"OUR" PLACE - SEE NEW THREAD!

[LoveDomes]

Good Afternoon Tom and Gents at the bar!

I was just about to “spring” for the drinks when I noticed that our leader has “sprung” from the Lars Box!![swg][tup] Enjoy, Gents . . . here’s a ten spot for replenishment!

Things are progressing favorably with the foundation work as they call it – wall repair as I call it. It’s quite a process that they follow and I’m surprised that our house can stand up to the rigors. This place is about 60 years old, one of the “new” ranch style homes that cropped up in places here on the “Island,” which I’m sure you recall, Tom.

The first repair we had done, which the company is honoring, didn’t involve anything like what they are doing now. I’m a bit surprised that they are putting so much into it – but who am I to complain!![?]

Get this – an insurance adjustor came around this morning from the “former” company. He wanted to take some pix and get me to sign off on some documents. Of course I refused and essentially told him to get the H off my property. The guy was an ok sort of fellow, but enough is enough. I never quite knew what a “complete idiot” was – now I know where there’s an entire company of them![swg]

Shortly after he departed, another adjustor arrived. I was ready to unload when he explained that he was at my home for the purpose of checking out the foundation/basement wall work. I was confused. Seems that the contractor has insurance to cover what should have been done right in the first place, but wasn’t. Get it[?] Amazing parade of people coming by these days![swg]

Someone made mention of a sump pump[?] Probably me. We have a sump pump, but it is in the wrong place and not at all powerful enough to handle the kind of water that came in this time. So, the new one will be an add-on for those “just in case” scenarios. Flooded basements are a rarity on this part of the “Island.” My home being the exception to the rule, that is![swg]

So what’s this[?] You’re dropping the Amtrak Trifecta for that Alaskan “thing”[?]![wow] What a choice! I’d do the same, as they say – in a New York minute! Now that’s a trip I’ve always wanted to make, and I think you’ve planted the seed! Been talking it up around here, so who knows[?] She can always get a night job![swg] Seriously, that’s a great choice and I hope it all works out for you two.[tup][tup][tup] So, what kind of airline routing did you get[?] I know that since TWA is long gone and American has pretty much pulled out many of their non-stop service from St. Louis, that you guys pretty much have to change planes to go around the block. We surely are spoiled in this part of the world, but I always appreciated TWA and am very sorry they couldn’t make it. Quite history left behind in U.S. airlines lore.

Hey Doug you can’t quit with the jokes! I agree with Rob – between what Tom gives us in the Summaries and your horrible excuses for humor, why it’s all part of the fabric![swg]

I also agree with Tom about that “yarn” of yours – just like an old time radio show. Keeps one spellbound, so to speak, and with NO commercials![tup]

Nick I’m going to have to start a refresher course on my Euro-literature. You surely bring up some references that I haven’t thought about for eons. Sailors are like that, we’ll read just about anything to pass the time. So, I’ve delved into some of those “fantasty” epochs. Don’t think they would hold my interest today, but there was a time. Just don’t have the keen memory that I once had either.

Looking forward to your “Canadian Railways of the Past” tomorrow. Always liked the British Columbia Rail organization and rolling stock. Also traveled up that way once or twice. Beautiful, beautiful place.

Barkeep – I’ll have a quickie – JD on the rocks and then I’ve gotta split.


Until the next time!

Lars

[siberianmo]

G’day!

Now it’s time to elaborate on a few Posts that I didn’t have time for earlier in the day.

barndad Doug That latest story of yours (True Tales of the Rails) somehow reminds me of listening to the radio as a kid back in the 1940s. The story tellers would have the family wrapped around that little tuning eye that so many early radios had. Yes, it was a different time and imagination played a much different role than today when it comes to entertainment. But that’s another story . . .

This mystery story of yours has a few twists that I’m sure will unfold . . . thanx for finding it and I’m looking forward to the next installment – and the next![tup][tup][tup]

Now, regarding the joke that followed a bit later on – a question: What took the sailor so long[?]<grin>


trolleyboy Rob Figured you’d want to help out with the BC Rail stuff comin’ up for tomorrow. While we aren’t going to “Theme” the day, some supporting material surely would be nice. What I have to offer will be in two installments, which I’ll try to get out in the morning.

Your later comment about that Fallen Flag NP sounds apologetic. NO NEED at all! Really. Just another example of how much ‘stuff’ is out there and one never quite knows who the real creator might be. Mine is from a book I bought – yours from an article; perhaps by the same author. Who knows[?] Still was good of you to put it out there … helped maintain the “Theme!”[tup][tup][tup]

Also from your most recent Post – no cruises for us. The bride doesn’t care for the idea and I figure that the sea duty I had aboard “real” ships is all I’ll ever need. Never really got “into” that aspect of travel and vacationing. I think that the smell of the salt air will be noticed in Anchorage – catch the name of the town[?][swg] Surely looking forward to this adventure as it is something we’ve discussed for years. Finally came together when I found exactly what we were looking for in terms of availability. scheduling and of course price. This is an all first class trip for us – and the way I look at it, it surely should be! A once in a lifetime getaway and we want to do it right, so we will.[yeah]

Don’t know why I haven’t mentioned it – but “good deal” on relocating your layout to a more convenient space and one that will provide you with the room you want for the type of operation you desire. Helps to have a supporting wife, eh[?] In my case, I took over the entire basement. No sweat – she helped! Now it’s pretty much “done,” and perhaps I should consider putting in a turnstile for ‘showings.’ Of course, no fees required for Rendezvous attendees![swg]

Back to your ideas – yes I can understand the ‘traction’ element and of course that will be a must. It’s what makes this hobby so great – whatever we have in mind, comes to life in miniature, with ourselves as the biggest critic or fan. Go fer it![tup][tup][tup]


nickinwestwalesNick Once again you posed a name for which I had no “clue.” So here’s a URL to help others who may not be as well read as our friend from West Wales (via London!):
http://www.answers.com/topic/gormenghast-novel


coalminer3 CM3 Thanx for that narrative on your childhood recollections with the Lionel accessories. I HAD THE LOG LOADER![swg] I always wonder, given that the “toys” of yesteryear were very much instrumental in forming a boy’s mechanical abilities and the like, what “toys” of today provide similar benefits[?] With electric trains, obviously electricity – then the mechanical stuff ranging from unclogging a milk can from the “shute,” or fiddling with a balky drive rod on a loco, or figuring out how to open up a passenger car to change a light bulb, or . . . . Planning entered into it as well with layout “design.” Of course it was lots of trial ‘n error, but ultimately something worked out and the trains made it ‘round and ‘round through an assortment of turnouts and crossovers, etc. What you had to say DID bring back some memories, but none of those people you mentioned. In my situation, I wasn’t an avid hobbyist or reader of train magazines. Just devoted my time and very limited dollars directly to running the Lionel.[yeah][tup][tup][tup]


Boris Ring the bell – time for an afternoon round on the house! Actually, it will come out of the Lars Box![tup][tup][tup]


Later![tup]


Tom[4:-)] [oX)]


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

Those who acknowledge the other guy, get acknowledged!

[trolleyboy]

Morning Tom, I think one light breakfast and the never ending coffee for me this am ( IV Drip version )

Tom Sorry i know that that NP post was quite similar to yours best I had, there was an article attached but it seemed to be pretty much the samo samo as Doug had provided for us. Best I could do on the NP I'm afraid. [sigh].

As to the AH, that particular one I've had dealings with, not to bad a sort, we've kept on him about the profile he may get it eventually, at the very least he's civil and tends not to stray to far from the beaten path.

Sounds like the Alaskan gettaway will serve you both well. ( What no cruise ? [%-)][oX)][:-,][(-D] ) I figured that an old salt like yourself would have wanted to feel and smell the air as it were.

No worries about Nick and myself, he gave me a dig I give him one back no harm nor foul[;)]. I'm not sure what I ment now either, made sence at the time [:O]

CM3 Great bit o pikes perspective there [tup] There is something to say about the "old" tried and true techniques, I still do allot of buildings that way myself, I don't light them though unless I go crazy with interior detail,having at least walls in does at least give the impression of the building being more than just an empty shell. I think i have an old copy of that book arouind here somewhere, it's still a half decent reference book, true some of the tecniques are a bit dated but they do still work .

Ted hey good to see you,what no prune danish [?] Your the only one we bring them in for[:O] Oh well tex does like them once they become dayold but that's another story and mess[:(][V][|(] I agree with you though for those still in the armchairs of the great MRing field, jump in the water's fine, it ain't as hard as it looks. I figure that you will get back to your projects as time permits, there is that old MR saying, " the layout's never truly done " Unless your Tom and three are done ![:-,][(-D][;)]

Al Nice morning epistle, I'm intrested too exactly who was Phobe Snow, I heard once that she was a civil war nurse of local fame but I'm interested to hear the real story in any case.

Doug Naa keep the jokes comming,between them and the Yogism's they are now part of the tapestry that is this bar. [tup]

The only extra pikes perspectives I have today are this, About half of the new benchwork is reinstalled,hopefully the final form will be completed next week and I can get some basic scenery started and some railed vehicles moving. Due to the shape of the "new" room the layout is a large "U" shape. A raised upper town at the join of the "U" for the streetcar running, the lower bits are the industrial area's for the regular trains, should work well for me. Non functuioning Overhead catenery will be installed ( I've picked up a couple sets of Bowser poles and wire ). I;ll run the streetcars of the rail but you can't not have overhead , just look's naked otherwise.

Anyhow have yourselves a great day.

Rob

[siberianmo]

Good Morning!

I see a rather active start to our day and it’s good to see y’all![tup]

barndad Doug By all means continue with those jokes of yours! It would be a let down of sorts not to have you to pick on![swg]


passengerfan Al C’mon, who ‘works’ in an office environment[?] And YOU drove a truck for years – now, I’d say that was work![swg] Appreciate any time you give to us. Things wouldn’t be quite the same ‘round here without 20 fingers Al to keep us “glued” to the screen – scrolling, scrolling, scrolling, gee my eyes are soring, scrolling, scrolling, scrolling, my hide! (to the tune of “Rawhide,” of course!)<grin> (and that’s soring as in pain – not soaring as in flight!)

Now I know that I could find this out – but tell us, just who WAS “Phoebe Snow”[?][swg]

A special THANX to you for keeping my “other thread” up ‘n running – good show![tup][tup][tup]


Theodorebear Ted As a former late-great baseball announcer was known to say, “It might be, it could be, it IS ……” Good to see ya at the bar in mid-week. Been awhile, I’d say. But always appreciate any time you and the guys have to keep this place in mind.[tup]

Yes, you ARE on the list for the RR Book Relay! Just wish we’d get a few more participants. This shouldn’t be a difficult decision, but some of the Emails I’ve received would have one think that I’m asking for a huge sacrifice.<geesh>

My 18 months in Alaska were highlighted by so many events, that to chronicle them here would not only have me way [#offtopic] but would require too much time. My rail trip from Anchorage up to Fairbanks back in the days when the U.S. Army ran the trains was ‘something else. Of course, at that age (21 or so) riding trains took a distant 3rd place to a few other things young men like to do.[swg] (Even some older ones!<grin>) The 49th State was quite the place back in the days I was there – a brand new State with a brand new future. I’m sure the emotions still run rather hot regarding that issue. We are looking forward to our adventure very much.


coalminer3 CM3 Just caught your Post as I was getting set to display this one. I’ll make my comments later on …. Looks like you've provided us with a "goodie" for Pike Perspective's Day!

Gotta get going, have some errands to run and appointments to keep. Always good to have you stop in and we look forward to those rounds and quarters for Coal Scuttle and Herr Wurltizer!


Enjoy the breakfasts and coffee! By the way, coffee is free unless that’s all one orders. Then it’s a fiver![swg]


Later![tup]


Tom[4:-)] [oX)]


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

Those who acknowledge the other guy, get acknowledged!

[coalminer3]

Good Morning Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please, round for the house and $ for the jukebox. Let's play some transportation-related material today. "Wreck of the Od '97, Wabash Cannonball, and Bluegrass Express." Then for a Bonus(?) how about "Thank God and Greyhound She's Gone."

I can't wait to see what the Zeppelin Korps comes up with for St. Patty's Day.

Also many thanks to all for posts re Lackawanna, NP and lots of other stuff.

Lars - Go get 'em. Hopefully all of this waterproofing, etc. will work.

Nick - Gormeghast? Zoiks - my imagination went into overdrive - was not a pretty site.

Since today is pike perspectives, let's turn our thought that way. Last time I talked abt. Lionel advertising, etc. and catalog art form different manufacturers.

Today let's do some more Lionel material, operating accessories (equipment) to be specific. I started out with a Lionel set a loooooong time ago and added to it as time and $ permitted. I recall having a few operating cars. One, of course, was the milk car. This car's doors would open, and a little man would pop out and toss milk cans onto a loading platform. The platform was metal and the cans had magnets in them so they would stick to the platform. Cans were loaded into an ice hatch at the end of the car. I used to run this with my passenger train (couldn't afford many cars) because just abt. every passenger train I saw had some sort of head end cars with it.

Anyone out there remember what a pain it was to unjam the cans if they got stuck in the car? I learned a lot (including how to use sentence enhancers - we had a lot of Navy people in our neighborhood who viewed every encounter as a teaching moment) at a young age when trying to fix that situation

Another car in the collection was a PRR boxcar which had a plunger-operated door which opened and again another worker emerged. The car itself was not a bad model.

One friend had the oil well (bubbles inside a clear plastic line) and another had the rotating aircraft beacon. Still others had the operating freight station and the gateman's shed.

Two items I never did acquire were the coal loader and the log loader. I did have more than a few coal cars and some flats, but they carried piggyback trailers; again I tended to get models of what I was used to seeing when I was out and about.

One thing I did enjoy fooling with was electrical circuits, etc., so I wound up with several block signals and a signal bridge. I wired these up to work like the real thing - trust me, I was no Gomez Addams because I earned the $ to buy the equipment. One other item I had was a wigwag (aka banjo) signal which worked off a pressure switch under the tracks. Again, there were more than few places in New England that had these back in the day.

One other thing that really piqued my memory was an ad for Plasticville buildings that I saw in the model press awhile back. Always the tinkerer, I remodeled various Plasticville buildings. This included painting the inside walls black and dividing the interior into rooms up with cardboard walls and then installing interior lighting. The overall effect was not too bad. I had their big station bldg which I fixed up with several through platforms - somewhat like the old station at Providence, RI - again I modeled that which was familiar.

I don't know how many of you remember a book by Raymond F. Yates titled How to Improve Your Model Railroad, but I think I wore out the local library's copy; Yates had a lot of scratch building projects which could be done basically with what was around the house; so I did a lot of these. My mom, having grown up in the Depression, never threw anything away, so there was always an ample of supply of materials around the house that could be creatively reused.

Also, how many of you recall an author by the name of Boyce Martin who wrote for MR and Model Trains (IIRC) back in the late 40s and early 50s - I devoured his writings as well as he had a lot of insight on small industries that were served by rail; again more projects.

Well, I hope that will get some memories going.

work safe

[Anonymous]

Hello to everyone and a feeble appology for the extended absence. Tom, may I begin with a tall O.J. and one of Al's crumpets?[^] There has been far and away too much landscape for me to cover in just this hurried post. The Northern Pacific, as Rob stated, had one of the most distinctive paint liveries of all western roads. While many Road's in the West tend to sport the more "billboard" colo(u)rs of the G.N., A.T.S.F., W.P., et al.; the eastern lines seemed to favor more subtle hues. Great Northern was an exception to the "unwritten rule." Can't say I have a preference...I "dig" all of them.[^] I would like to thank Pete, Nick, Rob, Tom for the flattering words on my Pike efforts. And, may I encourage those who are thinking of embarking into the realm of modeling on their own to "just do it." Recent developments have prevented further work on my project, but hopefully, more time can be made available anon.

Congratualtions Tom on winning Doug's quiz. Also, the change of plans for the Anniversay sound far more interesting than the original.[tup] I spent a "whirlwind" week in Alaska while in the service: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Sitka, Juneau and Katchekan {SP?) and it was overwhelming. This wasn't by rail, unfortunately. BTW, I believe you have my information for the "Book Relay" already on file, right?

Good information from Pete and Nick on the t'other side of the Briney.[tup] Reminded me of the R.R.ing in Erin's Isle on a soujorn a couple of years back. BTW, the Iri***rains still had full kitchens and menus then, very good meals. Lars, "hang in their buddy," all will come to rights and I hope sooner than later. The sump pump probably should have been there all along, don't you think? Although this post hasn't nearly covered all the fine submissions by so many; at least everyone will know Im still "pitching in" whenever possible. Okay Boris, let's hope Nick and Rob can resolve the pending hostilities between your keepers caretakers H & H. We wouldn't want to witness an international incident here. Happy rals one and all.

[passengerfan]

Good Morning Tom and the rest of the gang. Time for a coffee and a crumpet from the Mentor Village Bakery.

Each day as tax season progresses I have less and less time to look at the forums I apoligize as I will have to find the time on Sundays to play catch up they finally decided to close on Sundays.
Since we ar also a check cashing and bill payment center we will be a mad house for the next three days at least.

PASSENGERFAN AL.'S STREAMLINER CORNER #70


PHOEBE SNOW DL&W trains 3-6 November 15, 1949 Hoboken – Buffalo daily each direction 396.2 miles each direction 8 hours 15 minutes

The Delaware Lackawanna and Western would introduce there one and only lightweight fully streamlined train the PHOEBE SNOW on November 15, 1949 between Buffalo and Hoboken, New Jersey. The schedule called for a fast 8 hours 15 minutes in either direction. The new PHOEBE SNOW train sets were interesting from the point of view that cars from all three major builders (American Car & Foundry, Budd Company, and Pullman Standard) were operated in each of the two consists. For Power the DL&W initially assigned A-B-A sets of EMD F3 diesels later they would replace these with pairs of EMD E8A units. The PHOEBE SNOW operated with lightweight streamlined 68-revenue seat Coaches built by both AC&F and Pullman Standard. The Budd Company built the lightweight-streamlined smooth sided 36 seat Dining Cars 469 and 470 and 56 seat Tavern Lounge Observations 789 and 790 for each of the two train sets. This was the first time Budd supplied smooth sided stainless steel cars to match the smooth sided cars from the other manufacturers. These cars along with the Coaches from the other builders were delivered in the beautiful Maroon and Gray paint scheme. The exact consists of the PHOEBE SNOW varied from day to day depending on the days of the week with the largest consists operating on weekends.

CONSIST ONE

801A EMD F3A 1,500 HP Diesel Passenger Cab Unit

801B EMD F3B 1,500 HP Diesel Passenger Booster Unit

801C EMD F3A 1,500 HP Diesel Passenger Cab Unit

Heavyweight Baggage Car

301 62- Revenue Seat Coach

303 62- Revenue Seat Coach

305 62- Revenue Seat Coach

469 36- Seat Dining Car

307 62- Revenue Seat Coach

309 62- Revenue Seat Coach

311 62- Revenue Seat Coach

789 Bar 23- Seat Tavern Lounge 25- Seat Lounge Observation

CONSIST TWO

802A EMD F3A 1,500 HP Diesel Passenger Cab Unit

802B EMD F3B 1,500 HP Diesel Passenger Booster Unit

802C EMD F3A 1,500 HP Diesel Passenger Booster Unit

Heavyweight Baggage Car

302 62- Revenue Seat Coach

304 62- Revenue Seat Coach

306 62- Revenue Seat Coach

470 36- Seat Dining Car

308 62- Revenue Seat Coach

310 62- Revenue Seat Coach

312 62- Revenue Seat Coach

790 Bar 23- Seat Tavern Lounge 25- Seat Lounge Observation

In 1964 after the DL&W and ERIE merger forming the E-L the PHOEBE SNOW became a Hoboken – Chicago train. Sleeping Cars from the former Erie and DL&W were assigned to the PHOEBE SNOW for the through service to Chicago.

In 1966 the PHOEBE SNOW was discontinued.

TTFN AL

[Anonymous]

Good morning Tom and friends. I'll have 2 light breakfasts please, and I need to apologize to 20-fingers Al for not acknowleging his contribution to the NP theme yesterday. !st round of coffee is on me!

Ah ha! I knew my departing joke would be missed if I didn't end a message with it! How about we take a poll to see who wants 'em, and who wants 'em to stop? Here's something to help you make up your mind:

[:I] A young wife, her boorish husband and a young good looking sailor were shipwrecked on an island. One morning, the sailor climbed a tall coconut tree and yelled, "Stop making love down there!"
"What's the matter with you?" the husband said when the sailor climbed down.
'"We weren't making love."
"Sorry," said the sailor, "From up there it looked like you were." Every morning thereafter, the sailor scaled the same tree and yelled the same thing. Finally the husband decided to climb the tree and see for himself. With great difficulty, he made his way to the top. The husband says to himself, "By golly he's right! It DOES look like they're making love down there!" [:I]

[siberianmo]

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

WEDNESDAY’s INFO & SUMMARY of POSTS

The start of a new month along with Wednesday and mid-week already! Check out the freshly brewed hot coffee and the pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery! Then take a look at our Menu Board with some great selections for our <light> and <traditional> breakfasts!


Daily Wisdom

Pair up in threes.[swg]
(yogi-ism)


Info for the Day:

Canadian Railways of the Past: British Columbia Railways (BCR) arrives TOMORROW in two parts! Watch for it!

* Weekly Calendar:

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


SUMMARY

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

(1) barndad Doug Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 05:16:54 (259) AM visit, quiz results & joke!

(2) siberianmo Tom Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 05:24:40 (259) Tuesday’s Info & Summary

(3) siberianmo Tom Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 05:28:28 (259) RRs from Yesteryear #8 – NP

(4) barndad Doug Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 05:59:39 (259) NP RR story & joke!

(5) passengerfan Al Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 07:37:02 (259) NP Theme for the Day - North Coast Ltd, etc.

(6) coalminer3 CM3 Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 08:13:00 (259) NP Theme for the Day, etc.

(7) siberianmo Tom Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 09:06:06 (259) Acknowledgments, etc.

(8) nanaimo73 Dale Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 10:23:51 (259) Amtrak info

(9) siberianmo Tom Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 11:26:33 (259) reply to nanaimo73

(10) siberianmo Tom Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 11:53:10 (259) Theme for the Day! NP – Ad (1956)

(11) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 12:50:33 (259) Nick’s Review, etc.

(12) siberianmo Tom Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 13:04:15 (260) reply to nickinwestwales

(13) siberianmo Tom Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 13:33:29 (260) RR Book Relay! status

(14) LoveDomes Lars Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 14:23:36 (260) The Lars Report!

(15) siberianmo Tom Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 15:13:39 (260) Theme for the Day! NP – Ad (1949)[/maroon)

(16) siberianmo Tom Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 16:27:23 (260) Theme for the Day! NP – Ad (1947)

(17) pwolfe Pete Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 17:05:47 (260) Inclusive Post, etc.

(18) siberianmo Tom Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 19:39:24 (260) Acknowledgments, etc.

(19) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 20:35:37 (260) Nick at Nite!

(20) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 20:44:38 (260) etc.

(21) siberianmo Tom Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 21:02:18 (260) reply to nickinwestwales

(22) pwolfe Pete Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 21:21:29 (260) Nite talk!

(23) barndad Doug Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 22:18:10 (260) True Tails of the Rails, Part I, etc.

(24) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 22:51:45 (260) Inclusive Post, etc.

(25) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 23:22:00 (260) [maroon]Theme for the Day! NP info

(26) siberianmo Tom Posted: 01 Mar 2006, 00:34:09 (260) Acknowledgments, etc.

NOW SHOWING:

The Mentor Village Emporium Theatre
. . . . . Double Features, all of the time . . . . .

. . . Sunday, February 26th thru March 4th: Fours a Crowd (1938) starring: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland & Rosalind Russell – and – Holiday Affair (1949) starring: Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh & Wendell Corey.


That’s it! [tup][;)]

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

[siberianmo]

Good (early) Morning or (late) Nite, Gents!

A touch of insomnia, so I thought I'd play a bit of 'catch up' with the acknowledgments:

First - I doubt we'll be seeing nanaimo73 Dale 'round here, that's why no "official" welcome - his Post was probably something better sent by Email in that it referred to a previous request I made to use some of his rather lengthy (aka: 20 fingers Al PLUS) material on Amtrak. Let's just say, a work in progress on my end .... Certainly HOPE he stops by now ' then .... just thought some of you might want to know.

Second - We changed our rail plans for May/June. Yup - scrapped the Amwreck ooooops Amtrak trip in favor of something else. We are booked for an Alaskan adventure instead. Finally found an itinerary we could live with - fly to Anchorage - stay a couple of days - train (dome seating) to Denali stay for a day - and then up to Fairbanks - stay a couple of days - return to Anchorage by rail (dome seating) - fly home.

REALLY looking forward this this. Great way to celebrate our 15th Anniversary .... will be something to return to the 49th State for me ... left there in 1960 after an 18 month tour of duty over on Kodiak Island aboard a ship. REALLY want to "do" this trip![tup][tup][tup]
Amtrak will "happen" another day . . .

To the acknowledgments:

pwolfe Pete Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 21:21:29

Work hard, play harder – might fit for the “navvies,” eh[?]


barndad Doug Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 22:18:10

Do tell[?] So it was moi who won the Quiz, eh[?] How nice!<grin>

‘Fraid I’ll have to “save up” the reading for the daylight – my eyelids are feeling close to slamming shut right now! Thanx for the NP related effort though.[tup][tup] What – no joke!![?][?]


trolleyboy Rob Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 22:51:45

Nice Post, as always! Too bad we can’t get you off that sked of yours and into Posting when the guys are around. But we’ll take what we can get and like it![yeah]

Don’t tell me that was YOU “feeding the Ahs” out there!<ugh>

Looks like Nick rattled your chain a bit, eh[?][swg] I’m not sure I fully understood exactly what it was you said in response, though. [%-)][%-)]

I’m afraid you’ve got to go into some “remedial training,” as part-time help aren’t entitled to days off, benefits and job actions. By the by, if you recall, Vito the Hit & the Boyz are all friends of mine – we went to different schools together![swg] So, I don’t frighten that easily! [:O]

Hate to say this, that NP piece is as close to a “carbon copy” of my Fallen Flag on page 145/226 as one can get – right down to the format. Appreciate it just the same – thanx![tup]


Okay guys – this time, I’m outta here![zzz]

Later![tup]


Tom[4:-)] [oX)]


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

Those who acknowledge the other guy, get acknowledged!

[trolleyboy]

Hello folks, just back again with some NP info that I did find amongst my railroad things.
Leon another round of Keith's if you please.Another Classic Diesel for the Barn #5.

THE NOTHERN PACIFIC AT A GLANCE c1960
this info from a railpace article I clipped eons ago

Headquarter's St Paul, MN

Route mileage 6,682

Locomotive Fleet All diesel 662 units

Rolling Stock as of 1960
freight cars - 34,200
passenger cars - 359

Principle Lines c1960

Minniapolis / St Paul - Fargo
Butte ND - Mt Tacoma WA
Logan - Helena - Garrison MT
Portland Or - Sumas Wa
Minneapolis / St Paul - Duluth Mn
Staples Mn - Ashland Wi
Little Falls - International Falls Mn
Manitoba jct / Crookstoon Mn - Winnipeg Man
Wadena Mn - Leeds ND

Notable Passenger trains

Alaskan Minneapolas / St Paul to Portland via Helena

Mainstreeter Chicago - Helena -Seattle / Portland

North Coast ltd Chicago - Butte - Seattle / Portland

* passenger trains were handles by CB&Q between Chicago and St Paul and by the SP&S between Pasco and Portland

enjoy Rob

[trolleyboy]

Good evening Leon, a Keith's and round for those still standing,yes Boris even the ones that are strapped upright to the stools can have another just make sure that they get one of Vito's "From your door via the twisty country roads back to their place cab companies" ride home < sheesh > I keep telling Vito's cousin Vinnie that they need to shorten that name a bit, you can't see the cab for the lettering. [swg]

Right well Tom You've outdone yourself yet again great info on the Northern Pacific thanks to Doug and 20 fingers Al for their contributions as well, made for great reading gentlemen,just the kinda stuff we like to see here. [tup][tup][tup]

Lars & Nick well i'll be I take one day off in almost a year and you two jump on me like a 42 dollar show girl from down the stret at H&H's clothing optional massage and tanning parlour,wonder if the strips you two three if you count Tom's will leave white tan lines [?] [:O]

Lars Good to hear that some progress has been made, and yes I', glad that you aren't the manager here,coarse Ted's vacated position is still open if you wish it. [:D]

I haven't seen the mamma mia yet, Heather and I are contemplateing going to Toronto to take in a performance. As to the real ABBA ladies, I saw the blonde one on the tube last year,she looks as though she could still get away with the hot pants,[tup][:O] the other three are all starting to show the ages a bit more though however

Nick Good goawd man spandaus in the zepplins ? The girls going duck hunting or something,I figured that they would have picked a more Teutonic name for their airships given their nationalities,also hows does two teutonic lasses from the old country end up being a greenand an orange ? the story should be quite entertaining

As to the green goats, the orders are comming but slowely. I know that BNSF and UP sampled a couple of the 1500hp LPG fueled versions and CP has ordered a few as replacements for some of their aging SW1200RS's so time will tell.

Pete Hey thanks for the info on those Vulcan switchers, intersting that some actually made it to the other side of the pond, also gratifing to know that some were preserved as well.

Dale [#welcome] To Tom's place of business, I haven't completely checked out those url's but good stuff from the brief peek I did take at them [tup] hope you stay and chat with us here.

Right The NP, I haven't allot to offer accept that they were one of the railways that employed the use of designer Raymond Lowey's vast tallents. His paint schemes in the green on green for the mainstreeter passenger trains is by far one of the most beautifull and well loved and remembered ones from the 50's. Even the later simplified paint jobs still held that speacial classy Lowey look.

Tom I look forward to the BC bit on Thurs. I'm sure that I can dredge up some info for you. Glad that the diesel barn lists of manufacturers peeked your interest, gotta keep the new info flowing eh?As to my day off, lets just say I may have to report your actions to Vinnie the "locals" head rep, we wouldn't want a grievence now would we.[:O][8][:-,]

Rob

[Anonymous]

Evenin' Leon! I'll have a brew please. Did I mention that ..................................................
TOM was the winner of the Animal Logo Quiz?

Did you also know, that it was TOM who also contributed great info and adds today? Hats off to CM3 as well, who contributed 1969 NP service info!

Here's the start of another series ... and yes ... it's related!

True Tails of the Rails from Dec. 1939 Railroad Magazine

In Montana they still talk about a horseman with dynamite roped to his saddle, who swore he would wreck the Northern Pacific. Half the state is a frozen kettle of mountains, where a man can hide for months in some forgotten ravine, striking swiftly at night. Little wonder that the horseman seemed like a weird, mysterious force at the time and is fast clouding over into a legend.

Marked by a tall chimney, Livingston was known for the railroad shops which put the NP engines together after they wore apart on the grades. It was a quiet place. Near two o’clock on that Sunday night in August you could have heard little but the katydids, the rustle of cottonwood trees, and maybe a locomotive wail somewhere in the mountains.

Without warning, a flare of blue lit the sky, followed by a rumble and a tremor and a bulge of wind that pulled out windows tinkling and crashing all over town. Dogs barked. Blinking men jumped out of bed, threw on coats over their nightshirts and rushed into the streets, while doors banged and neighbors shouted to each other. “What the devil has happened? Did an engine blow up?”

Again there was nothing to see but a few dim street lamps and nothing to hear but the leaves rustling and the dogs yapping. There was nothing. That was what made people uneasy as they straggled back to bed; it was the beginning of the plague. Two hours later a freight crawled out on the two-hundred-foot steel bridge leading into the Northern Pacific yards. Near the center of the bridge a cautious engineer, peering out, ground his wheels to a stop. “Track sure is out of line,” he called to a brakeman who was coming up with a lantern.

The conductor opened his eyes. He saw the rails bowed a good two inches and the central concrete pier neatly scooped out as by an explosion, but after rapping on the rails with a hammer he declared they were firm. “We can make it,” he said, “but don’t break any speed records.” So the engineer inched over the rails and brought in the story of a strange event. Long before dawn a wrecking train at work with flares found that concrete by the ton had been dislodged and even the base girders of the bridge had been warped. While the wrecking gang worked, the city detective, O.S. Goddard, scanned every inch of the bridge pier and discovered just one bit of evidence, a few shreds of cotton. Goddard shrugged his shoulders. “Explosions don’t leave many clues,” he remarked to the division superintendent, Dan Boyle. “This hunk of fuse doesn’t prove much.”

So on August 2nd, 1903, a period of nervous suspense began. As they went to their work the shopmen tried to think who might have wanted to dynamite the bridge, but their guesses were vague. Nor could Superintendent Boyle, in his high and gloomy office, recall any fanatic who bore a grudge against the railroad. That day he posted a reward of $1000 for the arrest and conviction of the dynamiter.

Copper, as you know, in the main product of Montana. You’ll find plenty of copper mines in that state. One of them is, or was, located at a place called Chestnut, a small mining camp fifteen miles west of Livingston. On the same day in August that Mr. Boyle posted his reward notice, a stranger walked into Chestnut’s general store and called across the counter: “Gimme a case of dynamite!” He was a surly fellow with black eyes and stringy unkempt hair. Without a hat, wearing a frayed shirt open at the neck and shabby gray pants, he looked as if he might be a miner or a drayman,. The old storekeeper was weighing out lima beans into paper bags. He didn’t like the stranger’s face nor his throaty accent; It was on account of such men that he kept a well-oiled rifle leaning against the back wall. But he replied mildly: “That’s sure a lot of dynamite, mister. What do you reckon you want it for?”

“Minin’ – what the hell d’you think?” The merchant went on weighing out his beans, but kept one eye on the man who was clenching and unclenching his fists. Let him rave! The storekeeper spat with excellent aim and drawled: “I ain’t got any dynamite, an’ I wouldn’t sell you any if I had.” Anger tightened the stranger’s face muscles, but he said nothing else and stamped out of the store. Later, when Superintendent Boyle and Officer Goddard heard the incident, they had dismissed it lightly. Miners are apt to be ingrown, they said; you can’t arrest everybody in Montana.

Twenty-six miles west of Livingston is the city of Bozeman. In the cool of the next morning the Northern Pacific agent at Bozeman was tramping to work when he noticed a padlock had been ripped off the railroad powder house. Peering inside, he saw cases of explosives in disorder. Dynamite is often stolen, and a check showed that a couple of cases were missing. When that news came over the wires, Dan Boyle became deeply concerned, like everyone else in Livingston, and the boys joshed each other “You’ll get yours when you hit that bridge,” they said, but the jokes fell flat.

With plenty of moonlight over his shoulder that night, Engineer Bill Dean was pulling a freight of fifty loads west toward Bozeman. Tall, lean and tough, Bill wasn’t a man to worry; his nerves were as strong as his Paul Bunyan watch chain. Abruptly he saw a flare of light on the rocks and heard a new and ominous roar under his wheels. The engine shuddered and lifted clear of the rails, bucking like a pony. The cab windows crashed into bits of broken glass, the lamps died, the headlight snuffed out. Even at that, Dean kept his head. He threw on the brakes and by odd luck the old kettle landed with all her wheels on the track and dragged to a stop.

“What’s the idea?” demanded the fireman. “Huh – I thought we were going to take a dive and pile up.” When lanterns bobbed alongside, Bill hopped to the ground. He and the conductor, Jim Gorman, located a dark spot which proved to be a big hole under the track. The train was standing on unsupported rails! Bill’s fingers, exploring, found that the fish-plates were gone from that rail joint. “Sure,” Bill said hollowly. “Somebody loosened up the joint so the weight of the engine would set off a percussion cap.”

There was no use trying to fix the headlight; it was a wreck. Bill climbed back to his cab and gave her the steam ever so gently till the waycar was clear. If his boiler could hold steam after such a wracking, it was the best boiler in the Rockies. Without a headlight, the track was a couple of steel wires strung in the moonlight, and grotesque trees were Nihilists with bombs. “We crept along wondering if every rail joint was going to blow up,” he reported when they got to Logan, “This little junction never looked so much like heaven before.”

Next morning a special brought Dan Boyle and the Livingston police. They found a stick of dynamite blown clear, a common type of mine explosive. With no other clue, the police in all the towns were asked to hunt for men with dynamite. Two foreigners bearing a parcel wrapped in newspapers were stopped at Bozeman by a deputy, who found dynamite in the package. They gave their names as Stadt and Chavez. “What the hell you carr’ dynamite for?” the deputy asked bluntly. “Aw, I got a mine near Mullan Pass” whined Stadt. The deputy snorted. “I s’pose you spent last evein’ at the Palace Hotel.” “We come in late and camped down by the river.”

Somebody had to be arrested, so Stadt and Chavez were tagged the number one suspects and sent to jail in Helena. After that, life became perdition for Dan Boyle, with his whole force getting a case of nerves. A machinist dropped a casting on one foot. A fireman who hadn’t missed a day in seven years checked in an hour late. Not that Boyle could blame them – anyone of the bys would have tackled the toughest stage villain that ever twirled a mustache; but you couldn’t fight a ghost. What was worse, the trainmen’s families began to hang around yards and shops asking if Bob or Tom was all right. Mr. Boyle was getting circles under his eyes and he sighed with relief when the Northern Pacific chief of detectives, W.J. McFettridge handed him a neatly penned letter which had come to the main office on the day before the first bombing.

“Unless you pay me $25,000 within 15 days,” read the letter, “I will blow the whole Rocky Mt. Division to Kingdom Come. Put the money in a sack and throw it off an engine at 2 o’clock between Helena and Missoula when you see a red lantern. Carry white flags on the rear drawbars of all trains as a sign that my demands are being considered.”

The superintendent grunted, “Well?” “That letter got to St. Paul just fifteen days before the first bombing,” McFettridge explained. “Notice that the paper curls up. It’s not smooth, but covered with fine crosslines as if it had been wired around a broomstick. What do you make of that?” “I don’t make anything of it,” Dan Boyle answered in bewilderment. How do you catch a dynamiter in western Montana? Everywhere you look the land is tossed up into stony ranges and gashed with deep canyons, anyone of which would do for a hideout. If the mountain tops are bare, the slopes are often thick with pine and tamarack, while even the little grassy valleys have plenty of cottonwood groves.

[:I] one or two more parts to follow [:I]

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all.

Thanks for the Bathams NICK. [tup]. The more I look at that coach the more puzzled I get. It will be a good one to solve.

Many thanks for the navvy links TOM.[tup]. I guess it was "lock up your daughters" when they were in town.[:-,] PETE.

[siberianmo]

And I see YOU there, Sir Nick![swg]

So, it's not quite 9 PM (Central) figgered I'd reply whilst I'm awake!<grin>

Interesting lead in to a story for the Gazette - I anxiously await the finished product via Email![tup] I like that - slingshot bra fights at 5,000 ft - oh, the suspense![swg]

Those Pix I use for the daily SUMMARY are indeed things to daydream about, eh[?] This particular one is absolutely one where a guy could get "lost" simply downing a brew or three and watching the trains go by. I don't fish - nor do I golf - but I do several "other" things![swg]

If I may say so, you're sounding much like the Nick of olde! Glad to have you back, Mate![tup]

Appreciate the nite cap - time for me to sign off. Doesn't look as if I'll catch Pete 'til the 'morrow.

Later![zzz]

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[nickinwestwales]

PETE- I see you there-a pint of the Bathams on me [swg]

[nickinwestwales]

Well good evening my lambkins,are we all well ?-apologies for the late arrival this fine evening, but in the cab over here from the rehearsal rooms we picked up a report on the radio of a disturbance at the Zeppelin sheds and in my capacity as cub reporter for the Mentor Gazette and with editor Weber`s admonishments to seek out the story wherever it may be,I felt honour bound to investigate..........
It seems that,with the fleet flagship ,the `Draig Goch`in for servicing,the regular pilots Helga ( a life-long green ) & Hilda ( an equally commited orange) have fallen into a bitter sibling dispute,to the extent that the reserve craft have been re-named the "Michael Collins" & the "Red Hand" and there is talk of retro-fitting the cupolas with Spandau`s and entering into `aggressive` competition for the Can/Am/Cymru traffic.
Happily,reason prevailed ( Well who is going to take care of Boris if you two silly mares blow each other out of the sky ???) and hopefully,St Paddy`s day will be the joyful celebration that we of Mentor village know and love.
So-[4:-)][oX)]TOM,a very cold Starop and a VERY large rum if you please-tonights rehearsal was somewhat inhibited by two factors-one ,we were in #2 studio-dreadful acoustics & not a lot of space to move and two- Mojo brought along his partner & her twin sister (already christened Cora & Clarice by the rest of the band,after characters in Mervyn Peake`s classic gothic fantasy Gormenghast)-lovely ladies,to be sure ,but weird....
Right,to business-
ROB-the `mental health`option just don`t make it-you work here for goodness sake-this excuses you from any other duties............
Just out of interest,what is the take-up on the `Green Goat` idea-looks good on paper,does it come up with the goods ?

general enquiry-what does LOL stand for-I can figure out most acronyms but this one has me stumpted-too many possibilities....

DOUG -nice N.P anecdote-by the way,I may have dated Aunt Judy one time-does she have a Hells Angel `Warbonnet` tattoo on her left buttock ?.........
[4:-)][oX)]TOM-love that header pic-F40`s,still blue water,mountains in the back-I want a cabin there--I might even learn about fishing ( a great excuse to drink beer in the open and watch the trains go by...............) nice one on the N.P-as an ageing hippy I`ve got to get behind a company that has a Ying & Yang symbol as part of it`s logo-also like the idea of a golden spike at gold creek....just sounds right[^]
AL-glad the one-liners are working [swg]-believe me,most of my repetoire has 300lb Welsh rugby players wincing-still,can`t win `em all.....
CM3-Thanks for heads up on Mountain Stage-will check it out tomorrow,when sober-Fat Steve,the drummer ,also well into this music---something very special about hammer dulcimer,mandolin and banjo music-direct link to our collective past-good stuff [tup][^][tup]
DALE-welcome aboard-whats your poison?-have one on me-nice site links,havn`t time to explore just now,but definately one for when I have a few minutes [^][^][^]
LARS-some action at last !!!-funny how when you are 20 minutes late paying the premium they are on your back but as soon as you put in a claim...............
Hope we are making a small quiet space where you can get away from it all
PETE-thanks for heads up on the Severn Valley stuff-that coach is a bit of a mystery-profile & tumblehome & end says MK1,but I cant recall any MK1 stock with full-panelled body,wheras Gresley stock had vertical and horizontal external beading and different profile-will have to do some digging.
Never had the `pleasure` of school dentist but mother was dental nurse before marriage and boss (Harley St Orthodontist ) promised free treatment for her kids as wedding present-had teeth like bugs bunny as a kid,thanks to this cowboy I now look more like Lemmy Kilmister about the time of the first Motorhead album-ce la vie and all that.
Right [4:-)][oX)]TOM-another round for the gentlemen,one for yourself and a small glass of shandy for Boris ( who worked like a dog yesterday ) and I will bid you all a fond fare-thee-well for the night-a quick handful of coins into Herr Wurlitzer for the walk home ( Gimme Shelter,Midnight Rambler & Sympathy for the Devil ) and it`s the moonlight mile for me-take care guys,see you all tomorrow,nick [C=:-)]

[siberianmo]

Evenin' Gents!

Just a word or two for Pete 'n Lars before I fold the tent for the night:

Check out these URLs for something on "navvy" and "navvies"
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-nav1.htm
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/navvies.htm

Lots of intersting "stuff" comes out of the info provided on the NP, not unlike the RRs from all over the world. The people who busted their butts building those roads wouldn't be able to comprehend the way things are done in these times!

No doubt a laugh a minute with Yogi in the place - but he probably was the last guy to figure out they were laughing AT him![swg]

Good to see ya today, Lars - figured you'd either be in a straight jacket by now, or just plain "mellow!"[swg] Glad it's working out - finally. Perhaps they actually will meet the estimated date afterall since they aren't going to remove and reconstruct your basement wall.

We saw "Mamma Mia" the first time it passed through St. Louis a couple of years ago - it was great! Of course, one has to enjoy the music of ABBA otherwise my guess it would be "lost" on many. A jumpin' night at the theatre![tup]

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

Later![tup]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all.

A pint of the Bathams and a round for Theme Day[tup].

May I add a Comment on Robs post and answer Nicks Question[?].

Rob Good post on the Smaller manufacterors. Some of the Vulcan steam 0-6-0T switchers are preserved in England. A batch was bought after WW11by the Southern Railway and used for shunting at Southampton Docks. . Another couple of the same typehave been brought to England from Poland.

NICK That coach behind #45110 has got me beat, it looks MK 1sh But I am not sure.
I must admit the slighly worked stained apperance of the loco adds a lot of realism to me. They Class 5s were rarely seen in the prestine condition as seen on most preserved examples, unless they were ex-works or on Royal train duty. I was fortunate too see two of them when the Queen visited Coventry in the early 60s [^].

As to the DMU I believe it is a Derby built unit which were later known as class 108.
On some Saturday nights they run the Fish n Chip special from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth on the Severn Valley Railway. Although I have not been on it I believe you order the fish and chips and they are waiting for you at Bridgnorth.
As to the dreaded dentist did you have the mobile stainless steel trailer that used to visit the school and cause mass panic.
Looking forward to the photos[tup].

TOM Another great Theme Day on the Northern Pacific [tup][tup][tup],with even General Custer having to be involved. It was hard enough to build a railroad with out being attacked. The navvies were often the unsung heroes of the railroads a unique breed of men.
Many thanks DOUG AL and CM3 adding the great info.Liked the joke and the reflection[:)][tup].

Glad to hear the work has started LARS.

TOM I saw the TV ad with Yogi in ( cash is almost as good as money) and Laura explained who he was, not long after there was an article in the K.C. Star about him.
I bet the Yankees Locker room must have a great place with Yogi there.
Great book review from Nick. PETE.

[siberianmo]

THEME for the DAY! Northern Pacific (NP)
first Posted on page 220

PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #58

Here’s something to enjoy regarding the Northern Pacific (NP) from a 1947 advertisement in my personal collection.



We met these “huskies” near Ikpikpuk!

Why deny yourself

. . . . . . . . . . ALASKA? . . . . . . . . . .

GO THIS YEAR to this fabled frontier land of Eskimos and totem poles, silent fjords and gleaming glaciers. Glide along the lake smooth Inside Passage, up endless aisles of emerald isles, past a parade of snow-capped peaks. We’ll send facts and prices, arrange every last detail, take you to your Alaska-bound ship in Seattle on the streamlined NORTH COAST LIMITED. If interested in this Alaska trip by train and steamer, just write E. E. Nelson, 313 Northern Pacific railway, St. Paul 1, Minn.


. . . . . . . . . . NORTHERN PACIFIC . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . MAIN STREET OF THE NORTHWEST . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Enjoy! [tup]

Tom [4:-)][oX)]

THEME for the DAY! Northern Pacific (NP)

[siberianmo]

THEME for the DAY! Northern Pacific (NP)
first Posted on page 197

PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #47

Here’s something to enjoy regarding the Northern Pacific (NP) from a 1949 advertisement in my personal collection.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . See Nature’s greatest show at . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . YELLOWSTONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SEETHING GEYSERS and growling mudpots . . .

. . . . . steaming hot springs and lacy waterfalls . . .

. . . . . . . . . . begging bears and aloof antelope . . .

no wonder visitors never tire of talking about their Yellowstone trip on the streamlined North Coast Limited.

Make this your year to tour America’s biggest, strangest national park . . .

. . . . . but make your reservations soon! North Pacific – “the Yellowstone Park line” – will send literature about Yellowstone and other places you want to visit out West.

Write G. W. Rodine, Dept. 339, Northern Pacific Railway, St. Paul 1, Minn.

. . . . . . . . . . NORTHERN PACIFIC . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . YELLOWSTONE PARK LINE . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Enjoy! [tup]

Tom [4:-)][oX)]

THEME for the DAY! Northern Pacific (NP)

[LoveDomes]

Good Afternoon Tom and Gents at the bar!

Time for a break and I’ll have a frosty Schaefers in a bottle if you please – and a cold mug too. My wife and I will take a couple of those hogies – the ‘regular’ please, you know – ham, swiss, butter & mustard – and two large pickles each from the barrel. Oh yeah, she’ll have a diet pepsi <groan>!

The workmen are working and progress is being made. The good news is they are not going to tear out the basement wall as first anticipated. Apparently everything that needs to be done can be done from outside-in. We’ll wind up with a sump pump, the wall totally reinforced, waterproofed, and whatever other measures are required to keep the basement free from water. I’m not one to watch over the work, but they know I’m around.<grin> Have no gripes with the guys, just the screwballs who run the operation, if you know what I mean!

We had a great night out on Saturday – and need to do THAT more often, I’ll tell ya (so will she![swg]) There are just times when one needs to break away from it all . . . and have some fun. Ever hear of the musical “Mamma Mia”[?] It’s a great run thru of all the Abba songs “back when.” Lively and a fun show. I know it’s been around the continent a few times …. But it just “lives” on here on “The Great White Way!”[swg] Just an aside, weren’t those Abba babes “something else!![?][?] [wow] Of course, they probably are grandmothers by now![swg] Well, perhaps not really …. But it’s been sometime since they could wear those “hot pants” is my guess![wow]

Haven’t heard anything further from the insurance company and in fact, we’ve dropped them and have a new one in the “fold.” RIP or something like that! Been assured and reassured by the bank that we have absolutely nothing to be concerned about from their end – and the lawyer says he seriously doubts this will go anywhere. Sure hope that’s the case.

Hey, Tom some great Posts, as usual and I like this week’s installment of your series on the Railroads of Yesteryear. Another fine road and for those who like domes, they had some fine ones. I haven’t delved into any of the information and/or photo retrieval, but undoubtedly Al will “cover” for me! Also, real good stuff from barndad Doug[ and of course, “the Master himself – 20 fingers Al!” (Great moniker you placed on him, Doug!)

Nice job with the QUIZ answers, Tom! I too got through a bunch of them, but fell short by four or so. You surely didn’t waste any time coming back with the “winner!” WHAT did you win[?] Or was this one of “those” type Posts that you’ve been warning us about[?][swg] I’m glad it’s not just me, for I’m seeing more and more of those idiotic posts from the nit-wit element. Why anyone engages these JO’s is beyond my comprehension. Sorry bunch I’d say.

Nick you surely have a way to keep me enthralled with your posts. Glad to see that you are able to spend some time aboard the ‘good ship Mentor Bar & Grill’ – or better known as Tom’s “Our” Place![tup]

The posts have been coming rather hot ‘n heavy since yesterday afternoon – or so it seems. Good job one and all. See, Tom we don’t really NEED a bunch of guys, just a nucleus (as you have put it) who give a crap about this Thread to keep it going.

Glad you guys liked my Sunday contribution – meager, and they wouldn’t enlarge!! – but I tried![swg] Good stuff from Doug and Tom as usual. That’s quite an interesting layout you have down there in FLA, Ted and I don’t share in your self-criticism. I think you’ve done quite well with it. That’s the idea, build, change, adjust, etc. One day, I’ll begin with my own ….

WHAT! Who said you could take off, Rob!! Good thing I’m not the Manager around here, otherwise you’d be “holy stoning the deck!” Either that, or walking the plank! A day “off” – “mental health” <geesh ‘n double geesh!>

Well guys, time for one more brew, then we gotta scram outta here. Keep up the good work one and all! Here’s a ten spot for a round on us![tup]


Until the next time!

Lars

[siberianmo]

”Our” Place RR Book Relay!




Status report: The second mailing is en route Illinois and barndad Doug from nickinwestwales Nick. Check out the review of the book in Nick’s Post on page 259!

There is STILL TIME to join in on this idea - ship me an Email with your address and I'll add you to the list of recipients.

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[siberianmo]

G'day Nick

I see you are still "out there!" Appreciate your Post and the RR Book Relay! REVIEW![tup][tup][tup] Far more than I anticipated and I expect very enlightening for those in waiting or wondering whether they should 'sign up'![swg]

My first thoughts were rather disjointed in that I expected a lot more narrative - tsk, tsk - shame on me for not picking up on the reality that this is a PHOTO book.[swg] I thought it was a bit on the "shy side" with informatiion related to the "where" and "when," however the Pix are truly outstanding and it isn't hard to pick up on just "what" these are. It is nicely done and surely worth the "ride!"

The lady may very well have been "Canada's greatest ride!" Oooooooops, THAT's an entirely different subject, eh[?]<grin>[}:)][:O][:P][:-,]

Appreciate the drink and hope to catch ya later on!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[nickinwestwales]

What Ho chaps,just grabbing a quiet hour whilst Missisnick takes small Hannah to her judo class ( yeah,really....) so I thought I`d poke my head round the door for a `swifty`-Starop it is please [4:-)][oX)]TOM and try one yourself if its not too early for you--Oh,go on then,line `em up for the rogues gallery as well [swg]
Before I forget,I`ve just picked up word of a documentary on The Canadian entitled `Canadas greatest ride` ( Margaret Trudeau,according to Ronnie Wood..ahem) due to be broadcast on CTV Travel & Discovery HD ( ???) -presume that means something to you guys -will post more info when available.
Right,book review time ( will come back to todays posts later this evening,if I may)
So-Printed on a very good quality high-gloss paper stock,the images are of a uniformly excellent quality-a splendid advert for the digital medium.
The author is obviously widely travelled,with,as far as I can recall,pix from all continents-rather than group each line separately the layout has taken the other route and divided by topic instead ( I.E-locos,signals,landscape,`at speed` etc)
This approach allows one a `global` perspective within each few pages-a sensible approch for a `coffee table` volume,obviously designed for browsing.
The real strength of this book ,for me,is the juxtaposition of images-on one page The Canadian with the majestic bulk of the Rockies as a back-drop,the next,bucolic Irish secondary routes,then Australia`s vast empty Ghan desert,a street market in Equador,the un-knowable mysteries of the Chinese hinterland...
The author is obviously an artist in his field-the composition of the shots rarely allows the subject to overwhelm the frame,showing each in it`s proper context of background and infrastructure where possible.
The pictures in two of the sections,one of extreme close-ups and the other `at speed`would not look out of place in any gallery specialising in modern abstract art
The human element has not been neglected ( That C.I.E guard has an unmistakeable `Oirish` twinkle in his eye ) and the shot of the old & battered steamer inching it`s way through the street market in Equador would grace any wall on which it was hung.
In summation then,a fine volume which would spend as much time on the table as the bookshelf in any self-respecting railwayists home-[4:-)][oX)]TOM,thank you for sharing it with us-guys look forward to your turn,it will be worth the wait.

Right,time for band practice ( spot of recording and a few pix tonight ) so I will see you all later.
TOM--the green & orange it is [tup][swg]--thanks for heads up r.e. Yogi-to my shame I had assumed it was the cartoon bear [*^_^*]
Have a good one guys,later,nick [C=:-)]
.

[siberianmo]

THEME for the DAY! Northern Pacific (NP)
first Posted on page 145

PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #12

Here’s something to ponder with regard to our appreciation and fascination with
Classic Trains. Check out this ad (from The Official Guide of the Railways – 1956)



Look what they’re saying about the Vista-Dome North Coast Limited!

”FOUR VISTA-DOMES . . . the view really is terrific on the Northern Pacific!”

“Pride of the Northwest . . . a train second to none!”

“One of the top trains in the country”

“A LOVELY STEWARDESS-NURSE . . . so kind to me and my children”

“Most friendly and courteous employees”

“Comfortable trip – delicious meals. Our compliments to the chef”

“THE TRAVELLER’S REST buffet-lounge . . . most unique car we’ve ever seen . . . captures the flavor and romance of the West”

”WON’T YOU BE MY GUEST?”
Now a friendly Stewardess-Nurse welcomes you aboard the Vista-Dome North Coast Limited. You’ll enjoy extra traveling pleasure at no extra cost – in fact, even low Family Fares apply! Heading East or West through the scenic Northwest, you’ll see for yourself why passengers call it . . .

. . . . . One of the world’s Extra Fine trains . . . . .

. . . . . For complete information, write
. . . . . G. W. RODINE, Passenger Traffic Manager . . . . .
. . . . . Northern Pacific Railway, St. Paul 1, Minn. . . . . .

CHICAGO – TWIN CITIES – SPOKANE – PORTLAND – TACOMA – SEATTLE


Enjoy! [tup]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

THEME for the DAY! Northern Pacific (NP)

[siberianmo]

Hi Dale

Good to see you at "Our" Place!

Appreciate the "head's up" on that fantastic compilation you have put together! I began to put together a "form" of what you created (with prior approval of course![tup]) but somehow got diverted. Intentions however, are honorable and one day, your work will indeed be displayed here for our guys to enjoy![tup]

I request that you do not delete your Post! Please let it remain - for the guys who frequent this place, drift in and out throughout the day and into the night.

Thanx again for the URLs and visit!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[nanaimo73]

Hi Tom.
I just wanted to let you know I'm working on another Amtrak line study, this one covering May 1, 1971.
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=57085

This might interest you as well, there should be some stuff here you can use.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/srchThumbs.aspx?srch=timetable&search=Search

Edit-You can copy and past the whole thing here if you like, and the masked links do not get messed up in the process.
David Voss, (Senior Web Developer Kalmbach Publishing Co.) told me the [url=" will not be effected in June when the Forum format changes.[:)]

[siberianmo]

Good Morning!

Unbelievable ending to the month of February – yesterday afternoon it was “jacketless” around here with blue skies, slight breeze and spring in the air. Today we’re supposed to get into the 70s. Later in the week a drop to the 50s, but then right back up. I guess that’s that for the winter ‘round these parts. Petrol is at $2.07 (rounded) up at “Collusion Corner” after having been at $2.09 (rounded) for a day or two. That’s the mid-Continent USA report – such as it is![swg]

We wound up with 22 Posts yesterday, of course, backing out my own then the “true” number is revealed. Check the SUMMARY to see who Posted and when. Looks like our two “bookends” – Lars ‘n BK didn’t make it in, but again, given their situations, my guess is they are both doing other things. Lars is probably hoping his house won’t fall down around ‘em and BK may be in Edmonton or Calgary – but having fun nonetheless.[tup] Hope we see ‘em ‘round here soon ….

Looks like I’ve got some acknowledgments stacked up, so better get to ‘em:

barndad Doug
Posted: 27 Feb 2006, 20:24:29

Appreciate the evenin’ visit and comments. Joke[?] Was that really a joke[?]<smirk>


nickinwestwales Nick
Posted: 27 Feb 2006, 20:30:03

A great “Nick at Night!” Post and good to have you back with us. See, I told you that your Permanent Stool would always be here for you! You’’’ just have to earn that “regular” status back again![swg]

I’d say that you should keep your “night job” with the band, as joke telling is NOT your strength![swg] Terrrible . . . but, why did I laugh[?]<grin>

You covered quite a bit of “ground” with that Post and I appreciate your taking the time to address as many topics as you did![tup][tup][tup]

Don’t know how familiar you are with WHO Yogi is, given that he’s more of an “icon” on this side of the pond than on yours. He was one of the greatest catchers in baseball at one time – played with the NY Yankees and helped them establish one long running “dynasty” of championship seasons. Further, he wasn’t a bad manager and coach either with a few teams. The thing about the guy is that all of these quotes exemplify what the man not only said, but the way he is. A very nice guy, humble and about as “grounded’ as anyone would want to be. Just thought I’d add this for yours and Pete’s benefit . . .

Gazette: Well, how about this[?] There’s a “flap” brewing over the “Wearin’ o’ the Green on St. Patrick’s Day. Aside from the rather hateful stuff that has been going on for more years than I care to count – there’s some humor in it all, as some Orangemen have decided that if the “Mentor River” is to be dyed Green along with the center lines of the streets painted Green, then perhaps a retaliation is in order – they want “equal billing.” Run with that, if you will . . . [swg] I expect the next issue to be out on March 17th . . .

Again, we look forward to any and all photos, URLS, and the like that you wi***o share with us regarding your latest venture with “Rock ‘n Roar!”[swg]

trolleyboy Rob
Posted: 27 Feb 2006, 21:38:40 and 22:00:42

. . . And if it wasn’t for the fact that yours is a “part time” position ‘round here, I would have “docked” your pay for being AWOL on Sunday thru Monday evening!<geesh> What can you say about the “kids” of today[?][swg]

Thanx for the support regarding the AH onslaught on this Forum (Classic Trains – General Discussion)![tup] Just cannot stress is often enough about NOT enabling these people. ‘Tis a shame that some of our guys don’t seem to care about that aspect and jump right in without so much as checking the “identity” of the submitter (Profile). And there are times when even that isn’t a good indicator, it’s the substance over the subject every time. Let ‘em take it somewhere else, eh[?][tdn]

The fact that you are now into “Diesel Maker, Part 3,” says something, eh[?] I would never have imagined so many. Once again, this all supports the comments made on this Thread about the collapse of the infra-structure along with the prime and support industries of the railroads as society demanded more highways and runways. Says a lot . . . Thanx![tup]


barndad Doug
Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 05:16:54 and 05:59:39

So, let me see if I have this correct – I get all the quiz questions right and not even a mention of my name! <geesh>[tdn] That will cost ya a ‘round – Boris ring the bell and let’s get that OJ poured for one and all![swg] By the by – CONTEST: 10 – JOKES – 2! So there!<grin>

Great job with the NP “Theme for the Day!” Post![tup][tup][tup]


passengerfan Al
Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 07:37:02

Don’t fret over the preciseness of it – that Post was “right on” and well in keeping with the NP “Theme for the Day!”[tup][tup][tup]


coalminer3 CM3
Posted: 28 Feb 2006, 08:13:00

Another fine contribution this AM to our Theme for the Day! – NP[tup][tup][tup]

Loved that joke![swg] Some guys CAN tell ‘em, others, oh well …… <grin>

Thanx for the quarters and round![tup] And oh yes, “forebearance”[?] Moi[?] You’ve obviously gotten me confused with someone who gives a “Rat’s Patoot!”[swg]


Later![tup]


Tom[4:-)] [oX)]


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

Those who acknowledge the other guy, get acknowledged!

[coalminer3]

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

A couple of classics this a.m. "If Love Were Oil, I'd Be a Quart Low," and "If the Phone Don't Ring Baby, You'll Know It's Me."

Since we are doing NP today, how about a special on "Great Big Baked Potatoes." Customer's choice of toppings.

A couple of comments and then to the there of the day.

I am glad my memory abt. the SDP35s was not completely off. Also, I remember seeing and photographing part of the "Silver Meteor" consist in Nashville. This was when Amtrak was doing strange and wondrous things with cars - I made sure to get to the station as much as I could as you never knew what was going to show up. One evening we got a Silver Meteor obs (with tail sign.) We also got "Miaimi Beach" as well. I always liked the Beach cars.

For Nick - Mountain Stage is produced by WV Public Radio (Music From the Heart of the Mountain State - West Virginia.) It's distributed internationally through PRI; I remember you saying you couldn't get much of that sort of stuff where you are, but I believe you'd enjoy the program as it's an ecelectic mix of traditional, contemporary, and "off the wall." It may even be streamed on the web.

Here's some material re the Northern Pacific. I'm sure our car scholars can flesh out some of this.

Northern Pacific Passenger Service – 1969

NP Trains 25 and 26 the “North Coast Limited” were the flagship passenger trains of the “Main Street of the Northwest.” The NP was justly proud of its being the “Route of the Vista-Dome North Coast Limited.”

Trains 1 and 2 handled the following cars:

Dome “Lounge-in-the-sky” buffet sleeper
Standard sleeping cars with duplex roomettes, roomettes, duplex single rooms, and bedrooms.
Slumbercoach, which according to the Official Guide, featured 24 single rooms and 8 double rooms. Slumbercoach space could be purchased with a coach ticket.
Vista-dome coaches
Reclining seat coaches, with “leg rests and foot rests.”
Travellers rest car (buffet lounge)
Diner

Trains 1 and 2 were the “Mainstreeter.”

1 and 2 had Slumbercoaches available between Chicago and Seattle as follows. One car ran on CB&Q train 51 and 52 between Chicago and Minneapolis. Another Slumbercoach operated on NP 1 and 2 between Minneapolis and Seattle.
The Mainstreeter carried reclining seat coaches and an economy-buffet car.

Both trains followed the same route between St. Paul, Minnesota, and Bozeman, Montana. Trains 25 and 26 operated via Butte on their run between Bozeman and Garrison. Trains 1 and 2 operated via Helena on their way to and from Garrison.

The same route applied to both trains between Garrison and Seattle.

Another interesting set of trains operated between Seattle, Tacoma, and Portland via the “Puget Sound Line.” This line handled trains of the GN and the UP as well as the NP.

NP 407 and 408 operated between Seattle and Portland with a parlor-bar-lounge, reclining seat coaches, and an economy buffet car.

The NP had two runs per day via the “Columbia River Line” between Pasco and Portland via Vancouver, WA. These were mostly late night runs, with the exception of one train which was an afternoon trip from Portland to Pasco.

The SP&S handled NP trains between Spokane and Portland.

Their timetables provide a little more information about some of the cars on the “North Coast Limited.”

“SP&S 1-2/NP 25-26 Vista-Dome ‘North Coast Limited’ between Portland and Chicago via SP&S, NP via Butte, CB&Q. Standard sleeping cars between Portland and Chicago 6 roomettes 4 bedrooms, 8 duplex roomettes. Vista-dome coach. Between Portland and Chicago observation lounge-buffet car, radio, dining car service.

SP&S 3-4/NP1-2 ‘Mainstreeter’ via Helena. Reclining seat coaches, economy buffet car.

The timetable reminded travelers leaving Chicago that coach passengers had to check in at Chicago Union Station at least 10 minutes before departure. The desk was “near the train gate.”

I can't compete with the round of jokes that have been included in recent posts, but this "reflection" is too good.

I don't understand.

I don't understand. After the last child was born, my wife told me we
had to cut back on expenses. I had to give up drinking beer. I was not a big
drinker, maybe a 12 pack on weekends. Anyway, I gave it up but I noticed
the other day she came home from grocery shopping and when I looked at the
receipt and saw $45 for makeup.

I said, "Wait a minute I've given up beer and you haven't given up anything!"
She said, "I buy that makeup for you, so I can look pretty for you." I told her, "Hell, that's what the beer was for!"

I don't think she'll be back

Have a good one - oh, b4 I forget a note to our 'steamed proprietor - I am working on pictures - you won't be disappointed, but time constraints have been great and work and family concerns trump everything - appreciate your forbearance.

work safe