Hi Tom and all.
A pint of Bateman's Victory, thanks LARS, please RUTH, and I,ll have some of the Fish 'N' Chips later..
ERIC It seems the meaning of Signalman is slightly different in the UK to here. In the UK the signalman, as far as I know, does not do any of the maintainance on the signals. The signalmen in the UK are still known as "Bobbies" by a lot of the railway staff, from the English nickname for a policeman. This comes from the very early days of the railways when the person controlling train movements, by hand signals at first, were called Policemen.
The Brill Trolley Bus looks a vehicle full of caracter, it would be good if it could be restored to its former glory.
The Irish loco is in HO/OO. The British locos seem to be the same, although I am very much a novice on modelling matters.I thought I would see if anyone could guess what the 2 model British locos are, perhaps DL and Nick will have a try.
DOUG Glad you liked the layout. It will interesting to know more about those Pullmans. Thanks for the joke.
LARS The train set was put up in a rush this year but we are going to make it more permanent on a proper board. We have got to do some work in the basement then see about setting it up there. The bride seems quite keen on the set and is looking forward to making some scenery. The only problem is, as far as I have been able to find out, it seems that the loco I have is the only Irish loco there is in ready to run form in HO scale, hopefully I am wrong.
ROB Just saw you in the bar, have a beer. It is a real pity that security is needed to protect the museum, which gives a lot of pleasure to people, from theives. In the UK there are some preservation sites that suffer a lot from vandelism, the ones who do this must have a very sad life.
Hopefully by next year the model layout will look a lot better. I am still drooling over the Hornby Orient Express set with the Merchant Navy loco and the Pullman Cars. I have found out that you can get 4 extra Pullmans to go with it which would mean there was 7 Pullmans. It would need a fair amount of room though.
Many thanks for the Safety Car encore, .
TOM Hope you are feeling OK after yesterday .
I will be away from the bar for a few days. We are going to Kansas City for a friend of the brides birthday, then to see the Chiefs. I am hoping to be able to get to Union Station and see if the model railway is set up there this year. I shall have to take the camera with me.
Well RUTH it is nearly time for Fish 'n' Chips .
Before I go may I wish all at Our Place A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Pete
G-day Tom and all present.
Ruth- Could you kindly get me a coffee and a sandwich please.
I am sorry for my long absence. For the past week or so, up untill a couple of days ago, had lost the internet. Our computer completely died. So we are getting a new desktop,soon. But I have my own computer now, a laptop to do all my posting, so I hope to be frequenting this place more often.
Now I am going back four or so pages, so bare with me.
First off, I want to wish you guys a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope the Holidays were good to you and your families.
Barndad- I would love to come and see the 265 in person. So maybe when I come down to Chicago in March, I can go to the IRM. Your article on the tunnels was interesting. I have never seen such a small tunnel in my life. I couldn't believe the amount of clearence between the wall of the tunnel and the frieght car. Amazing!
Good show on all your Southern railway contributions. I have seen the big boy boxcar before in many photos but never knew that they called it the "Big Boy."
The covered hopper called big john was also an amazing railcar. I thought of these things as big stomachs. There is always room for more.
Also the piggyback, autorack from the southern was also interesting to read. Good show on all three. Thanks.
Eric- I know it sounds really weird, a dwarf Semaphore, but the next time I'm at one of the meetings, I will get a few pics of the signeals. They are some really unusual signals.
Tom- I saw that Rob had mentioned you were going to see the "witch" doctors. I hope it's nothing. But come back soon. Some good pics from you sir. liked the lionel pics, but what caught my eye were the RDCs. They looked really nice. Thanks for showing. Just love them. I also liked the GG1s above the RDCs. Some good pics.
Mike- I noticed that you had given us a few URLs. I really liked the RS-3. I loved the other pictures too, but how could you not like an RS-3. Alcos are great. I can't get enough of them. Same with the RDC.
Pete- and also DL, thanks for the small explanation on the heating of the trains. You guys were lucky to see it and still experience a few trains with it. Here in the U.S. it is all but lost. Unfortunate for me but life goes on. Pete, thanks for pics on the Irish trainset. It was cool to see the little steamer and it's three coaches. Cool.
Rob- I saw a lot of articles from you too. Good to see some of the "classic juice" Enjoyed reading them. Keep them coming.
Well that concludes this for tonight. Have a Happy New Year and have a good night.
Happy railroading
James
trolleyboy wrote:Okay Classic Juice #10 The changes in car design and crewing and the comming of the safety car' A lot of you will remember the Saftey car or the Birney from your own cities systems. Next to the Witt Birney's were likely the most common streetcar type out there, with most major and alot of the minor systems operating them,they came in two main forms the single or double truck models. They were designed for singleman operation as well, hence the safety car moniker. First a bit of run up back history to the avant of the one man car. To the uninitiated,the general appearance of trolley'sappearse tio have chaged little before the 1930's. One however can find many subtle changes beginning in the 20's. Monitor roofs , with their small openable clerestry windows, gave way to the arched roof with ventilators around 1910. Rear plateforms were enlarged for the new Pay as you enter PAYE fare system , and doors started to appear more commonly in the centre when Paye as you pass started with the Witt cars. More common use of bright colours, and the abandonment of fancy lettering and striping in the 20's also occured. Likley the biggest change was construction methods, in the 20's steel replaced wood as the construction medium. At the turn of the century (approx 1906 ) steel was used as an underframe, with a wood body previous to that cars were generally all wood. The first NA manufacturer tp do steel bodies was the pressed steel company of Pittsburgh which delivered it's first all steel cars to Montreal in 1907. Most companies however beleaved that heavier wood bodied cars ( steel underframe ) gave a smoother ride,some going even as far as to insist on concrete floors for extra added stability ! Nevertheless steel offered more strength ,was less fragile for external panel use, and could be more easily repaired with rivetting or welding. It was also more fireproof and held together better under vibration. As steel's advantages became better known and hardwoods became more scarce,the tide of opinion changed and by 1912 the star of the changeover took place. Wood interiors and wood framed canvas covered roofs remained in vogue for many years yet but after 1917 the all wood car was obsolete. While double truck cars became increasingly more popular after the turn of the century ,single truck trams continued to be built to the 1930's. Because they were shorter and lighter, and took up less street space,required less maintenance and consumed less energy.They were better suited to single man pay as you pass operations as well for smaller cities and less travelled routes. Money savings were the prime motivation in the 30's to single man cars as well. The unions of coarse were not happy with the loss off two man crewing. The main crux was what if the motorman passes out ot dies with no conductor who would save the passengers, this is a death trap etc etc. Enter the safety car ( and better motorman wages/ sorry conductors the union got less jobs but, more money for the remaining members ) Significant technical improvements / advances happen just prior to WW1 making 1 man operation safe and practical. With the "safety cars " the first was built by St louis car in 1913 for the illinois traction ( later terminal , thought you would like that Tom ). It featured a combination brake,sand and door mechanism plus a deadmans handle. The latter became the main feature to overcome the objections to one man operation should the operator become unconscious or dead.The handle has to remain depressed,otherwise the brakes and would automatically apply amd the doors would be made openable only by hand. Doors could not be openned while the car was moving nor could the car move if the doors were open. Hence the "safety car" name. This system was designed by J.M. Boisenbury ( Illinois Traction's superintendant of motive power ) he worked in conjunction with westinghouse. A foot positioned deadman's button which had to be stood on at all times was also developed at this time.( PCC's use these ) Safety cars of all shapes and sizes were built to double and single truck models.The most popular was the Birney designed by Charles O. Birney of Stone & Webster. his car standarized on a 28 foot 16,000 pound car first produced by Brill in 1916 ( The KW picture I posted on Sunday ) This was a rougyh riding but cheap to produce car essentilally the model T of the transportion systems.They were no frills minimal heating with rataan seats. The latter double truck models rode better but were still rough 47 feet long 40,000 pounds. The later still witt's and PCC's are also safety cars in that their safety appliances are the same ( deadman handle on the Witt , floor pedal on the PCC ) they were just more civilized to the ride characteristcs and of coarse they wer faster. Rob
G'day Cap'n Tom & fellow travelers at the bar!
'Tis I, the Larsman with a huge Egg Nog TOAST to our Proprietor, Capn' Tom, for a full 'n speedy recovery from the "knife"!
I see that several of you guys have done a great job at keeping this bar of ours moving forward, including Da Bossman too! Loved seeing those Lionel trains from his past, and it's great to know that in spite of the trains being long gone, recreations can be found in the ether. Sweet!
Also enjoyed the pix from Pete of his trains, most deserving of a layout of their own! Hope you are planning on it. By the way, what are those "displays" on either side of the oval of track Looks like the makings of a RR empire to me!
Doug, your wit and witticisms help to keep things around here in a light manner, which isn't all so bad. However, I think the Groan-o-Meter is in dire need of replacement thanks solely to those <ahem> "funnies" of the past several days. <grin> Nice continuation of the Southern 'theme' too. Lotsastuff out there to learn, huh
Tom, the Christmas travel posters are great reminders of times long gone when America traveled by rail. Now it's jammed airports and planes, highways that await the crunch of traffic along with the "take you life into your own hands" approach to travel and so forth. Seriously doubt that we'll ever see a return to what once was. But it is still nice to think about it . . .
Eric, I can surely see why Tom wants to use that pix of yours. No doubt in my mind that it will become one of our "icons" for Christmas' to come. Nicely done and knowing the history of it makes it even more significant.
As Tom would tell us, Ruth is behind the bar 'til 5 PM when Leon the Night Man comes in 'til closing. Tonight is Fish 'n Chips Night at the saloon by the siding with a 5 pm start for !
A round on me, Boris ring the bell!
Until the next time!
Lars
Good morning Tom and gang. I'll help myself to a light breakfast, thanks. Hope your "out-patient" stuff isn't anything serious Tom. Liked your Lionel trains and building yesterday. Pretty slick stuff. Enjoyed Peters Christmas tree layout pix as well, and great to see Eric pop in. Interesting Pullman question, and I can't answer it. I'll take the question to the Locomotive and Historical Society, and see what pops up.
REMINDER - CM3 is having a birthday tomorrow!!! He'll be 7 5/8", which is also Lars' hat size ... I believe. Have a great day!
Little Johnny's damn Christmas
Little Johnny went to sit on Santa's lap, and Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas.
Little Johnny answered, "A damn swing set in the backyard."
"Excuse me?" said Santa.
"I want a damn swing set in my backyard," repeated Little Johnny.
Santa said, "You'll have to ask nicer if you want Santa to bring you something. Let's try again. What else do you want?"
Little Johnny answered, "A damn sandbox for the side yard."
"You have to ask politely! One more time. What else do you want for Christmas?"
Little Johnny thought for a minute, then said, "I want a damn trampoline in the front yard."
Santa sighed and set Little Johnny off his lap. "I'm sorry son, I can't give anything to someone who talks like you do. I'm not bringing you anything for Christmas."
Santa then called Johnny's parents over and told them what had happened. They apologized profusely, saying they didn't understand why he talked like that, and they had been trying to break him of the habit with no luck.
"I know how to stop it," Santa said. "Don't get him anything for Christmas. Just get some dog doo. Put a pile of dog doo in the backyard where he wants the swing set, another pile in the side yard where he wants the sandbox, and another pile in the front yard where he wants the trampoline. That will break him of it."
The parents agreed.
Christmas morning the kid heads downstairs to open their presents. Johnny runs out the back door, looks around, and comes back in. He runs out the side door, looks around, and comes back in. He runs out the front door, looks around, and comes back in, looking upset.
"What's wrong, son?" asked his father. "What did Santa bring you?"
Little Johnny answered, "He brought me a damn dog, but I can't find him!"
Good evening Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!
Hello Leon, tonight I would like my favorite, Rumpsteak Café de Paris! Yeap, coffee please1
It has been a quiet Christmas at home and here at Our Place. Santa made a very brief stop and I haven't done much at all. It is real nice to have a week off!
Doug – I’ll see if I will be able to follow your greeting from Christmas Day. But after reading it I feel kind of dizzy and confused. But I had no problem to understand your article about SR’s freight cars! Tom – Hope everything went well today! Please, feel free to “adopt” the pix I used early, early in the morning of Christmas Eve. Glad you liked it. I took it in February 1990 when we were running some winter tests with the X2000 north of the Arctic Circle in Sweden.Thanks for the SR ad! I am beginning to get a very clear picture of that railroad!Very nice pictures of the GG1s. Too sad no one is operational any more.Also nice pictures of #2400, 2401, and 2402! Pete – The definition of a Signalman is “A person who maintains and operatesrailroad signal equipment”. I hope that answers your question. I agree, signaling would be a good topic when we meet at Our Place. A question about your Irish train set. Is the gauge to scale or is it the same (16 mm) as HO?How about the two locomotives , one on each side of the Christmas tree?Rob – Interesting info on the Cornwall Street Railway. It must heve been like a zoo with all the equipment coming from so many different places. They certainly were early introducing one man crews.
Maybe it was this kind of Brill built trolley buses Cornwall Street Railway used to replace the streetcars?
coborn35 – Sad to say, you are not the only one having your signature slightly changed and used for the wrong purposes. Now to a question I have about Pullman sleepers from the 1800’s. According to information I have Pullman built a number of cars with 16 wheels and used them on Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. My question is, how many of those 16-wheelers were built? I have also tried to find a picture of them in a book I have, "Travel by Pullman", but had no luck.
Eric
Well Gentleman,
I will make this quick, as I am not allowed to share my appreciation for Classic Trains in here due to my age.
James has brought to my attention some questionable posts which were made by a troll under the name cobUrn35. That obviously was not me, but owing to the fact some members refer to me as Coburn35, I will plead my innocence here.
I DID not and DO not spam these forums and do not ever think about doing such things.
So I hope this clears up any confusion and angst towards myself and James.
Mechanical Department "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."
The Missabe Road: Safety First
I'll have a Bourbon Winter Ale please RUTH, better make that a pitcher and something from the pastry cupboard. We have got to get some cash in to feed AWK, TEX and FROSTBITE..
ROB Thanks for keeping going despite the forum problems.I wont say too much about my puter as it seems to be behaving itself at the moment.
Thanks for the info on Brantford Market St stationI think then when a line is prevented from withdrawing its services it should be made to not change its schedules and connections.
I remember being amazed at the over 3 million passengers on the Cornwall Street railway from a town with a population of only 25,000 people. It is a real shame that the copper on # 17 was stolen before the frieght motor could reach the safety of your museum.
TOM Hope everything goes allright at the surgery.
Great pics of the Lionel Passenger cars and the Lionel City station, I bet they have brought a great deal of pleasure over the years.
For Model day I have a couple of pics of the Irish train set.
( They should enlarge).
As far as I can find out I believe the loco is a Maunsell 2-6-0 design for the Great Southern Railway of Ireland of the K1 or K1a classes.
Well RUTH I see the Our Place mascots are looking a little thin so I had better have another pitcher
Pete.
G'day Gents!
A departure from the "norm" this AM - I'm going to be away for most of the day, if not all. Same may occur for tomorrow. Have some personal matters to attend to in the form of outpatient surgery. Soooooooooo, it's up to you guys to keep the bar up ‘n running.
As we're now into the final mid-week of 2006, pour yourself a hot cuppa Joe, try a couple of pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery and while you're at it, check the Menu Board selections for our <light> and <traditional> breakfasts!
Good to see Pete 'n Rob stop by and I'll get to some specifics next time I'm on line . . .
Still listening to Christmas music in our Haus and I'd like to share a few of my "favorite things" with y'all before leaving - something for our OPTIONAL Toy ‘n Model Trains Day!
These are Pix of the "add ons" to my Lionel O-27 trains from many decades past! The trains, sad to say, are long gone, but "live" here in the Ether!
Lionel #2402 Chatham passenger car (1948-49)
Lionel #2400 Maplewood passenger car (1948-49)
Lionel #2401 Hillside observation car (1948-49)
Lionel #115 City Station
Enjoy!
Reminder: Ruth opens up at 9 AM until Leon the night man comes in at 5 PM ‘til closing.
Boris, serve ‘em all of the "spiked" EGG NOG they can handle!
Tom
trolleyboy wrote:Okay tom another refill of the ole thermos if you don't mind, a bit too early for anything heavier, but here's a10 spot for a round of real stuff later on this afternoon. A quick Classic juice for you folks today then it's off to work I go. CLASSIC JUICE # 30 The Cornwall Street Railway The city of Cornwall ontario lies just 25 miles from the Quebec Boarder and sits on the shores of the St Lawrence River.The town was founded in 1780 by UEL.s but saw little growth until 1843 when the Cornwall Canal was built and allowed ships to bypass a set of rapids on the ST Lawrence. The first steam Railway reached Cornwall 7 years later in 1850 thus spawned the industrial age in this once small farming town. In order to meet the needs of local transportation the town council passed a speacial bylaw in 1885 granting operating rights for a street railway.On July 7, 1896 six singlwe truck arched roofed cars were purchased from Preston Car ad Coach and the Cornwall Electric Street Railway began operating up and down the streets of Cornwall . In 1898 the railways nmae was officially changed to the Cornwall Street Railway , Light and Power Company.To reflect the extended scope of the company ( owned the power houses for the city and outlying areas as well )Cornwall was the first town in Ontario to own it's own electric lighting plant. After the initail purchase of equipment the little company never purchased new cars again, they purchased replacements from twenty different cities in the US and Canada. These cities included Green Bay , Ottawa, Williamsport , Windsor, Fort Worth , Fort Wayne and New York City. By 1935 the entire line was operating with single truck Birney saftey cars with double ended control stands. The line also went to one man crews in the early 20's on their street cars. The system satrted out with two routes, Pitt street, and Second street ( the second street line was the heaviest travelled ), a third route was built in 1934, the Belt Line as it was called wa one of the last street car lines built in North America. It was three miles long, and provided crucial acccess to several industrial sites at the edge of the city. they ferried the workers to the plants and operated electric locomotives to switch theindustries as well. When the war broke out in 1939 the CSR wa carrying 1 milliomn passengers a year by the end of the war in 1945 that passenger count had tripled to 3.3 million riders a year. In addition, the CSR's freight division handled 20,000 freight cars, all impressive numbers when you concider that Cornwall at the time had a poulation of about 25,000 people !It's even more interesting when you concider that the CSR waas essentilaly a single track system with a couple of passing sidings which limited the lentgh of frieght train movements during daylight hours. The Cornwall Street Railway, as it was locally known, had a fleet of 5 steeple cab locomotives with which it served all the local industries. they interchanged freight cars with CN, cars were spotted at night at the various industries around town. As was the case with the passenger equipment the freight motors wer also second hand, having come from the NS&T,The Kansa City Kaw Valley and Western,The Windsor essex and Northshore,and the Chatham Wallaceburg & Lake erie.They were all of standard type however as they were all class B or C baldwin Westinghouse Locomotives. By the end of the war, the CSR built a new three mile long frieght route in order to remove the freight trains from the streets of the city. New track was laid, and new overhead was installed. Also for the first time the CSR began operating buses, the first new transit equipmenet the city had bough since the turn of the century. The busses they decoded were used to feed the three streetcar routes instead of building new streetcar lines. Despite the new track and overhead the CSR decided to phase out the streetcar operation, on july 27 1949, the last car ran in Cornwall. They were replaced by fifteen trolley busses of the early Brill design. A sixteenth was purchased in 1951. Cornwall thus became the smallest city in North america to operate trolley coaches !The trolley coaches were retired in 1970 replaced by standard deisel busse. The frieght operations continued to operate under wires until 1971, the last such friegth operation in Canada. Today the only remainders of the CSR electrification are two of the frieght motors. #16 is stuffed and mounted in a central park in the city facing the St lawrence River. The other 4 were sold to the Illinois terminal. In 1974 #17 was purcahsed from teh IT by the Halton County Radial Railway Museum and restored as lake Erie and Northern 335 our museum's gate guardian for the time being as the locomotive had it's copper stripped by some interprising JO while it was waiting to be delivered to us in a CPR freight yard. Rob
Hoping the Our Place patrons all had a good Christmas and many thanks for the kind greetings. For this week I will have some winter brews please RUTH, so I will try a Robinson's Old Tom.
Great posts on the run up to Christmas while I have been away
ERIC I think signaling will be a good topic to return to at Our Place, from the pictures I have seen there was a great variety on the railroads of North America. I wonder if the people controlling train movement over here were ever known as Signalmen or were always called dispatchers?
CM3 Thanks for the great description of the lines around Chester, D&H history and the marvelously evocative post on the Rouses Point depot. It is like being there or being round the stove at Our Place while the story is being told. It is a perfect description of visiting a locomotive depot, hoping a rare visitor is on shed or a loco long sought after is on its home depot.
MIKE Thanks for the links, I think the D&H color scheme, as on # 4113 is one of the best there was. Enjoyed the Christmas posters.
ROB Hope the computer is behaving better now. Thanks for the kind words on Alan's photos, hopefully I should be getting a new batch soon. Good to hear that the main components of Steeple Cab 335 are to hand. I'm sure a demonstration freight with 335 would be a good attraction at the museum With the steam locos in the UK from Barry Scrapyard more components are have to be made from new on the locos being restored.
Enjoyed the Classic Juice Encore on the LE&N. It rang a sadly familiar note on how the timetable was changed so that connections were missed and services ran at inconvenient times to allow the services to be abandoned..
I wonder if the was ever a mistake at Brantford Market St station over switching the voltages?
The NS&T snow-clearing encore is great to read again.
DOUG Yes beer is never far from thoughts Thanks for the Southern Railway freight car posts it seems the SR certainly made a big effort to win back the traffic that had been lost to the roads and trucks, with designs to protect the goods in transit.
Loved the "Bubba Claus and the PC Christmas Day greeting.
Great to see AL call in, hope we shall see more of Al in the New Year.
LARS Really great book and video covers for Christmas time. Many thanks for the kind words; it is indeed a great privilege and pleasure to a part of Our Place. Although most of us are having problems with the forum or the internet at the moment it is very well worth the effort, when we can join in with the info and banter at the bar.
DL Hope you had a great time in the Swanage area over the Christmas period. Great BR Posters, that is an interesting one from 1948 having the 4 grouping companies names with British Railways on the bottom.
Gone are the days, I'm afraid, when there was serviceable coaching stock waiting in sidings for a busy time such as Christmas and peak holiday times. I was talking to someone from England and they were saying the fog that as been over there recently was like it was in the 50s for a few days. As you say let us pay tribute to the railwaymen who will do their best to keep the system running in the trying weather conditions. Remind me when you get back and I will relate a story I was told by a retired driver about a foggy day in steam days.
SILVER PRINCESS CAR. Unfortunately I have not been able to find out about the cars use on the Ulster Express or the Shamrock, there was a picture of the Shamrock being hauled by a class 40 diesel in the early 60s and it looks like the car was in the consist. However I have some info on the car's early days. It was built by Budd in 1947 at Philadelphia. It was tried first on the East Coast Main Line of British Railways, including being in the consist of the Flying Scotsman train. It then was in Ireland, where it ran for 3 months after being fitted with 5 feet 3 inch gauge bogies. The last I can find out was it was at Pressed Steel in the mid 50s. It said that when built, it had capacity for 48 First Class passengers, 30 in an open saloon and 18 in three compartments.
TOM Many thanks for the Christmas Railroad Travel adverts. It was taken as a certainty in those days that the railroads WOULD get you home for the holiday.
I'm afraid you may have to re-think me as a trainee engineer on the CAN-AM. As things were a bit hectic before we headed to South West MO, we set my Irish train set up in a hurry it was OK on the floor but when it had to go on the table I had a wreck. The loco became uncoupled and before I could reach the controller it ran round and hit the coaches causing a de-railment. Luckily without any damage we could not fix. Next year are going to do it better.
Interesting info on the origin of Boxing Day and thanks for the SR Encore, they had a great ad writer. A good way to start after Christmas with the GG1 and RDC photos..
Well RUTH I will have another and get a drink for anyone who ca
G'day!
Just thought I'd share these with those of you who may drop by . . . just a few of my favorite things!
Still listening to Christmas music in our Haus and I'd like to share a few of my "favorite things" with y'all before leaving . . . .
PRR GG1 #4933 (foto credit: Jack Humphrey)
PRR GG1 #4800 (foto credit: RR Museum of PA)
B&M RDC-1 at Boston's North Station (foto credit: unknown)
BC Rail Cariboo Prospector at Lillooet (with permission & courtesy of: Chris Guenzler/trainweb.com)
ENCORE! Southern Railway continues!PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #74
from Page 276Here's something to enjoy regarding the Southern Railway (SOU) in a 1956 advertisement from my private collection: WANT TO PUT IT DOWN IN A SMALL TOWN? MORE AND MORE industries do - because many small towns offer big opportunities for efficient operations and profitable growth. We believe this is particularly true in the South today - - where modern, mechanized farming has made available in many areas a supply of intelligent, high caliber, native-born men and women who can be quickly and economically trained to the skills of industry. Living and working in one of the Southland's friendly and uncongested semi-rural areas offers many other advantages, too. We know - because hundreds of the communities that we serve have a population of 5,000 or less. Our Industrial Development Department now has a detailed, up-to-date catalogue of all the resources of every incorporated community along the Southern. One of our small towns may be just the spot for your factory. Let us tell you more! Look Ahead - Look South!" Harry A. DeButts President . . . . SOUTHERN RAILWAY SYSTEM . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Washington, D.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Southern Serves the South . . . . . Enjoy! Tom
Hope you all enjoyed a very Merry Christmas - we did! Would've been a bit better had some snow found its way to us, however, the temps were in the chill and the feel was definitely appropriate for the holiday.
Time to draw a hot cuppa Joe, a couple of pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery and perhaps a <light> or <traditional> breakfast from our Menu Board!
Here we are at the "day after," or Boxing Day in the UK and Canada. What's THAT, you ask Check out this URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Day
Many thanx to Eric for that fine: 2:25 AM Christmas Eve Post along with perhaps one of the finest Pix for the season seen ‘round here in a long time. Do you mind if we "adopt"it for future display I'd like to add it to the archives . . . well done!
Noted that Doug simply couldn't stay off line for two days as he provided one of his "classic" bits of humor at 5:19 AM yesterday, directed at the "politically correct" crowd . . .
Nice start to the day from Doug today at 5:27 AM - and a special THANX for dropping off a Post over on "my other Thread"
So, we'll just perk along today and through the week taking "what we gets" and hoping for the best.
10,000th Post CONTEST entries (in order of submission):
Feb 14th - BK
Feb 15th - Lars
Mar 12th - Pete
Jan 1st - James
Jan 28th - Eric
Jan 18th - DL
Feb 8th - Doug
Jan 31st - Rob
Mar 15th - CM3
CONTEST closed on Dec 22nd.
Good morning Tom and friends. I'll have a light breakfast if you please. Hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas. I managed to score a Craftsman toolcart and a ratcheting screwdriver from Snap-On, a few train-related ornaments and a reasonably undamaged wallet, so that's doing pretty good for me. Got started on assembling a workshop area downstairs, and now it's time to attack moving boxes and establish permanent storage for items worthy of keeping. I need to be ruthless in this area, as it's all too easy for me to be a pack-rat and end up with stuff that gets saved forever but never used. Here's a bit of light reading on SR car types:
Many food products do not need refrigeration or heating while in transit but do require protection from freezing or excessive heat. To keep such food products from getting too hot or too cold en route, Southern has the DFB insulated box car that is also destined for pallet-type loading with mechanized handling equipment. The car is 50 feet 1 inch long inside, 9 feet 3 inches wide and 9 feet 10 inches high. Twelve-foot doors make for easy maneuvering with fork-lift trucks. The "DF" in the "DFB" means "damage free." The car is equipped with the freight-protecting Super-Cushion and with interior fittings to help hold the load in place and give freight a safe ride. These include load dividers that can be fastened across the car and side fillers to adjust the interior width so that the load is snugly in place.
Southern's Super-Cushion underframe car really does a job for shippers and the consuming public. And it's doing a fine job, too, for the Southern Railway in regaining traffic that had been lost to other forms of transportation because crating and packaging costs and the cost of bracing loads in railroad freight cars were too high for shippers to bear. Fragile freight just didn't get a safe damage-free ride in ordinary railroad cars. Now it does. Southern Railway initiated the research that led to the development of the hydraulic-cushioning devices such as the ones which protect freight in this Super-Cushioned car. A sliding center sill with 30 inches of cushioning soaks jolts and jars before they can reach the freight inside. Sensitive electric meters, delicate electronic equipment, easily damaged rolls of newsprint, bottled goods and many other things now ride safely free of damage in the Super-Cushioned car. Of all-steel, all-welded construction, the car has 10-foot wide aluminum doors and nailable steel floors to make fork-lift loading easy. It is rated for more than a 70-ton load. Its interior dimensions are standard for a box car of its size - 50 feet 6 inches long, 9 feet 6 inches wide, 10 feet 6 inches high. Stabilized trucks with long-travel springs and roller bearings contribute further to smooth, safe rides for freight and to its damage-free delivery. Southern is interested in applying all technological improvements to regaining traffic through providing better service and reducing overall transportation costs to the public.
Southern Railway's cars often have special and unusual design features that are developed to give shippers what they need and what they want for lowering transportation costs. Take this 53-foot flat car, for example, equipped with Super-Cushion. Adjustable hoods at the end of the car give all-weather protection to coils of tin plate while they are in transit from steel mills to can manufacturing plants in the South. Ease in loading and needed protection from weather and transit damage are the principal features of this 100-ton capacity car. It is designed to carry coils of tin plate which weigh about 20,000 pounds and these can be quickly loaded and unloaded with either fork-lift truck or an overhead crane. Here again a special car design saves money in loading and unloading and prevents damage.
Q: What do they call Santa's helpers?A: Subordinate Clauses
Q: What do you call Santa Clause after he's fallen into a fireplace?A: Krisp Kringle
Q: Who sings "Love Me Tender," and makes Christmas toys?A: Santa's little Elvis
Q: Which of Santa's reindeers needs to mind his manners the most?A: "Rude"olph
Q: What did the Gingerbread Man put on his bed?A: A cookie sheet
Q: What reindeer has the cleanest antlers?A: Comet
Q: What is the cow's holiday greeting?A: Mooooory Christmas
Q: What does Santa like to eat?A: A jolly roll
Q: Where do Santa's reindeers like to stop for lunch?A: Deery Queen
Q: If athletes get athlete's foot, what do astronauts get?A: Missile toe
Q: How does Santa Claus take pictures?A: With his North Pole-aroid.
Q: What do you call the fear of getting stuck while sliding down a chimney?A: Santa Claus-trophobia
and
a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year, 2007, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to our society have helped make America great, without regard to the race, creed, color, religious or sexual preference of the wishes.
(This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal, it implies no promise by the wishor to actually attempt to implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others.)
Good morning Captain Tom and all present and Merry Christmas!!!
Christmas Eve, the tavern is closed and all I will do is to push this post under the door. No more work day this year! Just relax and wait for Santa..., no Doug had bad news. It is not Santa who is coming, it is Bubba Claus.
Doug – Thank you for the continuing story about Southern Railway and their freight cars. Interesting info! I guess it was DL who asked about “LCL”. Hmm, I don’t know if I should look forward to Bubba Claus’ visit tonight? I think I’ll send an email to Santa Claus and ask him if he can't make down here to Phoenix. Tom – The last Amtrak train left Phoenix in June 1996. More than ten years ago. All Swedish rolls are gone! Brought them to the office Friday and they liked them. I have to bake more today. I like the Pullman ad! I have been traveling in a few of their sleepers and that was nice! All those ads reminds me of days long gone, when a lot of people actually traveled by train! They still do in Europe but not here.Good movies for this week! But my favorite Christmas movie is “A Christmas Story”!Al – Glad to hear from you sir!!! Hope you will be back soon! Rob – Railroad stuff has a long life span! I have found dumped railroad signals from the 1920’s along the railroad in the old country. All they needed was some cleaning and paint!I feel sorry for that NS&T’s supervisor!<grin> What a feeling to hear about all broken windows.Lars – I am glad I found this tavern!!! More or less by accident.
Just a few words, before I join the gang in the "Banquet Centre" - aka: Rat's Patoot Room! - for the staff 'n critters Christmas Bash!
Wudja believe it I didn't see Rob's Posts or the one from Lars 'til I logged back on just to check . . . What a crazy "thing" this Forum has turned into.
Nice 'stuff' today from Rob 'n Lars, love the ENCORES! and of course those great book and video covers!!
Even a "peek in" from 20 Fingers Al himself. I'll believe it when I see it - been there, done that before, eh But seriously folks <drum roll> would be nice to have Al rejoin us. It's gonna take a heap of reading to play catch-up; we've had significant CHANGES to the way things are 'round here - the customers, just being one. No more DATA DUMPS - sorry! <grin>
Just want to extend my MERRY CHRISTMAS wishes to all of you who have been so supportive since we resumed our activites this summer. You know who you are and so do I! <grin> As Lars so aptly put it, yours have been the most appreciated of all the efforts! My 5- Salute is added to the mix -
See y'all on Tuesday and ENJOY these times with the ones who care about you! I'm planning to.
Christmas train travel NOSTALGIA. . . . . . . . . . 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
Christmas train travel NOSTALGIA
These special Posts will be provided thru Saturday to help keep us in the proper spirit!
. . . . . . . . . . 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
My oh my, Ruth you look rather festive all dressed up like one of Santa's "good little girls"! Good to see you 'n Leon behind the bar and making things ready for the "all staff & critters" Christmas Party in the banquet room, normally the Rat's Patoot Room! <grin>
I did't think I'd make it in today, then it dawned on me that we're CLOSED tomorrow and if I wanna get my submissions in, best to get right to it (roundtuit!).
Appreciate seeing Rob come through in spite of the 'puter nightmare going on with so many of us these days.
A comment from Al. Now the question IS - will he or won't he actually show up B4 years end That 'puter thing has been going on since mid-year, huh Well, it would be nice to have one of the members of the Legion of the Lost actually return to the fold!
Nice - Tom - nice! Keep 'em coming!
Here it is, then I'm heading over to your "other thread" for a submission - then, gonezo 'til Tuesday!
A very MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of you who have stuck with us during times of difficulty, yours have been most appreciated efforts! 5- Salutes to YOU!
We have new "regulars" these days, and some "irregular regulars" too! All of you who support "Our" Place as friends of Tom are friends of mine too! Best to you and yours - Pete - Eric - DL - BK - Mike - Rob - CM3 I'm NOT Shane! - Doug - Nick (wherever you are!) and young James!
trolleyboy wrote:Wierd tales from The Trolley Barn # 5 ODD Trolley Stories Part # 1 Well It's been a while but here's a new ta,le from the trolley barn an odd story that really did happen, hope it causes the giggle that it caused me when I first read it. This incident happened on the NS&T very early on in it's existance.Trolleys have always had an affinity for peculiar accidnets, i.e. the Teddy Roosevelt Story .In 1906 a ridiculous mishap nearly bankrupted the fledgling NS&T.Snows too deep for ordinary plows and sweepers were repeatedly delaying the service on their intururban districts. There was no money for an expensive rotary plow that could easily cut through the drifts, but the roads superintendant wanted one so badly that he dreamed of it. He begged the company officials long and hard, eventually they gave in and scrapped up the cash to purchase one.When the plow first arrived the super was like a tiny kid in the candy store. He even left strict instructions to call him at the first sign of heavy enough snow that the rotary would need to be used.The call came to his house at three in the morning a blizzard had deposited a huge amount of snow threatening to cancel the morning operations.The super hurried to the carbarn and road out like the triumphal calvalry at the controller of his shinny new roatary plow.The rotary munched its way through the drifts without halt all the way to the end of the line.There was an agitated message waiting for the super when he had reached the other end of the line however.The super had forgotten to adjust the discharge lever on the plow when he was clanking down the mainstreet of one of the towns.His wonderfull new plow had hurled wet snow aside with such vigor that it had smashed all the front windows of the houses along the main street, filling living rooms and parlours with wet melting snow ! enjoy Rob
Wierd tales from The Trolley Barn # 5 ODD Trolley Stories Part # 1
Well It's been a while but here's a new ta,le from the trolley barn an odd story that really did happen, hope it causes the giggle that it caused me when I first read it.
This incident happened on the NS&T very early on in it's existance.Trolleys have always had an affinity for peculiar accidnets, i.e. the Teddy Roosevelt Story .In 1906 a ridiculous mishap nearly bankrupted the fledgling NS&T.Snows too deep for ordinary plows and sweepers were repeatedly delaying the service on their intururban districts. There was no money for an expensive rotary plow that could easily cut through the drifts, but the roads superintendant wanted one so badly that he dreamed of it.
He begged the company officials long and hard, eventually they gave in and scrapped up the cash to purchase one.When the plow first arrived the super was like a tiny kid in the candy store. He even left strict instructions to call him at the first sign of heavy enough snow that the rotary would need to be used.The call came to his house at three in the morning a blizzard had deposited a huge amount of snow threatening to cancel the morning operations.The super hurried to the carbarn and road out like the triumphal calvalry at the controller of his shinny new roatary plow.The rotary munched its way through the drifts without halt all the way to the end of the line.There was an agitated message waiting for the super when he had reached the other end of the line however.The super had forgotten to adjust the discharge lever on the plow when he was clanking down the mainstreet of one of the towns.His wonderfull new plow had hurled wet snow aside with such vigor that it had smashed all the front windows of the houses along the main street, filling living rooms and parlours with wet melting snow !
enjoy Rob
Good Morning Tom and the rest of the gang. It's been awhile since i posted as have been busy with school and everything else and my home computer is still giving me problems but that will change Tuesday. The tech will be their in the afternoon and once again I will be around.
Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and should be back on line before the New Year. Sure have missed everyone and the forum but as Governor Arnie says I'll be back.
TTFN Al
"Our" Place will be CLOSED Sunday and Christmas Day.
Here's the "coming attractions" for the Mentor Village Emporium Theatre!
. . . Sunday, December 24th thru 30th: The Grinch (2000) Starring: Christine Baranski, Jim Carrey, David Costabile, and Michael Dahlen - and - White Christmas (1954) Starring: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen. SHORT: The Three Stooges - Three Missing Links (1938).
The Grinch (2000)
PLOT SUMMARY:
Based on the book by the famous Dr. Seuss. Inside a snowflake exists the magical land of Whoville. In Whoville, live the Who's, an almost mutated sort of munchkinlike people. All the Who's love Christmas, yet just outside of their beloved Whoville lives the Grinch. The Grinch is a nasty creature that hates Christmas, and plots to steal it away from the Whos which he equally abhors. Yet a small child, Cindy Lou Who, decides to try befriend the Grinch.
from: amazon.com
White Christmas (1954)PLOT SUMMARY:
After leaving the Army after W.W.II, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis team up to become a top song-and-dance act. Davis plays matchmaker and introduces Wallace to a pair of beautiful sisters (Betty and Judy) who also have a song-and-dance act. When Betty and Judy travel to a Vermont lodge to perform a Christmas show, Wallace and Davis follow, only to find their former commander, General Waverly, is the lodge owner. A series of romantic mix-ups ensue as the performers try to help the General.
SHORT: Three Missing Links (1938)PLOT SUMMARY: Featuring Moe, Larry & Curly
The Stooges are janitors, cleaning up the office of movie producer B. O. Botswaddle. After botching up, they are fired. When Curly impersonates a chicken with its head cut off, Botswaddle hires him (and the other Stooges) for his new movie. The crew heads off to the jungle to film the picture, with Curly as a gorilla. A real gorilla appears and the Stooges escape. Curly eats love candy, which he bought from a local witch doctor, and chases the gorilla away.
from: threestooges.netEnjoy! Tom
Special for Zoe in Nova Scotia!
Nice of you to make your first Post with us at the "Our" Place bar 'n grill.
Nova Scotia is one of my favorite places to visit - we have family in Bedford (Halifax).
Anyway, regarding your question, if you are comfortable with using the internet, you will find many sources for the O-27 track you mentioned. Recommend you do a search, using any of the leading "search engines" for Lionel track and you'll get all kinds of info . . . .
Hope this helps, and by the by, these Forums are chock full of different places to visit. Each Forum is tied to a magazine that Kalmbach publishes. For example, you visited us on the Classic Trains (General Discussion) Forum for the Classic Trains magazine. There is a Toy Trains Forum - where lots of people interested in Lionel trains gather to discuss this 'n that.
Happy Holidays!
Tom, Proprietor of "Our" Place
An Adult eating 'n drinking establishment
Dear train lovers:
one day before Christmas and raining in Nova Scotia. No skiing yet.
we have a 027 guage electric Blue Streak fright which is my son's purchased back in 1973.
It's in perfect shape but the transmitter is only humming. Train not moving. would this be a transmitter problem or an engine. the tracks are a bit worse for wear and i was wondering can one still purchase track for the 027 guage.
Zoe
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