Good late evening everyone. Leon a small double CR on the rocks please Nice to see the gang still rolling in on this friday
Lars-Glad to see you think of us while you're out and about ( and yes that is how it sounds when I say it )Sorry bout your Mets there is alway's next year, who knows you may get to play my Jays in the world seriesI can imagine how impressed the two of you guys were with that JO takes all kinds of fruits n nuts unfortunatly.
Tom -I figured that you would like those rules , they made sence to me somehow , amazing how some things change as time goes on but how people and JO's stay the same.That Algoma trip[ is still a go from our end, we do love the country up there. You are right about the other Ferry , I've been on both and the Dartmouth one is the best one.
Rob
Leon, well I'm still awake so I'll grab another Becks and then help you clean up and close up in a moment or two. One last note to drop off before I call it a day though.
WIERD TALES FROM THE BARN # 9 ASRA RULES PT 3
Here's a couple more excerpts from the asra rules and notes on the how to not get sued rules for trolley and traction companies. And yes floks these were real rules and suggestions !Quoting...
Ejection of unruly or nonpaying passengers proved tobe a particular sore point for the traction companies. Still is today.
" No passenger shall be forcibly ejected from a car for any cause whatsoever , unless the conduct of the passenger is dangerous or grossly offensive. The ejectment must be made by the conductor with the assistance of the motorman after the car has been brought to a stop , using only as much forse as sufficient to expell the offending passenger , and with a resonable reguard to his personal safety."
" No passenger will be ejected for mere intoxication unless said passsenger becomes dangerous or offensive.Such a passenger must then be ejected with great care , and must be guided until free of probable injury. Always get names of witnesses, and make a report of the same as in case of accident.No passenger shall be put off at a point where likely to be exposed to danger. Particular attention must be paid to this rule during inclemant weather , late at night ,or when the passenger in intoxicated. "
Here are examples of the corporate anxiety. The hazzards were in the ASRA's mind twofold. Not only might the ejectee , hurtled into the hazzardous night by the crew end up in a state where he or his widow could win whopping damages, but worse, he might get taken up by the newspapers as an example of the heartless traction company.In a number of cities the relations with the newspapers and the traction companies were distinctly hostile. Newspapers in these towns tended to think that te streetcar company was an orginization that needed to be watched like a hawk.The streetcar companies felt that the newspapers ignorant of te operating problems of railways were merly interested in selling papers and irrisponsibly sensationalizing and distorting the truths.
ASRA rule 57
"No employee shall, under any circumstance, give any information whatsoever concerning any accident of any kind to any person except to a properly authorized representitive of the comany.Mum, in short was the official word."
More examples of the more things are new and modern the more things stay the same.
Good morning manager Lars. I'll have the usual two light breakfasts, and aspirin. Lots of aspirin. It's lucky that we have CM3, without whom, I would have no way of knowing what we do at these little pre-competition practices! I surely don't remember the burning boxcars. In fact ... I don't remember anything at all! Wonderful writing sir CM3 ... to be sure. Good stuff from Rob, on the handling of drunk customers. I've been on a few trains where I wouldn't have minded assisting the conductor with ejecting certain individuals myself, although I would not have cared if the train was moving or not! Speaking of JO's, I'll take Tom up on anything Vito can dish out to my ex-neighbor. Gets my blood boiling just thinking about him. Hokey smokey! DL must have borrowed some of AL's fingers for that post the other day! I'm going to have to take a speed reading class before tackling that one.
Families are actually starting to close on their homes, and move into the new neighborhood over here. Our turn will be November 9th, and here's how we look right now
Wouldn't you know it. I just happened to be on-site when I noticed someone from the county measuring the outside dimensions of my house for the purpous of determining my taxes .. and we're not even in yet!
I get to work job#2 from noon till 8pm today. No bites on the sale or rent of our other property, but we remain hopeful. And now, here's part I of an ENCORE from me:
The Wreck at Spuyten Duyvil By H.R. Edwards – Dec 1935 Railroad Stories
A light snow was swirling around the Chicago-New York Express as she double-headed out of Albany at 3:06 – twenty-six minutes late – on a gray January afternoon of 1882, straightened her “string of varnish” after leaving the yards, and settled down for the 142-mile run to New York City.
It was Friday the 13th. Although there were thirteen wooden cars in that train, the possibility of a jinx didn’t seem to worry the seventy-seven politicians who were traveling southward from the New York State Capital on free passes given by the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad.
They laughed and rough-housed like schoolboys on a holiday. As a matter of fact, that’s just what it was. The State Legislature had adjourned for the weekend, and they were going back to the big city – back to the bright lights of Broadway and the three-story brownstone mansions of Twenty-third Street.
Just behind the two locomotives were coupled two mail cars; then a baggage car and four passenger coaches, all the property of the railroad. Lastly, and most important, came six parlor cars: the “Red Jacket,” the “Sharon,” the “Vanderbilt,” the “Minnehaha,” the “Empire,” and the “Idlewild” – all built and owned by the Wagner Drawing-Room Car Company, of New York; each valued at about $17,000.
Mr. Wagner himself was riding that train. Webster Wagner, of Palatine Bridge, N.Y. (some fifty miles west of Albany). Inventor of the sleeping-car, president of the Wagner Company, five times elected to the State Senate, and an influential member of its railroad committees.
Mr. Wagner was sixty-four. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a high forehead and blue eyes, and possessing rare vigor for a man his age. His young son-in-law, Jay Taylor, was riding the same train as parlor-car conductor in charge of the Wagner rolling stock.
The newspapers that day were filled with rumors of a proposed merger between the Wagner Company, capitalized at five million dollars, and the Pullman Company, capitalized at ten million, which soon would be twelve and a half million. Such a combination would monopolize the field, revolutionize railway travel, and bring immense revenue to the stockholders of both concerns. It was expected to be the crowning triumph of Webster Wagner’s long and useful career.
Newspaper reporters were trying to get a statement from Mr. Wagner; but, like the good politician that he was, he shook their hands with a genial smile – and talked about other subjects. As the Chicago Express rumbled through deepening shadows of the late afternoon, winding along the snow-covered bank of the Hudson, he passed around cigars to the political news-hounds and told his life story.
Mr. Wagner revealed that he was born at Palatine Bridge on the second of October, 1817, became interested in transportation at an early age, and was apprenticed to his brother James as a wagon builder. Later the two brothers went into partnership, but Webster soon decided there was more of a future in railroading, so he resigned and got a job as station agent at Palatine Bridge.
He held that job from 1843 to 1860. During that time he watched the long through trains of comfortless cars go by his station, and one day stumbled upon the idea that brought him fame and fortune.
“I never thought of the sleeping-car,” Mr. Wagner admitted to reporters, “until I saw one of a very clumsy pattern built by a man living near Palatine Bridge. The man had no capital, no capacity, and not much inventive genius. I saw right away that his idea was good, but had to be developed.”
“I hadn’t much capital, either, but I applied to William H. Vanderbilt for permission to use an old passenger coach to illustrate my notion of what a sleeping-car should be. I knew that the Hudson River Railroad was sharing a large amount of business with night boats that it should have for itself. Men who needed all the time they could get begrudged the five or six hours lost in traveling between New York and Albany by boat. It seemed to me that much time could be saved by providing accommodations for merchants and others who would be glad to sleep while they traveled rapidly.”
He broke off abruptly, opened the window and peered out. The snow had stopped falling. A tiny station rushed by in the gathering twilight.
“The air feels good!” he exclaimed, and closed the window. “It was quite a problem for me to get the right ventilation in those cars. Oh, yes, as I was saying, my request for an old car was granted, and I went to work to fit it with berths. It took me months to finish that car. Even then it had to be approved by Commodore Vanderbilt before it could be used on this road. I urged his son, William H., to persuade the old man to look at my car. At first the Commodore ignored my request, but finally consented.
“It was a critical Sunday morning in 1858 when old Vanderbilt and his son were to visit the Thirtieth Street depot in New York to look at my new-fangled contraption. Before they arrived I walked through the car a dozen or more times to see that everything was all right. After the Commodore had made his inspection he asked: “How many have you got of these things?” “There is only one,” I told him. “Go ahead!” he said. “Build more! It’s a devilish good thing, and you can’t have too many of them.”
“I realized then that my fortune was made,” Senator Wagner continued. “With my brother’s help four cars were built at a cost of thirty-two hundred dollars each, and they began running on the first of September, 1868. The first car had a single tier of berths, and the bedding had to be packed away in a closet at one end of the car, th
Guten Morgen allerseits!
OKTOBERFEST at "Our" Place!
We will feature GERMAN brew all month!
GERMAN sausages will be added to the menu for the month, with all the trimmings!
On Saturday's in Otober The Mentor Village Teutonic Society will sponsor Oompah Music live at the "Our" Place picnic grounds Pavillion and Dance Emporium! Performers include the Sauerkraut Band, Electric Lederhosen and Burst the Wurst Trio
Lederhosen and Alpine hats will be worn by "Our Place"! staff throughout the month!
Full scale LGB trains will be running on the main lines for free round trips toCan-Am Gorge on weekends - 10 AM to 4 PM. First northbound departs the "Our" Place platform at 10 AM sharp. undt ve mean, sharp!
PLAN TO SHARE THIS FALL CELEBRATION WITH US!
Auf Wiedersehen!
Tom
As you can see, my ENCORE! was the OKTOBERFEST bill o' fare for the month!
Great seeing Rob in action - every little bit helps to keep things in forward momentum, eh Like those "rules" - keep 'em coming!
The 'digs' are looooooookin' goooooood, Doug. When's the PARTY Lock up the wife, kids, dogs 'n cats - the "Our" Place crew 'n customers are comin' to town! <we wish>
Good selection for our ENCORE! Saturday - remains to be seen how many "takers" we've got out there.
I'll be outside for most of the day - great looking morning and we're supposed to have a fine fall day to get some things done in the "back 40." Tomorrow the clouds roll in and along with it some rain - good day to watch football! <yeah>
World Series begins tonight in MoTown - only chance the Cardinals have is to take one of the two games, for #3, 4 'n 5 will be here, with 7 'n 8 back in Detroit. Will it EVER end Good Gawd Gertie, seems like yesterday that all of this ended in EARLY October. <groan>
COMMENT: From time to time there are issues on these Forums that "tick" us off. Best way to address them is to communicate with the Forum's Manager. This can easily be done by checking out the bottom of the page - "click" the "contact us" button after "trains.com" - then be sure to select "Forums Manager" when you pick a topic. Some of us are "into" an exchange regarding being "trashed" over on "my other Thread." Others are communicating their thoughts regarding access difficulties. It works - just be patient.
Remember, we’re CLOSED on SUNDAY – except for Sunday Photo Posting Day! and of course our breakfast – brunch – lunch ‘til 2 PM!
Boris, serve ‘em all of the “spiked” OJ they can handle!
ENCORE! Saturday - ENCORE Saturday! - ENCORE! Saturday
Here’s something to ponder with regard to our appreciation and fascination with Classic Trains. Check these hotel ads (from The Official Guide of the Railways – 1956) [located on the inside, back cover] from page 141OKLAHOMA BILTMORE in the heart of Oklahoma City 600 Outside Rooms with Bath 600 Free Radios MARTIN J. REINHART, President H.P “Johnnie” JOHNSON, Mgr. ”Where courtesy creates its own welcome” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Where Downtown SAN ANTONIO meets the River The PLAZA HOTEL . . . . . . . . . . . Air-Conditioned . . . . . . . . . . . . . SAN ANTONIO . . . . . . . . . . . The Venice of Texas . . . . . . . . . 500 Rooms . . . . . . . . . . . TOM L. POWELL, Mgr. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - IN SAN FRANCISCO . . . KARL C. WEBER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500 Rooms President and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . from $5.00 – Single General Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . from $7.00 – Double HOTEL WHITCOMB Market Street at Eighth AT THE CIVIC CENTER - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - HOTEL LAFAYETTE LAFAYETTE SQUARE BUFFALO, N.Y. Buffalo’s Most Centrally Located Hotel 400 ROOMS WITH PRIVATE BATH . . . . . . . . . . From $2.75 Single . . . . . . . . . . Delicious Meals at Moderate Cost KENNETH A. KELLY, President and Manager - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - IN ATLANTIC CITY IT’S . . . HOTEL DENNIS Boardwalk at Michigan Avenue AMERICAN and EUROPEAN PLANS Walter J. Buzby, Inc. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PHILADELPHIA’S VERY BEST! 1200 Rooms – 1200 Baths The finest of food and entertainment The BENJAMIN FRANKLIN A GREAT NAME . . . . . A GREAT HOTEL JOSEPH F. CONLAN, General Manager. . . . . . . . . WAlnut 2-8600 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - THE CONRAD HILTON C H I C A G O World;’s Largest and Friendliest Hotel 3000 ROOMS COMPLETELY REFURBISHED - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MARK TWAIN HOTEL . . . . . . . . . . ELMIRA, NEW YORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elmira’s Finest Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 OUTSIDE ROOMS WITH BATH Television and Air Conditioning – Four Restaurants W. C. EMERSON, President and Managing Director - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - IN NEW ORLEANS The ST. CHARLES . . . . . . . . A DINKLER HOTEL . . . . . . . . Completely Air-Conditioned J. J. (“Mike”) O’Leary, V.P. & Mgr. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - HOTEL ROBERT TREAT . . . . . . . . . . ”A KNOTT HOTEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEWARK 1, N.J. SINGLE - $5.25 Up . . . . . . . . . . DOUBLE - $8.50 Up STANLEY J. AKUS, Mgr. . . . .ALBERT W. STENDER, Pres. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - One of the world’s distinguished hotels The WINDSOR . . . . . . . . MONTREAL, CANADA . . . . . . . . MAXIME RAYMOND Q. C. President & Managing Director - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Enjoy! Tom
Good morning Tom. I thought you had left for Toronto yesterday. Boy, am I confuzzled! Enjoyed your ENCORES. Having grown up with TV, it's difficult for me to imagine a time when a hotel would advertize that it had radios in every room. Then it was TV, then cable, then I-Net access. I wonder what technical advances will be common in another 50 years.
Here's part II of my ENCORE before heading to job#2.
But Senator Wagner did not live to see the merger consummated. And all because of that hilarious group of politicians who were riding in his drawing-room cars from Albany to New York on Friday the 13th. At least, that’s what the train crew maintained in the investigations that followed, although no one came forward to name the guilty person.
Everybody agreed that there was quite a bit of drinking among the passengers that afternoon on the Chicago Express, and even two or three of the porters showed signs of intoxication. As Conductor George Hanford testified later:
“We had a lively party on board. All through the cars they were passing bottles, drinking freely, smashing hats, and signing songs. Apparently they were sober when they boarded the train in Albany, but many became drunk after the train started. I had no control over them. Someone, I don’t know who, pulled the rope connecting with the air brakes, and the train came to a standstill, to enable the engineer to pump out the air.”
If pulling the rope was intended to be a joke, it proved to be a ghastly one. The train had stopped a little to the north of Spuyten Duyvil, on the outskirts of New York City. At that point there was a deep cut through a ledge that obstructed a view of the station. On one side rose rocks and high ground. The other side sloped down toward the Hudson River.
Just before entering the cut a south-bound train had to round a long curve, and see what was around that curve ahead of them. Previously the N.Y.C. & H.R. had kept flagmen on duty at both ends of the cut, Bill McLaughlin and Richard Griffon, paying them each about thirty dollars a month, but in a wave of economy they had discharged McLaughlin, leaving the dangerous stretch of track insufficiently guarded at the north.
At the moment the express cam to a sudden stop, Senator Wagner was talking to some of his political companions in the Empire, the second car from the rear. One of them was saying:
“I’ve got a couple of friends here who want to get passes from you.”
Nobody knows whether or not the inventor had a presentiment of tragedy on that occasion, but he certainly betrayed uneasiness over the unscheduled stop. He rose and remarked:
“Well, gentlemen, I think I’ll take a look through the train. These confounded railroads have a passion for smashing up my best cars.”
Mr. Wagner left the Empire and hurried back into the end car, the Idlewild. That was about 7 p.m. It was the last time he was seen alive.
Edward Stanford, engineer on the first locomotive, who had been employed on the New York Central for twenty-five years, made several attempts to start his train, but only succeeded in breaking the drawbar connecting the two engines.
The second engineer on the doubleheading express, Archibald Buchanan, who had eighteen years of engine service on that road, said later that he had seventy-five pounds of air on, and it had dropped at once to forty when somebody back on the cars pulled that cord, and he had tried to relieve the brakes by pumping them off. Recharging an air cylinder, he pointed out, took about fifteen minutes.
Meanwhile, George Melius, the hind brakeman, swung into action. This was his story:
: A minute or two after our train stopped I got my lamps, white and red, and walked back to protect the rear. I stood behind my train about two minutes, and then started back around the curve about six or seven car lengths behind my train. It took me about five minutes to walk that distance” – at the investigation later he was made to walk the same distance, which took only two minutes – “and I stood there perhaps two or three minutes.”
“I waited there ecause I considered the distance sufficient to stop any train. While I was on duty at that poit, the Tarrytown local came in sight, seven or eight car lengths from where I stood. Instantly I started waving my red lantern across the track. I think there was time enough to stop the train, even though I judges she was making about forty miles an hour.”
His brother, who was a conductor on the Poughkeepsie train, advised Brakeman Melius to modify that speed estimate in telling his story to the coroner’s jury – “because,” said Conductor Melius, “the Tarrytown local had just stopped at the Spuyten Duyvil depot and could not possibly have picked up so much speed in that distance.” So George modified his story for the official investigation.
At 6:40 p.m. the southbound local had left Tarrytown, N.Y., fourteen miles away, with Frank Burr at the throttle and Patrick Quinn wielding the scoop. Both were men of years experience in engine service on the N.Y.C.
“We were five minutes behind time when we pulled out of Tarrytown,” Burr explained, “because we had waited for the Chicago Express to pass us there. The express went by at 6:15 at high speed, evidently making up for lost time. We stopped at Spuyten Duyvil depot at 7:04. We were then thirteen minutes behind the express.”
The number “thirteen” seems to run like a theme song through the history of this occurrence. It was Friday the 23th, there were thirteen cars on the express, and the local was running thirteen minutes behind the express.
:After leaving Spuyten Duyvil,” said Engineer Burr, “we entered the cut at the rate of eighteen or twenty miles per hour. There was no danger signal or warning of any kind in the cut. And, I might add, Kilcullen’s Hotel, standing close to the right-of-way, completely shut off our view of the curving track until we were almost on top of the stalled train.”
“We passed out of the cut into the curve – I was looking ahead at the time – when I saw a flagman (Melius) with red and white signals in his hands. He was swinging the red across the down down, upon which we were. At the same time I saw the rear of the express before me.”
“When I first noticed the red light, the flagman was standing not more than two car lengths ahead of me, and the train was not more than thirty-five feet beyond the flagman. Altogether I was not more than three and a half car lengths behind the express when I first sighted her.”
“I put on the air brakes at once, reversed the engine, pulled the throttle wide open, blew the whistle, and did all in my power to stop. But a collision was inevitable. I remained at my post until the engine finally plowed into the rear of the express and stopped there. Then I got out and did what I could do to help with the work of rescue.”
The locomotive of the Tarrytown local was only slightly damaged. Her overhauling was estimated later to be not more than a fifty-dollar job. She was embedded in the parlor-car Idlewild. Her headlight, broken but still shining, had pushed its way a dozen feet within the luxurious car, casting a weird glare upon the terrified passengers.
The Idlewild, in its turn, had been partly telescoped into the car ahead, which was the Empire. It was not known then how many persons had been killed or injured, but the engine had a full head of steam and a boiler explosion was feared. An explosion under those circumstances would have added frightfully to the casualty list.
James Kilcullen, proprietor of the small saloon and hotel near by, had viewed the catastrophe from his doorway, and was one of the first to hasten to the rescue with a ladder, an ax, and a couple of water buckets. Said he:
“If you want to use a shutter or two to carry the victims on, don’t hesitate to tear them off my house.”
Survivors of the wreck who had managed to scramble out of the cars, aided by a number of husky fellows who hurried to the scene from near-by villages, formed a bucket brigade and threw water from the Hudson River onto the last two parlor-cars, which had caught fire almost immediately after the collision.
Engineer Burr was the first to recognize the damage of a boiler explosion. Seizing the fireman’s scoop from Patrick Quinn, he commenced piling great shovelfuls of snow into the furnace. Fortunately, although it was mid-winter, the weather was rather mild, and the snow was soft enough to work with.
Water carriers who had been emptying their pails onto the flaming cars, followed Burr’s example and dashed them against the locomotive boiler instead. Eventually the fire in the firebox was quenched, and attention was turned once more to the Empire and the Idlewild, from which came the agonizing cries of victims who were slowly burning to death.
Conductor Hanford, of the express, noticed that the occasional pailfuls of water were doing very little to check the blaze. “For God’s sake, hurry!” he cried. “Throw snow onto the fire!”
And, although badly burned about the face and hands, Hanford started to roll a snowball toward the terrible mass of burning timbers and hissing metal. Soon hundreds of willing hands were pushing great mounds of snow toward the danger spot. Some, braving the fierce heat, ran alongside the blazing cars and tossed the snow in through the windows. Others risked death themselves to drag out both the living and dead from the fiery hell-holes.
To enable rescuers to keep at work while removing the victims, their companions deluged them with water and pelted them with snowballs.
At the moment of impact, the lamps in one end of the Empire went out. Those in the other end gave a light which, pale and sickly though it was, proved to be a blessing. With this illumination every occupant of the Empire was enabled to get out or be carried out alive before a wall of fire made exit impossible; and no one perished in that car.
Until a year and a half before the accident the N.Y.C. & H.R. had lighted cars with candles. General Superintendent John M. Toucey maintained that these were safer than oil lamps; but the traveling public had complained that they could not read by such light, and so oil lamps were substituted.
The cars were heated by the Baker patented process, not by stoves, and the heating apparatus was concealed from view. Nevertheless, according to Conductor Hanford, who had been in train service on that road for eleven years, this system was the cause of the fire, though oil lamps added to the conflagration.
Tons of snow were thrown upon the two cars, and in a short time the volunteer workers had the hills and roadway scraped almost entirely clear of snow. Even this, however, seemed hardly able to abate the heat. Late at night relief came with the arrival of the fire department from Carmansville, a wrecking train from the Thirtieth Street depot, and two or three ambulances made a long and terrible drive through the dark over snow-covered, muddy roads.
The fire apparatus, pumping water from the Hudson, soon put the fire out. But before this happened, the cars had been reduced to a shapeless mass of charred wood and twisted metal.
James Kilcullen threw open his place to the victims, dead and wounded alike. When the grim casualty list was finally counted, there were found to be eight dead – most of them burned beyond recognition – and nineteen persons were seriously injured.
The bodies were carried into Kilcullen’s saloon and there were laid, a ghastly spectacle, upon the floor and billiard tables. Two rival undertakers who had hurried over from Yonkers, N.Y., quarreled with each other as to which one should take charge of the bodies.
*** no joke for this post ... it would not be appropriate ***
Good Afternoon Tom. Nice to see the old gang still around. Time for a CR and a round for the house.
Still have not got my home computer fixed to get on the forum from their amd goins away for a couple of weeks and will fix it when I get back.
Noticed the blurbs about the FMs. They were great in Submarines and surface ships but a mechanical nightmare for those who had to work on them in the rail environment.
Have read and remember seeing the SP trainmasters in Commute service and they sure could accelerate away from the station when compared with the GP9s that were also in commute service at the time.
Passenger Units that could accelerate were the GN SDP45s assigned to the Empire Builder. Heard they left town on several occasions with the conductor still standing on the platform when they first entered service.
TTFN Al
Spuyten Duyvil, Bronx From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia In modern usage, Spuyten Duyvil (pronounced "SPITE-uhn DYE-vuhl") is the name of a subsection of the Riverdale section of the Bronx in New York City. The area is named after Spuyten Duyvil Creek, a Dutch name with various historical spellings and meanings. Some of the names are Speight den Duyvil, Spike & Devil, Spitting Devil, Spilling Devil, Spiten Debill and Spouting Devil, among others. Meanings come down to the physically based "Spinning Devil" or "Devil's Whirlpool" or the Anthony Van Corlaer legend based, "Spite the Devil." Though once a separate neighborhood from Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil currently refers to the southernmost section of Riverdale, below West 230th Street. This neighborhood was physically attached to Manhattan Island until the Harlem River was rerouted as the Harlem River Ship canal, and Spuyten Duyvil Creek was filled in in the late 19th Century. This produced the oddity that a very small portion of the mainland Bronx was politically a part of Manhattan for many purposes. This neighborhood is home to The Henry Hudson Memorial Park and the Henry Hudson Bridge, which connects it to the island of Manhattan. It is also the location of the Spuyten Duyvil train station, which is served by the Hudson Line of the Metro-North Railroad.
In modern usage, Spuyten Duyvil (pronounced "SPITE-uhn DYE-vuhl") is the name of a subsection of the Riverdale section of the Bronx in New York City. The area is named after Spuyten Duyvil Creek, a Dutch name with various historical spellings and meanings. Some of the names are Speight den Duyvil, Spike & Devil, Spitting Devil, Spilling Devil, Spiten Debill and Spouting Devil, among others. Meanings come down to the physically based "Spinning Devil" or "Devil's Whirlpool" or the Anthony Van Corlaer legend based, "Spite the Devil." Though once a separate neighborhood from Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil currently refers to the southernmost section of Riverdale, below West 230th Street. This neighborhood was physically attached to Manhattan Island until the Harlem River was rerouted as the Harlem River Ship canal, and Spuyten Duyvil Creek was filled in in the late 19th Century. This produced the oddity that a very small portion of the mainland Bronx was politically a part of Manhattan for many purposes.
This neighborhood is home to The Henry Hudson Memorial Park and the Henry Hudson Bridge, which connects it to the island of Manhattan. It is also the location of the Spuyten Duyvil train station, which is served by the Hudson Line of the Metro-North Railroad.
Well good evening gentlemen all-Leon, a round for the house if you would be so kind-just back from a show up in the mountains,I don`t think they have live music very often..............
Just called in for a nightcap-far too drunk to offer any opinions,will return ( as Gen. McArthur once said) tomorrow-take care one and all,be good boys--mamma`s watching.............
See ya later,nick
Evening again Tom and friends. Just finished job#2 and am ready for a bottomless bach beer tonight. Since two jobs is making me soooo very rich, I'll even spring for a round, and turn over my Michigan quarters for some tunes. Sure was great to see brother Al make it in today, and to see another ENCORE from the captain! You know, my company (job#1) actually works on a FM part that goes on a huge driveshaft in a ship. I"ll have to take a picture of it the next time we see it, and explain what we do to it. It's easily the largest part that we currently process. Here is the final installment of my ENCORE for today:
Scene of Spuyten Duyvil wreck, looking toward northeast, just after the railroad tracks had been cleared. In the foreground is the creek which marked the boundary line between Spuyten Duyvil and Manhatten. In the center are shown Kilcullen's Hotel and Saloon, to which the victims were taken.
My picture is yellowed because it's from a 1935 edition in poor shape. Your picure of Mr. Wagner is better too, by the way. Here is the rest of the story:
Aboard the wrecking train were General Superintendent Toucey, who was in charge of the entire N.Y.C. & H.R. Railroad between New York City and Buffalo, and Division Superintendent Charles Bissell. Both officials remained on the scene of the wreck all night, personally supervising the rescue work and disposal of the ruins.
By 4 A.M. the two tracks were cleared sufficiently for trains to run in both directions. The trains from New York brought a throng of newspaper reporters and curiosity seekers. Kilcullen’s thirst emporium did a land-office business, scores of men all day long drinking and playing billiards on the very spot where bodies of the wreck victims had been laid a short time before.
The first of the dead to be identified was Senator Wagner. The famous inventor had perished in the Idlewild, with which he had sought to equip with every appliance of safety and comfort. Sorrowfully his son-in-law, Conductor Jay Taylor, claimed the body. One of the Wagner cars was draped with black and coupled onto a special train taking the Senator back to Palatine Bridge where he was born sixty-four years before, and where he had served the railroad for seventeen years as station agent.
Another of the dead was the Rev. F.X. Marechal, chaplain for Blackwells Island, New York City – the spiritual advisor for inmates of the workhouse, the insane asylum and the almshouse. He, too, was burned to death in the Idlewild.
So were Mr. and Mrs. Park Valentine, a young bride and groom who had been married the night before at a fashionable society wedding in New England. He was twenty-two; she was nineteen.
Conductor Hanford was the last person to see the newlyweds alive. Forcing his way into the shattered and burning car, he saw the devoted pair standing together in the wreckage. Mr. Valentine was trapped beyond all hope of being extricated. His bride was clinging to him; only her clothing was caught in the wreckage.
Hanford said later that if she had been willing to slip out of her clothing and leave her husband she could have been saved. This he urged her to do, but the hysterical girl refused to obey. The heat was too intense for Hanford to stay in there long enough to force her to do this, to save the woman in spite of herself, and so the young couple died together.
Immediately after the accident, according to A.H. Catlin, who had charge of the road’s air-brake equipment, the brakes on the wrecked train were examined and found to be in good working order. Just who had pulled that cord, at the height of revelry back there in one of the cars, will probably never be known.
Mr. Toucey, however, picked on Conductor Hanford and Brakeman Melius, particularly Melius, as the prime scapegoats.
“The collision,” said he, “was a direct result of the violation of Rule Fifty-three.” Following is the rule he referred to, as stated in the N.Y.C. & H.R. Railroad rule book:
Whenever a train is stopped on a road, or is enabled to proceed at slow rate, the conductor must immediately send a man with red signal at least half a mile back, on double track, and the same distance in both directions if on single track, to stop any approaching train, which signal must be shown while the detention continues.
This must always be done whether another train is expected or not. In carrying out these instructions the utmost promptness is necessary; not a moment must be lost in inquiry as to the cause of stoppage or probably duration; the rear brakeman must go back instantly. Conductors will be held strictly responsible for the prompt enforcement of this rule.
At the coroner’s investigation, the attorney for Melius asked the general superintendent: “Suppose one of the employees cannot read. How should he know what the rules are?”
Mr. Toucey replied: “If there is such a man he ought to leave the employ of the road.”
“Do you know of any such?” persisted the lawyer.
“I do not,” said Mr. Toucey.
Then the truth came out. Although George Melius had been employed in train service on the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad for more than twenty years, he could neith read nor write!
It did not take the coroner’s jury long to reach a verdict. They held that eight persons had been killed “by criminal means and culpable negligence in the performance of their several duties” on the part of brakeman Melius, Conductor Hanford, Engineers Stackford, Buchanon and Burr, General Superintendent Toucey, and the railroad company itself.
Later the grand jury indicted Hanford and Melius on the charge of manslaughter in the fourth degree, and recommended:
(1) Discontinuence of the use of mineral oil for illumination in cars.
(2) Use of steam of hot water or hot air heating of cars instead of heating be direct radiation.
(3) Extension of the block signal system
(4) Larger train crews
(5) Employment of signalmen at all dangerous cuts and curves
(6) Trainmen and others holding responsible positions should be required to read and write.
(7) Inclusion of water pails and tools boxes containing axes, etc., on every train.
(8) The practice of giving free passes to legislators and others holding office under our state and city government is contrary to all proper ideas of good public policy and should be prohibited by law.
On account of the death of Senator Wagner, who had been a member of important railroad committees, the Senate of New York State also made an investigation. Its report, June 1, 1882, was vague and obviously written by politicians; but was definite about one point, namely, putting the blame upon brakeman Melius and not upon any of the railroad officials.
An aftermath of this disaster was revealed in a recent letter from Richard McCloskey, of Co. 3, Veterans Administration Home, Va., who wrote to Railroad Stories on his seventy-fifth birthday, June 10th, 1935: “I was a witness of the wreck at Spuyten Duyvil and knew George Melius. About a year after the wreck I boarded a horse car on Second Avenue, New York City, and recognized Melius as the driver. He was well disguised by a long growth of whiskers.”
*** still no joke, as it just isn't appropriate for this subject ***
Hi Tom and everyone, a round for the house.
Doug, thanks for the encore. You always did have a thing for train wrecks.
Spuyten Duyvil
http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200504112304523664.jpg
http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?2005031301271213070.jpg
Washington, January 15, 1953
http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/visitors/seasonal/wrecks/wreck3lg.jpg
Coolidge Hotel
http://www.trainweb.org/theattic/UpperNE.html
The Gipper
http://lamb.archives.nd.edu/rockne/gipp1.html
The General
http://archives.nd.edu/barnard/23.html
Mike
Good morning Tom and all. I'll just have a sticky bun frmo the Mentor Village Bakery, while viewing the Swedish train pix at the following link provided by Eric
http://web.mac.com/ericx2000/iWeb/Sunday%20Picts/Sunday%20Pictures.html
Guess I greatly misunderstood about your comings and goings Tom. This old man needs a break! Nifty little suppliment to my little wreck ENCORE yesterday from you sir, supported also by a fine spate of URLs from Mike. Great stuff gentlemen!
Remember those metal signs I bought at the Railroadiana last weekend? Here they are!
Not bad for $20 ... eh? By the way .. I don't know why .. but my little brain sometimes wonders what the translations are to certain Spanish words ... like "Santa Fe" for instance. I know that "Santa" means "Saint". I am told that "Fe" is like religious faith ... where you believe in something you can't see. So Santa Fe means Saint Faith?
Even though the bar at "Our" Place is
CLOSED on SUNDAYs -
We do observe Sunday Photo Posting Day!
and - breakfast - brunch - lunch is served 'til 2 PM!
NOW PLAYING at the Mentor Village Emporium Theatre!
. . . Sunday, October 22nd thru 28th: It Happens Every Spring (1949) Starring: Ray Milland, Jean Peters & Paul Douglas –and – The Pride of St. Louis (1952) Starring: Dan Dailey, Joanne Drue & Richard Hylton. SHORT: The Three Stooges – Cash and Carry (1937)
It Happens Every Spring (1949)
PLOT SUMMARY: A college professor is working on a long term experiment when a baseball comes through the window destroying all his glassware. The resultant fluid causes the baseball to be repelled by wood. Suddenly he realizes the possibilities and takes a leave of absence to go to St. Louis to pitch in the big leagues where he becomes a star and propels his team to the world series.
from: www.imdb.com
The Pride of St. Louis (1952)
PLOT SUMMARY: The story of Jerome "Dizzy" Dean, a major-league baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs in the 1930s and 1940s.
SHORT: Cash and Carry (1937)
PLOT SUMMARY: Featuring Moe, Larry and Curly The Stooges come home after several months of unsuccessful prospecting only to find that a young, crippled boy and his older sister have moved into their City Dump shack. The Stooges attempt to invest the boy's operation money by buying a house that is supposed to contain Captain Kidd's treasure, but when they attempt to dig it up they break into the US Treasury instead!
The Stooges come home after several months of unsuccessful prospecting only to find that a young, crippled boy and his older sister have moved into their City Dump shack. The Stooges attempt to invest the boy's operation money by buying a house that is supposed to contain Captain Kidd's treasure, but when they attempt to dig it up they break into the US Treasury instead!
from: www.threestooges.net
Enjoy!
SPECIAL from Eric - SPECIAL from Eric - SPECIAL from Eric
Check out this URL:
pictures from the 150th Railroad Anniversary in Sweden this last September.
Good morning again! I just got back from cleaning the stable, and taking daughter#2 on her mandatory driving lessons. Nice to see we have some baseball movies to watch at the Emporium, ad another great Stooges film. We’re not thinking to mach about baseball in these parts … just about Bears.
Here are some rail pix from the Chicago area pre-1912
Bridge over the South Branch of the Chicago River at Lake Street, showing elevated and surface cars
South portal of LaSalle Street tunnel of the Chicago Railways
View at State and Madison Streets, the most congested corner in the crowded Union Loop District
One of the four corners of the Union Elevated Loop, showing connections with main lines of operating companies
Construction view of intersection during process of installation by the Chicago Railways.
View of same intersection after paving. Streets are Halsted and Grand Avenue, the most complicated arrangement of special work in Chicago
The Doctor Says:
"This should be taken care of right away."I'd planned a trip to Hawaii next month but this is so easy and profitable that I want to fix it before it cures by itself."Welllllll, what have we here..."Since he hasn't the foggiest notion of what it is, the Doctor is hoping you will give him a clue."We'll see."First I have to check my malpractice insurance."Let me check your medical history."I want to see if you've paid your last bill before spending any more time with you."Why don't we make another appointment later in the week."I need the money, so I'm charging you for another office visit."I really can't recommend seeing a chiropractor."I hate those guys mooching in on our fees."Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm."Since he hasn't the faintest idea of what to do, he is trying to appear thoughtful while hoping the nurse will interrupt.(Proctologist also say this a lot.)"We have some good news and some bad news."The good news is he's going to buy that new BMW, and the bad news is you're going to pay for it."Let's see how it develops."Maybe in a few days it will grow into something that can be cured."Let me schedule you for some tests."I have a 40% interest in the lab."I'd like to have my associate look at you."He's going through a messy divorce and owes me a small fortune."How are we today?"I feel great. You, on the other hand, look like hell."I'd like to prescribe a new drug."I'm writing a paper and would like to use you for a guinea pig."If it doesn't clear up in a week, give me a call."I don't know what the hell it is. Maybe it will go away by itself."That's quite a nasty looking wound."I think I'm going to throw up."This may smart a little."Last week two patients bit through their tongues."Well, we're not feeling so well today, are we?"I can't remember your name, nor why you are here."This should fix you up."The drug salesman guaranteed that it kills all symptoms."Everything seems to be normal."I guess I can't buy that new beach condo after all."I'd like to run some more tests."I can't figure out what's wrong. Maybe the kid in the lab can solve this one."Do you suppose all of this stress could be affecting your nerves?"He thinks you are crazy and is hoping to find a psychiatrist who will split fees."Why don't you slip out of your things."I don't enjoy this any more than you do, but I've got to warm my fingers up somehow."If those symptoms persist, call for an appointment."I've never heard of anything so disgusting. Thank God I'm off next week."There is a lot of that going around."My God, that's the third one this week. I'd better learn something about this.
Howdy again. Before we leave for Shane's (not CM3) instructors' 7th degree black-belt testing at 2pm, here are pre-1912 pix of construction sites and equipment used to build the Chicago Railway
LaSalle Street tunnel of the Chicago Railways under the Chicago River – view at North end of twin bore
Type No. 2 track complete and ready for installation of paving
Type No. 1 track complete and ready for the installation of paving
Track jacks for Type No. 2-A track
Track of the No. 2-A ready for paving
Electric-welded track joint on the Chicago Railway
Electric welding outfit
Rail-crimping machine
Things to ponder:
1. Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.
2. One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
3. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
4. If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?
5. The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.
6. I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
7. Could it be that all those trick-or-treaters wearing sheets aren't going as ghosts but as mattresses?
8. If a mute swears, does his mother wash his hands with soap?
9. If a man is standing in the middle of the forest speaking and there is no woman around to hear him...is he still wrong?
10. If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?
11. Is there another word for synonym?
12. Isn't it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do "practice?"
13. Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all?"
14. What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?
15. If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages?
16. Would a fly without wings be called a walk?
17. Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them?
18. If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked?
19. Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?
20. Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?
21. If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent?
22. Why do they put Braille on the drive-through bank machines?
23. How do they get the deer to cross at that yellow road sign?
24. Is it true that cannibals don't eat clowns because they taste funny?
25. What was the best thing before sliced bread?
26. One nice thing about egotists: they don't talk about other people.
27. To be intoxicated is to feel sophisticated, but not be able to say it.
28. Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
29. The older you get, the better you realize you were.
30. Age is a very high price to pay for maturity.
31. Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.
32. Women like silent men, they think they're listening.
33. Men are from Earth, women are from Earth. Deal with it.
34. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
35. Do pediatricians play miniature golf on Wednesdays?
36. Before they invented drawing boards, what did they go back to?
37. Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?
38. If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?
39. If God dropped acid, would he see people?
40. If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest have to drown too?
41. If the #2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still #2?
42. If work is so terrific, how come they have to pay you to do it?
43. If you ate pasta and anti-pasta, would you still be hungry?
44. If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?
45. Why is it called tourist season if we can't shoot at them?
Even though the bar is CLOSED on SUNDAYs
'nuf said - we're up, one game to zip. Can it be true Who wuddathunkit
Even though the bar is CLOSED on SUNDAYS -
A few Pix from one of my trips to KCity, MO with Pete . . . .
BNSF observation
BNSF diner
Milwaukee Road diner
Galley of Milwaukee Road diner
Interior of Milwaukee Road diner
Great Northern observation
Interior of Great Northern observation w/Pete!
That's IT!
Looks like it's just me and you Tom. Nifty pix from you sir. Here's the last of mine for today
Here are more pix of the construction of the Chicago Railway
Concrete mixer in use for reconstruction work on Ogden Avenue
Continuous concrete mixer in operation
Discharge end of continuous concrete mixer
Eight-ton steam roller used for preparing sub-grades
Electric clamshell bucket equipment
Automatic shovel loading a wagon
Electrically operated rail-grinding outfit
Derrick car for handling rails and special work in storage yard
Too far north:
You design your Halloween costumes to fit over a snowsuit. You have more miles on your snow blower than your car.You have 10 favorite recipes for elk, moose or deer meat.You live in a house that has no front steps, yet the door is three feet above the ground.Driving is better in the winter because the potholes get filled with snow.You think everyone from the city has an accent.You think sexy lingerie is tube socks and a flannel nitie with only 8 buttons.At least twice a year, the kitchen doubles as a meat processing plant.The most effective mosquito repellent is a shotgun.You frequently clean grease off your barbecue so the bears won't come up on your deck.There is only one shopping plaza in town.You find -40C a little chilly.The trunk of your car doubles as a deep freezer.Shoveling the driveway constitutes a great upper body workout.There are two seasons: Liquid and SolidNine months of winter and three months of rough sledding.Six inches of snow is still considered a heavy frost.You actually 'get' these jokes, and forward them to all your Northern friends.
Okay Gents, here they are, the shirts for the Grudge Match Bragging Rights DARTS CHALLENGE! (GMBRDC) 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 . . .
Team #1 - John (slopehead) 'n Larry (scrote)Team #2 - Bob (cannibal) 'n Tim (tiny)Substitute - George (grommet)
Sponsor: Mountain Man Mike (Moose) Proprietor
More on the Grudge Match 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 for the CHALLENGE:
Tuesday, Oct 24th at the Second Class Saloon
Wednesday, Oct 25th at "Our" Place
Thursday, Oct 26th at the Second Class Saloon (if necessary)
See y'all when I get back!
Santa Fe was originally "La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Assisi" or the Royal City of the Holy Faith of St. Francis of Assisi. Ironically bypassed, it got a branch line in 1880. The first train backed into town, 18 miles from the mainline, because there was no wye for a turn around.
Super Chief at Albuquerque 1943 Jack Delano (Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division)
Good Morning Barkeep and all Present:
First snow of the season this a.m. The K-9 Korps has moved into winter quarters, but I imagine that they will reappear because it’s rare for it to be this cold here this early. I watched the Pittsburghs shoot themselves in the foot yesterday. The Steelers quarterback looked like he got hammered by the 3:15 Sunday only Mentor local. My boys play Dallas this evening. St. Tiki, pray for us! The Cardinals go home 1-1 which is o.k.
A few comments, etc.
Rob – Thanks for the rulebook material.
Lars – Keep on keepin’ on.
Tom – I have saved all of the “deathless darts” prose in one long file. Movies look good. Maybe we can run “Strategic Air Command” again sometime as that has references to the Cardinals, plus some fine flying scenes. Also thanks for the car interior pictures. Safe travels, chief.
Barndad – Yes, they do measure! Try and get your street plowed in the winter, though! Thanks for the pictures and the Too Far North comments – they do hit close to home. Nice shots of the ads and signs. Also appreciated the Chicago material.
The Spuyten Duyvil narrative was most appreciated.
Mike – OMG! Pictures of WRJ in 1964! They were great and the Hotel Coolidge as well! That place was venerable in the 1930s. I was living in the Republic of New Hampshire then, hard by the Portland Division of the B&M. It was interesting over there as well.
BTW, enlarge the Delano shot and spend some time studying the freight cars and vehicles there in.
I will be in and out over the next couple of days, so dart reports, etc. may be a little delayed. But never fear we will have full and complete coverage with bulletins posted as the situation warrants (No Boris, not arrest warrants!)
work safe
Hello there bar keep. Pint of cider for me please.
Yes, Tom - Woodside ferry was the one I was thinking of - I had thought it might give a different perspective on the Halifax skyline - sounds like it is less highly rated given your comments.
As per Tom and Rob's comments
On ONR Toronto northwards looks like only way is an overnight in seated accom - nothing luxurious about that but maybe you take what you can get.
I've heard of the Algoma central route - and see the times in my Thomas Cook world wide train timetable - it sounds interesting and scenic - anyone done the run - presumably from Toronto you head west on VIA then connect with it (ACR) at a releavnt location. I also see a passenger line in north Quebec - isolated from the VIA netwrok int he north east of the province - anyone rode that line?
Just seen this particulalry unpleasant report in the paper today:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,1929486,00.html
I trust those street car regs had a special section for that sort of thing. Lets hope the railway police catch up with him sharpish.
DL - UK
Well good evening gentlemen all-Leon a round for the house if you please,a bottle of Pilsner Urquell for me ( change is good for the soul,so they tell me ) and one yourself.
Apologies for failure to provide pix yesterday,couldn`t get server connection --Thought I`d slip in for a few quiet ones and limber up my throwing arm ready for the upcoming challenge--anyone care to step up to the ocky for a few practice hands
Whilst on the subject,might I repeat my earlier warning R.E rapid retreat from the 2nd class saloon-the area around the car-park has been liberally salted with industrial grade rocket fireworks ( an old Llangwm tradition-every new year is greeted with salvos of these things launched at head height,horizontally up main street....honest.....) and 410 shotgun cartridges loaded with either rice or rock salt,for which many thanks to the ingenuity & free thinking of the boys from the Mentor Nomads M.C.
Incidentally,anyone wishing to further accessorize their T-shirt & leathers team outfit need look no further than Mentor Ethnic Jewellery,where the lady of the house,Miss Lavender-Rose,is displaying an exciting new range of combined mood-ring/knuckle dusters hand crafted from Mexican silver and tuned to the wearers personal Aura.
Right Leon,lets have some more beer & crank up Herr W. whilst I get down to the serious business of the night:-
CM3-Yet more marvellous reportage -the mining industry`s gain is truly the world of journalism`s loss --N.B.-would agree R.E. Boris`s contribution to "Paint it black"-anything that gets him near a washtub is good for me....My own recollections of the performance are sowewhat hazy as I suspect it took place whilst DOUG & I were beating out the small fires on each others clothing with handy lengths of planking
DL-UK-Nice link to the Radstock museum site (although they seem to have confused Weymouth with Bournemouth and Birmingham with Manchester r.e. the Pines Express...........) R.E-the O.N.R,havn`t ridden the route,but am a great fan of the line and get daily pix and message board submissions forwarded to my E-mail-have picked up loads of useful info ,mostly by pestering the other members (was seriously considering modelling a portion of the line until I got some station plans that showed how big the layouts are--since I am regrettably without a sports-hall sized model room.................) Normal formation on the Northlander ( To.-Cochrane) is GP38-2,train heat unit (converted F7b) 2/3 coach cars plus f/s car. It used to be possible to do the O.N.R & A.C.R in one trip ( I have a 196x something article from the railway magazine which describes it,which I will happlily scan in and forward ) but since the withdrawl of the Cochrane-Hearst pass. service this no longer happens....................unpleasant Grauniad article-probabally some poor `care in the community` type who hasn`t taken his medication..............................P.S-good job done in the galley the other night ...fear is the key...
JAMES-Hope the weekend wasn`t too traumatic-nice layout shots,that grain elevator is a truly eye-catching feature-suprising the impact that a very tall structure can make on a layout-we tend to loook at models in terms of just length & depth--nice work mate
BK &LYDIA-Hannah is total thrill-sucker-prospect of small aircraft flight would be almost too much for her to bear-when we flew out to Spain last year her principal comment was "Can`t it go faster...."....waaaaah
DOUG- Secrist Towers looking mighty fine-seems almost a shame to let the company loose on a house warming party (have checked the calender and would you believe it-it fits right in with our planned U.S tour with the band........) A fine ( if somewhat gloomy ) "fireside tale"-one wonders what coverage it would have had ,had there not been `important` people aboard............or is that just me being cynical..Fascinating pix,both from your signs and the street lines and the `docs` and `things to ponder` both caused much giggling--good work all round mate !!!!!!!
MIKE-As ever ,a splendid follow up with the URL`s-that pic of the `Super Chief` at Alberquerque is just crying out to be modelled
ERIC-A fine spread of pix there mate ( and thanks to both DOUG & TOM for providing links ) loads of interesting stock that I hadn`t seen before,as well as some that rang some bells-nice shots of the buses as well-most of the Scania vehicles we see over here are lorries---that big triple-unit Iron ore hauler looks like a monster.....
TOM-Unlikely that you will see this ,given the time lag and all,but enjoyed the close-ups of the Budd cars-no excuse for getting the details wrong with pix like that ...Our thoughts are with you during the next few days mate---celebrate the good memories,we shall all raise a glass at the appropriate moment..........................
Right,lets get this lot on the board and go find some delayed sunday pix
back in a bit
nick
Right,back again-Leon,another bottle or three of that wonderful Czech Pilsner if you please and another round for the chaps--looks like the last minute practice night has been an unqualified success --the dart board has got more arrows sticking out of it than Gen. Custer 2 hours after his last big mistake,the picture of Dubya hanging next to it is similarlry well perforated and Boris is wearing his wounds as a badge of pride (bless him.....)
Now then-ERIC made the fatal mistake of showing an interest in Brit narrow gauge trains so you can blame him........Tonights tour around `Merrie Olde` takes us up into the marches-the debatable land that separates England from Wales,more specifically the Welshpool & Llanfair light Railway.
Running between Welshpool & Llanfair Caereinion (nr Newtown in Powys,for those that are interested) this line is unusual in that it was built as a common carrier,rather than to exploit any mineral resource.It was taken over by the G.W.R in 1923 and lost it`s pass. service in the `30`s
The original engines (Beyer-Peacock 0-6-0t`s) both survive (pix next week) and are augmented by a former Sierra-Leone rly Hunslet 2-6-2 (similar to the W.H.R " Russell" seen previously) and a former Feldbahn 0-8-0t
O.K:-pix-------
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Here is " Sir Drefaldwyn",the former Feldbahn 0-8-0t ,easing across the grade crossing at Castle Caereinion and into what was a passing track but is now a stub siding
Starting out towards Llanfair Caereinion again with a mixed bag of ex- Austrian & Sierra Leone cars
A clumsy attempt at a panoramic shot--the building on the right is the old signal box,on the left is a freight/tool store and I`m standing more or less where the stop block of the original freight spur used to be
Another 4-in-1 here,from top left we have 1:-the obligatory diesel shunter sitting on the headshunt at Llanfair Caereinion with S/L coach in tow 2:-facing the other way-original loco`s "The Earl" & "The Countess" sitting on the spur 3:-Ex-Glasgow gasworks 0-4-0t " Dougal" at the end of the platform road 4:- Ex Sierra Leone Hunslet soaking up the sunshine
Whilst I realise that this is not a "Classic Train" by any stretch of the imagination,I thought that you might enjoy it .
Apparently it was built by a company who specialised in cranes & marine boilers and it worked in a North Wales quarry-just check out the look of quiet pride on the faces of the two Victorian gents ............................
Right then,off to get my beauty sleep-big night tomorrow,take care boys
Good evening Leon , a tankard or two of the fine German Pilsners that we brought in if you would please. Oh and here is a sack of quarters for Her wurlitzer, I believe that it's been quite a while since we heard the Canadian Railroad trilogy in it's entirity Sorry that I was a tad unavailable this weekend it was Spooktacular weekend # 1 at the museum. At least a thousand through the turnstyles ! hopefully the last night show next saturday will be as big of a hit as well. So yes I will be scarce next saturday, I'll be running the Reaper express at the museum
Tom-I know that by this point you are well into your sombre visit to Halifax , let me just reiterate Nick's sentiment on this occation, remember the ahppy and good times.Great movie picks for this weeekend as well, and I did enjoy the rerolls you provided us with on saturday I'll put that latest siberianmoism in the bank, not sure where or when I will use it though Good showing by your Redbirds, it's looking to be a good series
On a happier note , I loved the photo's of yours and Pete's trip.It's nice to see that much classic rolling stock in such good repair, and open and available to the general public at that.
Doug-I loved the three parter from saturday, good shoew and your sunday photo extravaganza was equisite as per always. The digs are looking mighty good , hopefully this means better times ahead for you and yours. Just a thought, your JO former neighbour could become a test target for our team warmups this evening .
Mike-I agree with Nick , that ATSF scene is just screaming for modelling
Eric-Great photo's sir I hope that if your supprise from Sweden is the swimsuit team , that you will save some for the rest of us.
DL-That just the worst bit of railway behaviour I've ever read about. Sick or not that type of behaviour absolutly can not be tolerated.To your query about hetting to the ACR. I would check the VIA timetables. If Sault Ste Marie is listed as a station stop then you are in business. Otherwise the closest habited area would be Sudbury, which would leave a 4-6 hour bus or car ride to the Sault.Big towns with air or rail conections are few and far between in this part of the province. Thunder Bay is the next more Northerly city but it's almost 8 hours from the Sault !
Nick-Good to know that you got the dirt on the Second Classes defences. We might now be able to co-ordinate a dedicated watermellon dropping carpet bombing by the H&H 'waffeYou are still envisioning a triumphal NA tour with the bands Stopping in Brantford by chance
CM3-I await with baited breath the ,prolificly perfect prose of our upcomming tourney of tourney's.Winter hasn't quite showed it's head around here yet.We didm get a bit of driving hail this morning but the temps are staying in and around a crisp 40F.
Back again folks. Leon another round for the battered and bloodied practice "darters" How the moose on the wall got the extra decorations when I was tossing is beyond meI blame it on poor flights ya that's it
Nick-great shots of the slim guage sir and yes I blame it all on Eric
Remember everyone , Monon tomorrow, might be a toughy but lets see what shakes loose. We don't want to dissapoint our fearless leader(hosen)
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