"OUR" PLACE - SEE NEW THREAD!

[Anonymous]

Here's the final installment of my series:

The Great Pickleworks Wreck by Ron Ziel – Rail Classics May 1979



It took the railroad over five days to clear away the debris and to haul the once-proud speed queens – engines 2 and 214 – to the scrap heap. During the weekend, sightseers had to park as far as a mile and a half away to reach the wreck. Train wrecks had always been an occasion of great social gatherings in Suffolk County, with spectators bringing box lunches and picnicking while they watched the clearing process. Nothing, however, matched the Calverton pile-up.

After the dust had settled and the wreckage was cleared, the interest in the pickle works pile-up moved from the Calverton pine barrens to the newspaper editorial pages and the courts. It had taken nearly five hours to get the wrecking train to Calverton, a seemingly long time to travel the 60 miles from Jamaica during an extreme emergency, prompting an official condemnation of the LIRR by the court of inquiry.

Despite testimony that revealed that the wreck had been caused by the lead engine splitting the pickle-house switch which was the result of a bolt having worked loose on one of the points, the coroner’s inquest exonerated the railroad from blame. Shortly thereafter, it was revealed that Dr. Clarence Miles, the coroner, was an employee of the LIRR and carried a pass. Several other county coroners also had passes and one resigned in the ensuing scandal.

A grand jury was convened and the Interstate Commerce Commission Investigation found the railroad at fault. In October, the grand jury roundly condemned the LIRR for laxness, apathy and failure to properly maintain and inspect the switch, but no indictments were handed down.

Almost up until World War II, there was a grisly reminder – sort of a monument – of the Great Pickle Works Wreck. The foundation of the Golden building became weed-grown, but arching up out of the middle of it was a long, bent rail from the siding, which Engine No. 2 tore up as she ravaged the right of way. This most famous and celebrated of Long Island Railroad wrecks is still a topic of conversation among old-timers, like the 1938 hurricane.

The railroad went on to perform with an incredibly good safety record of 24 years without a single passenger fatality due to negligence, until the Rockville Center disaster in February, 1950. To those who lived on eastern Long Island in the 1920’s, however, the Great Pickle Works Wreck will always be remembered as a classic, with all of the melodrama, excitement, and morbid romance associated with the terrible wrecks of the 19th Century. It happened over a half century ago – to the old-timers it was yesterday.




[:I] Hope you enjoyed the series! [:I]

[siberianmo]

TUESDAY’s INFO & SUMMARY of RECENT POSTS

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

The train at the top of the page is a gift from barndad Doug to "Our" Place

G’day one and all – we had a grand turnout yesterday and a big THANX goes out to all who took the time to participate in our 8th Month Anniversary Christmas season RR travel Postings! [tup][tup][tup]

I’m outta here for most of the day, should be back by late afternoon. Rob said he’d keep things movin’ and Cindy has the bar! Remember – greet the bartender, order a drink, and keep those Posts comin’!


Daily Wisdom:

Important comes in two sizes – yours and mine.


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: 12 Dec 2005, 00:17:44 (188) Monday Info & Summary

(2) siberianmo Tom Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 00:27:53 (188) Final Monday Index

(3) siberianmo Tom Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 00:29:52 (188) Mentor Village Gazette

(4) siberianmo Tom Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 01:12:06 (188) Acknowledgments & comments

(5) siberianmo Tom Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 01:15:29 (188) Christmas RR travel #1

(6) jlampke John Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 02:14:32 (189) Inclusive Post, etc.

(7) barndad Doug Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 06:43:21 (189) Inclusive Post, etc.

(8) siberianmo Tom Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 07:30:10 (189) Acknowledgments, etc.

(9) siberianmo Tom Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 07:32:18 (189) Christmas RR travel #2

(10) siberianmo Tom Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 09:35:29 (189) Christmas RR travel #3

(11) uspscsx Matt Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 10:01:52 (189) 3rd post

(12) jdonald Don Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 10:16:41 (189) Inclusive Post, etc.

(13) Theodorebear Ted Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 10:21:46 (189) Inclusive Post, etc. Christmas RR travel

(14) coalminer3 CM3 Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 10:30:24 (189) Reflections and Christmas related info

(15) siberianmo Tom Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 11:20:57 (189) Special for uspscsx

(16) uspscsx Matt Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 11:26:31 (189)

(17) siberianmo Tom Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 12:00:33 (189) Welcome Aboard! to uspscsx

(18) siberianmo Tom Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 12:02:00 (189) Acknowledgments, etc.

(19) siberianmo Tom Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 12:05:54 (189) Christmas RR travel #4

(20) uspscsx Matt Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 12:23:47 (189)

(21) BudKarr Budd Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 13:57:11 (189) He’s baaaaaaack! Plus!

(22) siberianmo Tom Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 14:31:00 (189) Christmas RR travel #5

(23) siberianmo Tom Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 15:14:47 (189) Christmas RR travel #6

(24) BudKarr BK Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 15:42:41 (189) etc.

(25) siberianmo Tom Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 16:36:10 (189) Christmas RR travel #7

(26) barndad Doug Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 17:05:48 (190) Inclusive Post, etc. Train set for the bar!

(27) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 17:50:36 (190) Inclusive Post, pix captions, etc.

(28) pwolfe Pete Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 17:52:47 (190) Inclusive Post, etc. Christmas RR story

(29) siberianmo Tom Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 17:53:36 (190) Christmas RR travel #8

(30) jdonald Don Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 18:23:45 (190)

(31) siberianmo Tom Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 18:39:26 (190) Acknowledgments, etc.

(32) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 19:09:55 (190) not-so-traditional Christmas story!

(33) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 19:36:55 (190) Inclusive Post, etc.

(34) passengerfan Al Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 19:39:49 (190) Christmas RR trip

(35) earlydiesels Dan Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 20:16:40 (190) Santa at the Midland

(36) Theodorebear Ted Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 20:24:36 (190) Inclusive Post More Christmas thoughts

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

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]
Proprietor of “Our” Place, an adult eating & drinking establishment!
[img]http://www.railimages.com/albums/thomasweber/aco.thumb.jpg[/img

[Anonymous]

Good morning Tom and my fellow early-birds .....I see John reading the thread this morning. I'll have 4 light breakfast this a.m. (gotta make up for the one I missed yesterday), and old copies of Rail Classics for the house, please.

Nice stories Dan and Al. You guys are a tough act to follow, but still I try. Here's Part II of my derailment series:

The Great Pickleworks Wreck by Ron Ziel – Rail Classics May 1979



Engineer Squires eased out the throttle of Engine No. 214 after a brief stop at Manorville. The time was 5:41 p.m., and Train No. 212, The Shelter Island Express, was right on the advertised, not one minute late. Montgomery paused long enough in his shoveling to wipe long rivulets of black sweat off his brow with his big, red bandana. He had shoveled six tons of coal through the firebox doors of engine No. 214 in the 73 minutes since they left Jamaica, and he was exhausted.

From the wildly lurching gangway, he looked hopefully toward building thunderheads and the cooling rain, which he knew was just minutes away. Assisted by the big Camelback behind, No. 214 was leading the train at 70 mph. In the Easter Lily, Harold Fish was making his way toward the front vestibule of the rocking 90-ton parlor car. In his heavy, dark suit and high celluloid collar, Fish was sweltering. He needed a breath of fresh air. As he walked down the corridor of the car, the mother of the two children was telling them of the wonderful weekend ahead on Shelter Island. A maid brought them cups of ice water from the sweating cooler at the rear of the car.

Train No. 212 roared into Calverton at better than 70 mph. Half a mile ahead, a pickup truck approached the Edwards Avenue grade crossing. The driver decided to stop, for he knew the speed of the Shelter Island Express on this stretch of the railroad. As the two men in the truck watched, engine No. 214 reached the Golden siding switch, made a sudden, violent lurch, jumped into the air and rolled over on her side with a great crunching sound.

Engine No. 2 veered off the main track and, still coupled with the train, careened into the siding alongside the Golden Pickle Works, then left the rails and hit the side of the building, sending pickles and brine in every direction. The big Atlantic spun completely around knocking out the entire side of the pickle plant before it came to a stop. The Easter Lily, still coupled to No 2’s tender, wrenched free and burrowed deep into the collapsing building. A cloud of dust rose 200 feet in the air.

The men in the truck stared in disbelief at the scene. All was quiet, except for the distant rolling thunder.

The Camelback’s fireman had been thrown off his firing deck and was badly bruised. His engineer had a deep gash in the side of his head where he had been thrown against a red-hot injector pipe, but was still conscious. The fireman grabbed his shovel and began to heave dirt into the firebox, for he knew that if flames reached the wrecked building the passengers trapped inside the parlor car and the combine were doomed.

After extinguishing the fire in No. 2, the fireman ran down to No. 214 which was lying on her side, enveloped in clouds of escaping steam. As he began shoveling sand into the firebox of the No. 214, he found the bodies of her crew. Squires and Montgomery had been pinned against the red-hot boiler backhead by several tons of coal.

The two men in the truck regained their composure and raced to the wreck scene. A dazed man staggered out of the rear vestibule of Easter Lily. He was carrying a little boy. The boy was put in the truck, and the men sped the vehicle toward the hospital in Riverhead. They had gotten less than halfway when he died. Back in the parlor car, his sister was already dead. Their mother, Mrs. Schuford, was trapped in the wreckage.

A few miles away, at Camp Upton, the 62nd Coast Artillery Regiment was on maneuvers. The men had heard the Shelter Island Express pass, and they had heard the great crash as the engines left the rails. As the thunderstorm broke, the soldiers drove searchlight trucks over to Calverton. Doctors and rescue workers were crawling through the wreckage as the regiment set up its lights. The macabre scene was continually accentuated by brilliant lightning bolts. The thunder was deafening, and torrents of rain turned the dust and earth which the engines had churned up into a quagmire.

Men with lights reached the front vestibule of Easter Lily and found the body of Fish, who had smothered to death as salt poured down on him from the attic of the demolished building. The mother of the dead children, Mrs. Schuford, passed away shortly after reaching the hospital, six hours later.

Meanwhile, the electrifying news flashed up to the North Fork. The telegrapher at Calverton sent word of the wreck to Jamaica, and the agents farther east at Riverhead, Aquebogue, Jamesport, Mattituck, Cutchogue, Peconic, Southhold and Greenport all picked it up. They rushed out onto the station platforms to tell the people who were waiting to meet the train, what had happened.

Within minutes, everybody had heard of the Great Pickle Works Wreck. Anybody who had an automobile loaded up with family, friends and neighbors and headed for Calverton. By 7 p.m., on the Friday the thirteenth, Riverhead had a traffic jam – the first in its history.



[:I] Final installment to follow [:I]

[Anonymous]

Good evening everyone. Tom, maybe a Hot Buttered Rum on this chilly P.M., thanks. I dropped in with the thought that perhaps the activity for the Christmas and 8 month observances might have "dried up." I am most happy to see my anxieties were totally unfounded. CM3, you managed to raise "goose flesh" again with that most moving piece.[tup] Barndad, your installments on making something we all dread (train derailments) into a compelling serialized drama is remarkable. Hey, that special trip to Springfield, IL must've been terrific. I know what you mean regarding the "party crashers."[tdn] Some people are on this earth just to test the tolerance of others, cell phones and all! Don, your recollections will be well worth the wait. I won't be the only one staying "tuned in." Pete, thanks for the nice comments, it is good to be back, believe me.[^] I trust you and Tom will have a productive "get-away" in me home town "of choice." Nick old chap, the material for the pix was as enlightening as the last piece of "material" was intruiging. The X Glasgow gas works loco should definitely find it's way to some museum. I've seen 15" gauge "live steam" locos nearly that size. Hi BK, how great it must be to be able to select from which particular area you choose to base your activity. If this "smacks" of envy, let me assure you, it is. The memorabilia from the N.Y.C., Santa Fe, U.P., Pullman advertisements brings a "lump to my throat" everytime Tom. Knowing that it just isn't possible anymore is a "killer." Still, they are a "bitter sweet" reminder that I was lucky enough to claim them as memories, if that makes any sense.[:)] There is a quorum in support of "Tin Plate" electric trains being synonomous with Christmas trees, lights, Santa and the Elves for sure. I was no exception with my first train being an American Flyer Reading RR Atlantic O gauge third rail with four metal freight cars. But, it was the second train, a Lionel Union Pacific O-27 Alco FA, (2 units) and a string of mixed freight cars that were my "pride and joy." It wasn't long before I was drawn to the more accurate HO but I'll always remember those when the Holidays roll around.[^] Okay Boris, on three, alright? One, two CLANG..... "Peace on earth, good will toward [alien]!" [:(!] Happy rails all.

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone. Tom, I will take a house draught and some peanuts--wait--let someone else get the beer while you take a bow for this wonderful thread you created. I feel most fortunate to have chanced upon it early on. Have a drink on me(AC/DC 1980) and let's toast to many more months of OUR PLACE!
I don't have any memories of Christmastime train travel so I will elaborate on the Christmas train I conducted at the Midland 3 Dec.
It was cold,windy, and the coaches were unheated. I wore longjohns and a white shirt with my BN conductor's uniform and my back was still cold. We had advised in the media releases for passengers to dress warmly and most did. Insulated coveralls, stocking caps, and scarves were the order of the day. Some people brought blankets and quilts and were glad they had them.
We had Santa ensconced in the combine behind the engine and a empty coach between it and the 2 coaches we used for passengers. My plan was to send 1 coach at a time thru the cars for the visit with the jolly old elf. I had crew stationed in the vestibules and an EMT in 1 car. When people were moving to the combine, a quartet of young singers would sing carols.
When word came that Santa was ready for visitors, I went thru and asked who wanted to see Santa. I got plenty of responses and soon the aisles were jammed. You should have seen the eyes light up on the little ones! I had my photo taken several times with children and even found a few who just wanted to ride the train. When the passengers returned from the combine, they had some small gifts that Santa had given and everyone's faces were beaming. When the quartet was caroling, the atmosphere was almost magical. Being on a train, singing with the carolers, watching happy children and their relaxed parents--what more could one ask?

[passengerfan]

Good Evening Tom and the rest of the gang. Time for a CR and a round for the house.

Have enjoyed your Xmas advertisements today especially tyhe Pullman ones.

Remember a personal trip one Xmas while still in the Navy was TDY at Boston Naval Shipyard and finally recived orders to return to sea duty aboard a destroyer out of Long Beach. So decideed to add a little leave with the transfer and visited my favorite Aunt and Uncle in St. Joe Mo for Xmas that year.
Left from Bostons South Station aboard the second section of the NEW ENGLAND STATES all Pullman for Chicago in a roomette. Itr was snowing and blowing leaving Boston but the NYC delivered us on time the next morning in Chicago. After taking the bus to Union Station I had a layover of several hours before boarding the CB&Q AMERICAN ROYAL ZEPHYR and was assigned an upper berth on this train as it was all that was available booking just two days before Xmas. The train departed on time and remembered to order the Chicken Pot Pie in the diner that evening as it was the best I eveer had on any railroad.
After a memorable Xmas and New Years with relatives proceeded to Kansas City on the local CB&Q train then boarded the SUPER CHIEF the same night to LA. It was the only time I ever remember the SUPER CHIEF being crowded as extra cars were added for the holidays. But as always Santa Fe crews made the difference between an ordinary trip and a superb trip. I had a roomette on the SUPER CHIEF three cars away from the Dome and four from the Diner. As I recall their were four sittings for lunch and dinner and the Turquoise Room was being used for dining. As usual the Santa Fe arrived on time in LA and it was a bus ride from their to my ship. By that time the Big Red cars were out of service and buses had replaced them between LA and Long Beach. What a shame as the buses were not as comfortable to sleep on returning to Long Beach. This was my second tour of duty aboard the same tincan, never could understand why they transferred me to the east coast in the first place for TDY. They had to have ratings their who were qualified. Oh well I got rail mileage east and west compliments of Uncle Sam.

TTFN Al

[nickinwestwales]

Hey [4:-)]TOM-forgot to mention,enjoy whatever it is that you are doing for the next coupla days,the bar is in safe hands,see you for fish & chip night-safe journey mate [tup]
SIR MANAGER THEODORE, CM3,BK,DOUG,PETE & of course [4:-)]TOM-thanks for the `warm & fuzzy` Xmas travels-makes mine look rather dark & desperate
MATT-[#welcome]back,sit tight and pitch in when ready-no rush[swg]
quick p.s on Webb-Ellis,of glorious memory-as some of you may know the `basic unit` in rugby scoring is the `try` which is then converted to a goal with a place kick,urban myth would have it that the origin of this is from Webb-Ellis` first words to the duty master after making his touchdown-"I say Sir,was that a goal ?" "No boy,but it was a f*****g good try!"-night all,[C=:-)]

[nickinwestwales]

Right,the second half-festive memories-
This has proved harder to assemble than I had thought,most of the non-auto travelling I have done has been on National Express Coaches,a slow,dirty,unreliable but above all CHEAP mover of people.
However,I do recall making one festive season rail journey-Twas in 1980 or `81and my then partner and I needed to get from St Andrews in Fife,Scotland down to Surrey in south east England. We were both skint at the time ( If memory serves we had been living on red beans,rice & peas for about a fortnight as the end of term approached,augmented with bread rolls & milk pilfered from the college refectory ) and were not looking forward to hitching the best part of 400 miles in snow,sleet & all that good stuff. We then discovered that British Rail were offering dirt-cheap overnight tickets for students-cheaper even than the coach fares.......
Two days of `aggressive` busking ( dont just stand there playing and smiling,select a `mark` and stand in front of them until they give you money to go away) and a quiet half hour with the electric meter and a pry-bar and we were in business-just.
We arrived at Leuchars station on a filthy December evening,climbed on the Metro-Cammell D.M.U which plied between Dundee & Edinburgh and off we went.
On reaching Edinburgh Waverly stn,we discovered the reason for the cheapness of the ticket-we were on a series of short haul locals & had to break journey several times and instead of the normal East Coast route we were going the long way round,via Carlisle & Birmingham into Euston.
The weather deteriorated as the interminably slow journey progressed and we hit Carlisle at least an hour behind schedule,shortly after this,we were put`in the hole` for two hours,thus knackering any chance of making later connections.
We finally arrived at Birmingham New Street at about 4.00 am,the last train in or out and there we sat for some 3 hours ( At this period in time a lot of racial unrest was happening and Birmingham was not a good place for two white kids to be at that time of night ) and were desperately pleased to get the first train out of town.
We arrived at Euston tired,cold,hungry and broke with the dawning realisation that this was as far as our tickets took us-we still had to get across London to Victoria and then on to a Southern Electric commuter line home,complete with more luggage than we could carry between us.
Happily,inspiration kicked in-I worked down the Taxi rank until I found a driver who worked for the London General Cab Co. -The company for whom my dad drove and my grandfather co-founded,who was prepared to take the family name,plus dads badge & vehicle license plate numbers as security against his fare,this got us to Victoria where there was,in those days, a side entrance ( next to the old cartoon cinema,for those that know the place ) that gave onto the platforms inside the ticket barriers. The bags were loaded onto a trolley and we moved firmly and purposefully across the station to the appropriate platform ( wouldn`t you just know it was waaay over the other side )
40 minutes of dodge-the-conductor and an "I`m goin through here pal,like it or not" exchange later we found ourselves in the familiar exhaust-fumes,take aways & general decay fug that passes for fresh air around Croydon and retired to bed for 48 hrs of serious sleep-6 weeks later I found her in bed with an alleged pal of mine,as Chuck Berry put it "You never can tell"......Happy Christmas Trails,nick[C=:-)]

[siberianmo]

Gentlemn of the bar! Good evening and for those who have taken the time to participate in our 8th Month Anniversary and Christmas season RR travel stories, personal recollections, etc. - many, many thanx! [tup][tup][tup]

There have been so many words passed today - so many great thoughts and still more sincere offerings, that it appears to me we've "done good!"

I'm a bit fatigued given the efforts these past two days (daze), so I'm going to dispense with the long narrative acknowledgments. Rather, just let me offer these few thoughts to those of you who Posted since my last response:

BudKarr BK Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 13:57:11 and 15:42:41

You, Sir, are having a blast! Does she have a girl friend [?] ][swg] Not for moi, of course - but I'm sure one or more of our "eligibles" would gladly find their way up to Alberta for a bit of the good life. Sounds lilke a fantastic time, Mate! Enjoy!

Thanx for the story regarding the Christmastime toy train around the tree. I'd say more of us than not can relate to that. [tup][tup][tup]

barndad Doug Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 17:05:48

What a great gift for the bar! Thanx very, very much. I will Post it above the daily SUMAMRY 'til the New Year. Really a great idea and thoughtful gift. [tup][tup][tup]

Also, very, very considerate of you to withhold your Part II for another day. With so much to read for this day, and of course a review of the happenings of yesterday, it would be a shame to have it buriied within all of that - plus our discussions. Thanx! [tup]

Glad you enjoyed the Gazette, it's a fun thing to do and I hope to keep it going. With all the "inspiration" around here, it's not that hard to come up with the stories! [swg]

nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 17:50:36

Thanx for the captions and of course your presence!

I know a bit about Red Stripe, not one of my favorites. But then again, neither are the Ports in the Caribbean. [yeah} I know, I'm a strange person! Prefer the far northern latitudes!, or those down under! [yeah]

You've got quite the eye for detail - quickly assessed that "sting" operation, didn't you [?] [swg] Glad you like the S-Capades progress, and the HO Fishbowls at the Bus Depot. Progress shows, eh [?]

Nick smoking rugs can be hazardous to your health! Chill, Mate, chill! [swg] Glad you enjoyed the Gazette - your contribution was surely a highlight! Love it ....

Look foward to Part Deux with your Christmas offering - that is if I can remain awake. Don't know how you do it!

pwolfe Pete Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 17:52:47

Good to see ya, Mate! Glad you made it in and your Christmas story is just fine! Appreciate the effort and willingness to share it with us! [tup][tup]

Figured that bit about William Webb Ellis would flick your switch. [swg]

You, Sir, may very well be the first of the "Our" Place regulars to witness the Can-Am trainroom and layouts. We should work toward a date - to be discussed on Wednesday en route KCity!

jdonald Don Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 18:23:45

Hope the problems get ironed out - we'll be here when you return! We look forward to your Christmas submission. [tup]


Okay, Gents - I'm outta here for awhile. Leon the Night Man has come in early to give the boss a break.

Boris Ring the bell, a round on the house - Leon give 'em what they want! Let's toast to those regulars who for whatever the reason, couldn't make it in tonight. They helped make this day possible too![tup]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[jdonald]

Evening Tom & all-this is just a quick in and outer-have one of your choice and a round for the house.
My Anti-Virus programme has gone screwy, so am going to stay off the Net until problem is solved-sooner the better.
My Christmas recollections will have to wait for a day or 2

Talk to you later-Keep it on the rails

Don

[siberianmo]

G’day!

. . . . . . . . . . CHRISTMAS RR TRAVEL #8 of 8 . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . THE PULLMAN COMPANY . . . . . . . . . .

Here is an advertisement for Christmas holiday travel retyped from a 1948 advertisement in my private collection:

Happy holiday homecoming by Pullman!

This year let your trip itself be a holiday! make it A pleasure all the way – by Pullman. No driving tensions or weather worries . . . no time-wasting stops for meals or lodging. The miles slip by safely and swiftly. You and your family enjoy the peace, quiet and relaxation of your private Pullman “living room.” This very holiday season, take the greatest trip on earth. Home for the holidays by Pullman!

A full night’s rest! For dad, mother and every young member of the family – sleep just comes naturally in soft, king-sized Pullman beds. Next morning everyone’s fresh and rested . . . ready for a busy day.

Your local Ticket Agent will help: 1. Provide information on routes and fares. 2. Help you plan stopovers. 3. Furnish rail and Pullman tickets. 4 Reserve a “rent-a-car” at your destination.

. . . . . . . . . . YOU’RE SAFE AND SURE WHEN YOU TRAVEL BY . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . PULLMAN. . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . the travel service of comfort, privacy and sleep! . . . . .


That’s it for this day – hope you enjoyed these advertisements from Christmas seasons past. It was my pleasure to present them to you!


Tom [4:-)] [oX)]

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all.

A pint of Bathams and a round for the great photos and posts [wow] great weekend at the bar[tup].

Many thanks ROB JOHN DON NICK DOUG and of course TOM you certainly deserve more than the one [tup] you awarded yourself it is great to see the S-CAPADES looking so good.
May thanks for posting the photos of those who send them via you for us to enjoy[tup][tup][tup].

Great photo of Wexford NICK . My mate in England tells me that at the moment one of the train companies is offering very cheap fares by train and ferry to Ireland.

JOHN thanks for the news and the link on the sad derailment it is indeed good news no one was injured and the locos suffered only minor damage.

DON Thanks for the details on your photos and I will take up your offer as interpretor if a phrase book is not availiable.

The 8th Anniversary is off to a great start with TOMs Christmas Railroad Travel and the 2nd edition of the excellent Mentor Village Gazette. The statue of William Webb Ellis is
outside Rugby School, you pass it when coming on to town from the Raglan Arms. There was a class 86 electric loco named after him, this has recently been withdrawn from service.

Doug looking forward to part two of the Great Pickleworks Wreak.

Wonderfully amospheric posts by CM3 and TED they make one feel as you were there.
[bow][tup][yeah].

TED I was wondering what to say to the new callers, as a relatively new guy myself at the bar ,but you expressed my thoughts so well in your post on Saturday. the bar is not the same without you [tup].

BK Good to see you back[tup]. The story of the Train set at Christmas brought back warm memories for me thanks.

Well I have been thinking of a Chrismas time railway story although not in the Classic Train era, it was my first taste of American trains.
In 2000 my now bride asked if I would like to come to Kansas City over Christmas. while I was here she said that we ought to go to St. Louis although Missouri had gotten a fair amount of snow. I asked was it possible to get by train. So on the New Years Day of 2001 we made our way to down-town K.C. after a mild panic on not being able to find the entrance to the Amtrak station( thankfully this has now changed as you board the trains through the main Union Station) we got to the plaform as the Conductor was calling for All Aboard. I was able to get a quick photo of the Amtrak loco as the early morning sun was reflecting off the loco's side.
The cars used that day were Superliners I think where you climbed through the baggage area to get to your seat, the view, amount of leg-room and all the seats facing the direction of travel was so different to Britain. Soon after leaving KC the first of many freights was passed this one had a red Santa-Fe loco at the head. As we passed through the snow covered landscape every loop contained a freight so different from England. After Jefferson City the line runs along side the Missouri which looked part frozen over and with large chunks of ice floating downstream. We spotted dear and even a bald eagle as we headed to St Louis. Having seen photos of the Union Station in St Louis I wi***his could have been 50 years ago but I am still grateful I was able to enjoy American Railroad travel. PETE.

[nickinwestwales]

Well good evening one and all and Happy Near-Anniversary or whatever we are calling it.
Looks like a two-parter tonight,First photo captions,then festive contribution with responses mixed in as we go,so-
[4:-)]TOM,set `em up-I see BK just outside the door-take for one for him to enjoy at his leisure,indeed,an extra ration of grog for all `festive` contributers [^]
Had intended to place captions yesterday but spent the day under a near terminal hangover (Beware Jamaican Red Stripe lager-it has a sting in the tail....)
So,The first batch are,clockwise from top,Wexford Town,looking N & S , not a particulaly unusual scene to American eyes,but bear in mind that almost all Brit lines are securely fenced off and `street running` is almost unknown-this is part of the Dublin-Rosslare Europort route,a sort of Inter-City branchline-mentioned previously by PETE & myself.
Next we have the replica broad gauge loco under construction at Didcot ( again mentioned by PETE ) and to round out the set we have Sentinel vertical boilered,gear driven shunter `Swansea Vale #1`at the Gwili railway nr Carmarthen.
Next batch is a `Toronto Taster` in advance of next May`s shenanigans. All postcard views,they are-C.N#391 on Copetown Hill,1998, GO Train nr Lambton Park,1991. Turbo Train passing GO Train,nr Scarborough,1970 and VIA #75 & AMTRAK `Maple Leaf`,Union Stn,1981
The remainder are from the Welshpool & Llanfair Lt Rly nr the English/Welsh border,first four are around the yard at Llanfair Caereinion & include ex-Sierra Leone Hunslet & `Dougal`,formerly owned by a Glasgow gasworks and the smallest loco I have ever seen.
The last is at Castle Caereinion and shows ex Austrian 0-8-0 tk with mix of Austrian & Sierra Leone stock ( close ups of this loco are elsewhere in `nicks pix)
So,other pix-DOUG a nice record of a fine day out,good to see the local architecture as well-context is always good[tup]-that crash scene looks kinda hairy-the loco has something of the look of a De Glenn about it,will do some chasing when time permits
DON-nice shots of unusual liveries (north of the 49th always works for me[^])-that red/orange with white cab is a keeper-[tup]-Is the Via unit in the second shot wearing an `older` version of `Zebra` stripes ( red angled into stripes & stripes back facing on both sides rather than square-cut red and `lean to the right `stripes both sides ?)
JOHN-Thats some mobile home you got yourself buddy[swg]-hope She keeps you safe,look forward to more pix
BAR CHANDLER ROB-magnificent effort,as usual-nice to see Boris & the clan`s private car back from `Halloween` service [swg]-the O.S.R RS18 very easy on the eye and the #2786 running through the woods is a sheer delight-Blues are on me[tup].
[4:-)]TOM-WOW-`S` Capades looking very fine indeed-I see the access panel on the highway now-are the trees/shrubs etc scaled to 1:64 or are they large HO ?
display case -I dare not look too closely in case the drool gets on the keyboard and shorts something out [swg]-what are the odds of both of us having VIA #6519 available to roster ?-It wasn`t even the `sample` number on the decal sheet ( S.M.P)-obviously kindred spirits,despite our radically different lifestyles [^]-I see where the Zebra F-Units are going,should free up the green & yellow babe for `Our Place` charter work [:-^]
On to Can-Am country-new buses fit the scene perfectly and those big buildings give the whole place a real sense of `presence`-You may have interrupted a police `sting`-The Merc senator parked with the sun roof open,Clueless circling the block in a prowl car-surely an attempt to lure the evil Farkus into a grand theft auto scenario[}:)].
Nice to have some close ups of the yards,timber yard looking properly stocked,stacked and sorted,good stuff [tup][^][tup]
Now then-Mentor Gazette,PURE DEAD BRULLIANT as one of my Glaswegian pals would say---well I started off on carpet tiles,just at weekends with the boys like,then tried a couple of off-cuts,maybe a hearthrug once in a while,nothing heavy-got into a bit of underlay but I can stop anytime man,it`s not like I need it,just a social thing-lend us ten bucks til payday man,theres some real clean embroidery threads goin about........................whoops....
right that looks like part one,back for festive recollections in a bit,Boris needs scrubbing ,bleaching and doubtless more besides,nick[C=:-)]

[Anonymous]

Howdy Tom and friends. I'll have a bottomless draught, and kindly set-up my buddies with their favorite bebida, por favor. Yeah ... I'm not so good on the Christmas RR material over here. Though I was always a fan, it hasn't been until recently that I've been able to become more involved. My wife would surely tell you that I'm more than making up for it now. Along those lines, being affiliated with "Our Place" has become one of the places I rely upon for useful information. It sure helps that the people here are also so helpful and friendly. In token of my appreciation, please allow me to donate this train set for display above the bar for the 8 month anniversary of Our Place


Really enjoyed your Christmas RR travel adds Tom. Your hard work is obvious, and appreciated. As for the details on the night of my induction into ROOT, I must confess not remembering a single detail from the evening. Even today, my vision is still fuzzy, and my watch is too loud.

Don, we sorta had our own car on our trip to Springfield, as other passengers were directed to the other cars, so we owned the last car in the consist both ways. We did not have any other passengers visit us until we had to stop for an hour or so while we waited for some freight to clear ahead of us. That's when the smokers panicked, and hurried to through our car so they could let in cold air, and smoke on the little landing on the back of the car. None of us appreciated the intrusion. I have a problem with smokers in general, as well as the folks on their cell phones while distractedly driving their cars, so put me in agreement with CM3 on that one.

Nice Christmas reflections CM3 and Ted ... very nice indeed! It was nice to see BK is back and sharing his experiences ... and I don't want to forget to say hello to Matt, as he seems to be trying to fit in.

I'm going to forego the rest of my Pickleworks post for now, as it really isn't appropriate for the celebration of the anniversary of Tom's incredible "thread that could". I raise my glass to everyone who make this place "Our Place".

[siberianmo]

G’day!

. . . . . . . . . . CHRISTMAS RR TRAVEL #7 of 8 . . . . . . . . . .

Here is an advertisement for Christmas holiday travel retyped from a 1953 advertisement in my private collection:

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

Christmas Window on the Water Level Route

Watch New York Central trains roll past this time of year. You’ll see Christmas windows by the hundred . . . bright with the most precious of all gifts. People!

Couples taking their children to see Grandmother (on money-saving Family Fares). Older folk, off to spend Christmas with married sons or daughters - enjoying ever minute of New York Central comfort.

Youngsters from school or college getting a first taste of holiday fare in the dining car. Fathers, away on business, taking it easy in the club car . . . sure that New York Central will get them home “weather or not.”

Those are the year’s favorite jobs for New York Central men and women. So whether you ride with us or meet the train . . . here’s wishing you a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Give Tickets – The Gift that Brings Them Home!
. . . Ask any Central ticket agent how easy it is to
. . . send rail and Pullman tickets as your gift
. . . to someone you want with you at holiday time.


. . . . . . . . . . New York Central . . . . . . . . . .

The Water Level-Route – You Can Sleep


Enjoy!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]

[BudKarr]

Just a brief visit, Captain Tom. I visited your other thread and must say that you are very ambitious a person indeed. Amazing amount of material that you are putting out for those who have nothing to lose and much to gain by reading your postings.

Why no regulars from here making a stop every now and then? Surely that would be an indication of support, especially in light of what you have done here. Oh, oh, I best be careful, I recall that there are a couple with some sensitivities that I have tweaked in the past. <smile>

I failed to make mention in my earlier posting of your Christmas RR submissions. I probably will not see the final two for a couple of days, but the first six are sure fire winners! Good job.

One more JD on the rocks, then I must be off to my new surroundings here in rather brisk Alberta Province. Brisk is an understatement!

I see one Mr. Nick from West Wales is on board. Hello Sir!

Time for me to get along.

BK

[siberianmo]

G’day!

. . . . . . . . . . CHRISTMAS RR TRAVEL #6 of 8 . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . THE PULLMAN COMPANY . . . . . . . . . .

Here is an advertisement for Christmas holiday retyped taken from a 1950 advertisement in my private collection:

. . . . . 3 questions to ask when you plan your Christmas trip . . . . .

1. “How safe?” – The weather is something you do
not worry about – when you go Pullman over the
Christmas holidays. Throughout your trip your
peace of mind is as weather-proof as your Pullman
Accommodations. You know you’re even safer in a
Pullman crossing the country than you are in your
Own home.

. . . . . 2. “How comfortable?” Your mind is as carefree as
. . . . . a child’s as you sleep deep and undisturbed on your
. . . . . Pullman bed. And in the morning you freshen up
. . . . . and dress at your leisure. You have complete toilet
. . . . . facilities, hot and cold running water, everything
. . . . . you need to prepare for a welcome Santa himself
. . . . . would envy.

3. “How dependable?” You get where you want to
be when you want to be there . . . when you go
Pullman. and you’re the very spirit of Christmas
as you arrive in the center of town – rested, relaxed,
Rady for fun. (Christmas season or any season,)
Go Pullman – the safe, comfortable, dependable
Answer to all your travel questions.)

. . . . . It won’t be Christmas without you. So plan
. . . . . now to go home for the holidays. And for railroad
. . . . . travel at its best, plan to go Pullman. To be sure
. . . . . of getting the reservations you want, see your
. . . . . ticket agent early.

. . . . . . . . . . . . Go Pullman . . . . . . . . . . . . .

COMFORTABLE, DEPENDABLE, AND-ABOVE ALL – SAFE!


Enjoy!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]

[siberianmo]

G’day!

. . . . . . . . . . CHRISTMAS RR TRAVEL #5 of 8 . . . . . . . . . .

Here is an advertisement for Christmas holiday travel retyped from a 1950 advertisement in my private collection:

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

. . . . . . . . . . Merry Christmas from all . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . on your New York Central overnighter . . . . . . .

WHEN GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS,
Delay you can’t afford.
So take the train. For, storm or rain,
I’ll still say, “ALL ABOARD!”

Your N.Y.C. Conductor

. . . . . SEASONS GREETINGS!” Come in and dine.
. . . . . No other travel has meals as fine.
. . . . . The varied, fresh-cooked food’s a treat,
. . . . . And you can sight-see while you eat!

. . . . . Your N.Y.C. Diner Crew

MY GIFT TO YOU is perfect rest.
Your big, soft bed’s the very best.
So sleep, and wake up fresh next day.
You’re traveling world’s safest way!

Your N.Y.C. Pullman Porter

. . . . . THE BEST OF HOLIDAY GOOD CHEER
. . . . . And sociability are here.
. . . . . Enjoy refreshments, relaxation
. . . . . Aboard your Central observation.

. . . . . Your N.Y.C. Club Car Steward

WHITE CHRISTMAS in a song is swell.
But when you plan to travel – well,
If you’d be certain to arrive,
Best go by train, and let me drive!

Your N.Y.C. Engineer

PLAN YOUR HOLIDAY HOME-COMING ON NEW YORK CENTRAL’S GREAT FLEET OF DIESELINERS

. . . . . . . . . . GIFT IDEA! A TRIP HOME . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . Ask your New York Central . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . ticket agent about arranging . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . tickets and reservations as . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . your gift to a parent or youngster, . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . brother or sister away from home. . . . . . . . . . .


. . . . . . . . . . New York Central . . . . . . . . . .

The Water Level-Route – You Can Sleep


Enjoy!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]

[BudKarr]

Good Afternoon Captain Tom and Gentlemen at the bar!

I do not think I recognize this place! What has happened between the time of my last visit and today? It surely seems that the information flow has at least tripled in context, content and relevance. Barring an exception here or there, the patrons are in synchronicity with the wishes of management and all appears well in Mentor Village. Good show, Captain Tom and supporting cast. Oh, before I get admonished, I would like a JD on the rocks and one of those great looking ham, roast beef and Swiss cheese submarine sandwiches on the menu board. Thanks!

A happy celebration to all for the milestone reached this day. Eight months on the forums and I too offer a toast to a long and successful future at this prime location. Cheers!

There is absolutely no way that I could even begin to address each and every post made since my last entry. Therefore I offer my best wishes to all and am pleased to spend a bit of time with you.

I have reviewed the pages, so you need not be chagrined, Captain Tom, for I surely know better than to waltz in, drop a word here or there, then depart. Not my style in real life, nor here in the Ether.

That newspaper idea of yours is terrific and is there a way for me to subscribe to the Mentor Village Gazette? Outstanding effort!

I must offer this in the form of an observation, which is not at all meant to spoil the revelry of the day: what do you suppose will come of those who continue ignoring your pleas for inclusiveness and recognition of others? When I reviewed the photographs from yesterday I was astounded at how smoothly everything appeared to have flowed throughout the day. Everyone on track, as you would put it. Then the final offering, a most inappropriate way to end a wonderful day of extra effort. I can understand the frustration, for I felt it as well.

We have returned to our hideaway in Alberta’s high country after a delightful time in Edmonton. We remained longer than expected and found the city to be quite an enjoyable experience indeed. We met some people who were rather animated regarding the return of Via Rail to Calgary. Theirs was mostly in opposition to a change of route, which I suppose is precisely how the rail users felt back when CP trackage was given up for CN. What goes around, comes around as they say. There seems to be quite a bit of concern at the levels we were introduced to about this subject. When we visit Calgary, it will be interesting to learn of their point of view, if any at all. Oh, perhaps I should offer this – my traveling companion is connected with some of the movers and shakers in either city. I spend most of the time in the listening mode, as I do here, and only speak when comfortable with the subject matter, and of course when appropriate. Fortunately, this aspect of our time in Edmonton was miniscule by standards of time. It was just an after dinner conversation involving three or four who brought up once I mentioned our recent round trip to Vancouver.

For anyone who recalls, we opted to drive the distance rather than fly. A wise decision on my part to be so magnanimous! Fortunately we had decent road conditions.

Christmas stories from the past that have a leaning toward trains. Well, mine would only be of childhood and the electric trains that ran around our Christmas tree. From the moment of recognition through present times I recall the wonders of seeing that wonderful Lionel train, puffing smoke and pulling those illuminated passenger cars round and round the oval of track my father always seemed to arrange right before Santa arrived.

As I have intimated many times, I am hardly a train enthusiast in my adult life. But going back to childhood and the toys of my youth, electric trains were an integral part of my socialization into adolescence. I think it was Captain Tom who mentioned some pages back of just how the electric train factored into boyhood. The things many of us learned from that rather elementary introduction into electricity, mechanics, judgment and innovativeness. Hooking up the wires and getting that first tingle when done incorrectly. Then becoming mesmerized while watching those driver wheels on the steam engine. Being able to run the train at reasonable speeds to avoid derailments at the sharp curves and then of course a bit of design into putting together an alternate track plan. Yes, the electric train was a socialization tool for many in the days before and during my youth. It faded rather quickly as personal interests in our society changed and changed rapidly. I suppose one could look at the arrival of television and find a plausible argument there for the demise of many things we no longer seem to do.

Christmas season at our home was a warm and wonderful experience. We were spoiled, but in a way that I do not think was over blown. My family restricted the gift giving to two times per year: Christmas and birthdays, with the latter a far less extravagant occasion than the former. My first electric train set - an Erector set – a bicycle – a chemistry set and later on a telescope fit for a junior astronomer, were all part of the wonders found under or near the Christmas tree on December 25th. (We exchanged gifts in the morning – and in fact for those in my family living in reasonable proximity, still do.) My train became a featured attraction for each Christmas thereafter. It is now boxed away at the homestead. Perhaps one day I will have it shipped to wherever I finally roost. Christmas morning just is not comlete without the sound of an electric train!

So, that is my contribution for this day. It is not about travel so much as about the warmth and the recollections of Christmas past, as tied to the electric train.

I will remain in Alberta and BC through the remainder of the season and have been seriously thinking of having my base of operations in Canada changed from Winnipeg to either Edmonton or Calgary. As mentioned previously, we will be at one of those former CP resorts over the holidays, all arranged by my companion. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I think it works!

Until the next time, have a round on me, and in fact, ring that bell twice.

BK

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by siberianmo

[b]The worst way to start off on any thread, in my opinion, is to jump in without having any idea of what the theme is. For example, today is our 8th Month Anniversary on the Fourms. We are Posting Christmas season RR travel and other experiences relating to trains. This has been advertised for the past two weeks, every day, several times a day.

[#oops][:(]

Thanks for some more tips, Tom. I will get to that immediately.

[siberianmo]

G’day!

. . . . . . . . . . CHRISTMAS RR TRAVEL #4 of 8 . . . . . . . . . .

Here is an advertisement for Christmas holiday travel retyped from a 1949 advertisement in my private collection:

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

. . . . . . . . . . Give your family the . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . for Christmas . . . . . . . . . .

Go Santa Fe to Phoenix, Wickenburg, Palm Springs and Southern California

You’ve promised yourself to take the family on a winter vacation sometime.
This is the year! Why not make it your Christmas present to them?
The resorts and ranches in sunny Arizona and Southern California are
beckoning and Santa Fe’s famous fleet of fine trains to those “sun spots”
offers schedules and accommodations to suit you to a “T.”


Enjoy!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]

[siberianmo]

Mornin’ Gents!

Straight to the acknowledgments, Part Deux:

jdonald Don
Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 10:16:41

Good to see you this fine day and I hope that somewhere along the line you’ll have something for our 8th Month Anniversary, Christmas season RR travel celebration! <phew> That is the theme for the day ‘round here.

Glad you enjoyed the Gazette and I’ll see what I can do about that ink problem. I left it up to Boris to come up with “something,” and I’m almost afraid to investigate that “thing” he drug into the shop the other day, squeezing it so hard the black ooze ran out and I’d imagine it wound up as ink. Never know with Boris [swg]

I’ll let you in on a “secret,” I have no problem with devoting my time, energy and resources to this cyber bar ‘n grill just as long as there is reciprocity, inclusiveness in responses and appreciation for one’s endeavors. Pretty much sums it up, eh [?]

I think that if you want to me to Post some pix for you this coming Sunday, let’s do it again by Email given that I’m going to be stretched rather thin for time the next couple of days and pretty much on Thursday as well. So I may not get those instructions put together for you in time. Your choice, of course, but I’m willing ……..[tup]

Theodorebear Ted
Posted: 12 Dec 2005, 10:21:46

Warm reflections of Christmas season rail travels past, Sir Ted Nicely done and well within what we were looking for on this special day at ”Our” Place! [tup][tup][tup]

We are seeing a change in the gathering at the bar, which is healthy – people come and they go. If we can rely upon a nucleus of guys to keep this place other than at the back of their cyber activities, we’ll do fine. The idea is to create and maintain an interest level and that has been done quite well these past few months. When there is enthusiasm, there is a contagious nature that emits from it. It’s easy to engage when one knows there will be reciprocity, appreciation and inclusiveness. That IS what makes our thread different from so many others. We don’t have the overwhelming numbers, but that may very well be our strength.

coalminer3 CM3
Posted: 12 Dec 2005 10:30:24

Was wondering whether we’d see you this morning – glad you made it! As is your custom, you have once again dazzled us with your amazing gift of communication via the written word! [tup][tup][tup] Those Christmas, winter, holiday settings that you described rang many a bell within me.

I too had a childhood friend who was a Gilbert American Flyer “person,” whereas I was a Lionel O-27 guy. I always secretly thought his trains look much nicer than mine, but we argued nonetheless about which set (and later, sets) were the “best.” He had one of those great looking passenger sets with the dual Alco PA’s in Santa Fe livery. Man oh man, the best trains ever (late 1940s – early 1950s). I had the Pennsy 6-8-6 steam turbine work train freight – 5 cars, whistling tender, etc. Wonderful train set with Magne Traction and smoke. Loved it. But I digress …..

Thanx so much for the warmth you’ve brought to us through your reflections. Well done, Mate, well done! [tup][tup][tup]

The drinks and quarters are always appreciated as well! Boris get that black stuff off of your paws hands and ring the bell! [swg]


Later!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]

[siberianmo]

Special for uspscsx Matt

Well then, [#welcome] Aboard! There's all kinds of things to learn about us if you really are serious about becoming a regular at this bar 'n grill.

Suggest you read page ONE - then go back about a dozen pages from here and get a good grasp on the way we operate. It will come to you in no time at all. [tup]

The worst way to start off on any thread, in my opinion, is to jump in without having any idea of what the theme is. For example, today is our 8th Month Anniversary on the Fourms. We are Posting Christmas season RR travel and other experiences relating to trains. This has been advertised for the past two weeks, every day, several times a day.

Matt you may find that our free coffee will put you in the poor house in no time flat. We charge five bucks a cup if that's all you order! So some food from our menu and perhaps a soft drink might work out better for you! You see, we really are an adult eating 'n drinking establishment with our primary focus on the discussion of Classic Trains with some humor thrown in.

Hope to see you often 'round here and to share in your meaningful Posts.

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by siberianmo

Special for uspscsx

Hello Matt,

Yes, I recall your cyber name and according to my records, this is your 3rd visit to our cyber bar 'n grill since we opened on April 12th, 2005.

I reviewed my last Post to you and recall mentioning that we are an inclusive site - no hit 'n run Posters welcome here plus we are an adult site in that we are a bar 'n grill. So without anything to help us out in your profile, there simply was no way of knowing much about you for the setting that we thrive in.

Hard to welcome someone back, if they've never really been "one of us," if you follow my thinking. Anyway, enjoy the Posts and perhaps you'll pick up some good info from our guys.

Now, you may very well be "of age," and if so, then order something from the bar! We have a routine around here that separates the men from the boys, so to speak - greet the bartender upon entering - order a drink and something to eat - and be inclusive with your Posts. Do those things, and you'll always be welcome at "Our" Place!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

Tom,

Thanks. I did not mean to be a "Hit 'n Run" poster. I do plan to become a "regular," as long as I don't get an objection from anyone. As for anything to eat or drink, even though I am of age, I do not partake of alcoholic beverages. Although, I do like coffee. [:)]

I see I will have to review a few key posts before posting any further. I hope to soon know my way around the place.

Matt

[siberianmo]

Special for uspscsx

Hello Matt,

Yes, I recall your cyber name and according to my records, this is your 3rd visit to our cyber bar 'n grill since we opened on April 12th, 2005.

I reviewed my last Post to you and recall mentioning that we are an inclusive site - no hit 'n run Posters welcome here plus we are an adult site in that we are a bar 'n grill. So without anything to help us out in your profile, there simply was no way of knowing much about you for the setting that we thrive in.

Hard to welcome someone back, if they've never really been "one of us," if you follow my thinking. Anyway, enjoy the Posts and perhaps you'll pick up some good info from our guys.

Now, you may very well be "of age," and if so, then order something from the bar! We have a routine around here that separates the men from the boys, so to speak - greet the bartender upon entering - order a drink and something to eat - and be inclusive with your Posts. Do those things, and you'll always be welcome at "Our" Place!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[coalminer3]

Good Morning Barkeep and all; coffee, please, round for the house and $ for the jukebox. Today, we'll listen to "Midnight Special," and another good one, "Panama Limited."

I am glad to see many folks returning and new faces as well.

Was surprised to see that my comments (in the Rat's Room, of course) re cellphones elicited so many commetns from folks.

Thanks for the note re the "Boot." Nice to see that all the memory cells are not gone.

I made a couple of trips to Glaceir over the years on the "Empire Builder," and rode it as far west as Spokane when wrok took me to that part of Washington and over into Idaho.

As for the weekends take of photos - wow! The one that brought back a lot of memories to me was the one of the gingerbread house as my mom used to make these.

I also appreciated the comments on OJT as we do a lot of it. When I started out, it was called CHD (Come here, dummy) and was usually admistered by the foreman's hand around your neck.

I do not know whay I skipped over Phoebe Snow, but here's a poem from the DL&W's ads for Miss Phoebe.

"Miss Snow draws near
The cab to cheer
The level-headed engineer
Whose watchful sight
Makes safe her flight
Along the road of anthracite."

They sure don't write 'em like that anymore.

Also congratulations to the newest member of the Order of the Stools.

Here are three pieces from the notebooks that are holiday-related. They all have trains (real or model in them).

December – Erie County

Crushing cold and wind slicing across the open fields of snow, blown into furrows by plows. Cold so cold that ponds are frozen and whatever open water there is smokes in the morning sunlight. The ducks that stay all winter huddle in the lee of sloughs and creek banks to try and escape from the wind.

Cows are turned out after milking by farmers to stand resentfully in the yard while the barn is cleaned up. The cows group together for warmth, too. The farm dogs don’t want to go outside in the cold unless they have to, except for the few who like the cold and have to be dragged inside for their own protection.

It’s noisy in the winter morning woods with the calls of blue jays, titmice, finches, siskins, and sparrows. There’s a flash of bright red as a cardinal is silhouetted against the evergreen. Deer come to the edge of the fields and paw at the crushed snow to look for food.

People in the small towns drink coffee in the morning and listen to the radio as they get the kids ready for school and herd them outside to meet the bright yellow school bus. The people in the small towns drink coffee in the morning as they get ready to go to work. “Be careful, it’s slick out here,” they say as they leave the house through the back door. The snow squeaks underfoot, diamond glinting in the sun.

Flashers on and the crossing gates bang down at Lake Avenue as an eastbound freight roars out of the open land toward the city. The gates rise and the train is gone, diesel smoke laying heavy in the air.

The roads are wet in town with slushy snow along the curbs, just enough to make it difficult to walk. The wind is not as bad here, but it does blow through the alleys between the buildings. “The walk’s really bad between the bank and shoe store,” somebody says. “I know,” is the reply, “They really ought to do something before somebody gets hurt.”

The work goes on during the day, people watching the weather, hoping the clouds hold off and that it won’t snow before quitting time. There’s talk of Christmas and parties, and some twinges about things gone before during the year, things said (or not said) and things done (or not done): gladness and regret, peace and discontent.

Christmas on the Branch

The Lexington station was a white and gray-colored wooden structure; one of the few stations in New England to have a train shed. Under the shed it was dark and damp and smelled of oil, creosote, and coal smoke from long ago engines. The platform was cement and dirt; mostly dirt. A taxi company occupied the north end of the station, and the rest of the building was devoted to railroad business.

A small yard east of the station handled cars picked up and set off by local freights. Other industries scattered along the branch, such as coal and lumber yards usually received loads. The lumber yard received aromatic loads of wood from Canada and the west. Local trains spotted coal hoppers at different industries along the branch.

More than a few residents still heated with coal so anthracite often came on Lexington branch trains. There was a small coal yard in North Lexington that had a wooden storage facility. Metal signs advertised the different brands of coal that were available such as Blue Coal, Reading Anthracite, and D&H Anthracite. These signs were very colorful with red and white, blue and white, and blue and orange lettering. Conveyors carried the coal to different pockets where it would be loaded into trucks that carried the coal to the customer.

Late in November, from Canada, came my favorite cars; wooden Canadian National boxcars loaded with fragrant Christmas trees. The tree cars didn’t arrive until late November because back then the Christmas holidays did not “officially” start until after Thanksgiving.

Snow Days

It was well into November and really cold in the morning. The difference was that it stayed cold during the day. Thoughts were starting to turn toward Thanksgiving, Lionel train catalogs and the headlong ru***oward Christmas.

Now it was time to start paying attention to the weather forecast on the radio in the morning. There was no such thing as weather programs like are on television now, or a Weather Channel. Weather on TV was fluff – a pretty girl who didn’t know the difference between North Dakota and North Chelmsford pranced around and pointed at a map; The real, true, weather forecast was on the radio at 755 a.m. when Don Kent or E.B. Rideout (what a great name for a weatherman – they were all men) delivered the forecast from “our studios in Boston.”

It was all pretty inexact because living near the coast had a great influence on what the weather would be by the time it got here. Stuff from the Great Lakes generally died before it reached us. And if we trembled before the “Montreal Express,” a fearsome outbreak of cold and wind from Canada, we really paid attention when the words “coastal storm” came over the radio. Adult and kid questions began right away. Would the snow be changing to rain near the coast (***)? Be snow and sleet (great for driving), or would it be all “some snow at the coast with heavier amounts inland?”

The next set of questions involved temperature. This was a vital and delicate calculation because temperature determined accumulation. Would it be cold overnight and warm up by morning? Would it be cold inland but warm enough to be all rain near the coast? Would it start out warm and then get cold, or would it be just plain cold?

The third set of questions dealt with timing. These were important questions since timing determined the next day’s activities. Would it start in the afternoon, the evening, at night and quit by morning, or begin early in the morning and last throughout the day?

Debates were initially academic, but nobody doubted that the fate of the Republic hung on the forecast. Later the debate became theological, especially if the morning forecast was for snow, “Later in the day and tomorrow.” My father, if he was not traveling, took a change of clothes and a pair of black rubber galoshes with him to the office, “Just in case.”

He and my mother reviewed how much food was in the house (there was enough on hand at all times in the winter to feed the Army of the Potomac –men and beasts – for a month), and discussed when the oil tank had been last filled (again I don’t recall us ever running out.)

School dragged as we kept looking out the window just in case the weather gods launched a surprise attack. I don’t recall that this ever happened. The sun was a faint white disk visible through a thickening layer of clouds at noon. Three o’clock at last and onto the school bus and heading for home.

There was no wind – just a flat calm, but the air was getting damper. Something was going to happen, we could feel it. Nobody wanted to stay inside during the afternoon. We’d be outside until it got dark – not playing anything organized, but just running around.

The streetlights would come on and it was time to go inside and do homework. My father would come home later grumbling as he nursed a drink that he, “Had carried all of that crap to work for nothing.” No matter; we still knew that it was going to do something, even though we had been cheated. Bedtime and still nothing.

It would be quiet in the deep of the night, and outside sound was muffled. The quiet would awaken me suddenly and I’d jump out of bed. The floor was so cold that it hurt my feet as I went over to the front window to open the curtain. Falling snow had covered the ground and the streetlight was barely visible. It was not very windy so the snow was not blowing, but softly swirling. I could see tire tracks in the street, but the snow filled them quickly.

Other times a northeast wind blew, yowling through the copper and felt weather stripping on the front door. Densely blowing clouds of snow severely reduced visibility. The snow piled up on the evergreens and tree branches and drifted up against the dining room windows. The dog, when he went outside to do what dogs do outside, stayed in the lee of the house. He never stayed out too long.

I remember going to a friend’s house one afternoon to run his model railroad – he had American Flyer – I had Lionel. There was a constant argument over which was better, but no matter. He did have a model of a Union Pacific 4-8-4 which was lovely. So we ran trains until late afternoon, picking up and setting out freight cars, and then making up and running freight and passenger trains. It was time to go home, feed the dog and get my own dinner. I was walking up the street toward my house when I saw a silvery wall of snow moving from south to north toward me. It made a “shisshing” sound on the pavement as it swept over me. All light vanished and I was surrounded by a swirl of ice pellets and snow, just like an arctic adventure. Several other things I recall with snow. One was the way dry powder snow would settle on the pavements only to be swept up in swirls by passing trucks and cars. Another was big flakes of snow and trying to catch them on my tongue.

work safe

[Anonymous]

Good morining members and guests. May I propose a early breakfast toast of O.J., Grapefruit juice, (or libation of your choice) to the evolution of 8 months at "Our" Place.[^] Also, may we lift our tumblers on the ocassion of barndad Dougs appointment to the "Order of the Stools" which is so well deserved.[tup] His posting today bears out the grasp and understanding of what "Our" Place has come to be. Tom, just a cuppa Juan Valdez for now and one of those great Prune Danish pastries from Mentor's Bakery.[^] Prunes are our friends. They keep us "regular," don'tcha know?

Sunday's Photo Posting Day was an enormous success due in no small part to the hurculean efforts of the Proprietor going the "extra mile" posting not only his own "tour de force" but that of other's erstwhile photos. Again, thanks for the compilation of the Indices which will be "book marked" for sure. Gad, what a mountain of reference for any rail enthusiats!!! Members, show me any other "thread" that carries those kind of heavy guns. I still don't know where all the "energy" and dedication comes from. "Blowing smoke?" No way, I don't "blow smoke."[tdn] jlampke John's message and links to the mishap on the holiday excursion is appreciated no end. It might bring a tear to the eye but this is a ever present reality as Doug's follow-up Post confirms. Rob, you know how much I appreciate traction and especially old #2666. These are a real treat for me and thanks again for the efforts.[^] Mike, always "good form" with your posts that never fail to peak interest.[tup] Our newest contibutors seem to grasp the 3 C's: Context, Continutiy and inClusiveness better than some of us "Old Heads."[bow]

Let's see, Christmas and the trials and tribulations of holiday rail travel. Hmmm! For me personally, just the action of "people traffic" in any given station sets off the adrenalin right from the "git go." Bags, parcels (some gift wrapped), heavy winter duds, the unmistakable aromas, the barely intelligble bark of the loud speakers echoing around marble walls and canyons, little kids taking their first choo choo ride; that and so much more, sets holiday rail travel apart from any other. I have done this on a number of Roads and no two trips were ever quite like the other. When you get to the platforms, there is a whole new set of stimuli that assaults the senses. Luggage carts and tractors add to the din of passenger's farewells and bells chiming from shifting locos, add to that, the hissing of steam and air emitting all about, walking through clouds of misty steam, then that proverbial call, "All'board." Once settled in your accomodation and double checking your tickets, its off to the open vestiblue window for a last glance at the station's frenetic activity. Finally, that barely perceptible "nudge" and you know that there will be new faces to see and acquaintences to meet in the club car just a quarter of a mile distant from your present location.

Having oredered a favorite libation you watch as the train glides its way through the maze of yard turnouts, slip switches, cross overs, et al. It isn't long before the rolling motion of the car confirms reaching mainline speeds. There is that certain sound that envelops you when the train is attaining higher momentum and velocity. Ah, but now you have been invited into casual converstion with the person next to your seat. No sooner engaged in some interesting discourse and the "first call" to dinner is anounced by the Porter striking the N.B.C chimes along his trek from the first to the last cars. Once seated in the Diner, a Las Vegas mentality of "I didn't come all this way to pinch pennies" overtakes you. Yes, I'll take the the finest entree on the menu please and what wine do you recommend Sir? Now, with that warm glow of having sated your palate, its back to your accomodation where the bed linens have been turned down and a "after dinner mint" sits on the pillow. Gentlemen, if that wasn't a big part of your holiday experience in the past, I can only hope that it will be some day in the future. Okay Boris, back to earth, if you think you can manage it.[alien] Happy rails.

[jdonald]

Mornin Tom & all-a black coffee and a pastry from the bakery. One for yourself if you're not already "coffeed out"

I will echo everyone elses accolades for the Sunday pics. Enjoyed them all[:)]

Doug did your group have your own coach on the train or did you mingle with the other passengers[?] Looked like a fun day our

Tom great shots of S-Capades. I would think S scale would be the ultimate if you had the room(some ca***oo probably). Your display case is impressive-I hope any passengers still aboard your Redbirds were reminded not to step off on the wrong side of the car[:0] About the term "Fishbowls" referring to the GM buses-drove them for a goodly portion of the last 14 years and never heard them called that. There were however lots of other names applied by fellow drivers which are of coarse unprintable. When I started driving them they had no powersteering and no air ride seats. Eventually they were switched over(probably as a result of several Workers Compensation claims for sore backs and shoulders}.

Nick great shots! Looking forward to a description of them expecially the #2 set. That looks like an old style GO train set with the Turbo Train.

Rob Great shots at Bayview Jct. I will have get the location for next spring or summer. Last time I was there I was taking pics with bushes etc in the way.
I share your liking for the RS18s. Do you know the origin of the OSR loco[?]
The Witt cars are the ones I was asking about a couple of weeks ago.

Hope I havent left anyone out.
A description of my 2 pics-RS18 #3124 & RS18m #3154 are on the "Tempo" (Windsor to Toronto) at Glencoe ON. #3154 was one of a group of 6 (3150-3155) set up to operate the "Tempo" service. Aside from the different paint job they must have had train heating equpt. I don't see any steam leaks so maybe they were HEP Equipped. Unfortunately I wasn't smart to put any dates on my pics but think it was mid 70's. Note that they were still being run long hood first.
The second shot is FPA4 #6783 and a VIA train leaving Sarnia,ON. It is just about to go under the Modeland Rd overpass and join to mainline to London. The vehicle behind the loco is I beleive one of the steam generator cars rebuilt from old F units. Note the loco is still in CN paint but minus the noodle logo on the nose.

Just read through the Anniversary edition of the Mentor Village Gazette. Very impressive as usual-congrats to the editor(but can't you do something about that black printers ink that comes off on your hands[?]
re: the plea in the classified section for pwolfe Pete-perhaps I can act as an interpretor until a suitable dictionary is found. I have had to become adept at converting from British Engli***o N.A. English what with an Irish-born wife and several out oops in-laws in England.

Thats it - finis(thats French I think)

Bye for now - Keep it on the rails

Don

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jlampke

Some sad news: SP 4449 and SP&S 700 derailed Saturday. The word is that it was due to a broken rail. The locomotives were double-heading a short (and sold out) excursion run. They were running slow, and damage was minimal, is my understanding.
[:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(]

Wow, that's bad and good news! [tdn][tup]
Well gents, I'm back, although I doubt any of you remember me.

Since this is the Classic Trains forum, I must bring up the Clinchfield Railroad. It was headquartered in a small town around here, Erwin, TN. It was swallowed up by the Seaboard System in the '70's. The name actually started out as Carolina Clinchfield and Ohio. They ran Challengers, which were obtained from DRGW. They're probably best known for their special Christmastime "Santa Train." Running from Elkhorn City, KY, to Kingsport, TN, the Santa Train brings Christmas joy to many boys and girls each year. CSX still runs this special excursion each November.

Clinchfield ran from Elkhorn City, KY to Spartanburg, SC. CSX now owns and operates on the Clinchfield tracks. Their paint schemes included the early gray/yellow trim and the latter black/yellow letters. Their steam engines were standard black.

Good to be back, gentlemen!

Have a great day,
Matt

[siberianmo]

G’day!

. . . . . . . . . . CHRISTMAS RR TRAVEL #3 of 8 . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . THE PULLMAN COMPANY . . . . . . . . . .

Here is an advertisement for Christmas holiday travel retyped from a 1948 advertisement in my private collection:

. . . . . . . . . . Christmas Cargo . . . . . . . . .

They’ll be home for Christmas! There are miles of snow and mountains ahead. But this family will spend their night before Christmas snug and secure in their Pullman compartment. They bring gifts for her folks back home. But his greatest gift to that proud Grandfather and Grandmother will be the sight of their first grandchild.

He’ll be home for Christmas! He’s a hard working trouble-shooter for his company, and business almost kept him away for Christmas. But there’ll be no disappointments in this father’s house tomorrow morning. Traveling Pullman, he and his presents will arrive safe and sound right in the heart of town, just a stones’ throw from Christmas at home.

She’ll be home for Christmas! “Dear Mother and Dad,” she wrote. “I’ll be home for Christmas with a straight “A” for the quarter. Don’t you think that deserves going Pullman?” It does and it did. But more important, her mother and father will sleep as soundly tonight as she will, knowing she’s traveling the safest, most comfortable way to be home for Christmas.

. . . . . To be sure you’ll be home for Christmas . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Go Pullman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

THE SAFEST, MOST COMFORTABLE WAY TO GET THERE!


Enjoy!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]