Guten Morgen allerseits!
Wie ist jeder? Es is OKTOBERFEST! Partei wollen wir!
Cardinals won! Cardinals won! That puts the guys in red just one game away from the World Series of baseball. Who wudda thunk it The Amazin’ Mets have got to be wonderin’ . . . sorry ‘bout that! When one looks back on this baseball season, the National League had two outstanding teams – the Cardinals were far ‘n away the best of the lot in the 1st half of the season with the Mets running away with it after the All Star Game break. So, depending on which team shows up tonight for either side – we shall soon see. Go Birds!
And a good morning it is here in mid-continent USA as the temps today should reach the low 70s, mostly cloudy, but a fall day nonetheless. Yesterday morning petrol was at $1.96 (rounded) up at “Collusion Corner,” and by early afternoon, it had reached $2.20 (rounded)! So, can anyone tell me precisely WHAT HAPPENED to cause an upward spike like that Nope – didn’t think so.
Wednesday at the Tavern by the Tracks, so it’s time to check out our Menu Board, grab a hot cuppa Joe, some goodies from the Mentor Village Bakery case and join in on the info exchange taking place here daily.
I noted an evening contribution from James along with a couple of Pix for our “Theme.” Sorry to bring this up, but last time we looked, “west Wales” is in the UK! Check out Nick’s cyber handle . . . . Anyway, appreciate your input and that’s an interesting thought – a firewall problem for some regarding access, etc. However, I must wonder aloud – why wouldn’t the firewall impact ALL sites visited and not just this one NO NEED TO ANSWER THAT – just wonderin’. . . . Kalmbach has a problem and it has now become ours. <groan> Finally, enjoy your weekend away while railfanning (if that's the term) and other assorted interests!
Eric – jury duty, eh So that makes you a citizen of our land. Good deal, the more railroaders we can attract, the better off all of us will be! Oh I just love and appreciate all who come here with the honorable intentions and do so legally. If it was good enough for both sets of my grandparents, it ought to be the same for everyone else.
I can understand your feelings regarding snow and the elements when working in it. I have many memories of icy steel decks, horizontal sleet ‘n snow, winds that would blow so hard and strong that walking forward was more than a challenge, and temps that would turn a man into a “cube” in a NY minute. Yeah – I can understand all of that. However, when snug WITHIN a Budd streamlined observation dome (Park car comes to mind) with a Keiths in one hand and perhaps your “honey” by the other – what could be better
Glad you enjoyed that FL9, Nick m’boy. “We aims to please!” Anyway, WHAT is going on over at the Second Class Saloon You aren’t stirring the pot, are ya With the first match scheduled for next Tuesday evening – we’re gonna need all of the ‘edge’ we can muster up. We’ll just have to wait ‘n see if whatever strategy you’ve come up with “works.”
Okay guyz – it’s Wednesday – another one of our “special days” – we call it “Toy ‘n Model Trains Day!” an OPTIONAL event for those who give a Rat’s Patoot. Keep the Pix down to the manageable as we settle in for some insights regarding the world of model railroading – CLASSIC TRAINS style, that is.
Appears as if we're heading into more doldrums as this weekend approaches. Planned absences now include: Pete - BK - Lars - James 'n Moi. Add to that those in the "Legion of the Lost" - Al 'n Dave come to mind, and you'll see that whoever is left standing will be ALL we have left!
Next Tuesday's Theme for the Day! will be the MONON (Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville - The Hoosier Line).
Ruth comes in at 9 AM and Leon at 5 PM – so, belly up to the bar, boyz!
Boris, serve ‘em all of the “spiked” OJ they can handle!
Auf Wiedersehen!
&nb
Good Morning Barkeep and all Present: Coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox. Cloudy here today, but the wind and rain have stopped for awhile and the temperature is more than comfortable. Cards win, indeed - interesting game with just enough twists and turns to add some suspense. Interested to see that the veteran, crafty, wily Cards manager was interviewed sans shades last night.
A few comments, emendations, and additions..
Essex Junction still exists.
BK - Thanks for station shots. Have been to every one of them. White River Jct. was (and is) a most interesting spot. The weather vane on the roof is a locomotive - somebody got up there and copped it a few yrs. ago. Nobody saw anything.
BTW, I wonder if the Coolidge Hotel is still in business? They were across the street from the WRJ station. Boris would have loved it - I don't think the building had been painted since the Coolidge administration. Silent Cal came from Vermont, so it's on topic. Engine facilities, etc. are just north of the station. In the day, it was a busy place with both Boston and Maine and Central Vermont passenger service (domestic and Canadian destinations.)
LARS – All of the CV books you pictured reside on my shelves. The first one, abt. the Banana Belt is an especially good one. Safe travels.
Mike – Thanks for the pictures, inside information and articles. Got me all homesick! Sugar bush pictures were most interesting as was the vintage shots of Windsor. The Alburgh trestle was always a scary proposition. Then we have the shot of the “Ti” in service. BTW, check out the first car on the train in the shot of CV 4927/4550 at Monson (pronounced “Munson”), I know, you have to live there. For those who are captains of industry, Monson was noted for large slate quarries.
Nick - The FL9 was not really an F unit although it looked like one. It was a hybrid that could run either as a diesel or as a straight electric. It was unique to the NYNH&H. The biggest spotting feature is the 3-axle rear truck and the third rail shoe. The last of them are about to disappear.
James – Thanks for the pictures. I believe the steam engine in your shot is a 4-8-2. IIRC, CV never had 2-8-4s.
B4 I forget, the CV 709 in the picture was the biggest steam locomotive to run in New England. They were so big that they were barred from the south end of the railroad.
Monon next? Good call.
We are on the chase of more darts material, but got sidetracked by the Miami-FIU fracas the other day – geez!
Work safe
Hello Tom and all
Can I have the dish of the day and whatever German brew the Oktoberfest has on offer.
Thanks to those of you who commented on the channel tunnel trains ‘paper’. I’m sorry for those who had problems viewing it all – I see I can’t even view it properly now either (as you say BK end of lines off screen)! I prepared the briefing in word then pasted it in, but that should not have impacted.
Tom, you made couple of specific comments – more information after VIA sale – yes I agree – that would be nice – probably needs to be dug out of Canadian websites – I was familiar with UK govt report info so could find stuff easily – but like you I’d be interested in the next chapter!
In terms of Eurostar still losing money, yes it is – not all paid by the UK taxpayer as it is joint owned with other European railways. The situation is now better than it was in those reports I pasted but there we are.
Couple of links worth looking over include this one by a very well respected UK transport journalist:
http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/articles/rail/535.shtml
His archive of articles for the UK rail press is here and well worth a look for anyone interested in aspects of public policy as it affects the services. I realise that might be a bit dry for some people but he writes in a clear style so maybe pick an article that takes your fancy and have a look:
http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/articles/rail/index.shtml
By the way Tom – due to IT problem entirely unrelated to this site my e-mail is not working properly at the moment so I won’t get your message – when I’ve unblocked it no doubt I’ll receive it. My apols! I’ve not ignored you!
Coalminer – you mentioned breakfast on the Pan American – lets have a run down of the options when you have a moment – I’m intrigued!
James – yours were the pictures I COULD see – and always have done – enjoyed them too.
Rob – thanks for the invite re Halton County – would certainly enjoy taking up your offer next time I’m in Toronto – most kind – must have been great to meet the guy from Crich – they run a great operation there, as I think Eric said the cars look like they are brand new – I can tell you it is no photographer’s trick – they really do restore them that well – superb and they run them in a re-created street environment – they have moved buildings brick by brick to the site (an old quarry site) to recreate the historic streetscape – which is all very nice.
Eric – you are thinking of the Titfield Thunderbolt – actually in colour but you must have had a B&W TV last time you saw it ! – any chance of screening in the picture house Tom? One of my favourite films – if you like Merrie Old England – this is exactly how you imagine it!
Check this link for some great film detail:
http://homepages.which.net/~gordon.dudman/titfield2.html
And this link by a guy actually restoring one of the real stations from the line in the film!:
http://eis.bris.ac.uk/~liserc/tit.html
“For the last few years I have been restoring the station building at Limpley Stoke, the junction station for the "Titfield" branch line. Whilst this building does not feature in the film, it is almost identical to that at Monkton Combe, which was the actual station which stars in the film as "Titfield". It is the sole survivor of a unique style and design of building which was peculiar to the Limpley Stoke to Camerton branch line”
Nick – Thanks for ONR stuff – do you have a link for that ONR fan site? – I’d like to have a look at it.
Good wishes to you all.
DL - UK
PS – enjoyed all the CV stuff – how come I still saw SV painted box vans etc in Quebec recently – is that a left over from pre 1995?
CV painted box vans I should have typed
DL
Guten Tag allerseits!
It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of one of my dearest friends. This morning I was notified by his wife that my long time Dartmouth (Halifax) Nova Scotia friend succumbed to brain cancer after having been diagnosed with it in late August. That's rather quick. His passing leaves many who knew him with great sadness along with appreciation that we had the opportunity of knowing such a fine individual. A native of Scotland and a man of prominence in his field of Geophysics, he will be sorely missed.
DL - the movie you mentioned was shown at our Mentor Village Emporium Theatre back in February - check out the URL:
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/239/928020/ShowPost.aspx#928020
CM3 - hope all goes well with the "reporting" for the Grudge Match Braggng Rights DARTS CHALLENGE! Seems that Nick is doing his level best to keep you in material!
As a reminder, the schedule is:
Tuesday, October 24th at the Second Class Saloon
Wednesday evening, October 25th at "Our" Place
Thursday evening, October 26th (if needed) at the Second Class Saloon
DL: - I had all intentions of reviewing that material you provided within the URLs - however, events have upstaged my attention span. I'll get a ROUNDTUIT . . . thanx for the info!
Surely hope there are more than a couple of guys left standing as this week winds down to keep the place running. I may or may not be back tomorrow - have lots of things to attend to before my departure. Depending on the date of the memorial service and airline availability, I may be heading to Nova Scotia early next week too . . . .
Feeling rather "glum" at the moment, so I'll check out and wish you all the best.
Tom
Good afternoon / early evening folks. Ruth I'll nab a Carlsburg oh and sone of that apple struedal if there's any left. The mentor bakery does make some good pastreies. Oh and I've noticed that our good friend copperkettle's been spear fishing in the mountains with Boris and leon, so we should have some interesting local fish for tonights fish fry !
Tom-First off let me passs on my condolances for your friend as his family and to you as well really.Not a particularly nice form of that disease to deal with.yesterday's CV fest went well, I did have intentions to join in but a couple solid days of 7-5's had left me virtually unconscious last evening. The Monon should be a good read next week however.As always your wikipedia research was spot on !
BK-Good to see you and your back if briefly.I too have had my fill of unusual log in difficulties in fact I went a week and a half with no access to this site at all,I've not yet heard back from any of my emails to them ( assuming that they got through at all ). I loved the station shots you provided yesterday. Most of them show a fine "family" resemblance to GT /CNR structures.Hope your next travels are safe and enjoyable.
Lars-You too eh what a crock these ongoing difficulties <groan> amybe they don't want us taking up their computer space It was nice to see your weekly bookcovers however,nice to see some traditions ongoing.
DL-As I sadi always welcome at the musuem, we'ed love to have you. I was most impressed with monday's lecture as well. Reading the various ( skiming really ) govt papers gives me a sence that we indeed have the same type of beuracracies in both our countries. I'm not sure myself which set of taxpayers got the worst of it, always seems one set or the other does when our two governments make deals.I think you may have got the shortest staw with the railcar deal, I think we got the shortest one on the Submarine deal so we'll call it even ( The Subs still aren't in service )The gent from Crich and his wife were wonderfull. We gave them te grand tour shops included. He mentioned to me that the had an entire grand union donated to them by one of the cities in The Neatherlands. At the moment Crich does not have the funds to use it so it's sitting safely burried under some gravel in a car park they don't use much.
Mike-Nice to read your dad's prose again
CM3-loved the little poem, the difficulties remind me of rush hour on the TTC subway remember Tom and tightly compressed standing room only.
Nick-So Copperketle was an Aztec eh I missed that the first time around, mind you the Dillo language may just come in handy. Perhaps we can get him and Tex to create some diversions during the darts tournament. Oh he and Boris are not to be allowed to dance in dresses and wigs anymore, The Ladies of Perpetual Motion arn't at all happy with the "staining" of thier prized costumes and formal wigs
Eric-I'm with you, I love picking up the rail books but the costs do tend to "gag a healthy maggot " as Tom would say.Alot of the books lar'shas posted the covers of are from Morning Sun Books. They do sell them online,you can usually get a bit of a better price direct from them , and they have produced alot of traction and interurban books over the years as well.
Rob
TOM--deepest comiserations on the untimely passing of your friend....Gentlemen,if you would all stand for a moment,the toast is " Absent friends"..........................................................
Right gentlemen,I think a round of beers with chasers of the special rum and an extra glass in the middle of the counter.....A last spirit for a departing spirit
JAMES-I am indeed (as has been noted ) a Brit,although as many American towns have names brought across from `Merrie Olde` by the first settlers and this is an American based forum,I can understand the confusion. Thanks for the guided tour of the cab -most informative-now, can we look forward to some layout pix from you today-or you could talk us round the line.............???
ERIC-DL seems to have covered the "Thunderbolt" pretty well-in case it isn`t mentioned elsewhere,the principal loco is the `Lion`-will have to look up more info here but similar loco`s were used on the Furness Rly in Cumbria and were,if memory serves,built by Edmund Bury-poss. in Whitehaven. The other engine used is a standard Great Western lightweight branch line loco of the 58xx/14xx class ,designed by C.B.Collett. Also worth a look is "Oh Mr Porter" starring Will Hay & Moore Marriott (B&W) dating to the mid `30`s As noted,the "Titfield Thunderbolt"with exquisite North Somerset locations and that lovely `warm` film processing gives a delightful rose tinted perspective of the Merrie Olde of half a century ago
DL-The easiest route to the O.N.R site is just to tap `Ontario Northland ` into your search engine-the (un)official site is the one to go for--R.E C.V stock,quite a few of the pix on that site show C.V 50` boxcars,mostly carrying product from the various pulp mills on the line R.E. pix-could it be browser settings ?-apparently,you have to be set up to accept cookies I had some trouble with this when we first aquired a machine-my inherent paranoia stopped me from letting anything in,in case some weird virus ate the software......might be worth checking...
MIKE-yet again a delightful selection,especially enjoyed your dads observations-some useful timetable planning detail there
CM3-Had no intention of doubting your veracity,had always assumed FL9`s were FP units customised for working the tunnel lines into N.Y.
TOM-- shall we retire to a quiet corner and get very,very drunk...................
O.K-back in a bit,off to trawl the pix library for something for models day
take care now
Well then Gents,back again-please excuse the delay,combination of factors:-Missisnick has re-organised all our pix files,couldn`t find anything........... also some various band business to attend to--extra New Rose gigs,Hoochie Coochie band tracks now on Myspace,Riptide show on DVD promoting local record label (although they havn`t yet offered us recording time...........this will be dealt with....)
Right,where was I -ah yes -Leon,same round again please and leave the rum bottle on the counter there`s a good chap...
O.K:-pix,back on a guided tour of the S.O.B lines again this week,apologies for the quality of some of the shots-night shooting tends to emphasize the flash,especially close up..........
Also,I make no claims that it is anything more than it is-just the place where my trains live ,It bears no comparison to the Can-Am Lines for example................................................
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Metro area looking south-the old water tower is nearest the camera,behind that is the staff lodging house & the Maple Leaf tavern plus a couple of shops and the local church. The Detroit-Sudbury general merchandise is just drawing to a stop in the main platform road
Looking the other way,we have the M.O.W yard and the outer spurs of the Allendale stn yard on the upper level
Here we have a long view of the industrial area,with a Northbound freight on `the bank` and the Northern terminus at Allendale at top left
Here we are low down an dirty next to the loco shed in the industrial area-the lumber yard and steel stockholders are visible in the background
Newsprint cars at the Globe & Mail warehouse,gondolas in the steel yard and a GP9 with a bad case of flash
The track gang explore the concept of union rates
A home from home...............
The strreet entrance to `Ivo Peter`s yard
The interchange sidings at the top of the freight branch
"A walk down by the lumber yard"
The upper terminus-the FP7 has now been decorated in O.N.R Chevron livery--plywood pacific here-it`s on my list of things to do.....--yes that is a rake of mixed Gresley & Collett coaches in the rear platform road.....
Yes,there are a couple of `Brits`there-They are there for when small demon Hannah and her friends want to play with the trainset-no fragile parts,bullet proof couplings,deep wheel flanges......got to encourage them......
Hmmmm-looks like it`s half past late again,will edit in captions tomorrow,take care chaps
DL-is it you or me in the galley tomorrow ??---Boris and Copaquetzal (to give him his proper name ) are anxious to know who will be shouting and throwing things at them.......
nick
Hello Captain Tom and all!
Tom- I am sorry to hear that your friend has passed. Deepest sympathy.
Eric- I believe the picture ( by the look of it) was taken probably in the 50s. I have no proof backing this up since the site did not hold that information. And I do believe the steamer has four numbers but it's hard to see.
Coalminer3- I really coudn't tell at the angle the picture was at, but thanks for the correction. At what I saw I thought it was a 2-8-4. But now I have learned that CV did not carry this type of locomotive.
DL-UK- Oh.. I thought it was the other way around. But anyway If you do have a Firewall protection on your computer you might want to check it out and see what exactly it is blocking. Some firewalls block pictures thinking they are threats to your computer, but you can go in and tell it to shut the protection off with curtain URLs. Just a thought. Thats how my firewall was like.
Nick- Ok. I was a little confused. But thanks for sorting it out.
I'm glad you liked the info. If you need more information on anything just let me know and I will try to get back to you on it.
Now I have a few layout pics to share.
This would be the entrance to my grain elevator. Now, the elevator when I first got it, I didn't know if it would beable to fit on my layout. But it sat right in there.
Now this is the full scale elevator. This is a three foot long monster. And is one foot tall. This will be the next thing that I put scenery to. I will be putting a base down and adding the gravel and trees and grass to this soon. The layout is HO scale. Just so you were wondering. I may have said that already.
This would be my Cement plant. This is were powdered cement is packaged and sent off by Box car. You can see that it is very busy here.
It's still a work in progress but is getting better all the time. You can see that half of the building is painted with a red color. That would be the brick. The powdered cement bins are next the packing plant. Even room for a truck or two to get loaded.
This will be my last post for awhile. The next time I will be posting is on monday. I will be leaving tomorrow and coming back on Sunday. So make it a good few days.
Happy railroading.
James
Hi Tom and everyone, a round for the house.
A sad day for Tom. I'm very sorry you've lost your friend.
Nice pics James and Nick.
Rob, I think my Dad would like you a lot.
St. Albans, Vermont (photo courtesy of Canada Science & Technology Museum)
One of four CV 4-8-2's built by Alco in 1927 (photo courtesy of Canada Science & Technology Museum)
St. Albans was named for the Duke of St. Albans, England, which the Romans called Verulamium.
The saint himself was the first English Christian martyr.
Thanks BK for the stations, this one is in context of the CV office building, which is the old station pictured above minus the train shed. New England Central headquarters and on the National Register of Historic Places.
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=2006100919175811392.jpg
Eric, it seems that the Town of Essex was chartered in 1763 by authority of King George III. Around 1800, a dam was built on the Winooski River, which provided water power for a mill, run by a fellow named Hubbel, and the area became known as Hubbel's Falls. In the 1840s Gov. Charles Paine, who was president of the Vermont Central, arranged for the new railroad to go through his hometown of Northfield, bypassing important towns like Barre and Montpelier, the capitol. Even Burlington got only a spur line, because Paine colluded with the Vermont & Canada to join forces and lay track to the north from the Hubbel's Falls area, a few miles east of Burlington, in order to deprive the rival Rutland & Burlington of a connection to the Vermont & Canada. The station at first was called Painesville. After Paine was forced from office conductors began to call it Essex Junction, to alert the passengers that it was a transfer point.
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=2006101219265817947.jpg
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=2006101219385719946.jpg
CM3, my cousin lived in Monson. I walked down to the tracks one Sunday in 1993 and waited for a train. For about an hour of awol from a party and no train. Glad you clicked the article and found the pictures satisfactory. If the Mets win, don't blame me. If the Cards win I'm going to blame Joe Buck.
Mike
Guten Morgen allersiets!
Cardinals lost! Cardinals lost! Good pitching stops good hitting, so “they” say, but good pitching will ALWAYS stop no hitting! So, it has come down to one game that will decide who squares off against the Detroit Tigers in the World Series of baseball. In my not-so-humble opinion, hardly any of the “experts” gave the Red Birds a snowball’s chance of making it this far. I even announced my belief that they would only take 1 game.
Much appreciation to those of you who passed your condolences my way – the loss of a friend is never easy, especially when one considers what friendship can and should be. Thanx.
This time tomorrow I’ll be airport bound and in the “mindset” that will allow me to get through the angst of air travel these days. It isn’t enough that one has to pretty much mortgage the dog, cat and first born in order to purchase tickets, there is also the BS of putting up with the low wage illiterates who are making us feel oh so secure! <barf>
I am looking forward to my VIA Rail journey, although when booked, I hardly expected the weekend to be one where “reflection” would most probably overtake everything else. Train trips are good for that . . .
This morning’s “bird cage liner” (aka: newspaper) contains the details regarding Amtrak’s addition of two additional round trip trains between Chicago and St. Louis. Kudos to the State of Illinois and all responsible for finding the funding and making it happen! These trains will provide a total of five round trips between the two cities and make it much more “friendly” insofar as scheduling is concerned for my one-day jaunts. Love it!
Quite a display of model railroading from Nick ‘n James yesterday. Keeping the idea of Toy ‘n Model Trains Day! alive, eh Good show.
Mention was made of a “flick” that we’ve shown over at the Mentor Village Emporium – check out this URL from back on Jan 30th:
http://www.britmovie.co.uk/genres/comedy/filmography/021.html
Many thanx to Rob – Nick – James – Mike – Eric ‘n Doug for the Posts! If I don’t make it back today, hope y’all have a pleasant and relaxing weekend. See ya next week.
Ruth will open up and handle things until Leon comes in at 5 PM ‘til closing. Remember, we’re CLOSED on SUNDAY – except for Sunday Photo Posting Day! and of course our breakfast – brunch – lunch ‘til 2 PM!
Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; Coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox.
Tom – Cards maybe tonight? Accept my condolences, please. I understand how you feel as so many of my railroad folks (read close friends) have gone on. Be careful flying.
DL-UK Limpley Stoke. Many of my mom’s (maternal side of her family) were from that immediate area. Thanks for sharing. I recall seeing the Titfield Thunderbolt when it first came out. I saw it at the Exeter St. Theatre in Boston. The street to get to the theatre crossed over the old Boston and Albany coach yard – all gone now as it’s under 10 lanes of I-90.
Nick – Many layout pictures; all of my stuff is in boxes.
James – Same as above,
Mike – Thanks for the additional CV material and comments. IIRC, the CV’s boardroom was on the second floor of the station building.
Wait a minute – news is coming in on the old wood-burning teletype.
I Got My Education Out Behind the Barn
Good morning fellow d’artistes from our studios high atop Mighty Majestic Mount Mentor overlooking the crossroads of two or three private lives, where the scintillating sounds of sucking smashers can be heard as they sever, spew and separate saturated sumacs. You can tell that it’s autumn in Mentor because there’s a nip in the ozone. No, Boris, not that kind of nip – put the keg back on the ground! Thank you!
First, I would be remiss if I did not thank to Nick “the String” for providing various bits and pieces of insider information. Our sources will never dry up (or is that dry out?)
It looks as though things are rounding into shape for the upcoming tournament. Herewith the final revised version of the amended initially revised schedule which was rapidly revamped: October 24 @ Second Class; October 25 @ Our Place; Oct. 12 @ Second Class (if necessary.)
It looks as if the never-ending Oktoberfest Punchbowl did the trick as, after prolonged negotiations, media coverage for the tournament has been nailed down. This was the first time your reporter saw a contract signed in a paddy wagon. Coverage will be a joint operation between Animal Planet and QVC. The latter bought in when they perceived the opportunity to hustle t-shirts, replica skulls, helmets, medieval weapons, and various types of PPE.
The yardmaster at Mentor has informed me that the milk car was pulled the other night and replaced by a heated tank car with a variety of placards, and several boxcars loaded with orange 50-gallon drums. No doubt something to help keep the boys clear of eye steady of hand and sharp of...I forgot... sharp of what?
A trip to the Second Class camp has disclosed something interesting as there are large stacks of lumber, coils of rope, and many used vehicles stacked behind their building. The H&H crane is a class touch as well. Man Mountain Mike, between pulls on a goat hide wineskin and a suspiciously smoldering Parodi (sort of looked like a fusee), mentioned “We’re really going to show the upstart Our Place people something.” I managed to look in the site office and found blueprints for a catapult – is it something to worry about? Well, as the old sportswriter once said, “That’s why they play.” The Our Place folks don’t seem to be too concerned; it’s hard to be concerned about anything after imbibing the contents of the never-ending punchbowl.
Meanwhile, the “Our Place” folks keep on keeping on. Practice runs into the wee hours and the lights burn late (maybe it’s a lube oil fire in the kitchen again) at the tavern by the tracks. I have noticed that the track gang folks have been there after hours and that they are conferring with the Our Place team members. When asked, all the Our Place folks would say was “It’s going to be one heck of a road trip.”
Seats are going fast for the all-match transportation package offered by the GMZA (Greater Mentor Zeppelin Authority) and Greater Mentor Street Railway. Remember their slogan, “Arrive Alive, Then Hope for the Best.” I am authorized to say that the first 100 (give or take 95) folks who signed up for the package got a nifty hazmat suit and night vision goggles. Certainly these are appropriate darting togs that will be coveted by all well-appointed Mentorians.
That’s all the news that isn’t. We now return to our studios high atop Mighty Majestic Mount Mentor. Back in the box, Tex!
work safe
Well good evening gents-here we all are again--Leon-you might as well knock off now mate,we will shut up behind ourselves---No Worries !!!!!
Have added captions to yesterdays pix
LYDIA-She will be on the next flight over (she has spent most of this evening with several extra layers of clothing on "`cos I`m going to live with Aunty Sarah in Toronto and it`s cold over there")-where this came from is anyone`s guess..............Let me know when you have had enough and send her back......only 5 and she has me beaten already...
Right,It`s thursday-Fishie night at the premier tavern in Mentor County......
Since the Brit contingent are mostly away,lets cast our net out and see what we catch
for starters:-
Smoked Mackerel pate with wholemeal toast
Deep fried Whitebait with green salad
Vegetable Samosa`s with mango chutney
Grilled button mushrooms stuffed with feta cheese with a Greek salad
And for mains:-
Grilled Red Snapper with sweet chilli sauce
Chinese style Sea Bass with 7-spice dressing
Pembrokeshire style Herrings with a green salad
Pint of Dublin bay prawns with herb and garlic butter & wholemeal bread
Darne of salmon with Llangoffen cheese sauce
All the above served with a choice of fresh vegetables and a choice of potato dishes ....(I.E:-fries,boiled ,baked,pommes duchesse,pommes anna etc....)
Right ,it`s midnight mile time for me-----TOM-have a safe journey if I don`t speak with you before you go-look forward to hearing your report..
Gentlemen all-there`s a round of drinks in for everybody............................................
time for bed,speak soon
Hello all
I’ll order a breakfast with a large coffee.
Good wishes to you Tom – you’ll be on your travels no doubt by now, but I’m sure you’ll be catching up with the conversation in our place whilst you’re away. Condolences too – no doubt thoughts will be with you if and when you take that Dartmouth Ferry.
Good news on that new Amtrak Service – so there is life in the old beast yet then?
Nice to see you’d had a recent screening of the Titfield Thunderbolt before I wondered into town.
That brings me on to Coalminer’s family connections with the Limpley Stoke area. It is not an area I have great knowledge of but a location I’d be keen to explore in more detail sometime. Were your mother’s relatives involved, by any chance in the coal industry in those parts? – it is almost forgotten to history now that that part of Somerset (seen as something of a rural idyll these days, with close proximity to the tourist attractions of the City of Bath) was a mining area up until the early 1950s (which is why the railway in the film was probably built, and why it was closed when they made the film, enabling them to take the site over for the film.
Couple of links of interest here:
web:www.radstockmuseum.co.uk
http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/transportandroads/roadsafety/cycling/NCN24-PlacesofInterest.htm
Rob – I had to look on the web to find out exactly what a Grand Union was – and when you see pictures – pretty impressive – you’d need some good museum space to have one of them laid out and in use – it would be impressive though!
Nick – I found that ONR site no problem – thank you very useful – sounds like you’ve done the trip so how about a bit of a travelogue some time? I take it you go one way overnight – looks like there are no sleeper cars though so is it overnight on the benches or are there any recliners? Any one else done the trip? I reckon I should try and get it into my next Toronto visit. As you say, the Little Bear looks like the service to ride.
Am I covering for you in the kitchen Nick? – fair enough – my training during my college days for British Rail catering should qualify me for the basics – not sure I can run to the exoticism of your menu but can offer the traditional British fry up with no problem!
I wonder how Pete is getting on on his travels?
All good wishes to you all
No, it's not a mirage, the Proprietor is still here. But first -
Cardinals win the pennant! Cardinals win the pennant! It's on to Detroit and the Tigers for the opening game of the World Series! Who wudduathunkit Not I, fer sure, fer sure! Couldn't have asked for a better pitched game from both sides last night and more opportunites to break it open than a week's worth of games. Came down to the 9th inning and a most unlikely hero. Isn't that usually the way these things wind up
Congrats to the Mets for a fantastic season - they ARE the National League's best - just didn't happen for 'em in the playoffs.
Back to WHY am I here. The memorial service for my friend in Dartmouth (Halifax) will take place early next week. There was too much of a conflict with my return from Montreal and then connecting with my outgoing flight to Toronto (from St. Louis) for the connection to Halifax. Confused Don't be - just cancelled the weekend itinerary - sucked up the "penalities" and will reschedule the Gaspe train journey for a later date - probably spring. Actually, the weather forecast for the Gaspe peninsula is "awful to horrible" with lots of rain predicted for the time I would have been aboard the train. So, the adage - "everything turns out for the best" applies.
I depart for Halifax Monday - so I'll be around for the weekend. Thanx for all of the well wishes, much appreciated!
A recap of the Posts:
Thoroughly enjoyed the pre-DARTS CHALLENGE "report" from CM3 - the anticipation mounts! Appears as if you will being doing "double duty" on Tuesday night's "opener" in my absence. Keep the boys (boyz) focused, away from the Sirens of the Second Class Saloon (SSCS), limited to a pitcher each per round and all will turn out in our favor - trust me.
Appreciated the upbeat observations from BK and of course welcome the return to the bar!
Your memories of rail stations in the distant past brought to mind my own recollections, which have been chronicled here as well. While it is a given that a return to the glory days of rail travel will not resurface - who knows what the future holds for mass transportation. Considering the situation with energy costs and all the other negatives, we just may see something positive for the railroads. My hope is that one day we will connect our urban centers with hi-tech means (MagLev, or something else on the "edge") to move people rapidly, safely and economically.
Nick - thanx for the Pix captions and the menu. Makes one think of So, you're little one has her designs on living in Toronto, eh Amazin' what goes through the minds of 5 year olds. <grin> Kinda similiar to some thoughts of a 68 year old, come to think of it! <chuckle>
Eric - no need for an apology, appreciate your consideration. That "other Thread" of mine may be found quite easily. It's on this same Forum - the Classic Trains General Discussion. Just look for my "handle" - siberianmo - and the subject is: If you like Classic PASSENGER Trains - including TRACTION, visit here!
Glad you weren't picked up for Jury Duty - last time they called me, I wound up as Forman in a civil action. An interesting 4 days, but a pain in the "patoot" insofar as personal this 'n that was concerned. Biggest problem was trying to ensure that Juneau the Wonder Husky was attended to during the time I was gone. Anyway, good to have you back with us . . .
DL - actually the memorial service will be held at a church within walking distance of the ferry landing in Dartmouth. However, I will be driving from Bedford (where my brides's family resides) and won't be using the ferry.
That Amtrak service here in the mid-west is doing quite well - considering. For example, Missouri (where I live) and Illinois (an adjacent state - across the Mississippi) totally fund trains running within the boundaries of either state. Federal funds only kick in when the trains become interstate (as with the long distance trains). So these extra daily trains will really help alot with the trips between St. Louis and Chicago. Amtrak is in no way healthy and if the expression "hand to mouth" could find a better fit, I'd like to know where.
Good links, by the by!
Regarding
So, the proprietor is back in the house! Good to see you Tom, I'll take a half pint of bitter whislt I'm here. I'd better take it easy as it is our City Beer Festival here this weekend so a few visits will be made!
You'll have been busy re-organising your schedules Tom. It goes without saying but don't let those stainless tell cars on The Chaleur escape you my friend - I'm sure you know the score.
I took that Dartmouth ferry on the strength of it being one of your suggestions - really enjoyed it - went over in daylight, back to Halifax after dark. I'd have liked to take the other one that runs to the place out to the east (name escapes me at this moment), as it looked an interesting ride but the frequency was less and my time was limited. I'll save it for the future.
Have a good weekend
Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox. It took me awhile to get into the fora this a.m., but here we are. Oh my, the telgraph is working. I'll grab my green eyeshade and pencil as it looks like another report on darts tournmanet activities.
It Was a Great Time, Mom!
Greetings again from our bunker (aka Maalox Manor) high atop Majestic Mount Mentor where we gaze out over the redolent remains left behind by the Mentor team’s roistering rowdy roster of rapscallion rooters. In other words, it was a splendid barbeque and pep rally before the official start of the darts tournament. The Mentor Fire Dept. tells this reporter that it will only take a few more 12,000 gallon dumps of fire retardant from the zeppelin to put out the remaining hot spots. Then they can look into fixing the power poles, repaving the streets, and getting the railroad’s rotary snowplow out of the library courtyard – school kids will pull pranks, but how did they get it in there?
The rally was held at the Mentor freight yard. Rail traffic being low (between the annual fruitcake and toxic waste rushes,) there was plenty of room. Besides, ballast works well to sop up spills, whatever they are.
The railroad spared no effort to make the rally a memorable experience. The attendees were most impressed by them transforming the turntable pit into a bean hole. In keeping with the nature of the celebration, Nick and the rest of the crew at the Our Place galley worked overtime to produce a tasty heart-healthy menu of whole roasted ox, whole roasted boar, warthog surprise (the paper panties on the tusks were a nice touch), and something euphemistically called “old-fashioned railroad stew.” No Boris, we don’t mean the yardmaster. The overall buttons floating in the stew were certainly an epicurean surprise. Your reporter found one from the Modesto and Empire Traction Co; truly a keeper. But we digress.
The meat courses were complimented by generous servings of “beans a la turntable.” This reporter was a little troubled by the barmaids (fetchingly attired in engineer togs and using coal shovels to dish ‘em out) telling me, “Try some, it’s the pits,” but, we did anyway; locomotive valve oil is almost as good as maple syrup. What we go through in the interest of full and fair coverage of the news.
The never-ending Oktoberfest punchbowl, which looks and acts like a Bessemer converter every day, worked overtime as hoses were run from the bowl to the water plugs at the engine servicing area at the rail yard. The Mentor Miraculous Molybdenum Mining folks provided empty bit buckets to all so nobody went away thirsty.
Musical entertainment was afforded by the Mentor Pro Musica. It’s the first time in awhile that all of the members have been out on work release simultaneously. We can truthfully say that they made up for their lack of ability with great volume and enthusiasm. Their selections, strongly leaning to Spike Jones and Spinal Tap were eclectic to say the least. All enjoyed Boris’s washtub bass riff on “Paint it Black.”
Then it was time to introduce the Our Place team. All players ran between lines of burning boxcars and tie piles as they were introduced to the crowd. They all look ready for action (or maybe deep therapy). The crowd went wild as each screamed at (no, make that for) their favorites. No thunder sticks were necessary as the beans had kicked in by then.
That’s all the news that isn’t. Now back to our studios at Mighty Majestic Mount Mentor. Say Good night Awk!
Good afternoon Ruth and the gang , I must learn not to sleep under those tank cars <groan>Well the fun and follies of the forum continue as I find that my post from last night seems to be gone Odd since I had previewed it and put it in place last evening right after Nick's menu .I guess the West Wales Aliens grabbed it and carted it off into the either somewhere.
To sumerize it I enjoyed greatly both Nick's and Jame's continued support of both this thread and the steadfast addition of model info on Wednesday's.
Eric-I'm glad that you found the Morning Sun site , I do hope it does not cause you or your freind to mortgage your houses again for the amount of books being purchased.
Mike-Thanks for the second round of pictures of the CV. I've always loved the St Albans Station, and I must add that it looks better with the trainsheds than without.
CM3-The continued reports from te field are some of te most interesting and humourous bits to come by here recently, thanks for your continued creativity Oh and yesterday's pep rally certainly took it's toll on both me and my digestive tract.
Tom-I had wished you a bon voyage yesterday , but now since it's not required I'll just say glad to still see you with us and we shall miss you while you are away next week. Good to hear that Pete will soon be back amongst us.Oh and good show on your cards surviving game 7 ( sorry Lars ) should be one of the more interesting world series in a few years. And it's also good that Amtrak will continue to improve at least your local passenger rail situation,here's hopping ( crossing fingers and any other body parts that will ) that the rest of the states follow suit.( Not Likely , but one can only hope and dream ).
DL-The ONR trains are an interesting experiance.The overnight accomadations are covered by hotels/motels in most cases. If you book the trip you usually have to book the rooms ahead ( unless things have changed, I did the Polar Bear Express over ten years ago ) Another "near noth " train to maybe look into is Algoma Centrals Tour of The Line. Sault Ste Marie To Hearst again hotel accomadations at Hearst with both the up and back legs in daylight.
BK-Good to see you back and functioning. Still a puzzle as to why lars can't log in, but it sounds eerliy similar to my experiance not all that far back. It just went away, and I'm back, no response to any of my email inqueries though, I'm not convinced they ever made it through. Still , I'm with you we still have the same good contnet and soles in here, and any help we can add through Tom's other site is never a wasted enterprise.
"First off allow me to order a number three and leave a round for teh afternooner's.Thanks ruth you are a dear.Also i'm gald to hear that Doug is slowley but surly getting to the moved into his new digs state. Surly will be a load off.
WIERD TALES FROM THE BARN # 8 ASRA RULES PT 2
Here's another couple of ASRA rules for everyone to marvel at or at least scratch ones head at.The ASRA as I had mentioned before was the street railway equivalent to the AARA and as such created a list of over 100 safe practices and rules fro steetcar operators in the early 1900's.many of the ASRA rules were brought about to combat the tendancy of people to the streetcar companies for real or imagined read faked injuries.It was noted that by 1903 after wages, maintenance and power,damamges recieved by plaintiffs lawyers were one of the bigger operating costs.Many of the rules therefore delt with this area. Quoting from the ASRA bits and peices we have at the musuem collection.
" Do not remove the trolley from the wire at the end of a run at night, until ALL passengers have alighted from the car. "Here the problem was apparently passengers tumbling litigously out of darkened car vestibules.
" Conductors and Motormen are to speak in a polite manor and keep passenegers from jumpimng on and off the cars while they are in motion."This of coarse was better said than done until all cars began to recieve either gates or doors in the later half of the 1910's.
" Passengers must not be allowed to carry bulk or dangerous packages aboard cars... or any dogs except such small ones as can be carried on one's lap." Some Conductors developed delusions that a disproportionate number of men carrying brass viols, two man saws,rolls of barbed wire, and kegs of fish fertilizer attempted to baord their cars.When they succeeded to bring these items aboard, it always seemed that fat women would lurch crunchingly into the brass viols, or that a fragile, jury appealing people would wound themselves on the saws or barbed wire. Or that a grandmother type would swoon at one whiff of the fish barrel and land at a lawyers feat,developing low back pain as they fell. "
As publised in 1903, one wonders how the public transportation systems have survibed to these modern times.
BK - I see that you popped in while I was typing merrily away.I'll take the trolleyman moniker happily. <grin>It almost came to me needing to change complete usernames and passwords so that title was indeed concidered <grin> I suppose great minds think alike eh It is good to have Tom with us for another weekend, and perhaps Sir Pete too by the sounds of it. I'm almost affraid to learn about the latest of the late with the forum issues. Well I'm away to earn my keep, I shall see everyone most likely tomorrow, forum glitches notwithstanding.
G'day Cap'n Tom and fellow travelers at the bar!
'Tis I, the Larsman, reporting in from the Left Coast, USA! A round for the house, Ruth my deAH, and a triple JD on the rocks for me - I am a very, very sad Mets fan this day. <groan> <groan> <groan>
Give my fellow sailorman, Cap'n Tom, a double of whatever he wants as a token of my respect for him and his Cardinals. They "done us in" and we'll have to wait for another day to try again.
Please forgive me, gents, if I don't get to all of the posts since my last - I'm not at home and am using the facilities of my brother-in-law out here in the land of "fruits, nuts 'n flakes" (as Tom would say!) and don't want to be totally ignorant by spending hours online, instead of with family.
So sorry to learn of the loss of your friend, Tom, and my condolences. I think what you are about to do is a gesture of love for a friend and affection for his family. I'm not sure that I've come across very many peope willing to make such a trip considering you had to change existing plans, etc. Faithful friends, 'til the end - a saying I remember from years past. A toast to friendship!
I've managed to catch those Darts Challenge sports "flashes" by CM3 I'm Not Shane! Terrific - absolutely terrific. And - yes - with BK as the "substitute alternate" or whatever he's calling himself, how can we possibly lose
Not sure when I'll be returning to New York City - now that the Mets are out of it - what's the hurry Only kidding - hope my Mrs. isn't reading this!!! Seriously, it now looks like the earliest return for me will be the end of the week. Sorry if any of this is cryptic - but I'm really hesitant to say anymore than has been said - it's a family "thing" and it's far more involved than should be spoken here at our Classic Trains haven.
References to Kalmbach, I've pretty much decided that some folks there are working against us, rather than with us. BK and I have been communicating by email and you wouldn't believe the 'story' that he has to tell. <quadruple groan> Pretty much began when we tried to get the "adminstrator" to remove the "trashing" caused by a JO over on Tom's "other thread." Really Ps me off . . . Seems llike the "thing to do" is molify the JOs at the expense of the good guys. Way to go liberals!
Good news about Amtrak to Chicago from St. Louis! That should bode well for our Rendezvous this spring, wouldn't you think Actually, you know what I think would be a GREAT rendezvous We should muster in Montreal and take that Gaspe trip. What a blast and what fun it would be!! Yeah, I know, the costs would stagger a tea-totaler! St. Louis sounds just fine - but those Budd streamliners are in Canada!! <ohhhhhhh>
Just wanted to check in, gents and wish you all a great weekend. I'll try to get back at least once more B4 this episode in the "life of Lars" concludes.
One more Ruth, and I'm outaa here!
Until the next time!
Lars
Gute Nacht allerseits!
A day without baseball - hard to believe, eh At the moment, the NHL St. Louis Blues are "up" one-zip on the Vancouver Canucks. <grin>
Interesting day here at the Tavern by the Tracks, as we host the Grudge Match Bragging Rights DARTS CHALLENGE Practice Session in the pool room. With appropriate "warm ups" from the "Our" Place Cheerleading Squad, led by Cindy and her Ladies of Perpetual Motion, the atmosphere quicky turned to heightened anticipation of good things to come. <swg> Even Boris joined in on the "action" with his "Can-Can" hi-stepping routine, only interrupted by an inadvertent crash into the pool tables.
Most pleased to see our "bookends" make an appearance today - Lars out on the Left Coast and BK up in the Canadian Rockies. Great idea, Lars - I'm all for a "rolling on the rails rendezvous!" However, my guess is it would probably be just the two of us . . . . By the by, thanx to the both of you for stopping by "my other Thread!"
DL - perhaps you are referring to the Woodside ferry. I haven't taken that particular run either, but have heard the destination isn't anything special in comparison to the "downtown" Dartmouth run.
Those special reports from CM3 on the DARTS CHALLENGE should be put into a compilation - they are indeed a special treat!
Good to see the activity from Rob the trolleyMAN this fine day. Another rail experience on my "list" is the ONR run being discussed. Wish the schedule and transfer was a bit more "friendly" from Toronto northward, for that would be a worthwhile venture. Also that Algoma Central trip that we talked about some months back is also one deserving a "look see." Got a kick out of those ASRA "rules" - makes sense, but also makes one wonder . . .
Leon, set 'em up and Boris ring the bell . . . . and WHO let the critters out
Catch y'all on ENCORE! Saturday.
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