has transpired today.
Tom-A darts tourney eh you can puit me down to play , I've never done 501 but those guts at the second class agenerally too drunck to hit the board let alone the bullseye Great rundown on the ATSF trains from you yesterday oh and could you tell that I forgot the spellcheckToday's bridge story was right on as per usual. I've just scene the documentary on our history channel on it again yesterday afternoon
Doug-I think I failed the test miserably though not as bad as Sir Nick did..I've always been an Alcophile ( confirmed also it's catching and has no known cure a other than purchasing a great many models of their fine locomotives oh and the odd MLW Canadian varient is even more ctaching ... as he coughs and sputters )
BK-Right on sage advice from you on all matters pertaining to the bar as usual.I also thoroughly enjoyed your drum heads as well. I have to say that the ATSF's were always some of the most attractive and ornate in my mind. Thanks for the thanksgiving wishes as well and allow me to wish you and Lydia and capt Tom and family best wishes as well.
Mike-An excellant write up on the Super Chief, thanks for shareing sir.
Pete-I'm glad that you enjoyed the Pt 3.It's interesting to hear that a Harvey House is re-oppenning. I don't imagine that you will be able to purchase a steak dinner with tthe trimmings for $1.75 or one of the other gormet meals for $0.50 however.
Lars-I see that you were able to make it in with your bookcovers as well which is great. Nice to see that the theme days are still "cooking with gas" as they say.
CM3-I must say that your ATSF item did not dissapoint. You are the sage writer of our membership I must say.5x sir. And a wonderfull G&MO and in today as well.This is the kind of stuff that makes me log in every day.
DL-Nice to see you regularly on board.Hiopefully you and Nick and Pete will sign up for darts as well,then my lack of skill won't be as noticable.I'd have to concur with both you and Tom, the AOE and TH Mountaineer would do nothing for me.I suspect that you are right in your assesment of their satff,likely the low paid unappreciated, same as most cruise lines.Give me regular rail travel. I always marvell at the setail of both yours and Tom's descriptions of the sleeper car service. I've never partaken in a sleeper service on a train always short range trips , along the VIA Corridor or on a commuter train.Yes Tom the list is long , so unfortunatly or fortunatly our life spans
James-Nice layout shots again sir.At least your layour has some scenery !
Well appologies to anyone I've forgotten, I'll leave a bit of extra cash in Tilla for a round for anyone I may have unwittingly snubbed. Ring the ding there Boris. Him in ledrehosen I have to say just isn't right
Rob
First team for the Darts Challenge is set: Pete 'n Rob! Okay, Gents - two more names and we're "in"!! Don't forget - perhaps the most important participant in all of this will be the REPORTER.
You know, it's fun again at the bar when we have the participation we've seen lately along with the obvious enthusiasm and interest displayed on these pages. Really think this is the way we should strive to maintain "Our" Place - many thanx to all who give a "Rat's Patoot"!!
Good to see the Wolfman stop by and we've become rather accustomed to his "spot" at this time of the day. As long as the 'puter doesn't screw things up, eh You have a new Mate now with DL appearing on consecutive days. You kow what's nice about that - amongst other things He READS the words, as do you and Nick. A fine, fine attribute and something that I hope is picked up by one and all. Now that is not to say our "regulars" from this side of the "the pond" don't do the same thing - however, we all have been witness to those who just pop in - drop their witty or not so witty remarks - and take off without so much as a fair-thee-well. You KNOW my atttiude about that, eh Screw 'em all but six, and save those for pall bearers!
What's with you guys driinking English brew when it's OKTOBERFEST!! <grimmace>
Rob - great seeing you too this afternoon and a fine inclusive Post you dropped on us. Appears as if you're back in "shape" - must be something in the water, eh Is it just me, or do you really have a cast iron stomach <grin> Didn't pick that up at the St. George Arms!
As an aside, for the guys who don't know, the St. George Arms wound up being the "official pub" for our 1st Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous in Toronto this past May. All three evenings were spent there and quite frankly, it's a good thing that we had things to do each morning, or I'd still be there! <oooooh>
Appreciate the favorable comments on the Quebec Bridge. You know, there's just so much all of us DON"T KNOW - and isn't it grand to enjoy the revelations
So, where IS EricX2000 Eric We can only "wonder" in wonder at what he MAY be doing in Sweden!! The dream of dreams - slave of sorts to a 6 ft blue eyed, blonde beauty in a sting bikini - ah, I digress! On a TRAIN of course, just to maintain our "connection" with the subject matter 'round here. <grin>
Pete- we've discussed this before, but once you reach "that" point in life, it makes absolutely no sense to procrastinate.Our young friends just haven't a clue - priorities are far different - but one thing in life is absolute: there are NO do-overs. So, when it comes to I "shudda, wudda, cudda" - tell it to the wind, Mate - you had your chance and you blew it. So "fess up" and accept it. End of sage advice from siberianmo.<grin>
Enjoyed your Part Two and the accompanying Pix! Well done, Sir! That Pub looks like a place that you and I could easily get in "trouble" in! Yes, I know the story - we've discussed it - but still, it really looks like "my kinda place." Thanx!
The Stones supposedly will stop by our tent this weekend - whether it's ooooompah or not remains to be seen.
I just HAVE to say this: One of these guys has been "dubbed" a "Sir" by the Queen. Okay - fine. But how come these ingrates haven't spent one minute of their time peforming for the troops in far flung places, some where lives are being given for those who would NEVER do the same That stuff irritates me . . . Yeah right, Sir Mick - Sir Paul - Sir Elton. <barf> Go out and entertain the young people from the UK, Canada and Austrailia (and perhaps some not-so-young) who are are willing to defend the freedoms they take for gran
Good Evening TOM and fellow imbibers-A Staropraman for me pleas (will I never learn....) and a round for the house.
A brief visit tonight as I am on a short break from an experiment ( no-not like that,you evil minded bunch..)-attempting to record a song via internet-currently waiting for Stevie,in London at college, to record a guitar part or two onto the demo he has been sent,I will then edit and record the bass (tonight ) & drums (tomorrow) and send it on to Chrissie to work out her vocal parts which we will record as soon as she can get over here.
Anyway,should have time to throw some pix at you but will have to do the socialising bit in the a.m-please excuse the breach in bar etiquette-perhaps another round will go some way to smoothing things over....................
O.K then,pix it is-some more views of the S.O.B lines,for your amusement
" border="0" />
Here we have the `Metro` section with former DWP RS11 bringing a Detroit-Toronto service towards the industrial area branch junc. The Bradford GO train is easing in for a station stop at the rear. The crew hostel is on the left. The 1st boxcar IS on the rails-the drill bit in the foreground remains a mystery..........
Looks like some unlucky sales rep will be taking his cheque-book to the car pound.... O.N.R boxes delivering newsprint to the Globe & Mail printworks at the rear-Its rained recently if the shine on the tarmac is any clue...
Similar shot from a different angle-The O.N.R.`chevron` car is hand painted and lettered with C.D.S rub-downs (although the flash has distorted the colour) whilst the `progressive` scheme car awaits lettering
Steel stockholders spur (with Bradford backscene behind)
Late afternoon sunlight creates odd lighting effects...industrial district with `big hill` to rear,leading up to where Bradford board should be
similar shot ,but with less `atmospheric` lighting
And further round again:- from the front,industrial area,local line,through line ( with via service ) and the bank ( with #410 Gravenhurst-Toronto)
`Eye in the sky` shot-`north-east `corner
`North-west` corner
`South-west` corner
As can be seen-much remains to be done -not least a serious tidy up of the workspace,still Rome wasn`t built in a day........................
Right,looks like I`m needed elsewhere-a round for the chaps before I go please Leon
Will catch up on all the good stuff going on tomorrow a.m. (the middle of the night to you guys)
Take care now,nick " border="0" />
G-day captain Tom and those here.
Rob, Pete, Coalminer- Thanks for the comments on my layout. I will keep on worling with the night shots. Just need to find some more areas to do so.
Tom- Since the Dart contest is going on and you have not been able to put up a theme for the Day for tomorrow. Can I suggest a Theme Like the Rock Island
This is some of my collection that I have displayed at the moment. Starting at the top: Milw. Rd. Little joe; Northern Pacific Steam locomotive 4-8-8-4 with business car. A nothern pacific VO-1000 ( not on the track) a Northern pacific S6 (The only one made for NP) and a Milwaukee road Steeple Cab. This is a small portion of my collection and is some of my best stuff without the DCC in it. My layout is all DCC.
Rock Island U25B. It not looking so good at this point. Year is 1980 and the "Rock" is dieing.
Rock Island 2, Silvis, IL, May 30, 1965, Photo by Karl C. Henkels. SD45.com
Now this!!??... Um.. Well, I really don't know what "this" is... I know its Classical since its passenger but.. Nothing I've ever seen before. I think this is one of those Turbos, but not like the Turbo trains. Probably a precursor to the Turbo train.
I'm hoping that suggesting this, doesn't cause any problem as seeing that you were busy for most of the afternoon.
So with the moon I wish you a good night and Happy railroading
James
Wie ist jeder? Es ist OKTOBERFEST, Partei wollen wir!
Petrol has dropped to $2.17 (rounded) up at "Collusion Corner" as the world's price per barrel continues to drop by the double digits. Go figure that!! Cold front moved in for some relief and at least for the next couple of day it will be more tolerable 'round mid-continent USA. However, warm-up is expected for the weekend. <ugh>
Next week's TUESDAY Theme for the Day! will be the Rock Island Line (a mighty fine road!) As has been the practice 'round here, we have ONE THEME per week and it is on TUESDAY's. Good suggestion, James, even if a bit early on the day.
Thanx to Nick our OPTIONAL Toy 'n Model Trains Day! wasn't a wash-out - fine layout shots and always enjoy looking at 'em. However, given the lateness of the hour (or "earlyness) and perhaps the impaired condition of the Engineer - maybe it's best for those fine looking trains to remain at idle!
That fine looking Rock Island locomotive from James is the GM LWT-12, which powered the Aerotrain - a light weight passenger train designed to speed up and revolutionize travel. They were also tested on the New York Central, Union Pacific and Pennsylvania with the Rock Island purchasing all three sets. The era was in the mid 50s to mid 60s, give or take a year or so. Lots of info on the web - just do a search on Aerotrain.
Reminder: We still need TWO names to make-up our 2nd team for the Darts Challenge in November. See the info "up" on this Page . . . Also - really need to line up someone for the REPORTER's job!! (That person may also engage in the tournament . . . .)
Okay, Gents - enough from me as I must get about the day.
Boris, serve ‘em up all of the “spiked” OJ they can handle!
Auf Wiedersehen!
Good Morning Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox. Let’s play “Moon Over the Motel,” “Washington at Valley Forge,” and “My Everyday Silver is Plastic.” Can’t say our selections are not eclectic.
Thanks to all for kind words re writing. Pete – I enjoyed the travelogue.
Nick – Camera never lies, does it? Anyway, upon further examination, I figured out that it was not a drill bit at all. It was a zeppelin mooring mast that probably rolled off a flatcar on a passing freight. BTW, all layouts are a work in progress – you should see my house(!) The RS11 shot reminded me of when the Peg units were on the CV. Now if I could just find the pictures.
Our ‘steamed proprietor is setting up a darts tournament? With the cast of characters in this place, I had an immediate flash back to the darts match between the Inspektor and the Doctor in “Young Frankenstein.” We have to show that one at the local theeatuh for Halloween.
If you need a reporter, I’m your man. For real, I used to be a sports stringer for a paper yrs. ago. I assume the reporter puts news stories together that, at the least, have to be loaded (no Boris, not that kind of loaded!) with sporting clichés.
To wit: The Captain of the Our Place Outragers, emerging from the body cavity search/decontamination/ shower tent graciously provided by the Mentor VFD, remarked between pulls on an oxygen mask, “It was a great match; I was so drunk I saw three bulls’ eyes and threw at the one in the middle. Fortunately it didn’t move. Just lucky, I guess. Anyway, individual scores don’t matter because we’ll take each match one at a time. The important thing to remember is that I’m here to help the ballclub.”
Will that work?
Herewith some material about three well-known switching lines in Chicago. Close reading of this material reveals a lot of fallen flags, and some interesting stuff about refrigerator car service at it was back in the late 60s.
Chicago River and Indiana RR Company
The Chicago River and Indiana RR Company (Chicago Junction District) has direct connection with all trunk lines entering Chicago. It serves the Union Stock Yard & Transit Co. to which all connecting railroads have access. It also serves the large packing plants and the Central Manufacturing District, a model industrial community embracing some 350 industries
Chicago River District serves approximately 150 industries available to all trunk lines through reciprocal switching and provides fast intermediate service between all trunk lines.
Excellent transportation facilities for the handling of carload freight, as well as a centralized location, provide the territory served with exceptional industrial advantages.
Kankakee Belt Route
Save a full day by routing eastern and western shipments over the Kankakee Belt Route through the Chicago District. The KBR, with 26 direct rail connections, bypasses the heavily congested classification yards in Chicago.
Connects with MILKW, Burlington, LS&BC, C&NW, IC, N&W, ATSF, GN&O, NYC, C&EI, MON, PRR, B&O, C&O
Indiana Harbor Belt “Connects With All Chicago Railroads.”
Interchange service – Linking east and west, the IHB provides fast, dependable intermediate service to and from all trunk lines operating in Chicago.
Re-Icing Facilities – The IHB re-icing facility, at Blue Island, Illinois, is one of the largest in the World. It can produce 1,000 tons of ice daily and can store up to 15,000 tons. Sixty-five reefer cars may be re-iced simultaneously. Mechanical refrigerator cars requiring attention are quickly serviced for prompt delivery to connections.
Work safe
P.S. Rock Island - all right! Let's slide over to LaSalle St and watch them and the NYC and the NKP.
Hello Tom and fellow staff – an apology for that lack of greeting before – too busy thanking Nick for his round. Forgive me. I’ll bear in mind the theme for the month and order a Kolsch from Cologne (if you’ve never visited that city the main tourist attraction is the cathedral – and the best view of the cathedral just happens to be from the pedestrian footbridge over the Rhine that is part of the main rail bridge,
- so that is handy as you know what else you can thus see from that footbridge – yep almost every train in and out of that major junction station).
I’ll order some food too – any chance of the vegetarian dish of the day today?
Now onto matters raised.
Tom: re the Park Car – others have been interested in this conversation so excuse us if we press on. My thoughts about the LC were EXACTLY the same as yours – “who needs that”, but the staff member concerned redeemed it in my view by her low key approach – no sales push, just bar service if you need it, not dissimilar to the standards of service here at Our Place I would suggest! Other staff may not be so good but there we are.
I’d go so far as to say don’t write off The Ocean so long as the Park car is in the consist, and it was not too touristy as most of the tourists on board could not be bothered to walk back there!
The Chaleur – no, I was not being clear – as you say, could not do it as a run in the way you mention for the reasons you state, but I might have gone out east to Gaspe and back to Matapedia or some convenient spot, then holed up and waited for eastbound Ocean. Could have got Skyline and Park car on the itinerary then. Maybe too ambitious but would be worth a try.
Also forgot to thank you for the Halifax pics which were handy. Nova Scotia hotel was full but we found a great small place from our guide book called the Halliburton which was nice and close to the station. Allowed easy visits to The Citadel, Pier 21 and The Atlantic Museum as well as the Corvette boat. Nice to pay respects to the guys who helped keep us (or my parents and grandparents I should say) from starvation in the dark days of ’39 – ’45, by visiting that ship.
Evening of arrival took an evening walk round the area to the back of the station (near the micro brewery in fact) and imagine my surprise to find, in the shadow of our parked up Dome Car (train had been turned for next day’s return journey) one of the world’s iconic people movers, the London Routemaster double decker bus, parked in the car park. As you may know, these are no longer in squadron service in London, but next day I found they were staple transport for tourist buses round Halifax. All I can say is I hope they look after them!
Now for a gripe – next day was a day The Ocean does not run, so 2 sets end up parked at the station all day, walking by in by now brilliant sunshine 2 Park Dome Cars stood gleaming side by side. I walked into the empty station hall and went to the ticket desk. In my politest, clearest tourist accent I asked the guy on duty (who did not seem too busy) if there was any chance I could go out on to the platform and take a picture of those 2 domes. Answer – “NO, passengers are not allowed on the platforms” - all I can say is a real jobsworth attitude, so disappointing. Certainly no 20 dollar tip for him I’m afraid.
American Orient Express – I thought the last car was a bullet end, but I may have been wrong – I did not get as close a look as I wanted due to officious staff barring my way. The cars did have smooth sides, but I’d be interested to know what that means when in the “inverted commas” as you used.
Pete – Yep Trip to Jerusalem is a Kimberley House, that will become / is now a Green King pub, although they may keep the current brand they use here for “badge engineering” purposes I guess, too early to tell yet. The pub is unspoilt though and will probably stay that way – same can’t be said for the beautiful brewery buildings.
Enjoyed the rest of your Stirling trip notes, very good – the scenic section north of Berwick has become more high profile as it got voted most scenic stretch of rail journey in UK by a celebrity orientated magazine (!) a year or so back. It is not the most scenic stretch (I maintain that goes to certain Scottish routes or Settle – Carlisle for England, but as your notes suggests, it really is a beautiful stretch).
Meant to ask – did you enjoy dining on the GNER route on this occasion (I rate it highly)?, and have you done UK sleeper journey recently or do you prefer watching the passing scene?
By the way – did you know the all UK paper timetable book (the National Rail Timetable) is to be ceased printed in Summer 2007 – if you want a souvenir copy you should try and get one on order.
Incidentally – on a Great Central point (past themes) this w/e is a gala event and here is the run down: Think I might need to fit this into my schedule, esp to see the 1937 Coronation Beavertail car now restored – you north American friends think streamlined version of Park car with no dome, painted superb blue and silver – more info here if interested but Observation saloons are very rare in the UK so this is very interesting:
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/rvp/beaver.htm
GCR 6/7 Oct run down:
· Special Guest Loco 35005
· Traveling Post Office runs each day (drops at Quorn 11:52 and 4:16)
· Evening mail drop on Saturday 6:46
· Intensive passenger service from 8:50 to 5:15
· Demonstration Freight trains
· Demonstration Windcutter trains
· Special 'Railway Experience evening' at Quorn on Saturday 5:40 - 7:30
· Beer tent at Quorn, open Saturday, Saturday evening and Sunday.
· Inspection Saloon in use (extra £5 fare - tea, coffee & biscuits) on RB trains
· Coronation Observation Saloon on RB trains (subject to availability - sorry the coach is not finished yet and you cannot ride in it)
· All Day Breakfast available on Griddle car
· Special 'silver service' breakfast (limited spaces) on 9:15 train £10
· Afternoon Tea on 3:45 train £6.50
· Evening 'Beerex' trains with food 6:00 and 7:20 Saturday
· Trains passing on the double track every few minutes
· Turn up and drive a loco (extra fee payable)
Trolleyboy – Thanks for your comments – I’m sure you would enjoy sleeper travel after these notes, what happened to The Enterprise Toronto Montreal Service by the way?
You seem to have a link with Halton County Streetcar museum. Is that Ontario based? I’d like to visit that in the future, I have family in Toronto – is it too far away? It looked very good from the publicity I saw last time I was in Toronto 2 years back.
Tom – just noted your point about the Stones and the knighthoods, these guys were playing Halifax day of our arrival and that was reason hotels booked up. Irrespective of the music these guys should retire in my humble opinion. If the steam locos here had to be off the rails by 1968, they could have hung up their instruments ‘bout the same time!
James – great pic of that aerotrain – nice to know more about that. Still looks futuristic to me!
Sorry for the continuing UK theme of some of this post, but good to be in conversation on various matters.
DL - UK
Guten Morgen allerseits!
Ahoy Mates! Back again for just a couple of acknowledgments . . . welcome aboard CM3 'n DL! You two certainly have brightened up an otherwise "blah" morning.
THANX CM3 for volunteering to take the REPORTER's position! A most essential ingredient to make this Bragging Rights DARTS CHALLENGE a success. Now whether it ends up as a WIN for "Our" Place, that's something we'll all have to wait 'n see.
Once I read your "sample" offering, it was a hands down (as opposed to thumbs down!) decision - no contest - you were "in"!!
DL - "Smoothsides" (with or without the quotation marks) simply refers to the first of the light weight streamlined passenger cars that were manufactured without using the corrugated stainless steel sides (an innovation of the Budd Company). Those cars looked mighty fine when matched and painted in their respective company liveries. My memory banks are full of images of passenger trains at the platforms at New York City's Grand Central Terminal and over at Penn Station - all sitting there, just waitin' to GO!
Also, the VIA Rail policy of going onto the train platform to take Pix has taken on a more rigid enforcement since the events of September 11th, 2001. I recall dropping by the Halifax station and going right out to snap off dozens of Pix - no problems and in fact got some encouraging remarks from the guys working there. They may have always had a "no passengers on the platform rule" - but it was pretty much up to those working the stations. No more. Times have changed and I'm afraid not for the better. Of course Pix taking still goes on at the longer station stops - such as the one you had at Moncton. That was always a great time to expend a roll!
The overnight train between Montreal and Toronto that VIA Rail reinstuted went by the wayside due to budget cuts. It wasn't really a successful venture, but did provide an alternative for those with early morning business at either location. Those trains used to depart their respective "ends" of the route at about 11 PM and make their slow pace to their destinations. The passengers enjoyed the comforts of the Budd cars - including a Park car - food, bar, etc. and a nights sleep in their rolling hotel. Arrivals were at 8 AM. Kind of a nice touch - but hardly anything new, for that idea had been used by CN years ago (Rob can elaborate better than I on that one).
I had heard that the Renaissance equipment had taken over the Enterprise as those Budd cars became more in demand for the western routes, thereby helping to reduce interest in that travel. No matter, the "budgeteers" in Ottawa dropped the axe and it's gone, gone, gone.
One of my 50-something sisters-in-law managed to obtain tickets to that Stones concert in Halifax where 50,000 were rained upon by nature and the "boyz". I believe she traveled to Moncton a year or two ago to attend one of their performances as well. These guys and so many others who have had a taste of the fame 'n fortune, aren't about to retire - not as long as there is a market. The steam loco's would still be pulling their consists if only there was a need for 'em, don't ya think
Touched a tender note with me with your reference to the '39-'45 period. My father was a Merchie (4th mate to begin with, 1st mate at war's end) - he did his WWII voyages in the north Atlantic - sailed many a convoy to your land and up into Murmansk as well. Didn't see him for 4 years of that war - many will never know or appreciate the sacrifices made by those guys who manned the freighters and tankers bringing essential goods and war materials to the British Isles and other places.
CM3 - those Chicago switching line roads you presented may be well known up thataway, but all of it was "news" to me! <grin> [As always, appreciate the insights - quarters and round! Songs on the other hand - hmmmmm, perhaps some Stones stuff is in order - Satisfaction comes to mind!
DL - enjoyed the "Beavertail" URL and associated info. Always willing and ready to learn something new - and it was all NEW for me!
In the "You Gotta Believe" department: received an Email from Lars and he is off to the Yankees-Tigers game this afternoon up at the Stadium. Seems that one of his sons had two tickets to the game tha
Blast from the Past! - Blast fromt the Past!
from page 225
PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #60 Here’s something to enjoy regarding Great Britain’s LONDON & NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY in a 1933 advertisement from my private collection: BRING HISTORY TO LIFE IN ENGLAND Visit ancient York with its 1300-year old Minster; and Durham where likes the Venerable Bede, who died as he dictated the last words of the first translation of the Bible. Wander through the historic streets of Lincoln – headquarters of a Roman Legion during the Occupation – and Norwich, once the second city of England and still preserving many relics of medieval times. Visit Litchfield Cathedral renowned for its three beautiful spires, and put yourself back in the Middle Ages at Warwick Castle. See the old walls and picturesque streets of Chester. Look down from the battlements of those might castles that Edward I built at Caernarvon and Conway, and see what a task he had to conquer heroic Wales. Every country of Great Britain speaks to you of your own ancestors. Travel through those countries by L M S and L N E R to the places you must have longed to see every since you first read a history book. Illustrated Pamphlet from T. R. Dexter – Vice-President, Passenger Traffic, (Dept. A 34) L M S Corporation, 200 Fifth Avenue, New York City. H. J. Kitchgin, General Agent, (Dept. A 34) L N E R Railway, 11 West 42nd Street, New York City, or from your own ticket agent. L M S LONDON MIDLAND & SCOTTISH RAILWAY OF GREAT BRITAIN LONDON & NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY OF GREAT BRITAIN L*N*E*R
Bon voyage to Wolfman Pete! Enjoy! Tom
Afternoon all...long time no visit...This is your long absent West Coast connection...I confess to being completely ingorant as to the who, what ,where and why over the past two weeks...At this rate it will take nine months to catch up with all the activity....
Just wanted to take minute to say howdy to Tom, Nick, Rob, Lars, Barndad and all that in my haste failed to acknowledge... Not sure when i'll be up again (I using a borrowed puter, might piece of dubious quality though it be) Looks like plenty of action, let me contribute with a round for all who attend today, no time or dollar limit.....Meanwhile i'll strive to get up to speed, can't violate the house rules can I?
Until later
Dave
Hiya boys-before get down to business ,just wanted to get my name down for the darts tourney-my underarm delivery is known and feared throughout the district (as is my 12 pace run up overarm bowls technique) and would be honoured to represent the house-I feel CM3 is without doubt the man to cover the event for the MENTOR GAZETTE
right,back directly,nick
I have a Bathams, as I've got to get in practise for the English ales, RUTH and can you put me down for NICK's Fish'N'Chips for later please.
ROB Good to have a darts partner. It is a pity the prices at the Harveys are not the same nowadays, although if I remember right the dearest thing on the menu at the New Harveys at Kansas City Union station is $8.99, which is not too bad.
NICK. Thanks for the layout pics and the great descriptions .
JAMES Thanks for sharing the Model Cabinet, it looks great. I will catch up with the Rock Island Theme Day when I get back.
CM3 Glad you enjoyed part 2 and pleased you are going to report on the Darts Match.
Another great Switching Lines. I wonder how many of those 150 industries served by the Chicago River District are still in existance or still rail connected today There must have been many men employed in the Re-Icing Facilities.
DL-UK Yes I am enjoying the talk between TOM and you on the Canadian passenger trains.
Good words on the Halifax Corvette, I knew it would strike a chord with TOM, My father served on a Corvette on the North Atlantic run in WWII, and always had the most respect for the Merchant seamen.
I glad I was able to visit the TRIP when it sold Kimberley, Is the old Shipstones brewery which I belived closed quite a while ago still standing.
I agree, while the line along the coast north of Berwick is scenic it can't compare with the West Highland and the Kyle line or the S&C. The coast line on the Great Western by Dawlish is scenic as well especially at dawn when being hauled by a Western diesel hydrulic.
I had heard about the demise of the National Time-Table, a bad move in my opinion, imagine being at the mercy of the enquiry centre. Will the BR inquiry offices still have a National time table do you know.
Unfortunatly I did not have a breakfast on the GNER. I was not sure of the arrangement so I had got some food before I boarded. I wish I had waited and tried their Breakfast which was advertised on the train.
I must admit if I can travel in daylight I will, but I have used the sleeper to Fort William and Inverness, which was spoiled when the electric loco hitched off and it seemed a long time before the diesel hooked on and the car got cold.but is great to leave London and to wake up inthe Scottish Highlands.
Great link to the Beavertail, and thanks for the GC gala details, there is a very faint chance I may be able to go, it will depend on whats happens on the Sunday, anyway if I cant make and if you do go, perhaps you could tell us what was it like.
DAVE Good to see you in. Thanks for the beer hope you can up to speed and be back again soon.
LARS Hope you had a great time at the baseball matches.
I see NICK has called in and signed up for the darts.
TOM. Well we have got a great reporter in CM3 for the dart match, just one small point what kind of beer does the 2nd Class Saloon sell, it could very well effect team performance, we will have to have BORIS standing by with a barrel of good stuff from Our Place.
I agree with you on the UK civilian honours system, nowadays it is, IMHO, become a irreleverence which is a shame for the TRULLY great men and women that have been honoured. But who knows my opionion might change if I were to be knighted for "Service to the profits of the brewery owners"
Many thanks for the London & North Eastern Railway Blast from the Past. I still can't believe that the LNER and the LMS were co-operating in 1933, I wonder if there was a Brit-Rail Pass equivelent at the time.
By an Our Place coincedence the Railway Magazine are doing a LNER special this month and it should be out when I get there. I shall have to remember to bring one back.
Much appriciate the good wishes on our trip. I hope I will be able to call in the bar while over there.
Good wishes on your trip to Canada and LARS and BKs trips away. No doubt there be lots of great posts to catch up on when I get back.
Well LEON let me get a round for ALL the regulars, and dont forget the dart practise.
PETE.
Cards are up 2 games to zip - one more win and it's on to the next round!
It is evening here in mid-continent USA and we’ve just returned from our trek ‘round the subdivision with Juneau – his 2nd mile hike of the day. Seems a bit odd to return in the semi-darkness. We set out for walk #1 in the dark and return from #2 pretty much the same way. Petrol up at “Collusion Corner” dropped to $1.14 (rounded) – however, we look for a “spike” now that OPEC has decided to cut back production. How many of us know that oil prices have tripled in the past several years And we seem not to be able to counter it by any means. <barf>
Good to see Left Coast Dave – albeit a “hit ‘n run” Post – rather unlike him, but . . . Dave, you’re the ONLY California customer remaining, gotta do better than THAT plus we haven’t amassed too many Pages since your last visit – not at all like “old times.” Hope you’ll get back into the swing of things real soon, as we’re beginning to “hurt” again as planned absences take their toll. Many thanx for the round!
Nick – you’re “in”! Figured you for a Darts-kinda-guy. Underarm delivery, eh Better provide a wide berth when you’re “up”! <grin> So, here’s the “skinny” thus far:
Bragging Rights DARTS CHALLENGE participants:
Team #1 – Pete ‘n Rob
Team #2 – Nick ‘n ??????
Reporter – CM3
C’mon guys, we need ONE more player who can handle his beer ‘n his darts! Check out the Posts “up” on this page.
Pete – without a doubt we’re going to miss you and the excellent commentary you’ve entertained us with over these months. We know when our Wolfman is gone – hope the moon gets full and remains that way, real soon!
Leon, set 'em up and Boris, ring the bell - drinks on the Proprietor!
O.K. Leon,a double round and break out the special rum,this may take a while..........
quick note R.E. the darts-I assume we are playing traditional 501-double start,double finish or treble finish,which allows for bonus points for a 9 dart `set` ?.........
Right,DOUG-nice close ups of the S/F `alligator`-a fierce creature in it`s own right
TOM-Have to agree r.e the chuggers-best that can be said is that their construction kept men in employment...........Nice run-down on the S/F pass runs,had no idea that they had such a huge range of operation-us brits tend not to think on that sort of scale I guess-That shot of the Quebec bridge by night is an absolute beaut.-It does look a lot like the Forth bridge-still,only so many ways to build one I guess...?
CM3-Loved the alligator gag and the extra texture on S/F ops-nice one. delighted to see that the `Midnight Special `was more than a Leadbelly song (and a fine one at that)-the yard crew responsible for loading the spiral Zeppellin mast are all on a `fizzer`...That Chicago freight interchange would make a fine layout(although I rather think it`s already been done)
ROB-nice work on the Harvey catering chain-it`s the additional detail that makes the picture
DL-UK-an insightful trip report there my friend,well done ,will certainly print out a copy if,as or when I get the chance to make the trip--Grauniad report made interesting reading also-grew up by and used to travel regulaly on the Vic/E.Croyden/G/wick/Brighton line and take it from me-removing one block of seats from every coach and replacing them with luggage racks does not make an airport special--the new Padd/H/row service is a different kettle of fish altogether
BK(and LYDIA)-fine selection of drumheads-brought the other descriptions to life-a pic is worth a thousand words and all that
LARS-some fine bookcovers there-wish my local library was that far sighted.....hope you enjoyed the big game
MIKE-enjoyed the description of the trip,nice one mate
JAMES-nice night shot pix-you can almost hear the U-boats ticking over -daylight shots also good,nice transitional curves there,display cases also v. good (although I cricked my neck trying to read the titles on the bookshelf-U. LeGuin always good with me -stay with it mate.!!
PETE-R.E-60`s pix-My theory (oh lordy,he`s off again) the film from those days used an emulsion in which the red/yellow range lasted better than the blue/green range-thus they look `warmer` as they get older-look at some of Ivo Peter`s shots of the S&DJR from way back when-just a theory you understand-in those days it was always summer..........Nice description of the rest of the scots trip with fine pix--that lovely warm pinkish stone on the station building and the beautiful array of semaphores at the end of the platforms---The Settle Inn (marvellous pun ) looks like my kind of place-live music & a cashpoint-what more could an old muso wish for..........
ROB-back in the bar at last-you seem to have spent all night `back of house`-is the tax assessor due or something ?? -sit down and have a blue or two-you look quite worn out dear boy,it won`t do at all..........
ERICX2000-a lost soul it would seem,I met a lovely Swedish girl once-she offered to show me her Volvo.......
TOM-a nice reprise on the L.N.E.R/L.M.S race to the north........A well made point R.E Knighthoods etc-my understanding is that Keith gives $100,000 p.a to feed starving kids in africa but is furious that this has become known-perhaps `cos this doesn`t fit `the image` -who knows ??????
DL-UK-believe the last of the `Routemasters `was withdrawn from regular service last year-another era passes..R.E Stones-for my money they did their best work between `68 & `72-but each to his own says I-we start our second set with `Start me up` from `81 and also include `the last time` from about `64 and the punters love it-who am I to argue..?
DAVE-How nice to see you mate grab a seat and have some food whilst you are here-hope they are not riding you too hard -kick back and enjoy for an hour or two
Right,I`d better go & see how Boris & Copperkettle are coping in the galley..............
Oh lordy ....it`s worse than I could have imagined................................
O.K.......Tonight we have:-
Cod,Haddock or Halibut in batter
Plaice or Sole in herbed breadcrumbs
Whole baked Trout ,stuffed with Prawn mousse
Grilled Red Snapper
all served with french fries & `s salad
also the famous `track gang grill`-6oz steak,6oz gammon,2 lamb chops,devilled kidneys,double fried eggs plus a hand of locally produced sausages,fried mushrooms ,grilled toms & onion rings with a side of fries & a taxi home
Vegetarian option-Button mushroom,zuccini ,red pepper & cauliflower Stroganoff on a bed of mixed rices with a side of honey glazed baby carrots and fine beans.
O.K gents,looks like I`m in the galley for the rest of the evening-ENJOY...!!!!
Safe journey to all who are going out & about,see the rest of you soon.
Take care fella`s,all the best,nick
Hello Tom, and all the staff. That vegetarian special was mouthwatering Nick, a nice choice. I’ll order a pancake breakfast with juice today.
In this post I’ll just try and catch up with some comments and post what I think will be my final new comments on VIA Rail’s The Ocean – which will concern dining, a subject I have held back from up to now.
Tom – Smoothsides – thanks for that explanation, yep AOE cars were of that nature.
Pics at Halifax – I’m aware of the posts on various threads about the post 9-11 situation as it impacts on photographers, and no doubt had I pushed the guy he would have spun that line. In fact that is why I had the courtesy to ask – the lesson I learned was I should have barged through the doors, done the pics and just acted innocent in the unlikely event of being challenged, of course having asked I was not going to disobey his instructions, since that is rude and unreasonable. Did get some pics at Moncton – but weather was grey that day - since that was in your original list of tips (whilst my partner held the prime dome seats since you had recommended the stretch after that – quite rightly in my view – as a good scenic part).
Enterprise – last time I was in Toronto they were pushing the Enterprise with the new Ren sleeper cars, but after that the budget cuts must have come in, which must have freed those cars for The Ocean? All in all this plan must have sent either plenty of Budd cars out west, or to retirement, or to scrap? Do you know what has happened to them? – they are classics so I hope none have gone to the scrap man’s torch.
Corvettes and Merchant Navy – both in respect of yours and Pete’s comment – the contribution of those people is not forgotten here, at least not in our household, so my message of thanks is a genuine one. Those Murmansk runs must have been especially harsh. Nice to be in a bar where I can buy some drinks for people whose family made that contribution. I was pleased to be able to leave a comment to this effect in the ‘vette visitor book – even though the house style of all previous contributions was simply a name and address. I considered it appropriate to break the convention given the point I wished to make.
I believe they have opened a museum in Liverpool which shows the control room for the North Atlantic Convoy. I’d like to visit that. Here are some links:
http://www.liverpoolwarmuseum.co.uk/history/
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/exhibitions/boa/home.asp
LNER / LMS publicity – enjoyed that. I have some stuff from my own small collection of publicity and timetables and, in respect of your comment Pete, I think the UK companies co-operated on publicity BUT only for overseas adverts (not for anything in the UK until wartime when they issued publicity stuff jointly – but by then they were in effect under joint - government run – control). Did that literature have a pictorial cover Tom? The LNER in particular are known for their stylish deco artwork (now I think about it probably no surprise then that that Beavertail Saloon was an LNER designed vehicle too).
Pete – your other points:
Dawlish route: Yes, agree with you there 100%. Another good GWR route is mid Wales – most of the way from Welshpool – Pwllheli is very nice. Nick has posted about the narrow gauge in this area recently too.
Shipstones – closed about 1991. Yes – building is listed of historic interest and has been maintained. Is some sort of auction house and storage facility now, but underused. Home Brewery closed about 1996. Site cleared for dull supermarket apart from listed main building which is an office conversion. Mansfield Brewery closed a few years after that following shareholders decision to cut and run. Kimberley was the last of the locals in this neck of the woods – an industry wiped out locally leaving only a few micros.
UK National Time Table (NRT) – yes no point in relying on what I call the “Dis-Information” call centres – ask them anything subtle and they just take a wild guess and hope you will go away. Not sure what staffed offices will be expected to do, whether they will use computers for answering queries (as they mostly do) or if they will get special printed versions. Gone will be the days when a late train results in the guard walking down with a copy of the NRT in one hand to help people with connections – juts leave them to fend for themselves I expect.
They say they will publish the whole NRT as pdf docs on the web, one for each timetable. It would be nice if they could publish this on CD for sale if the paper one is to cease. In fact I must write a letter to them to press for this. Meanwhile if you see a copy whilst you are here I’d pick one up as a souvenir – you know where to ask – WH Smith at the large stations or indeed at the booking office of any well staffed station. Still a snip at 12 quid.
I think I will have to rely on the excellent Thomas Cook European Timetable which has quite a lot of the UK services detailed. If you are travelling anywhere in Europe – don’t leave home without a copy.
Dining: Here is the run down in case it is of use for this and future trips: the operators all have different regs so this summary might help for your current trip or for others. A properly prepared dining car meal is a real treat and will soon die out so if in the UK take the opportunity whilst you can!
With one exception operators only provide chef cooked meals Monday thru Friday:
GNER (London North East England, Edinburgh and beyond): The best provision - Standard Class passengers can use the dining car for duration of meal if not full with first class (it never to very rarely is full in my experience).
Virgin Trains: (London North West England Glasgow) Real chef cooked food now limited to breakfast I believe (I may be wrong about this), and only provided to First class ticket holders, but it is free to them. Other times of day I think food is pre prepared sort of cook thru microwave style, again for 1st class only, but included in fare.
Great Western: (London, South Wales, South West England) – massive cut backs on numbers of dining cars to only maybe 3 or 4 per day on named trains (marked Pullman in timetable) Standard Class passengers can use the dining car for duration of meal if not full with first class. What is left is very good quality – just not enough of it!
One Anglia: (London – Norwich) – again very good provision currently (only one still to provide afternoon tea!) and Standard Class passengers can use the dining car for duration of meal if not full with first class.
Midland Mainline (London, East Midlands, Sheffield): Real chef cooked food now limited to breakfast, and only provided to First class ticket holders, although you can get some inclusive advance tickets that work out very cheap when you consider you travel first class and get a meal. The only operator to provide some Saturday morning provision on journeys to London.
Scotrail: Some microwaved catering on board London Scotland Sleepers in the lounge car, not chef prepared so best used as last resort. Standard class access permitted if lounge not full of first class passengers.
To check which trains have the dining (since not all services on a particular route will have a dining car) – use the operators website to download a pdf version of their timetable which will show the full service pattern. Look for the knife and fork symbol at the top of the relevant column
Pete – hope you can make the GC event – if I go I’ll report back (if others will forgive the UK dominated theme) if not – hope you get some good mileage on the steel wheel. Weather forecast is sun for the w/e.
Nick – Routemasters – yes route 159 was the last to go and I went to London for the last day. I was not on the last service but probably 4th to last – they dispatched a whole load of extra ones at the end from the start point at Marble Arch to accommodate the final day crowds. There was real atmosphere along the route that day with many people out to view, enthusiasts and civilians.
Check this site and scroll down for an amusing last day picture:
http://www.routemaster.org.uk/
In fact they still operate in scheduled service during the day on route 9 and 15 as a semi tourist attraction – but they do take regular tickets and passes, and the fleet they use for this is nicely restored. It is run as a normal service, not a tourist service.
Also – re Brighton Line - I grew up on LBSCR territory and my first job was in railway catering at Brighton station – probably qualifies me for a position at Our Place should any vacancies arrive!
Tom – I expect you will have most thoughts on this, but I must say the weak link on my Ocean trip was the dining car – here is the story. The car is well designed and appointed as you say.
I must say that by ordering a vegetarian meal at the grill yesterday I was testing the service at Our Place. Nick came up with a superb choice so what can I say. – Great Service!
I’m not actually vegetarian myself but my partner is. She’s not fussy (if we dine with friends and they have not prepared a vegetarian dish she will happily just eat the accompanying veg and enjoy it). She’s not making a political statement, it is just a dietary choice.
We were aware (through your comment) there was no chef aboard so realised they may need to be aware. Before leaving UK we had e-mailed VIA to let them know, and it had been acknowledged, on arrival in Montreal 2 weeks before trip we collected tickets and checked again that they knew – they did, it was stated on their computer, on check in we also checked – so we triple checked that this was OK before train departure. What happened when we sat down for the meal? “Sorry we don’t have a vegetarian starter course – is the fish OK” (since when was a fish a vegetable?) they had a vegetarian main, but only the one so this was the only option for her for lunch the next day (how many other passengers would have found it acceptable to be served the same dish at consecutive meals, do we get charged less? no). I have to say this was poor, and not of itself the fault of the staff on the train, since whoever stocks the meals should sort this out.
However, and this was hard to understand, the staff in the dining car seemed to have really bad grace about it – it was like they treated us as if we were trouble makers or something, just because one person asked for a meal without meat or fish. They did not seem to really want to overcome the problem. Even though the service was poor at this first meal I still left a decent tip since I felt that might improve things next meal – but no – still same bad attitude, we had to ask for items on the menu (like the orange juice for goodness sake) whilst other diners were being plied with all and sundry. By the third meal we were not looking forward to dining. Like I said before the service was off hand and poor quality – almost as bad as the sort of poor service you routinely have to put up with here in the UK and a stark contrast to the high standards that comes as regular (in my experience) in North America.
I must say I was really hacked off about this. In contrast with service on Amtrak a few years before (where provision of real chef resulted in them cooking a special meal to ensure my partner did not have to eat the same choice on consecutive days). In fact we got off Amtrak thinking we could not wait to do another journey, if it had not been for the scenery, the Park Car and the great service of the Learning Co-ordinator I’d probably have left VIA with a take it or leave it attitude to another journey. If not committed to travel by train I can imagine a lesser person would not bother with VIA again on the basis of the dining experience.
The airlines seem to manage to deal with all sorts of bizarre dietary requests in what they serve up as an excuse for food, I could not see why VIA could not manage a relatively simple vegetarian request. If they want to save money by doing away with chefs and proper food preparation cars then they should spend some on sorting this out! On a more positive note I had the meat and fish options and I have to say they were very nice, esp. considering the fact that they are not fully chef prepared on board.
So - the dining car was the one down side on The Ocean trip. You will perhaps be amused to hear that whilst on board I consulted my print of off your original notes Tom, and there it was, you clearly stated that the dining car left something to be desired. And so it was.
Apols for the length of post, and for more UK ramblings to those of you for whom this is a foreign country.
PS maybe I was too hard on the Stones, lets have soem change for the Wurl. and I'll select some tracks.
Wie ist jeder? Es ist Oktoberfest, Partei wollen wir!
A brisk start to this morning here in mid-continent USA as Juneau made the mile in record time <pant-pant-pant>. Nothing like a 3 year old Siberian Husky to get your blood pumping! A great time of year and I'd love to find a place on this planet where winters are white and the rest of the seasons have temps no higher than 80 (F). Ahhhhhhhh.
Wonderful Posts from Nick 'n DL and I'm not sure there's sufficient time to do justice to both. On a tight string this AM - but here goes:
Nick - the Bragging Rights DARTS CHALLENGE is to be a 501 affair, following the rules established by the British Darts Organization (BDO) - refer to the initial NOTICE previusly Posted. We've got to find a partner for you - otherwise it's BORIS!!
DL - those URLs for the Liverpool museum are priceless! Many thanx - I've checked 'em out and will devote some serious time with both of them later this day. Here in the U.S. it was a long, hard struggle to finally win recognition from our government for the sacrifices made by those merchant seaman during those hard times and several years to follow after WWII. Oh, the politicians said the "right words," but the actions indicated a far different attitude. These guys were not afforded any benefits as veterans, nor were they helped to cope with their injuries and so forth. I could write a book! Same pretty much in Canada. However, both nations have righted the ship - but alas, the guys who probably needed the assistance and recognition the most - are long gone. But, at least the politicians can now go about their business with a tarnished feather in their collective caps. <barf>
Nick - for all the talk about the "greatest" north American passenger railroads pretty much focused on eastern roads, I'd have to throw in with the Santa Fe as being right up there. Those trains were not only pleasing to the eye, but traversed a huge part of this country and did so in style. I had the privilege of being aboard the Super Chief as a kid - the story has been told several times on these Pages - my memory is only partially "vivid." But, as 9 or 10 year old, I can assure one and all, it was a trip not to topped. Upon arrival in Chicago from LA, I was "transferred" over to the Pennsy and what may have been the Broadway Limited bound for NY City. Anyway, the AT&SF was a class operation when it came to passenger trains and all one has to do is take in the Pix of those wonderful trains . . .
DL - I will be sure to let Pete know of your comments in today's Epistle. Upon his return, my guess is it will be at the top of his list of conversations to read.
Nick - the point regarding the "Chunnel Chuggers" is more along the lines of the failure of adaptation. I'm surely no judge of quality, but they seem to be made well, certainly are stylish but were manufactured for far different circumstances than long distance travel in north America. That's the rub. The consortium over in GB that went bankrupt had all of those cars (over 100) on their hands and probably would've jumped through hoops of fire to get rid of them. Canada came a-callin' and the rest is history. The refitting - the costs - the reluctance of many to accept them - has really made one look at all of this with a very jaundiced eye.
DL - I'll get back to you in a bit regarding the remainder of your commentary.
Good Morning Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox.
To Our ‘Steamed Proprietor. Cards win! The pitching has held together better than I thought it would, as Pujols reminds me of Yastrzemski in 1967 – carried the team. I must be getting old because that will be 40 years ago next season. Barkeep, quick – three fingers of the good stuff, and dump it in the coffee mug ASAP! Where have you gone, Jose Tartabul? I was not yet married to my future ex wife and we went to 35 games at Fenway that year - Cost about $4.50 for a box seat then..........
And the!@#$ Yankees are on their way to Kittyville with that series tied.
Gas holds at $2.29/gal. here – wherever you are in this part of the coalfields.
Thanks for the rerun of the LNER ad
I am oiling up and refurbishing the manual typewriter (Underwood Upright) so we can have properly done darts reports. Boris and Nick on the same team? How come practice looks like a Home Guards bayonet drill? I know, as a reporter I must be objective. In addition to my flashbacks to "Young Frankenstein," the upcoming darts tournament reminds me of some of the episodes on Cheers when Sam's bar was challenged by Gary's Olde Towne Tavern, classic stuff.
DL – Lots of interesting information and commentary – I learn more stuff every day – thanks. See the end of this post if you are REALLY hungry.
Nick – The “Midnight Special” was, indeed, a real train. IIRC, the tune was named for the train, not the other way around. I model the Chicago area as it gives me an excuse to run all sorts of different road’s motive power. Maybe we can do GM&O theme some day. BTW, since you like oddball locomotives the GM&O's GP30s had Alco FA trucks; made for an interesting combination.
Pete – Safe travels!
Comments on dining brought this to mind. so here’s a rerun for today as I am working up Rock Island material for next week.
The IC still had a fair amount of passenger service in 1969.
Trains 1 and 2, the “City of New Orleans” was an all-coach operation between Chicago and New Orleans (two dome coaches as well). The City had a diner-counter-lounge between Chicago and Jackson
Trains 3 and 4, ‘The Panama Limited” was still the pride of the railroad although itnow had coaches.
Trains 3 and 4 “Mid-American” was an all-coach train between Chicago and Memphis which had a food-bar-coach as well.
Trains 7 and 8 “The Illini” ran with coaches and a food-bar-coach between Chicago and Carbondale, as did Trains 9 and 10, the “Shawnee.”
We have discussed trains 52 and 53, the “City of Miami” in an earlier post. Trains 105 and 106 ran between St. Louis and Carbondale/
Trains 11 and 12 , the “Hawkeye” were all-coach operations that ran on a God-awful schedule between Chicago and Sioux City.
Last was trains 21 and 22 “Governor’s Special” between Chicago and Springfield. These runs had coaches and a “Palm Grove Café” Car.
Going back to the early 60s we find that the “Panama” was still all-Pullman.
It had the following consist
Sleeping Cars:
Chicago-New Orleans: 10 rtte/6db (2 cars); 4 comp./4db/2 drawing rooms; 11 db
Chicago-New Orleans: 2 db/1dr/2 comp observation car
Chicago-Jackson: 10 rtte/6db
St. Louis-New Orleans: 10rtte/6db (via Carbondale)
Chicago-New Orleans Twin-Unit diner
The IC was noted for its food and the top offering was the Kings Dinner on the Panama.
Here’s what the passenger got for $9.85 in 1965 (damn the blood tests, full speed ahead!)
Manhattan or martini cocktail
Appetizers
Shrimp cocktail or carb
Wine
Fish
Char-broiled steak with mushrooms
Salad and dressing (prepared at your table)
Rolls/breads
Cheese/ apple wedges
Coffee
After dinner cordial
I also found a menu from the City of Miami in my material
Entrees includes
Fried halibut, potatoes and salad - $1.50
Saute Veal, spaghetti Milanese, Lima beans - $1.60
Roast turkey – dressing, potatoes, Lima beans - $ 1.75
Dinner rolls
work safe
P.S. We rest Monday so I'll see you Tuesday a.m.
G'day Captain Tom and fellow travelers at the bar!
We're talking baseball, baseball in New York! (Remember that tune??) Anyway, a great game over at Shea Stadium the other day - Mets won! The weirdest play at home plate that I've ever seen. Couldn't believe it - still can't. What were those guys thinking - two outs on one throw! Surely turned the tide in our favor. Yesterday it was Yankee Stadium and although the Yanks lost it, the Tigers put up a good fight and show me that they deserve to be in it. Last night -in front of the TV - Mets won again! So, looks as if it will be the Cards 'n Mets for the NL Pennant. That will be something, huh
I'm tired - beat - and exhausted. Way too much for this old man. My "boys" seem to think I have this unending source of energy, ha! Really don't know why I let myself in for that game yesterday - but . . . My number 2 son was with us at Shea the other day, and then he headed directly over to the Bronx for the night game at Yankee Stadium. It got rained out so he wound up with two tickets to yesterday's affair. His buddy couldn't get away from work - so I was next best choice. (I was available is what it really amounted to!!) No more - that's it - TV from here on out.
So, the pages have been filled with some interesting and enlightening material from our newfound friend, DL in the UK. Nice going! Between you and Captain Tom, we'll all become further acquainted with Via Rail and Canadian passenger trains.
I have to say that without Rob 'n Doug making their daily appearances, there is a change that has settled in 'round here. Regardless of the reasons, the absences are felt and now we look forward to maybe a couple of posts per week, where it used to be many. Well, add me to that list too - for I'm going to be scarce for awhile. Don't know what my schedule will be - I've got some trips to make - and matters to attend to. With BK gone for a bit and Tom about to, and oh yes, Pete departing for GB - that really will reduce the particpation 'round the Tavern by the Tracks. Eric where are you when we need you?? And Left Coast Dave - c'mon back!! 20 Fingers is history, so we need you more than evAH! <grin>
No point in posting for the sake of posting and no point in posting to the Ether. Change is about us and we either adapt or . . . .
Appears as if our Tuesday's Theme worked out well and I'll try to get something put together for the next - Rock Island, is it Fine with me - a might fine road, I've heard!
The Bragging Rights Darts Challenge is a great idea! And once again, Captain Tom has conjured up something to get us involved. Show me where this is happening on other threads - bet it doesn't. Anyway, I'm not at all sure of my situation in November, so I'll hold off making a committment. My guess is someone will step up and the two teams will "point the way" to victory! So, it's to be over at the Second Class Saloon, huh I've stopped by once or thrice - not a bad place. They feature "eastern beers" - so that's right in my neck of the woods, so to speak. The guys are friendly enough - but very territorial. So, a word to the wise, watch your backs!
I wanted to add my comments regarding the "merchies" - but will do so in my next visit. Captain Tom, DL 'n Nick have warmed my heart with theirs . . . Great Urls from DL!!
Enjoyed your last couple of Posts, CM3! Can just imagine the 'reporting' we're going to be treated to . . .
Ruth - a round on me and a JD on the rocks B4 I head out . . .
Until the next time!
Lars
Hi Tom, staff and all in the house, a pint of mild ready for the weekend.
Tom – thanks for that – no hurry to respond to my points – it was long post, but no urgency about it – will be interesting to hear your thoughts in the fullness of time.
Also – yes, if you think any of that stuff of help to Pete please pass it on – from what I read he clearly stays very much up to speed on UK stuff and has a very high depth of knowledge (is he really on that side of the pond?) but maybe there is a little tip on there he does not know yet so in case it is of use do pass it on. Lets hope we can look forward to some good travelogues in due course.
Just on Nick’s point – don’t think the chugger car manufacturer or operation went bust – the whole thing was joint owned by UK, France and Belgium governments via the state railways – although in UK the government may have set up a ‘fake’ private company to handle it in wake of the UK privatisation debacle. It was taxpayers that lost the money on this one, you can be sure no private shareholder lost their shirt!
Coalminer – I’ll take one of those IC (is that Illinois Central?) menus no problem, I bet the staff on board can do my partner a dish of her desire from ingredients in stock with good grace!
Lars (and Tom) glad you found those Liverpool URLs of interest. I expect you have visited the Halifax Museum of the Atlantic Tom? I thought they had done a good job there.
Wie ist jeder? Es is OKTOBERFEST! Partei wollen wir!
Pete and his bride should be airborne by now heading to the east coast for their connection with a flight to "Merry Olde." Dropped them off at the airport a few hours ago. Pete says he'll try to get on line from Rugby and do his best to keep up with the goings on. And yes, DL - Pete now resides in central Missouri (Jefferson City) but still maintains property in Rugby.
CM3 - pleased to have you aboard, as always and will share the latest price drop in petrol with you- now at $2.14 (rounded)! <grin> Why not transfer to the mid-west where our mines are warmer than your mines! I shudda made comment about that farmer 'n alligator joke, a 5-star fer sure, fer sure! But since "stars" are apparently banned on the Forums - so be it! <grin> A "classic" in every sense. (see page 405 if you missed this funny . . . )
Very happy to mark the return of our Manager - Lars - from the baseball "wars"! <geesh> One would think you've been in combat! Yes, it looks probable that the Mets 'n Cards will square off for the NL Pennant. Earlier in the season I would've given that better than a fair chance - however, from mid-season to last week, it was a crap shoot. My Red Birds will be lucky if they take one of the games against the most formidible offensive Mets team I've ever witnessed. Pitching? Nah - nothing will EVER take the place of the Seaver-Koosman "glory" years.
DL - as I understand it - those "Chunnel Chuggers" that I've been maligning really were manufactured by Alstom, Ltd. for a consortium that had planned on their use from GB to the continent. These "Nightstock" cars were left "sitting" once that group of investors/planners (consortium by any other name) went belly-up. If it wasn't true bankruptcy, then for whatever the reason, those cars never saw service in Europe. As all of this unfolded, enter Canada. Bottom line: they purchased 139 of the cars with a value of $125 million (Cdn). That's where the "fun" began as the retrofits and endless court battles ensued regarding handicapped accessibility and so forth. European Nightstock Services wound up with a sack of cash and VIA Rail with cars that were "pretty" but hardly in kind replacements for the Budd beauties.
Insofar as the Budd cars are concerned - I'm unaware of any that have been put to the torch for any reasons other than too costly to repair as a result of accidents and so forth. The western routes (along with the route to Gaspe in the east) use this equipment. As those numbers diminish, the greater the need. Let me provide just a tad of info regarding the Ocean and the Budd fleet.
It was announced by VIA Rail in the early 2000s that the Renaissance fleet would replace all of the Budd consists (3 total) on the Ocean route. A date had been fixed, however, many problems arose - least of all a freezing problem, which delayed the implementation. Then when it was decided to keep a Budd Park car on during tourist season, it became apparent that alignment problems had to be overcome as well - couplers not matching up, vestibules off center, heights and widths, et al. Anyway, one complete Budd consist was kept on the line, with two Renaissance trains (sans Park car) for the round trips. For over a year, IF YOU KNEW HOW, one could continue booking trips on the Budd equipment (which VIA kept referring to as HEP; another story and yet another point of huge chagrin!). Finally, when the refurbishments were complete - the Renaissance cars relaced all but the Park cars. End of story, as I know it. Enterprise Budd equipment, as far as I know, went west.
VIA touts their Renaissance fleet as the "second coming." Apparently an advertising gimmick put together by people who wouldn't know a jucntion box from a potato masher. The cars belong to VIA and will be in service for far fewer years than those Budds - in my not-so-humble opinion.
Lars - again, great to have you back, even if only for a short while. I understand the constraints of time and believe me, ANY time you share with us is QUALITY time! Not to worry about who comes in and when - it's always been a sink or swim situation around here and probably will remain so. I've concluded that the bar is on the WRONG Forum. Really, this "classic trains" Forum doesn't get the traffic that let's say the "model railroads" or "trains" Forums garner. So, fewer opportunities for guys to pop in, etc. Now that isn't to say we should move - we won't - nor is it to say we'll fold the tent - that could happen, but not for that reason. It simply says that in order to attract new blood we need HELP. If our guys fail to pick up on this, our numbers will just do what they've been doing - dwindle.
DL - I hope you have written to VIA Rail's CEO about your experiences with the dining and perhaps other shortcomings of your journey. They MUST be made aware. More than a few of us write them regarding our thoughts - POSITIVE 'n NEGATIVE, and I've always received a reply. Granted, many of them are "canned," but replies nonetheless. I also belong to a group called Transport T2000 Canada which is a citizen-activist lobby organization for all kinds of transportation matters. The way I look at it, the "boss" will never know UNLESS someone brings it to his or her attention.
G'day Cap'n Tom and fellow travelers at the bar!
Set 'em up, Ruth - Boris ring the bell, the Larsman has returned! I'll have a frosty cold stein of Krombacher Pils - ahhhhhhhhhhhh.
Safe trip to the old sod, Pete!
DL 'n Nick: check out this URL for U.S. Merchant Marine info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Merchant_Marine
There are so many - but this one gives a rather concise history.
And also this one: http://www.usmm.org/
Cap'n Tom: glad you heard from Eric - I had sent him an email some weeks back, but never received a reply. Figured he was still "locked in embrace" over there in Sweden! My Mrs. just uttered that I "have a filthy mind!" Hmmmmmmm, I represent that remark.
Well, you may be right on your assessment of things around here - but that doesn't help keeping this place up 'n running, huh The guys either take the time or . . . it's as simple as that. For example, if I cannot devote proper time, I don't check in. What's the point Makes one look a bit silly if you ask me. How much time does it take to at least check the page you are on Nah, I'd say the change has happened and that so called Gang of 10 can easily be cut in half. Sorry.
Hate to throw a damp rag on the weekend, but I'm doubtful . . . got so much on my plate and I "owe" my Mrs. lotsa time. So, if I'm scarce - at least you were forewarned. <groan>
In reading the exchanges going on between DL 'n Tom regarding Via Rail and those Chunnel cars, I've come away with the opinion that someone snookered someone in all of this. I mean, how in the world do competent people engage in such folly? Purchase something for a 'good price' even if that 'good price' will suddenly skyrocket due to retrfits, etc. Amazing, simply amazing. And Bombardier wanted 5 million bucks PER car for the 'replica Budds' ???? Awful, simply awful. Wonder what Colorado Railcar wudda charged had they been asked?? Somewhere along the line - and perhaps not that far off, those Budd streamliners are destined to be layed up. So, if long distance passenger rail travel is still something held viable in Canada, I'd say replacement sources need to be lined up, as in NOW.
Hope to see you guys B4 Tuesday's "Theme for the Day!" but if not, don't forget - it's the ROCK ISLAND Line (Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific - CRIP).
One more, Ruth and this time make it a Warsteiner Premium Verum!
Hi Tom and everyone, a round for the house.
Merchant Marines died in Vietnam, that much I know.
Seaver and Koosman! Tom will always be a New Yorker at heart.
Model railroad pictures from James and Nick, very impressive both.
Just realized Pete is away. It may be moot now but he had requested links to
Waverley Station 1961
http://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iudl/archives/cushman/full/P12313.jpg
http://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iudl/archives/cushman/full/P12314.jpg
The photographer Mr. Cushman was all over the map. Here's a few more of his:
WP California Zephyr Greenville, California 1957
http://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iudl/archives/cushman/full/P09445.jpg
http://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iudl/archives/cushman/full/P09444.jpg
D&RGW California Zephyr Glenwood Springs, Colorado 1952
http://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iudl/archives/cushman/full/P06400.jpg
UP Streamliner
http://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iudl/archives/cushman/full/P10161.jpg
Chicago Midway Airport 1941
http://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iudl/archives/cushman/full/P02543.jpg
Doug has posted old railroad stories wherein a candle of sorts was used for signals, something called a "Fusee." And lately CM3 has mentioned Indiana Harbor Belt, whose operations were photographed in 1943 by Jack Delano. These IHB pictures show the Fusee signs for
Go Ahead
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34693v.jpg
Stop
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34694v.jpg
Back up
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34695v.jpg
My favorite picture archive is Canada Science & Technology Museum, because they have custody of all the CN company photos. Happily for me, lots of Central Vermont Railway in there too, so I go there often.
http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/structures/index_view.cfm?photoid=926862806&id=36
Incidentally, the song Midnight Special was written by Huddie Ledbetter, famously known as Leadbelly.
He also wrote Good Night Irene and The Rock Island Line.
Mike
Well good evening one and all-a Starop. for me (central European if not strictly Teutonic..) and a round or two for the company-which at the moment looks unlikely to break the bank-still,quality not quantity,eh ?
So,whats new this wet and murky friday night--
TOM-Boris & myself as a darts team pairing---are you SURE you have given this sufficient thought.......?-we may need to retain the services of Vito the hit`s `legal advisers` on this one -and certainly keep the engine running during the away fixture.........
Collusion corner prices over here have dipped sharply recently-we are now down to a modest $8 a gallon more or less-most forecourts now accept small children in part-payment for large puchases.............
CM3-yet another interesting trawl-I`m sure I`ve commented before on the R/R -song title connection-you mentioned "City of New Orleans" and,by inference, "Rock Island Line" -Here`s a weekend pop quiz, what others can the company come up with..?
One to start the ball rolling-"She Caught The Katy"-Blues Brothers soundtrack,original artist unknown,or how about the rather more generic "Night Train" by James Brown------gents,the floor is yours
CM3-those menu`s seemed to represent that long-gone era when service and pride in ones job outweighed the evil $/£/euro/yen/go-go bean.
For my part,I have always (out in the real world) made a point of including at least 2 veggie options on both starters & mains,and have always considered it a matter of professional pride to cook to order should any customer not be able to find something that suits them on the card-I would do no less if entertaining in my own home so what excuse not to do so when they are paying for the service ?
DL-UK also gave a useful list of available facilities on services in `merry olde`-my experiences there are limited to the Paddington-W/Wales run- ( I refuse to dignify it with the `Red Dragon/Draig Goch banner ) . The `chef service` on this has generally taken the form of a Y.T.S trainee (Youth Training Services or young,thick & spotty as they are better known) feeding pre-cooked grot into a microwave,although I will admit I may not have been on the best services (usually the 1st one up and the 1415 or 1515 down )--So DL-you are a `Brighton` man eh ?-have spent many happy (if slightly glazed ) hours amidst the elegant surroundings of `Little Victoria` waiting for a 3 unit set of 4-vep/cep`s to deliver me back to Coulsdon South in time for the last route 190 Routemaster up the hill ( a bloody long walk fom East Croydon if I nodded off, let me tell you....although route 109 to Purley Fountain could be an option if it didn`t pass you between stops.............ah,happy days indeed
LARS-glad you enjoyed some quality time with the kids,thanks for the `merch` URL`s-an uncle of mine was on the Murmansk run in the Brit merch,although he refuses to talk about it-a decision one can only respect-I will have Boris bring over a fresh stein or two to your La-Z-Boy in the corner
Right-so ...It`s friday again,it must be pizza night-I appreciate that TOM is something of a purist in these matters & regards extra toppings as the devils work,however I feel we must move with the times in order to attract custom therefore tonight we have the full range-anchovies,peppers,sausage,salami,mushrooms,4 cheeses,red onions,extra garlic,prawns,sliced scallops,green chilli`s,spicy beef.......however ( and I want to make this ABSOLUTELY clear ) pineapple is only an acceptable topping if you are heavily pregnant and have the ultrasound scans to prove it.
For those who fancy a lighter snack we also have oven-fresh garlic baguettes ( with or without melted cheese)
Stop Press-Helga & Hilda have just wandered in from the Zeppelin field (still in full flying leathers I`m happy to report ) bearing crates of what looks to be a very promising Chianti-the perfect accompaniment I would value your opinions.....................
O.K-I`m away to the galley to supervise the juniors-they are in high spirits after spending the afternoon using Tex the `dillo to switch empty beer crates round the Timesaver layout chalked out on the back yard ( it seems to have aquired two new spurs-charcoal to the B/B/Q oven and fresh straw to Boris`s shed..) whilst I`m out there I will use the `puter link to trawl up some sunday pix.
A few selections for Herr W. before I go-I feel a ladies night coming on so how about:- feels like home by Norah Jones ,black horse & the cherry tree by K.T.Tunstall,walk on by by Dionne Warwick & summertime & another piece of my heart by the incomparable Janis J.
Take care gents,enjoy the weekend-show tomorrow so unlikely to be in a fit state to contribute,speak soon,nick
MIKE-ships in the night again...Leadbelly,now theres a life story and a half.........will check out URL`s now,take care mate
Gute Nacht allerseits!
Ach zooooooo, Mike 'n Nick have made it in tonite! Most pleased to have you at the bar and have enjoyed your contributions. Interestingly, we did have pizza tonite here at the "ranch," however, hardly the variety offered by our Chief Chef, Nick! Pineapple on pizza Good Gawd Gertie!
Yeah, Mike - some things I suppose will never go away; the Mets of old, the Dodgers of even older, and memories of bygone youth in NYC (that's New York City!).
Wonderful URLs! Waverly station trackwork is simply outstanding - Zephyr and UP Pix are 4.0 - "fusee" signs eductional, etc. Well done!
Nick - try these RR metaphors out in relation to songs:
Jack Straw - Grateful Dead
Catch the Detroit Lightning Out of Santa Fe Great Northern out of Cheyenne From sea to shining sea Gotta get to Tulsa First train we can ride Got to settle one old score And one small point of pride
He's Gone - Grateful Dead
"Like a steam locomotive rolling down the track, He's gone and nothing's gonna bring him back"
I know You Rider - Grateful Dead
"I Wish I was a headlight on a northbound train, I'd shine my light in the cool Colorado rain"
They Love Each Other - Grateful Dead
"It's nothing they explain, it's like a diesel train -- You better not be there when it rolls over..."
Okay - 'nuf of that!
Chianti and Italian food - ummmmmmm, good! No other red wine can compare, in my not-so-humble opinion! Eight bucks for a gallon Yikes! And of course everyone's pay check duly compensates for the spiraling cost of living, eh <yeah, right!>
Finally, IF no one steps up to the place, it will be NICK 'N BORIS making up Team #2 for our Bragging Rights DARTS CHALLENGE! Sorry 'bout that . . . .
Leon, serve 'em up a drink on the house - Boris, ring the bell!
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