"OUR" PLACE - SEE NEW THREAD!

[siberianmo]

What in the world do we have here[?][?] A GIANT HERALD![swg]

Doesn't look as if CM3 will be coming back this day, so I leave this for the 'morrow for his perusal:

B&A westbound freight, Springfield, MA (1933) (fair use)


Enjoy!

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[LoveDomes]

Hello Tom,

Just a little something for CM3 now that I have read through his most touching post of this morning. Here's to you!



One more brew, then I gotta scram ......

Until the next time!

Lars

[LoveDomes]

Good Afternoon Tom and whoever is at the bar!

Looks like I just missed the Santa Fe guy, Trainnut484 Russell. Been awhile since someone has stopped by in mid-day and I’m sure the barkeep appreciated it.

Another Open Bar! Well, let’s see, how about one of those frosty cold bottles of good old Bud – that talk about the brewery got my thirst started![swg]

In reading the account of the train collision in Hinton, Alberta, Canada it seems rather obvious where the blame belongs. What a way to put a town on the map – but then again, I did a wee bit of research on the place, and came away with some surprises. Here’s a few lines for those who may be interested (all from Wikipedia, of course!):

QUOTE: Hinton is a town in western Alberta, Canada, about 70 km northeast of Jasper and about 300 km west of Alberta's capital city, Edmonton.
Population: 9,405 (2001)
The town of Hinton was named for W.D. Hinton, Vice President and General Manager of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. The community was officially recognized in 1928.
The exact location of the town of Hinton has changed ten times in its history, its sites scattered along a line some twelve kilometres in length. The original location was along Hardisty Creek, where an aboriginal group from the Jasper area had left members stricken with smallpox while the rest of the group travelled to Lac Ste. Anne to find medical aid for the smallpox epidemic which was ravaging the indigenous population in Alberta. The area was thus dubbed Cache Picote (Smallpox Camp) in 1870.
Jack Gregg established a trading post at Prairie Creek in 1888 to serve travellers along the Jasper trail. The creek is now known as Muskuta Creek after an incorrect interpretation of the Cree name by white settlers. The construction of the railroad saw the establishment of a construction camp at Prairie Creek in 1908. The Canadian Northern Railway also established a station called Bliss, 8 km from Prairie Creek, in 1914. In 1915, Dalehurst became the postal station for Hinton. Entrance, another important centre to Hinton, served as its communications centre. Entrance was so named due to its location at the entrance to Jasper National Park.
The Canadian Northern Railway became an aggregating force as settlements grew around the operations of this company. The company, however, abandoned its track in 1926.
The population of Hinton experienced a boom during the 1930s when American entrepreneur Frank Seabolt and two partners opened the Hinton coal mine in 1931. Shortly thereafter, a recession caused the population to dwindle to less than 100 people, but the town rebounded in 1955 with the opening of a pulp mill. The mill brought rapid construction to Hinton and to the neighbouring village of Drinnan, and the two communities amalgamated in 1958 to form the present municipality of Hinton.

There you have it!

I think another brew would do fine along with one of your ham & swiss hero sandwiches –just mustard, butter and a large pickle on the side please. I’ll take it to the back room and catch a bit of TV ….

Wondering aloud - how come none of the guys from here seem to want to stop by your other thread????? Some interesting stuff over there and 'tis a shame hardly anyone takes advantage of it.

Until the next time!

Lars

[siberianmo]

G'day!

Nice to see ya in the mid-day, Russell! That Coke is gonna cost Al a fiver - for we charge dearly for soft drinks only at the bar![swg] He can afford it - after all, he's Taxman!<grin>

Should you and your bride come to this area in warmer seasons, let me know and we can visit Grant's Farm. You'll get to see the Clydesdales up close and personal at this huge estate, owned by the Bush family. Used to belong to President/Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. Lots to see and do there and the best part is the price - free.[tup]

Glad you caught the Hinton train crash - was rather sobering, eh[?]

Hope to see ya again, soon!

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[Trainnut484]

A good late morning/early afternoon Tom and all-in-the-know, and you know who you are. I’ll have a Coca-cola for now as it’s too early for anything harder, and put it on Al’s tab since he’s paying. Just taking a break in between classes.

No snow today, but it is COOOLLDDDD even though it’s sunny. The wind is blowing and temps are in the mid 30’s.

Tom, great job on the NYC “Railroads from Yesteryear” segment and the B&A. I’m sure that I’m not alone when I say the Penn Central merger was not the best thing to happen to those two roads. Your Kirkwood station pic is nice. I took one before the trip back to KC Monday, but I wish I did before the winter season turned the tree limbs bare and the grass brown. Sad outcome indeed on the Hinton Train collision on the CN.

Al, great stuff about SP in the 1940s [tup]. Thanks again for the thirst quencher.

Doug, interesting info on your cabs segment. It's amazing how railroad equipment barely survived, if they did at all, during the war.

CM3, I too cheered for the Steelers during the Super Bowl. My favorite commercial was the Budweiser Clydesdale “American Dream,” which featured the little Clydesdale trying to pull the big wagon out of the barn on his own, but didn’t know the two full grown Clydesdales were pushing from behind. The old man told the dog “I won’t tell ‘em if you won’t.” Definitely a commercial that touches the heart. My wife and I have toured the Budweiser brewery in St. Louis, Mo a few years ago, and those Clydesdales are more impressive in person. They are pampered in every since of the word, and do live a better life than I or anyone I know. In case you’re wondering, yes, there are samples (limit 2) of beer at the end of the tour.

Pete, glad to hear from you. As Tom pointed out upstream, the Kirkwood station is manned by volunteers, and they use plain scanners to tell if Amtrak is running on time. It would be nice if Amtrak had an automatic sign that told if a train was on time or not. One of the city bus systems in KCMO has illuminated signs at bus stops indicating if their buses are on time or delayed, and how long their delayed.

Gotta get prepared for next class. Take care for now,

Russell

[siberianmo]

On this day, February 8th, in Canadian Railroading history:

Hinton train collision


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


The Hinton train collision was a railway accident that occurred on February 8, 1986. Twenty-three people were killed in a collision between a Canadian National Railway freight train and a VIA Rail passenger train. It was the most lethal Canadian rail disaster since the Dugald accident of 1947.

The vicinity of the accident

The accident took place on a stretch of Canadian National Railway's transcontinental main line, near the town of Hinton, Alberta, west of Edmonton. Nearby towns are Jasper to the west and Edson to the east. Passenger service on the line was provided by VIA Rail Canada. Slightly over half of the 100 mile (160 kilometre) stretch of track between Jasper and Edson was double-tracked, including 11.2 miles (18 kilometres) of trackage from Hargwen siding west to Dalehurst siding. Traffic on this line was controlled with Centralized Traffic Control (CTC)

Prelude to the accident

On the morning of February 8, 1986, VIA Rail's No. 4 train, the Super Continental, was travelling from Jasper east to Edmonton on its transcontinental journey. It consisted of 14 units in the following order:
1. Diesel locomotive
2. Diesel locomotive
3. Baggage car
4. Coach
5. Dome car
6. Sleeping car
7. Sleeping car
8. Diesel locomotive (inoperative)
9. Steam generator car
10. Baggage car
11. Coach
12. Lounge car
13. Sleeping car
14. Steam generator car

The unusual make up of the train was the result of two separate trains being joined together in Jasper. The first seven units had originated in Vancouver, and the next six units had originated in Prince Rupert. The last unit, the steam generator car, was added in Jasper on its way to Edmonton for maintenance. One hundred fifteen people were on the train; 94 passengers, 14 stewards and seven crew.

Canadian National Railway's westbound train No. 413 consisted of three locomotives, followed by a high-speed spreader, 35 cylindrical hoppers loaded with grain, seven bulkhead flat cars loaded with large pipes, 45 hoppers loaded with sulphur, 20 loaded tank cars, six more grain cars, and a caboose; a total of 118 units. It was 6,124 feet (1,866 metres) long and weighed 12,804 tons. In the front locomotive were engineer John Edward (Jack) Hudson, aged 48, and brakeman Mark Edwards, aged 25. In the caboose was conductor Wayne Smith, aged 33.

The freight train left Edson at 6:40 am, and took the siding at Medicine Lodge to allow two eastbound trains to pass. It departed Medicine Lodge at 8:02 am and reached Hargwen at 8:20 am, where a section of double track started. The remote dispatcher at Edmonton had set the switch so that the train was routed onto the north track. At the same time, the Super Continental stopped at Hinton. It left on time, five minutes later, at 8:25 am.

At 8:29 am, the dispatcher set the switch at Dalehurst, where the section of double track ended, to allow the Super Continental to take the south track. This switch setting would have caused the freight train to see signals indicating a stop. A two-light signal 13,600 feet (4.15 kilometres) east of Dalehurst showed yellow over red (meaning slow down and prepare to stop). As the train approached this signal, it was already going full throttle at 59 miles per hour (96 kilometres per hour), faster than the 50 mile per hour limit on this stretch of track. It did not slow down after passing the signal.

Further west, there was a three-light signal, 490 feet (150 metres) east of the switch at Dalehurst that showed three red lamps, indicating a stop. The freight still did not slow down, instead jumping the switch and entering the section of single track occupied by the Super Continental. Had the Super Continental been even a minute early, it would have been past the switch at this point, but unfortunately it was not. Seconds after the freight jumped the switch, at 8:40:52 am, the two trains collided, 1,270 feet (387 metres) west of the switch. As the freight train's momentum was greater than that of the passenger train, it ploughed through the first few cars of the passenger train.

The aftermath

After the crash, diesel fuel spilled from the locomotives and ignited, and the locomotives, the baggage car, and the day coach were engulfed in flames. The two crew members in each of the locomotives were killed.

Eighteen of the 36 occupants of the day coach were killed. The death toll might have been higher except that the contents of a grain car were propelled on top of the car, helping to smother the fire somewhat. Had the sulphur cars, for instance, been at the front of the train, the death toll might have been higher.

The observation dome car behind the day coach suffered serious damage, and was also hit by a freight car. One of its occupants was killed. The others were able to escape either through a broken window in the dome or through the hole left by the freight car. The two sleepers following the dome car derailed and were thrown on their sides. There were no deaths in these cars, but there were several injuries. The three passenger cars at the rear of the train did not derail, but there were some injuries.

As the accident unfolded, the cars on the freight train piled up on each other, resulting in a large pile of rolling stock. The three freight locomotives and the first 76 cars of the train were either destroyed or damaged.

The cause

It was clear that the freight train should have stopped, but for some reason did not. Initially it was believed that the cause was either faulty signals or human error. The possibility of faulty signals was ruled out in the following days, when the signals were found to be working perfectly. That left human error as the cause. However, since the head-end crew of the freight train did not survive, it was not clear why they had erred. However, enough of their remains were found that testing was able to rule out drugs or alcohol as the cause.

The inquiry

A Commission of Inquiry investigated the crash. Mr. Justice René P. Foisy, Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, held 56 days of public hearings and received evidence from 150 parties. The inquiry report was published on January 22, 1987. Instead of condemning any one individual, it instead condemned what Foisy described as a "railroader culture" that prized loyalty and productivity at the expense of safety. As an example of this disregard of safety, it was noted that the crew of that train had boarded the locomotive at Edson "on the fly". While the locomotive was moving slowly through the yard, the new crew would jump on and the previous crew would jump off. While this method of changing crews saved time and fuel, it was a flagrant violation of safety regulations. Management claimed to be unaware of this practice, even though it was quite common.

Another frequently ignored safety regulation mentioned in the report was the "deadman's pedal" which a locomotive engineer had to keep depressed. Were he to fell asleep or pass out, his foot would slip from the pedal, engaging the train's brakes automatically. However, many engineers found this tiresome and bypassed the pedal by placing a heavy weight on it. It was uncertain whether the pedal had been bypassed in this case because the lead locomotive of the train had been destroyed. A more advanced safety device was available, the Reset Safety Control (RSC), required crew members to take an action such as pushing a button at regular intervals, or else automatic braking would occur, but neither lead locomotive was equipped with this safety feature. While the second locomotive in the freight train was equipped with RSC, it was not assigned as the lead locomotive because it lacked a "comfort cab". Management and union practice was to place more comfortable locomotives at the front of trains, even at the expense of safety.

The report also noted that although the front-end and rear-end crews should have been in regular communication, that did not appear to be the case in this accident. As the freight train reached Hargwen, Hudson radioed back to Smith that the signals were green, a communication that was heard by a following freight. As it ran towards Dalehurst there was no evidence of further communication. As the conductor is in charge of the train, had Smith felt that the train were out of control or there were serious problems, he should have pulled the brake cord in the caboose to stop the train. However, Smith, who appeared to be nervous while testifying, said that he did not feel that the freight was ever out of control, misjudging its velocity. He also testified that he attempted to radio Hudson on two radios, but neither seemed to be working, despite the fact that immediately after the crash Smith was able to contact the dispatcher by radio. Even were Smith's testimony true, he apparently did not consider the problem sufficiently serious to stop the train, a second misjudgement. The general suspicion was that Smith had neglected his duties by sitting at the more comfortable desk seat instead of in the cupola of the caboose, where he should have been and where he would have a clear view of the track and the signals.

References

Halliday, Hugh A. (1997). Wreck! Canada's Worst Railway Accidents, Robin Brass Studio, Toronto. ISBN 1-896941-04-4.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinton_train_collision"


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


Tom [4:-)] [oX)]

[siberianmo]

Good Morning (again!) -

CM3 That story about the Boston & Albany (B&A) is a great read and so very well put together![tup][tup][tup] You are correct, Sir, you did Post it on 21 Oct 2005 on page 143. It reads just as well today as it did back then. If we still had our former Regular watching these Posts, I'd think you would be nominated for yet another Silver Throttle Award for your efforts. Well done indeed.

Got a chuckle (again) regarding the comment about your mother and the mindset of Boston being the center of the universe, etc. I recall when living up thataway when the Bruins were playing the Blues for the Stanley Cup. The media (Boston Globe, WBZ, Channel "whatever") all had pretty much the same thing to say regarding St. Louis - "way out there in the west," or words to that effect. We had no clue that one day our home would be made about 25 miles west of the Arch. But it was amusing to listen to the way people referred to any place west of Bahstun.[swg]

The Kirkwood Station is certainly worth visiting. While the outside is captivating to the eye, the inside is yet another treat. The volunteers and the City of Kirkwood have really done wonders with keeping this station in good repair. Amtrak removed the agents from the station, and many others throughout the nation, on April Fool's Day 2003. A day that will live in infamy!<groan> Fortunately, as previously documented, the volunteers keep it open about an hour before and after train arrivals/departures. Four trains a day between St. Louis (to the east) and Kansas City stop at Kirkwood.

Always appreciate the quarters - thanx! Sorry, can't take your money for a round today - as this is an OPEN BAR day, thanx to passengerfan Al!! Better watch it, CM3 for it appears you too are falling into the "trap" of not getting the most current info when you log on and in. You can lead a horse to water .... [swg]

Tomorrow's RRs from the Past "theme" is the New Haven. So if you want to get back into the "good graces" of the steamed Proprietor jump right in with some "stuff," as I really don't have very much for additional Posts.[tup]

Oh yes, appreciate the info on those B&A Pix - figured you'd jump right on 'em![swg]

Thanx for stoppin' by and I hope you'll check back before the day is done.

Later!

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[coalminer3]

Good Morning Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox. No song titles today - not that I've run out, but we'll give it a rest for awhile.

The Kirkwood station is a lovely structure and I'm glad that it has been saved and not turned into something else.

As always, I appreciate the NYC material. The B&A was (and is) one of the more inmteresting pieces of railroad in the country.

I won't get too much into the history of it, except to say that, for a long time, it kept its equipment lettered "Boston and Albany." The reason for this (or so the legend goes) is that folks up home did not want to have anything to do with that Vanderbilt upstart from New York. BTW, Boston and Albany bonds were traded for years - up to the time of Penn Central. I remember seeing the quotes for them in the financial pages of the Boston papers.

There was, for many years, a Boston section of the 20th Century. Ed Hungerford's book Run of the Twentieth Century talks about how this train was handled. If you can scrounge up a copy of the old NYC-produced PR film "Flight of the Century," you will see some pictures and hear some descriptions of this phase of the Century's operation. This item should be readily available as I have a video of it, and I think I recall seeing somewhere that it was out on a DVD.

The Boston section joined with the main train at Albany westbound and split from the NY side at Albany eastbound. Amtrak, until they messed with 48/49 and 448/449 followed essentially the same practice. although everything was done across the river at Rensselear. The last time I rode the Lake Shore was abt a year ago when I went west from Boston to Chicago. The Boston section is now a plug train with an across the platform transfer at Rens. It worked o.k., but it's not the same as sitting in the comfort of the sleeper as they combine the trains.

The ads that our 'steamed proprietor has posted give you an idea of what happened next.

NYC (in their never ending contest with the Great Tuscan Father) shortened the schedule of the Century several times. This meant that, for timekeeping reasons, something had to be done with the Boston section. In 1938, when the 25/26 was reequipped, the former Boston section became a separate train known as the "New England States." The States (#s 27/28) initially ran as a hw operation but it did get some of the early streamlined Pullman-Standard cars; it was completely reequipped after the War. The States was truly a class operation. Our passenger car experts can unravel how the cars were assigned, but the New England States was in all respects a top-of-the-line train. Power in most cases was PAs and later E units. I have in my collection a shot of a PA/PB combination pulling an all stainless "States." Lovely!

One last remark. You have doubtless heard of 2-8-4 Berkshire locomotives. They first operated on the B&A and got their nickname from the mountain range that's crossed between Boston and Albany.

The pictures of the Boston section were interesting. The first one was probably taken around Allston, MA. The train is westbound and if I recall my track layout, is crossing the B&A branch that crossed the Charles River and proceeded to East Boston.

The second one was made probably just west of Boston near a wide place in the road called Fanueil. The B&A had a four-track mian line in sposts heading out of Boston which remained in place until the Boston section of the Mass Pike (the world's largest parking lot) was built.) I remember the four track section quite well as they could really roll through there.

A long time ago, I ran the following here; but I think it deserves an encore. It'll give you an idea of what the Albany was like.

Mohawks - The Boston and Albany

If the New Haven and the Boston and Maine were home roads, then the Boston and Albany was the way to the west. My mother (whose limited sense of geography was legendary in the family), was convinced that anything beyond Albany was the "Middle West", and quite possibly desert populated by Indians. She believed the Albany to be a granger road that somehow appeared from the sky and plopped down on Massachusetts. All of this was based on the fact that some of the Albany's trains operated to exotic locales such as Cleveland, Chicago, and St. Louis.

When I was small. I pored over the Central's ads in the National Geographic; especially the ads for the overnight trains that ran along the Hudson River from New York. An ad that stuck in my mind was a piece called "One by One the Windows Close Their Eyes." This showed a generic moonlight river scene. A westbound train ghosted along the NYC's immaculately maintained four track main line. It was late at night, the copy said, and people were going to bed after an elegant meal in the diner. They would arrive refreshed at their destination the next morning, well-rested after a good night's sleep along the Water Level Route. Another favorite was a wallow in unabashed nostalgia appeared around Christmas time. This ad pictured a toy train running around a Christmas tree. The copy, written to the tune of "Jingle Bells," ran to the effect that "Oh, what fun it is to ride on a New York Central Train!"

The reality of the NYC in New England was much different. The Central reached New England via the rails of the Boston and Albany - a gritty, blue-collar, sleeves rolled up operation.

The ancestry of the B&A went back almost to the beginning of the railroads in the United States. The Albany steadfastly maintained its independence even after it had been absorbed by the much larger New York Central. The Albany contended with terrain and weather that more closely resembled that encountered by the Baltimore and Ohio or some western railroads. People used to talk about the Boston and Maine's Fitchburg Division being a terror in the winter, but they never had to deal with an ice-filled cut at Washington Summit or flog tired locomotives over Charlton Hill.

Most of the B&A's trains were diesel powered when I was growing up, but a few still got steam power. My father rode the B&A when he had to travel to jobs in the western part of New England. He often came back to Boston on a local train from Springfield and sometimes my mother and grandmother would go to meet him and I would get to go along.

Newtonville was the B&A station nearest to us outside Boston. The station was about in the middle of where the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) is now. Back in the late 40's, though, the Newtonville station stood at the bottom of a grass covered knoll that swept down to the tracks. Here the railroad was in space unconfined by walls or buildings. It afforded an entirely different aspect to the viewer. Westbound trains rolled through there if they were not scheduled for a station stop.

In the golden sunlight of a fall afternoon, the silvery rails of the four track B&A mainline curved away to the west. To the east was Boston and the tracks receded from the station in a forced perspective enhanced by several overpasses. Now, from the east, barely discernable, a pinpoint of light grew larger and then seemed to remain still for a long time. The light suddenly grew larger and then larger still and a faint almost singing sound was heard in the rails. Smoke was visible now above the light. The engine blasted out from beneath the overpasses and then with a couple of enormous "chugs," passed by in a welter of hissing steam, flailing drive rods, heat, and the aroma of coal smoke, hot grease, and oil.

A quick glance in the cab window revealed the fireman hard at work in white cap and blue shirt and the engineer silhouetted in the window on the other side of the cab, one hand on the throttle and the other resting on the cab window ledge, his eyes staring intently at the track ahead. There were some filthy New York Central baggage cars behind the tender followed by coaches, a diner, and four heavyweight Pullmans. I later found that the locomotive was a Mohawk class, probably among the last in New England, and that the train was the "New England Wolverine" with cars in its consist for Detroit and Canadian cities. The train headed, its smoke hanging over the tops of the cars. The fragrance of coal smoke lingered after its passing along with a slight dusting of cinders and smaller particles. It was glorious and I lost my heart to the B&A.

work safe

[siberianmo]

Mornin' Gents!

In case anyone has missed it, we have another OPEN BAR! Compliments of passengerfan Al!!![swg]

A bit of snow has fallen here in mid-Continent USA, with the total expected to be near 2 inches. You'd think we're having a major weather event given the reactions from the radio traffic reporters, weather people, schools, etc. <good grief!> When I first moved to this area in 1977, we had snow - and I mean snow. Now they tell us we've had only 5 inches this winter season, about 10 less than the normal. I can recall the first two winters here where we measured the snowfall in feet, not inches. Crazy old world, eh[?]

So, what's going on today[?] You'll have to check in near the noon hour to find out![swg] In my ongoing efforts to keep this thread movin' along and of course on topic with Classic Trains .... well, you'll find out!

Where's Rob[?] Missed him yesterday and last night - so what does this tell us[?] Hmmmmmmmm. 'Puter problems, Part Deux[?] Hope not, as we surely cannot suffer another long loss from him. And, where's Nick[?] Hmmmmmmmm (again!). These two are becoming as unpredictable as the weather here in East Central MO![swg]

Did you guys catch that not-so-veiled threat from the Taxman[?] Veee Hafff Our Vays, eh[?] Where have we heard THAT before[?][swg] If you're gonna dance to the music, you gotta pay the fiddler, so I''ve been told. Thanx for the OPEN BAR! The Taxman GIveth![swg]

Okay, boyz, I've gotta get going on some chores, so I'll check back now 'n then in the hopes that someone has stopped by.

Later!

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[siberianmo]

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


SOMETHING SPECIAL WILL BE POSTED CLOSE TO NOON TODAY –
WATCH FOR IT!


Tom[4:-)] [oX)]


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

[passengerfan]

Good Morning Tom once again thanks for picking on the tired weary taxman we have our ways to get even. But Absolutely right I failed to acknowledege the postings. So drinks are on me for the day.

TTFN AL

[siberianmo]

Mornin' Al

Tweeeeeeeeeeeeeet! Tweeeeeeeeeeet! Rules violation! Rules violation! Rule #6: failure to acknowledge the Posts before Posting! Drinks on passengerfan Al!

Didn't catch the B&A Pix[?] Just for you and CM3 .... gotta check what's been Posted before Posting![swg]

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[passengerfan]

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

PASSENGERFAN AL'S STREAMLINER CORNER #57

SP
NOON DAYLIGHT
(March 30, 1940)
470 miles

On March 30, 1940 the Southern Pacific Railroad inaugurated a second DAYLIGHT between Los Angeles and San Francisco daily using the same coastline route. The fourteen car DAYLIGHT train sets that had recently entered service on January 5, 1940 became the new MORNING DAYLIGHTS on March 30, 1940. The equipment for the new fourteen car NOON DAYLIGHT train sets was basically the 1937 train sets with several new cars added. Coach capacity of the NOON DAYLIGHT was 444 passengers and MORNING DAY-LIGHT Coach capacity was 364 passengers. Parlor Car seating for the NOON DAYLIGHT train sets was for 57 passengers and the MORNING DAYLIGHTS Parlor car seating was for 54 passengers. About the only thing missing from the NOON DAYLIGHT train sets was a triple unit articulated Coffee Shop-Kitchen- Dining Room combination. The NOON DAYLIGHTS popularity would equal the MORNING DAYLIGHTS, as this was the era before the airlines became popular between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The NOON DAYLIGHT would be discontinued for the duration of WW II by government edict.

Consist One

4426 Streamlined GS-3 4-8-4 Northern Locomotive & Tender

3300 Baggage News Stand 44-Revenue Seat Coach

2402 Articulated 50-Revenue Seat Coach
2403 Articulated 50-Revenue Seat Coach

2404 Articulated 50-Revenue Seat Coach
2405 Articulated 50-Revenue Seat Coach

2406 Articulated 50-Revenue Seat Coach
2407 Articulated 50-Revenue Seat Coach

10400 56-Seat Coffee Shop Car

10200 40-Seat Dining Car

2454 Articulated 50-Revenue Seat Coach
2453 Articulated 50-Revenue Seat Coach

10312 68 Seat Tavern Lounge Car

3000 29-Revenue Seat Parlor Car 5-Revenue Seat Parlor Stateroom

2950 23Revenue Seat Parlor 19-Seat Lounge Observation

Consist Two

4427 Streamlined GS-3 4-8-4 Northern Locomotive & Tender

3301 Baggage News Stand 44-Revenue Seat Coach

2408 Articulated 50-Revenue Seat Coach
2409 Articulated 50-Revenue Seat Coach

2410 Articulated 50-Revenue Seat Coach
2411 Articulated 50-Revenue Seat Coach

2412 Articulated 50-Revenue Seat Coach
2413 Articulated 50-Revenue Seat Coach

10401 56-Seat Coffee Shop Car

10201 40-Seat Dining Car

2456 Articulated 50-Revenue Seat Coach
2455 Articulated 50-Revenue Seat Coach

10313 68-Seat Tavern Lounge Car

3001 29-Revenue Seat Parlor Car 5-Revenue Seat Parlor Stateroom

2951 23-Revenue Seat Parlor 19-Seat Lounge Observation

TTFN AL

[siberianmo]

WEDNESDAY’s INFO & SUMMARY of POSTS

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


Wednesday is here as is mid-week! Start the day with a freshly brewed cuppa Joe, some pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery, and if you’re really hungry, try our <traditional> and <light> breakfast selections from the menu board![tup]


Daily Wisdom

I really didn’t say everything I said.
(yogi-ism)


Info for the Day:

Railroads from Yesteryear may be found at:

#1: http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=233&TOPIC_ID=35270
#2: http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=234&TOPIC_ID=35270
#3: http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=237&TOPIC_ID=35270
#4: http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=240&TOPIC_ID=35270

New Haven arrives tomorrow!

* 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!


SUMMARY

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

(1) barndad Doug Posted: 07 Feb 2006, 04:59:40 (240) Cabs – Part III, etc.

(2) siberianmo Tom Posted: 07 Feb 2006, 05:23:58 (240) Tuesday’s Info & Summary

(3) siberianmo Tom Posted: 07 Feb 2006, 05:29:31 (240) RRs from Yesteryear #4 – NYC

(4) passengerfan Al Posted: 07 Feb 2006, 07:11:17 (240) NYC info, etc.

(5) siberianmo Tom Posted: 07 Feb 2006, 07:58:26 (240) ENCORE! Theme for the Day – NYC

(6) siberianmo Tom Posted: 07 Feb 2006, 10:28:59 (240) Pix – Kirkwood Station

(7) siberianmo Tom Posted: 07 Feb 2006, 12:03:33 (240) ENCORE! Theme for the Day – NYC

(8) siberianmo Tom Posted: 07 Feb 2006, 14:30:16 (240) ENCORE! Theme for the Day – NYC]

(9) LoveDomes Lars Posted: 07 Feb 2006, 14:52:17 (240) 20th Century Ltd Drumheads

(10) siberianmo Tom Posted: 07 Feb 2006, 15:05:58 (240) ENCORE! Theme for the Day – NYC]

(11) pwolfe Pete Posted: 07 Feb 2006, 17:49:16 (240) Inclusive Post, etc.

(12) passengerfan Al Posted: 07 Feb 2006, 18:08:44 (240) NYC Theme – 20th Century Ltd


(13) siberianmo Tom Posted: 07 Feb 2006, 18:30:26 (240) Acknowledgments, etc.

(14) siberianmo Tom Posted: 07 Feb 2006, 18:36:42 (240) ENCORE! Theme for the Day – NYC

(15) LoveDomes Lars Posted: 07 Feb 2006, 19:03:55 (240) Name Trains of the NYC

(16) passengerfan Al Posted:07 Feb 2006, 20:07:04 (240) B&A 20th Century Ltd

(17) siberianmo Tom Posted:07 Feb 2006, 22:00:58 (240) Pix of B&A 20th Century Ltd



NOW SHOWING:

The Mentor Village Emporium Theatre
Double Features beginning Monday, January 30th!

. . . Sunday, February 5th thru 11th: The Titfield Thunderbolt (British 1953) starring: Stanley Holloway, Naunton Wayne, John Gregson & Sidney James – and – Breakheart Pass (1975) starring Charles Bronson, Ben Johnson & Richard Crenna.


That’s it! [tup][;)]

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

[siberianmo]

Evenin' Gents ....

Just a word for Al - Thanx!

These are for you (and CM3)

B&A 20th Century Ltd (1933) (fair use)


B&A pre-20th Century Ltd, prior to 1920 (Wikipedia Commons)


Nite![zzz]

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[passengerfan]

Tom Good evening. Guess I'll have one more CR before returning to work to many and i hate to see what I do with the next tax clients return.

You asked about the B&A and their connection with the TWENTIETH CENTURY LIMITED.

All I know is that the B&A was first leased to the NYC in 1900 and later became just another subsidiary but they did letter equipment for the B&A for many years, just may have had something to do with taxes.

The connection to the TWENTIETH CENTURY LIMITED was they operated the New England section of that train during the heavyweight era between Boston and Albany where it connected with the through New York-Chicago TWENTIETH CENTURY LIMITED. The streamlined TWENTIETH CENTURY LIMITED did not make a station stop in Albany or anywhere else except Harmon, Englewood and Chicago. Although the two Cennturies passed in Buffalo each night for servicing and crew change. Passengers were not allowed on or off the train during this service stop.

TTFN AL

[LoveDomes]

Hi Tom and anyone at the bar!

I've returned for another cold one - make it an R&H (remember Staten Island's premium brew??)

Here's a bit more to supplement your extraordinary efforts today on the NYC:

Name trains of the New York Central (NYC)

Berkshire
Booth Tarkington
Buffalo-Pittsburgh Express
Canadian
Chicago Express
Chicago Mercury
Chicagoan
Cincinnati Special
Cleveland Limited
Cleveland Mercury
Cleveland-Columbus Special
Columbus-Cleveland Special
Commodore Vanderbilt
Detroiter
DeWitt Clinton
Easterner
Empire State Express
Fifth Avennue Special
Forest City
Gateway
Great Lakes
Hendrick Hudson
Interstate Express
Iroquois
James Whitcomb Riley
Knickerbocker
Laurentian
Michigan
Michigan Special
Midnight Special
Midwestern
Minute Man
Missourian
Mohawk
Montreal Limited
Motor City Special
Mountain Express
New England States
New York Special
Niagara
North Shore Limited
North Star
Northerner
Ohio Special
Ohio State Limited
Ontarion
Overseas
Pacemaker
Pittsburgh-Buffalo Express
Royal York
South Shore
Southwestern State Special
Sycamore
Texas Special
Tuscarora
Twentieth Century Limited
Twilight Limited
Wolverine

There you have it - perhaps not all inclusive as some would have it - but these are the "name" trains that are most probably the best known.

A refill, please .......

Until the next time!

Lars

[siberianmo]

THEME FOR THE DAY - NYC

PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #59

Here’s something to enjoy regarding the New York Central (NYC) in a 1954 advertisement from my private collection:
first Posted on page 222

Easy Does It . . . when the family goes New York Central

Easy on Dad! No traffic to tire him. No white line to watch. When New York Central does the driving, he’s free to read, nap, or enjoy the wonderful Water Level Route scenery that parades past his big picture window.

Easy on Mother, because her mind’s at ease about the youngsters. Not back-seat fidgets. No frequent roadside stops. Everything the children need is right at hand. And they couldn’t be safer at home!

Easy on the Kids! They don’t have to stay put in their seats. There’s plenty of room to move about. And there’s the extra thrill of those famous New York Central meals in the diner, with their own, thrifty Children’s Menu to choose from.

Easy on the Budget! Round-trip coach fares are low. And special Family Tickets cut them so much as 50% or even more. Ask your New York Central ticket agent all about them.

. . . . . NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD . . . . .

. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . The Water Level Route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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


Enjoy! [tup]

Tom [4:-)][oX)]

THEME FOR THE DAY - NYC

[siberianmo]

Good Evenin' Gents!

Thanx for the Posts, Lars - Pete & Al, was beginning to wonder whether anyone would turn up on this NYC Day![swg] Shudda known you three would![tup][tup]

Lars Those Drumheads are "cool" and fit right well with the "Theme" for this day. Thanx!

Pete Here's the answer to your question from Wikipedia

QUOTE: Two Mohawks survive, making them the largest New York Central steam power remaining (all NYC Hudsons and NYC Niagaras went to the scrapman). The first, #2933, is a 1929 ALCO-built L-2d and resides at the Museum of Transportation, St. Louis, Missouri while the second, #3001, is a 1940 ALCO-built L-3a at the National NYC Railroad Museum in Elkhart, Indiana.

So, you were correct - you did see one right here in St. Louis County![swg]

Al Nice touch with the 20th Century Ltd info![tup][tup] KInd of wondering - what was the connection between the Boston & Albany and the 20th Century Ltd[?] Would appreciate some enlightenment from you OR CM3 - thanx in advance!]swg]

Lars & Pete Appreciate the recognition for the NYC info & Posts![tup]

Okay boyz, enjoy the evening!

Leon the Night Man will have the bar at 9 PM (Central)

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[passengerfan]

Good Afternoon Tom and the rest of the gang. I see Coalminer 3 has paid for an open bar so will just have the usual thanks.

In keeping with the NYC theme of the day will throw in the following Passengerfan Extra for the day.

TWENTIETH CENTURY LIMITED NYC Trains 25-26 September 15, 1948 New York – Chicago All Pullman daily overnight both directions 970 miles 16 hours

The NYC replaced the ten-year-old lightweight streamlined 20TH CENTURY LIMITED train sets with all new diesel powered train sets beginning September 15, 1948. The new 20TH CENTURY LIMITED train sets like the steam powered trains before them operated behind the diesels only between Harmon and Chicago as between Harmon and New York City power was electric locomotives drawing current from third rail into the heart of New York Cities Grand Central Station. The new trains were painted in a new two-tone gray paint scheme with white separation stripes. This was the perfect paint scheme for the 20TH CENTURY LIMITED it exuded elegance and had that touch of real class, missing from the previous 20TH CENTURY LIMITED paint scheme. The NYC assigned a pair of EMD E7 diesel passenger units to the new 20TH CENTURY LIMITED for power. The new train like its 1938 predecessor was all Pullman top of the line with only the Master Room missing from the 1948 edition of the 20TH CENTURY LIMITED. Not all cars were new for the trains 1949 inaugural but by the end of 1949 the trains were completely re-equipped except for rebuilt 4 Compartment 2 Drawing Room 4 Double Bedroom Sleeping Cars that remained prewar cars. A sample 20TH CENTURY LIMITED consist as the train appeared in 1949 is listed below.

CONSIST ONE

5014 Baggage 30’ Railway Post Office Car

CALUMET RIVER 10-Roomette 6-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

PORT OF BUFFALO 12-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

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

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

ATLANTIC SHORE Barber Shop Secretary Room Bar 30-Seat Lounge Car

474 16- Crew Dormitory Kitchen Car

400 68- Seat Dining Room Car

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

PORT BYRON 12-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

CASS RIVER 10-Roomette 6-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

PORT OF ALBANY 12-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

HICKORY CREEK 5-Double Bedroom Buffet 25- Seat Lounge Observation

CONSIST TWO

5015 Baggage 30’Railway Post Office Car

PASSAIC RIVER 10-Roomette 6-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

PORT CHESTER 12-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

IMPERIAL HOUSE 4-Compartment 2-Drawing Rom 4-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

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

LAKE SHORE Barber Shop Secretaries Room Bar 30- Seat Lounge Car

475 16- Crew Dormitory Kitchen Car

401 68- Seat Dining Car

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

PORT OF CHICAGO 12-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

POWDER RIVER 10-Roomette 6-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

PORT OF DETROIT 12-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

SANDY CREEK 5-Double Bedroom Buffet 25- Seat Lounge Observation

TTFN AL

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom And All.

Another busy day at the bar and free drinks thanks to CM3 as well[tup]. I'll have apint of the usual Bathams please.

Great NYC day TOM. The Rail Roads from Yesteryear and the great Encore Nostalgias with AL and LARS adding info as well. [tup][wow].
Its a real pity none of the Hudsons or the Niagaras were saved [:(] Does any one know where the two preserved NYC 4-8-2 Mohawks are now[?]. I have the feeling that I have seen a loco with New York Central on the tender but I might be wrong.
The NYC certainly did their best in the early 50s, with the ads, to attract passengers to their system but by then I suppose it was a losing batlle[:(].

DOUG Another great Cabs article. Interesting on the double-cabbed inspection engines
They would be prime seating on a railtour if they were around today[yeah].

ROB Thanks for the info on No 327. Restoring the cars must be hard but very rewarding work. I have found another web-site with photos and info on the Blackpool Trams. I have read an article that says that the long term future of the tramway maybe in doubt.It also said that one part of it( not generaly in use) is the world's oldest section of electric street tramway. here is the site
http;//www.fts-blackpool.org.uk

RUSSELL Sorry the Amtrak was late. When the Brits were over here in OCT 2004 we were fortunate that the trips to K.C and Kirkwood were not too bad for time.
When we was in England we were waiting for our train at Basingstoke when the electronic train display flashed up Delayed. I had just time to cuss when it changed to Late 2 min hardly worth putting up.

Tom Good pohoto of Kirkwood station[tup] You are so right about sport on the radio,maybe because as I grew up the only live soccer on TV was the F.A. Cup Final once a year. Even now I think I enjoy more a live commentery on the radio to the TV I can listen to live soccer on the internet [^].
Thanks CM3 for the beer[tup]. PETE.

[siberianmo]

PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #42

Here’s something to enjoy regarding the New York Central (NYC) in a 1950 advertisement from my private collection:
first Posted on page 190

X marks my Room

. . . on a Dieseliner, and no hotel was ever finer. For New York Central travel feels just like a great hotel on wheels!

Having a Wonderful Time you see,
Loafing or working in privacy.
But when I feel more like a chat,
The lounge car is just made for that!

. . . . . . . . . . The Meals are Swell, and I am able
. . . . . . . . . . To have them at a real table.
. . . . . . . . . . It’s fun – this dining as I ride,
. . . . . . . . . . With scenery “served on the side!”

My Big, Soft Bed is six-foot-three,
Smooth Diesel power cradles me.
For sleep, no place could better suit,
Than Central’s Water Level Route!

. . . . . . . . . . No Need to Step Outside my door
. . . . . . . . . . To wash and dress next morning, for
. . . . . . . . . . My Central room’s equipped complete,
. . . . . . . . . . And when I leave, I’m fresh and neat.

My Plans are Sure! Come storm or fair,
My Dieseliner gets me there.
On New York Central trains I find Comfort is matched by peace of mind!

Make these great trains your Hotels on Wheels

New York – Chicago
20th CENTURY LIMITED
COMMODORE VANDERBILT

. . . . . Chicago – Boston
. . . . . NEW ENGLAND STATES

St. Louis, Indianapolis – New York, Boston
SOUTHWESTERN LIMITED

. . . . . Cincinnati – New York
. . . . . OHIO STATE LIMITED

New York – Cleveland
CLEVELAND LIMITED

. . . . . New York – Detroit
. . . . . THE DETROITER

And many, many others!


. . . . . NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . The Water Level Route – You Can Sleep . . . . . . . . . .

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


Enjoy! [tup]

Tom [4:-)][oX)]

ENCORE! THEME FOR THE DAY - NYC

[LoveDomes]

Hello Tom

Nice work, once again with your new series! Love the NYC. Here's my meager contribution to the "Theme for the day!"

20th Century Limited Drumheads


I'll take one of those tall Pilsner glasses of whatever the draught special is for the day. Thank you CM3 for the open bar! Here's a ten spot for the "klitty" as I know you aren't bringing in very much moolah today.

Some really outstanding info posted today and you surely have a winner with this idea ... perhaps the guys will pick up on it.[tup]

Gotta run - and I'll try to make it back.

Until the next time!

Lars

[siberianmo]

ENCORE! THEME FOR THE DAY - NYC

PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #38

Here’s something to enjoy regarding the New York Central (NYC) in a 1948 advertisement from my private collection:
first Posted on page 183

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . World Premiere! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
the New 20th Century Limited

. . . . . . . . . . First of New York Central’s new Dreamliner Fleet . . . . . . . . . .

NEW Lookout Lounge – Modern setting for the club-like availability that’s long been a Century tradition.

New – from its streamlined Diesel to its raised “Lookout Lounge” . . .

New King-Size Diner – So spacious it needs a separate kitchen car! Smart designing gives each table privacy plus a perfect outlook. There’s a festive feel about the Century’s dinner lounge and a sense of being served with distinction.

New 1948 Century Rooms – Whether you travel in a roomette, a bedroom or with a party in a suite, you can work, or relax in air-conditioned privacy by day – then sleep the miles away by night on Central’s smooth Water Level Route.

. . . . . NEW NEW YORK CENTRAL . . . . .

. . . . . BETWEEN THE HEART OF CHICAGO AND THE HEART OF NEW YORK . . . . .
Vacation overnight aboard the new Century. Arrive refreshed – with no business time lost.

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


Enjoy! [tup]

Tom [4:-)][oX)]

ENCORE! THEME FOR THE DAY - NYC

[siberianmo]

ENCORE! THEME FOR THE DAY - NYC

PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #27

Here’s something to ponder with regard to our appreciation and fascination with
Classic Trains. Check this advertisement out (from The Official Guide of the Railways – 1956) first Posted on page 169



Something new for veteran travelers
THROUGH SEPT. 29TH

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

For a limited time only
AEROTRAIN CLEVELAND-CHICAGO

This much-talked about, lightweight train offers a new experience in travel – provides fast, conveniently scheduled coach service between Cleveland and Chicago . . . with many attractive New York Central features.

* Hostess service
* Seat service for light meals from a rolling buffet
* Separate bar car
* Air cooled
* Reclining contour seats

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Standard Time) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Train #201 – Lv. Cleveland 6:35 AM – Ar. Chicago 12:15 PM
Train #200 – Lv. Chicago 4:00 Pm – Ar. Cleveland 10:45 PM
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Also serving 12 cities in between . . . . . . . . . .


Enjoy! [tup]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

ENCORE! THEME FOR THE DAY - NYC

[siberianmo]

For: Trainnut484 Russell and anyone else out there:

The Kirkwood, MO Amtrak Station (formerly MoPac)


Enjoy!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[siberianmo]

Good Morning!

ANOTHER OPEN BAR THIS FINE DAY! Compliments of coalminer3 (CM3)[tup][tup][tup]

A chilly start to the day here in mid-Continent USA, with temps at or near 20 (F). Supposed to hit 40 today, then dropping like a stone tonight and for the remainder of the week. Nothing in the form of real snow, perhaps some flurries. <barf!> Petrol up at Collusion Corner is holding at $219 (rounded). One of the three stations has been demolished and it appears a new one will soon take its place - SHELL has been making money, or so I've heard.<groan>[tdn]

Some acknowledgments:

Trainnut484 Russell Posted: 06 Feb 2006, 23:57:50

So the end of the rail adventure has come to an end, eh[?] Apparently you haven't or don't travel with Amtrak between KCity and StL (Kirkwood) that often, for getting in ONLY an hour or so late is a PLUS these days (daze). If you've followed my chronicles of the travels Pete and I have taken, you'll surely know what I mean. In the 16 or so years of my making that round trip, sometimes a half dozen times per year, LATE is the operative word, but I'm talking really LATE - as in 4 or more hours. Always good to get home and hope all of your activities here in east central MO were pleasant ones.[tup]

Thanx for the "Tender plate," and we look forward to your Pix on Sunday Photo Posting Day!

barndad Doug Posted: 07 Feb 2006, 04:59:40

Part III of the Cab series and at "O-dark-thirty" in the mornin'!! Whazup[?] Or better said, why were you UP[?][swg] Amazing how insomnia works and when it hits me, I wind up on this thread. Now, what in the world does THAT tell ya[?][swg]

passengerfan Al Posted: 07 Feb 2006, 07:11:17

Good "Theme" Post on the XPLORER! Fits in quite well - check the followup.[tup][tup]

coalminer3 CM3 Posted: 07 Feb 2006, 08:52:57

Was beginning to wonder where you've been - but then, given the mining situation in WVA, wasn't hard to figure it out. Your Governor made the right move.

Great input, as always, and your generosity is most appreciated as well. An OPEN BAR is always something special 'round these parts![tup][tup][tup]

You've done quite a job in catching up on the Posts, wish everyone would take the time to do the same after an absence. Doesn't take long for these pages to fill up and fly by, eh[?][swg] A suggestion is in order: use the reload/refresh feature when checking into the thread in order to come up with the most current "stuff," for it doesn't appear you saw the NYC Posts. Pehaps you are saving 'em up for later - which is fine too.[tup]

I haven't seen either North or South Stations in Beantown since the early '70s. Undoubtedly CHANGE has overtaken the memories, fer sure. Happens all the time. I wonderd whether you'd pick up on the background info on the Pix - shudda known you would![swg] Glad you enjoyed the Pix from the guys this past Sunday Photo Posting Day!.

That change of AM stations for the Cardinals has really upset quite a few fans 'round these parts. It was front page material in an on again/off again fashion for months. Seems that KMOX has undergone siginficant ownership and management changes over the past decade which has pretty much turned it into more of a "down 'n dirty" business than anything else. The "personality" and "personalities" of the station are so different that I really don't listen to the programming very much. TV surely has overtaken the broadcasting of major sporting events. But ya know, there's nothing like the good old "transistor," under the pillow while listening to one's favortie team while on the road! [yeah]

That may have been a Boris-look-alike on TV! <good grief!> At any rate, I'm pleased with the outcome of the game, but not the manner in which it happened. In any sport, once the officiating becomes center stage, something surely is lost as far as I'm concerned. A shame, indeed.

Regarding RR videos, I suppose that is NEXT! Does it ever end[?][swg]

Appreciate the quarters and song titles![tup]


Later!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[coalminer3]

Good Morning Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please, I'll stand for drinks for the whole day today as I have been "away." Here's some $ for the jukebox. Let's play a trio of tunes. We'll start with "I'll Marry You Tomorrow, But Let's Honeymoon Tonight," followed by "My Everyday Silver is Plastic," and a true classic which we haven't played in awhile, "Red Necks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer."

Was that Boris I saw at the Super Bowl? Probably not, but maybe - all I know is I saw a lot of bizarre things during that ball game, not the least of which was the officiating (and I am a Steelers follower.) Anyway the commercials were good - my votes go the the magic refrigerator and the streaking sheep.

It's been an interesting few days with the safety stand down, but things are sort of returning to normal.

A few comments on past posts. 550 AM for the Cards? That's right on top of a local station here. Can't wait to see what some of the local affiliates are will be ("The tower of power Serving all points betwen East St. Louis and Granite City), but I'll bet there won't be any around here. The local stations quit carrying the Cincinnati Reds a few years ago (can't say I blame them) but they had been on the radio for decades. WCBS (Yankess flagship station) comes booming in here in the evening, but it ain't quite the same. Satellite radio is looking better all the time.

All of the postings (new and encore) on passenger service, cars, etc. have been added to the binder.

Railroad History No. 133 was devoted to the Wabash - get a copy if you can find one if you have any interest in the Wabash at all. I know there are some P&WV fans out there, and the P&WV book High and Dry had quite a bit abt. the Wabash's effort(s) to reach Pittsburgh - the one thing you can say abt. folks back then is that they truly thought big. I seriously doubt that we have any big thinkers left (but that's for another place and another time.)

Now for pictures and aother articles that have been posted recently. A Toronto PCC car AND Maple Leaf Gardens - We are not worthy! It's too bad that games between charter NHL teams are few and far between anymore. IIRC, the Bruins don't even play the Red Wings at all this season (probably good for the Bruins).

I also enjoyed the story about the polarized windows on the Pennsy. It was my experience that after a few rounds in the club car, you didn't even need to change the window.

That poor groundhog looked like he wanted to be anywhere but in the picture.

Also ernjoyed the pictures from overseas and the movie posters.

The picture of the Turbo at South Station was shows the back of the station's headhouse and some of the surrounding structure b4 it got knocked down. Those of you who have been in Boston over the past few years know how they did, IMHO, a good job in saving part of the structure and adapting it to present day needs - certainly better that what happened in Washington DC where the railroad station languished for years befoire being converted into - what a concept - a railroad station.

The G scale trolley pictures were interesting - powered off overhead, or by a hidden motor? Enquiring minds want to know.

Something in the way of classic train news. I visited the Ft. Wayne RR Historical Society page recently to look at pictures of the restored NKP 765. They are, according to the site, trying to set up excursions for 2006 in Michigan, Indiana, and, I believe, Ohio. The website is the point of information abt. this. It would be nice to see them down here for the New River train, too. BTW, there is a video titled "Runnin' That New River Train" which is a good up close view of a 765 trip between Huntington and Hinton and back. I recommend it to you if you have not seen it.

Well, back to it.

work safe

[siberianmo]

ENCORE! THEME FOR THE DAY - NYC

PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #28

Here’s something to ponder with regard to our appreciation and fascination with
Classic Trains. Check this advertisement out (from The Official Guide of the Railways – 1956)
first Posted on page 170



Extra service at no extra fare!

Route your passengers on the Central’s newest train

OHIO XPLORER CLEVELAND-CINCINNATI

Built for the Central by Pullman-Standard, the beautiful, lightweight all-coach Xplorer brings a new look to American railroading. Travelers will appreciate being introduced to this train and its convenient schedule.

*Hostess service
*Seat service for light meals from a rolling buffet
*Air cooled
*Reclining contour seats
*Separate bar-lounge car

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Standard Time) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Train #421 – Lv. Cleveland 6:45 AM – Ar. Cincinnati 12:15 PM
Train #422 – Lv. Cincinnati 1:45 PM – Ar Cleveland 7:15 PM
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Also serving 8 cities in between . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD . . . . .


Enjoy! [tup]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

ENCORE! THEME FOR THE DAY - NYC

[passengerfan]

Good Morning Tom and the rest of the gang. Have half read yesterdays post will get back to them later as Tuesday should be a lighter day. So far only four appointments, yesterday nine. Time for a double coffee and a Crumpet from the Mentor Village Bakery.

PASSENGERFAN AL'S STREAMLINER CORNER #56

X-PLORER NYC June 1, 1956 Cincinnati – Cleveland daily round trip

On June 1, 1956 the New York Central inaugurated there long awaited TRAIN X or OHIO STATE X-PLORER. This lightweight train operated between Cincinnati and Cleveland with seven intermediate stops in five hours northbound or southbound. When the power unit from Baldwin wasn’t giving problems then the suspension system of the cars were. The major complaint from passengers was the rough ride of this lightweight articulated streamlined equipment. The NYC soon replaced the OHIO STATE X-PLORER with a conventional lightweight streamlined train and sold the experimental to the Pickens Railroad in North Carolina.

TTFN AL