"OUR" PLACE - SEE NEW THREAD!

[siberianmo]

SATURDAY’s INFO & SUMMARY of RECENT POSTS

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

Saturday is upon us once again! Today is NOSTALGIA! Day, time to Post again those “special” features some may have missed the first time, or may appreciate once again!

Check out the <light> breakfasts, freshly brewed hot coffee and the pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery!


Daily Wisdom:

If you have to prove you are right, you are probably wrong.


Info for the Day:

(1) CONTEST:
What date (time optional) will ”Our” Place reach the next plateau – page 200 [?] BONUS question: WHO will be the one to “turn the page” [?]

Participants . . . . . . Date chosen . . . . (Bonus) Who will put us over the top [?]
(in order of participation)
pwolfe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dec 20th . . . . . . . . . .siberianmo Tom
trolleyboy Rob . . . . . . . . . Dec 18th (12:05 PM) . siberianmo Tom
coalminer3 CM3 . . . . . . . .Dec 18th. . . . . . . . . . siberianmo Tom
barndad Doug . . . . . . . . . Dec 22nd . . . . . . . . . none
nickinwestwales Nick . . . .Dec 27th . . . . . . . . . .trolleyboy Rob
ftwNSengineer P . . . . . . . Dec 23rd . . . . . . . . . .trolleyboy Rob
jlampke John . . . . . . . . . Dec 24th (noon) . . . . . siberianmo Tom

CONTEST CLOSED!


SUMMARY

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

(1) siberianmo Tom Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 00:10:33 (194) Friday’s Info & Summary

(2) passengerfan Al Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 05:57:11 (194) Streamliner #29 – Forty Niner

(3) barndad Doug Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 07:05:38 (194) Maintaining the Way, Part III

(4) siberianmo Tom Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 08:05:00 (194) NOSTALGIA #45 – Rock Island – Golden State

(5) Fergmiester Fergie Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 08:11:28 (194)

(6) siberianmo Tom Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 08:43:07 (194) Acknowledgments, etc.

(7) coalminer3 CM3 Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 09:58:25 (194) Pick-us-up-Post!

(8) Theodorebear Ted Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 12:52:31 (194) Inclusive Post, etc.

(9) jdonald Don Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 13:27:51 (194)

(10) siberianmo Tom Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 15:19:11 (194) Acknowledgments, etc.

(11) Theodorebear Ted Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 19:24:18 (194) Inclusive Post, etc.

(12) barndad Doug Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 20:11:33 (194) Maintaining the Way, Part IV

(13) siberianmo Tom Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 21:23:52 (195) Acknowledgments, etc.

(14) wanswheel Mike Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 22:39:15 (195) Nite Cap!

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

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

[Anonymous]

Good morning Tom and all! I'll have my usual 3 light-breakfasts. Is it ok if I brought my own [?][?][?]

I just want to clarify something ... the reason I was working on the BN5383 yesterday at the IRM, was because it will soon be moved to the unheated portion of the barn after this weekend. So, I'm not completly nutzo ... I'm a whimp! One of yesterdays highlights was to visit the steam barn and see real progress being made on several fronts. The drop table is moving right along, the UP428 has top priority, the inspection for occupancy of the new addtion was to be that same afternoon, and they received new grates for the 3-truck Shay ... so someone's thinking about getting that going too!

Here's the final segment of my maintanence series. Hope you enjoyed it!

Maintaining the Way by John Uckley – Rail Classics Jan. 1984

Soo Line operates their own track inspection car, seen at Guliver, Michigan in September, 1979.


Railroad cranes, whether they be small, medium, or “big hook” variety, are some of the most noticeable pieces of railroad maintenance-of-way hardware. They are as indispensable in their versatility as the ubiquitous Jordon Spreaders.

Cranes are frequently self-propelled (the small and medium-sized ones) while the big hooks just go along for the ride on the works train and then prove their worth at the wreck site as they flex their mechanical biceps amid all the carnage around them. Railroad cranes can rotate around in all directions and their lifting power is virtually unlimited, providing that you match up the right crane for the right job or double up on your crane power when the specific job demands it. The cranes are the workhorses of the railroads. They perform excavation task: pick up all manner of trackside debris with their hooks, magnets, and buckets; assist in the installation of main line rails; coal the tenders of excursion steam locomotives; rerail freight cars and diesels that have toppled off the main because of a wreck; assist in the placement of steel bridge girders over streams, rivers, and yawning canyons; and perform all these chores with muscle power derived from steam, gas, diesel, or electric power sources. Come on, now; you’ve seen them around: the Burros, Industrial Brownhoists, Ohio Locomotive Cranes, American Hoist and Derrick, etc.

Now that we are well entrenched in the wonderful world of maintenance-of-way, let us go into some of the details about the various Rube Goldberg-type contraptions that are needed for the railroad to keep their principle main lines and secondary mains in top-notch operating condition.

Automatic spike driving machines are operated by high pressure hydraulic systems and are capable of driving as many as 700 spikes per hour. Automatic tamper liners can surface, level, and line track as well as tamp ballast in a single stroke at the rate of 1,500 feet per hour. Ballast cleaners are self-propelled machines that remove fouled material from the ballast bed of the right-of-way, carrying the ballast to a gyrating screen network for cleaning and then placing the cleaned gravel back on the right-of-way.

Ballast regulators are also self-propelled machines that are used to shape and distribute ballast, plow away excess ballast, remove weeds, scarify fouled ballast, and transfer ballast from the shoulders to the track area. Rail pusher cars are used by the railroads for laying rails. They can simultaneously lower two strings of welded rail at a time onto the right-of-way, while at the same time picking up the old rail and feeding it back continuously onto waiting flatcars.

Tie bed scarifiers are self-propelled machines that loosen compacted ballast. A tie inserter can then open a space in the ballast bed and pull a new tie in place underneath the rails. A tie cleaner and a tie plate inserter are capable of lifting the rail clear of the tie, and inserting a tie plate into position for spike driving.

The tie handling crane is hydraulically operated with a rotating boom that has special tie grapplers for positioning and placing fre***ies during tie replacement operations. Tie removers are machines that can raise sections of track and push out whole ties and tie plates without disturbing track surface and alignment. Tie tampers employ a row of vibrating blades to work ballast into place around ties and they also utilize some form of wire or optical system to measure rail deviation from the correct vertical alignment. Once this condition is discovered, the machine can resurface tracks to the desired alignment. Track liners are self-propelled machines which use a wire or optical device to measure deviation of either straight or curved track from the correct horizontal alignment and then apply lateral force to move it over to the proper alignment.

If you aren’t confused yet, I congratulate you heartily. You have almost run the crazy quilt gamut of railroad maintenance-of-way technology. Don’t stumble along the right-of-way now; those chunks of gravel can really hurt. There are just a few more pieces of modern equipment to be mentioned. We have tie saws for cutting up old ties out on the main line, nut runners to remove joint bars, spike pullers, plug inserters to plug spike holes in old ties, tie-boring machines that prepare the new spike holes, crib adzes that adze ties for proper plate bearing, air-operated spike hammers, gauging sleds that are used to position tie plates, rail cutting tools, bolt hole boring tools, and then don’t forget such hot little items as brush-cutting machinery, chemical weed sprayers, heavy-duty flangers, switch heaters, snow-melting torches, hand-swung picks for driving spikes by hand, and finally, good old-fashioned hand-held shovels for removing dirt and ballast around with Armstrong power (yes, they still use this form of energy on the railroads today!). Well, anyone for a nut runner to remove some joint bars? Well, I didn’t think so.

The next time that you discover a branch line winding its way through the fields, forests, hills, and streams of a tranquil countryside that lies between farming hamlets, stop for a few minutes and study its physical composition carefully. Notice what scars of neglect are embedded in its weary surface due to the ravages of time, nature, and economic neglect. The once proud steel rail, tie plates and spikes, switch stands, signals, and bridge girders are covered with a thick mantle of rust. The endless rungs of wooden ties are bleached, splintered, and rotting from the incessant torture of sunshine, rain, snow and ice.

The once trim ballast is being reclaimed by the vines, wild flowers, weeds, and even some trees. The attack is in full swing and nature is winning. Dirt and soil are everywhere and the Speno and Loram maintenance-of-way services would have heavy going trying to grind these rails and clean this ballast. The steel rails are crooked and uneven, weaving a drunken path through the overgrowth. The old depots that are still standing in the villages along this line are haggard looking and haven’t seen a coat of paint on their bleached and rotting boards in some thirty years. A date nail stuck in one of the old ties reads 1929 … the last time that this particular railroad line received any appreciable upgrading. Without the maintenance-of-way forces, the bridges and building crews, and all the special work trains and exotic machinery attendant upon high iron upkeep, this is the way that all our nation’s trackwork would eventually look.

Speno ballast cleaning train moves eastbound along C&O line near Howell, Michigan in 1977.

[wanswheel]

Hi Tom and everyone, I should know if this is beef night or what, but I forget. How about a round of Beefeaters something. Is it Gin? I forget that too.

As is clear, my one credential to participate in a forum of engineers, train travellers, model railroaders and rail museum & restoration specialists is that I'm related to my Dad and his Papa. Thank you to all who have taken time to read what I've posted here about Joe and old Joe. I appreciate it.

The telegraph, the post office and the daily newspaper were sort of the Internet of 100 years ago. Nowadays we take cell phones and all that instantaneous tether for granted. In my youth long distance phone calls were expensive and rare. In my grandparents day not everybody had a telephone and a car, so people wrote letters even to friends and relatives in the same town, to keep in touch between Sundays when they would all see each other in church. I like postcards, postcards from train trips. I've never been to Toronto but I recognize the Royal York hotel from the postcards of the 1950s. Then it was or seemed to be the tallest and most impressive looking building in the city. Lately I see from Nick's pics that it's height has been exceeded. Of course I'm not surprised by that, the CN Tower is an icon. Some of the hotels near Grand Central Terminal in New York had access from the tracks. I think the Waldorf-Astoria has or did have a siding for celebrities to arrive by train.

Now I learn that it's time for cold pizza. Okay, Leon, a slice of egglant & mushroom, hold the anchovies.

[siberianmo]

Hello Gents!

Been a rather strange Friday night 'round here. It's Pizza Nite! and Steak 'n Fries Nite! plus the Gals of "Our" Place are workin' the tables. I hear the track gangs in the back room - THEY are havin' a typically good time for themselves! [swg]

Has anyone spotted Tex the Armadillo lately [?] Last I noticed, he was scurrying along with what looked like a piece of cowboy boot in his mouth. Gotta watch that critter -he's no pettin' animal! <grin>

I'm sure that Al can shed all kinds of light on passenger trains with identical names - in fact, I think CM3 may have done that a score or so of pages back. Anyway, one surely can get wrapped around the axle with this stuff, eh [?]

One of the hit 'n run type Posters visited my other site to drop off a sage comment or two. We've seen it here (him too) - you know the type - you're wrong, I'm right, off I go, Hi Ho, Hi Ho, etc. [tdn] Jerks my chain fer sure, fer sure. Best to ignore these types - why encourage 'em [?] So once again, I urge one and all who consider themselves regulars at this bar 'n grill - let me take care of the welcomes - and let's not be too quick on the draw with newcomers. Let 'em earn the right to sit among us. [tup]

Ted appreciate your presence this fine day - but then again, you ARE on the payroll! Oh [yeah] it must be pay day - shudda known! That old tub upstairs is getting quite a workout with the staff dipping in for their salary. Nick really started something back in May with putting the profits into the tub. Well, heck - it works, why mess with it [?]

I think it would be quite something for all the "IC" guys to combine efforts with me for a model RR layout. Now THAT would be something else! You would be our scratch builder and detail man - I'd take care of track work and wiring, Nick and Rob would do "their thing" to ensure we've got the proper types and assortments of cars for the pike of pikes. There would be traction - there would be Els and subways along with RDCs and long strings of streamliners, ahhhhhhhhhhh. Can see it now. [swg] Now the idea is to get us all under the same roof!

Good to see ya Doug. Kinda figured you'd be off to the IRC this weekend. Working in an unheated environment means only one thing to me - well perhaps two - ONE: dedication, and TWO: no sense at all! [swg] <grin>

I have all the pix ready to go for Sunday from Pete - Dan & Don. So guys, since I'm going to be rather scarce tomorrow, I presume that's it - which is fine. We've got a "bunch" and it should be another successful Sunday Photo Posting Day!, especially if we also get some pix from Doug & Rob.

Good to see y'all and I'll be at the bar 'til closing. Leon the Night Man has the weekend off.

Later! (maybe)

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[Anonymous]

Good evening Tom and gang! Please make mine a room temperature beer ... it's dang cold tonight! Great nostalgic add on the Rock Island. I attended a slide show where a lot of those cars had been painted "bankruptsy blue", after they went under. ... but those cars were for freight. And yes...please consider my earlier post as part III of my Maintenance series. Speaking of which..... did someone(CM3) say "Jordon Spreader? Funny you should mention it!

Conrail Type A Jordon spreader-ditcher returns from a snow removal task


The O.F. Jordon COmpany of East Chicago, Indiana, has produced over 1,122 Jordon spreaders since the early years of this century. The formidable beasts were the brainchild of one Oswald F. Jordon, a New York Central roadmaster at St. Catherines, Ontario. He had a pair of the newly conceived spreaders built under his close scrutiny at NYC's Canada Southern shops in St. Thomas, Ontario, in the year 1900. In 1910, Mr. Jordon ventured to East Chicago and bought ten acres of land from NYC and built himself a factory on the site. He went into the full-time business of making Jordon spreaders. Unfortunately, Mr. Jordon up and died just as success was finally within his grasp. The company remained in the hands of his heirs right into the 1960s. The business end of the whole enterprise was taken over by an enterprising banker friend of the Jordon family.

The Type A Jordon Spreader (weighing in at 65 tons) is the most numerous model still working on the nation's railroads: noticeably by its robust cylindrical stationary posts from which its giant wings are hinged. There are also a fair number of Type J Jordon Spreaders being utilized on the high iron. Jordon Spreaders, with their multiple uses and protruding hardware, remind me of huge Boy Scout jackknives on wheels. You can do just about anything with one of them except open a can of pork and beans. Whether it is pneumatic powered or, as is more current now, hydraulic powered, a Jordon SPreader is pushed along the rails by a diesel locomotive at a speed of four or five miles per hour.

The Jordons are equipped with heavy-duty snowplows on the front of the units, some of which possess extra heavy steel for pushing through rock slides on the main line. The plow front on all Jordans is hinged at its center so that when they operate on double-track main lines, where the snow can only be pushed to one side of the tracks at a time, the plow blade on the opposite side swings all the way out to line up with the other blade, thus forming a single wing plow.

The machines are also maunfactured with either a fixed or a retractable ditcher blade, with ditcher cross-section and location varying to suit each individual railroad.Custom building of Jordon ditcher wings is made necessary by the fact that each railroad engineering department establishes its own standard roadbed cross-section with the particular depth, configuration, and lateral distance of the ditch preordained on paper to take advantage of the unique qualities of their railroad line. Ditchers and bank slopers create a ditch, shape the ballast, and then edge and slope the ballast.

These mechanical marvels are also capable of all kinds of grading work, like ballast spreading, bank sloping in cuts (material can be scooped out of a cut to be deposited on an adjacent fill), and removal of snow and ice from yards, switches, sidings, station areas, and just about every other conceivable situation. It should also be mentioned that you can buy your Jordon Spreader/Snowplow with an ice-cutter attachment consisting of a row of steel teeth adorning the bottom edge of the snow-plow. And in closing, let me mention that mining compaies use the robust Jordons for pushing slag piles out of the way in open-pit mining operations.

[:I] The above is Part IV of the Maintence series. From Rail Classics mag. [:I]

[Anonymous]

Evening folks, hope everyone is holding up well and playing it safe so far this season. Don't want to be a "wet blanket" but we all know how "freaky" people can act in crowds.[:O] Tom, I think an Irish Coffee would be just "the ticket" this chilly night, if you please. "Party Animal?" Yep, I resemble that moniker, for sure. Although your "mind's eye" view of our weather may a bit optimistic. Lately, if I took a plunge into the pool, I'd "turn blue" in short order. Minnie (my cat) sure makes a great foot warmer lately. Don, wish I could be of more help but either Pete, Nick or Tom's advisories is the "way to go." Know what you mean on the price increases for publications, outrageous and no end in sight. And that's not all, I still haven't quite recovered from seeing my Home Owner's Insurance escalate since last Summer.[}:)] Barndad Doug, I am taking your advise for locating "work consists" with the hope of finding some vintage rolling stock and possibly a loco or two in the offing. I surely got a lot out of the Sperry/MOW pieces by you and CM3.

Hey, two Streamliners with the same name. That may not be such a coincidence as it seems. There must be dozens of Roads with "Sunshine, Palms, Shore, Royal," et al. apperaing in their named Varnish. Al, the "all pullman Forty-Niner" had to be the luxury train to the West Coast for a brief period. I was always partial for the gray, black and white stripes livery, perhaps because it was mindful of the tasteful N.Y.Central designs. Wanswheel Mike, I wanted to thank you again for the attached pix from your last Post. We now, all know what the "Comet" looks like plus some very nice "period" promotional, commercial art work.[tup] Don, although the proverbial "Tank Engines" weren't usually on mainline service in the States, they were widely used in major Port cities for "in street" shifting of freight at the "turn of the 20 th Century. Usually, they were 0-4-0's to negotiate the very "tight" radii in the cities. Baltimore comes to mind as an Army Buddy of mine totaled his new Ford Station Wagon by blundering into a parked box car near the piers. Poor Chap, he was then a member of our motor pool (Army Band).[:I] "Raise an eyebrow," anyone?[:O]

HeyRob and Tom, I can just imagine what a model Pike would result if you two got together.[^] That would be something to behold indeed. I guess you are ready for anything "nature" throws at you in TO Rob. I love seeing traction operate in inclement, snow and icey conditions. We could always rely on the street cars to ge us downtown even if we couldn't budge our cars from the driveways. They sure were cold and drafty, however.

Hey, I've been rambling on far too long, so let me bid everyone a toasty warm farewell for today. Boris, where is Tex? These colder temps are not good for our armored clad friend. Put on your "special" golashes and go find him lest he turns into a Betty Furness Westinhouse frige.[:O] Happy rails all.

[siberianmo]

G'day Gents!

Nice to see coalminer3 CM3 - Theodorebear Ted & jdonald Don this fine day! That's quite a spread of temps and weather conditions from West Virginia to Florida. Two out of three with snow! [yeah]

CM3 As always, I learned a bit more today thanx to you. I've never really been into the MOW's, but the more exposure here, the less ignorant I remain. Good stuff and appreciated! [tup]

So you missed yesterday because of the weather. Hmmmm - no access from home [?] Can't think of a better way to spend some time with one's clothes on than to idle away the hours here at the bar! [swg]

Ted You party animal! [yeah] I can see you now at poolside with a bevy of beauties (they do come in bevies, don't they [?]) - Anyway, back to MY fantasy - the bevy and you, a cool drink, something tasty to eat, music in the background, gentle breezes - and then .... kerplunk, splash - too close to the edge. [swg] Poor guy - just forced to enjoy himself. What a drag!

That Email you sent regarding the "interloper" message should be Posted here. But then, it just may be like moths to a flame. Loved it! [swg]

Amtrak [?] We had a great time, in spite of UP and Amtrak trying to mess with us. The idea was to be aboard a train - and that we did. Couldn't have done any of what we experienced in a car or aboard a plane. Spacious seats - walking from place to place - sitting at the tables - enjoying the views - it was a typically good train experience. Unfortunately, as chronicled, the expectations were lessened through faults not of our making. I hope the day NEVER comes when the train stops its run ....

Don Regarding Pix - I'll get 'em Posted - just send 'em! Given that this is our final Sunday Photo Posting Day! of the year - closed Christmas Day and I mean totally - we'll have to wait 'til 2006 for the next. Kinda unsure about New Years Day too.

Hope that furnace of yours doesn't decide it's time to check out in the frigid temps you ar experiecing up your way. Isn't that just the luck though [?]

Recommendation: Do a web search on British Rail - use any search engine you like, and my guess is you'll come up with all sorts of interesting stuff.

Thanx to all who bought rounds and of course, CM3 for the quarters!

Later!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[jdonald]

Hi Tom & all: just a black coffe for now but the suggestion of a shot or two of Baileys does sound tempting. Have one yourself as well.

Will get the pics to you write after I sign off hear, Tom.

Lots more goood posts since my las visit last nite. Doug's piece on track maintenance etc. made me think of the Hatfield accident in the U.K. a few years back. It was blamed on a cracked rail. Must have been a wake-up call for Network Rail since they have stopped contracting out maintenance and brought it all in house.
Speaking of rail in the U.K. Pete & Ted are there any websites over there where I can pick up news on the the rail scene. Something like the newswire feature on the Trains site. My subscription to "Rail" is about to expire and at 110. Pounds a year(about 235.00 Canadian) getting too rich for my fixed income blood[?]

Better go-the furnace has been making a noise like a crazed armidillo inside a 45 gal drum

Bye for now-Keep it on the rails

Don

[Anonymous]

Good afternoon everyone. Tom, I think just a glass of V-8 for now, thanks. I was invited to a pre Yuletide party yesterday p.m. originally planned as an intimate tet-a-tet but gravitated into a "full blown" block party.[:I] I hate it when that happens because I really couldn't find a polite method for excusing myslef without offending the Host, Hostess and some close friends.[:O] So, I missed another of Nick's incredible Thursday's Fish 'n' Chips extravaganzes.[V] Which, by the way, the bill of fare has been duly recorded in "Nicks Pix " archives.[C=:-)] Quite right Maestro Nick, a "little of this and a little of that" is the proper approach to so many culinary delights. To do anything else would be cheating one's self of the wide variety of palate teasing morsels.[^] A Gormand may live a happy but ususally abreviated life span.[xx(]

Okay, this is me trying to keep current on this latest avalanche of fine posts. The only method I know, is to refer to the Summary after my last Post and go forward from there. It may take a few minutes longer but you won't risk the embarassment of ignoring another Member or Guest's topics.[tup]

Tom and Pete, I can remember some pretty darned vexing inconveniencs from past rail journies. But, you know what? In retrospect, I'm still glad that I went by rail. I savor those travels to this day. Maybe "time heals all wounds, after all?"[:D] I believe Don's slight mishap of missing the scheduled train out of Toronto may have been one such "inconvenience" that was a "blessing in disguise." How many of us can say we have ridden a Doodlebug? The gas electric was an important interim short line "stop gap" and now found only in museums. I wish I had taken that ride when there was still opportunity, smells, noise, heat and all.[^]

BTW Nick, musn't toss away those legumes in haste. I once heard of an entire beanery burgeoning from the bowels of berated, barren, black, loam that later loomed into lavish, luxurious, living for the lazy Lad who later languished lethargically with his largess. pant, pant.["O] Please, stop me when I do that.[banghead] P , how 'bout dat? One of my favorites. Mike, thanks again for the "bitter sweet" addition on your Father's illustrious career with passenger railroads and consumer advocasy. There sure aren't many like your Dad around any longer and that is everyone's loss. Barndad, The sight of those quarter mile sections of welded rail adds another, less noticed, loss to the Roads of today: what ever happened to the "clikety-clack?"[(-D] Yes I know, much safer and effecient but so are rockets compared to Zepplins.[V] Dan, thanks for the mail and I am "GO" for the most convenient way to send the Book, okay? Right Boris, that updates one page, I must break for now and resume at a laterCLANG.....One of these days...[:(!]

[coalminer3]

Good Morning Barkeep and all here assembled: coffee, please; round for the house; and $ for the jukebox. This a.m. how about "Santa Claus is Back in Town (this is not the song that you might think it is as it's on the "R" rated side of the jukebox.)

My apologies for not dropping by yesterday, but ice, ice, and more ice meant that nobody went anywhere - the salt shaker backed up the hill in front of the house last evening - 1st sign of anyoine we saw all day.

Many good posts and, as always, I learn a lot. For those who want Comet pictures, look in Peter Lynch's book, New Haven Railroad.

Interesting stuff on both the 49er and the Golden State. At one time, IIRC, the SP had E7s painted for the Golden State. They did not keep this scheme too long, however.

The post on the MOW equipment was more than useful. Back in the day when I frequented Baltimore, the B&O parked one of their wreck trains behind the warehouse at what is now Camden Yards. Let us just say that back then it was not such an upscale era as it is now but the train had a splendid collection of hw equipment.

The C&O, at least over here, had all sorts of equipment that they used in MOW service. They had ancient boxcars converted to stores cars, and a variety of WW2 troop sleepers r/b into different configurations including tool cars, bunk cars, etc. Old hw diners provided eating facilities (probably where Boris learned his trade by putting journal waste in the coffee - gives you the power to get up and do what has to be done. Tom. MOW coffee was worse than "chief's" coffee.) Most of these cars were painted in what can best be called zinc chromate with yellow lettering. The only other time I saw this color green was in the interior of a restored B-17 which I visited in New York.

Work equipment seemed to be whatever was needed, but some of the more interesting stuff included Jordan spreaders, and Burro cranes or backhoes on rails set on converted flatcars or gons. MOW work was and is constant around here because of the terrain, vile weather, and heavy trains (coal trains beat the crap out of roadbed). This is why they spend a lot of time ditching, ballasting, resetting ties, filling in soft spots, etc. The water cars were by far the most interesting equipment on the C&O trains. These were, for the most part, Vanderbilt tenders. Armed with a list and a willingness to search for #s, you could often find what steam engine thay had come from.

I'll wrap this up with one more recollection. When I lived in L&N land, they had all sorts of camp equipment as well, some of it made from old wooden boxcars - lovely accommodations on a 90-degree 90 percent humidity night in western Kentucky. The only modern touch on one of these trains was a TV antenna rigged up on the roof. They used converted tank cars or short steam locomotive tenders for water.

work safe

[siberianmo]

Mornin' Gents!

I see we have had a sprightly start to this Friday morning with two "reading exercises" from passengerfan Al & bandad Doug!

Good luck with your exam, Al - bet you didn't know that I too had a Broker's License from the State of Missouri about 12 years ago. Had the sales and brokers licenses after sitting through 8 weeks (combined) of "school" and taking the state exams. I never practiced the trade - in fact I have utter disdain for it (sorry!). Just did it to learn about it - that's all. A friend of mine owns and operates a real estate school and he offered to pay my "tuition." His wife, a broker with a viable business, held my licenses, but I let 'em expire. Learned enough to figure out that I surely don't need some 3rd party sell my property. Oooooops, [#offtopic] - Boris ring the bell and give 'em all juices of their choosing! [swg]

By the by, Doug I think that's Part III, no [?]

For all who Post material from books, magazines, etc. I received some interesting information regarding Posting other people's material on the Forums: bottom line get permission from the sources (if possible) and make sure it is included in the Post. Always name the source if not original stuff. Better to be cautious than careless. The latter gets one into the courtroom. In deference to our Host, Kalmbach Publications, it would be extremely inappropriate for any of us to get them into a tight spot over this.

Now, let's not go overboard with this info, just take it for what it is worth - do it right and all's well. [tup]

Fergie Thanx for the offer - and I received your Email, replied to same. Yes, I have the Jan MRR, but haven't even opened it up. Too much to read these days (daze) here and in the form of subscriptions. And I'm retired! [swg]

Hope you had the chance to check out our Monday Posts for the 8th Month Anniversary of "Our" Place. Had some real good "stuff."


Don't know how many picked up on this, but today's NOSTALGIA and yesterday's both concern trains called the "Golden State," but operated by different railroads.

Okay - gotta get goin' .... I'm behind the bar. So let's not forget to order - we need to keep this place solvent in a financial sense! [tup]

Later!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[Fergmiester]

Good Morning Gents!

It's a cold and frosty one this December A.M.! However this will change by tonight as rain/freezing rain is expected to blow through. Me Thinks Rob will get the brunt of it!

Tom: I'll just have a coffee to go as this is a busy day and my third CS/RDE (Reputable Drinking Establishment) stop today. Ah heck could you whiten the Java with a shot or two of Bailey's? Anyway I'll cut to the chase. Have you got a copy of January's MR'r? I finally got around to reading the article on DCC and it's worth reading as it will answer most of your questions. But if you still have more questions that need asking you can either call or e-mail me.

Anyway I gotta run.

Later Gents

Fergie

[siberianmo]

G’day All!

PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #45

Here’s something to enjoy regarding the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific (Rock Island) from a 1949 advertisement in my personal collection.

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

Now! Beat the Winter Crowds to SUNSHINE LAND!

. . . . . . . . . . The Golden State . . . . . . . . . .
Direct – CHICAGO to LOS ANGELES

Serving El Paso, Douglas, Tucson, Phoenix and Palm Springs

A perfect travel combination for your winter holiday – luxurious Golden State streamliner via the low-altitude Golden State Route!

Here’s smooth Diesel Speed; finest of private room and sectional Pullman accommodations; latest type reclining-seat Chair Cars. Coffee-Shop-Lounge, Dining Car, Lounge Car. Through Sleeping Cars from New York and St. Louis. Extra fare – and worth it!

. . . . . THE IMPERIAL . . . Chair Cars
. . . . . and Pullmans to San Diego – Los Angeles.
. . . . . Tourist Sleepers to Los Angeles. Dining and
. . . . . Lounge Cars. No extra fare.

. . . . . . . . . . ROCK ISLAND LINES . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Road of Planned Progress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Enjoy! [tup]

Tom [4:-)][oX)]

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

[Anonymous]

Good morning Tom and fellow early-risers. What a busy day we had here yesterday! Great job everyone! I just need 1 light breakfast today, because as soon as I get my wife to work, I'll be heading for the IRM to do more work on our BN 5383. They plan to move it to the unheated section of the barn after this weekend, so there's a major pu***o get all the painting pre-work completed ASAP!

Mike, what a terrific addition to Our Place you have become! I am very impressed and enterained by your posts! Great stuff indeed, and I love the links!

Good luck on your exam Al, and thanks for another streamliner post!

Yes ... I really type the articles I post here. Except for the photos, which of course are scanned. Speaking of which, here's part II in my latest series!

Maintaining the Way by John Uckley – Rail Classics Jan. 1984

Without maintenance, road bed may not have adequate drainage, leading to problems such as this, or worse!


Saving the most elegant subject matter for last, let’s talk about the inspection trains, carrying the cream of railroad management and V.I.P. stockholders on guided tours of the total railroad physical plant, including the most important main lines, secondary lines, yards and stations thrown in for good measure. The atmosphere on these trains is one of relaxed business camaraderie and railroad sightseeing that is ultimately designed to sharpen executive perceptions of an important form of land-based transportation so that profitability will always reign supreme in the annual report to stockholders and upper echelon management. With the help of air conditioning, tinted windows, choice wines and foods, posh lounging areas, and a host of other elegant creature comforts, the palate of even the most sophisticated businessman is kept pampered so that he can appreciate all the properly maintained rails, ties, signals, depots, bridges, switches, telephone shacks, and crossing towers that he will encounter during the course of a trip. It may take quite a few bottles of champagne and a great many medium rare steaks smothered in mushrooms to keep all the people on an inspection train in good spirits but it gets the job done. They come back from the trip with a keen awareness of the workaday reality of the railroad company and how to steer their business vessel successfully through the choppy waters of the American business market.

One of the really great fringe benefits of looking around the railroads for maintenance-of-way trains is the large numbers of vintage clerestory roof and streamlined passenger coaches, early diesel switchers, steam locomotive tenders (with their large liquid-bearing capacity), wooden cabooses, freight cars, and hybrid pieces of equipment (for example, Rock Island’s penchant for taking obsolete tenders and converting them into snowplows) that you will invariably discover in your travels. It’s really more fun to find a nostalgic M of W train in action than to visit a railroad museum where such pieces of equipment are usually on static display. Think of the joy you could experience in locating a streamlined passenger car that might once have once rode in the consist of the Empire Builder, the Denver Zephyr, the Capitol Limited, or the Pacemaker, and is now the rolling accommodation for a maintenance-of-way crew.

I am sure that some of you probably share my fondness for those boxy looking troop sleepers that hauled so many G.I.s to various ports of embarkation during World War Two in solid comfort (actually, the “solid comfort” was so “solid” that many of the guys could have used a healthy swig of “Southern Comfort” to make the trip more palatable).

It is very likely that you will run into a wooden transfer caboose (the Ann Arbor R.R. was using 1910-era wooden transfer cabooses in wreck train service) or perhaps a vintage steel road hack from the 1940’s or the 1950s (a few survivors of Baltimore and Ohio’s classic rib-sided bay window steel hacks from the 1940s are used in work train service on the Chessie System). And how often will you stumble upon a 40-foot boxcar, gondola, or hopper that still bears some exotic railroad business slogan or mentions the proud fleet of long-gone passenger trains that the company once assembled for the traveling public (Missouri Pacific’s Route of the Eagles, Chicago & North Western’s Route of the 400 Streamliners, or say Burlington’s Way of the Zephyrs). The letters may be faded or covered with years of grime but they are still there, waiting to be recorded by your camera.

Sometimes the only way to see GP7s and GP9s and Rs11s and other diesel locomotives of their vintage is to scout the main lines and the yards looking for work trains. It may seem hard to believe, but first generation and even second generation diesels are getting in short supply.

My advise to you, dear railfan, is to keep your eyes focused on the movements of various maintenance-of-way trains, whether they be running on a big Class-1 railroad or rolling along the rails of a Midwestern short line. Frequently, they are traveling historical exhibits on wheels and many ghosts from the past congregate around their rolling stock.

[:I] could there be more? [:I]

[passengerfan]

Good Morning Tom and the rest of the gang. Time for a coffee and a pastry from the Mentor Bakery. Have been up a couple hours studying for my Real Estate Brokerage Exam That I take later this morning.

Time for a quick break and it will be back to the books for another couple hours.

PASSENGERFAN AL'S STREAMLINER CORNER #29

FORTY NINER C&NW-UP-SP trains 48-49 July 8, 1937 Chicago - San Francisco weekly summer only train 2,263 miles 54 hours each way.

This All-Pullman owned train between Chicago and Oakland Pier was inaugurated Juen 8, 1937 via the C&NW-UP-SP Overland route.

The Pullman operated FORTY NINER was an interesting train with all cars provided by Pullman and Pullman owned.
The C&NW originally assigned Pacifics to the train between Chicago and Omaha but replaced them with E-4 Hudsons in 1938. For their part the Union Pacific streamlined a pair of locomotives for asssignment to the FORTY NINER. They streamlined Pacific 3906 for operation of the FORTY NINER between Omaha and Cheyenne, and Mountain 7002 was streamlined for the FORTY NINER between Cheyenne and Ogden. The SP did not assign a specific locomotive to the FORTY NINER between Ogden and Oakland Pier.

The eight car consist was comprised of six heavyweight cars streamlined by Pullman Shops complete with skirting and and full width diaphragms and the last two cars were an articulated pair of lightweight streamlined cars.

All cars were renamed for service in the FORTY NINER to better suit the 1849 Gold Ru***heme of the train as follows:

DONNER LAKE originally K-100

ANGEL'S CAMP originally D-100

JOAQUIN MILLER originally YOSEMITE PARK

JAMES MARSHALL originally McCLINCHY

CAPTAIN JOHN SUTTER originally ST. LEON

GOLD RUN originally McGILL

BEAR FLAG originally ADVANCE
CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC originally PROGRESS

The final year of operation the All Pullman train operated only between June 8, 1941 and July 26, 1941 as it was replaced by a second CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO consist.

The FORTY NINER cars were painted dark gray with black roofs , trucks and underbodies. The gray was broken by white accent stripes outlined in Black and the lettering was in Dulux Gold.

1938 CONSIST

4003 C&NW ALCO E-4 4-6-4 Streamlined Hudson & Tender (Chicago - Omaha)

2906 UP BLW 4-6-2 Streamlined Paciufic & Tender (Omaha - Cheyenne)

7002 UP ALCO 4-8-2 Streamlined Mountain & Tender (Cheyenne - Ogden)

4357 SP MT-4 4-8-2 Mountain & Tender (Ogden - Oakland)

DONNER LAKE Baggage 12-Crew Dormitory Kitchen Car

ANGEL'S CAMP 40-Seat Dining Car

JOAQUIN MILLER Barber Shop 4-Drawing Room 3-Compartment Sleeping Car
CAPTAIN JOHN SUTTER 12-Section 1-Drawing Room Sleeping Car

GOLD RUN 12-Section 1-Drawing Room Sleeping Car

ROARING CAMP 17-Roomette Sleeping Car

BEAR FLAG Articulated 2 -Double Bedroom 14-Duplex Single Room Sleeping Car
CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC Articulated 3-Double Bedroom 1-Compartment Buffet 26-Seat Lounge Observation.

The original consist prior to August 1937 operated with JAMES MARSHALL ahead odf CAPTAIN JOHN SUTTER. Pullman replaced this car with the 17-Roomette ROARING CAMP but trainlined this car ahead of BEAR FLAG.

TTFN AL

[siberianmo]

FRIDAY’s INFO & SUMMARY of RECENT POSTS

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

The last day of the work week (for most) is upon us. Just think – we have one more weekend to go before the merriment begins in earnest! [swg]

Check out the <light> breakfasts, freshly brewed hot coffee and the pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery!


Daily Wisdom:

Some folks can see no higher than the steam from their own pot of stew.


Info for the Day:

(1) CONTEST:
What date (time optional) will ”Our” Place reach the next plateau – page 200 [?] BONUS question: WHO will be the one to “turn the page” [?]

Participants . . . . . . Date chosen . . . . (Bonus) Who will put us over the top [?]
(in order of participation)
pwolfe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dec 20th . . . . . . . . . .siberianmo Tom
trolleyboy Rob . . . . . . . . . Dec 18th (12:05 PM) . siberianmo Tom
coalminer3 CM3 . . . . . . . .Dec 18th. . . . . . . . . . siberianmo Tom
barndad Doug . . . . . . . . . Dec 22nd . . . . . . . . . none
nickinwestwales Nick . . . .Dec 27th . . . . . . . . . .trolleyboy Rob
ftwNSengineer P . . . . . . . Dec 23rd . . . . . . . . . .trolleyboy Rob
jlampke John . . . . . . . . . Dec 24th (noon) . . . . . siberianmo Tom

CONTEST CLOSED!


SUMMARY

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

(1) Theodorebear Ted Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 00:07:11 (193) Nite Cap!

(2) Theodorebear Ted Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 06:29:23 (193) A new day!

(3) passengerfan Al Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 06:50:55 (193) Streamliner #28, Columbian

(4) barndad Doug Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 06:51:44 (193) Inclusive Post & Maintaining the Way

(5) Theodorebear Ted Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 07:54:08 (193) Inclusive Post, etc.

(6) siberianmo Tom Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 08:20:44 (193) I’m baaaaaaaack!

(7) siberianmo Tom Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 08:22:08 (193) NOSTALGIA #44 – Ad – SP, Golden State

(8) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 15 Dec 2005 , 08:55:10 (193) Inclusive Post, etc.

(9) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 08:57:57 (193)

(10) Theodorebear Ted Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 09:38:11 (193)

(11) jdonald Don Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 11:43:26 (193)

(12) ftwNSengineer P Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 12:19:54 (193) National Limited

(13) siberianmo Tom Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 12:58:41 (193) KCity trip, ,etc.

(14) siberianmo Tom Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 14:11:31 (193) Thursday’s Info & Summary

(15) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 15:17:12 (193) Inclusive post, etc.

(16) siberianmo Tom Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 16:22:23 (193) reply to nickinwestwales, etc.

(17) pwolfe Pete Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 17:00:31 (193) Inclusive post, etc.

(18) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 18:26:23 (193) Nick’s Picks

(19) siberianmo Tom Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 18:44:07 (193) reply to: pwolfe & nickinwestwales

(20) barndad Doug Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 18:47:39 (193) Inclusive post & Maintaining the Way, Part II

(21) wanswheel Mike Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 19:31:42 (194) A MUST READ POST!

(22) jdonald Don Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 19:41:23 (194) Inclusive post, etc.

(23) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 19:54:37 (194) Inclusive post, etc.

(24) earlydiesels Dan Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 20:06:49 (194) Inclusive post, etc.

(25) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 23:23:16 (194) Inclusive post, etc.

(26) siberianmo Tom Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 23:40:37 (194) Acknowledgments, etc.

(27) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 23:49:48 (194)

(28) siberianmo Tom Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 00:03:43 (194) reply to trolleyboy

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

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

[siberianmo]

Hey Rob

Great having some company at this hour .... a Blue sounds pretty good to me! Thanx ... [tup]

[yeah] I'm shy too AND low mileage. Believe that, and I'll have some more at the Rendezvous! [swg]

We HAVE thought about coming up for a couple of years, with Carol teaching and me - well, taking care of the house, dog, trains, etc. Anyway, it's not quite as simple as some would believe.

I haven't research all the Provinces insofar as work visas, temporary residence, and other requirements are concerned, but I can tell you this. We have two friends, both Professors, who went through a veritible nightmare of beaurocratic crap in order to get into Canada to teach. Get this - they were recruited by a very presitgous unviersity and wound up having to pay $8,000 in taxes on their own personal goods before it was permitted to cross the border(cars, furniture, appliances, etc.) I'm not making any of this up - it happened and it happened within the past 8 years. Can't and won't say whether that was directed solely and only toward Americans, but I'll tell you this - we wouldn't do it. Again, that was a different Province and they all have varying requirements. Anyway, if I want snow, I'm sure a couple of the 50 states will be able to accommodate my needs! [swg]

Okay, Sir Rob - if no one else wanders in within the half hour - we're closed 'til 6 AM!

Cheers!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[trolleyboy]

Hey Tom since your closing I'll park my caboose next to yours and have a blue or two with you. ( Gotta get a taste for it again with May fast approaching )

I hope they ulterior motives you imply are not to "dire" if you know what I mean,I'm the quiet shy and sensitive one you know. ( If you beleave that there is some prime tower real estate in Toronto I can sell you )

Snowing more as I type this. If you want you can move here. coarse that would mean havin got rebuild three layouts and counting ? Carol would have two universities in town to choose from as well. Think about it.

Well everyone have a great night. Oh BTW Boris wring up a round as i've fallen completely of the train track with this one.

Rob

[siberianmo]

Evenin’ Guys!

Straight to the acknowledgments:

barndad Doug
Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 18:47:39

It’s good having you as a regular ‘round here! Having dependable customers means a lot and you’re doin’ just fine! [tup][tup]

It’s a sad commentary indeed about Amtrak and so much of the problem isn’t really of their making. Insofar as having people working in an environment that has been full of doom ‘n gloom for years, can you imagine how hard it is to recruit people who give a Rat’s Patoot [?] Like offering the deck chair concession aboard the sinking Titantic to someone. Impossible, comes to mind.

Seems like your “typing practice” has taken off as well! You ARE typing these things, aren’t you [?] Scanning is a taking the easy way out! [swg]

wanswheel Mike
Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 19:31:42

Hoooooboy – that’s quite a lead in to your Post! You do know the country is full of unemployed comedians, dontcha [?] [swg] Don’t give up your day job!

That Post of yours is one of the finest yet and a “must read” for the troops. Thanx very much for the extremely interesting narratives and the URLS. Really, really appreciate the effort. Hope the guys do too.

The situation with Amtrak and “host” railroads is pretty much the same today as it’s been all along. Amtrak is authorized to pay an “incentive” to UP if they (Amtrak) keep to schedule. In other words, pay more for what they (UP) are contracted to do in the first place! <yikes> I remember going to meetings in Jefferson City with Amtrak people from Chicago, UP people from Omaha, a “bunch” of politicians (they were legislators!) and a host of others. The idea was to try and get Amtrak and UP to work together for the benefit of the traveling public. Need I continue with this [?] Ever try to make a sand castle at the water’s edge as the tide is coming in [?]

jdonald Don
Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 19:41:23

You are correct, Sir. There was far more positive than negative. However, the negative always has a way of putting a cloud over the best of plans. We enjoyed ourselves in spite of it all, at least my wallet and my aching head said we did! [swg]

Send the pix ASAP – I’d rather not have to deal with them at the last minute. Actually, this coming Sunday is the last Sunday Photo Posting Day! for 2005. We are CLOSED on Christmas and I’m not planning to log in at all – no SUMMARY, zip, zero, zilch that day in cyber space for moi.

nickinwestwales Nick
Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 19:54:37

Portions you say [?] Not in America. We order it ALL and devour the plates as well, haven’t you noticed the “axe handle” measurements of late [?] [swg]

One day, perhaps I’ll take you up on that offer of yours for a Nick inspired and created meal. Maybe even in West Wales! Could happen …..

Hey, I know nothing of the personalities in your band. But I do know the guys here at the bar. You’re the leader of the pack, Mate, far ‘n away. In order to carry on at the rate you demonstrate, I’d say the leading edge trails you. That puts you in the categories described! [swg]

Nick m’boy, please try to get those pix to me in the ‘morrow. Saturday is filling up – we’re out pretty much all afternoon – Christmas revelry and the like.

earlydiesels Dan
Posted: 15 Dec 2005, 20:06:49

Hey Dan I almost Tweeeeeeeted you for not greeting the barkeep – which is and has been me since about noon. Gotta keep track of the players, Mate. Need a scorecard [?] [swg] However, since Nick is staff, no sweat – he’s ‘authorized’ to tend bar – just try and stop him! [swg]

Sounds like things in your life have returned to your “normal” pace. Busy, busy, and busier. The idea is to also be happy, happy and happier. If you can mange both, good show! [tup]

Nice of you to pick up on Ted’s “telegram.” Sometimes the guys get a bit tied up in their own “doings” and miss the direct questions. That’s where some help is really appreciated. [tup]

trolleyboy Rob
Posted: 15 Dec 2005 , 23:23:16

Foot massages [?] Well, whatever floats your boat! [swg] I DIDN’T add that to the staff benefits, I think they have “ulterior” motives!

Thanx to the “Inner Circle” you all now know, first hand, what it is like to keep this joint jumpin’ – it just doesn’t operate on auto pilot. Thanx to the three of you – Nick – Ted – Rob it is gratifying to know that we’ve a got a fall back position should the need arise.

I’d like to see a couple of other guys step up the plate now ‘n then – you know, “run” the joint for a day, or even half of it. Get some new ideas and a break at the same time.

We had 4 inches of my favorite stuff last week (Thursday). Supposed to get some Sunday and Monday. As I’ve indicated before, it can be rump-deep to an elephant, and it’s not enough for me. Snow, puppy dogs and a warm woman. What more can a guy ask for [?] Oh yeah – a great model railroad (or two, or three…..)! [swg]


I gave Leon the Night Man the night off. He’s been putting in lots of hours overtime, helping Cindy and yours truly. So, I’m closing up tonight. Whaddilyahave [?]


Later (maybe)!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]

[trolleyboy]

Good evening everyone. As don had mentioned earlier I'm just back in the house after digging out of 5" of Tom's favourite thing. At least with the forcasts we will have our first white Christmas in about 6 years.

Tom I'll grab a AK and a round for those still standing. Looking at Nick's wonderfull menue I think I'll do a sampler. Some Cod some scallops and a swordfish ,
steak.

Good to reread the 3 fine nostalgia posts as well. Havinfg attempted to walk one day in your shoes here on tuesday , I was thankfull for the executive fringe benefit at the end of the day. Ruthy and Lucey gave me a most wonderfull foot massage. When did you add that to the staff benefits ? [:O][swg][;)]

Tom & Pete To bad about the less than fab train trip,hopefully it can be chalked up to "UPitis" though I'm sure that some ineptness is also responsibble for it.

Nick & Ted [/b ] Wow capital job gents on Wed and a good part of today. I was tired out after my efforts on Tuesday and have run out of preprepared amunition,thanks for stepping up.[tup] I'm not sure about some of the things that happened the last couple of days,but I giggled along with quite a few if them. Nick I think the paint job on Tex will work and his master does not seem to care,he follows him around with the wooden train whistle I gave him and blows it on all the grade crossings on the timesaver. Ted we just need to sound proof the upstairs room a bit more fully. [:O][;)]

Doug Nice bits on Sperry. I have been meaning to get one of the powered walther's versions of one as they do seem to be a regular visiter to the CN lines around me.

Don You are going to love the London book. Lots of good info on ouir neck of the woods. Great little story on your summer vacation and the doodlebug as well. And yest Nick the passage to the Royal York still exists. Remenber though no shirt no shoes no service there,you will be dinning and drinking with the high and mighty of TO.

Mike Great article and the follow up letters you posted about your dad.I've said it before ,but you must be awfully proud of him. Absolutly amazing how many miles he racked up on passenger trains. Mindbogglinng in fact.


[b] Al Two more great on topic streamliner posts. I just can't wait to read the book !!! If your pictures and full text are half as good as your spot posts here it will be a sure fire hit. [tup]

Well everyone have a good rest of your night. Rob

[Anonymous]

Hello Nick, I was just trying to catch up--we haven't felt like being on the pc all week, but while I'm here I'll have a house draught.
Theodorebear, sent you an email earlier this week in response to the Western Union wire. Been years since I've read one. Sent another email tonight will pick up the book this weekend for you.
Lots of good posts lately but then again there has never been a bad post at OUR PLACE.
Not a whole lot going on around Spfld except I received the brand new truck at work today that has been promised since I started the job.
Kansas City Southern's Christmas train will be at Union Station in KC this Saturday. The better half is supposed to work then due to Christmas rush but we have debated going to see the train. Never even seen Union Station anyway.
Believe I'll take another house draught, Tom or whoever is behind the bar(too dim in here to see who's working--is the HVAC system working right/) I'm going over to feed Herr Wurlitzer's creation if the track gang will let me thru.

[nickinwestwales]

Well it looks like everything is under control out there so lets sit a moment and grab a swiftie,DAN-I see you lurking in the corner,come and sit by here and try a couple,you`ll feel better for it
DOUG-One Swordfish steak coming right up [^] ,nice one on the Sperry`s pt2-sounds like quite a nice life for a single man-wouldn`t you know the U.P. (tm) have to gild the lily
[4:-)]TOM-wot me,sick,weird,over the edge-and I thought I was the `straight guy` in the band-at least I have a normal sort of hobby..............by the way,the deal with the food is you just choose one dish from each section,they aren`t huge portions-the idea is that when you have finished your dessert & coffee liquers,you have just enough room left to wonder what the other dishes taste like,thus encouraging you to come back next time & try another selection. These are all dishes that I have offered successfully in the various establishments in which I have plied my trade-those that havn`t worked are lost to obscurity-One of these fine days I shall have to cook for you all in the real world-perhaps we can borrow my sisters kitchen for the spring tour-If you think I`m strange you should meet her !!!-right,another green bottle and back to it -P.S-dont worry about Boris,he appreciates a firm hand on his collar-like all children he is most comfortable with clearly defined limits,right,I`m away-see you all for the next thrilling installment,sleep well,nick[C=:-)] --P.S[4:-)]Tom,will get this sundays offerings with you A.S.A.P[tup]n

[jdonald]

Evening Tom & all: I'll have the usual A.K. and I guess its my round.

Nick Tempting to try a little bit of everything from your menu, but I'll go with the cod in beer batter and chips(not fries) but hold the mushy peas[xx(]Never have tasted them but well......

Tom & Pete Sorry your train ride wasn't a positive experience but there was more good points about it than bad.

Pete the tank engine was a pretty rare breed in mainline service here. The few that CN had were the only ones I can think of. Maybe someone else can think of any.

Doug 2nd part of the track testing looking good. Like to hear if anything progresses on the M35.

Tom can you handle a few more pics for this Sunday[?] Your plate has been fuller(more full?) than usual this week so a later Sunday would work just as well. Let me know on here or by E-mail.

Bye for now-keep it on the rails.

Don

[wanswheel]

Good evening Tom and all. Now, if it's not oFISHally time for dinner, let the CHIPS fall where they may.I know, you've about haddock with me! Scallops are great, Nick. A round for the house for 3-point credit on phantom post.

Doug in '76 you were instrumental in Ohio State's 9-2-1 season. Too bad you got swept by the Tide in the Orange Bowl.
I like Columbus, my dad took me there when I was 15, on a one-day, 2-night business trip. He charged one round-trip first class fare to his expense account, but actually bought 2 sleeper-coach tickets, paying the difference out of pocket. We arrived Columbus very early a.m. He went off to attend to his meetings and I had a great day sightseeing on my own.
I went to the top of the Leveque Tower and to a movie at the magnificent Capitol Theater, where I fell in love with Carol Lynley. (This was early 1960s. She was a blonde, kids.) New York Central System, wake up to great view of Hudson River and plenty of time for breakfast. For Rob a pic of Union Station in Columbus, a great old hulk of architechture: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~rocky/PostcardHTML/unionsta_columbus.htm
_____________________________________________________________________
As a post script to my father's article this statement by J.V. MacDonald on 4/23/74:

"Senator Aiken has informed me that I have been appointed by the President, subject to confirmation by the United States Senate, to the Board of Directors of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), as one of three Consumer Representatives on the Board.

I am very happy to be given this opportunity for public service, in an area in which I have always had a strong interest.

For over 40 years, I have travelled on passenger trains throughout the country, and I have experienced both the best and the worst of rail passenger operations.

It is my hope that in representing the consumers as a member of Amrak's board, I may make the contribution towards providing the people of our Country with a rail passenger service that will truly meet our public needs and that will become a strong part of our Nation's assets.

I am most grateful to Senator Aiken for having nominated me, and to all those who have supported the appointment. Especially heartwarming was the Burlington Free Press editorial of last July.

But most of all, I am grateful to the people of my native State of Vermont. In my opinion, their outpouring of support for restoration of The Montrealer was the most effective demonstration of consumer activity we have ever seen in this country. I am certain that Vermonters, by their successful campaign, aroused awareness in the Federal Government of the public demand for rail passenger service, that stimulated the creation of the Consumer Representative posts in the Amtrak Improvement Act of 1973.

From the earliest days, Vermont, and its Railroad City, St. Albans, have played an important part in American railroad history. I hope that I may a useful part in continuing that history and Vermont's contribution to it."
_____________________________________________________________________
April 25, 1974 editorial in The Burlington Free Press titled "New Man for Amtrak"

"The fortunes of Amtrak grew brighter Tuesday with the nomination of Joseph V. MacDonald as a consumer representative on the Amtrak board. Hopefully, his nomination will be confirmed by the Senate without delay.
MacDonald is the son of a St. Albans, Vt. railroad engineer. He travels 40,000 to 50,000 miles a year by rail and has traveled that way for years.
His thorough knowledge of railroading and his meticulous research into potential ridership costs were largely responsible for resumption of passenger rail service through Vermont.
His knowledge -- and his perserverance -- are extraordinary. few thought that Amtrak could be moved to restore rail service between Washington-New York-Montreal when MacDonald first suggested that it could be done.
Our hearty congratulations to MacDonald and our thanks to President Nixon for nominating a person who can really help Amtrak."
_____________________________________________________________________
Tom and Pete, I am very sorry that your trip was so disappointing. My dad would be on your side I guarantee it. He saw Amtrak as a great opportunity to salvage what was left of the great days of the past and build on it. He saw the folly of Amtrak signing contracts with the railroads that essentially let the railroads control Amtrak's schedule by dispatching the passenger trains at their convenience.
_____________________________________________________________________

Final post script: Letter my father did not read, delivered on the day he died, June 17.
Dated June 14, 1978 from Senator Patrick J. Leahy:

Dear Joe:

I am writing to thank you for all you have done to improve passenger rail service in Vermont and throughout the country. I know that many Vermonters who wrote to express concern for the Montrealer in the past few months also conveyed their respect and appreciation for your efforts. I want you to know that I share that respect and appreciation and that is the reason why I wanted my staff to contact you in the hopes that you would be able to return to the Amtrak Board of Directors.
Please be assured that I will do all that I can to retain the Montrealer and passenger rail service in New England. There is no doubt in my mind as to the importance of your contribution in this regard. I know that we could not have been successful for as long as we have without your able assistance.
I wish you the best of luck in your present battle, and hope to hear that all works out well.

Sincerely,
Patrick
______________________________________________________________________
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[Anonymous]

Good evening Tom and gentlemen all. I'll have a bottomless draught and some of [C=:-)]'s fine grilled swordfish! We surely have an incredible feast going tonight. Sir knight Nick, you have outdone yourself!

Welcome back Tom, and thanks for the Southern Pacific nostalgia add. Sorry your trip was so frustrating, but thanks for the particulars anyway.

Don, I've never had the chance to ride a Doodlebug, but I may get to work on the M35 at the IRM. Here's hoping!

I see P has been by tonight. I'm always enterested in what you have to say.

Here's part II of my latest series ...hope it meets with your approval

Maintaining the Way by John Uckley – Rail Classics Jan. 1984

Sperry Rail Service car No. 143 and a ballast regulator machine set out for a day’s work on the Chessie Toledo-Saginaw line.


If a defect shows up on the tape, the recording operator makes a pencil mark next to the suspect tape indication and then orders the car stopped. The test carriages located under the car are raised to prevent any damage to the delicate mechanisms. This is accomplished by flicking switches that are located on a control panel on the right hand side of the tape indicator. The Sperry car is then backed up to the defective rail and the examining operator climbs off the car. The bad rail has already been marked with a yellow paint blotch, automatically made by the car’s test carriages when they first sensed the defective rail section. The operator then snoops around with a hand-held Reflectoscope to verify the suspected rail defect.

If a defect is located, the type, size and serial number are marked on the base surface of the rail containing the problem. Another crew member on the car records the defect type, size, serial number, rail weight, rail manufacturer, the year the rail was made, and the track number on the Defective Rail Reports, with one copy destined for the Sperry Company head office and another copy prepared for the railroad whose line is being tested.

After this procedure has been followed, the recording operator gives a go-ahead signal and the car resumes monitoring with its test carriages lowered in place again near the rails. The car is quickly brought back up to its 13 miles per hour testing speed. The Sperry pilot is relieved every two hours and the recording operator is relieved every hour. Sometimes the railroad dispatcher will get in radio contact with the Sperry car and have the vehicle run light to the closest siding and wait for the passage of a hot-shot freight train or maybe an Amtrak schedule.

Eventually, the Sperry rail car ties up for the night at a small town depot or a big city terminal. The depot water line is hooked up to the car for testing operations, drinking purposes, and kitchen use. If the car’s energy resources are getting low, a call goes out to the local fuel distributor who will then stop by the depot with his oil truck and fill the two 250-gallon tanks on the Sperry car. Meanwhile, the Chief Operator is busy inside the car typing up the copies of the Defective Rail Reports, the Car Movement Report, plus an Operations Conditions Report. These forms are mailed to Sperry headquarters at Danbury Connecticut, once a week. The other crew members perform routine maintenance chores and cleaning. Everyone is them off duty for the evening. They usually eat their nighttime meal and relax with whatever diversions they may choose.

Life on board the Sperry cars is pleasant. The crew is warmed by an efficient furnace during the winter months and cooled by air conditioning during their summertime travels. They ca also enjoy color television, radio, stereo cassettes for individual music tastes, a fully-equipped kitchen with a trash compactor, and a cozy lounge area. Living areas in the car are wood paneled and create a nice rustic touch. The cars have two single bedrooms and one double bedroom. Crew members take turns cooking and washing dishes (just like any well-run household). Sperry gives each four-man crew a weekly food allowance of $107.00. Extra goodies like soft drinks, candy, or say, a banana split, come out of the employees’ own pockets.

The four-man crew works nine and ten-hour shifts daily except Sundays. The pay rate is $4.75 an hour, plus all medical benefits. A crew works on a Sperry car for six months at a time. When a man hires on with the company, he is assigned to a Sperry car and learns the rail detection craft as an apprentice trainee. There is a specified amount of study from books and manuals that must be accumulated, plus written tests have to be taken periodically to see that operators are doing their jobs at peak proficiency. Crew members sign on from all areas of the United States. Frequently, a job with the Sperry Rail Service leads to employment with one of the major U.S. railroads. I should mention that Sperry crews seem very happy with their work and enjoy the variety that is inherent in their jobs and they also find travel fascinating.

The 25 Sperry rail detection cars are used in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Three Sperry rail cars are used on the Australian railroads and manned by Aussie crews. Sperry rail cars have even seen limited service in Western Europe. Sperry cars have been shipped by ferry to Alaska to work on the Alaska railroad. They are also used occasionally on the remote Quebec, South Shore and Labrador Railroad located in Northern Quebec.

Of course, not every railroad company uses the services of Sperry. Burlington Northern has its own fleet of tree rail detection cars for use on its various ;lines. Union Pacific also performs its own rail detection work with several Ultra-Sonic rail evaluation cars that are much sportier in appearance than the somewhat clumsy appearing Sperry cars. The U.P. units are painted yellow and carry the famous Union Pacific shield on the side of the cars.

In order to keep a main line in pristine form, all manner of maintenance-of-way trains must traverse the actual right-of-way that needs their services. There are slow moving ballast dumping trains composed of long strings of ballast hoppers accompanied by workmen walking alongside the cars with shovels and brooms and opening the bottom chutes so that gravel can cascade onto the right-of-way. Diesel locomotives pull specially designed gondolas and flatcars that are loaded with long ribbons continuously welded rail. Other trains are made up of tie cars which will transport creosoted railroad ties to the work sites along the main line marked for renovation. Still more work trains are necessary to haul bunk cars and converted passenger cars to a given area for maintenance-of-way crew accommodations. Tool cars (usually old 40-ft. wooden boxcars) and flatcars that are crammed with a bizarre assortment of M of W machines, from tampers to bulldozers, are also parked on sidings close to the job at hand.

And then we must not forget the Speno and Loram ballast cleaning trains, Speno rail grinding trains, plus any odd pieces of machinery that might rumble along a main line, with the goal of extending the longevity of those rails. When a fast freight or passenger tain derails and dislocates all that carefully manicured main line hardware and ballast, the railroad must dispatch its wreck train to the site so that the big hook crane can clean up the mess while the M of W gang tries to straighten out the damage done to the T-rail and the right-of-way itself.

Quarter-mile-long lengths of welded rail are carried on these special rack cars. Rail readily bends as necessary to follow curves.


[:I] even more to come! [:I]

[siberianmo]

Evenin' Boyz of the Bar!

Good to see you made it back to the bar, Pete - after all, I'm sure you are in dire need of a brew, given that we surely didn't get our fill yesterday! [swg] One thing for sure to contemplate is that when "our" train resumed its journey to Chicago from St. Louis this early AM (4:30) the Cafe Car attendant did not have any beer left for the journey. Given his "track record" and apparent disinterest in the passengers, we can be thankful we didn't make that trip.

Emails await you and Nick

Regarding The Mentor Village Gazette I'm always looking for some articles, but no one has responded. So, "go with it," something from you for the next edition would be terrific! [tup]

Nick [C=:-)] Whenever I read through your menu choices, I feel FULL! Obviously mind over matter. I wonder aloud, are there those who REALLY eat "like that?" I can't imagine putting away that much food in one sitting. Those days (daze) are long gone for me. But it sure is enjoyable to read through your work and realize just how talented a guy you are. Sick, perhaps a bit over the edge, but talented! [swg] My kinda shipmate!

Don't be too tough on Boris, whether you realize it or not, he thinks (?) of you as his "Daddy." <yiikes>

Oh [yeah] For all who bought the house a round on this fine day and yesterday, many thanx! [tup]

Later!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[nickinwestwales]

Well line up boys,it`s chow time-so what do we have tonight,well..
For the boys from north of the border we have a traditional rib-sticker from the soup kettle-Pea & Ham,a thick and nourishing potage,served with oven-fresh cheesy bread rolls (nicer than they sound[swg])
Alternatively,try Vegetable Samosa`s with hot lime pickle & mint & cucumber raita
For the brave-hearts amongst you-Cockles,Bacon & Lavabread on wholemeal toast ,THE classic Welsh dish
Also,[C=:-)] is always delighted to prepare-Black & White Pudding slices in beer batter with mustard dip on a bed of rocket,saurkraut & grated white radish

O.K-a brief pause for refreshment...(another big green bottle for me please [4:-)]TOM..Ta..)

Now then,with palates honed to a fine edge we can move onto the main courses:-

Queen Scallops with a mushroom medley in cream & white wine sauce with a faint hint of tarragon on a bed of wild rice
Langoustines with oven-hot wholemeal breads & garlic & lemon mayo dip
Octopus chunks in a provencal sauce on a bed of Taglietelli tricolore topped with calamari & onion rings
Grilled Swordfish steaks with rum,lime & sweet chilli sauce
Baked baby peppers stuffed with white crab meat
both of the above served with Pommes Duchesse & veg de jour

The Vegetarian special is Cauliflower,Broccoli & Red Pepper Mornay with Garlic bread & salad bowl

We also have:-
Cod in beer batter,
Haddock in breadcrumbs,
Plaice in herbed flour,
Whole-tail scampi
and,by popular request,
Halibut,cooked to order in the customers preferred style
all the above served with chips (not fries,a subtle but distinct difference) & mushy peas

Right that looks like a menu,just going to slip out to the galley and slap Boris into shape,see you all in a bit-by the way ,whose round is it ??-surely not my turn again...[swg]..later,nick[C=:-)]

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all.

A pint of the usual and some of [C=:-)]NICK'S Fish and chips for later please[tup].

Many thanks and a round TED and NICK for looking after the bar yesterday there was some great posts.

As TOM as said the trip yesterday did not go quite as planned.I was lucky that the rain which was forecast for Wednesday daytime had already gone through Jeff. City and it wasn't too cold.May I get a drink for the Volunteers at the station who kept us informed of the trains progress and supplied coffee and good conversation while I waited.
There was plenty of freight movement and the yards at J.C were full of freights.
TOM is kindly going to post my photos they were a bit rushed althouIgh I nearly had a lot longer to take them. It was nearly an article for the Mentor Village Gazette "Strange Talking Man Left In K.C."
I have read that the Amtrak Cafe-cars have got to make a profit. On the way back we done our best to make this happen [:)]. It was still a great day out though[^].

Thanks ROB and DON on the info on the tank loco it will be great to see the photo. there were many classes of tank loco on British Railways. Apart from Switchers were tank engines a rare sight in N America[?]

DOUG Great piece on the R.P.O. The last pick up on the move in the U.K was in 1971 near Penrith in the North West of England. About 3 preserved lines in England have saved the Mail-Exchange lineside equipment and the special cars, and on certain days it is still possible to see the exchange of mail-bags on the move. A great sight[wow].
Looking forward to the next Maintaining the Way installment and great photo[tup].

Interesting piece on the Comet as I have recently travelled the line thanks AL and CM3.
and thanks for the photo Mike, I am glad you was able to post the article from Trains.

On facing points TED, I dont know if NICK can recall but in the 70s there was a bad derailment on the London to Oxford line when a battery box cover became loose on a Western Diesel- Hydrulic loco and caught a facing point locking bar opening the points and causing the de-railment the loco finished up on its side. I believe sadly there was loss of life in the accident.

TOM thanks for the Nostalgia [tup]. Iwas hoping yesterdays train would keep to time after it reached the mainly double track after J.C.

[siberianmo]

G'day Gents!

Looks like I've finally gotten to the additional Emails and caught up with reading the Posts from Monday evening to present <phew>! This isn't preaching - just a simple statement of fact, for those who skim, or otherwise miss the written word Posted on this thread - man oh man, it's your loss indeed.

Nick That blast you referred to was about 60 miles from where Pete's house is. I read where the sounds of the explosion were heard on the continent - well why not, actually - it isn't all that far away. Sounds much more impressive than it is. Nevertheless, someone was watching over the place thereby avoiding even more of a tragedy, as you pointed out.

Missouri has a "bunch" of man-made lakes - perhpas more than in any state I've lived in. I have no clue regarding the condition of the dam that let go, but I'm sure the local bird cage liner (aka: newspaper) will fill us all in on hte "skinny" as only they can (and will.)

Your mention of sequentially numbered power brings to mind some pix I posted several Sundays past. One of the VIA Rail "Canadian" lash ups had two of 'em - thought it was rather unique indeed, as you pointed out. Had to be just the luck of the draw, for in no way do I believe that anyone actually "made it happen." The cynic in me says that today's railroad personnel aren't "into" that kinda thing.

Toronto is a mega-metropolitan area. The talk of weather, no matter where one resides always brings a smile to my face. For example, here in St. Louis one wonders why oh why am I here in late July and August when the temps are at 100 (F), the air unfit for an auto exhaust, and the humidity thick enough to choke a healthy horse. But, we stay. So it goes with the winters in places like Toronto. Millions moan 'n groan, but they too remain. Then there's ........ Oh I think you've gotten the point. One man's Valhalla is the other guy's Hades, or something like that. [swg]

Would you believe that I never had glass of Port until visiitng with a friend of ours in Dartmouth (now Halifax) Nova Scotia this past May? True. He's an ineresting chap who settled in Canada from Scotland (where else but Nova Scotia, eh [?]) Anyway, we were in the before dinner stages of imbibing and he offered me a glass. Well, I must say, it was rather - well, rather - hmmmmmm. I'll stick to JD on the rocks! [swg]

Got your response to the response to the response ........ and the beat goes on! Appreciate the communiques, really do. I'll pass the info to Pete and we'll see what develops! [tup]

For the guys: I doubt that I'll ever get to all of your salient commentaries. However, if there's something you feel I should "know" please direct me to the Post! [swg] Also, let's not forget that this is Fish 'n Chips Nite along with Nick's Picks! So be ready to dig in when the [dinner] dinner bell rings at 5 PM! [tup]

Later!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[nickinwestwales]

Well howdy [4:-)]TOM,nice to see you back at it-have just sent an E-Mail in reply to yours[tup]-not good news on the dam breach,happily the blast this side occured during shift change-5 minutes either side and 40-60 fatals,no question.....
I suspect that it is a measure of the passage of time that what would once have been an interesting added diversion to a grand day out becomes a wretched nuisance.
Have written more fully on this in E-Mail,so will not bore with duplication
So,who have we got today..
RED P-Nice to see you,have a Jack & Coke on me,I`ll have a big green bottle please [4:-)]TOM-you look like a large Southern Comfort on ice would work wonders,where was I,ah yes RED P-good to see that as befits your chosen career,your logo now comes complete with operating running lights-neat[^]-re the `National` what odds on getting sequentially numbered power in this day and age ?
DON-Hi there,know how you feel with the weather,sis in Toronto not hugely impressed either.
Nice note on the Huntsville-Sarnia trip[tup]-So theres a tunnel from the Royal York to Union eh,interesting ( members of the spring touring party take note....[swg])
SIR THEODORE-Come and take your ease dear boy,we owe ourselves a little quality time,whats your pleasure this night ?-Port & brandy is a popular `winter warmer` in these parts,although the homeward journey can be hazardous...
Well,had best be out to the galley and sort out this mornings purchases-not only did I get fish but met a guy who sold me some beans & guess what-they`re magic! ( oh no they`re not , oh yes they are , oh no they`re not.....................)
Right,enough of this festive buffoonery,work to do catch you all in a bit,nick,[C=:-)]