G'day Captain Tom and fellow travelers at the bar!
Ruth, I'll have one of those "freebies" on 20-fingers Al, make it a frosty cold bottle of Rheingold if you please. Nothing to eat - well, maybe just a couple of handfuls of those snacks over there . . .
Take heart, Captain Tom - Saturdays are for all kinds of things, one of which is to make at least one visit to the Bar by the Ballast! <grin> Wouldn't let ya down, mate - just got rather tied up in domestic "things" . . . Must agree though, it surely is a different place around here without Doug, Rob 'n Pete. Expect at least one of them should be coming along soon . . .
Nice selection for the Saturday ENCOREs!! Those "Frenchies" are fine looking machines, huh 'Bout the only thing good I can come up with for them these days! Gotta hand it to them though, they really have fine rail system. Looking foward to Part 3.
Here's a URL to shed a bit more light on the relocation of the Mets AAA affiliate from Norfolk to New Orleans. There's ALWAYS more to the story!
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060921&content_id=1675837&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym
Terrible thing about that Maglev accident in Germany - so many killed because of something that definitely could have been avoided.
The technology, if I recall, is something that was developed here in the states - several decades back. At least the Asians and Euros are using it. Wonder if we'll ever get around to leaving the steel rails for something more efficient Nah!
Won't even ask WHAT the 'deal' is with 20-Fingers Al and that "techie" who supposedly is going to get his 'puter up and running. Hasn't this saga gone on long enough Good to see ya, Al - but are you 'with' us It has been MONTHS!
Sad story about the "fire dog" and something that makes one feel glad and sad about at the same time. Dogs are truly marvelous creatures!
Perhaps we could run a canine for the new UN Chief! Would do a hulluva lot better job than that comic character who thinks US bashing is the way to unite the world. Just read where we are paying over 20% of the costs and are reaping 99% of the blame. Now, how does that make sense Move the %$#@ out of our country and let's pull the plug on funding at the same time. Just an illustration of what I'm talking about - does anyone recall that the UN forces in Korea ceased "hostilities" with the north in 1953 and the &^%* situation has YET TO BE RESOLVED! Now how's that for an ineffective organization And of course we don't want to get into the "oil for food" scandal, huh What's this have to do with trains Hmmmmmm - we're being RAILROADED!
I enjoyed that dialogue between Captain Tom and Left Coast Doug yesterday - some interesting SP info along with a bit of insight into the adventures of our 'steamed Proprietor back in the days when he was gainfully employed! I checked out that site and there are many facets to explore . . . thanks!
Better get back to what I was doing - listening to the Mets while taking care of "business" 'round the house. Now that the "clincher" is over 'n done, it's rather hard to pay attention to these meaningless games. Playoffs aren't that far off, though . . . .
Until the next time!
Lars
Good Morning Tom and the rest of the gang. Time for a double CR and a round for the house. Still am not on line in my new place. Waiting for the tech to set a time.
Unfortunate accident with the Maglev.
We still are talking here in California about Maglev between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Even the Casinos are offering to pay 1/2 the cost which will be in the Billions.
TTFN Al
ENCORE! Saturday - ENCORE! Saturday
from page 255
RAILWAYS of EUROPE #3 – TGV (France)
“SNCF, gives the train ideas in advance” TGV PART II of III Used with permission from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Formatting differences made necessary due to Forums requirements. Some heralds from other sources. Stations Avignon TGV station. (GNU Free Documentation) One of the main advantages of TGV over other fast rail techologies such as magnetic levitation is that TGV trains can take advantage of existing infrastructure. This makes connecting city centres (such as Paris-Gare de Lyon to Lyon-Perrache) with TGV a simple and inexpensive proposition; TGVs often use intra-city tracks and stations originally built with lower-speed trains in mind. However, TGV route designers have tended to build new stations in suburban areas or in the open countryside several kilometers away from cities. This allows TGVs to stop without incurring too great a time penalty, since more time is spent on high-speed track. In some cases, stations are built halfway between two communities. The station serving Montceau-les-Mines and Le Creusot is an example of this approach. Another, more controversial example is the Haute Picardie station, which is located between Amiens and Saint-Quentin. The location of the Haute Picardie station was rather controversial; the press and local authorities criticized it as too far from either town to be convenient, and too far from connecting railway lines to be useful for travellers. The station was nicknamed la gare des betteraves, or 'beetroot station', as it is surrounded by beet fields. This nickname is now applied to similar stations located away from town and city centres, whether such stations are in the vicinity of beet fields or not. A number of major new railway stations have been built to support the TGV service, some of which are considered major architectural achievements in their own right. The Avignon TGV station, opened in 2001, has been praised as one of the most remarkable stations on the network, with a spectacular 340 m (1,115 ft)-long glazed roof which has been compared to that of a cathedral. Rolling stock A TGV train in Rennes, in Brittany. (Wikimedia Commons) Eurostar and Thalys side-by-side in Paris Gare du Nord. (Wikimedia Commons) TGV rolling stock differs from other types in that trains consist of semi-permanently coupled multiple units. Bogies are located between carriages, supporting the carriages on either side, so that each carriage shares its bogies with the two adjacent to it. Locomotives at either end of the trains have their own bogies. This design is advantageous during a derailment, as the locomotive derails first and can move separately from the passenger carriages, which are more likely to stay upright and in line with the track. Normal trains, by contrast, tend to split at couplings and jackknife. A disadvantage of this carriage design is that it is difficult to split sets of carriages. While TGV locomotives can be removed from trains via standard uncoupling procedures, specialized depot equipment is needed to split carriages by lifting the entire train at once. Once uncoupled, one of the carriage ends is left without a bogie at the split, so a bogie frame is required to hold it up. SNCF operates a fleet of about 400 TGV trainsets. Six types of TGV or TGV derivative currently operate on the French network; these are TGV Sud-Est (passenger and La Poste varieties), TGV Atlantique, TGV Réseau/Thalys PBA, Eurostar, TGV Duplex and Thalys PBKA. A seventh type, TGV POS (Paris-Ostfrankreich-Suddeutschland, or Paris-Eastern France-Southern Germany), is currently being tested. All TGVs are at least bi-current, which means that they can operate at 25 kV, 50 Hz AC on newer lines (including LGVs) and at 1.5 kV DC on older lines (such 1.5 kV lignes classiques that are particularly common around Paris). Trains crossing the border into Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom must accommodate foreign voltages. This has led to the construction of tri-current or even quadri-current TGVs. All TGVs are equipped with two pairs of pantographs, two for AC use and two for DC use. When passing between areas of different supply voltage, marker boards are installed to remind the driver to lower the pantograph(s), turn off power to the traction motors, adjust a switch on the dashboard to select the appropriate system, and raise the pantograph(s) again. Pantographs and pantograph height control are selected automatically based on the voltage system chosen by the driver. Once the train detects the correct supply to its transformers, a dashboard indicator lights up and the driver can switch on power to the traction motors. The train coasts across the border between voltage sections with traction motor power turned off. Main article: SNCF TGV Sud-Est A TGV Sud-Est set in the original orange livery, since superseded by silver and blue. (Wikimedia Commons) The Sud-Est fleet was built between 1978 and 1988 and operated the first TGV service from Paris to Lyon in 1981. Currently there are 107 passenger sets operating, of which nine are tri-current (including 15 kV, 16 2/3 Hz AC for use in Switzerland) and the rest bi-current. There are also seven bi-current half-sets without seats which carry mail for La Poste between Paris and Lyon. These are painted in a distinct yellow livery. Each set is made up of two power cars and eight carriages (capacity 345 seats), including a powered bogie in each of the carriages adjacent to the power cars. They are 200 m (656 ft) long and 2.81 m (9.2 ft) wide. They weigh 385 tonnes (424 short tons; 379 long tons) with a power output of 6,450 kW under 25 kV. Originally the sets were built to run at 270 km/h (168 mph) but most were upgraded to 300 km/h (186 mph) during their mid-life refurbishment in preparation for the opening of the LGV Méditerranée. The few sets which still have a maximum speed of 270 km/h operate on routes which have a comparatively short distance on the lignes à grande vitesse, such as those to Switzerland via Dijon. SNCF did not consider it financially worthwhile to upgrade their speed for a marginal reduction in journey time. TGV Atlantique A TGV Atlantique on an enhanced ordinary track. (Wikimedia Commons) Main article: SNCF TGV Atlantique The Atlantique fleet was built between 1988 and 1992. 105 bi-current sets were
G'day Gents!
Ruth, take a break - seems you've had just one customer and it surely is a slow day. Where ARE all of the guys who wanted this place to remain opened
Mike, yes that was a terrible rail disaster in Germany and will most probably give ammo to those who are opposed to the MagLev technology. A shame - since the accident had nothing to do with the train so much as the #&^#% maintenance vehicle on the right of way!
A URL (perishable) for those who haven't been following this:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/09/23/train.wreck.ap/index.html
Was beginning to think that someone declared a "holiday" and I'm the last to know! Appreciate the participation and hope the guys pick up on the URLs; some mighty fine Pix! . . . .
Back to ENCORE! Saturday in a bit . . .
Tom
Hi Tom and everyone, a round for the house
Terrible accident in Germany yesterday, as you know.
Transrapid Maglev
http://www.maglevtransport.com/sitebuilder/images/TR08_in_snow-335x218.jpg
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42120000/jpg/_42120768_afp_maglev416.jpg
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42120000/jpg/_42120778_getty_maglev5_416.jpg
http://graphics10.nytimes.com/images/2006/09/23/world/23crash600.1.jpg
Found these pics at that link you put last night, Tom.
Carrizo Gorge
http://www.sdrm.org/gallery/sda/gorge/goatcanyon-5.jpg
US Army locomotive
http://www.sdrm.org/roster/diesel/d-1820/photo-1.jpg
US Navy locomotive
http://www.sdrm.org/roster/diesel/d-00608/d-44t-1.jpg
US Air Force locomotive!
http://www.sdrm.org/gallery/winter/980329-1.jpg
http://www.sdrm.org/gallery/winter/980329-2.jpg
San Diego
http://www.sdrm.org/gallery/sda/downtown/atsf-depot-nw.jpg
Southern Lines Pacific
http://www.sdrm.org/gallery/railfair88/rf88-15.jpg
Mike
from page 255 RAILWAYS of EUROPE #3 – TGV (France) “SNCF, gives the train ideas in advance” TGV PART I of III This article is about the French high-speed railway system. TGV trains depart from Gare Montparnasse in Paris to western and southwestern destinations. (Wikimedia Commons) The TGV (train à grande vitesse, French for "high-speed train") is France's high-speed rail service, developed by GEC-Alsthom (now Alstom) and SNCF, the French national rail operator, and operated primarily by SNCF. Following the inaugural TGV service between Paris and Lyon in 1981, the TGV network, centred on Paris, has expanded to connect cities across France. The success of the first line led to a rapid expansion of the service, with new lines built to the south, west and northeast of the country. Eager to share in the success of the French network, neighbouring countries such as Belgium, Italy and Switzerland built their own high-speed lines to connect with it. TGVs under other brand names also link to Germany and the Netherlands through the Thalys network, and to the United Kingdom through Eurostar. Several future lines are currently planned, including extensions within France and to surrounding countries. Towns such as Tours have become a part of this "TGV commuter belt". TGVs travel at up to 320 km/h (200 mph), which is made possible through the use of specially designed tracks, laid down without any sharp curves, and a range of features which make TGV trains suitable for high speed travel. These features include high-powered electric motors, low axle weight, articulated carriages and in-cab signaling which removes the need for drivers to see lineside signals at high speed. TGVs are manufactured primarily by Alstom, now often with the involvement of Bombardier. Except for a small series of TGVs used for postal freight between Paris and Lyon, TGV is primarily a passenger service. Trains derived from TGV designs also operate in South Korea (KTX) and Spain (AVE). Travel by TGV has largely replaced air travel between connected cities, due to shorter commuting times (especially for trips taking less than three hours), reduced check-in, security and boarding formalities, and the convenient location of train stations in the heart of cities. Furthermore, the TGV is a very safe mode of transport, with no recorded fatalities due to accidents while running at high speed since operations began. History Main article: Development of the TGV The idea of the TGV was first proposed in the 1960s, after Japan began construction on the Shinkansen in 1959. At the time the French government favoured new technologies, exploring the production of hovercraft and maglev trains such as Aérotrain. Simultaneously, SNCF began researching high-speed trains that would operate on conventional tracks. It was originally planned that the TGV, then standing for très grande vitesse (very high speed) or turbine grande vitesse (high speed turbine), would be propelled by gas turbine-electric locomotives. Gas turbines were selected for their small size, good power-to-weight ratio, and ability to deliver a high power output over an extended period of time. The first prototype, TGV 001, was the only TGV constructed with this type of engine. However, following the sharp increase in the price of oil during the 1973 energy crisis, gas turbines were deemed impractical and the project turned to locomotives powered by electricity from overhead lines. The electricity was to be generated by France's new nuclear power stations. However, TGV 001 was not a wasted prototype. Its gas-turbine powerplant was only one of many technologies required for high-speed rail travel. The TGV 001 platform also tested high-speed brakes, which were needed to dissipate the large amount of kinetic energy amassed by a train operating at high speed. Other technologies tested by the 001 included high-speed aerodynamics and signaling. The train was articulated, meaning that its two carriages shared a bogie between them which allowed them to move freely with respect to one another. The prototype train reached 318 km/h (198 mph), which remains the world speed record for a non-electric train. The interior and exterior of TGV 001 were styled by British-born designer Jack Cooper, whose work formed the basis of all subsequent TGV design, including the distinctive nose shape of TGV power cars. Changing the specification of the TGV to incorporate electric traction required a significant design overhaul. The first fully electric prototype, nicknamed Zébulon, was completed in 1974, testing features such as innovative body-mounting of motors, pantographs, suspension and braking. Body mounting of motors allowed over 3 tonnes (2.95 tons) to be dropped from the weight of the power cars. The prototype travelled almost 1 000 000 km (621,000 miles) during testing. In 1976 the French government fully funded the TGV project, and construction of the LGV Sud-Est, the first high-speed line (ligne à grande vitesse), began shortly afterwards. The line was given the designation LN1, Ligne Nouvelle 1 (New Line 1). A TGV train at Futuroscope, near Poitiers. (Wikimedia Commons) After two pre-production trainsets had been rigorously tested and substantially modified, the first production version was delivered on 25 April 1980. The TGV service opened to the public between Paris and Lyon on 27 September 1981. The initial target customers were businesspeople travelling between those two cities; as a mode of transport, the TGV was considerably faster than normal trains, cars, or airplanes. The trains soon became popular outside their initial target market; the public welcomed a fast and practical way to travel between cities. Since then, further LGVs have opened in France, including the LGV Atlantique (LN2) to Tours/Le Mans (construction began 1985, operation began 1989); the LGV Nord-Europe (LN3) to Calais and the Belgian border (construction began 1989, operation began 1993); the LGV Rhône-Alpes (LN4), extending the LGV Sud-Est to Valence (construction began 1990, operation began 1992); and the LGV Méditerranée (LN5) to Marseille (construction began 1996, operations began 2001). A line from Paris to Strasbourg, the LGV Est, is under construction. High-speed lines based on TGV technology have also been built in Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom to connect with the French network. A TGV Duplex train leaving Paris Gare de Lyon. (Wikimedia Commons) The Eurostar Service began operation in 1994, connecting continental Europe to London via the Channel Tunnel. The line used the LGV Nord-Europe in France from the outset. The first phase of the British high-speed line, the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, was completed in 2003. The project,
A stormy morning here in mid-continent USA - storms keep rushing through, fortunately to the south of where we are . . .skies get menancing - winds pick up, brief bouts of rain - and so forth. Expecting this to continue through the evening . . .
Been a long time since we've seen JP in our establishment. For those of you who do not know - and my guess is the majority have no clue - JP is a customer of the "Coffee Shop" over on the Model Railroader - General Discussions - Forums. Anyway, that's a touching story regarding the 4-legged fire investigator - Bo. Canines are very important members in my family, and I suspect in many others. So, positive thougths in abundance to the memory of Bo!
So, what's new on this ENCORE! Saturday Guess we'll just have to wait 'n see what occurs as the day progresses. I'll have something to kick off the ENCOREs - shortly.
Remember, Ruth has the bar from 9 AM 'til 5 PM, when Leon the Night Man takes over 'til closing. That's the "routine" 'round the Tavern by the Tracks on a Monday thru Saturday basis!
Later!
Evening all!
Hope this finds everyone well this Friday evening. It has been a while since my last visit, but Si, with your permission I’d like to ask the ‘family’ for a special prayer. I don’t do this all the time, except when it’s of great importance.
Some of you may know me from the Coffee Shop over on the MR side, and some may just know me from here. Either way, since most of you don’t know me, I am John, aka JP. Earlier this spring, I went back to being a volunteer firefighter and took an 8 week course to get most of my training current.
Well, there was some sad news the other day on the fire side of things. It seems that over the last 16 or so yrs, one of the County Fire Investigators has had a partner of the 4-legged type named Bo working with him. A few yrs back they had to take her off the job due to age and what not, but since the Investigator had adopted her to begin with and then took her into the Fire Investigator Academy, she was able to keep living with him and his family after her release from active fire duty. Well, as with all dogs, once they get too old to do things, they eventually have to be put to rest. Well, on Wednesday, at about 1130 hours, there was a special tone sent out over the pager and radio networks with the sad news that Bo had been put down and requesting a moment of silence in her memory. I’d like to ask the ‘family’ to please remember this brave canine and her human family for her job well done and also for the family for their sacrifice in this loss and for allowing Bo to do her job assisting the County (and I am sure the State of NY in some cases) with her intuitive and sensitive nose in weeding out arson criminals. God speed Bo. We here in the Syracuse NY area fire service will not forget you. Thanks!
Ok all, time for me to move on. Have some things to do this weekend (clean the apt, laundry, watch baseball and football, and drink a beer or 2 (one for Bo).
Take care!
//signed// John Powell President / CEO CNY Transportation Corp (fictional)
http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s303/nuts4sports34/
Hunter - When we met in January of 2000, you were just a 6 week old pup who walked his way into this heart of mine as the only runt in the litter who would come over to me. And today, I sit here and tell you I am sorry we had to put you down. It was the best thing for you and also the right thing to do. May you now rest in peace and comfort. Love, Dad. 8 June 2010
I love you and miss you Mom. Say hi to everyone up there for me. Rest in peace and comfort. Love, John. 29 March 2017
Couldn't let the day pass without a "hello" to Left Coast S Dave! Appreciate the information on the San Diego & Arizona Eastern. Given that we're talking about nearly 20 years ago, I'm rather surprised and relieved to know my memory banks are still functioning!
Found a URL that really puts much of this together - some might fine PIX that can be "clicked" for enlarging - check out: http://www.sdrm.org/history/sda/history.html
By the by, we keep our Vodka in the freezer 'round this joint - brand of choice is Stolichnaya or just plain "Stoli" for the Aficionados out there. Anyway, a "Frostbite Special"
is simply Stoli on ice - straight up - have one on me!
Catch y'all later . . .
Some really good stuff this afternoon from Pete - Lars (twice) 'n James!
Appears as if we've "hooked" James (CMSTPP) and that's a positive sign. Maybe we can get him to buy a round!
Nice selection of material, Lars - the EMD material really is a great compliment to my "Blast from the Past!" Good choice. Also, thanx for the elaboration on the Tidewater (Norfolk) Tides. Relieved to know that baseball will continue in that area. I should mention that IF I ever were to return to the east coast - and that's about as likely as the Earth shifting orbit - I would live in the tidewater area of Virginia. Anyway, the Orioles should be a good fit.
Pete, as always, a nice URL and something to peruse and persuse and . . . .
Leon, give 'em a drink on me, and Boris - ring the bell!
G-day Captain Tom and those at the bar.
Thanks for all the comments!! I will be sure to keep writing and updating my website for all to see. Just waiting for my fathers pictures of certain milwaukee pictures.
Anyway.. I am seeing a lot of EMD locomotives since Captain Tom gave the word, "Electro Motive Division." I probably can't explain the history of EMD, but I can definently give you some pictures. I know one fact though. EMD made over 4400 SD40-2 type model locmotives, and the Milwaukee road was one of the largest buyers of the SD40-2.
See what you think.
Ruth my deAH, this time I'll have a frosty mug of Piels, a half hero sandwich - ham, Swiss, mustAHd 'n buttAH, two pickles from the barrel and of course a saucer of brine for our friend, Tex! Oh, and a round for the house - make it something English, Bathams comes to mind. Boris - you cloven footed cyclops - ring the bell!
So, what do we have today A fine inclusive post from our mid-Missouri friend, Pete. Bet they don't know that the Brits have taken over that part of the "Show Me State," huh
Good to see the return of CM3 I'm Not Shane! after a day outdoors. So, exactly what is it you DO to earn those greenbacks you so freely contribute to this Saloon by the Siding Curious minds are begging to know!
In browsing through some of the railroad ads that Captain Tom has furnished over the months, you'll see more than one company teaming up with active RRs to push their particular works. Makes sense for Pullman to push the RDC by using the names of roads like the NH, NYC and B&M just as it did with EMD. As I read through that latter ad, I had not remembered GM selling off that division. Oh, what used to be just ain't no more.
Enjoyed the details on the Can-Am from our Proprietor, Captain Tom! A most ambitious set of projects and my compliments on a job well done! A 5- Salute to you Sir! for your creativity, ingenuity and willingness to share your efforts with us! How are things progressing with the subway system You do realize it has to be completed B4 we descend on you enmasse for the Rendezvous this spring!
Noted that Nick has 'arrived' with the pix-posting! And also noted the familiar wrestling match with getting it just right between photobucket and these forums. I use the Captain Tom method - as I've gotten myself wrapped around the axle a couple of times with the "instructions" from photobucket. The "secret" I found was in the use of the "img" when and ensuring that you enlarge the pix you want B4 copying it to the forum. Patience, my lad, patience - there's more than one way to skin the cat - so if one procedure doesn't do it, try 'nother one! Anyway, good to know you are "in" for some contributions on Photo Posting Sunday! Have a profitable and enjoyable gig this night . . .
Yeah, Tom, I read about Mets abandoning their Tidewater triple AAA location in Virginia. That bothers me as well. A rather convoluted story indicating they "really didn't want to leave," but . . . . you know how that plays out! New Orleans - hmmmmmm, wonder where in the Crescent City they are talking and just what kind of support they'll get. The Tidewater Tides were indeed fixtures in the league. They did change the name to the Norfolk Tides some years back - but the people down that way still refer to them otherwise. Anyway, it's all about the buck, which doesn't do much for fan support. However, take heart - the Baltimore Orioles are expected to make an annoucement that they will affiliate with the franchise. So baseball will continue in tidwater!
One more Ruth, and then I've got to head on out . . . tonight is Pizza 'n Beer along with Steak 'n Fries Nite at the Tavern by the Tracks! The back rooms are arranged for our pool tournament and we should have a full staff on board (except for the Bar Chandler - he seems to be in a fog these days!) Anyway, don't forget to partake in the bill o' fare . . . .
Hi Tom And all.
A coffee and a Bacon roll please Ruth and compliments to COPPERKETTLE on the excellent mushy pease with the plaice last nightNick has taught you well..
A busy evening at the bar.
DAVE Many thanks for the detailed info on the SP d Mexico. I dare say that many SP railfans took a trip down there to see the SP steam classes in their last years.
NICK Great to see the photos, 5051 looks great, when I started to post mine it took me ages to get the hang of it,even now I think it is more luck than judgement. Tom and Rob will help. Looking forward to more, especially the layout and how did you manage to get such great weather in the west of Ireland..
JAMES Thanks for the info on the Milwaukee Road. Those Box Cab E-50 are impressive locos. Great pics on the web-site, loved the sound effects.
MIKE Many thanks for the excellent links. That is the first pic of the Rugby Loco Cabin signalbox I can recall seeing. I don't know when it closed but I guess its duties were taen over by Ruby no 1 box which was a very large box with 185 levers. Before modernization there were six mechanical signal boxes controlling Rugby numbered no1 to no7 Rugby no 6 disappeared before the war I believe.
Great aircraft pics as well. Concorde was one of those things that when it passed overhead you had just stop and look up at it, although I would not say I was an aircraft person I must admit I was more than a little sad when I watched the last three landings of Concordes at Heathrow live on the TV.
Loved those Great Central pics, The journey from Nottingham to Rugby was taken during the short period between 1966 and 1969 when that stretch was left open. A friend and I bunked off one day to ride the line to Leicester and back one day and the pics brought back memories. Thanks again.
I have a web site that shows video clips of the preserved Great Central Railway
http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/
CM3 It seems chitlins are the same both sides of the pond. I think they were in a song by Adge Cutler and the Worzels in the UK but I never knew what they were.
I am having a bit of trouble getting at the pics on the Railpictures site, but I will try again later.
I too think it is a great idea of UP to have the old liverys. After steam finished in the UK. British Railways painted all of its locos in corporate blue including the 3 narrow guage steam locos it still ran in Wales. The policy was strickly enforced, and made for a pretty dull scene. It was Stratford shed in east London who first broke the mould by painting a silver roof on some of their locos and naming one Great Eastern, naming of locos had also been forbidden. They also painted a large Union Jack on the side of two locos to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee. I heard BR headquarters were not at all happy about this but with the favorable public opionion on the locos relented. Nowadays there are many verious liveries of the privatised companies. a nice touch though, is as some classes of loco are reaching the end of their service a loco is painted into the paint scheme it first ran in.
TOM Glad you liked the Irish pics. They also built a great deal of the railways in Britain, including the fairly recent new lines on the London Underground.
I bet those SP brouches published by the SP in the 40s are worth some money now. and in the Gm Blast from the Past I see a loco manufacturer is teaming up with a particular railroad to advertise its products.
Great detail on the CAN-AM, .
I have called in early as it is said we may, as Tom said, be in for some rough weather later on . I see LARS is in so I will have a Bathams with you sir and read what looks like a great post on the EMD
Pete.
Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. (formerly General Motors Electro-Motive Division) is the world's second largest builder of railroad locomotives. General Electric is the largest, overtaking EMD in the mid-1980s, and between them they have built the overwhelming majority of the locomotives in service in North America and a large proportion of those in the rest of the world as well. EMD can lay claim to being the company that ended the dominion of the steam locomotive on the world's railroads, by both producing high-quality, reliable locomotives, and just as importantly (maybe more so) knowing how to sell them. That the victory of the diesel locomotive over the steam locomotive was, outwardly, such an easy and rapid one is thanks to the marketing and sales skill of EMD, backed by its aggressive and confident corporate parent.
History
Electro-Motive Engineering Company was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1922 by H. L. Hamilton and Paul Turner. The next year, the company sold only two gasoline-powered rail motor cars, one to the Chicago Great Western and the other to the Northern Pacific. They were delivered the following year, and worked well - fortunately for the fledgling company, because the sales were conditional on satisfactory performance. The next year, 1925, the company changed its name to Electro-Motive Company (EMC) and entered full-scale production, selling 27 railcars.
In 1930, General Motors, seeing the opportunity to develop the diesel engine purchased the Winton Engine Company, and after checking the Winton Engine Companys books, decided to purchase its chief customer "Electro Motive Company" which was a rail based company. Advancing from railcars, the company began building multi-car diesel streamliners, for the Union Pacific among others. By 1935, GM felt confident enough to invest in a brand new factory on 55th St in McCook, Illinois, just west of Chicago, which is still the corporate headquarters. By the end of the 1930s, EMC had a diesel engine powerful and reliable enough for road locomotive use. The 567, named for its displacement-per-cylinder of 567 in³ (9.3 L), was a two-cycle (or two-stroke) supercharged engine with overhead camshafts and four exhaust valves per cylinder. It was built in V6, V8, V12 and V16 configurations. The new technology found its first uses in glittering prow-nosed passenger locomotives, but EMC's eye was on the meat - freight service. The glamorous passenger services made little money for the railroads; capturing the freight market from the steam locomotive would be the ultimate prize. The company produced a multi-unit freight locomotive demonstrator, the EMD FT, and began a tour of the continent's railroads to demonstrate it.
The tour was a success; Western roads in particular saw their prayers of freeing themselves on their dependence on scarce, expensive desert water supplies for steam locomotives answered in the FT. By 1940 EMC was producing a locomotive a day and had reached 600 in service. General Motors merged EMC and Winton Engine to create the Electro-Motive Division (EMD) on January 1, 1941.
Tom's Blast from the Past!
PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #52
from page 209Here’s something to enjoy regarding the General Motors Electro-Motive Division from a 1948 advertisement in my personal collection. The colorful recreation car on The Jeffersonian, Pennsylvania Railroad all-coah streamliner, provides a luxurious game and reading lounge, a children’s playroom, a miniature movie theatre and a sunken buffet-lounge. The Jeffersonian is in daily service between New York and St. Louis. It is provided by a General Motors locomotive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLAY AS YOU GO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . You get more fun out of the pleasures today’s travel affords when you train is powered by a General Motors Diesel locomotive. For then you travel with a new smoothness – and a new speed, too. Often, on the straightaways, your train will top 100 miles an hour. General Motors locomotives have also brought a new cleanliness to travel - no smoke and cinders to mar your appearance; no clouds of steam to mar your view. For years General Motors locomotives have held the records for on-time arrivals. It is easy to see why 197 of America’s finest, fastest name trains are headed by General Motors power. Easy to understand why better trains follow General Motors locomotives. . . . . . . . . . . ELECTRO-MOTIVE DIVISION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GENERAL MOTORS * LA GRANGE, ILL. . . . . . . . . . . Home of the Diesel Locomotive . . . . . Enjoy! Tom
G’day Gents!
Another blue sky morning here in mid-continent USA, however a storm front is approaching – temps are to reach the low 80s (F) before dropping into 50s once we get smacked around a bit later on this PM . . . . Noticed petrol dropped to $2.20 (rounded) up at “Collusion Corner” . . . the roller coaster ride continues, but compared to what we’ve been told by BK and others – we here in the the US are most fortunate in so many ways when it comes to energy prices. Doubt it will remain so – as the stranglehold on the supply seems to be more ‘n more in the hands of those who wish us ill will. Past due for alternative sources and past due for . . . . ooooops, this is a “classic trains” Forum!
Pull up a stool and partake in some freshly baked goodies from the Mentor Village Bakery along with the best coffee in the village!
Nick, there’s an E-mail en route . . . .
Mike, some wonderful URLs and undoubtedly Pete will love ‘em! And, the answer is "Of course!"
BK, I did take note of our former ‘regular’ returning to the Forums, but not our Thread. Don’t know why – don’t care to ponder it further and let’s keeping moving forward, looking back can only get you impaled on a parking meter! (check a previous comment I made about THAT episode!)
A few comments about the Can-Am RR, since I was asked:
The layout is roughly 28 ft in length – 14 ½ ft at its widest point – 6 ½ ft would be the nominal width and it is 30 in up from the floor. The height was predetermined due to the dimensions of the metal “card table” legs used for the support of the structure – sorry NMRA!)
There is a mountain range running most of the length of the layout which essentially divides it quite nicely, thereby keeping one from being able to view all the sights from one place. It was designed that way and works for me!
The layout is a two level affair with each separate from the other. The lower level features dual mainline tracks, 28 turnouts, signal lights, and all kinds of things to maintain one’s interest. The upper level “mountain run” is a single track affair with one turnout each at either end in the train depot areas to accommodate the RDC consists (BC Rail & VIA Rail – 2 cars each).
Passenger rail is the featured operation, with VIA Rail the dominant carrier, followed by Amtrak on the lower level. CP and CN provide the requisite freight service for the modest industrial areas along the right of way.
The layout is powerd by two MRC Tech IV dual packs with each controller dedicated to a particular route (one mainline each – the mountain run and my Union Station and locomotive yard sidings.) Another MRC dual pack is used to power the layout lights and other accessories. Beneath the layout are two MRC sound systems, enabling one to listen to the appropriate “noise” from the trains running in opposite directions. Also, inside Union Station is a sound module featuring the sounds of a city train station, replete with train announcements and the like.
Can-Am is the name for a couple of reasons: We are a Canadian-American family plus we have traveled quite extensively by rail in Canada that we wanted to capture as many memories in model form as possible. We like the results and apparently many of you do too!
The Lionel Polar Express shelf system provides a 19 ½ ft by 4 ½ ft run for the O gauge Berkshire – tender and 5 illuminated passenger cars. A fun train to watch and listen to. Inspired by the movie and a well done model by Lionel. Well worth it in my opinion.
The basement storage room features something rather different – a 7 x 8 ft layout suspended from the ceiling. The 2 in. insulate foam board layout is attached to a series of lines and pulleys enabling me to hoist away when I need the floor space for other projects. Then when it’s time to play, lower away and there is the S-Capades (named by Nick) an S-gauge layout designed for fun – just plain fun. Three consists of trains – two freight and one passenger all powered by a great MRC dual transformer (reminds me of the old Lionel ZW) with sounds in the loco’s, etc.
That should pretty much take you through the overview of it all . . . . I’ll provide some more Pix on our Wednesday Toy ‘n Model Trains Day! here at the bar.
Good to see ya this AM – CM3 and appreciate the round and quarters! Did you notice that the Tigers have slipped a percentage point behind the Twins Also, I read where the Mets are moving their AAA team from the Tidewater area (Norfolk) down to New Orleans. What a shame - a real shame. The Tidewater Tides were a fixture in that area; wonder if another major league team will fill the void Also, Blues dropped their 2nd pre-season (ho hum) hockey game. And finally, Cards lost yet another heart breaker – one in which Carpenter just has to take the blame. BUT, why oh why did Molina call for a time out on “that” pitch in the bottom of the 8th Really messed up the pitcher for on the very next throw – bam – two run shot. <groan>
Good Morning Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please, round for the house and $ for the jukebox.
We’re inside today (because it warmed up outside), so it’s time for a posting.
Nick – Will be interested in seeing pictures when we can grow them a “little bigger.” But, it looks like a good start. You defined chitlins pretty well, I was going to mention haggis in my reply, but you got there ahead of me. The Prescott I referred to was a 19th century American historian.
Dave – SP material is always appreciated as you know.
James – Thanks for the background information and your comments on the CMStP&P. Have you been to the Lake Shore Museum in North East, PA? They have a Little Joe on display and you can, if you hit it right “tour” the locomotive. I assume you have (or have seen) the 2nd ed. of Steinheimer’s book on the MILW. I bought it last year – pricy, but, my God, the pictures! B4 I forget, University of Iowa Press recently reprinted August Derleth’s book, Milwaukee Road – The First 100 Years. You can get it in paperback.
Lars – Now, spotlighting the sports on the sportlight spotlight - Yankees – no comment. BTW, did you see the A-Rod story in SI? It’s intriguing to me how the White Sox going in the tank has gone pretty much unnoticed in the press and/or electronic media. I know – location, location, location. Be interesting to me to see how ND does with Michigan State. ; one more loss and the ‘domers are truly in trouble.
Tom – Thanks for layout pictures and more SP material. Virtually all of my model equipment is in boxes. I still keep buying stuff when I see something.
Pete – The SP heritage unit is beautiful.. IMHO, that one the the D&RG engine are the two best in the UP series. I, for one, would like to see CSX do a series of heritage units. Lt’s see we’d have: B&O, C&O, WM, RF&P, SAL, ACL, L&N, A&WP, WofA, CC&O, NYC, and probably a few more I can’t remember right off – new idea but.......Before I forget, check out Railpctures website http://www.railpictures.net if you want to see the UP material. It is I think one of the better rail sites out there. It has a tremendously powerful search engine feature. This again is one of those sites that you can get lost in and wonder where the time went.
Mike - URLs and Pedigreed pirates - excellent. How about a couple of lines from another G&S work one, "He's hardly ever sick at sea! What? never? No! never? What? never? Well, hardly ever."
I’m looking forward to Canadian material next week and am putting together interline stuff I mentioned earlier.
Work safe
Can the Can in Can-Am bring to mind a Can collection, and can the refrigerated contents of cans induce a trip to the can? Pretty sight is your train set, Tom, I'm jealous.
James, thanks for your website, with its links to gorgeous old pictures, particulary Canadian Pacific in the Rockies and Southern Pacific in Daylight of streamlined steam.
DL, your link to whitechurch website, great pics of Forth Bridge and maps of British rail lines, thanks.
Nick, I had to consult the Atlas, but I saw where your train of thought was going. News to me that Somerset and Dorset are adjacent counties in the south of England, not too far from Penzance, where pedigreed pirates perpetually perch with Linda Ronstadt in her lovely medium youth.
Pete, here's a few of the Rugby pictures at transport archive. I sense the loss, as I can relate it to Penn Station and St. Albans train shed.
http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/getobject.php?rnum=L1654&searchitem=Rugby&mtv=L1&pnum=4
http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/getobject.php?rnum=L3107&searchitem=Rugby&mtv=L1&pnum=12
http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/getobject.php?rnum=L1814&searchitem=Rugby&mtv=L1&pnum=5
http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/getobject.php?rnum=L2997&searchitem=Rugby&mtv=L1&pnum=10
http://www.gcrleicester.info/Old_Photographs/Trip_to_Nottingham___Rugby/trip_to_nottingham___rugby.html
Also from the Transport Archive
http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/aimages/G1094.jpg
http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/aimages/G3399.jpg
http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/aimages/G3494.jpg
http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/aimages/G4166.jpg
http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/aimages/G1108.jpg
right,bu**er it-they dont enlarge-advice noted-thanks TOM -will have another look in daylight when my few remaining neurons are all sparking,still-progress made so no bad thing.
Somewhat frazzled with huge mental effort so will stick to simple menu tonight-Boris has been tasked with `dillo protection duties and Copperkettle is eager to prove himself,so will let him take the lead :-
Thus we have Cod,Plaice & Halibut,all in a light beer batter with fries and mushy peas (don`t ask -it`s an English thing...)
Also,the Surf & Turf special-6oz Welsh Black steak,6oz Gammon steak topped with whole-shell king prawns &Calamari rings with a selection of dips ,skinny fries and a big bowl of `s salad de jour
right-sorry to be non-interactive but I`ve got a big show to do tomorrow and I need my beauty sleep ( as all the women in my life will contest) -see you all later,be happy ( and for goodness sake-play nicely...!)
take care,nick
O.K folks-see if we can work out the enlarging bit this time.....
This is her with 12 on and burning bad lignite coal blasting out of Fishguard Harbour stn (just before the horizontal Welsh rain started)
This is Killarney ,on the west coast of Ireland.
The train on the left is going out to Tralee and the one on the right to Dublin
Some 10 minutes later,the Dublin service has departed & the Tralee train,having run into the headshunt,is now running up to the bank which takes the line out to the west
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and here she is running up the bank and out of town
Lordy,I could go wild with this.........
Here we are at the model village in Clonakilty,a fine example of 1=24 scale architectural modelling-sadly,all the railway models are L.G.B narrow gauge ,presumably chosen for reliability over accuracy.....
" border="0" />-another scene from the village
An overview of one side of the village ,taken from the central turret-like structure
And to finish,since vanity will have it`s way,a couple of shots of my own modest efforts..
A G.P.9 lifts a cut of O.N.R newsprint cars past the icing plant
An F.P.40ph runs through the metro area with Budd cars
An FP9 a+b set runs out of Bradford down the bank towards Toronto
(All the above with apologies to ROB for gross liberties taken with his homeland....)
right-lets see if this works-sorry if all you get is little red crosses,but I have followed the `structions....
What ho Visits from Rob - James - Dave 'n Nick, not to mention earlier appearances by BK 'n Lars, our original "bookends" and Pete! Not a bad day after all . . . . Leon, set 'em up and ring the bell, Boris! Drinks on Da Boss . . . .
And the last shall be first, or something like that. Nick, congrats on mastering the PhotoBucket technique along with comprehending a bit of the Kalmbach mystery of Pix posting. Ship me an E-mail if you need additional assistance . . . .
From the looks of your 1st successful venture, let me offer this: it appears that you used the URL from the smaller photo in your account, rather than enlarge it AND THEN going to "properties" - copy, etc. How do I know this When I click on your Pix to enlarge it here on the Thread - it doesn't enlarge! That's the key . . . But, take heart - you have reached 1st base!
Thanx for the background info on your favorite RR, James - the Milwaukee Road - a mighty fine road indeed. By the by, I have visited your web site and signed into your visitors log. A very worthwhile visit and I recommend it to all!
Glad to see you "bookends" up 'n about the decks this fine day. For a while there, it was getting rather lonely these past couple of days (daze). However, we do NOT want to fall into that "trap" of having to provide info every hour or so - really gets to be overly compulsive (redundant, eh[?}) and not in keeping with what we try to do 'round the Tavern by the Tracks. Once the "fun" is out of it - it ain't worth doin' it!
Dave, good seeing you emerge from wherever they have you sequestered these days (daze)! Figured the SP would "do it" !! Interesting run down on the trackage south of the border - I saw what looked like some narrow gauge along the border during one of my frequent LE forays along the SoCal - Arizona border. Very, very rugged terrirotry indeed - that was in 1987-88 - recall seeing a very impressive trestle, but for the life of me cannot tell you where it was. I think it was about halfway to the Airzona border from SoCal. Ring any bells
Nice try Rob, but no cigar! HO - S and O are "it" for the Can-Am Trainroom with G-gauge at Christmas in the "abode." That's IT! I'm going to breakfast with my friend who left the N-gauge stuff here and will inform him that over a year has passed and unless he gets serious, I'm "claiming" the sets as mine - possession is 9/10ths, so I've heard!
Pete - some nifty URLs to peruse! Ireland is indeed a "railroading kinda place" eh Looking back on the development of the RRs in this country, the Irish surely lent their strong backs to the effort . . . Figured the mention of the "Beer Fridge" would perk you up a bit!
Okay boyz, time for me to check out - catch y'all in the AM!
evenin chaps-beer for the house and large measures of the reserve rum for Tom for helpful hints-another technological barrier crossed.
This first sample is :- small monster Hannah & my `friend` Chrissie`s wee lad Ifan in front of Drwslynn Castle at Fishguard recently,not a particulrly memorable pic but a breakthrough......
back soon with more
hmmm-evidently not there yet-will keep trying
Good afternoon or is it morning hmmm not quite sure at the moment. Oh well i think Ruth a keith's and one of H&H's famous ( or infamous ) haddock supprises with home fries please.
Tom -Ah yes I had forgotten about the G guage xmas layout.And now a friend has saddled you with some N so, I guess that you now need to focus on Z ( litteraly ) and perhaps a helping of OO and TT guage as well to make your trainroom complete. A collect the whole set if you will Some nice SP blasts from the past, I to am supprised that it didn't pry Dave loose. Perhaps that was him in Doug's photo and that is why he's been unavailable
James-Good to see you back in again, and all that talk of juice jacks has certainly peeled my interest, I'm looking forward to some more info on them either on a wednesday or perhaps a Tuesday theme day dealing with the Millwaukee road. Another to keep in our hats for later Tom
Nick-So you bit the bullet and joined the bucket eh good show. I'm sure that between Tom and myself and the other's we can get you through the early teething problems As to your inquiry CN started using the newlook wet noodle in 1960 so 60-65 for te salnted after 66 they started going with the simplified no angle on the red till unit retirment. You have to check photo's though as some of the F units and the like never got the simplified straight scheme.
Well folks a good day to all feklicitations to Doug and BK and Lars
Rob
Hi Tom!!!
Sorry I haven't been under here for a while but the winter season is around the bend and I'm getting ready for it. (sigh)
Anyway.. on the up side.. I noticed that Budkarr had mentioned something about my fascination with the Milwaukee road.
It started when I first layed eyes on the Milwaukee road electric, Box cab, E-50, Now in Duluth and the Lake superior railroad museum. www.lsrm.org I was so fascinated by the huge structure of the locomotive and how it had been the first, most powerful and largest electric loocomotive in the world in 1919, that I had to get more information on it.
So I went to my dad. He told me a little about it but said if you want to know about the Milwaukee road you needed to go to some books and read up on it. The book I got was, "The Milwaukee Road" by Frederick W. Hyde. This book didn't just go over the Box cab but also the other 4 electrics that the Milwaukee road had.
The Milwaukee road had an electric I have liked for who knows how long. The Little Joe. The little joe was a suppose to be sent over to Russia but after the cold war in 1943, Russia was no longer able to buy them so they sold them to the railroads in the USA. Only two railroads wanted them and one was the Milwaukee road.
The other electric that caught my eye was the Bipolar. This locmotive was intended for passenger service for the Chicago to Seattle Trains. Both ends of the bipolar held a steam generator fo which ever direction it was traveling. The thing that impressed me the most about the Bipolar was its strengh. There was once a test for the power this locomotive held. Two Steam engines, a 2-4-4-2 and a 2-10-2 were both coupled together for the same direction. When the Bipolar was added they started to pull just like in tug-a-war. Both steam engines were putting out 100,000 pounds of tractive effort and the Bipolar was pulling them along at an easy 25 miles per hour! This is what really sparked my interest in the railroad.
The Milwaukee road has been my favorite railroad for about 15 years. I just think it was one of those unique railroads that should have gone on, but alas..It did not. But this is why I model it because it's no longer around. the way the railroad had the power to put electrification to it's line was amazing to me. So that is what I model. It's a small portion of why I like it and If you want to know more about the railroad you should probably check out my website at www.freewebs.com/cmstpp/
Otherwise it has been a good day. I have been working on the scenery part of my layout and it turned out quite nice.
Next I'm going to be working on the Semaphores. I'm going to be ordering some Signal bridges with the Semaphores. I will be starting this in the next couple of months..hopefully. If you guys want I will post the pictures when we have another layout posting day.
Hope you guys have a good one.
James
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