"OUR" PLACE - SEE NEW THREAD!

[siberianmo]

Evenin’ Gents!

Thanx to all of you who have responded to my Email to the Order of the Stools – Permanent & Reserved. [tup][tup] Still have some pending acknowledgments.

Hope this day finds our friend, Ted on the mend. With no word, either here or by Email, we can only hope things are progressing favorably. [tup][tup]


To the Posts:

coalminer3 CM3
Posted: 06 Dec 2005, 15:47:45

Twice in one day AND a greeting directed at the barkeep too! [wow][yeah] Quick someone, is the moon blue [?] [swg]

Thanx for the Emails, looks like that “mystery” has ended. Appreciate the support! [tup][tup]

An interesting account of the 1927 tropical storm that ravaged western New England. Being a rather centric nation of people, we tend to think that only those disaster occurring in our times are the ones that “count.”

Curious selections of music, wouldn’t you agree [?] Drinking on the job, eh [?] [swg]

Thanx for the 2nd installment of quarters and of course the round. Boris Ring the bell, the man is buying the drinks! [tup][tup] By the by Boris you “done good” with NOAA/Noah. They both do sound the same – so I’d say that’s an indicator of something positive! So, you think the Ark is full of ‘food’ for you, eh [?] Allow me to reconsider my comments …… <frown>

wanswheel Mike
Posted: 06 Dec 2005, 16:09:07

You weave a good story and use those URLs quite well too. [tup][tup] Sorry, it’s hard to “buy in” to the premise that you are a “novice” when it comes to ‘puters and Posting here. You must be a double-agent, working for the Kalmbach people – a “mole.”

Mike The food served at ”Our” Place does not include anything quite as “elaborate” as what you first requested. The 2nd request we can do! [swg]

The Food Service at ”Our” Place –

…Monday thru Saturday: Light breakfasts – bakery goods from The Mentor Village Bakery and sandwiches all day long made from the freshest lunchmeats in the county along with freshly baked bread for the grinders/hoagies/heros/subs……
....NO evening meals Monday thru Wednesday.
…Thursday: Fish ‘n Chips nite and Nick’s Picks or whatever our Chief Chef [C=:-)] conjures up!.
…Friday: Pizza nite – steak ‘n fries and…….
…Saturday: Steak ‘n fries and ……..

I’m rather unsure when I’ll get another edition out of the Mentor Village Gazette, however, before I do, I’d sure like some help from you and Nick. That last little venture took me lots of time to compile and I’m a bit stretched thin these days on “free” time.

pwolfe Pete
Posted: 06 Dec 2005, 16:44:50

Received your Email and noticed the “route” it took to reach me! [swg] Thanx for the kind words and your continuing participation at the bar – means a lot to all of us. [tup][tup]

You, Sir, have just experienced a bit of the malaise that I’ve been encountering for months and months with some of our customers. It’s really attributable to not reading the Posts that leads to no responses to things like your “quiz” regarding the RMS Mauritania. Take a look at how many of our guys have participated in the current Contest. Same thing.

Just curious, which of the “sets of miles” are you going with for the distance between Toronto and Montreal [?] <grin> When in doubt, go with the “Proprietor!” [swg]

nickinwestwales Nick
Posted: 06 Dec 2005, 19:14:33

Just finished typing up this Post and before placing it on the thread – I hit the “Repost/Refresh” button and what did I find [?] Nick’s epistle. See the procedure does work. C’mon guys, it really isn’t hard. Just a matter of breaking old habits and start taking advantage of the capabilities of the Forums.

Nice to see ya again, Mate! That’s quite a lot to digest in one sitting, so I’ll read it over a bit later on. Fair enough [?]

The Email confusion has been cleared up – thanx for the offer! [tup]

Got my “Fishbowl” buses today for the Can-Am – one green and one red. They are now at the Bus Depot, with the older buses sitting in one of my display cases. Also added 16 “stacks” of plywood to the lumber yard. This stuff is addictive. Ah yes, also got my “material” for the subway station walls and platform floor. Wall tile and floor tile. Should really look “cool” once done. Also a “bunch” of girders that will have to be cut and painted for the subway tunnel sections that will be visible through my “portals.” Addictive, eh [?] I think that’s already been said!

Thanx for the rounds! Boris Keep it ringing! [swg]


So, what’s happened to our other Ontario “connection” [?] Saw his cyber name pop up a few times recently, but no Posts. So what’s up, jdonald Don [?]


Later!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]



REMINDERS, especially for those who Post only once per day or on occasion:

(1) Check to see if you are getting the MOST CURRENT info before Posting.
(2) Check to see if anyone has Posted during the time yours was being prepared.
(3) Stick around a few minutes after Posting, just to ensure that someone may want to “talk” to you or has Posted.
(4) It’s a long wait until your next visit and perhaps by then some pertinent info directed your way will be missed.

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all.

A pint of Bathams please.

Thanks NICK for the 9th legion info fascinating [tup][yeah].
My first trip to Ireland quite a few years ago now. It was for a steam tour from Dublin to Rosslare and back hauled by R.S.P.I. 2-6-4 tank #4 known as the Jeep. after turning at Rosslare the loco was due to take on water but as there was two ferries taking on water there was insufficent pressure, so we set off to the town where the railway runs between the sea and the road( perhaps Wexford?) where the support crew uncovered a hydrant in the road and duly filled the engine's tanks with the road traffic running over the hose. I was hooked on the railways of Ireland after that. [^]. We left Rugby about 10PM Friday on the Irish Mail to Holyhead ferry to Dublin andback by the same route to arrive back about midday Sunday. I was young and there were trains running overnight Saturdays then.

So near with the Mauritanian hooter it was on the Rugby B.T.H factory Powerhouse roof .It was used very occasionly as there was a smaller hooter used usualy. They were used at 15 minutes before and at starting time in the morning. It is said if the wind was right the large hooter could be heared in Coventry 12 miles away.

Glad you got the e-mail TOM and thanks for the kind words [tup] PETE>

[trolleyboy]

Evening all. Don't see Leon or Tom at the moment so i'll help meself to a Keith's and leave money for a round. Oh Hi Boris. What ? No I didn't bring two elephants in with me <sheesh > must be a story there ?

Tom I'm not sure what happened to that pic. The photobucket number seems to be copied correct so I don't know maybe the gremlins are keeping it from expanding.Glad to hear that your "tube" material has arrived. Where did you find it in the first place ?

Tom does the US Navy hold any sort of reemberance survices at Peal still? I seem to recall catching part of one a few years back, but I had thought that it was a speacial event at the time because it was the unvailing ( grand opening < for lack of a better term > of the USS Missouri museum ship )



mike sorry didn't think my typing was that bad, my spelling yes but at least you've come aboard since I figured out how to space things out. Used to be much worse just ask Tom. Wonderfull additional url's BTW.

Sorry that you didn't initially see the map. Kincardine is a bit speacial to me as well. Nice little resort town on lake Huron, I do have ( had ) family there. Mom's uncle John a WW1 vet spent his life there we spent many summer weekends with him and his wife before they passed on. He never would speak of the war only ever to say that he's glad that he made it back in one piece. ( was a corpsman in the 1st CDN division 1915-1918 )

CM3 Good info on the floods. Always intersting to see how much info can still be tracked down on older climatic events. Liked the coal ads as well. [tup]


Nick & Pete interesting tales from yore as per always. I have seen a few interesting documentaries about the Boddica rebellion deep but interesting stuff. Nick glad you surveved the tender mercies of the girls, they were on their best behaviour and they did say that they would take care of you [:O][swg] Sorry Pete I did see/read about the Marritania, but I hadn't the foggiest about where it's honker went. I'm glad a usefull use was found for it,unlike over here where such impliments would sometimes get mounte dinside hockey areas( old Chicago stadiums "goal horn" ) At least it was one of the few "tannia's" that manged to survive both world wars more or less intact. Glad that you found the Delson site helpfull, quite a bit of info there, but then it's quite the imence museum,a definate stop for all who like trains and find themselves in Montreal.[tup]

P safe travels hope you can pop back in soon. Oh BTW watch out for Vito he's known to dress conspiculously and hang out track side. Normally with just a camera but the violin case is never to far out of reach ( mostly uses it as a lunch bag )[:-^][swg]




Dave wonderfull info on the CP/SP snow sheds. I love that sort of detail info stuff. I hadn't mentione dbefore but good luck in the new job. I'll second Tom in that it's good to have you back on a more regular basis.


Have a good one folks i'll catch you all later.

Rob

[trolleyboy]

Hi again I was going through the old railroad library, and came accross a book that I hadn't read for a while. It was put out in 1996 or 97. written by John Hardy. It's called "Rusty Rails" It deals with the abandonment of the mid Ontario Branchlines of both CN and CP. The very lines that Ian Wilson brought to life in his excellent series of books. Taken together they etll the sad tale of how the bug railways prune away the rural and small lines to concentrate on the big industry and intermodel traffic of today.

He describes a family trip in 1965 to the Beach at Kincardine. ( something my mother did frequently when she lived in Listowell, they stayed at uncle John's cottage )

I'll drop an excerpt from this passage.

"Down at the beach station the CN railliner was idling,awaiting it's 6:25pm Sunday departure for Stratford. On a single track in fron tof the station the orange-red face of the railiner stood out against the blue sky and the sandy beach below. to the west were the waters of Lake Huron with white waves washing onto the beach, while to the east, the neat little yellow brick station soaked up the sunshine. To the south a switch stand ,capped with its kerosene lantern overlooked the sand dunes on the beach."

The railiner ( RDC car ) service to Kincardine was continued to the fall of 1970.frieght service continued to run to the few industries and stock pens and freight sheds until 1983. When Transport Canada and the Canadian Transport Commision, Railway Transport Commitee passed down decision R-35400, dated July 25, 1983, ordering Candian National to abandone operations on the portion of the Kincardine Subdivision from a point near Wingham, mileage 32.95 to Kincardine, mileage 57.82. Shortly after the abandonement the tracks were pulled up and the little station some how burned down, Allowing the sand to reclaim the beach.


Rob

[Fergmiester]

As it's 6 am I'd thought I'd drop in before hitting the mattress. It's been a while so I'll grab a Western and load up the Mayo.

Tom: Haven't spoken to you in some time so I thought I'd tell you about a little something that I started on the MR General Discussion Forum. The Virtual Shipping Office. Have a boo and let me know what you're think'n.

PS I can handle 100 passengers a day with my fleet of Heavy Pullmans.

Rob: I have all five of Ian Wilson's books and will be getting his next one come this spring. If you're into steam it's a very good series.

Anyway thanks for the sandwich I think I'll turn in now. I'll be back later for a round of Keith's[:D]

Later Gents

Fergie

[siberianmo]

WEDNESDAY’s INFO & SUMMARY of RECENT POSTS

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

Good Morning! Mid week has arrived …..

On a somber note for some: Today is Pearl Harbor Day and my thoughts go out to those who did not make it back from the attack on our fleet that December 7th, 1941 morning. A salute from me to all of our allied surviving soldiers, sailors (including the USCG and the Merchant Marine) and airmen from WWII. Thank you!


Daily Wisdom:

A loud mouth and a shallow brain go well together.


Info for the Day:

(1) CONTEST – CONTEST – CONTEST

It’s time again to play the guessing game! What date (time optional) will ”Our” Place reach the next plateau – page 200 [?]

PRIZE [?] Free food ‘n drink for any of the following days: Thursday (Fish ‘n Chips Nite) – Friday (Pizza and Steak ‘ Fries Nite) – Saturday (Steak, etc.)

BONUS question: WHO will be the one to “turn the page” [?]

PRIZE [?] Reservations for two in the Penthouse Suite for any weekend night of your choice!

RULES: No ties gentlemen. The FIRST one who Posts a guess that hits the mark, wins! It’s that simple.

Participants . . . . . . Date chosen . . . . . . . . (Bonus) Who will put us over the top [?]

pwolfe Pete . . . . . . . Dec 20th . . . . . . . . . . . . . .siberianmo Tom
trolleyboy Rob . . . . . Dec 18th (12:05 PM) . . . . . siberianmo Tom
coalminer3 CM3 . . . Dec 18th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . siberianmo Tom

CONTEST CLOSES THIS FRIDAY the 9th

(2) MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Monday, December 12th represents the 8th Month Anniversary of ”Our” Place! An appropriate way to celebrate our “founding day” is to Post information relating to travel by rail during the Christmas holiday season!

With ample time to prepare, I would expect we will all find something suitable for this event. An advertisement, an article, a personal account – anything at all that will bring to light a trip or two by rail during the Christmas season.

That’s it! Nothing more to do. No “party” per se – it’s not a birthday celebration – just an opportunity for us all to recognize this achievement we’ve all contributed to. [tup]


SUMMARY

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

(1) West Coast S Dave Posted: 06 Dec 2005, 01:51:46 (183)

(2) siberianmo Tom Posted: 06 Dec 2005, 06:16:40 (183) Tuesday’s Info & Summary

(3) coalminer3 CM3 Posted: 06 Dec 2005, 08:29:27 (183)

(4) siberianmo Tom Posted: 06 Dec 2005, 08:39:47 (183) Acknowledgments, etc.

(5) ftwNSengineer P Posted: 06 Dec 2005, 09:00:10 (183)

(6) siberianmo Tom Posted: 06 Dec 2005, 10:15:56 (183) reply to ftwNSengineer

(7) siberianmo Tom Posted: 06 Dec 2005, 10:21:23 (183) NOSTALGIA #38 – Ad – New 20th Century Ltd

(8) coalminer3 CM3 Posted: 06 Dec 2005, 15:47:45 (183)

(9) wanswheel Mike Posted: 06 Dec 2005, 16:09:07 (183) Inclusive Post, etc.

(10) pwolfe Pete Posted: 06 Dec 2005, 16:44:50 (183) Inclusive Post, etc.

(11) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 06 Dec 2005, 19:14:33 (183) Inclusive Post, etc.

(12) siberianmo Tom Posted: 06 Dec 2005, 19:28:16 (183) Acknowledgments, etc.

(13) pwolfe Pete Posted: 06 Dec 2005, 21:33:21 (184) Inclusive Post!

=======================================
That’s it! [tup][;)]

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

[passengerfan]

Good Morning Tom and the rest of the gang. Returned earlier than expected from my trip and am ready for coffee and one of those diet pastries from the Mentor Bakery.

PASSENGERFAN AL'S STREAMLINER CORNER #22

The BROADWAY LIMITED was inaugurated as a lightweight streamlined train by the PRR numbers 28-29 between New York and Chicago daily overnigfht on June 15, 1938 the same date as rival NYC inaugurated its lightweight streamlined TWENTIETH CENTURY LIMITED in 16 hours. The PRR train traveled 907 miles each way.

Though many felt the BROADWAY LIMITED alwqays second to the TWENTIETH CENTURY LIMITED in the 1938 trains the accommodations were virtually identical.

For the BROADWAY LIMITED the PRR selected famed industrial designer Raymond Loewy who had streamlined the PRR GG-1 to design the interiors and exterior paint scheme of the new trains. Unlike NYC the PRR introduced an entire Fleet of Modernism as it was called with other premier PRR trains receiving ligfhtweight streamlined cars at the same time as the BROADWAY LIMITED. These trains were the GENERAL, LIBERTY LIMITED and SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS. The exterior color scheme of the BROADWAY LIMITED and Fleet of Modernism was was Tuscan Red with a light mauve window band. all separation stripes and lettering was yellow.

The PRR assigned GG-1 electrics to the BROADWAY LIMITED between New York and Harrisburg and K-4 Pacifics between their and Crestline, Ohio with the streamlined K-4 3768 assigned between their and Chicago in each direction.

CONSIST ONE DEPARTING NEW YORK CITY

4863 Streamlined GG-1 Electric Passenger Locomotive

Unknown Heavyweight Baggage 30' Railway Post Office Car

Unknown Hevyweight Baggage Car

Unknown Heavyweight 14-Section Sleeper (Crew Dormitory)

HARBOR SPRINGS 2-Double Bedroom Secretary Room Barber Shop Bar 28-Seat Lounge Car

CITY OF CINCINNATI 18-Roomette Sleeping Car

CITY OF NEW YORK 18-Roomette Sleeping Car

IMPERIAL PASS 4-Compartment 2-Drawing Room 4-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

4423 30-Seat Dining Car

IMPERIAL PLATEAU 4-Compartment 2-Drawing Room 4-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

CITY OF PHILADELPHIA 18-Roomette Sleeping Car

CITY OF ST. LOUIS 18-Roomette Sleeping Car

NEW YORK COUNTY 13-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

SKYLINE VIEW 1-Double Bedroom 2-Master Room Buffet 25-Seat Lounge Observation

CONSIST TWO Departing Chicago

3768 Streamlined K-4 4-6-2 Pacific Locomotive & Tender

Unknown Heavyweight Baggage 30' Railway Post Office Car

Unknown Heavyweight Baggage Car

Unknown Heavyweight 14 Section Sleeper (Crew Dormitory)

HARBOR POINT 2-Double Bedroom Secretary Room Barber Shop Bar 28-Seat Lounge Car

CITY OF BALTIMORE 18-Roomette Sleeping Car

CITY of COLUMBUS 18-Roomette Sleeping Car

IMPERIAL PARK 4-Compartment 2-Drawing Room 4-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

4420 50-Seat Dining Car

IMPERIAL POINT 4-Compartment 2-Drawing Room 4-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

CITY OF PITTSBURGH 18-Roomette Sleeping Car

CITY OF WASHINGTON 18-Roomette Sleeping Car

ALLEGHENY COUNTY 13-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

METROPOLITAN VIEW 1-Double Bedroom 2-Master Room Buffet 25-Seat Lounge Observation

TTFN AL

[passengerfan]

Tom Just a quick PS .

Let's not any of us forget that today is December 7, 2005 it was sixty four years ago on this date that the attack on Pearl Harbor took. Place.

For tomorrow I will do the EMPIRE STATE EXPRESS Streamliner that was inaugurated on December 7, 1941as a commemmorative to all who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor.

[siberianmo]

Mornin’ Gents!

We’re off to a good start this fine day with the return of passengerfan Al to the “fold.” The walk with Juneau at 6:30 AM was, a word, brisk! The temps were in the single digits (F) ‘round here, and we made the one mile trek rather quickly. Hard to imagine that just a few months ago I was walking this route in shorts and wishing the heat would go away. It did! [swg]

Here’s a URL to check out: http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/12/06/cnderail051206.html
It is one of those that will NOT remain active for very long – so catch it now. Concerns the most current railroad accidents in western Canada. Quite an ongoing saga …..

Okay, to the acknowledgments:

pwolfe Pete
Posted: 06 Dec 2005, 21:33:21

Looks like your faith has been restored thanx to Nick and his always astute readings of that which is Posted! Good show, guys!

I’m curious about the voyage between England and Ireland. What kind of vessels traveled that route [?] What of the accommodations [?] Were the trains available at the landings [?] What are the differences in travel today compared to the timeframe you were discussing [?]

trolleyboy Rob
Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 00:03:54 and 00:26:04

Rob, there are daily ceremonies at Pearl Harbor, at the site of the USS Arizona Memorial. Today, of course, is the “biggie.” As long as there are breathing Americans, this will continue on, as it should! Thanx for asking.

I had a guy who worked for me in southern California who had been assigned to the battleship, USS Missouri before the Navy sent him to my task force. It was then homeported a short distance from where I lived. He arranged for me to have lunch with the Executive Officer (CO was away at the time) and a tour of the vessel. What a ship! Later on, the Chief Petty Officers invited me to have lunch with them – which I accepted – and once again, got a “tour,” but this time saw lots of “behind the scenes” stuff. Again, what a ship!

So the question is, are you going to re-do that “Classic Juice” Post [?] What number is it supposed to be?

Regarding the materials for the subway construction: I was referred to an outfit called "Evergreen Scale Models" http://www.evergreenscalemodels.com/
They carry an assortment of materials for use in the hobby. Walthers also carries their products, so when I ordered my "Fishbowls" I also added the subway station and tunnel "stuff" to the order, thereby qualifying for their "free shipping" offer. Worked well.

What do you mean Leon the Night Man wasn’t in sight [?] How in the world could you miss him [?] That’s like saying the aircraft pilots couldn’t see King Kong on top of the Empire State Building! [swg] Hope you enjoyed the Keiths – I always do! [tup]

Nice “bit” on the RDC … liked it! [tup][tup] Not to bore anyone, but we do have a couple of guys who may not know this. The RR’s referred to the Budd Rail Diesel Cars (RDCs) in different ways. As we’ve seen from Rob’s Post – CN called them Railliners. CP, on the other hand, referred to them as Dayliners. There’s lots more … but perhaps for another time!

Fergmiester Fergie
Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 03:31:12

[wow] A visit from a friend in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia! Awwwwwwwright! Nice seein’ ya again, and especially that herald of yours – best “home made” RR herald I’ve ever seen! Really fits the area you are in, fer sure, fer sure!

I just visited your new thread at http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=50533 and must say it is quite the idea! [tup][tup][tup] I’ll have to give it some thought regarding the Can-Am RR to see where my passenger operation can “fit” in. I’d like to participate. Much success with it and I hope the jerks out there don’t wind up doing what they do best to the best of intentions …….

Hitting the mattress at 6 AM [?] Are you getting your days (daze) and nights confused, Mate [?] [swg] You’ll have to elaborate – an Email will do fine – I think it’s “your turn!” [tup]

Thanx for stoppin’ by and hope to see ya soon!

passengerfan Al
Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 06:13:06 and 06:32:36

Good one on the Broadway Ltd. [tup][tup] Watch for the next NOSTALGIA piece! Also, in your absence, we’ve had all kinds of “good stuff” Posted, so I hope you’ve taken the time to peruse them. Reciprocity is the word for the day! [swg]

Today’s SUMMARY makes reference to Pearl Harbor Day.


Later!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]



REMINDERS, especially for those who Post only once per day or on occasion:

(1) Check to see if you are getting the MOST CURRENT info before Posting.
(2) Check to see if anyone has Posted during the time yours was being prepared.
(3) Stick around a few minutes after Posting, just to ensure that someone may want to “talk” to you or has Posted.
(4) It’s a long wait until your next visit and perhaps by then some pertinent info directed your way will be missed.

[coalminer3]

Good Morning Barkeep and all; coffee, please, round for the house and $ for the jukebox. Music this a.m. (1st tune in honor of the weather) will be "Footprints in the Snow," followed by "Bluegrass Express." Temperature was abt. 15 degrees with a heavy frost. The K9s stayed out a little longer today as there was no wind.

For those who remember ,a nickel bought a Pepsi at one time. IIRC, there was a Pepsi radio jingle with a chorus to the effect of, "Nickel, nickel, nickel."

The Nickel Plate was, IMHO, one of the best-run operations in the country. "Blue Birds" was the nickname for their PA passenger units. They had several named trains over the years, but the ones that stick in my memory are the "Nickel Plate Limited" and the "Commercial Traveler." Their through Pullman service was handled via a NKP-DL&W routing.

Here's a little NKP ad copy.

Through Train Service Between Chicago-Cleveland-Buffalo-Elmira-Binghamton-Scranton-Newark-New York.

Only one coupon reading "Nickel Plate Road" is required in Interline service between any two points on the Nickel Plate, Lake Erie&Western or Clover Leaf Distriocts of the New York, Chicago, and St. Louis Railroad.

Here's a little more on the 1927 flood. I am working on putting a longer piece together which will appear at a bar and grille in your neighborhood fairly soon.

I found some pictures of flood damage around Richmond, VT, which show track hanging in the air or twisted like spaghetti; no roadbed or ballast underneath it as it was completely washed out. Another shot, taken at Bolton, showed a house that was moved off it's foundations and dropped on the CV tracks a half-mile from it's original location. Still another photo is of a milk train that was marooned at Waterbury, VT. It sat there from November 4, 1927 until February 7, 1928. The caption said "...some 60,000 gallons of cream had to be dumped into the river.

Here's something from the CV that I found in a folder in my stack of CV stuff.

Items of Interest Showing What Was Necessary to Rehabilitate Central Vermont Railway Lines in Vermont

Miles of CV track in flood zone - 90 (75 percent of which was badly damaged)
Bridges washed away or damaged - 21
Ballast required - 700 thousand CY
2,500 laborers
150 bridgemen
150 other skilled workers
6 steam shovels
2 gasoline shovels
400 ballast cars
12 unloading plows
6 rapid unloaders
4 Jordan spreaders
6 pile drivers
150 boarding cars
6 camps for laborers
50 trucks
50 teams
25 work trains

De Luxe popular train the "Ambassador" en route Montreal to Boston with abt. 125 passengers was marooned at Roxbury for several days; passengers were well looked after.

The estimated expense of rehabilitating the CV lines damaged by the floods is $2 million.

For those who may not know much abt the "Ambassador," here's some copy.

"The New Ambassador"
Fastest Day Train
Montreal-Vermont-Boston

You're going to look for reasons tp travel once you've ridden this smart new train. Yes...we're pretty proud of it! It's much faster. Air conditioning in the new deluxe coaches supplies continual pure, fresh air - dustless, invigorating, and cool.

Seats are of the new lounging type. Comfortable? Only a bed could be better!

And as an extra surprise - a Buffet Club Coach where you may eat, drink, smoke, or read. Extra speed-extra service-extra comfort-but no extra fare!

Pearl Harbor Day is, indeed, today. The State of WV has a Pearl Harbor Survivor license plate. There are several here in the area. Interesting folks to talk to for certain. Let us never forget!

work safe

[siberianmo]

G’day All!

PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #39

Here’s something to enjoy regarding the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) in a 1949 advertisement from my private collection:

The New BROADWAY LIMITED

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEW YORK – CHICAGO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Now in Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

THE NEWLY-EQUIPPED Broadway Limited presents completely new conception of travel . . . with new styling, appointments, riding ease and beauty . . . more comforts and conveniences than ever before, representing the finest that modern design and engineering can offer.

Beautiful new Lounge and Observation Cars . . . attractive new Dining Cars . . . distinctively new, all-room sleeping cars . . . plus the Broadway Limited’s traditional hospitality – all for your personal travel pleasure! WE invite you to make a reservation for your next trip.

NEW MID-TRAIN LOUNGE AND OBSERVATION LOUNGE CAR – Richly appointed for leisure. Magazines, buffets.

NEW MASTER DINING CAR – Attractively furnished and decorated. Enjoy delicious food . . . meticulous service. Entire car reserved for dining.

ROOMETTES for one. Full-length bed, wardrobe, complete toilet facilities.

DUPLEX ROOMS for one person. Full length bed becomes comfortable divan during day. Toilet facilities.

COMPARTMENTS for two. Sofa-seat and lounge chair. Lower and upper beds. Wardrobe, enclosed toilet annex.

BEDROOMS – for one or two – in three new styles. Lower and upper beds, wardrobe, enclosed toilet annex.

DRAWING ROOMS for three. Sofa-seat and lounge chairs . . . three beds. Wardrobe, enclosed toilet annex.


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Enjoy! [tup]

Tom [4:-)][oX)]

CHECK THE MONDAY SUMMARY and INDEX PAGES FOR MORE GREAT NOSTALGIA POSTS!

[trolleyboy]

Morning Tom and everyone else. I'll just grab a coffee and sandwich as i'm on the way through to work.

Leon wasn't around when I popped in briefly. After the Keith's I did some investigating ( followed the shreames and noise ) Seems that Boris was having one of his sleep walking events and some how Tex and leon found him asleep at the top of a large tree[alien] oh well it all eneded well I think.

Thanks for the info on the "tubes" I will investigate that later [tup] Also quite the saga out west isn't it, the urls worth a look fer sure.

I'm glad to hear that the Dec 7th commemerations still go on, hopefully even after all the vets are gone, forgetting's not an option. In the words of someone much more wise "those who forget the past, are doomed to repeat it


I'm glad to see that you snuck the GG1 into today's nostalgia [tup][:D] Figured that you would like the "railiner bit" a rather colourfull passage I kinda thought that it would work for you.[tup]


Al Good to have you back and he comes bearing gifts of Pennsylvania electrics and steam allright [tup]

Fergie Who's that masked man [oops] it just Fergie wearing a balaclava ! [tup] I too like your little shipping site , I just haven't figured out the "electrical" connections yet. My H&SR moves mostly passengers but we do a fair business in express frieght and mail any use to you ?

CM3 Wow considering the times that was an absolute army of men and equipment to fix that damage. CN and GTW must have sent some equipment and people as well. Don't think you could get away with dumping creame like that any more. EPA regs don't yah know !

Nice to see that you have those speacail plates for the survivours. Ontario did a similar thing a couple years back. Vets and their families can have a poppy put on their plates in place of the usual Ontario crown logo. Costs a bit extra at plate sticker renewal time but the extra funds go to the various veterans orginizations.


Well flks have a good afternoon nap [zzz] I however am away to work [sigh]

Rob

[wanswheel]

http://www.law.ou.edu/hist/infamy.html

Hi Tom and guys. My last train ride anywhere ever was up to the top of Mt. Washington on that Cog railway in 1996. Don't get around much anymore.
If I had connections at Kalmbach my Dad's article would still be available online. That's where I found it when I got my first computer in 2002. We had no idea that his reminiscenses from Notre Dame days had been published as an article 22 years after his death. He typed it in 1975 during his time on the Amtrak board, on a portable Royal typewriter (vintage 1928) that he'd had since high school. I still have the typewriter. Dad carried it on many trains. And a carbon copy of a letter with virtually the exact text as the article. I doubt that he intended it to be considered for publication. It was just another of many a long-winded letter. He could type faster than I can talk. Incredible clack-ety-clack typing of about the same rhythm as the click-ety clack of a train. I hope to see it posted in this thread soon.
The other son of a CV engineer was my Uncle John (1916-1987). He went to University of New Hampshire and worked at B&M in Boston for a little while and decided it wasn't for him. So he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and headed for Hawaii in 1940. In those days there were no troop trains yet, so the Navy moved the Army across the continental divide by way of the Panama Canal. He wrote many letters too, all in longhand. I could follow his entire tour to Italy in 1945. He spoke French, as did my Dad, because my grandmother had a grievance against the regular Catholic parish because they wouldn't say a funeral mass for my Uncle Gerald (1922-1924) for the technical reason that he was an innocent and not in need of a mass. The French church gave her baby a funeral mass so she enrolled his brothers in the French parochial school.
From Uncle John's letters home from Hickam Field, including one postmarked Dec. 6, it's clear that an attack was the last thing in the world they expected. In fact he described how Honolulu was an absolute fortress. No worries. I can relate a little bit to that, the false sense of security, because I sure didn't expect incoming artillery at Nha Trang on the first night of the Tet offensive in 1968. (That was the worst of it, and no more from me on that subject) God bless the troops in Iraq!!
Rob, nothing wrong with your typing, I was being a wise guy, re: Rand McNally atlas. My 1956 edition shows all the rail lines rather than the highways. Municipality of Kincardine website mentions no rail connection so I was not surprised. Looks very scenic.
The Broadway left from Penn Station. What a tragedy they tore it down. Always convenient for Glenn Miller across the street at PEnnsylvania 6-5000, if I got it right. Ted you'd know more about that.
http://www.militarycity.com/valor/honor.html

[siberianmo]

G’day Guys!

Beginning to cloud up in this part of east central Missouri, mid-continent USA; temps in the 20s (F) and snow is on the way. Awwwwwwwright! Hope it gets patootdeeptoanelephant before it’s done! [swg]

Oh [yeah] petrol up at “Collusion Corner” is now at $2.09 (rounded). Someone still sneezing at OPEC [?]

Had an interesting day with a friend of mine from our local PD – lunch, gun shop, and some good ole fashioned man-to-man talk. Don’t get that ‘round here with Juneau very much! [swg] This guy is a Navy vet, police officer for over 38 years and all ‘round good guy. My kinda people!

Wondering - Why such disinterest in our “Contest” [?]

Okay, ‘nuf said on that, on to the acknowledgments:

coalminer3 CM3
Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 08:22:25

Two days (daze) in a row with a greeting for the barkeep! Looks like a corner has been turned and it is much appreciated! Ditto for the round and quarters. Our “Juke Jar” is filling up quite nicely and perhaps we should consider naming it in your honor. Any suggestions out there [?] After all, CM3 has almost single handedly sponsored Herr Wurltizer’s tunes. I can only recall one other donation to the cause, that from West Coast S Dave back when he was trying to “win points” for the Order of the Permanent Stool! [swg]

You’ve provided quite a Smorgasbord of good topics to read through and as always, stuff to learn from. Thanx! “Gasoline shovels” sounds to me like trying to eat soup with a fork! Never a dull moment, eh [?]

Just for wanswheel Mike – IMHO translated means: in my humble opinion. (At least it did last time I saw it used; never know these days <daze>!)

trolleyboy Rob
Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 12:13:51

I make no promises, but I’ll try to get some pix of those “Fishbowls” for Sunday Photo Posting Day! They really look good. [tup]

Given that you are STAFF ‘round here, I’ll pass to you the recommendation of trying to communicate with our friend jdonald from Ontario to find out if he’s coming back. He’s been observed doing the “Phantom Browse” several times – but that’s it.

It would be of interest to learn just how our cloven-footed friend, Boris –AND- his Armadillo pet, Tex managed to climb a tree! [%-)][%-)]

Isn’t that site of Fergies something else [?] I read through all 7 pages (probably more by now) and came away with the conclusion that I could in no way keep up with that along with this thread. No way, no how. A great idea, with lots of fun – almost a cyber game, I suppose. Again, much too involved for the time I have available.

wanswheel Mike
Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 13:57:43

Another fine Post and filled with much WWII info at that. Normally you’d get tweeeeeeeeted for being [off topic] which of course would cost you a ‘round. However, given that this is Dec 7th – I’ll let it go. [swg]

We’re getting to know your family members quite well and you know what [?] You are a fortunate man indeed to have those recollections and keepsakes. Some of us aren’t that lucky. Cherish ‘em all, Mate!

Well, Ted may have the “leg up” on the big band connection, but I’m the one from NYC and know all about Penn Station and Pennsylvania 6-5000! [tup] Spent many a Sunday afternoon in that station, along with Grand Central Terminal, back in the 40s with my Grandpa. Great times – greater memories! That’s where my love for the streamliners began as he somehow always managed to get us down to the train platforms at either location for close up looks at those gleaming trains, just waiting and willing to get going. [yeah]

Mike It’s awfully hard trying to reply to your Post when you keep editing it! <grrrrrr>


Later!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]



REMINDERS, especially for those who Post only once per day or on occasion:

(1) Check to see if you are getting the MOST CURRENT info before Posting.
(2) Check to see if anyone has Posted during the time yours was being prepared.
(3) Stick around a few minutes after Posting, just to ensure that someone may want to “talk” to you or has Posted.
(4) It’s a long wait until your next visit and perhaps by then some pertinent info directed your way will be missed.

[Anonymous]

Good evening Tom, and all my good friends! I've only time for a quick brew, and kindly set-up a round for the house.

As you know, I've been away and have a lot of catching up to do, but I wanted to post Part III of my fireman series for y'all to hopefuly enjoy. Before I do ... I will take December 22nd as my contest day, want to tell Nick that I was highly amused about the reference to Awk actually being a "Norwegian Blue" (lovely plumage and all), and Mike, you're posting some amazing stuff, and thanks for the e-mail! Please accept the following humble offering, and I will hopefully be back later tonight!

Recollections of a Locomotive Fireman by Don Olsen, Vintage Rails Nov/Dec 1998

Some Decks’ tenders were fitted with six-wheel trucks and steam pipes for passenger service. Many 2-10-2s still retained operating boosters – two-cylinder engines driving the axle on the locomotive trailing truck. Excessive maintenance on the flexible ball joints that connected the booster engine to its throttle caused a gradual deactivation of these devices.

Heavy steam locomotives could develop 3,000-6,000 drawbar horsepower, but due to adhesion factors, etc., this horsepower didn’t approach its maximum until the speed reached 30 or 40 mph and was minimal at the time of starting. This is where boosters came in. They were very low geared and applied their 10-15,000 pounds of tractive effort to help start an engine, and then automatically cut out around 10 mph.

Deer frequented the tracks at night, attracted to the salt which dripped from ice bunkers. It was impossible to stop in time to avoid hitting them. All we could do is whistle and turn off the headlight, which seemed to mesmerize them. The bodies of those unfortunate animals which got caught up in the running gear gave off a terrible odor when singed by the heat of the firebox and brakeshoes. Sometimes we’d stop so the caboose was at the spot where the deer were, and the rear end crew would hop off and look for some clean carcasses. By the time we arrived at K. Falls yard, they had them expertly cleaned and dressed.

However, the game wardens got wise to this routine, and even at three or four o’clock in the morning, they would lurk in the yard to catch and confiscate the venison. Presumably suck ill-gotten gains were donated to state institutions, but nobody believed much of that meat was ever savored by orphans.

The only diesels in evidence at Dunsmuir at that time were powering the Daylight and Cascade (before its streamlined consist was place into service) – usually three PA/PB Alcos. Not infrequently we’d be in the hole, and they’d pass with a 2-10-2 helper on the point. We were mystified by this, until we leaned that one of the units was dead.

Word was that Alco threatened to revoke its warranty unless SP observed recommended maintenance and operating procedures. It took SP some time to learn that diesel locomotives couldn’t be abused like steam power traditionally had been. They couldn’t be overloaded and roughly handled without causing serious damage.

The Alcos replaced E7s as standard power. The former were apparently gutsier, had superior dynamic braking capacity, and performed more satisfactorily in this very demanding service, even though they had the same nominal 2,000 hp rating as the EMDs.

In that era of waning steam power (late 1940s), SP was still practicing a policy of tying “everything in the yard” to outbound freights. Especially in winter, when cold congealed the wheel bearing lube, the assistance of three or four Decks was required to boost a Cab-Forward and its tonnage up the hill from Dunsmuir. Usually one was cut in 15-20 cars from the rear and two more ahead of the caboose.

I vividly recall firing those helpers, sometimes Decks, other times ACs. After an eastbound freight was assembled in the yard, there followed several attempts to start the train by bunching the slack; and with much whistling, slipping of drivers, and banging of draft gear, we would finally get a wheel on (start moving) our train. With everything wide open, we crawled ponderously up through the yard past the station. By that time, we needed to have attained at least 10 or 15 mph in order to avoid stalling on the hill.

Firemen on the laboring locomotives had such heavy fires going to keep up a full head of steam that the firebox would “drum.” This vibration was so strong that shock waves from the slowly passing engines occasionally broke windows in the station, which was only a few yards from the track. Rarely, a 2-8-0 was used on the point (ahead of the road engine). It was a strange feeling to look back and see a mighty cab-forward blasting away, so close behind. It felt like one slip of the drivers, and we’d be run over!

Most SP engines had an injector on the engineer’s side, and one on the fireman’s side. Using a venture principle, they mixed cold tender water with steam and forced it against the pressure into the boiler. A “hit” with an injector could knock the boiler pressure back 20 pounds or so; therefore it was desired to cool the boiler down, using the feedwater system was preferable.

The fireman controlled the feedwater pump, which forced hot water into the boiler which utilized waste heat from the exhaust system). On a working engine, use of the pump was more efficient, because the water was preheated. Its capacity just about offset normal water malfunctioning or, more likely, the tubes were plugged with scale. This was the downside of the feedwater system: It was very difficult to access or maintain.

Familiarity with the line greatly assisted the fireman’s anticipation of demands on the engine. When approaching a stop, he had already allowed the water level in the boiler to drop, which permitted use of the injector. This cooled the boiler down and prevented the pops (safety valves) from lifting. Blowing off excess steam pressure in a gross waste of energy, and in normal operations, Oil-fired locomotive pops shouldn’t lift. During my tenure in 1947-1948, a notice was circulated reminding enginemen that it cost the SP 3/5 of a cent each time the whistle was blown.

Probably one of my proudest moments in my firing career was completion of my qualifying run, from Klamath Falls to Dunsmuir. The engineer had warned me that J.E. Peterson, the road foreman of engines (who, incidentally hired me) would be on board; and he was a bear for not allowing pops to lift. We stooped for several meets, but I kept the needle on the pin and didn’t waste a pound of steam through the safety valves. Mr. Peterson was known as a man of few words, and when we climbed off the engine at Dunsmuir, he shook my hand and said. “That was a good run. You’re a natural fireman.” I was certainly on cloud nine!

[siberianmo]

Evenin’ Guys!

Good to see ya again, barndad Doug and we’re lookin’ forward to a “report” of your RR activities. Also, thanx for the Part III of your series. Much too much for me to digest tonight – but I will get to it in the ‘morrow! [tup] Lots of work putting that together and it’s appreciated ….

Oh yes – there’s a rather long Email awaiting an acknowledgment when “you come up for air!”

Finally, THANX for participating in our Contest!

Some info for wanswheel Mike

You made mention of the train called the “Blue Bird,” suggesting that perhaps two roads used that name. Maybe so. Check out these URLs on my series of Fallen Flag and NOSTALGIA Posts. Keep in mind these are NOT all inclusive and represent only the period of time shown. Also, the Monday INDEX is a good source for these and many other ‘special’ Posts.

For the Nickel Plate Fallen Flag – scroll down
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=154&TOPIC_ID=35270

For the Wabash Fallen Flag and “New Blue Bird” NOSTALGIA– scroll down ….
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=147&TOPIC_ID=35270

Enjoy!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]

[nickinwestwales]

Good evening [4:-)]TOM & gentlemen all,a round for the house please-Given the date,a toast to the fallen & a moment of quiet introspection are called for.......................................................................................................................................................................Thank you gents,now to business-
Well here we all are,half-way-there day and pike perspectives to boot.[^],right,post first,before I switch to `ramble` mode:-
[4:-)]TOM,after much research,arcane calculation,consulting of mediums and divining from entrails (you don`t want to know ) I am prepared to risk general ridicule and nominate Dec 27th as the big day & BAR CHANDLER ROB as the man to do the deed
Nice stuff on the `Broadway Limited`-yet again ,the power of a name to conjure an image-for me that name conjures up a picture of a big semi-streamlined pacific or mountain with boxpok type disc wheels hauling an immense string of heavyweights all in dove grey with a broad orange stripe down the sides-presumably something I saw in a book as a nipper,although the livery sounds more like the S.P-clues anyone ?
As to Irish ferry sailings,the crossing is about 4 hours (weather permitting) most services are on the big car ferries,which also carry a big volume of lorry traffic.
There is also a fast `cat` service "The vomit comet" which I think is foot passage only.
Not sure about Holyhead-Dublin service,but Fishguard-Rosslare connects with an (eventual) London train on this side but C.I.E service is geared to outgoing passengers only and departs 10 minutes before the ferry is due in,consequently a wait of about 3 hours for Dublin service or 12 hours for Waterford and the west.
Pembroke Dock is about 20 mins walk from the station which at least has regular trains throughout the day,Fishguard just has the 2 boat-trains.
Easiest solution is to stop over with us & we`ll take the car over-gives us far more flexibility...[swg][tup]
Juke box-I`ve put a small fortune into that thing-!!!-just `cause you lot don`t like my `left field` selections there`s no need to be casting aspertions..............
PETE-Ave ! ( beat *** with clenched fist ) -Sounds like Wexford Town all right,pictures at 11 as they say-only shots I got are without train,saw the track more or less in the middle of the street and assumed abandoned freight spur. Halfway through fry-up in caff,heard train horn-by the time the penny dropped & I`d grabbed the camera from under the mountain of rain-gear & baby stuff She was mostly past and the lorry traffic in the road prevented a clear line of sight-just have to go try again I guess ( apparently they pay big bucks for bands over there-hmmm..................)
ROB-they certainly keep all the best shifts for you mate,still who wants that 9-5 s**t anyway.
H+H extremely competant Zeppelin crew,if a little over-fond of Wagner on the Tannoy system,however,loud yelling of "bombs avay" when passing over Milford Haven refineries unlikely to endear them to locals..........
FERGIE-Welcome ashore,hope you had a good trip[tup]-Like the VSO idea-maybe I can route some freight via Can-Am lines-got newsprint,forest products,iron ore,limestone,green veg & salad,beer,bread & grain going out and coal,oil,gasoline,propane,heavy plant,autos & spares,steel,white goods,plastic pellets coming in-P.S do you need a european agent ? [swg]
AL-an early finish is (almost) always a good thing [tup]-nice stuff,as ever,but tuscan red with a mauve stripe-is it just me or does that sound slightly twitch-inducing..?
CM3-Nice one on the C.V floods-that musta been a job to see !![^]
MIKE-Howdy-Saw a feature on Mt Washington line on kids T.V. the other day,talk about a line built to prove a point !-Some lovely clips of the train ascending with rods flailing madly,smoke belching from the stack and the whole thing gliding along at about 3mph [^]-thanks for sharing the family stuff,puts a spotlight on a whole way of life thats been left behind somewhere-nice one[^][tup].
RED P-I thought there was something familiar about you-just been crawling through the archives on a `Gazette`-related project and who do I find but your good self,pitching in during [4:-)]TOM`s spring railtour,my apologies for not picking up sooner-drinks on me to cover my shame.
[4:-)]TOM-just picked up that news-feed U.R.L-sounds like they need a loan of the track gang out west.
Joking aside,there have been a number of derailments up on the O.N.R since they`ve taken on forwarding of C.N. through traffic,almost always with C.N covered Gons on the deck ( and eating a fair amount of rail in the process).-Wonder if some dispatch clerk somewhere is trying to route high-weight cars along lines that are not maintained to take them....who knows.
Right,a touch weary now,will pitch in to pikes perspectives when I`ve dropped the little one off to school ( about 2.30 am your time )
enjoy the evening,nick[C=:-)]

[passengerfan]

Good Afternoon Tom and the rest of the gang. Time for a CR and a round for the house. Catching up on the posts has taken me awhile and to the regulars I commend all of you in my absence for giving me much more material to read than my exhausted brain can absorb all at once.

Wanswheel Mike I have the information you mentioned on the Blue Bird will look it up in the next day or two and get out to you.

Barndad Doug I really enjoyed the article by the SP fireman.

Trolleyboy Rob Love the articles on the CN Palmerston Sub.

Tom enjoyed the Nostalgia pieces you have printed I have been copying fast and furious to try and get caught up.

To try and get myself caught up thought i would do the piece on the EMPIRE STATE EXPRESS on this date rather than wait until tomorrow.

PASSENGERFAN AL'S STREAMLINER CORNER # 23

EMPIRE STATE EXPRESS New York Central Trains 50-51 between Cleveland/Detroit and New York City daily in each direction 630 miles New York-Cleveland 16 hours each way. Streamlined train inaugurated December 7, 1941. On that date the New York Central inaugurated the first westbound EMPIRE STATE EXPRESS and on the following date the trains ran for the first time in both directions.

The December 7, 1941 date is best remembered as the date the United States Pacific Fleet and other military installations was attacked at Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiin Islands by Imperial Japanese forces plunging the United States into WW-II

The EMPIRE STATE EXPRESS was among the finest of day trains to enter service at the time of its inauguration using all stainless steel Budd built equipment with the roofs painted black. Both coach passengers and Parlor car patrons were offered dining and lounge facilities and the trains served two cities at their western ends. The cars were named for New York State Governors with six coaches receiving numbers as they were extra cars all used on the December 8, 1941 trains sets. Besides all of the New York State governors names had been used. Later one of the extra coaches 32564 would be named THOMAS E. DEWEY in 1954 when the three term Governor left office.

The two sections split and came together at Buffalo each day the Detroit cars operated via the NYC southern Ontario line while the Cleveland section operated via the NYC four track mainline. The Cleveland and New York end beagan behind electric power with Staem taking over at Harmon and the eastend of the Cleveland electrification.

For the main portion of the trip between the electrified zones the NYC streamlined two J3 4-6-4 Steam locomotives and tenders with fluted atainless steel on the tenders and stainless steel bolier jacket covers to match the stainless stell consists trailing. These locomotives were 5426 and 5429. The tops were painted black to match the roofs of the Budd stainless steel cars. Each locomotives streamlining was slightly different then the others.

CONSIST ONE Departing Harmon for Buffalo westbound December 8, 1941

5429 ALCO Streamlined J-3 4-6-4 Hudson Locomotive and Tender

ALONZO B. CORNELL Baggage 60'Railway Post Office Car

GROVER CLEVELAND Baggage Buffet Bar 46-Seat Lounge Car

CHARLES E. HUGHES 30-Revenue Seat Parlor Car with 5-Revenue Seat Parlor Drawing Room

NATHAN L. MILLER 30-Revenue Seat Parlor Car with 5-Revenue Seat Parlor Drawing Room

ALFRED E. SMITH 30-Revenue Seat Parlor Car with 5-Revenue Seat Parlor Drawing Room (New York - Detroit)

DeWITT CLINTON 44-Seat Dining Car
(New York - Detroit)

GEORGE CLINTON 44-Seat Dining Car

REUBEN E. FENTON 56-Revenue Seat Coach
(New York - Detroit)

DAVID B. HILL 56-Revenue Seat Coach
(New York - Detroit)

WILLIAM L. MARCY 56-Revenue Seat Coach
New York - Detroit)

WILLIAM H. SEWARD 56-Revenue Seat Coach

CHARLES S. WHITMAN 56-Revenue Seat Coach

2564 56-Revenue Seat Coach

2566 56-Revenue Seta Coach

2568 56-Revenue Seat Coach

THEODORE ROOSEVELT 26-Seat Tavern Lounge Bar 22-Seat Lounge Observation

CONSIST TWO Departing Buffalo for New York City

5426 ALCO Streamlined J-3 4-6-4 Hudson Locomotive & Tender

JOHN A. DIX Baggage 60' Railway Post Office Car

MARTIN VAN BUREN Baggage Buffet Bar 46-Seat Lounge Car

HERBERT H. LEHMAN 30-Revenue Seat Parlor Car with 5-Revenue Seat Parlor Drawing Room

LEVI P. MORTON 30-Revenue Seat Parlor Car with 5-Revenue Seat Parlor Drawing Room

SAMUEL J. TILDEN 30-Revenue Seat Parlor Car with 5-Revenue Seat Parlor Drawing Room (Detroit - New York)

JOHN JAY 44- Seat Dining Car
(Detroit - New York)

HORATIO SEYMOUR 44-Seat Ding Car

HAMILTON FISH 56-Revenue Seat Coach
(Detroit - New York)

MORGAN LEWIS 56-Revenue Seat Coach
(Detroit - New York)

EDWIN D. MORGAN 56-Revenue Seat Coach
(Detroit - New York)

DANIEL D. TOMPKINS 56-Revenue Seat Coach

SILAS WRIGHT 56-Revenue Seat Coach

2565 56-Revenue Seat Coach

2567 56-Revenue Seat Coach

2569 56-Revenue Seat Coach

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT 26-Seat Tavern Lounge Bar 22-Seat Lounge Car

TTFN AL

[Anonymous]

Evening again Tom and friends. I'll be needing a bottomless draught, or poppies perhaps to make me sleep. It's been go go go around here for a long time it seems. Please accept a round on me, and sit back to the final installment of the Fireman series ..... but 1st, a few things need to be said: Al how do you keep coming up with all these streamliner segments, and how much time do you spend typing it all up? Please keep 'em coming ... it's amazing stuff. Dan, I won the auction on the CW book, and now have it in my grubby mitts ... and I love it! Thanks for the recommendation! Tom, I can't say enough about your efforts here in maintaining a thread that is unlike any other I've seen. Everyone please raise your glasses to Captain Tom, yourselves, and the future of Our Place! And now ... part IV ...

Recollections of a Locomotive Fireman by Don Olsen, Vintage Rails Nov/Dec 1998

Out of the Ordinary – For several months, I worked on a guaranteed job at Mt. Hebron. The 1 percent grade to Grass Lake, 25 miles to the west, required helpers for maximum-rated freights, which could otherwise make the run from Klamath Falls to Dunsmuir unassisted. Four crews lived and messed in a couple of old wooden passenger cars set on foundations along the tracks, and generally we were called once a day; but if not, we were still given a day’s pay – thus the “guaranteed” description. A wye, water and oil supplies, and a resident agent completed the facilities.

One day a westbound freight approached, but we had been advised no helper would be needed: It was already on the train. The Cab-Forward roared by with its string of cars, making a run for the hill, and at the rear came the helper. Imagine our surprise to find it was a lame Mike – a locomotive without a main rod on one side! Of course, it might need a push if stopped on dead center, but once moving it could shove: however, the uneven thrust caused the engine to fishtail down the line. It must have been hard on the track, but SP wasn’t going to move an engine cold if there was some way to get work out of it.

One situation I regretted allowing to develop, and vowed never to repeat, concerned a drunken engineer. Not “falling-down drunk,” but obviously the worse for over-indulging. My problem was that if I refuse to take the run, I would have had to reveal my reason, and if the hogger had had any other brownies connected to Rule G, he’d probably have been fired.

So, although it was against my better judgment, it seemed relatively safe, having our helper tethered to the back of the train. When the road engine whistled off, my hogger yanked the throttle wide open. Those little Consolidations just squatted down and heaved – never slipping an inch! As soon as the road engine took up enough of the load, we started to move, but after getting a good roll, my befogged engineer decided to play more games and close the throttle. I thought we’d surely pull a drawbar when the slack ran out, but luck is with this witless. However, the road engineer must have wondered what was going on at the rear of his train. The conductor came out of the crummy and hollered at us, but my hogger was feeling no pain and ignored the commotion. Just when we almost dragged to a stop because of the head end couldn’t pull the whole load, out came the throttle again, and we began to pick up speed. As we dropped the caboose down onto its train at Grass Lake, we got some strange looks from its crew, but my engineer thought it was a great joke.

We rolled around the wye, and after getting our clearance to return to Mt. Hebron, we were off. As I remember, standing orders required all light helpers to take 45 minutes from Grass Lake to Mt. Hebron, but we made it in about 30. I’ll swear I felt the drivers under me lifting off the rails on several turns, but ol’ “feel good Joe” was singing and laughing and thoroughly enjoying himself. Needless to say, I was shake and relieved to climb down from the engine on that day. Soon after, that hoghead bid off to another job, and I never saw him again.

Black Butte could certainly qualify as one of California’s coldest spots in the winter, and one night we needed to take water at its tank. The wind was howling down off the mountain, and everything was covered with a sheet of ice. I carefully made my way out on the tender deck, experiencing considerable difficulty keeping my feet against the force of the wind. I finally got the cistern cover open and the spout into the opening. However, when I reached up for the large wheel which opened the valve, the wind swept me right off my feet, and having a hold on the valve wheel saved me from going over the side.

The engineer heard my shouts and told the head brakeman to go back and see what the commotion was about. The hoghead later told me that when the brakeman returned, he said, “That *** fool kid was back there doing gymnastics – in this weather!”

A recap of my unusual firing experiences on the Shasta Division would be incomplete without describing some “foreign” equipment, UP’s 2-8-8-0s. Postwar business on SP’s western lines was booming to such an extent that it leased five monster articulateds, in the 3500 series, to augment helper service out of Dunsmuir. These appropriately nicknamed “bull Mooses” were in most respects, the antithesis of SP’s articulateds – grossly unlovely in appearance, as well as performance.

In all fairness, the UP articulateds were the last of the WWI drag freight design, whereas SP’s Cab-Forwards were among the first “modern” locomotive designs. This gap was but a decade by the calendar, but as far as basic design concepts and refinements, it was light years away. Also, in general, firing characteristics of converted coal burners were probably never on a par with original oil burning designs. UP’s smaller drivers, 57” vs. 63”, and lower boiler pressure, 218 vs. 250 psi, certainly limited their speed and power.

Having made all possible allowances for their shortcomings, the inescapable fact remained: These brutes were miserable to work! My first boarding was a visual revelation. The cab, likely due to coal burning ancestry, was huge. It seemed like a small ballroom compared to SP cabs. Conversing with the engineer, so much farther away, required shouting, rather than calling out signals, etc. The lack of a trailing truck certainly contributed to an extraordinary rough ride: Over 20 mph one could hardly stay on the seatbox. It also required the firebox to be located between the rear drivers, which resulted in a long and narrow configuration, strongly resembling a bowling alley.

It was so difficult to maintain a full head of steam on these brutes that a number of runs stalled on the hill north of Dunsmuir and had to whistle out flags while the overwhelmed tallowpot tried to regain working pressure. I might have been among the disgraced, but for the friendly counsel of a veteran fireman, who advised me to “lay the biggest *** fire in her that you can!”

Well, that was the secret, all right. After tying onto our train, I had what seemed to be a heavy fire, but just standing still I couldn’t get the needle up to the pin! So I opened up the blower and the firing valve, and that antique started roaring and drumming like the devil’s own, with flames shooting out the cracks around the firebox door! We took off with a tremendous commotion and a fire twice the size of the heaviest fire I’d ever laid in one of our ACs. It must have been impressive from the ground, too, because it got the attention of many local rails, who are notorious for remaining unimpressed, regardless of the show.

The engineer, with whom I had not previously worked, didn’t say much but kept watching me out of the corner of his eye. About half way up the hill, he called me over and said, “My last run died here; I’m relieved to know it won’t happen this time.” He gave me a wink and said, “Keep up the good work!” He and the head brakeman had occasional words, and it was obvious that the hogger was ragging him, but I had no idea why. Later he told me that the brakeman had bet him a fifth that as a relatively new man, I wouldn’t be able to tame the beast, either. Since that brakeman was a particularly obnoxious clod, the victory was sweet, indeed.

A final complaint about these gawd-awful machines was their whistles. Being raised on the melodious sound of SPs six-chime Nathans left me woefully unprepared for a Bull Moose trumpet. Maybe this suggested their nickname: The whistles screamed like banshees, an ear-splitting shriek which made fingernails scraping on a blackboard seem positively benign by comparison. And adding insult to injury, the whistle itself was located on the steam turret, just ahead of the cab, right over our heads, rather than farther forward on the boiler.

A comparison between these monsters and SP’s locomotives was no contest. The Baldwin products were wonderful to work, esthetically handsome, and relatively comfortable, as steamers went. It made me very aware of how fortunate this starry-eyed steam lover was to have worked the magnificent Cab-Forwards amidst some of California’s most spectacular scenery. Images of Mt. Shasta, glistening with fresh snow in the light of a frosty moon, are undimmed by the passage of 50 years.

At the risk of becoming nostalgic, I must say that, to me, a steam locomotive always seemed to be a living, breathing creature – whether sighing and whispering softly to itself when at rest or laboring mightily at full throttle It embodied the epitome of raw power: One could feel the pent up energy of steam waiting to surge into the cylinders and drive the engine to the far horizons over twin ribbons of steel. Its billowing plume of exhaust lifting to the heavens seemed to thunder defiance of mere man and his limitations. Contemporary railroading is still exciting, but it can never equal the romance inspired by steam.

[siberianmo]

Evenin' Gents!

Just a few words before turning the bar over to Leon the Night Man -

Nick - Thanx for participating in our Contest! Was beginning to wonder ..... Also, hope you'll be able to particpate in our 8th Month Anniversary/Christmas RR Travel Posting on Dec 12th ..

Can't help you with those heavyweights in dove grey and orange stripe. Surely might be SP. Surely something for Al or Dave to pick up on..

What in the world are you referring to regarding your choice of music [?] Cite me just one aspersion form me, and I'll buy the drinks for you for the remainder of the year! <geesh> Whatever it is you are drinking, perhaps you should abstain! <grin> Also, if you've been putting your own coins in Herr Wurlitzer you've messed up - for the "jar" is full of quarters just for that purpose! Oh well ...... [swg]

Appreciate the info on the ferry service to Ireland - and love that name, "Vomit Comet." [yeah] Nothing like calling it like it is! [swg]

Al Couldn't hold off, eh [?] Well, it will be more reading for the 'morrow, for I'll sure not get to it this fine nite! Thanx for the effort nonetheless. Catch up is a lot of work, isn't it [?] [swg] Glad you are getting to the NOSTALGIA pieces. [tup]

Thanx for the round!

Doug Thanx for the toast and kind words! Another epistle too .... man oh man, I'm going to have to get reading glasses. [swg]

Email has been sent to Al, Doug and Rob. Change is on the way, guys.


Okay - time for me to check out.

Later! [zzz]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all.

May I add to the tributes to the Veterens on Pearl Harbor Day.

Thanks AL and TOM for the Broadway Limited ads and details. It must have been a fine site behind a GG1.How was the cars heated when changed from electric to steam power

CM3, Interesting details on the manpower and equipment that was used to repair 1927 floods.

ROB Good piece on the Rusty Rails. In the Trains magazine there is a piece each month which lists the N. American railroad Acquisitions and Abandonments, I always feel a bit sad when I read of a line being put out of use. [:(][V]

WANSWHEEL MIKE Thanks for sharing some of your interesting family history and for the thoughtful links.

NICK Hope you are to post photo of Wexford. When I was over that way the normal passenger trains between Dublin and Rosslare were worked by the 001 class diesels.

DOUG Thanks for Part Three and Four. There is nothing better than a good Footplate story [tup] I'll join you in a toast to Tom if I may And congrats on getting the book.

TOM Sorry I'm late with the post tonight had a tech problem.
About the ferries,my notes are in England But as Nick says the first trip was on a large car ferry. There were cabins but what struck me was that there was a lack of seats inboard with most of the seats in bars etc. where we spent our time.
There was two companies that sailed between Holyhead and Ireland.
The one sailed from a dock adjacent to Holyhead station and sailed to Dun Leahoire(not sure about the spelling) which is a few miles south of Dublin. It is a short walk to the station there which is served by the electrified Dublin Area Rapid Transit cars. This line is part of the Dublin to Rosslare route. The ferry was owned by the railway company it is now I believe operated by Stenna lines.

The other ferry is operated by B&I lines. It involved a short bus journey from Holyhead railway station to the B&I dock. This sailed to Dublin North Wall dock which was a fairly short bus or cab ride to the city center.

The last time I used the ferry it was by the passenger only Sea-Cat which I believe does the trip in less than half the time.

I will try and find out what the situation is now with the connections at Holyhead.I hope this as been useful PETE>

[trolleyboy]

Good evening Leon. Just tea tonight for me I'm back at it in the morning. I'll leave money for an early morning round for Tom and the breakfast crowd.

Tom Who knows exactly how Boris got up there it took Leon using Tex as a winch to get him out. Awk wanted to supervise but somehow his suggestion to cut down the tree to get him out didn't seem at the time to be neither safe nor prudent.

It is quite a site that fergie compiled, bit much for me to wrap my grey matter around as well,not unlike the CS which i visit more infrequently now, just sensory overload.

Don't wish for too much *** snow you may just get it. With the great lakes overly warm this year we may still be digging out in May. at least that's what envirinment canada has been saying. I'll look into emailing Don, I'm not sure that he was email enabled through the forum, but I'll go back and check.He's not that local to me but he did mention some thing a ways back about maybe wanting to do some rail fanning so i was meaning to touch base with him anyway.

A note to everyone perhaps drop a wee line to Ted.May make him feel a bit better healing words and thoughts and all that.

Doug Great last couple of parts to the firemans story loved them. ain't the gritty part of railroading fun ?

Nick ONR has some pretty heavy rail. Mainline standards. My guess is that the derailments there on the ONR are more a matter of too big a train on a regionals tighter curves and easements.The ONR wasn't designed to run 100+ car trains at 60 mph.Glad that the girls behaved themselves however, as to the bombs away comments I guess old habbits die hard. speaking of habbits did H&H show you their halloween costumes from this past Oct 31st ?

I do get the bum shifts oh welkl I get to do mostly what i want so i can't complain too much.
Al Liked the Empire state express bit. Did you catch the TH&B ad for it I posted oh maybe 10 pages back? Thanks for the comment on Palmerston it was a really interesting town full service facility in the day 13 stall round house freight sheds and coaling docks,a thre standpipe water tank. More railroad stuff than one would normally expect in a small rural town. Ah the days of steam, not suprising that it was replaced.


Mike I figured that you were just pulling my cjhain that's alright we all do that around here, opart of the fun iof the place. have you emailed Kalmbach ? They may still have the original your dad sent them. Never know you might be able to get it back from them. Kincardine is a neat little town actually that whole area of Ontario is very picturesque and quaint. Most of the CN and CP trackage up that way was removed in the late 70's early 80's. The odd sation is still around ( those that haven't burned ) All train sations in Ontario are covered by a blankett piece of legislation that was designed to preserve them. All it really does is say that they can't be torn down.They can be moved and if they burn well then all bets are off. Wingham's witches hat station is still there being used as a restaurant the last I had heard.A station identical to Kincardine's, is at our museum. It's the station from Rockwood. CN wanted to tear it down to double their trackage thrrough town so the museum bought it in 1971 and moved it the 10 miles or so to our museum site. we've restored it and use it as it was intended today.

Well folks I'm off early day tomorrow. [zzz]

Rob

[siberianmo]

THURSDAY’s INFO & SUMMARY of RECENT POSTS

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

Good Morning!

Fish ‘n Chips Nite! With perhaps something from Nick’s Picks!


Daily Wisdom:

Treat mule-headed men the same way you’d treat a mule your fixin’ to corral. Don’t try to drive ‘em in. Just leave the gate open a crack and let ‘em bust in.


Info for the Day:

(1) CONTEST – CONTEST – CONTEST

It’s time again to play the guessing game! What date (time optional) will ”Our” Place reach the next plateau – page 200 [?]

PRIZE [?] Free food ‘n drink for any of the following days: Thursday (Fish ‘n Chips Nite) – Friday (Pizza and Steak ‘ Fries Nite) – Saturday (Steak, etc.)

BONUS question: WHO will be the one to “turn the page” [?]

PRIZE [?] Reservations for two in the Penthouse Suite for any weekend night of your choice!

RULES: No ties gentlemen. The FIRST one who Posts a guess that hits the mark, wins! It’s that simple.

Participants . . . . . . Date chosen . . . . . . (Bonus) Who will put us over the top [?]

pwolfe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dec 20th . . . . . . . . . .siberianmo Tom
trolleyboy Rob . . . . . . . . . Dec 18th (12:05 PM) . siberianmo Tom
coalminer3 CM3 . . . . . . . .Dec 18th. . . . . . . . . . siberianmo Tom
barndad Doug . . . . . . . . . Dec 22nd . . . . . . . . . none
nickinwestwales Nick . . . .Dec 27th . . . . . . . . . .trolleyboy Rob

CONTEST CLOSES TOMORROW!

(2) MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Monday, December 12th represents the 8th Month Anniversary of ”Our” Place! An appropriate way to celebrate our “founding day” is to Post information relating to travel by rail during the Christmas holiday season!

With ample time to prepare, I would expect we will all find something suitable for this event. An advertisement, an article, a personal account – anything at all that will bring to light a trip or two by rail during the Christmas season.

That’s it! Nothing more to do. No “party” per se – it’s not a birthday celebration – just an opportunity for us all to recognize this achievement we’ve all contributed to. [tup]


SUMMARY

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

(1) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 00:03:54 (184) Inclusive Post, etc.

(2) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 00:26:04 (184)

(3) Fergmiester Fergie Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 03:31:12 (184)

(4) siberianmo Tom Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 05:44:41 (184) Wednesday’s Info & Summary

(5) passengerfan Al Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 06:13:06 (184) Streamliner #22 – Broadway Ltd

(6) passengerfan Al Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 06:32:36 (184)

(7) siberianmo Tom Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 08:16:40 (184) Acknowledgments, etc.

(8) coalminer3 CM3 Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 08:22:25 (184) Daily pick-us-up!

(9) siberianmo Tom Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 10:00:53 (184) NOSTALGIA #39 – Broadway Ltd

(10) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 12:13:51 (184) Inclusive Post, etc.

(11) wanswheel Mike Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 13:57:43 (184) Inclusive Post, etc.

(12) siberianmo Tom Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 15:36:43 (184) Acknowledgments, etc.

(13) barndad Doug Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 17:44:57 (184) Recollections of a Locomotive Fireman, Part III, etc.

(14) siberianmo Tom Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 18:47:07 (184) Acknowledgments

(15) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 19:49:30 (184) Inclusive Post, etc.

(16) passengerfan Al Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 20:38:18 (184) Streamliner #23 Empire State Express

(17) barndad Doug Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 21:45:36 (184) Recollections of a Locomotive Fireman, Part IV

(18) siberianmo Tom Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 21:50:15 (184) Acknowledgments, etc.

(19) pwolfe Pete Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 23:54:35 (184) Inclusive Post, etc.

=======================================
That’s it! [tup][;)]

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

[coalminer3]

Good Morning Barkeep and all assembled at the bar. Coffee, please, round for the house and $for the jukebox. We'll play "Mystery Train" - not by Elvis, but by the Paul Butterfield Band (Nick should enjoy this version). Clear this a.m. although we are under winter storm warning for later. Gas is $2.19/gal here this a.m, went up about $.05 from yesterday.

Lots of interesting posts to read today.

To wanswheel - I graduated from UNH longer ago than I care to remember. Many B&M folks, especially on the engineering side came from there. The B&M ran (still does) on the north side of the campus. I recall crossing the tracks on the overpass there many times going to classes, and in the winter the only thing between us and Santy's workshop was the Canadian border. The station still stands at Durham and is the town itself is served by Amtrak's Northeast or whatever it's name is. Anyway, when I was there, we had passenger service provided by RDC (I knew that would get our 'steamed proprietor's attention). Freight service was not all that infrequent as Durham was on the Portland Division main line. Power was trios or quartetes of GP7s or GP9s either in red and gold or blue/black white color scheme. Locals ren generally behind RS3s.

Boradway material is always appreciated. The power change at Harrisburg from electric to steam or electric to diesel didn't take all that long. GG1s had steam generators which took care of heating, etc.

I have many fond memories of the G motors. One of the best is when I went to visit my dad when he was in school at Rutgers. Now bear in mind that I was about 11 or 12 yrs. old and the following story is even more extraordinary (in light of today's obsession with liability, etc.)

The New Brunswick station was not all that far from the campus and I begged permission to go look at the P Company. I went into the station and told the man behind the counter what I wanted to do, and he said, "Fine - but don't stand too close to the tracks." The reason for that warning became pretty clear when the "Congressional" went by - my God - I'd never seen a train moving that fast before in life, even after spending time along the New Haven between Providence and Kingston where they really used to roll. Anyway, the day passed all too fast in a blur of passenger trains, freight trains, all types of electric locomotives, some diesels, etc. I guess that's how I became an SPF (Slobbering Pennsy Freak, according to my NYC buddies) in addition to all my other interests. As a postscript, I believe Tom will agree with this, if anybody ever tells you that all of the PRR was all the same, tain't so.

For the passenger folks in the audience, here's a 1930-era consist for PRR train 124 "ACL, SO., N&W and WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK EXPRESS" Not the greatest name ever, but at least you knew where it went.
Sleepers
Augusta-New York (2 cars via ACL)
Wilmington-New York (via ACL)
Thomasville-New York (2 cars via ACL)
Myrtle Beach-New York (Sundays)
Tampa-New York (via SAL)
Asheville-New York (2 cars via SOU)
Augusta-New York (via SOU)
Aiken-New York (2 cars via SOU)
Winston-Salem-New York (via SOU)
Greensboro-New York (via SOU)
Chattanooga-New York (via N&W/SOU)
New Orleans-New York (via N&W/SOU)
Shreveport-New York (via N&W/SOU)
Augusta-New York (via SOU)
Diner: Washington-New York
Coaches: Washington-New York

Train 124 departed Washington at at 7:25 a.m. , arrived NY at 1230 p.m.

work safe

[red p]

Morning, Tom coffee please, and could I have a large order of biscuits and gravy to go with that.
Just got in this morning at 4:00, it was a nice quick pig train though.
And you can put me down for Dec. 23rd. on the contest, and ill bet trollyboy does it.

Hey if you got a minute check this out. I know its kinda hard to read,had it in my coat pocket for about a week. But this is the plan for the passenger station im going to do in HO scale for my PC/Amtrak layout. What do you think?
By the way this is the PRR1967 track diagram.
p

[siberianmo]

G’day Guys!

What a glorious day with the snow fallin’ and predictions of up to 4 inches, perhaps a bit more! [yeah] Juneau the sled dog loves this stuff, and so do I. Never feel more alive than in the cold and especially so with the white stuff.

A thought: We’ve had several instances here at the bar ‘n grill whereby a guy falls ill and we don’t hear from him for perhaps months – as was the case with our Charter Member, CFournier Chris awhile ago.

If Email communications don’t work, what then [?] A guy could pass on to the great cyber space in Ether land, and we’d not know. So, here’s a proposal for those who feel the way I do. Why not send me your phone number – one that you can be reasonably assured to be reached at – and I’ll make a solemn promise to not release it to anyone without your okay. I would use it only under the circumstances whereby a period of time has elapsed with no communications – such as several weeks. Then I’d place a call just to check ….

So, with the aforementioned in mind – let’s all get some Emails out to Theodorebear Ted. (Follow the procedure in the next paragraph if you don’t know how. You’ll just have to scroll back several pages to find his last Post.)

For those who do not have my Email address, just click on my cyber name – go to “contact info” and click on Email. A screen will pop up enabling you to send me a message through the Forums.

Reminder: Tomorrow is the last day to enter our Contest! Also Monday is the day for our Christmas and holiday RR travel Posts in commemoration of ”Our” Place’s 8th month anniversary. Plan to participate!

And finally, there will be a change to the Monday Index – so for those who have followed it, this one coming up will be the LAST of its kind. Much too labor intensive and also I’m not at all certain of its value. No feedback equates to no interest.


On to the acknowledgments:

pwolfe Pete
Posted: 07 Dec 2005, 23:54:35

Between what you provided and that from Nick, I have a much better grasp on those ferries. Seats in the bar area are where they should be! [swg] By the map, the trip appears to be one that would take a few hours for sure, using the traditional ferries. Of course talking of the more state of the art vessels, well that’s another thing entirely. Never rode any of those ‘air cushioned’ vessels, and always wondered about ‘em. Probably a heck of a lot more comfortable and easier to maintain the head on one’s brew! [swg] Priorities! Perhaps one day …….

Glad you made it in, and we need to figure out a way to communicate with you more in “real time” than having this “gap” between late night and the next day. Go wireless and high speed! That way more than one can access the web at the same time. Hey – it’s only money. [swg]

trolleyboy Rob
Posted: 08 Dec 2005, 00:16:24

Let’s see, Tex the Armadillo has been “used and abused” in an assortment of ways – now a winch! <good grief!>

“Sensory overload” is a good way to put it regarding Fergie’s site and any other thread requiring almost constant attention just to keep pace. That’s why I’m hardly ever away from this thread – don’t have the time, and the inclination is falling off as well. Every now ‘ then ….

I see that CN has been ordered to reduce length of their freights to 80 cars on that stretch of former BC Rail right of way where so many problems have arisen. Amazing how the “big boys” always try to get away with things the little guy wouldn’t dare to try. Such is life.

Good suggestion regarding Ted – check the lead-in to this Post. Also, received your Email and a reply has been sent. Thanx!

coalminer3 CM3
Posted: 08 Dec 2005, 08:20:21

A round and more quarters for Herr Wurltizer, der Juke! [swg] Thanx! [tup] Still have to come up with an appropriate name for that Pickled Pig’s Feet jar holding the quarters. After all, you’ve paid for it several times over. [yeah]

Now this may really upset some of you guys – but Elvis songs are rather scarce on the Juke. I have invoked “Proprietor Privilege” in that regard. Didn’t care for him back then – still don’t. A couple now ‘n then – but that’s all I can take – and after all, I’m here virtually all of the time! Given that we are approaching Christmas we can tolerate his “Blue Christmas warble …… <ugh>

Really nice diversity with your Post and a good read. Thanx! [tup][tup]

You had indicated that you may not be around tomorrow, so I’ll urge you now to not forget what this coming Monday is! You started this idea for the Christmas RR travels Posts …. Looking for some good stuff from you too!

ftwNSengineer P
Posted: 08 Dec 2005, 10:09:58

That was a rather fast trip, I guess. I’m kinda locked in to thinking of trips in terms of weeks and months. [yeah] I understand the difference between being a RR Engineer and a sailor. Just a mindset that kicks in when someone says they are off on a trip, I think in different measures of time. Glad you’re back!

Nice layout scheme – that should be a sure winner. Where is (was) this particular place in real life [?] I’m into passenger stations, depots and terminals and love the track plans. Appreciate the input – it enlarged nicely as well! [tup][tup]

Later!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]



REMINDERS, especially for those who Post only once per day or on occasion:

(1) Check to see if you are getting the MOST CURRENT info before Posting.
(2) Check to see if anyone has Posted during the time yours was being prepared.
(3) Stick around a few minutes after Posting, just to ensure that someone may want to “talk” to you or has Posted.
(4) It’s a long wait until your next visit and perhaps by then some pertinent info directed your way will be missed.

[red p]

Tom - well my trip was 11 hours up then 10 hours in the dorm before I go called back. then 5 hours home on the pig train.

The track diagram is of Baker St. Station in Fort Wayne, In. Which sits next to the "mike" Diamond where 2 (NW) tracks cross 4 (PRR/PC) tracks..............Impressive!
To make things even more interesting the PRR used a wierd Hamilton Center cab to switch that area,and I do have a picture of it.
For Sunday Picture day (if im in town )I will concentrate on that area.
P

[siberianmo]

G’day All!

PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #40

Here’s something to enjoy regarding the BRITISH RAILWAYS in a 1948 advertisement from my private collection:

. . . . . 25% Reduction IN TOUR FARES . . . . .

. . . . . For Americans Visiting The BRITISH ISLES . . . . .

When planning your British Isles holiday, make a list of all the places you want to see in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Your Travel Agent will be glad to help you prepare your complete individual itinerary. That way you’ll effect substantial savings on planned tour tickets offered by British Railways.

. . . . . . . . . . See More in Britain! . . . . . . . . . .

Naturally, you’ll visit our great cities, our world-famous historic and scenic shrines (all within a day’s train trip from London) . . . but with more time you can enjoy so many equally memorable travel experiences in our less publicized byways. So plan to stay longer – discover for yourself the charm of our villages, countryside and rugged coastline.

. . . . . . . . . . Travel means BRITISH RAILWAYS

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British Railways – official agents for air tickets on British European Air Corporation routes in the British Isles.

Write for British Railways – new and amusing booklet, ”WHAT, NO ICE?” – written especially for Americans planning to visit us; as well as the full-color map folder, ”THE BRITISH ISLES” both free upon request to Dept. 25 at any of the offices shown below.

For tickets, reservations and authoritative travel information on the British Isles

CONSULT YOUR LOCAL TRAVEL AGENT or any British Railways office:

. . . . . NEW YORK 20, N. Y., 9 ROCKEFELLER Pl.
. . . . . CHICAGO 3, ILL, 39 So. Lasalle St.
. . . . . LOS ANGELES 14, CAL., 510 W. 6th St.
. . . . . TORONTO, ONT., 69 Younge Street

. . . . . . . . . . BRITISH RAILWAYS . . . . . . . . . .


Enjoy! [tup]

Tom [4:-)][oX)]

CHECK THE MONDAY SUMMARY and INDEX PAGES FOR MORE GREAT NOSTALGIA POSTS!

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all.

A pint of Bathams and can you put me down for some Fish and Chips for later please[tup].

CM3 Thanks for the info on the GG1's steam heat boiler. The first generation of passenger diesels in the U.K. were also fitted with then. When the West Coast Main Line of England Electrification was taking place at the start of the1960's the passenger cars were steam heat only and the new electric locos were not fitted with boilers. Until the cars were fitted for electric heating there were special cars fitted with a boiler which was hauled directly behind the electric loco. This was only needed for a short time but these cars lasted a fair bit longer on the Irish Railway system.

Does any one know when the steam heating of railroad cars was introduced [?].

P Hope you are able to post the Fort Wayne pictures it sounds a busy location[tup].

TOM I have a bit more info on the Holyhead train service. Although it is not possible to get a connection from the Saturday night sailing from Dublin it is possible on the other days. The train departs Holyhead around 1 30 PM but goes to Birmingham not London as it did on my first trip. There seems to be a good service connecting to and from the ferries in the day time. The principle day and night trains between London and Holyhead were named The Irish Mail which was the oldest named train in the world or so I have read. It's first call out and last in was Rugby so was a good way to start our holiday in North Wales although a change was needed as it did not call at the holiday towns on the N. Wales coast. In steam days it was hauled by one of Holyhead shed's 4-6-0 Royal Scot or the 4-6-2 Britannia class locos. The Britannias were one of the very few B.R locos that had a Chime Whistle I can still re-call hearing, as a young lad, the Brit on the Night Mail as I lay in the boarding house bed in Rhyl. Magical stuff.

Great Nostalgia many thanks [tup].Oh for a time machine[sigh]. 1948 was the year the U.K. railways were nationalised and became British Railways. It was also the year of the Locomotive Exchanges when certain classes of locos of the four main companies were tried out on each others main lines hauling normal service trains but with a Dynamometer car behind the loco to assess performance.

I dont know if the TOUR FARES were the fore-runner of the tickets that are now known as the Brit-Rail Passes offering unlimited travel over a certain period. They are known as Railrovers when bought in the U.K. and are still avaliable for certain areas as well as the All-Line one . [^].

My computer problem was the operater not the equipment yesterday.

I'll e-mail TED and how is TEX getting on in the snow[?] PETE.

[wanswheel]

Hi Tom and gang, is it time for fish & chips yet? I'll perch myself right here then, just for the halibut.
There was no Blue Bird on the Nickel Plate, of course it was the Wabash. There is a contemporary tourist excursion train Blue Bird at Waterville, Ohio, on old "Cloverleaf" Nickel Plate tracks.
Interesting link to NYC&StL historical society Tom recommended on page 154. I like these pictures:
http://nkphts.org/images/nkppaper/1948timetablecover.jpg
http://nkphts.org/pictures/nkphts/171.html
And the sound clips of steam engines are cool too.
Doug thanks for typing those stories. Good stuff.
Coal3 thanks for pouring all that cold water on 1927.
P, that Baker Street Station is a gem of architechure. As you know it was PRR before it became a restaurant.
Re: Elvis. IMHO "The King" was Roger Miller. IIRC 3rd boxcar midnight train, destination Bangor, Maine

Here's more from Hunger. (Excerpts from CV history by Edward Hungerford)

"One new name appears on the list of incorporators of the re-organized Central Vermont Railway - Charles M. Hays. It is the name of one of one of the very great, one of the most brilliant railroad operators that America has ever known. Starting his career in the old roundhouse of the Wabash at Decatur, Illinois, a training school for many and many another outstanding railroader, he swept quickly upwards until he came to be the president and guiding force of the highly important Grand Trunk Railway of Canada. From the beginning, planned to be an important railroad and so to justify its pretentious name, the Grand Trunk had, for years, suffered greviously from absentee and incompetent management from its London offices. Now, at last, it was freed from long-distance control. Hays had tremendous plans for it. He was seemingly the first railroader who had come in to Canada without an awesome regard, if not downright fear, of the all-powerful Canadian Pacific crowd. He planned to expand Grand Trunk far beyond the dreams of its founders. There would be a new transcontinental across all Canada, starting at Quebec and extending in a great circle, many miles to the north of Montreal and Ottowa on its way to Lake Superior and the Pacific coast.
In the east, Hayes saw a magnificent oportunity in the struggling Central Vermont Railroad. It was he who dictated the re-organization of the property and planned the extension of its southernmost flank. He was not satisfied with New London as the south terminal of his new acquisition. There was little or no freight originating in New London, what came there , came there almost wholly by a not entirely satisfactory steamship service from New York.
But Providence
Providence was not only a seaport of importance, and the second city in all New England in population, but a manufacturing and industrial center of real parts. It was served by but one railroad and some of its citizens felt that service was inadequate. When Hays and his agents approached these with tentative suggestions for an extension of the Central Vermont into the Rhode Island Plantations, they were received with open arms. Providence prepared to do its full part in getting the new road adequate waterside terminals, and the work was actually begun upon the Southern New England, to reach with a junction of Central Vermont (as well as Boston and Albany) at Palmer, Massachusetts, south and east, some seventy-five miles to Providence.
Sheer tragedy struck it, and its parent, the Grand Trunk, in the maiden voyage of the magnificent new White Star liner, Titanic, on her maiden voyage to New York...The blow that sent her reeling in the deep night to the bottom of the Atlantic, fell upon the railroad world as well. Down with the Titanic went one of her most distinguished passengers--Charles M. Hays. The Grand Trunk never recovered from this disaster....The road sunk into desuetude. The first World War ended its career as a separate railroad...
When, in that brief and tragic hour, the life of Charles M. Hays went slipping into the uncharted seas, the life of the Southern New England, which had been his dream-child, went slipping out with him. The man and his pet project died together.
Work on the new railroad stopped at once. Men and teams and machines were withdrawn, almost instantly. it was not resumed. And today, thirty years later, one can still see the giant gashes into the Massachusetts hills, just south and east of Palmer; the half-finished embankments, piers and abutments standing useless and forlorn, in the fields -- all a monument to a great dreamer whose dream was never destined to come into being. The life of the Southern New England was brief and inglorious."