"OUR" PLACE - SEE NEW THREAD!

[nickinwestwales]

Well good evening fellow barflys,better serve myself as [4:-)][oX)]TOM seems to have taken Cindy upstairs for some additional training ( he`s such a caring employer[swg]).
A fine selection for the theme day,good work one and all[tup][^][tup]
Quick straw poll-preferred livery,Green & Orange or Big Sky Blue ?-Boris will paint Tex in the winning scheme for the next week (the C.N Zebra paint has almost entirely washed off now).
Would make a nice modelling contrast-7 or 8 units in green & orange with varying degrees of weathering plus 2 or 3 immaculate blue units on the principal trains (with matching consists,natch)-Hadn`t realised there was so much coal traffic on offer,would the "Hustle Muscle" units have seen any of this work ?-the name suggests`hot` traffic use but with the right gearing I imagine they could be useful in drag service.
Anybody know what,if any,`foreign` power worked through-could be an extra touch of variety there.
Glad you all enjoyed the Brit trains catalogues-vive la differance & all that-suspect the `Transcontinental` range would have sold better if fitted with horn-hook or buck-eye couplers instead of Tri-Ang tension locks ( the most overscale and ungainly coupler this side of large scale 3-rail tinplate)-will save other comments for fear of stealing `steamed proprieters thunder tomorrow.
PETE-your mate did well to find a different running number-can only ever recall seeing 80033 in 3-rail,most of the messing with numbers & paint jobs happened under Wrenn as I recall-although the N2 was turned out in all the `big 4` as Dublo 2 & 3-rail,actually looked quite well in G.W.R. brunswick green
Right,early night for me-breaking in a couple of new singers for one of the bands tonight so quite a vigorous evening with a fair bit of showing off ( yes,one of thems a sweet young thing)and far too much volume for a small space,although we did manage a few acoustic numbers-I get to play my mandolin--Treat!!!!!
O.K,moonlight mile it is,a round for the house please [4:-)][oX)]TOM,one for yourself and send one up to Carol,in anticipation of her big day ( anybody who grows excess food to give to students is my kind of hippie--nice one[tup][^][tup] )
Take care one and all,see you all tomorrow for Pikes Perspectives and remember-be quiet on your way out-he who wakes the baby rocks him back to sleep again ( new house rule for benefit of new parents driven to near psychosis by sleep deprivation )
nick[C=:-)]

[siberianmo]

G'day!

All's well with the world, 20 FIngers Al has appeared! And appeared with two fine Posts for our "Theme!" [tup][tup][tup] Given my preference for anything with a dome on - I particularly enjoyed the 2nd Post - but not the length![swg] I've only had one opportunity to experience a full length dome, but it was aboard a dinner train out in Seattle rather than a "real" operating railroad. Either way, it was a treat![tup]

Thanx for the round![tup]

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

Later![tup]

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]


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

[passengerfan]

Have a few more minutes before I go back to work so will add this on GN streaml;ined Passenger cars.

Great
Northern
(GN)
Streamlined Dome Cars
by Al

The Great Northern was the last of the northern transcontinental railways to add domes to their premier train between Chicago and Seattle-Portland. The first of the northwest roads to add domes to their premier train was the Milwaukee Road who added Super Domes to the OLYMPIAN HIAWATHA beginning in December 1952. The next of the northwest trains to add domes was the NP NORTH COAST LIMITED with a pair of dome coaches added to each consist in August 1954 and a pair of dome sleeping cars added in November 1954 between Chicago and Pasco. The UP would have three Domes operating in each CITY OF PORTLAND train set by May 1955. One each of Astra-Dome Coach, Astra-Dome Dining Car and Astra-Dome Lounge Observation in each train set between Chicago and Portland. Even the CP CANADIAN was operating domes a month before the GN received the first of their domes in May 1955.
The GN EMPIRE BUILDER would be the first and only train in the US prior to Auto-Train to operate both short domes and a full-length dome in the same consist. When the GN went with domes they spared no expense beginning in May 1955 when three short dome leg rest coaches were added to each of the EMPIRE BUILDERS five consists. Two of the Great Dome coaches were through Chicago – Seattle cars while the third was a Chicago – Portland car operating between Spokane and Portland over the SP&S who would own one of the Great Dome coaches built for the EMPIRE BUILDER by Budd. The CB&Q who operated the EMPIRE BUILDER between Chicago and St. Paul owned three of these Budd built Great domes.
These Coach Domes built for the EMPIRE BUILDER were flat sided cars from Budd as were those built the year before for the NP NORTH COAST LIMITED. The cars were painted in the Omaha Orange, Pullman Green paint scheme with dulux gold separation stripes and lettering. They were an immediate hit with the traveling public. These were the standard 46 leg-rest seat cars with 24 non-revenue seats in the domes built by Budd for overnight train service.
In October 1955 the EMPIRE BUILDER received its full-length dome lounge cars for the exclusive use of the trains Pullman passengers. The VIEW series cars seated 75 on the dome level (25 seat pairs 7 single seats and 18 lounge seats). Beneath the dome was a 32-seat lounge with a bar open to Pullman passengers only. The VIEW series car was train-lined directly behind the 36-seat Dining car ahead of the trailing sleeping cars. The Great Dome Lounge cars operated between Chicago and Seattle. The GN purchased six VIEW series cars one was owned by the CB&Q for EMPIRE BUILDER service. Each eastbound EMPIRE BUILDER had a replenished 36-seat dining car; G-N Ranch car and VIEW series Great Dome replace the arriving cars from Seattle in St. Paul before continuing the trip to Chicago. The EMPIRE BUILDER Great Dome Lounge, G-N Ranch Car and Diner operated a round trip from St. Paul – Chicago – Seattle – St. Paul before being changed out. Additional bar supplies were available enroute but commissary stores for the diner and Ranch car were rarely added anywhere but Seattle.
In the late 1960’s when traffic slowed on the EMPIRE BUILDER the GN assigned one Great Dome coach to each WESTERN STAR consist between St. Paul and Seattle. Since the cars of the WESTERN STAR operated overnight between Chicago and St. Paul combined with the CB&Q BLACKHAWK and NP MAINSTREETER it was not necessary to operate the domes over this part of the trip. The GN WESTERN STAR, NP MAINSTREETER, and CB&Q BLACKHAWK operated combined eastbound and westbound overnight between St. Paul and Chicago.

24-SEAT GREAT DOME 46-SEAT LEG-REST COACHES Budd Company May 1955 (Built for and assigned to EMPIRE BUILDER)

GN

1320-1331

SP&S

1332

CB&Q

1333-1335

VIEW SERIES 75 SEAT FULL DOME LOUNGE CARS WITH BAR AND 32 SEAT LOUNGE BENEATH DOME Budd October 1955 (Built for and assigned to EMPIRE BUILDER)

GN

1390 GLACIER VIEW

1391 OCEAN VIEW

1392 MOUNTAIN VIEW

1393 LAKE VIEW

1394 PRAIRIE VIEW

CB&Q

1395 RIVER VIEW

All GN domes were transferred to BN ownership in the 1970 merger.

GREAT
NORTHERN
Streamlined Observations
by Al

The Great Northern Railway owned a total of twenty-two streamlined Observations, six from Pullman Standard, nine from American Car & Foundry and seven were rebuilt from heavyweight cars in GN shops.
In anticipation of the new lightweight streamlined EMPIRE BUILDERS about to make their debut in February 1947 the GN shops semi-streamlined an old heavyweight car 990 a 56 revenue seat Coach and remodeled the interior for a connecting service with the EMPIRE BUILDER between Great Falls and Havre, Montana. This car 1059 ROBERT S. FORD would be considered a blunt observation with diaphragm. Above the diaphragm was a red mars light. The car was painted in Empire Builder colors and even carried the EMPIRE BUILDER name in its letter board centered above the windows. The interior of the 1059 ROBERT S. FORD was fitted with a 12 seat Dinette and 14 seat Parlor section. The car operated for several years as the EMPIRE BUILDER connection and it is unknown what became of the 1059 ROBERT S. FORD.
The first lightweight streamlined Observations delivered to the GN were the five RIVER series for assignment to the streamlined EMPIRE BUILDERS of 1947. These were Pullman Standard built, as were all cars in the 1947 EMPIRE BUILDERS. Each RIVER series car featured 2 Double Bedrooms 1 Drawing Room Buffet 14 seat Cocktail Lounge and 16-seat lounge Observation. These Swallow-tailed Observations were both numbered and named 1190 MISSISSIPPI RIVER, 1191 MISSOURI RIVER, 1192 FLATHEAD RIVER, 1193 KOOTENAI RIVER and the CB&Q owned 1194 MARIAS RIVER.
They entered EMPIRE BUILDER service beginning February 23, 1947 providing daily service between Chicago and Seattle by way of the Twin Cities. The EMPIRE BUILDER also served Portland with through cars to and from Chicago operated by the SP&S between Spokane and Portland. The RIVER series Observations were always assigned as through cars to Seattle.
On June 3, 1951 the RIVER series Observations along with the original 1947 EMPIRE BUILDER cars became the new WESTERN STAR a secondary train between Chicago and Seattle-Portland. On that same date new 15 cars EMPIRE BUILDER replaced the 12 car trains transferred to the WESTERN STAR. Due to the slower schedule of the WESTERN STAR a sixth consist was necessary to maintain daily service. With that in mind the GN received a sixth RIVER series Observation from Pullman Standard in December 1950 1197 PRIEST RIVER.
The six RIVER series Observations were rebuilt to COULEE series Observations between April and August 1955 with 4 Double Bedrooms 1 Compartment and six Roomettes. These became the only lightweight streamlined Observations to ever operate with Roomettes in revenue service. The COULEE series cars were then transferred to the EMPIRE BUILDERS and the MOUNTAIN series Observations from the 1951 EMPIRE BUILDERS were transferred to the WESTERN STAR.
Between December 1967 and February 1968 all five of the Great Northern owned COULEE series Observations were rebuilt to straight 68 revenue seat coaches. The CB&Q COULEE series car was sold privately in 1968.

2 DOUBLE BEDROOM 1 DRAWING ROOM BUFFET 14 SEAT COCKTAIL LOUNGE 16 SEAT LOUNGE OBSERVATIONS (Swallow-Tailed) Pullman Standard February 1947 Plan: 4109 Lot 6751 (Built for and assigned to EMPIRE BUILDER transferred to WESTERN STAR 1951)

1190 MISSISSIPPI RIVER

1191 MISSOURI RIVER

1192 FLATHEAD RIVER

1193 KOOTENAI RIVER

(CB&Q)

1194 MARIAS RIVER

2 DOUBLE BEDROOM 1 DRAWING ROOM BUFFET 14 SEAT COCKTAIL LOUNGE 16 SEAT LOUNGE OBSERVATION (Swallow-Tailed) Pullman Standard December 1950 Plan: 4109A Lot: 6878 (Built for and assigned to WESTERN STAR)

1197 PRIEST RIVER

4 DOUBLE BEDROOM 1 COMPARTMENT 6 ROOMETTES 16 SEAT LOUNGE OBSERVATIONS (Swallow-tailed) rebuilt by Pullman for the GN from RIVER series Observations as follows)

APRIL 1955

1190 CHOUTEAU COULEE originally GN 1190 MISSISSIPPI RIVER

MAY 1955

1193 ROCKY COULEE originally GN 1193 KOOTENAI RIVER

JUNE 1955

1191 TWELVE MILE COULEE originally GN 1191 MISSOURI RIVER

1197 GRAND COULEE originally GN 1197 PRIEST RIVER

JULY 1955

1194 TRAIL COULEE originally CB&Q 1194 MARIAS RIVER

AUGUST 1955

1192 CORRAL COULEE originally GN 1192 FLATHEAD RIVER

The Great Northern Mid-Century EMPIRE BUILDER 15 car train sets entered service June 3, 1951. The new EMPIRE BUILDERS featured a new MOUNTAIN series Observation built by American Car & Foundry. The forward part of these cars was occupied by a car attendants Roomette and two other Roomettes, one of these for the Pullman Conductor the other for the traveling Passenger Service Representative. After the Roomettes was a Buffet and a spacious 36 seat Lounge Observation with large picture windows around the lounge area. These cars were assigned MOUNTAIN suffix names and the GN received six of these cars. Only five were necessary for daily EMPIRE BUILDER service but the sixth was rotated in and out at St. Paul as the EMPIRE BUILDER traveled eastbound after being supplied for a round trip from St. Paul to St. Paul. One consist of the 1951 EMPIRE BUILDER was transferred to CB&Q ownership in September 1953 and the 1291 ST. NICHOLAS MOUNTAIN became the Observation transferred to the CB&Q. In August 1955 the MOUNTAIN series Observations were transferred to the WESTERN STAR and the COULEE series were assigned to the EMPIRE BUILDERS. The reason for the change was the EMPIRE BUILDER carried new DOMES and the Lounge space in the MOUNTAIN series wasn't needed as the full-length Great dome for Pullman passengers had more than ample lounge space and a larger Buffet. When the FAST MAIL and WESTERN STAR were combined the MOUNTAIN series Observations became a mid-train car without a diaphragm fitted for the trailing cars that were all storage mail cars anyway. In the final year of operation under the GN before the BN merger the MOUNTAIN series Observations not only operated in the FAST MAIL/WESTERN STAR but also ran in place of PORT series Observations in the INTERNATIONALS.

3 CREW ROOMETTE BUFFET 36 SEAT PICTURE WINDOW LOUNGE OBSERVATIONS (Swallow-Tailed) American Car & Foundry March 1951 (Built for and assigned to EMPIRE BUILDER transferred to WESTERN STAR in 1955)

GN

1290 APPEKUNNY MOUNTAIN

CB&Q

1291 ST. NICHOLAS MOUNTAIN

GN

1292 GOING-TO-THE-SUN MOUNTAIN

1293 CATHEDRAL MOUNTAIN

1294 TREMPALEAU MOUNTAIN

1295 LITTLE CHIEF MOUNTAIN

The three remaining new Observations purchased by the Great Northern were all from American Car & Foundry.
Two of these Observations were delivered as part of five car trains for service between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. three times daily. This service was known as the INTERNATIONALS and the streamliners entered service June 18, 1950. The new INTERNATIONAL each had a Baggage 30' Railway Post Office Car, two 60 revenue seat Coaches, a 28 revenue seat Coach 24 seat Dining Car, and the last car was a PORT series Observation. The interior of the two PORT series Observations 1195 PORT OF SEATTLE and 1196 PORT OF VANCOUVER featured a Customs Office Buffet Parlor Bedroom 29 seat Parlor 4 seat Lounge Observation. The reason for the customs office was the trains crossed the border at Blaine - White Rock in each direction. Northbound the customs agents boarded the trains at Mt. Vernon, Washington and traveled with the train to Vancouver. Southbound they boarded the trains in Vancouver and disembarked at Mt. Vernon.

CUSTOMS OFFICE BUFFET PARLOR BEDROOM 29 REVENUE SEAT PARLOR 4 SEAT LOUNGE OBSERVATIONS (Swallow-tailed) American Car & Foundry May 1950 (Built for and assigned to INTERNATIONALS)

1195 PORT OF SEATTLE

1196 PORT OF VANCOUVER

The third streamlined train to enter service in 1950 was the RED RIVER between Grand Forks and St. Paul round trip daily. This five car streamlined train comprised of a Baggage 30' Railway Post Office Car, three 60 revenue seat Coaches, and the Observation 1147 RED RIVER. The interior of the 1147 RED RIVER featured 12 seat Dinette, 9 seat Coffee Shop Lunch Counter 14 seat Parlor and 2 seat Lounge Observation. In July 1968 1147 RED RIVER was rebuilt to a straight 68 revenue seat Coach retaining the number 1147 but the name Red RIVER was deleted at that time.

12 SEAT DINETTE 9 SEAT COFFEE SHOP LUNCH COUNTER KITCHEN 14 REVENUE SEAT PARLOR 2 SEAT LOUNGE OBSERVATION (Swallow-tailed) American Car & Foundry May 1950 (Built for and assigned to RED RIVER)

1147 RED RIVER

In April 1952 GN shops turned out two streamlined Observations for service bringing up the markers of the BADGER and GOPHER trains between the Twin Cities (St. Paul-Minneapolis) and Twin Ports (Duluth-Superior). These two Observations were rebuilt from heavyweight coaches and were among the first cars to have thermo-pane@ glass installed. The cars were originally built by Pullman as heavyweight Parlor cars and were named CORDELIA and NATALIE. Both were built in August 1926. The GN purchased the pair in 1942 for conversion to coaches. Not only did the GN shops equip the cars with new Thermo-pane@ windows during the rebuilding to streamline Observations but also installed new welded sides and observation end. New steel Dutch-doors were installed at the vestibule end complete with folding traps for the steps. A new smooth contour streamlined roof was installed as well. The Blunt Observation ends of the cars featured a window on either side of the center door with a window as well. Below the two windows on the rear were train name signs one displaying the name BADGER the other the name GOPHER. The interior of the two cars 1083 TWIN CITIES and 1084 TWIN PORTS featured a 10 seat Dinette Buffet 26 seat Parlor Lounge Observation. A few years after the trains entered service the two Observations had a diaphragm installed at the Observation end. Later the 1083 TWIN CITIES was rebuilt to Track Measuring car B-9. The 1084 TWIN PORTS was retired.

10 SEAT DINETTE BUFFET 26 REVENUE SEAT PARLOR OBSERVATIONS (Blunt) GN SHOPS rebuilt April 1952 (Rebuilt and streamlined for BADGER and GOPHER)

1083 TWIN CITIES

1084 TWIN PORTS

A third observation identical to the 1083 TWIN CITIES and TWIN PORTS was rebuilt and streamlined by GN shops in October 1954. This time a 1929 built Pullman Solarium Observation originally built for the EMPIRE BUILDER named DAVID C. SHEPARD was selected for rebuilding. This car was numbered 1085 and did not carry a name. The 1085 was assigned to the GN Seattle - Portland pool trains and when the GN dropped Parlor service on this route the car remained in Seattle being assigned to the INTERNATIONALS when one of their PORT series cars required more than just routine maintenance. The 1085 was rebuilt later to GN Business car B-2 DESCHUTES RIVER.

10 SEAT DINETTE BUFFET 26 REVENUE SEAT PARLOR OBSERVATION Rebuilt and Streamlined by GN shops from heavyweight car)

1085

The final two observations rebuilt and streamlined by GN shops were 1060 and 1061. These were rebuilt and streamlined for the CASCADIANS between Seattle and Spokane. These were rebuilt from heavyweight dining cars 1030 OREGON and 1031 WISCONSIN in 1954. There only claim to being Observations was the one end of these cars above the diaphragm had a red mars light installed and there were train sign boards mounted on the rear on either side of the diaphragm for the signs CASCADIAN. The interiors were extensively rebuilt and modernized having a kitchen 16 seat Café and 18 reserved coach seats. These seats were generally held for passengers traveling the entire distance between Seattle and Spokane. And sometimes these seats accommodated all of the passengers traveling that day especially in the final years of the CASCADIANS. In later years the cars were assigned to the DAKOTANS with the Dinette area increased to 20 seats and the Coach section seating increased to 24.

KITCHEN 16 SEAT DINETTE CAFÉ 18 RESERVED SEAT COACH OBSERVATIONS Rebuilt by GN shops from heavyweight Dining Cars 1954)

1060, 1061

TTFN AL

PS More to follow if I get another break.

[passengerfan]

Good Afternoon Tom and the rest of the gang. Sorry for being late especially when it is one of my absolute favorite railroads you are talking about. Time for a CR and a round for the house.

GREAT
NORTHERN
Streamlined Head End Cars
by Al


Northern most of the transcontinental railways in the United States the Great Northern route brought with it large amounts of Mail, Express, and Storage Mail shipments.
Following WW II the GN inaugurated the first all new transcontinental streamliner the EMPIRE BUILDER between Chicago and Seattle – Portland on February 23, 1947. Each twelve car consist carried a single head end car and this car was a 30’ Railway Post Office Baggage Car operating between Chicago – Seattle. These cars as was the entire train painted in the new Omaha Orange, Pullman Green, with Dulux Gold separation stripes and lettering EMPIRE BUILDER centered in the letter board. The five cars were numbered GN 1100 – 1103 and CB&Q 1104. Since this was the first car in each EMPIRE BUILDER consist the RPO end was not equipped with an end door or diaphragm and the paint was carried across the end.

30’ RAILWAY POST OFFICE BAGGAGE CARS Pullman Standard January 1947 (Built for and assigned to EMPIRE BUILDER)

GN

1100 – 1103

CB&Q

1104

The GN shops rebuilt four heavyweight Baggage Express cars into semi-streamlined Baggage – Express cars in 1947 in Company Shops. These four cars 262-265 were except for the six wheel trucks fully streamlined. These cars were initially assigned to the BADGER – GOPHER and WINNIPEG LIMITED becoming the first streamlined cars in those trains and also the first cars operating in those trains painted in the new GN colors.
In 1948 the GN shops built seven-streamlined Baggage – Express cars in two lots 266-269 delivered in December 1947 – January 1948 and 270 – 272 delivered in December 1948. The 271 was assigned to one of the inaugural BADGER – GOPHER train sets. The GN shops also built a single 30’ Railway Post Office Car number 1108 assigned as a spare to the EMPIRE BUILDER in December 1948.

BAGGAGE EXPRESS STORAGE MAIL CARS GN Shops December 1947 – January 1948 (Built for and assigned to GENERAL SERVICE initially)

266 – 269

BAGGAGE EXPRESS STORAGE MAIL CARS GN Shops December 1948 (Built for and assigned to GENERAL SERVICE initially)

270 –272

The Great Northern received three 30’ Railway Post Office Baggage Cars 1105 - 1107 from American Car & Foundry in January 1950. These three were part of three five-car streamliners built for daytime service. Two of the cars 1105 and 1106 along with the rest of the cars built for the two five car streamlined INTERNATIONALS entered three time daily round trip service between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. The new trains were an instant success entering service on June 18, 1950. The third 30’ Railway Post Office Baggage Car 1107 entered service in a new five-car streamliner the Red RIVER between Grand Forks and St. Paul daily round trip. This new schedule was inaugurated June 25, 1950.

30’ RAILWAY POST OFFICE BAGGAGE CARS American Car & Foundry May 1950 (Built for and assigned to INTERNASTIONALS and RED RIVER)

1105 – 1107

In October 1950 the GN received six 60’ Railway Post Office Storage Mail Cars from American Car & Foundry 37 - 42 all painted and lettered for the EMPIRE BUILDER. These cars were not for assignment to the EMPIRE BUILDER that was already in service but were the first cars delivered for the new MID-CENTURY EMPIRE BUILDER to be inaugurated June 3, 1951. The new EMPIRE BUILDERS would be fifteen car streamliners with initially two head end cars the 60’ Railway Post office Storage Mail car mentioned above and a Baggage 22 Crew Dormitory Car. The six Baggage 22 Crew Dormitory Cars 1200 – 1205 were delivered by American Car & Foundry in May 1951 just in time for the MID CENTURY EMPIRE BUILDER inaugural.

60’ RAILWAY POST OFFICE STORAGE MAIL CARS American Car & Foundry October 1950 (Built for and assigned to the MID-CENTURY EMPIRE BUILDER)

37 – 42

BAGGAGE 22 CREW DORMITORY CARS American Car & Foundry May, 1951 (Built for and assigned to the MID – CENTURY EMPIRE BUILDER)

1200 – 1205

The GN shops built four Baggage Express Storage Mail Cars in September – October 1950 numbered 273 – 276. These cars were assigned to General Service at that time.

BAGGAGE EXPRESS STORAGE MAIL CARS GN Shops September – October 1950 (Built for and assigned to GENERAL SERVICE initially)

273 – 276

In June 1953 the ownership of CB&Q 1104 was transferred to the GN. This car along with 1100 – 1103 and 1108 had been operating in the WESTERN STAR since the MID CENTURY EMPIRE BUILDER had entered service June 3, 1951. This cars ownership was transferred, as the 30’ Railway Post Office Car in the WESTERN STAR no longer operated east of St. Paul over the CB&Q except in the summer and Christmas season. In September of 1953 the GN transferred ownership of 60’ Railway Post Office Storage Mail Car 41 and Baggage 22 Crew Dormitory 1202 to CB&Q ownership as we; as other MID – CENTURY EMPIRE BUILDER cars.
In 1955 the GN changed the name-boards to read EMPIRE BUILDER in Baggage Express Storage Mail Cars 262-276. The reason for the change was that the EMPIRE BUILDER began operating west of St. Paul with a Storage Mail Car to Spokane. The cars originated in Chicago and traveled to St. Paul in the Milwaukee Road PIONEER LIMITED. Since the GN did not want foreign cars breaking up the GN colors of the EMPIRE BUILDER the GN supplied all of the cars for the service.
In September 1964 the GN acquired two 60’ Railway Post Office storage Mail cars used from the C&NW numbered 8225 and 8226. These cars were repainted for service in the EMPIRE BUILDER and renumbered 43 and 44.
In March 1965 the GN purchased three Baggage Cars used from the Chicago Great Western Railway the only three lightweight streamlined cars ever purchased new by the CGW. The three cars CGW 80 – 82 were repainted and renumbered GN 277 – 279 for assignment to the EMPIRE BUILDER as Storage Mail cars between St. Paul and Spokane.
In January 1967 the GN shops rebuilt WESTERN STAR 30’ Railway Post Office Car Baggage Car 1102 into a 60’ Railway Post Office Storage Mail car for assignment to the EMPIRE BUILDER renumbering the car 45.
Finally in December 1967 the GN shops remodeled WESTERN STAR 30’ Railway Post Office Car 1101 into Storage – Mail Car and reassigned the car to the EMPIRE BUILDER with the new number 280.
The Great Northern streamlined several heavyweight 30’ Railway Post office Baggage Cars in there own shops but the exact dates these particular cars were streamlined is unknown. The following cars are known to have been streamlined 87, 94-97.

TTFN AL

[siberianmo]

G'day!

[wow] Is this a Sunday[?][?][?] Cindy I'm surprised you've been able to stay awake! Thanx for watching the store . . . [tup]

Lars Appreciate the contribution! This has ben a most 'strange' day for our "Theme" in that we haven't received an epistle from 20 Fingers Al and that's most unusual.

Appreciate the continuing "updates" on the effort to get some of our "Legion of the Lost" guys to return on the 12th . . . [tup][tup]

That's an interesting set of Pix on that #400 . . . . don't recall ever seeing or hearing of that particular slogan, "Hustle Muscle," but then again, I don't qualify as a GN Aficionado - much less an expert in very many RRs. My guess is you'll get some comments on that loco set of specs . . . . [tup]

Later!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]


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

[LoveDomes]

Hey Tom

Great post on the Great Northern!

Been running way behind today, and in fact didn’t think I’d make it in – but I’m here and I’ll take one of those Alexander Keith Pale Ale bottles – good stuff![tup]

Received a response from earlydiesels Dan regarding the 12th – while he didn’t actually say he’d be here, he did say that his calendar would be marked. So, translated, I’d say he’s at least thinking about it.

Now, to the “Theme for the Day!” . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
GN #400 "Hustle Muscle" (from: www.gnrhs.org)


GN #400 "Hustle Muscle" (from: www.gnrhs.org)

QUOTE: Statistics for GN 400 “HUSTLE MUSCLE” SD45

Builder Date: May, 1966
Builder Number: 31598
Transition: Automatic
Model: SD45
Length: 65’8”
Dynamic Brake: Variable
Builder: EMD
Width: 10’
Air Brake: 26L
Horsepower: 3600
Height: 15’7”
Air Compressor: WBO
WH-AR: C-C
Min Cont Speed: 8.5 mph
Fuel Capacity: 4000 Gallons
Weight: 369,340
Main Generator: AR-10
Sand Capacity: 56 Cubic Feet
Starting TE: 91,999
Alternator: D-14
Cooling System: 288 Gallons
Prime Mover: 20-645E3
Aux. Generator: 10 KW
Lube Oil: 294 Gallons
MU Control: Equipped
Traction Motor: D-77
Gear Ratio: 60:17

from: www.gnrhs.org)


That’s it for me . . . gotta run!


Until the next time!

Lars

[siberianmo]

Now arriving on track #1 …..
Railroads from Yesteryear! Number Twelve


Used with permission from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Formatting differences made necessary due to Forums requirements. Some heralds from other sources.


Great Northern Railway (GN)


Used with permission from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Formatting differences made necessary due to Forums requirements. Some heralds from other sources.

Locale: Chicago, Illinois, to Seattle, Washington

Reporting marks: GN

Dates of operation: – 1970

Track gauge: 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge)

Headquarters: St. Paul, Minnesota

(copied per terms of GNU Free Documentation License)
A Great Northern EMD F7 Locomotive.

The Great Northern Railway (AAR reporting mark GN), running from St. Paul, Minnesota to Seattle, Washington — more than 1,700 miles (2,736 km) — was the privately-financed creation of the 19th century railroad tycoon James J. Hill.

It crossed the Mississippi River on the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis, near the Saint Anthony Falls, the only waterfall on the Mississippi. The bridge ceased to be used as a railroad bridge in 1978 and is now used as a pedestrian river crossing with excellent views of the falls and of the lock system used to grant barges access up the river past the falls.

The GN developed from the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. In 1970 the GN became part of the Burlington Northern Railroad in a merger; today, Amtrak's Empire Builder uses the line.

(copied from public domain)
A Great Northern train pauses for the photographer four miles west of Minot, North Dakota in 1914.

Empire Builder
This train inspired the popular Empire Builder board game and computer version.

(copied per fair use clause of copyright laws)
Second No. 2, the Empire Builder glides through Summit, Montana on August 5, 1938.

(copied per fair use clause of copyright laws)
"Drumhead" logos such as these often adorned the ends of observation cars on the Empire Builder.

The Empire Builder is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Midwestern and Northwestern United States. Before Amtrak, the Empire Builder was operated by the Great Northern Railway. The route runs from Chicago, Illinois toward the Pacific Ocean. The line splits in Spokane, Washington, terminating at Seattle, Washington's King Street Station (2,206 miles, or 3,550 km from Chicago) in the north and Portland, Oregon's Union Station (2,257 miles, or 3,632 km from Chicago) in the south.
The train passes through the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. Layovers are made in St. Paul, Minot, and Spokane. Other major stops on the route are Milwaukee, Fargo, Whitefish, Montana, and Vancouver, Washington.

One train passes in each direction on a daily basis. The schedule is timed so that the train will pass through the Rocky Mountains at a time of day that has prime viewing conditions. When trains run on schedule, it takes 45 to 46 hours to travel the entire route. The Chicago–Seattle route is 2,206 miles (3,550 km), and the Chicago–Portland route is 2,257 miles (3,632 km).

History

(courtesy: www.trainweb.com)
Great Northern's Empire Builder passes through Winona Junction, Wisconsin in June, 1958. The cars bear the eye-popping Omaha Orange, Pullman Green, and gold stripe livery (known as the "Empire Builder scheme") that was the standard for GN passenger trains for 20 years.

The original Empire Builder was inaugurated by the Great Northern on June 11, 1929. The service was altered to carry additional passengers during World War II. After the war, new diesel trains were placed into service. This postwar service began on February 23, 1947.

The route was publicized for allowing riders to view the passing Rocky Mountain landscapes through domed windows on top of the passenger cars. Ultimately, the name comes from the nickname given to railroad tycoon James J. Hill, who built track passing through Minneapolis-St. Paul in the late 19th century and founded the Great Northern Railway.

Since inauguration, the service has run from Chicago to Spokane, then split from Spokane, continuing to Seattle and Portland.

Historical equipment used

The train's 1947 consist was as follows:

• Baggage-Mail car

(courtesy: www.trainweb.com)
Great Northern's Empire Builder stops in Havre, Montana in 1967, shortly after the road modernized its color scheme and logo, introducing the "Big Sky Blue" era (passenger equipment begins to receive the blue, gray and white paint scheme, replacing the traditional EB livery).

• "Chair" car / Coach (60 seats)
• "Chair" car / Coach (48 seats)
• "Chair" car / Coach (48 seats)
• "Chair" car / Coach (48 seats)
• Dormitory-Lunch Counter-Lounge
• Diner (36 seats)
• Sleeper (4 sections, 8 duplex roomettes, 4 double bedrooms)
• Sleeper (16 duplex roomettes, 4 double bedrooms)
• Sleeper (16 duplex roomettes, 4 double bedrooms)
• Sleeper (4 sections, 8 duplex roomettes, 4 double bedrooms)
• Sleeper-Observation (2 double bedrooms, 1 drawing room)

Car ownership on this train was by-and-large split between the Great Northern and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q), though a couple of cars in the original consists were owned by the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway (SP&S). In this consist, one of the 48-seat "chair" cars and one of the 4-section sleepers were used for the connection to Portland, while the rest of the consist connected to Seattle.

Additional Info on Cars Used

The Great Northern coaches eventually found their way into state-subsidized commuter service for the Central Railroad of New Jersey after the Burlington Northern merger and remained until 1987 when NJ Transit retired its last E8A locomotive. Some of these cars remain in New Jersey. Some coaches were acquired from the Union Pacific, these also went to New Jersey. One of the 28 seat coach-dinette cars also remains in New Jersey and is stored near Interstate 78 wearing tattered Amtrak colors.

Current equipment used

(courtesy: www.trainweb.com)

Amtrak's Empire Builder stops in Minot, North Dakota in June, 2002.

The present-day Empire Builder uses Amtrak's double-deck Superliner equipment. In Summer, 2005 the train was "re-launched" with newly-refurbished equipment. A typical 2005 train consist would be (destination noted after the Spokane split):

• Baggage car (Seattle)
• Transitional Crew Sleeper (Seattle)
• Sleeper (Seattle)
• Sleeper (Seattle)
• Diner (Seattle)
• Coach (Seattle)
• Coach (Seattle)
• Sightseer Lounge (Portland)
• Coach Baggage (Portland)
• Coach (Portland)
• Sleeper (Portland)

Station stops

Amtrak's Empire Builder operates as train 7 westbound and 8 eastbound, with 27 and 28 splitting at Spokane for Portland. It makes the following station stops:
Illinois
• Chicago
• Glenview
Wisconsin
• Milwaukee
• Columbus
• Portage
• Wisconsin Dells
• Tomah
• La Crosse
Minnesota
• Winona
• Red Wing
• St. Paul-Minneapolis
• St. Cloud
• Staples
• Detroit Lakes
North Dakota
• Fargo
• Grand Forks
• Devils Lake
• Rugby
• Minot
• Stanley
• Williston
Montana
• Wolf Point
• Glasgow
• Malta
• Havre
• Shelby
• Cut Bank
• Browning
• East Glacier Park
• Essex
• West Glacier
• Whitefish
• Libby
Idaho
• Sandpoint
Washington
• Spokane
• Ephrata
• Wenatchee
• Everett
• Edmonds
• Seattle
To/from Portland (splits at Spokane)
Washington
• Spokane
• Pasco
• Wishram
• Bingen-White Salmon
• Vancouver
Oregon
• Portland

References

• Wayner, Robert J., ed. (1972), Car Names, Numbers and Consists, Wayner Publications, New York, NY


Used with permission from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Formatting differences made necessary due to Forums requirements. Some heralds from other sources.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Enjoy!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]


Did you miss any of the previous eleven[?] Click the URL:

#1: Baltimore & Ohio (B&O
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=233&TOPIC_ID=35270
#2: Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O)
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=234&TOPIC_ID=35270
#3: Pennsylvania (PRR)
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=237&TOPIC_ID=35270
#4: New York Central (NYC)
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=240&TOPIC_ID=35270
#5: New Haven (NYNH&H)
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=242&TOPIC_ID=35270
#6: Santa Fe (ATSF) (Two Parts)
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=246&TOPIC_ID=35270
#7: Southern Pacific (SP)
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=253&TOPIC_ID=35270
#8: Northern Pacific (NP)
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=259&TOPIC_ID=35270
#9: Coastline/Seaboard (ACL – SCL – SAL) (Two Parts)
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=267&TOPIC_ID=35270
#10: Southern Railway (SOU)
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=276&TOPIC_ID=35270
#11: Denver and Rio Grande Western (D&RG)
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=282&TOPIC_ID=35270

[siberianmo]

Good Morning!

A rather interesting start to the day ‘round the best cyber bar ‘n grill in the Ether! First, a “fix” for an earlier Post from wanswheel Mike followed by a before-we-are-opened submission of an interesting URL and Great Northern historical piece from Mike.[tup] Then along came Doug with his “traditional” before-we-are-opened visit! Fortunately for the both of you, we do have some “life” in the kitchen, otherwise you’d be stuck for breakfast, eh[?][swg]

Appreciate the contribution toward the “theme” for our day, Doug and as always, enlightening to read.[tup]

A rather early visit from coalminer3 CM3 too – but always welcome! Good stuff on the link between the GN and the coal industry![tup] Thanx for the round and quarters too![swg]

Also good to see jlampke and 20 Fingers Al stop by! Thanx for the early morning libations, John![swg] The “Uncles” amongst us are a “glow” this fine day!

Speaking of which, we never did get to the 60s yesterday, still rather chilly out there, no sun, but “they” keep telling us that spring is definitely here. Right! Will be heading out this AM with the bride – she’s on spring break from university teaching – so we’ll get to restock the garden supplies – top soil, peat, and whatever else she thinks is needed to grow more food than 20 families will ever require. Fortunately, she brings in bags and bags of garden products for the “starving grad students” to scramble for.[swg] So, waste no, want not, eh[?][tup]

Fortunately, Cindy is also on her spring break and has offered to help out this week. So, she’ll be taking over the bar around 10 AM – be kind, Gents – be kind. I think she’ll be offering some “free tix” to the Private Lingerie Show slated for later this week over at the Emporium! Should be a ‘winnah’ with all kinds of “Gypsy Rose” music and “high fashion” from the Victoria not-so-secret line of intimate apparel. [}:)][:-,] Warning, not for the faint of heart! [:O]

Remember: Railroads from Yesteryear arrives at 10 AM!

Catch y’all later![tup]


Later![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; $ for the jukebox. I saw Buck Owens perform more than a few times - always enjoyed his show(s). The local TV station ran a piece about him in memory...were we all that young once?

Nick - Thanks for the information on Graham-Farrish.

Also thanks to all who have been posting material on tunnels, and also on the Great Northern. The J class 2-6-2s mentioned in the previous post were all blt. by Baldwin between 1906 and 1907. They carried #s 1500-1649. Some of them were sold to the SP&S and were not scrapped until 1948.

Here's some mining-related GN information.

Most of us are pretty familiar with GN’s iron ore traffic. Today, we’ll look at their coal traffic as it was in 1950.

There’s lots of lignite in North Dakota. In 1949, North Dakota’s lignite mines produced almost 3 million tons. Roads shipping lignite in North Dakota included the Northern Pacific, Milwaukee, SOO, and Great Northern.

The lone lignite mined served by the GN was Baukol Noonan Lignite’s Baukol Noonan Mine which shipped via GN at Noonan, ND. This company had their own 3-foot gauge railroad (9 locomotives and 4 miles of track.)

Most of the coal in Montana came from large strip mines. In 1950 coal was shipped via the MILW, NP, and UP. The MILW and NP had captive mines still in operation.

Washington State produced almost 900 thousand tons of coal. Most of this originated on the NP, but the GN served Bellingham Coal Mines at Bellingham, WA. This property shipped 136 thousand tons.

There are many GN books and publications available.

A good place to begin is Railroad History 143 (1980) – 160 pp. devoted to GN history and motive power.

BTW, I enjoyed the electric railroad definitions. How about. this one: it ranks right at the top of my examples of how not to 'splain something.

"Scaffolding - An instructional strategy used to enhance the learner's metacognitive skills and problem-solving abilities by providing appropriate support to enable achievement within the learner's zone of proximal development."

Translated it means - Provide ways to help trainees learn what they need to know.

On that note, I may need three fingers of the good stuff to clear what little's left of my head.

work safe

[siberianmo]

[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]


Railroads from Yesteryear –

Great Northern Railway (GN)] arrives on track #1 at 10 AM today –

WATCH FOR IT!


Tom[4:-)] [oX)]


[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]

[passengerfan]

Good Morning Tom and the rest of the gang. Time for a coffeee and one of those crumpetrs from the Mentor Village Bakery. I took a closer look at "Our Place" this AM and wi***o add my congratulations to John and his bride for the new addition.

We are having major disruptions out here on the left coast with all of the protestors against immigration reform. Hope something gets done soon it is long overdue especially here in Golden State.

I know off subject so will buy around for the house. Too early for me but set em up for the others.

TTFN AL

[jlampke]

Evening' Gents, an Absolute & grapefruit for me and a round for all the new "Uncles" in the house! I'll try to send a picture in the near future. He is in fact as yet un-named. Much debate about the name. I'm kind of partial to names like John or William. The wife wants something a little more Korean. Oops....... gotta run. Thanks for all the congrats from Doug, Tom, Nick, Rob & Pete.
John

[siberianmo]

(courtesy: www.trainweb.org)

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


TUESDAY’s INFO & SUMMARY of POSTS


Ah, Tuesday – “one of those days” daze! What better way to begin the day than to enjoy a hot cuppa Joe, pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery and a selection from our Menu Board for a <light> or <traditional> breakfast![tup]


Daily Wisdom

The West is good country for men and dogs but mighty hard on women and oxen.[swg]


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


Info for the Day:

Railroads from Yesteryear – Great Northern Railway (GN) arrives TODAY!

* Weekly Calendar:

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


SUMMARY

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

(1) barndad Doug Posted: 27 Mar 2006, 05:42:23 (286) Tunnels, part III & joke!

(2) siberianmo Tom Posted: 27 Mar 2006, 06:34:37 (286) Monday’s Info & Summary

(3) coalminer3 CM3 Posted: 27 Mar 2006, 07:46:13 (286) CM3 Report!

(4) passengerfan Al Posted: 27 Mar 2006, 08:09:28 (286) Al speaks!

(5) siberianmo Tom Posted: 27 Mar 2006, 09:16:57 (286) Acknowledgments & Comments

(6) LoveDomes Lars Posted: 27 Mar 2006, 14:14:32 (286) The Lars Report!

(7) wanswheel Mike Posted: 27 Mar 2006, 14:26:21 (286) URL

(8) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 27 Mar 2006, 15:38:37 (286) Inclusive Post, etc.

(9) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 27 Mar 2006, 16:14:11 (286) GE Contract rebuilding

(10) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 27 Mar 2006, 16:22:16 (286) etc.

(11) pwolfe Pete Posted: 27 Mar 2006, 17:26:48 (287) The Wolfman Howls!

(12) barndad Doug Posted: 27 Mar 2006, 17:44:25 (287) Barn chat, Tunnels – part IV & joke!

(13) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 27 Mar 2006, 18:42:03 (287) Nick at Nite!

(14) siberianmo Tom Posted: 27 Mar 2006, 19:38:46 (287) Acknowledgments & Comments

(15) passengerfan Al Posted: 27 Mar 2006, 20:41:43 (287) Nite Cap!

(16) barndad Doug Posted: 27 Mar 2006, 21:24:08 (287) Electric Rail Terms & joke!

(17) siberianmo Tom Posted: 27 Mar 2006, 21:36:42 (287) For: Al & Doug

(18) pwolfe Tom Posted: 27 Mar 2006, 21:43:59 (287) Inclusive Post, etc.

(19) siberianmo Tom Posted: 27 Mar 2006, 22:27:29 (287) For: Pete



The Mentor Village Emporium Theatre

NOW SHOWING:

Double Features and Three Stooges Short Subject!

. . . Sunday, March 26th thru April 1st:Major League (1989) starring Tom Beringer, Charlie Sheen & Corbin Bernson – and – Bull Durham (1988) starring: Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon & Tim Robbins. SHORT: Plane Nuts (1933).


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 all. I'll have another two light breakfasts please. I see that MIke has begun today's topic with a nice historical post! Here's one from me:

From the pages of January 1943 Railroad Magazine

Having read and enjoyed so many true tales in Railroad Magazine as well as other articles concerning hunches, I’d like to tell about a couple of times I played a hunch and came out winner.

One night in the fall of 1918, before the Armistice had been signed, I was engineering on a Great Northern steel train going west through Montana as second section of 401. We had about 35 cars in our train, as nearly as I can remember. I had engine 1563. She was a good steamer, light on water, square as a die and could she get a train going. In those days the Big G did not have block signals. Trains were supposed to keep ten minutes apart. Operators were instructed to help keep trains spaced the required ten minutes – but they seldom did, and this led to quite a few rear-end collisions. Bad wrecks occurred because the rear flagman wouldn’t have the rewuired time to properly flag a following train.

On tipping Tampico Hill this night, I could see the red lights of the rear end of the first section going through Vandalia, four or five miles west. Just west of Vandalia the road has a big curve to the left. On passing through Vandalia I cautioned the head brakeman, Ole, to keep a sharp lookout for the first section. “Don’t worry, Thorval,” he said, “I’ll sure keep a good watch for a flag,” and then he promptly went back to sleep.

Now, these old J engines had their cabs up close to the boiler head, and an engineer could not see the brakeman. Therefore, I didn’t know that Ole had hit the hay. But some inner voice seemed to whisper, “You had better look; something is wrong!” So I got out of my seatbox and stepped over to the left side.

What I saw made my eyes pop wide open. One step and I was over on the seatbox and had applied the air into emergency, putting the sanders on full. I hollered for my brakeman and fireman to get ready to jump. Ole woke up with a start. He saw what was coming and jumped wildly astraddle of my fireman, knocking him down on the deck of the engine in his hurry to get off. But Ole stopped long enough to help the fireboy to his feet.

What I had seen was the rear end of the first 401’s caboose just far enough around the curve so that I could not notice it from the right side. Also I had seen the rear brakeman of this first section high-tailing it toward the right-of-way fence with a fusee in his hand.

We were all lucky that my engine stopped about 14 inches from the caboose of first 401, which had been delayed by a bolt getting into the coal conveyor, stopping the stoker and thus causing a lack of steam. Did I bawl out for that rear brakeman and conductor for not giving me a proper flag! I’ll bet their ears are still ringing. And what did they say? The old standby. “Thought we’d be moving any second.”

On another occasion I was running a switch engine in the yard here at Havre, Mont. This happened about 10p.m. We had gone quite a way in on No. 2 track for a string of loaded cars, getting close to the lead track. I asked the fireman, “How does the lead look?” By that I meant that I wanted to know if it was clear as it turned to the left. I saw him look, and he said “Clear.”

But I still didn’t feel good. Intuition seemed to say: “Slow down, be careful.” I couldn’t overcome this feeling, so I applied the air and left it on. On going over the lead switch and straightening out on the lead, I could see all the switch lights up to No. 9 track, and No. 6 was yellow. Then I could see a string of box-cars going in on this track. My fireman being a young man in the service, told me by way of apology that he had been looking for an engine, not cars or yellow switch lights. Well, I stopped just in time to keep from sideswiping those cars. Another lucky hunch! Can you blame me for heeding my hunches? Wouldn’t you? Thorval L. Christenson

[:I] A man in Phoenix calls his son in New York the day before Thanksgiving and says, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough."
"Pop, what are you talking about?" the son screams.
We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the father says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her."
Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "Like heck they're getting divorced," she shouts, "I'll take care of this,"
She calls Phoenix immediately, and screams at her father, "You are NOT getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?" and hangs up.
The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. "Okay," he says, "they're coming for Thanksgiving and paying their own way." [:I]

[wanswheel]

Hi again Tom and everyone, here's a starter...http://www.usafband.com/mp3/Reveille.mp3

According to The Oxford History Of The American People by Samuel Eliot Morison...

"Railroading was the biggest business of a big era, and the railway builders were of the mettle that in Europe made Napoleans and Von Moltkes. The Northwest was the domain of James J. Hill, greatest of our railroad builders. St. Paul was a small town on the edge of the frontier when he emigrated thither from eastern Canada just before the Civil War, and Minneapolis a mere village at the St. Anthony falls of the Mississippi.
There, the "Twin Cities"were located at the end of a trail which connected Winnipeg with the outside world.
In the winter of 1870 Donald A. Smith, the future Lord Strathcona, then resident governor of Hudson's Bay Company, started south from Winnipeg, and James J. Hill started north from St. Paul, both in dogsleds. They met on the prairie and made camp in a storm, and from that meeting sprang the Canadian Pacific and Great Northern railways.

During the panic of 1873 the St. Paul and Pacific railroad went bankrupt. Hill watched it as a prairie wolf watches a weakening buffalo, and in 1878, in association with Donald Smith and George Stephen (the future Lord Mount Stephen), wrested it from Dutch bondholders by floating new securities.

The day of land grants and federal subsidies was past, and Hill saw that the Great Northern Railway, as he renamed his purchase, could reach the Pacific only by developing the country as it progressed; and that took time. He struck due west across the Dakota plains, sending out branches to people the region and carry wheat to market. In the summer of 1887 his construction made a record stride, 643 miles of grading, bridging, and rail-laying from Minot, North Dakota, to the great falls of the Missouri. Two years later, the Rockies yielded their last secret, the Marias pass, to a young engineer, John F. Stevens. In 1893 the trains of the Great Northern reached tidewater at Tacoma. Within ten years Hill acquired partial control of the Northern Pacific Railway, purchased joint control of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, connecting his eastern termini with Chicago, and was running steamship lines from Duluth to Buffalo and from Seattle to Japan and China."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking...
Thanks for downloading Buck Owens & The Buckaroos. Dig that twangy steel guitar and those sweet strings. Great drinking music IIRC (oh, IRC don't doubt it!)

Mike

[siberianmo]

Evenin' Gents!

Well, looks like I'm still here! However Leon the Night Man is tending to the bar!

Good to see ya again, Pete! I know that when we converted over to high speed internet service and wireless, it was a world of difference - all positive! Can't even think about going back to what it had been.[tdn] But a word of advice - one must keep the beer cans/bottles/glasses on a separate surface from where the keyboard is located![swg]

Those films at the Emporium featuring baseball are real "winners" this week. Unfortunately, the politics that many of the actors and actresses (can we still call them that[?]) voice, can really can ruin the flicks. It was far easier to watch and enjoy BEFORE knowing the way some of these people think about "things" in our country. I could care less what some over paid "memorization expert" has to say outside the paraemters of the movie industry. [soapbox] Set 'em up, Leon! and Boris ring the bell.

Glad you caught up with the center beam flat car info . . . interesting cars, fer sure, fer sure! Here's another strictly Canadian beauty that you may not see 'round these parts:

Govt of Canada CPWX 607361 Cylindrical Grain Hopper


Awright - time for me to try it again - Nite![zzz]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all.

A pint of the usual. Back after the errand, the puter is now wireless the cable from the digital box to the phone socket was stretched tight and may have been causing a problem so, touch wood it sould be more reliable now.

Now to the Tri-ang catalog posted by NICK. WHAT fantastic memories them pages invoked and great description later as well. The prices they fetch nowadays is unbelieveable.
At the start of the 70s a few of us used to go to what was known as Swap- meets where the older model trains were on sale generally in a local hall. Unfortunatly at the time I had neither the space or the funds to start a collection but one of my friends collected 3rd rail Hornby. The photo of the BR Standard 2-6-4 Tank loco reminded me that at one meet one of the locos for sale was from smaller batch which had a different running number. I can stiil recall him saying it was a bit pricey but after a few beers and a winning domino session he went back and bought it. He finished with a great collection after many years collecting it must be worth a fortune today.

NICK I'm glad you was able to help CM3 with Graham Farrish. I had seen adverts with the name but did not know the story.

Great idea LARS on the 12th. It would be wonderful if some of the ones we have not heard of for a while were able to call in. I still remember the kindness they showed me when I first started drinking in Our Place.

Very good to see you again MIKE thanks for the great photo links and Gongratulations JOHN [tup][tup][tup].

DOUG Very interesting Tunnel articles. In todays earlier one it said that it was Stephenson's Tyler tunnel that the Sun shines through on his birthday, I had not heard of this one, but was wondering if the author had got mixed up with Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Box Tunnel, between London & Bristol on the Great Western Railway which the sun shines directly through on his birthday. By the way IKB"S 200th birthdate is near to Our Place's 1st .

TOM Another two great films on at the Emporium this week. Bull Durham is one film that can be seen time and time again.liked the model pics on Sunday.
The photo of the BC Rail wagon explained it for me. I had seen the two wagons earlier from a distance and they were loaded as in the photo of course the BC lettering was not visable. After they had been unloaded ,must be somewhere locally, I could see, to me their novel design. Many thanks for clearing this up for me, and ROB for the extra info on the wagons [tup].

I"ll have another Bathams and a look at the other site. PETE.

[siberianmo]

Just a quickie . . . .

For: Al

As mentioned throughout this day, I will be providing a Post on Wednesay (Pike Perspective's Day) that may shed some light into the "mystery" resarding Tri-Ang.[swg]

Glad you made it in for a "Nite Cap!" Leon Thanx you for the round . . . .[tup]

For: Doug Uhhhhhhhhhhh, makes sense to Moi! Sorry you are [%-)][%-)][%-)][%-)][%-)][%-)]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[Anonymous]

Evenin' again Tom and friends. I'll just have a shot of motor oil and a beer chaser.

If you want to be confused, just look at this:

Electric Rail Terms

Semaphore Signal: a signal in which the day indications are given by the position of a semaphore arm.

Sequence Switch: a remotely controlled power operated switching device used as a secondary master controller.

Series-Parallel Control: a method of controlling motors whereby the motors, or groups of them, may be connected in series first and then in parallel.

Shoe: (Ramp Shoe): the part of the vehicle apparatus making contact with the ramp.

Shoe or Pan: the collecting member of the current collector of the sliding contact type. This term is usually preceded by a designating name, thus: third-rail shoe, trolley shoe, pantograph pan, etc.

Shunt Transition: a method of changing the connection of motors from series to parallel in which one motor, or group of motors, is first shunted, then open-circuited and finally connected in parallel with the other motor or motors.

Signal Aspect: the appearance of a signal conveying an indication as received from the direction of an approaching train.

Signal Indication: the information conveyed by the aspect of a visual signal.

Signal Repeater Lights: a group of lights indicating the signal displayed for humping and trimming.

Simple Catenary Suspension (Single Catenary Suspension): that construction in which the contact wire or wires are suspended from a single messenger.

Simple Cross Span Type Supporting Structure: a single cable attached to and together with the supporting structures located at both sides of the track or tracks.

Single Element Relay: an alternating-current relay having a set of coils energized by a single current.

Single-End Control: a control in which provision is made for operating a vehicle from one end only.

Skate Machine: a mechanism, electrically controlled, for placing on, or removing from, the rails a skate which, if allowed to engage with the wheels of a car, provides a continuous braking until the car is stopped. A skate machine may be electrically or pneumatically operated.

Skate Machine Brake: an electrically operated brake, the coils of which are connected in series with the skate machine motor, designed to hold the mechanism in a fixed position when not being operated.

Skate Machine Controller: a group of electric contacts designed to limit the movement of the machine in either direction.

Skate Machine Lever: a lever mechanically operating electric contacts which control the movement of the skate machine.

Sliding Contact: an electric contact obtained by a sliding motion of one conductor over another.

Slot System (Conduit System): a system for supplying electric power to a vehicle by means of one or more underground contact rails.

Smashboard Signal: a signal so designed that the arm will be broken when passed in the stop position.

Speed Controller: a device to regulate the speed of a train in accordance with predetermined requirements.

Speed Limit Indicator: a series of lights, controlled by a relay, to indicate the speeds permitted corresponding to the track conditions.

Splicing Ear: an ear used for joining two sections of a contact wire.

Spring Contact: an electric contact that is activated by a spring.

Standard Code: a train, block signal and interlocking rules of the Association of American Railroads.

Steady Brace: a rigid member, normally un-stressed, which restrains lateral displacement of the contact wire and connects it or the messenger to the supporting structure from which it is insulated.

Steady Span: the transverse cable, or flexible member, used with bridge or cross span construction, which restrains lateral displacement of the contact wire and connects it or the messenger to the supporting structure from which it is insulated.

Stick Current: term applied to a circuit used to maintain a relay or similar unit energized through its own contact

Straight Storage System: system of electric power supply in which electric current for the requirements of the car is supplied soley from a storage battery carried on the car.

Stain Ear: an ear for making connection between a contact wire and a strain wire.

Strap Key: a push button circuit controller which has a spring metal strip for opening and/or closing a circuit momentarily

Stray Current: that portion of the total current which flows through paths other than the intended circuit.

Supporting Structure: a pole, tower, bridge or other stationary structure used for supporting a catenary system, or a direct suspension system.

Switch-and-Lock Movement: a device for the operation of a switch, movable point frog or derail, the complete movement of which performs the three operations of unlocking, operating and locking.

Switch Machine: quick-acting mechanism for car retarded yards, electrically controlled for positioning track switch points, and so arranged that the accidental trailing of the switch points does not cause damage. A switch machine may be operated by a pneumatic or electric motor.

Switch Machine Lever: a lever mechanically operating electric contacts which control the direction of movement of the switch machine.

Switch Machine Lever Lights: a group of lights indicating the position of the switch machine.

Switch Machine Lever Lock: a lock, electrically controlled by the switch machine current, which prevents the movement of the switch machine lever while the switch machine is taking current.

Switch Machine Point Detector: a group of contacts designed to open an electric circuit if switch points are not properly set for the movement of trains.

Switch Machine Pole Changer: a group of electric contacts mechanically operated to limit the movement of the switch machine and change connections for reversing movement.

Switch Signal: a color light or rotary signal located at each switch to indicate the position of the switch.

Switch Signal Lever: a lever mechanically operating electric contacts which cut off current to the switch signals.

Does any of this make sense to anyone but Rob? Who's smart enough to learn this stuff?

[:I] An Irishman an Englishman and a Scotsman were sitting in a bar in Sydney. The view was fantastic, the beer excellent, and the food exceptional. But," said the Scotsman,"I still prefer the pubs back home. Why in Glasgow there's a little bar called McTavish's. Now the landlord there goes out of his way for the locals so much that when you buy 4 drinks he will buy the 5th drink for you."
"Well." said the Englishman "At my local, the Red Lion, the barman there will buy you your 3rd drink after you buy the first 2."
"Ahhh that's nothin'" said the Irishman "Back home in Dublin there's Ryan's Bar. Now the moment you set foot in the place they'll buy you a drink, then another, all the drinks you like. Then when you've had enough drink they'll take you upstairs and see that you get laid. All on the house."
The Englishman and Scotsman immediately pour scorn on the Irishman's claims. He swears every word is true. "Well" said the Englishman "Did this actually happen to you?"
"Not myself personally no" said the Irishman, "But it did happen to my sister, twice." [:I]

[passengerfan]

Good Evening Tom and the rest of the gang. Time for a CR and a round for the house.

Enjoyed the reading today of the info supplied to "Our Place". Spent five hours undergoing tests today can think of a lot better ways to waste a day. Now just have to wait for Doctors appointment next Friday to get results.

Wish I could help Nick with the numbers on the Tri-Ang Canadian content. Seems to me it was on the market for several years. Don't know whether Tri-Ang Canada was a subsidiary of UK firm or operated under license. Believe the Candaian head office was in Montreal.

Doug enjoyed the tunnel article today

TTFN Al

[siberianmo]

Good Evening!

The return of Wolfman Pete! We won’t utter a word regarding the apparent mishap between keyboard & adult beverage![swg] Just glad you got things squared away and back with us. Did you catch my answer to your earlier inquiry – see page 284[?] Thanx for the round![tup]

Heard that Buck Owens died today – a “fixture” on the old Hee Haw show and a “giant” in the Country ‘n Western scene. Don’t know whether that URL posted by wanswheel Mike was a “commemorative” or not. That’s one of the problems with one-way Posting. Anyway, we still have the man’s music.[tup] RIP, Buck! Here’s a “perishable” URL for those who are interested: http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/25/obit.owens.ap/index.html

Appreciate the update, Lars and the round![tup] All any of us can do is “try!” So, even if we only get a handful of guys to return for the 12th – hey, that’s better than an empty hand, eh[?] Good show![tup]

Thanx for the “ton” of Email, Rob!! Seriously, appreciate the ‘stuff’ and response had been sent. Was that last GE Contract Rebuilding supposed to be a “numbered Classic”[?] Anyway, I’m learning about “stuff” heretofore I had little knowledge of . . . and that ain’t all so bad, eh[?][tup]

Pete I suggest that you visit “my other thread” a bit more often – not hard to zip through the pages and lots of Pix – some good Pullman and Brit stuff too.[tup] Thanx for the Pullman info . . . . You’ll definitely want to “stay tuned” for my Pike Perspective’s Post on Wednesday . . . .

Doug I finally caught up on my reading and must say that your Tunnel series is one of the best yet. Really have enjoyed it![tup][tup][tup]

Nick! Just caught your Post before letting this one “go.” Don’t lament the passing of the Yogi-isms. I’ll bring ‘em back for ENCORE! runs – just ran out the string. By my count, that’s two of you who noticed![tup] Thanx for the round![swg]
“More” on the way for the Gazette[?] Looking forward to it! Also, learned a hulluva lot from those model train ads you sent along – once again illustrates how little many of us know about the toys others play(ed) with![swg]


Special request: Let’s all ensure that the “contact info” within the “Forum Profile” is correct and contains an active Email address. It’s not that difficult to do and provides a method for each of us to communicate privately with one another. You can always establish an Email account just for this purpose. There are plenty of “free” accounts out there. Thanx![tup]


Tomorrow’s “theme” is the Great Northern Railway – watch for it![tup] Keep in mind that we only have ONE THEME per week and it’s on Tuesday.


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


Later![tup]


Tom [4:-)] [oX)]


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

[nickinwestwales]

Well good evening gentlemen all,I see ROB there,lurking by the wanted posters-a cold blue and a friend to keep it company for you,[4:-)][oX)]TOM looks like a man with a Keith`s in mind and after 200 miles of dodge-the -semi in the pi**ing rain I`ll have a Starop & a small can of Sterno by the side please.
Take for a round for the rest of the chaps as well please Boss-also send one over for that petite & Bambi-eyed young vision at the end of the bar--Black & Tan with a port & brandy chaser you say ?-my kind of lady.............
Now ROB-It is a constant source of delight that when I get a chance to turn on the machine and look at my mail I am presented with an increasingly bizarre and surreal series of images--This sort of weirdness needs to be nurtured and sent forth into a wider world,to that end,I am trying to work out how to get "Family at the beach" established as a universal screensaver at Missisnicks office.---"wrong in so many ways" from some weeks ago is destined for inclusion in some back-projection stuff we are organising for the bands-keep up the good work [tup].
MIKE-Nice double my man ! -Not only did I `get it` ( a nice little chuckle there[tup] ) but you have also shown the way forward-Herr Wurlitzer comes to life[^]-after the Tues night lecture you will soon be giving at the Mentor Railmens Inst. ( see Gazette for details ) we will all be able to `post` music from the juke to the bar--brilliant trick[tup][^][tup]-at last I can unleash my horrid bands on you all.
Another idea strikes-for the anniversary party,every time you post,attach a tune....might work...[:-^]
CM3-just scrolled back to last week R.E Tri-Ang:-Only `N` gauge connection I can call to mind was T/H aquisition of Trix Trains `MiniTrix` range ,whether as owners or just distributers not known.
Graham-Farish were the principal makers of 2mm r-t-r for about 30 years over here (with PECO also a significant producer) but also produced 00 equipment until early sixties-`Formoway` track and scale-length Pullmans (inc `Brighton Belle` power cars-although that might have been Wrenn now that I think about it...)were of particular note
Believe that Peter Graham-Farish died some years ago and his sons have now sold out to the ever voracious Bachman-am informed that product quality has dropped significantly although the range is being quite aggressively marketed
20FINGERS AL-thanks for additional info R.E. Tri-Ang-as a collecter,albeit in a small way,new info always welcome-nice one [tup]-be interesting to know what the production run was on those..?
[4:-)][oX)]TOM-beers all around again if you please,once again,many thanx for doing the biz with the pix[tup]-looking forward to Weds-let me know if you need any extra info/pix etc.
--Missing Yogi already......
More material for the Editor in the pipeline...[swg]
DOUG-nice URL`s-Have some shots of the Gwilli Railways `honey do` siding,will dig out for future use-something very dignified about time-served stock quietly awaiting it`s next move.
Tunnel stuff is inducing claustrophobia,jokes inducing incontinence,thanks for sharing--good luck with the demons from the deep-just try not to bite back,moral high ground always useful.
LARS-glad you enjoyed the pix-be interested to hear the fruits of your research.
They are marvelous old toy trains,built to be run on carpet,trodden on by younger siblings,never cleaned or maintained from one year to the next and still perform-
I have a number of these early models in my collection,and,apart from a couple of pre-`62 examples,built to run on the original track system (about code 130) and whose drivers are too brittle to grind down,all will still perform as advertised (although with huge fans of sparks from the pick-up wheels.
Whilst on the subject-LARS-A little project for you,go and check out [4:-)][oX)]TOMS `S`Capades project in the bar library -this is a classic `starter` layout.
Then go out and buy a starter set from the bottom of the range ( Life-Like & Model Power both look promising for potential play-value per buck and are cheap enough to give to the neighbours kids if the bug doesn`t bite) add a few extra cars,maybe another engine and a track pack or two,take them home,shut yourself up in your nice shiny new basement with trains,beer,snacks & favourite music and get back to us next time you surface [swg][tup]
We can provide a bespoke layout planning facility and our sub-contractors provide a quick,clean & efficient service during installation....
ROB-nice stuff on the G.E rebuilds[^]-do you have your name down for Ian Wilson`s next book.?-understand it should be available soon
Right thats me for the moonlight mile,apologies to anyone I`ve missed and an excellent display of pix,not just on sun but all week--nice one guys,much enjoyed and appreciated
O.K.[4:-)][oX)]TOM,a last round for the hounds...Boris-go check fridges,bring back snack food for customers,go away and sleep in shed....Leon-looks like you`re in charge of taxi`s and stuff,bring out the special rum and lets wet the head of JOHN`s new best friend-may all his smallest dreams come true [^]-Gentlemen,the toast is-"The new one"
speak soon,take care,nick [C=:-)]

[Anonymous]

Good evening Tom and gents! I'll have my usual bottomless draught, and a hand grenade for the folks downstairs.

Nice GE rebuild post Mr. Rob, and yes ... I have some big G material for tomorrow, though I hope I have time to look for more!

Al. I had an MRI scan of my head once, but they didn't find anything in it.

Nice add-on post to the Pullman material Pete, and it's great to have you back!

Good work on all the e-mailing Lars. I for one am encouraged by your results!

CM3, I'm going to have to be on th elook-out for John Henry and Fewclothes material myself. Actually, I might just qualify for fewclothes status myself, as I seem to have outgrown most of my jeans.

And now ..... here's part IV of the Tunnel series:

Tunnels by Henry B. Comstock June 1947 Railroad Magazine

Big Diesel-powered blowers that clear CPR’s Connaught Tunnel in thirty-five minutes create so powerful a draught that patrolmen have to lean at a forty-five degree angle to make headway against it


Contrary to the appearance of some rights of way, railroads have always been loath to new corridors through the hills, even where appreciable reductions in mileage or grade would result. The great engineer Ashbel Witch once said, in reference to the Panama Canal: “That is the best engineering, not which makes the most splendid or even the most perfect work, but which makes a work that answers the purpose well, at the least cost.”

His observation might have been applied with equal pertinence to railroad tunnels. Expensive to cut and costly to maintain, particularly where ventilation or the facing of loose rock is involved, they are bottle-necks in fact as well as form. America’s first subterranean traffic artery was probably the only hard-rock bore which ever violated the principle. This four-hundred-foot-long archway, pushed through the diminishing ridge above Pottsville, Pa., on the line of the Skulykill Navigation Canal, was completed in 1820. Had its promoters been less anxious to exhibit their skill in surmounting natural barriers they could have completely avoided the obstruction with a one-hundred-foot detour. As it was, the once-famous tunnel was converted into an open cut in 1857.

It might be pointed out, here, that this policy of “daylighting” tunnels has been carried on at an ever=faster pace with the development of bigger and more effective excavating machinery. Take the Baltimore & Ohio, for example, which has more tunnels than any other railroad east of the Mississippi River. As necessary as many of these smoke holes were at the time of their construction, they have not simplified the task of wrestling tonnage in recent years. Some of them, too, have been a source of sorrow on scores other than smoke nuisance and limited clearance.

Take Number 23, on the Parkersburg (West Virgina) Branch. It was a pretty piece of engineering when it “holed through” in 1853, removing the last obstacle on a shortened route to the Ohio. There was only one hitch. Every time the big river went on a rampage, that tunnel got the backwash of the Little Kanawha, sister stream of the rampages tributary which gave Fewclothes his unexpected Seng Creek windfall – or waterfall – as you choose.

Filled to its brick-lined ceiling, Number 23 was no place for an uncalked boxcar, and neither were the rails on either side of it. What was to prevent the gradient from being raised? Obviously, the self-same arch, and the continuing mountain barrier above it. But shovels were now available which could make short work of thirteen thousand cubic yards of rubble. In 1944, the railroad went to work on Tunnel 23. While million pound Mallets pinched down for a sharp shoo-fly around the promontory, the rocky knob was scooped away in record time. Today a high fill, formed from the dismembered cap, stands high above flood stage.

Daylighting has other disciples. Southern Pacific, for example. The systems which runs its locomotives backward to keep the smoke behind the engine crews, is doing its best to relinqui***he title of America’s most undercover railroad by converting short rat holes into well-graded open cuts, with suitable snow-fence protection. Even the prairie-blessed Missouri Pacific regards its few Ozark tunnels as more of a nuisance than a novelty and in 1943 wrote two of them off in its annual report. These were the historic Barret bores, located some sixteen miles south of St. Louis. Constructed in the ‘fifteis, when the ambitious Pacific was pushing its trackage into the wilderness, they had long since blocked the passage of oversize shipments. Widen them and raise the keystones? Why bother? It was simpler to shove new trackage to the south, where the parallel ridges were shallow enough to be plowed through from top to bottom. Today the Midwest shipper thumbs through his standard clearance book and finds no reason to route his bulky loads by another carrier.

But there are plenty of natural barriers which can never be brushed off with a bulldozer. Take Mount MacDonald, set neatly athwart the Revelstoke Division of the CPR’s Columbia District. For years the main line through the lofty Selkirks twisted painfully around its base, making the equivalent of seven circles as it fought its way over hazardous Rogers Pass. Snowsheds and rigid track patrols could not ward off thundering slides which in 1910 blotted out the station buildings there and delayed for days the puffing pigmies which carried Canada’s commerce from coast to coast. Here an under-mountain gallery would be a positive blessing.

Thus it was that in 1913 work began at Glacier on the eight-mile-long Connaught Tunnel; a double-tracked, five-mile cutting through the range. Seven million dollars’ worth of blasting saw the task completed three years later. On December 6th, 1916, Engineer Rutherford eased Extra 3869, comprising fourteen loads and twenty empties, west-bound; cautiously down the imperceptible grade of the tangent bore which had just clipped four and one-half miles from the transcontinental mileage, reduced summit elevation 552 feet; eliminated 2,600 degrees of track curvative, and neatly dismissed the operating hazards created by thirty-foot average yearly snowfalls.

Nowadays six crack passenger trains thread the Connaught each twenty-four hours, with enough red-ball freights and pusher engine movements tossed in to make life interesting for any mountain dispatcher. Then there is always the possibility of a four-footed extra, in the form of a grizzly bear, looking for a spot to hole up for the winter, in the dark depths of the transportation cave. The story goes, too, that at least one tunnel patrolman is so slight of build that he cannot make headway against the blast of the big Diesel-powered ventilating fans, and has to be hauled out by the agent at Scenic after each inspection tour.

Traveling cantilever girder used to support soft ground in the Moffat, sped excavating and timbering operations. The big Continental Divide project paid for itself many times over during recent war years, when Rio Grande hauled one out of every five tons of was supplies shipped to the Pacific Coast.


[:I] A wife was in the kitchen doing the boiled eggs for breakfast when her husband walks in and asks "What's for breakfast?"
She turns to him and says, "You've got to make love to me this very moment".
He, thinking it's his lucky day, so he gladly complies. Afterwards he asks, "What was that all about?"
She answers "The egg timer's broken!" [:I]

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all.

A pint of Bathams and a couple of rounds for the abscence.

NO NOT LOST. I had some trouble with the puter one self inflicted( dont want to say too much as the bride dosen't know about it but involves liquid and keyboard). Then we were down to the Mother in Law for the weekend.

I have caught up now and must say what a great 4 days of posts[tup][tup][tup].
With the White Pass & Yukon and then the Pullman Posts with the REGULARS proving great photos and info. This really is a special place you have here TOM.

May I add a bit to the Pullmans[?].
Unfortunaly the Pullman British HQ and works at Preston Park Brighton is due for demolition. At one time there were plans for this to become a museum but one of the reasons the scheme failed is the building is surrounded by rail lines and access to it is a major problem.
One Pullman car body hoping to be saved from the works is an 1882. 6- wheel sleeping car which was made in the U.S. and shipped over in kit form. The car worked on the Highland Main Line in Scotland before suviving as a shed in the south of England for many years. The car was named Balmoral.

That is a fascinating poster from Lars on the Yorkshire Pullman. I will have to find some more info on it as it must have run in several portions looking at the list of stations it served perhaps joining together at Doncaster.
I recall seeing a photo in a magazine of the train in the 30s which was being hauled noy by a Gresley Pacific but by an Ivatt 4-4-2 Atlantic if I recall correctly is was a fairly light train so I suspect the Pullman cars were run in the consist of other trains before being formed in to The Yorkshire Pullman. I belive the train was worked on fast timings with the Atlantics putting up good performances.

Many thanks for the Encores [tup] and then another very enjoyable Sunday Photo Day.
started by ROB( thanks for the RE-Builds as well[tup]).

DOUG Great IRM photos the links were well worth looking at. The signs explaining each signal was very helpful. I wonder why the 3-position semaphores were not taken up in the UK [?]. The yard photos reminded me of some of the preservation sites in England. There were some interesting track machines in there.
I hope the problem with the neighbours gets sorted very soon. At home I lived in a SEMI which I think are called Duplexs over here. The neighbours were ok but it was not always so in the early days.

LARS Great Alaska artwork.

TOM the Bride is home and we have to go out for a while I plan to be back to continue on about the models PETE.

[trolleyboy]

What ho Nick, I see you peeking in the door come on in man. Boris and the Zepplin crew are hungry[:O] I noticed Pete in a bit earlier as well, hope his new found broadband hasn't given up the ghost on him.

Tom Emails were recieved and responded too. Also the book relay will be winging its way south tomorrow to warmer climes. Mind you it's double digets above zero woth bords and sqirrels frolicing about . And yes our gas just hit 92 cents a litre up from the mid eighties where it had been hovering for a week or so.

Rob

[trolleyboy]

Good afternoon again Tom & the gang here's part three iof the locomotive rebuilders series, as always only a brief description of the goig's on.

GENERAL ELECTRIC CO CONTRACT REBUILDING

Shortly after the Erie Lackawanna was taken over by Conrail (1976). Conrail found themselves with an over abundance of locomotive shops.So they sold off the old EL shops in Hornell, New York to General Electric.The shop was originally used primarily for transit-car work by GE,however the capabilites of the shop allowed GE to offer contract rebuilding, without taking away from their new locomotive production at their main plant in Erie.

Given that most Alco built locomotives used GE electricals , rebuilding of Alco products for shortlines and big railways tended to be the main focus of GE's Hornell shops. Locomotive rebuilding began in earnest in 1979. Oddy one of the first jobs was reconditioning 5 FL9's for Metro North, this in itself wasn't all that unusual as the electric third rail pick up equipment on these loco's were of GE origin, that and the fact that Metro-North is an agency of NY state and the state tends to prefer using in state facilities for jobs such as this one.

After minor reconditioning ( mostly electrical and bodywork ) of ex Lehigh and Hudson River C420's for the Green Bay and Western in dec. of '79, The Hornell Shops began an interesting series of rebuilds of C424 locomotives. Pennsey 5415,Erie 2412,& 2415,and Reading 5204 got complete new 251 power units and new electricals and re-entered service as GB&W's 319-322 in Jan and march of 1980.

In may of 1980 D&H C424's 451-456 and 461-463 wre outshopped from Hornell with new 12 cylnder 251's and were given a hp reduction from 2400-2000hp. The work also included new wiring,rebuilt radiators,new GE style air filtration and other upgrades designed to lower the amount of maintenace time on the units.Units 451-456 were originally EL 2401,2406,2407,2414, aaand Reading 5207. Units 461-463 were originally EL's 2412,2405 and 2408. These units were later sold to the Gennassee and Wyomingas their 61-63.

The next set of rebuilds was ex L&N C420's 1385,1316,1333 and N&W's 415.These locomotives recieved the same reengining and re-wiring as the 424 rebuilds but did not have the horsepower reduction as the C420 already used the 12c 2000hp power units. Thes engines were built for the Apache Ry as their units 81-84. The derating program of 424's then continued with ex PRR 2439,2443,2442,2441 which were deratedd and rebuilt for the Detroit and Mackinac's 181,281,and 381 ( numbers of the locomotives are the month and year of the completion by Hornell )

The market for the ex Conrail alco's now dried up and GE continued with the rebuilding of EMD products. SP F7's 6443,and 365 recieved HEP gear and new powerplants and were uprated to 1750hp becomming F9's 6690,& 6691 for the Port Authority of Allegheny County for commuter service around Pittsburgh. During the 1981-82 resession GE closed the Hornell Shop and sold it to Morrison -Knudson.

GE still will do some rebuilding at theior Cleveland apperatus Shop on occasion. The most recent being the conversion of three ex EL/Conrail U33C's. Thes were derated to 1800hp powerd by a cummins 8cly diesel they aklso were rebuilt structurally into cabless remote controlled units for the An Tai Bao coal mine in China, this was a joint venture between the Chinease govt and Island Creek Coal co.


Rob

[trolleyboy]

Well good afternoon Sir Tom, a hogie and the trimings and a Keith's to make iot all go down happy.[tup]

Interesting day yesterday fer sure fer sure. Good to see some old faces[tup] The pictures were a wonderfull cross section folks. Nick Loved the tri-ang shots.Doug Great bunch of pictures that,you guys really have a wonderfull collection of cars and a wonderfull collection of piles of junk[;)][swg]lars Tha's quite the collection of alaska posters, that DVD looks kinda interesting as well.


John Congrats on the Baby sir oh and merry xmas a bit early just in case. [:O][swg] actually great to hear from you, good luck on your cheif engineers coarse, also glad to hear that you will be around on the 12th.

Lars I've gotten the no respose from Chris as well, I'll try once more next week. all in all a fine fine effort sir [tup]

Doug Wonderfull part three to the tunnellers, any GN tunnels for tomorrow ?I'm glad to hear that the AH's below allowed you a peacefull night for a change,still between Lar's offer and Tom's offer of Vito the hit's boyz services you should be fine [tup][:O][xx(]

I'll be back in ajiff with "somethink" new

Rob

[wanswheel]

http://ditty.biz/63000012.mp3

[LoveDomes]

G’day Tom and fellow travelers at the bar!

Kinda like a morgue around here today . . . Blue Monday, huh[?]

I’ll have my usual please and a frosty bottle of Rheingold in a cold mug – thanks!
Not a bad turnout for the Sunday Pix Gala! and a couple of “surprise” visits didn’t hurt either,huh[?] Good job all around I’d say and of course a special mention goes to the Proprietor for not only providing us with the diversity of pix, but in keeping the thread “up on the page” throughout the day. So, many, many idiots on our forum these days ….. [tdn]

Those model trains of Great Britain are truly interesting and I did some research on them as well. Looking forward to your Wednesday info, Tom, it will fit right in with the idea of “Pike Perspectives.”[tup]

Ok gents, here’s the skinny as I see it so far for April 12th:

CFournier Chris (sent via the forums) . . . . . . no response
Gunns Kevin (sent via the forums) . . . . . . . . . no response

wrwatkins (sent via the forums & email) . . . . . responded, with NO commitment
Jlampke John (sent via the forums & email) . . responded – will be here!
Jdonald Don (sent via the forums & email) . . . responded – will be here!
Theodorebear (sent via the forums & email) . . responded – will be here!

earlydiesels Dan (sent email) (no contact info on the forums) . . . . . . no response
Trainnut484 Russell (sent email) (no contact info on the forums) . . . no response
West Coast S Dave (sent email) (no contact info on the forums) . . . no response –but- saw a post from him indicating he will be here.

Also saw a post from wanswheel Mike but didn’t notice a commitment.

So, guys – check out those “no response” entries and fire off an email to them. The more contact we try to make, the better the chance of getting the “Legion of the Lost” guys to show up on the 12th! I’d appreciate knowing who you hear from with so we don’t cross wires.[tup]

My plan is to send one more round of emails next week, then that’s it for me.


Looking forward to your RR from Yesteryear coming down the track tomorrow. I’ll see what I can put together for the Great Northern “theme”.

A round on me if you please! Ring the bell, Boris![tup]


Until the next time!

Lars

[siberianmo]

Good Morning!

A rainy, blustery morning here in mid-Continent USA. Temps expected to finally get up to the 50s, but there’s some “weather” in the making. Petrol was $2.29 (rounded) up at “Collusion Corner” this weekend and expected to rise. There’s talk of three-bucks a gallon gasoline before May. So the question is, why[?] But then we DO know the answer to that, eh[?] Because they CAN![tdn]

Aside from the Pix for our Sunday Photo Posting Day! the “return” of two guys to the Thread made for something different. Appreciate the positive commitment from jlampke John for our 12th of April get together. Thanx![tup][tup] Comments from those of you who took the time also appreciated![tup]

I’ll have a follow-up Post for WEDNESDAY’s “Pike Perspective’s Day!” on those Pix from Nick which by the way, were lots of fun to look at, eh[?][tup][tup] Many THANX for the descriptions too – always helps and always appreciated![tup][tup] Mine will be to focus a bit on the “OO/HO” references on the ads in those ads.

Good to see barndad Doug, coalminer3 CM3 ‘n passengerfan Al up ‘n about this day![tup] Given that this place is a cyber bar ‘n grill, one can imbibe all they wish and the medical tests won’t be the wiser!![swg] Thanx for the round & quarters, CM3!!

Heard from Lars and the responses are coming in for the April 12th Anniversary get together. He’ll Post something on it either today or tomorrow. However, one thing is that some guys have not responded so YOUR help will be asked for.

So, has pwolfe Pete “Wolfman” become a member of the “Legion of the Lost!”[?][?]


I expect to be at the bar for the remainder of the day . . . . catch y’all later![tup]


Tom [4:-)] [oX)]


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