"OUR" PLACE - SEE NEW THREAD!

[wanswheel]

Hi Tom and everyone, a round for the house.

CM3, thanks for the list and wow! that's a lot of railroads connecting to the C&NW. The name of one of them just leaped off the page. No doubt a typo, everyone can spell my mom's name. She was from Wayah, a town on the Ware River. The second thing I can remember in my life is detraining to the cool spring air of Palmer in April 1950. Earliest memory of all is boarding Rock Island at Davenport. Good old New York Central though. And early Amtrak, too, they got me in the heart.

http://www.trainweb.org/asamtrak911/model/carnames.html

Funniest typos are by Darnbad. Clipped about 10,000 feet off the top of Pile's Peak.

New England is the place to find a potential Wikipedia discrepancy. Is it 8701 or 8601?

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=200503041422252534.jpg&byrail%3A1%3AChicago_NorthWestern

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=CNW8601.jpg&byrail%3A1%3AChicago_NorthWestern

Otto Perry photos

4-8-4 Boone, Iowa 1935

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00003285+OP-3285

4-8-4 Pacific Limited Council Bluffs, Iowa 1937

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00003401+OP-3401

Streamlined 4-6-4 Pacific Limited Council Bluffs 1938

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00003414+OP-3414

EMC Motor Car Casper, Wyoming 1936

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00003442+OP-3442

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00003441+OP-3441

Fairbanks-Morse H 16-66 Missouri Valley, Iowa 1953

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00003293+OP-3293

EMD S7 Rapid City, So. Dakota 1956

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00003421+OP-3421

EMD GP7 Rapid City 1956

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00003292+OP-3292

ALCO RSD5 Rapid City 1955

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00003420+OP-3420

Whitcomb 44-ton Rapid City 1956

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00003291+OP-3291

4-6-2 The 400 Chicago 1939

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00003383+OP-3383

EMC E3A Chicago 1939

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00003295+OP-3295

EMC E3A Oakland, Cal. 1938

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?11005928+Z-5928

William Henry Jackson photos

Council Bluffs UP-C&NW ticket office

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?20102811+CHS.J2811

Kate Shelly Bridge over Des Moines River near Boone

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?20103346+CHS.J3346

Marshalltown, Iowa depot lawn "The Northwestern Line"

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?20102826+CHS.J2826

Ron Nixon photos

The 400 St. Paul 8/29/46

http://muse.museum.montana.edu/rvndb/rvn-jpgs/RVN12194.jpg

The 400 St. Paul 8/31/46

http://muse.museum.montana.edu/rvndb/rvn-jpgs/RVN12201.jpg

Jack Delano photos at Proviso Yard 1942-43

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34687v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34629v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34627v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34625v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34615v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34632v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34616v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34679v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34649v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34621v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34655v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34676v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34678v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34607v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34608v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34612v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34610v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34671v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34614v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34604v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34605v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34602v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34620v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34664v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34637v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34660v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34645v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34643v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34686v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34682v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34657v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34668v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34684v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsac/1a34000/1a34600/1a34685v.jpg

Mike

[LoveDomes]

G’day Captain Tom and fellow travelers at the bar!

 

Amen – restored passenger rail service between places like Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis and Detroit up into Canada would be a God send. What a pleasant thought! But then reality shows up and spoils the mental image. Ain’t gonna happen as long as those in government continue to be under the influence of highway, airport and other special interests bent on gobbling up tax dollars for their use.

 

Ruth, I need a double JD on the rocks if you please! A round for the house and I’ll take a foot long hero – ham ‘n Swiss, mustAHd ‘n buttAH with two large pickles from the barrel! Don’t forget the saucer of brine for our “house pet,” Tex the Armadillo! <grin> Ring it, Boris!

 

Some fine posts for our “Theme for the Day!” and I see where Doug got a jump start on the rest of us. Hey – just get up a bit earlier, ok Just kidding . . .

 

Super impressive listing of connecting RRs provided by CM3 I’m not Shane – isn’t it just mind boggling to realize that “once upon a time” there were so many RRs and so many attendant industries supporting them? Same thing for our once mighty and proud Merchant Marine fleet. Sad, sad, sad . . .

 

Hey, Rob – remember “when” the CFL “invaded” the US

 

Don’t know what started it, but I’m surely in the mood for a long distance train trip. How I’d dearly love to just climb aboard and keep on keeping on for about a week of nothing but riding the rails. Now that’s a great thought. Where to Well, ever since Captain Tom provided us with all those great Alaska pix, that’s been on my mind. Unfortunately, I’m one who wants the “Full Monty,” so there would have to be bedroom cars. I think a cross-Canada journey would be just fine. Don’t care for the tourist aspect though, so I guess if we are going to do something like that, we’ll wait ‘til fall or winter. Anyway, I’m really, really READY for some dome sitting, cold brew, and all that train travels brings.

 

Browsing through that spate of Urls provided by the MeisterUrlMan himself, Mike, just fuels the fires for my “wander lust!” Born too late – and much too poor – to take advantage of the best that the passenger RRs had to offer! <groan> That's quite a list - and who said CNW was hard to find info about <grin>

 

Next up will be my offering for the “Theme” . . .

 

 

Lars

[LoveDomes]

G'day Captain Tom and fellow travelers at the bar!

Ruth, one more JD on the rocks while I post this "Theme for the Day!"

 

Chicago & North Western books

 

 

 

 

Until the next time!

 

Lars

[siberianmo]

G’day Gents!

 

A bit more on our “Theme for the Day RR” – the Chicago & North Western (CNW):

 

 

 

City of Los Angeles - jointly operated by: CNW & UP (1936-55) – (from: Wikipedia.com)

 

 

 

 

City of Denver - jointly operated by CNW & UP (1936-55) – (from: Wikipedia.com)

 

 

 

 

The Challenger - jointly operated by: CNW & UP (1936-55) – (from: Wikipedia.com)

 

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Tom

[trolleyboy]

Good afternoon Ruth, looks like we've had another good tuesday,the info's flowing , so the suds and food a tip o the hat to all you gents who have taken the time to dredge up some interesting tidbits and pictures on the C&NW.I think a deli classic Pistrami on rye with some mustard oh yah and a cople of the pickles before Lars eats them all'

Doug- Way to satrt us off, and I would say that the commuters were not all that boring,C&NW and BN really set the tone for how commuter services should be run,fast service and lots of trains

Tom-Two grrreat C&NW drops on us today.Amazing as to how old of a railroad it was and inovative, not mant others would even have concidered selling themselves to their employee's and then having it wirk to boot. Nice follow up on the joint C&NW / UP streamliners as well. too bad Al's still down and out, I'm sure that we would have had a page worth of 20 fingered passenger posts.Another trip extremely NOB on tap eh ?I say go for it spend the inheritance as it were I too would hope that we could somehow find a way to join both countires with more and more frequent passenger trains, but like Lars said the govt's on both sides need to become less road and rubber oriented.

CM3-Wow not only is that an impressive list of connecting railways and industries,but Imagine, at one point Chi -Town was an even bigger railhub than it still is, tgruly mindboggling.

Mike -Great pile of urls sir, I think Ruth needs to give you a weeks wrht of free pickle barrell pickels for tha one LOL.

Lars-Great book covers, amother well loved railway. the people in Chicago and Wi really loved their C&NW, allot like the people of Hamilton and the TH&B they still refuse to refer to it as the CP which has taken it over since 1985.Yes I do remember the CFL S.O.T.B.I remember my Ticats regulaly beating up on the Shreveport Pirates,and the Baltimore CFLer's yes they were called that for a year because they wanted to use the "Colts" name but the NFL objected. They eventually called themselves the Stallions, the onlu US based team to win a Grey Cup to the last year the US teams played. That team is still arouind they moved back to Montreal and are the New Allouettes.

Pete-Glad that you liked the Pt 2 and 3. You would like Southwestern Ontario,the Cities of Chatham ,London are on the Thames, good fishing an light boating river, it empties into Lake Erie.

Well Ruth a "nuther" round if you would be so kind.

Rob

[trolleyboy]

Well lets see, I suppose that since I suggested we do this theme railroad this week that it's only appropriate that I put out a bit of new info myself as well. Ruth another round to fortify me and the gang.It's often been said that the C&NW was a frugal railroad, recyling was one of it's forte's.When the big six or seven would by new power C&NW would recyle rebuild and reuse and wring everylast bit of life from locomotives long discarded by thier rivals.

CLASSIC DIESELS # 29 C&NW's RECYCLED BALDWINS

  The C&NW's recycled Baldwin AS-16's were purchased second hand from te original owners the Missouri Kansas & Texas.When dieselization first started the MKT like most other railroads continued to by locomotives from all the players. Baldwin being the big fish in the steam era was late to begin producing locomotives , but heir longtime steam era partners bought their offerings readily when they became available. The MKT wa an early buyer buying a modest fleet of Baldwins 1600hp 4 axel AS-16 ( baldwins answer to the GP7 )By 1958 Baldwin wa out of the game and the MKT like other RR's didn't want the expense of maintaining alot of minority builders parst so they had their fleet 18 AS16's rebuilt by EMD ( then the King of locomotives ) with EMD 567C primemovers ( GP9 engine ) the 567C's were designed to produce 1750hp but in this application they were delivered aat a derated 1500hp.So between Feb of 1958 and March of 1960 17 of these locomotives were rebuilt ( one was a wrech right off )

    The units kept their baldwin frames , cabs ,trucks and short hoods.However a GP9 hood replaced the original Baldwin longhood ( fit the 567 and it's associated equipment better )In 1970 these were sold to Precision nationals lease fleet.

    In 1972 the C&NW began leasing,then purchased 14 of these AS16m's.One was found to be defective and was returned to precision National and scrapped.The 13 units entered C&NW service as No's 1485-1495 and 1497-1498.These loco's ran into the late 80's before finally giveing up and scrapped.

   As a footnote this began a long relation ship with teh C&NW and Precision National. C&NW bougth many a rebuilt GP7 or GP9 as well as rebuilt SD7's and  9's from them.Even a few of PC's ex UP / ATSF SD24's came to the C&NW as rebuilt lowhood SD20's.Goes to show one person's trash is someone else's treasure.

Rob

[trolleyboy]

THEME OF THE DAY ! THEME OF THE DAY ! THEME OF THE DAY THEME OF !

  Okay just a couple pictures to make my C&NW contributiions for the day complete.Thanks to TOM < MIKE < DOUG < & LARS for adding to todays C&NW theme, the second straight I would say successfull one since our relaunch 5x for all of you for your efforts on this fine day.Nice to know that so many give a 'Rats Patoot' about what it is we do around here

Photo by Jim Boyd of AS16M 1494 at Fond Du lac in 1973 still more or less new !

The next three shots are from my trip into Chicago in 1994 to capture what was then anounced as the next flaag to fall.

GP 7 switching near the airport.

Another shot of a C&NW HH GP7 still doing it's thing

C&NW GP15-1 in transfer service

C&NW C40-8 in road service

Enjoy   Rob

[siberianmo]

G'day Gents!

My finale for this "Theme for the day" on the C&NW . . . all from: www.yesteryeardepot.com

 

C&NW Poster (1946)

 

C&NW A-B-A F'S

 

C&NW A-B-A E'S

 

C&NW - 4-6-2 Streamlined (1948)

 

Thanx to all who participated in our Tuesday "Theme for the Day!" Watch for the announcement for next week's RR!

 

Tom

[Anonymous]

Well hi there Ruth, babe .... mind if I call you Baby Ruth? What's this? I you won't take my order for a drink now? Well, I'll still buy a round for the guys who are behaving, if it's OK.

Rob, It's not that I consider the C&NW stuff at IRM boring .. not all of it anyway. Just look at the 21 cars we have at this link: http://www.irm.org/cgi-bin/searchr.cgi?q=C%26NW . Notice that the RDC we have is also a C&NW!

However, three cars that are not listed are these:

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/stuff/Picture519.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/stuff/Picture518.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/stuff/Picture516.jpg

They just look too much like the cars I ride on the Metra, and I just can't be impressed

One thing that does impress me if the wonderful quality of todays posts on our theme. I'll be looking forward to meeting you, Peter if you get out to this neck of the woods. Thankks for shedding more light on the "slip coach". CM3, while it is true that the former C&NW station (now Olgilvie Transportation Center) has changed in appearace substantially, not all of it was transformed. The entire area where the trains arrive and depart has not changed, nor has the architecture behind the Center for about 2 blocks. Wonderful multiple posts from Tom this day, with his Wikepedia offering, the consist and poster pix too. Lars visited a few times and shared some C&NW books. Rob submitted an excellent article on recycling Baldwins. Mike provided fanastic and plentiful URLs as usual. I have to admit I need to get to all of them yet.

Have a great rest of the evening!

[trolleyboy]

Good evening Leon, I see that you replaced Ruth before she could do much damage to Doug Good thing she not a balck belt in anything eh

Tom -Nice pictures to wind out the day for you sir. Indeed another good turnout for our tuesday's by the tracks and it was a lesser known harder to research RR to boot, 5x again guys. Tom, I have to say that that is the least objectionable  steam locomotive streamliningthat I have seen ( an I've never really liked streamlined steam engines ) The nice ABA sets of E's and F's were right on as well.

Doug-Hi nice to see you twice today as well. Nice RDC when's it due for restoration or are you guys willing to sell it to Tom for a ah garden shed yes that's it .I guess from my perspective the C&NW commuters are something different as all the commuter cars I see are the Bombardier doubles, so anything more traditionally shaped is a big deal for me.

Anywho Leon a round for the gang B4 I head into work.

Rob

[wanswheel]

Another round, short one

Great black & white pics Tom, and Rob, your trip to Chicago in 1994 probably inspired this great day for C&NW. Who do we thank, the selection comittee or the steering committee?

Mike

[red p]

Hey Leon how about a Jack and coke please. CNW! hmmmmm. I guess Tom didnt like my idea about an early amtrak day. Oh well I can live with that.

Anyway you are right Mike I dont make big long winded post. I only make a post when I got something to say, and I dont Beat around the bush about it either, know what I mean. I almost forgot while bouncing around the internet I found this site for all the H.O. scalers (like myself). They make some really great passenger cars, meusum quality.

http://rapidotrains.com/

P

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all.

Sorry its late but a pint please LEON and let me get a round for a really great C&NW day,maybe one day soon I will have the confidence to post something on N. American railways, but for now can I say how much I enjoy reading about the great railroads and from todays posts the C&NW was one of the best( and not just because they ran on the left hand side of the tracks

So, many thanks TOM for the history, named trains and photos, CM3 for the connecting lines.MIKE for the links, they were all good but the color photos of Proviso yard over 60 years ago are remarkable, that one of the steam locos in the round house on that cold day with the brazier burning is one of the best steam shed photos I have seen, it took me back to another continent, different locos, but the atmosphere of a steam shed is the same the world over. Another great photo was of the workmen washing their hands at the end of the shift.

LARS Great idea to feature the book covers,ROB liked the piece on the re-engined Baldwins, it is strange that some great builders of steam locos were unsuccessful when they tried to be major players in the diesel market.Thanks for sharing the photos of the 1994 trip to capture the locos before they lost the C&NW livery.

DOUG the IRM has a good selection of C&NW rolling stock  and Mr Phil Stepak as photoed them well. I see cars with MWT and MWX on the side were these work cars. I really hope I can get to the IRM in the not too distant future.

May I say again a   to ALL for today

Pete.      

[siberianmo]

G'day Gents!

Looks like the sky is determined to remain overcast, but with these cool temps (lower 60s) we'll take it! Lord-o-Lord do I hope that the heat of summer is nearing an end. This has been a monster season - hot 'n dry. <ugh> Oh yeah, my bride told me that petrol dropped to $2.53 (rounded) up at "Collusion Corner" yesterday. And - we're approaching the Labor Day weekend - verrrrrrrrrrrry interesting, but we'll take that too!

So, my on-again-off-again Dead Birds took a waxing last night at the bats of the "Fish" from Florida. Just a lack luster effort and through it all, they remain atop their division as the "Deads" from Cincinnati dropped yet another opportunity to catch 'em. Verrrrrrrrrrry interesting, but we'll take it!

Enjoyed the URL from red P - lots of good stuff to peruse and given that today is our OPTIONAL Toy 'n Model Trains Day here at the tavern by the tracks, check it out . . .

Pete, c'mon in - the water's fine! Just do an internet search using one of the "engines" (Yahoo - Google - Dogpile, etc.) and find something. Then do whatever is required to adapt and adopt it for our Thread - and go for it!

I liked those Pix from Doug and haven't found anything approaching "boring" from him - ever. I understand what you mean though, but for me - if it runs on steel wheels on steel tracks, I always find a way to enjoy it! Also liked that "funny Pix" - why not Research dollars have gone for far worse! <grin>

Rob, great submissions and really enjoyed the Pix! Don't know what the "skinny" is with 20 Fingers Al, other than this "thing" with getting his home computer repaired. I know he said that they would be moving and that the plan to get things back on line have been delayed. Seems like this is going on far longer than I would have let it. But then again, different strokes, eh It will be nice to have him back - but I'll say it - I'm not at all thrilled with a resumption of "data dumps." Nope.

Don't know if I'm going to resume the "RRs from Yesteryear" theme for Tuesdays - looks as if the new format is working just fine. A word of advice though - LEAD TIME is essential for those who contribute - so given that Monday is a holiday for Canada and the US - let's get crackin' on naming the next up for "Theme for the Day!"

I spent far too much time online yesterday and it shows. Gotta control those urges . . . some guys are Posting in the 20s and more on other Forums and Threads - can you believe that Even with the new formats and dropping of the STARS and RANKINGS (that can be viewed) it appears there are many guys in a race to be TOP GUN on the Kalmbach Forums. No toys when they were kids, perhaps <grin>

Looks like we've found a steady daytime bartender as RUTH has asked - and I have approved - for the position. So, Manager Lars - you now have a full time employee, along with Leon the Night Man, to take care of ! Ruth will tend bar from 9 AM until 5 PM (Mon-Sat) when Leon takes over 'til closing. I'll open up - or Lars will. Confused Don't be - you guys are handling it quite well!

Thanx again to all who contributed and participated in our "Theme for the Day!" Was indeed a good turnout with lotsagoodstuff!

Oh yeah - have something SPECIAL coming up this morning - so watch for it!

Later!

Tom

 

[siberianmo]

 

Significant events in Canadian RR History

during the month of August.

 

 

 

Caveat: Much of the information appearing was gathered from internet sources, with credit to “Colin Churcher’s Railway Pages” at http://www.railways.incanada.net/

 

 

* 1853 - The Great Western Railway opens its main line between Windsor and Niagara Falls. The Great Western went on to build, lease or buy other railways throughout Southern Ontario, and it can be claimed to be the first Canadian system.  The Galt Branch was opened on August 21^st, 1854.

 

* 1856, August 11^th - The Grand Trunk Railway opens its broad gauge line between Oshawa to Toronto.

 

* 1860, August 1^st - European and North American Railway opens from Saint John, NB to Shediac. The line became part of the Intercolonial Railway on July 1, 1867

 

* 1877, August - First use of the telephone to dispatch trains. This was at the Caledonia Mine at Glace Bay on the Sydney Mines Railway. One of the owners was Gardiner G. Hubbard who was the father in law of Alexander Graham Bell who installed two telephones to control train movements.

 

* 1879, August 12^th - The Intercolonial Railway gains access to Quebec by purchasing the Grand Trunk line between Quebec and Rivière du Loup.

 

* 1882, August 12^th - Great Western Railway, controlling 1,009 miles of track is merged into the Grand Trunk System.

 

* 1883, August 10^th - First train reaches Calgary.

 

* 1886, August 13^th - Sir John A MacDonald drives the last spike at mile 25, Cliffside, on the Esquimalt and Nanaimo  Railway on Vancouver Island.  The line became part of Canadian Pacific in 1905.

 

* 1900, August 15^th - Regular service is commenced over the 3'0" gauge White Pass and Yukon Railway between Skagway, Alaska and Whitehorse, Yukon.

 

* 1907, August 29^th - The bridge under construction across the St. Lawrence at Quebec falls killing 75 men.

 

* 1909, August - Canadian Pacific completes the Kicking Horse grade relocation on the main line between Hector and Field, B.C. by substituting two spiral tunnels and lengthened line on a grade of 2.2% compensated, for the old "Big Hill" straight grade of 4.5%.

 

* 1907, August 29^th - The south cantilever arm of the Quebec Bridge over the St. Lawrence collapsed killing 65 or more workmen.

 

* 1919, August 25^th - a Canadian Pacific special train conveys the Prince of Wales from Montreal to Toronto returning to Montreal over the same route on 2 November 1919.  Locomotives 2225 and 2231 were used.  The Prince ran the locomotive from Flavelle to Trenton (20.9 miles) on the return trip.

 

* 1927, August 6^th - The third Toronto Union Station is opened officially by Edward, Prince of Wales. It was opened to the public on August 11, but passengers had to walk across to the old station tracks. The first day on which trains used the new, elevated, tracks through the new station platform was January 31, 1930.

 

* 1929, August 26^th - Canadian National Railways place in service, hauling the second section of the "International Limited" between Montreal and Toronto, the first road diesel electric passenger locomotive. This locomotive, no. 9000, consisted of two units, weighing a total of 335 tons.

 

* 1944, August - Canadian National commences tests, in the Montreal Terminal, with two way radio for the transmission of instructions to locomotive and switching crews.

 

* 1950, August 11^th - General Motors opens its plant at London, ON, for the building of diesel electric locomotives.

 

* 1950, August 22^nd - The railway system is paralyzed by a nationwide railway strike.  Services were resumed on August 31.

 

* 1951, August 26^th - Canadian railways adopt the Uniform Code of Operating Rules for train operation purposes.

 

* 1955, August 13^th - A causeway is officially opened across the Strait of Canso between Cape Porcupine and Balache Point, Nova Scotia. This involved a 14 mile main line diversion for the rerouting of railway traffic linking directly Cape Breton Island with the mainland. Previous movements were by car ferry across the Strait of Canso. The causeway was completed on May 14^th.

 

* 1956, August 27^th - – A formal opening ceremony took place for the Pacific Great Eastern Railway between North Vancouver and Prince George, BC.

 

* 1958, August 9^th - Canada's longest running named train "Moccasin" (trains 25 and 26) ceases running between Montreal and Brockville.  Although unofficial, it had been used almost since the train service went into operation on November 19, 1855.

 

* 1959, August 30^th - Last streetcar runs in Montreal.

 

* 1994, August 29^th - The Windsor and Hantsport Railway commences operation in Nova Scotia.

 

* 1997, August 20^th - Hudson Bay Railway, owned by Omnitrax of Denver, Colorado, takes over the operation of the former CN lines between The Pas, Flin Flon, Lyn Lake and Churchill, Man.

 

* 1999, August - Manitoba Southern Railway takes over operation of the CN line from Morris to Elgin (Miami and Hartney subdivisions).

 

* 2001, August 16^th - Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 steam locomotive 2816 operates under its own power for the first time in over forty years.

[coalminer3]

Good Morning Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox. 

 

The CNW day turned out to be a good one.  Thanks to all for history (Notes to Tom; Your historic CNW summary post did appear, but I think it walked here.  Your Candian material was on the site this a.m. when I logged on; a task which took 15 minutes and 5 tries.  Also the drumheads were a nice touch in one of your later submissions. 

 

Thanks also for a fine selection of photos from different eras. 

 

Rob with recycled Baldwins.  Frisco and Rock Island were two other lines that recycled all kinds of power.  Then there was the IC with their GP10 program, and ATSF CF7s, as well as SP.  There’s a post in there somewhere.

 

Note to Lars:  Thanks for the kind words.  We can adjourn to the rat room to discuss merchant shipping.  I see all kinds of containers on the road here as we are close by I-64.  Can always tell when something has arrived at Norfolk.

 

Barndad’s posts of Jack Delano pictures have elicited many comments.  I have one of his color shots as a screensaver.  If you want to see more of his work, see if you can get a copy of a book titled Iron Horse at War.  IMHO, it’s one of the best I have ever seen as it is a compilation of a lot of FSA railroad-related pictures.  Another one which has some of Delano’s work in it is titled American Railroads in the Great Depression.  Embedded in that book is a series of pictures taken in WV coalfields that is outstanding.

 

Another book, Documenting America: 1935-1943, has an extensive selection of Delano’s material focused on Union Station (Chicago) c. 1943.  Some of the other photographers covered in this one include: Ben Shahn, John Vachon, Dorothea Lange (not the same stuff you see over and over again), Walker Evans (in New York City!), Arthur Rothstein, Marion Post Wolcott, Russell Lee, Gordon Parks, Margery Collins, Jack Collier, jr, and Esther Bubley.  Some of these folks’ work is well-known today, while others deserve to be better known.   

 

Work safe

[LoveDomes]

G'day Captain Tom and fellow travelers at the bar!

What a difference a day make, twenty four little hours . . . or so the song goes. Mid-week blahs perhaps

Ruth, set 'em up and I'll take a JD on the rocks - slide the snacks down my way, willya So, you're now on the clock as a full-timer, huh Good choice and just keep on doing what you do and all will be fine. Love what you do, by the way!

Took a visit away from our Forum and found a guy who is looking for what he calls paradise - a bar by the tracks! So, I invited him - and anyone else interested - to come over here! Check out the posting at: http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/893517/ShowPost.aspx and drop off an invitation!

Also "met" a guy from the UK on Tom's old thread - Canadian Passenger RRs - and invited him to stop by as well. Gotta do what must be done to attract (and keep) some new blood. Hope you guys will do the same while browsing elsewhere.

Nice 'special' for us today, Captain Tom - always enjoy those Canadian RR history pieces . . . good stuff!

Must wholeheartedly concur with the comments about our "Theme for the Day!" yesterday - worked extremely well. And, let's announce the next "up" - time is a wasting, as they say! <grin>

CM3 I'm not Shane - check this out regarding containers: http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=109670&ran=87860 (you may have to cut 'n paste this, as the forums seems to be giving me a hard time - what's new?)

I too am a bit short on gab today, so let me just adjourn to a table over by the windows and I'll watch the trains roll by . . . .

Until the next time!

Lars

[wanswheel]

Hi Tom and everyone, a round for the house.

rapidotrains 1st page is a hoot, thanks P

CM3 can I have your brain when you're done with it?  Woefully undereducated,  never heard of Jack Delano or the Farm Security Administration until Tom arranged for a Zephyr theme day. Googled a 1943 b&w of the CB&Q ticket window in Union Station.

Pete thanks for appreciating the fire barrel in the roundhouse and stuff like that. You are a credit to England and Missouri.

Try this for light reading and you be won't be any worse off I promise.

Letter to the Illinois State Journal by D.L. Phillips ( www.loc.gov)

A TRIP across the continent is no longer a noteworthy incident in the life of an American citizen. The Orient and the Occident are forever joined together by bands of iron and steel, and the great trans-continental highway, with one terminus holding the trade and commerce of the Atlantic and the other grasping the wealth of the Pacific, is too familiar to the reader to warrant the waste of either time or space in anything like an extended description.

To one who, like myself, had not visited the Pacific coast, the journey from Springfield, by the way of Chicago, to Omaha and San Francisco, was like a fairy tale--"a thing of beauty and a joy forever."

The country between Chicago and Omaha spanned by the Rock Island and Pacific railroad, is a magnificent portion of the great Valley of the Mississippi, of which no citizen of any one of the great central States of this Union can ever cease to be justly proud. In that great valley, and in those proud States, shall forever reside the all-controlling, coherent power which shall combine in one harmonious whole the family of

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States, which, for ages to come, shall grow and prosper as the homes of freemen on the American continent.

We had intended to go from Chicago to Omaha, over the Chicago and Northwestern railway, whose able and accomplished superintendent, Marvin Hughitt, Esq., had kindly furnished us transportation over his lines; but on the evening of the 8th instant he informed us that the floods, which then prevailed all over Western Iowa, had impeded travel on the Northwestern road, and advised us not to move until he had informed us, on the morning of the 9th, as to its condition. Early in the morning, he advised us that his lines were broken, and no trains for Omaha would attempt to leave Chicago that day. On inquiring, we learned that the Rock Island and Pacific railroad was undisturbed, and its trains would leave on time. Hugh Riddle, Esq., the general superintendent of the road, with that courtesy that marks so prominently his official life, and makes his lines so popular with the traveling public, furnished us with transportation over his road to Omaha, thus showing that an editor is not always unappreciated, and that railroad managers know how to sympathize with the feelings of one wending his weary way to a remote portion of the earth, seeking a new climate--a new atmosphere--in the hope of prolonging the life of an individual member of his family. In this public manner, the writer desires to say to Messrs. Hughitt and Riddle that their kindness and tender solicitude for the comfort and welfare of himself and son, an almost helpless invalid, will be garnered up among the precious treasures of memory, never to be forgotten, and will be worth far more than the silver of Nevada or the gold of California.

The trip to Omaha--or, rather, to Council Bluffs, the western terminus of the Rock Island and Pacific railroad--could not have been more pleasant. The management of the line seems to be almost perfect. From the terminal station of the five or six railways at Council Bluffs, it is, including the bridge across the Missouri river, about four miles to Omaha. These four miles, including the bridge, belong to a distinct corporation, independent of any of the roads on either side of the river. It is called the "Transfer Company," or something of that sort.

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No through trains are permitted to pass over it, and all baggage has to be transferred to the cars of this vile nuisance to the traveling public, and, to reach Omaha, each passenger has to get out of the cars on a platform, uncovered, and there remain till the "transfer train" comes over from Omaha to fleece him out of fifty cents for hauling him four miles. The roads centering at Council Bluffs are not permitted, except at rates that amount to downright robbery, to pass over this "transfer" piece of road into Omaha; nor is the Union Pacific railroad allowed to pass over to the point of the junction in Iowa, as it is tied up by contract, in some way, to the city of Omaha, to forever maintain its shops and eastern terminus in that city. Indeed, Omaha ought, it would seem, to remain perpetually the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific railroad, and those from the east ought to pass directly into the city, and the "transfer" outrage be wiped out

TRANSFER ANNOYANCES.

On the morning of the 10th instant, the Rock Island and Pacific railroad delivered, at the eastern end of this "transfer" line, in the open prairie, on the platform without cover, nine car loads of passengers--men, women and children. The baggage, that was checked through to Omaha, was unmercifully tumbled out of the cars on the platform, flung on trucks, and thence into ordinary box-cars, to be "transferred" to Omaha. The writer saw a lady, with three children, load her trunk and other articles of baggage on a truck, and haul it to the train, and with her own hands place it on the cars, to be taken across the river, while overgrown, lazy "galoots," in the employ of this corporation licensed to plunder passengers, were walking about, manifesting about as much interest in the passengers as they would have done in so many Texas steers. For more than an hour did we wait, when at last the "transfer train" arrived. It came, locomotive in front, and coupled on to the box-cars into which had been tumbled the baggage, express and mail matter. The engine was thus feruled at the head with box-cars and at the tail with passenger coaches. Of course there was a rush for the latter, when it was found that more

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than one-half of them were locked up. Those unlocked were speedily as much crammed as returning cars from a State fair, or on an excursion on the 4th of July; while the platforms on the locked cars were crowded to suffocation, and not for ten minutes--and until the absolute impossibility of crowding humanity any farther into the unlocked cars was evident--were the others opened. I heard a late Major General make a car smell of brimstone by his cogent expletives; he declared afterwards that he had not delivered himself, ore rotundo, so extensively for years before. The crowd indorsed all he said. The President, Attorney General, Congress--somebody--ought to break up this diabolical nuisance and steal.* That the commerce of six great lines of transportation--most of them land-grant roads--and the trade and travel over the Union and Central Pacific railroads (not only endowed by immense land grants, but subsidized by more than $60,000,000 of the money of the nation), should be subjected to this species of annoyance, outrage and legalized petty larceny--should be tolerated a single day--is an insult to the whole country. It is of no sort of importance who own and manage this bob-tailed corporate robber and perpetual nuisance. Let it be wiped out at once. Let every journal in the country denounce it until it no longer harasses trade, robs the public, and insults and outrages the whole traveling community over these great national highways.

[Note : Since the above was written, the Supreme Court of the United States has remedied the evil, in a final decision making Council Bluffs, in Iowa, the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific railroad.]

A HAPPY CHANGE.

At Omaha, the annoyances and troubles of the traveler cease. The excellence of the management of the Union Pacific railroad could not well be improved. A just sense of obligation to the traveler seems to manifest itself in every servant of the road, from the general superintendent down to the brakemen. Nothing necessary to the comfort of passengers is overlooked or omitted. The physical condition of the road is, in all respects, first-class, and the cars are as clean, airy and luxurious as any in the United States.

{Begin page no. 5}

Among the officers of the company, and as an old and warmly esteemed friend, I wish to make special mention of Thomas L. Kimball, Esq., the able, accomplished, faithful, and universally popular General Ticket and Passenger Agent of the road. Mr. Kimball has, measurably, spent his life in railroad service. He was long the western freight and passenger agent of the Pennsylvania Railway, in Chicago, from whence he was transferred to his present position at Omaha. This gentleman met us on the platform when we stepped from the dirty cars of the double-ender "transfer train," and if anything was omitted to make our trip to San Francisco comfortable and pleasant, neither Mr. Kimball nor the writer will ever know it. He secured our tickets, checked our baggage, selected our sleeping-berths--the very best in the sleeping car--and in these courtesies saved us the annoyances incident to standing for half an hour to get tickets and another half hour in checking baggage, each piece of which is carefully weighed if too heavy, and fifteen cents per pound charged on the excess of all baggage to San Francisco weighing over 100 pounds for each person. Ours, Mr. Kimball checked through in person. We speak especially of Mr. Kimball, first, as a friend and for his friendly offices, and in the second place, to commend one of the best officers we know of in the railroad service in the country.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COUNTRY.

The trains for San Francisco leave Omaha about noon. Nothing can be more pleasant than the afternoon run up the Platte river. A better country for agricultural purposes can not be found west of the Missouri than that which stretches back of Omaha for 350 miles, up the Platte Valley. Here the hardy emigrants of 1855-6, during the days of the Kansas troubles, found peaceful, quiet homes, and twenty years have filled this beautiful country with a population equal in industry, intelligence and morals to any in the country. Hundreds of great farms lie on each side of the river. Bright, cheerful residences greet the eye, and barns and out-buildings of all

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classes tell the story of an industrious, prosperous and happy people. We saw many thousands of acres of timber land, which were planted out many years ago, now ample for the farmers' use. There are beautiful groves, planted to screen the homestead from the northern winds and protect the stock, as well as vistas reaching far in the background to the bright and cheerful farm house, and hundreds of miles of trees are set out around the farms. Trees now from 50 to 100 feet high are seen in Nebraska, as you sweep across her vast fields of farm lands on your journey to the west, where, a few years ago, there was nothing but the grass of the plains.

It is not until you reach the western limits of Nebraska, and touch the eastern borders of Wyoming Territory, that the mountains are discovered. They are first seen about Bushnell, 460 miles west from Omaha. Here Pike's Peak, lying far to the southwest, in the Territory of Colorado, and other lofty peaks of the Rocky Mountains, are seen pushing their snowcapped summits high towards heaven, and gleaming in the sunlight like burnished silver. To the northwest lie the Black Hills, looking like banks of clouds piled up against the far distant horizon. As Cheyenne is approached, and the outlines of the mountains become more and more clearly defined, the vegetable kingdom fades out of sight. First the trees, then the grass, the weeds and flowers, and then all else save the perpetual, everlasting sage brush, which hangs on to the very waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Cheyenne is a place from whence supplies to the distant forts and mines will be sent for many years, and hence it will continue to be a place of much importance. It has many good and substantial brick houses, some fine stores and public buildings, and indicates a good degree of thrift and enterprise; but it has no trees, no shrubs, no flowers, no gardens. Around it, as far as the eye can reach, all is a barren, treeless and ashen waste.

West of Cheyenne, without any sharp curves or heavy grades, the summits of the mountains are reached at Sherman, the highest point between Omaha and San Francisco, being an elevation of 8,242 feet above the level of the sea. At this great

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altitude the air was piercing and cold, and from the rifting clouds eddying about the mountains, hail and snow came down enough to whiten the earth, and make one think of the chill days of December. The sensation produced by the rarity of the atmosphere at so great an elevation, is by no means pleasant. The face feels swollen with blood, the eyes are pained, the ears tingle and are uncomfortable, and the nostrils are hot and dry, and for the first and only time the writer's nose really bled. Headache was complained of by nearly all, and some invalids were much distressed for breath. The invalid son of the writer, however, experienced no inconvenience, but seemed to rather enjoy the inhalation of the chill and intensely rare air.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN SCENERY.

The impressiveness of the scenery in the Rocky Mountains is not so overwhelming as the fancy of the poet would suggest. Gradually and steadily, for half a day, the mountains are approached. The ascending grades of the road bring you more and more to their level. You see no fearful yawning chasms below, nor cloud-piercing mountains hanging over you. The mighty hills continue their well-rounded and wavy successions upward and upward, while their summits are constantly and easily reached through depression succeeding depression, until the summit at Sherman is attained. Here the grandeur of the scenery reaches the sublime, and

"Rocks on rocks, promiscuous hurl'd,
Seem fragments of a former world"

Pike's Peak, and many other historic elevations of these mountains, some of them 175 miles distant, are seen rearing their awful heads in the sky, seemingly only a few miles distant. The mountains are almost absolutely bare of verdure, and there is only here and there a stunted pine or oak, that seem to have warred forever for footholds in these scenes of weird and awful desolation.

From the summit the descent is rapid, and the only very noticeable point is Dale's Creek Bridge--a structure across a ravine, at the bottom of which lies the little silver thread of a stream, 126 feet below the rails. The bridge is of wood, some

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500 feet long, and the scenery from the center of it is really very fine.

But the grandest scenery is found in the Wahsatch Mountains, east of Ogden. The trains pick their way from cañon to cañon, while for many miles the mountains tower in vast beetling cliffs overhead, thousands of feet high. In the presence of such awfully sublime scenery one does not care to talk. Indeed, I noticed that there was not much conversation as we swept along and around these mighty monuments of Infinite Power, as well as mute but overwhelming witnesses of the littleness of man.

TOWNS, STATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS.

Of the towns, stations and dining places along the road, nestled in these mountain fastnesses, it is unnecessary to speak. They are small, but answer fully the ends and purposes for which they were intended. The eating places are all under railroad control, if not owned by the companies, and can not be too highly spoken of. The food is good, ample in variety, and ample time is given to eat it. At all these places, the railroad companies--both the Union and Central Pacific--have managed to have a cool front yard, some trees, shrubs and flowers, and a bubbling fountain with an irrigated garden in the rear. Sometimes the water is brought for many miles--in one instance I was told it was piped to the station from a point 15 miles distant. These are "oases" indeed. The force of that word never impressed my mind as during our trip over these roads.

On Weber river, some distance east of Ogden, are seen two Mormon settlements. They lie on both sides of Weber river, a stream about as large as Spring creek, near Springfield. Their lands are all irrigated. Their houses are small, and their farms match the houses, and I should think that the crops fitly harmonize with the houses and farms. The corn was dismally small, the potatoes looked small, and all else ran in the same groove. It seems to me that the Mormons pay a pretty high figure for their peculiar "twin relict of barbarism." I incline to the belief that, if Illinois farmers had to make livings on

{Begin page no. 9}

such places, the insane asylums would be crowded, the poor houses overrun and the coroners kept busy.

ON THE WESTWARD SLOPE.

At Ogden, the end of the Union Pacific railroad and the eastern terminus of the Central Pacific, the valley of Salt Lake is touched. Running around the northern extremity of the lake the great American Desert is reached. For 200 miles the country is arid, flat, without water, and as desolate as if, in anger, the Almighty had intended that the foot of man should never tread this desert waste. Dust--alkaline dust--filling the eyes, mouth, nose and lungs, and making one very impatient, is about all that need be said of this uninhabitable portion of the American Continent. At Halleck Station, 631 miles from San Francisco, are reached the waters of Humboldt river, which stream is followed by the railroad for over 300 miles, until, as the boys would say, it "runs into the ground," which is, I believe, literally true of this river, as it disappears in a lake of sand, called "Humboldt Sink." At Wadsworth, 329 miles from San Francisco, the line of railway strikes the valley of the Truckee river, and through the magnificent cañons and sublime scenery of the Sierra Nevada mountains, lying on the western side of the State of Nevada, at a point about 280 miles from San Francisco, the road enters the eastern side of the State of California. This point was reached in the night time. I had grown so tired of desert wastes and treeless mountains, that I sat up in my sleeping berth to catch the first view of the glorious pines of the Sierra Nevadas. As they began to appear, and the gleaming waters of the Truckee reflected their glittering sheen in the brilliant moonlight, the weariness of days of journeying was forgotten, and I literally feasted my eyes and rejoiced that I again saw trees and water. From this point until we reached Sacramento, the trees, the shrubs, the flowers, the gardens, the orchards, the vineyards, the houses and farms, the horses, the people, the mines (where placer digging has long since given way to the more expensive but successful hydraulic process,) the all but interminable water flumes, and many other things of interest, with the

{Begin page no. 10}

recollection of how this State was wrested from the unenterprising Mexican in 1846, and thereafter secured to freedom by the blood of Ferguson and Broderick, and the unquailing courage and eloquence of Baker, Lippincott, and a host of others--these objects and reflections occupied my thoughts, and I could hardly believe that we had reached the capital of California, until the long bridge across the American river, and the glittering dome of the capital, awoke me from my reverie.

THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY.

From Sacramento to San Francisco the distance is 140 miles. The country down the Valley of the Sacramento is as level as a floor, and aside from the towns, of which the pretty little cities of Stockton and Lathrop are the chief ones, there is little to interest the eye, except wind-mills, which no man can number, scattered all over the valley, to pump water. In some places the eye was actually teased and tantalized with these mills, and the impression would force itself on the mind that each farmer had tried to see how many he could put up. In some instances, both in the country and towns, they seemed actually perched up on the gable end of the family residence, and a tub or tank set up in the back yard, after the similitude of a railroad water tank, which is kept pumped full, both for domestic use and the irrigation of the garden. This is all right, as nothing ever freezes, so the pipes and hose are all safe; but the sensation of one of those wind-mill pumps, churning away almost on the top of the house, would, it seems, be about as unpleasant as it used to be to sleep in a room in a hotel adjoining an old-fashioned screw elevator. Besides, the things are not, to the eye, architecturally, a very handsome appendage to the finish of the house.

SAN FRANCISCO.

The approach to San Francisco, or to the head of the bay of that name, is through some treeless hills, anything but pleasing to the eye; but, as soon as the bay is in view, verdure and beauty break upon the senses in all directions, for the suburbs of Oakland, the prettiest city in California, are then reached.

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The evening of the day on which we arrived at San Francisco, after leaving Oakland and running out on the pier three miles into the bay, in the direction of San Francisco, was most uncomfortably cool. A heavy fog, late in the afternoon, invests the city at this time of the year, and the winds from the ocean are chilly and severe on persons of weak lungs or feeble constitutions. On reaching the city we drove at once to the Grand Hotel, where we kept a good fire burning in our rooms until we retired for the night. The next day a fire burned in our rooms all day, and was a most grateful relief from the chilly air and piercing wind which blew gently in the forenoon, and increased to a stiff breeze after 1 o'clock.

My impressions of San Francisco, its trade, banks, exchange and other things, must be reserved for another letter, as this is now far too long.

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., Sept. 27, 1875.

Merced Canyon  http://memory.loc.gov/award/mhsdalad/290000//290015r.jpg

Mike

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all.

Now you have got the job perminatly RUTH I will celebrate by having a Bathams XXX and a round please.. May I say again what a great theme day yesterday.

TOM Good to see the return of Canadian RR Histiory month. I though that 40 years was a long time that 2816 was not steamed, in 2001, but then I realised that the locos rescued from Barry scrapyard in South Wales UK which are being restored now for the first time, it will be over 40 years since they last steamed. Time flies indeed..

CM3Thanks for the Jack delano book info.  Do you know if Jack Delano color photos have been published in a book .

LARS I checked out the Bar by the Track site, I tried to get to Tom's Canadian Passenger rrs but could not find it( the search was not any good) Can you help me to get to it. Another guy from the UK at the bar perhaps.

In the KC star it says they are going to have Kansas City's Oktoberfest at Union Station this year. They are going to bill it as the largest beer hall in North America. It is to be held Sept29-Oct1. Seeing this reminded me of a trip with Tom on Amtrak last December with the train late, I just had time to dash into Union Station and take some photos of the Jones train and the model railway set up there. For Model day I will post them,

 
This is a train which ran in Jones Store in Kansas City and had been restored after many years.

A great layout I thought

One more Bathams then RUTH.

[siberianmo]

G'day Gents!

 

Nice effort, Lars - I checked out those Posts of yours on the other Forum and Threads - and want you to know that I appreciate what you are trying to do. Doesn't appear that we're making any headway even when guys do stop in - don't see 'em again. That guy from the other day is a prime example - the retired CNW Conductor - he was welcomed and we haven't heard a thing since. Happens more times than not.

 

I see Mike has provided us all with some "light" reading - that will have to wait for a bit, but I'll get aroundtuit! <swg>

 

Today, for whatever the reason, I've been thinking about Canadian Passenger trains - love 'em, fer sure, fer sure and just wonder when the next opportunity will arise for another long distance trip. Day trips are one thing, but there's nothing quite like two or three nights of train travel - bedroom compartment, dining in the diner, sitting and sipping in the dome, meeing new people, taking in the sights - ahhhhhhhhhh! Now if only someone could come up with a cost effective way to get me from here to Montreal or Toronto! Ain't gonna happen and walking is out of the question! <grin>

 

The "Ocean's" F40PH's at Halifax, NS

 

 

Evangeline Park Car  - Westbound Ocean at Moncton, New Brunswick

 

 

Mural Lounge in the Evangeline Park car

 

 

"Joanne" VIA Rail attendant, in the Bullet Lounge of the Evangeline Park car

 

 

 The dome of the Evangeline Park car

 

 

 

Ah, memories ARE made of THIS!

 

Just caught your Post - Pete - good to see ya! We should begin planning our Amtrak trip for the fall NOW! Pix reminded me of a great time we had - good thing the club car had enough brew to keep us fueled! Actually, the only way we could take advantage of that Octoberfest gala is to spend the night . . . turnaround times being what they are these days.

 

 

Tom

[nickinwestwales]

Well howdy TOM and fellow travellers all,just happened to be stumbling back to the regular flophouse from Union Stn & noticed the lights were on so I thought I`dcall in for a livener,please excuse the guitar cases but these old darlings never leave my sight outside the house.

Hope all is well about the old place-everything certainly looks strangely familiar,I`m sure a few rounds will smooth out any rough edges-set em up Sir,if you please.

Looks like the last 9 shows in 10 days frenzy has rounded out the busy part of the season and I can settle back down to a sensible 2 or 3 a week until christmas (mustn`t knock it-it`s paid for a new kitchen,bathroom & monstro Ashdown bass amp.........) and I can have something approaching a normal domestic existance again.

Will sit quietly in the corner until back up to speed-appreciate that much water has been passed since last I darkened these doors (?)-spotted PETE`s T&D pix in a quick fly-by-nice shotsreally caught the wild & windswept atmosphere of western Ireland.

Anyhow,just thought I`d let you all know that I`m still drawing breath.

Sad to say,only trainstuff I`ve had time for this summer is decalling a pair of O.N.R  F.P7a`s and a rake of quad hoppers and some preparatory work on a C.N. F9 a-b-a lash-up zebra paint job-such is life.

O.K-off to the corner to feed scraps of raw meat to Boris and try to out-stare that wretched parrot (I`ve got a menu with your name on it pal) so another round for the house(make `em doubles) and speak to you all soon,fondest regards,nick

P.S-by a supreme irony that TOM will no doubt appreciate,whilst Sir Mick & the boys were banging out Jumpin` Jack Flash in Cardiff last night I was doing it for a mostly unappreciative bunch of rednecks in the a**e-end of Carmarthenshire to fulfill a long standing commitment............................. 

 

[siberianmo]

G'day Gents!

What ho! Was that a NickMeister who graced our premises last evning Nick  himself-from-far-far-west-Wales! Back - although I have a feeling this is a fleeting moment - but one that many of us still appreciate.

This continuing gloomy sky period is predicted to go on through the weekend - noticed petrol up a cent to $2.54 (rounded) from yesterday. Saw a piece on the tube last night that really got my attention - finally a "talking head" calling for a rejection of the manner in which oil speculators and traders manipulate the already inflated world market. Now if this catches on in the manner of all the other "issues of the day," perhaps we'll see something good happen. Nah . . .

Nick, you will find that many, many changes have taken place since you last perched upon your stool. The bar was closed for a month - a "Gang of 10" resurrected the place - we have a new Manager - LoveDomes Lars - H&H have assumed the responsibilities of Chief Chef and Ruth is our full-time day shift bartender. We've lost a few - gained one - and are still perking along.

Mick 'n the Boyz roll on and on and on, meanwhile, the earstwhile entertainers out there struggle along, but enjoy it all the same is my guess. Oh yes, the Kalmbach Forums ain't what they used to be - so take heart and have patience - takes more than a wee bit of getting used to.

Nothing special planned for this day, Gents, so let's see what develops at the Tavern by the Tracks!

Ruth, set 'em up with some "spirited" OJ - Boris, stop grinning and ring the gong! Haven't seen him that happy since Tex the Armadillo and Awk the Parrot chased the "Our Ladies of Perpetual Motion" 'round the pool tables!

Tom

[siberianmo]

G'day Gents!

Just returned from running a few errands and noticed that petrol up at "Collusion Corner" dropped to $2.50 (rounded) - amazing - up 'n down - but one can bet it goes up more substantially than down, eh

Don't know what to make of things 'round here as we seem to be back in the doldrums - at least for morning "regulars." I'm guessing that some of the problem lies with this @#$%&* Forums realignment. Takes a few times to log in - then I have to use Refresh/Reload to get the most current "stuff" - and the formats aren't easy to work with, and . . . <barf!>

I wasn't going to do this, but since there doesn't seem to be any activity - here's something that I had prepared months ago - it's a bit long, but what the heck - these days I'm not seeing too much concern over that . . .

 

Canadian Railways of the Past

 

 

Number Seven: Railways of Nova Scotia

 

 

Used with permission from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Formatting differences made necessary due to Forums requirements. Some heralds from other sources.

 

Dominion Atlantic Railway

 

Reporting marks:    DAR
Locale:   Nova Scotia, Canada
Dates of operation:   1894 1994
Track gauge:    4ft 8½  in (1435 mm) (standard gauge)
Headquarters:    Kentville, Nova Scotia

 

The Dominion Atlantic Railway (DAR) was a historic Canadian railway which ran in the northwestern part of Nova Scotia, primarily through an agricultural district known as the Annapolis Valley. DAR was operationally headquartered in Kentville, Nova Scotia, although corporate headquarters were in London, United Kingdom and later Montreal, Quebec. The company is still maintained on paper and is currently headquartered in Calgary, Alberta.

 

Creation through merger

 

The DAR was created on October 1, 1894 through a merger of two end-to-end systems, the Windsor and Annapolis Railway and the Western Counties Railway. The W&A owned the track between its namesake port towns of Windsor and Annapolis Royal, and had also negotiated trackage rights to operate over the Intercolonial Railway's former Nova Scotia Railway "Windsor Branch" between Windsor Junction and Windsor, as well as on the IRC mainline from Windsor Junction into Halifax. The WCR on the other hand, operated between Yarmouth and Digby. The gap between Annapolis Royal and Digby was eventually closed in the early 1890s with government assistance.

 

The merger forming the DAR was for financial and operational reasons and permitted trains to operate continuously between Yarmouth and Halifax, the latter via trackage rights over the Intercolonial Railway from Windsor Junction. The transaction came about in 1893 when the W&A was authorized by the provincial legislature to purchase the WCR for $265,000.

 

Although the DAR technically connected to the Intercolonial Railway at Windsor, the IRC rarely operated on this line and left it to the DAR beyond the mainline connection at Windsor Junction. The DAR system also connected with

[coalminer3]

Good Afternoon(!) Barkeep and All Present; coffee,please; round for the hoiuse and $ for the jukebox.  Folks are waiting to see what the coastal weather has in store for us.  There are lots of flood watches up this p.m. and flood warnings for Greenbrier and Pochontas Counties even as we speak.  Was in Greenbrier this a.m. and it was not too bad where I was, but the climate can been entirely different 1-2 ridges over.

Thanks to all for posts. Lars - Will check out the container story.

Mike:  Some westward trips haven't changed all that much.  I was tickled at the writer's complaints (even though he traveled for free, if I understood what he was saying).

Pete:  KLC train layout was a true noistalgia trip.  As for Jack Delano in color, I am not sure.  There are a couple of titles out there, however.  I'll get them for you and post them later.  IIRC, you can get copy prints of all of that material from LC.  Their website will give you all of the particulars.

Tom:  Via material and Nova Scotia items as well.  I taught classes way back to a group of miners from Cape Breton - great folks.  We consumed mass quantitites and told lies late into several evenings.  Many of my wife's people came from NS. BTW, for those interested in mining in Nova Scotia there is an excellent book titles Last Man Out.  I'm also looking the jukebox to see if it has "Springhill Mine Disaster."  Anyway - thanks so much - BTW, Dominion and Atlantic has got to be one of the greatest rr names ever.

Since the Carolinas may be headed this way, how about a look at a couple of area shortlines from way back.

High Point, Thomasville and Denton RR. General Office - High Point, NC,

This line operated 26 miles between High Point and High Rock,  It connected with the Southern at High Point and Thomasville and with the Winston-Salem Southbound at High Rock.

Winston-Salem Southbound Ry. operated 90 miles between Winston-Salem and Wadesboro.  Along the way it connected with the N&W, SCL, HT&D (see above), Carolina and Northwestern, SOU, and the original Norfolk Southern.

work safe

Did I see Nick over in the shadows or do I need another visual field check - I thought I passed my last one, but now I'm not too sure!

[LoveDomes]

G’day Captain Tom and fellow travelers at the bar!

 

Ruth, my deAH, you are lookin’ mighty fine with your hair “up” like that! A penny for MY thoughts, you say Ha – I’d be hog tied and put away if I revealed them!

 

A round for the house, a Schaefer in a frosty mug, and just a few snacks for this afternoon, thanks!

 

See where some interaction is going on over on Tom’s original Thread – Canadian Passenger RRs. Good to see and perhaps we’ve got a “live one” who may at least join us for a pint or two. Pete, this chap is from GB, so watch for him – goes by “DL.”

 

Liked that TEE in the ONR Northland livery. Must admit ignorance of those trains, but between what Rob recently provided and the other stuff I’ve looked at, interesting “stuff”!

 

Nick returneth – or at least – briefeth! The man has energy, that’s for sure – and if nothing else, he hasn’t forgotten this watering hole by the rails. Good to see ya, mate, and hope the in betweens are spaced a bit closer than they’ve been.

 

Those Via Rail shots are in a word – superb – my friend. You’ve really got quite a collection from your journeys and it’s really more fun to ‘visual’ the real thing as opposed to what most of our pix are – other people’s efforts. Appreciate the domes and hope you have at least a zillion more to share.

 

Nice work with your Railways of Nova Scotia! Where do you find this stuff Yeah, I know – Wikipedia – but one first has to have knowledge of what to look for. Really enjoyed the roads that I had never heard about. My guess is perhaps Rob learned something new as well. A 5- Salute to you Sir!

 

Thinking out loud – do you – Tom – have any plans to return to the east coast – even for a few days Sure would be great if we could take Amtrak northward. I’d love to see the Hudson one more time from the confines of a comfortable passenger car. Then again, I can’t speak for the comfort level of the equipment these days. Memories are overtaking me again . . .

 

BK – calling BK. C’mon many, you’re overdue and it’s time for you to join us at the bar!

 

Ok – looks like I’m just rambling away here – no CM3 I’m not Shane – no Doug – no Rob. Hmmmmmmmm – conspiracy afoot Only kidding – just one of those times, huh

 

One more, Ruth, then I gotta skeedaddle!

 

 Uh-oh - Just caught CM3 I'm not Shane's post! Good to see ya, mate and hope you get a chance to peruse that article. It's worth the read . . .

 

 

Until the next time!

 

Lars

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all.

A pint of Bathams please RUTH and I'll  risk H&H's Fish and Chips a bit later.

NICK has seen the lights on at Our Place and called in, I hope you can call in again soon.. I have some more pics from Ireland and Alan has returned from a tour of some of the German steam railways and as said he will send me the photos.

MIKE  The letter from D.L. Phillips was well worth the read. A great description of what happened  at Council Bluffs at the time. Reading it I was trying to guess the date it was written and saw at the end it was 1875. A great record of train travel at the time, thanks for sharing.

CM3 Hope you can avoid any flooding. Thanks for looking for info on Lack Delano's color pics books. Excuse my ignorance , but can you tell me about  what LC is.

LARS Good to see you in and thanks for the round,I shall look out for  DL from the old land and with Nick the pub might be overrun by Brits.

TOM I was glad the morning at the bar was slow as we the got the Nova Scotia post. Very interesting lines.Despite the building of the Highway the D&A were able build passenger numbers with the DRCs. I noticed the  passenger numbers increased with the better connections and when the connections were made worse the passengers tailed off. I guess railways the world over have been doing, and getting away with this when they want to end a passenger service.  Glad the Windsor & Hantsport is still operating on part of the line.

Loved the nickname of the H&SW , Hellish Slow & Wobbly. did  many railways of  N. America have nicknames from their initials. One in Britain the Manchester South Junction & Altrinham rejoyced in the nickname of Many Short Jerks and Away. Its strange how many historic buildings have succumbed to " mysterious" fires.

I was in town yesterday and I noticed a bus heading for the Amtrak station so I think the track work must be on going still. We will have to a trip  by train soon.

Another Bathams and a round on me RUTH. 

Pete.

 

 

[trolleyboy]

Good afternoon Leon, I think a large guiness and some of H&H's wonderful? battered fish and chips pleses, hold the mushy peas though I noticed that Boris was hovering too close to the vat for comfort

Excuse the tardyness of my arrival, the week of midnights caught upto me yesterdayI'm better now thoughSo here's the scoop as I see it,I'm gooa try my darndest to get the weekly road of tthe week posted no later than the Wednesday before thereby giving everyone a week to prepare material.So since it's late this week I'll pick an easier semi done before one, and I won't complain if people rehash and reuse things from before ( just this time though ) so.....

 

UP NEXT TUESDAY THEME RAILWAY OF THE DAY ....THE HEW YORK NEW HAVEN & HARTFORD for arival onntrack one all day or at least until we run out of stuff to say

So to the housekeeping of the last day and a halfs wirth of content and yes even though the crowds have been a tad sparse, the info is a fresh and relevant as ever x a google as one was once to have said.

Tom-two most excellant articles sir,Nova Scotia is in my humble opinnion one of the nicest durn places to visit.Their railways were as unique as the poeple and the province. Sad to say that The DAR only exists in photo's the odd bit of preserved equipment and the occational faaded sign on a building I agrre with "Shane" it was a wonderfull railroad name.

Yesterdays august Great canadian RR events did niot go un-noyiced by moi either. A wonderfull piece as per suual sir beyond your usual high satbdars in fact.It twas a sad august when the streetcars came off in Montreal,luckily alot of their cars inclyudong all for of thier unique "stadium seating" open tour cars still exist. I know many a Montrealer is still bitter that their streetcars are gone ( mind you traffic in downtown Montreal would even be more nightmarish with the JO's that drive there weaving in and out opf streetcars )

  Loved seeing all those wonderfull interior and exterior shots of the Evangeline Park again as well.The only Dome's I've ever been luckey enough to ride in were Algoma Centrals ex WP Domes. And although nice and well maintained, they don't hold a candle to the Park cars. Mind you they don't have the sleeping facilities anymore, just seating and washrooms, when we were on them even the food service and drink service area's were if not removed certainly not in use, as the ACR trains run with two or three diners depending on the time of yeear and number of passengers and coaches. 

Nick-Good Gawd Gertie, tis been a while. Boris almost was able to have you declaired leagally dead ! He had eyes for your guitar's and house  Tke your time and catch up, you'll find some photo's that I posted a week or so back possibly of intrest t you

Lars-Sorry to leave you hanging yesterday , sleep trumped typing unfortunatly.I'm glad to hear that you may have a line on a couple other's. There's a couple of guys I've been working on emailwise but they just don't want to budge from their usual perches. Still good to know still trying to attract a new crew. speacially since Tom's dipped into the treasury to pay Ruth hope the other three don't find out

P-Nice to see you back again,the rapido cars are nice,Branchline has come out with some wonderfully detailed old heavyweights as well ( they have a heavyweight price mind you as well )

Pete-Nice pictures from the KC station again, always nice to see As Tom say's jump on in on any of the railway theme days. With Wikipedia and the lot there is a ton of reusable and relevant material out there,the more the merrier.

Mike-wow that was quite te article, i haven't completely gotten through it but what i've read is right on sir. to answer your question yes to both  

 

Wow I think I'm back up into the loop,apologies if I left anyone out.

Rob

[trolleyboy]

WIERD TALES FROM THE BARN # 7 TROLLEY PARKS & ATTRACTIONS

    This is a few short excerpts from the ASRA, same company that posted the helpfull hints to local traction companies,and made some standarized operating rules for said companies, they were an industry publication.

   One major suggestion the ASRA made was that traacction companies ( large or small ) should create a park or beach local or some such other attraction to which they had the exclusive way of getting people to and from,thereby creating revenue stream's for the company other than regular "main street fares".Here's a couple short stories to illustrate this point.

  Amusement parks, built by traction companies as "traffic generators" soon sprang up outside every good sized city in the US & Canada. A Saturday evening's ride in the  summer, would be the keynote event to end alot of peoples week.Hrere's apoem the Street railway Journal actually published in te 1890's.

Oh, what delight

On a soft June night

To ride an open car

You can satnt the expense

It's only five cents

No matter how poor you are

In the three rear pews

You may smoke if you choose

Tis' the rule of the open car

But you'll hear I'm affraid

Some fussy old maid

Say "Oh that horrid seegar!"

 

Here's another one just to tickle everyones funny bone I hope.

Often the favourite family rendezvous was the bandstand ringed by tree shaded seats.At Philidelphia's Willowgrove Park the greatest attractions by far were Sousa's Band and the celebrated electric fountain-particulaly aftre dark beacuase of the romantic stimulus of red and blue lights on the spraying waters.In many parks a breath taking display of rockets and aerial bombs signaled the closing of the Parks on saturday night.But trolley companies found that it took an additional hour to round up the last few carloads of couples for the trip back to the city, and it was frequently necessary to run a number of "last cars" to ship the last stragglers home.

    The powerfull leverage of romance was also employed to drum up business for Wobderland park at Revere Beach.They energetically publicized a song that suggested that a trolley ride was almost an avenue to a girls heart.

Wonderland, Wonderland,that's the place  to be!Each night when I call on my sweatie, she says to me/"Lets take a trolley ride to the oceanside. Where shining lights are grand.If you want to make good as a true lover should,just take her to Wonderland.

Have a good night folks.

Rob

[West Coast S]

Afternoon barkeep and all here this fine afternoon..

Ok what's on the menu? Let's see, house draft or ???.....

Kinda been in a funk of late, not wanting to do much of anything, must be working too hard with no leave forthcoming until late next year. Or maybe it's the lasting effects of signing over a 13.5 million dollar check to the Air Force a couple of days ago...Curious if the explanation"General, I endorsed the check with MY account number by mistake would pass with the auditors?..

Heck, I feel better already, so off we go with the acknowledgements:

Tom:

Superb job with the Canadian review, i've been thinking along the same line as applied to Southern Pacific...Theme Tuesday was equally impressive...Here, here....

Nick:

You live and breath!!! Welcome back, I do believe during your'e absence, Boris posted your'e stool on Ebay, no matter, we accomidate...Take some time to get the feel of the place....

Rob:

You and others might be interested in a PBS series titled The History Detectives... One subject they were contacted to investigate was General Motors involvement with the demise of the interurban, speciafically those in Cleveland, but nation wide as well.. Though GM was far from innocent no hard facts can be proven...Very interesting spot on a subject riddled with speculation.

I see you are up to your'e usual best, with the overhead news...Keep up the great job.

Lovedomes:

I for one applaud the efforts you devote to the bar, though time constraints restrict my free time, it's always a pleasure to visit..Heck Ruth and the gals aren't that hard to look at by gosh!!!

Cm3:


Always a pleasure to see you abouts, caught your post on the model rr forum, can this book be obtained for earlier periods?

Pwolf:

Always enjoy the adventures...

Well that about covers it from my end for now, back to the task at hand..Keep the rounds going barkeep, i'll be lurking about...


Dave

[nickinwestwales]

Well good eveningTOM & gentlemen all-Ruthie my dear,you look lovely in that outfit,might I trouble you for a round for the gentlemen and a bottle of Staropramen for myself-they are on the bottom shelf below the bar...................my word that was a quality moment,thank you my dear,you have made an old muso very happy.

Enough already,Gentlemen,thank you for the warm welcome back,it gladdens my increasingly stressed heart. Since this is no place for my `life on the road` reminiscences,I thought I might share a few notes from our trip to the west coast of Ireland this spring( a case of "I can`t make Toronto so this will do")-specifically,the operations at Killarney,between Mallow & Tralee.

A little background may be in order here:-the line was built in two parts,by two different companies,the initial section (Mallow -Killarney) was laid out as a perfectly normal single track branch line with a `standard` terminal arrangement at Killarney-main and bay platforms with a small goods yard (main line coming in from the east,platform on the south side,yard to the north)....here`s where it gets weird.

The Tralee extension comes in from the north side,on an embankment,and drops down to run parallel to the main line at the station throat.

Instead of a direct connection through facing points (switches)the Tralee line runs through a trailing crossover and dead-ends as a sort of head shunt,thus all east-bound services from Tralee are required to set back into the platform whilst west bounds propel back onto the headshunt from the platform.

To add to the confusion,Killarney is a crossing point so you have two trains in the station at once-the sequence seems to be:-

Eastbound service arrives and sets back into main platform,Westbound arrives and runs into the bay.

Eastbound departs on the main,as soon as line is clear,westbound runs out onto the spur,reverses and heads out to Tralee.

Sadly,loco hauled services are now a thing of the past,as are the magnificent array of semaphore signals which used to grace the platform ends( we now have colour lights with `feather` route indicators)....the delightful black & orange general motors units have now been ousted by what looks like cascaded Dublin suburban M.U`s.

Indeed,the only G.M units `spotted` all week were a pair of tatty looking Bo-Bo`s on the water front sidings at Waterford-and they appeared to be on track-lifting duties (surely the saddest turn of all).

O.K-enough  again-pix are on file of the entire crossing process,also the `model village` miniature railway at Clonakilty (some magnificent architectural modelling,although I doubt that the West Cork Railway`s ever used L.G.B products...............)so please let me know if you fancy a look at the `old country`.

Right-I`m going to take Boris to that very strange nightclub behind Union stn. & finish his education,one way or another-please make sure he sleeps in the shed tonight.

P.S-TOM-what finer welcome back could an errant `stool` wish for than that Canadian rail rundown you gave us today-bless you my friend

Right-Ruthie my dear,another round for the house,a bottle for now and a bottle to go,plus a small brown ale for Boris,a small mineral water for Leon and aww-sod it-a round of the reserve rum for the house--why the h*ll not???--and one for yourself of course-now when will you show me that tattoo of yours...........

O.K-looks like time for the moonlight mile for me,a quick few quarters for the juke(brown sugar to start,Heart full of soul by the yardbirds ,stay with me by the faces and I`ll leave the rest to the house-

Night all,have enjoyed your company-forgot how much I missed it,take care,nick