THEME for the DAY! - THEME for the DAY!
Now arriving on track #1
Railroads from Yesteryear!
Number Twenty Two
Used with permission from: Wikipedia, the free encylopedia. Formatting differences made necessary due to Forums requiremensts. Some heralds from other sources.
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
(The Rock Island Line)
Reporting marks
RI, ROCK
Locale
Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas
Dates of operation
October 10, 1852 – March 31, 1980
Track gauge
4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge)
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (CRI&P RR) (AAR reporting mark RI) was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was also known as the Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, THE ROCK. Its ancestor, the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad, was incorporated on February 7, 1851 and operated its first train on October 10, 1852, between Chicago and Rock Island, Illinois.
History
Territory
The Rock Island stretched across Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The easternmost reach of the system was Chicago, and the system also reached Memphis, Tennessee; west, it reached Denver, Colorado, and Santa Rosa, New Mexico. Southernmost reaches were to Galveston, Texas, and Eunice, Louisiana while in a northerly direction the Rock Island got as far as
Good Morning Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please; round for the house, and $ for the jukebox. Let’s see what we can say abt. gas this a.m. $2.29 here and $2.07 yesterday over in Greenbrier County. Fall colors are starting to look pretty good and we have had a couple of warm days although they are talking possible snow here later this week. New River Trains run this weekend and next; hope to get to see at least one set of them.
Oakland/Detroit series shapes up to be an interesting set, and as some have suggested a lot depends on what St. Louis team shows up; I will, however, suggest that they perform a little better with Eckstein in the lineup.
Now let’s see what’s been happening. If I skipped someone, I humbly apologize.
Lars has visited with cogent sports comments and other observations.
Nick has been with us more than a few times with some excellent pictures; both rail and social. I especially enjoyed the shots of the old steam engines. Is there any truth to the rumor that the road roller will be used to flatten opponent’s vehicles in the parking lot during the tournament? My job as a reporter is to find out about this stuff.
For your tune collection, how about Tom Rush’s version of “Panama Limited?” Excellent picking. Let’s play it on the jukebox.
Barndad provided an interesting contemporary posting on streamliners/streamlining. Any “Comet” material is appreciated. I also always liked the looks of the “Lady Baltimore.”
Al stopped by – long time no hear; it sounds as though you have been really busy.
Eric returns with pictures new and old.
James returns with pictures.
Our ‘steamed proprietor posted all kinds of observations.
Thirty-four episodes of “F Troop?” Yikes.
“Back to the Woods” is a good one; I have a ton of Stooges material on DVD and just happened to watch that one the other night – there comes a point where there’s only so much TV news that I can handle. Anyway, the Governor’s daughters in “Back to the Woods” were named Faith, Hope and Charity.
This led to the following bit of dialog (in bogus English accents, yet).
Larry: I wanteth Hope.
Curly: Nay, nay, I saweth her first. Whyest not take Charity?
Larry: I hath no need of Charity; I’m on the WPA.
Thanks for the rerun of the RDC material.
I see that our Rock Island theme day has started. Here’s my contribution. Passenger and freight. Lots of fallen flags in this one, so it’s a little bittersweet.
The Rock Island in 1969 – A Snapshot
The Rock Island is gone, but at its fullest extent, its tracks ran from Chicago as far north as Minneapolis, as far west as South Dakota, Colorado, and New Mexico, and as far south as Galveston, TX, Eunice, LA, and Memphis, TN.
In 1969, the Rock Island, however, had centered its passenger service on Chicago. There, the Rock operated six passenger trains as well as 77 commuter trains.
Trains 5-9 and 6-8 ran between Chicago and Rock Island (181 miles). They carried chair cars, a club parlor car, and a club diner. Train 5-9 departed Chicago at 5:35 p.m., with a 9:00 p.m. arrival at Rock Island. Train 6-8 left Rock Island at 6:45 a.m. and pulled into Chicago’s LaSalle St. Station at 10:00 a.m.
Trains 7 and 10 ran covered 493 miles between Chicago and Omaha. Chair cars operated between Chicago and Omaha and a club diner between Chicago and Des Moines. Train 7 left Chicago at 9:10 a.m., set out the diner at Des Moines at 4:35 p.m., and arrived in Omaha at 8:00 p.m. Train 10 left Omaha at 10:30 a.m., picked up its diner at Des Moines at 1:25 p.m. and reached Chicago at 8:40 p.m.
Trains 11 and 12, “The Peorian,” were the only named trains in the timetable. They handed chair cars, a parlor car, and a club diner between Chicago and Peoria (161 miles). No.11 departed Chicago at 6:15 p.m. and arrived at 9:25 p.m. in Peoria. To Chicago, train 12 left at 6:45 a.m. and arrived at 9:45 a.m.
Even though they were up against it, the Rock Island offered freight shippers many options.
Freight service ran between Chicago and Tucumcari, NM via Kansas City and Topeka.
Other freight trains operated between Memphis and Tucumcari via Little Rock, Oklahoma City, and Amarillo. Another line ran from Chicago to Council Bluffs, Omaha and west to Denver.
More freight operated between Kansas City and St. Louis while another line handled traffic from Chicago to Galveston via Kansas City, Dallas, Ft. Worth and Houston. The last two lines ran from Chicago to Minneapolis via Cedar Rapids and from Little Rock to Eunice, LA via El Dorado, Winfield, and Alexandria.
The Rock Island connected with other railroads at many of these cities.
Alexandria, LA – L&A, MP, T&P, SP.
Amarillo, TX – FW&D, ATSF.
Chicago and South Chicago, IL – B&O, B&OCT, PRR, NYC, BRC, C&O, C&EI, CRI, CSL, CSS&SB, CWP&S, EJ&E, EL, GTW, IC, IHB, N&W.
Colorado Springs, CO – C&S, DRGW, ATSF.
Dallas, TX – SLSW, SLSF, FW&D, MKT, L&A, ATSF, SP, T&P.
Denver, CO – CB&Q, C&S, DRGW, ATSF, UP via Pullman Jct.
Des Moines, IA – CNW, DM&CI, DMU, FtDDM&S.
Eunice, LA – MP, SP.
Ft. Worth, TX – SLSW, SLSF, FWBRy, MKT, ATSF, SP, T&P.
Great Southwest, TX – GSWRR.
Houston, TX – MKT, MP, ATSF, SP.
Irving, TX – SLSF.
Kansas City, MO – CB&Q, CNW, SLSF, GM&O, MKT, KCS, MILW, MP, ATSF, UP, N&W.
Memphis, TN – SLSW, SLSF, GM&O, IC, L&N, MP, SOU.
Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – CNW, GN, MILW, NP MTRR, SOO.
Omaha, NB (also Council Bluffs, IA) – CB&Q, CNW, IC, MILW, UP, N&W.
Peoria, IL – CB&Q, C&IM, CNW, GM&O, IC, IT, N&W, NYC, PPU, PT, TP&W.
St. Louis, MO – TRRA.
Tucumcari, NM – SP.
Work safe
Now arriving on track #2
RR Theme for the Day - Number Five
Used with permission from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Formatting differences made necessary due to Forums requirements. Some heralds and images from other sources.
Aerotrain (EMD)
Rock Island Aerotrain at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation
The Aerotrain makes its debut in 1955.
The Aerotrain is a streamlined trainset introduced by General Motors Electro-Motive Division in the mid-1950s. Like all of GM's great body designs of this mid-century era, this futuristic train was first brought to life in Harley Earl's GM Styling Section. It utilized the experimental EMD LWT12 locomotive (essentially an EMD SW1200 switcher engine geared for high-speed passenger service and wrapped in an aerodynamic shell), coupled to a set of modified General Motors 40-seat intercity bus coach bodies. The cars each rode on two axles with an airbag suspension system, which was intended to give a smooth ride but had the opposite effect.
GM's Aerotrain, in service as the City of Las Vegas, makes a station stop on its way to Los Angeles in 1957.
The two Aerotrain demonstrator sets logged over 600,000 miles and saw service on the following railroads:
· the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway;
· the New York Central Railroad;
· the Pennsylvania Railroad; and
· the Union Pacific Railroad.
In 1956 Aerotrain No. 2 was leased as a demonstrator to the New York Central, and operated between Cleveland and Chicago. In the summer of 1957 it was operated by the Union Pacific as the City of Las Vegas, running between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The train eventually found itself in Chicago commuter service on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.
GM's "lightweight with a heavyweight future" was introduced at a time when U.S. passenger train revenues were steadily declining due to competition from airlines and private automobile travel. Although it featured an eye-catching, streamlined design, the Aerotrain failed to capture the imagination of the American public. The cars, based on GM bus designs and using an air cushioning system, were rough riding and not very comfortable for the passengers. The design of the locomotive section rendered even routine maintenance extremely difficult and time-consuming. The locomotive unit was underpowered. Eventually, both trainsets were retired after only a decade's use in 1966. Today, Aerotrain No. 1 is on permanent display at the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri, while No. 2 resides at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Disneyland operated a scale version of the Aerotrain, known as the Viewliner, from 1957 to 1959 (see below). Since 1958, the Washington Park and Zoo Railway in Portland, Oregon has operated a scale, diesel-powered replica of the Aerotrain (dubbed the Zooliner) to transport zoo patrons along a one-mile route around the perimeter of the zoo grounds.
· The Aérotrain, an experimental monorail system that rode on a thin cushion of compressed air (designated as a Tracked Air-Cushion Vehicle, or TACV), was developed in France under the supervision of engineer Jean Bertin between 1965–1975. In 1970, Chula Vista, California-based Rohr Industries, Inc. constructed a test vehicle for the project.
·
G'day Cap'n Tom and fellow travelers at the bar (wherever you are)!
Ruth, I'll have one of those Paulaner Octoberfest Marzen brews - and slide those snacks down my way, wudja
What a morgue - looks like the "Theme Day!" has kinda bottomed out, huh Thus far, the guy who called for it hasn't been 'round either. Perhaps later . . . Don't know what to make of this and I'm truly sorry that the "load" has been deposited on your most able shoulders. Isn't what I had thought when we reassembled the Gang of 10 - now Gang of 5 (maybe!).
Ok - 'nuf of that stuff - here's my humble contribution, then I'll have "one more" and head on home for tonights American League ball game . . . figure the Tigers will ultimately prevail, but then again, I don't know very much about the As - they could surprise us all.
"Theme for the Day - Rock Island Line" - books, what else
Enjoy the day one and all . . . .
Until the next time!
Lars
Well good evening Gentlemen all,huge foaming litre steins of the fatherlands finest for all please Leon,not forgetting your good self....
Well I for one have found the theme of the day to be most informative-as with the Santa Fe,I had no idea of the mileage covered by the CRIP-my `Merrie Olde` small scale thinking again--well done gentlemen all .
The Aerotrain material from TOM is an added bonus-if only it had run as well as it looked,what might the networks look like now....? -still,progress is always a matter of trial and error I guess.
Right-some specifics,...ERIC-that loco looks very impressive-do they live up to their looks ?....By the by-if your pix-posting problems persist (potent alliteration there..) please feel free to use me as a conduit..TOM did the same for me back in the day and I would be delighted to discharge the debt of honour incurred by doing the same for a fellow traveller-He has my e-mail address,so drop him a line and we can set something up (excuse my reluctance to post my address on an open forum ...lotta freaks out there........)
P.S-The Snowdon Mountain Rly is still in full operation,the original steamers are still in regular use,some diesel power has been added and last time I was up that way they were charging a frankly outrageous $50 a pop for the round trip-with no refunds if the trip has to terminate at Clogwyn,about three quarters of the way up the line..............
TOM-advice noted R.E editing-makes sense when one stops to think about it ...One fragment I seem to recall about the Rock is that the P/Way ,away from the main routes ,was a touch `rustic`-could this be the source of the "takes it as you finds it when you ride it " ( or whatever) lyric in the song ??--enquiring minds and all that.....
CM3-Glad you enjoyed the pix-amazing the degree of humiliation I`m prepared to put up with to earn a few bucks since you have your journo`s hat on today ,perhaps an unattributable quote from `sources close to the team` The road roller will indeed form part of the `Our Place ` fleet and serves a valuable environmentally sound function-as well as reducing gas consumption by streamlining the profiles of vehicles in the car park ,we shall also be fuelling the beast with the remnants of the broken furniture,fixtures & fittings that are a natural by-product of any such sporting fixture................................Perhaps unwisely,I agreed to let Boris drive the thing to make up for his disappointment at not being included in the team,I do hope we all live to regret this largesse.......
LARS-that is some library you have there-almost all of those covers are screaming "read me,read me"-enjoy the game
Right,since I am in no position to contribute to the theme of the day,perhaps some random thoughts-darts night:- there remains the vexed question of team shirts (so we can tell friend from foe when it all goes pear-shaped)-I was thinking along the linesof something in VIA blue with discreet lettering over the left *** in VIA yellow ( although the ghost of my teenage years with the motorcycling fraternity is calling out for a war-bonneted deaths head with `Our Place` & `Mentor` in gothic lettering as top & bottom rockers on the back......-perhaps not..)
Back to the railroad songs theme,Mystery train by Elvis,The train kept a rollin` by the Yardbirds,Driver 8 by R.E.M.Last train to Clarksville by the Monkees,Casey Jones-?,Midnight Train to Georgia-?,Long Train running-?(poss. the Isley bros) 5.15 by the Who,Love in vain by Robert Johnson,L&N,If love was a train & Coalsville Institute by Michelle Shocked ,stretching things a bit,the put to music version of `Night Mail by W.H.Auden,Last train (to Glasgow Central) by Billy Connolly ...........................................
Leon-same again all round please mate-and give copperkettle a poke with a pointed stick-LARS is still waiting for his snacks and I`m getting a touch peckish myself-lets have some onion rings,breaded king prawns ,mini samosa`s and spring rolls,some chips and dips,a platter of mixed sarnies and a couple of bowls of fries for anyone who missed dinner-stick it all on my tab,theres a good fellow.
O.K-model day tomorrow ,as I`m sure you have all had enough of my care-in-the-community efforts in that direction I`m going to trot out some images of a local outdoor 16mm/ft live steam line owned by an associate of mine,Peter Jones-his Compton Down Rly (joint 32 & 45 mm) has been much featured in the Brit model press as an example of how to do it-I have been lucky enough to attend several of his annual open days and he is possessed of a delightful "fill yer boots mate" attitude about photography,sadly these are all 110 point and press images but I hope they will suffice-back in a bit,I`ll go and find one as a `taster`..................................
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There we are,back again-as usual,clockwise from top left, an 0-6-2 tender loco-(poss. by Brandbright ) with a mixed rake of Tal-Y-Lyn & Glyn Valley stock out bound to Llanbedr Rd A narrow gauge version of The Wisbech & Upwell Tram loco`s ( Rev Awdry`s `Toby` ) returning the same set Heavily modified Mamod pot-boiler at Compton Wharf The quarry complex-partial view ( the whole area is about the size of the entire Can-Am system)
Well gents,I think thats me about done for the evening,sorry I couldn`t contribute anything relevant to the theme but I have learned lots,so,once again-well done gentlemen all .
Take care folks,see you tomorrow,
nick
Gute Nacht allerseits!
Most pleased to see Lars 'n Nick keeping this place alive (and making a few bucks - kaching, kaching!) . . . been a quiet <yawn> day 'round the Saloon by the Siding.
Here's something to perk us up:
[The chorus is the only part sung, the rest is spoken]Now, this here's the story about the Rock Island lineNow, the Rock Island line is a railroad lineAnd it runs down into New OrleasnAnd just outside of New Orleans is a big toll gateAnd all the trains that go through the toll gateWhy, they gotta pay the man some moneyLess of course, they got certain things on boardThen they okay, then they don't ever have to pay the man nothin'And right now, we see a trainShe's comin' on down the lineAnd when she got up here to the toll gateThe-a depot, he shout down to the driverHe want to know what he got on boardSo he say aWhat you got on board there, boyAnd the driver, he sing right on backDown to the depot agentTell him what he got on boardThe got a way of singingI got sheep, I got cowsI got horses, I got pigsI got all livestockI got all livestockI got all livestockAnd the man say, well, he sayYour alright there, boyYou don't have to pay me nothin'Just get 'em on throughSo the train go through the toll gateAnd as it go throughIt got up a little bit of steamAnd a, a little bit of speedAnd when he sees meOn the other side of the toll gateThey, the driver shout backDown the line to the man'Course you don't hear what he say nowBut home down the Rock Island lineI fooled you, I fooled youI got pig iron, I got pig ironI got all pig ironHe said, tell you where I'm goin', boyGoin' down the Rock Island line, yes, yesShe's a mighty good roadOh well, the Rock Island lineShe's a mighty good roadRock Island line is the road to rideYa, the Rock Island lineIs a mighty good roadAnd if you want to rideYou gotta ride itLike you find itGet your ticket at the stationOn the Rock Island lineWell, I may be rightI may be wrongI know you're gonna miss me when I'm goneYa,the Rock Island lineShe's a mighty good roadRock Island line is the road to rideYa, the Rock Island lineshe's a mighty good roadAnd if you want to rideYou gotta ride itLike you find itGet your ticket at the stationOn the Rock Island lineA B C, W X Y ZCat's in the cupboardBut he don't see meNow, the Rock Island lineShe's a mighty good roadRock Island line is the road to rideYa, the Rock Island lineShe's a mighty good roadAnd if you want to rideYou gotta ride itLike you find itGet your ticket at the stationOn the Rock Island lineHallaluah, I'm safe from sinThe good Lord's comin'For to see me againKeep it goin'And the Rock Island lineShe's a mighty good roadRock Island line is the road to rideYa, the Rock Island lineShe's a mighty good roadAnd if you want to rideYou gotta ride itLike you find itGet your ticket at the stationOn the Rock Island lineThe Rock Island lineShe's a mighty good roadRock Island line is the road to rideYa, the Rock Island lineShe's a mighty good roadAnd if you want to rideYou gotta ride itLike you find itGet your ticket at the stationOn the Rock Island line
Now if that doesn't get you feeling good, nothing will!
Nick, I haven't a clue regarding that question you posed . . . your guesstimate makes sense to me! It's been terrific having you back with us, Chief Chef , and dare we hope that this time it's for keeps Yeah, we know - free spirit and all of that. "We takes what we gets!"
Lars - as always, great contribution to our "Theme" and as always, appreciate your continuing support. You really come through when the chips are down . . . . Wouldn't you just love to actually have those books in your library! My modest collection of hard covers, numbers about 15 and doubt that it will grow very much. "I takes what I gets" and enjoy 'em immensely - have all the bases covered, so to speak.
Nick - let me see what I can come up with for team shirts. Shouldn't be all that difficult to find something "appropriate" for that gang of ours.
The teams for the Bragging Rights DARTS CHALLENGE!
#1 - Pete 'n Rob
#2 - Nick 'n Doug
Substitute: Lars
Reporter - CM3
Schedule: Tuesday, Nov 7th at the Second Class Saloon - Wednesday, Nov 8th at "Our" Place - Thursday, Nov 9th (if needed) at the Second Class Saloon.
Practice: Any Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday nite at "Our" Place at which time the pool room will be CLOSED to onlookers. Spies from the Second Class Saloon are about . . .
Nice Toy 'n Model Trains Day! (optional) Pix from Nick! We'll see what shakes loose in the 'morrow. Things they have really changed 'round here as we just don't have the depth to draw from these days (daze). Also some great "train songs" . . . . lots of 'em out there!
Leon, set 'em up and Boris, ring the bell! Drinks on Da Boss . . . .
Auf Wiedersehen!
Tom
Hi Tom and everyone, a round for the house.
Good luck to the Dartagnons in their duel with the Dart Vaders.
Nick, thanks for the info and The Locomotion of typing it.
Government Bridge from Davenport side, built by the Army in 1895 to replace the replacement of the original
http://moline1968.com/scrapbook/bridges/ri-dav-trolley-bridge.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/il/il0500/il0536/photos/063962pv.jpg
http://trainweb.org/qcrails/photos/iais/iais710west_govbridge.jpg
The Rock Island Bridge was built to unite the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad and the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad in Iowa, which was building from Davenport toward Council Bluffs...
O
http://storm.simpson.edu/~RITS/equipment/GreenSteam/LeClaire.jpg
http://www.common-place.org/vol-06/no-04/morsman/
On April 1, 1856, engineers of the Railroad Bridge Company conducted a comprehensive examination of the just completed Rock Island Bridge. Built with more than two hundred and twenty thousand pounds of cast iron, four hundred thousand pounds of wrought iron, and one million feet of timber, the structure was the first railroad bridge to span the mighty Mississippi River. On April 21, confident in the integrity of the bridge but still exercising caution, company officials watched as a single locomotive, the Des Moines, rolled across the bridge from Rock Island, Illinois, to Davenport, Iowa. When three locomotives coupled to eight passenger cars completed the same short trip the following day, people standing along the tracks cheered and church bells rang out from both banks of the Mississippi.
http://www.lib.niu.edu/ipo/1998/ihy980236.html
On the night of May 6, 1856, the Effie Afton, the fastest sidewheel steamboat on the Mississippi River, ran into the Rock Island Railroad Bridge, thus causing the owner of the boat to sue the Rock Island Railroad Company for Fifty thousand dollars. Abraham Lincoln was retained by the railroad to defend it against the charges brought by the owner of the Effie Afton. More than the loss of a steamboat was at stake. If the railroads could not span the Mississippi River with bridges, then they would not be able to connect the railways in the east to the railways in the developing western United States. Hurd v. Rock Island Railroad Company proved to be a dramatic turning point in the career of Abraham Lincoln as a lawyer.
http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/chapter8.html
Mr. Lincoln, in preparing his arguments in this case, took advantage of and put into use the survey of the upper rapids of the Mississippi river made in 1837 by a young lieutenant of United States engineers, and it probably occurred to him that in 1832, when cholera was rampant at Fort Armstrong, on Rock island, it was often unwise and dangerous for boats to land there and that a steamboat, carrying Black Hawk, the noted Sac warrior, as a prisoner, was in charge of a lieutenant of the United States army on a steamboat anchored in the stream a few hundred feet above the site of the bridge.
Looking back over the years that have long since passed away, an unusual interest is centered in the personnel of some of those whose memories are particularly connected with the history of the bridge and Rock Island, for during the war which convulsed the nation three and a half years after this notable trial the attorney who defended the bridge company was President of the United States; the lieutenant who made the survey, Robert E. Lee, was commander in chief of the Army of the Confederacy, while the lieutenant who brought Black Hawk to Prairie du Chien, Jefferson Davis, was president of the so-called Confederate States of America.
http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/chapter22.html
By order of the war department in July, 1863, Rock Island was made a military prison for the confinement of Confederate prisoners. During the same month Captain Charles A. Reynolds, assistant quartermaster United States army, arrived and commenced building a prison and barracks. The first soldiers for guard duty arrived November 2, 1863. Lieutenant Colonel Schaffner arrived on the 19th of November and took command. On the 22d Colonel Richard Henry Rush arrived and took command of the post and Colonel A. J. Johnson was appointed in charge of the prisoners. The first installment of prisoners, taken at the battle of Lookout Mountain, arrived from Chattanooga, December 3, 1863; and from that time until the close of the war a large number of prisoners were kept under a strong guard upon the island. The whole number of prisoners confined here was 12,215; the number of deaths was 1,960. About 500 died of smallpox, many of scurvy and others of vaious diseases, chiefly pneumonia. They were put into rough boxes and buried in trenches. The corner-posts of the cemetery where their ashes repose are composed of cannon taken from the Confederates, planted with their muzzles in the ground and strung around with chains. Within this enclosure sleep nearly 2,000 Confederate dead. At a few of the graves friends of the deceased have erected plain headstones and placed on them a few simple inscriptions. There is also near the head of the island a Union soldiers' cemetery where 310 graves are enclosed by a neat fence. Here exercises are conducted each Memorial Day by the Grand Army posts of Davenport, Rock Island and Moline.
http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200210/15_bickalj_rockisland/railroad.shtml
As president, Lincoln pushed for completion of a transcontinental railroad and when it was done in 1869, the Rock Island Line was one of the links connecting the East and West Coasts for the first time. It also played a prominent role in the story of the west. It was the first railroad to be robbed by the Jesse James gang and it lost a depot in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Despite those setbacks, it continued to grow, and brought many of the first settlers to the newly open Territory of Oklahoma in 1889. By the beginning of the 20th century, the Rock Island Line was one of the most successful railroads in the western half of the country with service in 14 states. The last state to become part of the line was Arkansas and it was here that it inspired a song.
http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=2570
A Rock Island train in the 1880s (William Henry Jackson photos)
http://photoswest.org/photos/20103751/20103776.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/20103751/20103780.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/20103751/20103775.jpg
http://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iudl/archives/cushman/full/P04538.jpg
4-6-2's
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005376/00005382.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005626/00005694.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005626/00005636.jpg
2-8-0's
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005376/00005433.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005376/00005436.jpg
2-8-2
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005376/00005496.jpg
4-8-4's
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005751/00005844.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005751/00005869.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005751/00005846.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005751/00005830.jpg
4-8-2's
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005751/00005837.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005751/00005834.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005751/00005833.jpg
Rock Island Technical Society:
In the midst of bankruptcy like many other Depression-era roads, the Rock Island gambled on a new set of streamlined lightweight passenger trains to return them to profitability. Leading each train set was a new TA model from EMC. 601-606 were delivered in 1937 with Winton diesel engines rated at twelve hundred horses, thus the T designation.
TA's built at LaGrange, IL
http://www.rockisl.com/galleries/builder/tashops1.jpg
http://www.rockisl.com/galleries/builder/tashops2.jpg
http://www.rockisl.com/galleries/builder/tashops3.jpg
http://www.rockisl.com/galleries/builder/601-2aright.jpg
To handle a larger train from Chicago to Denver than a TA could handle, the Rock Island acquired E3A units 625-626 to power the new streamlined Rocky Mountain Rocket introduced on 11/12/39. Only on the Rock were E3A units tapered on the rear roof to match the train set.
E3A
http://www.rockisl.com/galleries/builder/625-2aleft.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005876/00005897.jpg
AB
http://www.rockisl.com/galleries/builder/750-2aright.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005876/00005931.jpg
E8
http://www.rockisl.com/galleries/builder/652-2a.jpg
F7A
http://www.rockisl.com/galleries/builder/118-3acolor.jpg
Mike
Taking my own advice - I stuck around for a few minutes after my Post and was fortunate to "catch" Mike's gem for the evening. Lotsastuff packed in there and I'll surely take advantage of it - but not tonight. Baseball on the tube and it's time to check out . . . this old man has had 'nuf of cyber space for one day.
Tigers 1 - As zip in the 3rd inning . . .
Fella`s-just popped in for a nightcap-been browsing some of the stranger corners of `myspace` whilst drinking beer-trust me guys-theres some VERY strange people out there-------I just hope none of them try to follow me home........
later,
Good morning Tom, manager Lars and gents! I've got a few minutes for a light breakfast if you please, and another listen to the "Rock Island Line"! No rest for the proverbial wicked over here as I juggle my two jobs, and also manage to attend my two monthly train meetings this week. Monday night was for a last minutes lawn cutting, which looks like the last for the year the way the weather has turned recently. It's been colder and raining since last night, and there's actually talk of SNOW tomorrow. I'm suire hoping we wrap-up the dart challenge on the 7th of November, because on the 8th ...we have our house closing, and this wicked boy will be most busy shuttling our accumulated stuff to the new digs.
Quite a collection of pix from Nick this last Saturday, and excellent contributions from our captain in reference to the Canadian Thanksgiving. Big time Kudos to CM3's additional Rock Island material, which complimented that of Tom's. I'll also be needing more time than I have to go through Mike's post. Looks jammed packed with info! Welcome back to Eric, and please forgive me for running ... but I must go!
Guten Morgen allerseits!
Wie ist jeder? Es is OKTOBERFEST! Partei wollen wir!
A "quickie" from Nick - a visit from Eric and a morning start-up from Two-Jobs Doug! Not a bad ending and beginning.
A rainy morning here in mid-continent USA as the cold front descends upon us with all sorts of changes expected by this time tomorrow. "They say" we'll be in heavier coats as the temps drop into the 30s (F) - right now we're near 60. Last report about petrol up at "Collusion Corner" was that it sells for $2.08 (rounded). Do you suppose we'll EVER get rid of that 9/10ths BS
This too shall pass, regarding the Pix Posting situation - so hang in there, Eric! Wish I could say the same for Doug's situation. And by the by - don't get yourself wrapped around the axle regarding the DARTS CHALLENGE - after all, it's the REPORTER who has the task of putting it all together. Focus man, focus - this is CYBER SPACE. Same for you Eric - drink what you wish, when you wish - coffee's fine (at five bucks a cup!) but here in the Ether, what you drink CANNOT harm you!
I'm sensing a bit of angst 'round here from our Manager Lars and once again offer this sage advice: chill, my man - chill. What will be will be - if those we used to depend upon are no longer able, what in bloody blue blazes are we to do 'bout that Guys come 'n go - no one or nothing remains the same - not even Moi! <grin> I do understand your chagrin, especially when there are times when this place is rockin' - let's look at it this way: there ARE a few who still regularly frequent our Saloon by the Siding, so let's direct our attention thataway - CM3 - Mike 'n Eric come to mind.
For anyone who gives a Rat's Patoot - today is our OPTIONAL Toy 'n Model Trains Day! So, this is the day to provide a FEW Pix of your layouts, or some narrative or both . . .
Boris, serve ‘em all of the “spiked” OJ they can handle!
A little something for our OPTIONAL Toys 'n Model Trains Day!
My Can-Am HO layout features two building kits that have a bit of history to be shared with those of you who give a Rat's Patoot!
The Second Class Saloon, a model kit from Grandt Line Products, comes in a zillion pieces of wood and other materials - all unpainted. It seemed like a good fit for that portion of my layout where the "Mountain Village" sits beneath the peaks of the mountain range.
The history: In 1882, Wyatt Earp left Tombstone, Arizona to move west and operate several saloons. Among the towns in which he set up these saloons were San Diego in California, Tonopah in Nevada and Nome in Alaska. The Second Class Saloon was the name of his establishment in Nome. Built in the common boomtown style of row buildings, this saloon is unique for its unusual false front and the colorful signage.
The Nine Mile House, a model kit from American Model Builders, also comes in a zillion pieces of wood and other materials - unpainted of course. I was immediately attracted to this building kit as an excellent roadside structure to attract the "working man" heading to and from my modest industrial area.
The history: Designed from an old St. Louis tavern located exactly nine miles from the St. Louis City/County line, this building is still standing, although there have been some changes over the years. It is now called The Train Wreck Saloon, features a rear beer garden, complete with an old wood caboose, and is a popular “hot spot”.
We WILL have lunch 'n a few adult beverages at the Train Wreck Saloon during our 2nd Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous in 2007!
Enjoy!
An update: Just heard from trolleyboy Rob via Email - seems that he cannot log in as Kalmbach has no record of him! Isn't that simply wunnerful He's even tried to establish a new password and all of that - but nothing works. Each one of us who gives a Rat's Patoot should send Kalmbach an Email regarding your feelings on these new changes and how it has adversely impacted us. Surely won't cost you a thing but your time. Here's how:
(1) go to the FORUMS main page
(2) at the bottom of the page there is a "contact us" button in the trains.com info - click it
(3) fill out the form and send your concerns to the FORUMS MANAGER - be sure to select this choice.
I'm going to seriously begin looking at other Forums to relocate the bar if this nonsense doesn't come to a satisfactory resolution. It's bad enough that many of us have wasted so much time trying to do what we used to do so easily - now we can't get one of our regulars back! Perhaps this changeover has caused others to take a hike . . . .
Hey Mike! Those are some outstanding URLs regarding the Rock Island Line - nicely done, as always! And the narratives really made your submission all the more meaningful!
If anyone wondered about this Pix in Mike's URLs:
the railroad IAIS is the Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd - more at:
http://www.rrdc.com/op_iowa_iais.html
Ruth, give 'em a drink on me - Boris ring the bell and wake up whoever's slouching back there in the booth, in the corner where it's dark! (Flip Wilson from a loooooooong time ago!)
Hello Tom and all in – a pint of Mild for me. Been a bit busy lately with various chores, which even meant I had to scrap plans for attending the GCR Steam weekend event outlined previously – a real disappointment. Maybe Pete made it and can give us a report when he is back - or at least some interesting travelogues if he makes some journey's here.
Anyway, I’ve caught up with the posts and particularly enjoyed reading about the Rock Island Line and the Aerotrain.
Tom – your comment about the Channel Tunnel overnight cars is broadly correct, but it is an interesting saga which I’ll post differently in some detail for those interested (Lars – it will shed more light on your comment about how such daft decisions can be taken). Nick, you may be interested to know exactly why you could not board a sleeper in west Wales with some of your culinary delights and get off next morning in Paris to wow the locals!
If you read parts of the VIA website it suggests Budd still run on certain days on The Ocean, which clearly they do not, so this info needs to be updated by VIA.
You suggested I write to VIA about the dining experience and I will do that, as was my intention, I just wanted to bounce the situation of a traveller with more experience before doing that, so thanks for your comments. I did wonder if there was an ‘anglo problem’ about, but it was hard to know, since they did not make clear, since it was only limited to poor service in the dining car! If you want to make someone feel unwelcome you can carry things a lot further than that surely!
Lars - thanks for those merchant navy links - appreciated.
Nick - on your point about the Brighton Line and also comments on dining on Great Western - see below:
I grew up not too far from the Cuckoo Line (but closed before I could ever use it). You might (as will others) enjoy this link to Southern Info
www.semg.org.uk - check the index pages for lots of stuff
(we’ve mentioned LNER, LMS and GWR on these pages when discussing the UK recently, so only fair that SR gets a mention!).
As for dining on Great Western Nick –
the only relevant service is where what they call 'Pullman Dining' is available (‘P’ in the timetable). This is the proper chef service, not the microwaved grot.
Pullman breakfast is available on the following services:06.30 Swansea to Paddington06.55 Plymouth to Paddington (The Golden Hind)07.45 Paddington to SwanseaPullman Lunch and Dinner is available on the following services: 11.30 Swansea to Paddington 11.45 Paddington to Swansea 12.05 Plymouth to Paddington (The Cornish Riviera)12.05 Paddington to Plymouth (The Royal Duchy)
15.00 Plymouth to Paddington (The Mayflower)
18.03 Paddington to Plymouth (The Golden Hind)
19.03 Paddington to Plymouth
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=70
If you compare this with the number of services GNER are providing dining cars on at the moment it is absolutly pathetic (and more expensive than GNER too) and an insult to the memory of Swindon and the GWR, but there we are. I read that Great Western are even plannign to scrap buffet cars London to Bristol and suffice with a trolley service!
However, the food is very good (In Pullmand Dining), and if you have cause to use these runs I'd take a meal while you can (if the bank manager will allow it!)
Here is the lunch and dinner menu for a sample:
starters
Carrot and Parsnip Soup
A deliciously thick, buttery soup of carrots and parsnips,
enhanced with fresh cream £5.50
Roasted Tomato and Hazelnut Tart
Individual pastry case filled with red onions, oven roasted
tomatoes and hazelnuts topped with mozzarella cheese
and baked £5.95
Smoked Mackerel Pate
A pate of peppered smoked mackerel blended with
double cream with hints of horseradish and paprika £5.25
Shaved Parma Ham and Melon
Thin slices of Parma ham traditionally served with a
fan of honeydew melon £5.95
main courses
Parmesan Potato Gnocchi
Served on a red pepper and Mascarpone cream sauce,
accompanied with sun blush tomato and pine nut salad £12.95
Fillet Steak with Sweet Potato and a
Wild Mushroom Sauce
Fillet Steak cooked to your liking served with a sweet
potato stack and a sauce of wild mushrooms £17.95
Guinea Fowl with a Somerset Apple Brandy Sauce
Sliced roasted *** of guinea fowl served with our
delicious Somerset apple and brandy sauce £15.95
Sea Bass, Butterbeans and Pancetta
Sea bass grilled and served over a butterbean and
pancetta casserole £16.95
ALL MAIN COURSES ARE SERVED WITH A SELECTION OF
VEGETABLES AND POTATOES
desserts
Chocolate Tart with Clotted Cream
A rich dark chocolate tart lightly dusted with cocoa powder
and served with a traditional West Country clotted cream £5.95
Summer Pudding
Summer fruit berries encased in a traditional soaked
bread exterior served with double cream £5.95
ALSO SEE OUR MONTHLY SPECIAL MENU AND WINE LIST
Regards to all
DL - UK
Good Afternoon Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox.
Is the Open Closed? A Visit to the Our Place Training Camp
Greetings from our studios high atop Mighty Majestic Mount Mentor, overlooking the rushing waters – oh, wait a minute, the pipes burst again. Let’s see, hot on the left, cold on the right, and payday’s on Friday. I have to do everything around here.
Here’s a late (should have been filed two days ago) report from the Our Place Training Camp. Practices are supposedly closed, but bags of various kinds of animal food, and a bone tossed strategically into the back parking lot managed to lure the mascots (and Boris) away thus enabling your reporter (at great risk and personal peril) to get a look at an otherwise (make that other worldly) closed practice session.
It’s too early to tell if any tendencies are emerging. The Our Place 4 (aka the Slippery Fingered 10 Minus 6 or is it the Plus Fours?) is busily engaged in sustained workouts to get ready for the upcoming IMWWDT (InterMentor World Wide Darts Tournament.)
Thus far 12 ounce curls, or a brisk game of chase the barmaid, seem to be the exercises of choice, but those hoping to bulk up and increase their endurance are power lifting cans of Fosters – Nick, ever the purist, was spotted lying under a tank car...closer to the earth I guess. Just remember, you can never be too well conditioned,
In truth, the Our Place team is sartorially challenged at the moment. However, I have heard on good authority that new uniforms are on the way, assuming that the winds are favorable and the mule doesn’t die on the towpath. In any case new uniforms will be an improvement over the present attire of feed sacks, rope belts, and truck shoes.
As an aside, enquiring minds want to know where Lars got the T-shirt with the NY attitude; after all it’s not every day you see a shirt that reads “I Triple Dog Dare You.”
That being said the Our Place team seems to be rounding into shape; that happens from all the beer. From what I could see through the hole I cut into the tarp, two members were asleep and the other two engaged in an amiable discussion about who should be the next target. The barmaids were defending themselves as best as they could. Although they are much too buxom to rely on beer trays as shields, they are agile. This being a family rag, its best that we not get too descriptive here.
By then, the critters had devoured their bribes, and they and Boris chased me out back onto the tracks. They were about to get me when the 5:15 from Mentor came along and I was able to get away. Thank the Lord it was four hours late as always.
Last, there have been some rumors about possible media coverage of this event. Networks bidding for coverage rights include ESPN, Inspiration (tie in with a program on the Book of Revelations, I guess), and Outdoor Life. In your reporter’s opinion, this tournament probably is best suited to Animal Planet.
That’s all the news that isn’t. Now back to our studios at Mighty Majestic Mount Mentor. Say Good night Awk!
work safe
P.S. Just received most recent post with menus. My God! Let's charter the train.
Guten Tag allerseits!
Take a break, Ruth - I'll handle the bar for a bit . . .
Good to see DL in the UK back with us and also CM3 for a better-late-than-never daily Post!
Came away from reading DLs submission with hunger pangs! My Gawd man - that's quite a selection of tasty treats! One of life's simple pleasures is dining aboard a long distance train. Ummmmmmm, just the thought of it . . . Sure sounds to me as if there is a world-wide conspiracy to chase people away from train travel. The similarities in cut backs are too much to chalk off to coincidence. VIA Rail has experimented with substituting a buffet in lieu of a full lunch menu and has replaced the Chef aboard the Ocean Renaissance with the "super airline food" specials. Makes one really wonder . . .
And to top it off, I received my ticketing today for the trip up to Gaspe. Came with a ten dollar surcharge for having the tix mailed to me! Never, ever had that before - have a call pending to find out what in the world is going on! Ten bucks - no one mentioned it - they weren't up front at all with it. Been using their "800" number to make reservations for nearly 16 years and always had the tix mailed - this time, something changed! Yeah - a conspiracy to chase us away.
DL - I've checked out the Southern Railway in your country some time back, but appreciated doing it again with that URL you provided. Some fine looking equipment . . . Also looking forward to the 'rest of the story' regarding those Chunnel Chuggers . . .
CM3, you've gone over the edge m'boy! Oh, I see, you too are in practice for the "main event," eh Nice job, although you had the mascots a bit on edge - took me some time to settle 'em down.
Awk the Parrot -
Tex the Armadillo -
Frostbite the Penguin -
A pity that Pete isn't with us to enjoy that fine Post from DL. Undoubtedly, he'd pick up on all of the finer points with elaborations sure to follow. Looking forward to Nick's thoughts . . .
Okay Gents, here they are, the shirts for the Grudge Match DARTS CHALLENGE! (GMDC) are yours for the taking - matching leather jeans along with designer footwear to complete the ensemble!
That's five shirts for the five players - make your selections! Team names are up to y'all . . .
Don't know if DL 'n CM3 caught the latest info on the Thread - as there wasn't any indication - only bring it up because of this ongoing frustration with the Forums, et al.
Okay Ruth, I'm outta here for a bit - give 'em a stein on me!
Well good evening gents-shiver me timbers,`tis the man his good self behind the bar-Beers all around please TOM, and I`ll be insulted if you don`t join me in a glass or three !!!!
Enjoyed the pix (and histories) of the taverns-hadn`t seen the 2nd class before-good to know the enemies lair Also the moment in time caught so neatly at the old tavern by the tracks--do my reddened and bleary eyes deceive me or is that your good self outside the left hand door surveying the bright new day--almost certainly CM3 leaning against the window,steno pad in hand composing his next grand opus--looks mighty like 2 Jobs DOUG staggering blearily from his car for a quick java fix--the deceptively casual pose of Leon outside the other door,planning a little light panhandling and that must be Bar Chandler ROB assisting the damsel in distress with the flat tyre in the yard.....................................
Also received E-M from ROB this am-no text,usual mildly vulgar ( & V.funny ) circular,good to know he is still out there-will send to Kalmbach as soon as I check out of here
LOVE those shirts-can I get #3 please-I feel it best suits my sober & dignified world view
CM3-An elegantly penned insight from our resident newshound --I feel you captured the tenor of the evening very neatly--for the record,I was actually checking the brake linkages on the tank car-right up until the moment I discovered the emergency drain-down valve,after that things became a little blurry-happily the wounds were all of a minor nature & should heal without scarring.................
DL-UK-Thanks for the heads up R.E catering services-On the rare occaisions when I do travel `Up to town` it is to meet the incoming Toronto flight at H/row,which means getting the 06.45 from Haverfordwest,which is about 2 hours behind the Up service you listed--In truth it is a most impressive menu,but £5.50 for a bowl of soup.....-given the prices one has to pay for a ticket in the first place,I think I`ll stick with my cold bacon sarnies .
Sorry you missed out on your G.C.R trip-would have liked to see some pix of that-still-in`sh Allah and all that--EXCELLENT Southern link,only had a quick browse so far but will be back in there within the hour
Right-set `em up again please TOM whilst I nip out to the back bar for a moment-sounds like Boris has got another dart in the forehead,then we`ll have some pix
O.K-as noted yesterday,this weeks excursion is to The Compton Down Rly-a 2ft gauge Welsh slate, passenger & general merchandise carrier modelled in 16mm-ft and running live steam
captioning will be a touch vague as this scale is rather outside my field...
O.K-usual from top left convention 1-The garage and chapel,just outside Compton Down station throat-on the extreme left,the ground level 5" gauge test track is visible 2-further round from yesterdays shot,the 0-6-2 with Tal-Y-Lyn stock passes below the iron works 3-modified Mamod pot-boiler with Vale of Rheidol coach rounds the bottom corner-track in foreground is 45mm 4-same location with a rather neat little Peckett prototype with sand tippers
1-the pub-most of the buildings on the line are 0.75" plywood shells with various texturings 2-Tram & other engines shunting outside C.D Stn 3-a quiet corner of the low-level quarry area (viaduct at top of shot) 4-more shunting at C.D-the little green engine is a `std gauge` O scale loco
1-Compton Down throat-the loco is on the `steam up` tracks 2-the main platforms with the freight shed to the rear 3-the back of the chapel,taken from above the pub 4-close-up view of 2
1-battery powered jackshaft diesel passing the top of the quarry incline 2-Simplex petrol motor at Compton wharf 3-view thru the trainshed at Llanbedr Rd 4-opposite view to 3
well well-I remembered more than I thought I would.........
Right,better get this lot off to the press-the MENTOR GAZETTE editor waits for no man,as CM3 will attest
enjoy !!!!!
Well-looks like no-one else has come out to play this evening so I guess a couple more pix from Clonakilty might fill the gap..............
All the shots posted previously have been of the trains,heres a few views of the site as a whole-gives a fair impression of the scale of the undertaking
And one from the family album to finish off with--Missisnick,small demon Hannah plus unfeasibly large lollipop
right,I`m off to check the galley ready for fishie fishie fishie night tomorrow,set `em up again Bossman-and don`t forget yourself-take care one and all,
Hello Tom and all in
Given the SR (UK) link I think I’ll order a pint of Harvey’s Best Bitter today.
I’d meant to past the link for the actual index page as that is not so easy to locate, so here it is – this is what I call an SR index!
http://www.semg.org.uk/alphaind.html
Some of you who enjoyed the link first time round might want to browse this if you did not see this page.
Good to see some pictures of Berwick – where I grew up – been 3rd rail electric since about 1933. Still got the semaphore signals to this day.
The wooden platform building pictured is where I would lock my cycle up as a school kid if I needed to leave it at the station over night. The station master would give me the room key to the room used by staff as a store and it would be safe in there. If I returned when the station master was off duty you could get a key from the signal man in the signal box (Tower?) pictured in the background – that was a treat because you got to go in the box and take a look at the old fashioned manual equipment and have a good vantage point up and down the line and over the fine looking Sussex downs countryside!
Tom – I’ll prepare my chugger post when I have a moment – I’ve pasted a few sections out of government and parliamentary reports but need to get them in a clear order. They make interesting background.
On your point about a world wide dining conspiracy – I think you may be right. I was just reading an article in a copy of Trains I picked up when in Canada about Amtrak ‘simplified dining’ – what the heck is that? Sounds ominous to me.
One of the things that never ceases to amaze me is that one of the places with the worst on board dining option in Europe is now France. Given the association they have with food it makes you wonder how much hope there is for the rest of us!
That 10 Dollar mail out surcharge on your tickets is a rip off Tom – picking up tickets at Montreal was very smooth I found (as we were in Montreal a couple of days before our first train journey we called at the station and picked up all the pre booked tickets we had to collect). Any chance of a travelogue from the Gaspe trip Tom? After you get back of course.
As you say, hope Pete can review these posts as his thoughts on UK situation always of interest.
Nick – as you say, dining on Great western is not cheap (but I’ve eaten more expensive but worse meals in a standard restaurant more often than I care to mention). What I do is book ahead the cheapest advance purchase ticket I can get for a train with a dining car – then splash out on the meal – as Tom says it is one of the joys of rail travel and fast disappearing. I can see where you are coming from though!
Tom, Eric, Lars, Nick – I know you all got hungry so hopefully you can join me for a look at the GNER dining car menu (London, Yorkshire, North East England, Edinburgh – the route Pete described on his Stirling travelogue, which they market as ‘The Route of The Flying Scotsman’). I think they offer better meals on more trains.
Out of 60 daily departures from London the dining car is available on an incredible 51 departures (and an equivalent number in the other direction)!!!
I fear for some real cut backs though as GNER are owned by Sea Containers from the USA and I read they are in big trouble financially, plus they over bid to the UK government for the franchise right to run this route and now can’t meet the payments. All the commentators reckon they will go on a cost slashing exercise any time soon.
Perhaps you can all join me at a table on the 10am from London Kings Cross (The Flying Scotsman itself) some time? Here's the selection:
Menu C
LUNCH AND DINNER (served from 11am)Spicy and sophisticated, this menu offers starters such as curried cauliflower soup with cumin croutons (£4.25) or salt cod fishcakes (£5.95); mains such as delicious duck confit (£16.95) or venison sausage with creamy mash (£12.50), and tempting desserts such as cheesecake with blueberry compote or chocolate and banana tart (both £5.25).
StartersCURRIED CAULIFLOWER SOUP WITH CUMIN CROUTONS Slightly curried creamy soup served with a warm bread roll.
£4.25
BUFFALO MOZZARELLA SALAD Buffalo mozzarella cheese with parmesan, mustard seed & olive oil dressed rocket leaves, slow-roasted tomatoes and grilled courgettes.
£5.95/£10.50
SALT COD FISHCAKES WITH MIXED PEPPER SALSA Salt cod potato cakes with a tangy mixed pepper salsa.
Mains
£5.95
DUCK CONFIT Slow-cooked duck leg served with creamy cabbage, peas, pancetta and crushed new potatoes.
£16.95
SIRLOIN STEAK WITH CHIPS AND SALAD Pan-fried sirloin steak cooked to your taste with chips, dressed green salad and a choice of mustards.
PAN-FRIED SEA BASS Pan-fried sea bass served with mashed potato mixed with cabbage, spring onions, shallots, parsley and slow-roasted carrots in a red wine jus.
£15.95
BAKED, STUFFED AUBERGINE Aubergine baked with tomato, mozzarella, shallots, garlic, mustard, harissa and yoghurt, served with basil & potato salad and wilted spinach.
£13.50
VENISON SAUSAGE WITH CREAMY MASH AND CURLY KALE Grilled sausages served with mashed potato, buttered curly kale and onion gravy.
£12.50
Puddings
CHEESECAKE WITH BLUEBERRY COMPOTE Chilled cheesecake with stewed blueberries.
£5.25
CHOCOLATE AND BANANA TART WITH RUM CUSTARD Warm chocolate and banana tart served with a rum-infused custard.
CHEESE & BISCUITS Fine British cheese served with biscuits, fresh celery and farmhouse chutney.
This is one of 3 menus they rotate to increase the choice – the rest are here for you to browse:
http://www.gner.co.uk/GNER/GoEat/Restaurant/
On the round up of UK dining cars maybe we will look at the East Anglia route next.
Good wishes to you all
ERIC-Hi,in answer to your questions:- The Compton Down line runs all round the perimiter of the garden-a guesstimate would be about 200` from stop-block to stop-block,the pix were taken during annual open days,with folks bringing their own loco`s for a run out,hence the high traffic density.
Steam is the dominant prime mover,but Peter will happily use battery ,clockwork or whatever is to hand
Previous pix of Clonakilty are on page 401-It is on the far South West coast of Ireland-about 70 or so miles south-west of Cork.
Plane crash hasn`t made the press at all over here-so much for the `Global Village`......
Right off to Mentor market to stock up on fresh fishies for tonight,have a productive day one and all,take care
Sports flash! Sports flash! Cardinals and Mets series is tied! What's that you say No games have been played yet Hmmmmm - well, then the series IS tied!
Appears as if the Tigers from Detroit are off to a great start, taking two games out in Oakland against the A's. That's playoff sports fer ya - one just never knows.
A fine chilly start to the day here in mid-continent USA as the cold front arrived in all of its glory. Temps were hovering at the freezing mark (F) as Juneau the Wonder Husky sped 'round the subdivsion for our early AM one mile trek. Wunnerful wake-us-up temps!
Some super fine Pix from Nick as his latest fascination with "hi-tech" has unleashed more insights from the world of the Wests Wales Wailer (nice, eh ) than anyone could've hoped for. My bride's comments regarding the Pix of your bride and little one, "She's a cutie and Nick's wife looks normal!" That sez it all, eh BUT, WHAT DOES THAT SAY 'BOUT YOU <grin>
Shirt #3 is officially Nicks - so let's get moving with the remainder of the 'selections' - see previous Page!
DL - are those diner prices for real My Gawd, as you alluded to in an earlier message - one would surely need a banker alongside to pay the "freight" for those entrees. Absolutely crazy once the conversions are done from British pounds to U.S. and/or Canadian dollars. Remind me to pack a lunch should I yield to temptation and take that rail sojourn I've been dreaming about from London up to Glasgw and points north.
Haven't heard a word from VIA Rail regarding that "rip off." However, I'm a persistent kinda guy, so this will not go away until some sort of resolution is tendered.
And yes, I plan to provide the boyz with an account of my rail travels to 'n from Gaspe, along with some Pix as well.
Lars - always good to see ya, Mate and for awhile there figured you'd not be in yesterday. Did receive your Emails though - not to worry about the bar in your absence, we'll be fine. Just take a look 'round and you'll see that we've experienced a shift of sorts to the evening activity. Between DL - Eric 'n Nick, there won't be any moss growing in this place! <grin>
The media coverage on cable TV has been - in a word - overkill, regarding the tragic plane crash and deaths. Just the way CNN - FOX - CNBC - MSNBC - LSMFT (oooooops, got carried away there!!) "do it" these days. Someone can let loose a flatulation bomb in suburban East Overshoe, Michigan and it will occupy the "top slot" in the cable news for the remainder of the day. Good Gawd Gertie!
Eric - If the "count" holds for our 2nd Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous in St. Louis for this coming spring, looks as if there will be 5 of us. Given the uncertainties some of the guys are experiencing right now, I'll hold off on any firm planning stuff 'til later this year. On a different note, how 'bout some X2000 'stuff' for Sunday Photo Posting Day! Maybe even some shots from your trip back home. Anyway, the next two weekends are gonna be a bit "tight" so anything at all will really be of help.
More on the Bragging Rights DARTS CHALLENGE!
Been contacted by Mountain Man Mike (Moose) the Proprietor over at the Second Class Saloon. He tells me that his teams are READY to "get it on" and are more than ready to "rip our souls out." Hmmmmm, a bit of the theatric runs hot over in the "Mountain Village" methinks. We've been invited to a "social" event any weekend prior to the first match - that we can fnd the time. His thoughts are to get "to know one another a bit" before they "stomp our butts." Any takers Oh yeah, the names of the guys on their teams:
Team #1 - John (slopehead) 'n Larry (scrote)
Team #2 - Bob (cannibal) 'n Tim (tiny)
Substitute - George (grommet)
They call themselves the Avengers, get the point <oooooooooooooh>
Dates have been changed for the CHALLENGE:
Tuesday, Oct 24th at the Second Class Saloon
Wednesday, Oct 25th at "Our" Place
This is to make sure I remember how to post a picture.
Eric, I've visited your picture pages, and particulary enjoyed seeing the Hudson River tunnel and the one by Vandenburgh Air Force Base.
Doug, what is the condition of Rock Island locomotive 938?
CRI&P 938 at Minneapolis in 1937
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005251/00005359.jpg
CRI&P 938 at Illinois Railroad Museum
http://steamlocomotive.info/locomotives/il50.jpg
http://steamlocomotive.info/locomotives/il41.jpg
CRI&P 938 in Colorado in 1939
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005626/00005707.jpg
Beinn Dorain in Scotland
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/83644198-O.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/83644186-O.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/83644354-O.jpg
Well helloooo boys....
Whoops ,sorry,it`s been one of those strange evenings....
LEON-Beers for the house if you would be so good,I had something of a menu in mind,but in fairness DL-UK has trumpted any ace I care to lay..................-I would be delighted to order from that board and the prices looked a little closer to reasonable,also ,a better balance of dishes than the post G.W.R offering--as noted,not everybody wants big chunks of meat
O.K--I`m going home now-I`ve just realised how pi**ed I am-see you all soon,take care,nick
IT'S ALIVE It'S ALIVE
Well sort of anyway.I'm actually using my sister in laws machine at the moment. Took 4 *&$#@ arttempts but the log on connected.. I appreciate the show of support guys in gals,perhaps the pile of "mail" got the glitch fixed I'll find out tomorrow when i try my own system. I'm thinking happy pink bunny thoughts. Leon and extra large round of CR for anyone standing within the walls.Best not to comment on a week and a half of old stale stuff. I have read through most of it and thanks to all who have kept the faith, we still have had quite a good quality product to read and view. I'm glad to see that DL Nick and Mike have all stepped up and kept Lars n Tom Company. CM3 great first writing of the mentor wide world of sports, grudge dart match warmups. I'll just say that i resemble those remarks. To that end Sir Tom I think I'll wear jersey number two if it's still available
Tom-Perhaps that extra ten bucks is either a built in gratuity for the event coordinator or just a way of making back some of the GST which they don't get anymore since the percentage went down. ( Not that you pay te GST anyway ) Both are likely far from the real reason , but I'm sure that you will get satisfaction
Any how not goof to monopolise someone elses machine, that and it's rude of me not to talk to the people I'm visisting with, So for now I'll just take my leave of you fine folks.Hopefully i won't ened up under the same tank car as Nick.
Rob
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