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Posted by trolleyboy on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 10:37 AM

THEME OF THE DAY THEME OF THE DAY

CLASSIC DIESELS # 28 OPOSED PISTON'S ON TH NYC

 

One of my modelling friends always said that the NYC and the PRR were the easiest  railways to midel in the diesel era, as both these grand old systems, dabbled with locomotives from all builders during the rush to deiselize after the second world war. Neither road wanted all their eggs in one basket so in the first years of deiselization , when the appetites for new power was at it's dizzying frenzied pitch the NYC purcahsed a great many of the oposed piston wonders from Fairbanks Morse,here's a brief rundown on the units they purchased.

 

New York Centrals, susidiary Piitsburg & Lake Erie got the systems first FM power in the form of two H10-44 1000hp switchers in dec of 1946,the parent company followed up in less than a year with a pair of Erie-built cab units geared for fright srevice they then bought four more cabs abd a pair of B units bringing the Erie built fleet to 8 units.Six of the passenger cabs were ordered for pasenger service and were equipped with the higher gearing and steam heating units. Thes all were belivered in the lightening stripe scheme but wree as delivered with silver painted trucks ala the Sante Fe.

The NYC was happy with it's first samples of FM power and continued buying from them. In 1949 they purcahsed thier first C-liner covered wagons,opting for 12 of the 2000hp CFA20-4 cab units and three boosters. ( NYC was the only road to order  the 2000hp varient of the C liner )Thsi was followed up in 1952 with an oredr for 8 of the 1600hp CF16-4's and for 1600hp B's..Also in late 1952 NYC becam the only US road ( CNR the only other )to but the five axle 2400hp C-Liner passenger engines CF24-5's. In the end the NYC repowered all the Erie Builts and C-liners with 1500HP EMD 567C's to make maintenance less a nuisence.

The NYC continued to buy some road switchers from FM for itself and it's affiliates through iout the mid 50's including 1600hp H16-44's and larger 2000hp H20-44's the last units were purcahsed in 1957, FM was out of the locomotive building business by 1960. they did however continue to build maritime diesel engines.

THE NEW YORK CENTRAL SYSTEM'S ALL TIME FM ROSTER

  • H10-44    P&LE  #9100-9101 blt 12/46 to PC 8200,8201
  • Erie A     NYC    #5000,5001 blt 10/47 Freight reengined to EMD
  • H20-44    IHB    #7110-7114 blt 07/48
  • H20-44    NYC   #7100-7109 blt 10/48
  • H10-44    P&LE #9102,9103 blt 08/48 to PC 9102,9103
  • H20-44    IHB    #7115,7116 blt 09/48
  • Erie A     NYC    #5002          blt 12/48 Frieght reengined to EMD
  • Erie B     NYC    #5100,5101 blt 12/48 Freight 5101 reengined to EMD
  • Erie A     NYC    #5003-5005 blt 01/49 Freight 5003 reengined to EMD
  • Erie A     NYC    #4400-4405 blt 03/49 Passenger, all reengined to EMD
  • H20-44    IHB     #7117,7118 blt 05/49 
  • H10-44    NYC    #9104.9105 blt 06/49 to PC 8204,8205
  • H10-44    NYC    #9106-9109 blt 01/50 to PC 8206-8209
  • H10-44    PC&Y  # 1               blt 06/49
  • H10-44    NYC     # 9110         blt 02/50 to PC 8210
  • CFB20-4 NYC     #5102-5104 blt 5,7/50
  • CFB20-4 NYC     #5006-5017 blt 3,7/50 reengined to EMD 1955-56
  • H12-44    NYC     #9111-9120 blt 01/51 to PC 8303-8309
  • H16-44    NYC     #7000-7012 blt 10/51 to PC 5100-5112
  • CFA16-4 NYC     #6600-6607 blt 02/52
  • CFB16-4 NYC     #6900-6902 blt 03/52
  • CPA24-5 NYC     #4500-4507 blt 03/52
  • CFB16-4 NYC     #6903           blt 02/52 reengined to EMD 1955-56
  • H12-44    NYC     #9121-9137  blt 03/56 to PC 8310-8326
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Posted by trolleyboy on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 9:29 AM

Good morning Ruthy nice to see you again this am. I'll just grab a number three and my usual thermous of coffee. Well I must first off apologize for my enforced absence yesterday. Bell Canada was doing their yearly turn off sympatico for upgrading routine. I haven't noticed any diffeence other than more showy colours on the homepage and $5 more a month for their serviceDisapprove [V]Sigh [sigh]

Anyway what a wonderfull turnout photowise on Sunday gentlemen 5xThumbs Up [tup] for the great turnout and even better photographs.

Tom- I loved this weeks movie choices, the Quick and The Dead's a favourite of mine.Nice continiung shots of that beautifullfly restored PRR "E". One question though , were the Appache Helicopters really necessary to enforce the rules at the army / navy game Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg] I'm glad to see you've started us off with a bang on NYC day to. Great old photo's and some "wunnerfull" info on the 20th Centruy LTD.

Doug -Great shots of those Mckeen cars & yesterday's follow up on their service of sorts outside of Edmonton. For such a small railway , we seem to have talked about the Alberta and Great Waterways quite a bit around here over the last year and a half. Everytime I see a picture of a Mckeen car I always wonder to myself as to where the torpedo tubes are mountedQuestion [?] Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg] I figured if anyone knew what the Aurura was you would good show sir Thumbs Up [tup]

Pete -I'm glad you survived the birthday bash. You haven't sworn off of Bantham's because of it though have you Question [?] I hope not, because I have another reefer full comming in to resupply us after the "Wolves" devistated our supply Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg] BTWwonderfull shots from Irland from your "mate" I esspeacially liked that viaduct, looks like they laid track right over an old Roman bridge.

BK & Lars -I'm glad that sir Tom was able to give a pointer or two for your photo woes. For myself I just cross my eyes and toes before I type in the urls ( it's worked so far, the downside is Boris now has started calling me brother Shock [:O] ) BK nice literail shots, how did you get Cindy to pose in that Aussie shot thoughTongue [:P]Whistling [:-^]

CM3-I'm glad that you made it in this AM sir, great info on that NYC sleeper train. Hatrd to imagine sleeper service let alone one that covers so much territory in so many different trains. Oh well this is why we all love the Classic stuff,when trains were trains etc etc.

Well I;'m off to find my NYC bit for today. Boris and Ruthy, here's a twenty fo the round box for when the rest of the gang roll in. What ? Yes Boris you can ring your bell, sheesh small things amuse oh well.

Rob

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Posted by coalminer3 on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 9:27 AM

Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please, round for the house and $ for the jukebox.  How about two NYC-themed songs for today?  First is a real tear-jerker, "In the Baggage Coach Ahead," followed by one of Boris's favorites (gets all 12 of his toes tapping) "Shuffle off to Buffalo."

"To Niagara in a sleeper,

There's no other way that's cheaper,

And the train goes slow..."

New York Central today - can't think of a better choice.

Here is something from 1944 re NYC sleeper service from WAYYYYY upstate to Pittsburgh.  Again, this train wandered all over various compontents of the greater NYC system.  Break out a map and follow along. 

Pittsburgh - Massena Pullman Service

 

The Pittsburgh-Massena Pullman line was one of the more interesting ones that operated on the New York Central.  In 1944, this service was a 12 section/2 double bedroom car.

 

Northbound, this sleeper departed Pittsburgh at 500 p.m. on P&LE train 33.  It became NYC 84, the “Pittsburgh-Buffalo Express” at Youngstown.  Train 84 operated to Buffalo via Ashtabula.  At Buffalo, the Pittsburgh-Massena Pullman joined the consist of train 6, the “Fifth Avenue Special” which carried it to Utica.  It became part of St. Lawrence Division train 55 at Utica, and concluded its journey on train 55-17 Monday through Saturday and on train 55-717 on Sunday.

 

Here’s the northward schedule:

 

Lv Pittsburgh 500 pm

Lv Youngstown 628 pm

Lv Ashtabula 805 pm

Lv Buffalo 1111 pm

Lv Utica 246 am

Lv Watertown 640 am

Arr Massena 955 am (920 am on Sundays)

 

The southbound run was a little different.  The car departed Massena on St. Lawrence Division train 8.  It joined NYC 169, the “Buffalo Special” at Syracuse which took it to Buffalo.  On Sunday, however, it ran in NYC 41, the “Knickerbocker,” from Syracuse to Buffalo.  From Buffalo, it ran as NYC 279, the “Buffalo-Pittsburgh Express” which also carried Pullmans from Boston and Toronto to the Steel City.  This train was P&LE 38 from Youngstown.

 

Here’s the southbound schedule

 

Lv Massena 230 pm (300 pm on Sundays)

Lv Watertown 535 pm

Lv Syracuse 922 pm ( 817 pm on Sundays)

Lv Buffalo 144 am

Lv Ashtabula 418 am

Lv Youngstown 600 am

Arr Pittsburgh 750 am

Looking forward to seeing more posts throughout the day.

work safe

P.S.  Red Sox performance did not surprise me at all - just the overall ugliness of it and the fact that they wasted a pair of quality starts.  I'll bet the flight west yesterday was like riding in a hearse.

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Posted by siberianmo on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 7:57 AM

Now arriving on track #1

RR Theme for the Day - Number One

 

New York Central Railroad (NYC)

 

 

 

 

20th Century Limited

 

 

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

 

 

 

Train No. 25 of the Boston & Albany Railroad, The 20th Century Limited, is seen

 

 

 

"Drumhead" logos such as these often adorned the ends of observation cars on the 20th Century Limited.

 

The 20th Century Limited was an express passenger train operated by the New York Central Railroad from 1902 to 1967, during which time it would become known as a "National Institution" and the "Most Famous Train in the World." In the year of its last run, The New York Times said that it "...was known to railroad buffs for 65 years as the world's greatest train." The train traveled between Grand Central Terminal in New York City and LaSalle Street Station in Chicago, Illinois along the railroad's famed "Water Level Route". The NYC inaugurated this train as direct competition to the Pennsylvania Railroad's Broadway Limited, both lines intended for upper class as well as business travelers between the two cities. Making few station stops along the way and as few breaks for water and coal as possible, trains on this route routinely could make the 800-mile (1,300-km) journey in only fifteen and one-half hours (roughly 50 mph or 85 km/h).

 

Known for its speed as well as for its style, passengers walked to and from the train on a plush, crimson carpet which was rolled out at station stops and specially designed for the 20th Century Limited; thus, the "red carpet treatment" was born.

 

History

 

On its inaugural trip June 17, 1902 the train arrived in Chicago at Union Station three minutes ahead of schedule. At that time, the trip took twenty hours, cutting four hours off the time previously required. The New York Times report laid great stress on the routine nature of the trip, with no special procedures being followed and no special efforts being made to break records. It stated that there "...was no excitement along the way," and quoted a railroad official as saying "...it is a perfectly practical run and will be continued," and the engineer (William Gates) as saying "This schedule can be made without any difficulty. I can do it every time, barring accidents."

 

 

An early, pre-1920 version of the 20th Century Limited.

 

In its heyday, regular passengers included Theodore Roosevelt, William Jennings Bryan, Lillian Russell, "Diamond Jim" Brady, the elder J. P. Morgan, Enrico Caruso, and Nellie Melba. In 1928, its peak year, it earned revenues of $10 million and was believed to be the most profitable train in the world. Also in 1928, Erwin "Cannon Ball" Baker, who eventually became the first commissioner of NASCAR, raced the 20th Century Limited from New York to Chicago in an automobile, beating the train. In 1938 the noted industrial designer, Henry Dreyfuss, was commissioned by the New York Central to design the streamlined train sets in Art Deco style, with the locomotive and passenger cars rendered in blues and grays (the colors of the New York Central). The streamlined sets were inaugurated in 1939.

 

Until 1957, the train only made station stops at Grand Central Terminal and Croton-Harmon for New York-area passengers and LaSalle Street Station and Englewood for Chicago-area passengers [1]. If trains ran on schedule they would pass halfway at Buffalo Central Station. The tracks of the New York and Harlem Railroad were used from Grand Central to the Spuyten Duyvil and Port Morris Railroad, which it used to reach the New York Central's main line along the Water Level Route, north along the Hudson River and west to Buffalo, then southwest and west on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway along the south shore of Lake Erie, and north into Chicago, merging with the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad at Englewood. In

Happy Railroading! Siberianmo
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Posted by siberianmo on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 7:17 AM

Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

 

 

TODAY IS NEW YORK CENTRAL THEME DAY!

 

Watch for the arrivals on track #1 throughout the day!

 

 

TomCaptain [4:-)] Pirate [oX)]

 

 

Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

Happy Railroading! Siberianmo
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 4:22 AM

Good morning Tom and friends. I’ll have two light breakfasts, as there’s nothing open this early in the AM! My bride begins her work at 5AM today, and I’ve taken another “vacation day” from work to sling more paint at the condo. Tom, your AuRoRa No. 1050 loco was a 1943 class B-B 1000HP at 740RPM, 6 cylinder, 122 ton baby with 40” diameter wheels. I find it interesting that the ARR has to use heavily insulated refrigerator cars, not to keep freight cold, but to do just the opposite to prevent its freezing! Thanks for the light rail photos from Dublin and Australia. Howdy hi’s to Lars and Pete who also stopped by yesterday, and to Mike for the Urls. I didn’t quite understand the question you asked. Could you rephrase it so my brain-stem can comprehend? Here’s a little joke to start your day:

 

Clown [:o)] A man met a woman in a bar and asked, "May I buy you a drink?". Looking back unimpressed at the man she replies, "Okay, but it won't do you any good." A little later, he asks, "May I buy you another drink?"

"Okay, but it still won't do you any good." He invites her up to his apartment and she replies, "Okay, but it won't do you any good." They get to his apartment and he says, "You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I want you for my wife." She says, "Oh, that's different. Send her in." Clown [:o)]

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Posted by pwolfe on Monday, August 21, 2006 4:43 PM

Hi Tom and all.

A pint of Bathams please RUTH.

Thanks to all who commented on the Irish pics I have a few left from the May trip.

DOUG Good last 4 pics on Sunday. The amount of oil tankers in one of the pics is amazing. I guess that it now goes by pipeline. Thanks for the info on the Woodstock & Sycamore and details of the 2 McKeen cars.Thumbs Up [tup].

MIKE Good links Thumbs Up [tup] liked the Pennsy Timetable for the Army-Navy game and as BK said, the link to the PRR site is really worth a visit all those GG1s in one place.Great photo of the steam loco servicing the GG1s suppling oil fuel and water for the steam heating boilers on the electrics locos.

Read about the Luas Tram system in Dublin it said the trams had made a profit a full year before it was expected to,carrying about 60,000 people, last year.Approve [^]

TOM We also did not have the rain they said we would, just a little on Sunday morning. The Birthday bash was put on hold till last weekend as more were able to come over from Kansas City then. There is quite a bit of beer left over, including some that Sam Adams has made, from recipes from the early settlers. Good to see the Cards doing well again, but as LARS says it was not a good weekend for Boston not only did the Red Sox lose 5-0 to the Yankees, Boston United F.C. (soccer) team lost 5-0 to the Mighty Shrewsbury Town  in the English Division 2 on Saturday. 

Another Bathams please RUTH and a round please.   

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Posted by LoveDomes on Monday, August 21, 2006 3:17 PM

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

Ruth, I'd like TWO frosty cold mugs of Piels if you please and slide the snacks down my way. Nice to see ya behind the bar (gotta watch those words, could've really come out differently!Mischief [:-,] and we'll be enjoying your company for the remainder of the week. Thumbs Up [tup]

A Monday without CM3 Shane is like watching the Red Sox drop 4 to the Yankees! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg] Sorry, just had to get that out . . . .

So what's shaking at the tavern by the tracks Question [?] Been a rather uneventful weekend for me, in that if Captain Tom thought he was a couch potato, I surely was the sack full! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg] Between the Mets, Yankees and football, I've got to swear off the tube before I begin looking a bit like our Cyclops friend, Boris. <yikes>

Want to thank our Proprietor, Mentor and Captain for the help in getting to the bottom of the pix posting situation. Looks like your advice has helped both BK and I - much appreciated. Tomorrow will tell the tale, for sure. Proves ocne again that old adage, if at first you don't succeed . . .

Really haven't got much to provide on this day other than to acknowledge the efforts of our stalwarts at the bar. Under this new format of ours, no point in "pressing" to keep posts coming - my thought is that as long as we remain "up on the forum page" with a few per day, we'll be in good shape. So, thanks to Dave - Tom - BK 'n Mike for the efforts of the day. Thumbs Up [tup]

Nice looking LRVs from BK (didn't notice the young "thing" in the Aussie pix though!Evil [}:)])

Turned down an invite to head up to Boston for today's game against the Yanks. Some friends of mine have tickets and offered me one. I would've jumped at the chance a few years ago - but now, just the thought of that round trip turns me off. It isn't the "nice" ride it used to be, plus going by train would most probably have required an overnighter - those days are over for me. It was nice to be asked, though. Thumbs Up [tup] Just heard that the Yanks won, 2-1 - now that's unusual in Fenway to have such a low-run ball game. That's 5 straight. Keep CM3 Shane away from sharp objects! <grin >.

Okay Gents, time for me to set about the rest of the day. Hope to check in again tomorrow!

 

Until the next time! Thumbs Up [tup]

 

Lars

 

 

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Posted by BudKarr on Monday, August 21, 2006 12:55 PM

Good Morning Captain Tom and all assembled!

Still morning here in the mountains, but noon is rapidly approaching! Good day to you Ruth and my oh my, have not seen such brilliant red on top of the head since . . . Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg] A number three from the menu board and a mug of Java with just a "splash" to make it interesting if you please! Thank you.

We are making ready for our trip which begins on Wednesday. A couple of nights in Edmonton, then Calgary, then perhaps into the mountains to one of our favourite retreats, then home again, home again, jiggidy jog! Come fly with me - remember that one from Frankie Boy Question [?] One of my all time good listening tunes. Lydia is beginning to settle down with her trepidation with me at the controls and insists it is not the Pilot causing her anxiety, but the rather small size of the plane. Told her I would continue looking for a 747, but try not to get your hopes up! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

Thanks Sir Tom for the help with the photo posting. I had wanted to have something for tomorrow and the New York Central "Theme for the Day." Apparently something is on the Fritz with my PhotoBucket, for when I use your photo Urls, they seem to come through just fine. So, again, thank you for the use of them. Thumbs Up [tup]

From what I have observed, Sunday was a successful venture as the guys appear to be in good form once again! The idea of having a breakfast, brunch and lunch is a grand idea and Lydia and I will surely partake in a Sunday morning on the patio in the near future. Thumbs Up [tup]

For those of you who have NOT checked out the Url that Captain Tom provided a few days ago on the Liberty Ltd of the PRR, you should. Here it is again - http://www.prrths.com/Army%20Navy/PRR_Liberty_Limited.htm

Check out the 43 Urls beneath the photo of PRRs #5711. There are some fantastic photos of the trains that brought so many to the Army-Navy football games in Philadelphia - especially of the GG1s. It is indeed worth the time and effort. Thumbs Up [tup]

Good interaction these past few days from the guys, especially Doug - Rob - Tom - Lars - Dave - Pete - Eric and Mike. My apologies in advance if I have missed anyone - those are the names that stood out as I read through the postings and their offerings. Thumbs Up [tup]

A couple of more light-rail photos for your enjoyment:

 

A tram of the Luas system in Dublin, Ireland 2005 (from: www.wikipedia.com)

 


A Citadis tram in Melbourne, Australia 2004 (from: www.wikipedia.com)

 

Thanks to Sir Tom, looks like we are back in business with the photo posting!

 

Enjoy the day! Thumbs Up [tup]

BK in Alberta, Canada's beautiful high mountain country!

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Posted by wanswheel on Monday, August 21, 2006 9:00 AM

Good morning Tom and everyone, a <light> breakfast please

Doug, all I saw was the car http://mclellansautomotive.com/photos/B22770.jpg

Not counting the McKeen cars. How many were there?

http://www.oac.cdlib.org/affiliates/images/csdhi/kt0290182t/hi-res/80_6189.jpg

Probably it should've gone to Army-Navy games at Philadelphia, but it evidently didn't.

http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/adaccess/T/T30/T3086-72dpi.jpeg 

 PRR train #58, Liberty Limited near Pierceton, Indiana July 16, 1953

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00014456+OP-14456

Mike

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Posted by siberianmo on Monday, August 21, 2006 7:32 AM

G'day Gents!

This week, Ruth (our readhead) will be tending bar during the daytime - Leon the Night Man comes in at 5 PM (Central) 'til closing . . . .

A hearty good morning to one and all as we begin another work week (for many). For those of us who have "been there, done that," stroll over to your calendar to reinsure yourselves that this is indeed a Monday and August 21st! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

A blue sky morning here in mid-continent USA, with temps the past couple of days very tolerable, but alas, little rainfall as our drought continues. Petrol up at Collusion Corner was $2.66 (rounded) yesterday - who knows which direction it will take as the oil speculators continue to have a field day with pricing.

Baseball has been occupying the minds of a few, as I see the northeast has witnessed something rather unusual, the Yankees taking four from the BoSox up in Fenway with game 5 set for today. That has just got to have wrangled the nerves of more than a few Beantowners. My Cardinals took a series from the Cubs at Wrigley, which in itself is rather unusual for them the past few years. Chicago's northsiders have put the whammy on the Red Birds, regardless of the standings. Great rivalry and some decent games too.

Our Photo Posting Sunday seems to be back to normal as our "dependables" arrived with some fine Pix - thanx Rob 'n Doug. Also appreciated seeing some Chicago input from Mike (in New York!) and a "relay" of Ireland RR Pix from Pete via his Mate over in Merry Olde! Good job guys, all 'round.

Sounds like Pete had one of those B'day celebrations that never ends! Way to go . . . .Thumbs Up [tup] There's a drink-on-me awaiting you once we hook up for our next rail trip. Yeah!! [yeah]

Lars, you "done good" with yesterday's bill o' fare here at the tavern by the tracks! The breakfast - lunch - brunch seems to have taken hold! Thumbs Up [tup]

Doug, I enjoyed those "Doodlebug" Pix and again must remind one and all of their place in RR history as the forerunner of one of the most successful rail ventures ever - Budd's Rail Diesel Car (RDC). Thumbs Up [tup]  Also, that Pix of the Alaska RR's AuRoRa (Aurora) is quite interesting indeed. Don't have a clue what kind of a loco that is - wonder if any of our guys can help Question [?] Anyway, the time of travel between Anchorage and Fairbanks is now 12 hours - and the Aurora still is in use in the off season - once per week from Anchorage to Fairbanks. That would be a trip to take - I'd love every clickety clack plowing through the snow in the mountain passes! Thumbs Up [tup]

Set 'em up with all the OJ they can handle, Ruth and Boris ring the bell! Thumbs Up [tup]

See y'all later . . . .

Tom Captain [4:-)]Pirate [oX)]

Happy Railroading! Siberianmo
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 21, 2006 6:02 AM

Good morning Tom and friends. I'll have two light breakfasts, as I plan to return to work today. But just for a day, as I really need at least another daty to finish repainting our stupid condo so it can be shown again. Here's some "stuff" that goes along with all the Woodstock and Sycamore Traction Co. pix I submitted yesterday. Unfortunately, it's not a happy ending.

Photo was taken about 1939 at the Dunvegan Yard near Edmonton. No. 709 is in the foreground while No. 711 can be seen in the rear. Shortly after this photo both cars were shipped to different locations to become storage sheds.

McKeen cars No. 709 and No. 711 were the longest surviving equipment from the Woodstock and Sycamore Traction Company and outlived the railroad by at least four decades.

The three McKeen cars were withdrawn from service on April 1, 1914 when the Woodstock and Sycamore ceased operations for the first time. No. 711, the oldest of the three, had only been in service three years and nine months while No. 707, three youngest, had been in service less than three years. Apparently because it was the only car with a parcel post and express compartment, No. 707 was retained and remained on the property as a spare. It suffered an early demise and was scrapped in 1918 when the railroad was dismantled. No. 711 and No. 709 both were 75-passenger coaches. In late 1914, No. 711 and No. 709 were sold back to the McKeen Company in Omaha.

Both cars went back to the McKeen plant in Omaha where they were stored and offered for sale. Interest in the cars was expressed by the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway, a small railroad operating north from Edmonton, Alberta into a sparsely populated area with many lakes. The railway, however apparently wanted a baggage compartment rather than straight coaches. As part of the sales agreement, the McKeen Company agreed to modify the two cars prior to shipment.

No. 709 was rebuilt as a combination passenger and baggage car with seating for 48. No. 711 was rebuilt as a combination passenger and baggage car but also had a smoking section. Seating capacity on the 711 was 56 Oddly enough, in spite of the substantial rebuilding, the two cars retained their old Woodstock and Sycamore fleet numbers with their new owner. Both cars were delivered to the Alberta & Great Waterways Railway in 1915 and became the only McKeen cars to operate in Canada.

Initial service for the cars was a three times a week schedule from Edmonton to Lac la Biche. The run was about 100 miles north from Edmonton, and terminated near a resort development. For the next two years the cars were in reasonably regular service. However, the crews were apparently unhappy with the cars in the winter months because the heaters were no match for Alberta’s sever winter weather and left both passengers and crew uncomfortably cold.

In 1918 the resort development at Lac la Biche failed and the two McKeen cars were withdrawn from the route. They were then assigned to operate a six-day-a-week service from Edmonton north about 40 miles to Westlock.

The Alberta & Great Waterways Railway apparently had no better luck with the McKeen cars than did the Woodstock and Sycamore. It was reported that the two cars spent much time in the shop for one mechanical defect or another. At some point prior to 1921 it became necessary to take one car out of service and cannibalize parts in order to keep the other McKeen car operating.

At about this time, one car was loaned to the Lacombre & Northwestern for one summer only. The car was used to hold down a 25-mile run from Lacombe to Rimby, about 70 miles south of Edmonton. By this time McKeen No. 709 had been renumbered No. 1950 and No. 711 had been renumbered No. 1951. By the end of 1921 neither car was in service.

A short return to service came in 1923 when the Railway received a request to operate a special passenger movement. With a spirit of optimism, the Railway patched up one of the McKeens and sent it on its way (no doubt with crossed fingers). However, true to habit, only 15 miles outside of Edmonton the car had “a serious mechanical breakdown.” This undoubtedly was the last straw for both car bodies were subsequently stripped and then stored at the Dunvegan Yards (near Edmonton) until 1940. At about this time the cars were moved to other locations to be used as sheds for the storage of supplies. No. 709 went to Rycroft, Alberta, while No. 711 went to Dawson Creek, B.C.

Both cars continued to serve as storage sheds for the next two decades. At some point in the 1960’s, No. 709 was sold to a nearby farmer and an uncertain fate. At about the same time, No. 711 was cut up for scrap. By this time the Woodstock and Sycamore had been abandoned over 40 years.

Clown [:o)] Two small boys, not yet old enough to be in school, were overheard talking at the zoo one day. "My name is Billy. What's yours?" asked the first boy. "Tommy," replied the second. "My Daddy's an accountant. What does your Daddy do for a living?" asked Billy. Tommy replied, "My Daddy's a lawyer." "Honest?" asked Billy. "No, just the regular kind", replied Tommy. Clown [:o)]

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 20, 2006 5:33 PM

Wow ..pretty busy place for mostly being closed I think. Great to see manager Lars making sure everything is running smoothly, and that we're not breaking up the joint.I see Tom has provided this weeks movies as well as nifty PRR pix. Mike wins my award for most terrific pix of the day, but Alan's pix from Peter were nothing to sneeze at either. I got a chuckle on the pub note concerning employees losing their jobs. Oooops.

Here's my final salvo of pix for the day:

Frisco steam engine No. 4500 glistening on a rainy night at Springfield, Mn., station

 

Record-breaker. Passenger streamliner, AuRoRa, whose name contains Alaska Railroad initials, waits beside the line’s first saddle-tank engine on exhibition at Fairbanks. Diesels have cut old two-day Anchorage Fairbanks run to 13 ½ hours. Since modernization, ARR carries around 900,000 tons of freight a year.

 

Double-headed rotary gnaws doggedly at Alaska’s mountainous winter snows. This one is surplus Army equipment.

 

Long lines of oil tankers in the Texas & New Orleans yard at Beaumont, Texas.

 

The Canadian, a beautiful new Canadian Pacific train went into service April 24, 1955 on the 2881-mile run between Montreal and Vancouver, with a schedule that cuts 16 hours from the previous westbound elapsed running time. Present elapsed time is 71 hours and 10 minutes. A new Canadian National fast transcontinental limited, The Super Continental, took to the rails on the same day. It was a great day for Dominion railroading!

 

Clown [:o)] An engineer dies and reports to the pearly gates. St. Peter checks his dossier and says, "Ah, you're an engineer -- you're in the wrong place." So the engineer reports to the gates of hell and is admitted. Pretty soon, the engineer gets dissatisfied with the level of comfort in hell, and, as is the wont for engineers, starts designing and building improvements. After a while, they've got air conditioning and flush toilets and escalators, and the engineer is a pretty popular guy. One day God calls Satan up on the telephone and asks, "So how's it going down there in hell?"

Satan replies, "Hey things are going great. We've got air conditioning, flushing toilets and working escalators, and there's no telling what an engineer is going to come up with next." God replies, "What! You've got an engineer? That's a mistake -- he should never have gotten down there; send him up here." Satan says, "No way. I like having an engineer on the staff, and I'm keeping him." God says, "Send him back up here or I'll sue." Satan laughs uproariously and answers, "Yeah right. And just where are you going to get a lawyer?" Clown [:o)]

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Posted by pwolfe on Sunday, August 20, 2006 2:16 PM

Hi Tom and all.

On the puter again after a weekend of guests in for the Wolfes birthday bash.

Thanks for the encores TOM, LARS, DOUG, and ROBThumbs Up [tup]

MORE GRAT PHOTOS ON THIS PHOTO DAY.

DOUG Liked the Camel-Back on the depot pics and the McKeen doodlebug is an interesting car.The pic of the dog waiting for his master to arrive by train is greatThumbs Up [tup].

ROB Great shots of the F-Unit on the ONR.

MIKE Liked the color pics of the box-cars in the center of the city.A great photo of the steam locos in the snowy yard there must be at least 5 locos in steam.

LARS Hope the problems posting pics are solved soon. Does anyone know if the Advanced Search feature is still availableQuestion [?]

ERIK Glad you liked the link to the Llandudno Jct model railway there is another great site about the BR depot there.

 http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/llandudnoshed6g/index.html

TOM Three films at the Emporium this week I have not seenThumbs Up [tup].

Great pic of the Pennsy#5711 on the move on the Army-Navy game special train, the misty day seems to add to the photo.

The pics from Alan this week are of some remains of the famed Tralee & Dingle  narrow gauge railway in the south-west of Ireland.



Two pics of the most notable relic of the railway the Lispole Viaduct.


The site Glenmore station, grass covered platform to right.

 

The pub at the site of Camp Junction as Alan says, the biggest cause of Tralee and Dingle employees losing their jobs.

For more info on the line one link is

http://www.tdlr.org.uk/

Pete.

  

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Posted by siberianmo on Sunday, August 20, 2006 1:23 PM

G'day Gents!

Even though the bar is CLOSED today, I've enjoyed a bit of lunch and now it's nearly time to settle in to doing what comes naturally on Sundays - watching sports on the tube. <groan> Really <groan> - I'm not thrilled about giving up an afternoon engaged in such stuff - however - for an assortment of reasons, today I'm a couch potato! <grin>

Enjoyed the Pix from Rob 'n Doug ' Mike! Thumbs Up [tup] Sorry, but anything that was contained in my PhotoBucket albums from Nick and the others that I Posted for, are gone - that in reference to Rob's comments on the ONR.

Lars, give it a rest, Mate! No need to get one's knickers in a knot over this stuff. Really, don't spend a whole hulluva lot of time with this stuff. It'll ultimately get straightened out and we WILL survive! Thumbs Up [tup]

Eric, that PRR #5711 Pix you referred to did not have a date. However, it appears to be in rather recent times, judging by the stadium behind it (in Philadelphia). That loco is still a functioning piece of mean machinery for excursions. Here's another Pix of it:

 

PRR EMD E8 #5711 - (foto credit: Unknown - from: www.mdrails.com)

 

Here's another from the PRRs Liberty Ltd (modern era to the Army-Navy football games):

 

PRR Liberty Ltd for Army-Navy game (foto credit: unknown - from: www.prrths.com)

 

Okay, that's it from me for this day. See y'all on Monday . . .

 

Tom Captain [4:-)]Pirate [oX)]

Happy Railroading! Siberianmo
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Posted by wanswheel on Sunday, August 20, 2006 12:36 PM

Good Sunday afternoon everyone, some 1943 views of Chicago by Jack Delano.

IC So. Water St. Yard

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

">

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

 C&NW Proviso Yard

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

Tom, thanks to you and the all the people who checked out the old CV locos and St. Albans Station.

http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/railways/index_view.cfm?photoid=-1274675160&id=51

Mike

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Posted by siberianmo on Sunday, August 20, 2006 10:27 AM

Even though the bar at ”Our” Place is CLOSED on SUNDAY’s

We do observe Sunday Photo Posting Day!

 

 

NOW PLAYING at the Mentor Village Emporium Theatre!

 

. . . Sunday, August 20th thru 26th: Johnny Dangerously (1984) starring: Michael Keaton, Joe Piscopo, Marilu Henner – and – The Quick and The Dead (1987) starring: Sam Elliott, Kate Capshaw, Tom Conti. SHORT: Disorder in the Court (1936)

 

Johnny Dangerously (1984)

 

PLOT SUMMARY: This spoof of the 1930s and '40s crime tells the story of Johnny Dangerously (Byron Thames as the young Johnny, Michael Keaton as the older), a devoted son to his ailing mother (Maureen Stapleton), so ill that she needs money for several operations. Johnny has nowhere to turn, and because gangsters tend to flourish in his neighborhood he goes to work for Dundee, a benevolent godfather-gangster type, in order to cover his mother's medical bills. Johnny hides his association with Dundee from his younger brother Tommy (Griffin Dunne) and goes so far as to pay for Tommy's law school fees -- supporting him until Tommy joins the staff of the local (and corrupt) district attorney's office for Burr (Danny DeVito). When Johnny starts working for Dundee, he clashes with the evil Vermin (Joe Piscopo) right from the beginning, but things only get worse. After Dundee decides to retire, Johnny ascends to the helm, and it does not look like Vermin is going to take that sitting down.

 

from: All Movie Guide

 

 

The Quick and the Dead (1984)

 

PLOT SUMMARY: A mysterious stranger rides into a homesteading family's life when they are attacked by a ruthless gang. Based on a novel by Louis L'Amour, this made-for-HBO western stars Sam Elliott, an enigmatic gunslinger who comes to the aid of a family traveling through the wilderness.

 

from: multiple sources

 

 

Three Stooges Short Subject: Disorder in the Court (1936)

 

PLOT SUMMARY: Featuring Moe, Larry and Curly

Gail Tempest stands accused of murdering Kirk Robbin, the owner of the Black Bottom Cafe, and it's up to the defense's three main witnesses - Howard, Fine and Howard - musicians at the club who offer to give witness to her innocence and help clear her name by demonstrating the dance number in front of the jury ... Who killed Kirk Robbin?

 

 

from: www.threestooges.net
 

 

Enjoy!Thumbs Up [tup]

 

 

Tom Captain [4:-)] Pirate [oX)]

Happy Railroading! Siberianmo
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Posted by LoveDomes on Sunday, August 20, 2006 9:51 AM

G'day Captain Tom and fellow travelers at breakfast/brunch/lunch!

Sunday once again at the resurrected tavern by the tracks and I see we've had a nice beginning to our day! Thumbs Up [tup]

Time for me to make sure that things are running smoothly at Captain Tom's bar 'n grill and good to see that our Bar Chandler and his gals, H&H have everything in order for our bill o' fare this fine day.

Just finished up editing my post from yesterday with 2 pix that did or didn't show up. Crazy - absolutely crazy. Finally got both of them to display, but didn't do a thing differently. This stuff is really terrible and makes me want to simply stop trying. Haven't got the patience to play a game against the cyber gremlins either here in Kalmbachland or at PhotoBucket. <grrrrrrrrrrr>

Good day in baseball for the New YAWKers  - Yanks are putting it to the BoSox and my Mets are rolling along quite nicely. Let's go October! Thumbs Up [tup] <grin>

Some mention must be made for those who contributed thus far this weekend - Doug - Rob - Al - Dave 'n Eric,  many thanks for keeping us going in a forward direction! Thumbs Up [tup]

In that informative bit you provided us regarding the origin of the Southern Pacific name, my guess is your reference to CP is Central Pacific, huhQuestion [?] Appreciate the background . . . always learning 'round here. Thumbs Up [tup]

Eric - send the email NOW - by the time you get back from Sweden, you MAY have a reply! <grin> Actually, the more of us who send them our concerns, the better chance we all have of getting Kalmbach to recognize that the glitches have to be worked out. Thumbs Up [tup]

Glad you liked the Dome info - I enjoyed putting that together (except for the 2 pix that would and would not post!). Anything to do with Domes is a subject near 'n dear to my aging heart. Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

I just tried to put together a collage of pix - no luck. Keep getting just the URL. This is driving me to distraction - haven't changed a GD thing about "how to do it" - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. <arggggggggggggggh>

Just posted 2 pix over on Tom's "other thread" - but not here!! Hope you guys have a better day than mine has started out! &#%#$@

 

Until the next time! Thumbs Up [tup]

 

Lars

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 20, 2006 7:45 AM

Nice pix Rob! DId I ever mention how much I like McKeen Doodlebugs? Turns out that a few of them ran right out of Woodstock, the humble town I now reside in. Here are some pix:

Car No. 711 on the McKeen Company house tracks in Omaha, Nebraska early in 1910, just prior to shipment to the Woodstock and Sycamore.

Interior view of McKeen car No. 711 looking towards the rear of the car.

A scene that could easily be described as the finest hour of the Woodstock and Sycamore Traction Company. The date was July 4, 1910 and the company’s first piece of passenger equipment, McKeen car No. 711, had just arrived from the builder. The officers and stockholders took advantage of the situation and boarded their brand new car for an inspection trip covering the completed portion of the line. The car had already been decorated with flags for the forthcoming Fourth of July celebration when this photo of car No. 711 and its proud new owners was taken just north of Sycamore. Virtually from this time forward the little traction line began a decline from which there was no return.

The public inspecting McKeen car No. 711, newly arrived at Sycamore on July 4, 1910. The flags would indicate displayed patriotism for the Fourth of July weekend.

Southbound McKeen car No. 711 crossing the Kishwaukee River just north of Sycamore in 1911. The Genoa-Sycamore Road bridge parallels in the background.

Southbound McKeen No. 711 in front of the Sycamore Feed Mill. The Sycamore-Geneva road is beyond the tracks.

Automobiles and roads were not sufficiently advanced in 1912 to offer the Woodstock and Sycamore much competition.

McKeen car No. 711 at Washington and Main Streets in Genoa ready to make its trip south to Sycamore. This was taken prior to April of 1913 when the Woodstock and Sycamore was still operating two unconnected sections.

McKeen car No. 711 facing south beside the Pacific Hotel at Washington and Main Streets in Genoa. This was the northern terminal for the south portion of the railroad until April of 1913 when the Marengo section was connected.

McKeen No. 707 was equipped with a baggage and parcel post section. The car is facing south on Washington Street, just south of Main Street in Genoa.

McKeen car No. 707 at Marengo terminus in the late summer of 1911. After the sale of the first two McKeen car, No 707 was retained and operated infrequently as a spare unit for two Fairbanks-Morse cars.

This small nickel plated McKeen car paper-weight was given out to purchasers os Woodstock and Sycamore stock in 1910

[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Barndad/McKeenpaperweight.jpg[img]

Clown [:o)] More than anything, Chick wanted to be a cowpoke. Taking pity on him, a rancher decided to hire him and give him a chance.
"This," he said, showing Chick a rope, " is a lariat. We use it to catch cows."
"I see, said Chick, trying to seem knowledgeable as he examined the lariat, "And what do you use for bait?" Clown [:o)]

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Posted by trolleyboy on Sunday, August 20, 2006 7:38 AM

Herre's another couple of shots from ONR land, enjoy

 

Two shots of the ONR's main shops yard on Memorial drive in North Bay with a slightly burnt out GP9 awaiting some attention.

A classic locomotibve sand facility at the ONR shops

The last remaining ONR F's all caterpiller repowered, they still take turns on the Northlander and the Polar Bear Express / Little Bear name trains, they are the back up power vto the normal GP38-2 power that the ONR passseneger service uses.

 

Rob

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Posted by trolleyboy on Sunday, August 20, 2006 7:30 AM

Good morning Cindy , you are looking quite wide eyed and bushy tailed this morningSmile [:)].Figured that I would pop in and make sure the coffee urns are on , and that Hilda and Helga are not preparing anything too bizarre for the Sunday Brunch BuffetShock [:O]Dead [xx(]

Eric -Nice to see you on this fine morning. that was a nice all round covered all the bases inclusive post 5xThumbs Up [tup] for that sir.I'm sorry to hear that you are still haveing a few issues with the Kalmbach software, hopefully they can sort it out for you or at least confurm or deny your Mac suspicions.As to the TEE's I beleive that two complete sets were brought in, 4 power cars and the coaches to match. sorry i'm not completely sure on the numbers and make up of the sets.The ONR website may be able to shed some light, that or their was an official railfans website for te ONR. Nick had posted it last year,perhaps if he pops by or if Tom remembers it we can reprint it for you. i know that they had several pictures of the TEE in service on it.

Doug-Nice pictures as per usual.Some nice shots of that camelback in it's up close and personal shots of stuff one normally does not see.I'll fave to look up that NFB movie now.

Back with a couple shots in a minute or so

 

Rob

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 20, 2006 5:46 AM

Good morning one and all. Quite the busy day around here yesterday. Nice GRR & COR ENCORES from Rob. Thanks to Lars for posting the weekly schedule and Santa Fe dome ENCORE. Great to see brothers AL and Dave of computer-trouble fame, and read Dave's train-related memories. Captain Tom provided a fine D&RDG Fallen Flag ENCORE as well. Great that Eric stopped in, and shared his reseach results on the Camelback. SPeaking of which here are some old photos, starting with a camelback for Eric.

Jersey Central Camelback No. 751 takes on coal in the Jersey City yards for her final day of operation.

 

Water stop. Tender waits under the spout as the Hostler tanks up for the run.

 

Close-up filling the old Camelback’s sand dome in the Jersey Central yards at Jersey city. The 751 takes on enough “seashore” to supply her last run.

 

Towerman at Finch, Ont., where Canadian Pacific tracks across New York Central, faces camera for Canadian National Film Board movie “The Station Agent.”

 

Highballing southward along the Hudson, the New York Central’s Pacemaker, a luxurious, overnight Chicago – New York coach train, pass its northbound running mate.

 

Waiting on the 5:16 and the greatest guy in the world.

 

Did I mention that the Air/Water show is in Chicago this week?

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Posted by EricX2000 on Sunday, August 20, 2006 3:26 AM
Good morning Leon. I am surprised to see that you are awake. I'll just have a cup of coffee this Sunday morning. Keep the change.

And Good Morning to Captain Tom and all the rest of you, gentlemen!

As you probably know by now, I am an evening/night person. Tonight I finally got a chance to catch up and found a lot of interesting reading, with (or without) pictures.

Doug - Tragic history about the Big Lift. The brakeman was really lucky to leave the locomotive when he did. I have a question, It’s about a question from the Information Booth. The first question is: As the Pennsylvania operates in anthracite regions, why didn’t it ever use Camelback engines? Since I don’t know anything about any advantages using the Camelbacks in anthracite regions I really would like to know. I just looked it up and found the answer. The engineer’s cab was superimposed on the boiler, with a platform on the front of the tender so that the stoker could feed fuel into the firebox. Plus some other advantages. Interesting. Deductive reasoning, a good one. Thanks! Interesting info about the tunnel mask.

Mike - I am going to write to Kalmbach. Something is wrong, I do not see the tool bar for instance. Got info from Tom yesterday about what I am supposed to see when answering a post. Thanks for all nice pictures of old steam locomotives!

Rob - Yes, I will email kalmbach. Do you know how many TEE’s that was in service on ONR? I really feel sorry for the NS&T supervisor. I can not even imagine how he felt when he was told about the broken windows. Murphy’s Law (I know it was before Murpy’s time).
How about the shamefaced motorman, did he manage to pull the trolley back to the track?
Interesting stories about the Clasic Steam, as usual.

CM3 - It seems like I am not hte only one with problems with the new format. I am about to write to Kalmbach. My problems are slightly different though. Sleepers in a train really makes you, as an engineer, very careful when you handle the throttle and brakes. You don’t want to wake up people.

BK - Nice pictures from Calgary! The design of the cars remind me of San Diego’s light rail. Are they built by Siemens? I am afraid I don’t know that much about light rail and its equipment. The vehicles for Phoenix are manufactured by Kinkisharyo, a Japanese manufacturer. There is no U.S. manufacturers of light rail vehicles. I think at least some of Baltimore’s vehicles (and San Jose’s) were manufactured by ABB.

Tom - When was the picture of the PRR 5711 taken? Interesting info about D&RGW. I did not know they had that many named passenger trains.

Pete - I really liked the layout (llandudnojunction) you linked to. They ceartinly put in a lot of effort to make it look so real.

P - Nice to meet you, Sir! I understand that you are an engineer so we have something in common. But I am a former engineer from a different continent, even though I had almost a year with Amtrak.

Lars - Thanks for the history of the dome car. I still have to ride one (whenever I’ll get the cance).

Dave - Again I learned something new, like the origin of the name Southern Pacific. Now that name is just history. Too bad.

I have not had a chance to write to Kalmbach yet about my problems with the new format so I am afraid I can't show any pictures this Sunday. Next Friday I am leaving for the old country and will be gone for two weeks, but I'll be back here before the trip.

Have a nice Sunday!

Eric

If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
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Posted by trolleyboy on Saturday, August 19, 2006 10:32 PM

ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE !

One last encore for today, an interurban tale just for Dave.This one first showed up back in january on page 224. Ome of the two main CPR owned electric interurbans.

Enjoy

 Rob

 

 trolleyboy wrote:
Okay a content post for this evening as well. The CPR electric lines were an important part of the Southwestern Ontario Rail scene. I'll do them in a few installments. I'll put them out in very thin format as they literally can fill volumes. < And do >

CLASSIC JUICE # 17 THE GRAND RIVER RAILWAY BEGINNINGS


It began as one of Canada's first electric street railways, four miles of track known as the Galt and Preston Street Railway. In 1894, it was built from the Grand Trunk station in Galt,following King and Main to the speed river in Preston,and the collection of resort hotels known as Preston Springs. The early years were good ones,and by 1896 the line had expanded to Hespler, and thereby remnamed as the Galt, Preston and Hespler Railway. ( All three towns are now known as the City of Cambridge Ontario ) By 1898 it was carrying 35,000 passengers and 1,000 tons of freight each month,thanks largely to connections with the CPR station at samuelson street in Galt.


In the meantime, the Preston and Berlin railway was building from the GP&H at east Preston,following a route that took it through Freeport,Centreville,and along King street in Berlin( preasant day Kitchener ) to it's junction with the Waterloo and Berlin Railway at Albert street. It's Waterloo terminus was at Erb st near the site of what was Waterloo's St Jacobs tourist Raiway line. ( This line will likley be part of the New Light rail system building for Waterloo,Kitchener and Cambridge

Service on this new line the PBR began in 1904 and four years laterthe line merged with the GPH itself. Car barns and a station were built at Preston Jct, on the north side of th speed rivernear the entrance to today's Riverside Park. Another station was built on Guelph street at the popular Idelwyde Park,and a terminus added onGuelph street in Hespler. Later still in 1918 the line recieved it's final name the Grang River Railway.

CPR Ownership

In 1921 the route was realigned trough Kitchener between the city limit and Courtland St. To accomodate this new alignment at station was built at Queen st, a wooden structure initially which was replaced by a Tudor style brick station in 1943. In Galt, a new solid brick station built to CPR's " international" flat roofed style wa added at main street.

Although bus service began in 1925,rail passenger service remained largely uninterrupted until 1938 when it was cut back from Waterloo to the Queen st station in Kitchener. And following the war, a new set iof passenger coaches, the first interurban's built in canada since 1930 were put into service betweenKitchener and Galt. More frieght business was picked up at this point with steeple cabs becomming more common sights on the line than the strings of interurban cars.

The booming frieght business was continued as well,feeding the CPR line in Galt. But the post war auto boom soon began to take it's toll and passenger traffic declined,finally ending in 1955. The old GRR track was cut back from Centreville to Ottawa street,while a new link was built from a point south of Centreville to a CN spur on the West side of Kitchener. Electric frieght operations continued untill 1961 when COP pulled the plug a switched the line over to SW1200RS diesels. In the 1990's more trackage was pulled from between Ottawa street and Victoria park. Trains continue to use the GRR tracks between Centreville and Preston JCt where new spurs were built to the new Toyota assembly plant.


Enjoy Rob

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Posted by trolleyboy on Saturday, August 19, 2006 10:28 PM

Good evening Leon, a round of Keith's for the house please sir, yes Boris you can ring your bell now.Nice to see a few in today enjoying a laid back saturday.

Lars - So far i haven't had any picture issues ( that knocking sound is my knuckles on my own skull )I'm directly typing out the links each time I post one so far that works. I'm wondering are you typing out or cutting and pasting. Perhaps the cutting and pasting option no longer works witht he new set up.Nice to see the Dome article again BTW and the updated rules of engagement for the bar.

Dave & Al -Both of you haveing 'puter problems eh Question [?] a mystery on the left coast seems to be brewing. Do we need to send out the good inspector to look into things Question [?]Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]. I do hope that you both get back fully functional ,we miss our left coast reports around here.Thumbs Up [tup]

Dave -I have to aggree with you on the hereitage fleet. You figure the only reason they are doing it really is to keep their claim on the old names and graffics. This is all still pointing back to their ongoing battles with the hobby and toy industry. They want their royalties.That SP unit sounds like a horrid combination guess I;ll wait to see the whole picture.

Tom -Ah I see you snuck the Rio Grande in. Nice to see it, I've always' loved that older logo.Nice smooth day today quiet and laid back, just the thing for a hot muggy saturday afternoon and evening.

Well Leon another round I think, tilla looks a bit bare.

Rob

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Los Angeles
  • 1,619 posts
Posted by West Coast S on Saturday, August 19, 2006 7:34 PM
Howdy all,,, Well, well what have we been up to? A special howdy to the bar keep this fine saturday, I see Cindy and the crew hard at work, and what, even Boris behaving Himself?

Round of Moulsen if you please.

Puter troubles continue.. except for retreiving the past two days can't pull the thread up past that, guess that kills any Encores...

Well i'll do my level best to acknowledge those at the revived "Our Place".

Welcome aboard FTwNSengineer, glad to make your'e company, as per my tradition for newcomers your'e next round is on me.

Barndad: Good info on TO's and tower operations, how well I remember those paper orders being hoop up, heck, i'm old enough to remember when they made out of cain!! Typically, SP employed those of metal construction, but always there was a cain backup.

CM3...Keep it coming...Good to be among fine folks such as you once more

Al, Welcome back, ain't puters fun??

Lars: I see your'e back in fine form..

Rob: Kudos for Mr Interurban.. This may be of interest, this morning UP prepared to unvail the SP 1997 Heritage Unit, spy photos show a combination of Daylight/Black-Widow on the nose, guess when they fully unwrap it the answer to any application of Scarlet & Grey in this scheme will be noted.. Personally I consider the Heritage fleet an abomination to the linnage of these proud roads.. Heck UP could have kept a few around in their orginal owner colors, no need to reinvent the wheel..

And Sir Tom..Appreciate the RR blurbs..You and others might be interested in the orgin of the name Southern Pacific. The orginal SP had no affilation with the big three, the CP or the UP. It was a 47 mile line constructed between San Francisco to San Jose. The line was in operation by 1864 after two years of construction. Being the only rail line in the area, times were good. The CP was occupied with consturction east of Scaramento to fulfill it's charter and had no intention of building west to San Francisco...The SP decided to build east over Altamont and along San Pablo Bay and meet the CP at Sacramento. The board of directors approved this decision and that to secure the wealth and power of the Nob Hill elete to foot the construction cost..

This brash act by a upstart attracted the attention of the big three, CP had the bigger war chest and assumed control via what we now call a hostile takeover, electing and appointing CP officials as directors of the SP.

Eventually, such questionable tactics caught the eye of the Federal Governement, meanwhile construction, east to Sacramento continued under the auspices of the SP which was by now name only, the CP had aquired complete control.

One bad deed deserves another could best describe the CP during this period, shody construction lead to numerous fatalities among personal and passengers, unsavory and questionable leagality business practices gave bith to its nickname " The Octopus" It was not a term of endearment..Many considered the CP more vile and ruthless then the James or Dalton Gangs..

Under pressure and with several prison sentences handed down to certain officals, the Southern Pacific Corporation was adopted as the corporate name in an effort to distance the new enterprise from the old days, new officers were appointed who did not tolerate the ways of the past. The new SP adopted a new attitude and way of doing business. The CP survived as a independent corporation until 1946, whereupon it's assets, personal and equiptment were merged into the SP proper.


Dave
SP the way it was in S scale
  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: northeast U.S.
  • 1,225 posts
Posted by LoveDomes on Saturday, August 19, 2006 5:42 PM

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

Another rather exciting day watching baseball, quaffing a few brewski's and in general, kicking back.

Here's an Encore from me for this Saturday, bit more subdued than last, but hey - we're HERE! Thumbs Up [tup]

 

This was posted on Jan 24, 2006 on page 229. Thumbs Up [tup]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.



A dome car owned by the Santa Fe Railroad in the 1950s.from: www.trainweb.org

A dome car is a type of railroad passenger car that can include features of a lounge car, dining car and an observation. Its primary feature is a glass dome on the top of the car where passengers can ride and see in all directions around the train.

Configuration
A portion of the car, usually in the center of the car, is split between two levels, with stairs leading both up and down from the train's regular passenger car floor level. The lower level of the dome usually consisted of a small lounge area, while the upper portion was usually coach or lounge seating within a "bubble" of glass on the car's roof. Passengers in the upper portion of the dome were able to see in all directions from a vantage point above the train's roofline.
On some dome cars, the lower portion was built as a galley, where car attendants used dumbwaiters to transfer items between the galley and a dining area in the dome portion of the car.

History
The popular story is that the first dome cars in North America were conceived by Western Pacific's President Harry Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell was riding in the cab of one of his railroad's diesel locomotives through the Rockies when he thought that every passenger should be able to see the scenery that is passing by on his railroad's passenger trains. His idea was to provide a full 360-degree view from above the train in newly built "vista-dome" cars. The idea really wasn't too radical as railroad cabooses were often built with a cupola above the car's roofline so the train crew could get a better view of the train, and the Canadian Pacific Railway had used 'tourist cars' with raised, glass-sided viewing cupolas on their trains through the Canadian Rocky Mountains in the 1920s. Modern Vista-dome cars were introduced on the California Zephyr inauguration in 1949.



Auto-Train Dome Car 510 began life on the Sante Fe Railroad. from: www.TrainWeb.com

As dome cars became more common on North American passenger trains, some western railroads purchased or built "superdomes". These were dome cars where the upper level of the car extended for nearly the entire length of the car. Starting in the 1980s, the use of the dome car has become rarer as Amtrak has introduced new bi-level passenger cars that reach the maximum possible height over the length of the car. Dome cars are very popular on tourist railways and private charter rail services.

*******************************************************

Catch y'all either tomorrow or Monday!

 

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Chesterfield, Missouri, USA
  • 7,214 posts
"OUR" PLACE - Adults talking Classic Trains in a special place since April 12th, 2005!
Posted by siberianmo on Saturday, August 19, 2006 1:31 PM

G'day Gents!

Cindy, set 'em up and Boris ring the bell - drinks on Da Boss! Thumbs Up [tup]

Good to see Doug - Rob and Lars this weekend day. Thumbs Up [tup] A week ago today, "Our" Place returned to life and we're settling in to see where we go from here. Thus far, pretty encouraging signs. Thumbs Up [tup]

Here's my submission for ENCORE Saturday -

something from way back on page 116:

Here’s another Passenger RR Fallen Flag for the gang from Classic American Railroads:

 

Denver & Rio Grande Western (D&RGW)

 

 

Headquarters:  Denver, CO

 

Mileage:

 

1950: 2,413

1995: 2,238 including trackage rights routes

 

Rolling stock as of 1963:  Freight cars – 12,610  Passenger cars – 96

 

Principal lines in 1950:

 

Denver-Bond, CO-Salt Lake City, UT

Denver-Pueblo-Dotsero, CO

Pueblo-Trinidad, CO

Walsenburg-Alamosa, CO

Alamosa-Durango, CO

Salida-Gunnison, CO

Mears Junction-Alamosa

Alamosa-Creede, CO

Bond-Craig, CO

Grand Junction-Ouray, CO

Thistle-Marysvale, UT

Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT

 

Passenger trains of note:

 

California Zephyr (Chicago-Oakland, joint w/Burlington & Western Pacific)

Colorado Eagle (St. Louis-Pueblo-Denver, joint w/MoPac)

Exposition Flyer (Chicago-Oakland, joint w/Burlington & WP, replaced by California Zephyr in 1949)

Mountaineer (Denver-Montrose, CO, via Moffat Tunnel)

Panoramic (Denver-Ogden)

Prospector (Denver-Salt Lake City)

Rio Grande Zephyr (Denver-Ogden [later cut back to Salt Lake City], replaced California Zephyr 1970-83)

Royal Gorge (Denver-Pueblo-Ogden)

San Juan (Alamosa-Durango, CO)

The Silverton (Durango-Silverton, CO)

The Yampa Valley (Denver-Craig)

 

Enjoy! Thumbs Up [tup]

 

Tom Captain [4:-)] Pirate [oX)]

Happy Railroading! Siberianmo
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Central Valley California
  • 2,841 posts
Posted by passengerfan on Saturday, August 19, 2006 1:29 PM

Good morning Tom. Lars and the rest of the gang. Time for a CR and a round for the house.

The better half suggested I postpone the puter tech visit until after I get moved in the next two weeks

She says she has never seen me so ruthless with my RR junk as she calls it. I have thrown away many files that i know longer needed as I have the info on the computer and have backup discs so I can't lose it. Actually some of this stuff I should have done this with years ago. Only had a burner for the last two and never felt comfortable with floppie discs for saving info. I can burn and everything else on the puter and read post etc. but can't send anythig to the forum or buy anything on the internet right now.

Anyway Saturdays their are free work stations at the office that i can use which is what I am doing right now. I hope this will be my last couple of weeks before I can get back to being at Our Place on a regular basis.

TTFN Al 

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: northeast U.S.
  • 1,225 posts
"OUR" PLACE - Adults talking Classic Trains in a special place since April 12th, 2005!
Posted by LoveDomes on Saturday, August 19, 2006 9:48 AM

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

An earlier start to my browsings than I'm accustomed to, however, responsibility has no limits! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

Cindy my deAH, I would like one of those BK specials - you know, a hot cuppa Joe with just a "splash" to make it interesting! <grin> They say imitation is the best form of flattery, or something like that. Thumbs Up [tup] Ah, the goodies are looking fine in the Mentor Village Bakery case, think I'll help myself to a couple . . .  Boris, ring it - a round of OJ for the boyz! Thumbs Up [tup]

Saturday's 'round the joint have been our day for Encore presentations,  however, under the new set-up, we're going to make that an optional call (which it was all along, but apparently "lost" on some!). Anyway, here's my Encore to kick things off from me . . . . something from just the other day, but appropriate for our "new beginnings" . . .

Weekly Schedule of Events


Sunday - Bar is CLOSED - Food service is available for breakfast, brunch 'n lunch.
Pix Posting Day.

Monday thru Saturday: Breakfast - brunch - lunch.

Tuesday - Classic Trains "theme day" - next up: New York Central!!

Wednesday - Toy 'n Model trains day (optional)

Thursday - Fish 'n Chips nite - begins at 5 PM

Friday - Pizza 'n Beer nite AND Steak 'n Fries nite - begins at 5 PM

Saturday - Steak nite - begins at 5 PM
Encore Saturday (optional)


"Our" Place Staff


Bossman, Proprietor and Mentor: Siberianmo Tom

Chief Cyclops - Boris

Chief Bartender (nites) - Leon

Chief Bartender (days) - Cindy

Gals of "Our" Place - Ruth (redhead) - Ann (blonde) - Lucy (brunette) - Jemima (raven)

Mascots of "Our" Place - Juneau the Siberian Husky -
Awk the Parrot and Tex the Armadillo

Security Force - Inspector Cluess of the Local Constabulary and Mr. Doyle, Private Eye

Bar Chandler - Trolleyboy Rob

Chief Chef - open (temporarily filled by H&H)

Bar Manager - LoveDomes Lars (newly appointed)


Birthday Watch List and special celebrations


Maintained by Tom and continuance to be determined.


Protocol


Greet the barkeep upon visiting the bar - each time.

Order a drink or food. (Coffee and soft drinks are free with food orders, otherwise 5 bucks per cup)

Acknowledge the other guys and be inclusive with comments.


Order of the Stools (reserved and permanent)


Maintained by Tom and continuance to be determined.


Most Valuable Patron - MVP


Maintained by Tom and continuance to be determined.


Daily Summary


Suspended and resumption to be determined by Tom.
=====================================================

With the mainstays back in position, surely seems like olde tymes 'round the tavern by the tracks! This place just wouldn't be without Rob 'n Doug, and of course the man who made it all possible, Captain Tom hisself! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

So, what's on the agenda for this fine day Question [?] A bunch of baseball on the tube - think I'll check out the Yanks 'n Red Sox. After that double bill loss to the New Yawkers last nite up in Fenway, my guess is the natives will be out for more than blood. Mets play at nite - so unless the Mrs. rousts me out of my favorite chair, I know where I'll be! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

Ya know, this crap about posting pix is getting to be downright stupid. I too have had a hulluva time with it and don't quite know where to place to blame - PhotoBucket or Kalmbach, or perhaps both. But as with BK, I'm having lots of difficulty getting my pix to show up. Sometimes they do - sometimes they don't. Crazy. Of course, this is all a free medium, so what's to complain about, huh Question [?] It IS irritating though - especially when B4 the massive turnabout, things were working just fine. Don't care for this new setup, but DO like the controls put on the JOs. Can't win for losing, huh Question [?]

Ok guys, time for me to get a move on. The Mrs. was in heaven yesterday and I swear we visited every department in that huge store - at least three times! My feet are killing me, along with my back and dull headache. Ah, the joys of shopping with the Mrs. <grin>

Later . . . .

Lars

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