"OUR" PLACE - SEE NEW THREAD!

[siberianmo]

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


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


Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RG)

Locale: Western United States

Reporting marks: DRGW

Dates of operation: 1870 – 1988

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

Original track gauge: , and 3 ft (914 mm)

Headquarters: Denver, Colorado


D&RGW logo used 1908-1921


Rio Grande Industries logo used 1970-1997

The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad (DRG or D&RG) generally referred to as the Rio Grande, became the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (DRGW or D&RGW) in 1920. The D&RGW served mainly as transcontinental bridge line between Denver, Colorado, and Salt Lake City, Utah, and a major origin of coal and mineral traffic with a motto of Through the Rockies, not around them. The Rio Grande was the epitome of mountain railroading, operating the highest mainline rail line in the United States over 10,240 ft (3121 m) Tennessee Pass in Colorado and the famed routes through the Moffat Tunnel and the Royal Gorge. At its height around 1890, the D&RG had the largest operating narrow gauge railroad network in North America. Known for its independence, the D&RGW operated the last private long haul passenger train in the United States, the Rio Grande Zephyr.

History

The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG) was founded in 1870 by General William Jackson Palmer as a narrow gauge railway system with the intention of connecting Denver with Mexico City. The route was to pass over Raton Pass in what is now northern New Mexico, provoking the 1877-1880 war over right of way with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Both rivals hired gunslingers and bought politicians. In June 1879, the Santa Fe defended its roundhouse in Pueblo with Dodge City toughs led by Bat Masterson; on that occasion, D&RG treasurer R. F. Weitbrec paid the defenders to leave. In the end, the Santa Fe won the right to Raton Pass, while the D&RG paid $1.4 million for tracks through Arkansas River's Royal Gorge to the mining district of Leadville, Colorado.

Royal Gorge Route

The D&RG built west from Pueblo reaching Canon City in 1874. The line through the Royal Gorge reached Salida on 20 May 1880 and was pushed to Leadville later that same year. From Salida, the D&RG pushed west over the Continental Divide at 10,845 ft (3305m) Marshall Pass and reached Gunnison on 6 August 1881. From Gunnison the line entered the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River passing the famous Curecanti Needle seen in their famous Scenic Line of the World Herald. The tracks left the ever increasingly difficult canyon at Cimmaron and passed over Cerro Summit reaching Montrose on 8 September 1882. From Montrose a line was laid north through Delta reaching Grand Junction in March 1883 and a rail connection with the Rio Grande Western Railroad for a narrow gauge transcontinental link to Salt Lake City, Utah.

The line from Pueblo to Leadville was upgraded in 1887 to three rails to accommodate both narrow gauge and standard gauge operation.

Narrow Gauge branch lines were constructed to Crested Butte, Lake City, Ouray and Somerset.

San Luis Valley Route

The D&RG also pushed west from Walsenburg, Colorado over Veta Pass reaching Alamosa in 1878. From Alamosa a line was pushed south through Antonito eventually reaching Santa Fe, New Mexico and west as far as Creede, Colorado. A line also linked Alamosa with Salida to the North. From Antonito a line was built over 10,015 ft (3052m) Cumbres Pass along the Colorado-New Mexico boarder reaching Durango, Colorado in August 1881 and continuing north to the rich mining areas around Silverton in July 1882. A line was also constructed south from Durango to Farmington, New Mexico.

Tennessee Pass

The D&RG built west from Leadville over 10,240 ft (3121m) Tennessee Pass in attempt to reach the mining areas around Aspen, Colorado before its rival railroad in the area, the Colorado Midland, could build a line reaching there. The D&RG build a line though Glenwood Canyon to Glenwood Springs reaching Aspen in October of 1887. The D&RG then joined with the Colorado Midland to build a line from Glenwood Springs connecting with D&RG at Grand Junction. Originally considered a secondary branch route to Grand Junction, the entire route from Leadville to Grand Junction was upgraded to standard gauge in 1890, and the original narrow gauge route via Marshall Pass became a secondary route.

Denver and Rio Grande Western

(copied per terms of GNU Free Document License)
The D&RGW Business Car 101, originally built as a passenger car was converted to a business car at the Burhnam shop in 1929 and is now restored as the Abraham Lincoln

The original Denver and Rio Grande Western Railway had built a narrow gauge line from Ogden, Utah to via Soldier Summit to Grand Junction, Colorado. The railroad became the Rio Grande Western Railway in 1889 as part of finance plan to upgrade the line from narrow gauge to standard gauge, and built several branch lines in Utah to reach lucrative coal fields. In 1901 the Denver and Rio Grande merged with the Rio Grande Western consolidating in 1908. The United States Railway Administration (USRA) took over the D&RG during World War I. In 1918 the D&RG fell into receivership after the bankruptcy of the Western Pacific Railroad. The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad (D&RGW or DRGW) emerged as a new company 1920.

The Moffat Road

In 1931, the D&RGW acquired the Denver and Salt Lake Western Railroad (a company in name only) subsidiary of the Denver and Salt Lake Railroad (D&SL) which had acquired the rights to build a 40 mile (64km) connection between the two railroads. After years of negotiation the D&RGW gain trackage rights on the D&SL from Denver to the new cutoff. In 1932, the D&RGW began construction of the Dotsero Cutoff west of Glenwood Springs to near Bond on the Colorado River, at a location called Orestod (Dotsero spelled backward). Despite the common misconception that Dotsero is a shortening of "Dot Zero," the station name exists from the construction of the Standard Gauge line to Glenwood Springs in the 1890s. Construction completed in 1934 giving Denver a directed transcontinental link to the west. The D&RGW though slipped again into bankruptcy in 1935. Emerging in 1947 it merged with the D&SL on 3 March 1947 gaining control of the "Moffat Road" through the Moffat Tunnel and a branch line from Bond to Craig, Colorado.

Merger with Southern Pacific

In 1988, Rio Grande Industries, the company that controlled the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, under the direction of Philip Anschutz, purchased the Southern Pacific Railroad. The combined company took the Southern Pacific name due to its name recognition among shippers.

On 11 September 1996 Anschutz sold the combined company to the Union Pacific Railroad in a response to the earlier merger of the Burlington Northern and the Santa Fe which formed the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway.

Passenger trains

This is a partial list of D&RGW passenger trains since 1947. Westbound trains had odd numbers, while eastbound trains had even numbers.

Train numbers.....Train name.....Endpoints.....Years of operation

1/2........Royal Gorge Denver-Grand Junction (via Royal Gorge)
5/6........The Exposition Flyer Chicago-Oakland 1939-1949
5/6........Amtrak's California Zephyr Chicago-Oakland 1983-
7/8........Prospector Denver-Salt Lake City (via Moffat Tunnel)
9/10......Yampa Valley Mail Denver-Craig
17/18....California Zephyr Chicago-Oakland 1949-1970
17/18....Rio Grande Zephyr Denver-Salt Lake City 1970-1983
19/20....Mountaineer Denver-Montrose
461/462 Silverton Durango-Silverton
............Ski Train Denver-Winter Park

Today, the D&RGW's Ski Train serves the city of Winter Park, Colorado, out of Union Station in Denver.

References

• Merle Armitage, Operations Santa Fe (1948), pp. 9-15
• James R. Griffin, Rio Grande Railroad (2003)
• Ross B. Grenard, Rio Grande In Color, Volume 1 (1992)
• James Sandrin, Rio Grande In Color, Volume 2 (1998)
• Jackson C. Thode, A Century of Passenger Trains...And Then Some... (1972)
• Colorado Rail Annual, No. 11 (1981)


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 ten[?] 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

[Anonymous]

Good morning Tom and friends! I'll have 2 light breakfasts and a birding book. Gotta be able to properly identify the birds around here so I know when spring has actually arrived! Saw some robins yesterday, so that's a good sign ... right?

Even on a slow day around here, we do manage some good "stuff". Thanks for the MI info CM3, and theCP add Mr. Tom. The big surprise of the day however was Rob, who started with NW2 pix, and then must have learned how to grow some extra fingers from Al, and posted wonderful articles on the Stratford & Huron, and the Toronto Grey & Bruce Ry. Way to go Rob!

Here's my humble submission for today's theme, and sorry for the graphic contenet so early in the morning. I just type 'em the way they are written!

From the pages of the Feb 1943 Railroad Magazine

It was my lot to be a passenger on some unfortunate D&RG trains more than fifty years ago. On a trip from Denver to ed Cliff, May 16th, 1888, we were five hours late reaching Salida. There we took on “Red” Amberson, engineer, and John Brennan, conductor. Red hit the curve seven miles up from Salida at a swift pace. Suddenly we heard a report like a gun. The wooden coach I was riding danced on the ties and tumbled down the bank, landing bottom side up. The stove set it afire; it burned quickly.

Our engine had stuck to the track, but the baggage car, which had landed on a field of boulders, was smashed to kindling. How the baggage master escaped instant death I never knew. The smoking car lay on its side across the track. Two Pullman cars were not derailed, I think. Mr. Butler, the D&G agent at Buena Vista, an old-time railroader, who came down to look at the ruins, told me it was the worst wreck he had ever seen. A large man, brother-in-law of Red Amberson, had lost a leg in the crash and was stretched out between the rails. While we were awaiting the wrecking crew and physicians from Salida, the victim repeatedly begged us to kill him, and then asked for a revolver so he could end his life. Dr. J.W. O’Connor, who later became the Rio Grande’s chief surgeon, revived the victim’s drooping spirits by giving him a stimulant. Red Amberson died at Grand Jct. many years later, after passing his 80th year. Condr. Brennan died in Pueblo hospital.

On the night of Nov. 18th, 1889, at Denver, I boarded the night express for Leadville, Colo. The company was then blowing down vast quantities of rock preparatory to installing a standard-gage line. Our train was doubleheaded, L.S. Frein being at the throttle of the lead engine. At 3 a.m. next day an immense area of rock, which had been loosened but not sufficiently so to bring it down promptly, fell with a mighty roar right in front of our train! The first engine crashed into it, and tumbled down the rocky bank, finally coming to rest as a battered hulk on the river’s edge. Frein lost a leg, but little other damage was done. William B. Thom

From the pages of Dec. 1936 Railroad Stories

Denver Union Station was a scene of activity in the afternoon of Aug. 7, 1903, as passengers were homebound vacationists, among them several bridal couples. At 1:15 Condr. Harry Smith gave the highball and No. 11 pulled out. Out of Colo. Springs the railroad ran down Fountain River Valley. No. 11 crossed the river at Buttes and rolled along the plains, heading for the end of double track at Eden, 10 miles from Pueblo. Approaching a normally dry gully about 2 miles north of Eden, the crew saw it was now filled to the brim with a raging torrent, caused by a cloudburst in the mountains. The bridge underpinning had been washed away; only the gaunt rails and ties were left suspended.

No time to stop or even check the train’s speed. Into the stream she plunged, the force of a mighty current rolling the cars over and over, washing some of them into Fountain River, 300 feet away. Nearly everybody aboard the train was drowned ; happy returning vacationists, bridal couples and tired business men, engine crew, conductor, porter. Many bodies were never recovered. Some were carried down the Fountain into Arkansas River and were found later, much later, on sand bars. As the conductor and all his records were lost, no accurate check could be made of the loss of life. More than 100 are said to have perished in the Eden wreck – J.C. Ball (D&RG ex-conductor)

From the pages of Oct. 1936 Railroad Stories

Novel use for an old passenger coach; the schoolhouse at Bond, Colorado


At Bond, Colo., is a unique schoolhouse built from an old passenger coach supplied by the D&RGW. Back of this lies an interesting story. Years ago the railroad company built a roundhouse at Bond and transferred some of their employees, with families, to that little mountain village. The only school was 4 miles away – a serious problem for long winter months when snowfall was heavy – but there was not enough money available to build a school nearby. So the county school superintendent took up the matter with the railroad, which, being public-spirited, promptly donated the coach.

Steps were built at each end and a platform was erected for the teacher’s desk. Light and water are provided by the D&RGW shops. There are washroom facilities, together with new desks for the pupils, a large blackboard, and a stove given by the railroad. The school is thus modern. It has about a dozen pupils, taught by Miss Margaret Brooks – Frank S. Reynolds

[:I] The man told his doctor that he wasn't able to do all the things around the house that he used to do. The doctor started a long and thorough examination, but finally found nothing wrong with the man.
When the examination was complete, he said, "Now, Doc, I can take it. Tell me in plain English what is wrong with me."
"Well, in plain English," the doctor replied, "you're just lazy."
"Okay," said the man. "Now give me the medical term so I can tell my wife". [:I]

[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


Tuesday is here! Great way to begin the day is right here with a cuppa Joe – some pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery and if you’re really hungry, try our <light> or <traditional> breakfasts from the Menu Board![tup]


Daily Wisdom

If you wake up feelin’ halfway ‘tween “Oh Lord,” and “My God,” you overdid it![swg]


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


Info for the Day:

Railroads from Yesteryear – Denver & Rio Grande Western (D&RG) 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) siberianmo Tom Posted: 20 Mar 2006, 05:18:31 (281) Monday’s Info & Summary

(2) barndad Doug Posted: 20 Mar 2006, 05:55:47 (281) Doug’s AM Report, Tunnels Part II & joke

(3) siberianmo Tom Posted: 20 Mar 2006, 07:30:21 (281) AM comments, etc.

(4) coalminer3 CM3 Posted: 20 Mar 2006, 09:21:51 (281) Weekend highlights - CM3 style, etc.!

(5) siberianmo Tom Posted: 20 Mar 2006, 12:54:42 (281) Nostalgia #77 – Ad: CP (1969)

(6) LoveDomes Lars Posted: 20 Mar 2006, 14:45:04 (281) The Lars Report!

(7) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 20 Mar 2006, 16:04:28 (281) Inclusive Post & 2 Pix

(8) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 20 Mar 2006, 16:12:04 (281) Classic Steam #17 – Stratford & Huron Rwy

(9) passengerfan Al Posted: 20 Mar 2006, 16:36:31 (281) Brief visit

(10) pwolfe Pete Posted: 20 Mar 2006, 16:42:42 (281) Inclusive Post, Irish Rwys, etc.

(11) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 20 Mar 2006, 16:50:25 (281) Classic Steam #18 – Toronto Grey & Bruce Rwy

(12) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 20 Mar 2006 , 17:00:46 (281) More!

(13) pwolfe Pete Posted: 20 Mar 2006, 17:25:16 (281) More!

(14) siberianmo Tom Posted: 20 Mar 2006, 18:58:31 (281) Acknowledgments & Comments

(15) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 20 Mar 2006, 20:32:40 (281) Nick at Nite!

(16) siberianmo Tom Posted: 20 Mar 2006, 21:28:15 (281) reply to nickinwestwales. etc.



NOW SHOWING:

The Mentor Village Emporium Theatre
Double Features! Now with The Three Stooges Short Subject!

. . . Sunday, March 19th thru 25th: Midnight Run (1988) starring: Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin & Yaphet Kotto – and - The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) starring: Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde & Charlton Heston. SHORT: Hello Pop (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!

[siberianmo]

Evenin' Gents!

What could be better than a Nick at Nite! Post[?][swg][tup] Great end to the day, for Moi.

That's quite a bit of material to digest, Sir Nick! Covered lotsa ground, eh[?] Picked up a bit of inspiration for Wednesday's Pike Perspectives Day! Y'all will just have to wait.[swg]

You really hit it on the head with the hi-lites of the weekend's Posts and Pix.[tup] Don't know what we'd do without Rob 'n Doug's Pix contributions. Well, I guess I do - we'd just have a quiet Sunday.

Those toy trains of yesteryear hold a certain luster, but of course when stacked up next to my HO- S 'n O gauge trains, the realism quickly vanishes. No matter - I could have a blast with my former O-27 Lionel trains running 'round 'n 'round 'n round - wooooooooo, wooooooooooo[yeah][swg] Imagination works wonders, eh[?]

I re-read that Post of Lars' and can see both sides of it. I appreciate, very much, his "call" for some sort of uniformity in terms of keeping with the "theme" of this Thread. However, we surely do not want to squelch any efforts made by those who simply like this place and the 'stuff' we're made of.

There's a fine line - a balance to strive for. We've had some guys who never did get on board fully, had others who were so centric that when the door hit 'em in the butt on the way out, it was cause for drinks on the house![swg]

Anyway, I like the way you put it - we have this commonality and the idea is to build on it.[tup] From where I am coming from, the bar and the idea of discussing Classic Trains must come before anything else. Not all the time, mind you, but surely Lars does have a point. I think you both did fine in making them (points)!

We're battening down the hatches 'round here for a winter storm about to descend upon our area. Now "they" are callling for perhaps upwards of 5 inches, but in blizzard-like conditions, which surely isn't good. Supposed to be a mess at morning rush . . . .

Thanx for the round! And I'll catch ya when the wind shifts![swg]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]


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

[nickinwestwales]

Well good evening fellow weekend survivors,please excuse me typing loudly but I`m still rather deaf from last nights grand finale concert ( for full revue,see the `Out & About` section in the next Gazette..[}:)]...)
O.K,who can manage a drink without shaking too much..?-Ah,well done,set em up please [4:-)][oX)]TOM,and don`t forget yourself of course.
So whats been happening lately:-[4:-)][oX)]TOM-good call on the greens to win the deciding match-obviously no connection with Vito the Hit & Leon being the teams "strategy advisors"...............or 3 of the bookies from the field going home minus thier shirts escorted by several of Vito`s "associates"--Xmas party lookin` good boys [swg]
Nice header pic,as mentioned elsewhere,-4 cars,3 liveries-love it!![^]!!-All it needs is a Zebra FP9 on the point-O.K-I know I`m strange...........Thanks also for C.P promo-That "See more of Canada" headline is a bit of an indictment of the human condition-how many of us are content to wake up to the same view every day...?.....[#offtopic]DING-additional mid-ramble round....Sorry,where was I-Ah yes,Those old tinplate cars and switcher looked gorgeous-Can we look forward to seeing Maplewood,Chatam & Hillside(in the traditional A.B&W olive green & gold) pulled by a pair of the Can-Am `Heritage` former C.N F units working specials up the branch from Union-An idea I will expand upon on Weds..( could make a fine photo-op for the anniversary...[:-^]...)
ROB-Please give Heather my best wishes-bug in question is both real and bad-sister has spent all w/end wrapped up with it-shut up your doors and don`t let strange people breath on you is my best advice-also,a huge [bday] for weds.[tup][^[tup]-have a wonderful day.
Right,wandered again,focus,nice spread of pix-that T.H.B switcher is always easy on the eye [^],enjoyed C.S#18-really evoked a mood [tup].
DOUG-A fine assortment you bring to our table-Jokes definately getting more `contempory` shall we say-you have provided me with a whole new rep. of fillers for those awkward times when somebody breaks a string or some such...[tup][^][tup]...
As to the pix,the baggage/bar car would make an interesting modelling project-and,as an added bonus OLE 20 FINGERS has been lured from his west coast retreat to dig up all the data any modeller could ask for..instant result[^]
U.P <TM>caboose pic is going on file as weathering ref. shot--[tup]
Trolley-Like PETE,my first thought was Wickham Trolley-whether this is the name of the inventor,the factory or just a generic title I will endeavour to discover-Fairly certain that they (Wickham Trolleys) were small petrol-powered inspection trolleys-the sucessors of the pushme-pullyou handcars we all know and love
Article continues to enthrall-in this age of instant and disposable communication,a well crafted paragraph or two increases in value daily...nice one !!!
LARS-Hi there,have yourself a wee drinkie-come and have a chat....You seem to be getting a bit aireated there,no need mate [^]
One of the underlying strengths of this particular meeting place is that it renders us all equal-just rows of characters scrolling across the screen,with no prior history or background,-just a common interest-however the inherent limitation of this is that,in many cases this may be the only common factor we share...
Seems to me that everybody brings what they have to the party-and just like bars in the real world,no two days are ever alike.......anyway,enough already....
DENNIS-I knew I recognised you-Last time we spoke you were bags packed and counting the hours-hope you had a smooth transition,take your time catching up-We`ll still be here [tup]
PETE-Don`t get me started-world cup---Bah,Humbug %&^*)%(&*_$+
That E.M.U ride sounds cool-copy of that next time I hit town [^]-now that Irish steam thing-not wanting to be picky but is it Tralee or South-East Ireland--reason I ask is ,I can get over there with the digi-cam in about 4 hrs but Tralee is miles away on the west coast,wheras Rosslare is set up for the tours (still got the water crane and the turntable) and is walking distance from the boat on the South-East coast route
CM3-Well a very good day to you my friend,thanks for the G.T.W-linked stuff-extra texture always welcome
Right,a final round for the rogues gallery who bring to life this happy house...oh,go on-one for Boris as well,sleep well gentlemen,speak soon,nick [C=:-)]

[siberianmo]

Good Evening!

An interesting day once again at the “Feast or Famine Bar ‘n Grill!”

A visit from CM3 at around 9:20 AM followed by a 2:45 PM Post from Lars was “it” for most of the day. Then a flurry of activity as Rob Posted 5 times between 4 & 5 PM, Pete twice and a “quickie” from 20 Fingers Al.[yeah]

Rob sounds like things went to “H” in a handbasket for your wife over the weekend. A shame. But look at the bright side – you have another opportunity to celebrate her “Natal Day” – this time, let someone else do the cooking![swg]

Pete nice input on the Irish Rail! Aside from the fact that we enjoy your company ‘round here, the information you pass along really is “top shelf” and helps one and all understand more about rail elsewhere.[tup][tup][tup]

Rob Nice Pix of the NW2s! Not that I’m big on switchers, but that particular model does hold some significance for Moi![tup] Glad you liked the Lionel Pix – and yes, thankfully there are Pix available to keep my memories vivid of the trains from my childhood and early adolescence.

Al Our taxes, prepared by Moi, were sent off in early Feb – refunds received shortly thereafter and life goes on. I have no sympathy for those who cannot “get it together” other than close to the midnight hour. Never have understood those kinds – but then again, I’m anal all the way![swg]

Rob Some reading material, eh[?] Why not throw in a “quiz” to check whether the guys are reading what’s being presented[?]<chuckle> On the serious side, appreciate the input, the effort and of course the interest in keeping this place a “Classic Trains” Thread![tup]

Pete Whenever you’re ready – no charge for “lessons” on Pix Posting![swg]

CM3 Some really “off the wall” stuff on that railroad – but something different ‘round here is always welcome! Once again, you covered all the bases and helped kick off the day in fine form.[tup] Unfortunately, no one picked up the ball.[tdn]

THANX to all for the rounds and quarters for our Coal Scuttle – much appreciated![tup]

SOME PIX ARE NEEDED! If anyone would like some of their RR Pix Posted this Sunday, send them to me by Email attachments (no more than 4 at a time, please). Really running low on material for Sunday Photo Posting Day! THANX!

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!

[pwolfe]

TOM I had better have another Bathams.

ROB Just seen your post.

Really glad Heather is OK now, my bride had a simular thing just before Christmas and it was worrying at the time.

Many thanks for the NW2 info and photos [tup]. The loco looks real good in that paint scheme and that looks a fine old building in the background.
Great Classic Steams. When the line was built I doubted that the owners would believe that one of the stations would become home to a weather predicting Groundhog many years later.
It is a real shame that the two termini have lost their rails but at least the stations are in use as museums.

I will have to take you up on your kind offer on how to post photos when I get some more PETE.

[trolleyboy]

Hi there Pete. glad to see that you survived the weekend more or less intact.[tup]. Great info on that Irish rail museum, always good to see so much preserved ( both steam and electric )I've always liked the bright european locomotive paint schemes,hopefully now that you are onto the broadband a few pictures of those gems or similar may materialize on Sundays !

Before I forget my mannors Tom I'll sprimng for a Bantham's round for Pete and myself,gotta keep tilla and the cashinator happy after all [;)][:D]

al Nice to see you even breifly, I do miss the data dumps myself however.I'm a bit late in finishing up our taxes this year as well,we do have till the end of april though.In my case the government doesn't mind so much though because we are getting refunds.

Well gent I'm away working midnights for the next couple of days (daze)

Rob

[trolleyboy]

Okay gents this piece goes along with the Classic steam #17.

CLASSIC STEAM # 18 THE TORONTO GREY AND BRUCE RY


Across The Roof of Ontario : Orangeville to Owen Sound

Intrest in a railway to Owen Sound ( on Georgian Bay ) had surfaced as early as 1850 when the Toronto & Sydenham RY, and the Northern Railway both approached the town for help financing the line. The route they surmised, would tap into the lushforests of the area, and the fledgling farms as well as divert Great lakes shipping through new railheads on Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. The community refused,confident that a railway would eventually be forced to build to them anyway. What they hadn't counted on was that rival Simcoe County was prepare to ante up the money . As a result, the Northern railway snubbed Owen Sound and instead built their line to Collingwood. The town would wait another 20 years before they heard their first train whistle.

The 1868 charter for a railway, to be known as the Toronto Grey and Bruce, allowed for a line from Toronto to Mount Forest and Durham via Orangeville. from Mount Forest, branches would run north to Owen Sound and west to Southampton. The route reached Mount Forest in 1871,neither branch was built as envisioned. In 1873 , the County of Grey again backed out of it's funding,and the branchlines to Owen Sound from was scrapped. Meanwhile, the proposed mainline stalled at Teeswater,well short of the waters of Lake Huron.

The promoters were adamant to have a lake terminal however, and as a result they relocated their junction to Orangeville, and built their own Owen Sound branch from there.The land on which this line was laid is relitivly flat, and had few obstructions so the first train pulled into the bay side station in 1873.

Most of the first stations on the route were single story board and batton buildings, those requiring an agent got a second story (for agent quarters). Most were replaced after the turn of the century with larger better built sincle story buildings trimed with more decorative architectural detailing.

In the late 1880's CPR assumed ownership of the line and operated it against principle rival CNR until the early 1990's.

The route did prove to be prosperous. Grain was transhipped at the port,cattle was handled in stock cars from the many comunities the line passed through.Passenger service lasted a century ending only in the early 1970's ( all RDC at the end )

In 1995 following many failed attempts to create a short line out of it this legendary line was abandoned. rails were lifted in 1998. The line to Orangeville still is in use though it's now shortline run as CP was able to sell it off in 2000. In keeping with CPR policy all buuilding s stations etc were removed except for the Owen sound station whish is now a train/shipbuilding museum.


Rob

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and All.

A pint of Bathams please, have just about recovered from the weekend.
A bitter wind here in Mid-Mo with the weather men are not sure how much of the white stuff we are going to get here.

Great 2nd part of the Tunnel DOUG[tup]. The incident of the frozen nitro was very interesting that accident must have saved a lot of lives when it was being transported.
That tunnel was very expensive in human cost as well as money[:(].
I bet the loco crews were mighty pleased when it was electrified.

CM3 Looking forward to your info on the Hoosac tunnel electrication and the D&RGW tomorrow.

A bit more on the Irish Railways.
On my first visit to Ireland in the 80s opposite the main loco works at Inchicore in a suburb of Dublin, there was a row of old withdrawn diesel locos that was being used as a barrier to cut down the noise from the works.
The locos are not there now hopefully some of them were saved for preservation although most of them were cut up for scrap I believe.

The annual Railway Preservation Society of Ireland International rail tour on 6,7,&8 of May is visiting Tralee in the South East of Ireland. They will be using the ex NCC 2-6-4 tank loco and the J15 0-6-0 which was pictured at the start of Tom's piece on Irish Rail.

It has quite a few years since I was on these tours they are a really great way to see some of Ireland. The locos that were in use then was the 2-6-4 tank, and 4-4-0s # 171 Slieve Gullion and the 3-cylinder # 85 Merlin. The last two locos were in the light blue of the Great Northern(Ireland) and looked superb as well as good performers.

Also in Northern Ireland a little to the north of Belfast at Cultra is a wonderful Transport Museum. Among the exhibits is MAEVE a 4-6-0 loco one of the largest locos that worked in Ireland on the Dublin to Cork run and a 4-4-0 DUNLUCE CASTLE which was built at the DERBY (England) works of the MIdland Railway for the Northern Counties Commitee (NCC) which was ownen by the LMS. It is almost identical to the 2P locos of the Midland. of which none survived, but to a track guage of 5 Feet 3 Inches. It is in the superb Crimson Lake livery of the Midland [^]
.Also at the musum is a double deck tramcar of the Fintona horse drawn tramway which survived until the 50s. which was quite famous in the later years.

TOM Thanks for the Canadian Pacific and the Irish rail piece which brought back memories for me.[tup].
Looking forward to the Denver & Rio Grande theme day tomorrow.
I'll have another Bathams please and a round for yesterdays great photos PETE.

[passengerfan]

Good Afternoon Tom and the rest of the gang. Just thought I would drop by long enough for a CR and a round for the house. Sorry I can't get more involved right now but it seems like every yera more and more people wait to get their taxes done and sure puts pressure on the tax preparers. Must get back to the office.

TTFN AL

[trolleyboy]

Okay here's this again on the page/day it was ment for[:I]

CLASSIC STEAM # 17 The Stratford and Huron Railway

The Stratford & Huron RY : Stratford to Wiarton

In the heyday of railway building ( 1870's ) communities accross Ontario all dreamed of becomming major railway towns. The town of Stratford though far from any ports was no exception. As early as 1850, the Stratford business community began to lobby for a rail link from their town to Southampton on Lake Huron. This along with proposals for the Port Dover & Lake Huron RY which would connect with the Lake Erie & Northern, could put Stratford on a busy portage railway.

However the reality was that funds could not be found so the project was delayed. In 1877 construction began in earnest of the SHR between Stratford and Listowel, a mill town on the Maitland river a few miles North. By this time Southampton had fallen firmly into the griop of the rival Wellington Grey and Bruce RY , operated by the Great Western,so the terminus for the SHR was changed to the more northerly town of Wiarton.

There was talk of contiuing the line form Wiarton and up into the barren Bruce Peninsula to Tobermory, with a link to Manitoulan Island. This plan fell through.

Continuing financial troubles on the SHR forced the builders to apeal to the Grand Trunk ( Great Western's main rival ) for funds in 1880. In taking over the railway, the GT forced the SHR to build a branch into Palmerston, then a budding railway jct. At the same time teh name was changed to the Grand Trunk Georgian Bay & Lake Erie Ry, to reflect the other lines the GT had assumed as well. Under the new mgmt. , track laying continued and in july of 1882 the new line opened.

In 1882 the Great Western and the GT amalgamated , and the network of lines emanating from Palmerston all came under the same ownership. Almost immediatly, a new more direct link was built from Palmerston to Listowel, and this short section of the original line was abandoned. Then in 1891 , a branchline was built from Park Head into Owen Sound to a terminus immediatly opposite that occupied by the Toronto Grey and Bruce RY, CP's link to Georgian Bay. As the SHR already had a terminus on Georgian Bay, this new branch was built to serve the Shallow Lake Cement plant. Here the chalky deposits on the floor of Shallow Lake proved ideal for the manufacture of cement.

As with most early railways, the first stations were simple designs. Typical buildings on the SHR were squat wide buildings, with a bay window at one corner ( if at all ). Around the turn of the century, the GT upgraded many of it's lines and replaced the earlier depots with more solid structures. Most along the SHR ended up with Towers,high Dutch gabbled bay windows,and steeply pitched hip gable roofs.The stations at Chesley and wiarton recieved rounded waiting rooms with a "witches hat" roof built ontto one end of the building.

In the CN years Stratford finally became a major rail center ahveing the 40 acre big shops built there along with all the locomotive servicinng major and running repair facilities. Palmerston became a major division point for most of Central and Ontario.

The auto age ( post 1957 ) caused drastic service cuts on these branch lines, in 1957 mail was no longer carried on trains in this area , in 1958 the line to Wiarton was abandoned. Then in 1970 passenger service to Owen sound was discontinued, finally by 1995 the entire line was abandoned and the rails removed. Wiarton's station still stands as a general store and home to Ontario's weather groundhog wiarton Willie. Palmerston lost all it's tracks some of the old passenger terminal and station still exist as a museum.

Rob

[trolleyboy]

Good afternoon Sir Tom ! A shorter picture fest yesterday but good pictures at any rate!!!

I had intended to drop a second batch around 5 pm after I got out of work and before the birthday party for Heather ( wed. is actually her birthday )Instead she had some sort of gastrointestinal attack and we spent most of the evening at emerg. turned out to be just reflux which is good ( and what I suspected it was ) Could have saved the time spent by giving her one of my nexium's which is what the emerg doc perscribed for her anyway [sigh] Oh well Dr's can't live with and can't live without em eh [?]

Doug Great part two of the tunnlers, interesting info. I'm with Pete that car does look like it has some electric RR origin. If you can take a look at the ends of it on the floor,there would be evidense of the controllers/brake stands. Also over the truck bolsters in the floor there would be "trap" doors built in that wousl have proveided inspection access to the traction motors if it were a powered car. The doors tend to get boarded over if the car changed hands and became a non-powered vehicle.

Pete there are many an NW2 left out there in the real world or were you wondering if the models still existed. I would say that given the collectability of Lionel and AF trains that there would be several examples of the models left around as well.





Two shots of former TH&B RY NW2 switcher 51 at teh Elgin County rail Museum in St Thomas Ontario,it's owned and used by the Ontario Southland RY they maintain the TH&B paint job.

Tom Thanks for splaining the picture posting process,it isn't hard just a bit time consuming, Tom and I or Lars or any of the others of us who do post can always talk everyone else through the posting process.
I'm guessing that those Lionel photo's are near and dear becaus ethese trains no longer exist in your posetion[?] Still for the time taht they were manufactured the detail was quite good on them [tup]

CM3 Good day to you sir.Nice piece on the delray. I've taken a few shots at delray JCT in years past, not what it once was but stilla failry good photo spot.

Lars Nice Alaska shots, they should get the captains blood pumping for his upcomming vacation [tup] Well said bit on the general health and well being of this thread as well. [tup]


Rob

[LoveDomes]

G’day Tom and Gents at the Bar!

Looks like the central mid-west is in for a bit of snow, huh[?] Isn’t that just the way[?] Spring arrives today and so does the winter![swg] Things around here aren’t bad – in the 40s for today and tomorrow – partly cloudy, spring is in the air, even though it’s a bit chilly.

Nice work for those who provided the pix yesterday! Hey Tom I tried to keep mine during daylight![tup] It’s a good idea, makes sense to me!! Glad to see you made it “in,” however, I was hoping you’d just take the entire day off. Isn’t that what you had originally intended for Sundays[?]

I particularly enjoyed seeing those Lionel trains and it surely brought back quite a few memories. It seems like yesterday when one could walk by a department store window during the Christmas season and see the electric train displays. I used to stop by the toy shops to pick up the train flyers, take ‘em home and wish my heart away! I did some browsing quite awhile ago over on eBay (which I have lots of disdain for, but that’s another story!) and saw the gobs of train flyers up for sale. One can only wonder what kind of condition those things are in. Anyway, I loved looking at the cover photos and always wondered if anyone, anywhere, ever had a layout like the ones on the covers[?] They were precisely what kids dreams used to be all about. At least mine were.[swg]

Nice contributions from Rob & Doug as always![tup][tup] I’m enjoying the “Tunnels” articles. Also, like that pix on the Summary Tom![tup] Some interesting cars in that consist, huh[?]

One thing I’ve noticed about this thread that should be mentioned is the somewhat ‘circular’ motion some of the posts are taking. There’s a group that mostly responds, and yet another that provides information and yet another that does both! Check out the posts, you’ll see what I mean.

My suggestion is for those who are in the 1st category (responders) is to take the time to find some information relevant to the “theme of the bar” for posting. Doesn’t have to be all of the time, but perhaps once a week would help out. Otherwise, we turn this place into those “coffee shops” and other ‘one line heavens’ on the forums. No thanks – been there, didn’t like it, and don’t want to see it happen here. End of [soapbox]

CM3 (One day I’m going to find out what your real name is, and then . . . . !!) nice post this morning and you seemed to have made that time slot, yours. Good deal! There’s two of us trying to help out the Proprietor by providing info at the times he had requested long ago.[tup] Your reference to those Lionel shorties reminds me that I seem to recall them being pretty much an O-27 “thing.” The cars of the O-gauge sets were much larger, I think. Somewhere along the line, those cars came out in blue, for a short duration, and today are worth big bucks for those who dabble in those kinds of things.

One of my favorite roads to read up on has been the “old” Canadian Pacific – when they ran the maroon/grey livery with the beaver heralds. Great looking diesels and just an all around 1st class operation. Nice Nostalgia post![tup] although it was when the “action red” was “in” is my guess.

Time for me to order a ham ‘n swiss hero with mustard ‘n butter, two large pickles from the barrel, a cold one (Rheingold in a frosty bottle) and hang out for a bit . . . Here’s a ten spot for the Lars Box! Buy a round when there’s some business to feed The Cashinator ‘n Tilla the Hun![swg]

[siberianmo]

G’day All!

PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #77

Here’s something to enjoy regarding the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) in a 1969 advertisement from my private collection:



See more of Canada in 72 hours
than most Canadians see in a lifetime.

In comfort.

Wine, dine, play, listen to music, make friends or just sit back and enjoy the scenery.

A variety of accommodation is available, including berths, roomettes, bedrooms, compartments and drawing rooms – all reserved including coach seats.

“The Canadian” is a streamlined crack trans-continental train. Designed with scenic Domes to provide you with a wide-angle view of the most spectacular, breath-taking scenery. 3,000 miles in all.

Including the best of the Canadian-Rockies, the rugged northern shore of lake Superior, the vast prairies, and such favorites as Banff and Lake Louise.

Faresaver Plan includes meals in deluxe Dining Room cars, or budget-priced meals are available in the Dome Coffee Shop.

“The Canadian” leaves daily from Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. All aboard!

Contact your travel agent or Canadian Pacific.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CP Rail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Enjoy! [tup]

Tom [4:-)][oX)]

[coalminer3]

Good Morning Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox. Many basketballs over the weekend, 'nough said.

Lots of excellent material over the weekend.

A few comments and we'll do some Michigan material; with a nod toward our Canadian friends.

Irish Rail material was appreciated. We watched the "Quiet Man" twice over the weekend - mom for the story, me for the steam train(s). Kind of like ATK around here; 4.5 hrs late (but no big deal).

The material from Vintage Rails (late lamented publication along with Passenger Train Jornal) re trackwalkers was interesting. I remember seeing them on the B&A when I was a pup (as my youngest says, "before the earth cooled." - I wonder where she gets her attitude?) Somewhere in my mound of material I have a PRR ad abt. trackwalkers.

Picture postings - fascinating as always. Thanks for the shots of the "stuff in the back of the collection."

Also more tunnel material - I need to get some material together of the B&M electrification at Hoosac.

Then we had vintage Lionel.. I had similar passenger cars, only mine were silver with a red window stripe. I wonder how many incarnations those short Lionel passenger cars went through?

I see we are doing D&RGW tomorrow - I have some material on D&RG 1950-vintage coal operations set and ready to go.

We, too are looking at possible winter weather - smaller segment of the K9 Korps celebrated possible spring by partially uprooting the post at the end of his run; love freeze and thaw cycles; can't do anything abt. it until the weather breaks for good, then we get to play with concrete.

Here's some Michigan-related items from the ORG of December, 1969.

Delray Connecting Railroad Co.
Zug Island Route

Gen'l Offices - Detroit, MI

A terminal railroad in the "Down River" District of Detroit, MI connecting with the Detroit, Toledo and Ironton, PC, C&O and Norfolk and Western Rys.

Miles of road operated: 15.

Port Huron and Detroit RR

Port Huron, MI

Connection at Port Huron, MI - wth C&O Ry and Grand Trunk Ry. System

The Detroit and Toledo Shore Line Railraod Co.

Total mileage: 59

This railroad is owned jointly by Grand Trunk Western Railroad
and Norfolk and Western Railway and is operated for freight traffic only between Detroit and Toledo forming a link between the east, west, north and south
with joint through fast train service with Grand Trunk western to and from Toledo

work safe

[siberianmo]

Good Morning!

Spring arrives today, however we’re in one of those “winter advisories” in mid-Continent USA. Seems that a huge storm system is passing through, with areas to the north of us expected to get quite a snowfall – we’re looking at somewhere between 1 and 5 inches before it all ends tomorrow. Too little, too late. Winter’s over – let’s get on with spring![tup]


A mixed bag yesterday, I’d say. Looks like my plea for ‘sunup to sunrise’ Posts didn’t work – as the majority of Pix wound up at the wee hours. Nevertheless, they were appreciated – always are. Also appears that we have drifted away from the “intent” of Photo Posting Sunday! Post Pix – make comments about the Pix is the general idea.


Thanx to Rob – Doug ‘n Lars for taking the time and making the effort to provide us with some interesting Pix and descriptions![tup][tup][tup] Perhaps some do not realize what it takes to provide us with Pix – it is indeed a process of labor.

. . . First: The Pix must be digitized (either taken with a digital camera or transferred over by scanner from “conventional” sources).
. . . Second: The Pix then gets “uploaded” to a site where it can be “stored” for future use on the web (PhotoBucket, RailImages, etc.)
. . . Third: The Pix gets “downloaded” either directly to the Forums or to a WP file for Posting at a later time.
. . . Fourth: Posting of the Pix.

The casual observer may not think of any of these efforts, but I do. Thanx guys![tup][tup][tup]

Pix comments appreciated from Pete 'n Al[tup]

Lars is “right on” with his comments on what we should be doing on this Thread. The idea is to contribute to the theme – which is “Classic Trains!” That’s why the Thread was created and what some of us have been trying to maintain. The banter at the bar is supposed to be supplemental to the Posting of “train suff!”[tup]

Doug I see you’ve kicked off the new week with another fine Post – but oh so awful joke![swg]

Rob – belated [bday] to your bride!


I expect to be here for the remainder of the day . . .


Later![tup]

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]


Stick around a few minutes AFTER POSTING - The information you MISS may be for YOU!

Those who acknowledge the other guy, get acknowledged!

[Anonymous]

Good morning Tom and all! I'll have my usual 2 light breakfasts and a bottle of picante sauce. I figure if it won't warm-up outside, I'll have to warm the insides. Nice movie poster pix Mr. Tom, but I really enjoyed the Lionel pix! Thanks for the support yesterday Lars with your Alaska RR pix. I wish I had the portable computer you mentioned ... got an extra? Peter,t hanks for taking a stab at identifying the RR cars. I'm sure the one is a maintenance-of-way jobber, and but that's where my knowledge ends. Yes, we had a good time at the horse auction. We spent too much, as usual. I'm sure you have listed the City of Denver baggage/bar car in a previous post Al. That was my thought too when I found out where this car had been.

Time for another work-week, and this promises to be a real one, with my arriving early and staying late most every day. All the usual stuff. [B)] Have not had time to look for D&RG info yet, but will make an attempt with the time I have. Here is the 2nd part of the Tunnel series:

Tunnels by Henry B. Comstock June 1947 Railroad Magazine

Eastern portal of the Hoosac, for many years was the longest smoke hole on the North American continent. False start to the south was abandoned when quicksand was found just inside the facing. Helper engine in this 1900 photo is Fitchburg 1075, a Taunton-built consolidation converted into a compound by Baldwin in 1898.


So much for the surveyor’s work, which was done with such skill that when the headings finally met there was less than half a yard’s variance between them. But the record of actual construction was a black monument to governmental ineptitude. A huge and costly drilling machine was hauled into position and promptly battered itself to pieces against the flinty Green Mountain head. To add to the confusion, miners encountered quicksand below the original facing on the Deerfield slope and a second portal site had to be selected further along the slope.

Drilling at first was by hand; the only explosive, primitive black powder. Three times in nine years the project bogged down for want of funds. Pamphlets denounced the Tunnel politicians, urging that they be “lodged for the remainder of their days in State Prison or an asylum for idiots.” Even genial Oliver Wendell Holmes lampooned such doubtful efforts, predicting that when locomotive wheels rolled through Hoosac bore, it would be the citizens of Massachusetts to order their ascension robes. The tragic central-shaft fire of 1865 increased the demand for a general housecleaning. Belatedly the commissioners announced that new drilling methods were being introduced which would greatly accelerate the work. Word had reached them that in the Mont Cenis bore, then under construction in the French Alps, compressed air was being used effectively.

A firm in Fitchburg, Mass., pondered over the blueprints and with Yankee ingenuity improved upon the design of the hammer drills. Their pneumatic apparatus was mounted on a light pushcar, pipe-connected to large air compressors placed at both ends of the Hoosac. Deerfield River waterpower drove one pump; steam engines, the other. With sixty-pound pressure, holes ranging from four to five feet could now be put down in one hour.

We have already mentioned George Mowbray’s experiments with nitro-glycerine. In 1867 he finally convinced the commissioners that the liquid explosive would more than double the rate of blasting progress. The problem was how to handle it. Spill but a small amount on the floor of the tunnel and the spot was unsafe for months to come. Mowbray stored the treacherous stuff in a magazine near his manufacturing plant in North Adams, and shipped it to the shafts in copper cans. One winter’s day a driver named Nate Smith stacked a load of these drums on a little sled and started over the snow-covered mountain toward the east portal. The under-footing was treacherous and when he was well up the slope one of the horses stumbled and fell, dragging down his mate. The sled jackknifed and the whole outfit slithered over the shoulder of the road, tumbling end over end down the mountainside.

Nate, who had been thrown clear on the first roll, started digging a tunnel of his own into the snow, expecting any moment to be blown sky-high. But there was no explosion and when he finally summoned up the courage to slide on down the hill and release the team, he discovered to his surprise that the glycerine inside the cans was frozen stiff. That lucky accident provided the clue for safe handling of the powerful explosive. For in a solid state glycerine is quite harmless. Thereafter all nitro was pre-frozen before it left the plant.

Despite the improvements in blasting technique the state project continued to lag and in 1869 a private contractor from Montreal was called in. Soon the rock began to fly. Huge new pumps were set up at the center shaft to handle the immense quantity of water welling into it. Crews worked in three shifts, around the clock. Within two years the length of the cuttings had been doubled. Then on a November afternoon in 1873, a feeble tremor of electricity flicked along the detonator wires from a primitive hand-cranked friction machine, Twelve pounds of gylcerine roared from the depths of four stone throats and when the last loose fragment of shale had rattled to the tunnel floor a sudden lusty cheer went up. Through the dust and smoke could be dimly seen a ragged hole some eight feet square, its mica lips backlighted by the glimmer of lamps beyond. The last headings head met – an open corridor now pierced New England’s Chinese Wall.

Oratory and black smoke roiled from the West Portal as the first train out of North Adams entered the Hoosac on October 13th, 1875. A brass band raised Green Mountain echoes from its bunting-decorated platform at the portal. Statisticians loosed an avalanche of figures: More than a million tons of rock removed; twenty million bricks troweled together to form a firm sleeve at the western end, where the rock was so soft and saturated with moisture that tunnelers aply named it “porridge”. Half a million pounds of nitro-glycerine had been exploded; more than seventeen million dollars spent on wages and equipment; one hundred and thirty-nine lives “laid on the altar of transportation progress.”

In due course the little trains that scurried into the black hole grew in size. Huge Mallet engines hunched their shoulders behind he multicolored drags that creaked in steady procession out of North Adams. The full-throated exhausts that rattled dishes on the shelves and cocked the chromo portrait of Uncle Zeke at an unbecoming angle, found small room for expansion in Hoosac Tunnel. Fans whirled feebly in the central ventilating shaft. Neither they nor the two smaller chimneys on the mountain’s outer slopes did much to clear the atmosphere. Engine crews buried their mouths in wet sponges; mumbling curses as driving wheels lost their grip on slippery rails, sending still denser smoke columns up the stack.

Still worse was the plight of the tunnel workers. When the big mills came, it was no longer possible to stand between an engine and the nearer side wall. Safety niches were cut into the rock at intervals of two hundred and fifty feet. They were a help, provided you could find them in the fog. This is how matters stood until 1911, when nine miles of trolley wire was threaded through the Hoosac. Shot hot in May of that year, it fed its smoke-free energy to five diminutive Westinghouse motors. Locking knuckles with a long manifest, two of the juice jacks grumbled up the 0.5 per cent tunnel grade at a steady, twenty-mile-per-hour clip. The stubby stack of the trailing steam still spurned a drifting exhaust but its breath was no longer lethal.

[:I] The steps at the White House need some repairs so bids are taken from carpenters from across the country. First a carpenter from California looks it over. After a session of measuring and figuring he presents his bid. “I can do it for $9,000,” he says. “I’d need $4,000 for materials, $4,000 for my crew, and $1,000 profit for me.” Next a carpenter from Missouri does his measuring and calculating then says, “I’ll do it for $7,000. $3,000 for materials, $3,000 for my crew, and $1,000 profit for me.” Last a carpenter from Brooklyn steps up. Without even looking at the job site he says, “I’ll do it for $27,000.” Surprised at how high it is, the man taking the bids asks him to explain it. “It’s simple,” he says. “$10,000 for me, $10,000 for you, and we hire the guy from Missouri.” [:I]

[siberianmo]

(courtesy: www.trainweb.org)

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


MONDAY’s INFO & SUMMARY of POSTS


Monday has arrived! Great way to begin the day is right here with a cuppa Joe – some pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery and if you’re really hungry, try our <light> or <traditional> breakfasts from the Menu Board![tup]


Daily Wisdom

No matter how hard the winter, spring always comes.[swg]


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


Info for the Day:

Railroads from Yesteryear – Denver & Rio Grande Western (D&RG) arrives Tuesday!

* 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) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 19 Mar 2006, 00:21:14 (280) Late Nite Post

(2) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 19 Mar 2006, 00:30:33 (280) 4 Pix!

(3) barndad Doug Posted: 19 Mar 2006, 05:43:01 (280) 7 Pix! & joke

(4) barndad Doug Posted: 19 Mar 2006, 05:49:53 (280) 5 Pix! & joke

(5) siberianmo Tom Posted: 19 Mar 2006, 07:26:53 (280) Sunday’s Info & Summary

(6) siberianmo Tom Posted: 19 Mar 2006, 11:06:28 (280) Movie Posters - Now Playing!

(7) LoveDomes Lars Posted: 19 Mar 2006, 12:53:22 (280) Lars Report!

(8) LoveDomes Lars Posted: 19 Mar 2006, 13:19:15 (280) 3 Pix!

(9) siberianmo Tom Posted: 19 Mar 2006, 15:17:23 (281) 4 Pix!

(10) passengerfan Al Posted: 19 Mar 2006, 19:16:22 (281) Comments

(11) comechtech Dennis Posted: 19 Mar 2006, 21:37:13 (281) Comments

(12) pwolfe Pete Posted: 19 Mar 2006, 22:57:07 (281) Inclusive Post



NOW SHOWING:

The Mentor Village Emporium Theatre
Double Features! Now with The Three Stooges Short Subject![/size=3]

. . . Sunday, March 19th thru 25th: Midnight Run (1988) starring: Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin & Yaphet Kotto – and - The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) starring: Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde & Charlton Heston. SHORT: Hello Pop (1933).


That’s it! [tup][;)]

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

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all.

I'll put this in the mail-slot to say thanks for the photo day[tup][tup][tup].

NICK. As you say about the Rugby it cost me a pint of Guinness with the owner of the local Irish Pub. How have we gone so far down hill after winning the World Cup [%-)][?].

It may be of interest, with the latest issue of the(British) Railway Magazine there is a free DVD. One of the tracks is a real time view from the cab of a new class 377 EMU on the recent record breaking run from London Bridge to Brighton through Croyden.
I was able to watch this although I had no internet connection. The puter is much better now. I can get all of the Sunday photos without having to press the refresh icon several times and having to wait ages [^].

ROB Thanks for the photos its great to see some of the smaller diesel locos.[tup].

DOUG Great photos from the IRM. They have a good selection of rolling stock, I had not heard of a Dump Car before and is it best not to ask any more about it[?].

I hope we get some info on the two mystery vehicles. #175 looks very simular to the Wickham's which were called trolleys in Britain they were used by maintainance crews on the branch lines to carry the workers for inspection and light track maintainance. the open sides had canvas sheetes for use in wet weather.
I hope you had a good time at the auction[tup].

LARS Thanks for the kind words[tup] Great Alaska logos and posters, the one with the howling wolf is really special.

COMETECH DENNIS Good to see you in again, reading the past pages takes a fair while but it is certainly worth it. I have learnt a great amount on the N. American railroads at Our Place. [tup]

TOM Had a good weekend with the guests. Mentor Village had a very busy weekend too.
plenty of news for the gazette[tup].
Sad to see that was the last YOGISM they have brought many a smile over the weeks[:)]
many thanks.

Great model photos the detailing is supurb. That Switcher looks a very distinctive loco,
I wonder if any of them were saved [?].
Another good week at the Emporium thanks for the reviews.
Thanks again all for the photos[tup][tup][tup]. PETE.

[comechtech]

Hello, all. Around for any and all present or soon to be.[:D] Lars, thanks for the greeting, but for your info, I'm an old timer newbee, check back in the pages 20-25. The wife and I started way back then, then had a house move with all the resultant problems and time offline, so I am now trying to catch up with the timeline. I am a narrow gauge, old time train nut, but the wife is into the old passenger trains, particularly the Columbine and the Portland Rose. Thats how we first got into this area, and I find the banter and worlds of information well worth the time spent reading it. We may not have too much to contribute for a while, but are here to help any way we can. Thanks for the kind words, and you'll hear from us off and on. Onward and upward!! [:D] [:D] Dennis

[comechtech]

Hello, all. Around for any and all present or soon to be.[:D] Lars, thanks for the greeting, but for your info, I'm an old timer newbee, check back in the pages 20-25. The wife and I started way back then, then had a house move with all the resultant problems and time offline, so I am now trying to catch up with the timeline. I am a narrow gauge, old time train nut, but the wife is into the old passenger trains, particularly the Columbine and the Portland Rose. Thats how we first got into this area, and I find the banter and worlds of information well worth the time spent reading it. We may not have too much to contribute for a while, but are here to help any way we can. Thanks for the kind words, and you'll hear from us off and on. Onward and upward!! [:D] [:D] Dennis

[passengerfan]

Good Afternoon Tom and the rest of the gang.
Enjoyed the photos only wish I had some to contribute.

Photo Sundays sure do get a good distribution.
That photo posted on the former City of Denver Baggage Lounge car got me to thinking. I believe I have a bit of information on this car will have to do some digging and see what I can turn up.

TTFN AL

[siberianmo]

Even though ”Our” Place is CLOSED on SUNDAY’s we do observe Sunday Photo Posting Day!


Continuing with Tom’s Nostalgia! from last week, here are a few more Pix from what I remember of my childhood Lionel trains! As previously mentioned, those trains are long gone, but thanx to internet sources, the Pix remain. What you see are trains like those I purchased at a New York City train store selling “used” stuff back in the early 1950s. So, take a trip with me through what just may be the only remaining “evidence” of the trains from my yesteryear . . . .


(1) Lionel #8471 PRR NW2 switcher



(2) Lionel #2400 Maplewood passenger car (1948-49)



(3) Lionel #2402 Chatham passenger car (1948-49)



(4) Lionel #2401 Hillside observation car (1948-49)



If you are browsing, how about letting the guys know that you’ve enjoyed their efforts!


Tom [4:-)] [oX)]


REMINDER! Read the SUMMARY!

[LoveDomes]

G'day Tom and Gents looking in!


Another installment of some Alaska “stuff” for “the boss!” . . .


For Tom’s Alaska Trip! Alaska RR herald



For Tom’s Alaska Trip! Alaska RR emblem (wall sign)



For Tom’s Alaska Trip! Alaska RR at Mt. McKinley (lithograph)


Enjoy the pix![tup]

Until the next time!

Lars

[LoveDomes]

Greetings Tom and browsers!

So, you didn't think I'd make it, huh[?] Suprise, surprise - ole Lars ain't dead, yet![swg]

Well, well looks as if you've begun something here. You announced a bit of a slack for the day which was rather quickly followed by Rob & Doug. Given that the three of you are the heart & soul of this Photo Sunday I'd say the "free loaders" are going to be outta luck![swg]

No sweat though, I've enjoyed the pix displayed thus far and am looking forward to the movies! In fact, I think we'll head on over to the Emporium for the evening showing![tup]

Some observations: New blood in Dennis, huh[?] Ok my friend, here's the deal - sooner or later you've got to spring for some innovative contributions of your own! Yep - that's the way it works around the bar. We all post what we think will be of interest, sit back and wait for comments, then begin it anew. Of course the exceptions are out there - we've had and have some guys who don't play the game at all. But ya know - there are at least three of us who have a saying about that - Screw 'em![swg] Next time you're in when the bar is open - have one on me![tup][#welcome] aboard.

20 Fingers What's this stuff about you not being here[?] I've seen you post here AND on one of those JO threads on our forum. So, let's not hear of this anymore - you're around and THIS PLACE should be your first stop!!! How in the world do you expect us to go on without those looooooooooooooooong data dumps of yours[?][swg]

Pete Let's get this computer thing straightened out so that we can get you on board for regular postings. Always good to read you cheerful insights and I for one am looking forward to whatever it is you plan to entertain us with.[tup] A Bathams coming your way when you're in next and the joint is open![swg]

Nick did indeed "save the day" on the 17th and as always, cheered our Proprietor up immensely. I'm still detecting "something" out of whack, but he seems to be at his best when the guys are. Have one on me, next time the bar is open and you're around![tup]

Doug and Rob just a word - my take on this place lately is that it really has come down to just a few in order to keep things hopping. Take a laptop to work - and when you have a coffe break, smoke break, potty break, girl watching break, or just plain break - log in - post something - then get back to work! What do you think they're paying you for[?][swg]

Ok - that's my "note" slipped through the door and I know this isn't "dialogue day" but if I don't say it now, it won't get said at all![swg]

Next post will be some pix.[tup]


Until the next time!

Lars

[siberianmo]

Even though ”Our” Place is CLOSED on SUNDAY’s we do observe Sunday Photo Posting Day!


NOW PLAYING at the Mentor Village Emporium Theatre!


Midnight Run (1988)

QUOTE: PLOT DESCRIPTION:
Director Martin Brest, of Going in Style and Beverly Hills Cop fame, was in charge of Midnight Run. Robert De Niro stars as Jack Walsh, a hard-bitten bounty hunter offered $100,000 to bring in embezzler Jonathan Mardukas (Charles Grodin). Handcuffed to the wimpy Mardukas, Walsh assumes that the extradition trip from New York to Los Angeles will be an uneventful one. But the prisoner hasn't told Wal***he whole story: the embezzler owes $15 million to a mobster (Dennis Farina), and he's been targeted for assassination.

From: All Movie Guide


The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

QUOTE: PLOT DESCRIPTION:
Cecil B. DeMille's The Greatest Show on Earth is a lavi***ribute to circuses, featuring three intertwining plotlines concerning romance and rivalry beneath the big top. DeMille's film is an over-the-top piece of entertainment, boasting hammy performances, exaggerated clichés and spectacular action sequences, including a show-stopping train wreck.The Greatest Show on Earth won Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Story.

From: All Movie Guide


Three Stooges Short Subject: Hello Pop (1933):
(Poster unavailable)

QUOTE: Featuring Ted Healy and His Stooges:
Ted Healy is an aggravated producer trying to put on a costume show, but of course he gets little cooperation from his helpers, the Stooges. At the climax of the show the Stooges slip out onto the stage under the hoop skirt of the star vocalist, ruining the scene and the show.

From: Online Filmography


If you are browsing, how about letting the guys know that you’ve enjoyed their efforts!

Enjoy![tup]

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]


REMINDER! Read the SUMMARY!

[siberianmo]

(courtesy: www.trainweb.org)

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


SUNDAY’s INFO & SUMMARY of POSTS


We are CLOSED on SUNDAY! However, it is Sunday Photo Posting Day![tup]


Daily Wisdom

Little League baseball is a good thing ‘cause it keeps the parents off the streets and the kids out of the house!”[swg]
(final yogi-ism)


Info for the Day:

Railroads from Yesteryear – Denver & Rio Grande Western (D&RG) arrives Tuesday!

* 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) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 00:01:33 (279) Inclusive Post

(2) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 00:14:07 (279) ENCORE! Classic Steam #14

(3) comechtech Dennis Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 00:24:24 (279) for Rob

(4) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 00:53:16 (279) Classic Steam #17[?][?]

(5) barndad Doug Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 06:18:20 (279) Inclusive Post & Encore: Walking the Track

(6) siberianmo Tom Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 06:38:51 (279) Saturday’s Info & Summary

(7) barndad Doug Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 09:26:27 (279) ENCORE! Walking the Track, part II

(8) siberianmo Tom Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 10:05:34 (279) Acknowledgments

(9) barndad Doug Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 10:30:04 (279) Only in America!

(10) siberianmo Tom Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 10:33:39 (279) ENCORE! Milwaukee Road Ad

(11) pwolfe Pete Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 12:27:33 (279) Pete’s Post!

(12) siberianmo Tom Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 13:21:02 (280) ENCORE! 1956 Ad for RR Officials

(13) LoveDomes Lars Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 13:50:59 (280) Lars Talk!

(14) passengerfan Al Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 16:51:26 (280) Comments!

(15) comechtech Dennis Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 17:11:49 (280) Daylight visit!

(16) comechtech Dennis Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 17:21:25 (280) etc.

(17) barndad Doug Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 18:01:16 (280) ENCORE! Walking the Track, part III, etc.

(18) siberianmo Tom Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 19:05:50 (280) Acknowledgments & Comments

(19) siberianmo Tom Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 19:14:46 (280) ENCORE! Fallen Flag Southern Railway

(20) comechtech Dennis Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 19:16:02 (280) for Tom

(21) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 19:37:51 (280) Nick at Nite!

(22) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 21:50:12 (280) Inclusive Nick-Post!

(23) siberianmo Tom Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 22:06:28 (280) reply to nickinwestwales



NOW SHOWING:

The Mentor Village Emporium Theatre
Double Features! Now with The Three Stooges Short Subject![/size=3]

. . . Sunday, March 19th thru 25th: Midnight Run (1988) starring: Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin & Yaphet Kotto – and - The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) starring: Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde & Charlton Heston. SHORT: Hello Pop (1933).


That’s it! [tup][;)]

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

[Anonymous]

Good morning again gents! This might be the last pix I submit today. The wife and I have an anual horse auction that we like to attend, and today is the day. They mostly auction horse-related products, and not so many horses, so it's a good place to stock-up on that kind of thing, or do something stupid like purchase a 6th saddle for our one horse! Sheesh [:p]

Here are some pictures of a car at the IRM that I cannot identify. Can anyone tell us what it is or how old it is?








Here are some more cars I that I don’t know much about. Anyone care to provide information besides the following?

Association of American Railroads X201
Builder: Buda
Year Built: 1936
Length: 22ft 4in
Width: 9ft 10in
Height: 10ft 4in
Weight: 22000 lbs
Brakes: Bendix
Trucks: Buda
Description: Rail Test Car



[:I] A big earthquake with the strength of 8.1 on the Richter scale has hit Mexico. 1,500,000 Mexicans have died and over 3 million are injured. The country is totally ruined and the government doesn't know where to start with providing help to rebuild. The rest of the world is in shock. Canada is sending troopers to help the Mexican Army control the riots. The European community is sending food and money. The United States is sending 1,500,000 replacement Mexicans. [:I]

[Anonymous]

Good morning all. Here are some random photos of some of the equipment (that I could identify) that hides in the "back" of the property at IRM.





Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee 1002
Builder: American Car & Foundry Company
Year Built: 1926
Length: 37ft 9in
Width: 9ft 6in
Height: 11ft 6in
Weight: 38300 lbs
Brakes: H
Trucks: Huntoon Archbar
Description: Wood Caboose


Chicago & North Western X300902
Builder: Pullman/Pullman-Standard
Year Built: 1936
Seats: 36
Length: 78ft
Width: 10ft
Height: 12ft 8in
Weight: 98460 lbs
Brakes: AHSC
Trucks: UP-Pullman 4 Wheel
Description: Baggage/Bar Room (ex City of Denver 70 / ex 11701)







Chicago Sanitary District 39
Builder: Western Wheeled Scraper
Year Built: ???
Length: 41ft 6in
Width: 10ft 8in
Height: 7ft 9in
Weight: 60000 lbs
Brakes: AB
Trucks: Bettendorf
Description: MWD Dump Car


[:I] Resolving to surprise her husband, an executive's wife stopped by his office.
When she opened the door, she found him with his secretary sitting in his lap.
Without hesitating, he dictated, "...and in conclusion, gentlemen, budget cuts or no budget cuts, I cannot continue to operate this office with just one chair." [:I]