Guten Morgen allerseits!
An update: Just heard from trolleyboy Rob via Email - seems that he cannot log in as Kalmbach has no record of him! Isn't that simply wunnerful He's even tried to establish a new password and all of that - but nothing works. Each one of us who gives a Rat's Patoot should send Kalmbach an Email regarding your feelings on these new changes and how it has adversely impacted us. Surely won't cost you a thing but your time. Here's how:
(1) go to the FORUMS main page
(2) at the bottom of the page there is a "contact us" button in the trains.com info - click it
(3) fill out the form and send your concerns to the FORUMS MANAGER - be sure to select this choice.
I'm going to seriously begin looking at other Forums to relocate the bar if this nonsense doesn't come to a satisfactory resolution. It's bad enough that many of us have wasted so much time trying to do what we used to do so easily - now we can't get one of our regulars back! Perhaps this changeover has caused others to take a hike . . . .
Hey Mike! Those are some outstanding URLs regarding the Rock Island Line - nicely done, as always! And the narratives really made your submission all the more meaningful!
If anyone wondered about this Pix in Mike's URLs:
the railroad IAIS is the Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd - more at:
http://www.rrdc.com/op_iowa_iais.html
Ruth, give 'em a drink on me - Boris ring the bell and wake up whoever's slouching back there in the booth, in the corner where it's dark! (Flip Wilson from a loooooooong time ago!)
Auf Wiedersehen!
Tom
A little something for our OPTIONAL Toys 'n Model Trains Day!
My Can-Am HO layout features two building kits that have a bit of history to be shared with those of you who give a Rat's Patoot!
The Second Class Saloon, a model kit from Grandt Line Products, comes in a zillion pieces of wood and other materials - all unpainted. It seemed like a good fit for that portion of my layout where the "Mountain Village" sits beneath the peaks of the mountain range.
The history: In 1882, Wyatt Earp left Tombstone, Arizona to move west and operate several saloons. Among the towns in which he set up these saloons were San Diego in California, Tonopah in Nevada and Nome in Alaska. The Second Class Saloon was the name of his establishment in Nome. Built in the common boomtown style of row buildings, this saloon is unique for its unusual false front and the colorful signage.
The Nine Mile House, a model kit from American Model Builders, also comes in a zillion pieces of wood and other materials - unpainted of course. I was immediately attracted to this building kit as an excellent roadside structure to attract the "working man" heading to and from my modest industrial area.
The history: Designed from an old St. Louis tavern located exactly nine miles from the St. Louis City/County line, this building is still standing, although there have been some changes over the years. It is now called The Train Wreck Saloon, features a rear beer garden, complete with an old wood caboose, and is a popular “hot spot”.
We WILL have lunch 'n a few adult beverages at the Train Wreck Saloon during our 2nd Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous in 2007!
Enjoy!
Wie ist jeder? Es is OKTOBERFEST! Partei wollen wir!
A "quickie" from Nick - a visit from Eric and a morning start-up from Two-Jobs Doug! Not a bad ending and beginning.
A rainy morning here in mid-continent USA as the cold front descends upon us with all sorts of changes expected by this time tomorrow. "They say" we'll be in heavier coats as the temps drop into the 30s (F) - right now we're near 60. Last report about petrol up at "Collusion Corner" was that it sells for $2.08 (rounded). Do you suppose we'll EVER get rid of that 9/10ths BS
This too shall pass, regarding the Pix Posting situation - so hang in there, Eric! Wish I could say the same for Doug's situation. And by the by - don't get yourself wrapped around the axle regarding the DARTS CHALLENGE - after all, it's the REPORTER who has the task of putting it all together. Focus man, focus - this is CYBER SPACE. Same for you Eric - drink what you wish, when you wish - coffee's fine (at five bucks a cup!) but here in the Ether, what you drink CANNOT harm you!
I'm sensing a bit of angst 'round here from our Manager Lars and once again offer this sage advice: chill, my man - chill. What will be will be - if those we used to depend upon are no longer able, what in bloody blue blazes are we to do 'bout that Guys come 'n go - no one or nothing remains the same - not even Moi! <grin> I do understand your chagrin, especially when there are times when this place is rockin' - let's look at it this way: there ARE a few who still regularly frequent our Saloon by the Siding, so let's direct our attention thataway - CM3 - Mike 'n Eric come to mind.
For anyone who gives a Rat's Patoot - today is our OPTIONAL Toy 'n Model Trains Day! So, this is the day to provide a FEW Pix of your layouts, or some narrative or both . . .
Boris, serve ‘em all of the “spiked” OJ they can handle!
Good morning Tom, manager Lars and gents! I've got a few minutes for a light breakfast if you please, and another listen to the "Rock Island Line"! No rest for the proverbial wicked over here as I juggle my two jobs, and also manage to attend my two monthly train meetings this week. Monday night was for a last minutes lawn cutting, which looks like the last for the year the way the weather has turned recently. It's been colder and raining since last night, and there's actually talk of SNOW tomorrow. I'm suire hoping we wrap-up the dart challenge on the 7th of November, because on the 8th ...we have our house closing, and this wicked boy will be most busy shuttling our accumulated stuff to the new digs.
Quite a collection of pix from Nick this last Saturday, and excellent contributions from our captain in reference to the Canadian Thanksgiving. Big time Kudos to CM3's additional Rock Island material, which complimented that of Tom's. I'll also be needing more time than I have to go through Mike's post. Looks jammed packed with info! Welcome back to Eric, and please forgive me for running ... but I must go!
Fella`s-just popped in for a nightcap-been browsing some of the stranger corners of `myspace` whilst drinking beer-trust me guys-theres some VERY strange people out there-------I just hope none of them try to follow me home........
later,
Gute Nacht allerseits!
Taking my own advice - I stuck around for a few minutes after my Post and was fortunate to "catch" Mike's gem for the evening. Lotsastuff packed in there and I'll surely take advantage of it - but not tonight. Baseball on the tube and it's time to check out . . . this old man has had 'nuf of cyber space for one day.
Tigers 1 - As zip in the 3rd inning . . .
Hi Tom and everyone, a round for the house.
Good luck to the Dartagnons in their duel with the Dart Vaders.
Nick, thanks for the info and The Locomotion of typing it.
Government Bridge from Davenport side, built by the Army in 1895 to replace the replacement of the original
http://moline1968.com/scrapbook/bridges/ri-dav-trolley-bridge.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/il/il0500/il0536/photos/063962pv.jpg
http://trainweb.org/qcrails/photos/iais/iais710west_govbridge.jpg
The Rock Island Bridge was built to unite the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad and the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad in Iowa, which was building from Davenport toward Council Bluffs...
O
http://storm.simpson.edu/~RITS/equipment/GreenSteam/LeClaire.jpg
http://www.common-place.org/vol-06/no-04/morsman/
On April 1, 1856, engineers of the Railroad Bridge Company conducted a comprehensive examination of the just completed Rock Island Bridge. Built with more than two hundred and twenty thousand pounds of cast iron, four hundred thousand pounds of wrought iron, and one million feet of timber, the structure was the first railroad bridge to span the mighty Mississippi River. On April 21, confident in the integrity of the bridge but still exercising caution, company officials watched as a single locomotive, the Des Moines, rolled across the bridge from Rock Island, Illinois, to Davenport, Iowa. When three locomotives coupled to eight passenger cars completed the same short trip the following day, people standing along the tracks cheered and church bells rang out from both banks of the Mississippi.
http://www.lib.niu.edu/ipo/1998/ihy980236.html
On the night of May 6, 1856, the Effie Afton, the fastest sidewheel steamboat on the Mississippi River, ran into the Rock Island Railroad Bridge, thus causing the owner of the boat to sue the Rock Island Railroad Company for Fifty thousand dollars. Abraham Lincoln was retained by the railroad to defend it against the charges brought by the owner of the Effie Afton. More than the loss of a steamboat was at stake. If the railroads could not span the Mississippi River with bridges, then they would not be able to connect the railways in the east to the railways in the developing western United States. Hurd v. Rock Island Railroad Company proved to be a dramatic turning point in the career of Abraham Lincoln as a lawyer.
http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/chapter8.html
Mr. Lincoln, in preparing his arguments in this case, took advantage of and put into use the survey of the upper rapids of the Mississippi river made in 1837 by a young lieutenant of United States engineers, and it probably occurred to him that in 1832, when cholera was rampant at Fort Armstrong, on Rock island, it was often unwise and dangerous for boats to land there and that a steamboat, carrying Black Hawk, the noted Sac warrior, as a prisoner, was in charge of a lieutenant of the United States army on a steamboat anchored in the stream a few hundred feet above the site of the bridge.
Looking back over the years that have long since passed away, an unusual interest is centered in the personnel of some of those whose memories are particularly connected with the history of the bridge and Rock Island, for during the war which convulsed the nation three and a half years after this notable trial the attorney who defended the bridge company was President of the United States; the lieutenant who made the survey, Robert E. Lee, was commander in chief of the Army of the Confederacy, while the lieutenant who brought Black Hawk to Prairie du Chien, Jefferson Davis, was president of the so-called Confederate States of America.
http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/chapter22.html
By order of the war department in July, 1863, Rock Island was made a military prison for the confinement of Confederate prisoners. During the same month Captain Charles A. Reynolds, assistant quartermaster United States army, arrived and commenced building a prison and barracks. The first soldiers for guard duty arrived November 2, 1863. Lieutenant Colonel Schaffner arrived on the 19th of November and took command. On the 22d Colonel Richard Henry Rush arrived and took command of the post and Colonel A. J. Johnson was appointed in charge of the prisoners. The first installment of prisoners, taken at the battle of Lookout Mountain, arrived from Chattanooga, December 3, 1863; and from that time until the close of the war a large number of prisoners were kept under a strong guard upon the island. The whole number of prisoners confined here was 12,215; the number of deaths was 1,960. About 500 died of smallpox, many of scurvy and others of vaious diseases, chiefly pneumonia. They were put into rough boxes and buried in trenches. The corner-posts of the cemetery where their ashes repose are composed of cannon taken from the Confederates, planted with their muzzles in the ground and strung around with chains. Within this enclosure sleep nearly 2,000 Confederate dead. At a few of the graves friends of the deceased have erected plain headstones and placed on them a few simple inscriptions. There is also near the head of the island a Union soldiers' cemetery where 310 graves are enclosed by a neat fence. Here exercises are conducted each Memorial Day by the Grand Army posts of Davenport, Rock Island and Moline.
http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200210/15_bickalj_rockisland/railroad.shtml
As president, Lincoln pushed for completion of a transcontinental railroad and when it was done in 1869, the Rock Island Line was one of the links connecting the East and West Coasts for the first time. It also played a prominent role in the story of the west. It was the first railroad to be robbed by the Jesse James gang and it lost a depot in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Despite those setbacks, it continued to grow, and brought many of the first settlers to the newly open Territory of Oklahoma in 1889. By the beginning of the 20th century, the Rock Island Line was one of the most successful railroads in the western half of the country with service in 14 states. The last state to become part of the line was Arkansas and it was here that it inspired a song.
http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=2570
A Rock Island train in the 1880s (William Henry Jackson photos)
http://photoswest.org/photos/20103751/20103776.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/20103751/20103780.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/20103751/20103775.jpg
http://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iudl/archives/cushman/full/P04538.jpg
4-6-2's
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005376/00005382.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005626/00005694.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005626/00005636.jpg
2-8-0's
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005376/00005433.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005376/00005436.jpg
2-8-2
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005376/00005496.jpg
4-8-4's
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005751/00005844.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005751/00005869.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005751/00005846.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005751/00005830.jpg
4-8-2's
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005751/00005837.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005751/00005834.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005751/00005833.jpg
Rock Island Technical Society:
In the midst of bankruptcy like many other Depression-era roads, the Rock Island gambled on a new set of streamlined lightweight passenger trains to return them to profitability. Leading each train set was a new TA model from EMC. 601-606 were delivered in 1937 with Winton diesel engines rated at twelve hundred horses, thus the T designation.
TA's built at LaGrange, IL
http://www.rockisl.com/galleries/builder/tashops1.jpg
http://www.rockisl.com/galleries/builder/tashops2.jpg
http://www.rockisl.com/galleries/builder/tashops3.jpg
http://www.rockisl.com/galleries/builder/601-2aright.jpg
To handle a larger train from Chicago to Denver than a TA could handle, the Rock Island acquired E3A units 625-626 to power the new streamlined Rocky Mountain Rocket introduced on 11/12/39. Only on the Rock were E3A units tapered on the rear roof to match the train set.
E3A
http://www.rockisl.com/galleries/builder/625-2aleft.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005876/00005897.jpg
AB
http://www.rockisl.com/galleries/builder/750-2aright.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00005876/00005931.jpg
E8
http://www.rockisl.com/galleries/builder/652-2a.jpg
F7A
http://www.rockisl.com/galleries/builder/118-3acolor.jpg
Mike
Most pleased to see Lars 'n Nick keeping this place alive (and making a few bucks - kaching, kaching!) . . . been a quiet <yawn> day 'round the Saloon by the Siding.
Here's something to perk us up:
[The chorus is the only part sung, the rest is spoken]Now, this here's the story about the Rock Island lineNow, the Rock Island line is a railroad lineAnd it runs down into New OrleasnAnd just outside of New Orleans is a big toll gateAnd all the trains that go through the toll gateWhy, they gotta pay the man some moneyLess of course, they got certain things on boardThen they okay, then they don't ever have to pay the man nothin'And right now, we see a trainShe's comin' on down the lineAnd when she got up here to the toll gateThe-a depot, he shout down to the driverHe want to know what he got on boardSo he say aWhat you got on board there, boyAnd the driver, he sing right on backDown to the depot agentTell him what he got on boardThe got a way of singingI got sheep, I got cowsI got horses, I got pigsI got all livestockI got all livestockI got all livestockAnd the man say, well, he sayYour alright there, boyYou don't have to pay me nothin'Just get 'em on throughSo the train go through the toll gateAnd as it go throughIt got up a little bit of steamAnd a, a little bit of speedAnd when he sees meOn the other side of the toll gateThey, the driver shout backDown the line to the man'Course you don't hear what he say nowBut home down the Rock Island lineI fooled you, I fooled youI got pig iron, I got pig ironI got all pig ironHe said, tell you where I'm goin', boyGoin' down the Rock Island line, yes, yesShe's a mighty good roadOh well, the Rock Island lineShe's a mighty good roadRock Island line is the road to rideYa, the Rock Island lineIs a mighty good roadAnd if you want to rideYou gotta ride itLike you find itGet your ticket at the stationOn the Rock Island lineWell, I may be rightI may be wrongI know you're gonna miss me when I'm goneYa,the Rock Island lineShe's a mighty good roadRock Island line is the road to rideYa, the Rock Island lineshe's a mighty good roadAnd if you want to rideYou gotta ride itLike you find itGet your ticket at the stationOn the Rock Island lineA B C, W X Y ZCat's in the cupboardBut he don't see meNow, the Rock Island lineShe's a mighty good roadRock Island line is the road to rideYa, the Rock Island lineShe's a mighty good roadAnd if you want to rideYou gotta ride itLike you find itGet your ticket at the stationOn the Rock Island lineHallaluah, I'm safe from sinThe good Lord's comin'For to see me againKeep it goin'And the Rock Island lineShe's a mighty good roadRock Island line is the road to rideYa, the Rock Island lineShe's a mighty good roadAnd if you want to rideYou gotta ride itLike you find itGet your ticket at the stationOn the Rock Island lineThe Rock Island lineShe's a mighty good roadRock Island line is the road to rideYa, the Rock Island lineShe's a mighty good roadAnd if you want to rideYou gotta ride itLike you find itGet your ticket at the stationOn the Rock Island line
Now if that doesn't get you feeling good, nothing will!
Nick, I haven't a clue regarding that question you posed . . . your guesstimate makes sense to me! It's been terrific having you back with us, Chief Chef , and dare we hope that this time it's for keeps Yeah, we know - free spirit and all of that. "We takes what we gets!"
Lars - as always, great contribution to our "Theme" and as always, appreciate your continuing support. You really come through when the chips are down . . . . Wouldn't you just love to actually have those books in your library! My modest collection of hard covers, numbers about 15 and doubt that it will grow very much. "I takes what I gets" and enjoy 'em immensely - have all the bases covered, so to speak.
Nick - let me see what I can come up with for team shirts. Shouldn't be all that difficult to find something "appropriate" for that gang of ours.
The teams for the Bragging Rights DARTS CHALLENGE!
#1 - Pete 'n Rob
#2 - Nick 'n Doug
Substitute: Lars
Reporter - CM3
Schedule: Tuesday, Nov 7th at the Second Class Saloon - Wednesday, Nov 8th at "Our" Place - Thursday, Nov 9th (if needed) at the Second Class Saloon.
Practice: Any Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday nite at "Our" Place at which time the pool room will be CLOSED to onlookers. Spies from the Second Class Saloon are about . . .
Nice Toy 'n Model Trains Day! (optional) Pix from Nick! We'll see what shakes loose in the 'morrow. Things they have really changed 'round here as we just don't have the depth to draw from these days (daze). Also some great "train songs" . . . . lots of 'em out there!
Leon, set 'em up and Boris, ring the bell! Drinks on Da Boss . . . .
Well good evening Gentlemen all,huge foaming litre steins of the fatherlands finest for all please Leon,not forgetting your good self....
Well I for one have found the theme of the day to be most informative-as with the Santa Fe,I had no idea of the mileage covered by the CRIP-my `Merrie Olde` small scale thinking again--well done gentlemen all .
The Aerotrain material from TOM is an added bonus-if only it had run as well as it looked,what might the networks look like now....? -still,progress is always a matter of trial and error I guess.
Right-some specifics,...ERIC-that loco looks very impressive-do they live up to their looks ?....By the by-if your pix-posting problems persist (potent alliteration there..) please feel free to use me as a conduit..TOM did the same for me back in the day and I would be delighted to discharge the debt of honour incurred by doing the same for a fellow traveller-He has my e-mail address,so drop him a line and we can set something up (excuse my reluctance to post my address on an open forum ...lotta freaks out there........)
P.S-The Snowdon Mountain Rly is still in full operation,the original steamers are still in regular use,some diesel power has been added and last time I was up that way they were charging a frankly outrageous $50 a pop for the round trip-with no refunds if the trip has to terminate at Clogwyn,about three quarters of the way up the line..............
TOM-advice noted R.E editing-makes sense when one stops to think about it ...One fragment I seem to recall about the Rock is that the P/Way ,away from the main routes ,was a touch `rustic`-could this be the source of the "takes it as you finds it when you ride it " ( or whatever) lyric in the song ??--enquiring minds and all that.....
CM3-Glad you enjoyed the pix-amazing the degree of humiliation I`m prepared to put up with to earn a few bucks since you have your journo`s hat on today ,perhaps an unattributable quote from `sources close to the team` The road roller will indeed form part of the `Our Place ` fleet and serves a valuable environmentally sound function-as well as reducing gas consumption by streamlining the profiles of vehicles in the car park ,we shall also be fuelling the beast with the remnants of the broken furniture,fixtures & fittings that are a natural by-product of any such sporting fixture................................Perhaps unwisely,I agreed to let Boris drive the thing to make up for his disappointment at not being included in the team,I do hope we all live to regret this largesse.......
LARS-that is some library you have there-almost all of those covers are screaming "read me,read me"-enjoy the game
Right,since I am in no position to contribute to the theme of the day,perhaps some random thoughts-darts night:- there remains the vexed question of team shirts (so we can tell friend from foe when it all goes pear-shaped)-I was thinking along the linesof something in VIA blue with discreet lettering over the left *** in VIA yellow ( although the ghost of my teenage years with the motorcycling fraternity is calling out for a war-bonneted deaths head with `Our Place` & `Mentor` in gothic lettering as top & bottom rockers on the back......-perhaps not..)
Back to the railroad songs theme,Mystery train by Elvis,The train kept a rollin` by the Yardbirds,Driver 8 by R.E.M.Last train to Clarksville by the Monkees,Casey Jones-?,Midnight Train to Georgia-?,Long Train running-?(poss. the Isley bros) 5.15 by the Who,Love in vain by Robert Johnson,L&N,If love was a train & Coalsville Institute by Michelle Shocked ,stretching things a bit,the put to music version of `Night Mail by W.H.Auden,Last train (to Glasgow Central) by Billy Connolly ...........................................
Leon-same again all round please mate-and give copperkettle a poke with a pointed stick-LARS is still waiting for his snacks and I`m getting a touch peckish myself-lets have some onion rings,breaded king prawns ,mini samosa`s and spring rolls,some chips and dips,a platter of mixed sarnies and a couple of bowls of fries for anyone who missed dinner-stick it all on my tab,theres a good fellow.
O.K-model day tomorrow ,as I`m sure you have all had enough of my care-in-the-community efforts in that direction I`m going to trot out some images of a local outdoor 16mm/ft live steam line owned by an associate of mine,Peter Jones-his Compton Down Rly (joint 32 & 45 mm) has been much featured in the Brit model press as an example of how to do it-I have been lucky enough to attend several of his annual open days and he is possessed of a delightful "fill yer boots mate" attitude about photography,sadly these are all 110 point and press images but I hope they will suffice-back in a bit,I`ll go and find one as a `taster`..................................
" border="0" />
There we are,back again-as usual,clockwise from top left, an 0-6-2 tender loco-(poss. by Brandbright ) with a mixed rake of Tal-Y-Lyn & Glyn Valley stock out bound to Llanbedr Rd A narrow gauge version of The Wisbech & Upwell Tram loco`s ( Rev Awdry`s `Toby` ) returning the same set Heavily modified Mamod pot-boiler at Compton Wharf The quarry complex-partial view ( the whole area is about the size of the entire Can-Am system)
Well gents,I think thats me about done for the evening,sorry I couldn`t contribute anything relevant to the theme but I have learned lots,so,once again-well done gentlemen all .
Take care folks,see you tomorrow,
nick
G'day Cap'n Tom and fellow travelers at the bar (wherever you are)!
Ruth, I'll have one of those Paulaner Octoberfest Marzen brews - and slide those snacks down my way, wudja
What a morgue - looks like the "Theme Day!" has kinda bottomed out, huh Thus far, the guy who called for it hasn't been 'round either. Perhaps later . . . Don't know what to make of this and I'm truly sorry that the "load" has been deposited on your most able shoulders. Isn't what I had thought when we reassembled the Gang of 10 - now Gang of 5 (maybe!).
Ok - 'nuf of that stuff - here's my humble contribution, then I'll have "one more" and head on home for tonights American League ball game . . . figure the Tigers will ultimately prevail, but then again, I don't know very much about the As - they could surprise us all.
"Theme for the Day - Rock Island Line" - books, what else
Enjoy the day one and all . . . .
Until the next time!
Lars
Now arriving on track #2
RR Theme for the Day - Number Five
Used with permission from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Formatting differences made necessary due to Forums requirements. Some heralds and images from other sources.
Aerotrain (EMD)
Rock Island Aerotrain at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation
The Aerotrain makes its debut in 1955.
The Aerotrain is a streamlined trainset introduced by General Motors Electro-Motive Division in the mid-1950s. Like all of GM's great body designs of this mid-century era, this futuristic train was first brought to life in Harley Earl's GM Styling Section. It utilized the experimental EMD LWT12 locomotive (essentially an EMD SW1200 switcher engine geared for high-speed passenger service and wrapped in an aerodynamic shell), coupled to a set of modified General Motors 40-seat intercity bus coach bodies. The cars each rode on two axles with an airbag suspension system, which was intended to give a smooth ride but had the opposite effect.
GM's Aerotrain, in service as the City of Las Vegas, makes a station stop on its way to Los Angeles in 1957.
The two Aerotrain demonstrator sets logged over 600,000 miles and saw service on the following railroads:
· the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway;
· the New York Central Railroad;
· the Pennsylvania Railroad; and
· the Union Pacific Railroad.
In 1956 Aerotrain No. 2 was leased as a demonstrator to the New York Central, and operated between Cleveland and Chicago. In the summer of 1957 it was operated by the Union Pacific as the City of Las Vegas, running between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The train eventually found itself in Chicago commuter service on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.
GM's "lightweight with a heavyweight future" was introduced at a time when U.S. passenger train revenues were steadily declining due to competition from airlines and private automobile travel. Although it featured an eye-catching, streamlined design, the Aerotrain failed to capture the imagination of the American public. The cars, based on GM bus designs and using an air cushioning system, were rough riding and not very comfortable for the passengers. The design of the locomotive section rendered even routine maintenance extremely difficult and time-consuming. The locomotive unit was underpowered. Eventually, both trainsets were retired after only a decade's use in 1966. Today, Aerotrain No. 1 is on permanent display at the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri, while No. 2 resides at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Disneyland operated a scale version of the Aerotrain, known as the Viewliner, from 1957 to 1959 (see below). Since 1958, the Washington Park and Zoo Railway in Portland, Oregon has operated a scale, diesel-powered replica of the Aerotrain (dubbed the Zooliner) to transport zoo patrons along a one-mile route around the perimeter of the zoo grounds.
· The Aérotrain, an experimental monorail system that rode on a thin cushion of compressed air (designated as a Tracked Air-Cushion Vehicle, or TACV), was developed in France under the supervision of engineer Jean Bertin between 1965–1975. In 1970, Chula Vista, California-based Rohr Industries, Inc. constructed a test vehicle for the project.
·
Good Morning Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please; round for the house, and $ for the jukebox. Let’s see what we can say abt. gas this a.m. $2.29 here and $2.07 yesterday over in Greenbrier County. Fall colors are starting to look pretty good and we have had a couple of warm days although they are talking possible snow here later this week. New River Trains run this weekend and next; hope to get to see at least one set of them.
Oakland/Detroit series shapes up to be an interesting set, and as some have suggested a lot depends on what St. Louis team shows up; I will, however, suggest that they perform a little better with Eckstein in the lineup.
Now let’s see what’s been happening. If I skipped someone, I humbly apologize.
Lars has visited with cogent sports comments and other observations.
Nick has been with us more than a few times with some excellent pictures; both rail and social. I especially enjoyed the shots of the old steam engines. Is there any truth to the rumor that the road roller will be used to flatten opponent’s vehicles in the parking lot during the tournament? My job as a reporter is to find out about this stuff.
For your tune collection, how about Tom Rush’s version of “Panama Limited?” Excellent picking. Let’s play it on the jukebox.
Barndad provided an interesting contemporary posting on streamliners/streamlining. Any “Comet” material is appreciated. I also always liked the looks of the “Lady Baltimore.”
Al stopped by – long time no hear; it sounds as though you have been really busy.
Eric returns with pictures new and old.
James returns with pictures.
Our ‘steamed proprietor posted all kinds of observations.
Thirty-four episodes of “F Troop?” Yikes.
“Back to the Woods” is a good one; I have a ton of Stooges material on DVD and just happened to watch that one the other night – there comes a point where there’s only so much TV news that I can handle. Anyway, the Governor’s daughters in “Back to the Woods” were named Faith, Hope and Charity.
This led to the following bit of dialog (in bogus English accents, yet).
Larry: I wanteth Hope.
Curly: Nay, nay, I saweth her first. Whyest not take Charity?
Larry: I hath no need of Charity; I’m on the WPA.
Thanks for the rerun of the RDC material.
I see that our Rock Island theme day has started. Here’s my contribution. Passenger and freight. Lots of fallen flags in this one, so it’s a little bittersweet.
The Rock Island in 1969 – A Snapshot
The Rock Island is gone, but at its fullest extent, its tracks ran from Chicago as far north as Minneapolis, as far west as South Dakota, Colorado, and New Mexico, and as far south as Galveston, TX, Eunice, LA, and Memphis, TN.
In 1969, the Rock Island, however, had centered its passenger service on Chicago. There, the Rock operated six passenger trains as well as 77 commuter trains.
Trains 5-9 and 6-8 ran between Chicago and Rock Island (181 miles). They carried chair cars, a club parlor car, and a club diner. Train 5-9 departed Chicago at 5:35 p.m., with a 9:00 p.m. arrival at Rock Island. Train 6-8 left Rock Island at 6:45 a.m. and pulled into Chicago’s LaSalle St. Station at 10:00 a.m.
Trains 7 and 10 ran covered 493 miles between Chicago and Omaha. Chair cars operated between Chicago and Omaha and a club diner between Chicago and Des Moines. Train 7 left Chicago at 9:10 a.m., set out the diner at Des Moines at 4:35 p.m., and arrived in Omaha at 8:00 p.m. Train 10 left Omaha at 10:30 a.m., picked up its diner at Des Moines at 1:25 p.m. and reached Chicago at 8:40 p.m.
Trains 11 and 12, “The Peorian,” were the only named trains in the timetable. They handed chair cars, a parlor car, and a club diner between Chicago and Peoria (161 miles). No.11 departed Chicago at 6:15 p.m. and arrived at 9:25 p.m. in Peoria. To Chicago, train 12 left at 6:45 a.m. and arrived at 9:45 a.m.
Even though they were up against it, the Rock Island offered freight shippers many options.
Freight service ran between Chicago and Tucumcari, NM via Kansas City and Topeka.
Other freight trains operated between Memphis and Tucumcari via Little Rock, Oklahoma City, and Amarillo. Another line ran from Chicago to Council Bluffs, Omaha and west to Denver.
More freight operated between Kansas City and St. Louis while another line handled traffic from Chicago to Galveston via Kansas City, Dallas, Ft. Worth and Houston. The last two lines ran from Chicago to Minneapolis via Cedar Rapids and from Little Rock to Eunice, LA via El Dorado, Winfield, and Alexandria.
The Rock Island connected with other railroads at many of these cities.
Alexandria, LA – L&A, MP, T&P, SP.
Amarillo, TX – FW&D, ATSF.
Chicago and South Chicago, IL – B&O, B&OCT, PRR, NYC, BRC, C&O, C&EI, CRI, CSL, CSS&SB, CWP&S, EJ&E, EL, GTW, IC, IHB, N&W.
Colorado Springs, CO – C&S, DRGW, ATSF.
Dallas, TX – SLSW, SLSF, FW&D, MKT, L&A, ATSF, SP, T&P.
Denver, CO – CB&Q, C&S, DRGW, ATSF, UP via Pullman Jct.
Des Moines, IA – CNW, DM&CI, DMU, FtDDM&S.
Eunice, LA – MP, SP.
Ft. Worth, TX – SLSW, SLSF, FWBRy, MKT, ATSF, SP, T&P.
Great Southwest, TX – GSWRR.
Houston, TX – MKT, MP, ATSF, SP.
Irving, TX – SLSF.
Kansas City, MO – CB&Q, CNW, SLSF, GM&O, MKT, KCS, MILW, MP, ATSF, UP, N&W.
Memphis, TN – SLSW, SLSF, GM&O, IC, L&N, MP, SOU.
Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – CNW, GN, MILW, NP MTRR, SOO.
Omaha, NB (also Council Bluffs, IA) – CB&Q, CNW, IC, MILW, UP, N&W.
Peoria, IL – CB&Q, C&IM, CNW, GM&O, IC, IT, N&W, NYC, PPU, PT, TP&W.
St. Louis, MO – TRRA.
Tucumcari, NM – SP.
Work safe
THEME for the DAY! - THEME for the DAY!
Now arriving on track #1
Railroads from Yesteryear!
Number Twenty Two
Used with permission from: Wikipedia, the free encylopedia. Formatting differences made necessary due to Forums requiremensts. Some heralds from other sources.
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
(The Rock Island Line)
Reporting marks
RI, ROCK
Locale
Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas
Dates of operation
October 10, 1852 – March 31, 1980
Track gauge
4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge)
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (CRI&P RR) (AAR reporting mark RI) was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was also known as the Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, THE ROCK. Its ancestor, the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad, was incorporated on February 7, 1851 and operated its first train on October 10, 1852, between Chicago and Rock Island, Illinois.
History
Territory
The Rock Island stretched across Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The easternmost reach of the system was Chicago, and the system also reached Memphis, Tennessee; west, it reached Denver, Colorado, and Santa Rosa, New Mexico. Southernmost reaches were to Galveston, Texas, and Eunice, Louisiana while in a northerly direction the Rock Island got as far as
And the first shall be last . . . Eric, here's your Pix that failed to Post:
Swedish State Railways Class T41, license built in Sweden 1955.
If it is any solice at all, many of us have gone through all sorts of adjustments in trying to get our Pix to Post properly since the Kalmbach changeover. They simply do not appear to be concerned enough to address the issue. Oh well, it's a free web site and we all have our options - wonder where and how all of this will end
Happy that you're back amongst us and hope that the pluses far outweigh the minuses as you resume your place at the bar!
Nick - speaking of Pix - yes, I was referring to that extraneous stuff you mentioned at the beginning and ending of your photos. Interestingly, the latter is quite the same as what Eric is experiencing. Must be a Forum "thing" - or to complicate it further, conflicts in software between 'puter and Kalmbach. We can live with it as long as your fine efforts display for one and all to enjoy!
Eric - pro sports in Arizona had some glory years, especially with the NBA Phoenix Suns. They put some quality lineups out on the hardwood and were quite competitive for years. Must admit that when the Diamondback won it all, no one was more suprised than I. They were a good team - but what they achieved put them right up there with the great ones - albeit for a short time. As for the NFL team - as long as Mr. Bidwell is the owner, I'll think negatively about 'em and hope they wind up at the bottom of the heap, season after season. Greed in any shape or form just isn't appreciated by me. He had a good thing here and had he pursued the objective of getting a new stadium in ways other than that of the extortionist, perhaps the Cardinals of football would still be playing in the shadow of the Arch. <groan>
Nick - A word about editing: No problems, the feature is there for the use. However, one of the unintended consequences is what it (editing) does to the "listings" of Posts once someone checks into the Classic Trains - General Discussion page. It will reveal the edited Post as the most current - unless someone has Posted since. So, to circumvent this obvious gltich in the system - if one is to edit a Post that has been sitting for hours, days or perhaps weeks - be sure to come right back with a separate - new - Post. That way everything will get back on track. <phew>
Had hoped we would have gotten something out of our Canadian connections yesterday - but with BK away and "off line" and Rob experiencing whatever this latest problem is, it was not to be. Last time we heard from the man swinging from the trolley wire was a week ago today.
Today is Tuesday "Theme for the Day - Rock Island Line." Will be interesting to see what shakes loose . . .
Remember, Ruth comes in at 9 AM and Leon takes over at 5 PM . . . .
Whoops-sorry bossman-this time it really is me
Well happy holiday to one and all ,I hope I find you well
A round for the house please Leon, a Starop for me and try one yourself whilst you are about it
I`ve just edited in some info on the first batch of yesterdays pix-more will follow as & when I can find it...............
Right,whose been about..? TOM,of course-thanks for the background on Canadian Thanksgiving-good stuff,glad your team saw off the opposition (not that I know anything about it ,but hey..)
You mentioned strange things with my pix-on my screen I get a wee 3-colour icon before each shot and a couple of seemingly random characters after-is this what you meant ?
ERIC-Can heartily recommend Photobucket-very few teething troubles,mostly through not following instructions-give it a go..
JAMES-A nice old steamer-I`m sure someone will take pity on her............R.E `night` shots-have you considered the old theatre lighting trick of using blue filtered background light for a moonlight effect ?
MIKE-We grew up with old U.S TV programs that the Beeb used to buy in to pad out the schedules-Bilko,I love Lucy,The Munsters,The Virginian,Casey Jones,The Andy Williams Show,Rawhide--to many to name
A note or two on the Snowdon URL`s-first off the date-unlikely to be 1898,only one train ran in that year-the opening day service,when the train engine `LADAS` (acronym for Laura Alice Duff-Ashdon- Smyth--the wife of the biggest local landowner ) rolled off the track,killing her driver. The line was immediately closed until april 1899.
The line is laid to 800mm gauge and uses the Abt rack & pinion system,all vehicles are propelled and are not coupled to the locos The locos & stock are Swiss built.
The engine in the first shot is #4 `Snowdon` -still in use today-although now oil-fired.-The engine and carriage sheds are out of shot to the right ,from a facing lead-have a couple of pix I will dig out
The quarries in the second shot are much larger than they look-they are across the lake (Llyn Padarn ) from Llanberis and had their own quite complex rail system-internal workings were by 2ft gauge `baby Hunslet` 0-4-0ts with wagons then transhipped,4 at a time ,onto 4ft gauge transporter wagons and shipped along the lakeshore from Gilfach Ddu to Felinheli (Port Dinorwic). This line has now been relaid to 2ft gauge as a tourist route (Llanberis lake railway) with 3 of the old Hunslets sharing duties.
The Gilfach Ddu site now houses a substantial museum complex and has a huge underground hydro-electric plant adjacent--again,pix to follow-next sunday if time permits.
The next couple of shots are of Clogwyn ridge-the most exposed part of the line,in extreme weather (of which there is lots) all trains terminate at Clogwyn-the locos are anchored to the track by the rack mechanism-the coaches arn`t........
Summit stn is ,as one might expect, the highest in Britain-the cafe there is currently being rebuilt ( it was famously described by Prince Charles as being "The highest slum in Britain") it is indeed a graceless lump of a thing-difficult to believe it was designed by Clough Williams-Ellis -the man who built the nearby Italinate gem of Portmeirion-which you guys might recognise as the location for the filming of `The Prisoner`,that `60`s gem featuring Patrick Magoohan and a lot of big white balls
Right-looks like its half past late again,moonlight mile for me-Leon,set `em up again and dont feed Boris any more raw meat
Take care guys,nick
What ho! Anyone wondering why the "last" Post shows up as "nickinwestwales - yesterday" is due to the fact that our Chief Chef has been editing his Post. That's what happens . . . causes things to "skew" to an earlier date 'n time. <gotcha, Mate!>
Good to see ya Lars and appreciate your taking the time to stop by. For a holiday Monday, I'd have expected a bit more "action" - but, "We takes what we gets!"
Been awhile since James popped in . . . not sure I understand some of the commentary, but chalk it up to the generation gap.
Actually the reason for this Post is to get things back on track so that when guys log in, they get the MOST CURRENT as opposed to something from a day EARLIER!
G-day captain Tom and all.
I have not been here for quite sometime. We have been busier than a horde of elephantes. We're going to be locking the house up for winter in just a few days.
Tom- Thanks for the info on the Aerotrain. I have seen that it is coming into the model world, just never had any background info on it. And I will remember that Tuesday will be the next theme day. Just didn't know, sorry. But hopefully that the "Rock" is a good theme for tomorrow but thats up to you.
Pete- Thanks for the comments on my model cabinent. It will hopefully be growing over the next couple of years. I have a Milwaukee road bipolar but have not displayed it recently. It just came back from a friend who painted it for me.
Nick- Thanks for the compliments. I will hopefully have a few more night shots to come. I have been working on the next one which I hope to have up soon. I know the Model cabinent is below a bunch of books and I know it can get quite annoying... but I will be adding in the wounderful train books so you can read the titles of those instead of novels, and other books.
I have been seeing a lot of CN pics so I think I will add some more up.
Photo by: Donald Nute
Photo from: trains.nute.ws/4-6-2/CNR5288.htm
Shes not looking so healthy at the moment. But hopefully someone will come and fix her up
Happy railroading
James
G’day Cap’n Tom and fellow travelers at the bar!
Ruth, a frosty stein of Staffelberg-Bräu and put in on Eric’s tab!
May I extend happy holidays to all who are relaxing today, either with the Canadian Thanksgiving Day or as Cap’n Tom so aptly put it, the contrived Monday holiday here in the states! Maybe one day “they” will get it right and extend the credit of discovery to Leif and his Norsemen – until that is, some other archaeologist can come up with even earlier proof.
As you may recall, “the parade” is the big thing here in “the city,” with all of the politicos taking their spots at the beginning. Queen Hillary, and so forth. Makes me want to “up chuck!” Well, at least the Italian-Americans will make the most of their day – they do it “right” and it is a fun time in Manhattan today.
Okay Cap’n Tom – showdown begins tomorrow night!
Remember 2000 when we took 4 out of 5 to send you guys packing
I agree with what you’ve said, though – one can NEVER count their chickens at this time of year – anything surely can happen. Your bullpen didn’t give up a run during the first round – that’s impressive. Now, IF your hitters really wake up, my Mets will have some serious competition.
Too bad about Rolen though – the guy is a “gamer.” What happened during the regular season doesn’t “cut it” in the playoffs – so these should be good games.
We all should be concerned about the American League though – they definitely have the “whammy” on the NL and either Oakland or Detroit is gonna be a tough row to hoe. Not totally surprised at the Yankee power failure – just bothers me that Joe Torre may be taking the hit for a few of the boy zillionaires failing to produce.
Eric, I didn’t know professional sports are played in Arizona! Only kidding . . . . can’t win “it” every year. The Diamondbacks had their day in the sun – as for the football Cardinals, well that’s a totally different matter. Good to see ya ‘round the place again and thanks for the free brew!
As you always do Cap’n Tom, that’s quite an interesting run down on the Canadian Thanksgiving history – liked the graphic too.
In reviewing the list of our guys and their whereabouts – no wonder things are quiet ‘round the Tavern by the Tracks! Good grief Charlie Brown – our roster has been decimated. Some of these issues are without remedy – or so it appears - and we’ll just have to weather it, huh Just wish our “working guys” could and would provide some posts from home now ‘n then. Just a different ‘mind set” these days I guess.
Guten Tag allerseits!
Good to see ya, Eric! Ruth - take note, the drinks are on our X2000 friend today - have those "taps" at the ready for our German brew!
Not sure I understand the advice given by Kalmbach - I used Firefox and there is no linkage between how I download my Pix for this Thread. Mine are directly downloaded from either PhotoBucket or RailImages using the 'standard' procedures we all got used to prior to the change of things. Firefox may enhance some of the features installed on these Forums by Kalmbach, but I'd surely like to know what they mean when it comes to Pix Posting. Anyway, happy they answered you - good luck.
As you can tell, Nick is able to provide us with Pix - but his do contain some spurious "stuff," which either can be attributed to a "glitch" in the procedure, or a software incompatability - my guess. "We takes what we gets!"
Just to catch you up on who's around these days - we're down to rock bottom, or so it seems:
pwolfe Pete (Wolfman) is on holiday in "Merry Olde" 'til near the end of the month - BudKarr BK is away on holiday 'til next week - coalminer3 CM3 is "off" today - West Coast S Dave is also "off" today and apparently has experienced a problem with computer access; not sure - trolleyboy Rob hasn't been seen since last Tuesday morning and apparently is experiencing access problems - barndad Doug is working two jobs; 'nuf said - passengerfan Al is somewhere between getting that personal 'puter fixed and saying he will - and LoveDomes Lars is going to be hit 'n miss for awhile - so, that pretty much tells the story, eh
Appreciate your taking the time to stop by - I was about to "fold the tent" for the day . . . .
Tomorrow is our "Theme for the Day - The Rock Island Line" - so perhaps you'll be able to join us for some enlightening input!
Cardinals win! Cardinals win! So, it's on to New York and the Mets beginning Wednesday. Enjoy the "moment" Red Birds fans - if we win one against the "mighty Mets" we'll be lucky! But then again, anything can happen in sports - and usually does. It wasn't all that long ago when the BoSox swept the Cards in the World Series - a formidible team in the National League, folded the tent in the October classic. "Stuff" happens . . . <grin>
Good to see that fine spate of Pix from Nick for our Sunday Photo Posting Day! Appeared as if things were going to be definitely dismal until our man "saved the day!" Also, the return of Eric to the 'fold' is encouraging along with the appearance of Mike for a URL Sunday!
No Rob - no Doug on Sundays surely puts a damper on what we' ve been accustomed to 'round here - especially barndad.
Back to sports for a bit, NFL St. Louis Rams are 4-1 and the Arizona Buzzards - oooooops, Cardinals are 1-4. <grin> No sympathy 'round here for the football Cardinals as they abandoned this city some years back and many of us will NEVER forget or forgive the owner of that team - NeVAH!! And before anyone jumps my case about the Rams leaving LA (really Anaheim) - I'm really not that enamored with them either - especially ownership. The league should have stopped that abandoning of the LA greater metro area - but didn't.
So, what's on tap for this day Last time I checked, petrol had dropped to $2.10 (rounded) up at "Collusion Corner" - so at least for the moment, we should be "happy" for small favors . . . weather is expected to be fall-like with temps making it into the lower 70s (F) - but beginning tomorrow, the rains arrive and by the end of the week "they say" we may see snow flurries! <yeah> Juneau and I are READY! Hush you Muskies - or is that, Mush you Huskies!!
Enjoy the day, Gents and this will be a CM3 "day off" - so, hopefully someone will fill the AM "slot."
Today is another of those "Monday Holidays" here in the U.S. - one that has lost much meaning over the years. It's called "Columbus Day" - however we all know he didn't "discover" America, but we continue on with the foly of recognition nonetheless. <barf> A holiday for banks, the post office, federal workers, some state employees and some school children. Really nothing more than another day of "sales" at the malls. Ask me how I really feel!
Origin and History of Canadian Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is celebrated on the 2nd Monday in October in Canada.
Unlike the U.S. tradition of celebrating the Pilgrims first Thanksgiving in Massachusetts, Canadians commemorate a successful harvest. The more northerly latitudes of Canada in comparison to the U.S. provides for an earlier harvest season.
The English explorer, Martin Frobisher, who sought to find a northern passage to the Orient, is largely held as the first to celebrate a Thanksgiving in Canada. In 1578 in an area today called Newfoundland, his formal ceremony gave thanks for surviving the long journey from England, even though he was never to succeed in finding the passage sought. The tradition held as other settlers continued the event. With a northern inlet named after him – Frobisher Bay - and having been Knighted, he is considered as the “father” of Canadian Thanksgiving.
Further south in Canada, and in the same time frame, settlers from France under the auspices of explorer Samuel de Champlaign, also celebrated with feasts of thanks though “The Order of Good Cheer,” freely sharing their bounty with the Indian inhabitants.
The people of Halifax, upon the end of the Seven Years War in 1763, celebrated a day of Thanksgiving.
Americans who remained loyal to the Crown, moved to Canada during the American Revolution. Bringing their customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving northward into Canada, added to the similarities between the two celebrations (cornucopia – horn of plenty - and pumpkin pie, for example).
In 1879, Parliament declared November 6th as a day of Thanksgiving, decreeing it a national holiday. As the years passed, several different dates emerged for Thanksgiving, with the most popular being the 3rd Monday in October. At the conclusion of WWI, Armistice Day (November 11th) and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week where November 11th occurred. A decade later, the two days were made separate holidays, with Armistice Day renamed Remembrance Day in 1931.
“A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed . . . to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.” By act of Parliament on January 31st, 1957.
Canadian Thanksgiving is observed in the homes of trolleyboy Rob - BudKarr BK 'n siberianmo Tom! <eh!>
Hi Tom and everyone, especially Al and Eric, welcome back.
Thanks for all the pictures today.
Eric, so cool that ancient locomotive still running.
The Royal York Hotel, back in the day.
http://216.94.16.48/_images/common/photos/original/CN002860.jpg
By the way Happy Thanksgiving, Rob, what do you have for a bird, the goose?
Nick, how do you know about Sergeant Bilko, from the recent movie or the original You'll Never Get Rich TV show? If the latter I'm astounded.
It says in this book here that, geologically, Wales is the most ancient soil of Great Britain, that its mountains of Laurentian, Cambrian and Silurnian rocks reared their summits long before England emerged from the sea. The Welsh hills, or Cambrian Mountains, attain their greatest height in Snowden (3,570 ft.).
The pictures at these links are vintage 1898. Only the first one, Snowden Mountain Tramway locomotive at Llanberis, is relatively a close-up. The rest are of tiny, almost invisible trains and Mt. Snowden.
http://www.geh.org/fm/mismis/m197100820002.jpg
http://www.geh.org/fm/mismis/m197100820003.jpg
http://www.geh.org/fm/mismis/m197100820004.jpg
http://www.geh.org/fm/mismis/m197100820005.jpg
http://www.geh.org/fm/mismis/m197100820006.jpg
http://www.geh.org/fm/mismis/m197100820007.jpg
http://www.geh.org/fm/mismis/m197100820008.jpg
Tom, congrats on (yawn) the Cards Clinch.
Lars, congrats on our Mets Clinch, yeah!
WOW that "Prinz August" 2-4-0 with the 4-wheel stock is a beaut-the juxtaposition with the overhead wires and the guy in the day-glo vest rounds it out nicely-fine shot..
Right-enough rum for me-looks like a day feeding the old cement mixer tomorrow (whoopee-bloody-do)
waaaah....
Well here we go round again-ERIC- home my man-although we are closed there is a bottle of the special rum available for emergencies........................
TOM-nicely fielded-glad you enjoyed the selection-wouldn`t even think about re-visiting the debate R.E Can-Am Metro bi -levels ( )-in point of fact ,those Athearn cars are not great in propel mode (might be a different story with draw-bars instead of std couplers....)
O.K-a more or less random selection to finish off with-just a second whilst I check the curtains and fish out a few shot glasses and the rum bottle-right-here we go:-
Tralee-Dublin service departing Killarney-Ireland contempory
For young JAMES-Milwaukee road colours in the old country-General Motors power on Dublin-Rosslare & Waterford-Rosslare services (Ireland-fairly recent)
And staying with a theme:- General Motors units in Wisconsin Central colours-Didcot,a couple of years back
And harking back to a recent discourse-S&DJR 2-8-0 plus a couple of freight cars on the West Somerset rly.
Another selection from the W.S.R-again,notes to follow.........
Here we are a little further west-Buckfastleigh on the South Devon rly-again,detail to follow
Well chaps-hope you all enjoy these views from across the water-apologies for `flooding the market` but as noted on friday,looks like a quiet weekend-good luck to all the home teams (just wait `til we get the MENTOR MANIACS registered.............)
Take care fella`s-regards to the various ladies
Right-back for more,lets have a look at part 2 of tonights slideshow................
Those of you who were in on friday will have spotted a trio of B/W shots of the erstwhile Welsh Highland Railway,a line upon which I suspect I may have delivered a monologue some time previously (If not I will be happy to do so at some future time-It is one of those lines that only a true enthusiast could love,never made a cent,never should have been built in the first place and (glory of glories) is now being re-built not only from it`s original terminus at Dinas Jn but also the extra 5 miles or so over the old B.R trackbed from Caernarvon down to join the Festiniog Rly at Portmadoc )
Here then,as a taster,the loco stock of the W.H.R:-
Here we have "Snowdon Ranger" one of a pair of 0-6-4t single Fairlie`s delivered to the original North Wales Narrow gauge Railway in (I believe) 1897-sadly,she did n`t survive to be taken into W.H.R ownership in 1923.
And here is sister engine "Moel Tryfan" together with "Russell" (of which more anon) at the south end of Beddgelert stn
One of the very few existing views of "Gowrie"-this engine,another Fairlie 0-6-4t,was purchased to work the Bryngwn branch but was found to be a poor steamer and was disposed of to the war department in 1916 (allegedly for a significant profit...)
The W.H.R was formed of two companies:-the N.W.N.G.R and the Portmadoc,Beddgelert & South Snowdon rly-whose only contribution to the greater whole was this elegant Hunslet 2-6-2t and the undeveloped right of way from Beddgelert to the jn with the horse-worked Croesor tramway just noth of Portmadoc.
The W.H.R eventually fell into the hands of the Festiniog rly and "Russell" was taken into Boston Lodge works and mutilated to fit the Festiniog loading gauge-unsucessfully,as it turned out............(see earlier pics of Moel Tryfan & north end of Dinas Jn)...happily,alls well that ends well and she is now back on the south end of the restored line in original condition once again...
The only other engine owned by the W.H.R was this ex-W.D Baldwin,bought for a song,but apparently unpopular with crews `cos of rough riding,especially in reverse-a common trait it seems-the ALCO 2-6-2t`s were much smoother beasts all round-something to do with angle of inclination of the pistons I`m told-should drive on the 3rd axle not the middle.....ho hum.........
And for completeness---Festiniog rly `England` 0-4-0 tender/tanks also worked over the line-usually on the southern section between Portmadoc & Beddgelert-here an unidentified example draws up by the water crane at the north end of Beddgelert--The Royal Goat Hotel is prominent in the background
Right--here endeth the second lesson.....
back in a bit with the final flurry
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter