ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE !
Today's encore continues the recent spat of posts on rebuilders and their final product, More one to one scale real world kitbashing if you will. This post first aired back on page 263
Rob
trolleyboy wrote:Well a little bit of filler for this evening. Another installment to the info roster as it were. CLASSIC DIESEL'S #8 THE CF7 The CF7 At the end of the 1960's the ATSF found itself with several hundred F7 frieght diesels that were out of a job. They had been bumped from mainline frieght duties by high horse power hood units , and their carbody configuration made them unsuitable for the branchline and local duties where they were needed. Santa Fe could not afford to to buy several hundred new units for this type of work and the F7's mechanically still had many usefull years left in them. So the Sante Fe decided to convert them ( F7's ) to hood units.Two factors influenced this decision : 1) The desire to keep the shop at Clerburne Tx busy , 2) The financial advantage of a capitol rebuilding program, whick let them treat the rebuilt locomotives as new, therefore enabling them to depreciate their value over a period of several years. The rebuilding process was complicated by the basic difference between cab units,such as the F7, and a hood unit. A hood unit is essentially a flat frame carrying a diesel engine,and a generator and controls, with sheet metal hoods protecting them and the crew from the weather. A cab unit was designed so that the sides carry part of the weight of the machinery. Remove the sides and the frame will sag. Fabricating new frames was a major part of the conversion process from F7 to CF7 . At first glance, the CF7 looks like a GP7 that has had it's short hood lowered.It differs from a GP7 in having a shorter , short hood and a longer cab ; the side members of the frame are also quite different. Most of the CF7's were built with a curved cab roof ; the last 54 had an angled cab roof that can accomodate a roof mounted air conditioner.Mechanically the CF7's are tthe same as the GP7 1500hp 567prime mover and the assosiated gen set. All refurbished as needed, but the original as installed powerplant from their F7 days. Sante Fe built 233 CF7's between 1970 and 1978. In the early 80's the road began to phase them out and discovered a ready market for them in the various short lines and regional railroads. Many are onto their third and forth owners, in may cases running with thier purcgasers longer than with their builder. The CF7 was likely one of the most ambitious rebuilding schemes attempted by a class one. eclipsd only by some of the switcher rebuilds and GP7 and 9 conversions done by the UP and ICG to name just two. CF7 working for a shortline dinner train in Florida. Enjoy Rob
Lets see it's sunday so lets pull out or usual sunday photo posting day fare.
CP Rail C424 in service at Detroits delray Jct. Summer of 1994
C&NW GP15 locomotive in transfer service near the St Charles Ill airport, summer of 1995
Last two shots are C&NW GP7's also in local and transfer service in and around Chicago in the summer of 1995
More later
Our railway rocollection for the day.
siberianmo wrote:RAILROADS from YESTERYEAR – Coast Line/Seaboard Railways – ACL – SAL – SCL - arrives on Track #1 at NOON! Watch for it! Tom
*note anyon is welcome to addd their own or more to any of the disscussions here .
coalminer3 wrote:Good Morning Barkeep and All Present (Body, Mind, and/or Spirit), coffee, please; round for the house, and $ for the jukebox (as soon as we get it off the roof). I just got in from watching the local shifter pick up the mt tank cars behind the bar. As the parrot said in Disorder in the Court, "What a night!" I see that we are doing ACL/SAL/SCL today. I'll get things started with a survey of SCL passenger service in 1969. You can see from looking in the post that although a lot of local and short-haul service had vanished, there was still a fair amount of long haul stuff on several different routes. The City of Miami/South Wind material will be of interest to our car scholars as cars changed all the time on those runs. Seaboard Coast Line – Eastern Trains 1969 “Silver Meteor” between New York, Washington, Richmond and Raleigh, Hamlet, Columbia, Savannah, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Miami PC 171/PC 143/RF&P 57/SCL 57 PC 170/PC 142/RF&P 58/SCL 58 Baggage-dormitory: New York-Miami Budget room coach (16 single budget rooms/4 double budget rooms): New York-Miami Sleeping Cars (11 dbr, 10 rttes/6dbr, 5dbr/bar-lounge): New York-Miami Diner: New York-Miami Coaches (2): New York-Miami Coach: Washington-Miami Tavern/obs/lounge: New York-Miami Registered Nurse – Passenger Service Agent – Coach Attendants “Silver Star” between New York, Washington, Richmond and Raleigh, Hamlet, Columbia, Savannah, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice. PC 177/PC135/RF&P21/SCL21 PC 8/PC 130/RF&P 22/SCL 22 Baggage-dormitory: Washington-Miami Sleeping Cars 10 rttes/6 dbr: New York-Venice, New York-St Petersburg, Richmond-Miami 4 dbr/4 compt/2 drawing rooms: New York-Miami Diner: New York-Miami Tavern-lounge: New York-Miami Budget meal car: Jacksonville-St. Petersburg Coaches: New York-Miami (FR, SA, and SU only), New York-Miami (daily), New York-St. Petersburg, New York-Venice Registered Nurse – Passenger Service Agent – Coach Attendants “Champion” between New York, Washington, Richmond and Rocky Mount, Florence, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville, Naples, Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg PC 171/PC 145/ RF&P 91/SCL91 PC 6/ PC 144/RF&P 92/SCL 92 Baggage car: New York-St. Petersburg Budget room coach (16 single budget rooms/4 double budget rooms): New York-St. Petersburg Sleeping Cars 10 rttes/6 db: New York-St. Petersburg 6 db/bar lounge: New York-St. Petersburg Diner (twin unit): New York-St. Petersburg Tavern lounge: New York-St. Petersburg Coaches: New York-St. Petersburg, New York-Naples, New York-Montgomery (via Waycross) “Champion” Florence-Augusta PC 145/ RF&P 91/SCL91-51 PC 144/RF&P 92/SCL 52-92 Baggage car: Florence-Augusta Café lounge: Florence-Augusta Coaches: Florence-Augusta “Champion” Waycross-Montgomery SCL 91-89 SCL 90-92 Passenger-baggage: Waycross-Montgomery Coaches: Waycross,-Montgomery, New York-Montgomery “Palmland” between Washington, Richmond and Raleigh, Hamlet, Columbia PC 3/PC 147/RF&P 9-75/SCL 9 PC 2/PC 140/RF&P 10-76/SCL 10 Baggage-mail: Washington-Columbia Sleeping car (10 rttte/6db): New York-Columbia Café lounge: Richmond-Hamlet Coaches (2): New York-Columbia “Gulf Coast Special” between New York, Washington, Richmond and Rocky Mount, Florence, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville PC 3/PC 147/RF&P 9-75/SCL 75 PC 2/PC 140/RF&P 10-76/SCL 76 Baggage cars: New York-Jacksonville Sleeping car (10 rtte/6db): New York-Jacksonville Café lounge: Richmond-Florence Snack service: Washington-Richmond, Florence-Jacksonville Coaches New York-Florence (NB FR/SA, SB SA/SU), New York-Jacksonville (2) (Daily) “Everglades” between Washington, Richmond and Rocky Mount, Florence, Charleston, Jacksonville PC 177/PC 131/RF&P 85/SCL 85 PC 176/PC 158/RF&P 86/SCL 86 Baggage car: Washington-Jacksonville Coaches: Washington-Florence, Washington-Jacksonville Snack service: Washington-Florence Seaboard Coast Line – Midwest, Alabama, Georgia and Florida 1969 “City of Miami” between Chicago, St. Louis, Birmingham, Albany and Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Miami, Gainesville, Leesburg, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Sarasota, Ft. Myers, Naples Dates of operation from both Chicago and Florida December 2 and EOD (even dates) January 1 and EOD (odd dates) February 2 and EOD (even dates) IC 53/C of G 52/SCL 5 IC 52/C of G 53/SCL 6 Baggage car: Jacksonville-St. Petersburg Baggage-dormitory: Chicago-Miami Sleeping cars 10 rttes/6db: Chicago-St. Petersburg 12 dbr: Chicago-Miami 10 rttes/6db: Chicago-Miami Café-diner: Chicago-Miami Tavern lounge: Chicago-Miami Grill car: Jacksonville-St. Petersburg Coaches (2): Chicago-Miami Dome coach: Chicago- Miami Passenger Service Representative-Coach Attendants “South Wind” between Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, Montgomery and Jacksonville West Palm Beach, Miami, Gainesville, Leesburg, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Sarasota, Ft. Myers, Naples Dates of operation from both Chicago and Florida December 2 and EOD (odd dates) January 1 and EOD (even dates) February 2 and EOD (odd dates) PC 90/L&N 15/SCL 12-5 PC 93/L&N 16/SCL 6-11 Baggage cars: Chicago-Louisville, Louisville-Montgomery, Montgomery-Miami, Jacksonville-St. Petersburg Sleeping Car (10 rttes/6db): Louisville-Miami Snack bar coach: Chicago-Louisville Grill car: Jacksonville-St. Petersburg Café lounge: Dothan-Miami Coaches: Chicago-Louisville, Louisville-Miami, Louisville-St. Petersburg NOTE: “South Wind” equipment ran as part of L&N trains 8 and 9, the “Pan American.” The “South Wind’s” cars split from the “Pan” at Montgomery. “Gulf Wind” Between Jacksonville and Chattahoochee, Mobile, New Orleans L&N 8-11/SCL 40 L&N 12-9/SCL 39 Baggage cars: Jacksonville-New Orleans Diner: Mobile-New Orleans Grill car: Jacksonville-Chattahoochee Coaches: Jacksonville-New Orleans work safe
This was from disscussions first held live on page # 268, as always new imput is always accepted.To add too the vast archieve of information on this thread.
siberianmo wrote:Now arriving on track #1 ….. Railroads from Yesteryear! Number Nine (in two parts) Used with permission from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Formatting differences made necessary due to Forums requirements. Some heralds from other sources. The Coast Line/Seaboard Railways – ACL – SAL – SCL Part I of II Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Locale: United States Atlantic Coast Reporting marks: ACL Dates of operation: 1840 – July 1, 1967 Track gauge: 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge) Headquarters: Jacksonville, FL There is also an Atlantic Coast Line in Cornwall, England. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (AAR reporting mark ACL) was an American railroad that existed between 1898 and July 1, 1967, when it merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, its long-time rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. The company was headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida (Wilmington, North Carolina before 1961). After several more mergers and consolidations, the former ACL is now part of CSX Transportation, also headquartered in Jacksonville. History 1914 map The Atlantic Coast Line Company was organized on May 29, 1889 as a holding company for a system of railroads from Richmond and Norfolk, Virginia south and southwest to Augusta, Georgia. North Carolina The Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad was chartered in 1835, opening in 1840 from Wilmington, North Carolina north to Weldon, where the Petersburg Railroad continued to Petersburg, Virginia. The name was changed in 1855 to the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad. The Wilmington and Manchester Railroad was chartered in 1846 and opened in 1853 from Wilmington west to Camden Crossing, South Carolina on the South Carolina Railroad's branch to Camden. After the American Civil War, the company was reorganized in 1870 as the Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta Railroad, opening an extension west to Columbia in 1873 but never reaching Augusta, Georgia. In 1872 the Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta Railroad leased the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, forming a continuous line through Wilmington, which was advertised as the Atlantic Coast Line. That lease was cancelled in 1878 due to the Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta's bankruptcy; that company was sold in 1879 and reorganized in 1880 under the same name. Over the years, the Wilmington and Weldon bought many other lines. Most notable among those was the Wilson and Fayetteville Railroad, built as a cutoff from near Wilson to the Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta at Pee Dee, South Carolina. This was chartered in South Carolina as the Florence Railroad. South Carolina 1885 map, when it was a loose system of affiliated lines The Northeastern Railroad was chartered in 1851 and opened in 1856 from Charleston north to the Wilmington and Manchester Railroad at Florence. The Central Railroad, connecting this line at Lane northwest to the Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta Railroad at Sumter, was chartered in 1881 and opened in 1882. From opening it was leased by both railroads in connected to. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad of South Carolina was formed on July 18, 1898 as a consolidation of the Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta Railroad and Northeastern Railroad with several other lines: • The Florence Railroad was chartered in 1882, continuing the Wilson and Fayetteville Railroad from the North Carolina state line south-southwest to the Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta at Pee Dee. This was part of a shorter route avoiding Wilmington, North Carolina. • The Cheraw and Darlington Railroad was chartered in 1849 and opened in 1853, running from Florence north via Darlington to Cheraw. The Cheraw and Darlington acquired the Cheraw and Salisbury Railroad, an extension north to Wadesboro, North Carolina, in 1892. • The Manchester and Augusta Railroad was chartered in 1875, and built a line from Sumter southwest to Denmark. On June 30, 1899, the ACL opened a continuation west-southwest to the Charleston and Western Carolina Railway at Robbins. The Central Railroad stayed separate, leased but not merged. Also involved in this was the Charleston, Sumter and Northern Railroad, a failed plan to build a main line from Charleston through Sumter into North Carolina. That company went bankrupt in 1892, and the bridge over the Santee River burned down. In 1895 the ACL bought and reorganized it as the Charleston and Northern Railroad to prevent it from being used by a competitor. The short Wilson and Summerton Railroad acquired a section south of Sumter, the Manchester and Augusta Railroad obtained the southernmost section (cut from the rest by the burned bridge) and the line from Sumter northeast to Darlington, extending the M&A's line to Darlington, and the Cheraw and Darlington Railroad was assigned the rest of the line, from Darlington north to Gibson, North Carolina. All but the Wilson and Summerton became part of the ACL in 1898. That company was renamed to the Northwestern Railroad in 1899, and with help from the ACL built an extension northwest from Sumter to Camden, opened in 1901. In August 1899 the ACL acquired a half interest in the Georgia Railroad and Banking Company, fully owned by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad since 1898. This gave the ACL access to Atlanta and Macon, Georgia via the former Manchester and Augusta Railroad and the Georgia Railroad. By 1899 the ACL also owned the Charleston and Western Carolina Railway, running from Port Royal, South Carolina at the south orner of the state northwest into the northwest part of the state, with lines ending at Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg. Virginia The Petersburg Railroad was chartered in 1830 and opened in 1833, running from Petersburg, Virginia south to Garysburg, North Carolina, from which it ran to Weldon via trackage rights over the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad (later eliminated with a new alignment). The Richmond and Petersburg Railroad was chartered in 1836 and opened in 1838, continuing north from Petersburg to Richmond. In March 1898, the Petersburg Railroad was merged into the Richmond and Petersburg, which was renamed to the Atlantic Coast Line trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Thursday, August 3, 2006 10:39 AM ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! siberianmo wrote:Now arriving on track #2 ….. Railroads from Yesteryear! Number Nine (in two parts) Used with permission from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Formatting differences made necessary due to Forums requirements. Some heralds from other sources. The Coast Line/Seaboard Railways – ACL – SAL – SCL Part II of II Seaboard Air Line Railroad Locale: Florida - Virginia, United States Reporting marks: SAL Dates of operation: – 1967 Track gauge: 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge) Headquarters: Richmond, VA The Seaboard Air Line Railroad (AAR reporting mark SAL) was an American railroad that existed between the 1880s and 1967, when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. The company was headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. History 1896 map with connections The SAL main line, now mostly CSX's "S" Line, was built by the following companies: • Richmond, Petersburg and Carolina Railroad, Richmond, Virginia to Norlina, North Carolina (the immediate predecessor of the SAL) • Raleigh and Gaston Railroad, Norlina to Raleigh, North Carolina • Raleigh and Augusta Air-Line Railroad, Raleigh to Hamlet, North Carolina • Palmetto Railroad, Hamlet to Cheraw, South Carolina • Chesterfield and Kershaw Railroad, Cheraw to Camden, South Carolina • Predecessors of the Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad: o South Bound Railroad, Camden to Savannah, Georgia o Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad Northern Division, Savannah to Georgia/Florida state line o Florida Northern Railroad, state line to Yulee, Florida o Fernandina and Jacksonville Railroad, Yulee to Jacksonville, Florida o Florida, Atlantic and Gulf Central Railroad, Jacksonville to Baldwin, Florida o Florida Railroad, Baldwin (continuing north to Yulee) to Waldo, Florida o Florida Transit and Peninsular Railroad Tampa Division, Waldo to Tampa, Florida On July 1, 1967 the SAL merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Locale: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia Reporting marks: SCL Dates of operation: 1967 – 1982 Track gauge: 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge) Headquarters: Jacksonville, FL and Richmond, VA The main lines of the ACL and SAL, now CSX's A and S lines. The Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (AAR reporting mark SCL) was created July 1, 1967 as a result of the merger of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL). In 1982, The Seaboard Coast Line Railroad became Seaboard System Railroad as a result of a merger with the Louisville & Nashville Railroad (L&N). For some years prior to this, the SCL and L&N had been under the common ownership of a holding company, Seaboard Coast Line Industries (SCI), the company's railroad subsidiaries being collectively known as the Family Lines System which comprised of the L&N, SCL, Clinchfield and West Point Routes. After the 1980 merger of SCI with the Chessie System, the resulting CSX Corporation combined the Family Lines System units as the Seaboard System Railroad and later became CSX when the former Chessie units were merged into it in 1986. Innovative SCL trains Juice Train: a historic model of unit train competition Juice Train is the popular name for famous unit trains of Tropicana fresh orange juice operated by railroads in the United States. In 1970, beginning on Seaboard Coast Line railroad, a mile-long Tropicana Juice Train train began carrying one million gallons of juice with one weekly round-trip from Bradenton, Florida to Kearny, New Jersey, in the New York City area. Today operated by SCL successor CSX Transportation, CSX Juice Trains have been the focus of efficiency studies and awards as examples of how modern rail transportation can compete successfully against trucking and other modes to carry perishable products. Auto-Train The original Auto-Train operated on Seaboard Coast Line and Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac (RF&P) tracks. It was operated by Auto-Train Corporation, a privately-owned railroad which used its own rolling stock to provide a unique rail transportation service for both passengers and their automobiles in the United States, operating scheduled service between Lorton, Virginia (near Washington, D.C.) and Sanford, Florida, near Orlando. The founder of Auto-Train Corporation was Eugene K. Garfield. His approach allowed families to relax en route and save the expense and unfamiliarity of a rental car on arrival. Passengers rode in either wide coach seats or private first-class sleeping compartments while their vehicles were safely carried in enclosed autoracks. The train included dining cars and meals were served. The equipment of the Auto-Train Corporation was painted in red, white, and purple colors. The typical train was equipped with two or three General Electric U36B diesel-electric locomotives, 76' double-deck auto carriers, streamlined passenger cars, including coaches, dining cars, sleeper cars, and 85' full-dome cars, and a caboose, then an unusual sight on most passenger trains. Auto-Train Corporation's first auto carriers were acquired used, and started life in the 1950s as a new innovation for Canadian National Railroad. The CN bi-level autorack cars had end-doors. They were huge by the standards of the time; each 75-footer could carry 8 vehicles. The cars were a big success and helped lead to the development of today's enclosed autoracks. The former CN autoracks were augmented by new tri-level versions in 1976. auto carrier originally purchased by Auto-Train Corp. unloads from Amtrak's Auto Train in Lorton, VA in 2000. Photo courtesy of www.trainweb.com Auto-Train Corporation's new service began operations on December 6, 1971 The service was a big hit with travelers. Before long, the ambitious entrepreneurs of Auto-Train were looking to expand trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Thursday, August 3, 2006 10:43 AM ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! trolleyboy wrote:Okay I'm back with some on theme info, a short synopsis of the Seaboards frieght ops. CLASSIC DIESEL BARN # 9 SEABORD FRIEGHT OPS Freight Service On The Seaboard The Seaboard railroads position in the Southeast,allowed it to carry a wide variety of freight, it is of coarse best known for it's perishable fruit and produce trains between Florida and Georgia and the North. Carried on today by CSX. Despite the high profile hauling of perishables, the Seaboard carried more minerals than anything. Around 1950 approx. half of the Seaboards frieght traffic was mineral based, mostlyb phosphate, used for fertilizers ( and other things ) such as amunition and match maufactering. Alot of clay,iron ore , cement, and aggregates wwas also carried by the road, these loads also falling under the mineral category. Next largest cargo type was durable manufactured goods, most of whick caame from the North. General mercjhandise accounted for approx 30 % of the freight moved by the SAL by mid-century. Forest products accounted for 15 % of their freight hauling which included pulpwood,paper,and pine tree stumps ( they actually had speacially designed gondolas for theae some still in use on the CSX ! ) used to make pine oil and turpintine. The remaing 5 % was aggricultural loads, including grains, cotton products,and the perishables. The perishables accounted for half of the aggricultural loads , however the revnues from this service was important enough that the SAL held an intrest in the Fruit Growers Express, a consortium that operated a fleet of reefer cars, and refridgerated piggy back trailers. In the 50's the SAL was one of the first other railroads to pick up the TOFC or Piggy Back trailer carrying system started by the Pennsey.By 1959 this mode of cargo handling became a huge hit with the SAL's customers,and they were operating a whole fleet of this type of trains. As a sidenote the Seaboard was one of the few railroads that would name it's principal freight trains.Among the best known was the Merchandiser between Richmond and Miami,it was one of te few freights that held first calss operational status,putting it on par with passenger trains in the terms of priority handling. A Northbound conterpart was the Marketer , with a section out of Miami and one out of Tampa joining at Baldwin Florida . Other named freights included the Tar Heel ( Richmond-Bostic NC )this had a connection with the Clinchfield RY. The Capitol{Richmond-Birmingham NC }, the Iron Master {Birmingham-Atlanta }, the Clipper and the Alaga { Montgomery-Savanah } and the Pioneer { Montgomery-Jacksonville}. In the 1960's ,Seaboard championed it's high speed piggy back service, the best train of the TOFC fleet being the Razorback . This hot trailer train ( for yeasr the fastest feight train in NA ) originated on The Pennsylvania RR at Kearny NJ and ran through to Hialeah Yard in Miami, 1000 miles in 30 hours ! During the SAL's last full year iof independance, 1966, it carried 66 million tons of freight the most ever in the roads history. * info from Diesel era mags and railpace Rob coalminer3 Member sinceJanuary 2001 From: WV 1,251 posts Posted by coalminer3 on Friday, August 4, 2006 12:09 PM wanswheel wrote: Rob, I'm going to try to put new links to the pages for Tom's great Railroads of Yesteryear #1: Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/233/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #2: Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/234/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #3: Pennsylvania (PRR) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/237/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #4: New York Central (NYC) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/240/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #5: New Haven (NYNH&H) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/242/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #6: Santa Fe (ATSF) (Two Parts) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/246/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #7: Southern Pacific (SP) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/253/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #8: Northern Pacific (NP) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/259/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #9: Coastline/Seaboard (ACL - SCL - SAL) (Two Parts) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/267/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #10: Southern Railway (SOU) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/276/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #11: Denver and Rio Grande Western (D&RG) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/282/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #12: Great Northern Railway (GN) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/287/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #13: Missouri Pacific (MP) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/293/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #14: Illinois Central (IC) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/299/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #15: Boston & Maine (B&M) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/307/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #16: Western Pacific (WP) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/314/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #17: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/320/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #18: Burlington Zephyrs (Two Parts) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/326/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Friday, August 4, 2006 9:30 PM CM3 - Hey thanks for popping in. As you can tell I'm more or less keeping the place open for posterity sake, that and the fact that there is an absolute ton of really good railroad info compiled here. Worth keeping in the forefront I feel. I'm just running it more as a museum exhibit. Mind you should anyone wish tomdiscuss chat or otherwise contribute to the volumes of good stuff here thay are always more than welcome to. Besides Leon and Boris still no how to mix a good drink and and make the odd edible confection. I hope to see you pop by once in a while and add to the effort. Rob trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Friday, August 4, 2006 9:35 PM ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! A not all that old encore from the archieves, this one only dates back to page 358. One of the lighter side of the train and trolley world for everyones reading pleasure. Rob trolleyboy wrote:Well gentlemen,( and ladies ) it's time for another dose of the semi sureal. WIERD TALES FROM THE BARN # 4 MISSHAPS ON THE MTC As we all know streetcar companies by their nature have often had derailment or other problems that would effect their day to day operations. Here's a few examples of soem of the miscues that slowed down services on the MTC ( Montreal Tramways Co )Thesea are all old excerpts from the Montreal Gazette. Enjoy Rob Automobile didn't get the blame this time Westbound tramway traffic on St James street near the intersection of Inspector was delayed 20 minutes yesterday morning when a horse, drawing snow for the city,partially slipped down a large manhole. Traffic and work was delayed while a Montreal Tramways Company towing car equipped with a hoist was pressed intio service and the horse lifted out. Montreal Gazette Wed , January 12, 1944. Someone is attaching stickers to posters advertising woman's wear so that part of the models body is covered. Attached mostly to the sweater- girl type of advertisement, the stickers are in French. Their message translated ; "Respect Womanhood" , " She is your wife " , "She is your sister" , " She is your mother " , " she is your fiancee ". A spokesman for the Canadian Advertising Co, said last night; " Yes we know about it.There haven't been many stickers. Some crackpot I guess. There is nothing offensive about the cards. We promptly replace any that are defaced. " Officials of the Sacred Heart League here could not be reached for comment. The stickers bear no identification as to their sponser or printer. It is believed that the person applying the stickers has placed his own interpretation on Quebec regulations that frown on nudity or semi nudity pictured or otherwise. Montreal Gazette Fri January 14,1949 and one more for this installment. I figure that Tom and Lars will apprecaite this one. Rene Richard of 6708 Cartier ST and Charles M Tremblay of 3604 Rouen St, both Montreal Tamways employees were admitted to St Luke hospital early yeasterday morning. They were suffering from cuts and other injuries alleged sustained during a streetcar fracus. Police said that at the intersection of St Catharine St West and Atwater two unknown sailors refused to pay their fare and became abusive.No arrests were made. Constables Coupal and Poitras investigated and Pichard and Tremblay were able to return home after treatment. Montreal Gazette Monday Nov 13, 1944 Rob trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Thursday, August 10, 2006 9:13 AM ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! Some bit's of "Classic Juice " for this installment of encores from the archieves. The always classic NYNH for today's railroad of choice. A coupkle snippits from this feb's disscussions on the railroad. Rob passengerfan wrote:Good Night Barkeep I figured if the bar opens at six in each time zone then I'm in for last call on the left coast as you call it.(Insomnia). Everyone seems to have liked the New York Central day we had and we had more regulars than I remember for awhile. I see Rob made it just before closing to. Guess I'll have a CR and see if that helps me sleep. I see Russ even gave us a picture of the NYC 4-8-2, nice. Tom that accident at Hinton I have often wondered about even wondered if that midtrain passenger locomotive could have contributed to the severity of the damage to the passenger cars. I don't think with this insomnia I will be able to post before work in the Morning so will leave this under the door for the morning. PASSENGERFAN AL'S STREAMLINER CORNER # 58 MERCHANTS LIMITED NYNH&H trains 26-27 July 8, 1949 New York – Boston daily round trip All Parlor 220.1 miles each way 5 hours 15 minutes The Merchants Limited became the only lightweight streamlined All Parlor Car train to operate in North America on the above date. Unfortunately it lasted for less than three months before coaches were added to this the most famous of all New Haven trains. CONSIST ONE 208 BERKSHIRE COUNTY Baggage Buffet 1-Parlor Drawing Room 2-Parlor Roomette 28- Seat Lounge Car 400 CONNECTICUT RIVER 26- Revenue Seat Parlor 14- Seat Lounge Car 402 HOUSATONIC RIVER 26- Revenue Seat Parlor 14-Seat Lounge Car 300 PITTSFIELD 36- Seat Parlor Car 900 JONATHAN EDWARDS 48- Seat Dining Car 302 MANSFIELD 36- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 315 WESTERLEY 52- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 317 DANBURY 52- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 475 WATCH HILL 38- Seat Tavern Lounge Bar 22- Seat Lounge Observation CONSIST TWO 209 KINGS COUNTY Baggage Buffet 1-Parlor Drawing Room 2-Parlor Roomette 28- Seat Lounge Car 401 THAMES RIVER 26- Revenue Seat Parlor 14-Seat Lounge Car 403 BLACKSTONE RIVER 26- Revenue Seat Parlor 14-Seat Lounge Car 301 BRIDGEPORT 36- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 901 SAMUEL HUNTINGTON 48- Seat Dining Car 303 BROCKTON 36- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 316 MYSTIC 52- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 318 GROTON 52- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 476 BUNKER HILL 38- Seat Tavern Lounge Bar 22- Seat Lounge Observation TTFN AL trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Thursday, August 10, 2006 9:18 AM ENCORE ! ENCORE! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! This first appeared on page 242 Feb 10 of this year, as always anyone wishing to partake or discuss further is fully welcommed and encouraged to do so. Rob siberianmo wrote:Now arriving on track #1 ….. Railroads from Yesteryear! Number Five Used with permission from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Formatting differences made necessary due to Forums requirements. Some heralds from other sources. New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Locale: New York, NY to Boston, MA Reporting marks: NH Dates of operation: 1872 – 1969 Track gauge: 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge) Headquarters: New Haven, Connecticut The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad (AAR reporting mark NH) was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States. Commonly referred to as the New Haven, the railroad served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Its primary connections included Boston and New York. History The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad was formed July 24, 1872 as a consolidation of the New York and New Haven Railroad and Hartford and New Haven Railroad. This included not only the main line from New York City to Springfield, Massachusetts via New Haven and Hartford, Connecticut, but also leases of lines including the Shore Line Railway to New London. The New Haven went on to lease more lines and systems, eventually forming a virtual monopoly in New England south of the Boston and Albany Railroad. The first line of the original system to open was the Hartford and New Haven Railroad, opened from New Haven to Hartford in 1839 and beyond to Springfield in 1844. The New York and New Haven came later, as it ran parallel to the Long Island Sound coast and required many bridges over rivers. It opened in 1848, using trackage rights over the New York and Harlem Railroad (later part of the New York Central Railroad system) from Williamsbridge south to Grand Central Terminal, which served as the New Haven's New York City terminal. Around the turn of the century, New York investors, led by J.P. Morgan gained control and in 1903, installed Charles Mellen as President. Morgan and Mellen sought a complete monopoly of transportation in New England, purchasing other railroad and steamship and trolley lines. More than 100 independent railroads eventually became part of the system before and during these years, reaching 2,131 miles at its 1929 peak. Substantial improvements to the system were made during the Mellen years, including electrification between New York, and New Haven. But Morgan's expansion left the company overextended and financially weak. It never truly recovered. Under the stress of the Great Depression, in 1935 the New Haven slipped into bankruptcy, remaining in trusteeship until 1947. Common stock was voided and creditors assumed control. After 1951 both freight and passenger service lost money. New Haven's earlier expansion had left it with a network of light density branch lines that could not support their maintenance and operating costs. The New Haven's freight business was short-haul, requring a lot of switching costs that could not be recovered in short-distance rates. The New Haven had major commuter train services in New York and Boston (as well as New Haven, Hartford and Providence), but these always lost money, unable to recover their investment providing service just twice a day during rush hour. The death of the New Haven may have been sealed by the building of the Connecticut Turnpike and other interstates. With decades of inadequate investment, the New Haven could not compete against the automobile or the trucker. In 1954 the flashy Patrick McGinnis led a proxy fight against incumbent president Buck Dumain, vowing to return more of the company's profit to shareholders. McGinnis accomplished this by deferring maintenance. McGinnis also spent money on a flashy new image for the company - dull green and gold trim was replaced by loud black, orange and white. When he departed, 22 months later, he left the company financially wrecked. It once again went into bankruptcy on July 2, 1961. At the insistence of the ICC, the New Haven was merged with Penn Central on January 1, 1969. Following the bankruptcy of Penn Central, in 1976 a substantial portion of the former New Haven main line between New York and Boston was transferred to Amtrak, and now forms a major portion of the electrified Northeast Corridor, hosting high speed Acela Express and commuter rail service. Harlem River The Harlem River and Port Chester Railroad was the New Haven's first lease after its merger. It was chartered in 1866, leased by the New Haven on October 1, 1873, and opened later that year, running from the New Haven at New Rochelle, New York south into the Bronx, New York City. It was originally a branch line, but in 1916 the New York Connecting Railroad and its Hell Gate Bridge opened, turning the Harlem River Branch into a major through route. Air Line The New Haven, Middletown and Willimantic Railroad opened in 1873 as part of the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad system, running from New Haven northeast via Middletown to the BH&E at Willimantic. The BH&E went bankrupt that same year, becoming the New York and New England Railroad, but the NHM&W stayed separate, failing in 1875. It was reorganized as the Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad, and operated by the New Haven from 1879, being leased on October 1, 1882. Connecticut Valley The New Haven obtained a majority of stock of the Hartford and Connecticut Valley Railroad in 1882, running from Hartford south and southeast to the Shore Line Railway in Old Saybrook via Middletown. That line had originally opened in 1871 as the Connecticut Valley Railroad, and continued north to Springfield, Massachusetts via the Connecticut Central Railroad, later part of the New York and New England Railroad system. In 1880 the company was succeeded by the Hartford and Connecticut Valley. New Canaan The Stamford and New Canaan Railroad was a branch from the New Haven in Stamford north to New Canaan. It was chartered in 1866 as the New Canaan Railroad, opened in 1868, reorganized and renamed in 1883, and leased by the New Haven on October 1, 1884. Naugatuck The New Haven leased the Naugatuck Railroad on April 1, 1887, obtaining a line from Naugatuck Junction on the New York-New Haven line near Stratford north via Waterbury, reaching the Central New England Railway at Winsted. The line, organized in 1848, had opened in 1849. New Haven and Northampton The New Haven and Northampton Railroad, built next to the former Farmington Canal, ran from New Haven north via Meriden to Northampton, Massachusetts and beyond to the Fitchburg Railroad's Troy and Greenfield Railroad. The New York and New Haven Railroad leased the first few sections soon after they opened, obtaining the line to Plainville in 1848 and the ext LoveDomes Member sinceJanuary 2006 From: northeast U.S. 1,225 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by LoveDomes on Friday, August 11, 2006 9:09 AM Good Morning Gentlemen!One month ago tomorrow, Tom closed "Our" Place. A very sad day and a sobering awakening to the reality of how things just never remain the same here in the ether or in reality. As Tom used to tell us, change is as inevitable as the tides themselves. Happens.I see that one of "our own" has tried to maintain this thread and for that perhaps those of us "regulars" owe a bit of thanks for keeping Tom's thread "up on the page." Then again, I have mixed emotions. He created the bar - he closed the bar. How then can it remain open? Ah, just one of those "things" perhaps he suffered with over the 16 months run - not quite being able to get the structure of it all across to one and all. Anyway, I think trolleyboy Rob has his heart in the right place and it's just a bit of added sadness that the effort may have come a bit to late to save the place.My time on these forums has been very, very sparce and in fact, I haven't done any browsing for weeks. Today, it occurred to me that our 17th month anniversary is tomorrow. Since Rob has kept the thread "up on the page" and in spite of little or no interaction, it still "lives" why not celebrate the dayFor anyone reading this who has the email addresses of our "regulars," why not send out an invitation - perhaps we'll get a taker or two for tomorrow. Then again, it is Saturday, and that was always a rather hit 'n miss day if I recall correctly. Anyway, worth a try - let's go for it! For my part, I have missed this great thread and the wonderful interaction along with the gobs of material provided. As with Tom, I haven't missed the JOs - the rude - the anon people and the like. There are many other places for them. THIS thread is for those who give a Rat's Patoot!Hoping to see some activtiy 'round the joint!Lars West Coast S Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Los Angeles 1,619 posts Posted by West Coast S on Friday, August 11, 2006 7:31 PM Domes, message replied too...Must be a good day, no double layered postings, darn Government equiptment, must be lowest bidder!! It would good to have a visit from Tom, if even briefly..then again i'm no example to follow, since i've been absent around these parts..It is a shame that Doug's "Roundhouse" went unappreciated and unvisited, can't run a forum with only two contributers, the curse of "Our Place" I suppose... A howdy to Rob and Mike and the rest of the old gang, and one must applaud Rob's efforts to maintain the standard...But it just doesn't seem the same without Tom... Dave SP the way it was in S scale Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 12, 2006 6:02 AM Good morning to the "regulars" of Our Place! Hats off to Rob who refuses to let a good thing die, Lars for his rallying efforts, and Dave for his continued support. I don't know if we can smoke Tom out of retirement, but it's a good idea to try! In addition to the Kalmbach Forums needing this thread, turns out that several of us feel pretty strongly about it too! I guess I'll start the day with a groaner, and see if the rusty ol' groan-o-meter is still working I used to have a Great Dane & I was buying a large bag of Purina at Wal-Mart and was in line to check out. When a woman behind me asked if I had a dog.On impulse, I told her that no, I was starting The Purina Diet again, although I probably shouldn't because I'd ended up in the hospital last time but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms. I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry & that the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again.I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story, particularly a tall guy who was behind her. Horrified, she asked if I'd ended up in the hospital last time because I had been poisoned. I told her no; I'd been sitting in the street licking myself and a car hit me. Edit LoveDomes Member sinceJanuary 2006 From: northeast U.S. 1,225 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by LoveDomes on Saturday, August 12, 2006 8:20 AM Good Morning Gents and fellow travelers awaiting to see if the bar will indeed be opened! First off, thank you to Dave & Doug for following up on my request. Also to Al for answering my email (only one thus far to do so). So, that's four of us who still think there's hope for this place! A good start, huh Imagination, such as it is here in cyber space, permits us all to envision what we'd like to see. So, let's go this way for a bit: It's Saturday morning - the front doors are unlocked - the Mentor Village Bakery Case has been restocked - the coffee's freshly brewed - Boris and Leon are working the place - the stools are in order and freshly shined - Herr Wurlitzer is humming and from appearances, it looks like old times! Some reminders, Gents - we must always greet the barkeep (Leon) and order a drink. Coffee and soda is free providing food is ordered, otherwise it costs ya! This is a bar 'n grill and is for adults. The idea 'round the joint always has been to conjure up interaction amongst and between those of us who appreciate classic trains (real and model, as Tom used to tell us). So, let's get on with it, shall we Here's a little something I found that may be of interest to you . . . . Casey Jonesretold byS. E. Schlosser Casey Jones, that heroic railroad engineer of the Cannonball, was known as the man who always brought the train in on time. He would blow the whistle so it started off soft but would increase to a wail louder than a banshee before dying off. Got so as people would recognize that whistle and know when Casey was driving past. April 29, 1900, Casey brought the Cannonball into Memphis dead on time. As he was leaving, he found out one of the other engineers was sick and unable to make his run. So Casey volunteered to help out his friend. He pulled the train out of the station about eleven p.m., an hour and thirty-five minutes late. Casey was determined to make up the time. As soon as he could, he highballed out of Memphis (highballing means to go very fast and take a lot of risks to get where your headed) and started making up for lost time. About four a.m., when he had nearly made up all the time on the run, Casey rounded a corner near Vaughin, Mississippi and saw a stalled freight train on the track. He shouted for his fireman to jump. The fireman made it out alive, but Casey Jones died in the wreck, one hand on the brake and one on the whistle chord. The Ballad of Casey Jones is still sung today. THE BALLAD OF CASEY JONES This version was considered by Janie Jones, Casey's wife, to be the most accurate representation of Wallace's original version. Mrs. Jones spent much of her life refuting some of the vulgar references other versions made about her husband. Come all you rounders if you want to hear A story 'bout a brave engineer, Casey Jones was the rounder's name "Twas on the Illinois Central that he won his fame. Casey Jones, he loved a locomotive. Casey Jones, a mighty man was he. Casey Jones run his final locomotive With the Cannonball Special on the old I.C. Casey pulled into memphis on Number Four, The engine foreman met him at the roundhouse door; Said, "Joe Lewis won't be able to make his run So you'll have to double out on Number One." If I can have Sim Webb, my fireman, my engine 382, Although I'm tired and weary, I'll take her through. Put on my whistle that come in today Cause I mean to keep her wailing as we ride and pray. Casey Jones, mounted the cabin, Casey Jones, with the orders in his hand. Casey Jones, he mounted the cabin, Started on his farewell Journey to the promised land. They pulled out of Memphis nearly two hours late, Soon they were speeding at a terrible rate. And the people knew by the whistle's moan. That the man at the throttle was Casey Jones. Need more coal there, fireman Sim, Open that door and heave it in. Give that shovel all you got And we'll reach Canton on the dot On April 30, 1900, that rainy morn, Down in Mississippi near the town of Vaughan, Sped the Cannonball Special only two minutes late Traveling 70 miles an hour when they saw a freight. The caboose number 83 was on the main line, Casey's last words were "Jump, Sim, while you have the time. "At 3:52 that morning came the fareful end, Casey took his farewell trip to the promised land. Casey Jones, he died at the throttle, With the whistle in his hand. Casey Jones, he died at the throttlle, But we'll all see Casey in the promised land. trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Saturday, August 12, 2006 9:30 AM Good morning Leon. I see thatyou are wearing your brightest jump boots and suspenders today and i see that Boris is well being Boris he's even reinstalled old number 99's golden striker for this occation today,so remember folks once a riounds bougth he will let er rip. Speaking of which leon a round for all those here assembled. Bwoong gwoong bwoong ah music to my ears.The ladies of perpetual motion and knitting cirle wil be provoding some instruction and entertainment later on today,Cindy has developed some "new tecniques" Lars-Thank you for attempting to rally the troups today.I'm glad to see that several have jumped in. As ou had noted I do give more of a rats patoot about the place then I suppose I should, but there is too much good information and good times here to simply trun one's back on.So besides renting the hall out to weddings and etc. I have been keeping the candles burning in the windows so to speak.Nice to see that you also brought Tom's other thread back to the fore for the day as well. I have to say that through it all these two treads are / were a shinning becon of what the forums should be, largly JO free. Doug -Ah yes the rusty old groan- a- meter is still functioning, in fact I have Boris polish it with a hand made Carpathian wax ( best not to ask what it's hand made from, suffice to say it's one of Boris's families recipes ) Thanks for stopping in and thanks for the kind words as well. Dave -I'm glad to see that you have made it in as well, a second visit since last month if I can recollect correctly. Boris always did have a speacial spot in his heart for you I'm not sure if that's either safe or healthy but it is as it is. Leon wring up another round for da boyz. Boris do your thing Bwooong gwooong bwooong. Ah yes I think the old place will be hopping at least for one saturday this month. Rob trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Saturday, August 12, 2006 9:37 AM Oh yes one other thing. Lars - Thanks for bringing in the Casey Jones ballad with you. Makes it bit more like old times with some actual content as well as the fine banter at the bar. I think that even if Da Boss dosen't pop by today I think he is with us in spirit. I'm sure that he is quite aware that today is the 17 month aniversary, as this bar really is / was his baby an extension of him if you will. Tom -If you are out there peeking in. Thank-you for the best darned cyber bar for a person to stop in at and just be themselves ! leon a round as a toast to Da Boss. Rob BudKarr Member sinceSeptember 2005 From: Alberta's Canadian Rockies 331 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by BudKarr on Saturday, August 12, 2006 9:49 AM Good Morning to all assembled at our favorite watering hole!This just happened to work for me as we are back in our mountain retreat after a couple of weeks away and what did I find? An e-mail from Lars along with what appears to be a resumption of activity at "Our" Place - best of them all in the Ether! Took me a bit of "doing" to get back into the official acceptance mode of these newly designed forums. For whatever the reason I had a Devil of a time trying to get registered. Finally got Lydia to figure it out and here I am! What is man without a mate (computer literate one that is!)?And so, do we dare to believe that "Our" Place is in really back - if only for the day? I subscribe to the notion that was expounded upon by Lars - it is Tom's creation and if he closed it, well that's that. However, one cannot simply walk away from something that has captured and captivated so many for so long. Therefore, borrowing a phrase from Lars - a 5- salute to trolleyboy Rob for doing what he did in order to maintain the bar "up on the page!" So now that Rob has checked in along with me - I see that makes for the interest we all knew was there. Let the momentum grow! My hope is that we will be visited by our Mentor - Tom the Proprietor on this fine Saturday. There are many hours left in the day, so perhaps we should dedicate ourselves to checking back periodically, just to fan the flames of hope and of course enjoy the company of some of the guys who made this place so special.I have not been onboard since the waning days of mid July when Tom closed up shop. For my part, as the novice of novices around here, I figured it had come to a conclusion. I also subscribe to the notion that no one or nothing remains the same. That is the reality of life - seen it - experienced it - and there is much more of it to come, Gentlemen.Kudos to you too, Lars, for keeping the fires burning. I know you were instrumental in those July days in keeping us all apprised of events and your efforts were and are very much appreciated! Let us raise our glasses in a toast to Tom, "Our" Place and this the 17th month anniversary of his creation! Oh yes - Leon, we will take two #3 selections from menu board - a large mug of coffee for me with just a splash to make it interesting and my lady will have a cuppa tea.We will be seated right over there by the window . . . . BK in Alberta Canada's beautfiful high mountain country trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Saturday, August 12, 2006 10:21 AM Good morning again folksl Leon I think i will pick up a number 2 of the menu board for the moment. BK & Lydia - Nice to see our two favourite Albertan's this morning. I'm glad that you took lLrs up on his offer,nice to see those window booths in use again. Thank-you for the kind words on keeping the doors semi-open it's been a labour of love fer sure fer sureI haven't fully figured out all the new nuances of the new forum system yet myself,but I have to say that I don't hate itand it does seem to run much more smoothly.Since today is saturday, and we always "Encored" things on saturday here's a little light hearted one from back a bit.Good plan on the constant check ins folks.I shall soon be off to work but I do plan to pop back in this evening. Rob trolleyboy wrote:Okay, here's my first "new" piece of info now that we are getting back into the full swing of things here at the ole bar. This is the first of a new series of info from the trolleyboy barns. A new subset of features " Wierd Tales From The Barn" Wierd Tales From The Barn #1 The Trolley and Teddy Roosevelt exerpt from a local newspaper. Once a trolley thretened to become a major player in US Politics.It came within a whisker of killing a US President, and nearly promoted a SecState to the office of the President of the US. Theodore Roosevelt had this run in on a dusty road just outside if Pittsfield Mass.The date was Sept 3 1902, barely a year after President Mackinnley's assasination.The President,Govener Crane of Mass were tooling along in the Presidents open horse drawn landau, pulled by four prancing white horses. Facing them was George B Cortelyou, later the sectratary of Commerce and Labour, and up on the box was the driver and a Secret Service man named William Craig. Five outriders were ridinbg along side in escort of the buggy. They were ahead of thee buggy and were to far away to render assistance,and to add to their mortification another buggy loaded with newspapermen was up ahead of them heading for the same Country Club which was the Presidents destination. An open trolley, travelling in the same direction as the President's carriage overtook the Presidents carriage.Aboard it were a number of Pittsfields notables including the two top officers of the streetcar company.It was later rumoured and denied that they had ordered the motorman to hurry so that they could get to the Country Club in time to welcome the President.The trolley was in the centre of the road and the Landau on the right, well ahaed of both vehicles was a place where the car tracksswung from the center of the road to the right hand side.Concentrating on his prancing team, and unaware that the trolley was passing, the Landau's driver veered over the tracks.The landau was hit hard on it's rear left wheel and shoved aside,pitching it's occupants into the air. The President tumbled in the dirt, recieving a bruise on his cheek,a banged knee a cut lip and a severe shaking up.His glasses were knocked flying, his silk hat frazzled, and his frock coat torn at one elbow.According to the NY Times he told the horrorstruck motorman ; " I Think this is the most ***able outrage I ever heard of "Govener Crane abd Secratary Courtelyou only recieved minor injuries; but the Landau driver was seriously hurt and SS agent Craig who stood up the instant of the impact to protect the President was thrown under the trolley and killed. The motorman , Euclid Madden, was fined 500 dollars and jailed for six months. Many Streetcarmen were convinced that Maden was only a victem of bad luck and of newspaper hue and cry. So a Pittsfield newspaper recollection of Teddy Roosevelt's unfortunate run in with a trolleycar. Rob LoveDomes Member sinceJanuary 2006 From: northeast U.S. 1,225 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by LoveDomes on Saturday, August 12, 2006 10:48 AM Good Morning once again fellow travelers at the bar!Looks as if we've begun anew 'round the joint, huh Perhaps with a bit of patience as these hours pass by, we'll see Pete and a couple of other guys pop in as they check their e-mail in boxes. My concern is and has been that as more time passed by with "Our" Place no longer the focal point for many, that it would be most difficult trying to rekindle the spirit. Doesn't appear that my concerns were warranted - happy to state! Great seeing Doug - Rob and of course my "bookend" BK on board this morning! Don't have a "plan" for the day - and if ENCORES are what you guys would like, then post 'em if you got 'em! Enjoyed the rerun of the "Teddy & trolley" story! Should Tom return to the fold, I'll yield to him with regard to the way the bar and the activities will take place. Maybe he'll just let it run pretty much the way it was - then again, maybe some new thoughts. But one thing is for sure, it is GREAT to be back online, huhI received an e-mail from Al yesterday (as mentioned earlier) and he indicated that he is still having 'puter problems. Hmmmmmm - that seems to be quite a long time as it seems to me he mentioned that difficulty before Tom closed the joint. Spend some of that "coin" and buy a new one! Are you planning on taking "it" with you when you board the final train Nuances of these newly designed forums have me wondering what the big deal was all about Looks like the effort was made to squelch any of the competiveness amongst the contributors - you know, knocking off the stars and no longer being able to check on the members to see the listing of who has how many posts and so on. I think that's not all so bad - really. Who gives a Rat's Patoot about some of the JOs who spent so much time running up the count My dislike has to do with the way new posts are made. Seems that one has to reply to something in order to get on the page. I also noted that there is a capability to prevent someone from replying by locking the format. Oh well, lots to get up to speed on . . . but that's for later! Leon, I'll take a frosty mug of Schaefer as I await the day's baseball activities to resume. I won't needle you guys about my Mets making a shambles of the National League East - you already know it! Been a crazy season for some teams and it's only mid-August. Lots and lots of time left for things to happen. Oh yes - Leon, I'll also take one of my "staples" - a foot long hero sandwich - ham, Swiss, mustAHd and buttAH with two large pickles from the barrel. Oh yes, scrape off some of the brine for Tex the Armadillo - he loves lapping it up in a saucer as you may recall! <grin>Later Gents!Lars Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 12, 2006 1:15 PM Hey Leon ..is it too early for a bottlemless draught? I'll be happy to buy a round for the guys who have shown-up here today as well. Sure is great to hear from BK after all this time. Really glad to see you staing in touch. More kudos to Lars who is keeping the posts coming, and a story about Casey Jones to boot! BY the way .. I did respond to your e-mail through the tranis forum. Did you get it? Great posts from Rob today too. I love wierd tales, as you know. Speaking of which, I spent some time helping to move many boxes of rail magazines from a boxcar to their new home in a Norfolk and Western baggage car at IRM today, and was awarded about a six-month supply of interesting stuff that I'd love to share here, if this thread re-opens. I've been accumulating other material as well. Here's a little something with Tom in mind. I snuck into our RDC for some pix .. and here are some of them: http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture671.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture673.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture677.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture678.jpg To say this car needs work, is a huge understatement. The IRM RDC used to be scheduled for restoration, and a new diesel engine was secured, but now it seems that only outside cosmetic restoration is to be done. I was invited to assist in this effort today. That's it for now. I'll be checking in later to see if our "steamed" leader makes an appearance! A couple had been married only two weeks. The husband, although very much in love, can't wait to go out on the town and party with his old buddies. "Honey," says he to his new bride, "I'll be right back..." "Where are you going, Coochy Coo?" asks the wife. "I'm going to the bar, Pretty Face. I'm going to have a beer." "You want a beer, My Love?" She opens the refrigerator door shows him 25 different brands of beer from 12 different countries: Germany, Holland, Japan, India, including six places he's never even heard of. The husband is nonplussed, and all he can think to say is, "Yes, Honey Pie, but the bar you know...the frozen glass..." He hasn't finished the sentence before wifey interrupts him by saying, "You want a frozen glass, Puppy Face?" She hands him a mug out of the freezer that is so cold that it burns his fingers "Yes, Tootsie Roll," hubby says a bit desperately, "but at the bar they have those hors d'oeuvres that are really delicious... I won't be long. I'll be right back. I promise. OK?" "You want hors d'oeuvres, Pookie Pooh?" She opens the oven and removes 15 different hors d'oeuvres: chicken wings, pigs in a blanket, mushroom caps, pork strips, etc. "But, Sweetie, Honey...at the bar...you know...the swearing, the dirty words and all that..." "You want dirty words, Cutie Pie? Here...DRINK YOUR *** BEER IN YOUR FROZEN *** MUG AND EAT YOUR *** SNACKS, BECAUSE YOU AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE! GOT IT, A**HOLE?!!" Edit West Coast S Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Los Angeles 1,619 posts Posted by West Coast S on Saturday, August 12, 2006 2:15 PM Good Saturday Barkeep, make mine a Saspahrilla, got the weekend duty...again...But, permit me to cover all rounds for the gents present today, Boris, I don't think so, no physical contact permitted!! Geez Rob, I think Boris is indeed love sick for me!!! Good to be among the gang once more, I see you made it too Doug, howdy to Mr.Lars, Mr. Domes and Mr. Karr and course you Rob aka Mr. Interurban...Here's to a auspicious yet incomplete 17th anniversary, any progress with disrupting Tom's retirement? Ok, let me comence with a topic. How the Southern Pacific operated former Pacific Electric Lines. While visiting another thread, this topic came up and jarred some memories from the cockel of my beady brain!! The former PE routes in the South Bay include the El Segundo and Dominguez spur, all former major PE routes, now disconnected and treated as simple industrial zones. By far the Domnguez line is the most complete of the two and retains obvious interurban linnage. SP pulled the second main with the exception of imbedded street trackage, back in 1964 several years prior, the overhead wire came down, what SP couldn't change was the street trackage down Vermont Ave, and, until UP ownership, the classic wig-wag crossing signals..From Vermont Ave., the line Proceded northwest to Western Ave., a spur served a lumber distributer here, past this switch, the line reversed directions yet again to rejoin Vermont Ave on private right of way. A bit to the east was Redondo Bch. Blvd., this was the location of the only passing siding and the start of double track, orginally built strictly for interurban use this siding was only one hundred feet long. It survives in use yet today.. As the line continued west, 190th Street was crossed at grade, several spurs serviced Reynolds Aluminum and the massive Boeing Plant, now both demolished in favor of a Walmart, but it required several moves a day by SP crews who employed MP15's, Geep nines, and even once an SD7, Hills Brothers Coffee was the third largest shipper and the only remaining user of rail service at that time on the extreme end of this spur that terminated at the foot of Torrance Blvd. Orginally, the PE continued west to San Pedro from this point, this was the second freight bypass, by this late date only a patched grade crossing and weed strewn roadbed marked the route beyond Torrance Blvd, a interesting discovery was the gas station located on the former right of way that featured visible switch work in its parking lot or the ghostly intact, disconected spur to the pipe works, this was all erased serveral years ago in the name of progress. The second leg diverged at Torrance Ave. and continued into downtown Torrance proper, which by the early eighties only served a lumber distributor, but boasted a intact, abandoned station. Once, parrallel lines radiated from the station site on two city streets a block apart, the passenger bypass was long gone, having been abandoned and paved over in 1953, the second route, the so called number one freight bypass barely existed as scattered, disconnected segments until redevolpment in the late eighties, this route once circled back via city streets to rejoin the the line at Torrance and Vermont, the empty private right of ways and their extensive PE designed landscaping were intact until very recently. A MP15 seemed to be assigned this route, today UP employs road switchers, better to contend with the grade and tight curves as new industries have moved in to occupy the former shop site.. Opposite the depot the shop lead diverged and crossed Torrance Blvd. and continued on private right of way alongside residential avenues for half a mile, the shop buildings were complete and in non railroad use until 1983, though the trackage to the former eleven acre facality was not, the shop lead was long ago reconfigured to provide a second plant access for Reynolds Aluminum and a machine and die tool works manfacturer. Today, this line is thriving, UP found it prudent to install relay welded rail and current grade crossing protection to contend with the traffic. The former shops location, is today a thriving industrial complex, several of whom require frequent rail service. The station also survives as a trendy restaurant, the city has taken to sprucing up the active right of way with new plantings, much as the PE once adorned its right of ways so many years ago. Well that's the tour of my favorite local scene as it was twenty plus years ago and as of today, enjoy the rounds. Until later, Boris no kisses!!!! Dave SP the way it was in S scale passengerfan Member sinceMarch 2004 From: Central Valley California 2,841 posts Posted by passengerfan on Saturday, August 12, 2006 2:18 PM Good Afternoon Everyone. My compute has been down for logging on to reply to Our Place or anything else for the last two weeks and in one repect it has been good as i am catching up on writing. Hope everyone has read that Passenger Train Journal is coming back I have every issue from number one and am looking forward to its return after a ten year absence. Guess I should have ordered my usual CR and a round for the house. The office puter i only have access to on weekends.So until the tech gets around to solving my problem I will have to send messages on Saturdays only. Great hearing from all of the old regulars and certainly miss the forum. ttfn Al siberianmo Member sinceFebruary 2004 From: Chesterfield, Missouri, USA 7,214 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by siberianmo on Saturday, August 12, 2006 3:40 PM G'day Gents!What is THIS - a conspiracy of the heart It appears that many of you guys simply won't let go, eh So, you want the bar to open and remain so I'll make a deal with you on this the 17th Month Anniversary of "Our" Place - as your interests in keeping this idea alive 'n well grow - so will mine! Good to "see" Doug - Lars - Rob - BK - Dave 'n Al this fine day - that's not bad for a Saturday. Now I must admit to NOT being active at all since July 12th- haven't checked in nor have I inquired. However, some of you have been rather steady with the Email messages (Pete in particular) and I know that this special place of OURS means a lot. So - let's move forward and see what happens.Great job getting the place back in shape, Leon 'n Boris - looks really spiffy. I see that my gal Cindy has been around, for the freshly washed, starched and hung curtains look like something she would attend to. Looks like I've got a bit of catching up to attend to - not to mention checking on the inventory for the bar. My guess is that our Bar Chandler, Rob, has been quite busy ensuring that the supplies have been at the ready. Good job! So, Lars, just what have you been up to Working behind the scenes to find a way to tweak my interests, eh I must admit to feeling just a bit strange with all of this - pleasantly of course - but strange nonetheless. Thought for sure that it was an over 'n done deal . . . one just never should say never, eh Okay - set 'em up Leon - ring the bell Boris - and let's see what shakes in these days to come!Later!Tom Happy Railroading! Siberianmo BudKarr Member sinceSeptember 2005 From: Alberta's Canadian Rockies 331 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by BudKarr on Saturday, August 12, 2006 3:53 PM Good Afternoon Gentlemen at the bar!It looks like we have something to build upon - now that Tom our Proprietor and boss man has returned! This has been some Saturday in that I had no plans whatsoever of browsing in the Ether much less using the computer. Then for whatever the reason, I checked my email account and found the message that Lars sent out and the rest is evident. Wonderful turn of events! One just never knows what one has lost until it is gone, or something like that. (Lydia says I am using song lyrics - beats me! )I can appreciate how you feel Captain Tom - for we all really understand the situation - this idea of yours took root - deeply and for what it is worth - welcome back to YOUR place!Good to see the show of support today - and this has to be a great day for Rob, for he and he alone never gave up on "Our" Place! My thinking is that Doug too has to be heartened, for this IS the place for the kinds of material we have all become accustomed to enjoying. Somehow the postings on other threads just has not caught on. Not to say that the efforts were not worth it - but the nucleus of guys who give that proverbial Rat's Patoot hang out here! Enjoyed the resumption of RR info from Dave on the Left Coast and looks like my learning curve is about to begin again! Set 'em up Leon - clang the bell Boris - let the good times flow!BK in Alberta, Canada's beautiful high mountain country! West Coast S Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Los Angeles 1,619 posts Posted by West Coast S on Saturday, August 12, 2006 4:04 PM What do my eyes discern? Why, Herr Tom your'e back among the fold! Good to see you about and doing well, you know how it goes, some things are too good to let go of, until today, i've only been back once.. Ok Boris, Tom, needs a big return kiss, Leon get Tom whatever he desires, you behave Cindy... Good to hear from you Dave SP the way it was in S scale LoveDomes Member sinceJanuary 2006 From: northeast U.S. 1,225 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by LoveDomes on Saturday, August 12, 2006 4:21 PM G'day Fellow Travelers at the bar!And what do our eyes reveal The return of our leader for the 17th month anniversary of "Tom's" Place! What a great day indeed as many of you have echoed! A 5- Salute to the Man! Even if for one fine day - it's a great feeling, huh Ring those chimes Boris and ring 'em loud! Pour the liquid refreshments for the adult crowd and let the good times roll in this, the best watering hole this side of heaven! I don't feel like waxing eloquently about anything other than the return to the bar of our host and Chief Mentor, Tom the Proprietor. What is to say other than many, many heartfelt thanx to Rob, Doug and everyone else who worked to get this day to become reality. Now we have something to build upon, huhLet's not look back, but forward. I like the expression Tom uses, screw 'em all but 6 and save those for pall bearers! Actually, that saying was one of my very own during my sea going days - must be something kindred between we sailors, wouldn't you say Mate I don't expect we'll see a full resumption of activities here nor do I expect to see the "usual suspects" show up. Guys come and guys go. RIP - really, let's move on with our new beginnings and let bygones be just that. I've missed this interaction - didn't think it would impact me, but it did and has. Apparently has also had an effect on others as well. So, what's wrong with that, huh Good day all 'round - Yanks beat the Angles - Mets on tap for a good game tonight and the fridge has plenty of cold brew just waiting to be opened! Nice work, Dave, with the input - and of course very pleased to see "20 Fingers Al" make an appearance. Locked in writing these weeks, huh Well,. come up for air, Mate - time to resume your presence here at "Our" Place!Drinks on me!Lars pwolfe Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: mid mo 1,054 posts Posted by pwolfe on Saturday, August 12, 2006 5:54 PM Hi TOM and all. Did not expect to be able to say that again.Caught up on my e-mails and got Lars message. Is the Bathams still on. Can I just echo whats been said about ROB DAVE and DOUG I too have missed OUR PLACE. The new format seems a bit to me so if the wrong smiley appears please forgive me. Heres hopeing to many great days at Our Place again. The words that have been often quoted about a narrow guage line on the Devon coast in England which closed in the 30s( a section of which is being rebuilt) applied here,"Perchance it is not dead but sleepeth" Well done Lars PETE. siberianmo Member sinceFebruary 2004 From: Chesterfield, Missouri, USA 7,214 posts Posted by siberianmo on Saturday, August 12, 2006 6:26 PM A belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to PETE - August 11th was the date! So, have a Bathams or three on me and enjoy this weekend, Mate! Good to see ya, Pete and I received and responded to your Email. Appreciate the kind words from those of you who checked in today and to reiterate, let's let things flow in whatever direction they may. I like the comments from Lars regarding our future - best not to press it. If it's meant to be, then it will happen! So guys, enjoy this weekend and hope to be communicating with y'all real soon . . . . Tom Happy Railroading! 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siberianmo wrote:Now arriving on track #2 ….. Railroads from Yesteryear! Number Nine (in two parts) Used with permission from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Formatting differences made necessary due to Forums requirements. Some heralds from other sources. The Coast Line/Seaboard Railways – ACL – SAL – SCL Part II of II Seaboard Air Line Railroad Locale: Florida - Virginia, United States Reporting marks: SAL Dates of operation: – 1967 Track gauge: 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge) Headquarters: Richmond, VA The Seaboard Air Line Railroad (AAR reporting mark SAL) was an American railroad that existed between the 1880s and 1967, when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. The company was headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. History 1896 map with connections The SAL main line, now mostly CSX's "S" Line, was built by the following companies: • Richmond, Petersburg and Carolina Railroad, Richmond, Virginia to Norlina, North Carolina (the immediate predecessor of the SAL) • Raleigh and Gaston Railroad, Norlina to Raleigh, North Carolina • Raleigh and Augusta Air-Line Railroad, Raleigh to Hamlet, North Carolina • Palmetto Railroad, Hamlet to Cheraw, South Carolina • Chesterfield and Kershaw Railroad, Cheraw to Camden, South Carolina • Predecessors of the Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad: o South Bound Railroad, Camden to Savannah, Georgia o Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad Northern Division, Savannah to Georgia/Florida state line o Florida Northern Railroad, state line to Yulee, Florida o Fernandina and Jacksonville Railroad, Yulee to Jacksonville, Florida o Florida, Atlantic and Gulf Central Railroad, Jacksonville to Baldwin, Florida o Florida Railroad, Baldwin (continuing north to Yulee) to Waldo, Florida o Florida Transit and Peninsular Railroad Tampa Division, Waldo to Tampa, Florida On July 1, 1967 the SAL merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Locale: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia Reporting marks: SCL Dates of operation: 1967 – 1982 Track gauge: 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge) Headquarters: Jacksonville, FL and Richmond, VA The main lines of the ACL and SAL, now CSX's A and S lines. The Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (AAR reporting mark SCL) was created July 1, 1967 as a result of the merger of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL). In 1982, The Seaboard Coast Line Railroad became Seaboard System Railroad as a result of a merger with the Louisville & Nashville Railroad (L&N). For some years prior to this, the SCL and L&N had been under the common ownership of a holding company, Seaboard Coast Line Industries (SCI), the company's railroad subsidiaries being collectively known as the Family Lines System which comprised of the L&N, SCL, Clinchfield and West Point Routes. After the 1980 merger of SCI with the Chessie System, the resulting CSX Corporation combined the Family Lines System units as the Seaboard System Railroad and later became CSX when the former Chessie units were merged into it in 1986. Innovative SCL trains Juice Train: a historic model of unit train competition Juice Train is the popular name for famous unit trains of Tropicana fresh orange juice operated by railroads in the United States. In 1970, beginning on Seaboard Coast Line railroad, a mile-long Tropicana Juice Train train began carrying one million gallons of juice with one weekly round-trip from Bradenton, Florida to Kearny, New Jersey, in the New York City area. Today operated by SCL successor CSX Transportation, CSX Juice Trains have been the focus of efficiency studies and awards as examples of how modern rail transportation can compete successfully against trucking and other modes to carry perishable products. Auto-Train The original Auto-Train operated on Seaboard Coast Line and Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac (RF&P) tracks. It was operated by Auto-Train Corporation, a privately-owned railroad which used its own rolling stock to provide a unique rail transportation service for both passengers and their automobiles in the United States, operating scheduled service between Lorton, Virginia (near Washington, D.C.) and Sanford, Florida, near Orlando. The founder of Auto-Train Corporation was Eugene K. Garfield. His approach allowed families to relax en route and save the expense and unfamiliarity of a rental car on arrival. Passengers rode in either wide coach seats or private first-class sleeping compartments while their vehicles were safely carried in enclosed autoracks. The train included dining cars and meals were served. The equipment of the Auto-Train Corporation was painted in red, white, and purple colors. The typical train was equipped with two or three General Electric U36B diesel-electric locomotives, 76' double-deck auto carriers, streamlined passenger cars, including coaches, dining cars, sleeper cars, and 85' full-dome cars, and a caboose, then an unusual sight on most passenger trains. Auto-Train Corporation's first auto carriers were acquired used, and started life in the 1950s as a new innovation for Canadian National Railroad. The CN bi-level autorack cars had end-doors. They were huge by the standards of the time; each 75-footer could carry 8 vehicles. The cars were a big success and helped lead to the development of today's enclosed autoracks. The former CN autoracks were augmented by new tri-level versions in 1976. auto carrier originally purchased by Auto-Train Corp. unloads from Amtrak's Auto Train in Lorton, VA in 2000. Photo courtesy of www.trainweb.com Auto-Train Corporation's new service began operations on December 6, 1971 The service was a big hit with travelers. Before long, the ambitious entrepreneurs of Auto-Train were looking to expand trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Thursday, August 3, 2006 10:43 AM ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! trolleyboy wrote:Okay I'm back with some on theme info, a short synopsis of the Seaboards frieght ops. CLASSIC DIESEL BARN # 9 SEABORD FRIEGHT OPS Freight Service On The Seaboard The Seaboard railroads position in the Southeast,allowed it to carry a wide variety of freight, it is of coarse best known for it's perishable fruit and produce trains between Florida and Georgia and the North. Carried on today by CSX. Despite the high profile hauling of perishables, the Seaboard carried more minerals than anything. Around 1950 approx. half of the Seaboards frieght traffic was mineral based, mostlyb phosphate, used for fertilizers ( and other things ) such as amunition and match maufactering. Alot of clay,iron ore , cement, and aggregates wwas also carried by the road, these loads also falling under the mineral category. Next largest cargo type was durable manufactured goods, most of whick caame from the North. General mercjhandise accounted for approx 30 % of the freight moved by the SAL by mid-century. Forest products accounted for 15 % of their freight hauling which included pulpwood,paper,and pine tree stumps ( they actually had speacially designed gondolas for theae some still in use on the CSX ! ) used to make pine oil and turpintine. The remaing 5 % was aggricultural loads, including grains, cotton products,and the perishables. The perishables accounted for half of the aggricultural loads , however the revnues from this service was important enough that the SAL held an intrest in the Fruit Growers Express, a consortium that operated a fleet of reefer cars, and refridgerated piggy back trailers. In the 50's the SAL was one of the first other railroads to pick up the TOFC or Piggy Back trailer carrying system started by the Pennsey.By 1959 this mode of cargo handling became a huge hit with the SAL's customers,and they were operating a whole fleet of this type of trains. As a sidenote the Seaboard was one of the few railroads that would name it's principal freight trains.Among the best known was the Merchandiser between Richmond and Miami,it was one of te few freights that held first calss operational status,putting it on par with passenger trains in the terms of priority handling. A Northbound conterpart was the Marketer , with a section out of Miami and one out of Tampa joining at Baldwin Florida . Other named freights included the Tar Heel ( Richmond-Bostic NC )this had a connection with the Clinchfield RY. The Capitol{Richmond-Birmingham NC }, the Iron Master {Birmingham-Atlanta }, the Clipper and the Alaga { Montgomery-Savanah } and the Pioneer { Montgomery-Jacksonville}. In the 1960's ,Seaboard championed it's high speed piggy back service, the best train of the TOFC fleet being the Razorback . This hot trailer train ( for yeasr the fastest feight train in NA ) originated on The Pennsylvania RR at Kearny NJ and ran through to Hialeah Yard in Miami, 1000 miles in 30 hours ! During the SAL's last full year iof independance, 1966, it carried 66 million tons of freight the most ever in the roads history. * info from Diesel era mags and railpace Rob coalminer3 Member sinceJanuary 2001 From: WV 1,251 posts Posted by coalminer3 on Friday, August 4, 2006 12:09 PM wanswheel wrote: Rob, I'm going to try to put new links to the pages for Tom's great Railroads of Yesteryear #1: Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/233/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #2: Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/234/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #3: Pennsylvania (PRR) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/237/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #4: New York Central (NYC) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/240/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #5: New Haven (NYNH&H) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/242/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #6: Santa Fe (ATSF) (Two Parts) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/246/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #7: Southern Pacific (SP) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/253/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #8: Northern Pacific (NP) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/259/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #9: Coastline/Seaboard (ACL - SCL - SAL) (Two Parts) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/267/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #10: Southern Railway (SOU) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/276/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #11: Denver and Rio Grande Western (D&RG) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/282/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #12: Great Northern Railway (GN) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/287/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #13: Missouri Pacific (MP) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/293/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #14: Illinois Central (IC) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/299/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #15: Boston & Maine (B&M) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/307/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #16: Western Pacific (WP) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/314/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #17: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/320/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #18: Burlington Zephyrs (Two Parts) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/326/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Friday, August 4, 2006 9:30 PM CM3 - Hey thanks for popping in. As you can tell I'm more or less keeping the place open for posterity sake, that and the fact that there is an absolute ton of really good railroad info compiled here. Worth keeping in the forefront I feel. I'm just running it more as a museum exhibit. Mind you should anyone wish tomdiscuss chat or otherwise contribute to the volumes of good stuff here thay are always more than welcome to. Besides Leon and Boris still no how to mix a good drink and and make the odd edible confection. I hope to see you pop by once in a while and add to the effort. Rob trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Friday, August 4, 2006 9:35 PM ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! A not all that old encore from the archieves, this one only dates back to page 358. One of the lighter side of the train and trolley world for everyones reading pleasure. Rob trolleyboy wrote:Well gentlemen,( and ladies ) it's time for another dose of the semi sureal. WIERD TALES FROM THE BARN # 4 MISSHAPS ON THE MTC As we all know streetcar companies by their nature have often had derailment or other problems that would effect their day to day operations. Here's a few examples of soem of the miscues that slowed down services on the MTC ( Montreal Tramways Co )Thesea are all old excerpts from the Montreal Gazette. Enjoy Rob Automobile didn't get the blame this time Westbound tramway traffic on St James street near the intersection of Inspector was delayed 20 minutes yesterday morning when a horse, drawing snow for the city,partially slipped down a large manhole. Traffic and work was delayed while a Montreal Tramways Company towing car equipped with a hoist was pressed intio service and the horse lifted out. Montreal Gazette Wed , January 12, 1944. Someone is attaching stickers to posters advertising woman's wear so that part of the models body is covered. Attached mostly to the sweater- girl type of advertisement, the stickers are in French. Their message translated ; "Respect Womanhood" , " She is your wife " , "She is your sister" , " She is your mother " , " she is your fiancee ". A spokesman for the Canadian Advertising Co, said last night; " Yes we know about it.There haven't been many stickers. Some crackpot I guess. There is nothing offensive about the cards. We promptly replace any that are defaced. " Officials of the Sacred Heart League here could not be reached for comment. The stickers bear no identification as to their sponser or printer. It is believed that the person applying the stickers has placed his own interpretation on Quebec regulations that frown on nudity or semi nudity pictured or otherwise. Montreal Gazette Fri January 14,1949 and one more for this installment. I figure that Tom and Lars will apprecaite this one. Rene Richard of 6708 Cartier ST and Charles M Tremblay of 3604 Rouen St, both Montreal Tamways employees were admitted to St Luke hospital early yeasterday morning. They were suffering from cuts and other injuries alleged sustained during a streetcar fracus. Police said that at the intersection of St Catharine St West and Atwater two unknown sailors refused to pay their fare and became abusive.No arrests were made. Constables Coupal and Poitras investigated and Pichard and Tremblay were able to return home after treatment. Montreal Gazette Monday Nov 13, 1944 Rob trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Thursday, August 10, 2006 9:13 AM ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! Some bit's of "Classic Juice " for this installment of encores from the archieves. The always classic NYNH for today's railroad of choice. A coupkle snippits from this feb's disscussions on the railroad. Rob passengerfan wrote:Good Night Barkeep I figured if the bar opens at six in each time zone then I'm in for last call on the left coast as you call it.(Insomnia). Everyone seems to have liked the New York Central day we had and we had more regulars than I remember for awhile. I see Rob made it just before closing to. Guess I'll have a CR and see if that helps me sleep. I see Russ even gave us a picture of the NYC 4-8-2, nice. Tom that accident at Hinton I have often wondered about even wondered if that midtrain passenger locomotive could have contributed to the severity of the damage to the passenger cars. I don't think with this insomnia I will be able to post before work in the Morning so will leave this under the door for the morning. PASSENGERFAN AL'S STREAMLINER CORNER # 58 MERCHANTS LIMITED NYNH&H trains 26-27 July 8, 1949 New York – Boston daily round trip All Parlor 220.1 miles each way 5 hours 15 minutes The Merchants Limited became the only lightweight streamlined All Parlor Car train to operate in North America on the above date. Unfortunately it lasted for less than three months before coaches were added to this the most famous of all New Haven trains. CONSIST ONE 208 BERKSHIRE COUNTY Baggage Buffet 1-Parlor Drawing Room 2-Parlor Roomette 28- Seat Lounge Car 400 CONNECTICUT RIVER 26- Revenue Seat Parlor 14- Seat Lounge Car 402 HOUSATONIC RIVER 26- Revenue Seat Parlor 14-Seat Lounge Car 300 PITTSFIELD 36- Seat Parlor Car 900 JONATHAN EDWARDS 48- Seat Dining Car 302 MANSFIELD 36- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 315 WESTERLEY 52- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 317 DANBURY 52- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 475 WATCH HILL 38- Seat Tavern Lounge Bar 22- Seat Lounge Observation CONSIST TWO 209 KINGS COUNTY Baggage Buffet 1-Parlor Drawing Room 2-Parlor Roomette 28- Seat Lounge Car 401 THAMES RIVER 26- Revenue Seat Parlor 14-Seat Lounge Car 403 BLACKSTONE RIVER 26- Revenue Seat Parlor 14-Seat Lounge Car 301 BRIDGEPORT 36- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 901 SAMUEL HUNTINGTON 48- Seat Dining Car 303 BROCKTON 36- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 316 MYSTIC 52- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 318 GROTON 52- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 476 BUNKER HILL 38- Seat Tavern Lounge Bar 22- Seat Lounge Observation TTFN AL trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Thursday, August 10, 2006 9:18 AM ENCORE ! ENCORE! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! This first appeared on page 242 Feb 10 of this year, as always anyone wishing to partake or discuss further is fully welcommed and encouraged to do so. Rob siberianmo wrote:Now arriving on track #1 ….. Railroads from Yesteryear! Number Five Used with permission from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Formatting differences made necessary due to Forums requirements. Some heralds from other sources. New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Locale: New York, NY to Boston, MA Reporting marks: NH Dates of operation: 1872 – 1969 Track gauge: 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge) Headquarters: New Haven, Connecticut The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad (AAR reporting mark NH) was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States. Commonly referred to as the New Haven, the railroad served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Its primary connections included Boston and New York. History The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad was formed July 24, 1872 as a consolidation of the New York and New Haven Railroad and Hartford and New Haven Railroad. This included not only the main line from New York City to Springfield, Massachusetts via New Haven and Hartford, Connecticut, but also leases of lines including the Shore Line Railway to New London. The New Haven went on to lease more lines and systems, eventually forming a virtual monopoly in New England south of the Boston and Albany Railroad. The first line of the original system to open was the Hartford and New Haven Railroad, opened from New Haven to Hartford in 1839 and beyond to Springfield in 1844. The New York and New Haven came later, as it ran parallel to the Long Island Sound coast and required many bridges over rivers. It opened in 1848, using trackage rights over the New York and Harlem Railroad (later part of the New York Central Railroad system) from Williamsbridge south to Grand Central Terminal, which served as the New Haven's New York City terminal. Around the turn of the century, New York investors, led by J.P. Morgan gained control and in 1903, installed Charles Mellen as President. Morgan and Mellen sought a complete monopoly of transportation in New England, purchasing other railroad and steamship and trolley lines. More than 100 independent railroads eventually became part of the system before and during these years, reaching 2,131 miles at its 1929 peak. Substantial improvements to the system were made during the Mellen years, including electrification between New York, and New Haven. But Morgan's expansion left the company overextended and financially weak. It never truly recovered. Under the stress of the Great Depression, in 1935 the New Haven slipped into bankruptcy, remaining in trusteeship until 1947. Common stock was voided and creditors assumed control. After 1951 both freight and passenger service lost money. New Haven's earlier expansion had left it with a network of light density branch lines that could not support their maintenance and operating costs. The New Haven's freight business was short-haul, requring a lot of switching costs that could not be recovered in short-distance rates. The New Haven had major commuter train services in New York and Boston (as well as New Haven, Hartford and Providence), but these always lost money, unable to recover their investment providing service just twice a day during rush hour. The death of the New Haven may have been sealed by the building of the Connecticut Turnpike and other interstates. With decades of inadequate investment, the New Haven could not compete against the automobile or the trucker. In 1954 the flashy Patrick McGinnis led a proxy fight against incumbent president Buck Dumain, vowing to return more of the company's profit to shareholders. McGinnis accomplished this by deferring maintenance. McGinnis also spent money on a flashy new image for the company - dull green and gold trim was replaced by loud black, orange and white. When he departed, 22 months later, he left the company financially wrecked. It once again went into bankruptcy on July 2, 1961. At the insistence of the ICC, the New Haven was merged with Penn Central on January 1, 1969. Following the bankruptcy of Penn Central, in 1976 a substantial portion of the former New Haven main line between New York and Boston was transferred to Amtrak, and now forms a major portion of the electrified Northeast Corridor, hosting high speed Acela Express and commuter rail service. Harlem River The Harlem River and Port Chester Railroad was the New Haven's first lease after its merger. It was chartered in 1866, leased by the New Haven on October 1, 1873, and opened later that year, running from the New Haven at New Rochelle, New York south into the Bronx, New York City. It was originally a branch line, but in 1916 the New York Connecting Railroad and its Hell Gate Bridge opened, turning the Harlem River Branch into a major through route. Air Line The New Haven, Middletown and Willimantic Railroad opened in 1873 as part of the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad system, running from New Haven northeast via Middletown to the BH&E at Willimantic. The BH&E went bankrupt that same year, becoming the New York and New England Railroad, but the NHM&W stayed separate, failing in 1875. It was reorganized as the Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad, and operated by the New Haven from 1879, being leased on October 1, 1882. Connecticut Valley The New Haven obtained a majority of stock of the Hartford and Connecticut Valley Railroad in 1882, running from Hartford south and southeast to the Shore Line Railway in Old Saybrook via Middletown. That line had originally opened in 1871 as the Connecticut Valley Railroad, and continued north to Springfield, Massachusetts via the Connecticut Central Railroad, later part of the New York and New England Railroad system. In 1880 the company was succeeded by the Hartford and Connecticut Valley. New Canaan The Stamford and New Canaan Railroad was a branch from the New Haven in Stamford north to New Canaan. It was chartered in 1866 as the New Canaan Railroad, opened in 1868, reorganized and renamed in 1883, and leased by the New Haven on October 1, 1884. Naugatuck The New Haven leased the Naugatuck Railroad on April 1, 1887, obtaining a line from Naugatuck Junction on the New York-New Haven line near Stratford north via Waterbury, reaching the Central New England Railway at Winsted. The line, organized in 1848, had opened in 1849. New Haven and Northampton The New Haven and Northampton Railroad, built next to the former Farmington Canal, ran from New Haven north via Meriden to Northampton, Massachusetts and beyond to the Fitchburg Railroad's Troy and Greenfield Railroad. The New York and New Haven Railroad leased the first few sections soon after they opened, obtaining the line to Plainville in 1848 and the ext LoveDomes Member sinceJanuary 2006 From: northeast U.S. 1,225 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by LoveDomes on Friday, August 11, 2006 9:09 AM Good Morning Gentlemen!One month ago tomorrow, Tom closed "Our" Place. A very sad day and a sobering awakening to the reality of how things just never remain the same here in the ether or in reality. As Tom used to tell us, change is as inevitable as the tides themselves. Happens.I see that one of "our own" has tried to maintain this thread and for that perhaps those of us "regulars" owe a bit of thanks for keeping Tom's thread "up on the page." Then again, I have mixed emotions. He created the bar - he closed the bar. How then can it remain open? Ah, just one of those "things" perhaps he suffered with over the 16 months run - not quite being able to get the structure of it all across to one and all. Anyway, I think trolleyboy Rob has his heart in the right place and it's just a bit of added sadness that the effort may have come a bit to late to save the place.My time on these forums has been very, very sparce and in fact, I haven't done any browsing for weeks. Today, it occurred to me that our 17th month anniversary is tomorrow. Since Rob has kept the thread "up on the page" and in spite of little or no interaction, it still "lives" why not celebrate the dayFor anyone reading this who has the email addresses of our "regulars," why not send out an invitation - perhaps we'll get a taker or two for tomorrow. Then again, it is Saturday, and that was always a rather hit 'n miss day if I recall correctly. Anyway, worth a try - let's go for it! For my part, I have missed this great thread and the wonderful interaction along with the gobs of material provided. As with Tom, I haven't missed the JOs - the rude - the anon people and the like. There are many other places for them. THIS thread is for those who give a Rat's Patoot!Hoping to see some activtiy 'round the joint!Lars West Coast S Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Los Angeles 1,619 posts Posted by West Coast S on Friday, August 11, 2006 7:31 PM Domes, message replied too...Must be a good day, no double layered postings, darn Government equiptment, must be lowest bidder!! It would good to have a visit from Tom, if even briefly..then again i'm no example to follow, since i've been absent around these parts..It is a shame that Doug's "Roundhouse" went unappreciated and unvisited, can't run a forum with only two contributers, the curse of "Our Place" I suppose... A howdy to Rob and Mike and the rest of the old gang, and one must applaud Rob's efforts to maintain the standard...But it just doesn't seem the same without Tom... Dave SP the way it was in S scale Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 12, 2006 6:02 AM Good morning to the "regulars" of Our Place! Hats off to Rob who refuses to let a good thing die, Lars for his rallying efforts, and Dave for his continued support. I don't know if we can smoke Tom out of retirement, but it's a good idea to try! In addition to the Kalmbach Forums needing this thread, turns out that several of us feel pretty strongly about it too! I guess I'll start the day with a groaner, and see if the rusty ol' groan-o-meter is still working I used to have a Great Dane & I was buying a large bag of Purina at Wal-Mart and was in line to check out. When a woman behind me asked if I had a dog.On impulse, I told her that no, I was starting The Purina Diet again, although I probably shouldn't because I'd ended up in the hospital last time but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms. I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry & that the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again.I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story, particularly a tall guy who was behind her. Horrified, she asked if I'd ended up in the hospital last time because I had been poisoned. I told her no; I'd been sitting in the street licking myself and a car hit me. Edit LoveDomes Member sinceJanuary 2006 From: northeast U.S. 1,225 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by LoveDomes on Saturday, August 12, 2006 8:20 AM Good Morning Gents and fellow travelers awaiting to see if the bar will indeed be opened! First off, thank you to Dave & Doug for following up on my request. Also to Al for answering my email (only one thus far to do so). So, that's four of us who still think there's hope for this place! A good start, huh Imagination, such as it is here in cyber space, permits us all to envision what we'd like to see. So, let's go this way for a bit: It's Saturday morning - the front doors are unlocked - the Mentor Village Bakery Case has been restocked - the coffee's freshly brewed - Boris and Leon are working the place - the stools are in order and freshly shined - Herr Wurlitzer is humming and from appearances, it looks like old times! Some reminders, Gents - we must always greet the barkeep (Leon) and order a drink. Coffee and soda is free providing food is ordered, otherwise it costs ya! This is a bar 'n grill and is for adults. The idea 'round the joint always has been to conjure up interaction amongst and between those of us who appreciate classic trains (real and model, as Tom used to tell us). So, let's get on with it, shall we Here's a little something I found that may be of interest to you . . . . Casey Jonesretold byS. E. Schlosser Casey Jones, that heroic railroad engineer of the Cannonball, was known as the man who always brought the train in on time. He would blow the whistle so it started off soft but would increase to a wail louder than a banshee before dying off. Got so as people would recognize that whistle and know when Casey was driving past. April 29, 1900, Casey brought the Cannonball into Memphis dead on time. As he was leaving, he found out one of the other engineers was sick and unable to make his run. So Casey volunteered to help out his friend. He pulled the train out of the station about eleven p.m., an hour and thirty-five minutes late. Casey was determined to make up the time. As soon as he could, he highballed out of Memphis (highballing means to go very fast and take a lot of risks to get where your headed) and started making up for lost time. About four a.m., when he had nearly made up all the time on the run, Casey rounded a corner near Vaughin, Mississippi and saw a stalled freight train on the track. He shouted for his fireman to jump. The fireman made it out alive, but Casey Jones died in the wreck, one hand on the brake and one on the whistle chord. The Ballad of Casey Jones is still sung today. THE BALLAD OF CASEY JONES This version was considered by Janie Jones, Casey's wife, to be the most accurate representation of Wallace's original version. Mrs. Jones spent much of her life refuting some of the vulgar references other versions made about her husband. Come all you rounders if you want to hear A story 'bout a brave engineer, Casey Jones was the rounder's name "Twas on the Illinois Central that he won his fame. Casey Jones, he loved a locomotive. Casey Jones, a mighty man was he. Casey Jones run his final locomotive With the Cannonball Special on the old I.C. Casey pulled into memphis on Number Four, The engine foreman met him at the roundhouse door; Said, "Joe Lewis won't be able to make his run So you'll have to double out on Number One." If I can have Sim Webb, my fireman, my engine 382, Although I'm tired and weary, I'll take her through. Put on my whistle that come in today Cause I mean to keep her wailing as we ride and pray. Casey Jones, mounted the cabin, Casey Jones, with the orders in his hand. Casey Jones, he mounted the cabin, Started on his farewell Journey to the promised land. They pulled out of Memphis nearly two hours late, Soon they were speeding at a terrible rate. And the people knew by the whistle's moan. That the man at the throttle was Casey Jones. Need more coal there, fireman Sim, Open that door and heave it in. Give that shovel all you got And we'll reach Canton on the dot On April 30, 1900, that rainy morn, Down in Mississippi near the town of Vaughan, Sped the Cannonball Special only two minutes late Traveling 70 miles an hour when they saw a freight. The caboose number 83 was on the main line, Casey's last words were "Jump, Sim, while you have the time. "At 3:52 that morning came the fareful end, Casey took his farewell trip to the promised land. Casey Jones, he died at the throttle, With the whistle in his hand. Casey Jones, he died at the throttlle, But we'll all see Casey in the promised land. trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Saturday, August 12, 2006 9:30 AM Good morning Leon. I see thatyou are wearing your brightest jump boots and suspenders today and i see that Boris is well being Boris he's even reinstalled old number 99's golden striker for this occation today,so remember folks once a riounds bougth he will let er rip. Speaking of which leon a round for all those here assembled. Bwoong gwoong bwoong ah music to my ears.The ladies of perpetual motion and knitting cirle wil be provoding some instruction and entertainment later on today,Cindy has developed some "new tecniques" Lars-Thank you for attempting to rally the troups today.I'm glad to see that several have jumped in. As ou had noted I do give more of a rats patoot about the place then I suppose I should, but there is too much good information and good times here to simply trun one's back on.So besides renting the hall out to weddings and etc. I have been keeping the candles burning in the windows so to speak.Nice to see that you also brought Tom's other thread back to the fore for the day as well. I have to say that through it all these two treads are / were a shinning becon of what the forums should be, largly JO free. Doug -Ah yes the rusty old groan- a- meter is still functioning, in fact I have Boris polish it with a hand made Carpathian wax ( best not to ask what it's hand made from, suffice to say it's one of Boris's families recipes ) Thanks for stopping in and thanks for the kind words as well. Dave -I'm glad to see that you have made it in as well, a second visit since last month if I can recollect correctly. Boris always did have a speacial spot in his heart for you I'm not sure if that's either safe or healthy but it is as it is. Leon wring up another round for da boyz. Boris do your thing Bwooong gwooong bwooong. Ah yes I think the old place will be hopping at least for one saturday this month. Rob trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Saturday, August 12, 2006 9:37 AM Oh yes one other thing. Lars - Thanks for bringing in the Casey Jones ballad with you. Makes it bit more like old times with some actual content as well as the fine banter at the bar. I think that even if Da Boss dosen't pop by today I think he is with us in spirit. I'm sure that he is quite aware that today is the 17 month aniversary, as this bar really is / was his baby an extension of him if you will. Tom -If you are out there peeking in. Thank-you for the best darned cyber bar for a person to stop in at and just be themselves ! leon a round as a toast to Da Boss. Rob BudKarr Member sinceSeptember 2005 From: Alberta's Canadian Rockies 331 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by BudKarr on Saturday, August 12, 2006 9:49 AM Good Morning to all assembled at our favorite watering hole!This just happened to work for me as we are back in our mountain retreat after a couple of weeks away and what did I find? An e-mail from Lars along with what appears to be a resumption of activity at "Our" Place - best of them all in the Ether! Took me a bit of "doing" to get back into the official acceptance mode of these newly designed forums. For whatever the reason I had a Devil of a time trying to get registered. Finally got Lydia to figure it out and here I am! What is man without a mate (computer literate one that is!)?And so, do we dare to believe that "Our" Place is in really back - if only for the day? I subscribe to the notion that was expounded upon by Lars - it is Tom's creation and if he closed it, well that's that. However, one cannot simply walk away from something that has captured and captivated so many for so long. Therefore, borrowing a phrase from Lars - a 5- salute to trolleyboy Rob for doing what he did in order to maintain the bar "up on the page!" So now that Rob has checked in along with me - I see that makes for the interest we all knew was there. Let the momentum grow! My hope is that we will be visited by our Mentor - Tom the Proprietor on this fine Saturday. There are many hours left in the day, so perhaps we should dedicate ourselves to checking back periodically, just to fan the flames of hope and of course enjoy the company of some of the guys who made this place so special.I have not been onboard since the waning days of mid July when Tom closed up shop. For my part, as the novice of novices around here, I figured it had come to a conclusion. I also subscribe to the notion that no one or nothing remains the same. That is the reality of life - seen it - experienced it - and there is much more of it to come, Gentlemen.Kudos to you too, Lars, for keeping the fires burning. I know you were instrumental in those July days in keeping us all apprised of events and your efforts were and are very much appreciated! Let us raise our glasses in a toast to Tom, "Our" Place and this the 17th month anniversary of his creation! Oh yes - Leon, we will take two #3 selections from menu board - a large mug of coffee for me with just a splash to make it interesting and my lady will have a cuppa tea.We will be seated right over there by the window . . . . BK in Alberta Canada's beautfiful high mountain country trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Saturday, August 12, 2006 10:21 AM Good morning again folksl Leon I think i will pick up a number 2 of the menu board for the moment. BK & Lydia - Nice to see our two favourite Albertan's this morning. I'm glad that you took lLrs up on his offer,nice to see those window booths in use again. Thank-you for the kind words on keeping the doors semi-open it's been a labour of love fer sure fer sureI haven't fully figured out all the new nuances of the new forum system yet myself,but I have to say that I don't hate itand it does seem to run much more smoothly.Since today is saturday, and we always "Encored" things on saturday here's a little light hearted one from back a bit.Good plan on the constant check ins folks.I shall soon be off to work but I do plan to pop back in this evening. Rob trolleyboy wrote:Okay, here's my first "new" piece of info now that we are getting back into the full swing of things here at the ole bar. This is the first of a new series of info from the trolleyboy barns. A new subset of features " Wierd Tales From The Barn" Wierd Tales From The Barn #1 The Trolley and Teddy Roosevelt exerpt from a local newspaper. Once a trolley thretened to become a major player in US Politics.It came within a whisker of killing a US President, and nearly promoted a SecState to the office of the President of the US. Theodore Roosevelt had this run in on a dusty road just outside if Pittsfield Mass.The date was Sept 3 1902, barely a year after President Mackinnley's assasination.The President,Govener Crane of Mass were tooling along in the Presidents open horse drawn landau, pulled by four prancing white horses. Facing them was George B Cortelyou, later the sectratary of Commerce and Labour, and up on the box was the driver and a Secret Service man named William Craig. Five outriders were ridinbg along side in escort of the buggy. They were ahead of thee buggy and were to far away to render assistance,and to add to their mortification another buggy loaded with newspapermen was up ahead of them heading for the same Country Club which was the Presidents destination. An open trolley, travelling in the same direction as the President's carriage overtook the Presidents carriage.Aboard it were a number of Pittsfields notables including the two top officers of the streetcar company.It was later rumoured and denied that they had ordered the motorman to hurry so that they could get to the Country Club in time to welcome the President.The trolley was in the centre of the road and the Landau on the right, well ahaed of both vehicles was a place where the car tracksswung from the center of the road to the right hand side.Concentrating on his prancing team, and unaware that the trolley was passing, the Landau's driver veered over the tracks.The landau was hit hard on it's rear left wheel and shoved aside,pitching it's occupants into the air. The President tumbled in the dirt, recieving a bruise on his cheek,a banged knee a cut lip and a severe shaking up.His glasses were knocked flying, his silk hat frazzled, and his frock coat torn at one elbow.According to the NY Times he told the horrorstruck motorman ; " I Think this is the most ***able outrage I ever heard of "Govener Crane abd Secratary Courtelyou only recieved minor injuries; but the Landau driver was seriously hurt and SS agent Craig who stood up the instant of the impact to protect the President was thrown under the trolley and killed. The motorman , Euclid Madden, was fined 500 dollars and jailed for six months. Many Streetcarmen were convinced that Maden was only a victem of bad luck and of newspaper hue and cry. So a Pittsfield newspaper recollection of Teddy Roosevelt's unfortunate run in with a trolleycar. Rob LoveDomes Member sinceJanuary 2006 From: northeast U.S. 1,225 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by LoveDomes on Saturday, August 12, 2006 10:48 AM Good Morning once again fellow travelers at the bar!Looks as if we've begun anew 'round the joint, huh Perhaps with a bit of patience as these hours pass by, we'll see Pete and a couple of other guys pop in as they check their e-mail in boxes. My concern is and has been that as more time passed by with "Our" Place no longer the focal point for many, that it would be most difficult trying to rekindle the spirit. Doesn't appear that my concerns were warranted - happy to state! Great seeing Doug - Rob and of course my "bookend" BK on board this morning! Don't have a "plan" for the day - and if ENCORES are what you guys would like, then post 'em if you got 'em! Enjoyed the rerun of the "Teddy & trolley" story! Should Tom return to the fold, I'll yield to him with regard to the way the bar and the activities will take place. Maybe he'll just let it run pretty much the way it was - then again, maybe some new thoughts. But one thing is for sure, it is GREAT to be back online, huhI received an e-mail from Al yesterday (as mentioned earlier) and he indicated that he is still having 'puter problems. Hmmmmmm - that seems to be quite a long time as it seems to me he mentioned that difficulty before Tom closed the joint. Spend some of that "coin" and buy a new one! Are you planning on taking "it" with you when you board the final train Nuances of these newly designed forums have me wondering what the big deal was all about Looks like the effort was made to squelch any of the competiveness amongst the contributors - you know, knocking off the stars and no longer being able to check on the members to see the listing of who has how many posts and so on. I think that's not all so bad - really. Who gives a Rat's Patoot about some of the JOs who spent so much time running up the count My dislike has to do with the way new posts are made. Seems that one has to reply to something in order to get on the page. I also noted that there is a capability to prevent someone from replying by locking the format. Oh well, lots to get up to speed on . . . but that's for later! Leon, I'll take a frosty mug of Schaefer as I await the day's baseball activities to resume. I won't needle you guys about my Mets making a shambles of the National League East - you already know it! Been a crazy season for some teams and it's only mid-August. Lots and lots of time left for things to happen. Oh yes - Leon, I'll also take one of my "staples" - a foot long hero sandwich - ham, Swiss, mustAHd and buttAH with two large pickles from the barrel. Oh yes, scrape off some of the brine for Tex the Armadillo - he loves lapping it up in a saucer as you may recall! <grin>Later Gents!Lars Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 12, 2006 1:15 PM Hey Leon ..is it too early for a bottlemless draught? I'll be happy to buy a round for the guys who have shown-up here today as well. Sure is great to hear from BK after all this time. Really glad to see you staing in touch. More kudos to Lars who is keeping the posts coming, and a story about Casey Jones to boot! BY the way .. I did respond to your e-mail through the tranis forum. Did you get it? Great posts from Rob today too. I love wierd tales, as you know. Speaking of which, I spent some time helping to move many boxes of rail magazines from a boxcar to their new home in a Norfolk and Western baggage car at IRM today, and was awarded about a six-month supply of interesting stuff that I'd love to share here, if this thread re-opens. I've been accumulating other material as well. Here's a little something with Tom in mind. I snuck into our RDC for some pix .. and here are some of them: http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture671.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture673.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture677.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture678.jpg To say this car needs work, is a huge understatement. The IRM RDC used to be scheduled for restoration, and a new diesel engine was secured, but now it seems that only outside cosmetic restoration is to be done. I was invited to assist in this effort today. That's it for now. I'll be checking in later to see if our "steamed" leader makes an appearance! A couple had been married only two weeks. The husband, although very much in love, can't wait to go out on the town and party with his old buddies. "Honey," says he to his new bride, "I'll be right back..." "Where are you going, Coochy Coo?" asks the wife. "I'm going to the bar, Pretty Face. I'm going to have a beer." "You want a beer, My Love?" She opens the refrigerator door shows him 25 different brands of beer from 12 different countries: Germany, Holland, Japan, India, including six places he's never even heard of. The husband is nonplussed, and all he can think to say is, "Yes, Honey Pie, but the bar you know...the frozen glass..." He hasn't finished the sentence before wifey interrupts him by saying, "You want a frozen glass, Puppy Face?" She hands him a mug out of the freezer that is so cold that it burns his fingers "Yes, Tootsie Roll," hubby says a bit desperately, "but at the bar they have those hors d'oeuvres that are really delicious... I won't be long. I'll be right back. I promise. OK?" "You want hors d'oeuvres, Pookie Pooh?" She opens the oven and removes 15 different hors d'oeuvres: chicken wings, pigs in a blanket, mushroom caps, pork strips, etc. "But, Sweetie, Honey...at the bar...you know...the swearing, the dirty words and all that..." "You want dirty words, Cutie Pie? Here...DRINK YOUR *** BEER IN YOUR FROZEN *** MUG AND EAT YOUR *** SNACKS, BECAUSE YOU AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE! GOT IT, A**HOLE?!!" Edit West Coast S Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Los Angeles 1,619 posts Posted by West Coast S on Saturday, August 12, 2006 2:15 PM Good Saturday Barkeep, make mine a Saspahrilla, got the weekend duty...again...But, permit me to cover all rounds for the gents present today, Boris, I don't think so, no physical contact permitted!! Geez Rob, I think Boris is indeed love sick for me!!! Good to be among the gang once more, I see you made it too Doug, howdy to Mr.Lars, Mr. Domes and Mr. Karr and course you Rob aka Mr. Interurban...Here's to a auspicious yet incomplete 17th anniversary, any progress with disrupting Tom's retirement? Ok, let me comence with a topic. How the Southern Pacific operated former Pacific Electric Lines. While visiting another thread, this topic came up and jarred some memories from the cockel of my beady brain!! The former PE routes in the South Bay include the El Segundo and Dominguez spur, all former major PE routes, now disconnected and treated as simple industrial zones. By far the Domnguez line is the most complete of the two and retains obvious interurban linnage. SP pulled the second main with the exception of imbedded street trackage, back in 1964 several years prior, the overhead wire came down, what SP couldn't change was the street trackage down Vermont Ave, and, until UP ownership, the classic wig-wag crossing signals..From Vermont Ave., the line Proceded northwest to Western Ave., a spur served a lumber distributer here, past this switch, the line reversed directions yet again to rejoin Vermont Ave on private right of way. A bit to the east was Redondo Bch. Blvd., this was the location of the only passing siding and the start of double track, orginally built strictly for interurban use this siding was only one hundred feet long. It survives in use yet today.. As the line continued west, 190th Street was crossed at grade, several spurs serviced Reynolds Aluminum and the massive Boeing Plant, now both demolished in favor of a Walmart, but it required several moves a day by SP crews who employed MP15's, Geep nines, and even once an SD7, Hills Brothers Coffee was the third largest shipper and the only remaining user of rail service at that time on the extreme end of this spur that terminated at the foot of Torrance Blvd. Orginally, the PE continued west to San Pedro from this point, this was the second freight bypass, by this late date only a patched grade crossing and weed strewn roadbed marked the route beyond Torrance Blvd, a interesting discovery was the gas station located on the former right of way that featured visible switch work in its parking lot or the ghostly intact, disconected spur to the pipe works, this was all erased serveral years ago in the name of progress. The second leg diverged at Torrance Ave. and continued into downtown Torrance proper, which by the early eighties only served a lumber distributor, but boasted a intact, abandoned station. Once, parrallel lines radiated from the station site on two city streets a block apart, the passenger bypass was long gone, having been abandoned and paved over in 1953, the second route, the so called number one freight bypass barely existed as scattered, disconnected segments until redevolpment in the late eighties, this route once circled back via city streets to rejoin the the line at Torrance and Vermont, the empty private right of ways and their extensive PE designed landscaping were intact until very recently. A MP15 seemed to be assigned this route, today UP employs road switchers, better to contend with the grade and tight curves as new industries have moved in to occupy the former shop site.. Opposite the depot the shop lead diverged and crossed Torrance Blvd. and continued on private right of way alongside residential avenues for half a mile, the shop buildings were complete and in non railroad use until 1983, though the trackage to the former eleven acre facality was not, the shop lead was long ago reconfigured to provide a second plant access for Reynolds Aluminum and a machine and die tool works manfacturer. Today, this line is thriving, UP found it prudent to install relay welded rail and current grade crossing protection to contend with the traffic. The former shops location, is today a thriving industrial complex, several of whom require frequent rail service. The station also survives as a trendy restaurant, the city has taken to sprucing up the active right of way with new plantings, much as the PE once adorned its right of ways so many years ago. Well that's the tour of my favorite local scene as it was twenty plus years ago and as of today, enjoy the rounds. Until later, Boris no kisses!!!! Dave SP the way it was in S scale passengerfan Member sinceMarch 2004 From: Central Valley California 2,841 posts Posted by passengerfan on Saturday, August 12, 2006 2:18 PM Good Afternoon Everyone. My compute has been down for logging on to reply to Our Place or anything else for the last two weeks and in one repect it has been good as i am catching up on writing. Hope everyone has read that Passenger Train Journal is coming back I have every issue from number one and am looking forward to its return after a ten year absence. Guess I should have ordered my usual CR and a round for the house. The office puter i only have access to on weekends.So until the tech gets around to solving my problem I will have to send messages on Saturdays only. Great hearing from all of the old regulars and certainly miss the forum. ttfn Al siberianmo Member sinceFebruary 2004 From: Chesterfield, Missouri, USA 7,214 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by siberianmo on Saturday, August 12, 2006 3:40 PM G'day Gents!What is THIS - a conspiracy of the heart It appears that many of you guys simply won't let go, eh So, you want the bar to open and remain so I'll make a deal with you on this the 17th Month Anniversary of "Our" Place - as your interests in keeping this idea alive 'n well grow - so will mine! Good to "see" Doug - Lars - Rob - BK - Dave 'n Al this fine day - that's not bad for a Saturday. Now I must admit to NOT being active at all since July 12th- haven't checked in nor have I inquired. However, some of you have been rather steady with the Email messages (Pete in particular) and I know that this special place of OURS means a lot. So - let's move forward and see what happens.Great job getting the place back in shape, Leon 'n Boris - looks really spiffy. I see that my gal Cindy has been around, for the freshly washed, starched and hung curtains look like something she would attend to. Looks like I've got a bit of catching up to attend to - not to mention checking on the inventory for the bar. My guess is that our Bar Chandler, Rob, has been quite busy ensuring that the supplies have been at the ready. Good job! So, Lars, just what have you been up to Working behind the scenes to find a way to tweak my interests, eh I must admit to feeling just a bit strange with all of this - pleasantly of course - but strange nonetheless. Thought for sure that it was an over 'n done deal . . . one just never should say never, eh Okay - set 'em up Leon - ring the bell Boris - and let's see what shakes in these days to come!Later!Tom Happy Railroading! Siberianmo BudKarr Member sinceSeptember 2005 From: Alberta's Canadian Rockies 331 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by BudKarr on Saturday, August 12, 2006 3:53 PM Good Afternoon Gentlemen at the bar!It looks like we have something to build upon - now that Tom our Proprietor and boss man has returned! This has been some Saturday in that I had no plans whatsoever of browsing in the Ether much less using the computer. Then for whatever the reason, I checked my email account and found the message that Lars sent out and the rest is evident. Wonderful turn of events! One just never knows what one has lost until it is gone, or something like that. (Lydia says I am using song lyrics - beats me! )I can appreciate how you feel Captain Tom - for we all really understand the situation - this idea of yours took root - deeply and for what it is worth - welcome back to YOUR place!Good to see the show of support today - and this has to be a great day for Rob, for he and he alone never gave up on "Our" Place! My thinking is that Doug too has to be heartened, for this IS the place for the kinds of material we have all become accustomed to enjoying. Somehow the postings on other threads just has not caught on. Not to say that the efforts were not worth it - but the nucleus of guys who give that proverbial Rat's Patoot hang out here! Enjoyed the resumption of RR info from Dave on the Left Coast and looks like my learning curve is about to begin again! Set 'em up Leon - clang the bell Boris - let the good times flow!BK in Alberta, Canada's beautiful high mountain country! West Coast S Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Los Angeles 1,619 posts Posted by West Coast S on Saturday, August 12, 2006 4:04 PM What do my eyes discern? Why, Herr Tom your'e back among the fold! Good to see you about and doing well, you know how it goes, some things are too good to let go of, until today, i've only been back once.. Ok Boris, Tom, needs a big return kiss, Leon get Tom whatever he desires, you behave Cindy... Good to hear from you Dave SP the way it was in S scale LoveDomes Member sinceJanuary 2006 From: northeast U.S. 1,225 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by LoveDomes on Saturday, August 12, 2006 4:21 PM G'day Fellow Travelers at the bar!And what do our eyes reveal The return of our leader for the 17th month anniversary of "Tom's" Place! What a great day indeed as many of you have echoed! A 5- Salute to the Man! Even if for one fine day - it's a great feeling, huh Ring those chimes Boris and ring 'em loud! Pour the liquid refreshments for the adult crowd and let the good times roll in this, the best watering hole this side of heaven! I don't feel like waxing eloquently about anything other than the return to the bar of our host and Chief Mentor, Tom the Proprietor. What is to say other than many, many heartfelt thanx to Rob, Doug and everyone else who worked to get this day to become reality. Now we have something to build upon, huhLet's not look back, but forward. I like the expression Tom uses, screw 'em all but 6 and save those for pall bearers! Actually, that saying was one of my very own during my sea going days - must be something kindred between we sailors, wouldn't you say Mate I don't expect we'll see a full resumption of activities here nor do I expect to see the "usual suspects" show up. Guys come and guys go. RIP - really, let's move on with our new beginnings and let bygones be just that. I've missed this interaction - didn't think it would impact me, but it did and has. Apparently has also had an effect on others as well. So, what's wrong with that, huh Good day all 'round - Yanks beat the Angles - Mets on tap for a good game tonight and the fridge has plenty of cold brew just waiting to be opened! Nice work, Dave, with the input - and of course very pleased to see "20 Fingers Al" make an appearance. Locked in writing these weeks, huh Well,. come up for air, Mate - time to resume your presence here at "Our" Place!Drinks on me!Lars pwolfe Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: mid mo 1,054 posts Posted by pwolfe on Saturday, August 12, 2006 5:54 PM Hi TOM and all. Did not expect to be able to say that again.Caught up on my e-mails and got Lars message. Is the Bathams still on. Can I just echo whats been said about ROB DAVE and DOUG I too have missed OUR PLACE. The new format seems a bit to me so if the wrong smiley appears please forgive me. Heres hopeing to many great days at Our Place again. The words that have been often quoted about a narrow guage line on the Devon coast in England which closed in the 30s( a section of which is being rebuilt) applied here,"Perchance it is not dead but sleepeth" Well done Lars PETE. siberianmo Member sinceFebruary 2004 From: Chesterfield, Missouri, USA 7,214 posts Posted by siberianmo on Saturday, August 12, 2006 6:26 PM A belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to PETE - August 11th was the date! So, have a Bathams or three on me and enjoy this weekend, Mate! Good to see ya, Pete and I received and responded to your Email. Appreciate the kind words from those of you who checked in today and to reiterate, let's let things flow in whatever direction they may. I like the comments from Lars regarding our future - best not to press it. If it's meant to be, then it will happen! So guys, enjoy this weekend and hope to be communicating with y'all real soon . . . . Tom Happy Railroading! 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trolleyboy wrote:Okay I'm back with some on theme info, a short synopsis of the Seaboards frieght ops. CLASSIC DIESEL BARN # 9 SEABORD FRIEGHT OPS Freight Service On The Seaboard The Seaboard railroads position in the Southeast,allowed it to carry a wide variety of freight, it is of coarse best known for it's perishable fruit and produce trains between Florida and Georgia and the North. Carried on today by CSX. Despite the high profile hauling of perishables, the Seaboard carried more minerals than anything. Around 1950 approx. half of the Seaboards frieght traffic was mineral based, mostlyb phosphate, used for fertilizers ( and other things ) such as amunition and match maufactering. Alot of clay,iron ore , cement, and aggregates wwas also carried by the road, these loads also falling under the mineral category. Next largest cargo type was durable manufactured goods, most of whick caame from the North. General mercjhandise accounted for approx 30 % of the freight moved by the SAL by mid-century. Forest products accounted for 15 % of their freight hauling which included pulpwood,paper,and pine tree stumps ( they actually had speacially designed gondolas for theae some still in use on the CSX ! ) used to make pine oil and turpintine. The remaing 5 % was aggricultural loads, including grains, cotton products,and the perishables. The perishables accounted for half of the aggricultural loads , however the revnues from this service was important enough that the SAL held an intrest in the Fruit Growers Express, a consortium that operated a fleet of reefer cars, and refridgerated piggy back trailers. In the 50's the SAL was one of the first other railroads to pick up the TOFC or Piggy Back trailer carrying system started by the Pennsey.By 1959 this mode of cargo handling became a huge hit with the SAL's customers,and they were operating a whole fleet of this type of trains. As a sidenote the Seaboard was one of the few railroads that would name it's principal freight trains.Among the best known was the Merchandiser between Richmond and Miami,it was one of te few freights that held first calss operational status,putting it on par with passenger trains in the terms of priority handling. A Northbound conterpart was the Marketer , with a section out of Miami and one out of Tampa joining at Baldwin Florida . Other named freights included the Tar Heel ( Richmond-Bostic NC )this had a connection with the Clinchfield RY. The Capitol{Richmond-Birmingham NC }, the Iron Master {Birmingham-Atlanta }, the Clipper and the Alaga { Montgomery-Savanah } and the Pioneer { Montgomery-Jacksonville}. In the 1960's ,Seaboard championed it's high speed piggy back service, the best train of the TOFC fleet being the Razorback . This hot trailer train ( for yeasr the fastest feight train in NA ) originated on The Pennsylvania RR at Kearny NJ and ran through to Hialeah Yard in Miami, 1000 miles in 30 hours ! During the SAL's last full year iof independance, 1966, it carried 66 million tons of freight the most ever in the roads history. * info from Diesel era mags and railpace Rob
wanswheel wrote: Rob, I'm going to try to put new links to the pages for Tom's great Railroads of Yesteryear #1: Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/233/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #2: Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/234/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #3: Pennsylvania (PRR) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/237/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #4: New York Central (NYC) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/240/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #5: New Haven (NYNH&H) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/242/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #6: Santa Fe (ATSF) (Two Parts) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/246/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #7: Southern Pacific (SP) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/253/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #8: Northern Pacific (NP) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/259/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #9: Coastline/Seaboard (ACL - SCL - SAL) (Two Parts) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/267/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #10: Southern Railway (SOU) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/276/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #11: Denver and Rio Grande Western (D&RG) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/282/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #12: Great Northern Railway (GN) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/287/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #13: Missouri Pacific (MP) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/293/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #14: Illinois Central (IC) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/299/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #15: Boston & Maine (B&M) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/307/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #16: Western Pacific (WP) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/314/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #17: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/320/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217 #18: Burlington Zephyrs (Two Parts) http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/326/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217
Rob, I'm going to try to put new links to the pages for Tom's great
Railroads of Yesteryear
#1: Baltimore & Ohio (B&O)
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/233/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217
#2: Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O)
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/234/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217
#3: Pennsylvania (PRR)
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/237/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217
#4: New York Central (NYC)
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/240/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217
#5: New Haven (NYNH&H)
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/242/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217
#6: Santa Fe (ATSF) (Two Parts)
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/246/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217
#7: Southern Pacific (SP)
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/253/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217
#8: Northern Pacific (NP)
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/259/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217
#9: Coastline/Seaboard (ACL - SCL - SAL) (Two Parts)
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/267/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217
#10: Southern Railway (SOU)
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/276/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217
#11: Denver and Rio Grande Western (D&RG)
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/282/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217
#12: Great Northern Railway (GN)
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/287/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217
#13: Missouri Pacific (MP)
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/293/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217
#14: Illinois Central (IC)
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/299/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217
#15: Boston & Maine (B&M)
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/307/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217
#16: Western Pacific (WP)
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/314/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217
#17: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q)
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/320/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217
#18: Burlington Zephyrs (Two Parts)
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/326/448217/ShowPost.aspx#448217
CM3 - Hey thanks for popping in. As you can tell I'm more or less keeping the place open for posterity sake, that and the fact that there is an absolute ton of really good railroad info compiled here. Worth keeping in the forefront I feel. I'm just running it more as a museum exhibit. Mind you should anyone wish tomdiscuss chat or otherwise contribute to the volumes of good stuff here thay are always more than welcome to. Besides Leon and Boris still no how to mix a good drink and and make the odd edible confection. I hope to see you pop by once in a while and add to the effort.
A not all that old encore from the archieves, this one only dates back to page 358. One of the lighter side of the train and trolley world for everyones reading pleasure.
trolleyboy wrote:Well gentlemen,( and ladies ) it's time for another dose of the semi sureal. WIERD TALES FROM THE BARN # 4 MISSHAPS ON THE MTC As we all know streetcar companies by their nature have often had derailment or other problems that would effect their day to day operations. Here's a few examples of soem of the miscues that slowed down services on the MTC ( Montreal Tramways Co )Thesea are all old excerpts from the Montreal Gazette. Enjoy Rob Automobile didn't get the blame this time Westbound tramway traffic on St James street near the intersection of Inspector was delayed 20 minutes yesterday morning when a horse, drawing snow for the city,partially slipped down a large manhole. Traffic and work was delayed while a Montreal Tramways Company towing car equipped with a hoist was pressed intio service and the horse lifted out. Montreal Gazette Wed , January 12, 1944. Someone is attaching stickers to posters advertising woman's wear so that part of the models body is covered. Attached mostly to the sweater- girl type of advertisement, the stickers are in French. Their message translated ; "Respect Womanhood" , " She is your wife " , "She is your sister" , " She is your mother " , " she is your fiancee ". A spokesman for the Canadian Advertising Co, said last night; " Yes we know about it.There haven't been many stickers. Some crackpot I guess. There is nothing offensive about the cards. We promptly replace any that are defaced. " Officials of the Sacred Heart League here could not be reached for comment. The stickers bear no identification as to their sponser or printer. It is believed that the person applying the stickers has placed his own interpretation on Quebec regulations that frown on nudity or semi nudity pictured or otherwise. Montreal Gazette Fri January 14,1949 and one more for this installment. I figure that Tom and Lars will apprecaite this one. Rene Richard of 6708 Cartier ST and Charles M Tremblay of 3604 Rouen St, both Montreal Tamways employees were admitted to St Luke hospital early yeasterday morning. They were suffering from cuts and other injuries alleged sustained during a streetcar fracus. Police said that at the intersection of St Catharine St West and Atwater two unknown sailors refused to pay their fare and became abusive.No arrests were made. Constables Coupal and Poitras investigated and Pichard and Tremblay were able to return home after treatment. Montreal Gazette Monday Nov 13, 1944 Rob
Some bit's of "Classic Juice " for this installment of encores from the archieves. The always classic NYNH for today's railroad of choice. A coupkle snippits from this feb's disscussions on the railroad.
passengerfan wrote:Good Night Barkeep I figured if the bar opens at six in each time zone then I'm in for last call on the left coast as you call it.(Insomnia). Everyone seems to have liked the New York Central day we had and we had more regulars than I remember for awhile. I see Rob made it just before closing to. Guess I'll have a CR and see if that helps me sleep. I see Russ even gave us a picture of the NYC 4-8-2, nice. Tom that accident at Hinton I have often wondered about even wondered if that midtrain passenger locomotive could have contributed to the severity of the damage to the passenger cars. I don't think with this insomnia I will be able to post before work in the Morning so will leave this under the door for the morning. PASSENGERFAN AL'S STREAMLINER CORNER # 58 MERCHANTS LIMITED NYNH&H trains 26-27 July 8, 1949 New York – Boston daily round trip All Parlor 220.1 miles each way 5 hours 15 minutes The Merchants Limited became the only lightweight streamlined All Parlor Car train to operate in North America on the above date. Unfortunately it lasted for less than three months before coaches were added to this the most famous of all New Haven trains. CONSIST ONE 208 BERKSHIRE COUNTY Baggage Buffet 1-Parlor Drawing Room 2-Parlor Roomette 28- Seat Lounge Car 400 CONNECTICUT RIVER 26- Revenue Seat Parlor 14- Seat Lounge Car 402 HOUSATONIC RIVER 26- Revenue Seat Parlor 14-Seat Lounge Car 300 PITTSFIELD 36- Seat Parlor Car 900 JONATHAN EDWARDS 48- Seat Dining Car 302 MANSFIELD 36- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 315 WESTERLEY 52- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 317 DANBURY 52- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 475 WATCH HILL 38- Seat Tavern Lounge Bar 22- Seat Lounge Observation CONSIST TWO 209 KINGS COUNTY Baggage Buffet 1-Parlor Drawing Room 2-Parlor Roomette 28- Seat Lounge Car 401 THAMES RIVER 26- Revenue Seat Parlor 14-Seat Lounge Car 403 BLACKSTONE RIVER 26- Revenue Seat Parlor 14-Seat Lounge Car 301 BRIDGEPORT 36- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 901 SAMUEL HUNTINGTON 48- Seat Dining Car 303 BROCKTON 36- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 316 MYSTIC 52- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 318 GROTON 52- Revenue Seat Parlor Car 476 BUNKER HILL 38- Seat Tavern Lounge Bar 22- Seat Lounge Observation TTFN AL
ENCORE ! ENCORE! ENCORE ! ENCORE !
This first appeared on page 242 Feb 10 of this year, as always anyone wishing to partake or discuss further is fully welcommed and encouraged to do so.
siberianmo wrote:Now arriving on track #1 ….. Railroads from Yesteryear! Number Five Used with permission from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Formatting differences made necessary due to Forums requirements. Some heralds from other sources. New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Locale: New York, NY to Boston, MA Reporting marks: NH Dates of operation: 1872 – 1969 Track gauge: 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge) Headquarters: New Haven, Connecticut The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad (AAR reporting mark NH) was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States. Commonly referred to as the New Haven, the railroad served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Its primary connections included Boston and New York. History The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad was formed July 24, 1872 as a consolidation of the New York and New Haven Railroad and Hartford and New Haven Railroad. This included not only the main line from New York City to Springfield, Massachusetts via New Haven and Hartford, Connecticut, but also leases of lines including the Shore Line Railway to New London. The New Haven went on to lease more lines and systems, eventually forming a virtual monopoly in New England south of the Boston and Albany Railroad. The first line of the original system to open was the Hartford and New Haven Railroad, opened from New Haven to Hartford in 1839 and beyond to Springfield in 1844. The New York and New Haven came later, as it ran parallel to the Long Island Sound coast and required many bridges over rivers. It opened in 1848, using trackage rights over the New York and Harlem Railroad (later part of the New York Central Railroad system) from Williamsbridge south to Grand Central Terminal, which served as the New Haven's New York City terminal. Around the turn of the century, New York investors, led by J.P. Morgan gained control and in 1903, installed Charles Mellen as President. Morgan and Mellen sought a complete monopoly of transportation in New England, purchasing other railroad and steamship and trolley lines. More than 100 independent railroads eventually became part of the system before and during these years, reaching 2,131 miles at its 1929 peak. Substantial improvements to the system were made during the Mellen years, including electrification between New York, and New Haven. But Morgan's expansion left the company overextended and financially weak. It never truly recovered. Under the stress of the Great Depression, in 1935 the New Haven slipped into bankruptcy, remaining in trusteeship until 1947. Common stock was voided and creditors assumed control. After 1951 both freight and passenger service lost money. New Haven's earlier expansion had left it with a network of light density branch lines that could not support their maintenance and operating costs. The New Haven's freight business was short-haul, requring a lot of switching costs that could not be recovered in short-distance rates. The New Haven had major commuter train services in New York and Boston (as well as New Haven, Hartford and Providence), but these always lost money, unable to recover their investment providing service just twice a day during rush hour. The death of the New Haven may have been sealed by the building of the Connecticut Turnpike and other interstates. With decades of inadequate investment, the New Haven could not compete against the automobile or the trucker. In 1954 the flashy Patrick McGinnis led a proxy fight against incumbent president Buck Dumain, vowing to return more of the company's profit to shareholders. McGinnis accomplished this by deferring maintenance. McGinnis also spent money on a flashy new image for the company - dull green and gold trim was replaced by loud black, orange and white. When he departed, 22 months later, he left the company financially wrecked. It once again went into bankruptcy on July 2, 1961. At the insistence of the ICC, the New Haven was merged with Penn Central on January 1, 1969. Following the bankruptcy of Penn Central, in 1976 a substantial portion of the former New Haven main line between New York and Boston was transferred to Amtrak, and now forms a major portion of the electrified Northeast Corridor, hosting high speed Acela Express and commuter rail service. Harlem River The Harlem River and Port Chester Railroad was the New Haven's first lease after its merger. It was chartered in 1866, leased by the New Haven on October 1, 1873, and opened later that year, running from the New Haven at New Rochelle, New York south into the Bronx, New York City. It was originally a branch line, but in 1916 the New York Connecting Railroad and its Hell Gate Bridge opened, turning the Harlem River Branch into a major through route. Air Line The New Haven, Middletown and Willimantic Railroad opened in 1873 as part of the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad system, running from New Haven northeast via Middletown to the BH&E at Willimantic. The BH&E went bankrupt that same year, becoming the New York and New England Railroad, but the NHM&W stayed separate, failing in 1875. It was reorganized as the Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad, and operated by the New Haven from 1879, being leased on October 1, 1882. Connecticut Valley The New Haven obtained a majority of stock of the Hartford and Connecticut Valley Railroad in 1882, running from Hartford south and southeast to the Shore Line Railway in Old Saybrook via Middletown. That line had originally opened in 1871 as the Connecticut Valley Railroad, and continued north to Springfield, Massachusetts via the Connecticut Central Railroad, later part of the New York and New England Railroad system. In 1880 the company was succeeded by the Hartford and Connecticut Valley. New Canaan The Stamford and New Canaan Railroad was a branch from the New Haven in Stamford north to New Canaan. It was chartered in 1866 as the New Canaan Railroad, opened in 1868, reorganized and renamed in 1883, and leased by the New Haven on October 1, 1884. Naugatuck The New Haven leased the Naugatuck Railroad on April 1, 1887, obtaining a line from Naugatuck Junction on the New York-New Haven line near Stratford north via Waterbury, reaching the Central New England Railway at Winsted. The line, organized in 1848, had opened in 1849. New Haven and Northampton The New Haven and Northampton Railroad, built next to the former Farmington Canal, ran from New Haven north via Meriden to Northampton, Massachusetts and beyond to the Fitchburg Railroad's Troy and Greenfield Railroad. The New York and New Haven Railroad leased the first few sections soon after they opened, obtaining the line to Plainville in 1848 and the ext LoveDomes Member sinceJanuary 2006 From: northeast U.S. 1,225 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by LoveDomes on Friday, August 11, 2006 9:09 AM Good Morning Gentlemen!One month ago tomorrow, Tom closed "Our" Place. A very sad day and a sobering awakening to the reality of how things just never remain the same here in the ether or in reality. As Tom used to tell us, change is as inevitable as the tides themselves. Happens.I see that one of "our own" has tried to maintain this thread and for that perhaps those of us "regulars" owe a bit of thanks for keeping Tom's thread "up on the page." Then again, I have mixed emotions. He created the bar - he closed the bar. How then can it remain open? Ah, just one of those "things" perhaps he suffered with over the 16 months run - not quite being able to get the structure of it all across to one and all. Anyway, I think trolleyboy Rob has his heart in the right place and it's just a bit of added sadness that the effort may have come a bit to late to save the place.My time on these forums has been very, very sparce and in fact, I haven't done any browsing for weeks. Today, it occurred to me that our 17th month anniversary is tomorrow. Since Rob has kept the thread "up on the page" and in spite of little or no interaction, it still "lives" why not celebrate the dayFor anyone reading this who has the email addresses of our "regulars," why not send out an invitation - perhaps we'll get a taker or two for tomorrow. Then again, it is Saturday, and that was always a rather hit 'n miss day if I recall correctly. Anyway, worth a try - let's go for it! For my part, I have missed this great thread and the wonderful interaction along with the gobs of material provided. As with Tom, I haven't missed the JOs - the rude - the anon people and the like. There are many other places for them. THIS thread is for those who give a Rat's Patoot!Hoping to see some activtiy 'round the joint!Lars West Coast S Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Los Angeles 1,619 posts Posted by West Coast S on Friday, August 11, 2006 7:31 PM Domes, message replied too...Must be a good day, no double layered postings, darn Government equiptment, must be lowest bidder!! It would good to have a visit from Tom, if even briefly..then again i'm no example to follow, since i've been absent around these parts..It is a shame that Doug's "Roundhouse" went unappreciated and unvisited, can't run a forum with only two contributers, the curse of "Our Place" I suppose... A howdy to Rob and Mike and the rest of the old gang, and one must applaud Rob's efforts to maintain the standard...But it just doesn't seem the same without Tom... Dave SP the way it was in S scale Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 12, 2006 6:02 AM Good morning to the "regulars" of Our Place! Hats off to Rob who refuses to let a good thing die, Lars for his rallying efforts, and Dave for his continued support. I don't know if we can smoke Tom out of retirement, but it's a good idea to try! In addition to the Kalmbach Forums needing this thread, turns out that several of us feel pretty strongly about it too! I guess I'll start the day with a groaner, and see if the rusty ol' groan-o-meter is still working I used to have a Great Dane & I was buying a large bag of Purina at Wal-Mart and was in line to check out. When a woman behind me asked if I had a dog.On impulse, I told her that no, I was starting The Purina Diet again, although I probably shouldn't because I'd ended up in the hospital last time but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms. I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry & that the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again.I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story, particularly a tall guy who was behind her. Horrified, she asked if I'd ended up in the hospital last time because I had been poisoned. I told her no; I'd been sitting in the street licking myself and a car hit me. Edit LoveDomes Member sinceJanuary 2006 From: northeast U.S. 1,225 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by LoveDomes on Saturday, August 12, 2006 8:20 AM Good Morning Gents and fellow travelers awaiting to see if the bar will indeed be opened! First off, thank you to Dave & Doug for following up on my request. Also to Al for answering my email (only one thus far to do so). So, that's four of us who still think there's hope for this place! A good start, huh Imagination, such as it is here in cyber space, permits us all to envision what we'd like to see. So, let's go this way for a bit: It's Saturday morning - the front doors are unlocked - the Mentor Village Bakery Case has been restocked - the coffee's freshly brewed - Boris and Leon are working the place - the stools are in order and freshly shined - Herr Wurlitzer is humming and from appearances, it looks like old times! Some reminders, Gents - we must always greet the barkeep (Leon) and order a drink. Coffee and soda is free providing food is ordered, otherwise it costs ya! This is a bar 'n grill and is for adults. The idea 'round the joint always has been to conjure up interaction amongst and between those of us who appreciate classic trains (real and model, as Tom used to tell us). So, let's get on with it, shall we Here's a little something I found that may be of interest to you . . . . Casey Jonesretold byS. E. Schlosser Casey Jones, that heroic railroad engineer of the Cannonball, was known as the man who always brought the train in on time. He would blow the whistle so it started off soft but would increase to a wail louder than a banshee before dying off. Got so as people would recognize that whistle and know when Casey was driving past. April 29, 1900, Casey brought the Cannonball into Memphis dead on time. As he was leaving, he found out one of the other engineers was sick and unable to make his run. So Casey volunteered to help out his friend. He pulled the train out of the station about eleven p.m., an hour and thirty-five minutes late. Casey was determined to make up the time. As soon as he could, he highballed out of Memphis (highballing means to go very fast and take a lot of risks to get where your headed) and started making up for lost time. About four a.m., when he had nearly made up all the time on the run, Casey rounded a corner near Vaughin, Mississippi and saw a stalled freight train on the track. He shouted for his fireman to jump. The fireman made it out alive, but Casey Jones died in the wreck, one hand on the brake and one on the whistle chord. The Ballad of Casey Jones is still sung today. THE BALLAD OF CASEY JONES This version was considered by Janie Jones, Casey's wife, to be the most accurate representation of Wallace's original version. Mrs. Jones spent much of her life refuting some of the vulgar references other versions made about her husband. Come all you rounders if you want to hear A story 'bout a brave engineer, Casey Jones was the rounder's name "Twas on the Illinois Central that he won his fame. Casey Jones, he loved a locomotive. Casey Jones, a mighty man was he. Casey Jones run his final locomotive With the Cannonball Special on the old I.C. Casey pulled into memphis on Number Four, The engine foreman met him at the roundhouse door; Said, "Joe Lewis won't be able to make his run So you'll have to double out on Number One." If I can have Sim Webb, my fireman, my engine 382, Although I'm tired and weary, I'll take her through. Put on my whistle that come in today Cause I mean to keep her wailing as we ride and pray. Casey Jones, mounted the cabin, Casey Jones, with the orders in his hand. Casey Jones, he mounted the cabin, Started on his farewell Journey to the promised land. They pulled out of Memphis nearly two hours late, Soon they were speeding at a terrible rate. And the people knew by the whistle's moan. That the man at the throttle was Casey Jones. Need more coal there, fireman Sim, Open that door and heave it in. Give that shovel all you got And we'll reach Canton on the dot On April 30, 1900, that rainy morn, Down in Mississippi near the town of Vaughan, Sped the Cannonball Special only two minutes late Traveling 70 miles an hour when they saw a freight. The caboose number 83 was on the main line, Casey's last words were "Jump, Sim, while you have the time. "At 3:52 that morning came the fareful end, Casey took his farewell trip to the promised land. Casey Jones, he died at the throttle, With the whistle in his hand. Casey Jones, he died at the throttlle, But we'll all see Casey in the promised land. trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Saturday, August 12, 2006 9:30 AM Good morning Leon. I see thatyou are wearing your brightest jump boots and suspenders today and i see that Boris is well being Boris he's even reinstalled old number 99's golden striker for this occation today,so remember folks once a riounds bougth he will let er rip. Speaking of which leon a round for all those here assembled. Bwoong gwoong bwoong ah music to my ears.The ladies of perpetual motion and knitting cirle wil be provoding some instruction and entertainment later on today,Cindy has developed some "new tecniques" Lars-Thank you for attempting to rally the troups today.I'm glad to see that several have jumped in. As ou had noted I do give more of a rats patoot about the place then I suppose I should, but there is too much good information and good times here to simply trun one's back on.So besides renting the hall out to weddings and etc. I have been keeping the candles burning in the windows so to speak.Nice to see that you also brought Tom's other thread back to the fore for the day as well. I have to say that through it all these two treads are / were a shinning becon of what the forums should be, largly JO free. Doug -Ah yes the rusty old groan- a- meter is still functioning, in fact I have Boris polish it with a hand made Carpathian wax ( best not to ask what it's hand made from, suffice to say it's one of Boris's families recipes ) Thanks for stopping in and thanks for the kind words as well. Dave -I'm glad to see that you have made it in as well, a second visit since last month if I can recollect correctly. Boris always did have a speacial spot in his heart for you I'm not sure if that's either safe or healthy but it is as it is. Leon wring up another round for da boyz. Boris do your thing Bwooong gwooong bwooong. Ah yes I think the old place will be hopping at least for one saturday this month. Rob trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Saturday, August 12, 2006 9:37 AM Oh yes one other thing. Lars - Thanks for bringing in the Casey Jones ballad with you. Makes it bit more like old times with some actual content as well as the fine banter at the bar. I think that even if Da Boss dosen't pop by today I think he is with us in spirit. I'm sure that he is quite aware that today is the 17 month aniversary, as this bar really is / was his baby an extension of him if you will. Tom -If you are out there peeking in. Thank-you for the best darned cyber bar for a person to stop in at and just be themselves ! leon a round as a toast to Da Boss. Rob BudKarr Member sinceSeptember 2005 From: Alberta's Canadian Rockies 331 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by BudKarr on Saturday, August 12, 2006 9:49 AM Good Morning to all assembled at our favorite watering hole!This just happened to work for me as we are back in our mountain retreat after a couple of weeks away and what did I find? An e-mail from Lars along with what appears to be a resumption of activity at "Our" Place - best of them all in the Ether! Took me a bit of "doing" to get back into the official acceptance mode of these newly designed forums. For whatever the reason I had a Devil of a time trying to get registered. Finally got Lydia to figure it out and here I am! What is man without a mate (computer literate one that is!)?And so, do we dare to believe that "Our" Place is in really back - if only for the day? I subscribe to the notion that was expounded upon by Lars - it is Tom's creation and if he closed it, well that's that. However, one cannot simply walk away from something that has captured and captivated so many for so long. Therefore, borrowing a phrase from Lars - a 5- salute to trolleyboy Rob for doing what he did in order to maintain the bar "up on the page!" So now that Rob has checked in along with me - I see that makes for the interest we all knew was there. Let the momentum grow! My hope is that we will be visited by our Mentor - Tom the Proprietor on this fine Saturday. There are many hours left in the day, so perhaps we should dedicate ourselves to checking back periodically, just to fan the flames of hope and of course enjoy the company of some of the guys who made this place so special.I have not been onboard since the waning days of mid July when Tom closed up shop. For my part, as the novice of novices around here, I figured it had come to a conclusion. I also subscribe to the notion that no one or nothing remains the same. That is the reality of life - seen it - experienced it - and there is much more of it to come, Gentlemen.Kudos to you too, Lars, for keeping the fires burning. I know you were instrumental in those July days in keeping us all apprised of events and your efforts were and are very much appreciated! Let us raise our glasses in a toast to Tom, "Our" Place and this the 17th month anniversary of his creation! Oh yes - Leon, we will take two #3 selections from menu board - a large mug of coffee for me with just a splash to make it interesting and my lady will have a cuppa tea.We will be seated right over there by the window . . . . BK in Alberta Canada's beautfiful high mountain country trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Saturday, August 12, 2006 10:21 AM Good morning again folksl Leon I think i will pick up a number 2 of the menu board for the moment. BK & Lydia - Nice to see our two favourite Albertan's this morning. I'm glad that you took lLrs up on his offer,nice to see those window booths in use again. Thank-you for the kind words on keeping the doors semi-open it's been a labour of love fer sure fer sureI haven't fully figured out all the new nuances of the new forum system yet myself,but I have to say that I don't hate itand it does seem to run much more smoothly.Since today is saturday, and we always "Encored" things on saturday here's a little light hearted one from back a bit.Good plan on the constant check ins folks.I shall soon be off to work but I do plan to pop back in this evening. Rob trolleyboy wrote:Okay, here's my first "new" piece of info now that we are getting back into the full swing of things here at the ole bar. This is the first of a new series of info from the trolleyboy barns. A new subset of features " Wierd Tales From The Barn" Wierd Tales From The Barn #1 The Trolley and Teddy Roosevelt exerpt from a local newspaper. Once a trolley thretened to become a major player in US Politics.It came within a whisker of killing a US President, and nearly promoted a SecState to the office of the President of the US. Theodore Roosevelt had this run in on a dusty road just outside if Pittsfield Mass.The date was Sept 3 1902, barely a year after President Mackinnley's assasination.The President,Govener Crane of Mass were tooling along in the Presidents open horse drawn landau, pulled by four prancing white horses. Facing them was George B Cortelyou, later the sectratary of Commerce and Labour, and up on the box was the driver and a Secret Service man named William Craig. Five outriders were ridinbg along side in escort of the buggy. They were ahead of thee buggy and were to far away to render assistance,and to add to their mortification another buggy loaded with newspapermen was up ahead of them heading for the same Country Club which was the Presidents destination. An open trolley, travelling in the same direction as the President's carriage overtook the Presidents carriage.Aboard it were a number of Pittsfields notables including the two top officers of the streetcar company.It was later rumoured and denied that they had ordered the motorman to hurry so that they could get to the Country Club in time to welcome the President.The trolley was in the centre of the road and the Landau on the right, well ahaed of both vehicles was a place where the car tracksswung from the center of the road to the right hand side.Concentrating on his prancing team, and unaware that the trolley was passing, the Landau's driver veered over the tracks.The landau was hit hard on it's rear left wheel and shoved aside,pitching it's occupants into the air. The President tumbled in the dirt, recieving a bruise on his cheek,a banged knee a cut lip and a severe shaking up.His glasses were knocked flying, his silk hat frazzled, and his frock coat torn at one elbow.According to the NY Times he told the horrorstruck motorman ; " I Think this is the most ***able outrage I ever heard of "Govener Crane abd Secratary Courtelyou only recieved minor injuries; but the Landau driver was seriously hurt and SS agent Craig who stood up the instant of the impact to protect the President was thrown under the trolley and killed. The motorman , Euclid Madden, was fined 500 dollars and jailed for six months. Many Streetcarmen were convinced that Maden was only a victem of bad luck and of newspaper hue and cry. So a Pittsfield newspaper recollection of Teddy Roosevelt's unfortunate run in with a trolleycar. Rob LoveDomes Member sinceJanuary 2006 From: northeast U.S. 1,225 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by LoveDomes on Saturday, August 12, 2006 10:48 AM Good Morning once again fellow travelers at the bar!Looks as if we've begun anew 'round the joint, huh Perhaps with a bit of patience as these hours pass by, we'll see Pete and a couple of other guys pop in as they check their e-mail in boxes. My concern is and has been that as more time passed by with "Our" Place no longer the focal point for many, that it would be most difficult trying to rekindle the spirit. Doesn't appear that my concerns were warranted - happy to state! Great seeing Doug - Rob and of course my "bookend" BK on board this morning! Don't have a "plan" for the day - and if ENCORES are what you guys would like, then post 'em if you got 'em! Enjoyed the rerun of the "Teddy & trolley" story! Should Tom return to the fold, I'll yield to him with regard to the way the bar and the activities will take place. Maybe he'll just let it run pretty much the way it was - then again, maybe some new thoughts. But one thing is for sure, it is GREAT to be back online, huhI received an e-mail from Al yesterday (as mentioned earlier) and he indicated that he is still having 'puter problems. Hmmmmmm - that seems to be quite a long time as it seems to me he mentioned that difficulty before Tom closed the joint. Spend some of that "coin" and buy a new one! Are you planning on taking "it" with you when you board the final train Nuances of these newly designed forums have me wondering what the big deal was all about Looks like the effort was made to squelch any of the competiveness amongst the contributors - you know, knocking off the stars and no longer being able to check on the members to see the listing of who has how many posts and so on. I think that's not all so bad - really. Who gives a Rat's Patoot about some of the JOs who spent so much time running up the count My dislike has to do with the way new posts are made. Seems that one has to reply to something in order to get on the page. I also noted that there is a capability to prevent someone from replying by locking the format. Oh well, lots to get up to speed on . . . but that's for later! Leon, I'll take a frosty mug of Schaefer as I await the day's baseball activities to resume. I won't needle you guys about my Mets making a shambles of the National League East - you already know it! Been a crazy season for some teams and it's only mid-August. Lots and lots of time left for things to happen. Oh yes - Leon, I'll also take one of my "staples" - a foot long hero sandwich - ham, Swiss, mustAHd and buttAH with two large pickles from the barrel. Oh yes, scrape off some of the brine for Tex the Armadillo - he loves lapping it up in a saucer as you may recall! <grin>Later Gents!Lars Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 12, 2006 1:15 PM Hey Leon ..is it too early for a bottlemless draught? I'll be happy to buy a round for the guys who have shown-up here today as well. Sure is great to hear from BK after all this time. Really glad to see you staing in touch. More kudos to Lars who is keeping the posts coming, and a story about Casey Jones to boot! BY the way .. I did respond to your e-mail through the tranis forum. Did you get it? Great posts from Rob today too. I love wierd tales, as you know. Speaking of which, I spent some time helping to move many boxes of rail magazines from a boxcar to their new home in a Norfolk and Western baggage car at IRM today, and was awarded about a six-month supply of interesting stuff that I'd love to share here, if this thread re-opens. I've been accumulating other material as well. Here's a little something with Tom in mind. I snuck into our RDC for some pix .. and here are some of them: http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture671.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture673.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture677.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture678.jpg To say this car needs work, is a huge understatement. The IRM RDC used to be scheduled for restoration, and a new diesel engine was secured, but now it seems that only outside cosmetic restoration is to be done. I was invited to assist in this effort today. That's it for now. I'll be checking in later to see if our "steamed" leader makes an appearance! A couple had been married only two weeks. The husband, although very much in love, can't wait to go out on the town and party with his old buddies. "Honey," says he to his new bride, "I'll be right back..." "Where are you going, Coochy Coo?" asks the wife. "I'm going to the bar, Pretty Face. I'm going to have a beer." "You want a beer, My Love?" She opens the refrigerator door shows him 25 different brands of beer from 12 different countries: Germany, Holland, Japan, India, including six places he's never even heard of. The husband is nonplussed, and all he can think to say is, "Yes, Honey Pie, but the bar you know...the frozen glass..." He hasn't finished the sentence before wifey interrupts him by saying, "You want a frozen glass, Puppy Face?" She hands him a mug out of the freezer that is so cold that it burns his fingers "Yes, Tootsie Roll," hubby says a bit desperately, "but at the bar they have those hors d'oeuvres that are really delicious... I won't be long. I'll be right back. I promise. OK?" "You want hors d'oeuvres, Pookie Pooh?" She opens the oven and removes 15 different hors d'oeuvres: chicken wings, pigs in a blanket, mushroom caps, pork strips, etc. "But, Sweetie, Honey...at the bar...you know...the swearing, the dirty words and all that..." "You want dirty words, Cutie Pie? Here...DRINK YOUR *** BEER IN YOUR FROZEN *** MUG AND EAT YOUR *** SNACKS, BECAUSE YOU AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE! GOT IT, A**HOLE?!!" Edit West Coast S Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Los Angeles 1,619 posts Posted by West Coast S on Saturday, August 12, 2006 2:15 PM Good Saturday Barkeep, make mine a Saspahrilla, got the weekend duty...again...But, permit me to cover all rounds for the gents present today, Boris, I don't think so, no physical contact permitted!! Geez Rob, I think Boris is indeed love sick for me!!! Good to be among the gang once more, I see you made it too Doug, howdy to Mr.Lars, Mr. Domes and Mr. Karr and course you Rob aka Mr. Interurban...Here's to a auspicious yet incomplete 17th anniversary, any progress with disrupting Tom's retirement? Ok, let me comence with a topic. How the Southern Pacific operated former Pacific Electric Lines. While visiting another thread, this topic came up and jarred some memories from the cockel of my beady brain!! The former PE routes in the South Bay include the El Segundo and Dominguez spur, all former major PE routes, now disconnected and treated as simple industrial zones. By far the Domnguez line is the most complete of the two and retains obvious interurban linnage. SP pulled the second main with the exception of imbedded street trackage, back in 1964 several years prior, the overhead wire came down, what SP couldn't change was the street trackage down Vermont Ave, and, until UP ownership, the classic wig-wag crossing signals..From Vermont Ave., the line Proceded northwest to Western Ave., a spur served a lumber distributer here, past this switch, the line reversed directions yet again to rejoin Vermont Ave on private right of way. A bit to the east was Redondo Bch. Blvd., this was the location of the only passing siding and the start of double track, orginally built strictly for interurban use this siding was only one hundred feet long. It survives in use yet today.. As the line continued west, 190th Street was crossed at grade, several spurs serviced Reynolds Aluminum and the massive Boeing Plant, now both demolished in favor of a Walmart, but it required several moves a day by SP crews who employed MP15's, Geep nines, and even once an SD7, Hills Brothers Coffee was the third largest shipper and the only remaining user of rail service at that time on the extreme end of this spur that terminated at the foot of Torrance Blvd. Orginally, the PE continued west to San Pedro from this point, this was the second freight bypass, by this late date only a patched grade crossing and weed strewn roadbed marked the route beyond Torrance Blvd, a interesting discovery was the gas station located on the former right of way that featured visible switch work in its parking lot or the ghostly intact, disconected spur to the pipe works, this was all erased serveral years ago in the name of progress. The second leg diverged at Torrance Ave. and continued into downtown Torrance proper, which by the early eighties only served a lumber distributor, but boasted a intact, abandoned station. Once, parrallel lines radiated from the station site on two city streets a block apart, the passenger bypass was long gone, having been abandoned and paved over in 1953, the second route, the so called number one freight bypass barely existed as scattered, disconnected segments until redevolpment in the late eighties, this route once circled back via city streets to rejoin the the line at Torrance and Vermont, the empty private right of ways and their extensive PE designed landscaping were intact until very recently. A MP15 seemed to be assigned this route, today UP employs road switchers, better to contend with the grade and tight curves as new industries have moved in to occupy the former shop site.. Opposite the depot the shop lead diverged and crossed Torrance Blvd. and continued on private right of way alongside residential avenues for half a mile, the shop buildings were complete and in non railroad use until 1983, though the trackage to the former eleven acre facality was not, the shop lead was long ago reconfigured to provide a second plant access for Reynolds Aluminum and a machine and die tool works manfacturer. Today, this line is thriving, UP found it prudent to install relay welded rail and current grade crossing protection to contend with the traffic. The former shops location, is today a thriving industrial complex, several of whom require frequent rail service. The station also survives as a trendy restaurant, the city has taken to sprucing up the active right of way with new plantings, much as the PE once adorned its right of ways so many years ago. Well that's the tour of my favorite local scene as it was twenty plus years ago and as of today, enjoy the rounds. Until later, Boris no kisses!!!! Dave SP the way it was in S scale passengerfan Member sinceMarch 2004 From: Central Valley California 2,841 posts Posted by passengerfan on Saturday, August 12, 2006 2:18 PM Good Afternoon Everyone. My compute has been down for logging on to reply to Our Place or anything else for the last two weeks and in one repect it has been good as i am catching up on writing. Hope everyone has read that Passenger Train Journal is coming back I have every issue from number one and am looking forward to its return after a ten year absence. Guess I should have ordered my usual CR and a round for the house. The office puter i only have access to on weekends.So until the tech gets around to solving my problem I will have to send messages on Saturdays only. Great hearing from all of the old regulars and certainly miss the forum. ttfn Al siberianmo Member sinceFebruary 2004 From: Chesterfield, Missouri, USA 7,214 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by siberianmo on Saturday, August 12, 2006 3:40 PM G'day Gents!What is THIS - a conspiracy of the heart It appears that many of you guys simply won't let go, eh So, you want the bar to open and remain so I'll make a deal with you on this the 17th Month Anniversary of "Our" Place - as your interests in keeping this idea alive 'n well grow - so will mine! Good to "see" Doug - Lars - Rob - BK - Dave 'n Al this fine day - that's not bad for a Saturday. Now I must admit to NOT being active at all since July 12th- haven't checked in nor have I inquired. However, some of you have been rather steady with the Email messages (Pete in particular) and I know that this special place of OURS means a lot. So - let's move forward and see what happens.Great job getting the place back in shape, Leon 'n Boris - looks really spiffy. I see that my gal Cindy has been around, for the freshly washed, starched and hung curtains look like something she would attend to. Looks like I've got a bit of catching up to attend to - not to mention checking on the inventory for the bar. My guess is that our Bar Chandler, Rob, has been quite busy ensuring that the supplies have been at the ready. Good job! So, Lars, just what have you been up to Working behind the scenes to find a way to tweak my interests, eh I must admit to feeling just a bit strange with all of this - pleasantly of course - but strange nonetheless. Thought for sure that it was an over 'n done deal . . . one just never should say never, eh Okay - set 'em up Leon - ring the bell Boris - and let's see what shakes in these days to come!Later!Tom Happy Railroading! Siberianmo BudKarr Member sinceSeptember 2005 From: Alberta's Canadian Rockies 331 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by BudKarr on Saturday, August 12, 2006 3:53 PM Good Afternoon Gentlemen at the bar!It looks like we have something to build upon - now that Tom our Proprietor and boss man has returned! This has been some Saturday in that I had no plans whatsoever of browsing in the Ether much less using the computer. Then for whatever the reason, I checked my email account and found the message that Lars sent out and the rest is evident. Wonderful turn of events! One just never knows what one has lost until it is gone, or something like that. (Lydia says I am using song lyrics - beats me! )I can appreciate how you feel Captain Tom - for we all really understand the situation - this idea of yours took root - deeply and for what it is worth - welcome back to YOUR place!Good to see the show of support today - and this has to be a great day for Rob, for he and he alone never gave up on "Our" Place! My thinking is that Doug too has to be heartened, for this IS the place for the kinds of material we have all become accustomed to enjoying. Somehow the postings on other threads just has not caught on. Not to say that the efforts were not worth it - but the nucleus of guys who give that proverbial Rat's Patoot hang out here! Enjoyed the resumption of RR info from Dave on the Left Coast and looks like my learning curve is about to begin again! Set 'em up Leon - clang the bell Boris - let the good times flow!BK in Alberta, Canada's beautiful high mountain country! West Coast S Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Los Angeles 1,619 posts Posted by West Coast S on Saturday, August 12, 2006 4:04 PM What do my eyes discern? Why, Herr Tom your'e back among the fold! Good to see you about and doing well, you know how it goes, some things are too good to let go of, until today, i've only been back once.. Ok Boris, Tom, needs a big return kiss, Leon get Tom whatever he desires, you behave Cindy... Good to hear from you Dave SP the way it was in S scale LoveDomes Member sinceJanuary 2006 From: northeast U.S. 1,225 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by LoveDomes on Saturday, August 12, 2006 4:21 PM G'day Fellow Travelers at the bar!And what do our eyes reveal The return of our leader for the 17th month anniversary of "Tom's" Place! What a great day indeed as many of you have echoed! A 5- Salute to the Man! Even if for one fine day - it's a great feeling, huh Ring those chimes Boris and ring 'em loud! Pour the liquid refreshments for the adult crowd and let the good times roll in this, the best watering hole this side of heaven! I don't feel like waxing eloquently about anything other than the return to the bar of our host and Chief Mentor, Tom the Proprietor. What is to say other than many, many heartfelt thanx to Rob, Doug and everyone else who worked to get this day to become reality. Now we have something to build upon, huhLet's not look back, but forward. I like the expression Tom uses, screw 'em all but 6 and save those for pall bearers! Actually, that saying was one of my very own during my sea going days - must be something kindred between we sailors, wouldn't you say Mate I don't expect we'll see a full resumption of activities here nor do I expect to see the "usual suspects" show up. Guys come and guys go. RIP - really, let's move on with our new beginnings and let bygones be just that. I've missed this interaction - didn't think it would impact me, but it did and has. Apparently has also had an effect on others as well. So, what's wrong with that, huh Good day all 'round - Yanks beat the Angles - Mets on tap for a good game tonight and the fridge has plenty of cold brew just waiting to be opened! Nice work, Dave, with the input - and of course very pleased to see "20 Fingers Al" make an appearance. Locked in writing these weeks, huh Well,. come up for air, Mate - time to resume your presence here at "Our" Place!Drinks on me!Lars pwolfe Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: mid mo 1,054 posts Posted by pwolfe on Saturday, August 12, 2006 5:54 PM Hi TOM and all. Did not expect to be able to say that again.Caught up on my e-mails and got Lars message. Is the Bathams still on. Can I just echo whats been said about ROB DAVE and DOUG I too have missed OUR PLACE. The new format seems a bit to me so if the wrong smiley appears please forgive me. Heres hopeing to many great days at Our Place again. The words that have been often quoted about a narrow guage line on the Devon coast in England which closed in the 30s( a section of which is being rebuilt) applied here,"Perchance it is not dead but sleepeth" Well done Lars PETE. siberianmo Member sinceFebruary 2004 From: Chesterfield, Missouri, USA 7,214 posts Posted by siberianmo on Saturday, August 12, 2006 6:26 PM A belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to PETE - August 11th was the date! So, have a Bathams or three on me and enjoy this weekend, Mate! Good to see ya, Pete and I received and responded to your Email. Appreciate the kind words from those of you who checked in today and to reiterate, let's let things flow in whatever direction they may. I like the comments from Lars regarding our future - best not to press it. If it's meant to be, then it will happen! So guys, enjoy this weekend and hope to be communicating with y'all real soon . . . . Tom Happy Railroading! 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Good morning to the "regulars" of Our Place! Hats off to Rob who refuses to let a good thing die, Lars for his rallying efforts, and Dave for his continued support. I don't know if we can smoke Tom out of retirement, but it's a good idea to try! In addition to the Kalmbach Forums needing this thread, turns out that several of us feel pretty strongly about it too!
I guess I'll start the day with a groaner, and see if the rusty ol' groan-o-meter is still working
I used to have a Great Dane & I was buying a large bag of Purina at Wal-Mart and was in line to check out. When a woman behind me asked if I had a dog.On impulse, I told her that no, I was starting The Purina Diet again, although I probably shouldn't because I'd ended up in the hospital last time but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms. I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry & that the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again.I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story, particularly a tall guy who was behind her. Horrified, she asked if I'd ended up in the hospital last time because I had been poisoned. I told her no; I'd been sitting in the street licking myself and a car hit me.
Good Morning Gents and fellow travelers awaiting to see if the bar will indeed be opened!
First off, thank you to Dave & Doug for following up on my request. Also to Al for answering my email (only one thus far to do so). So, that's four of us who still think there's hope for this place! A good start, huh
Imagination, such as it is here in cyber space, permits us all to envision what we'd like to see. So, let's go this way for a bit: It's Saturday morning - the front doors are unlocked - the Mentor Village Bakery Case has been restocked - the coffee's freshly brewed - Boris and Leon are working the place - the stools are in order and freshly shined - Herr Wurlitzer is humming and from appearances, it looks like old times!
Some reminders, Gents - we must always greet the barkeep (Leon) and order a drink. Coffee and soda is free providing food is ordered, otherwise it costs ya! This is a bar 'n grill and is for adults. The idea 'round the joint always has been to conjure up interaction amongst and between those of us who appreciate classic trains (real and model, as Tom used to tell us).
So, let's get on with it, shall we
Here's a little something I found that may be of interest to you . . . .
Casey Jonesretold byS. E. Schlosser Casey Jones, that heroic railroad engineer of the Cannonball, was known as the man who always brought the train in on time. He would blow the whistle so it started off soft but would increase to a wail louder than a banshee before dying off. Got so as people would recognize that whistle and know when Casey was driving past. April 29, 1900, Casey brought the Cannonball into Memphis dead on time. As he was leaving, he found out one of the other engineers was sick and unable to make his run. So Casey volunteered to help out his friend. He pulled the train out of the station about eleven p.m., an hour and thirty-five minutes late. Casey was determined to make up the time. As soon as he could, he highballed out of Memphis (highballing means to go very fast and take a lot of risks to get where your headed) and started making up for lost time. About four a.m., when he had nearly made up all the time on the run, Casey rounded a corner near Vaughin, Mississippi and saw a stalled freight train on the track. He shouted for his fireman to jump. The fireman made it out alive, but Casey Jones died in the wreck, one hand on the brake and one on the whistle chord. The Ballad of Casey Jones is still sung today. THE BALLAD OF CASEY JONES This version was considered by Janie Jones, Casey's wife, to be the most accurate representation of Wallace's original version. Mrs. Jones spent much of her life refuting some of the vulgar references other versions made about her husband. Come all you rounders if you want to hear A story 'bout a brave engineer, Casey Jones was the rounder's name "Twas on the Illinois Central that he won his fame. Casey Jones, he loved a locomotive. Casey Jones, a mighty man was he. Casey Jones run his final locomotive With the Cannonball Special on the old I.C. Casey pulled into memphis on Number Four, The engine foreman met him at the roundhouse door; Said, "Joe Lewis won't be able to make his run So you'll have to double out on Number One." If I can have Sim Webb, my fireman, my engine 382, Although I'm tired and weary, I'll take her through. Put on my whistle that come in today Cause I mean to keep her wailing as we ride and pray. Casey Jones, mounted the cabin, Casey Jones, with the orders in his hand. Casey Jones, he mounted the cabin, Started on his farewell Journey to the promised land. They pulled out of Memphis nearly two hours late, Soon they were speeding at a terrible rate. And the people knew by the whistle's moan. That the man at the throttle was Casey Jones. Need more coal there, fireman Sim, Open that door and heave it in. Give that shovel all you got And we'll reach Canton on the dot On April 30, 1900, that rainy morn, Down in Mississippi near the town of Vaughan, Sped the Cannonball Special only two minutes late Traveling 70 miles an hour when they saw a freight. The caboose number 83 was on the main line, Casey's last words were "Jump, Sim, while you have the time. "At 3:52 that morning came the fareful end, Casey took his farewell trip to the promised land. Casey Jones, he died at the throttle, With the whistle in his hand. Casey Jones, he died at the throttlle, But we'll all see Casey in the promised land. trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Saturday, August 12, 2006 9:30 AM Good morning Leon. I see thatyou are wearing your brightest jump boots and suspenders today and i see that Boris is well being Boris he's even reinstalled old number 99's golden striker for this occation today,so remember folks once a riounds bougth he will let er rip. Speaking of which leon a round for all those here assembled. Bwoong gwoong bwoong ah music to my ears.The ladies of perpetual motion and knitting cirle wil be provoding some instruction and entertainment later on today,Cindy has developed some "new tecniques" Lars-Thank you for attempting to rally the troups today.I'm glad to see that several have jumped in. As ou had noted I do give more of a rats patoot about the place then I suppose I should, but there is too much good information and good times here to simply trun one's back on.So besides renting the hall out to weddings and etc. I have been keeping the candles burning in the windows so to speak.Nice to see that you also brought Tom's other thread back to the fore for the day as well. I have to say that through it all these two treads are / were a shinning becon of what the forums should be, largly JO free. Doug -Ah yes the rusty old groan- a- meter is still functioning, in fact I have Boris polish it with a hand made Carpathian wax ( best not to ask what it's hand made from, suffice to say it's one of Boris's families recipes ) Thanks for stopping in and thanks for the kind words as well. Dave -I'm glad to see that you have made it in as well, a second visit since last month if I can recollect correctly. Boris always did have a speacial spot in his heart for you I'm not sure if that's either safe or healthy but it is as it is. Leon wring up another round for da boyz. Boris do your thing Bwooong gwooong bwooong. Ah yes I think the old place will be hopping at least for one saturday this month. Rob trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Saturday, August 12, 2006 9:37 AM Oh yes one other thing. Lars - Thanks for bringing in the Casey Jones ballad with you. Makes it bit more like old times with some actual content as well as the fine banter at the bar. I think that even if Da Boss dosen't pop by today I think he is with us in spirit. I'm sure that he is quite aware that today is the 17 month aniversary, as this bar really is / was his baby an extension of him if you will. Tom -If you are out there peeking in. Thank-you for the best darned cyber bar for a person to stop in at and just be themselves ! leon a round as a toast to Da Boss. Rob BudKarr Member sinceSeptember 2005 From: Alberta's Canadian Rockies 331 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by BudKarr on Saturday, August 12, 2006 9:49 AM Good Morning to all assembled at our favorite watering hole!This just happened to work for me as we are back in our mountain retreat after a couple of weeks away and what did I find? An e-mail from Lars along with what appears to be a resumption of activity at "Our" Place - best of them all in the Ether! Took me a bit of "doing" to get back into the official acceptance mode of these newly designed forums. For whatever the reason I had a Devil of a time trying to get registered. Finally got Lydia to figure it out and here I am! What is man without a mate (computer literate one that is!)?And so, do we dare to believe that "Our" Place is in really back - if only for the day? I subscribe to the notion that was expounded upon by Lars - it is Tom's creation and if he closed it, well that's that. However, one cannot simply walk away from something that has captured and captivated so many for so long. Therefore, borrowing a phrase from Lars - a 5- salute to trolleyboy Rob for doing what he did in order to maintain the bar "up on the page!" So now that Rob has checked in along with me - I see that makes for the interest we all knew was there. Let the momentum grow! My hope is that we will be visited by our Mentor - Tom the Proprietor on this fine Saturday. There are many hours left in the day, so perhaps we should dedicate ourselves to checking back periodically, just to fan the flames of hope and of course enjoy the company of some of the guys who made this place so special.I have not been onboard since the waning days of mid July when Tom closed up shop. For my part, as the novice of novices around here, I figured it had come to a conclusion. I also subscribe to the notion that no one or nothing remains the same. That is the reality of life - seen it - experienced it - and there is much more of it to come, Gentlemen.Kudos to you too, Lars, for keeping the fires burning. I know you were instrumental in those July days in keeping us all apprised of events and your efforts were and are very much appreciated! Let us raise our glasses in a toast to Tom, "Our" Place and this the 17th month anniversary of his creation! Oh yes - Leon, we will take two #3 selections from menu board - a large mug of coffee for me with just a splash to make it interesting and my lady will have a cuppa tea.We will be seated right over there by the window . . . . BK in Alberta Canada's beautfiful high mountain country trolleyboy Member sinceMay 2014 3,727 posts Posted by trolleyboy on Saturday, August 12, 2006 10:21 AM Good morning again folksl Leon I think i will pick up a number 2 of the menu board for the moment. BK & Lydia - Nice to see our two favourite Albertan's this morning. I'm glad that you took lLrs up on his offer,nice to see those window booths in use again. Thank-you for the kind words on keeping the doors semi-open it's been a labour of love fer sure fer sureI haven't fully figured out all the new nuances of the new forum system yet myself,but I have to say that I don't hate itand it does seem to run much more smoothly.Since today is saturday, and we always "Encored" things on saturday here's a little light hearted one from back a bit.Good plan on the constant check ins folks.I shall soon be off to work but I do plan to pop back in this evening. Rob trolleyboy wrote:Okay, here's my first "new" piece of info now that we are getting back into the full swing of things here at the ole bar. This is the first of a new series of info from the trolleyboy barns. A new subset of features " Wierd Tales From The Barn" Wierd Tales From The Barn #1 The Trolley and Teddy Roosevelt exerpt from a local newspaper. Once a trolley thretened to become a major player in US Politics.It came within a whisker of killing a US President, and nearly promoted a SecState to the office of the President of the US. Theodore Roosevelt had this run in on a dusty road just outside if Pittsfield Mass.The date was Sept 3 1902, barely a year after President Mackinnley's assasination.The President,Govener Crane of Mass were tooling along in the Presidents open horse drawn landau, pulled by four prancing white horses. Facing them was George B Cortelyou, later the sectratary of Commerce and Labour, and up on the box was the driver and a Secret Service man named William Craig. Five outriders were ridinbg along side in escort of the buggy. They were ahead of thee buggy and were to far away to render assistance,and to add to their mortification another buggy loaded with newspapermen was up ahead of them heading for the same Country Club which was the Presidents destination. An open trolley, travelling in the same direction as the President's carriage overtook the Presidents carriage.Aboard it were a number of Pittsfields notables including the two top officers of the streetcar company.It was later rumoured and denied that they had ordered the motorman to hurry so that they could get to the Country Club in time to welcome the President.The trolley was in the centre of the road and the Landau on the right, well ahaed of both vehicles was a place where the car tracksswung from the center of the road to the right hand side.Concentrating on his prancing team, and unaware that the trolley was passing, the Landau's driver veered over the tracks.The landau was hit hard on it's rear left wheel and shoved aside,pitching it's occupants into the air. The President tumbled in the dirt, recieving a bruise on his cheek,a banged knee a cut lip and a severe shaking up.His glasses were knocked flying, his silk hat frazzled, and his frock coat torn at one elbow.According to the NY Times he told the horrorstruck motorman ; " I Think this is the most ***able outrage I ever heard of "Govener Crane abd Secratary Courtelyou only recieved minor injuries; but the Landau driver was seriously hurt and SS agent Craig who stood up the instant of the impact to protect the President was thrown under the trolley and killed. The motorman , Euclid Madden, was fined 500 dollars and jailed for six months. Many Streetcarmen were convinced that Maden was only a victem of bad luck and of newspaper hue and cry. So a Pittsfield newspaper recollection of Teddy Roosevelt's unfortunate run in with a trolleycar. Rob LoveDomes Member sinceJanuary 2006 From: northeast U.S. 1,225 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by LoveDomes on Saturday, August 12, 2006 10:48 AM Good Morning once again fellow travelers at the bar!Looks as if we've begun anew 'round the joint, huh Perhaps with a bit of patience as these hours pass by, we'll see Pete and a couple of other guys pop in as they check their e-mail in boxes. My concern is and has been that as more time passed by with "Our" Place no longer the focal point for many, that it would be most difficult trying to rekindle the spirit. Doesn't appear that my concerns were warranted - happy to state! Great seeing Doug - Rob and of course my "bookend" BK on board this morning! Don't have a "plan" for the day - and if ENCORES are what you guys would like, then post 'em if you got 'em! Enjoyed the rerun of the "Teddy & trolley" story! Should Tom return to the fold, I'll yield to him with regard to the way the bar and the activities will take place. Maybe he'll just let it run pretty much the way it was - then again, maybe some new thoughts. But one thing is for sure, it is GREAT to be back online, huhI received an e-mail from Al yesterday (as mentioned earlier) and he indicated that he is still having 'puter problems. Hmmmmmm - that seems to be quite a long time as it seems to me he mentioned that difficulty before Tom closed the joint. Spend some of that "coin" and buy a new one! Are you planning on taking "it" with you when you board the final train Nuances of these newly designed forums have me wondering what the big deal was all about Looks like the effort was made to squelch any of the competiveness amongst the contributors - you know, knocking off the stars and no longer being able to check on the members to see the listing of who has how many posts and so on. I think that's not all so bad - really. Who gives a Rat's Patoot about some of the JOs who spent so much time running up the count My dislike has to do with the way new posts are made. Seems that one has to reply to something in order to get on the page. I also noted that there is a capability to prevent someone from replying by locking the format. Oh well, lots to get up to speed on . . . but that's for later! Leon, I'll take a frosty mug of Schaefer as I await the day's baseball activities to resume. I won't needle you guys about my Mets making a shambles of the National League East - you already know it! Been a crazy season for some teams and it's only mid-August. Lots and lots of time left for things to happen. Oh yes - Leon, I'll also take one of my "staples" - a foot long hero sandwich - ham, Swiss, mustAHd and buttAH with two large pickles from the barrel. Oh yes, scrape off some of the brine for Tex the Armadillo - he loves lapping it up in a saucer as you may recall! <grin>Later Gents!Lars Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 12, 2006 1:15 PM Hey Leon ..is it too early for a bottlemless draught? I'll be happy to buy a round for the guys who have shown-up here today as well. Sure is great to hear from BK after all this time. Really glad to see you staing in touch. More kudos to Lars who is keeping the posts coming, and a story about Casey Jones to boot! BY the way .. I did respond to your e-mail through the tranis forum. Did you get it? Great posts from Rob today too. I love wierd tales, as you know. Speaking of which, I spent some time helping to move many boxes of rail magazines from a boxcar to their new home in a Norfolk and Western baggage car at IRM today, and was awarded about a six-month supply of interesting stuff that I'd love to share here, if this thread re-opens. I've been accumulating other material as well. Here's a little something with Tom in mind. I snuck into our RDC for some pix .. and here are some of them: http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture671.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture673.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture677.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture678.jpg To say this car needs work, is a huge understatement. The IRM RDC used to be scheduled for restoration, and a new diesel engine was secured, but now it seems that only outside cosmetic restoration is to be done. I was invited to assist in this effort today. That's it for now. I'll be checking in later to see if our "steamed" leader makes an appearance! A couple had been married only two weeks. The husband, although very much in love, can't wait to go out on the town and party with his old buddies. "Honey," says he to his new bride, "I'll be right back..." "Where are you going, Coochy Coo?" asks the wife. "I'm going to the bar, Pretty Face. I'm going to have a beer." "You want a beer, My Love?" She opens the refrigerator door shows him 25 different brands of beer from 12 different countries: Germany, Holland, Japan, India, including six places he's never even heard of. The husband is nonplussed, and all he can think to say is, "Yes, Honey Pie, but the bar you know...the frozen glass..." He hasn't finished the sentence before wifey interrupts him by saying, "You want a frozen glass, Puppy Face?" She hands him a mug out of the freezer that is so cold that it burns his fingers "Yes, Tootsie Roll," hubby says a bit desperately, "but at the bar they have those hors d'oeuvres that are really delicious... I won't be long. I'll be right back. I promise. OK?" "You want hors d'oeuvres, Pookie Pooh?" She opens the oven and removes 15 different hors d'oeuvres: chicken wings, pigs in a blanket, mushroom caps, pork strips, etc. "But, Sweetie, Honey...at the bar...you know...the swearing, the dirty words and all that..." "You want dirty words, Cutie Pie? Here...DRINK YOUR *** BEER IN YOUR FROZEN *** MUG AND EAT YOUR *** SNACKS, BECAUSE YOU AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE! GOT IT, A**HOLE?!!" Edit West Coast S Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Los Angeles 1,619 posts Posted by West Coast S on Saturday, August 12, 2006 2:15 PM Good Saturday Barkeep, make mine a Saspahrilla, got the weekend duty...again...But, permit me to cover all rounds for the gents present today, Boris, I don't think so, no physical contact permitted!! Geez Rob, I think Boris is indeed love sick for me!!! Good to be among the gang once more, I see you made it too Doug, howdy to Mr.Lars, Mr. Domes and Mr. Karr and course you Rob aka Mr. Interurban...Here's to a auspicious yet incomplete 17th anniversary, any progress with disrupting Tom's retirement? Ok, let me comence with a topic. How the Southern Pacific operated former Pacific Electric Lines. While visiting another thread, this topic came up and jarred some memories from the cockel of my beady brain!! The former PE routes in the South Bay include the El Segundo and Dominguez spur, all former major PE routes, now disconnected and treated as simple industrial zones. By far the Domnguez line is the most complete of the two and retains obvious interurban linnage. SP pulled the second main with the exception of imbedded street trackage, back in 1964 several years prior, the overhead wire came down, what SP couldn't change was the street trackage down Vermont Ave, and, until UP ownership, the classic wig-wag crossing signals..From Vermont Ave., the line Proceded northwest to Western Ave., a spur served a lumber distributer here, past this switch, the line reversed directions yet again to rejoin Vermont Ave on private right of way. A bit to the east was Redondo Bch. Blvd., this was the location of the only passing siding and the start of double track, orginally built strictly for interurban use this siding was only one hundred feet long. It survives in use yet today.. As the line continued west, 190th Street was crossed at grade, several spurs serviced Reynolds Aluminum and the massive Boeing Plant, now both demolished in favor of a Walmart, but it required several moves a day by SP crews who employed MP15's, Geep nines, and even once an SD7, Hills Brothers Coffee was the third largest shipper and the only remaining user of rail service at that time on the extreme end of this spur that terminated at the foot of Torrance Blvd. Orginally, the PE continued west to San Pedro from this point, this was the second freight bypass, by this late date only a patched grade crossing and weed strewn roadbed marked the route beyond Torrance Blvd, a interesting discovery was the gas station located on the former right of way that featured visible switch work in its parking lot or the ghostly intact, disconected spur to the pipe works, this was all erased serveral years ago in the name of progress. The second leg diverged at Torrance Ave. and continued into downtown Torrance proper, which by the early eighties only served a lumber distributor, but boasted a intact, abandoned station. Once, parrallel lines radiated from the station site on two city streets a block apart, the passenger bypass was long gone, having been abandoned and paved over in 1953, the second route, the so called number one freight bypass barely existed as scattered, disconnected segments until redevolpment in the late eighties, this route once circled back via city streets to rejoin the the line at Torrance and Vermont, the empty private right of ways and their extensive PE designed landscaping were intact until very recently. A MP15 seemed to be assigned this route, today UP employs road switchers, better to contend with the grade and tight curves as new industries have moved in to occupy the former shop site.. Opposite the depot the shop lead diverged and crossed Torrance Blvd. and continued on private right of way alongside residential avenues for half a mile, the shop buildings were complete and in non railroad use until 1983, though the trackage to the former eleven acre facality was not, the shop lead was long ago reconfigured to provide a second plant access for Reynolds Aluminum and a machine and die tool works manfacturer. Today, this line is thriving, UP found it prudent to install relay welded rail and current grade crossing protection to contend with the traffic. The former shops location, is today a thriving industrial complex, several of whom require frequent rail service. The station also survives as a trendy restaurant, the city has taken to sprucing up the active right of way with new plantings, much as the PE once adorned its right of ways so many years ago. Well that's the tour of my favorite local scene as it was twenty plus years ago and as of today, enjoy the rounds. Until later, Boris no kisses!!!! Dave SP the way it was in S scale passengerfan Member sinceMarch 2004 From: Central Valley California 2,841 posts Posted by passengerfan on Saturday, August 12, 2006 2:18 PM Good Afternoon Everyone. My compute has been down for logging on to reply to Our Place or anything else for the last two weeks and in one repect it has been good as i am catching up on writing. Hope everyone has read that Passenger Train Journal is coming back I have every issue from number one and am looking forward to its return after a ten year absence. Guess I should have ordered my usual CR and a round for the house. The office puter i only have access to on weekends.So until the tech gets around to solving my problem I will have to send messages on Saturdays only. Great hearing from all of the old regulars and certainly miss the forum. ttfn Al siberianmo Member sinceFebruary 2004 From: Chesterfield, Missouri, USA 7,214 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by siberianmo on Saturday, August 12, 2006 3:40 PM G'day Gents!What is THIS - a conspiracy of the heart It appears that many of you guys simply won't let go, eh So, you want the bar to open and remain so I'll make a deal with you on this the 17th Month Anniversary of "Our" Place - as your interests in keeping this idea alive 'n well grow - so will mine! Good to "see" Doug - Lars - Rob - BK - Dave 'n Al this fine day - that's not bad for a Saturday. Now I must admit to NOT being active at all since July 12th- haven't checked in nor have I inquired. However, some of you have been rather steady with the Email messages (Pete in particular) and I know that this special place of OURS means a lot. So - let's move forward and see what happens.Great job getting the place back in shape, Leon 'n Boris - looks really spiffy. I see that my gal Cindy has been around, for the freshly washed, starched and hung curtains look like something she would attend to. Looks like I've got a bit of catching up to attend to - not to mention checking on the inventory for the bar. My guess is that our Bar Chandler, Rob, has been quite busy ensuring that the supplies have been at the ready. Good job! So, Lars, just what have you been up to Working behind the scenes to find a way to tweak my interests, eh I must admit to feeling just a bit strange with all of this - pleasantly of course - but strange nonetheless. Thought for sure that it was an over 'n done deal . . . one just never should say never, eh Okay - set 'em up Leon - ring the bell Boris - and let's see what shakes in these days to come!Later!Tom Happy Railroading! Siberianmo BudKarr Member sinceSeptember 2005 From: Alberta's Canadian Rockies 331 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by BudKarr on Saturday, August 12, 2006 3:53 PM Good Afternoon Gentlemen at the bar!It looks like we have something to build upon - now that Tom our Proprietor and boss man has returned! This has been some Saturday in that I had no plans whatsoever of browsing in the Ether much less using the computer. Then for whatever the reason, I checked my email account and found the message that Lars sent out and the rest is evident. Wonderful turn of events! One just never knows what one has lost until it is gone, or something like that. (Lydia says I am using song lyrics - beats me! )I can appreciate how you feel Captain Tom - for we all really understand the situation - this idea of yours took root - deeply and for what it is worth - welcome back to YOUR place!Good to see the show of support today - and this has to be a great day for Rob, for he and he alone never gave up on "Our" Place! My thinking is that Doug too has to be heartened, for this IS the place for the kinds of material we have all become accustomed to enjoying. Somehow the postings on other threads just has not caught on. Not to say that the efforts were not worth it - but the nucleus of guys who give that proverbial Rat's Patoot hang out here! Enjoyed the resumption of RR info from Dave on the Left Coast and looks like my learning curve is about to begin again! Set 'em up Leon - clang the bell Boris - let the good times flow!BK in Alberta, Canada's beautiful high mountain country! West Coast S Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Los Angeles 1,619 posts Posted by West Coast S on Saturday, August 12, 2006 4:04 PM What do my eyes discern? Why, Herr Tom your'e back among the fold! Good to see you about and doing well, you know how it goes, some things are too good to let go of, until today, i've only been back once.. Ok Boris, Tom, needs a big return kiss, Leon get Tom whatever he desires, you behave Cindy... Good to hear from you Dave SP the way it was in S scale LoveDomes Member sinceJanuary 2006 From: northeast U.S. 1,225 posts "OUR" PLACE - Over ONE YEAR of talking Classic Trains in an adult environment! Posted by LoveDomes on Saturday, August 12, 2006 4:21 PM G'day Fellow Travelers at the bar!And what do our eyes reveal The return of our leader for the 17th month anniversary of "Tom's" Place! What a great day indeed as many of you have echoed! A 5- Salute to the Man! Even if for one fine day - it's a great feeling, huh Ring those chimes Boris and ring 'em loud! Pour the liquid refreshments for the adult crowd and let the good times roll in this, the best watering hole this side of heaven! I don't feel like waxing eloquently about anything other than the return to the bar of our host and Chief Mentor, Tom the Proprietor. What is to say other than many, many heartfelt thanx to Rob, Doug and everyone else who worked to get this day to become reality. Now we have something to build upon, huhLet's not look back, but forward. I like the expression Tom uses, screw 'em all but 6 and save those for pall bearers! Actually, that saying was one of my very own during my sea going days - must be something kindred between we sailors, wouldn't you say Mate I don't expect we'll see a full resumption of activities here nor do I expect to see the "usual suspects" show up. Guys come and guys go. RIP - really, let's move on with our new beginnings and let bygones be just that. I've missed this interaction - didn't think it would impact me, but it did and has. Apparently has also had an effect on others as well. So, what's wrong with that, huh Good day all 'round - Yanks beat the Angles - Mets on tap for a good game tonight and the fridge has plenty of cold brew just waiting to be opened! Nice work, Dave, with the input - and of course very pleased to see "20 Fingers Al" make an appearance. Locked in writing these weeks, huh Well,. come up for air, Mate - time to resume your presence here at "Our" Place!Drinks on me!Lars pwolfe Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: mid mo 1,054 posts Posted by pwolfe on Saturday, August 12, 2006 5:54 PM Hi TOM and all. Did not expect to be able to say that again.Caught up on my e-mails and got Lars message. Is the Bathams still on. Can I just echo whats been said about ROB DAVE and DOUG I too have missed OUR PLACE. The new format seems a bit to me so if the wrong smiley appears please forgive me. Heres hopeing to many great days at Our Place again. The words that have been often quoted about a narrow guage line on the Devon coast in England which closed in the 30s( a section of which is being rebuilt) applied here,"Perchance it is not dead but sleepeth" Well done Lars PETE. siberianmo Member sinceFebruary 2004 From: Chesterfield, Missouri, USA 7,214 posts Posted by siberianmo on Saturday, August 12, 2006 6:26 PM A belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to PETE - August 11th was the date! So, have a Bathams or three on me and enjoy this weekend, Mate! Good to see ya, Pete and I received and responded to your Email. Appreciate the kind words from those of you who checked in today and to reiterate, let's let things flow in whatever direction they may. I like the comments from Lars regarding our future - best not to press it. If it's meant to be, then it will happen! So guys, enjoy this weekend and hope to be communicating with y'all real soon . . . . Tom Happy Railroading! 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Casey Jonesretold byS. E. Schlosser
Casey Jones, that heroic railroad engineer of the Cannonball, was known as the man who always brought the train in on time. He would blow the whistle so it started off soft but would increase to a wail louder than a banshee before dying off. Got so as people would recognize that whistle and know when Casey was driving past.
April 29, 1900, Casey brought the Cannonball into Memphis dead on time. As he was leaving, he found out one of the other engineers was sick and unable to make his run. So Casey volunteered to help out his friend. He pulled the train out of the station about eleven p.m., an hour and thirty-five minutes late. Casey was determined to make up the time. As soon as he could, he highballed out of Memphis (highballing means to go very fast and take a lot of risks to get where your headed) and started making up for lost time.
About four a.m., when he had nearly made up all the time on the run, Casey rounded a corner near Vaughin, Mississippi and saw a stalled freight train on the track. He shouted for his fireman to jump. The fireman made it out alive, but Casey Jones died in the wreck, one hand on the brake and one on the whistle chord.
The Ballad of Casey Jones is still sung today.
THE BALLAD OF CASEY JONES
This version was considered by Janie Jones, Casey's wife, to be the most accurate representation of Wallace's original version. Mrs. Jones spent much of her life refuting some of the vulgar references other versions made about her husband.
Come all you rounders if you want to hear A story 'bout a brave engineer, Casey Jones was the rounder's name "Twas on the Illinois Central that he won his fame.
Casey Jones, he loved a locomotive. Casey Jones, a mighty man was he. Casey Jones run his final locomotive With the Cannonball Special on the old I.C.
Casey pulled into memphis on Number Four, The engine foreman met him at the roundhouse door; Said, "Joe Lewis won't be able to make his run So you'll have to double out on Number One."
If I can have Sim Webb, my fireman, my engine 382, Although I'm tired and weary, I'll take her through. Put on my whistle that come in today Cause I mean to keep her wailing as we ride and pray.
Casey Jones, mounted the cabin, Casey Jones, with the orders in his hand. Casey Jones, he mounted the cabin, Started on his farewell Journey to the promised land.
They pulled out of Memphis nearly two hours late, Soon they were speeding at a terrible rate. And the people knew by the whistle's moan. That the man at the throttle was Casey Jones.
Need more coal there, fireman Sim, Open that door and heave it in. Give that shovel all you got And we'll reach Canton on the dot
On April 30, 1900, that rainy morn, Down in Mississippi near the town of Vaughan, Sped the Cannonball Special only two minutes late Traveling 70 miles an hour when they saw a freight.
The caboose number 83 was on the main line, Casey's last words were "Jump, Sim, while you have the time. "At 3:52 that morning came the fareful end, Casey took his farewell trip to the promised land.
Casey Jones, he died at the throttle, With the whistle in his hand. Casey Jones, he died at the throttlle, But we'll all see Casey in the promised land.
Good morning Leon. I see thatyou are wearing your brightest jump boots and suspenders today and i see that Boris is well being Boris he's even reinstalled old number 99's golden striker for this occation today,so remember folks once a riounds bougth he will let er rip. Speaking of which leon a round for all those here assembled. Bwoong gwoong bwoong ah music to my ears.The ladies of perpetual motion and knitting cirle wil be provoding some instruction and entertainment later on today,Cindy has developed some "new tecniques"
Lars-Thank you for attempting to rally the troups today.I'm glad to see that several have jumped in. As ou had noted I do give more of a rats patoot about the place then I suppose I should, but there is too much good information and good times here to simply trun one's back on.So besides renting the hall out to weddings and etc. I have been keeping the candles burning in the windows so to speak.Nice to see that you also brought Tom's other thread back to the fore for the day as well. I have to say that through it all these two treads are / were a shinning becon of what the forums should be, largly JO free.
Doug -Ah yes the rusty old groan- a- meter is still functioning, in fact I have Boris polish it with a hand made Carpathian wax ( best not to ask what it's hand made from, suffice to say it's one of Boris's families recipes ) Thanks for stopping in and thanks for the kind words as well.
Dave -I'm glad to see that you have made it in as well, a second visit since last month if I can recollect correctly. Boris always did have a speacial spot in his heart for you I'm not sure if that's either safe or healthy but it is as it is.
Leon wring up another round for da boyz. Boris do your thing Bwooong gwooong bwooong. Ah yes I think the old place will be hopping at least for one saturday this month.
Oh yes one other thing.
Lars - Thanks for bringing in the Casey Jones ballad with you. Makes it bit more like old times with some actual content as well as the fine banter at the bar. I think that even if Da Boss dosen't pop by today I think he is with us in spirit. I'm sure that he is quite aware that today is the 17 month aniversary, as this bar really is / was his baby an extension of him if you will.
Tom -If you are out there peeking in. Thank-you for the best darned cyber bar for a person to stop in at and just be themselves ! leon a round as a toast to Da Boss.
Good morning again folksl Leon I think i will pick up a number 2 of the menu board for the moment.
BK & Lydia - Nice to see our two favourite Albertan's this morning. I'm glad that you took lLrs up on his offer,nice to see those window booths in use again. Thank-you for the kind words on keeping the doors semi-open it's been a labour of love fer sure fer sureI haven't fully figured out all the new nuances of the new forum system yet myself,but I have to say that I don't hate itand it does seem to run much more smoothly.Since today is saturday, and we always "Encored" things on saturday here's a little light hearted one from back a bit.Good plan on the constant check ins folks.I shall soon be off to work but I do plan to pop back in this evening.
trolleyboy wrote:Okay, here's my first "new" piece of info now that we are getting back into the full swing of things here at the ole bar. This is the first of a new series of info from the trolleyboy barns. A new subset of features " Wierd Tales From The Barn" Wierd Tales From The Barn #1 The Trolley and Teddy Roosevelt exerpt from a local newspaper. Once a trolley thretened to become a major player in US Politics.It came within a whisker of killing a US President, and nearly promoted a SecState to the office of the President of the US. Theodore Roosevelt had this run in on a dusty road just outside if Pittsfield Mass.The date was Sept 3 1902, barely a year after President Mackinnley's assasination.The President,Govener Crane of Mass were tooling along in the Presidents open horse drawn landau, pulled by four prancing white horses. Facing them was George B Cortelyou, later the sectratary of Commerce and Labour, and up on the box was the driver and a Secret Service man named William Craig. Five outriders were ridinbg along side in escort of the buggy. They were ahead of thee buggy and were to far away to render assistance,and to add to their mortification another buggy loaded with newspapermen was up ahead of them heading for the same Country Club which was the Presidents destination. An open trolley, travelling in the same direction as the President's carriage overtook the Presidents carriage.Aboard it were a number of Pittsfields notables including the two top officers of the streetcar company.It was later rumoured and denied that they had ordered the motorman to hurry so that they could get to the Country Club in time to welcome the President.The trolley was in the centre of the road and the Landau on the right, well ahaed of both vehicles was a place where the car tracksswung from the center of the road to the right hand side.Concentrating on his prancing team, and unaware that the trolley was passing, the Landau's driver veered over the tracks.The landau was hit hard on it's rear left wheel and shoved aside,pitching it's occupants into the air. The President tumbled in the dirt, recieving a bruise on his cheek,a banged knee a cut lip and a severe shaking up.His glasses were knocked flying, his silk hat frazzled, and his frock coat torn at one elbow.According to the NY Times he told the horrorstruck motorman ; " I Think this is the most ***able outrage I ever heard of "Govener Crane abd Secratary Courtelyou only recieved minor injuries; but the Landau driver was seriously hurt and SS agent Craig who stood up the instant of the impact to protect the President was thrown under the trolley and killed. The motorman , Euclid Madden, was fined 500 dollars and jailed for six months. Many Streetcarmen were convinced that Maden was only a victem of bad luck and of newspaper hue and cry. So a Pittsfield newspaper recollection of Teddy Roosevelt's unfortunate run in with a trolleycar. Rob
Hey Leon ..is it too early for a bottlemless draught? I'll be happy to buy a round for the guys who have shown-up here today as well. Sure is great to hear from BK after all this time. Really glad to see you staing in touch. More kudos to Lars who is keeping the posts coming, and a story about Casey Jones to boot! BY the way .. I did respond to your e-mail through the tranis forum. Did you get it? Great posts from Rob today too. I love wierd tales, as you know. Speaking of which, I spent some time helping to move many boxes of rail magazines from a boxcar to their new home in a Norfolk and Western baggage car at IRM today, and was awarded about a six-month supply of interesting stuff that I'd love to share here, if this thread re-opens. I've been accumulating other material as well.
Here's a little something with Tom in mind. I snuck into our RDC for some pix .. and here are some of them:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture671.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture673.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture677.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/Picture678.jpg
To say this car needs work, is a huge understatement. The IRM RDC used to be scheduled for restoration, and a new diesel engine was secured, but now it seems that only outside cosmetic restoration is to be done. I was invited to assist in this effort today.
That's it for now. I'll be checking in later to see if our "steamed" leader makes an appearance!
A couple had been married only two weeks. The husband, although very much in love, can't wait to go out on the town and party with his old buddies. "Honey," says he to his new bride, "I'll be right back..." "Where are you going, Coochy Coo?" asks the wife. "I'm going to the bar, Pretty Face. I'm going to have a beer." "You want a beer, My Love?" She opens the refrigerator door shows him 25 different brands of beer from 12 different countries: Germany, Holland, Japan, India, including six places he's never even heard of. The husband is nonplussed, and all he can think to say is, "Yes, Honey Pie, but the bar you know...the frozen glass..." He hasn't finished the sentence before wifey interrupts him by saying, "You want a frozen glass, Puppy Face?" She hands him a mug out of the freezer that is so cold that it burns his fingers "Yes, Tootsie Roll," hubby says a bit desperately, "but at the bar they have those hors d'oeuvres that are really delicious... I won't be long. I'll be right back. I promise. OK?" "You want hors d'oeuvres, Pookie Pooh?" She opens the oven and removes 15 different hors d'oeuvres: chicken wings, pigs in a blanket, mushroom caps, pork strips, etc. "But, Sweetie, Honey...at the bar...you know...the swearing, the dirty words and all that..." "You want dirty words, Cutie Pie? Here...DRINK YOUR *** BEER IN YOUR FROZEN *** MUG AND EAT YOUR *** SNACKS, BECAUSE YOU AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE! GOT IT, A**HOLE?!!"
Good Afternoon Everyone.
My compute has been down for logging on to reply to Our Place or anything else for the last two weeks and in one repect it has been good as i am catching up on writing. Hope everyone has read that Passenger Train Journal is coming back I have every issue from number one and am looking forward to its return after a ten year absence.
Guess I should have ordered my usual CR and a round for the house. The office puter i only have access to on weekends.So until the tech gets around to solving my problem I will have to send messages on Saturdays only.
Great hearing from all of the old regulars and certainly miss the forum.
ttfn Al
Hi TOM and all.
Did not expect to be able to say that again.Caught up on my e-mails and got Lars message.
Is the Bathams still on.
Can I just echo whats been said about ROB DAVE and DOUG I too have missed OUR PLACE.
The new format seems a bit to me so if the wrong smiley appears please forgive me. Heres hopeing to many great days at Our Place again.
The words that have been often quoted about a narrow guage line on the Devon coast in England which closed in the 30s( a section of which is being rebuilt) applied here,"Perchance it is not dead but sleepeth"
Well done Lars PETE.
A belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to PETE - August 11th was the date! So, have a Bathams or three on me and enjoy this weekend, Mate!
Good to see ya, Pete and I received and responded to your Email.
Appreciate the kind words from those of you who checked in today and to reiterate, let's let things flow in whatever direction they may. I like the comments from Lars regarding our future - best not to press it. If it's meant to be, then it will happen!
So guys, enjoy this weekend and hope to be communicating with y'all real soon . . . .
Tom
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