"OUR" PLACE - SEE NEW THREAD!

[siberianmo]

G'day!

Nice fini***o the JJ Story Doug! Not quite sure what you meant by "no fair" . . . . perhaps you got your fingers stuck between the keys and couldn't fini***he thought![swg]

Heard that joke B4 - same effect.<snicker>

Nick For some reason I must not have caught that comment you made regarding "Missinick's" B'day - so of course, day greetings (whenever the day!)[tup] Work on the Gazette continues and I expect it all to be finished B4 Monday. So, don't worry about any "pending stuff" - you've provided some really great material - thanx![tup]

Those RDC Pix are just "teasers," as the others are every bit as good. Some great senery shots too. For anyone who has taken that trip, these will surely bring back some good thoughts (I hope). For those who haven't, these Pix keep alive that which is now gone, gone, gone.

Doug - Thanx for the round and quarters for Coal Scuttle[tup]

Leon the Night Man takes the bar at 9 PM (Central)!

Later (maybe)!

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]


THINK April 12th –
The 1st year Anniversary of ”Our” Place!

[Anonymous]

Good evening Tom and gents! I'll have the usual, as usual, and buy a round for the house. Got a couple of Michigan quaters for the coal scuttle as well!

Never knew about the scenic train at Niagra ... thanks for the article Rob.

Nice RDC pix Mr. Tom, but it's no fair posting the Jesse James stuff until the series is done ... so here it is:

The True Story of Jesse James, Train Robber Sep 1932 Railroad Stories

Harry Thomas, rear brakeman, yanked he cord that controlled the automatic air-brakes, stopping the train. He knew that the further they went from the station the further they would be from help. But Jesse James was prepared for that emergency. The gang separated immediately, some going up to the engine, others in the express car. “What the hell are you stopping for?” demanded on of the brigands, pressing a revolver against the forehead of Engineer Walcott. “Keep on going!” “I can’t,” was the reply. “Somebody pulled the air on me.”

The robber fired, his bullet barely missing Walcott’s head. Meanwhile, the fireman had jumped out of the gangway. Walcott, being quick-witted, picked up the only lantern in the cab, which was hanging over the steam and water gages, and tossed it out, at the same time leaping out onto the running board. Then he extinguished the headlight, plunging the whole scene into darkness. The bandits cursed furiously.

Someone in the cab, however, knew how to run an engine – probably Jesse James himself – for after waiting until the air had seeped out of the brake pipes he applied steam, starting the locomotive again. While all this was going on, the men in the baggage car were holding up Charles Murray, The U.S. Express messenger, and Frank Stamper, baggageman. They fired twice, but both shots spattered harmlessly into the baggage. At that moment another fusillade was heard in the smoker, and the bandits rushed out shouting. “Shoot him! Shoot him!”

Murray shut and barred the rear door. He leaned out the side door to see if Walcott were still in control on the engine, dodging bullets as he looked. Then he slammed it shut, just as several man burst into the front door with a hail of lead. The intruders forced him to open the safe, in which was found only about $600 in currency and a non-negotiable $1,000 bond. Enraged, the robbers demanded: “Where’s the rest?” The express messenger responded : “There is no more, except these silver bricks, which are too heavy for you to carry away.”

But the leader was insistent. “We got control of this train, an’ I want the rest of that money of I’ll plug you full of holes. Ain’t you got any more?” “Can’t you take my word for it?” Murray answered desperately. “There isn’t a nickel in the car except silver bullion.” Finally the bandits were convinced and filed out, one of them cracking the messenger on the head with his pistol as a token of disappointment. Then the whole gang jumped off the train, and the darkness swallowed them up. After that Walcott again took charge of the engine. He ran his train on to a sidetrack, where he waited for the westbound passenger train, which later picked up the bodies of the two murdered men and took them to a station at Cameron.

The next train holdup by the James outfit occurred at Blue Cut, Mo., on September 7, 1881. This time a Chicago & Alton express was robbed by Frank and Jesse, Wood and Clarence Hite, *** Liddil and Charles Ford. Several thousand dollars in booty was taken without bloodshed. It was Jesse Jame’s last train robbery.

No Chicago, Burlington & Quincy train was ever held up by the James boys because that road – which had a line going through Kearney, Mo. – is said to have given the mother of Jesse and Frank an annual pass over the C.B.&Q. as a safety-first measure. Meanwhile, Jesse had married under the name of Thomas Howard and now had a son, Jesse, Jr. The family moved to St. Joseph, Mo. As a protective measure Jesse chose a house located on a hill, commanding a good view of the neighborhood. He posed as a railroad man out of work.

Early in 1882 his cousin, Wood Hite – who had taken part in the train robberies at Glendale, Winston and Blue Cut – quarreled with *** Liddil and Bob Ford (brother of Charles). Wood was killed, wrapped in a horse blanket and buried in a shallow grave. Liddil surrendered to the police and signed a long confession, implicating the gang. So did Clarence Hite.

On April 3, 1882, five days after the signing of Liddil’s confession, Jesse James, now 34 years old, was shot dead in his own home. The Ford brothers had been visiting Jesse, who said: “It\s awfully hot today,” then pulled off his coat and vest and tossed them on the bed. “I’ll take off my pistols, too. Somebody might see them if I walk in the yard.”

After Jesse had unbuckled his belt in which he carried two 45-calibre revolvers, laying them on the bed, he turned to dust a picture on the wall. The brothers drew their guns, Bob was the quicker of the two; his bullet pierced the skull of their host. Even in that motion, quick as it was, the click did not escape the keen ears of the hunted man. He turned – a fraction of a second too late – and died without a word in the arms of his wife, who rushed in just as the assassins were making their way out of the rear of the house.

The neighbors swarmed into the scene of the tragedy, the hapless widow, with Jesse, Jr., clinging to her skirts, refused at first to admit it was the bandit leader who had been killed. “No, no!” she sobbed. “It’s not Jesse James! It’s my husband, Tom Howard!” The little fellow burst out pathetically: “It’s not Jesse James, it’s pa!” not knowing his father’s real name.

The body was taken back to the old farm at Kearney on a special train which was furnished – perhaps not reluctantly – by Rock Island officials who retained a vivid memory of the holdup at Winston a few months before. Jesse James was buried under a coffee-bean tree. The grave was dug 7 feet deep and filled with rocks, for fear of ghouls. Twenty years later the body was exhumed, the skull was found with Bob Ford’s bullet hole, and a second burial was made in the local cemetery at Kearney.

Bob and Charlie Ford were tried and convicted of the murder of Jesse James but were pardoned immediately by the Governor of Missouri.

Although they had hoped to share the huge reward, they got only a few hundred dollars of it. Charlie Ford committed suicide shortly afterward. In 1829 Bob was slain in a row over a woman. The man who shot him was killed later in a gun fight in Texas.

Frank James was never captured. He surrendered voluntarily, shortly after his brother’s death. A sensational trial resulted in acquittal; apparently the jurors were taking no chances. The Frank decided to “go straight,” and was a respectable citizen when he died in 1915 at the old homestead in Kearney, which is today a museum.

Incidentally, the Rock Island station at Winston, Mo. – under the curse of Jesse James since 1881 – is about to be deserted in the year 1932. Because of decreased revenue, application was made recently for permission to abandon it. If the wraith of the bandit chief still haunts the scene of his bloodiest train robbery, the news may give him a grim sense of satisfaction.

>> There ..it's done << next!

[:I] A lady gynecologist, was concern that she was be being lied to every time she took her car in to have it worked on, because she knew very little about cars, she heard the local college was having classes in auto repair. She figured this would help her and signed up for the class, she study very hard and was one of the best students, the final exam came and she past with a 150 percent. When she got her grade she couldn't figure it out, so she called her professor, he told her, he gave her 50 percent for passing the written test, 50 percent for taking the engine apart and putting back together, and another 50 percent for doing it thru the muffler. [:I]

[siberianmo]

G'day!

Those who have been around this bar for awhile know that I'm a huge fan of RDCs. As Lars "Loves Domes" - and Al is "passenger fan" - I'm the RDC guy.[yeah]

I found a couple of sites with some fantastic RDC shots from BC Rail days. Both owners of the Pix provided their consent for me to Post their work on this Thread. So, here's a teaser or two of what may wind up on a Sunday Photo Posting Day!

BC Rail: RDCs cross Pine River Trestle.(courtesy: www.scenic-railroads.com)


BC Rail Cariboo Prospector at Anderson and Seton Lakes (courtesy: Chris Guenzler/trainweb.com)


These Pix bring back some wonderful memories of our round trip from N. Vancouver to Lillooet, BC several years ago. A fantastic journey and a bittersweet realization that those days are now long gone. RIP BCRail and RDCs![tup][tup][tup]

Later!

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]


THINK April 12th –
The 1st year Anniversary of ”Our” Place!

[siberianmo]

G'day!

Good cheer to Rob 'n BK - good to see the both of you this rainy day.

So, how do you REALLY feel, BK[?][swg] Hey! I happen to agree with everything you said AND the way you said it! Just got a kick out of the "emotion" of the moment.[swg]

These daytime Posts from Count Robulla could become confusing, eh[?] I mean, you nocturnal denizens of the dark can cause harm to yourselves while "zooming" around in daylight. Or at least so I've heard.<grin>

Not to worry - there's not a movie made that would or could cause me an ulcer. I'd walk out way B4 anything like that set in. I think there really is a distinct difference between a 'fun' flick and one made with a 'message.' The latter surely better be correct on facts, otherwise the message is a bogus as the messenger!

So, tell me Rob just how many passengers do you think VIA Rail is hauling to Montreal for the EXPOS games these daze[?][swg] . . . . . Just yanking your chain over the comment you made. I know what you meant. Anyway, trains and sports teams - must've been quite the era. The players of today wouldn't know what to do with all that time on their hands. Wonder if the guys spend as much time together as they did "back when"[?] I'm sure they do this 'n that while away and waiting to head off to the stadium. But years back they spent time playing cards in the club cars, had lots of down time to get to know one another - and the press corps as well. Lots of changes along the way. Ah, progress . . . . .

BK That's good news about the confirmation for the 12th![tup]

Thanx for the rounds![tup]

Later!

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]


THINK April 12th –
The 1st year Anniversary of ”Our” Place!

[BudKarr]

Good Day Captain Tom and all assembled!

A round of cheer if you please and I will have a large mug of coffee with just a "splash" of something just to make it interesting, thank you.

I enjoyed the posting that Sir Coalminer put forth, which was expanded by Tom & Rob. So here we are, at a crossroads of opinion. Allow me to offer my thoughts on the errors rather commonplace in our movies, videos and news programming.

When I buy a ticket to a movie, I do not expect to be insulted by inaccuracies unless I know straight away that the presentation is a work of fiction, a comedy or something without any baseline prerequisite understanding. In other words, when viewing the enormously successful animated movies of the past several years, hardly anyone took issue with whether the Polar Express was a real train or simply something out of the imagination. However, when viewing a movie such as that awfully distorted assortment of edited film strips regarding the President of the U.S., then I am insulted. Not so much because of any political bent, but because I KNOW better.

When I view something that is clearly within the parameters of my line of expertise, and it is wrong - how does one put on "blinders" for that? No, I clearly disagree there - that is insulting and should not simply be waved off as "oh well, it is just the movies." Again, that latter attiude applies more to the group of movies and TV efforts previously mentioned rather than careless movie making and script.

Now, when the news media makes mistakes - and they do, quite often. They should NOT be forgiven UNLESS they retract the error in a prompt fashion. To do otherwise allows the mistake to survive and perhaps germinate in an unsuspecting mind.

Consider this: there are people who have huge responsibilities with their lines of employment and one mistake can cost not only money and material, but lives. A mistake on the launch pad - a mistake in the missile silo - a mistake on the operating table - a mistake when setting the swtich - a mistake in probable cause, and so forth. Society is not very forgiving in those instances. However, have a reporter use the incorrect term, call someone by a title either not theirs or improperly applied, cite an inaccuraacy as fact and so forth, and for some reason, forgiveness abounds along with tolerance. No sir, not from me. Not today, not tomorrow not ever. Get it right and keep it straight. If one is paid to do a job - then do it correctly. If all one has to do is read the "news," at least take the time to review it prior to air time. Make sure the "intern" or whoever prepared the "paper" has put something forth that agrees with common sense and fact. How many of these "reporters" do you think actually research anything they say on air beforehand?

Now that I have vented, I feel so much better![swg]

We have put off any departures until late next week, thereby "guaranteeing" my presence here for the 12th!

By the way, good reading from Sir Nick and Sir Rob!

BK

[trolleyboy]

Okay a quick new piece before I'm gone until this evening.

CLASSIC JUICE # 26 THE GREAT GORGE ROUTE

Niagara Falls Parks & River Railway

As with many municipalities in Canada and the United States Niagara Falls On & Ny owe theirherritage to railways, few will actually admit this or celebrate it now however.An irony for sure is that one of Canda'a shortest lived Railways has had the most written about ( books , videos ) and thanks to the Niagara Parksn Commission plaques for every scenic bit of it's line.This line is of coarse the Niagara falls great Gorge Route.

Like most things about Niagara Falls, there is an American and a Canadian side of it.The Great Gorge Route was no different in this.The Candain side was built first,incorporated in 1891 by E.B. Oesler of Toronto and R.B. Angus( CPR Angus Shops Fame ) of Montreal. Operations started up in 1893 and it was electrified right from the get go ( no supprise there given the location ). Within the first twp yeras it had carried half a million passengers in a single car ! Ferries from Buffalo landed at the Slater dock just south of Chippewa Ontario,from there the trolley cars met the passengers and bounced along the brink of the gorge to Queenston, where a spur carried them into town or up the escarpment to the Brock Monument and the Battle of Queenston Heights National Park.At queenston passengers could board a steamer for a trip out the Niagara River and on into Toronto.This route gave the passengers an amazing view of the Horseshoe falls, te American Falls and the Rapids.

The Americans didn't want to be left out of this tourism tour da force so in 1899 they built a mirror line on the American side of the Gorge,running from Lewiston NY to Niagara Falls Ny.Around the same time the Queenston-Lewiston Brige waas being completed and quickly both side completed the belt line accross the bridge linking the two Gorge routes.

In 1915, the worst accident ona Candain radial line ocured at Queenston.As a badley overcrowded car of Sunday Picnickers,began down the steeply inclined line from Brocks monument Park, the motorman tried to sand the rails infront of the car to help with the braking.To his shock and horror someone had forgotten to fill the cars sander. With no traction the car went out of control and jumped the tracks into the Niagara River, Fifteen passengers were killed about 100 injured ( car was built for 80 passengers ),luckily the companies steamer Chippawa was at the dock and it moved out into the river ti recue the drenched passengers, otherwise many more may have been killed.

Once the auto age hit, it devistated the Gorge route business ( Niagara Parkway was built above the ROW ). Between 1928-1932 the ridership plunged and the 1932 season was the Canadian sides last.The US side ran until 1935 when a massive landslide occurred and took out 200 feet of track and overhead.The repair cost out weighed the possible returns of pasengers so this line too was shut down. Thus ended the era of being able to ride along the Niagara Gorge and enjoy the view from open air streetcars.

Rob

[trolleyboy]

Good morning Tom, I'll just pick up a quick lite breakfast and a coffee before I head on into work this afternoon.Intersting discussions so far on this day,baseball and trains.

Tom I find with movies now one just needs to put on blinders to the various and numerous miscues such as the train sequences you refered to.They do hire people to check for continuty etc but alot of the big companies pay money for their products to be seen,wheather they actually existed in the time and place of the movie,so if ATSF ponied up some dough.... I suppose enjoy it for the enetrtainment value ( if there is any )some movies lately have none [tdn]. BTW I loved a league of their own and the natural, and again I just ignored the obvious wrong background details. Not worth ulcerating over eh ?

The IC's a good choice for tuesday i think, i have an encore of two that will work for it as well as perhaps some new stuff [:D]

CM3 Nice dual talk this morning, classic baseball and classic trains. I think like most sports baseball has added way to many teams,less has always seemed better,better comopetition, better general quality of the players involved as well.Just my two bits anyway.Better yet if the legues were still small they might still travell by train. You see the stories of the old NHL when it was a six and even later a twelve team legue most of the travel was by train. At least VIA rail up here runs the odd passenger speacial still Toronto Montreal games are "hosted" by VIA once or twice a season,and if the scheduallers at the league are helpfull the teams will travel by the train as well,usually once in the 8 or 9 they play each other.

Rob

[siberianmo]

G'day!

Well, that's one fine dissertation on the connection between baseball and trains! Great "stuff" CM3[tup][tup][tup]

There are so many stories about the "Babe" and the "antics" attributed to him. Kinda like the "Yogi-isms" - they wind up having lives of their own, eh[?][swg]

Ah, the St. Louis Browns of the American League. Check these out:

Logo (1936-1950)



Logo (1951-1953)


and as baseball Aficionados know, they moved to Baltimore in 1954 and became the Orioles.

There are plenty of web sites "out there" with more info - you may wi***o check this one out: http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/al/stlouisbrowns/browns.html

I'm glad that being attentive to detail isn't restricted to just Moi![swg] Those comments on the Santa Fe and the New York Knights weren't lost on yours truly![swg]

Ya know, it's just THAT way, isn't it[?] I mean, when one KNOWS of something rather well - say as in whatever career you happen to be in - it's really easy to spot the mistakes and distortions put forth by Hollywood and the TV industry. Really easy. There aren't too many weeks that pass by where I'm not "finding" an error with regard to what I used to do for a living and spotting gross non-truths about my former organization (ships, planes, etc.). Many of these neophyte "reporters" still refer to Petty Officers as "officers" and call ships "boats," etc, ad nauseum![tdn] So, you can well imagine how much we all DO NOT catch as the frames zoom past . . . .

Thanx for a very interesting Post, and of course the round and quarters![tup]

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

THINK April 12th –
The 1st year Anniversary of ”Our” Place!

[coalminer3]

Good Morning Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox.
Just for Nick we'll play the Jim Kweskin Jug Band's version of "Washington at Valley Forge," followed by a tape of the late John Kiley at the organ in Fenway Park playing "Take Me out to the Ballgame" which is what I'm going to talk about today.

There are more than a few former major league players who live in this part of the world. I recall talking with one of them awhile back and in between stories abt. playing against the Braves (and beating Warren Spahn) in Boston, the talk came around to train travel.

I remember (as does our 'steamed proprietor as we have talked abt. this b4) when there were only 16 major league teams, and nobody played west of St. Louis (in either league - in fact there was an American League team IN St. Louis).

So I kicked off the dicussion with that and my goodness did the recollections flow. His memories revolved around an awful lot of travel on the Great Tuscan Father as he played for a National League team (Cardinals, in fact). The longest ride was going from St. Louis either to Boston or New York. Sometimes St. Louis-Boston tripes were on the NYC, and then they would move say from Boston to NY via the New Haven. You can look at a railroad map from the late 40s and early 50s and figure out how they got from place to place.

These were not chartered trains but usually were extra cars for the ball team that were added to a regular train. They did have their own diner, sometimes a lounge, a couple of sleepers, etc. Stars got better Pullman space, of course, along with the manager, medium-rank players rode in lowers and lesser players in uppers (thereby continuing the idea that the uppers were for lowers). Some of his other memories included never-ending card games and lots of talk. As he put it, "You really got to know your teammates."

The media have done some with this.

Awhile back HBO ran a wonderful 2-part series titled, IIRC, "When It Was a Game." In addition to soem childhood flashback inducing scenes of players I remember, there were several segments showing train travel, etc. for ball teams. One particularly evocative sequence was shot at North Philadelphia. Yankees en route west after playing the A's.

The movie, "The Natural," has some interesting segments of train travel (I know don't ask why the New York Knights were riding the Santa Fe); also there is a wonderful sequence of steam in that picture that looks like a Rockwell painting brought to life. Then there were some good vintage CB&Q shots in "A League of Their Own."

On the literary side, some of you may remember the character Nebraska Crane who appeared in several Thomas Wolfe novels. Crane was a boyhood friend of the protagonist who grew up and became a major leage ballplayer. There are several sections in the novels where he talks abt. the life of a ballplayer at that time and train travel.

Finally, there are several segments in the book Summer of '49 talking about the Red Sox traveling to New York via the NYNH&H to play the !@#$ Yankees.

Speaking of which kicks forward the story abt. the time Babe Ruth held Miller Huggins (the Yankees manager) upside down off the back of an open platform observation car (at speed) and threated to drop him unless Hug gave into one of the Babe's demands. The Babe was talked out of dropping Huggins off the train, but did get what was for the time a honking big fine. The Bambino was surely a candidate for anger management.

Well, enough for now. Have a good one.

Work safe

[siberianmo]

[bday] 2006 BIRTHDAY WATCH LIST [bday]
(rev. Apr 6th):

March 5th (Nick – 46)
March 13th (Doug – 50)
March 31st (Lars – 66)
April 18th (Al - 64) Next up! Bash: Noon to 4 PM (Pacific)
May 18th (Tom - 68)
May 27th (Dave - 47)
June 3rd (John) – 47)
June 24th (Dan) – 44)
July 30th (Russell – 35) Legion of the Lost
August 11th (Pete – 55
August 16th (Ted – 68)
September 8th (Rob - 35)
October 18th (BK – 66)
December 29th (CM3 – 60)


Not on the list [?] Send me an Email with your birth date (month-day-year). Corrections too!


Tom (Siberianmo) [4:-)] [oX)]
Proprietor of “Our” Place, an adult eating & drinking establishment!



NOTE for all: Check the SUMMARIES!

[siberianmo]

Good Morning Gents!

Nice finish last nite with the Nick at Nite Epistle! followed by the “Noctural Niceties” from Count Robulla![tup][tup] Good reading and fine examples of what Inclusive Posts are all about. Some guys don’t get it and never will. Tsk, tsk!

Anyone interested in some background on the American train robber/folk hero – Jesse James – may want to check out this URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_James

Nick Don’t see any tie to Wales, HOWEVER, I’d say it most probably makes sense![swg] The apples hardly ever fall very far from the tree, eh[?]<grin>

A touch of background for Sirs Nick ‘n Pete – Missouri was the “frontier” for quite awhile in U.S. history. When I first moved to these parts, Jesse James had been terrorizing banks and trains less than a hundred years previous. American Indian names and images were much more commonplace than today, and the symbol of this land – the Eagle – still is revered by many who frequent the river banks and high bluffs throughout the state. So it is only befitting that the railroad of Missouri – the MoPac – would carry on the “Eagle” name and so forth. A might fine road, that MoPac – and those beautiful blue “smoothsides” powered by a “string” of Alco’s or EMD’s surely were impressive.[tup]

Oh I see I ‘blew the score’ yesterday! The Mets LOST! Horror of horrors. The perfect season has been dashed . . . sorry, Lars! Surely thought I saw the final listed the “other way.”[swg]

Speaking of baseball, the Cards won a “squeeker” at Philly last night. They open up at the new downtown stadium next week, and those with tickets are prancing as if they have accomplished something. Whereas the other side is lamenting and calculating just how much they are willing to pay the “scalpers!” Not Moi, thank you very much! Watching it on the tube is just fine with us . . . . [swg]

Rob Received your Email yesterday and appreciate your offer to help out over the weekend . . . the idea is just to keep the flow moving forward. No need to spend a great deal of time here - check the Thread two or three times during the day and let it go at that! Thanx!![tup]


Nothing special planned for today, as I’m in the “preparation mode” for next week’s Gazette and our 1st Year Anniversary Celebration. Takes quite a bit of time to piece these things together. That’s part ‘n parcel why I’m “laying low” this weekend – we’re gonna be out for a good deal of Saturday, and I’m just a bit on the weary side with spending so much of my time at this stuff . . . .


Okay boyz, I’ll be behind the bar for the day!


Later![tup]


Tom [4:-)] [oX)]


THINK April 12th –
The 1st year Anniversary of ”Our” Place!

[siberianmo]

from: www.viarail.ca


We open at 6 AM. (Don’t ask how we do that!)[swg]


THURSDAY’s INFO & SUMMARY of POSTS


Thursday is here! Time to enjoy a <light> or <traditional> breakfast from the Menu Board, a pastry of two from The Mentor Village Bakery, and some freshly ground and brewed coffee! What are you waiting for[?][tup]


Daily Wisdom

There’s always someone to take the slack out of a troublemaker’s rope [swg]


”Our” Place” ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION is Wednesday, April 12th!


Info for the Day:

Railroads from Yesteryear – Illinois Central arrives next Tuesday!

* Weekly Calendar:

TODAY: Fish ‘n Chips Nite!
Friday: Pizza Nite & Steak Nite!
Saturday: Steak ‘n Trimmin’s Nite! – and –
ENCORE! Saturday


This weekend will be a bit “different” in that I will be rather scarce . . . . so it will be up to all of you to keep this Thread going and at the top of the Forum page! I will provide the Summaries and perhaps a few ENCORE! pieces – but I’m not planning much more.


[tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup]

Comedy Corner

Ten Lines To Make You Smile

1.. My husband and I divorced over religious differences. He thought he was God and I didn't.

2.. I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.

3.. I Work Hard Because Millions On Welfare Depend on Me!

4.. Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them.

5.. I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

6.. Don't take life too seriously; no one gets out alive.

7.. You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me

8.. Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

9.. Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.

10.. I'm not a complete idiot -- Some parts are missing.


[tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup]


The Mentor Village Emporium Theatre

NOW SHOWING:

Double Features and Three Stooges Short Subject!

. . . Sunday, April 2nd thru 8th: Eight Men Out (1988) starring: Jace Alexander, John Cusack & Gordon Clapp – and – Field of Dreams (1989) Kevin Costner, Burt Lancaster & James Earl Jones. SHORT: The Big Idea (1934).

COMING ATTRACTIONS:

. . . Sunday, April 9th thru April 15th: The Harvey Girls (1946) starring: Judy Garland, John Hodiak & Ray Bolger –and- The Train (1964) starring: Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield & Jeanne Moreau. SHORT: Woman Haters (1934).



SUMMARY

Name …..…………… Date/Time …..…..………. (Page#) .. Remarks

(1) barndad Doug Posted: 05 Apr 2006, 05:08:54 (294) Pike Perspectives – Lionel, joke, etc.

(2) siberianmo Tom Posted: 05 Apr 2006, 05:19:35 (294) Wednesday’s Info & Summary

(3) coalminer3 CM3 Posted: 05 Apr 2006, 07:53:44 (294) Pike Perspectives – Lionel, etc.

(4) siberianmo Tom Posted: 05 Apr 2006, 08:50:45 (294) Acknowledgments, etc.

(5) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 05 Apr 2006, 10:14:42 (294) Inclusive Post, etc.

(6) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 05 Apr 2006, 10:25:42 (294) Pike Perspectives

(7) siberianmo Tom Posted: 05 Apr 2006, 12:19:31 (294) reply to Rob & 2 Pix

(8) BudKarr BK Posted: 05 Apr 2006, 13:55:21 (294) The BK Report!

(9) LoveDomes Lars Posted: 05 Apr 2006, 14:24:17 (294) The Lars Report!

(10) wanswheel Mike Posted: 05 Apr 2006, 18:14:10 (294) URLs

(11) earlydiesels Dan Posted: 05 Apr 2006, 19:31:50 (294) 2 nites in a row!

(12) barndad Doug Posted: 05 Apr 2006, 19:41:54 (294) Lionel operating milk car, cont’d, joke & comments!

(13) siberianmo Tom Posted: 05 Apr 2006, 20:17:09 (294) Acknowledgments & Comments

(14) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 05 Apr 2006, 20:35:48 (295) Nick at Nite!

(15) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 05 Apr 2006, 22:00:08 (295) Count Robulla’s NIte talk!



That’s it! [tup][;)]


Tom [4:-)] [oX)]
Proprietor of “Our” Place, an adult eating & drinking establishment!



THINK April 12th –
The 1st year Anniversary of ”Our” Place!

[trolleyboy]

Good evening Leon, since Nick's being so kind as to liquer us all up tonight I'll have a bottomless guiness please.

Tom I've found that wearing spf100 keeps me from melting into a pile of goo in the sunlight. [swg] Thank's for digging out those photo's of the old Globe models. When one considers exactly how old they are you marvel at the detail they had.

The fact that the ball season is so long , I don't get into it till june usually. By then the yanks are usually so far ahead that the season's a foregone conclusion. I've always thought shorter seson and more teams in the post seson is the way to go.

One month and 7 days (37) count em till the rendezvous [:D][yeah]
Mike Nice group of photo's in those url's, I hope everyone had a chance topuruse them. I espeacially enjoyed the old Great Western shots. Most of the time you find very few shots of the GWR, and when you do alot of people confuse them for British rail,mostly due to the roads name and the type of locomotives they had. The fct that their trackage was metre guage dosen't help in the determination of them either.

Doug Liked round two of the cows saga as well. Isn't it amazing at the money those old cars are worth. Think how many people like Tom lost or tossed their cars like that over the years. Makes me glad that I saved most of my hockey cards.

Nick Yes the enforced diet is so fun isn't it. At least I was spared the multiple week version of it.Glad you liked the My kid, figured it would stike a chord with you,made me howl anyway. As for the Brazillion's all I can say is sad but true and send me some depends. [:O]

BK & Lars Thank-you to both of you for advertising the shindig on the 12th. Glad to know that Tom has got a couple guys that have his back around here. The more the merrier I always say.

Dan I'm glad to here that you are trying to catch up on the commings and goings on around here. If it helps,I'll have Boris write up a multiple choice test for you once you're done[:0][:D]. No preasure mind you.[;)]

How many years of Thomas is this for the Midland[?] We are still trying to wirk out the details to run one at the HCRY, it's just a few logistical problems. Our track guage for one,we certainly have the facilities to run it,time will tell.

Well folks i think I'm done for the evening.

Rob

[nickinwestwales]

Well good evening gentlemen all,please excuse a couple of days absence but the combination of 9 hour stints mixing/barrowing/shovelling concrete ( including a lift up a flight of 12 steps,each with twelve inch risers,with a 5-gallon bucket in each hand-I feel like I could scratch the soles of my feet without bending..) and then 4 hours of band practice each evening has sent me to my bed rather earlier than is the norm.
So[4:-)][oX)]TOM-I`ll have a very cold one please,the brews of choice for the company and I will be offended if you don`t have one yourself-so there-![swg]
Right,as I`m way behind the curve here I`ll try and acknowledge everyone but dont be alarmed if the responses are out of time sync with the original comments....
Starting at the top of the list-The boss man-spot on with daily wisdom,also enjoying the funnies-with a public access forum I guess one can`t sail too close to the wind,but it is tempting sometimes......
Nice stuff on the MoPac-definately struck a chord with the house [^]-very sleek looking trains and a seriously cool paint-job [tup]-Screaming Eagle,now there`s a strong image-could just as easily be a straight-backed,steely-eyed Comanche Chief or a next-generation space shuttle...
Those F-unit`s look better detailed than some of the modern stuff I`ve got.
Expect "Editorial" type mail sometime soon (Missisnicks B/Day imminent so may be distracted).

CM3-Nice expansion on the MoPac theme-with all these `varnish heads` around the place,it`s good to have a fellow freighter aboard [swg]
As a fellow music lover I recommend you check out a girl named K.T.Tunstall-she does a track called " Black Horse & Cherry Tree"which I think you might like-might be on B.B.C. website,from a program called " Later,with Jules Holland".....Enjoy [^]

LARS-As above,nice extra texture on the MoPac steamers [tup] -Any kind of plan for the layout in mind or are you still just enjoying all that clear dry space ?

MIKE-A fine spread of URL`s there my man [^]-Finally get to see what Yogi looks like [tup]-That one you posted for CM3 was just dripping with atmosphere-excellent choice,MoPac also-what a pitch-first class.

ROB-Missed your pix on Sun.-loved the service cars and the baggage-motor [tup]-Glad you survived the 24-hr crash-diet program,these things can be brutal-have rarely been so grateful for iced water..............................
P.S-`My Kid`-You wouldn`t believe how close that is-very scary.

DOUG-Thoroughly enjoying the James Gang ( whose family I believe originally emigrated from Pembrokeshire )-R.E. jokes-Mother of child-An ex girl friends mother had just such an encounter,which her husband trotted out with relish at every family or social gathering -Lobsters-this one nearly caused me to drop my beer,-Brasilians-this nearly caused me to wet myself and am still giggling intermittently-best yet[tup][tup]

PETE-Glad you enjoyed the pix-Have fond memories of that M7,a very smooth running model for it`s day,although the malachite livery on #328 (it was moulded in that colour rather than painted) never looked right to me-too bright and obviously plastic-the olive #245 looked better but the B.R lined black one was the one I craved-back in the Hornby catalogue this year I believe.......hmm.
Suspect the choice of models available in the catalogue was dictated by the availability of preserved examples to take dimensions from.
Glad you enjoyed Rosslare detail-it wasn`t until after i`d posted it that it occured to me that you were probably the only one for whom it would make any real sense.
Stay tuned for V.o.R update -due to visit Easter Weekend with the in-laws-will document fully.

JOHN-Good luck with the studies-sleep when you can [swg] Give the wee fella a kiss from us

DAN-[#welcome] back-pull up a seat,Boris-fetch Dans glass over here and fill it up

BK-Hello again in passing.!!!-Sounds like life is treating you well,splendid-imagine that,with the turn of the seasons,you are about to see your newly adopted home at it`s best-enjoy [tup][tup]

Well,was going to do some Pikestuff but rather short on steam again-save it for next week.
Take care one and all,moonlight mile for me,all the best,nick [C=:-)]

[siberianmo]

Good Evening!

While not the busiest of Wednesday’s, an interesting one nonetheless. Good to see BK – Lars – Mike - Dan ‘n Doug stop by since my noon Post![tup]

So what have we had[?] URLs, conversation and some insight regarding those MoPac Pix I provided yesterday. All good stuff and all appreciated![tup]

For anyone who is paying attention to “details,” Al said he’d like his B’day Bash for April 18th from noon ‘til 4 PM (Pacific). So, for me that’s 2 to 6 PM – no problems! I’ll Post the revised “list” tomorrow . . . .

Last time a couple of us tried to organize a get together with you, Dan at the Midland was right around that illness you came down with. Perhaps we can try again – although I’m not about to visit out there in July/August – no way, no how![swg]

Thanx Lars ‘n BK for the E-mails – responses have been sent!

Our Rendezvous in Toronto can now be spoken in terms of “next month!” That surely sounds good to those of us heading up Rob’s way![tup]

As mentioned a time or two, we will discuss the 2nd Annual Rendezvous place & dates. I still have the E-mails sent to me some months ago by a couple of you regarding your recommendations. My hope is that we’ll come up with a primary ‘n secondary set of locations, then go with whichever will provide us the greater number of attendees.

Hey Doug I just realized that the Sox have fallen out of 1st place. I know for a fact they never were topped all of last season, and that “record’ probably goes back to the season before. Yes[?] Okay, so they dropped a series to the Indians – things could be worse, it could have meant something![swg]

So, Lars Two in a row for the Mets! Ya gotta believe![yeah]

Jays dropped one today – don’t despair, Rob it’s a loooooooooooong season!<groan>

While I’m a huge fan of the Pennsy GG-1s, I’d say the Alco Pas are my “next” favorite when it comes to motive power. Those are beautiful creations and when strung out in something like an A-B-A, they are sooooooooo sharp looking![tup

Doug It is evident that you “dig” these Wednesday Pike Perspective Days! The Lionel ‘stuff’ fits right in and for me, brings back many thoughts.

By the by, you may not believe this – BUT – I had those baseball cards for Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, Pee Wee Reese, Roy Campanella – and the list goes on. I never put ‘em in the spokes of my bike wheels, BUT we used to ‘flip’ ‘em for “heads ‘n tails” in the school yard. I had about a half dozen cigar boxes full of those cards. When I joined the service in ’56 – they went the way of the trash collector. Arggggggggggh. Didn’t know of their fate until some years later . . . . similar story with my Lionel trains.<groan>


Leon the Night Man takes the bar at 9 PM (Central)!


Later (maybe)![tup]


Tom [4:-)] [oX)]


THINK April 12th –
The 1st year Anniversary of ”Our” Place!

[Anonymous]

Good evening Tom and gents! I'll have my usual bottomless draught please, and of course spring for a round! I don't know if I would have done a Gomez Adams number on a train set, but I do remember many a plastic soldier formation that would be relocated by firecrackers. Sure was fun at the time! But now, damaging old toys seems as horrifyiing as sticking your old Mickle Mantle baseball card in the spokes of your bike! [:0] Who would have guessed how much money all this stuff could bring-in later? Enjoyed your model pix .... I'm really getting a kick out ot the Pike days here. Nice to see Lars, BK, Rob, Dan, CM3, and need to investigate the rest of Mike's links.

Here's the second half of the Milk car post:

A Moo-ving Experience in Lionelville! Allan W. Miller Vintage Rails Jan/Feb 98

Who would guess that this unassuming worker, unloading Lionel Trains, Inc.’s 1983 Borden Dairy car, could be capable of hurtling can effortlessly through the air?


But fans of Lionel trains have long favored the Operating Milk Car over all the others. Over the past 50 years, this car has endured not only on the production line, but it has also become a highly sought collectable. Following are descriptions of the Operating Milk Cars produced to date, with the respective catalog or production periods, and current (estimated) market values, in mint condition with original box:



While it may be true that – thanks to the Lionel milk car’s overly assertive operating mechanism – there’s plenty of spilt milk in Lionelville, none of the residents and collectors, old and young alike, break into broad grins nearly every time they see those doors fling open and watch yet another milk can sail off toward whatever is within striking distance.

[:I] When everybody on earth was dead and waiting to enter Paradise, God appeared and said, "I want the men to make two lines. One line for the men who were true heads of their household and the other line for the men who were dominated by their women. I want all the women to report to St Peter." Soon, the women were gone and there were two lines of men. The line of the men who were dominated by their wives was 100 miles long, and in the line of men who truly were heads of their household, there was only one man. God said, "You men should be ashamed of yourselves. I created you to be the head of your household. You have been disobedient and not fulfilled your purpose. I told you to be the spiritual leader in your family. Of all of you only one obeyed. Learn from him. Tell them, my son, how did you manage to be the only one in this line?" The man replied, "I don't know, my wife told me to stand here." [:I]

[Anonymous]

Hello Tom and gang! Yes, it's really me. Been trying to do a little catch up. I'll have a cold Killian's Red Irish Ale, please. Always enjoy Alco diesels and the PA was truly a marvelous piece of work. Beauty, speed, and a good ride all rolled up in an eyepopping package. I wish I could hear an original run. Doyle McCormick's (sp??) should be done soon. Anyway, the MOP PA pix credited to Arthur B. Johnson. He was a longtime Frisco employee here in Springfield and for a time was with the itzy bitzy NRHS chapter here. Never met him but his pix live on. He evidently traveled and carried his camera, which we should be grateful for the record he left us. His grave is not too far from my dad's.
Weather is warming up and I'm wanting to run some trains! 15 April is our Easter train and I will be conductor. Even be wearing the monkey suit and hat. Regular season begins Father's day this year due to early Thomas and I'm ready. Another Killian's, please, as I wonder around to see how much the ol' place has changed.

[wanswheel]

Hi Tom and everyone, a shot of cow juice to keep it moooooving

http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/railways/index_view.cfm?photoid=1737822191&id=57 Montreal Station
http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/railways/index_view.cfm?photoid=-1087565537&id=57 25th Anniversary
http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/people/index_view.cfm?photoid=1083333073&id=26 Passengers
http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/structures/index_view.cfm?photoid=77900020&id=37 St. Albans

http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/people/index_view.cfm?photoid=-173305922&id=26 Beef, it's what's for dinner
http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/railways/index_view.cfm?photoid=-861872229&id=58
http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/people/index_view.cfm?photoid=-1383188264&id=26
http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/people/index_view.cfm?photoid=1192365561&id=26

I hope Rob likes these pictures of Hamilton:

http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/_images/common/photos/original/CN002411.jpg Skyline
http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/_images/common/photos/original/CN005075.jpg Steel Company

http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/_images/common/photos/original/CN002137.jpg GWR 1870

http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/_images/common/photos/original/CN000387.jpg GWR #32
http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/_images/common/photos/original/CN003857.jpg #10 Barrie 1881
http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/_images/common/photos/original/CN000641.jpg GWR Station 1920
http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/_images/common/photos/original/CN002501.jpg Old City Hall
http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/_images/common/photos/original/CN000642.jpg Station
http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/_images/common/photos/original/CN003729.jpg God Save The King
http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/_images/common/photos/original/CN004326.jpg Steam loco
http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/_images/common/photos/original/CN002498.jpg Hudson
http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/_images/common/photos/original/CN002612.jpg High Level Bridge

So they found the missing link.

Would you like to swing on a star
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
And be better off than you are
Or would you rather be a fish

Mike

[LoveDomes]

G’day Tom and fellow travelers at the bar!

Following in my “bookend’s” steps, a round for the house![tup] Put the ten spot in the “Lars Box” and I’ll take a JD on the rocks. Nothing to eat, thanks! Nice to see ya back at the bar, BK!


Two in a row without much to offer for the “hobby lobby” day.[swg] As with BK I’m pretty well drained of material. In cleaning out the basement, I wound up having to jettison box loads of old magazines which were totally encased in mildew and mold. In a couple of those containers were my RR mags from my seagoing days. No reason to shed a tear, I haven’t looked at them since they were stored away and stowed in the bilges. Just stuff, and Lord or Lord do we have lots of that![swg]


I spent a bit of time checking those electric trains – 2 Lionel and 2 AF. They didn’t escape the ravages of dampness, but it appears the boxes took the “hit.” Don’t know about the mechanisms. That will have to come later when I begin in earnest to put together something akin to a layout for O and S gauge.


The whole house dehumidifier/air purifier unit is working quite well. The basement is dry and no more “jungle rot” smell. That thing is a God-send. Thank you very much for the “tip,” and I owe ya, Tom![tup]


Hey! I want to mention your “blurb” the other night about using the “edit” feature on the forums. There are times when I have logged in that instead of going to the last page of the thread, I’ve wound up on a page or two previous to it. Now I know why! Man, there are lots of little oddities about this forum, huh[?] You should put together a “Kalmbach Train Forums Navigation for Dummies!”[swg] Good job and I for one appreciate the time and effort you make in providing these tid-bits of info to and for us all.[tup]


Good to see earlydiesels Dan appear “in person.” Have to admit that I’ve seen his cyber name from time to time in the “ghost mode,” but now that he’s posted – he’s busted![swg]


Thanks for the B’day wishes, John! Another weekend like that – and it will truly be my last!![swg]


I’d say the members of the Legion of the Lost that are truly lost are: Chris – Gunns & Russell insofar as our April 12th get together is concerned. We should see the remainder of the guys at least make an appearance.[tup] Thanks Rob ‘n BK for taking the time to send emails out to the guys![tup]


Tom I’ll do what I can to “spell” ya a bit over the weekend. Although I haven’t got anything lined up for the pix-posting on Sunday. Better get crackin’, huh[?][swg]


One more – then I gotta scram outta here . . .


Until the next time!

Lars

[BudKarr]

Good Afternoon Captain Tom and all assembled!

A round of cheer for those who come in this afternoon! Also, a Southern Comfort on the rocks for me and a glass of white wine for my lady![tup]

We have had quite the week away, with yet another ahead. I want you to know that we have arranged our schedule to permit my presence at the One Year Annivesary Celebration of the bar! Believe me, that is most unusual for the likes of me. There have been times where the only adjustments I would consider would be for my wrist watch! Times and have changed.[swg]

While I have not had the opportunity to review the individual pages since my last visit (and I see there are many!) it appears that all is well, in spite of any occasional protestation.<smile> Your summary pages indicate a rather steady stream of contributors, although yours are nearly always twice the number of the aggravate. I can understand why at times you require time away.

Nice work to all for the Sunday photo spread and descritpions.[tup]

As you all know, I am hardly one to rely upon for hobby related information. I have given about as much as I possible can in past attempts to participate in this "Pike Perspectives" event. So, I must sit the remainder out. I do enjoy the efforts of those of you who share those memories, articles and photos with us.[tup]

Mnay years ago I rode the Missouri Pacific from St. Louis to Denver on their "Eagle" train. It was something I did pretty much on a spur of the moment urge. Had some time to kill and decided that rather than wait it out in a hotel at either end, I would take the train. It was a pleasant enough experience, although if I recall, we were late getting in - killed TOO MUCH time![swg]

From what I have gathered, the forward momentum for the April 12th gala continues. My efforts to assist in getting a few guys back resulted in only one positive response, which was forwarded to Lars. I have had no success in contacting Chris - Russell or Gunns. I did take note of the return of Dan - Mike & John. So, perhaps it does pay to "advertise!"

Just read a disturbing 'white paper' on the water situation for Alberta Province. It is projected that the prairie regions are going to be hard hit in the upcoming years - perhaps for a decade - with severe water shortages. These periods of drought, which we are already experiencing in western Canada, are projected to be so bad as to turn areas into desert-like conditions. It is easy to feel removed from it all up here in the mountains, but the snow fall really has not been anything close to normal, nor are the lakes as deep nor the rivers and streams quite the same. A changing world indeed.

Captain Tom it is time for another round and then we must take our leave.

BK in beautiful Alberta, Canada's high country!

[siberianmo]

G'day!

Noon in mid-continent USA - got some outside 'stuff' taken care of - beautiful "short sleeves" day. Spring is nice - but oh so changeable![swg]

Good to see you in the DAYLIGHT - doesn't that hurt those eye-slits, Count Robulla[?][swg]

Check these out for some Nostalgia connected with your comments on "Pike Perspective's Day!"

Globe Models - A Unit


Globe Models - B Unit


I never heard of this manufacturer until you mentioned them. Then again, my entry into HO came in 1964 with a TYCO freight set (PRR), followed up a year later with another TYCO - passenger set (NH). They are both now "retired" in one of my wall mounted display cases down in the Can-Am Trainroom.

Catch ya later![tup]

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]


THINK April 12th –
The 1st year Anniversary of ”Our” Place!

[trolleyboy]

A bit of pikes perspectives from me today as well. Keeping in the vein of old but still with us manufacterurs, how many of you remeber labelle woodworking. Makers of HO and O scale car kits. They make interurban and freight motor(express) cars in both HO and O and they make a finely detailed line of old style wooden passenger cars also in HO and O. Recently they have added narrow guage frieght cars and passemger cars to their catalogue as well. New owners are running them now,out Cheyanne way now but the kits are still with us, still done in ( now laser cut ) bass wood.

I'm told that they atre not for the feint of heart but once that they are completed you have a very nice car which of coarse you can detail the dickens out of. Powering kits are available for the interurbans,they even make a small brill gas powered self rpopelled railcar in HO scale now as well. Look them up on the web. http://www.labellemodels.com/

Anyone remember Globe models, the first manufacturer to go with plastic in the 50's. I'm not sure how extensive of a line they made but they came out wht F units in the mid fifties. Tooling I understand went to Athearn and are still used today for their bkuebox F units ! The hobbyshop in my hometown St Catharines On has three or 4 of them on display ( not for sale ) still including their original cartons. One's painyed in an all yeloow UP scheme ( no grey ) the other 's are the undecorated bakelite plaastic in a gold finish,neat to look at.

Rob

[trolleyboy]

Morning Tom, and all the ships at sea.[:D] Nice to see a few in soooo early this morning[;)].Could I get one breakfast and a large OJ with a small stack of waffles on the side please,hopefully with real maple syrup as well.[dinner][:p]

Tom Or should I call you Gomaz[?][:D][:-^] Interesting story about the use and abuse of those fine, classic ooperating Lionel cars. Even if ou had told that story B4 it's just as funny the second go around.I am over what I had, thank-you. Someone please tell Boris to stop sprayimg me with disinfectant please. [alien] I can remember several such operating or pseudo operating cars from tyco in the early 70's as well. They usually ended up firing live coal loads or large plastic logs everywhere but in their desired locations as well.

Doug Nice story on those cars sir, I can see my uncles milk car doing exactly what you described to this day. I learn't some of my most colourfull language that way,like "darn" and "oh my" etc. [:-^][:I] It was too ba dabout thta rotary, those type of car weren't all that common up here,from what I understand not that common stateside either.If it had survived 5 years longer our musuem may have attempted to save it,but at the time the NS&T was still a viable system not shutting down electrically at least till 1961,6 years after the scrapping.[sigh]We also had no plac eto put it at the moment as the construction of our siight was only in it's beginning stages at the time.Most shots I ahve seen of those type of plows had them with just one blade on both ends not two on each like in this iinstance, I have no idea how well it would have worked,I would imagine fairly well as each "blade" aooarently had it's own 50hp electric motor.Glade that you enjoyed last nights typing fest as well[^].

CM3 Good morning to you today too sir. I think the trolley car you wree wondering about was called the Lionel #60 car. Usually it's yellow,kinda had the look of a small single truck birney,with a definatly squished proportion to it. You see them selling for crazy amounts on ebay all the time. I understand that over the years Lionel has put out several different Lionel Lines trolley cars of double and single truck types. As of late the manufacterur that is not liked to be named on this forum MTH has put out 4 or 5 two and three rail trolley's as well.You may remeber the Corgi PCC's done in O guage as well, beautifull kits, same series as their high detail busses as well. Customtraxx now makes a two or three rail powering kit for these all mounted in a new set of trucks, so one does not have to disturb the well done interior details in the cars.


Rob

[siberianmo]

Mornin' Gents!

Mid-week in mid-continent USA; petrol was $2.47 (rounded) yesterday up at "Collusion Corner," weather forecast is looking rather grim for this evening and tomorrow. Severe stuff on the way and one forecaster said this round could be worse than what we experienced over the weekend. <uh-oh!>

Got a kick out of the Lionel milk car write up from Doug. I never had one, although for a time a childhood buddy of mine and I combined our Lionel trains up in his attic. He had that car and it was fun to operate. We were about 11 or 12 at the time and had quite a set up. Three trains operating and all kinds of "stuff" with wires everywhere. His dad was a carpenter and built us a great trestle. Shortly thereafter - with the help of a couple of 2" firecrackers, we blew the dickens out of the trestle, with a train passing through, and that was the end of the combined layouts![:O] I think somewhere on these pages I've told this story B4. Anyway, no harm to the engine and cars as they plummeted to the surface below. The noise sent shock waves throughout the house - his mom came "unglued" - the dog barked furiously - and we laughed and laughed until we realized what kind of trouble we were in![:O]

I had one of those passenger platforms with the ads on it that CM3 mentioned. Also, that Lionel city station was Posted by me on a Sunday Photo Posting Day! Only thing "funky" about it were the white "Christmas lights" on either side of the front doors. They surely cudda done better . . . Your reference to the stations along the way of the NH's electrified really brought back some vivid memories for me. As I've stated B4 - I had a 6 month period where I took the train between New London, CT and Grand Central Terminal (weekends). Those platforms really were something to look at, especially on the Sunday night runs in the dark. That's where I saw Marilyn Monroe standing in the falling snow waiting for the southbound as I "imagined" all kindsathings sitting in the coach of the northbound. Window seat, of course!![swg]

Oh [yeah] as a service to our customers - "ersatz" means fake, unreal, etc.[swg]

Thanx for the late nite appearance and Posts, Count Robulla! We KNOW you are "out there," just never know when you'll drop in![tup] Glad to hear that you've overcome whatever ailed ya![tup] I agree with you about those Alco PA's fine looking machines, fer sure, fer sure! I also like the EMD E8's too . . . [tup]

It was good to see earlydiesels Dan 'n jlampke John again and let's hope they'll be a bit more frequent with their visits.[tup]

Okay guys, time again to resume the mid-week acitvities that make retired life so grand!

Thanx to all who bought rounds and quarters for Herr Wurlitzer's Coal Scuttle from CM3!!

Later!

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]


THINK April 12th –
The 1st year Anniversary of ”Our” Place!

[coalminer3]

Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox.

Much interesting MP material yesterday.

Dan visited - "who'da thunk it?"

A little for Pike Perspectives: Barndad's post of the stock car and milk car brought back some memories. I think I mentioned the milk car a couple of weeks ago, but I forgot abt. the livestock car until the catalog picture kicked that one forward.

Let's talk abt. a couple of other Lionel pieces. How many out there remember the section car that Lionel produced. It was not a handcar but more on the order of a speeder. It reversed when it bumped into an obstruction. IIRC, it also had a rider on it who turned as the car reversed. I had one of these.

Now, if I remember, Lionel also had a trolley - sort of looked like a shrunken Brill car. Maybe I am thinking of something else, but I think I recall such an offering. I am sure our traction dept. can address this one.

A little while ago, there was a post with a picture of a Lionel "City Station." This brought back memories of a couple of other station-type structures that they offered. One was an operating freight station where barrels moved in anod out of a structure. There was also a station platform which had advertising posters, etc. on it; this reminded me of some of the New Haven stations in the electrified zone which had advertising and posters for Broadway shows. I always enjoyed seeing those while heading down to New York. Also, IIRC, Lionel produced a moder looking yard tower with an ersatz PA system. I remember seeing these in the stores, but never owned one. One item I wish I had acquired was the gateman/shanty; this was a classic, but, as I said earlier, I was into the signalling and operationsl side of things and built a lot of my own structures.

Well, I'd better get out of here. Am working on material for April 12 - just a week away.

work safe

[siberianmo]

from: www.viarail.ca


We open at 6 AM. (Don’t ask how we do that!)[swg]


WEDNESDAY’s INFO & SUMMARY of POSTS


Tuesday has arrived and time to enjoy a <light> or <traditional> breakfast from the Menu Board, a pastry of two from The Mentor Village Bakery, and some freshly ground and brewed coffee! What are you waiting for[?][tup]


Daily Wisdom

A crooked tree will never straighten its branches.[swg]


”Our” Place” ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION is Wednesday, April 12th!


Info for the Day:

Railroads from Yesteryear – Illinois Central arrives next Tuesday!

* Weekly Calendar:

TODAY: Pike Perspective’s Day!
Thursday: Fish ‘n Chips Nite!
Friday: Pizza Nite & Steak Nite!
Saturday: Steak ‘n Trimmin’s Nite! – and –
ENCORE! Saturday


This weekend will be a bit “different” in that I will be rather scarce . . . . so it will be up to all of you to keep this Thread going and at the top of the Forum page! I will provide the Summaries and perhaps a few ENCORE! pieces – but I’m not planning much more.


[tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup]

Comedy Corner

Why Men Shouldn’t Take Messages:

Someone from the Gyna Colleges called.
They said the Pabst Beer is fine.

P.S. I thought you didn’t like beer??


How Men Get Into Trouble . . . .

A husband was in big trouble when he forgot Valentine's Day.

His wife told him, "Tomorrow there better be something in the driveway for me that goes from zero to 200 in a couple of seconds."

The next morning the wife found a small package in the driveway.
She opened it and found a brand new bathroom scale.

Funeral arrangements for the husband have been set for this Saturday.


And . . . . . .

I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, so I got my doctor's permission to join a fitness club and start exercising. I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour. But, by the time I got my leotards on, the class was over!


[tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup][tup]


The Mentor Village Emporium Theatre

NOW SHOWING:

Double Features and Three Stooges Short Subject!

. . . Sunday, April 2nd thru 8th: Eight Men Out (1988) starring: Jace Alexander, John Cusack & Gordon Clapp – and – Field of Dreams (1989) Kevin Costner, Burt Lancaster & James Earl Jones. SHORT: The Big Idea (1934).


SUMMARY

Name …..…………… Date/Time …..…..………. (Page#) .. Remarks

(1) siberianmo Tom Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 05:21:13 (293) [blue]Tuesday’s Info & Summary[/navy]

(2) siberianmo Tom Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 05:25:03 (293) RR from Yesteryear – Ad

(3) wanswheel Mike Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 05:49:34 (293) AM comments & URLs

(4) barndad Doug Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 05:50:17 (293) MoPac Theme! – 2 jokes, etc.

(5) siberianmo Tom Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 08:08:29 (293) Theme - ENCORE! Fallen Flag – MoPac

(6) siberianmo Tom Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 08:14:33 (293) Acknowledgments

(7) siberianmo Tom Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 09:00:03 (293) RR from Yesteryear – Missouri Pacific

(8) coalminer3 CM3 Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 10:43:02 (293) Theme & stuff!

(9) coalminer3 CM3 Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 10:47:40 (293) more Theme!

(10) siberianmo Tom Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 12:21:23 (293) Theme – Nostalgia #81 MoPac Ad (1953)[/maroon

(11) pwolfe Pete Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 15:37:12 (293) Wolfman Howls!

(12) LoveDomes Lars Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 16:02:00 (293) Theme Pix! etc.

(13) wanswheel Mike Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 17:33:36 (293) Theme URLs!

(14) siberianmo Tom Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 18:41:09 (293) Acknowledgments, etc.

(15) siberianmo Tom Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 18:43:39 (293) Theme – Nostalgia #82 MoPac Ad (1953)

(16) barndad Doug Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 18:50:37 (293) [maroon]Theme – MoPac steam locos, etc.

(17) siberianmo Tom Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 19:42:17 (293) reply to Doug, etc.

(18) jlampke John Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 20:22:00 (293) Comments

(19) earlydiesels Dan Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 20:25:27 (294) is that really you??

(20) siberianmo Tom Posted: Today, 21:21:36 (294) Acknowledgments, etc.

(21) jlampke John Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 21:45:14 (294) etc.

(22) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 21:57:02 (294) Inclusive Post, etc.

(23) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 22:49:24 (294) CLASSIC JUICE # 24 HAMILTON"S ELECTRIC LINES

(24) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 23:50:41 (294) CLASSIC JUICE #24, part II

(25) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 04 Apr 2006, 22:58:33 (294) etc.



That’s it! [tup][;)]


Tom [4:-)] [oX)]
Proprietor of “Our” Place, an adult eating & drinking establishment!



THINK April 12th –
The 1st year Anniversary of ”Our” Place!

[Anonymous]

Good morning Tom and friends! I'll have 2 light breakfasts and another one for Dan if he shows up! Sure was good to see him back! Nice Hamilton posts Rob. Too bad you don't have that rotary. We sure don't have anything like it at IRM. I was wondering how effective those two little propellers really were at snow removal.

Well, here's my humble Pike offering for the morning:

A Moo-ving Experience in Lionelville! Allan W. Miller Vintage Rails jan/feb 98


Introduced a year earlier, Lionel’s Operating Milk Car shared top action-car category billing in the 1948 consumer catalog, joined by its bovine-related cousin, the Operating Cattle Car.


Got milk? In the mythical and imagination-inspired town of Lionelville, the residents not only have ample access to “nature’s most nearly perfect food,” they can have it delivered to them fresh – on demand – courtesy of the most popular operating car ever to ply the rails of the Lionel Lines.

That car is Lionel’s renowned Operating Milk Car, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Since its introduction in 1947, many thousands of these modified refrigerator cars in their various road name incarnations have tossed what, by now, surely amounts to millions of tiny milk cans onto, over, and around trackside platforms in Lionelville’s environs.

The original No. 3462 Operating Milk Car and Platform marked the first attempt by Lionel to emulate, in miniature, a human-involved activity that once occurred in somewhat similar fashion on prototype railroads across the nation. Here’s how it worked: Milk cans were pre-loaded by the operator into a hatch at one end of the special refrigerated milk car’s roof; a series of guides insured that the cans would be routed to the proper position for subsequent automatic unloading. The loaded car was then sent on its way with the rest of the train, its final destination being a specially designed unloading platform positioned alongside the track. Then, each time an operator-activated remote control button was depressed, the doors of the car would swing open, and a little figure (in dairy-white uniform) appeared to move out of the car, transporting a single milk can out onto the platform. When the remote control button was released, the “worker” re-entered the car, the doors closed, and the action could be repeated, or the train could proceed to its next destination.

Of course, that is how it was all supposed to work! In reality, the Operating Milk Car did not always function quite so smoothly or reliably. If everything was not loaded, aligned, or adjusted properly, the results might easily give new meaning to the term “spilt milk.” As often as not, the nattily attired milk car attendant did not carry cans to the waiting platform – he literally threw them, and in all directions! Just as often he would emerge from the car without any can in hand, even after repeated tries. And, even though the milk cans themselves were bottom-heavy (earliest versions were even magnetized) to help them stand upright, they frequently landed on their sides. But finicky as the car’s mechanism may have been, this item quickly became the single most popular member of Lionel’s ingenious and ever-expanding operating-car fleet – a status it has retained for half a century.

Indeed, the Operating Milk Car heralded a long array of action-oriented cars that, on command from electrical impulses relayed to a special remote control track section, caused cargo to be loaded and/or unloaded. And what diverse cargo it was, encompassing everything from barrels, coal logs, crates, and pipes to horses, cattle, and just about anything else that an industrious young Lionel engineer saw fit to place on or in the cars. Virtually anything handled in real life by the prototype railroads could, at some point in Lionel’s long history, also be handled in quasi-realistic fashion by operating cars and trackside accessories featured in the toy maker’s “wish book” consumer catalogs.

Inspiration for the Operating Milk Car did not come from either the individual of collective creative genius of those who labored in Lionel’s engineering department. Instead, it was the brainchild of a carpenter-***-tinkerer named Richard G. Smith.Toy train historian and author Ron Hollander, in his book All Aboard: The Story of Joshua Lionel Cowen and His Lionel Train Company, notes the Smith delighted in fashioning various types of operating toy train cars and accessories from materials he found laying around his shop. He would tinker with scraps of sheet metal, pipe, or virtually anything else at hand; and this almost compulsive experimentation led to a number of patented inventions that, as early as 1938, were being acquired not only by Lionel, but also by Lionel’s chief competitor, A.C. Gilbert’s American Flyer Lines.

According to Hollander’s account, Smith, in the process of concluding a deal with Lionel for his new invention, very nearly made a blunder that would have cost him dearly. Accustomed to selling his creations outright to the client, the inventor had previously received one-time cash payments for his devices. On this occasion, however, Joshua Lionel Cowen offered Smith a royalty arrangement: 2 percent of the wholesale price for each car sold, coupled with a modest cash advance to be recouped from the royalties. After pondering the agreed-to arrangement, Smith apparently developed some second thoughts. He returned the signed contract to Cowen, accompanied by a letter expressing doubts about the wisdom and integrity of the deal. Chastened by this affront to his credibility, Cowen fired off an immediate response to set things straight. It worked, and in 1952 alone, Smith’s royalties totaled some $20,000 for the circa 180,000 Operating Milk Cars manufactured in that year.

Commencing in 1947, Lionel launched into an ambitious program that included both the Operating Milk Car and a growing assortment of other action-oriented cars that not only “did something,” but which performed their intended gyrations his “human” assistance, simulated by small plastic figures mounted inside, or on, the cars themselves. Freight cars equipped with this human-action feature – something of a hallmark of the Lionel fleet – quickly became the most popular rolling stock items in Lionel’s inventory, and they remain so to this day.

Lionel also manufactured several other operating cars and accessories which, though not directly related to the Operating Milk Car, mesh nicely with the dairy theme, including an Operating Cattle Car, complete with corral and a herd of what appear to be beef steer (but which imagination can easily convert to dairy cattle), and an operating icing station accompanied by a special refrigerator car capable of receiving the ice blocks.

< more to follow later tonight >

[:I] Donald Rumsfeld is giving the president his daily briefing.
He concludes by saying: "Yesterday, 3 Brazilian soldiers were killed."
"OH NO!" the president exclaims. "That's terrible!"
His staff sits stunned at this display of emotion, nervously watching as the president sits, head in hands. Finally, president looks up and asks, "How many is a brazillion?" [:I]

[trolleyboy]

Okay Part 2 (before carpal tunnel takes over ) also Tom need's to have some breakfast reading in the morning since he's taking it easy tomorrow and reading the rest of our contributions.

CLASSIC JUICE # 25 HAMILTON'S RADIAL's PT 2

This is the next part covering the other two radial or interurban lines that fell under the auspices of the Cataract Traction Co. I will do a part three aat a later date covering the HSR or Hamilton Street Railway, the city streetcar system thast was part of this conglomeration. Interestingly enough the HSR is still called the HSR today right down to the logo's on their all diesel bus transportation fleet of today.

Hamilton Radial Electric Railway : Hamilton to Oakville

This railway was the brainchild of John Patterson, his vision in 1893 was to build a radial electric network of 360km's (227 miles )linking Hamilton,Toronto,Niagara Falls,and even Woodstock and London.The first rails were laid in 1893 starting at James St in Hamilton to Hamilton Beach ( now Stelco on Burlington Bay ). In 1895, when the hoped for partner CPR pulled out of the plan, the ambitious scheme was cut back a tad,okay more than a tad. By 1898 it was only built as far as Burlington,and in 1905 to Oakville.

From Hamilton the route went along James street, then Gore and Wilson (hwy 2 ) and Sherman St.Where it then took a private ROW which paralled Sherman street. It then paralleled Barton St to Hamilton Beach.From there it ran alongside the GT entering Burlington at Maple St. In Burlington it ran along Elgin,James, and New St to Oakville where New St becomes Rebecca St and Randell Rd. This area is now called Lakeshore Road old hwy 2 and runs right into Lakeshore Ave in Toronto , all along the shore of Lake Ontario,you can drive this ROW today .

Even in the 1920's some of the plans to expand this line continued. In an era when streetcars were rapdily being replaced by busses,the HRE still envisioned a line extending from oakville to Port Credit and on into Toronto. Track was indeed laid along side the GT/CNR.The scheme finally collapsed in 1925,with the HRE cut back from Oakville to Port Nelson.

The HRE's main facilities included a 17 stall carbarn in Burlington and a steam power plant on Burlington Beach.Separate wood stations were built on Hamilton Beach,in Oakville,and in Burlington.The latter was built in 1927 and served as a hydro office and store after the line quit in 1931.The Oakvill station still surves today as a restuarant, the Beach station survived till 1980 when it was torn down for condos, the powerhouse was used for the city until 1947 when it was torn down. The carbarns servived as a busbarn in Burlington until 1962.

Oddly enough this line ws rebuilt and moved slightly in land in the late 60's and continues on as Go transits busy lakeshore line, running commuter trains 7 days a week between Hamilton and Toronto Union Station.

The Brantford and Hamilton RY : Hamilton to Brantford

Of all of the radial lines from Hamilton,thios one most resembled a regular railway.It ran accross country and for most of it's route travelled on a private ROW.First proposed in 1896 , it ws not started or open till 10 years later.It's opem route allowed for higher rates of speed and larger more comfortable cars.

It's route took it from the terminal station in downtown Hamilton and west on Main st to Hess, where it headed south to Aberdeen. From Queen and Aberdeen it started on its private ROW and began to climbing the limestone face of the escarpment ( known locally as Hamilton Mountain ).Half way up the mountain was Sanitorium Station ( mental hospital there tpdays McMaster Hospital ), past this station it beagn to climb the cliff face. Today this is the route of HWY 403. Views of todays drivers were once enjoyed by the passengers of highspeed electric streetcars.The view was of feilds and forests not todays condo's and malls.[tdn]

Along the line stations were at ,Jame's St ( UPPER )Alberton,Summit,Langford,Cainsville,amd Mowhawk Park.The line terminated at the Bi-level station built by the Lake Erie and Northern in 1915 in downtown Brantford . ( Today;s Brantford Casino occupies this spot ) In 1925 the line almalgamated with the HRE and ran through trains from Burlington to Brantford.

After the auto age arrived in the early 20'sthe line began to operate at a loss. Following the start up of throuhg bus servicce the ridership on the electric cars declined by half.In 1930 the HEPC bought out all the Hamilton Radials and instituited system wide bus runs. By 1931 service was ended on the HBG.

After the shutdown some of the cars were aquired by canda Crused stone of Dundas and were used till the electric portion of Canada Stone ended in 1971. None were preserved. The HGB ROW was torn up by 1935.All station were demolised at the same time ecept for Brantfords LE&N station which the Lake Erie and Northern continued to use till it ended service in 1955. Then it too waqs torn down. The sight remained dormant till the late 80's when Brantford started to build a telephone museum on site which never took off , it then became the Brantford Charity casino which still operates today.

For more Hamilton and Brantford info see the original Classic Juice on it #4 on page 134.

Rob

[trolleyboy]

Hey John nice to se ya in again. Right back at ya. We must keep tilla full and Cashinator happy. This way we have a nice big warchest built up for the big bash on the 12th.
I'm guessing that you are up for a feeding,coarse your time is much different then mine here in SW Ontario, it's likely tomorrow and breakfast where you are. Enjoy the early eyeoppener anyway.[:D][swg]

Rob

[trolleyboy]

Good evening again folks. I didn't have much to offer in the MP vein other than the few passing comments I had made earlier. So now that the bulk of the theme posts have moved along I figured that I would tempt you all with another new piece.[;)][:D] It's been a while , but this well hasn't completely run dry yet.

CLASSIC JUICE # 24 HAMILTON"S ELECTRIC LINES

Despite being Ontario's second largest city. Hamilton is largely forgotten in the rail,industry, yet the raiway history in Hamilton is long and verried and viable. This piece will attempt to show the highlights of Hamilton's lost electric railway heritage.Hamilton was the centre of one of canda's most extensive system of radial electric lines, known locally as the "Cataract". In 1896 the Cataract was first incorporated as the Cataract Power Company to develope hydro-electric power from the cataract at Decew Falls near St Catharines. In 1903 it changed it's name to Hamilton Cataract Light and Traction Company, and brought the separatly operatingradial systems in the area under one corporate banner.

In 1907 they built a four story terminal building in downtown Hamilton on the corner of Catharine and King streets, this building also served as the head office for the various rail lines in the network, and as such was considered the only "grand" station in Canada built exclusivly for the use of radial electric lines.

From this terminal line radiated out from Hamliton easterly to Vineland,southwesterly to Brantford,northwesterly to Dundas,and northeasterly to Oakville.Plans were to expand right to Lake Erie and down south to St Catharines and to Guelph and Toronto. However other jurisdictions and the roads and buses ended these plans. By the late 30's cars and busses had replaced the these electric radial lines.Many indeed say today that with all this infrastructure lost as most of these lines were running on private ROW's imagine how much less gridlock & polluition would plague southern Ontario's roads and highways, had the shortsitedness of ending this form of wide ranged transportation not been so quickly killed off !

Short synopsis of each line now follow. This is part 1. Part 2 will follow.

The Hamilton & Dundas Street Railway Company: Hamilton to Dundas

One of Canada's oldest street railways was the Hamilton & Dundas. It began in 1876 using a device known as a dummy engine. Because many residents(and their horses ) objected to steam engine puffing down the middle of the street,the railway placed the steam locomotive inside the bidy of a streetcar. Which pulled a trailer behind it.This worked well for two decades until 1897 when the line was electrified.

It's route took it from Hatt and Foundery Streets in Dundas, along Hatt St. to Dundas St ,then along Dundas Creek, through Ainslie woods into Hamilton via Aberdeen, Queen,Charlton,Mcnab and Main St's. In the beginning it ended at the GT station on Ferguason,then used the new Terminal station once it was built in 1907.

At it's peak, they would run half hour service.By 1923 bus competition became too much and the service ws ended.Some portions of the trackage were taken over by the TH&B, while the Hamilton Street Railway assumed control of the in city portions of the track.

Hamilton Grimsby & Beamsville Electric Railway Co: Hamilton to Vineland

In 1894 when the radials began running between Hamilton and Grimsby, the HGB became Canada's first major electrified radial railway line. In 1896, it was extended to Beamsville where a single stall car house was built, with a small passemger waiting room attached.For a few yearsn it operated as far as Vineland,anticipating a further expansion to St Catharines. However the municipal council of St Catharines,refuded to front the cash for the necessary bridge to cross twelve mile creek, so the Vineland portion of the line was scrapped.

Many radials carried passengers and freight the HGB was no exception as it had access to the fruitlands between Hamilton and Beamsville.Both the GT and TH&B had connections to the HGB: GT's was at Winnona, and the TH&B's was at their Kineer yard ontop the escarpment in Hamilton. Produce was transfered physically from HGB cars to those of the steam railway's,later the larger HGB cars would pull one or two refer's behind them.

From the new downtown terminal which the HGB began using in 1907, it's route took it along Main St to Sherman, then along Trolley ( now Gage St ) to Lawrence, then east on Lawrence to Bartonville. Here it switched to private ROW to Red Hill, and then back to what's now HWY 8 all the way to Beamsville.Station stops were made at Bartonville,Stoney Creek,Fruitland,Smith's ( site of busy cannery now ED Smith )Winnona,Pattisons,Grimsby,Grimsby Beach,and then the car barn/station at Beamsville.Most of the stations were small leanto type flagstops or located inside an existing line side building.

Like alot of radials it was involved in speacial recreational excurisions;"blossom speacials, trips to Grimsby Beach, and Grimsby Park etc. By 1927, Catract started using busses on some of this route, and following the takeover by Ontario Hydro commission on 1931 the bus line was sold to Grey Coach and this part of the electric line was shut down.

End of Part one.

Rob