"OUR" PLACE - SEE NEW THREAD!

[siberianmo]

TUESDAY’s INFO & SUMMARY of POSTS

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


Good morning! The pastry case is chock full of goodies from The Mentor Village Bakery and the menu board features our <traditional> and <light> breakfasts. So, fill up a cuppa Joe and start the day with us![tup]


Daily Wisdom

Steve McQueen looks good in this movie. He must have made it before he died. (yogi-ism)


Info for the Day:

* Weekly Calendar:

Wednesday 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) siberianmo Tom Posted: 30 Jan 2006, 05:29:09 (232) Monday’s Index & Summary

(2) passengerfan Al Posted: 30 Jan 2006, 06:53:33 (232) Streamliner #51 – Texas Special

(3) Theodorebear Ted Posted: 30 Jan 2006, 07:02:17 (232) Inclusive weekly Post, etc.

(4) siberianmo Tom Posted: 30 Jan 2006, 07:45:49 (232) Acknowledgments, etc.

(5) coalminer3 CM3 Posted: 30 Jan 2006, 09:49:45 (232) Inclusive Post & Anthracite mines & RRs

(6) siberianmo Tom Posted: 30 Jan 2006, 10:33:50 (232) Birthday Watch List!

(7) siberianmo Tom Posted: 30 Jan 2006, 10:53:49 (232) RR’s from Yesteryear #1 – B&O

(8) LoveDomes Lars Posted: 30 Jan 2006, 15:34:58 (232) PM check-in

(9) passengerfan Al Posted: 30 Jan 2006, 16:18:01 (232) PM chat

(10) pwolfe Pete Posted: 30 Jan 2006, 16:31:23 (232) Inclusive Post, etc.

(11) barndad Doug Posted: 30 Jan 2006, 18:02:46 (232) Inclusive Post, etc.

(12) siberianmo Tom Posted: 30 Jun 2006, 19:01:25 (232) Acknowledgments, etc.

(13) passengerfan Al Posted: 30 Jun 2006, 20:37:58 (234) B&O Domes

(14) pwolfe Pete Posted: 30 Jujn 2006, 21:17:46 (234) Nite Cap!

(15) siberianmo Tom Posted: 30 Jun 2006, 21:34:41 (234) Acknowledgments, etc.



NOW SHOWING:

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

. . . January 30th thru February 4th: DOUBLE FEATURE Oh, Mr. Porter! (British - 1937) starring Will Hay, Moore Marriott & Graham Moffitt – and – Shadow of a Doubt (1943) starring Teresa Wright, Joseph Cotten & Macdonald Carey.


That’s it! [tup][;)]

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

[siberianmo]

Evenin' Gents!

Al & Pete Nice of you guys to stop by again!

Al Interesting stuff on those B&O domes, and very timely. Wonder if you'll be able to read my mind for the next installment of my new series[?] Hint: Does C&O ring a bell[?][swg]

Appreciate the round![tup]

Pete Bonzo Dog [yeah] I was a backgorund singer in that group.[swg] Nah - never heard of 'em until I ran across the name in my quest to match CM3 with those son titles. Good stuff, eh[?]

Enjoy the movies!

Leon the Night Man has the bar!

Ring the bell, Boris - drinks on the house![tup]

Nite[zzz]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all.

A pint of the usual please.

DOUG Sorry I was not very clear. It was only one Castle that had the melted firebars. When it failed the only loco avaliable was a very sad looking Hall Mixed Traffic 4-6-0.
Despite its apperance it put up a very fast run. The other two Castles did run their alloted portions of the tour,although in good condidtion, if I remember right, the magic 100MPH was not quite reached on the day.

AL Great post to compliment Tom's B&O piece.

TOM Did your hear any of the Bonzo Dog stuff [wow] that was a name from the past.
Oh well back to the second feature at the Emporium PETE>

[passengerfan]

Good Evening Tom. Time for a CR and a round for the house. Good idea to post the B&O dome piece over here.

Baltimore
&
Ohio
(B&O)

The B&O purchased a pair of Pullman Standard 8-car coach streamliners following WWII for Baltimore-Chicago service. The two trains were delivered to the B&O in May 1949 and entered service as the COLUMBIANS May 5, 1949. The fourth car in each consist of the COLUMBIAN was a Strata-dome coach.
All cars in the COLUMBIAN trains were numbered and named the two Strata-dome coaches were 5550 HIGH DOME and 5551 SKY DOME. These cars seated 42 on the main level of the cars 18 forward of the dome and 24 aft of the dome. Beneath the dome was a pair of comfortable lounges for passengers to relax in; one of these lounges seated 6 the other 11. The domes were only 15’ 3” above the rails giving these two Strata-domes the distinction of being the lowest height short domes operated in North America. Upstairs in the dome of the two Pullman Standard built Strata-domes were 24 seats arranged in six pairs on either side of the center aisle. The backs of the seats were lower than those found in any other dome cars. One feature found on the B&O Strata-Domes not found on others was on the forward bulkhead of the car above the aisle was located a speedometer, clock, altimeter and barometer.
In December 1950 the B&O purchased three Strata-dome sleeping cars from the C&O and after updating these virtually new cars that had never entered service for their original owner assigned them to the CAPITOL LIMITED and SHENANDOAH. These Budd built cars dated to August 1956. After purchase by the B&O before entering scheduled service the cars made a brief visit to Pullman for upgrading for sleeping car service. At the short end of the car forward of the dome on the main level was 5 roomettes. On the main level to the rear of the dome were 3 drawing rooms. Beneath the dome was a single bedroom, car attendants quarters and conductors office Upstairs the dome seated the usual 24.
The CAPITOL LIMITED received a pair of these Strata-domes one for each train set. The SHENANDOAH with a single car provided every other day Strata-dome service between Chicago and Washington. The B&O numbered and named each of the cars as follows:

7600 MOONLIGHT DOME originally C&O 1850

7601 STARLIGHT DOME originally C&O 1851

7602 SUNLIGHT DOME originally C&O 1852

The B&0 7600 MOONLIGHT DOME to the SHENANDOAH, while 7601 STARLIGHT DOME and 7602 SUNLIGHT DOME were assigned to the CAPITOL LIMITED.
In 1952 all five domes were shopped and after having lights mounted on the right side roofs forward of the domes became the first and only dome cars that could light up the countryside at night. These floodlights were nothing more than locomotive headlights with each putting out 250 watts. They were mounted on the roofs at angles of 60, 70, 80 and 85 degrees from the cars centerline. A breaker was mounted ahead of the lights to protect them from hanging icicles in tunnels and at stations having overhead platforms. The lights were used outside of the major towns and turned off when passing through heavily populated areas.
The three Strata-dome sleeping cars were leased to the Atlantic Coast Line between December 1965 and April 1966. After return from the ACL the cars were leased to the Canadian National from May 1966 to March 1968. The CN assigned the three cars to service in the SUPER CONTINENTAL between Edmonton and Vancouver.
After return from the CN in March 1968 the B&O assigned the cars to the CAPITOL LIMITED until July 1968 when the three Strata-dome cars were once again leased out. This time they were leased to the Seaboard Coast Line who purchased the three domes in July 1969. During this period they operated in the FLORIDA SPECIAL during the winter season and SILVER METEOR at other times. In both trains they operated between Richmond and Miami. Once more the cars were sold to Hamburg Industries in 1970 who after refurbishing the cars leased them back to the SCL.

TTFN AL

[siberianmo]

Good Evenin’!

To the acknowledgments:

coalminer3 CM3
Posted: 30 Jan 2006, 09:49:45

Another fine effort, chock full of informative stuff. There’s a great amount of history contained within your piece on anthracite and the railroads; much appreciated.[tup][tup]

I’d say those miners in Canada came out of their situation a hulluva lot better than the poor guys in WVA. Takes a special breed of guy to go into those circumstances to earn a living – and earn it they do.

I surely should remember “good ole Fred Narragansett,” but unfortunately do not. My first tour in NE began in 1963, so the timing should have been “right.”

Your wish is my command, Sir CM3 and The Titfield Thunderbolt has been added to the “Coming Attractions” at The Mentor Village Emporium Theatre. Watch for it![swg]

With no relevance to your anthracite piece, the mere mention of “Schuylkill” brings back some memories of childhood. My Godfather was a dredge operator along the rivers of the northeast in the U.S. and Canada (he was from Montreal). Anyway, one year he had a contract to work the “Schuylkill River” in the Valley Forge area of Pennsylvania. They invited me to spend a month or so with them and it was quite a summer treat for a lad of about 8. Swam in the river, saw all the sights, just wonderful memories.

Okay, time for me to add some songs of my own to the “list”:

Geoff Bartley
….. Folk Music Is The Final Refuge Of The Weird

Bobby Bears
….. Drop Kick Me Jesus Through the Goalpost of Life

Lou & Peter Berryman
….. Naked and Nude

and <drumroll>

Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
….. Can Blue Men Sing the Whites?

Thanx for the round and quarters![tup]

LoveDome Lars
Posted: 30 Jan 2006, 15:34:58

Appreciate your taking the time to drop by. Judging by the times of the Posts today, we’re “bunching ‘em” instead of spreading ‘em out. However, that’s far better than none at all.[swg] Feast or Famine Bar ‘n Grill is indeed an appropriate name![swg]

No collusion going on between Al and I – really just coincidence. Good eyes![swg]

So, you want me to go “UP” as in Union Pacific[?][?] Nah, I’d rather stick with the Fallen Flags![swg]

passengerfan Al
Posted: 30 Jan 2006, 16:18:01

Since you and I have been “accused” of collaborating – why not Post that B&O piece over here[?] It surely would be a good fit, don’t ya think[?]

pwolfe Pete
Posted: 30 Jan 2006, 16:31:23

Well, Pete no one can ever accuse you of not reading! Can’t say I picked up that as a discrepancy. I’ve done several searches on the Carrollton Viaduct and no where have I found it referred to as the “oldest in the world.” Perhaps someone else can pick up the baton on this. Glad you enjoyed the start-up piece, though ……..

Thanx for the round![tup]

barndad Doug
Posted: 30 Jan 2006, 18:02:46

A surprise visit! Didn’t expect to see you today and of course, we’re all pleased that you made it in!

A DVD exchange wouldn’t be a bad idea. Unfortunatetly, I haven’t acquired any RR DVD’s (yet), have a “mess” of VHS though.[swg] Wish you luck with the idea – it was hard enough getting a “quorum” for the RR Book Relay!

Glad you liked the new series![tup] Certainly cannot and will not take “credit” for what the people at Wilkipedia put together. Mine was a nightmare of formatting – and I think you know what I mean on that. Those things take gobs of time …..[tdn]


Tom[4:-)] [oX)]


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

Those who acknowledge the other guy, get acknowledged!

[Anonymous]

Evening Tom and gents! I'll have a shot of tequilla ... no worm please, and a round for the house. Well, you said there would be a big surprise today, and we sure got one! Wonderful stuff on the B&O. Excellent work! The Yogi for today was a winner too.

Nick, I've put together a few "oddball" pix for the next Sunday photo session, just for you.

Great to see Ted pop by ... yes indeed.

Thanks for another great streamliner Mr. Al, and congrats on surpassing 50! Youv'e posted a truely amazing amount of material, and we surely appreciate it.

We were treated to more great coal related info from CM3 today. I really enjoyed the article.

Good to see you Mr. Lars! Maybe we should start a train DVD exchange similar to the book exchange that Tom has going. I recently bought a copy of "The General" with Buster Keaton, just so I could see what I have been missing. Have you seen it?

Great to see you Pete. Interesting information on melting the fire bars on the 3 Castle class loco. Didn't know that hard coal burned that hot!

Gotta run gents .... that's my life these days!

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all.

A pint of Bathams and a round for the fine photos of yesterday please[tup].

DOUG Thanks for the comments on the photos. Later on there is a photo of a small narrow guage loco in York which can be compared to the small loco in your photo .

AL Good post on the Texas Special and its great to see TED calling in, you are very much missed.

CM3 It would be good to see The Titfield Thunderbolt on at the Emporium. I think it was the first Ealing comedy to be filmed in colour. The star of the show the 0-4-0 LION was steamed for a short time in the early 1980s when it was the worlds oldest working loco.
I was lucky enough to have a ride behind her on the Keighly & Worth Valley Railway in Yorkshire in an open truck. The loco now is in a museum in Liverpool.

Another great post on Coal Canals and Railroads. the South Wales coalfield had from west to east had anthracite, steam and lesser coal seams which supported a massive railway system. The Great Western Railway locos were designed to run on Welsh steam coal. In 1964 at the end of G.W.R steam a high speed railtour was run using 3 Castle class locos. Someone decided to put anthracite in the tender unfortunatly it melted the fire-bars making the loco a failure[:-^].

NICK Thanks for the description on those great photos from yesteryear[tup]
We had a full L&NWR glass canopy at Rugby but this was taken down a few years ago and the modern one put up [V]. There was an attempt to get the station listed as a historic building but this failed. I believe that Preston has most of its L& NWR glass roof still, which is the last one.

TOM Great new series. It said at the start that the worlds oldest operational bridge was on the line then later it said the oldest in N. America does anyone know which is right[?] but still some really interesting facts[tup].
The Yogism reminded me of the collections at work for someone who was retiring.
Another Bathams please and I'll be off PETE.

[passengerfan]

Good Afternoon Tom and the rest of the gang. Time for a CR and a round for the house.
Really enjoyed the B&O piece, your new series should be very enjoyable and will fit very nicely in "Our Place". Just stopped by the house for a late lunch now its back to the office.
TTFN AL

[LoveDomes]

Hey Tom - I guess your name for this place, The Feast or Famine Bar & Grill really fits today. Where is everyone? Unbelievable ....

Enjoyed your new series start! Really good way to begin with the nation's first RR![tup] Especially meaningful in my family - goes back to great grandpa - grandpa and dad. I broke the chain - became a sailor![swg]

Have you been over to your other thread lately? I think you and Al have cooked something up - too much coincidence if you ask me.[swg]

Okay, I'll have one of those Ballentine Ale's in the green bottle. Nice frosty much will go fine too.

I checked out those movie URLS and that's a nice touch. Helps a bit to know "what's up" with the flicks. You surely are a detail kinda sailor, aren't you?

Especially enjoyed that submission by CM3 and those antracite connections to the rails. Lots of in depth history there. Nice job![tup]

Hang in there, barkeep - only one way to go, and that's UP![tup]


Until the next time!

Lars

[siberianmo]

Hello Guys,

For anyone interested in this week's Double Feature at The Mentor Village Emporium Theatre check out these URLS:

Oh, Mr. Porter!
http://www.britmovie.co.uk/genres/comedy/filmography/021.html

Shadow of a Doubt
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036342/

Enjoy![swg]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[siberianmo]

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

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad


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


Locale: New York City, New York via Baltimore, Maryland to Chicago, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri

Reporting marks: B&O

Dates of operation: 1830 – 1963

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


The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) is one of the oldest railroads in the United States, with an original line from the port of Baltimore, Maryland west to the Ohio River at Wheeling, West Virginia and Parkersburg, West Virginia. It is now part of the CSX network, and includes the oldest operational railroad bridge in the world. The B&O also coincidentally included the Leiper Railroad, the first permanent railroad in the U.S.

The railroad's former shops in Baltimore, including the Mt. Clare roundhouse, now house the B&O Railroad Museum.

History

Chapter 123 of the 1826 Session Laws of Maryland, passed February 28, 1827, and the state of Virginia on March 8, 1827, chartered the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road Company, with the task of building a railroad from the port of Baltimore, Maryland west to a suitable point on the Ohio River. The railroad, formally incorporated April 24, was intended to provide an alternative, faster, route for Midwestern goods to reach the East Coast than the seven-year-old, hugely successful, but slow Erie Canal across upstate New York.

Construction began on July 4, 1828, and the first section, from Baltimore west to Ellicott's Mills (now known as Ellicott City), opened on May 24, 1830. Further extensions opened to Frederick (including the short Frederick Branch) December 1, 1831, Point of Rocks April 2, 1832, Sandy Hook December 1, 1834 (the connection to the Winchester and Potomac Railroad at Harpers Ferry opening in 1837), Martinsburg May 1842, Hancock June 1842, Cumberland November 5, 1842, Piedmont July 21, 1851, Fairmont June 22, 1852 and its terminus at Wheeling, West Virginia (then part of Virginia) on January 1, 1853.

On July 20, 1877 there were bloody riots in Baltimore, Maryland from Baltimore and Ohio Railroad workers. Nine rail workers were killed at the hands of the Maryland militia. The next day workers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania staged a sympathy strike that was also met with an assault by the state militia; Pittsburgh then erupted into widespread rioting.

The Pennsylvania Railroad acquired the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad in the early 1880s, cutting off the B&O's access to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The B&O chartered the Philadelphia Branch in Maryland and the Baltimore and Philadelphia Railroad in Delaware and Pennsylvania and built a parallel route, finished in 1886. The Baltimore Belt Railroad, opened in 1895, connected the main line to the Philadelphia Branch without the need for a car ferry across the Patapsco River, but the cost of its Howard Street Tunnel drove the B&O to bankruptcy in 1896.

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad took control of the B&O in 1963, and incorporated it, along with the Western Maryland Railway, into the Chessie System in 1973. In 1980, the Chessie System merged with the Seaboard System Railroad to create CSX. In 1986, the B&O finally went out of existence when it formally merged with the C&O (which itself formally merged with CSX later that same year). At the height or railroading's golden age, the B&O was one of several trunk lines uniting the northeast quadrant of the United States into an industrial zone. It marked the southern border and corresponded to the New York Central's marking of the northern border. The Pennsy and the Erie railroads worked the center. The corners of this map are Baltimore in the southeast, Albany in the northeast, Chicago in the northwest, and St. Louis in the southwest.

Early engineering

When construction began on the B&O in the 1820s, railroad engineering was in its infancy. Unsure of exactly which materials would suffice, the B&O erred on the side of sturdiness and built many of its early structures of granite. Even the track bed to which iron strap rail was affixed consisted of the stone.

Though the granite soon proved too unforgiving and expensive for track, most of the B&O's bridges have survived until the present, and many are still in active railroad use by CSX. Baltimore's Carrollton Viaduct, named in honor of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, is North America's oldest railroad bridge still in use. The Thomas Viaduct in Relay, Maryland was the longest bridge in the United States upon its completion in 1835, and remains in use as well.

Branches

Washington

In 1831 a law was passed in Maryland, enabling the B&O to build its Washington Branch, connecting Baltimore to the national capital of Washington, D.C. This opened in 1835, and later served as a terminus for the Annapolis and Elk Ridge Railroad to Annapolis.

Mount Airy
Frederick

The Frederick Branch was built as part of the original line, opening on December 1, 1831. The continuation of the main line from Frederick Junction opened April 2, 1832.

Metropolitan

The Metropolitan Branch was opened in the early 1870s. It leaves the District of Columbia and proceeds northwest through Montgomery County, joining the B&O main line at Point of Rocks. It serves as a bypass around Baltimore and is still in active use.

Georgetown

The line was operated in some manner from 1889 until 1985 when it was proposed for abandonment; it served basically as a minor freight spur carrying coal and building materials to local outlets in Chevy Chase, Bethesda and Georgetown. It was originally built with the intention of connecting to southern railroads to compete with the Pennsylvania Railroad's Long Bridge, but no bridge across the Potomac River was ever built. The abandoned right-of-way is now used as the Capital Crescent Trail.

Trivia

• In the U.S. version of the board game Monopoly, the B&O is one of the four railroad properties on the board, though it did not serve Atlantic City, New Jersey, from which many of the US edition's properties are named.

• A one-time B&O warehouse at the Camden Yards rail junction in Baltimore now dominates the view over the right-field wall at the Baltimore Orioles' current home, Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

References

Railroad History Database
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Timeline
Mileposts from CSX Transportation Timetables


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

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

Enjoy!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]

[siberianmo]

All of our regulars know about the Birthday Watch List .... however, it needs to be posted repeatedly, just as a reminder regarding who is coming up next for the Birthday Bash ......


[bday] 2006 BIRTHDAY WATCH LIST [bday]
(rev. Jan 30th):

March 5th (Nick – 46) Next up!
March 13th (Doug – 50)
March 31st (Lars – 66) Just added!
April 18th (Al - 64)
May 18th (Tom - 68)
May 27th (Dave - 47)
June 3rd (John) – 47) Legion of the Lost
June 24th (Dan - 44) Legion of the Lost
July 30th (Russell – 35)
August 11th (Pete – 55
August 16th (Ted – 68)
September 8th (Rob - 35)
October 18th (BK – 66)
December 29th (CM3 – 60)


Not on the list [?] Send me an Email with your birth date (month-day-year). Corrections too!


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



NOTE for all: Check the SUMMARIES!

[coalminer3]

Good Morning Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please; round for the house, and $ for the jukebox. Here's a couple of old favorites this a.m.: She Made Toothpicks Out of the Timber of My Heart," and "My John Deere Was Breaking Your Field, While Your Dear John Was Breaking My Heart." We'll add those to Tom's list of all-time greats.

Weather here today is lovely - 50s and high clouds, although we are supposed top have snow tomorrow - and I get to be outside all day tomorrow; never fails.

B4 I forget, please think of the miners in Canada - the outcome there looks fairly favorable according to news reports this a.m.

I bounced around this a.m. reading posts and going back and linking captions with pictures (real and model). Interesting stuff, for sure and most appreciated. BTW, Tom, I am working on a set of shot for photo posting; but work keeps intervening.

Any idea where the South Shore Line sign came from? That is truly a rare beastie.

Also, thanks to wanswheel for more CV material. The CV people always made me feel at home when I visited. Lots of good memories of St. Albans, Italy yard and other area locations.

The stories abt. Switzerland remind me of what my Dad said about his trips there - the trains ran to the second and they were ON TIME - as he suggested, a far cry from the NYNH&H.

Fred Narragansett was a character that was part of Red Sox advertising back in the 60s; back when the only time you had trouble getting a ticket was when the Yankees came to Boston and the NY fans outnumbered the locals. Where have you gone, Pumpsie Green? I know this is not a baseball site, but there's lots of stories in the file. Only abt. 17days until pitchers and catchers report.

Movie nights are looking good. North by Northwest - excellent stuff, REAL NYC cars and location shots for the most part. I'm glad that you have added "Shadow of a Doubt" to the upcoming lineup. Speaking of UK rail material, how about resurrecting "The Titfield Thunderbolt?"

In line with canals and railroads, here's some material on anthracite mines, canals, and railroads - part of our ongoing coal and railroads thread. I apologize for bizarre punctuation; I may have missed some of it when I went back and corrected the paste up I did.

Pennsylvania contains approximately 75 percent of the world's anthracite (hard coal) deposits. Anthracite is found in four areas or fields in northeastern Pennsylvania. The Northern field is in northeastern Luzerne and northwestern Lackawanna counties. Its biggest cities are Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. The Eastern Middle field, centered around Hazleton, occupies the southern Luzerne County, the northeastern corner of Schuylkill County, and a sliver of northwestern Carbon County. The Western Middle field runs east to west from Northumberland County and across southern Columbia County into central Schuylkill County and its largest towns are Mt. Carmel and Shenandoah. The Southern field is the biggest. It runs north and east from Dauphin County through Schuylkill and into Carbon County. Pottsville and Tamaqua are two well-known cities if the Southern field.

People knew about anthracite for a long time but could not get it to burn; a problem partially solved by Jesse Fell, a judge from Wilkes-Barre who, in 1808, developed a grate for burning anthracite. Fell's grate worked well in limited applications but was not usable by large segments of industry. Then in 1815 two iron workers accidentally found how to get anthracite to burn. They closed the door on their furnace which forced the furnace's draft through the fire rather than over it. This accidental discovery made anthracite a viable industrial fuel.

Anthracite mining stimulated Pennsylvania's regional economy and the national economy as well. New foundries and machine shops opened in Pennsylvania to meet the increased demand for their products created by the anthracite industry. Readily available anthracite supplies in the 1830s and 1840s transformed American manufacturing into big business. Anthracite powered the hot-blast method of making pig iron which resulted in a major relocation of the American iron industry to Pennsylvania. New factories and growing cities needed abundant supplies of cheap fuel and anthracite helped meet this demand.

Anthracite Canals

Rugged topography restricted transportation of anthracite to market. In the early days anthracite traveled to market by water. It was shipped down rivers in small boats in the 1800s, somewhat similar to how coal was shipped in Virginia. In the 1820s, canals were built to carry coal from mine to market. While wheelbarrows and scoops pulled by horses and mules made the job a little easier, the anthracite canals for the most part were built by pick and shovel labor and injuries and disease killed many laborers.

The canals created local economies along their routes. Lumber yards, iron works and boatyards grew to support the canals. They also served to open up isolated areas and to carry agricultural goods and forest products as well as coal to market. A canal was still not the answer to the anthracite industry's need for reliable, all-weather transportation. Winter forced them to shut down. Spring floods often damaged the canal structure and locks and filled the canals with debris and silt which meant they had to be dredged before operations could resume. Canals generally did not operate at night and traffic flow was limited by the speed of the horses and mules that pulled the barges.

Anthracite Railroads

Railroads built the anthracite industry and put the canals out of business. The first railroads in the anthracite fields were feeder lines constructed in the 1820's and 1830's to carry coal from the mines to the canals. Five major "anthracite railroads" were operating by the time of the Civil War. These lines included the Philadelphia and Reading; Lehigh Valley; Delaware and Hudson; Delaware, Lackawanna and Western; and the Central of New Jersey.

The Philadelphia and Reading (Reading), incorporated on January 3, 1831, was the biggest anthracite railroad. The first section of the line opened between Reading and Norristown in July 1838 and the entire road from Reading to Philadelphia opened a year later. The Reading reached Pottsville in January 1842. The Reading, well-constructed and built to high engineering standards, continued as a coal hauler until the Civil War. Franklin B. Gowan became president of the P&R in 1869 and immediately decided to buy coal properties to ensure a steady supply of traffic for his railroad. Gowan's timing was unfortunate as he chose to buy land at a time when coal land prices were artificially inflated by a frenzy of postwar speculation. The Reading purchased 100,000 acres in the Schuylkill and western Lehigh coal fields in the early 1870s and organized the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company to hold these lands. The railroad lost money in mining due to overcapacity in the industry and, unable to meet its financial obligations, in 1880 the Reading went into receivership. For the next 20 years they tried to reduce fixed charges, make their coal business more profitable and to diversify their traffic base to lessen their dependence on coal.

The Middle anthracite field did not get a railroad at first due to its remote and also because the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company fought to keep its monopoly on anthracite shipments on the Lehigh Canal. The canal, however, was an undependable source of transportation because of weather and damage from repeated floods. Asa Packer, a businessman and canal boat operator, decided to try and solve the problem and bought the charter of the so-called "paper" Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad. Packer changed the company=s name to the Lehigh Valley (LV) and started laying track from Mauch Chunk (Jim Thorpe) to Easton. Packer's railroad was complete and operating by 1855. The LV eventually reached as far west as Buffalo and on the east to the shores of New York harbor. Packer was a visionary in that he built the Valley only as a railroad company rather than part of a larger mining operation. The Lehigh Valley got into the mining after the Civil War. In the 1870's the Valley set up the subsidiary Lehigh Valley Coal Company (LVCC) to watch over its mining interests. By 1911, the LVCC's operations ran more than 8 million tons per year and by 1916 they owned 30 breakers to handle their coal. At its height, only the Reading carried more coal than the Lehigh Valley.

The Delaware and Hudson (D&H) began as a mining company during the War of 1812 when Philadelphia was cut off from its supply of imported British coal. Philadelphia businessmen William and Morris Wurts bought coal lands in the Lackawanna Valley and the first shipment of coal from their properties reached Philadelphia in 1822. The Lehigh Canal had opened in 1820 and the Wurts turned their attention to supplying the coal needs of New York because New York City was closer to their coal properties than was Philadelphia. In 1823 they received charters from Pennsylvania and New York to construct the Delaware and Hudson Canal. The D&H Canal Company planned to go into the mining business from its inception. A railroad was constructed to carry coal from the mines to Honesdale. The canal carried the coal from Honesdale to Rondout, New York where it went down the Hudson River 94 miles to New York City. The canal and the railroad were completed in 1829. The D&H's rail operations expanded as new mines were developed and opened. In 1859 the Pennsylvania legislature allowed the company to build any lines needed to connect its coal lines to the canal. The Delaware and Hudson=s railroad operations expanded after the Civil War, and by 1871 their tracks were as far north as Whitehall, New York on the shores of Lake Champlain. By the turn of the century the D&H had sold the canal and their rail lines reached well into the northern part of New York where they served several iron mines. By 1907, the D&H had established connections in Quebec with both the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railway. As coal traffic declined, the D&H became more of a bridge route to carry traffic between Canada and the United States.

The ancestry of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western (DL&W) goes back to 1826 when Henry Drinker received a charter from the Pennsylvania legislature to form the Susquehanna and Delaware Canal and Railroad Company to run from Pittston to the Delaware Water Gap. Nothing came of this project but two other railroads were chartered to run near the route surveyed by Drinker's company. These lines were combined to form the DL&W in 1853. From the beginning the Lackawanna had a vigorous and efficient management. The railroad contracted with large shippers to furni***heir own cars which were pulled by Lackawanna locomotives. Small producers sold their coal to the railroad's coal department which in turn gave the line control over that part of their coal business. Anthracite was the DLW=s principle cargo until around the turn of the century when it began to be replaced by more general freight. The DL&W merged with the Erie Railroad in 1960.

Construction began on the Elizabeth and Somerville Railroad in 1831 after protracted legal wrangling over the line's proposed charter. The company was sold and reorganized in 1846 and extended into the Delaware Valley. The line was renamed the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) in 1849. The line reached from Elizabethport to Phillipsburg by 1852. Coal traffic became an important part of the CNJ's business starting in 1856 when they obtained connections with the Lehigh Valley and the Lackawanna. The Central of New Jersey expanded its operations after the Civil War when it built a line nearly parallel to the Lehigh Valley's route into the anthracite fields. The CNJ and the Lackawanna agreed to merge in 1872 but this plan was rejected by the Jersey Central's stockholders. In 1873 the Jersey Central greatly expanded its holdings of coal lands through purchasing properties that belonged to the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. These acquisitions occurred during a downturn in business conditions and the Central of New Jersey fell into receivership in 1873.

A series of protracted legal and financial maneuvers followed and by 1892 the CNJ was controlled by the Reading - a situation that was overturned the next year. J.P. Morgan had reorganized the Reading, purchased the Lehigh Valley, and by 1899, controlled the Central of New Jersey as part of his effort to stabilize the anthracite industry. The Reading finally purchased a controlling interest in the Central New Jersey in 1901 but the two railroads continued to operate independently. At the same time that this occurred, the Baltimore and Ohio took control of the Reading which allowed the B&O access to New York City.

The anthracite railroads exerted a profound economic influence where they operated. They built massive facilities at New York Harbor and Philadelphia to unload anthracite from trains and into colliers for shipment to east coast cities. Buffalo, New York became an anthracite port that shipped coal produced by Reading and Lehigh Valley-owned mines to industrial cities along the Great Lakes and to western states. The railroads owned and operated their own oceangoing vessels and lake boats. The Reading had the largest fleet of ships of all of the anthracite railroads. The anthracite companies sold their coal to consumers from yards in large cities such as Boston, New York, Buffalo, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

work safe

[siberianmo]

Good Morning!

Seems that I failed to include a proper Greeting in the SUMMARY this fine day![%-)][%-)] Certainly hope that everyone's new work week is starting off on the right foot and if you are reading this, it is![swg]

We've got a blue sky morning - temps expected to be in the low 50s (F) and petrol up at Collusion Corner holding at $2.12 (rounded). Could be far worse in all respects. Noted in the morning bird cage liner (aka: St. Louis Post-Disgrace) that the low temp in Alaska this day is expected to be -56 (F). My bride commented, "That's chilly!" Now coming from a Canadian, I suppose they do have a different definition than I when it comes to "cold" and "chilly."[swg]

I'd say we had a rather successful Sunday Photo Posting Day! and my appreciation goes out to barndad Doug & LoveDomes Lars for their contributions![tup][tup][tup] Also, many thanx to Nick & Pete for taking the time to compile and forward their Pix to me and for providing descriptions following the Postings![tup][tup][tup]

While I'm at it, for those who took the time to make mention of the efforts put forth by the people mentioned, that too is appreciated.[tup] It has ALWAYS been expected that we'd drop our comments thru the mail slots on the front doors on Sundays. What is and has been discouraged are Posts of the "routine" nature (Fallen Flags - Nostalgia - Encore! - Streamliners - Classic Juice, etc.) Sundays are for Pix and Pix commentaries.[tup]

I noted that a couple of guys made Posts at the end of the week that were apparently made without awareness of the information previously put out - on the SAME page. That, my friends, should be embarassing and is surely not in keeping with the way we operate 'round here. Once again, I implore you guys - especially those in the Permanent Order of the Stools to support the policies of the bar and of course, take the time to acknowledge what is going on. <geesh>

Good to see you 'round here again, Sir Ted and your positive approach to the efforts put forth at this bar is refreshing indeed.[tup] I believe there are sufficient Pix for two more Sundays worth of your efforts. So, if there is to be another foto disc - I'm ready![swg]

Another day, another Streamliner! However, what would "Our" Place without 'em[?] Always good stuff, Al and appreciated![tup][tup]

If you somehow find a way to read this, Sir Rob C'mon baaaaaaaaaaack! This has gone on far too long. I'll buy you a 'puter if it comes to that. Just need you on board again. The IC has been reduced to two and if it drops to moi - well as they say in Tibet - I'm outta here![swg]

Enjoy this fine day, Gents!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[Anonymous]

Wow, good morning to all and may this week be kind to you. Tom old friend, I can squeek in a O.J. and a cuppa Joe before rafting over to Tampa this A.M., thanks. There have been so many terrific posts, pix, commentary and personal vignettes since my last visit, where does one begin?[:O] I suppose the best place ( to begin ) is to send my highest regards to everyone who so unselfishly participate in the daily pander of this peerless Thread. Second, the interaction between folks, so desperatly called for by Tom, seems to be coming to fruition.[:D] Third, I can't tell you how gratifying it is to see that "Our" Place has established a momentum of its own far stronger than any one single member, save the nucleus: Tom, Nick, and Rob.[tup][tup][tup]

Even though my "own time" is reduced to counting minutes ( not hours ), I am still able to enjoy the highlights of many posts. Sunday Photo Post Day, both last week and yesterday were a smashing success due, in no small way, to the hurculean efforts of Tom's generous efforts. Thank you Tom for bringing order out of chaos in sorting out the myriad of pix "dumped" in your lap.[^] I'll be sending mail shortly.

As the old bumper sticker states: "I'd rather be fishing posting" is a horrific understatement. However, there are issues and events that weigh heavily on a person's priorities that demands attention. If I didn't believe this work wasn't important, it wouldn't get a second thought. There is no "in between the lines" ineuendo to be made here, so please give any dark thoughts "the boot."[V] Okay Boris, "hit it!" I gotta a lotta ttraffic, a little gas and a long drive, so best regards to all, til next time. Happy rails everyone.

[passengerfan]

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

Nick Thx for the futrther information on the ONR trains, daughter lives about a mile from the train route will see if I can get her to slip over their and get some photos.

PASSENGERFAN AL'S STREAMLINER CORNER # 51

TEXAS SPECIAL MKT – SLSF Trains 1-2 May 16, 1948 St. Louis – San Antonio daily service each direction 1,038 miles 18 hours 25 minutes

The TEXAS SPECIAL was a jointly operated St. Louis to San Antonio operation of the MKT and StLSF railroads. Each railroad initially owned one train of the new lightweight streamlined TEXAS SPECIALS. The lightweight streamlined TEXAS SPECIALS began service May 16, 1948 replacing heavyweight trains in this service with a faster schedule. The StLSF better known as the Frisco operated the TEXAS SPECIAL over their rails between St. Louis and Vinita, Oklahoma, from there to Dallas, Fort Worth and on to San Antonio the MKT better known as the Katy operated the TEXAS SPECIALS. The trains were painted with bright red window bands, roofs, and car ends. The letter board and sides of the car were fluted stainless steel. The power was painted in a matching red scheme with only the lower third of the unit’s car sides having a stainless steel fluted panel. The TEXAS SPECIAL would carry through Sleeping Cars to and from New York and Washington operated over the PRR in their PENN TEXAS beyond St. Louis and in the B&O NATIONAL LIMITED to Washington.

FRISCO CONSIST

2000 EMD E7A 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Cab Unit

2001 EMD E7A 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Cab Unit

250 ROCK HILL Baggage 30’Railway Post Office Car

1250 OLIVETTE 56-Revenue Seat Coach

1251 PASADENA HILLS 56-Revenue Seat Coach

1252 BADEN 56-revenue Seat Coach

1650 STERLING PRICE 26-Revenue Seat Coach 25-Seat Buffet Lounge Car

650 ALEXANDER DONIPHAN 36-Seat Dining Car (St. Louis – Springfield)

1450 PIERRE LACLEDE 14 Roomette 4-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car (St. Louis – Fort Worth)

1451 THOMAS HART BENTON 14-Roomette 4-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car (St. Louis – Dallas)

1452 HENRY SHAW 14-Roomette 4-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car (St. Louis – Dallas)

1453 FRANCIS P. BLAIR 14-Roomette 4-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car (St. Louis – San Antonio)

1454 AUGUSTE CHOUTEAU 14-Roomette 4-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car (New York – San Antonio via PRR PENN TEXAS to and from St. Louis)

1455 GEORGE G. VEST 14-Roomette 4-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car (Washington – San Antonio via B&O NATIONAL LIMITED to and from St. Louis)

1360 JOSEPH PULITZER 2-Crew Dormitory 2-Double Bedroom 1-Drawing Room Buffet 21-Seat Lounge Observation (St. Louis – San Antonio)

MISSOURI-KANSAS-TEXAS CONSIST

101A EMD E7A 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Cab Unit

101C EMD E7A 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Cab Unit

1000 ANSON B JONES Baggage 30’Railway Post Office Car

1200 EDWARD BURLESON 56-Revenue Seat Coach

1201 DAVID E. BURNETT 56-Revenue Seat Coach

1202 J. PINCKNEY HENDERSON 56-Revenue Seat Coach

1300 MIRABEAU B. LAMAR 26-Revenue Seat Coach 25-Seat Buffet Lounge Car

1100 SAM HOUSTON 36-Seat Dining Car (San Antonio - Muskogee)

1500 JAMES W. FANNIN 14-Roomette 4-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car (Fort Worth – St. Louis)

1501 BENJAMIN B. MILAM 14-Roomette 4-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car (Dallas – St. Louis)

1502 WILLIAM B. DAVIS 14-Roomette 4-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car (Dallas – St. Louis)

1503 DAVID CROCKETT 14-Roomette 4-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car (San Antonio – St. Louis)

1504 JAMES BOWIE 14-Roomette 4-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car (San Antonio – New York via PRR PENN TEXAS to and from 5St. Louis)

1505 JAMES B. BONHAM 14-Roomette 4-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car (San Antonio – Washington via B&O NATIONAL LIMITED to and from St. Louis)

1400 STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 2-Crew Dormitory 2-Double Bedroom 1-Drawing Room Buffet 21- Seat Lounge Observation (San Antonio – St. Louis)

The joint operation of the TEXAS SPECIAL by the M-K-T and Frisco began March 4, 1917 with the Frisco being responsible for the train between St. Louis and Vinita, Oklahoma and the KATY responsible from that point to San Antonio.
A third consist became necessary when it was discovered the schedule was too tight to operate with just two train sets. The Frisco and MKT used the best heavyweight cars they could muster for the third train and the two extra sleeping cars as well as off line cars for the third train.
An interesting note on the TEXAS SPECIAL it split into two trains one through Dallas and one through Fort Worth between Denison, Texas and Waco where the two sections came together once again. Interesting that today’s Interstate 35 splits much the same to serve both Dallas and Fort Worth.

In 1959 the FRISCO withdrew from the TEXAS SPECIAL operation and the MKT operated it on its own as a Kansas City – San Antonio train after that time.

In 1964 the TEXAS SPECIAL became a Kansas City – Dallas only train.

Time ran out for the TEXAS SPECIAL finally in 1965.

TTFN AL

[siberianmo]

MONDAY’s INFO & SUMMARY of POSTS

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


Daily Wisdom

Always go to other people’s funerals otherwise they won’t go to yours. (yogi-ism)


Info for the Day:

(1) Birthday Watch List! has been revised. Watch for it!

(2) Railroads from Yesteryear: begins today. Watch for it!

(3) * Weekly Calendar:

Wednesday 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: 29 Jan 2006, 08:13:34 (232) 6 Pix!

(2) siberianmo Tom Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 08:14:23 (232) Sunday’s Info & Summary

(3) siberianmo Tom Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 08:17:48 (232) Yawn!

(4) siberianmo Tom Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 08:19:21 (232) Rugby & Haverfordwest: 6 Pix!

(5) barndad Doug Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 08:58:45 (232) 6 Pix!

(6) siberianmo Tom Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 08:59:41 (232) 5 Pix from Pete!

(7) barndad Doug Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 09:51:19 (232) 6 Pix!

(8) LoveDomes Lars Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 10:52:05 (232) 6 Pix!

(9) siberianmo Tom Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 10:55:10 (232) 5 Pix from Nick!

(10) LoveDomes Lars Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 12:13:23 (232) Acknowledgments, etc.

(11) siberianmo Tom Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 12:29:06 (232) reply to LoveDomes

(12) siberianmo Tom Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 14:09:06 (232) 6 Pix from Pete!

(13) siberianmo Tom Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 14:13:36 (232) 5 Pix from Nick!

(14) siberianmo Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 14:15:47 (232) 5 Pix from Ted!

(15) passengerfan Al Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 14:38:09 (232) for Lars

(16) LoveDomes Lars Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 15:00:38 (232) for Al

(17) barndad Doug Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 15:02:24 (232) Pix comments, etc.

(18) pwolfe Pete Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 18:52:35 (232) Pix descriptions, etc.

(19) siberianmo Tom Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 19:35:50 (232) January Sunday Photo Posting Day! Index

(20) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 19:55:21 (232) Pix comments, etc.

(21) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 29 Jan 2006, 21:30:57 (232) Pix descriptions



NOW SHOWING:

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

. . . January 30th thru February 4th: DOUBLE FEATURE Oh, Mr. Porter! (British - 1937) starring Will Hay, Moore Marriott & Graham Moffitt – and – Shadow of a Doubt (1943) starring Teresa Wright, Joseph Cotten & Macdonald Carey.


That’s it! [tup][;)]

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

[nickinwestwales]

Well welcome back to part two:-more pix from the old country ( for some of you,anyway..)

The first batch,as previously noted,are of Haverfordwest-points of interest,the distance between the platforms-the line was originally laid out for I.K.Brunel`s 7`0" broad gauge -later reconstruction to std. gauge left sufficient room for a centre road,now removed,although location still visible-connected to `up` side running line-formerly two spurs on up side-roughly opposite goods shed-serving milk & cattle docks.
Down side loop runs behind platform on right,double -ended siding serving the goods shed outside that,fan of stub-end tracks outside that all closing in on the down running line.
No lead track but up/down passing track continues for .25 mile south of station with up track signalled for both-way working
Apologies for quality of these pix-taken 10-15 years ago on 110 point & press

Right then,here`s where we go all black & white-A little tour in the TARDIS to Snowdonia before the second world war....( O.K Boris-pull the red lever.)
#1-Not strictly a W.H.R engine,but included for completeness, N.W.N.G "Snowdon Ranger"-Vulcan Foundry,`Fairlie`1877-scrapped prior to opening of W.H.R
#2-Former P.B & S.S.R " Russell"-Hunslet,1906-still in service
#3-"Russell"-after "rebuilding" at F.R`s Boston Lodge works to fit reduced clearances through Moelwyn tunnel
#4 Again not a true W.H.R engine,N.W.N.G Hunslet `Fairlie` `Gowrie`,1908-sold-1916-scrapped post 1928
#5 -A more familiar image for you guys,-Baldwin#590,ex-war dept.-an unpopular engine with crews because of rough riding-apparently a common complaint,informed debate suggests that the same cylinder angle was used as the Alco 2-6-2 tanks,throwing the torque into the wrong part of the chassis-opinions welcomed.........
And so on to the next batch :-
#6-Here we have Festiniog Rly "Little Giant" ( George England,1867) at the north end of Beddgelert-in the background is the delightfully named`Royal Goat Hotel`-still open and going from strength to strength [^]
#7-The south end of the station,looking north (when enlarged,Snowdon can just be seen through the mist-in the fore ground are "Moel Tryfan" & "Russell"-c.1935
#8-South end again,this time F.R "Welsh Pony" (see last weeks pix) with a train of F.R stock on left and "Russell" with W.H.R stock on right-note station mistress in traditional Welsh costume by the cab of "Welsh Pony",also gentleman in right foreground-standing in approximate position where previous shot was taken
#9-Here we have Dinas Junction-the headquarters of both the N.W.N.G and the W.H.R-on the extreme left is the L.M.S line north to Caernavon, the narrow gauge `platform roads` (with "Russell" running round in the far distance) extended out into a raised slate trans-shipment wharf,the goods shed had a narrow gauge through siding & a std gauge stub-track and the track on the right (with a carriage parked on it ) ran out to a std-into-narrow gauge coal tippler
#10-looking in the other direction from the same road bridge.we have-the carriage sheds,the head-shunt ( note -engine shed roads lead off from here rather than main running line-the only n/g line I have seen which was laid out with this much care-Tryfan Jn,slightly further up the line was originally laid out with 5 turnouts & 11 signals-I would have done it with 1 turnout & a noticeboard.......Engine sheds,signal box and L.M.S branch south to Afon Wen
So-I think thats everything covered,see you all tomorrow,take care chaps...!,nick,[C=:-)]

[nickinwestwales]

Well good evening one and all,just popped in to check the state of the galley,take care of some paperwork ( cook over a low heat until the I.R.S lose interest [:-^]) and put up some photo captions.
Normally,I would stick to that,however LARS`S well made point concerning the efforts of others,especially [4:-)][oX)]TOM ( the scourge of the res. *** model boaters [swg] ) in making Sunday Pix such a treat deserves to be acted upon.......And since we have a new feature to look forward to tomorrow -no time like the present !!
Well what a feast..!--There HAS to be something for everybody in that lot,starting with:-
The Main Man-TOM,Many thanks for posting all those shots-and in just the right sequence too-inspired !...( although that VIA dome header pic sets a pretty high opening bid..... ) [tup][^][tup]---By the bye-todays daily wisdom sounded like it was delivered by a man with a Texan accent trying to do his daddy`s job.........[:-^]..WAY [#offtopic]......
DOUG-A fine spread here my man [^]-those caboose shots are a fine piece of work-interior & roof shots are especially rare and those road names conjour up some very powerful images.
Those Santa-Fe FP45`s look like pure brutes-a world away from the `soft` lines of the F-units of yore,but nonetheless impressive for that....
splendid variety of depots also-nice to see the infrastructure behind the trains-something one rarely see`s,other than as background detail
-Love that dump car-just my kind of `oddball` vehicle--nice choices [tup][^][tup]
PETE-First up mate,sorry for not picking up on your S+D queries the other night,as you could probably tell,I was close to critical mass and somehow it got lost in the fog-will address fully tomorrow
Lovely rack of pix there-That platform canopy at Rugby looks kind of strange against the old brick of the building-which looks suspiciously like the model for the old Super-Quick card kit would`nt you say ?
Those museum shots are absolute beautys-that South East & Chatham 4-4-0 back-lit from the rooflights is a classic,as is the North-Eastern ( Worsdell..? ) 4-4-0 with the Midland `Single` in the background....definately beers on me [tup][tup]
LARS-A cracking spread of your signature cars there-Whilst the `state of the art` cars have a certain `presence` to them,for my [2c] you cant beat the older styles-they look to be part of a whole with the loco(s) & other cars rather than design statements in their own right-and whilst I`m opening cans of worms-for my next [2c] the part dome cars are more aesthetically pleasing than the full ones -that should stimulate conversation [:-,][}:)][:-,]..
On a slightly looser note-does anyone else think the dome in the last pic looks like a transplanted B-17 cockpit........?
TED-(If you are out there...................)-Big thumbs up on the layout-I shall have to see if I can match you for progress-an excellent incentive-that big red building must have taken forever and a day.
Now I`ve seen that slip/3-way complex in place I can draw you up a diagram-will E-mail you r.e. further details
Particulaly enjoyed the pic of `Minnie`pretending to be an urban park-Lordy but she`s a tiny little thing !--Our three monsters make her look like a kitten ( I`m 6`1" & the biggest one can stretch up and hook her claws in my belt without effort )
AL-Thanks for kind thoughts and clarification R.E O.N.R F.P7`s-If you want to keep your files current,not sure if you know-Northlander currently formed by GP38-2,train heat car ( `b` unit with traction motors removed ) plus (usually)2 coach cars plus food-service car on the tail-consist can vary (especially on high days & holidays)-5 cars with a geep on each end has been noted recently-Apparently Bombardier double-deck GO-Transit cars are occaisionally attached as the O.N.R North Bay Shops have the service contract on them.
MIKE-thanks for kind thoughts-E-Mail in preparation[tup]
O.K-just going to nip out the back and check on Boris,back with captions directly,nick[C=:-)]

[siberianmo]

Gentlemen,

Ever wonder about those fine pix that have been Posted during past Sunday Photo Posting Days! [?] The guys who took the time and made the effort to provide one and all with some enjoyable pix deserve to have their work preserved. So, here’s something you may want to “bookmark” for future use:

INDEX: January 2006 Sunday Photo Posting Days!

Begins on: . . . . . click on the URL

(1) Page 214, 08 Jan 2006
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=214&TOPIC_ID=35270

(2) Page 220, 15 Jan 2006
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=220&TOPIC_ID=35270

(3) Page 227, 22 Jan 2006
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=227&TOPIC_ID=35270

(4) Page 232, 29 Jan 2006
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=232&TOPIC_ID=35270


With my compliments![tup]

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]

[pwolfe]

Hi
Tom and all.

I'll just post this through the mail slot.

DOUG LARS NICK and TED thanks for the great photos.[tup].

Many thanks TOM for doing mine and the Rugby map and photos. There as been some changes since the photos were taken.In the top photo the Express passenger trains are now worked by Pendileno multiple units. In the second photo the 4- Car Electric Multiple Units class 321 still work some of the local trains but most are now worked by the new class 350 E.M.U.s and the station itself may be demolised and a new one built if the track re-alignment takes place as planned.

As to my photos
#1 On the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) at Bridgnorth is A4 4-6-2 # 60009 Union of South Africa. This engine has class mates in Green Bay WIS and Elson Canada.

#2 A view from the station at Penmeanmawr North Wales the Building on the right is the hopper for the granite ballast which is quarried off picture to the left and loaded in to cars to the right of the photo for use on the railway.

#3 In the Railwayman's Arms on Bridgnorth station.I think it was Mike whosaid he had been there but not gone inside. The guys are the two Alans the left hand beer glass has Thatchers Cloudy Cider the middle one did have Holden's Bitter and the right hand one Bathams. By the state of the glasses Alan in the center bought the first round and it looks like mine next. The brass plate, 4665, is a cabside number plate off a Great Western 0-6-0 Pannier tank loco.

#4 Is Canterbury West(Kent) signal box one of only two on a bridge over the tracks remaining in England.

#5 A Single-car class153 D.M.U these were originally built as 2-car units but were modified with an additional driving cab.

The next photos are from the National Railway Museum in York
#7 A 4-COR 3rd rail Emu built for the Portsmouth electrification of the mid 1930s known as Nelsons. The box with the numbers to the left of the driving cab was the method that the Southern Railway identified its trains with each route having its own number.

#8 A South Eastern & Chatham Railway 4-4-0. This locos would work the Continental Boat-trains from London to Dover.

#9 A North Eastern Railway 4-4-0. This loco worked the Express passenger trains north of York on the East Coast Main Line. I believe this loco worked a leg of the 1895 "Railway Races"

#10 An Oerliken 3rd rail EMU Motor Car used on the London to Watford line of the LMS and the North London Railway .These units had a long life only being replaced in the Mid 50s.

I hope you enjoyed some locos from across the pond PETE.

[Anonymous]

Lars, thanks for the kind words, and Al, you're welcome for my finding ways for you to spend your money. As for people not recognizing the postings of others, I was under the impression that we really didn't do that until the place re-opened on Monday, so that's what I've been doing. But since Lars started recognizing today, I'll do it too! Speaking of whom .... great pics Mr Lars! I liked the Tanana 512 best.

Great Pete pix Captain Tom. Thanks for providing the maps so we know where things are too ...that was a big plus for me! The passenger trains are so small compaired to what I'm used to seeing. The 8F and Canterbury pix are really interesting. I'm also looking forward to Nick's description of his pix. Thanks for posting them Tom. You also posted more pix of Ted's layout, which is something I'm more and more interested in these days, as I look ahead to building a train room in the house we're building!

Have a great "day of rest" gentelmen [:D]

[LoveDomes]

Hi Al

Can't say ... the captions I used are from the information provided by the "credits" shown. Further, they stipulate that copying is permitted, unless otherwise prohibited - but in NO case can any infomation be altered.

Seems to me that these were "rebuilds," perhaps that accounts for the difference given that there were alterations made to accommodate the wishes of the new owners.

Ya got me.

Until the next time!

Lars

[passengerfan]

Good Afternoon Tom and the rest of the gang. Great photo sunday but have a question for lars on the Dome pictures he posted from trainweb today I believe they have one of the captions wrong. If you loook at the second photo and compare it with the 4th photo you will see what I am talking about. The 4th photo of Tanana is much different then the second photo. I believe the second photo is one of the Colorado Rail car dome built either last year or the year before that are replacing the former AT&SF domes like Tanana. These new domes stand nearlt 18 feet above the rails and are known as Ultra Domes. Take a close look at photo 2 and photo 4 and see what you think. Al

[siberianmo]

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

Here’s an installment from Theodorebear Ted featuring his ongoing efforts in building an HO layout: (we’ll have to await descriptions from Ted)

(1) A work in progress:


(2) A work in progress:


(3) A work in progress:


(4) A work in progress:


(5) A work in progress: Minnie the Moocher



That concludes the installments from Ted’s HO Pike these past three Sundays. …… Watch for the G gauge next Sunday! Thanx, Ted wherever you are ….


Enjoy!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]


REMINDER! Read the SUMMARY!

[siberianmo]

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

Here’s more from our friend Nick – Part II of II - who may pop in with some descriptions a bit later on:

#6


#7


#8


#9


#10



Thanx again for your participation Sir Nick![tup] More next Sunday.


Enjoy!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]


REMINDER! Read the SUMMARY!

[siberianmo]

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

More recent pix from Pete while over in Merry Olde! – Part II of II – suspect Pete will provide some descriptions either today or tomorrow.

#6 (pen2)


#7 (york2)


#8 (york1)


#9 (york4)


#10 (york3)



Thanx again Sir Pete![tup] … More next week.


Enjoy!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]


REMINDER! Read the SUMMARY!

[siberianmo]

Hey Lars

Just happened to catch your note as I was taking the Boyz (Boris 'n Leon) up to the cabin at Can-Am Gorge for their weekly romp in the forest. (Animals beware![:O][:O])

Regarding the sparcity of comments: It hasn't gone unnoticed with me over the past several Sundays. Somewhere along the line we've either lost the guys who had the "manners" to make mention of the other guy's efforts, or we've simply entered into a different "phase" 'round here. Don't really know. You know what[?] Screw 'em all but six, and save those for pallbearers![swg] That's my attitude on it. I "play" to the guys who give a Rat's Patoot!

Gotta run! The Boyz are raising the dickens out in the truck with Tex the Armadillo and Awk

Catch y'all on Monday!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[LoveDomes]

Hello Tom,

Just dropped this through the mail slot for a purpose.

I have noticed that no one seems to be making comment on the fine work that others have put forth to benefit those who do the browsing. In my readings of all the pages on this thread, there used to be a time where the guys would at least make mention on Sundays. Apparently, no more.

I will. Thanks go to barndad Doug, who perhaps only rivaled by trolleyboy Rob, remains a consistent provider of some great pix. Not only the photos, but some narrative to help us along the way. A three[tup] salute to you: [tup][tup][tup]

Thanks to Tom our "steamed Proprietor" (as CM3 refers to him) for the dedication, diligence and unselfish sharing of his time and talents for one and all. Not only does he come up with innovative pix spreads of his own, but he accommodates others who wi***o provide pix on Sundays. A three[tup] salute to you: [tup][tup][tup]

There are many "out there" who haven't the foggiest what it takes to put together a bunch of pictures for posting on the forums. It is a labor intensive effort and I for one appreciate EVERYONE who has taken the time throughout the months of Sundays to make this day a bit more pleasant for the customers of "Our" Place. The least some of us can do is to say, "Thanks!" A three[tup] salute to you: [tup][tup][tup]

Until the next time!

Lars

[siberianmo]

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

Here’s a contribution from our friend Nick – Part I of II - who may pop in with some descriptions a bit later on:

#1


#2


#3


#4


#5



Always appreciate your participation Sir Nick![tup] More to follow a bit later on.


Enjoy!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]


REMINDER! Read the SUMMARY!