G’day Gents!
A blustery morning after a full day and night of rain; alas – no snow. Juneau the Wonder Husky missed the evening walk, but we made up for it this AM! <phew> That animal of ours will not be denied!
Good to see some activity from late afternoon into the evening. Hard to determine what is “normal” these days (daze) – however – as long as Tilla ‘n Cashinator keep making those sounds I long to hear – KaChing, KaChing – we’ll keep a light on for ya!
To the acknowledgments:
Lars at 4:33 PM yesterday: Nice advertisement for the Baldwin diesel-electric. Also looks like 1946 to me.
It’s not a “nice” thing to admit, but I too get irritated each time I see those “ratings” only to realize that the “blems” are from apparently two people who are no longer welcome by Kalmbach. So, as you mentioned – if they’ve been banished, why then do their less than welcome works “live” on Keep pressing the Forums Manager and perhaps things will turn about.
Haven’t heard the “red coats” referred to as “lobsters” since the last time I viewed Horatio Hornblower on a DVD set we have. In one of the episodes, “Stiles” refers to the soldiers of the King as “lobsters.” Got a kick out of that.
Pete at 7:50 PM yesterday: Don’t envy you a bit regarding dental work. I’m okay with the routine stuff – but when it comes to major work, no thanx! Even with a dental plan in force, we wind up paying handsomely for things that require deductibles, co-pays, and so forth. A major rip-off – but that’s a story for ‘nother time.
Love that accounting of the T-shirt you saw in Boston. Only thing I would’ve added is – “We’ll provide the ice!” By the by, I preferred the amber brew at the 1847 rather than the dark. What say you They also should serve ‘em up in tankards, steins or half-litre size glasses. Those “cutesy” pilsner glasses don’t get it. <grin>
Mike at 8:53 PM yesterday: Quite a potpourri of subject matter in those URLs – but all enjoyable. tup] Some funky looking electrics, at least from my vantage point. “Little Joe” Pix look fine – but the South Shore livery needs some “pizzazz”! <ugh>
Regarding your tirade of acronyms – some require definitions! <swg>
Your mention of young James appearing on “my other Thread” brings to mind something that used to boggle my aging grey matter. 20-Fingers Al used to “do that” all of the time – Post over there but NOT here. Never could figure it out. If the bar IS the “featured” site, then one would think that a person who wishes to be considered as a “regular” would at least stop by here! Very puzzling. Now, on a more positive bent – all contributions are most welcome.
Saw CFournier online yesterday. Another puzzlement, eh For those who don’t know – he was our first customer and first member of the now dormant “Order of the Stools.” A person we thought was a good friend up in Montreal. Then, gonezo . . . .
Nick at 9:00 PM yesterday: A day without Chief Chef Nick, is indeed a day without sunshine ‘round the Saloon by the Siding! <grin> Good to see ya, Mate and appreciate the platitudes, humor, Pix and RR insights.
Figured you’d pick up on the “Boat Train” theme for Tuesday, Nov 28th! With you, Pete ‘n DL on board, this should be a most interesting topic. Then if CM3, Rob ‘n Moi can come up with something appropriate from the North American aspect, I’d say we’ll be doing just fine. Plenty of time to get things in order as we approach the last month of the year. Time doth
Good morning Tom and all in
Light Breakfast for me, with a grapefruit juice please.
Tom – both of those theme day ideas – Pullman and Boat Trains sound very good choices. I’ve got some ideas about contributions but will certainly look forward to hearing about North American equivalent services too.
Nick – thanks for that RHDR rundown – things were in fine fettle there when I visited about 3 years ago. Are you up for the GWR Boat Train routes then? Not sure if the Isles of Scilly were ever served by a true Boat Train, but the overnight sleeper from London to Penzance still connects quite reasonably with the morning boat to the Isles of Scilly from Penzance Harbour.
Rob – that information about attacks in the Gulf of St Lawrence was interesting – did not know that – it must have felt VERY close to home.
Pete – I’ll dig out Rob Foxon’s film programme schedule and see if he has dates in the Rugby area. You never know, info might be handy.
Seeing the LMS Diesels and SR Diesels must have been interesting. The SR ones of course were rather forgotten about compared to the LMS designs – I suppose a facet of coming second in the race.
One of the film screenings I was at had footage of the Fell Locomotive – did you ever see that? Some info / pic here – strange looking beast:
http://www.nelmes.fsnet.co.uk/paxman/paxrailt.htm#fell
http://www.nelmes.fsnet.co.uk/paxman/paxfell.htm
Of course it occurs to me that one loco from this era that did get saved was the GWR Gas Turbine 18000, now at Crewe I think – Can’t find a good pic of this at the mo – but it was another interesting classic era experimental design.
My APT trip was rather lucky in retrospect – the station master at our local station knew of our interest and must have been aware (probably through a BR internal circular or something) that the APT was doing passenger runs as a relief to scheduled services. He recommended taking one of these journeys to my father – who though it would be a good idea. In retrospect our mistake was not to take the journey all the way to Glasgow, but I suppose my dad did not want to bother with organising an over night stay so we took the trip as far north as we could get from the south coast that would permit a return home the same day. This meant we went as far as Preston (near ish to Liverpool for you sea dogs), and not over the much twistier (and more scenic sections) north of there where there would have been much more tilting. I recall we arrived at Euston with plenty of time and had a look over the train, including the cab, where the driver was happy to let anyone there visit the cab and have a good look round. I remember the run being smooth and acceleration was fast. I had no negative associations of the trip compared with the reports in the general media. Being an unadvertised relief train the service was not very full, and I do remember thinking the interior was well designed. The contrast between this and the Pendolino seems to be the much smaller windows on the latter (inhibiting the view), and indeed the way they have loaded seats into the Pendolino airline style, which seem to me to be very cramped (in standard class). At the end of the run we got on board the first southbound train back to London from Preston (a normal service). This was all in about 1984 I think. I must have some photographs somewhere – probably slides, I ought to dig them out.
Anyway, it was a very impressive trip – and of course we looked forward to the trains being in full service – as we know, this was not to be since Government cut off the investment tap needed to resolve the final problems. Lucky some cars from one train are preserved at Crewe, but a shame it is not a full consist.
Cheers
DL
Good evening Leon , a Keith's and a round or three for those of us still standing ( just use a funnel for Nick ) Sorry to have missed everyone yesterday , the three days of midnights folloed by one day off ( yesterday ) then back into the regular swin gof things today = me being passed out and mostly non-functional yesterday ( I know most of you wonder about how functional I am on most "daze" anyway ) Still good to see the interaction continuing these last two days.
Nick -Stop riling them by calling them Colonials , I'll have to get down my Brown Bess and learn how to shoot the blasted thing again , that and I don't think the uniform fits anymore Great pictures mind you the last couple o days.Thanks for the round as well
Tom-Great rundown on te CGW your usual above top notch performance.Thanks for clearing up the Bedford Basin thing I shoulda known better ,<ugh> you see this is why we keep you sailors and old salts on the payroll
Dl-Thanks for the link to the 6 wing and the locations of their airbases. I had noticed that the book I needed for the research was loned out to a good friend of our's, Dad. Murray is ex RCAF ( joined right after the war 1946 and worked on Lancs in thier maritime reconasince rolls )Anyhow Murray was one of the main reason's that VRA was found and brought to Warplane for restoration to it's flight status. The NBooks called Living Lancaster's written by a Chap from England, it really is a good read covers all the remaning examples left. St John's and halifax were easily defended harbours, the Gulf of St lawrence was another matter, on several occations u-boats got right into the river and did some real damage, landed spies etc. The RCN lost two Corvettes and a frigate in the St Lawrence , 10 or 12 merchies were sunk in the river as well, some not all that far away from Montreal !
Pete-There are a few new recruits in the restoration groups Ours and Warplanes. Most of the veteran members have retired or passed on now. You find with warplane in Hamilton most of the flight crew and maintenance guys are retiriess from the CF or Air Canada, so the new "young" members are still in their late 50's early 60's. great idea on the boat trains. I can think of a few examples in Canada beside the Intercolonial that Tom mentioned.
James-Good to see you back, sounds like you had one heck of a good time while you were away, which is a good thing. I liked your photo contributions to tues. theme as well.
BK-Great photo's sir, thank your other half for us. Also hope your trip is a good one
Lars-Same goes for you sir, great photo's and book cver to mark yesterdays CGW fest. Allow me the pleasure of picking up a round for you .
Mike-Great selection of urls over the last couple of days. great to see our crack research dept. still is chugging along.
CM3-Welcome back sir. I almost sent our Frostbite the SAR penguin to find you.This time of the year seems a busy for you as it is for me. Only difference is I'm doing all the training. Can't wait till January when I get some down time.
Eric-You will like Rights of Passage, actually most of Greg Macdonnal's books are great reads and looks.If you can't find them on Amazon or Boarders in the states. Try www.chapters.com up here.
Rob
Well good evening Colonials and fellow Redcoats (Just give us back the tea and we`ll call it quits O.K ? )
-Although if we were to encourage partisan division,Wales v Canada Rugby Union this fri eve (GMT) would be the way to go methinks...........
Leon,beer for the company if you please (and firewater for the native scouts camped outside Fort Mentor )
-First up,kudos to TOM,BK & LYDIA(the Alberta research squad),LARS,JAMES & MIKE for a wonderfully colourful and informative theme day spread-As a big F-Unit fan with an extra weakness for mixed lash-ups I found it most gratifying --Thank you all for the hard work.
Right,some individual notes:-MIKE,nice links to the R.H.D.R,as it`s model day about this place a few extra details might be in order.....
The R.H.D.R is Britains premier 15" gauge line ( with the Ravenglass & Eskdale in Cumbria a close 2nd)-designed and built as a rich mans toy in that `between the wars` era when such things were possible it was the brainchild of Captain J.E.P `Jack` Howey who,in association with loco engineer Henry Greenly had the line built as a memorial to his friend and fellow racing driver Count Louis Zbrowski who had died whilst racing the previous year (1924) and as a place to run the 2 one-third scale Gresley A1/3 pacifics that the Count had commissioned Davey Paxman ltd of Colchester to build.
These two ( Green Goddess & Northern Chief ) and later addition " Southern Maid" are 2-cylinder versions,loco #4 (The Bug) is a Krauss 0-4-0 tender/tank purchased for construction work on the line--The next additions were a pair of `stretched pacific` 4-8-2`s-Hercules & Sampson,purchased to haul ballast traffic. After this came a pair of 3-cyl Gresley copies-"Typhoon" & "Hurricane" (although they have been converted back to 2 cyls ) Next were a pair of copies of C.P.R light pacifics-"Dr Syn" & "Winston Churchill" and lastly,aquired since I last visited the line back in the `70`s a Krupp German outline pacific " Black Prince"
Thanks for the pix-a nice little nostalgia trip
ERIC-Some confusion here dear boy,the Loco in the W.H.R yard was never part of the original stocklist but is ( I assume ) either a static exhibit or part of a restoration project aquired by the preservation company-here are pix of the wonderfully elegant " Russell" before and after mutilation in the Festiniogs` Boston lodge works
" border="0" />
BTW-not sure what access you have to Brit publications over there but "Continental Modeller" (Peco publications) this month has an excellent 32-pic spread on the Tag-150 celebrations at Gavle in Sweden,leading off with "Prinz August" & train -if you can`t get hold of a copy,let me know and I will E-Mail you the scans..........P.S- to your good lady wife-21 again and lookin` good !!
PETE-The sit at Llannelli ,having been declared too contaminated with explovsives residue to build on has been turned into a community leisure area for the little ones to run around on........................................................
The facilities include a dry ski slope,woodland walks, a 3.5 & 5 " steam railway and of course " Katie " on her little oval of track-it`s 10 -15 years since I visited the place so its now most likely aquired a McDonalds,bowling alley,heroin dealers,Starbucks and all the other trappings of modern civilisation -but it was a nice little place for a quiet afternoon out...........
TOM-It just so happens I have chapter & verse to hand on the first Fishguard-Paddington boat trains (also Plymouth-Paddington) from the era of the single-drivers from the pens of Ossie Nock & Charles Rous-Marten ( the acknowledged experts in the field ) complete with stock lists,mile by mile timings and all sorts of ephemera--look forward to being able to make a valid contribution to a theme day
LARS-I still have a few boxes of assorted war-gaming figures in a cupboard somewhere.......I`ll pit my Orcs,Space Marines,Napoleon`s Imperial Guard and Welsh Bowmen against any force you can muster and we`ll refight Bunkers Hill on the sand table over a bottle or three--what say you ??..
Right men,looks like it`s got late early again, the usual big hello to anybody I`ve been to drunk to reply too,see you all soon-market day tomorrow for fresh fish and who knows what besides.........
P.S---has anyone seen Bar Chandler ROB recently...??????????????????
Be good now,take care,nick
Hi Tom and everyone, a round for the house.
Fubar snafu figmo. Gort klaatu barada nikto.
James, that's a neat California Zephyr at Denver you put in Tom's other thread. I rode that train when Eisenhower was President. Lots of domes, so if one is full then just walk through to the next one.
Cold Juice
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/cnsm802.jpg
NYC Alco-GE P-2a http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/nyc242.jpg
NYC GE T2B
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/tr_nyc263.jpg
Little Joe on the South Shore
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/css801.jpg
Little Joes on the Milwaukee
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/tr_mlwE74.jpg
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/cmspE34A.jpg
Spirit of St. Louis
http://photoswest.org/photos/00014376/00014399.jpg
Mike
Hi Tom and all.
I'l try a Holdens Mild to start please LEON. Been to the dentist and it appears I have got to have a fair bit of work done. I suppose I shall need two anesthetics ,one for the teeth and one for the wallet..
DL You will get used to strange coincidences that seem to happen at Our place.Last Saturday just after I had posted and had replied to Tom's piece on the North Atlantic Convoys I tuned into John Platt's Network Gold from the BBC local radio,through the internet, and the record he was playing was Convoy from the 70s. It is on 6PM UK time.
I dare say ERIC will be able to shed some light on the X200 tilting. I recall seeing the APT up close at a railway works open day, it may well have been DERBY locomotive works. It is very sad to think how much work the BR workshops done and the size of the works in the 60s and 70s compared with today if the works themselves are still there.
ERIC also brought to mind,with the info, that the German class 42 steam loco class in the pics by Alan lasted in service to 1975. In the modernisation plan, BR was scrapping locos some of which were only 5 years old. It would not have been so bad if the locos were "duffers" but were consider by many to be the finest steam freight loco Britain ever had, the 2-10-0 9Fs.
Thanks for the link showing 10000 and 10001. I can remember these locos hauling the Royal Scot Double-Headed in the late 50s through Rugby although they were in the BR Brunswick Green livery by then, but in a clean condition. In the later years they and the Ex Southern Railway diesels 10201 to 10203 were mainly used on parcel trains. I can just about recall when it was those 5 and the rest was steam on main line trains, in my area.
No word from Alan on his tram trip yet, but I have sent him the link to the colleries and I am sure CM3 will be interested in the link.
Rob Foxon used to do a film show in the Town Hall at Rugby but I dont know if he still does.
Many thanks for your offer on the boat train theme.
LARS Thats a great poster. I think the date looks like 1946 just before the LMS diesel twins were built .
While the bride and I was in Boston last year we visited a pub in Harvard Square, as we were leaving we spotted a T-Shirt on sale that read" The British are coming, the British are coming" then on the back it read "But don't worry they are bringing the beer". I must say the beer in that bar was excellent.
NO LEON not as good as yours that was a scary moment .
I do agree with you on the Ratings, I cant think who DOES want them.
TOM Glad you liked the Boat Train idea, it sounds as though it may interest ROB. Thinking about it I guess most of the big liners docked in the major cities over here. I guess the London Docks could not take the big liners unlike New York, but honestly dont know.
The Baldwin Centipede certainly looks very simular to the LMS twins. I think one of the main differeces with British diesels is that there were very few classes of main line diesels that only had the one driving cab,certainly none I can think of over 1,000 horsepower.
From an earlier post I think the British equivelent of FUBAR was SNAFU.
Well another pint please LEON and a round for all.
Pete.
Greetings Cap'n Tom and fellow travelers at the bar!
Ruth my deAH you are a ray of sunshine in this rather grey world! A tankard of Keiths Ale for me and a round for the guys at the bar!
Really like those Baldwins always have. That Brit diesel surely is a cousin in design if I ever saw one.
I note the return of CM3 I'm NOT Shane! to the group and read that sorry excuse for his absence. Work, sure! <grin> Anyway, the morning seems to have returned to a degree of normalcy now that the West Virginia-man has returned.
Good ongoing dialogue between Pete 'n DL over in the UK. If I didn't know better, I'd swear that we've been invaded! The red coats (aka: lobsters) have us surrounded! <grin>
I'm "up" for the Pullman theme for next Tuesday. Don't know much about the "boat trains," but there's time to check it out. Good choices!
Ya know, I just can't let go of this thought: it really ticks me off to see those blasted ratings still showing up. Seems like two of the JOs have been expelled in one shot - or at least it seems that way. Why then do their ratings still live on Why oh why can't the forum's guy figure that out and deal with it Not at all understood or accepted.
So, it's Wednesday - no meals tonight, huh But tomorrow it's Fish 'n Chips - Friday is Pizza and Satrurday it's steak. Can't beat that with a stick, as they used to say! <grin>
Something from Wikipedia to enjoy!
Ruth, one more, then I gotta skedaddle.
Until the next time!
Lars
G'day Gents!
Ruth, take a break for lunch - I'll watch the bar.
Been awhile since we've had any meaningful actitivity during the morning and so it is pleasing to see the return of CM3 - a morning visit from Pete along with the daily connection eastward across the pond from DL. Much appreciated and long awaited!
CM3 at 9:21 AM today: 'Tis indeed a shame when work gets in the way, eh Oh well, the things a guy must do to feed the family and canines!
I have it on good authority that beneath the Christmas tree this year there will be two railroad books for moi - PRRs Broadway Ltd (Great Passenger Trains) by Joe Welsh (Hardcover - Sep 15, 2006) and 20th Century Ltd (Great Trains) by Karl Zimmerman (Hardcovder - Jan 2, 2003). Should be some great Pix to view along with captivating reading as my "spiked" egg nog gets consumed! <grin> Thanx for the "heads up" - I'm now looking forward to the Broadway Ltd with even more anticipation than before.
Perhaps one of these days (daze) we can get you to send some Pix in for our Sunday Photo Posting Day! or to me for processing and Posting. NYC is always a welcomed road 'round this joint.
Pete at 10:36 AM today: An interesting question regarding the "boat trains" in the U.S. I've not heard of them referred to in that manner, however, I do know that there were special arrangements made on the west coast for steamship passengers to be taken by limo to the trains. In New York City, because of the enormity of the place and frequency of trains running from Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station - I doubt there were specials - although don't take that with any particular authority. Just my WAG - wild A** guess! Perhaps someone else may know with certainty.
Insofar as setting up a special theme for a Tuesday - go for it! Let's mark the Tuesday following our U.S. Thanksgiving as "boat train" day!
I've also read that in Nova Scotia the Intercolonial Railway coordinated their schedules to coincide with arrivals and departures of the major steamships serving Halifax. So, I'd say we'll find sufficient material to make this a "go"!
DL at 11:06 AM today: Appears that you and Pete are "in" for a week from Tuesday! Now all we need to do is get Nick involved. Given that the man reads what is Posted - he'll surely pick up on what's been discussed and in a day or two, my guess is we'll be hearing from him on it.
Those LMS diesels reflect design similarities of at least two of Baldwins locomotives. Check these out:
Baldwin DR-12-8-1500/2 Centipede of the PRR
Baldwin DR-4-4-15 Sharknose of the D&H
I'd say the Centipede is the closer match, what say you
Catch y'all later!
Tom
Hello Tom and all in
Given Lars’ kind offer I’ll try a Keiths – as it’s his drink of choice the least I can do is give it a try since he’s buying me one (the next one’s on me Lars).
Tom – (and others) thanks for feedback on the east coast ports – I did not realise why New York was so significant (never having been there) but your messages explain a lot, most interesting.
Although I could not contribute due to lack of knowledge I enjoyed the information posted for the theme day – thanks to those of you who made a contribution.
Pete – APT technology, I have a feeling that APT technology went on to be developed in the X2000 in Sweden (Eric will help here I’m sure), but that the Pendolino is based on the slightly different technology that Fiat developed in Italy for their tilting train (could be called the Eurostar Italia?). I’m not sure what the nub of the difference is between the two approaches but may have something to do with whether the tilt is controlled by transponders on the track / trackside which tell the train when to tilt, as compared with tilt mechanism being controlled wholly by on board computers. A shame the APT project was never perfected since having ridden on one of the services that was used as a public relief train back in about 1984 (so I beat you on that one Pete, like you say we all thought they would go into service so what was the hurry - I even got taken into see the cab at Euston by a freindly driver - I was a teenager at the time) the interior design was much better / more comfortable than the cramped looking Pendolino (at least in second class, which is where I was travelling).
Maybe I’ll call in at the news agent and look out for The Railway Magazine DVD.
Tom made a good point about the Modernisation Plan – seems to be what often happens when the politicians get involved – without being too negative it seems to be that the politicians always seem to want to get more than one clear objective out of their expenditure (in this case an attempt to get the UK railway system modernised as well as get the loco building industry in a position to compete with modern US designs) – as result you end up with neither objective achieved particularly well – ie Modernization Plan was expensive and over budget and did not return the railway to profit so ultimately ended up with closures of the Beeching era being implemented AND most UK loco building industry went to the wall anyway.
Pete mentioned the tram line – yes – indeed it went passed various colliery sites, indeed the northern terminus at Huckanll was beside site of Hucknall colliery. Somewhat off topic but this link lists the Notts mines (but seems to miss off Cinder Hill) and gives their history. Those with an interest in mining may want to look (any interest to our coal mining contry contributor?)
http://www.terryblythe.co.uk/page59.html
Of course the so- called ‘Robin Hood’ railway line which was re-opened to passenger services in the 1990s and runs beside the tram stayed open to serve most of these mines when it closed to passengers in 1964. This line has been a real success in terms of passenger carrying and showed that the aforementioned Beeching Plan to close lines was over enthusiastic in many cases.
Pete – you mention the LMS diesels 10,000 and 10,001, the 1st big diesels in the UK – quite correct – a real tragedy these were scrapped.
For you friends over the pond there is some info and a pic here – you will see how the design was clearly influenced by classic era US diesel design exactly as Pete points out (something that had not occurred to me before Pete but I agree 100%)
http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Pages%20Loco/Recognition%20loco/Illus_10000.html
In fact Pete – I have seen an LMS Film Unit film which covers the construction of Diesel 10,000 it is a great film made in 1947 with much footage inside the works.
In fact I saw this film at a screening by Rob Foxon who does excellent screenings of vintage railway films around the Midlands. I often go to his Newark or Derby showings – I’m sure he screens films in or near Rugby – have any of your friends in that area seen them Pete? – if not I can highly recommend his screenings, put together with great care and attention – I have a calendar of film showings I can look out if that would help – he does not seem to have a presence on the web!
Eric – glad you liked the train testing web page, some weird and wonderful things on there – all in the name of research of course!
I’ll follow that Keith’s with a pint of Home Bitter, and one for Lars too.
PS - Pete - just read your future theme day suggestion - spooky in Our Place or what? I've today been researching stuff about the Night Ferry. Not many boat trains now of course (apart from for Scottish Isls) but plenty in the classic era - points N,E,S,W - still a few routes running however. If Tom thinks this is a runner you'll have to do LMS/R boat trains surely! Still a few obscure services meet the boats at Heysham Harbour....
A cup of your hot coffee and a bacon roll on this damp and cold Mid-Mo morning please RUTH.
TOM. The puter seems a lot better this morning. I ran a virus check, nothing but the bride could not log on afterwards for a while then it cleared, as you say very strange.
Many thanks for the APT links. It was a common sight through my home town during its testing stage, I really regret not travelling on it when it was in public service, although at the time it was though that they would work all the main line passenger services on the West Coast Main Line when the prototypes proved themselves much like the Pendelinos do today. Reading the links reminded me how the main stream press absolutly love it when things go wrong on the railways in the UK. Also that the 70s was also a really bad time for Industrial relations in the UK, which some industries never recovered from.
I have though of an idea for a theme day. Did the railroads of North America run, what we called in the UK, BOAT Trains, where special trains were run to connect with a liner arriving or indeed regular trains which connected to the shipping services If you think its a good idea perhaps NICK and DL would help, perhaps we could pick a part of the UK each to do a post on that areas boat trains past and present.
MIKE Thanks for the links to Chicago Great Western, from the old steam locos to those great colour pics of the diesel era. The pic of the Doodle bug is a classic and even a haunted tunnel.
The link to the Flying boats is a great read and with TOM,s first hand experince of them, they were great machines.
ERIC May I join Tom in wishing your wife a . I did not realise that the German class 41/42 lasted in service until 1975. They must have been a very good design.
CM3 Good to see you back at the bar, it is not the same without you. That sounds a wonderful set of pictures you were looking at. What price a time machine.
In the yard at Jefferson City this weekend was a Cotton Belt loco #9652 which I think was going to work the local freight. Is the company still in operation do you know or did UP take it over.
Well I had better have another coffee RUTH as it is raining harder now and there is talk of it turning to snow later but heavier towards Tom's way.
Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; Coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox. We saw the sun yesterday for 5 minutes (first time in about a week); now we have more rain forecast, thunderstorms, etc.
Please excuse the long absence. Let’s just say that it’s work, work, and how about a little more work. Seriously, this is the time when we have to get (no pun intended) retrained/ recertified on various required subjects such as first aid, cpr, rescue, hazcom, confined spaces, etc. Something we have to do every year. Then we throw in a computer class (online authoring stuff – something I am heavily involved with), and some instructional assignments; and...well, I hope you understand. The plan, I guess, is to get everyone thoroughly worn about b4 Thanksgiving.
Anyway, there have been many interesting posts and some fine CGW information. That was the place to be if you liked f units. Many thanks to all.
I actually had a few minutes to look at some rail-related material last night and was browsing through an NYC of pictures mostly taken on and around the Hudson Division. Harlem Division, the Put, and the West Shore. IOW all points between NYC and Albany.
There were some shots of strange collections of diesels on passenger trains. These included Erie builts with EMD F “B” units, and a shot of the “Empire State Express” at Albany with an E7/PA combination. I could not tell is the PA had been reengined, as I could not see the number, and the roof details were not all that clear.
The steam material had pictures of 4-6-2s in freight service; some of the 4-6-2s on the West Shore had footboards. Then I found one of a B&A 4-6-2 on the West Shore with a freight; this engine was still lettered “Boston and Albany.” The most exotic shot was of a streamlined 4-6-4 bumped from service on 25/26 to hauling a Poughkeepsie local. I would love to find the power sheet from that day. The picture was taken in wartime (approx. 1942) so it may have been that the Hudson was filling in for whatever would normally have handled that train. Anyway, it was two cars and one mighty BIG engine.
Last was a set of shots of 4-6-0s on the Put and a fine shot of a “new” Lima road switcher with a passenger train at Briarcliff. These were pigs and did not last very long as they were seriously underpowered and not at all reliable mechanically.
The cars on the mainline trains were interesting, as 25/26 were about the only trains that had what could remotely be considered a matched consist. The other trains were mixed lw’s and hw’s; sometimes with cars from foreign roads thrown in as this was the time when transcon sleepers could be found.
In short it was an interesting evening. The point being that if you look hard enough as a modeler you can find a prototype for about everything.
Lest I forget, I call your attention to the new volume on the Broadway Limited in the Great Passenger Trains series. In a phrase, excellent; even if you are not a devotee of the Great Tuscan Father. Note to our ‘steamed proprietor: the book has more than a few shots of PRR material in and around St. Louis (designed to showcase different types of equipment). There is one photo of the “Spirit of St. Louis” with a twin unit diner and a sleeper lounge; tucked in beside it is a wooden TRRA caboose(!) Amazing what you can see if you study pictures.
Work safe
Mid-week in mid-continent USA as we await the storm system rolling this way out of Colorado. We’re anticipating lots of rain today, turning to perhaps our first measurable snow of the season. Love the snow, hate the slop.
While our turnout yesterday for the Tuesday Theme for the Day – Chicago Great Western – was far less than usual, we “done good”! Many thanx to all who participated.
NEXT Tuesday’s “theme” will be the Pullman Company. Hopefully, that will attract a bit more interaction as UK rolling stock can be readily factored in.
A few acknowledgments, then off to catch up on things ‘round the ranch! <grin>
Mike at 7:59 PM yesterday: Chicago Great Weedy Now that’s one I hadn’t heard before. Enjoyed the steam locos and passenger trains – also the “Doodlebug”!! Had no idea that “piggyback” service began back in the 1930s. Shows how little I know! REALLY liked that shot of the train in the station at Omaha. Sweet!
Nicely done compliments to the Theme for the Day!
Found the aircraft URL of interest, particularly the references to things I know about. We used to run “ditch & rescue” operations annually. Those PBs were quite durable aircraft from the little I know. We’d lay out an illuminated path of flares on the sea and the plane would simulate a ditching. Then we’d lower away and send boats for the rescue. Back in those days, one would be amazed at how many real incidents there were in the Atlantic and Pacific. But I digress . . . we are after all, a Classic Trains kindaplace! <grin>
Pete at 8:24 PM yesterday: And the weirdness continues with the ‘puter, eh This is TOO MUCH, really. We have had nothing but reports of difficulties since the change to the “improved” formats here on the Forums. Hmmmmmm. Of course, all of this cannot be blamed on Kalmbach – given the “persnickety” mannerisms of ‘puters and attendant connections. <groan>
Hey Mate! You are most welcome to “declare” a theme for our Tuesday event. Just be sure that it fits into the Classic Trains discussion and then go for it. I like to notify the guys on the preceding Wednesday (as I’ve done today), just to give those who participate as much lead time as possible to prepare their materials. Especially those who operate from work (Mon – Fri people).
Found these URLs on APT tilting that you (and others) may find of interest:
http://www.apt-p.com/aptindex.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Passenger_Train
Received and responded to your Email – thanx!
Eric at 1:04 AM today: Man’s gotta do what man’s gotta do. wishes to your bride from the gang at “Our” Place!
Hope to learn more about your experiences in the military once we gather here for our 2nd Annual Rendezvous this May. Must admit that I know absolutely zilch, zero, zip about the Swedish Air Force. Between now ‘n then, I’ll be sure to browse the various sites in the Ether to get up to speed. Why would steel helmets be needed in connection with air planes <bonk> <bonk> <bonk> <bonk-da-bonk> Is THAT you, Eric Gotta get that kid from backing into those props! <grin>
Boris, serve ‘em all of the “spiked” OJ they can handle!
A pint of Kimberley Mild please BORIS. it looks my turn to have a bad day with the puter. It was saying earlier it did not reconise my IP so no internet or e-mail at all the bride rang them and the said they could not see a problem then it worked ok. Now the delete key didn,t work untill I went to the start of the post and started again. I will keep going until it does it again.
DOUG Its great to see the new house looking so good.Like the pic of the control center to Our Place, but could not see the book of jokes, have they made the move.
ERIC Went back and found you in the photo. I am afraid that I know very little about the German locos in Alan,s pics any info would be great.
MIKE Many thanks for the links to the RH&DR . The map is very useful. It looks like it could be another theme at the bar with the Flying Boats . I do hope we do get some posts on them.
Thank you for sharing the Afghanistan Poppies with us .
NICK Great to see the North Welsh Narrow Gauge pics. It looks as though we are no nearer solving what the loco in the car park is. I think KATE is a great little loco. Is the ex RNAD at Llanelli a park now..
DL. I'm afraid I must agree about UK service providers. It seems the worse ones have "British" in their title now adays, although I can't say this about British Airways as I have not had dealings with them. But two others are a royal pain toTRY to deal with. Sorry but one has made me just now GRRRRR.
Anyway, feel better now.There were some real omissions of the early diesels classes not saved. I think the worst one was the first main line diesel to run in the UK. The LMS twins nos 10000 & 10001, these locos, I think the first one was introduced around 1947, and were of very North American appearance.one was stored at Derby Works for quite a while after its withdrawel from service.
Very true about the Modernisation Diesels. It makes one wonder what would have happened if the English Electric products and the Sulzer smaller locos had not been as good as they were, perhaps we would still have steam.
Alan and I did travel the Nottingham tram not long after it was opened,we though the branch to the Phoenix Park was an old collery but did not know which one.
Mant thanks for the link to the Research site very interesting, so much good info, I will return to it in the Future. Great pic of the Britannia on test on the rollers at Rugby Testing Station .Looking back there was a great deal of innovation on BR in the 70s, reading through some of the site reminded me of this.Those push-pull trains certainly we a great thing for rail travel between Glasgow and Edinburgh
.Am I right in thinking that the technology behind the APT tilting is basically the same as the tilting trains of today, do you know.
Not wishing to advertise but in the latest issue of the UK Railway Magazine is a free DVD, although it is mostly about the Pendlino's run from Glasgow there is some archive footage of 10000 and the APTs, also some steam in BR days.
JAMES Great to see you back. Glad you had a good weekend, that sounds a fantastic model show.I was able to go to one in Kansas City a few years ago the stands and the model layouts were fantastic .
TOM Great Theme day..Really liked the Chicago Great Westerns big engine policy, it surely deserved a far better fate than have most of is trackage and its works closed dwn after the merger, a sad fate for many companies that are taken over. Thanks to LARS BK and JAMES for the great pics .
That was a very good and well made point TOM about the loved ones of the sailors and indeed of all the men serving in war time.
I will run the virus check on the computer now though I doubt it be that simple, it has been difficult to look at the links or indeed the internet , at least the bar has not come up with "not available" like most things I have tried to look at.
Another round please LEON and hopefully this thing will work properly tomorrow.
Here it is another Tuesday. Time flies when you're having fun.
Actually time flies anyway. Might as well make the best of it.
Chicago Great Weedy
Steam engines and a motor car
http://photoswest.org/photos/00004876/00004898.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00004876/00004913.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00004876/00004915.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00004876/00004916.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00004876/00004921.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00004876/00004931.jpg
Olewein Yard postcard 1910
http://www.postcards-as-art.com/site1/ShowPic.asp?ImageSource=images/Main/30153617.jpg
Piggyback pioneer
http://images.library.uiuc.edu:8081/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/tdc&CISOPTR=2049&REC=13
Corn Belt Route
http://www.cvrma.org/pictures/MISC/dfrr5_028_cgw_route_map_&_fact_sheet.jpg
http://www.cvrma.org/pictures/MISC/dfrr5_035_cgw_freight_192_winston_tunnel_1966.jpg
http://www.cvrma.org/pictures/MISC/dfrr5_033_cgw_winston_tunnel.jpg
http://www.cvrma.org/pictures/MISC/dfrr5_031_cgw_alco_rs2_switcher_omaha_1954.jpg
http://www.cvrma.org/pictures/MISC/dfrr5_034_cgw_gp30s_holcomb_illinois_1964.jpg
http://www.cvrma.org/pictures/MISC/dfrr5_030_cgw_twin_city_ltd_burlington_stn_omaha_nb_1965.jpg
http://www.cvrma.org/pictures/MISC/dfrr5_029_cgw_twin_city_ltd_union_depot_st_paul_mn_1948.jpg
http://www.cvrma.org/pictures/MISC/dfrr5_026_cgw_crew_change_stockton_il_1967.jpg
Eric and DL, the Caroline Mars was built by Glenn L. Martin Co. in 1947 and wrecked by Hurricane Freda in British Columbia on October 12, 1962. More info at this link:
http://www.vectorsite.net/avmars.html#m6
Good Evening Gents!
Yes, we’ve become a late afternoon ‘n evening gathering place. That’s fine, just as long as the basic tenets hold up – focus on the discussion of Classic Trains – have some fun while doing it – be respectful of the other guy – acknowledge the works of all who contribute – be inclusive with your comments and above all, check the emotional baggage at the door!
Special THANX to BK, Lars ‘n James for supporting the Tuesday Theme for the Day!
BK at 10:44 AM today: Thanx to Lydia for finding those Pix! Getting more ‘n more difficult to locate the unencumbered photos. I’ve said it before – why put anything into the Ether if one expects to maintain a “hold” on it Really don’t see how that works.
Really appreciate your support for these “Theme” days, as without you ‘ Lars, I’d probably give up on doing ‘em. Used to be a time when we had all kinds of participation during the day – but that’s no longer the case. I do note that those who browse our Thread are continuing to do so in rather large numbers – but no willingness to join us. So be it. I’d much rather maintain the interested small group we have rather than become an unwieldy home for one-way postings.
Have a safe trip to the states and hope your Thanksgiving with the family turns out even better than you anticipate!
Lars at 2:45 PM today: Dittos to you regarding the consistent participation in the Tuesday Theme for the Day! This one was a bit difficult, and for that my apologies. Kinda running out of material!
Figured you’d have sailed the major ports of the Atlantic and surely Halifax has to be included. The problem they have is as you cited – remoteness. Nova Scotia is indeed a remote arm of Canada and just getting to and from Halifax within Canada isn’t that easy or direct. All of that plays heavily into the decisions of foreign ships wishing to engage in trade at the port. I’ve read where Quebec is trying to redirect shipping interests into Seaway thereby giving them some “clout” on the international scene.
Great looking steam locos and thanx Gawd for yesteryeardepot.com!!
James at 4:36 PM today: Nice contribution from you, Sir and it’s good to know we can count on your interest and participation.
Yes, we seem to be amassing more ‘n more material lately and that does require willingness, patience and time to catch up after an absence. All part of what goes on ‘round the Tavern by the Tracks! <grin.
Looking forward to your Pix tomorrow – which if anyone needs reminding is our OPTIONAL Toy ‘n Model Trains Day! here at the Saloon by the Siding!
For James: This is from Page 426 on Nov 10th at 5:51 AM:
If anyone is having problems figuring out how to contact the Forums Manager, here’s “how” – (1) at the bottom of this page you will find “contact us” – click it (2) fill out the form; be sure to scroll down to get it all (3) in the “select the topic of your interest or question ” block – click “forums Manager” (4) be sure to fill out the “CODE VALIDATION” block Happy Railroading! Siberianmo CMSTPP Member sinceAugust 2005 From: Along the old Milwaukee Road. 1,152 posts Posted by CMSTPP on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 4:36 PM G-day Tom and all present. Wow. I can't believe how much a person can miss in three days. But none the less, I am Catching up right now. Ruth- I think a sandwich is needed at hand, and a coffee with the vanilla splash, Please There were some amazing photos shown throughout "Our Place" this past weekend. Especially the ones for the Veterans memorial day. Some of those were pretty cool. Really liked the Aerial view of all the battle ships and carriers. Very nice. Some cool pics from Sunday. Liked the Via rail commuter trains. Got to like passenger service. What an amazing weekend. I went to another train show. (last one for quite sometime now.) But it's one of the biggest. The NMRA (National Model Railroad Association) show in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 250,000 thousand square feet of model trains of all sizes. From Z to G and even bigger. I bought some stuff at some unbelievable prices too. I got two locomotives and 9 railcars. One of the locomotives is a B30-7 with sound and DCC. The other is a U25B early version. This locomotive would have a longer nose than most. I will be posting pics of them tomorrow. Now! I will be going on to catch up. This is from 3 or 4 pages ago. Pete- Glad you liked the pics. I also like the 2-10-2. I just wish I owned it but I don't. It's acually a friends locomotive that I was reprogramming. Runs really nice too. I have been storeing it now for the past two or three months at the locomotive terminal. Thanks for the date on the train robbery. I couldn't believe they robbed that train. I don't know what planet the robbers were on. Eric- When you do get a hold of the book, you will enjoy it. It is one of the best books that I own. I love the color photos in it. It should be a good source of info for you. Rob- The layout is indeed progressing, just.. not very fast. Something like sleeping on the job.. Need to get back at it. Well, what ever form of rail transportation is fine with me. In fact, if it's and electric railway system that you like, I'm with ya. I love electrification. It's something I have always been interested in and learning new electrified railways, big or small, is always welcome. Tom- I have to agree that the "rating system" is annoying. Especially if it's a thread that we like. So if you could give me directions to the managers e-mail I would be glad to send a message. I know it sounds really dumb that I have no idea how to contact him for as long as I have been on here. Anyway: I don't know if I quoted everybody, so if I missed someone here, let me know. There was a lot to read and look at. Now for some pics of the Chicago Great Western. Now here is a line up of F-units. Now I am not the best at telling what kind of f-unit these are but I think there F7s. Picture from: www.pbase.com/image/48789312 Picture by: William J. Manon Jr. This is a photo of one of the CGWs depots. Located in Elizabeth, Illinois, you can tell this hasn't been used for sometime. But has been restored bueatifully. Happy railroading James The Milwaukee Road From Miles City, Montana, to Avery, Idaho. The Mighty Milwaukee's Rocky Mountain Division. Visit: http://www.sd45.com/milwaukeeroad/index.htm LoveDomes Member sinceJanuary 2006 From: northeast U.S. 1,225 posts "OUR" PLACE - Adults talking Classic Trains in a special place since April 12th, 2005! Posted by LoveDomes on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 2:45 PM Greetings Cap'n Tom and fellow travelers at the bar!Ruth, time for a cold, frosty mug of Keiths Ale if you please and a hero sandwich - ham 'n Swiss with mustAHd 'n buttAH along with two pickles from the barrel. Oh yes, a saucer of brine for Tex; a tray of ice cubes for Frostbite, and a small pouch o' seed for Awk. And a small jar of pickled pigs feet for Boris!! Round for the boys too! Mighty quiet around this place lately. Great to see my "bookend" BK again with somethng to add to the fine post from Cap'n Tom to kick off the Theme for the day! Hadn't heard that bit about the committee and the camel in years - good one! Also, I've been into the port of Halifax more than few times, but of course, as a below deck sailor, never got to see much of the landscape until we were tied or at anchor. Back inWWII days, that was certainly one of the more protected harbors along the entire east coast, a natural for sure. St. Johns in Newfoundland is another. However, both Canadian ports in a peacetime economy are fighting for their continuance because of the geography, relative remoteness and of course unfriendly seas. New York is the port of choice for many of the world's shippers. During the war years, another excellent place insofrar as protection from the sub threat was concerned. Good dialogue from all on this. What's happened to CM3 I'm Not Shane! Haven't seen or heard from him since last Thursday. Hope all's well in West Virginia. Continued good information coming westward from the UK. I'd say that DL (aka: Brevity Bob) has "done good" in joining us the bar in banter and the insertion of most interesting posts! Have a pint on me, mate! The trend has definitely changed to late afternoon and evenings for the guys here at the bar. If we could figure out how to automate the bartender during slack times . . . . Now WHY would anyone want to do THAT with RUTH, huh Only kidding, my deAH, only kidding! Let me jump in with my meager offerings for the Chicago Great Western Railway - hardly anything at all without all kinds of prohibitions - and I'm leaving the Urls for our MesiterMan. Chicago Great Western 2-10-4 #854 freight - photo: Fred C. Stoes (yesteryeardepot.com)Chicago Great Western 2-10-4, #851 freight - photo: Fred C. Stoes (yesteryeardepot.com)CGW book cover Until the next time! Lars BudKarr Member sinceSeptember 2005 From: Alberta's Canadian Rockies 331 posts "OUR" PLACE - Adults talking Classic Trains in a special place since April 12th, 2005! Posted by BudKarr on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 10:44 AM Good Morning Captain Tom and fellow sophisticates!A bit hurried this morning as Lydia is reving up the roadster for our trip to the valley. I would rather fly, but she is determined to take those hairpin turns on two wheels! <grin>Ruth, a number three if you please, along with a hot cuppa java with just a "splash" to make it interesting. Thank you - and keep the change. Many fine postings and many more photos. Enjoyed them all. Finally got through the collective of pages last evening as for some strange reason, the connectivity issues seemed to have abated. Today, things are rather normal. Frightening! My humble offerings for this day are some Chicago Great Western photos that Lydia found. She has provided credit where appropriate and if these are copyrighted - it is news to us. Therefore, our caveat is: no intention to misuse, profit or otherwise engage in illegal practice through the use of these fine photos!Six F-units led by F5A 114C. Bill Eley collection.Train 8 departs Oelwein, IA for Chicago, IL. Donald E. Vaughn collection.Four F-units heading up a freight at Rochester, MN. Walt Dunlap photo.BK in Alberta, Canada's beautiful high mountain country! siberianmo Member sinceFebruary 2004 From: Chesterfield, Missouri, USA 7,214 posts "OUR" PLACE - Adults talking Classic Trains in a special place since April 12th, 2005! Posted by siberianmo on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 8:16 AM THEME for the DAY! - THEME for the DAY! Now arriving on track #1 Railroads from Yesteryear! Number Twenty Five Used with permission from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Formatting differences made necessary due to Forums requirements. Some heralds from other sources. Chicago Great Western Railway Reporting marks CGW Locale Chicago, Illinois, Minneapolis, Minnesota and Omaha, Nebraska to Kansas City, Kansas Dates of operation 1885 – 1968 Track gauge 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge) Headquarters Oelwein, Iowa / Chicago, Illinois The Chicago Great Western Railway (AAR reporting mark CGW) was a Class I railroad that linked Chicago, Minneapolis, Omaha, and Kansas City. It was founded by Alpheus Beede Stickney in 1885 as a regional line between St. Paul and the Iowa state line called the Minnesota & Northwestern Railroad. Through mergers and new construction, the railroad, named Chicago Great Western after 1909, quickly became a multi-state carrier. One of the last Class I railroads to be built, it competed against several other more well-established railroads in the same territory, and developed a corporate culture of innovation and efficiency to survive. Nicknamed the Corn Belt Route because of its operating area in the midwestern United States, the railroad was sometimes called the Lucky Strike Road, due to the similarity in design between the herald of the CGW and the logo used for Lucky Strike cigarettes. It was merged with the Chicago and North Western Railway (CNW) in 1968, which abandoned most of the CGW's trackage. The History of the Chicago Great Western The Stickney Years Alpheus Beede Stickney was a lawyer-turned-railroad magnate who had found work in management of several railroads before striking out on his own. The Chicago Great Western, circa 1897. In 1854, the Legislature of the Territory of Minnesota had chartered the Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad (M&NW) to be built between Lake Superior, Minneapolis and Dubuque, Iowa. However, it stayed dormant until purchased by Stickney and another investor in 1883. Immediately, the railroad began building, and by 1886 had constructed a line Happy Railroading! Siberianmo siberianmo Member sinceFebruary 2004 From: Chesterfield, Missouri, USA 7,214 posts "OUR" PLACE - Adults talking Classic Trains in a special place since April 12th, 2005! Posted by siberianmo on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 7:56 AM G’day Gents! Tuesday here in mid-continent USA has emerged as a rather grey and cloudy morning. There’s a bit of a chill in the air as the temps are in the low 40s (F). Petrol up at “Collusion Corner” was $2.09 (rounded) when I passed by yesterday. I note the activity continued after my departure, so let me get to the acknowledgments! James at 9:36 PM yesterday: As you play “catch up,” take note regarding how many of us have sent Emails to the Forums Manager. Your participation in this can only help in trying to rid the Forums of the “ratings system.” Looking forward to your resumption of activities . . . Nick at 10:20 PM yesterday: You mean like “jock itch” and mosquitoes <grin> Eric at 12:04 AM today: Wasn’t able to enlarge that foto, until now. I found the red arrow – so THAT’s you, eh Haven’t changed a bit in the 43 years that have passed, I bet! <grin> Regarding “Rites of Passage,” I have that book in my modest collection of hardcover RR books. Found it to be an excellent read, sure there’s nostalgia, but nothing to ruin anyone’s happy frame of mind. Highly recommended! In the “who knows” department – I use FireFox and couldn’t say for sure whether it has been the culprit regarding any of my issues with these Forums. Whenever the gremlins appear, I’ll jump out of FireFox and back to the “generic” Windows browser – with no appreciable difference. So, the “one size fits all” approach surely hasn’t helped, has it Appreciate your inclusive Posts and participation with us! DL at 5:33 AM today: Beginning to think that a day without a Post from DL-UK is a day without sunshine! Another fine contribution to the dialogue and one that is your “standard” – diverse and chock full o’ relevant and most educational “stuff”! Of the naturally protected sea ports along the east coast of the U.S., I’d say New York has the finest of harbors. It is huge in comparison with any others, including Halifax. What made and makes NY such an attraction for shipping are the shoreside facilities enabling transfer of cargo from ships to rail and trucking. The port infrastructure during the “war years” was incredible insofar as pretty much being able to accommodate all requirements for the maritime industry. Being located in a more mariner-friendly latitude insofar as weather and sea conditions are concerned, adds to the lure as well. While the Nazi U-boats were prowling the seas off of our east coast, the port of NY was well protected. I recall as a youngster being taken to places along the New Jersey shore where one could see the smoke on the horizon from the ships that were attacked by the wolf packs. They were that close. Must have been tough on my mother and grandfather to wonder whether my father’s ship was the target either “out there” or in some other equally vulnerable place on the seas. I thoroughly enjoyed the URL and piece on the MetroVick diesels. Thanx! The Brit diesel modernization plan reminds me of someone’s definition of a committee that I heard many decades past. Something like this: a group of learned people ordered to come up with a design for a horse, with the result being more like that for a camel. It’s a pity, but when government enters the mix, well more times than not the result may be explained in the acronym FUBAR – a term we used quite often in the military. Also the information regarding the RAF Middleton St. George is a most enlightening read too. Has it really been THAT long ago <grin> Okay, ‘nuf from me as I’ve got to prepare my Theme for the Day! material . . . Boris, serve ‘em all of the “spiked” OJ they can handle! Happy Railroading! Siberianmo DL - UK Member sinceAugust 2006 280 posts Posted by DL - UK on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 5:33 AM Hi Tom and everyone I’ll start the day with a light breakfast, juice and coffee please. Various comments on forum access demand a contribution I guess. I must say I have never had problem getting access, and links always work (eg Mike’s links). Only glitches surround photos. EG Nick’s photos never show, James and Rob’s photos always show – most other people’s photos sometimes show, sometimes not (although more often not than do I guess). I can’t imagine Kalmbach make much money out of providing the forums so I suppose I’m prepared to put up with it – actually – it occurs to me that this illustrates a difference between our respective attitude to service – in North America you guys expect the thing to work and are prepared to make the point when it doesn’t – here in the UK you’d just accept the provider didn’t care too much and making the point is a waste of breath! Your tenacity is admirable. Oh yes, and the idea of ‘rating’ the forums is just plain daft. No point at all. So – back to matters raised. Tom – Delson – Gaspe trip – sounds excellent – look forward to a report back in the fullness of time – hope VIA keep the Budd equipment on that route well into next year! Mike – nice one with the pics – thanks for locating what I could not find. Like Eric – I’m keen to know more about that Flying Boat – a classic era machine no doubt – any volunteers to tell us more? Tom – just a thought – but Bedford Basin / Halifax Harbour – was it not simply an issue around the fact that due to the existence narrows Bedford basin could be easily secured against sub attack in wartime with nets so the basin got so busy – but in peace time no real reason for large ships to come through the Narrows? I thought you might have a view on this knowing the area etc. If US convoys got together in east coast ports (as no doubt they did) were there natural geographical features like this to help protect them? I know subs prowling east coast USA were a problem. Pete – Barry must have been awesome but very depressing too at the time – given you would never have believed then had anyone told you that the locos would one day be saved. Presumably that was beyond everyone’s wildest dreams at the time. Interesting footnote re the WR diesels too – did not know about that. A shame that quite a few of the Modernisation Plan designs did not make it to preservation, esp the duff designs. Mind you I was pleased to see the Metro Vick Co-Bo at Crewe works open day – I look forward to seeing that again one day in running order: http://www.d5705.org.uk/start.html Overseas readers might be interested in background here: The BR Modernisation Plan was launched in 1955 and included large plans to dieselise and electrify – At the time the UK had a large (mostly steam) loco building and export business and no doubt government thought that by ensuring a reasonable supply of domestic orders for these companies they could develop good diesel designs and continue to compete internationally. Problem was too many trial designs from too many manufacturers were built – many of which were not up to the job. A lot of money was wasted, and many Brit manufacturers went to the wall anyway – GM etc ending up gaining the vast share of the export market as you will know. With the benefit of hindsight the Brit Govt should have forced some of these companies into mergers where they could have come up with a decent range of machines with half a chance of competing with the tried and tested US designs. Instead most of the industry went to the wall and most of the works locations are now good for nothing out of town retail parks selling pointless consumer goods made for the best part in the far east…I digress. I’d forgotten about the Butlins holiday camps – loco links – bit of luck there obviously. I look forward to a Kimberley report back in due course – also – forgot to mention – if they take the tram and want to see it fully show its paces it is worth taking it north of Wilkinson Street stop – this is the point where it goes off street onto dedicated line (beside the MR Mansfield / Worksop railway line) and really accelerates up to high speed – impressive. The short branch to Phoenix Park follows the old colliery access line to Cinderhill Colliery - up to colliery closure in about 1988 this was for coal. Phoenix Park is a business park built on site of the colliery. Alan may be interested in this. BR Research – yes the father in law (or ‘out law’ since we are not married) has interesting stories but he is not an enthusiast so they need to be prised out of him. He did much theoretical work (as a mathematician) ie not an engineer directly, worked on APT and other projects (hence my need to defend family honour vis a vis Virgin Pendolino!!!) Get this – he (and his wife too of course) have a 1st class all British lines pass for unlimited travel – any time, any day, any place – and hardly makes much use of it!! What would I give for one of those when I retire…. There is an interesting website done by a former Railway Tech Centre person which has some good stuff on it though – here – worth a look: http://www.traintesting.com/ Rob – Hope this does not pre-empt any of your own research but had a quick look re RCAF 419 Sqdn and found out they were based at RAF Middleton St George near Darlington in North East England. Apparently this is now the civil airport for the region – Durham / Tees Valley. Link here with some good pictures of RCAF Lancs and some info pasted below. I’d asked because I was aware so many RAF / RCAF / USAAF bomber bases (and others) were based across central England, Lincolnshire and East Anglia not so far from here. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/phillip.charlton/teesside.html RAF Middleton St George Officers Mess, photographed in April 1945. The concrete square in the centre of the grass 'roundabout' in front of the main entrance now bears a memorial cairn to the 3 squadrons of the RCAF based here. Opened in 1941, Teesside was originally home to RAF squadrons, but they moved out the next year to make way for the RCAF Middleton St George became part of the famous Canadian 6 Group. Home to 419, 420 & 428 Sqns, MStG saw the only VC awarded to an airman of the RCAF Bomber Command, Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski of 419 Sqn being the recipient. Every year veterans of the RCAF that were stationed here return to pay homage to their fallen comrades. Location County: - Durham, 5 miles E of Darlington Lat/Long: 54:30:45N 01:25:30W Operational Control: - Opened – 1941 No 6 (RCAF) Group (1944) Closed – 1965, Opened as Teesside Airport in November 1966, now known as Durham/Tees Valley Airport. Cheerio for now – look forward to the theme day where I will learn about something I know nothing about! DL EricX2000 Member sinceDecember 2002 From: Phoenix, AZ 683 posts Posted by EricX2000 on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 12:04 AM Good morning Captain Tom and all!! Boris, you look tired. If you could get me a ham sandwich on rye, please. What is the smell? Didn't make it back last night, weekends are always very short. Looking forward to Thanksgiving with four days off! Tom – About my picture from 1963, if you click on the picture to enlarge it you will see a discrete arrow pointing down at the guilty guy. Nice collection of pictures! I like the one from Bedford Basin. It looks different when you see things from the ground. I know the Cardinals lost again but was not surprised. My favorite team is actually Green Bay and they are doing a little bit better. Lars – A bunch of nice books. Just wish I had them all. Rites of Passage looks very interesting but is probably kind of sad to read if it is the kind of book I think it is. Mike – Nice pictures and links. All those pictures from Halifax answered a lot of questions I had about Halifax after Tom showed the picture Friday of all ships in Bedford basin. Samson was indeed a different steam locomotive being stoked from the front. Notre Dame beat the Army, so you can relax. Thanks for all links to nice pictures. Now I have to find out more about Caroline Mars, the flying boat. I heve never seen any pictures of it before. Pete – Thank you for the info about #1959. Maybe it will be running again one day. German locomotives! The first one, Class 41, is a good looking engine. I have seen some German steam locomotives live but never a 41. DL – The airport where I took the pictures of the B17 is located only one mile from work and is visited quite often by old WWII warbirds. Duxford is on my list of places to visit if and when I get back to UK. BK – I think you are right about the forums. After being recommended by the Forum manager I have tried to use Firefox as my browser to be able to post pictures. I tried it again for a couple of days last week, but every time I logged on to Classic Trains the browser locked up. I could go to any other site and it worked just perfect, but not to Our Place. I think they made a major screw up when they changed the format. Rob – The tailgunner must have been saved by his Guardian Angel that day. It is amazing that anyone can survive such a crash. But a few people have. Doug – A very nice house Doug, even more so now when you have moved in and starting to get your stuff in place. Congratulations!!! I wish my computerdesk looked that neat. But I have way too many things on it. Nick – Intersting pictures! For whatever reason I got caught by the picture you believe is showing a Hunslet locomotive. I did some research on the web and in my books and I do not think it is a Hunslet. As far as I could find Welsh Highland Railway had only one Hunslet locomotive, called Russel. Russel did not look like the locomotive on your picture. There is a picture of Russel on this link: http://www.whr.co.uk/history/nwngr_stock But I might be very wrong. Eric nickinwestwales Member sinceApril 2005 901 posts Posted by nickinwestwales on Monday, November 13, 2006 10:20 PM TOM-Be strong in adversity-These things are sent to try us................................................ CMSTPP Member sinceAugust 2005 From: Along the old Milwaukee Road. 1,152 posts Posted by CMSTPP on Monday, November 13, 2006 9:36 PM G-day Tom and all present! I just wanted to let you know that I am back in town. A great weekend it was. I will explain more tomorrow. I just wanted to check in on everything. I will begin the real posting tomorrow. Just by the looks of it, it seems to have been a great weekend around here too. Some great looking photos out there. Well I will say goodnight for now but will be back later tomorrow and post a longer more meaningful entry! Happy railroading. James The Milwaukee Road From Miles City, Montana, to Avery, Idaho. The Mighty Milwaukee's Rocky Mountain Division. Visit: http://www.sd45.com/milwaukeeroad/index.htm siberianmo Member sinceFebruary 2004 From: Chesterfield, Missouri, USA 7,214 posts "OUR" PLACE - Adults talking Classic Trains in a special place since April 12th, 2005! Posted by siberianmo on Monday, November 13, 2006 9:02 PM Good Evening Gents!Leon, a round for the boyz and Boris ring the bell!Good to see a resurgence in activity after such a dreary morning and afternoon.l <ugh> Quite a crowd this evening! Some acknowledgments and comments are in order:BK at 12:56 PM today: Good to see you again at the bar and very disheartened to know that the connectivity with the Forums is once again preventing you from being with us. I too have been experiencing some slowness and "balkiness" since last evening - no answers though. Guess we're stuck with what we get, eh An interesting connection - perhaps you hit it on the head regarding those two antagonists. We may never know if indeed the Forums Manager has arranged to have the IP address blocked. Lars at 4:42 PM today: Thanx for bailing us out this afternoon as between you and your "bookend" it would have been only me, Ruth and the critters in this joint. <oooh>Perhaps it would be best if YOU remained AWAY from live sporting events in the New York City area. What next, the Rangers and Knicks will go down "the tubes" as well <grin> Take heart, Mate - at least you got to spend the evening with your son and undoubtedly it all wasn't bad. From the thoughts we've both Posted recently, some may think we've "defected" to the UK! Nope - just admiration for the qualities we all used to think were as everlasting as time itself. Not so - change, my friend, change will and does take its toll. Profound, eh <grin>Rob at 6:43 PM today: Good to see ya again and wondered what happened after such an active Saturday. Guess you needed to recharge, eh Anyway - I think you have misread or misunderstand Bedford Basin and the Halifax area. The basin is not Halifax Harbor. Think of the layout as somewhat of an hour glass - running east-west (more or less). Bedford is to the west and at the other end of the "bottleneck." All of the shipping takes place in the Halifax Harbor area with the most direct access to the Atlantic. A vigorous container port and lots of activity. Not so in the Basin of Bedford where sailing in serene settings is the norm.FYI my first visit to the port was in 1957 as a 19 year old aboard my first ship. Was quite an eye-opener for a kid from the "big city." Tied up on the Halifax side at the Canadian Naval Base, pretty much the standard berth for U.S. Coast Guard vessels I believe. Only recall two visits there by ship, but well over a half dozen in St. Johns, Newfoundland and maybe another six in Argentia. But those are stories for 'nother times. Mike at 8:12 PM today: Wold love the stories behind those Pix. Yes, Victor Mature (who was he say the "kids") was a "Coastie" as were several other Hollywood people back then. Appreciate the URLs! Doug at 8:27 PM today: Figured you'd return once you found your way to the 'puter connection! Received your Email and knew you were busy. <grin>Always appreciative for the quarters (even if they are Michigan ones) for our Coal Scuttle! There's lots to catch up on and the plea for help still applies regarding communicating with the Forums Manager. Collectively we've got to stand firm on our stance with those "ratings." Pete at 8:40 PM today: Always a pleasure having you aboard, Mate! Unbelievable how many of us are experiencing 'puter difficulties. Much too conincidental, eh Enjoy reading the conversation going on between you 'n DL and it's really a positive addition having these inside scoops from across the pond. Nick at 8:51 PM today: The return of our Chief Chef with not only an inclusive Post, but the continuation of some great Pix to round out the session begun a couple of days ago. Well done! I'll never get over the span of "differences" in the locomotives of Great Britain. Some are absolutely beautiful machines whereas others appear to me as "toy-like" and definitely out of scale. Ah yes, narrow gauge will do it every time, eh So it was YOU atop the roof, eh We thought it to be thunder when that contraption of yours fired off - freightened the critters so much that between Boris 'n Leon trying to round 'em up, it looked pretty much like the Stooges run amok! Okay boyz, that's it from me. Having all kinds of problems with my router and the wireless connection to the laptop. Had to relocate to the PC. Oh joy! Another "session" with someone who can barely speak English coming up tomorrow as I call in for "help" with my still under warranty "stuff" from D-Link. Beware, guyz - D-Link technical service is a disservice. Nite! Tom Happy Railroading! Siberianmo nickinwestwales Member sinceApril 2005 901 posts Posted by nickinwestwales on Monday, November 13, 2006 8:51 PM Gentlemen all,before I go any further,much respect to all for this weekends observance-TOM and Bar Chandler ROB are due especial praise for their efforts,as the saying goes,above and beyond the call of duty................nice one guys Bit of a scattershot contribution this night( that reminds me,Leon-give these men a drink or three on me...) ERIC-fine shots of the B17-everybody else in that theatre of war painted their planes in camoflage colours-not the Yanks-bright silver-" If you want some,come and get it....!!!!!"-and I say this with the greatest of respect for a job well done-we had the night flights -you guys did the daylight runs........... ROB -those airplane pix are wonderful-classic vehicles--P.S.on a more irreverent note,r.e e-mail,it` definately the cat-the guy in the bottom pic is called Henry Thomas and he plays scrum -half for the Llangwm Wasps rugby team TOM-As ever,we follow where you lead,wonderful selection of pix and everything else-e-mail received and responded to. Right,depending on which reality you subscribe to,there are two reasons for this late pix posting:- 1--Boris has been complaining for several days about a strong smell of troll about the place so I have spent the last 2 nights sitting on the roof wrapped in arctic grade coveralls armed with the notorious `Our Place` 7-barrelled black powder blunderbuss loaded with screws and nails from the track gang stores in vain hopes of a sighting......... or:-........ 2:-Had a lunchtime show with the blues band yesterday,bar opened at 11.00 am for the veterans coming back from church parade,as we were there setting up we were included in the general company,kept it together until after we had played (to much critical acclaim it must be said)-but then stayed on to watch "Snatchitback" -the main band of the afternoon,free beer-you know how it is -I can`t remember the last time I had a gallon of beer on a sunday afternoon-it was that sort of day. Delivered home to Missisnick (not best pleased it must be said ) dinner and bed in short order-all this on the back of a horribly late night on Sat. (blues band again)....... Very penitant this morning...................................................... right,pix:- " border="0" /> Here we have a foursome of J94 "Errol Lonsdale " on the Gwili Rly -the former Carmarthen -Aberystwyth line " border="0" /> Here we have ALCO 2-6-2t "Mountaineer" on the Festiniog rly " border="0" /> Here we have an ex-ROD Baldwin 4-6-0t on the Glyn Valley Tramway " border="0" /> Another Baldwin on the Welsh Highland rly " border="0" /> I think this is a Hunslet,could be a 4-4-0t,or poss. a 4-6-0t,in the car-park of the Welsh Highland (1964) company at Portmadoc " border="0" /> And just to show the other side of the coin,another outing for "Sir Drefaldwyn",a German or Austrian 0-8-0t on the Welshpool & Llanfair Lt rly " border="0" /> A mixed bag of ex Royal .Navy.Armament .Depot 4 whl vans and Hudson bogie vehicles " border="0" /> two ex ROD Hudson bogie wagons with a 2-ton slate wagon sandwiched between them " border="0" /> LEFT-another 2 hudson bogies with an ex RNAD van converted to a brake/tool van RIGHT-KATIE-I`ve no idea as to her origins but she earns her living taking tourists round a small loop of track at another ex RNAD site just outside Llanelli " border="0" /> This one has been here before---top left-Snowdon,bottom left Festiniog engine (Welsh Pony ? ) with station mistress in Welsh costume,emulating Bessie Jones at Tan-Y-Bwlch on the Festiniog,middle of shot W.H.R "Russell",bottom right ex ROD `Hudson bogie wagons delivering coal-Beddgelert,mid `30`s O.K boys ,apologies to everyone I`ve failed to mention tonight--will try and get back with the programme tomorrow Leon-a round for everyone (including Boris & Copperkettle) Take care guys................... nick pwolfe Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: mid mo 1,054 posts Posted by pwolfe on Monday, November 13, 2006 8:40 PM Hi Tom and all. A pint and a round please LEON in the memory Of Dai Woodham as in DLs post. As you say DL the steam preseravtion scene would be very much poorer with out the locos saved from the Barry Scrapyard. I first visited the yard in 1968 when the yard was about full and the sight of over 200 locos was unbelieveable. I was once there in the first light of dawn in the early 70s a wonderful but sad experiance as it was not known then that so many of the locos would be saved then. Yes most of the locos were from the Western and Southern Regions of BR, in fact only one ex LNER loco, B1 4-6-0 No 61264 made it there, and it is said that the 2 Great Western King class got to Barry by mistake. It was lucky that there are 3 Duchesses preserved as 46229 and 6233 were bought by Sir Billy Butlin in the 60s and placed in his holiday camps along with Royal Scot and Princess Margret Rose. One fact that is not often talked about was that Dai Woodhams yard also had two North British diesel locomotives in the yard. They were one of the NB A1A-A1A Hydraulics D601 Ark Royal and D 6122 a Bo-Bo diesel electric.Both were cut up I believe, this was before the diesel preservation movement really got going.The locos were the last members of their class to servive if I remember right.. I am sure our N. American friends will enjoy the link to the American Air Museum at Duxford.. Very interesting about the Armistice car. I did not know that the original was destroyed. Great link to the Romsey Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, it really is a great line to ride, especially when two trains are passing at speed. I believe a few years ago now The Bug had the appearaence of the armour plating re-applied, I seem to recall seeing pictures of her in the Railway magazines at the time. I dont know how long it was kept in this condidtion. I hope the regulars have a look at the locomotives in the link, as Dr Syn and Sir Winston Churchill look very North American in appearance. Alan enjoyed his trip Saturday they had two trips on the test track. the locos were 60013 and 67016, with a Virgin 57 at the test track. There must be some good info from your other half's father it must have very interesting working at the BR Research in Derby. BEWARE KIMBERLY the two Alans are heading that way, I have asked him to give us a report on the station and the beer.. BK Hope the forum problems are solved quickly for you, these puters ARE great things but when you cant get to what you want to there is nothing more annoying, apart from bottom feeders. LARS Watched most of the game last night, the weather was like an English soccer match. the Giants looked well in control until the last 2 minutes of the first half. Many thanks for your and Tom,s comment on the Brits, certainly of the last generation.The Norweigian Resistance also performed many brave and daring acts.. ROB I will pass on to Alan your comments on the pics. Thanks for the info on the Lanc. The voulunteers have done a fine job on the restoration. I too hope you can find out where 419 squadron was based, if it was in the Midlands it may not have been far from my home town. In Canada with regards to volunteers, wether at railway or at any transport preservsation, are there younger people getting involved and learning from the older generation who had first hand experience of the locos planes etc. I know in the UK there is a great concern that some of the trades and skills could be lost . TOM. It seems a bad day for the puters, I could not get connected to the net, when I did it seemed to working real slow, yet when I got onto the forum at least I could see what was there. It seems as though DL is trying to tempt you to see the Romney railway in Kent. It really is a unique experience they had a bar car on some trains. I seem to remember seeing some old newsreel footage of Laurel and Hardy on the railway at its reopening after the war. Thanks for the kind words on the Brits it is probably our weird sense of humor that keeps us going . Well I'll have a Kimberley Bitter please LEON, at least it will still be available at Our Place even when the brewery shuts. Pete. Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 13, 2006 8:27 PM Good evening Tom and friends! The move is nearly completed, so I'd say that deserves a bottlemless draught and a round for the house! Just got a few more things to grab at the ole' farmhouse now, take care of some garbage and clean the place up for the next renters. SHould be able to wrap that up tomorrow night, and I kinda need to. I'm not paying the utilities there after the 15th. Yes Tom... I am rediscovering train materials I have not seen since we moved to the farmhouse. Now I just need to get some bookshelves and get organized so I can better participate here. It's not easy catching-up with all the great stuff you guys posted. I am humbled by the submissions. Sorry about the Bear game last night Lars . I was starting to wonder if our guys were real or what. I guess they're real. Of course, the really big game is Saturday when my OSU Buckeyes play the hated Wolverines. I guess that's the real championship game this year. That reminds me .... I have a whole pocket full of quarters for the jukebox .... do we have the OSU fight song? I'll buy another round if we do! Anyhow ...just wanted to pop-in and let you know we're doing fine here. Here's the link with some new-home pictures: http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/stuff/ Have you ever noticed... anybody going slower than you is an idiot. And anyone going faster is a maniac. * George Carlin * Edit wanswheel Member sinceNovember 2005 4,190 posts Posted by wanswheel on Monday, November 13, 2006 8:12 PM Hi Tom and everyone, a round for the house. Notre Dame is in good shape, 9-1 and climbing in the polls. If they don't beat Army it's all over of course. Rob, half a million Canadian troops were in Halifax at least once. I was there briefly in '94 coming back from Prince Edward Island. Walked around and stayed overnight. It's a great city. Armored train patrol searching for Norwegian partisans (blame DL for this one) http://www.dypevag.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ships_files/search.jpg Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway miniature locomotive Hercules http://www.narrow-gauge-pleasure.co.uk/images/armouredtrain.jpg http://www.catnip.co.uk/tracks/england/photos/rhd01.jpg http://www.rhdr.org.uk/rhdr/engines/galleries/images/05_head_image_full.jpg http://www.rhdr.org.uk/rhdr/location_art/location_map_2003_200.gif Coney Island Miniature Railway http://images.nypl.org/?id=801285&t=w Victor Mature and Coast Guard waiting for a train in 1945 http://muse.museum.montana.edu/rvndb/rvn-jpgs/RVN08981.jpg http://muse.museum.montana.edu/rvndb/rvn-jpgs/RVN08982.jpg Caroline Mars http://www.usmc9thsbc.org/jrmcm1.jpg http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/collections/cushman/full/P04070.jpg 11/11/06 Poppies in Afghanistan http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20061111/capt.b963c8e66f8f4a999058787f4a215c9c.afghanistan_canada__kandx101.jpg?x=380&y=238&sig=WRZmlKDkKO_PxCdd0cJcBg-- "Thou shall not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day for he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." Mike « First«12131415161718»Last » SUBSCRIBER & MEMBER LOGIN Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more! Login Register FREE NEWSLETTER SIGNUP Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter Submit More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy
(1) at the bottom of this page you will find “contact us” – click it
(2) fill out the form; be sure to scroll down to get it all
(3) in the “select the topic of your interest or question ” block – click “forums Manager”
(4) be sure to fill out the “CODE VALIDATION” block
Happy Railroading! Siberianmo
G-day Tom and all present.
Wow. I can't believe how much a person can miss in three days. But none the less, I am Catching up right now.
Ruth- I think a sandwich is needed at hand, and a coffee with the vanilla splash, Please
There were some amazing photos shown throughout "Our Place" this past weekend. Especially the ones for the Veterans memorial day. Some of those were pretty cool. Really liked the Aerial view of all the battle ships and carriers. Very nice. Some cool pics from Sunday. Liked the Via rail commuter trains. Got to like passenger service.
What an amazing weekend. I went to another train show. (last one for quite sometime now.) But it's one of the biggest. The NMRA (National Model Railroad Association) show in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 250,000 thousand square feet of model trains of all sizes. From Z to G and even bigger. I bought some stuff at some unbelievable prices too. I got two locomotives and 9 railcars. One of the locomotives is a B30-7 with sound and DCC. The other is a U25B early version. This locomotive would have a longer nose than most. I will be posting pics of them tomorrow.
Now! I will be going on to catch up. This is from 3 or 4 pages ago.
Pete- Glad you liked the pics. I also like the 2-10-2. I just wish I owned it but I don't. It's acually a friends locomotive that I was reprogramming. Runs really nice too. I have been storeing it now for the past two or three months at the locomotive terminal. Thanks for the date on the train robbery. I couldn't believe they robbed that train. I don't know what planet the robbers were on.
Eric- When you do get a hold of the book, you will enjoy it. It is one of the best books that I own. I love the color photos in it. It should be a good source of info for you.
Rob- The layout is indeed progressing, just.. not very fast. Something like sleeping on the job.. Need to get back at it.
Well, what ever form of rail transportation is fine with me. In fact, if it's and electric railway system that you like, I'm with ya. I love electrification. It's something I have always been interested in and learning new electrified railways, big or small, is always welcome.
Tom- I have to agree that the "rating system" is annoying. Especially if it's a thread that we like. So if you could give me directions to the managers e-mail I would be glad to send a message. I know it sounds really dumb that I have no idea how to contact him for as long as I have been on here.
Anyway: I don't know if I quoted everybody, so if I missed someone here, let me know. There was a lot to read and look at.
Now for some pics of the Chicago Great Western.
Now here is a line up of F-units. Now I am not the best at telling what kind of f-unit these are but I think there F7s.
Picture from: www.pbase.com/image/48789312
Picture by: William J. Manon Jr.
This is a photo of one of the CGWs depots. Located in Elizabeth, Illinois, you can tell this hasn't been used for sometime. But has been restored bueatifully.
Happy railroading
James
THEME for the DAY! - THEME for the DAY!
Now arriving on track #1
Railroads from Yesteryear!
Number Twenty Five
Used with permission from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Formatting differences made necessary due to Forums requirements. Some heralds from other sources.
Chicago Great Western Railway
Reporting marks
CGW
Locale
Chicago, Illinois, Minneapolis, Minnesota and Omaha, Nebraska to Kansas City, Kansas
Dates of operation
1885 – 1968
Track gauge
4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge)
Headquarters
Oelwein, Iowa / Chicago, Illinois
The Chicago Great Western Railway (AAR reporting mark CGW) was a Class I railroad that linked Chicago, Minneapolis, Omaha, and Kansas City. It was founded by Alpheus Beede Stickney in 1885 as a regional line between St. Paul and the Iowa state line called the Minnesota & Northwestern Railroad. Through mergers and new construction, the railroad, named Chicago Great Western after 1909, quickly became a multi-state carrier. One of the last Class I railroads to be built, it competed against several other more well-established railroads in the same territory, and developed a corporate culture of innovation and efficiency to survive.
Nicknamed the Corn Belt Route because of its operating area in the midwestern United States, the railroad was sometimes called the Lucky Strike Road, due to the similarity in design between the herald of the CGW and the logo used for Lucky Strike cigarettes.
It was merged with the Chicago and North Western Railway (CNW) in 1968, which abandoned most of the CGW's trackage.
The History of the Chicago Great Western
The Stickney Years
Alpheus Beede Stickney was a lawyer-turned-railroad magnate who had found work in management of several railroads before striking out on his own.
The Chicago Great Western, circa 1897.
In 1854, the Legislature of the Territory of Minnesota had chartered the Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad (M&NW) to be built between Lake Superior, Minneapolis and Dubuque, Iowa. However, it stayed dormant until purchased by Stickney and another investor in 1883. Immediately, the railroad began building, and by 1886 had constructed a line
Tuesday here in mid-continent USA has emerged as a rather grey and cloudy morning. There’s a bit of a chill in the air as the temps are in the low 40s (F). Petrol up at “Collusion Corner” was $2.09 (rounded) when I passed by yesterday.
I note the activity continued after my departure, so let me get to the acknowledgments!
James at 9:36 PM yesterday: As you play “catch up,” take note regarding how many of us have sent Emails to the Forums Manager. Your participation in this can only help in trying to rid the Forums of the “ratings system.” Looking forward to your resumption of activities . . .
Nick at 10:20 PM yesterday: You mean like “jock itch” and mosquitoes <grin>
Eric at 12:04 AM today: Wasn’t able to enlarge that foto, until now. I found the red arrow – so THAT’s you, eh Haven’t changed a bit in the 43 years that have passed, I bet! <grin>
Regarding “Rites of Passage,” I have that book in my modest collection of hardcover RR books. Found it to be an excellent read, sure there’s nostalgia, but nothing to ruin anyone’s happy frame of mind. Highly recommended!
In the “who knows” department – I use FireFox and couldn’t say for sure whether it has been the culprit regarding any of my issues with these Forums. Whenever the gremlins appear, I’ll jump out of FireFox and back to the “generic” Windows browser – with no appreciable difference. So, the “one size fits all” approach surely hasn’t helped, has it
Appreciate your inclusive Posts and participation with us!
DL at 5:33 AM today: Beginning to think that a day without a Post from DL-UK is a day without sunshine! Another fine contribution to the dialogue and one that is your “standard” – diverse and chock full o’ relevant and most educational “stuff”!
Of the naturally protected sea ports along the east coast of the U.S., I’d say New York has the finest of harbors. It is huge in comparison with any others, including Halifax. What made and makes NY such an attraction for shipping are the shoreside facilities enabling transfer of cargo from ships to rail and trucking. The port infrastructure during the “war years” was incredible insofar as pretty much being able to accommodate all requirements for the maritime industry. Being located in a more mariner-friendly latitude insofar as weather and sea conditions are concerned, adds to the lure as well.
While the Nazi U-boats were prowling the seas off of our east coast, the port of NY was well protected. I recall as a youngster being taken to places along the New Jersey shore where one could see the smoke on the horizon from the ships that were attacked by the wolf packs. They were that close. Must have been tough on my mother and grandfather to wonder whether my father’s ship was the target either “out there” or in some other equally vulnerable place on the seas.
I thoroughly enjoyed the URL and piece on the MetroVick diesels. Thanx! The Brit diesel modernization plan reminds me of someone’s definition of a committee that I heard many decades past. Something like this: a group of learned people ordered to come up with a design for a horse, with the result being more like that for a camel. It’s a pity, but when government enters the mix, well more times than not the result may be explained in the acronym FUBAR – a term we used quite often in the military.
Also the information regarding the RAF Middleton St. George is a most enlightening read too. Has it really been THAT long ago <grin>
Okay, ‘nuf from me as I’ve got to prepare my Theme for the Day! material . . .
Hi Tom and everyone
I’ll start the day with a light breakfast, juice and coffee please.
Various comments on forum access demand a contribution I guess. I must say I have never had problem getting access, and links always work (eg Mike’s links). Only glitches surround photos. EG Nick’s photos never show, James and Rob’s photos always show – most other people’s photos sometimes show, sometimes not (although more often not than do I guess). I can’t imagine Kalmbach make much money out of providing the forums so I suppose I’m prepared to put up with it – actually – it occurs to me that this illustrates a difference between our respective attitude to service – in North America you guys expect the thing to work and are prepared to make the point when it doesn’t – here in the UK you’d just accept the provider didn’t care too much and making the point is a waste of breath! Your tenacity is admirable.
Oh yes, and the idea of ‘rating’ the forums is just plain daft. No point at all.
So – back to matters raised.
Tom – Delson – Gaspe trip – sounds excellent – look forward to a report back in the fullness of time – hope VIA keep the Budd equipment on that route well into next year!
Mike – nice one with the pics – thanks for locating what I could not find. Like Eric – I’m keen to know more about that Flying Boat – a classic era machine no doubt – any volunteers to tell us more?
Tom – just a thought – but Bedford Basin / Halifax Harbour – was it not simply an issue around the fact that due to the existence narrows Bedford basin could be easily secured against sub attack in wartime with nets so the basin got so busy – but in peace time no real reason for large ships to come through the Narrows? I thought you might have a view on this knowing the area etc. If US convoys got together in east coast ports (as no doubt they did) were there natural geographical features like this to help protect them? I know subs prowling east coast USA were a problem.
Pete – Barry must have been awesome but very depressing too at the time – given you would never have believed then had anyone told you that the locos would one day be saved. Presumably that was beyond everyone’s wildest dreams at the time. Interesting footnote re the WR diesels too – did not know about that. A shame that quite a few of the Modernisation Plan designs did not make it to preservation, esp the duff designs. Mind you I was pleased to see the Metro Vick Co-Bo at Crewe works open day – I look forward to seeing that again one day in running order:
http://www.d5705.org.uk/start.html
Overseas readers might be interested in background here: The BR Modernisation Plan was launched in 1955 and included large plans to dieselise and electrify – At the time the UK had a large (mostly steam) loco building and export business and no doubt government thought that by ensuring a reasonable supply of domestic orders for these companies they could develop good diesel designs and continue to compete internationally. Problem was too many trial designs from too many manufacturers were built – many of which were not up to the job. A lot of money was wasted, and many Brit manufacturers went to the wall anyway – GM etc ending up gaining the vast share of the export market as you will know. With the benefit of hindsight the Brit Govt should have forced some of these companies into mergers where they could have come up with a decent range of machines with half a chance of competing with the tried and tested US designs. Instead most of the industry went to the wall and most of the works locations are now good for nothing out of town retail parks selling pointless consumer goods made for the best part in the far east…I digress.
I’d forgotten about the Butlins holiday camps – loco links – bit of luck there obviously.
I look forward to a Kimberley report back in due course – also – forgot to mention – if they take the tram and want to see it fully show its paces it is worth taking it north of Wilkinson Street stop – this is the point where it goes off street onto dedicated line (beside the MR Mansfield / Worksop railway line) and really accelerates up to high speed – impressive. The short branch to Phoenix Park follows the old colliery access line to Cinderhill Colliery - up to colliery closure in about 1988 this was for coal. Phoenix Park is a business park built on site of the colliery. Alan may be interested in this.
BR Research – yes the father in law (or ‘out law’ since we are not married) has interesting stories but he is not an enthusiast so they need to be prised out of him. He did much theoretical work (as a mathematician) ie not an engineer directly, worked on APT and other projects (hence my need to defend family honour vis a vis Virgin Pendolino!!!) Get this – he (and his wife too of course) have a 1st class all British lines pass for unlimited travel – any time, any day, any place – and hardly makes much use of it!! What would I give for one of those when I retire….
There is an interesting website done by a former Railway Tech Centre person which has some good stuff on it though – here – worth a look:
http://www.traintesting.com/
Rob – Hope this does not pre-empt any of your own research but had a quick look re RCAF 419 Sqdn and found out they were based at RAF Middleton St George near Darlington in North East England. Apparently this is now the civil airport for the region – Durham / Tees Valley. Link here with some good pictures of RCAF Lancs and some info pasted below. I’d asked because I was aware so many RAF / RCAF / USAAF bomber bases (and others) were based across central England, Lincolnshire and East Anglia not so far from here.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/phillip.charlton/teesside.html
RAF Middleton St George Officers Mess, photographed in April 1945. The concrete square in the centre of the grass 'roundabout' in front of the main entrance now bears a memorial cairn to the 3 squadrons of the RCAF based here. Opened in 1941, Teesside was originally home to RAF squadrons, but they moved out the next year to make way for the RCAF Middleton St George became part of the famous Canadian 6 Group. Home to 419, 420 & 428 Sqns, MStG saw the only VC awarded to an airman of the RCAF Bomber Command, Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski of 419 Sqn being the recipient. Every year veterans of the RCAF that were stationed here return to pay homage to their fallen comrades.
Location County: - Durham, 5 miles E of Darlington
Lat/Long: 54:30:45N 01:25:30W
Operational Control: - Opened – 1941 No 6 (RCAF) Group (1944) Closed – 1965, Opened as Teesside Airport in November 1966, now known as Durham/Tees Valley Airport.
Cheerio for now – look forward to the theme day where I will learn about something I know nothing about!
TOM-Be strong in adversity-These things are sent to try us................................................
G-day Tom and all present!
I just wanted to let you know that I am back in town. A great weekend it was. I will explain more tomorrow. I just wanted to check in on everything.
I will begin the real posting tomorrow. Just by the looks of it, it seems to have been a great weekend around here too. Some great looking photos out there.
Well I will say goodnight for now but will be back later tomorrow and post a longer more meaningful entry!
Happy railroading.
Gentlemen all,before I go any further,much respect to all for this weekends observance-TOM and Bar Chandler ROB are due especial praise for their efforts,as the saying goes,above and beyond the call of duty................nice one guys
Bit of a scattershot contribution this night( that reminds me,Leon-give these men a drink or three on me...)
ERIC-fine shots of the B17-everybody else in that theatre of war painted their planes in camoflage colours-not the Yanks-bright silver-" If you want some,come and get it....!!!!!"-and I say this with the greatest of respect for a job well done-we had the night flights -you guys did the daylight runs...........
ROB -those airplane pix are wonderful-classic vehicles--P.S.on a more irreverent note,r.e e-mail,it` definately the cat-the guy in the bottom pic is called Henry Thomas and he plays scrum -half for the Llangwm Wasps rugby team
TOM-As ever,we follow where you lead,wonderful selection of pix and everything else-e-mail received and responded to.
Right,depending on which reality you subscribe to,there are two reasons for this late pix posting:-
1--Boris has been complaining for several days about a strong smell of troll about the place so I have spent the last 2 nights sitting on the roof wrapped in arctic grade coveralls armed with the notorious `Our Place` 7-barrelled black powder blunderbuss loaded with screws and nails from the track gang stores in vain hopes of a sighting.........
or:-........
2:-Had a lunchtime show with the blues band yesterday,bar opened at 11.00 am for the veterans coming back from church parade,as we were there setting up we were included in the general company,kept it together until after we had played (to much critical acclaim it must be said)-but then stayed on to watch "Snatchitback" -the main band of the afternoon,free beer-you know how it is -I can`t remember the last time I had a gallon of beer on a sunday afternoon-it was that sort of day.
Delivered home to Missisnick (not best pleased it must be said ) dinner and bed in short order-all this on the back of a horribly late night on Sat. (blues band again).......
Very penitant this morning......................................................
right,pix:-
Here we have a foursome of J94 "Errol Lonsdale " on the Gwili Rly -the former Carmarthen -Aberystwyth line
Here we have ALCO 2-6-2t "Mountaineer" on the Festiniog rly
Here we have an ex-ROD Baldwin 4-6-0t on the Glyn Valley Tramway
Another Baldwin on the Welsh Highland rly
I think this is a Hunslet,could be a 4-4-0t,or poss. a 4-6-0t,in the car-park of the Welsh Highland (1964) company at Portmadoc
And just to show the other side of the coin,another outing for "Sir Drefaldwyn",a German or Austrian 0-8-0t on the Welshpool & Llanfair Lt rly
A mixed bag of ex Royal .Navy.Armament .Depot 4 whl vans and Hudson bogie vehicles
two ex ROD Hudson bogie wagons with a 2-ton slate wagon sandwiched between them
LEFT-another 2 hudson bogies with an ex RNAD van converted to a brake/tool van RIGHT-KATIE-I`ve no idea as to her origins but she earns her living taking tourists round a small loop of track at another ex RNAD site just outside Llanelli
This one has been here before---top left-Snowdon,bottom left Festiniog engine (Welsh Pony ? ) with station mistress in Welsh costume,emulating Bessie Jones at Tan-Y-Bwlch on the Festiniog,middle of shot W.H.R "Russell",bottom right ex ROD `Hudson bogie wagons delivering coal-Beddgelert,mid `30`s
O.K boys ,apologies to everyone I`ve failed to mention tonight--will try and get back with the programme tomorrow
Leon-a round for everyone (including Boris & Copperkettle)
Take care guys...................
nick
A pint and a round please LEON in the memory Of Dai Woodham as in DLs post.
As you say DL the steam preseravtion scene would be very much poorer with out the locos saved from the Barry Scrapyard. I first visited the yard in 1968 when the yard was about full and the sight of over 200 locos was unbelieveable. I was once there in the first light of dawn in the early 70s a wonderful but sad experiance as it was not known then that so many of the locos would be saved then.
Yes most of the locos were from the Western and Southern Regions of BR, in fact only one ex LNER loco, B1 4-6-0 No 61264 made it there, and it is said that the 2 Great Western King class got to Barry by mistake.
It was lucky that there are 3 Duchesses preserved as 46229 and 6233 were bought by Sir Billy Butlin in the 60s and placed in his holiday camps along with Royal Scot and Princess Margret Rose.
One fact that is not often talked about was that Dai Woodhams yard also had two North British diesel locomotives in the yard. They were one of the NB A1A-A1A Hydraulics D601 Ark Royal and D 6122 a Bo-Bo diesel electric.Both were cut up I believe, this was before the diesel preservation movement really got going.The locos were the last members of their class to servive if I remember right..
I am sure our N. American friends will enjoy the link to the American Air Museum at Duxford..
Very interesting about the Armistice car. I did not know that the original was destroyed.
Great link to the Romsey Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, it really is a great line to ride, especially when two trains are passing at speed. I believe a few years ago now The Bug had the appearaence of the armour plating re-applied, I seem to recall seeing pictures of her in the Railway magazines at the time. I dont know how long it was kept in this condidtion. I hope the regulars have a look at the locomotives in the link, as Dr Syn and Sir Winston Churchill look very North American in appearance.
Alan enjoyed his trip Saturday they had two trips on the test track. the locos were 60013 and 67016, with a Virgin 57 at the test track.
There must be some good info from your other half's father it must have very interesting working at the BR Research in Derby.
BEWARE KIMBERLY the two Alans are heading that way, I have asked him to give us a report on the station and the beer..
BK Hope the forum problems are solved quickly for you, these puters ARE great things but when you cant get to what you want to there is nothing more annoying, apart from bottom feeders.
LARS Watched most of the game last night, the weather was like an English soccer match. the Giants looked well in control until the last 2 minutes of the first half.
Many thanks for your and Tom,s comment on the Brits, certainly of the last generation.The Norweigian Resistance also performed many brave and daring acts..
ROB I will pass on to Alan your comments on the pics.
Thanks for the info on the Lanc. The voulunteers have done a fine job on the restoration. I too hope you can find out where 419 squadron was based, if it was in the Midlands it may not have been far from my home town.
In Canada with regards to volunteers, wether at railway or at any transport preservsation, are there younger people getting involved and learning from the older generation who had first hand experience of the locos planes etc. I know in the UK there is a great concern that some of the trades and skills could be lost .
TOM. It seems a bad day for the puters, I could not get connected to the net, when I did it seemed to working real slow, yet when I got onto the forum at least I could see what was there.
It seems as though DL is trying to tempt you to see the Romney railway in Kent. It really is a unique experience they had a bar car on some trains. I seem to remember seeing some old newsreel footage of Laurel and Hardy on the railway at its reopening after the war.
Thanks for the kind words on the Brits it is probably our weird sense of humor that keeps us going .
Well I'll have a Kimberley Bitter please LEON, at least it will still be available at Our Place even when the brewery shuts.
Good evening Tom and friends! The move is nearly completed, so I'd say that deserves a bottlemless draught and a round for the house! Just got a few more things to grab at the ole' farmhouse now, take care of some garbage and clean the place up for the next renters. SHould be able to wrap that up tomorrow night, and I kinda need to. I'm not paying the utilities there after the 15th. Yes Tom... I am rediscovering train materials I have not seen since we moved to the farmhouse. Now I just need to get some bookshelves and get organized so I can better participate here. It's not easy catching-up with all the great stuff you guys posted. I am humbled by the submissions. Sorry about the Bear game last night Lars . I was starting to wonder if our guys were real or what. I guess they're real. Of course, the really big game is Saturday when my OSU Buckeyes play the hated Wolverines. I guess that's the real championship game this year. That reminds me .... I have a whole pocket full of quarters for the jukebox .... do we have the OSU fight song? I'll buy another round if we do!
Anyhow ...just wanted to pop-in and let you know we're doing fine here. Here's the link with some new-home pictures:
http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/stuff/
Have you ever noticed... anybody going slower than you is an idiot. And anyone going faster is a maniac. * George Carlin *
Notre Dame is in good shape, 9-1 and climbing in the polls.
If they don't beat Army it's all over of course.
Rob, half a million Canadian troops were in Halifax at least once.
I was there briefly in '94 coming back from Prince Edward Island.
Walked around and stayed overnight. It's a great city.
Armored train patrol searching for Norwegian partisans (blame DL for this one)
http://www.dypevag.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ships_files/search.jpg
Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway miniature locomotive
http://www.narrow-gauge-pleasure.co.uk/images/armouredtrain.jpg
http://www.catnip.co.uk/tracks/england/photos/rhd01.jpg
http://www.rhdr.org.uk/rhdr/engines/galleries/images/05_head_image_full.jpg
http://www.rhdr.org.uk/rhdr/location_art/location_map_2003_200.gif
Coney Island Miniature Railway
http://images.nypl.org/?id=801285&t=w
Victor Mature and Coast Guard waiting for a train in 1945
http://muse.museum.montana.edu/rvndb/rvn-jpgs/RVN08981.jpg
http://muse.museum.montana.edu/rvndb/rvn-jpgs/RVN08982.jpg
Caroline Mars
http://www.usmc9thsbc.org/jrmcm1.jpg
http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/collections/cushman/full/P04070.jpg
11/11/06 Poppies in Afghanistan
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20061111/capt.b963c8e66f8f4a999058787f4a215c9c.afghanistan_canada__kandx101.jpg?x=380&y=238&sig=WRZmlKDkKO_PxCdd0cJcBg--
"Thou shall not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day
for he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter