"OUR" PLACE - SEE NEW THREAD!

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all.

A pint of the usual please.

Great time Saturday with Tom and Bride in Hermann.

Some really good posts, photos and links over the Weekend[tup].

BARNDAD DOUG.[#welcome] back. [wow] what a great post on the Signalman.That job wasn't for the faint of heart with the long hours, weather, snakes and the need for constant vigalance.The term Signalman has a Different meaning in the U.K. it is used for the man controlling the train movements. There are still a few of the old signalboxes around controlling semaphore signals. Can you tell me what the title of the man who worked the signals over here was [?].The department who repaired the signals etc. was known as the Signal&Telegraph.On the preserved Severn Valley Railway they have the Diamond shaped discs which were used to indicate to the S&T man there was a problem in the section controlled by that signal-box.
What a great title" Fallen Fan Railmags" were there many that went under over here[?].

TED Thanks for the Civil-War post.It is very interesting. I am looking forward to the next installment[tup]This was probably the fist time that the importance of railroads in war-time was realised. Thanks DAN for the book reference.

MIKE Is the Vermont Central Stephenson Bridge still in use[?]. The first Tubular bridge he designed and erected was at Conwy in North Wales which is still used today. There was a larger version built over the Menai Strait which separates the Welsh coast with the Isle of Anglesey. There was a fire in the bridge box in the early 70s the bridge was re- built with out the boxes and the main road was added on a deck above the railway, although the railway is now single-track, it was originally doubled in two tubes.

Thanks for the Streamlined Corner AL great info [tup].And WELL done on the exam[wow][yeah]. The single railcar trains must have been a success, they surely were heavily overcrowed before being re-placed by the steam- hauled cars[?].

TOM do you think I resemble the guy standing outside the left hand doors of our place[?], although there is no cycle leaning against the wall.(This was my usual mode of transport back home).
Great pics of the CAN-AM really liked the cars reflection in the lake[yeah][tup].
In the Nostalgia I guess the Aero Train is like the one preserved at St Louis . I have wondered what they rode like.
PETE.
P.S You was right about the cabbage[:I][:-^]

[trolleyboy]

I'm back again Al Way to go my friend, so how much to prepare my taxes[?] [swg]

Tom I'll join al in that CR I'm feeling abit more awake now.Here's a speed chart from the CPR Pacific Region Laggan Subdivision. Time Table 83 which was in effect starting 24:01 sunday October 30th 1960 All times etc are Mountain Standard Time.

Laggan Subdivision Foot Notes and Speacial Instructions

Permanent Slow Orders/Location Permissable speeds Pass Frieght
mileage 0.0 to 5.0 (on curves ) ........................................................... 45mph..40mph
mileage 5.0 to 2.0 (on curves ) ........................................................... 50mph..45mph
mileage12.0 to 16.6 " ............................................................ 45mph..40mph
" 16.6 to 16.9 " ............................................................ 35mph..30mph
" 16.9 to 28.5 " ............................................................ 45mph..40mph
" 28.5 to 29.0 " ............................................................ 45mph..40mph
" 30.0 to 36.0 " ............................................................. 50mph..45mph
" 36.0 to 51.6 " ............................................................. 60mph..45mph
" 51.6 to 54.0 " .............................................................. 50mph..45mph
" 54.0 to 57.0 " .............................................................. 45mph..40mph
" 57.0 to 61.0 " ............................................................... 50mph..45mph
" 61.0 to 62.0 " ............................................................... 30mph..30mph
" 62.0 to 77.0 " ............................................................... 50mph..45mph
" 77.0 to 79.0 " ............................................................... 45mph..40mph
" 79.0 to 88.0 " ............................................................... 40mph..40mph
" 81.9 to 82.1 Passing Bamf station & grade crossings........ 20mph..20mph
" 88.0 to 92.3 ( on curves ) ................................................................ 50mph..45mph
" 92.3 to 94.2 " ................................................................ 45mph..40mph
" 94.2 to 104.0 " ................................................................. 50mph..45mph
" 104.0 to 112.0 " ................................................................. 60mph..45mph
" 112.0 to 121.0 " .................................................................. 40mph..40mph
" 121.0 to 122.2 " ................................................................... 30mph..30mph
" 122.0 to 125.0 " ................................................................... 30mph..20mph
" 125.0 to 136.6 " ................................................................... 25mph..20mph

Yard limits Calgary extend to yard limit sign west of Sunlta.
Yard limits Kieth extend to yard limit sigen east of Robertson
westward trains must obtain terminal clearance at Calgary and may leave sunalta without clearance.
Trains between Calgary and Sunalta,will be goverened by Terminals Timetable page 9.Times shown at Calgary are for information only.
Eastward trains holding main track for meets on westward trains at Cathedral must stop for clearance sign located 650 feet west of east switch.
The switching lead of the east end of exshaw yard must NOT be used as a meeting for passing trains.Trains MUST enter and leave the exshaw siding by use of turnout immediatly west of bridge mileage 57.0. The position of the siding switch is normal when set for switching lead.


This is taken from the Nick Morants Canada book.

Rob

[trolleyboy]

Good afternoon everyone. Tom I need an eye opener of some description this weekend of midnight shifts is starting to wear already [XX(]

Sparce but good. a classic glass is half full. I enjoyed the few opics. NS Loved the shot of the old cadilac even if it was in PC paint [sigh]. I have always liked SD7's and 9's don't no why none were built for Canada but they are a locomotives locomotive if you know what i mean.

Tom the new tube cras look good [tup] funny how they seem to sit higher than the RDC's. I might just be asleep still of perhaps they are on a raised track but good show non the less [tup]

Al Wow full consists right down to the locomotives! [bow] Great show and four at a time no less. who says monday's are boring round here ?

Doug Nice before and afters on the SW. Thanks for the info on the booklet as well. We usually grab the Canadain trackside guide but it just covers canadain rail networls and museum pieces accross this country. It is an odd feeling to see one's name in print. Good luck on your book auction.


naniamo welcome to another north of the boarder guy ! loved that old interior shot.To bad the Via 1 coaches of today aren;t that ornate. If they were people would never leave the rails.


Ted& John Great start on the Civil war stuff,the small bit I put out a couple "daze" ago is pretty much the bottom of the well for me. I'm waiting for the next insatllments, and anything elsecomming from the other sorces around here. Truly interesting stuff. as Tom said a couple of B movies on the topic is about the sum total of my knowledge of the subject.And since what i have seen has been basically all hollywierd I take that info woth the appropriate grain of salt.

I caught the last half of that CPR program as well. I should invest in the odd TV guide, then I would know when and when not to set the VCR [sigh]

I caught your joke from before just figured i would let it slide and perpetuate it. As the old saying goes when in Rome....

Tom Nice ad for the aerotrain, an interesting service to be sure. In case you were unaware ( and I'm sure you are not ) Bowser makes a nice model of it, and it has their new improved flywheel drive now so your public utility doesn't need to up the amperage to your house when you run it. Might ,make a nice addition to your Union station.

I'm not too worried about getting lost in TO next year. As long as we keep the lake to our south I'm okay [swg][:D]. Of coarse as long as we make it back to yonge street wee are good too. The Yonge subway line runs right into the bowels of Toronto Union,I can here the three chime door bells now.

Noooo Boris bwooong gwooong bwooong bwoink ! Opps looks like awk dive bombed in and rescued his perch.Wonder if that wikll leave a mark on our cloven hooved whatchacallit ?


Rob

[siberianmo]

Way to go Al! Wouldn't have expected anything less! [tup] [swg] Have a drink on me! Just what the world needs, more tax consultants! [swg] <grrrrrrrr>

Appreciate the round, as always, Boris wake up and ring the bell! Man oh man has it ever been sloooooooooooow. Figured as much ..... We really need some "afternoon regulars" 'round here ... sure isn't the same anymore without West Coast S Dave and those very timely submissions he used to make. Kept the place movin' just a the time of day we need it most.

Figured you'd make a comment on the NYC Aerotrain - you did SEE it, dintcha [?]

Later!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[passengerfan]

Good Afternoon Tom and the rest of the gang. Time for a double CR and a round for the house.
Will do more on the MISS LOU and a follow up to the ILLINI as well at a later date
Just thought I would mention I aced my exam and got my license so now i will have some more time on my hands for awhile.

TTFN AL

[siberianmo]

G’day All!

PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #27

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



Something new for veteran travelers THROUGH SEPT. 29TH

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

For a limited time only
AEROTRAIN CLEVELAND-CHICAGO

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

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

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


Enjoy! [tup]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

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

[siberianmo]

Good Morning!

Nice start to the week, two very well thought out and interesting Posts from members of "Our" Place's Order of the Permanent Stools! Well done! [tup][tup][tup]


Theodorebear Ted Posted: 21 Nov 2005, 06:39:16

The subway cars, interestingly all referred to as "Red Bird" are on the mark insofar as my plans are concerned for the Can-Am underground. Ya takes what's available and affordable these daze - and they met both critreria. I prefer the "silver roofed" cars over the all red. The idea was to have contrasting consists, which was achieved. There was a set, now discontinued and rather difficult to locate, except on eBay - which I don't participate it - where the cars were sliver with a blue stripe. Those would have been a great addition as well. Glad you liked the pix. [tup]

Railroading and the U.S. Civil War always has been a fascinating subject. A few "grade B" movies have been made featuring trains, but none that immediately come to mind.

Having the benefit of hindsight, one just has to wonder why oh why did that first shot at Ft. Sumter have to be fired when it was [?] Looks like the Confederacy didn't fully think out all aspects of what they were getting into. The north with the industry, transportation infrastructure and population must have been a "hands down" favorite for the betting man. The south, on the other hand, always capativated my attention if only for the pride and willingness to uphold their point of view in spite of the odds.

QUOTE: On April 10, 1861, Brig. Gen. Beauregard, in command of the provisional Confederate forces at Charleston, South Carolina, demanded the surrender of the Union garrison of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Garrison commander Anderson refused. On April 12, Confederate batteries opened fire on the fort, which was unable to reply effectively. At 2:30 p.m., April 13, Major Anderson surrendered Fort Sumter, evacuating the garrison on the following day. The bombardment of Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the American Civil War. Although there were no casualties during the bombardment, one Union artillerist was killed and three wounded (one mortally) when a cannon exploded prematurely when firing a salute during the evacuation. (from: http://www.civilwarhome.com/)

passengerfan Al Posted: 21 Nov 2005, 07:22:08

My guess is you approve of your Index placement and name! [swg]

Four in one! Now that's somethin' else, indeed. Never heard of the MISS LOU and ILLINI. All added to the next installment of Passengerfan Al's Streamline Corner [tup]

Good luck with your exam - If I recall correctly, today's the day! [tup]

Okay guyz, time to get movin' on with the day. I expect we'll have a rather trimmed down day, given the holiday week - but - I've been wrong before! [swg]

Later!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[passengerfan]

Good Morning Tom and the rest of the early risers. Time for Coffee and a pastry from the Mentor Bakery.

PASSENGERFAN AL'S STREAMLINER CORNER #1

GULF COAST REBEL GM&O trains 16-17 648 miles 16 hours 55 minutes each way Inaugurated October 27, 1940 between East St. Louis and Mobile Alabama.

The GULF COAST REBELS were diesel powered streamlined heavyweight trains with the GM&O shops completeing the streamlining in their own shops on nine cars and Pullman Calumet streamlining a pair of matching heavyweight sleeping cars for the trains.

CONSIST ONE

270 ALCO DL-109 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Cab Unit

32 Streamlined Heavyweight Baggage 30' Railway Post Office Car

63 Streamlined Heavyweight Baggage Car

243 Streamlined Heavyweight 6-Crew Dormitory 48-Revenue Seat Coach

101 Streamlined Heavyweight 6-Seat Lunch Counter 8-Seat Dining 8-Seat Lounge 24-Revenue Seat Coach

SHOW ME Streamlined Heavyweight 8-Section 1-Drawining Room 3-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

CONSIST TWO

271 ALCO DL-109 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Cab Unit

33 Streamlined Heavyweight Baggage 30' Railway Post Office Car

65 Streamlined Heavyweight Baggage Car

328 Streamlined Heavyweight 6-Crew Dormitory 48-Revenue Seat Coach

102 Streamlined Heavyweight 8-Seat Lunch Counter 8-Seat Dining 8-Seat Lounge 24-Revenue Seat Coach

DEEP SOUTH Streamlined Heavyweight 8-Section 1-Drawing Room 3-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

Extra Streamlined heavyweight car was a 6 Crew Dormitory 48-Revenue Seat Coach number 243

In December 1947 new lightweight streamlined coaches from the 3050-3060 series were added to the GULF COAST REBELS.

New Lightweight streamlined 4-Section 8-Roomette 1-Compartment 3-Double Bedroom Sleeping cars were delivered to the GM&O in July 1950 and at least two were assigned to the GULF COAST REBEL.
Car Names were CULVER WHITE, JUDGE MILTON BROWN, SAMUEL KING TIGRETT, and TIMOTHY B. BLACKSTONE.

The GULF COAST REBEL was discontinued in 1958.

PASSENGERFAN AL's STREAMLINER CORNER #2

The CHOCTAW ROCKET CRI&P trains 51 - 52 Between Memphis and Amarilllo nightly each direction 762 miles 9 hours 30 minutes each way. Inaugurated November 17, 1940.

Major Cities served along the route of the CHOCTAW ROCKETS were Little Rock, McAlester and Oklahoma City.

Each of the two CHOCTAW ROCKETS was initially powered by an ALCO or EMD 2,000 hp diesel passenger Cab unit. They replaced older heavyweight stream powered trains on the route.

In the new Streamlined CHOCTAW ROCKETS only the Baggage 30' Railway Post Office Cars were heavyweights. All new lightweight streamlined cars were delivered new from Pullman Standard in a stainless steel finish.

CONSIST ONE

624 ALCO DL103 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Cab Unit

502 Heavyweight Baggage 30' Railway Post Office Car

350 AMARILLO 68-Revenue Seat Divided Coach

622 SEMINOLE 8-Section 5-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

430 MEMPHIS 24-Seat Dining 16-Revenue Seat Parlor Observation

CONSIST TWO

622 ALCO DL-107 2,000 HP Diesel Passenger Cab Unit

501 Heavyweight Baggage 30' Railway Post Office Car

351 OKLAHOMA CITY 68-Revenue Seat Divided Coach

623 WEWOKA 8-Section 5-Double Bedroom Sleeping Car

431 LITTLE ROCK 24-Seat Dining 16-Revenue Seat Parlor Observation

Replaced by RDC's in 1951 named CHOCTAW ROCKETTE see later installmant.

PASSENGERFAN AL's STREAMLINER CORNER #3

On November 17, 1940 the Illinois Central inaugurated a new Jacksonville - New Orleans train named the MISS LOU. it was named for MISSissippi and LOUisiana the two states it served. The train was a single car AC&F Railcar of a single ended type so tuning at each terminal was necessary. The seating capacity of the car was 61 and it was a racially divided car with colored section seating 24 and white section seating 37. In addition there were separate entrances and restrooms in each. The car number was 131 and departed Jackson, Miss at 6:45 AM with arrival in New Orleans at 10:45 AM. The train covered the 183 mile trip in four hours for a 45.8 mph average.
The return trip to Jackson departed New Orleans at 6:45 PM and arrived in Jackson at 10:45 PM. The train was replaced by a steam powered heavyweight train in 1942 and was returned to ACF where the car was rebuilt to a double ender and sold to the NYS&W.

PASSENGERFAN AL'S STREAMLINER CORNER #4

At the same time the IC inaugurated the MISS LOU they introduced a second AC&F Railcar train the ILLINI between Champaign and Chicago covering the 126.4 mile trip each way in 2 hours 35 minutes. The Railcar was numbered 130 and seated 70 passengers in one compartment with a pair of restrooms and a snack service was provided at passengers seats. Like the MISS LOU the ILLINI was powered by a pair of 225 hp oil engines monted beneath the car floor and each powering one truck. The ILLINI departed Champaign at 7:00 AM and arrived Chicago at at 9:35 AM with 10 scheduled stops and seven condidtional stops along the route. The train permitted passengers to spend the day in Chicago as departure from the windy city was at 6:00 PM and return to Champaign at 10:35 PM.
This train was also withdrawn in 1942 and repalced by a staem powered heavyweight with the car being returned to AC&F where it to was rebuilt to a double eneded car and sold to the NYS&W.

TTFN Al

[Anonymous]

A happy good morning to the begining of another week.[tup] Tom, the coffee aroma is outstanding this A.M.[^] I'll grab a mug and a rasberry Danish. Pete, Dan, Doug, Rob and others have expressed some interest in the U.S. Civil War's influence on later rail development. As promised, I'll throw in my humble [2c] in a couple of installments. All of my references come from American Heritage "Civil War," narrated by Bruce Catton.

Prior to 1861, the Northern States had approximately 20,000 miles of R.R. tracks and the South around 9,000 miles. A few years before the war, the canal at Sault Sainte Marie (Michigan) had opened providing the North with unlimited quantities of iron ore from the Lake Superior ranges. This pre war period triggered the "overbuilding" of rail lines in the area and their profits were meager. After war was declared (1861), railroads in the region (and beyond) needed more and more trackage to keep up with the war demand.

Indeed east to west rail lines in the North had been established before 1861 for shipping grain and corn to the east and manufactured goods to the west. This would have a dramatic impact later as the fighting gravitated ever more westward. While the North was constructing more lines as the war progressed, the South had not (and did not) expand one mile of new lines from the first day of the war to the last. Industry in the South was hard pressed just to manufacture arms and ammunnition for the armies already in the field. Also, skilled labor was as scarce as the raw materials needed for a long, protracted conflict. Both sides were thinking the war would last only a few months, possibly a year at the most.

Being largely agricultural, the Southern States were autonomous from one another. In the North, the states were more relient upon eachother. As a result, the South was nearly void of an east-west infrastructure which would eventually play a fatal role in the ultimate collapse of the Confederacy. Ironically, there was never a shortage of food production in the old South. But, there was no means (railroads) of getting product to their armies in the quantity needed. With this very abreviated over view, one can understand better why this war would become known as "the first railroad war."

Both camps understood the necessity of rail for shipping the implements of war but the strategic value of moving masses of troops where needed, wasn't fully appreciated. The fact was never made clearer than at the Battle of Chattanooga, TN where the entire Union Army of the Cumberland was trapped in that City and under siege. I will go into more of this in the next installment. Hopefully, no one has fallen asleep to this point. Wouldn't want to make you late for work.[V]

Tom, those "Red Birds" will look great any where you put them. If they perform as well as they look, you should have "trouble free" subway operations, really neat![tup] The addition of Al's "Streamliner Corner," the "Classic CNR Steam" and Rob's "Classic Juice" has added a new dimension to the Thread. That, plus Fallen Flags and "P. T. Nostalgia" makes "Our" Place the "only bar to be!"[tup]

[siberianmo]

This feature, called the INDEX, is now separate from the daily SUMMARY and will continue to be “Mondays only.”


A helplful hint:

Generic URL: Just insert the index page in place of “106,” copy ‘n paste ‘n “go,”

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=106&TOPIC_ID=35270

-or- insert the index page in the address portion of this page (at the top).


Fallen Flags (passenger ops)

106/150 SP……. 106/150 MoPac . 108/155 WP …… 109 Frisco
112 CNR ………. 112 Heralds …… 114 ACL ………… 115 SAL
116 D&RGW ….. 118 RI .………… 119 D&H ………… 120/144 PRR
122/144 NYC …. 124 UP.………… 125 AT&SF …….. 127 B&O
128 CM&StP.…. 129 CB&Q ..……. 130 Soo Line ...... 133 C&NW
134 SP&S …….. 136 GN ………… 139 B&M ..……… 140 NYNH&H; NH
141 MEC ……… 142 BAR .………. 145 NP …………. 146 L&N
147 WRR ……… 148 C&O ………. 148 KCS ……….. 151 N&W
152 Erie ..……… 152 IC ………….. 154 NPR .………. 155 SR
156 CGW ……... 157 RDG ………. 158 MON ………. 159 IT
162 LV ……….. 163 GM&O …….. 164 Extra

Passenger Train Nostalgia

110 ……… MKT Combined Fallen Flag and Ads
112 ……… CNR Ad - Super Continental Time Table
113/144 …. Passenger Train Nostalgia #1 ”Start ups” 1800s & early 1900s
117/144 …. Passenger Train Nostalgia #2 Ad - Vista-Dome sleeper obs-lounge
121 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #3 Ad - CP Hotels & Lodges
124 ………. A tale of Classic Trains BC Rail RDC trip
127 ………. B&O Ad - Strata-Dome
127 ………. B&O Ad – Diesel Electric Trains
129 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #4 Ad - CN Hotels, Ltd.
130 ………. Great Britain Nostalgia #1 Poster - East Coast Route
133 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #5 Poster - CP 1886
133 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #6 Poster - CP 1950s
134 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #7 Poster - Washington & Old Dominion Railway
134 ………. Personal RR journey CPR’s “The Canadian”
135 ………. Great Britain Nostalgia #2 London & Northwestern & Caledonian Railways
137 ………. Great Britain Nostalgia #3 London & Northwestern & Caledonian Railways
137 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #8 Ad – Great Northern
139 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #9 Ads – Great Northern
140 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #10 Ad – Union Pacific
141 ………. Nostalgia 1956 Hotel Ads
142 ………. Nostalgia Fairbanks-Morse motive power Ad
143 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #11 Ad - PRR – The Jeffersonian
145 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #12 Ad – NP
146 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #13 Ad – L&N
146 ………. Great Britain Nostalgia #4 Poster - Silver Jubilee
147 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #14 Ad – Budd & Wabash
148 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #15 Ad – C&O
149 ………. HERTZ Ad - 1956
151 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #16 Ad – Budd RDC (1950)
153 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #17 Ad – Budd RDC (1950)
153 ………. North American Steam Loco Wheel Arrangements
154 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #18 Ad – Budd RDC (1953)
155 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #19 Ad – Budd RDC (1954)
156 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #20 Ad – SP, Golden State (1951)
157 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #21 Ad – SP, Sunset limited (1951
158 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #22 Ad – SP, City of San Francisco (1951)
159 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #23 Ad – AT&SF (1950)
161 ………. Nostalgia - 9 WWII Ads ENCORE! of Veterans/Remembrance Day Commemoration
162 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #24 Ad – AT&SF (1951)
163 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #25 Ad – AT&SF (1952)
164 ………. Passenger Train Nostalgia #26 Ad – Olympian Hiawatha
166 ………. AVIS Ad – 1956
167 ………. Pocket List of RR Officials Ad – 1956

trolleyboy ROB’s Barn

Classic Juice

116/161 Classic Juice #1 (The London & Port Stanley L&PS)
123 ….. Classic Juice #2 (The Niagara St. Chatharines Toronto Railway NS&T)
131/155 Classic Juice #3 (The Montreal & Southern Counties Railway –MS&C)
134 ….. Classic Juice #4 (The Brantford and Hamilton B&H)
142 ….. Classic Juice #5 (The Berlin & Water Street Railway - B&WSR)
146 ….. Classic Juice #6 (The Nearside Car)
148 ….. Classic Juice #7 (The Peter Witt Story)
157 ….. Classic Juice #8 (The PCC)
140 ….. Classic Juice #9 (The Nipissing Central)
162 ….. Classic Juice #10 (The Safety Car)
163 ….. Classic Juice #11 (Electricity and the big roads in Canada Part 1 CNR)

Classic CNR Steam

159 ….. Classic CNR Steam #1 (The Huntsville Subdivision)
163 ….. Classic CNR Steam #2 (The Alliston Subdivision Trains)
165 ….. Classic CNR Steam #3 (Passenger & Freight trains on the Strathroy Subdivision)


passengerfan Al’s Streamliner Corner

166 ….. Rocky Mountain Rocket of the CRI&P (Rock Island)
166 ….. Arizona Limited of the CRI&P and SP.
167 ….. Southern Belles of the KCS.


Enjoy!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]

[siberianmo]

MONDAY’s INFO & SUMMARY of RECENT POSTS

We open at 6 AM (all time zones, don’t ask how we do that!

G’day! A new week has begun – but an abbreviated one for those living in the U.S. (Thanksgiving holiday). C’mon and begin the day with some freshly brewed coffee, pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery and our <light> breakfasts! [tup]

Info for the Day:

Our Sunday Photo Posting Day! was rather abysmal in that the participation was sparse. No matter – it will remain on the schedule of “things to do” ‘round here. [tup]

INDEX Mondays only!

The INDEX has been REMOVED from the daily SUMMARY. Not to worry, it follows the Monday SUMMARY. Watch for it!

SUMMARY

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

(1) barndad Doug Posted: 20 Nov 2005, 05:22:56 (168) Pix!

(2) siberianmo Tom Posted: 20 Nov 2005, 07:00:41 (168) Sunday’s Info & Summary

(3) ftwNSengineer Posted: 20 Nov 2005, 08:02:36 (168) 3rd visitPix!

(4) siberianmo Tom Posted: 20 Nov 2005, 09:29:56 (168) R17 subway cars Pix!

(5) earlydiesels Dan Posted: 20 Nov 2005, 17:32:48 (169) Inclusive Post!

(6) barndad Doug Posted: 20 Nov 2005, 18:02:07 (169)

(7) siberianmo Tom Posted: 20 Nov 2005, 18:32:02 (169) Acknowledgments, etc.

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

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

[siberianmo]

Good Evenin’,

Given that we are Closed on Sunday, and the theme of the day is Sunday Photo Posting Day! I try to refrain from the “narratives.” An exception is in order:

nanaimo73 Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 21:49:12

You are welcome!

barndad Doug Posted: 20 Nov 2005, 05:22:56 and 18:02:07

Appreciate the pix – thanx for participating! [tup] Sorry, but I seriously doubt that I’ll be weathering those “Red Birds” – kinda wasted in the “underground” scene – plus that pix is absolutely GROSS! [swg]

Your Email has been answered …….

ftwNSengineer Posted: 20 Nov 2005, 08:02:36

Nice of you to participate with your pix – thanx! Sorry, ‘bout the coffee – but we are Closed on Sundays!

Given that you have been previously welcomed – no need to repeat it. [tup]

earlydiesels Dan Posted: 20 Nov 2005, 17:32:48

Nice “Inclusive Post” and good to see ya, even if it is on the day we are Closed!. Glad you liked the pike pix!

How does one go about getting a copy of that “Pocket List of Railroad Officials” [?] Thanx for addressing that inquiry. Had no clue – as the Ad I Posted was from 1956.

We open at 6 AM in the ‘morrow, hope to see y’all then.

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]

[Anonymous]

I know that "Our Place" is closed today, but I happened to walk by and see Dan's message about the civil war book. So I went on E-Bay and placed a bid for one that was there. I'll know in 24 hours if I won. Thanks for the tip Dan!

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone. OUR PLACE is closed but a quick note thru the slot is in order.
Tom, enjoyed the pix of your pike. I felt like a passenger who was lost trying to find which train to ride.
Barndad, I enjoy the facts you present when you post a loco picture. The mechanical and electrical stats are important to me and always curious about the airbrake schedule for each loco. Let's have some more!
Nanaimo73, I see you are a Frisco fan. I am here in the heart of Frisco country, Springfield, Mo. I would be happy to try to answer any questions about the Frisco here at the bar, should you decide to become a regular.
Trolleyboy, I suppose you are aware the "The Pocket List of Railroad Officials" is still printed about 4 times a year and includes museums and tourist railroads. It looks funny to me seeing my name in print.
Pete, probably the best CW rr book for looking at pix was reprinted within the last few years. The author is George Abdill and is simply titled Civil War Railroads. It has some text, including some first person accounts, but its strength is the wonderful photos. Gives a good feeling of the equipment and the overall conditions faced by the personnel.

[siberianmo]

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

Well, I wasn’t going to do this today – but, I found the time. Here are some Pix of my newly arrived R17 subway cars (2nd set) As with the “Red Birds” from last week, these too wound up on the Can-Am Railroad!

click to enlarge

Not again – MORE subway cars!


View beneath Union Station platforms!


R17 subway cars moving out!


R17 subway cars moving out!


R17 subway cars crossing Can-Am Gorge!


R17 subway cars at Can-Am Gorge!


R17 subway cars at Land-Between-the-Lakes


R17 subway cars at Our Place!


R17 subway cars at Our Place!


Red Birds at Mountain Depot!



Enjoy!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]

REMINDER! Read the SUMMARY!

[red p]

Good morning all, Coffee black.
Brought a pic along since its Sunday Photo Day.
It was taken 5/69 in Elkhart,IN of SD9 #6900

[siberianmo]

SUNDAY’s INFO & SUMMARY of RECENT POSTS

We are CLOSED on Sundays! But of course you can always slip your messages through the slots in either set of front doors, and they will be Posted!

Today is Sunday Photo Posting Day! Lookin’ forward to some pix from all of you. [tup]

Yet another great day of Posts – even for a “traditionally” slow Saturday! [tup]

Info for the Day:

Nothing special - We open up at 6 AM (all time zones!) on Monday.

INDEX Mondays only!

The INDEX feature will be REMOVED from the daily SUMMARY. Not to worry, it will be Posted every Monday, immediately following the daily SUMMARY. Watch for it!

SUMMARY

Name - Date/Time - (Page#) – Remarks

(1) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 01:07:31 (168) BC Rail Speed table

(2) siberianmo Tom Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 06:17:52 (168) Saturday’s Info & Summary

(3) wanswheel Mike Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 07:20:27 (168) NYC Ad, etc.

(4) passengerfan Al Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 08:42:40 (168)

(5) siberianmo Tom Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 08:57:45 (168) Acknowledgments, etc.

(6) barndad Doug Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 09:12:21 (168) Inclusive Post! –and- The making of a RR signalman – Part I

(7) siberianmo Tom Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 09:50:11 (168) reply to barndad

(8) barndad Doug Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 10:38:41 (168) The making of a RR signalman – Part II

(9) siberianmo Tom Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 11:06:13 (168) reply to barndad

(10) barndad Doug Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 11:22:24 (168) The making of a RR signalman – Part III

(11) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 12:05:05 (168) Inclusive Post!

(12) Theodorebear Ted Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 16:26:11 (168) Inclusive Post!

(13) wanswheel Mike Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 17:43:47 (168) pre-Civil War Vermont Central, etc.

(14) siberianmo Tom Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 18:46:58 (168) Acknowledgments, etc.

(15) nanaimo73 Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 19:26:44 (168) 1st visit

(16) siberianmo Tom Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 21:24:10 (168) reply to nanaimo73

(17) nanaimo73 Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 21:49:12 (168)

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

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

[Anonymous]

Here’s a few photos for y’all. Here’s a “before “ picture of the Davenport Rock Island & North Western 121


Builder: Electro Motive Division Division GM. Year Built: 1950. Model SW-7. Horsepower 1200.
Length: 44ft 5in. Width: 10ft 4in. Height: 15ft 9in. Weight: 240,000 lbs. Brakes 6BL.
Engine: 12-567C. Motors: 4 EMD. Trucks: AAR-A Description: Diesel-Electric (Ex BN 121 / nee CB&Q 9255)

Now take a look at the “after” picture below


Here’s the link that shows the loco being painted: http://www.irm.org/gallery/9255painting

And finally, this picture is for Tom, so he has a reference picture to use for weathering his shiny new red subway trains.

[nanaimo73]

QUOTE: Originally posted by siberianmo

We are NOT a "hit 'n run" thread, nor do we acknowledge those who engage in that practice. We like to be inclusive and acknowledge one another's efforts.

OK

QUOTE: In late 1966 the railroad (FRISCO) again petitioned to end all passenger service. The Oklahoman made its last run May 14, 1967; the Southland's termination on December 8, 1967, made Frisco the largest freight-only railroad in the U.S. at the time.

Thank you for answering my question.

[siberianmo]

For: nanaimo73

Always glad to have someone from "north of the 49th" enter our premises. Unfortunately, your profile doesn't really tell us much ... but 'round here we respect that option. Feel free to "check us out."

The best way to get up to speed with the way things are done here is to read page one - then I'd recommend going back 5 or 6 pages just to see the way the guys interact.

We are NOT a "hit 'n run" thread, nor do we acknowledge those who engage in that practice. We like to be inclusive and acknowledge one another's efforts.

Our "protocal" (as you will see) is to greet the bartender on each visit and order something from the bar (drink or food) .... of course we also avoid "flaming" and the other acts of inconsideration seen elsewhere .....

There's lots more - but my thougths are that you've been 'round these Forums long enough to figure it all out! [tup]

Your URL's are interesting - obviously you are a huge FRISCO fan.

From my sources here's what I've found for you:

QUOTE: In late 1966 the railroad (FRISCO) again petitioned to end all passenger service. The Oklahoman made its last run May 14, 1967; the Southland's termination on December 8, 1967, made Frisco the largest freight-only railroad in the U.S. at the time.

[from "Classic American Railroads, Vol III]

We open for business at 6 AM on Monday! [tup]

Next time you stop by, you'll get your "official" welcome and a drink on the house! [swg]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[nanaimo73]

Hello everyone.
I have never been here before. I was just wondering if you guys are going to celebrate (commiserate ?) on Monday, November 21st ?
Do you need any decorations for the walls ?
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=SLSF
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/slsf/slsf.html
http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/indexslsf.htm
http://thelibrary.springfield.missouri.org/lochist/frisco/frisco.cfm
It sure doesn't feel like 25 years.

Does anyone know when they ended passenger operations ?

[siberianmo]

G’day All!

Okay Cindy your long day is over – thanx for watching the store! [tup]

Back from Hermann, Missouri and a delightful afternoon with Pete and bride, Laura. Hermann is Missouri wine country and they have several great places to spend the time in this German founded Missouri River city. Had a great lunch at the 1847 Restaurant at the Stone Hill Winery., Great ambiance, wonderful location …. No trains! [swg]

I see RailImages is back up – just in time for Sunday Photo Posting Day! [tup]

I see the activity has not slacked, as anticipated for Saturday. Good show!

To the acknowledgments:

barndad Doug Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 11:22:24

All I can say is [wow] – fine effort and I will get to reading those three epistles of yours in the ‘morrow. Original Email sent to your old address – new one one the way.

trolleyboy Rob Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 12:05:05

With the amount of Posting today, the idea of ENCORE’s! appears a bit counter productive. However, the new guys may appreciate the “insights” from Posts-past. [swg]

Copy of Email sent to barndad Doug en route your way ….. Yes, it would be great to add one or more to our “list” of attendees. It is looking evermore “promising” as the interest in our get together increases. The more, the merrier for sure! [tup]

Hey! You’re the man in Toronto – I’m just a participant and have yielded the scepter to you, Mate! You get us lost – it’s YOUR caboose! [swg]

Theodoreber Ted Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 16:26:11

And the beat goes on … the Posts are incredible these days (daze)!

Emails received and responded to … Thanx! [tup]

That TV program you mentioned on rail development in the Canadian Rockies would have been a “keeper” for taping. Wish I had checked our TV listings ….. <groan>

Thanx for the round! [tup]

wanswheel Mike Posted: 19 Nov 2005, 17:43:47

Nice info on the Vermont Central of pre-Civil War times. Never knew any of it. Interesting how the “times” reflect the thinking of what “qualifies” for the so-called Seven Wonders of the World. I’ve always wondered, why only 7 [?] [swg]

The most important aspect of Posting info from other sources is to stipulate to that fact. You have and that’s just fine with us. If it “fits” with our theme of Classic Trains it is most welcome! [tup]

Okay guyz, whaddilyahave [?]

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]

[wanswheel]

Hi Tom and whoever's here. Thanks Rob andTed, I cannot take any credit for the writing, I literally found that scrap of paper in a box upstairs and copied it word for word.

Wow! that's a dazzling triple transcription Doug, great story .Probably the Dec. 26, 1947 blizzard. Eerie thing about the Lackawanna is how far Hoboken is from Penn Station if you're carrying a suitcase.

Re: pre-Civil War. This excerpt from "Vermont Central - Central Vermont, A Study in Human Effort" by Edward Hungerford, The Railway & Locomotive Historical Society Inc., Baker Library, Harvard Business School, 1942:

"The Vermont Central (with its northerly extension, the Vermont and Canada) operating over its curious bridge-and-ferry combination over the foot of Lake Champlain, was completed into Rouses point and the connection with the Northern Railroad (of New York), and opened for regular traffic in the summer of 1851. In that same summer, a rail conection was made through to Montreal. Sixteen years before [1835], a railroad --the Champlain and St. Lawrence, designed largely for summer use -- had been opened from La Prairie, on the south bank of the St. Lawrence, across and above Montreal, to St. Johns on the navigable Richelieu River -- the outlet of Lake Champlain. In those days St. Johns was the foot of Lake Champlain navigation. In a short time this became a busy all-year route. It was extended in 1852 from St. Johns through to Rouses Point, fifty miles distant from the St. Lawrence, which in 1859 was bridged at Montreal by the famous Victoria Bridge of wrought iron, well over a mile in length. This bridge was a tunnel-like, tubular construction of twenty-five long spans. It was fabricated in England by the famous Stephenson engineering firm of Newcastle-on-Tyne, shipped to America [sic] and set up. At that time, and for years afterwards, it was rated as one of the seven wonders of the world."

Mike

[Anonymous]

Wow, I'm really running late today. Tom, just a Stoli and tonic w/twist for this evening please. I popped in earlier but was interupted with another of those "friends in need are friends indeed" calls. When I returned, by a lucky chance, there was a T.V. documentary on the Canadian Rockies and the rail development in the region.[^] Couldn't say no to that but it did cause delays. Mike, John, Doug, sure great to hear from each of you. Thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts that are surely "on the mark" with info. and color "to boot."[tup] In general, I found passenger crew "Trainmen" and Pullman Porters very helpful and even thoughtful for their charges. They somehow never seemed too busy for a cordial answer to any question or request. Rob, somehow my "all smoke and no fire" jive on the Toronto stint was a misfire. Sorry, if anyone took offense to a bit of clowning around in jest. Westcoast Dave and BK good of you to drop in again with your welcome comments and insight.

Earlydiesels and Pete, I wanted to get a "pulse reading" on how the U.S. Civil War (before and after) had a tremendous impact on later technology from the massive movement of personnel and material to rapid train scheduling and routing. I was awaiting some input and since there seems to be interest, I'll "give it a go" on Monday. Another aspect of the post Civil War days was the ever present dangers of rail early rail travel. As we all know, tragedy runs "hand-in-hand" with new technology and the early railroad days had a peculiarly high passenger mortality rate. Partly due to slip shod rail and ballast laying practices plus plain and simple greedy "Robber Barons" cutting corners; the rails West were beset with avoidable carnage. More on that later.

So, the "railimages" site should be all set for tomorrow? That is good news for all of us whom enjoy seeing the labors of other's work and images of an era now in the past. Hey Mike, that was a nice touch of nostalgia on the "invitation" to the dinning cars. It falls into line with Tom's many quality posts in the same vein.[tup] Okay Boris, let's get it right this time. I pay and you ring. BONG...oh well, maybe next time.[V]

[trolleyboy]

Morning Tom. I'll grab a joe and a selection of the mentor's finest pasteries. ( it's the weekend thecalouries don't count [:-^] )

You may indeed have had a few more trips to the big smoke but no matter. My Father in law was born there and between he and my wife i'm sure that I will get a good low down on the TTC surface routes. It's going to be fun. hope Dan can make it, let me know.

Glad to know that this old dog can still pass coarses even if they are just a posting exercise. [swg] Figuered that you would like that one though. Wonder who did the speed test for them when they came up with that chart ?




Wow { Dave ,Doug and Dan The three D's back in a twelve hour span, getting just like old times [tup][:D]

dan Loved the magazine article, far as I'm concerned keep em comming [tup]

mike Fine addition today,great info and reminicance on a definate classic fav around this place the NYC [tup] Nice how we take experiances like that with us. Like Tom said those poor guys had to put up with alot of injustices in the 50's and 60's. For thew longest time a Porters position was all they could attain.

Al Thanks for the car update, I knew that you wouldn't let me down. Good luck filing your brain for monday.

Nice reroll Tom though I don't think too many of us have had need of the Rat's Patoot room lately, I/ve noticed that it's become a play room of sorts for tex , Leon and Boris and the girls H&H when they are in town. ( arm wrestling don't cha know ) Seems Boris still can't beat Hilda though the matches carry on for aat least an hour now [:O]

Looks as though railimages is back again as well. So all's good in the land of pictures. Darn nice of them to do it in time for Sunday. [swg][:-^]


Rob

[Anonymous]

Hi again Tom, as I see you are still here. Hold the ice tea, but chip the patrons ... I just popped-in to post the third part of my article, and then run to read your mail! Here it is!

March/April 1999 Vintage Rails Magazine

The Making of a Railroad Signalman by Ken Frazer – part III

As winter wore on, I was doing some writing of my own. We had reached Slateford Junction, the limit of our division. In addition to my craft, I learned survival tricks, such as putting a canvas wind shield around a relay box and sticking my test lamp inside my parka for warmth. You used a five-gallon can with holes punched in the bottom and a soft coal fire (with coal supplied by your friendly local drill engine) to warn your hands, since you couldn’t wear gloves when wiring signal apparatus. At other Locations you would try to find a gulley to get out of the wind, set fire to an old tire, and toast your lunchtime sandwich on a coiled piece of No. 6 wire, followed by Cookie’s hot thermos of coffee.

A signalman at Last! – As the warmer weather returned, I was officially promoted to signalman and was wiring relay boxes, signals, and switches on my own, with my own signalman’s leather tool bag, made rectangular by a homemade tin interior. Signal wiremen had unique hand tools, small screws, nails, tags, wire eyes, etc., which lent themselves to an ordinary interior. Linemen had mostly hammers and wrenches tossed into the same type of leather bag, but theirs was allowed to assume any comfortable shape.

All of the work we had been doing led up to a series of cutovers. In conjunction with the superintendent and dispatchers, the signal engineer, Jack Heisler; his assistant, Ken Atkinson; and signal supervisor Les Moore would place the new signal circuits into operation. Ken Atkinson was the key to the whole operation. Prior to the cutover he supervised the design work in the Hoboken design office and checked the drawings by tracing each circuit in orange crayon on the finished drawings. The field drawings were original design prints marked with new wiring in red and wiring to be removed in yellow. The signalman in the field followed a similar pattern, placing red tags on new wires and yellow tags on wires to be removed.

When the signal to begin the cutover was given, the signalman proceeded to cut all the yellow-tagged wires and connect all red-tagged wires. You would then stand by until everyone along the line had completed their changes, and then the checking by Ken Atkinson began. He would direct signalmen by telephone at each signal location to shunt tracks, turn a relay over, remove certain wires, and receive information of the results of these checks at the various locations. He systematically accounted for each circuit checked on his master set of drawings by again tracing every circuit with his ever-present orange crayon. These cutovers typically took all day and sometimes all night, if the cutover was a major one.

Moving On- My continuing employment with the Lackawanna was an odyssey of serious, responsible, and fulfilling work, in which I probably walked, at various times, the whole division from Hoboken to Slateford and worked in every cable manhole from Newark to South Orange. Two years in the Army were followed by attending Newark College of Engineering at night. During the Say, work was mostly on interlocking plants and short headway electrified commuter territory. His was capped by cutovers conducted by Assistant Signal Supervisor Harvey Hill and Foreman Canfield Bloom (Bloomy to all), who provided humor and compassion in addition to their signal knowledge. I obtained a BSEE degree, which brought promotions to the signal design office and to assistant electrical engineer. My years with the Lackawanna ended when a merger with the Erie would have required my moving to Cleveland. But the experience of being transformed from a kid out of high school to a SIGNALMAN was unforgettable.

[:I] Thus endith the series [:I]

Humbly submitted by this unworthy one [bow]

[siberianmo]

Yo barndad Doug

We approve! [tup][tup][tup] Nice work and much appreciated. Lot of digest with those, and undoubtedly the boyz at the bar will! [swg]

I got that Email off to you .... hope it addresses your questions.

Gotta run ...... Cindy still has the bar, Gents - don't panic! [swg]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[Anonymous]

Good morning again Tom and friends. I'll have more ice tea and please set-up my esteemed clients with whatever they're having. Thanks for the response, and by the way, I really enjoyed the pics of your subway cars going through your layout! Your fallen flag classic route names was also first rate!

Here's part two of my plagarized signalman article. Hope ya'll approve.

March/April 1999 Vintage Rails Magazine

The Making of a Railroad Signalman by Ken Frazer – part II

As we continued to work our way West past Oxford Furnace, Bridgeville, and Manunka Chunk (where the interlocking tower was removed), the camp cars were relocated to Portland, Pennsylvania. Portland was a good location for camp cars for a number of reasons. The siding was right in the middle of town, and the freight agent let us use the toilet in the freight house – as opposed to Washington, where facilities consisted of a “two-holer” about 100 feet from the camp cars, and which had the unique air flow characteristics whereby paper thrown from one hole would levitate out of the 2nd hole as it followed the mischievous air currents. The down side of Portland was demonstrated when several loaded cement cars got away from the nighttime Bangor Branch “cementer” and sent several freight cars on the siding next to the camp cars sailing over the bumping block and almost into Main Street.

Out of Portland we worked East to Manunka Chunk and West to Slateford Junction in the scenic Delaware Water Gap, where the newer New Jersey Cutoff joined back with the “old road” on which we were working. Manunka Chunk was notable for its curved tunnel, which prevented your seeing if anything was coming as you walked through. Another feature was the snake-infested brush over the top, through which we pulled line wire. There was also an iron grill covering a smoke hole on top, with a rusted ladder disappearing into the dark hole below. With removal of the tower on the West side of the tunnel, an electric lock protected the junction to which the Pennsylvania Railroad came in from Belvidere and ran a passenger train over the Lackawanna to Stroudsburg.

The shorter days brought colder and colder weather in Water Gap country, and the motorcar rides to and from work encouraged close huddling, as near as possible to the windscreen. At day’s end, covering the motorcar with its tarp and putting tools away was followed by the warmth of the camp cars. The combination mess and kitchen car was warmer, with its coal cook stove, than the bunk car. All of these cars were converted wood coaches. The shower, which held about five or six men, was also in the kitchen car, while the foreman had an area at the end of the bunk car with a bed and a small desk. The warmth and hot meal had been eagerly anticipated for several hours preceding quitting time.

My initiation to mainline commuter territory signal work took place while I was home for Christmas. A blizzard struck the Northeast the day after Christmas, and a call came to report for snow duty to Grove Street Tower at the East end of Bergen Tunnel. Here you learned the trick of survival in the dark out on the tracks in a blizzard during the rush, where train separation was just a few minutes apart. The four holes of the Bergen Tunnel spread out to about a dozen tracks over slips, frogs, and switches. The four tunnel tracks were reversible, and traffic could flow in either direction on any track. You had to watch for headlights and look in the opposite direction to see what signal was pulled up, thus determining what route over the interlocking a train would take. During rush hours, there would often be two headlights coming in opposite directions. The trick was to interpret this information quickly and, keeping your feet out of the switches, move through the blinding snow to a safe spot. My spot was usually hugging the mid-span leg of a signal bridge.

With no hours of Service rules in that era for signal personnel, I worked 32 straight hours keeping switches operable. All the while I had to dodge silent MU electrics fed by the overhead 3,000-volt d.c. catenary, as well as steam-powered Boontoon Branch trains. I learned to do a thorough job of digging out the snow to make sure there was drainage under the switch points before hitting them with oil torches; Otherwise, the melted snow would freeze the switch rods into a block of solid ice. An ironic twist of the blizzard was that with the Lackawanna running when no other surface transportation could, it had thousands of riders who rarely, if ever, took the train. That made it impossible for trainmen to get through the overflowing cars to collect tickets, causing discomfort to the regular passengers and giving the non-regulars a free ride.

One week later a monster ice storm struck the same area, and line wires snapped all along the line from the weight of the ice. The electric commuter trains experienced more problems in the ice storm than in the snow, as cantenaries and pantographs iced over in any period of inactivity. It was an interesting electrical show to see a four-car MU (two motors and two trailers) try to pick up an express car on a siding with iced-over catenary and rails. My assignment was to work with a maintainer through the Summit-Chatham-Madison area splicing fallen line wires, usually patching in pieces just to restore signal operation until linemen could get to it later and pull it up in place on the crossarms. The ice made a thick crust on the previous week’s snow, which was piled up in drifts, some of which were five feet or more deep. So at times you were crunching through ice-capped snow, then walking on stronger ice that would support you, then breaking through the ice crust and into snow up to your chin. It was a relief to get back to the Portland camp cars and ordinary rotten weather.

[:I] Thus endith Part II [:I]

[siberianmo]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ENCORE! ENCORE! . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Something from the past .........


The Rat’s Patoot Room

Okay, it’s now official –Thanx to the overwhelming response [?] – ”Our” Place how has a Rat’s Patoot Room! [yeah][wow]

That area just to the left of the Juke, to the right of the pool tables, and catywumpus from the Hizzens and Herins rooms, is where it’s at! [swg] The idea is to use the room in order to vent when whatever overwhelms you takes charge. There are some comfortable chairs in there – padded walls – and a couple of punching bags too! [tup] So, have at it …….

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

[siberianmo]

Hello barndad Doug

Just wanted you to know that I caught your most excellent Post and I'll have anEmail put together for you regarding our First Annual Rendezvous in Toronto - probably in the 'morrow. Deal [?] We'd certainly love to have you join us .........

Glad to hear that you are still with us and there's little doubt in my mind that you are indeed "one of us." As I've been harpin' for months, it isn't the quantity of Posts so much as the quality. [yeah] [tup]

Nice work and the article is a good "fit" with what we've been readin' 'round here!

Hope you can offer some pix for Sunday Photo Posting Day! as I'm probably gonna be away for most of the time - could change, but doesn't look promising.

Later!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]