Good morning Captain Tom, manager Lars and friends! Great to see Rob back in the forum, and with new stuff to boot! I'll have a quick light breakfast please. Okay ... I'll take shirt#4 in the challenge for the away games, but I may be ripping off whatever shirt I have to distract (and disgust) the opposition. Sorry, but you have to do what you have to if you lack talent and want to win.
I attended a meeting of the Chicago chapter of the Railroad and Locomotive Historical Society last night, and saw one heck of a lot of slides of trains, track and structures that are no longer around these parts. Amazing how much there was, as opposed to what we have today. However, events are slowly changing lately as more track and stations are actually being improved or built! Here's a bit on an ENCORE for ya'll to read, as I must run to take Katie (the fainter) to get her DPT shot this a.m.
The Ticket Counterfeiting Racket December 1935 Railroad Stories
Fifty years ago Louis Rice was chief clerk for the Mo. P. general ticket agent at St. Louis. He threw up his job and became a ticket scalper, opening offices in several Midwestern cities in partnership with a crooked lawyer named Lands. Rice and Lands soon found that the chief expense in their business was buying the tickets which they sold. “The deuce with this!” said Rice, or words to that effect. “Why can’t we print tickets ourselves?” He bought a print shop in a small town in Illinois.
Rice was not a careless man. He knew just the kind of paper the various railroads used, and got some. He copied all signatures expertly, probably by photography. And he figured out serial and form numbers that would convince the smartest conductor. What prevented it from being a “perfect crime,” however, was the fact that Rice’s ticket numbers were duplicates pf numbers on other tickets. “But that’s all right; nobody will notice,” he said to Lands, who was worried.
The tickets sold well and the slick promoters made thousands of dollars. Rice, who had recently become engaged, dazzled his fiancé with presents.
One day C.G. Warner, general auditor of the Mo.P., began wondering why his road carried so many more passengers than they had sold tickets for. “There is crooked business afoot,” thought Warner, and sent for a mass of used tickets. Ragged and soiled, they were heaped on his desk. Warner had all the numbers copied down and compared. Two were duplicates!
“Our tickets are being counterfeited,” he told the Mo.P. gumshoes. “It’s up to you to get the details.” Suspicion fastened on Louis Rice, as he knew a lot about tickets. It did not take Rice long to discover that the Mo.P. was on his trail. He decided to take a vacation and went to Kansas City. The detective, Thomas Furlong, also went to Kansas City. “Louis Rice? Oh yes – he’s gone to Salt Lake.” Rice was too well known on all the lines. From Salt Lake he visited San Francisco, then Portland. At Seattle he heard much about the attractions of Western Canada, so progressed to Victoria.
His trailer also went to Victoria and spent several hours looking over the scenery; but Rice was not part of it. Rice, in fact, had plunged into the Kassiar Mountains, where the fishing was especially good, to a camp some 357 miles from Victoria. The detective decided to go fishing too, and chose the same camp. Rice was not there.
Rice did not care much for the Kassiars, so went back to Seattle and then to Portland. Then he got a job in a bed spring factory; it is possible that he had always wanted to know how bed springs were made. Or maybe he thought such a factory was the last place a detective would set foot in. He put on dirty overalls and let his beard grow.
“Mr. Louis Rice?” It was the persistent Furlong. Rice was nabbed at last! On his way to St. Louis the fugitive told all. The nervous Lands was also arrested. “I have friends,” warned Lands, “who will get me out of this.” “That,” said Furlong coldly, “is not my worry.” A short time later both Rice and Lands were exonerated by a friendly judge, who remarked: “Forged railroad tickets have no intrinsic value.”
Rice gave up ticket printing. The life was too strenuous. He got married moved to Iowa, and sold insurance. Lands died shortly afterward. Ticket faking was made illegal in most states. It would take a very shrewd crook now to evade these laws – and the railroad detective force is still on the job. – Jim Holden.
Two soldiers were having a chat during their free time. First Soldier: Why did you join the army? Second Soldier: I didn't have a wife and I loved war. So I joined. How about you? Why did you join the army? First Soldier: I had a wife and I loved peace. So I joined.
Well gents , it seems like forever in a day that I've been able to meaningfully deposit some info round these parts, so in view of this I shall take this oportunity to drop of an optional new item on a saturday ( it's saturday here now at any event )
CLASSIC STEAM # 35 THE ONTARIO & QUEBEC RAILWAY
The old abandonned right of way of the O & Q ran through some of the most rugged bits of Onatario that one could find, hard old shield rock that was difficult to force a railline let alone build settlements in or start any farming that was viable.
Nevertheless the propmoters of the O&Q were determined to build a trunk line through this part of the country.The financial benefits of this line and it's branches brought in millions to the Grand Trunk, which ran well south of it and to the GT's rival the Great Western.So in 1871 construction comenced.
The O&Q conected the CPR's Perth On - Montreal branch line in the east to the Credit Valley Railway in Orangeville in the west ( this line had connections to Michigan via the Canada southern through St Thomas On ).The O & Q could bridge that important gap between the US Midwest and the ocean port of Montreal, and would thereby challange the GT's supremacy as ontario's only province wide trunk line.
From the junction with the Credit Valley RR at west Toronto, the line crossed yonge street at a point which at the time was north of toronto's city limits.Here they built their major railway statiojn at a place they called Yorkville.( now of coarse the upscale shopping area in downtiown Toronto ). It then cut accross the farm of William Lea, where they named a staion Leaside, a name alter given a townsite that was created by the rival Canadian Northern. The lines route then continued north through Agincourt, then ran easterly well north of lake Ontario ( and the Grand Trunk mainline) after winding through fertile farmlands.it entered Peterborough where it added another station.As it got further east of Peterborough they began to gte into the more harsh sheild lands. When it reached Havelock they built a divisional point with yarrds and a full service roundhouse.
The line then continued on east snaking around the rock out croppings and ridges and briged swamps and muskeg and rivers until it reached the fertile Ottawa river Valley. The Q&O actually crossed 8 North south rail lines along this stretch of their system.The O&Q used van horne style stations at all the small comunities along the way picking up lcl and live stock and local manufactured goods.In 1908 the CPR built a rival line their Lakeshore line through most of these same towns. This new line met the O&Q at Glen Tray a few miles outside of Perth. With this esier route alot of the O&Q's locasl traffic declined with most of it taking the shorter easier CPR route.By the 1950's only the stations at Havelock,Perth,Glen Tray,& sharbot Lake remained open, (CPR aquired the O&Q in the 1940's)In 1971 the CPR removed the trackage through Glen tray and cut the lineback to Tweed,in 1988 this line was cut back further to Havelock. The Southern portion through orangeville the CPR owned Credit Valley railway was spun off to a shortline in the early 1990.s and still operates today.
Rob
Good evening Herr leon a carlsburgh with a peppermint schnapps chasser if you will Hows that for an awfull combination Nick ?I may indeed meet you under the tank car againBeen a coldish day here, at least we avoided the white fluff that burried Buffalo not all that far SOB from me.
CM3-I'm beginning to fear the oppostion what with all the grand descriptions of the goings on in our little "friendly tournament " My biggest fear isn't that Hilda and Helga's new cheering costumes are leaving so little to our imagination , but that they have unofficially adopted the moto that it's all in good fun till someone loses a spleen. I hope scrot and slophead haven't heard that one just yet I'm also hoping that your relations near Buffalo came away from the storm intact and safe.
Lars-How could you tell that I've been eating more fibre latley still it's good to be back in the either with the rest of you.can't think of a sopt that I would rather be truth be told.I just hope that your mean blue machine are upto the mauling that Detroit is meeting out on the hapless A's, not that I'm counting them or the Redbirds completly out of it yet.
Tom-I intend to enjoy a day old steak tonight, mind you you are right to bad the foods not ordered near enough round this place. You and Lars are right though I nebver will get an explination of what happened. I know it's not at my end as that while the difficulties were rolling by for me here. Heather and I have been able to navigate every other part of the either that we always use, and our email service never skipped a beat. lets just chalk it upto Halloween.I've been enjoying reading along with yours and DL's food service and sleeping car service disscussions
Doug-Loved the Billings story. similar to many of the small street railway operations in Canada and elsewhere in the US.So many small towns that one never saw regular trains run through had streetcars or interurban connections at one point.At one time your hometown was concidered to be substandard somehow if no electric train service existed. Times were a different then. BTW I vote for Who darted as well
DL-Hey thanks for the welcome back. To answer your question about the HCRY. Yes both my wife and I belong to the museum.I would say that a trip to Toronto would not be to far out of the way as faar as visiting the museum. We are in Milton which is a smaller city west of Toronto on the 401. I'd say about a half hour drive on paper call it 45 to an hour with traffic. If you do make the trip drop me an email and we will meet you out there. I know that Ted and Tom both enjoyed themselves in may when we had them out there.Driving is your best way there from Toronto. Go transit does run trains to Milton, but Milton's transit does not run busses out to us as we are in the rural outskirts.I have to say that the menus from your neck of the woods on trains sounds a triffle more appetizing than any fare I've eaten on trains here in Canada.
James-Nice pictures,save a couple for sunday's as well. alot of us are starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel with our own stuff , so the hot injection of new material is needed more than ever
Nick-Seen any good parrots lately By the by that was an impossibly large lollypop, that had to have some grave consequences after it was consummed Oh hopefully the lovely ladies remember to shower and shave before they squeeze themselves into those new leather togs.
Good evening one and all-might I buy a round for the house as a beginning to apologising for last nights shameful behaviour-I had a wonderful evening,sadly,I have no idea where I had it.........................
A full day today-starting with an explanation for Missisnick as to why I chose to sleep on the stairs instead of the marital bed........
Enjoyed a pleasant light luncheon at the second class saloon,accompanied by a few friends from the Mentor Nomads motorcycle & social club,plus H&H (always suckers for a trip out with the Harley`s )-found the place largely deserted apart from Moose,in deep conversation with slopehead John & Larry the scrote,grommet George and a rather smarmy middle aged executive and his sweet young thing of a P.A-obviously looking for somewhere quiet for an assignation.
Cannibal Bob & Tiny Tim were amusing themselves by lifting up cars in the parking lot and placing them so close together that the doors can`t be opened
By the time we left,George had had to withdraw from the darts contest after a freak knife-through-the-hand accident sustained whilst playing dominoes with Viking Bob (celebrating his early release from the state pen ),the executive was being escorted out back by cannibal Bob & Tiny Tim (to the strains of duelling banjo`s.........) and the young P.A was last seen on the pillion of Mick the animal`s custom shovelhead,heading towards crazy Otto`s tattoo & reflexology parlour..........another fine day in Mentor County
Right-to business--TOM-I was indeed led astray by the always urbane Mr Hyde-as you so rightly say --it happens --good to get a flavour of our opponents-I think plan `B` may be called for here-thats the one where we send one of the girls on ahead and spike their drinks with potent hallucinogens-s*d ethics! we have a match on here...!!!
R.E. the `family album` pic-protective colouration is the name of the game here-Missisnick is still the same Hippie blues singer I fell for all those years ago,but her job (team leader of the county`s principal environmental agency ) requires her to wear a different mask,small Hannah has figured out early that blue eyed blonde cuties tend to have an easier path through this world than the rest of us...................
ROB- back dear boy -nice to see you..!!!!.....plenty of space under the tank car (Boris has been commisioned to go downtown and find some airbeds-that ballast is just a touch too sharp for comfort)
ERIC-Hi there,pull up a fresh glass
DL-UK-enjoying the ongoing conversation -have been surfing that Southern URL-wonderful stuff-very nostalgic,sadly,couldn`t find my local station(s) but hey-can`t have everything
R.E. prices-I guess we grew up in an era of a nationalised network where the service was provided for the end-user.
In recent years we are back in the private sector where profit is the bottom line ( in the past the pre-nationalised companies still adhered to the Victorian service ethic-you didn`t have employee`s ,you had servants of the company,with all that that implies.....)
Better steer clear of this before I start getting all political........
DOUG-Nice to see you mate,glad you are enjoying the pix --A Fascinating thumbnail sketch of Billings-a small-town America which I suspect has largely disappeared --R.E the shirt,how about we take it in turns ??-you have it for the home game ( I will have my chefs whites ) and I`ll sport it for the away leg......
CM3-A wonderful piece my friend -worth tuning in for the alliteration alone-word to the wise,don`t rely on the zeppelin service for a ride home,H&H have elected themselves as our cheerleaders (skin-tight black leather catsuits-need I go on....) and since Boris will be driving the road-roller it has fallen to Copperkettle to pilot the `Draig Goch ` back to her moorings-I have a bad feeling about this........
JAMES-nice pix mate,thank you for sharing-that second one looks like it ought to be the armoured payroll car....
LARS-Thank you for kind words-sorry you have `stuff` to take care of-hope it isn`t too traumatic-always happy to raise a glass with you and work things through ( actually-it`s been quite some year for you,hasn`t it...? )
So-TOMS early life is discovered-whatever he is paying you to keep quiet,I will top for exclusive disclosure in the MENTOR GAZETTE-THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW
O.K-I think thats everybody,apologies to anyone I`ve missed but this GREAT new format only allows me to look back at the most recent post
Enjoy the games gents,speak soon,nick
Guten Tag allerseits!
Evening has settled in here in mid-continent USA and most sports "eyes" will be soon focused on the upcoming Cardinals - Mets baseball game. I see where the Tigers have won their game #3 to go up three - zip on the A's from Oakland. So, can the World Series be that far off
Appreciate seeing DL - James - Doug 'n Lars stop in this afternoon. Lotsastuff in those Posts and some comments that make sense as well.
In no particular order or significance - let me say:
Doug - nice try, no cigar! You have to pick a shirt of your own. It was (and is) first come, first serve! Great listing of team names! I'll leave it to the 5 of you to select what you wish - after all, you are the guys "in the trenches" so to speak.
Lars - the bar just wouldn't be the same without our "Manager," so any time you've got to share with us is most welcome!
James - good selection of Pix; but keep in mind - we try to use our Sunday's for Pix Posting. So, don't be scarce for Sunday Photo Posting Day! Also - next Tuesday has a "theme" - perhaps you can join in . . . . You "escaped" a tweet for failure to order a drink and/or food. Chalk it up to still being "new."
DL - very much enjoy your input and continuing dialogue regarding dining aboard the train! Somewhere in my archives I have some Pix of VIA Rail diners - I'll have to put together a few for one of our Sundays.
My, my - how things have changed 'round the Tavern by the Tracks. Remember when we used to acknowledge Thursday nite as Fish ' Chips nite - Friday as Pizza nite along with steak 'n fries nite and Saturday nite as steak nite Change is all 'round, eh
Leon - set 'em up - Boris, ring the bell!
Auf Wiedersehen!
Tom
G'day Cap'n Tom and fellow travelers at the bar!
Ruth, today I'd like a LARGE frosty stein of Hofbrauhaus Bier and a round for the boyz!
Ok, so one game does not tell the story - actually it was a good game and someone had to lose it! Still think you guys in the River City are going to be down 'n out B4 too long - Mets are Mean!
DL, I've been enjoying the back 'n forth between you and Cap'n Tom regarding train travel, diners, menus and the like. Really good stuff and what this bar is supposed to be about - TALK of "classic trains."
My editorial comment: Seems like we are getting away from what Cap'n Tom had in mind when he opened this place up. Pictures should be used sparingly duirng the week - Sunday's are for those. Don't get me wrong, many times - especially when things are slooooooooooow - a couple of pix will "do it" every time. But to get into a pattern of constantly posting them surely detracts from the Sunday "event." I'm not asking for agreement, concurrence or anything like that - just reminding of what this place was set up to be. Let me put it this way: Doug has the right idea, so does Rob - they provide photos in support of what they are "telling" us. That's totally different than simply popping out a spate of photos . . . . ok end
Good and bad news from here is that I'll be around a bit longer than I had thought - but come early next week - gone for awhile. Sorry - "stuff" happens.
Cap'n Tom you'll NEVER guess who I ran across the other day - someone who KNOWS YOU from your high school years. Yup - someone (female) who says she ALWAYS "had a thing" for you back then. It'll cost ya for me to reveal WHO this person is!! Gnetleman that I am, no names here in the Ether - will let the email suffice for that - however, I'm NOT talking unless and until the PRESSURE gets to me!
A GREAT treat from CM3 I'm Not Shane! this morning . . . undoubtedly one of the finest "reports" we've had since the last edition of the Mentor Village Gazette. Nicely done, mate!
Very happy to mark the return of Rob to the bar! I agree with Cap'n Tom's assessment - you'll probably nevAH know what the difficulties were all about - just have to accept it and move on, huh Point is, you're back and hopefully ready 'n able to resume some regularity 'round here - and I'm not talking about the men's room!
Particular mention goes out to Doug for taking the time out of your most busy and hectic schedule to begin the day here at our favorite beer joint! Also kudos to Eric 'n DL for picking up the slack! And saving the best for last - Nick over there in west Wales - don't know how in the world we made it without you during the last very long absence - hopefully that's over 'n done with!
Just caught Doug's latest input - great team names! I'm not sure your idea about sharing the shirt is gonna work. Our Proprietor bought 'n paid for 5 of 'em - you probably should select something else. Just my Team name I like several! "Who Darted?" is great! But so are many others . . . Good job!
One more Ruth - then I gotta scram outta here - baseball is back on the tube and I'm "hooked"!
Until the next time!
Lars
Good afternoon Ruth! I'll have the bratwurst beer and a pumpkin Schnapps chaser please. Hey ...where did everyone go? Nifty pix sir James, to be sure. Got several laughs over CM3's pre-contest narrative. For the record, I like shirt #3. Nick and I can take turns wearing it, or both wear it at the same time to really confuse the competition. As for a team name, here are a few I plagarized from other dart teams:
1> What the ****?
2> Bullshooters
3> Pist'n Broke
4> Show Me Your Tips
5> Bull Shot
6> Who Darted?
7> Bull-Its
8> The Other Side Sucks
9> Booze Brothers
10> Best of Three
11> Here for the Beer
12> Jesus Hates Our Team
13> The Bull Monty
14> Pop Darts
15> 4 Play
16> Bulloney
17> Kork Krushers
18> Dartrageous
19> D.O.A. (drunk on arrival)
20> What's Our Name
21> Shotfaced
Now how's that for choices?
G-day Captain Tom and all here.
Tom, sorry about the commentary. I know it probably didn't make as much sence. But I will give you a run down on it. For winter we get the house ready. Meaning that we take down all the screens off the windows and replace them with our storm windows, So that it will keep us a little warmer. (Our house is about 88 years old so most of the windows are rotted) oh well.Pretty much getting the house warmer for the winter.
Anyway thats what "locking the house up for winter is all about and it's so much fun too.
Coalminer3- I hope to keep posting pictures here more daily now instead of every 3 or 4 days.
Nick- I hope you're right. That steamer is quite nice and I would like to see someone taking care of it. I am rooting for steam here too.
Eric- I agree she's in need with some help but if Nick is correct I think that she might get a good owner who knows how to fix and maintain steam engines.
I know I have not been around for about 4 days or so, but now things have changed. I'm not as busy as I was before. So I will be around more often.
I really like U28Bs but man. This thing is really looking like it needs a serious wash. She's running but who knows how well. I just wish I could have seen more of these in operation.
Well..Here you go. An E-unit with a wierd nose. (what nose?) Speaking of nose.. Does that say, "Wash Me" on the side of the locomotive?
Anyway. This must have been an experiment that was supposed to promote the Rock's passenger trains.
Diamonds!!!! I like diamonds. Nothing sounds better than a train racing over a set of diamonds. or 3 diamonds that is. Located at Joliet, Illinios this is were the Rock crossed the C&NW. A U28B and a freshly painted SD40T-2 make there way across the Joliet area.
Happy railroading!
James
Hello Tom and all - just a fruit juice for me at the moment.
Tom, I'm with you on that Diner philosophy.
I actually thought the Ocean Diner food was not bad - it was just the service and choice issue that was a problem - as previously discussed.
What is daft is that you can't be given a clear answer regarding The Chaleur dining - after all they don't run that many trains at VIA and some people must know. Good luck. Did you not say they somtimes run The Chaleur as a different consist to The Ocean and thus it must have its own Budd dining car one might assume?
Anyway - as promised on the regional run down of UK dining cars this is the service in East Anglia - sadly the website does not give a proper menu but here is the summary. It is good to see that they offer the traditional English Afternoon tea - the only rail route in the UK where it is still on the menu:
Catering facilities are offered on the Norwich to London Mainline service. A restaurant is offered on selected services during weekdays.
The restaurant menus have local flavour using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. With freshly prepared dishes such as Grilled Suffolk Sausages and Mash, Salmon and Dill Lasagne, Brie and Broccoli Penne Pasta, Roast Rack of Lamb and Ham 'n' Eggs - there is something to suit all tastes and budgets. You can eat in the restaurant for as little as £5.95 at lunch time!
The restaurant car is situated in Coach H within First Class, but is open to First and Standard Class ticket holders who wish to dine, subject to space being available. First Class ticket holders are able to reserve a space in the restaurant car in advance (before 1800 the day before travel).
The service is provided on 10 services per day each way (4 trains offer breakfast, 3 trains lunch and / or afternoon tea, 3 trains offer an evening meal).
On another matter last night I had the ability to go to an archive rail film screening evening - theme 'record breaking runs' a number of films from the 1930s through to the 1980s mostly with a UK theme. Great to see footage from the period projected up on to the large silver screen!!
Good wishes to you all
DL - UK
Team #1 - John (slopehead) 'n Larry (scrote)Team #2 - Bob (cannibal) 'n Tim (tiny)Substitute - George (grommet)
Sponsor: Mountain Man Mike (Moose) Proprietor
Media Day Activities
Good morning fellow d’artistes and greetings from our studios high atop Mighty Majestic Mount Mentor, overlooking the fast flying flangers fancifully flinging frothy fillips of frosty frozeness away from the right of way on the Greater Mentor Street Railway’s Buffalo Division. No Boris; street railway, not street walkers.
Your reporter had a most interesting visit to The First Annual Darts Media Day which was held at a neutral site (abandoned quarry) because of the evident ill will between both teams. This media day was set up for individual pictures of team members; i.e. those who had chosen shirts and managed to arrange for bail after the last team practice (oh, the humanity!)
Rob’s natty “If Only I Was As Good...” shirt was snappily set off by a fur-lined mad bomber hat and a log chain – something about Canadians and tall timber, but we’ll save that story for the tournament’s commemorative program.
The mascots managed to find Nick up and at ‘em for picture day. The “Get Boned” shirt truly says something – the Greater Mentor Decency Police are investigating exactly what – anyway, Nick showed a touch of whimsy with a bowler hat and a chrome plated mace. In your reporter’s humble opinion, this fashion statement looked a cross among the “Rocky Horror Picture Show, Lord of the Rings,” and an Oakland Raiders fanfest. But, I digress, and I surely have never been a slave to fashion.
The Second Class Saloon Avengers, fronted by Mountain Man Mike, showed up in their official team vehicle, you may remember that it originally belonged to the snake act in the movie “Next of Kin.” Never let it be said that we don’t cover everything. In line with our previous fashion assessments, Mike looks ravaged in a fur vest with matching grenades.
I enjoyed (while looking out for the stray copperhead and cottonmouth,) muttered and furtive conversation with Mike and his minions; a gimlet-eyed, steel-jawed, unshaven, Orc-looking crew if ever there was one. They’re so mean, they ate their own mascot at a team party last night. Mike, however, did tell me that they are dragging the canal for a new one.
When asked what they were doing for practice, Mike said,” I can’t tell you except that it involves blindfolds and flamethrowers.” Mike likes his chances against the Our Place folks, and warned them to keep a close eye on their own mascots. “Remember,” Mike whispered to me, “We can take Boris.” They then posed for their pictures; full face and two profiles of each team mamber. When shown the pictures, the Mentor police chief remarked’ I recognize the guy in the middle, but I’m not sure about the other two.”
Networks willing to cover the upcoming matches are gradually dropping out. Their excuse is that they will never be able to find sponsors, but my own thought is that they lack vision – maybe that’s because of Our Place’s ‘steamed proprietor graciously hosting the network folks, and treating them to the never ending Oktoberfest punchbowl. In the interests of full coverage, I did trace the hose lines (neoprene)from the punchbowl to an ancient Pflauder milk car that magically appeared on the siding by Our Place the other night. Good thing the car’s tank is glass lined.
Today's mail conntained a brochure which said the GMZA (Greater Mentor Zeppelin Authority) has put together a package deal with the Greater Mentor Street Railway to offer transportation to all matches. Their slogan is “Arrive Alive, Then Hope for the Best.” Packages include air and ground transportation plus dinner on the grounds. Wait a minute, I looked again and it says “Dinner Underground.” So I guess I get out out the hardhat, caplight and knee pads.
That’s all the news that isn’t. Now back to our studios at Mighty Majestic Mount Mentor. Say goodbye, Frostbite!
Wie ist jeder? Es is OKTOBERFEST! Partei wollen wir!
Another wonderful start to the day here in mid-continent USA as the fall “air” is invigorating enough to make one happy to be above the ground! Juneau and I enjoyed our walk through the wilds of our subdivision and are now ready to face the day! Hmmmmmm, I see he’s found “his spot” on the recliner – curled up “like a Husky” with a “do not disturb” air about him.
Just heard that Buffalo, New York received 17 inches of snow and is expected to wind up with at least 2 feet before it stops. Ahhhhhhh, the luck some places have!
My Cardinals dropped the opener last night to the Mets in New York. Mighty Mets, sez Lars Well, they made the most of their 6 hits! My guys were stopped by some great pitching, and only managed 4 “safeties” themselves. Tonight’s another opportunity – as we’ve heard before, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over!”
Great seeing the guys come through last evening, after Lars’ late afternoon visit. Appreciate the inputs from Mike – Nick - Rob – Eric – ‘n DL.
Special mention goes out to our long lost Bar Chandler, Rob! Hope THIS time you’ll be able to stick around for awhile. My guess is that you’ll NEVER be told what the problem was (is) with the accessing of the Forums. Strange that you were able to connect from a different location with a different computer – but something that does make sense. IF the problem resides where your computer is (server, connection, ‘puter itself, etc.) then that should tell you something. Anyway, great to see that you thought of us and paid a call!
GST Rest easy my young friend. I’ve been paying GST/PST and anything else associated with Canadian taxes for all of my trips north of the 49th. No escaping it! <groan> There is a program for visitors whereby one may apply for a refund of CERTAIN taxes on CERTAIN purchases – transportation is NOT included. However, over the years they’ve made it so cumbersome – so confusing and so frustrating, that it simply isn’t worth the time ‘n effort to jump through the hoops just to MAYBE get back $2.89, if you know what I mean. So, I’m doing my part to keep those coffers in Ottawa topped off.”
And – shirt #2 is YOURS! Nick has #3.
For the guys on the Grudge Match DARTS CHALLENGE teams – check the preceding page and make your shirt selection!
DL – must concur with your thoughts regarding dining while aboard the train. I’m not one to “skimp” on anything associated with rail travel, for having reached that stage of my life where I look upon each ‘n every opportunity as perhaps the final one – I don’t give a “Rat’s Patoot” what the cost, as long as it adds to the enjoyment. Dining in the diner is one of those experiences I always look forward to. Amtrak’s affordable bill o’ fare for the trips I’ve made were excellent with perhaps the only drawback being that they seem to have a propensity for being “out of” this or that. VIA Rail, with the exception of the Ocean Renaissance diner, has always provided wonderful selections and at most reasonable costs – in my opinion.
Traveling aboard the “Canadian” between Toronto and Vancouver, where meals are included in the Silver & Blue accommodations (1st class), if one cannot come away from the table feeling really GOOD, then there’s something terribly wrong . . .
I’m not at all certain that the “Chaleur” between Montreal and Gaspe will have a dining car. In spite of the cars being at the head end of the “Ocean,” access from the Budd stainless steel cars to the Renaissance cars may not be available (refits have not been completed as I understand it). So, the SKYLINE dome car lounge will be where I take my meals – most probably along the lines of sandwiches and the like. No one could give me a straight answer by phone, nor does the web site have up to date info. When the train was entirely Budd equipment – the Gaspe passengers had access to the entire train, except the Park car UNLESS they were bedroom passengers. Those times are long gone now that VIA has revamped – and messed up – what used to be a passenger friendly environment. In a week, I’ll know what’s what!
Eric – appreciate your willingness to help out for our Sunday Photo Posting Day! These next two Sundays are going to be a bit “sparse” – especially with Pete being away, Lars off line and Moi in Canada (coming up).
Nick – appears as if “Mr. Hyde” gotcha last night, eh Happens! Those guys reside within many of us. "Dr. Jekyl" goes about his business and all of a sudden out pops "Mr. Hyde," replete in his dapper attire, cape, walking stick and top hat – white scarf too – whispering in your ear, “Go ahead, just one more won’t hurt! What’s the harm ”
Good morning Tom and manager Lars. I'll be having my usual 2 light breakfasts, as I am playing hookey from job1 and don't work job2 today! Don't know the disposition of the RI 938 Mike ... I'll have to look into that. I did see some interesting pix of a loco which my 20th Century Railroad club painted in 1976, called the Independence. Apparantly the club had won a contest to repaint it with a big white star on its front, and of course, red and blue sides. I am told that it has survived as a static display, and was repainted in original markings. Howdy hi to Nick, whose really been posting a lot of great pix these days, DL and Eric. Glad to see the dart challenge got moved Tom. Have no fear ... Nick and I promise to kick butt at home and away! Looks like the mighty Rob has returned! Here's a little welcome-back for you, and reading material with your morning coffees:
Montana’s First Streetcar Lines by Al Moorman & Steve Maquire – Oct. 64 RRM
Six years after the Battle of Little Bighorn – the only major victory the Indian braves ever won over the United States Army – a horse-drawn street railway was established at Billings, Montana, about fifty miles from the battlefield.
This railway ran between Billings and Coulson. The latter was the earliest white settlement in that area and dates back to 1876, the year of the Custer massacre. They named it after the owner of the first packet boat to navigate the Yellowstone River to the landing there.
Hunters and traders flocked to Coulson. So did lusty, brawling adventurers, card sharps, homesteaders, and gun-slingers. Then came creaking covered wagons filled with plump bejeweled madams and their girls, both white and halfbreed, each one for hire by the half-hour or all night. Wooden buildings were erected. The general store, restaurant, gambling houses, saloons, and brothels turned the wilderness into what residents fondly hoped would become “the Omaha of the Est.” Mindful of the Custer incident, blue-jacketed troops went into the area to protect the settlers. Girls danced in the gin mills, waited on tables, drank with customers, and occasionally rifled money belts or gold-dust pokes of sex-starved drunks who followed them into their bedrooms.
In 1882 the Northern Pacific laid rails westward from Bismarck, North Dakota, to the Pacific Northwest. Bypassing Coulson, which was on the projected route but which stood on low swampy ground, they built a station on higher land a mile or so west.
New town, Billings, named after the NP president, grew up around the railroad depot and soon prospered. An enterprising livery-stable proprietor operated a hack service between the two towns. For a dollar you could rent a surrey for an evening’s fun with your lady friend. Some of the Coulson girls moved to Billings. A company was formed to build a horsecar line between Billings and Coulson. Stock in the Billings Street Railway sold quickly.
In the summer of 1882 two small bobtailed horsecars, painted bright yellow, were bought from the St. Paul City Railway and shipped to Billings via the Northern Pacific. Along the way there was much publicity and fanfare, intended as much to advertise the new town and sell lots as to bring rail transit to the area.
Many of the lots disposed of were located in swamps beside the river or on nearby perpendicular sides of rimrocks. In some cases the same land was sold several times to different buyers. Track for the horsecars was light T-rails such as mine-owners used, laid on whatever ties were available. The route started near the NP depot on Minnesota Avenue, led along 26th Street to 4th and then eastward through bogs to the Ash & Boots Brewery at Coulson.
The motive power consisted of the temperamental cayuses. Even before the first official run, a gust of wind blew one car some distance down the track.
The service was nothing to brag about. Cars often jumped the rails. When this occurred near a saloon the passengers would “tank-up” and then lift the light vehicle back onto the iron, and the journey resumed.
Only one car ran at a time. There was no schedule, a trip being made whenever enough travelers showed up. The round trip took about an hour, depending on the drivers thirst and pony’s disposition. Service was supposed to start at 8 a.m., but sometimes it would be 9 or 10 before the driver, Frank L. Mann (later a Billings police court judge) could round up and harness one of the horses. Fare was two bits. Mr Mann stimulated business by attaching to each ticket a coupon good for one beer at the A&B Brewery. But even with this inducement, the number of riders gradually dwindled so much that the line folded up in 1883, after less than a year of operation.
As the local Gazette stated: “Billings boasted the first streetcar system in Montana, but it took a free glass of beer with every ticket to keep it going as long as it did.”
The rails were taken up and sold to a Bozeman mine and the two cars were left to rust gloriously on the banks of the Yellowstone near Coulson. Later, one car was lost in a flood, and the other was stored in a barn.
In 1909 some of Billings’ leading citizens, members of the Benevolent & Protective Order of the Elks, stole the lone car in a drunken frolic at about 3 o’clock on a Sunday morning, while the sky was still dark, and shipped it on a flatcar to Miles City, where the Elks were holding a convention. Last known of the old horsecar was a report that in 1917 a salesman saw it, badly damaged, in a barn in Miles City.
Meanwhile in 1900 the population of Billings had risen to 3221, and ten years later it exceeded 10,000. Smaller Western cities such as Sheridan, Cheyenne, Lead, and Deadwood had streetcar lines but Billings hadn’t. This was too much for civic pride to bear. The citizens voted to establish such a line, and wealthy oil men financed the venture, this one to be called the Billings Traction Company.
Billings streetcars passing City Hall and central firehouse, 28th and Fist Avenue
The site of the present Midland Bank in that city.
Construction, which began in the summer of 1911, was delayed by a blizzard that winter. On March 1, 1912 the line was completed and opened for service. Instead of horse-drawn vehicles, the new company bought battery-operated cars with modern Edison-Beach electrical equipment from J.G. Brill Company. Each car, painted canary-yellow with red trim, could hold 28 seated riders plus a number of standees.
The first car covered 107 miles on its first day, and sic more were bought. Numbered 10-15, they provided the earliest battery-car operation west of the Mississippi. All were four-wheel double-enders. A barn was built for them near the battery-charging station at First Avenue, the business district, and the Stapleton Building.
Five cars at a time were usually running between 6 a.m. and midnight, with a 30-minute daytime headway. Ten conductors worked nine0hour shifts, seven days a week, while two shopmen charged the batteries and made minor repairs.
Hello Tom, and good morning staff and fellow customers. I'll order a cooked breakfast, and yes, good to see prices are much more reasonable than a British Dinign Car!!
Yes Tom, you are right to raise the eyebrows at those diner prices. On board train diner meal prices are expensive here (where they exist) and I think this is because the assumption is that only someone on an expense account would pay for the meal (so when I’m dining I often reckon I’m the only person in the car paying for my own meal!!!) It has to be regarded as a treat and is probably one of the few luxuries I’ll happily stump up for!
Having said that, they are not that different in price from what you might pay in a reasonably up market British restaurant outside of London (where an upmarket restaurant would require you to take your bank manager AND a re-mortgage certificate for your home….). As I said before I have eaten more expensive and worse quality meals here in some brick and mortar restaurants than I have enjoyed on the dining car service.
Also it should be noted that the dining car is always in the first class part of the train, which is more spacious than std class by 30% or more. Thus by paying for the meal you effectively upgrade yourself to first class accommodation for as long as it can take you to eat it (and we all know how to linger over coffee….). Given the relative high speed of the trains and short UK distances you can effectively upgrade to 1st class for most of your journey – and not go hungry either.
This is worth a bit because 1st class in UK is almost twice the price of Standard (or more if you want a return ticket). Again this is a difference from what I think is the case in most of Europe where first class is, I think about 25% more, and thus reasonably affordable to someone who wants a more spacious journey. I think this is because back in the 1970s BR decided first class was only used by expense account ticket holders (or overseas tourists on good value 1st class Brit Rail passes, or who don’t know they are being ripped off and have just bought a 1st class ticket as they think they ought to!) and was thus not price sensitive. As a consequence, at off peak times many trains run around with vast numbers of empty first class seats and the railways have only just started to think of ways to sell them via advance purchase discounted fares.
Nick might have a view on these price comments, and it will be interesting to see what Pete thinks.
One of the biggest differences I note when in the USA and Canada in terms of prices (not regarding exchange rate induced differences) is the sheer difference in price of eating out and overnight accommodation. Here in UK these seem to cost a lot, and all too often not be of sufficient quality. That is the rip off and I wonder if it links to the rip off property prices here, which effectively determine the rate of return on investment that the restaurant owner needs to make to cover those overheads.
So Tom – if you start the plans for London –Scotland anytime I’ll call in to the bar to advise you on how to get a good price deal!
Rob – good to see you back – I think you probably missed my post about the Halton County museum which I guessed you were associated with. Basically I was wondering how far that was from Toronto and how feasible it would be to visit the museum on a future visit to Toronto where I have family? If you get back on line I’d be interested to read your views.
Eric – thanks for your menu choice.
See you all later
DL-UK
IT'S ALIVE It'S ALIVE
Well sort of anyway.I'm actually using my sister in laws machine at the moment. Took 4 *&$#@ arttempts but the log on connected.. I appreciate the show of support guys in gals,perhaps the pile of "mail" got the glitch fixed I'll find out tomorrow when i try my own system. I'm thinking happy pink bunny thoughts. Leon and extra large round of CR for anyone standing within the walls.Best not to comment on a week and a half of old stale stuff. I have read through most of it and thanks to all who have kept the faith, we still have had quite a good quality product to read and view. I'm glad to see that DL Nick and Mike have all stepped up and kept Lars n Tom Company. CM3 great first writing of the mentor wide world of sports, grudge dart match warmups. I'll just say that i resemble those remarks. To that end Sir Tom I think I'll wear jersey number two if it's still available
Tom-Perhaps that extra ten bucks is either a built in gratuity for the event coordinator or just a way of making back some of the GST which they don't get anymore since the percentage went down. ( Not that you pay te GST anyway ) Both are likely far from the real reason , but I'm sure that you will get satisfaction
Any how not goof to monopolise someone elses machine, that and it's rude of me not to talk to the people I'm visisting with, So for now I'll just take my leave of you fine folks.Hopefully i won't ened up under the same tank car as Nick.
Well helloooo boys....
Whoops ,sorry,it`s been one of those strange evenings....
LEON-Beers for the house if you would be so good,I had something of a menu in mind,but in fairness DL-UK has trumpted any ace I care to lay..................-I would be delighted to order from that board and the prices looked a little closer to reasonable,also ,a better balance of dishes than the post G.W.R offering--as noted,not everybody wants big chunks of meat
O.K--I`m going home now-I`ve just realised how pi**ed I am-see you all soon,take care,nick
Hi Tom and everyone, a round for the house.
This is to make sure I remember how to post a picture.
Eric, I've visited your picture pages, and particulary enjoyed seeing the Hudson River tunnel and the one by Vandenburgh Air Force Base.
Doug, what is the condition of Rock Island locomotive 938?
CRI&P 938 at Minneapolis in 1937
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005251/00005359.jpg
CRI&P 938 at Illinois Railroad Museum
http://steamlocomotive.info/locomotives/il50.jpg
http://steamlocomotive.info/locomotives/il41.jpg
CRI&P 938 in Colorado in 1939
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005626/00005707.jpg
Beinn Dorain in Scotland
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/83644198-O.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/83644186-O.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/83644354-O.jpg
Guten Morgen allerseits!
Sports flash! Sports flash! Cardinals and Mets series is tied! What's that you say No games have been played yet Hmmmmm - well, then the series IS tied!
Appears as if the Tigers from Detroit are off to a great start, taking two games out in Oakland against the A's. That's playoff sports fer ya - one just never knows.
A fine chilly start to the day here in mid-continent USA as the cold front arrived in all of its glory. Temps were hovering at the freezing mark (F) as Juneau the Wonder Husky sped 'round the subdivsion for our early AM one mile trek. Wunnerful wake-us-up temps!
Some super fine Pix from Nick as his latest fascination with "hi-tech" has unleashed more insights from the world of the Wests Wales Wailer (nice, eh ) than anyone could've hoped for. My bride's comments regarding the Pix of your bride and little one, "She's a cutie and Nick's wife looks normal!" That sez it all, eh BUT, WHAT DOES THAT SAY 'BOUT YOU <grin>
Shirt #3 is officially Nicks - so let's get moving with the remainder of the 'selections' - see previous Page!
DL - are those diner prices for real My Gawd, as you alluded to in an earlier message - one would surely need a banker alongside to pay the "freight" for those entrees. Absolutely crazy once the conversions are done from British pounds to U.S. and/or Canadian dollars. Remind me to pack a lunch should I yield to temptation and take that rail sojourn I've been dreaming about from London up to Glasgw and points north.
Haven't heard a word from VIA Rail regarding that "rip off." However, I'm a persistent kinda guy, so this will not go away until some sort of resolution is tendered.
And yes, I plan to provide the boyz with an account of my rail travels to 'n from Gaspe, along with some Pix as well.
Lars - always good to see ya, Mate and for awhile there figured you'd not be in yesterday. Did receive your Emails though - not to worry about the bar in your absence, we'll be fine. Just take a look 'round and you'll see that we've experienced a shift of sorts to the evening activity. Between DL - Eric 'n Nick, there won't be any moss growing in this place! <grin>
The media coverage on cable TV has been - in a word - overkill, regarding the tragic plane crash and deaths. Just the way CNN - FOX - CNBC - MSNBC - LSMFT (oooooops, got carried away there!!) "do it" these days. Someone can let loose a flatulation bomb in suburban East Overshoe, Michigan and it will occupy the "top slot" in the cable news for the remainder of the day. Good Gawd Gertie!
Eric - If the "count" holds for our 2nd Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous in St. Louis for this coming spring, looks as if there will be 5 of us. Given the uncertainties some of the guys are experiencing right now, I'll hold off on any firm planning stuff 'til later this year. On a different note, how 'bout some X2000 'stuff' for Sunday Photo Posting Day! Maybe even some shots from your trip back home. Anyway, the next two weekends are gonna be a bit "tight" so anything at all will really be of help.
More on the Bragging Rights DARTS CHALLENGE!
Been contacted by Mountain Man Mike (Moose) the Proprietor over at the Second Class Saloon. He tells me that his teams are READY to "get it on" and are more than ready to "rip our souls out." Hmmmmm, a bit of the theatric runs hot over in the "Mountain Village" methinks. We've been invited to a "social" event any weekend prior to the first match - that we can fnd the time. His thoughts are to get "to know one another a bit" before they "stomp our butts." Any takers Oh yeah, the names of the guys on their teams:
Team #1 - John (slopehead) 'n Larry (scrote)
Team #2 - Bob (cannibal) 'n Tim (tiny)
Substitute - George (grommet)
They call themselves the Avengers, get the point <oooooooooooooh>
Dates have been changed for the CHALLENGE:
Tuesday, Oct 24th at the Second Class Saloon
Wednesday, Oct 25th at "Our" Place
ERIC-Hi,in answer to your questions:- The Compton Down line runs all round the perimiter of the garden-a guesstimate would be about 200` from stop-block to stop-block,the pix were taken during annual open days,with folks bringing their own loco`s for a run out,hence the high traffic density.
Steam is the dominant prime mover,but Peter will happily use battery ,clockwork or whatever is to hand
Previous pix of Clonakilty are on page 401-It is on the far South West coast of Ireland-about 70 or so miles south-west of Cork.
Plane crash hasn`t made the press at all over here-so much for the `Global Village`......
Right off to Mentor market to stock up on fresh fishies for tonight,have a productive day one and all,take care
nick
Hello Tom and all in
Given the SR (UK) link I think I’ll order a pint of Harvey’s Best Bitter today.
I’d meant to past the link for the actual index page as that is not so easy to locate, so here it is – this is what I call an SR index!
http://www.semg.org.uk/alphaind.html
Some of you who enjoyed the link first time round might want to browse this if you did not see this page.
Good to see some pictures of Berwick – where I grew up – been 3rd rail electric since about 1933. Still got the semaphore signals to this day.
The wooden platform building pictured is where I would lock my cycle up as a school kid if I needed to leave it at the station over night. The station master would give me the room key to the room used by staff as a store and it would be safe in there. If I returned when the station master was off duty you could get a key from the signal man in the signal box (Tower?) pictured in the background – that was a treat because you got to go in the box and take a look at the old fashioned manual equipment and have a good vantage point up and down the line and over the fine looking Sussex downs countryside!
Tom – I’ll prepare my chugger post when I have a moment – I’ve pasted a few sections out of government and parliamentary reports but need to get them in a clear order. They make interesting background.
On your point about a world wide dining conspiracy – I think you may be right. I was just reading an article in a copy of Trains I picked up when in Canada about Amtrak ‘simplified dining’ – what the heck is that? Sounds ominous to me.
One of the things that never ceases to amaze me is that one of the places with the worst on board dining option in Europe is now France. Given the association they have with food it makes you wonder how much hope there is for the rest of us!
That 10 Dollar mail out surcharge on your tickets is a rip off Tom – picking up tickets at Montreal was very smooth I found (as we were in Montreal a couple of days before our first train journey we called at the station and picked up all the pre booked tickets we had to collect). Any chance of a travelogue from the Gaspe trip Tom? After you get back of course.
As you say, hope Pete can review these posts as his thoughts on UK situation always of interest.
Nick – as you say, dining on Great western is not cheap (but I’ve eaten more expensive but worse meals in a standard restaurant more often than I care to mention). What I do is book ahead the cheapest advance purchase ticket I can get for a train with a dining car – then splash out on the meal – as Tom says it is one of the joys of rail travel and fast disappearing. I can see where you are coming from though!
Tom, Eric, Lars, Nick – I know you all got hungry so hopefully you can join me for a look at the GNER dining car menu (London, Yorkshire, North East England, Edinburgh – the route Pete described on his Stirling travelogue, which they market as ‘The Route of The Flying Scotsman’). I think they offer better meals on more trains.
Out of 60 daily departures from London the dining car is available on an incredible 51 departures (and an equivalent number in the other direction)!!!
I fear for some real cut backs though as GNER are owned by Sea Containers from the USA and I read they are in big trouble financially, plus they over bid to the UK government for the franchise right to run this route and now can’t meet the payments. All the commentators reckon they will go on a cost slashing exercise any time soon.
Perhaps you can all join me at a table on the 10am from London Kings Cross (The Flying Scotsman itself) some time? Here's the selection:
Menu C
LUNCH AND DINNER (served from 11am)Spicy and sophisticated, this menu offers starters such as curried cauliflower soup with cumin croutons (£4.25) or salt cod fishcakes (£5.95); mains such as delicious duck confit (£16.95) or venison sausage with creamy mash (£12.50), and tempting desserts such as cheesecake with blueberry compote or chocolate and banana tart (both £5.25).
StartersCURRIED CAULIFLOWER SOUP WITH CUMIN CROUTONS Slightly curried creamy soup served with a warm bread roll.
£4.25
BUFFALO MOZZARELLA SALAD Buffalo mozzarella cheese with parmesan, mustard seed & olive oil dressed rocket leaves, slow-roasted tomatoes and grilled courgettes.
£5.95/£10.50
SALT COD FISHCAKES WITH MIXED PEPPER SALSA Salt cod potato cakes with a tangy mixed pepper salsa.
Mains
£5.95
DUCK CONFIT Slow-cooked duck leg served with creamy cabbage, peas, pancetta and crushed new potatoes.
£16.95
SIRLOIN STEAK WITH CHIPS AND SALAD Pan-fried sirloin steak cooked to your taste with chips, dressed green salad and a choice of mustards.
PAN-FRIED SEA BASS Pan-fried sea bass served with mashed potato mixed with cabbage, spring onions, shallots, parsley and slow-roasted carrots in a red wine jus.
£15.95
BAKED, STUFFED AUBERGINE Aubergine baked with tomato, mozzarella, shallots, garlic, mustard, harissa and yoghurt, served with basil & potato salad and wilted spinach.
£13.50
VENISON SAUSAGE WITH CREAMY MASH AND CURLY KALE Grilled sausages served with mashed potato, buttered curly kale and onion gravy.
£12.50
Puddings
CHEESECAKE WITH BLUEBERRY COMPOTE Chilled cheesecake with stewed blueberries.
£5.25
CHOCOLATE AND BANANA TART WITH RUM CUSTARD Warm chocolate and banana tart served with a rum-infused custard.
CHEESE & BISCUITS Fine British cheese served with biscuits, fresh celery and farmhouse chutney.
This is one of 3 menus they rotate to increase the choice – the rest are here for you to browse:
http://www.gner.co.uk/GNER/GoEat/Restaurant/
On the round up of UK dining cars maybe we will look at the East Anglia route next.
Well-looks like no-one else has come out to play this evening so I guess a couple more pix from Clonakilty might fill the gap..............
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All the shots posted previously have been of the trains,heres a few views of the site as a whole-gives a fair impression of the scale of the undertaking
And one from the family album to finish off with--Missisnick,small demon Hannah plus unfeasibly large lollipop
right,I`m off to check the galley ready for fishie fishie fishie night tomorrow,set `em up again Bossman-and don`t forget yourself-take care one and all,
Well good evening gents-shiver me timbers,`tis the man his good self behind the bar-Beers all around please TOM, and I`ll be insulted if you don`t join me in a glass or three !!!!
Enjoyed the pix (and histories) of the taverns-hadn`t seen the 2nd class before-good to know the enemies lair Also the moment in time caught so neatly at the old tavern by the tracks--do my reddened and bleary eyes deceive me or is that your good self outside the left hand door surveying the bright new day--almost certainly CM3 leaning against the window,steno pad in hand composing his next grand opus--looks mighty like 2 Jobs DOUG staggering blearily from his car for a quick java fix--the deceptively casual pose of Leon outside the other door,planning a little light panhandling and that must be Bar Chandler ROB assisting the damsel in distress with the flat tyre in the yard.....................................
Also received E-M from ROB this am-no text,usual mildly vulgar ( & V.funny ) circular,good to know he is still out there-will send to Kalmbach as soon as I check out of here
LOVE those shirts-can I get #3 please-I feel it best suits my sober & dignified world view
CM3-An elegantly penned insight from our resident newshound --I feel you captured the tenor of the evening very neatly--for the record,I was actually checking the brake linkages on the tank car-right up until the moment I discovered the emergency drain-down valve,after that things became a little blurry-happily the wounds were all of a minor nature & should heal without scarring.................
DL-UK-Thanks for the heads up R.E catering services-On the rare occaisions when I do travel `Up to town` it is to meet the incoming Toronto flight at H/row,which means getting the 06.45 from Haverfordwest,which is about 2 hours behind the Up service you listed--In truth it is a most impressive menu,but £5.50 for a bowl of soup.....-given the prices one has to pay for a ticket in the first place,I think I`ll stick with my cold bacon sarnies .
Sorry you missed out on your G.C.R trip-would have liked to see some pix of that-still-in`sh Allah and all that--EXCELLENT Southern link,only had a quick browse so far but will be back in there within the hour
Right-set `em up again please TOM whilst I nip out to the back bar for a moment-sounds like Boris has got another dart in the forehead,then we`ll have some pix
O.K-as noted yesterday,this weeks excursion is to The Compton Down Rly-a 2ft gauge Welsh slate, passenger & general merchandise carrier modelled in 16mm-ft and running live steam
captioning will be a touch vague as this scale is rather outside my field...
O.K-usual from top left convention 1-The garage and chapel,just outside Compton Down station throat-on the extreme left,the ground level 5" gauge test track is visible 2-further round from yesterdays shot,the 0-6-2 with Tal-Y-Lyn stock passes below the iron works 3-modified Mamod pot-boiler with Vale of Rheidol coach rounds the bottom corner-track in foreground is 45mm 4-same location with a rather neat little Peckett prototype with sand tippers
1-the pub-most of the buildings on the line are 0.75" plywood shells with various texturings 2-Tram & other engines shunting outside C.D Stn 3-a quiet corner of the low-level quarry area (viaduct at top of shot) 4-more shunting at C.D-the little green engine is a `std gauge` O scale loco
1-Compton Down throat-the loco is on the `steam up` tracks 2-the main platforms with the freight shed to the rear 3-the back of the chapel,taken from above the pub 4-close-up view of 2
1-battery powered jackshaft diesel passing the top of the quarry incline 2-Simplex petrol motor at Compton wharf 3-view thru the trainshed at Llanbedr Rd 4-opposite view to 3
well well-I remembered more than I thought I would.........
Right,better get this lot off to the press-the MENTOR GAZETTE editor waits for no man,as CM3 will attest
enjoy !!!!!
Take a break, Ruth - I'll handle the bar for a bit . . .
Good to see DL in the UK back with us and also CM3 for a better-late-than-never daily Post!
Came away from reading DLs submission with hunger pangs! My Gawd man - that's quite a selection of tasty treats! One of life's simple pleasures is dining aboard a long distance train. Ummmmmmm, just the thought of it . . . Sure sounds to me as if there is a world-wide conspiracy to chase people away from train travel. The similarities in cut backs are too much to chalk off to coincidence. VIA Rail has experimented with substituting a buffet in lieu of a full lunch menu and has replaced the Chef aboard the Ocean Renaissance with the "super airline food" specials. Makes one really wonder . . .
And to top it off, I received my ticketing today for the trip up to Gaspe. Came with a ten dollar surcharge for having the tix mailed to me! Never, ever had that before - have a call pending to find out what in the world is going on! Ten bucks - no one mentioned it - they weren't up front at all with it. Been using their "800" number to make reservations for nearly 16 years and always had the tix mailed - this time, something changed! Yeah - a conspiracy to chase us away.
DL - I've checked out the Southern Railway in your country some time back, but appreciated doing it again with that URL you provided. Some fine looking equipment . . . Also looking forward to the 'rest of the story' regarding those Chunnel Chuggers . . .
CM3, you've gone over the edge m'boy! Oh, I see, you too are in practice for the "main event," eh Nice job, although you had the mascots a bit on edge - took me some time to settle 'em down.
Awk the Parrot -
Tex the Armadillo -
Frostbite the Penguin -
A pity that Pete isn't with us to enjoy that fine Post from DL. Undoubtedly, he'd pick up on all of the finer points with elaborations sure to follow. Looking forward to Nick's thoughts . . .
Okay Gents, here they are, the shirts for the Grudge Match DARTS CHALLENGE! (GMDC) are yours for the taking - matching leather jeans along with designer footwear to complete the ensemble!
That's five shirts for the five players - make your selections! Team names are up to y'all . . .
Don't know if DL 'n CM3 caught the latest info on the Thread - as there wasn't any indication - only bring it up because of this ongoing frustration with the Forums, et al.
Okay Ruth, I'm outta here for a bit - give 'em a stein on me!
Good Afternoon Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox.
Is the Open Closed? A Visit to the Our Place Training Camp
Greetings from our studios high atop Mighty Majestic Mount Mentor, overlooking the rushing waters – oh, wait a minute, the pipes burst again. Let’s see, hot on the left, cold on the right, and payday’s on Friday. I have to do everything around here.
Here’s a late (should have been filed two days ago) report from the Our Place Training Camp. Practices are supposedly closed, but bags of various kinds of animal food, and a bone tossed strategically into the back parking lot managed to lure the mascots (and Boris) away thus enabling your reporter (at great risk and personal peril) to get a look at an otherwise (make that other worldly) closed practice session.
It’s too early to tell if any tendencies are emerging. The Our Place 4 (aka the Slippery Fingered 10 Minus 6 or is it the Plus Fours?) is busily engaged in sustained workouts to get ready for the upcoming IMWWDT (InterMentor World Wide Darts Tournament.)
Thus far 12 ounce curls, or a brisk game of chase the barmaid, seem to be the exercises of choice, but those hoping to bulk up and increase their endurance are power lifting cans of Fosters – Nick, ever the purist, was spotted lying under a tank car...closer to the earth I guess. Just remember, you can never be too well conditioned,
In truth, the Our Place team is sartorially challenged at the moment. However, I have heard on good authority that new uniforms are on the way, assuming that the winds are favorable and the mule doesn’t die on the towpath. In any case new uniforms will be an improvement over the present attire of feed sacks, rope belts, and truck shoes.
As an aside, enquiring minds want to know where Lars got the T-shirt with the NY attitude; after all it’s not every day you see a shirt that reads “I Triple Dog Dare You.”
That being said the Our Place team seems to be rounding into shape; that happens from all the beer. From what I could see through the hole I cut into the tarp, two members were asleep and the other two engaged in an amiable discussion about who should be the next target. The barmaids were defending themselves as best as they could. Although they are much too buxom to rely on beer trays as shields, they are agile. This being a family rag, its best that we not get too descriptive here.
By then, the critters had devoured their bribes, and they and Boris chased me out back onto the tracks. They were about to get me when the 5:15 from Mentor came along and I was able to get away. Thank the Lord it was four hours late as always.
Last, there have been some rumors about possible media coverage of this event. Networks bidding for coverage rights include ESPN, Inspiration (tie in with a program on the Book of Revelations, I guess), and Outdoor Life. In your reporter’s opinion, this tournament probably is best suited to Animal Planet.
That’s all the news that isn’t. Now back to our studios at Mighty Majestic Mount Mentor. Say Good night Awk!
work safe
P.S. Just received most recent post with menus. My God! Let's charter the train.
Hello Tom and all in – a pint of Mild for me. Been a bit busy lately with various chores, which even meant I had to scrap plans for attending the GCR Steam weekend event outlined previously – a real disappointment. Maybe Pete made it and can give us a report when he is back - or at least some interesting travelogues if he makes some journey's here.
Anyway, I’ve caught up with the posts and particularly enjoyed reading about the Rock Island Line and the Aerotrain.
Tom – your comment about the Channel Tunnel overnight cars is broadly correct, but it is an interesting saga which I’ll post differently in some detail for those interested (Lars – it will shed more light on your comment about how such daft decisions can be taken). Nick, you may be interested to know exactly why you could not board a sleeper in west Wales with some of your culinary delights and get off next morning in Paris to wow the locals!
If you read parts of the VIA website it suggests Budd still run on certain days on The Ocean, which clearly they do not, so this info needs to be updated by VIA.
You suggested I write to VIA about the dining experience and I will do that, as was my intention, I just wanted to bounce the situation of a traveller with more experience before doing that, so thanks for your comments. I did wonder if there was an ‘anglo problem’ about, but it was hard to know, since they did not make clear, since it was only limited to poor service in the dining car! If you want to make someone feel unwelcome you can carry things a lot further than that surely!
Lars - thanks for those merchant navy links - appreciated.
Nick - on your point about the Brighton Line and also comments on dining on Great Western - see below:
I grew up not too far from the Cuckoo Line (but closed before I could ever use it). You might (as will others) enjoy this link to Southern Info
www.semg.org.uk - check the index pages for lots of stuff
(we’ve mentioned LNER, LMS and GWR on these pages when discussing the UK recently, so only fair that SR gets a mention!).
As for dining on Great Western Nick –
the only relevant service is where what they call 'Pullman Dining' is available (‘P’ in the timetable). This is the proper chef service, not the microwaved grot.
Pullman breakfast is available on the following services:06.30 Swansea to Paddington06.55 Plymouth to Paddington (The Golden Hind)07.45 Paddington to SwanseaPullman Lunch and Dinner is available on the following services: 11.30 Swansea to Paddington 11.45 Paddington to Swansea 12.05 Plymouth to Paddington (The Cornish Riviera)12.05 Paddington to Plymouth (The Royal Duchy)
15.00 Plymouth to Paddington (The Mayflower)
18.03 Paddington to Plymouth (The Golden Hind)
19.03 Paddington to Plymouth
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=70
If you compare this with the number of services GNER are providing dining cars on at the moment it is absolutly pathetic (and more expensive than GNER too) and an insult to the memory of Swindon and the GWR, but there we are. I read that Great Western are even plannign to scrap buffet cars London to Bristol and suffice with a trolley service!
However, the food is very good (In Pullmand Dining), and if you have cause to use these runs I'd take a meal while you can (if the bank manager will allow it!)
Here is the lunch and dinner menu for a sample:
starters
Carrot and Parsnip Soup
A deliciously thick, buttery soup of carrots and parsnips,
enhanced with fresh cream £5.50
Roasted Tomato and Hazelnut Tart
Individual pastry case filled with red onions, oven roasted
tomatoes and hazelnuts topped with mozzarella cheese
and baked £5.95
Smoked Mackerel Pate
A pate of peppered smoked mackerel blended with
double cream with hints of horseradish and paprika £5.25
Shaved Parma Ham and Melon
Thin slices of Parma ham traditionally served with a
fan of honeydew melon £5.95
main courses
Parmesan Potato Gnocchi
Served on a red pepper and Mascarpone cream sauce,
accompanied with sun blush tomato and pine nut salad £12.95
Fillet Steak with Sweet Potato and a
Wild Mushroom Sauce
Fillet Steak cooked to your liking served with a sweet
potato stack and a sauce of wild mushrooms £17.95
Guinea Fowl with a Somerset Apple Brandy Sauce
Sliced roasted *** of guinea fowl served with our
delicious Somerset apple and brandy sauce £15.95
Sea Bass, Butterbeans and Pancetta
Sea bass grilled and served over a butterbean and
pancetta casserole £16.95
ALL MAIN COURSES ARE SERVED WITH A SELECTION OF
VEGETABLES AND POTATOES
desserts
Chocolate Tart with Clotted Cream
A rich dark chocolate tart lightly dusted with cocoa powder
and served with a traditional West Country clotted cream £5.95
Summer Pudding
Summer fruit berries encased in a traditional soaked
bread exterior served with double cream £5.95
ALSO SEE OUR MONTHLY SPECIAL MENU AND WINE LIST
Regards to all
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