"OUR" PLACE - SEE NEW THREAD!

[Anonymous]

G'mornin' everyone, I hope your Labor Day wekend is all you wish it could be. Tom, I elevate my Stein (Dortmunder Union) in appreciation for putting together a Thread that has met and exceeded all expectations. Frankly, at first encounter, my prognosis for survival was not optimistic. Like the Deusenburg, Cord, Franklin, Auburn and Chrysler Air Flow; the quality seemed too ephemeral for "staying the course." Good thing I'm not a stock analyst; for sure I'd be selling pencils from a tin cup by now.[8] Gents, lets have a round and a "hip, hip hooray" for the propietorship of "Our" Place.[^]
Now, about a salary raise for [C=:-)] Nick, Boris Leon and the gals!

Russell and others who might be morbidly curious about a couple of pix of my early HO Pike and G guage "scratch" efforts can be found on P. 6 of Trollyboy Rob's railimages web site. Much has been done (and re-done) since then and I hope to send along the evidence this Fall, I promise. BTW, the pix are from a throw away camera transferred to a Wal-Mart disc thence to Rob's TLC, and on to "railimages." [Sounds like a clandestine C.I.A. plot, doesn't it?).[:O]

Love all the great postings of pix, URLs, and poignent naustalgia from our "second to none" Membership.[tup] I hope those who are able will join Tom, Nick, Boris, Leon the gals and me for the "Our" Place picnic Monday (details in Summaries). I had hoped to arrange a 7-1/2" gauge "live steam" oval for the kiddies, alas the truck from Largo, Fl. is at a standstill for want of fuel.[V] Ironic isn't it? We could have made it "under our own steam."[:D] Coalminer 3 hang on to those old "Company Store" chits, bituminous and anthracite "will rise again."[(-D]

Okay, I better check on the tables, benches, etc. Oh Nick, "raw nerve?" Hemorhoid more like! Its always the same story: "The operation was a success but the patient died." Bureaucrats and politicians are abysmal physicians.[xx(] Right, Boris look alive (oh sorry).[alien] I mean: stop with the deux (dice) and make with the bell before we all crap out from thirst.[swg] Happy rails folks.

[siberianmo]

G'mornin' barndad Doug

Thanx for the clarification ...... and the URL. A couple of years ago a friend and I had a 5 hour layover in Chicago on our round trip from St. Louis with Amtrak. We tried to get some photo's of the trains at Union Station and the nearby station that Metra uses, but were told we could not go to the platforms. We had the time for a trip - but didn't take advantage of it. I've never traveled aboard those cars - perhaps next time in Chicago I'll do that .... good way to kill the 5 hours between Amtrak trains!

A Kona [?] Are you referring to the brewery in Hawaii who make Fire Rock Pale Ale, Longboard Lager, and Big Wave Golden Ale [?] Or, Kona coffee - also from Hawaii [?] [swg]

Enjoy this long weekend!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[Anonymous]

Good Saturday morning Tom and my esteemed friends. I hope this new day finds each of you well! I'll have a kona and 3 Mentor Bakery sticky buns.
Yes to most of your questions, Tom. I was refering to our UP owned Metra commuter train service to Chicago yesterday, and all cars are double deckers. I've never really thought of photographing them, as they seem so common and unremarkable, but I could if you want. Though there are a few "express" runs during the day, most of the commuters take about 120 minutes to get from Crystal Lake to downtown Chicago. The fare is $5.60 one-way.
My understanding, is that the new station at Pingree Road, has been slated to have about 12 previous "grand openings", as former target days for completion came and went. Hopefully, they'll actually open tomorrow, as I plan to be there for their 1st train stop at 9:03. The web site for the Metra is www.metrarail.com
Have a terrific day one and all!

[siberianmo]

SATURDAY’s NEWS & SUMMARY of RECENT POSTS

Good Morning All! What a day we had yesterday – a record number of Posts. All in a week where we saw the fewest number on Monday! [wow] The rest of the week was one of the best – ever! What a turn around. Many thanx to all of you who made it happen! [tup][tup][tup]

Free pastries to all from The Mentor Village Bakery! [yeah]

News of the Day:

(1) Repeat Consider helping those who are suffering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

(2) repeatThe Selection Committee for The Order of the Stools will meet this month and release their results by mid-September. It is the objective of the Selection Committee to recognize the customers of ”Our” Place through either a Reserved or Permanent Stool award. As always, participation in the form of meaningful Posts on a regular basis is the cornerstone for an award.

(3) repeat Labor Day picnic! Bring your family and friends to the First Annual ”Our” Place Labor Day Picnic. Festivities begin at noon Monday and will wind up with a fireworks display at 9 PM (all time zones – don’t ask how we do that! [swg]) Water slide and trampoline for the kids – horseshoe pits and good ole summertime fun for the adults. [tup]

(4) Two of our Regulars are on vacation – West Coast S – Dave and trolleyboy – Rob Please consider taking up the slack for these guys, as their multiple Posts will be missed.

(5) When will we reach 100 Pages [?]

Chris says September 5th
Russell says September 9th
Nick says September 11th
Al says September 5th (by Noon!)
Doug says September 5th (by 6 PM!)
Rob says September 8th
Dave says September 5th
Pete says Sepember 12th
Dan says September 3rd
Ted says September 16th

CONTEST CLOSED!

SUMMARY

Name - Date/Time - (Page#) – Remarks

(1) siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 05:55:22 (93) Friday’s News & Summary

(2) barndad Doug Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 05:56:58 (93)

(3) passengerfan Al Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 07:12:54 (93)

(4) Gunns Kevin Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 07:45:59 (94)

(5) siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 07:48:13 (94) reply to barndad & passengerfan

(6) siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 08:04:16 (94) reply to: Gunns

(7) coalminer3 Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 08:06:15 (94)

(8) siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 08:09:45 (94) Contest

(9) wrwatkins *** Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 08:19:42 (94)

(10) earlydiesels Dan Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 08:21:21 (94)

(11) siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 08:23:56 (94) reply to coalminer3

(12) siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 08:34:43 (94) reply to wrwatkins

(13) siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 08:39:26 (94) reply to earlydiesels

(14) CFournier Chris Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 08:57:09 (94)

(15) wrwatkins *** Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 09:10:22 (94)

(16) siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 09:22:38 (94) reply to CFournier

(17) siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 09:26:16 (94) reply to wrwatkins

(18) wrwatkins *** Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 09:29:49 (94)

(19) siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 09:39:46 (94)

(20) CFournier Chris Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 09:44:39 (94)

(21) CFournier Chris Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 10:41:25 (94)

(22) Theodorebear Ted Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 10:55:45 (94)

(23) wrwatkins *** Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 11:49:18 (94)

(24) wrwatkins *** Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 11:51:04 (95)

(25) wrwatkins *** Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 11:52:35 (95)

(26) siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 11:56:13 (95) reply to CFournier & Theodorebear

(27) siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 12:07:51 (95) reply to wrwatkins

(28) siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 12:11:57(95) URL

(29)siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 12:17:28 (95) reply to wrwatkins

(30) pwolfe Pete Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 13:48:10 (95)

(31) siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 13:56:42 (95) reply to pwolfe

(32) siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 13:56:42 (95) URL for photo album

(33) earlydiesels Dan Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 14:21:38 (95)

(34) siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 14:32:45 (95) reply to earlydiesels

(35) Trainnut484 Russell Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 17:52:52 (95)

(36) siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 19:28:00 (95) reply to Trainnut484

(37) Theodorebear Ted Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 19:42:59 (95)

(38) siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 20:10:08 (95) reply to Theodorebear

(39) pwolfe Pete Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 20:18:13 (95)

(40) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 20:44:53 (95)

(41) siberianmo Tom Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 21:47:26 (95) reply to pwolfe & nickinwestwales

(42) trolleyboy Rob Posted: 02 Sep 2005, 23:22:01 (95)

(43) siberianmo Rob Posted: 03 Sep 2005, 02:02:30 (95) reply to trolleyboy

=======================================
That’s it! [tup][;)]
Tom (Siberianmo) [4:-)] [oX)]
Proprietor of “Our” Place, an adult eating & drinking establishment!

[siberianmo]

Hello Sir Rob

Those beleagured Sea Kings have had quite an extended service life, haven't they [?] Say what you will, but the Canadian Navy has been just about anywhere and everywhere when asked to help. I hold them in very high esteem. Of course, I recall operations with 'em back in the days when Corvettes were still at sea! Now that's saying something, wouldn't you agree [?]

Resembled would be more like it when it comes to horse pee! Never found the need to taste it! <yuck> Yes, the beer can collection is a bit impressive and quite large. Most of the cans you see are three deep on the shelves. When I trimmed the collection down, I had 9, 12 or 24 cans of each. Decided that 3 of each was more than sufficient. Don't actually know why I even did that - for I don't sell or trade - just have 'em.

The whole thing began back in 1975 when I was going to the U.S. Treasury Dept.'s Criminal Investigator School in WashDC. There's a bar - called the Rathskeller near Embassy Row - that perhaps has one of the largest assortment of international and domestic beer I've ever seen. Today it's pretty much in bottles - but back then, they were in cans. A couple of my buddies introduced me to the place and it was an instant hit. They provided a multi-page menu of beer to select from - and served the beer cans to you with the opened end on the bottom. At the end of the evening - they put all of the cans in paper sacks and you could take 'em with you. I had no clue that this was what they were doing until I finally figured it out - after about a dozen brews. When I went home on weekends, I took the sacks full of cans with me. That's how the collection began. Then it was a matter of looking for different brews in all the places I'd wind up in during my travels. Some of those cans are from South America - Africa - Australia an New Zealand, along with Germany, England, Ireland, Japan and China. Even my traveling shipmates used to pick 'em up for me and send them to me in carefully wrapped parcels. Some were full - but most were empty - opened from the bottom of course! I stopped the madness about 20 years ago - just got to be too much. That's the story ........

Those loco's of BC Rail sure conjure up some memories of trips up into the interior of British Columbia. Man oh man, that was fun! [yeah] Still a bit sad that BC Rail is gone - it just seemed like such an efficient operation. In today's ever changing world and who-knows-what mentality in the board rooms - nothing is sacred. [tdn]

Hey! Have a great holiday and hope you and your bride enjoy every hour to the fullest. Relax and get those batteries recharged! We'll be here upon your return ........ Thanx for the continuing support, my friend, we''lll raise our glasses to ya on Monday at the picnic! [tup][tup][tup]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[trolleyboy]

Good evening Tom and all the ships at sea! Speaking of which our much beloved pm dither's and his rag tag band of mp's Have sent a small task force south 2 frigates a destroyer and a ccgc too aid and abett the relief efforts. I'm just hoping that the musuem quality sea king helicopters going with them don't require rescuing of their own. I'll take the deep dish chicago style and the usual Black Label tonight as well. Funny the old black label adds were reintroduced up here 10 years ago. You can still by it and it's black ice ( 8% ) counterpart seeing as Carling is controlled ( owned? )by Molsons now. Tom your can collection looks like the counter display at one of our beer store's [tup][:o] I'm sure some of those beers resembled/ tasted like warm horse pee.[XX(] Heading out of town tomorrow so I'll miss your tour de force on Monday make sure you raise a glass or two for me. I'm wondering if the London times crossword Boris's paws were on, were for his cage liner ? Gunns Thanks for the url on the story about our little museum that could, it was an interesting read[tup] I think I remeber seeing that guy at the museum may have even talked to him small world.Interesting to note that the small witt Toronto runs ( 2766 } has been heavily maintained with help of our shop forces,our good will gesture for all the TTC has done and does for us. The car was essentially rebuilt ( new complete metal underframe built to original specs ) It should run for at least 50 more years! Chris 1400 does still look quite good odf coarse I think the ONR only retired those loco's with in the last ten years. They were the last operational 244 engined Alco's out there. For the US members the RS10 is an MLW loco built to the same specs as the RS-2 only with a full hight car body looked like an Alco powered geep. The RS10's we 1600 hp 244 engined. The follow up Rs18 was the same loco 1800hp with the 251 series prime mover similar to US built RS11's but lacking the hood notches. Both types were freight / passenger type loco's light weight heavy weight jack of all trades. CP extebsivly rebuilt their RS18's over the years including a major chopnose rebuilding( along the lines of GP9 rebuilds) in the eighties. Quite a few still exist in shortline service. Tom you would see many an RS10 and 18 in PGE/BCR service as well, including factory built low nose unit's some of which CN now has for sale since their take over of BC rail. Well folks have a wonderfull and safe labour day weekend. Rob

[siberianmo]

Evenin' Guys!

This has been a week of contrasts - Monday we had the fewest number of Posts since our humble beginning on April 12th, and today the most. Unbelievable turn around .... Many thanx and congraulations to all of you who have contributed to the success of "Our" Place and our march to 100 pages! [yeah][wow][tup][tup][tup]

Pete Pix have been received - haven't uploaded them to the site for downloading here! Amazing new lexicon we've adapted, eh [?] I appreciate your kind words - however, I doubt the folks at Kalmbach are keeping track of us that closely ....... [swg]

Nick Another gem of a Post from our British Isles connection! Phony Tony and Dubya's bunch of crooks [?] [wow] How do you really feel [?] [swg] Good thing we're not overly political 'round here .........

That nerve you tweaked was in fact mine, not Ted's. Nevertheless, I appreciate all points of view as long as they are based on more than anecdotal crap and nonsense. Opinions are just like another part of our anatomy - we all have 'em! I worked for a rather senior officer once who told the officers that if we were going to opine away our time, he would only tolerate fact-based opinions. The rest would have to remain unsaid. I like that ...... used it myself once I became The Man.

A few years ago, I tried my level best to speak French well enough to order a meal in a Montreal restaurant. Thanx to Berlitz, I succeeded by taking a home course - tapes, over 'n over 'n over. So, there we were, ready to order as I fumbled through my rather primitive command of the language. Our waiter waited patiently - smiled - and replied in perfect English, repeating what i had said. I think "My Grandmother is an onion," was somehow entwined with the prime rib order. [swg] Oh well, at least I tried ....

I thought about our bathtup with the knee-deep green backs. However, that tub is in the private quarters section of the upstairs ..... the other tub is in the hall, between the guest rooms. We're still in the money, no worries ....... [tup]

Here's to those who sailed the seas during the worst of times in order to guaranty a better world for those who came later. Cheers! [tup][tup][tup]

Catch ya later ....... and THANX again for being one of "Our" Place's most ardent supporters! [tup] Cheers to you, Nick ![C=:-)]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[nickinwestwales]

Well, good evening my lambkins-much and various post to catch up on,first,however-Beer for the house-let Nero fiddle whilst Rome burns-[4:-)] TOM,set em up my friend,given the plagues of locusts in the Sudan,floods,in various places, famine across much of Africa,widespread anarchy it would seem that the Nordic shamans of old were right , Ragnarok ( The end of Days ) is upon us-they gave us a whole planet to play with and we`ve broken it-----------nice one guys !!!!!-enough,Boris,ring bell-gently. O.K.-errata from previous post-(1)-speed records-#60012 "Commonwealth of Australia" middle cylinder reduced from 18.5x26 ins to 17x26ins,(2) Brighton "Terriers"-only data available for rebuilt A1x (new boiler& extended smokebox circa 1911) as noted by CHRIS-weight 28.25 Tons,boiler pressure 150 PSI,cyl.(2) 12"x20",wheels-48",tractive effort 7,650 LBS-one engine (#32636) cyl-14.25"x20"-tractive effort 10,695 LBS -data extracted from 1962 Locospotters guide. O.K-to posts,fading fast so may have to complete tomorrow-DOUG-the bathtub is the unofficial "Our Place" banking facility-Since my tenure as Head Chef the coal is no longer stored there,when Boris requires cleaning the task is performed in the back yard with hose & wire brush-COALMINER3-An uncle of mine was on the Archangel & Murmansk convoys during WW2-we dont have a clue about the real meaning of a hard life,although perhaps,from your signature you do....DAN-so you are a slim-line fan,loads of them in Wales-send us a list and will see what can be found !!! CHRIS-Ta for O.N. & F-unit stuff-apologies for awful French-supposed to be "hello ,how are you",likely translation "is your Grandmother an onion" or similar-languages never a strong point....TED-welcome home dear boy,hope all is well,apologies if I touched a raw nerve R.E disaster planning. ***- Carling a popular draught and canned brew over here-enjoy a six-pack on a daily basis WOLFMAN-remember the ad-Mackesons stout,in bottles or cans if memory serves-[4:-)]TOM-at last ,a man whose liver is in a similar state to my own- a magnificent collection !!!!-p>s.-checked out the site-all you will get from phony Tony & cronies( Her Brittanic Majesty`s democratically elected govt.) is weasel words and empty rhetoric-same as the rest of us have gotten used to-wont even start on Dubya and his bunch of crooks,neither the time nor the place--Boris,the bell-double round I think,sleep well one and all,regards,nick[C=:-)]

[pwolfe]

HI Tom and all
After seeing the great beer can collection you have made me dry and I shall have to have a Bathams or three. When was beer first canned over here [?].The photos of Dalston are very good too.
The wife has sent some photos of Green Bay.I hope they are O.K .
Do you think KALMBACH has noticed nearing 100 pages perhaps they will our Bar-owner a prize.
[;)][:-,] Seriously thanks to them. PETE.

[siberianmo]

Evenin' Ted

Boris and The London Times crossword puzzle [?] [yeah] Right - perhaps he's finding a suitable liner for Awki's cage! [swg]

Couldn't have said it better, although I alluded to much of what you Posted earlier. American resourcefulness - that's the cornerstone of what made us the nation we became. Government never should be the end-all, much less do-it-all in our collective lives. We're slidding fast into a dependency that surely doesn't bode well for our future.

Happy to hear that we'll be seeing you at the picnic - you ARE staff afterall - Mr. Manager! [swg]

If I wasn't so lethargic this evening, I'd jump to the library of hard cover RR books to research that question of yours. Sounds like something for passengerfan Al! [tup]

By the by, we're heading toward a record Posting .... unbelievable activity lately! [yeah]

Enjoy the evening and weekend!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[Anonymous]

Wow, I had to enter via the wine cellar, "Our" place is so crowded.[:D] Great stuff being passed around at the speed of light. Ruthy, I'll do a Pizza "original Old Country style" and Tom, a tall frosty pilsner glass with a bottle of Utica Club Blue Label, if you please. Ah, bless you both.[^]

Question for anyone who will jump in before the "Doodlebug" topic runs cold. Frisco ran Gas Electrics into the early 1950's. I saw one that had an almost bazaar appearance with what seemed to be a large (circular) exhaust fan on the roof line (over the cab). I've tried several URL's, etc. searching for the "beast" but to no avail. Maybe one of you have something for it? It could be the proverbial "needle...," just don't know.

[#offtopic]This may be as tough to hear as it is to say but I think some issues on the Gulf Coast tragedy need to be recognized for what they really are. A terrible "accounting" is now taking place which concerns every American Citizen. To begin with, cities greater and smaller than N.O., La. are far better prepared for any catastrophic contingency. Right now, It is just to easy for local and State leaders to "pass the buck" for their own lack of judgement to the next "rung up the ladder." The Federal Government is the "choice of last resort" for managing immediate local emergency relief efforts. Florida learned from "Andrew" that the State isn't much of an improvement. Yet as Citizens, we have come to hinge all of our needs after a disaster on these two glacier like moving government bodies. Things have changed from when regional citizens donned their work clothes, boots, gloves and set about the task of helping their neighbors shoulder-to-shoulder. A sort of paralysis now overcomes people of "free will" and they ignore good choices and rational judgement. In no way is this an indictment or a parole of government responsibility. This is only a reminder that, as individuals, there will be times when we alone must be responsible for our own mortality and that of our neighbors.[soapbox]

I for one, plan on being right here for our Labor Day picnic.[tup] Fuel is needed elswhere and for more worthy pursuits than me trukin' over crowded hiways.[tdn] So Tom, let this be my "last call" for the day if you can get Boris to tear himself from the London Times X-word puzzle and "clap away." So long friends.

[siberianmo]

Hi Russell

[yeah] Had lots of fun with that beer can collection - many of those cans were filled with liquids only fit for unclogging sink drains! Others - not bad, and still others - awwwwwwright! [swg]

For those who haven't a clue regarding what this is about - I posted a URL for pix from Chris. That site also has some pix of my beer can collection - which I intended to Post later this weekend. I'm really not finished with the pix .... Anyway - the cat's outta the bag - so check it out at:

http://photobucket.com/albums/b222/siberianmo/

Now, Russell surely you read the Posts and know all about the prize! [swg] You mean you entered a contest wihout knowing the bottom line [?]

Gotcha! Well, given that we're beginning a nice long weekend - I'll reveal it: Open bar for the winner on any Mon - Tues or Wed nite! How's that [?]

Catch ya laterl [tup]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[Trainnut484]

Good evening Tom and all. A rum and coke for me please Tom [:)]

Tell me you didn't drink ALL that beer in your collection Tom. Moderation is the key [;)] (I know you only drank half of the collection) LOL. Ok I'm done being a smart a** tonight. [:D] [:-^] Seriously, it's a good thing you came back from the Doc in good health.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the people down South.

Already we're on p 95. The big 100 is right-around-the-corner [tup][yeah] Still think the 9th is when that'll happen. BTW what's the winning guesser going to receive?

Ted, still waiting on those pics

Russell

[siberianmo]

Hi earlydiesels Dan

Have a safe 'n enjoyable trip ovedr this long weekend. Sounds like good times .... too bad you won't be drinking 'n eating with us! [swg]

Be sure to check out what you've missed upon your return ... at the rate we're going, who knows how many pages we'll have logged ....... [yeah]

Positive thoughts go out to our friends in the South ....... [tup][utp][tup]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[Anonymous]

Hello again. I'll take a cold house draught. We are preparing to leave tonight for Baldwin City. Too many morning wakeups at 330 so we go back to the way we used to do it. Wife's sis used to live about 75 minutes away and so we would stay with them until they moved to SD.
Don't think I'll be back until Tuesday as I'm marked up all 3 days. Friend has spotted us for a free night in a motel so have to take her up on the hospitality. Going to be free live musicians and all kinds of food, too. I hope that lots of people on the KC area stay close for the holiday and visit us. The offer still is open to any one from OUR PLACE.
Everyone have a good, safe Labor Day and remember our Gulf Coast in your thoughts and prayers.

[siberianmo]

Hey Guys,


Check out this URL:

http://photobucket.com/albums/b222/siberianmo/

It's a photo album I created for Chris' pix from the Delson RR Museum near Montreal .....

I just opened an account with PhotoBucket and haven't quite figured out all of the nuances yet - but these pix should be a good start.

Enjoy!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[siberianmo]

G'day Pete

Nice to see ya again! And a pint of Bathams comin' your way .... [swg]

It's a senstive chord that is struck with talk of the Merchant Marine crews who met their fates in Davey Jone's locker thanx to the U-Boats and other perils of the sea during WWII. My dad was one of those who made those north Atlantic runs and while I was just a kid - I recall the telegrams - only to find out that he wasn't missing after all! Twice torpedoed and struck a mine in the North Sea shortly after the war ended. Not a scratch on him - in drink all three times. The U.S. only recently finally recognized these men for what they contributed - so did Canada. Only wish he would have been alive to receive the acknowledgment .......

We've really had some interesting stuff these days, eh [?] Gotta get back to TRAINS, as in Classic! [yeah] I think that I have some pix of those loco's you referred to in one of my books - Railroadds Around the Wolrd, or something llike that.

Catch ya later and if you can't make it in over the weekend, be sure to come to the picnic on Monday! [tup]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[pwolfe]

Hi TOM and all.
Seeing it is after noon Can I have a pint of Bathams and allow me to get around in for the wonderful conversations since yesterday please [wow][yeah].

The talk of bygone brewerys started by COALMINER 3 is great each beer with its own advertising slogan one of ours was LOOKS GOOD, TASTES GOOD AND BY GOLLY IT DOES YOU GOOD.

May I be allowed to also regret the decline of the merchant fleet but for theNorth American and British fleet World War II would have been lost early on. There must have been many a U.S. SAILOR who risked his life suppling Britain before the U.S.was at war.
It always made my father mad that the merchant sailors were not given the appriciation they deserved having been on convoy escort duty in the Atlantic (and the Med) he had a great deal of respect for them.
On a lighter note in 1941 the SOUTHERN RAILWAY OF England built a class of locos which they named the MERCHANT NAVY class There were 30 engines named after Shipping fleets.they were rebuilt in the late 50's and quite a few survived mainly thanks to BARRY scrap yard. Has NICK told you about Barry yet.

TOM Thanks for link it looks like the some the other countries are showing some humanity at last

Can I have one for the road and is any chance of hiding some Steak n Fries from BORIS tonite so I can have them with the game tomorrow
[:-,] PETE.

[siberianmo]

***

Surely you are not interested in numbers counts!![?] However, this is how it works - with each new Post you make, all of your previous Posts will reflect the new number. So, if you scrolled back to the first time you ever visited a Forum, that number would be your most current one. Sometimes, the system takes a bit of time to catch up - minutes really - with sequential Postings.

The numbering system is not sequential as such - so there's no way to keep track of what you've Posted by that number. The whole idea is to amass the required numbers in order to gain another star.

Not to worry, you'll get the credit ........

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[siberianmo]

Hey Guys,

Here's a URL you may find of interest from CNN - "World leaders offer sympathy, aid"

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/02/katrina.world/index.html

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[siberianmo]

Howdy ***[C):-)]

I like the sound of that ... after all, you ARE in Texas!

Speaking of brewskies - I have cans from every one of those brews you mentioned. I'll have to take some pix for sure and post 'em ........ The Old Frothingslosh, with the babe the label can only be consumed right before closing time! [swg]

I've got a few reefers with beer adverstisements in one of my retired HO freight car wall mounted display cases. They are the older wood braced, ice box cars. Never did add any to the more modern fleet ........

Glad to hear that you'll take advantage of our Pizza Nite. The way it works is like this - one free draught with every large pizza. Pizza is precisely as you described and I long for the taste of the pies from my youth. Right after WWII, the pizza craze hit NYC, perhaps way before the rest of the nation. The pizza was wonderful - hardly anything like the embellished nonsense of today. Really simple concoctions that were sooooooo good. We frequent an Italian family ristorante that comes as close as I've found to authentic 1940's NYC pizza. When we introduce our friends to this - they simply cannot believe how good it is. They've only known the chains across the land and haven't a clue to what real pizza is supposed to be like. we know! [tup]

I'm hungry - gonna go back in the kitchen and fire up the oven! [swg]

See ya!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[siberianmo]

G'day Guys!

Back from the Doc with a clean bill of health (relatively speaking .....) until my next quarterly visit. Looks like the hum is all about us today, as it has been lately, nice to see so many of you making conversation! [yeah][tup]

Chris So, detour one of those tank cars and you'll be set for the remainder of your working days ....... [swg] By the by, YOU are soooooooooo into the hole with rule violations, that I think you'll need to establish a "tab" just to keep your head above water!

Ted Hope all went well yesterday at the VA .... Yes, we've had one hulluvua lot of activity 'round here lately. Seems like the guys wanna talk ....... [tup]

This nauseating coverage of what's not going on in New Orleans is nothing more than an extension of what we've been listening to since W became President. Can't win for losing. There ARE many things that haven't gone quite the way we all would like. But good Gawd Gertie, this disaster wasn't, and isn't, anything to easily put a rope around. One POSITIVE aspect as far as I'm concerned is that when it comes to reliance - we should rely on one another and ourselves, and not government. Used to be that way once upon a time - kinda like what made America great. Wonder how many of us are truly capable of holding up during the most severe of circumstances [?] Heaven help us if we were to experience multiple wide spread destruction to our cities.

Okay - you're in for the 16th and here are the final guesstimates:

When will we reach 100 Pages [?]

Chris says September 5th
Russell says September 9th
Nick says September 11th
Al says September 5th (by Noon!)
Doug says September 5th (by 6 PM!)
Rob says September 8th
Dave says September 5th
Pete says Sepember 12th
Dan says September 3rd
Ted says September 16th

CONTEST CLOSED!

Appreciate your Post - as always - and hope to see ya 'round this long weekend. Festivities on Monday .........[tup]
Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[Anonymous]

For some reason the postings have been sequenced to 300 including the last one. they are not giving me credit for all of my ramblings.

[Anonymous]

Quick question Tom. What gives with the counter for the postings. My last three all have the same sequence number-299. Perhaps this one will also have 299. Cannot find out until I post it.

***

[Anonymous]

Almost lunch time. Being Friday I think I will twist off a little and have a brewsky. Tom your comments on fallen flag beers brought back fond memories. I remember Carlings Black Label from my college days. That was the drunk of chioce then. I dissapeared off the market in the US about 1965. Do not know why. They still sell it in London. Perhaps Nick in Wales can send us a case. I also remember the three local brews from Pittsburgh-Duquesne, Fort Pit, and Iron City. Fort Pit had an advertising slogan "Fort Pit-thats it". Since I am long removed from the Pittsburgh area I do not know if they are still around. One of the breweries (do not remember which one) bottled spoof beer at Christmas. They called it Old Frothingslo***he pale stale ale with the foam on the bottom. On TV they would turn the camera upside down and show the beer streaming out of the "upright" bottle. TV was good in the days before they pulled a lot of the good ads. We have a couple beers in Texas. One is Shiner bock-a dark beer brewed in Shiner (where else) Texas. It is a dark beer. The brewery was started about 100 years ago by the Spoetsel (sp?) family from Germany. It has a good following. Another one mainly sold along the Gulf coast was Dixie. I think it originated in New Orleans. It had a little edge. I used it mainly to clean old paint brushes. Now I drink very very little beer. Maybe a six pack per year (yes, year). I like a heavy beer and do consume a lot of Guinness stout while in the old country, but that is about it for beer consumption on my part. Tieing this into trains I have a car on my G scale railroad that is a Coors reefer.

Sorry I did not get the info on the 4141 out sooner. I only learned about it yesterday evening when I received my monthly newsletter from the local NRHS chapter.

Time to go to lunch. I WILL be back this evening as it is Pizza night. Bring in an extra oven as I really love it. Pizza is like wemen and wine-there is no bad ones. Some are just better than others. My wife accuses me of being able to live on pizza. We had one for dinner along with a bottle of cabernet last night.

Later,
***

[Anonymous]

IMMENSE! There has been such a volume of posts since yesterday a.m., one hardly knows where to begin. Tom, let's "begin" with a Crown and soda w/lime twist. Oh, first order of business: page 100 will be reached on the 16th of the month, not the 15th or 17th...the SIXTEENTH ALREADY![banghead] Last thing I need is winning the "finger of suspicion" for being a party to a "rigged" contest[:O]

The consensus on the N.O., La debacle seems to support a logistical vacuum at the local level. When you see 2 or 3 hundred school buses and the whole inventory of City Lines buses under 6 feet of water; HELLO! Did someone say bad weather tomorrow?[:I] Not to worry, our "mainstream media" will see to it that all blame is affixed to the current Administration...case closed![:-^] What a time for Americans to worry about that wonderful Labor Day "getaway" and high fuel prices. Oh Nick, the Department of Interior (U.S.) hasn't yet completed a direct line to Poseidon's offices. It should be "in place" by the eleventh at the latest.[(-D] BTW, last night's menu shall be preseved in our archives as a "Classic," just incredible.[bow]

There is so much data, memorabilia and a pot pot-pourri of ideas ahead of me, that a single posting would surely bring us to page 100 this very day. Let me start with Pwolf by saying, yes. I would be most grateful for the speed record data...mail you a.s.a.p. Chris, really appreciate the commentary on the pix, makes them "come alive." coalminer 3, I'm still in "left field" over the "Fish" and "Pig" trains. I'm probably the only ignoramus here but could you humor this old duffer with some remedial lessons? I'm down right fascinated for more, more, MORE!

Okay, Boris, I'm hoarse from all this palaver. Hit the laniard and we hear "ding dong" go BINK??? Gadfrey, not again![:O] Please, somebody else take a look what's in there. Last time it was panty hose.[alien] Happy rails to all.

[CFournier]

Hi TOM,
I saw a CN unit train, the TANK-TRAIN this morning on my way to work. You know, the tank cars are all connected together for loading and unloading. I think they must be 33,000 gals per tank car. At $6.00 CDN a gal, that makes $198,000 a car. The train had around 100 cars! So we have a $19,800,000.00 cargo of gas going by me at 70 kms an hour.

[*^_^*][censored]CHRIS

[CFournier]

Hello, again,
About the CN’s F unit picture Tom posted for me, It doesn’t look like a FP-9, they were a few feet longer and I don’t see a longer body here. The number is not right for an F-3 so that leaves us with an F-7…Some FP-9 are still pulling trains around Montreal. There is one on commuter trains for the AMT in the blue-silver scheme that serves the Blainville to Windsor station line every day. I sometimes take this train to go to work. There is also a strange looking loco, a GP-9 long hood and trucks rebuilt and fitted with an Alco-MLW type of cab and short hood…Ugly? Not really but interesting to say the least. This one pulls the Dorion to Windsor station commuter train helped by a rebuilt F7-B unit. Most AMT trains are powered by F-59PH locos. Athearn sells one in the right AMT blue and silver paint scheme.
Chris

[siberianmo]

Hey ***

Fine! Now ya tell us about the "4141 Express" ..... why not before I made my trip to Dallas [?] [swg] Rail Barron class, of course! What else IS there afterall [?]

[yeah] Sounds just like something that would fit neatly into my budget ......... [:D]

Catch ya later, gotta get going for my quarterly visit with the Doc ........

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[Anonymous]

Good morning a third time. The boss is in the Friday morning managers meeting and as the saying goes "When the cat is away the rats will play." Pass the cheeze please.

I will try to be a little upbeat with this posting for a change. The Bush library (Bu***he elder, #41) at at Texas A&M in College Station in conjunction with Union Pacific will be running a special called "The 4141 Express" between College Station and Dallas and back. to commerate the opening of the Bush Presidential library. UP will be providing a specially painted locomotive (#4141) commerating the library. Cost is $250 per person and up depending on the type of seat selected. the ticket also includes the over night hotel in Dallas. If you really have money to burn you can purchace the Rail Barron class at $35,000. This includes tickets for 40 people and an on board caterer to prepare meals and an open bar, the Walter Dean lounge/dome car. The Rail Barron group will be treated to the pinnacle of luxury and comfort aboard two of UP's finest cars from their Heritage fleet. The trip will leave College Station on Saturday November 19 at 9:00 AM and leave Dallas on Sunday at 4:30 PM. The trip will be 4.5 hours each way. More information can be obtained by calling 979-691-4016 or at http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/trains/index.php and selecting the "Excursion" link.

Sounds like fun. Any takers in building up a consortium to buy the Rail Barren ticket?

***