ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! ENCORE ! EBCORE !
Since it's saturday our normal chat and encore day , here's an encore from a peice back. Another classic steam offering , in keeping with my other ones from this week. This first posted up on page 326.
Rob
trolleyboy wrote:Good evening again gents. leon a round of CR while I add a bit o info of the Classic nature. Here's another esoteric amd long forgotten steam road from the pioneer days of Ontario. CLASSIC STEAM # 24 THE CENTRAL ONTARIO RAILWAY The COR Into The Hills of Gold The Central Ontario Railway was a 117 mile run that stretched from Trenton Ontario North to Maynooth and Lake St Peter. It was a road that served the many minning towns and villiages of the area. Begun in 1873, the line was ultimatly intended to Link with the legondary Booth railway the Ottawa Arnprior and Parry sound Ry ( classic steam # 22 ) near Whitney Ontario.While the line made it through the sheild rock and swamp 3 miles shy of Booth's road is where it ended at Wallace on Lake St Peter. The actuial terminus as far as passengers went was at Maynooth just to the south. Here the railway had it's yards,turntables, and it's largest station. The stroy starts in Prince Edward County, with the completion of a line between Picton( although the Port of Long Point was the original target ) and Trenton jct, the roads link with the Grand Trunk just north of the town of Trenton itself. ( Trenton is on the Bay of Quinte )However the gold rush north of Trenton and Belleville caught the eyes of the railroads builders and in 1866 they were determined to built to these new found gold fields before anyone else, chiefly their main rivals the builders of the Grand Junction Railroad who were hurrying to build a line from Belleville northwest to Peterborough, this openned in 1879. A branch led north from Peterborough from Madoc Jct to the ill-fated goldfields at Eldorado Ontario. Tyhe gold was not as plentifull as hoped but other more mundane minerals convinced the builders of the COR to continue north : iron ore. In 1882 the construction of the new lines to the iron ore producing areas began. The first destination was Coe Hill, centre of the earliest of these iron discoveries. later prospectors found more in the hills around Bancroft, the line reached Bancroft in 1900.In 1909 Mackenzie and Mann's Canadian Northern laid it's Ottawa to Toronto mainline through Trenton , and added the branches and mainline of the COR to their ever expanding empire. The COR replaced their wooden depot at trenton with a huge three story and extended the north end of the line through to Maynooth where another larger station was built. It met the Irondale Bancroft and Ottawa ( IBO ) at Bird's Creek just north of Bancroft completing the web of branches that were the COR.All along the route small brancjes radiated like veins out to all of the mining camps in the area. Most were open pit type mines as the ore was close to the surface. Gradually as the various mines depleted the branches were closed down. The lines in Cordova closed in 1941, to Bessemer and Lake st Peter in 1965 and to Coe Hill in 1966.CNR tried of running the short lines that were left as they felt them to be unproffitable even though several small and large paper plants and other industries were located on them. The Paper plants at Glenn Ross and Glenn Millar particularly of note. The CNR steadily chopped back the COR until all of the liones north of Marmora were gone by 1982. By 1986 the link between Trenton and Marmora was gone as well. Rob
Good morning Cindy.In honour of Doug's latest joke, I'll have half a thermos of coffee and half a # 3 from the breakfast board.
Doug -Thanks for starting off this morning with a real "bang".I'm glad to see that the IRM is still using the ole punches , kinda supprised that Metra does , GO transit in Toronto has gone to all electronic date coded passes , basically ride all day between the stops that you purchased for. They have live inspectors that make sure that you have tickets but beyond that , that's the whole ball of wax. Our Musuem's conductors do carry punches , just the usual paper punches that you can buy down at Staples. some of the guys have old railway or TTC ones' we do it for look more than anything.I've seen that guy in the mask on a poster somewhere before haven't I LOL
Well let's see what shakes loose the rest of today here at the Tavern By The Tracks
Good morning Tom and fellow railroaders. I'll have a light breakfast in preparation of another day re-painting the condo. SUre is a great way to spend the day! I see my last post (and joke) survived the night, except that the last word was censored. Let's just say it was a three-leter word, beginning with "F" and ending with "G". Can you guess the vowel that was in between?
Hey Rob, if you want to see Conductor punches in action, you have only to ride the Metra system in Chicago. We also use punches on our little 5-mile short-line at the IRM. Glad you like the old magazine "stuff". Here's some more:
Q - Why is the Southern Pacific’s Golden State equipped with a rear car of blunt design? Why doesn’t this streamliner have a rounded, back-windowed observation car such as those used on the Rock Island’s Golden State?
A – The Rock Island Golden State’s rear car is an observation lounge and therefore has a rounded end. On the SP’s, however, the lounge car is placed near the center of the train – a convenient location for passengers, in view of the trains length. The rear car on this train is a sleeper and so has the blunt design you mention.
Q – What is, or was a tunnel mask?
A – A closely woven canvas hood, provided with goggles, was worn by crew men while riding some steam locomotives through long tunnels to minimize discomfort and prevent suffocation by poisonous gases from the stack. The type pictured here, originally costing $16, had an opening to which was attached a small rubber hose leading to a pipe coming from the engine’s main air reservoir and sometimes including filtration material corresponding to modern water filters or cigarette filters.
A cool stream of compressed air expanded the mask slightly, making it fit snuggly. Air flowed down over the face, past nose and mouth and out the bottom. But even before the Steam Age ended, most of North America’s long railroad tunnels were either daylighted or so ventiliated that the use of masks became unnecessary. These hoods differ from the gas masks worn today by miners, city fire-fighters, soldiers at war, etc., in that the latter are simpler and do not cover the head.
Q - Define the term “gander dancer.”
A – Railroad section worker or trackman. The term came form the dancelike motion of men tamping ties, sometimes with equipment turned out by the old Gandy Manufacturing Co. of Chicago.
Q – Which American trains have master bedrooms and shower baths?
A – The Crescent Limited, the Broadway Limited, and the Panama Limited. Some private cars, such as the one owned jointly by Lucius Beebe and Charles M. Clegg, also boast these luxuries.
Q – How is locomotive tractive power converted to horsepower?
A – It isn’t. In diesel-electric there is no direct relationship between tractive power and horsepower. Says Sy Reich: “Horsepower is normally a function of the diesel motor and the generator design. Tractive power at low speeds is normally a function of the locomotive weight and the factor of adhesion. At higher speeds, tractive effort is related to hp, by factors of efficiency, gear ratio and wheel diameter, and locomotive speed.”
Q – What is a Granuflow car?
A – Granuflow is a trade name of a new high-speed system for pneumatic transporting and conveying of such dry materials as flour and cement in large bulk and for unloading railcars, trailers, and barges, developed by B.F. Goodrich Co. It is based on the principle of moving, through hose or pipe, a high volume of material with just enough air to fluidize the mass for flowing.
Car’s Granuflow system permitted unloading 100,000 lbs. of four in 1 ½ hours, compared with 4 to 6 hours usually needed for ordinary unloading.
There was a boy who worked in the produce section of a super market. A man came in and asked to buy half a head of lettuce. The boy told him that they only sold whole heads of lettuce, but the man replied that he did not need a whole head, only half. The boy explained that he would have to ask the manager and so he walked into the back room and said, "There is some jerk out there who wants to buy only a half a head of lettuce." As he finished saying this, he turned around to find the man standing right behind him, so he quickly added, "And this gentleman wants to buy the other half." The manager okayed the request and the man went on his way. Later on the manager said to the boy, "You almost got yourself in a lot of trouble earlier, but I must say I was impressed with the way you got out of it. You think on your feet and we like that around here. Where are you from, son?" The boy replied, "Minnesota, sir." "Oh, really? Why did you leave Minnesota?" inquired the manager. The boy replied, "They're all just hookers and hockey players up there." "My wife is from Minnesota", exclaimed the manager. The boy instantly replied, "Really! What team did she play for?"
Good evening Leon I'll nab a Keith's and one of the prime ribs charred to a beautiful medium if you would sir. Good to see things humming along today a 5x for the efforts gentlemen fer sure fer sure.
Doug -I enejoyed the extra Q and A lesson again today, really neat stuff that you've been dredging out of those old magazines. The jokes have also been their usual caliber the graon-a-meter been getting quite the workout.I hadn't thouygnht of Petticoat jct in years. never a show I watched much, it was never rerun much in Ontario when I was a kid growing up.Interesting pictures and info on the rrailway punches as well. Another nowadays dying thing. Most VIA conductors now use the all mighty permanent black marker to mark off the tickets.Not as classy anymore.
Pete - That lake not only has a good name but it's a beautifull deep lake with all sorts of wrecks and islands and the usual cottages etc. North Bay's the largest settlement on it ( approx 60,000 year round souls, that doubles during the spring to fall cottage season )Like BK I like the sounds of that overnighter on scottish rail only if we could do a rendezvous there, wouldn't that be grand ?Yes Thomas was a big boon for alot of the railroad musuen's , ours unfortunatly can't use him becaus eof our oddball track guage, we are wider than standard guage.
CM3-That is an amazing number of set offs for Toronto on those trains. Imagine that many sleeper runs intio the US from Toronto and that's only one railway ! You can't even ride coach into the states anymore from Toronto, truly sad what rail travel has shrunk to.
Tom-Nice little stats complation, jusyt teasers for what's to come I'm guessingI'm with you though the quality of posts this week is at the bars usual peek and flow 5x for everyone that's come through for us here.Boris ring us up another round on me !
LARS -I'm waiting with baited breath your NYC info on tuesday. I'm sure that it will be a masterwork. thanks to you for getting us all back on track as well sir.I've got a few pistures again from our North Bay trip linned up for sunday, so we should have some stuff to look at over brunch. I've a couple mouldy oldies for encore day tomorrow so the weekend should be business as usual.
P-Nicee quizz , never would have thought of Petticoat jct. Interesting follow up on the railroad watches. I wouldn't have thought that modern railways would still demand such specifics given the modern computer controlled signalling.
Well gents catch everyone over the weekend.
Good evening Leon! I'll have the usual, and as usual, here's a sawbuck to buy the regulars a round. Busy day here at the bar with all sorts of train info flying around. CM3 has continued to massage the consist lists, and we have friendly banter from Tom, Lars and BK, and P has given us his quiz answer. Speaking of which:
CBS television show "Petticoat Junction" features the Hooterville Cannonball with Smiley Burns in the role of Engineer Charlie Pratt. Burns never smokes or drinks, wrote 200 songs for Gene Autry, was "Ole Frog" in many Western films, and reputedly has earned over $3 million to date (Oct, 1964). Both of his parents were ordained ministers.
I'll be looking for some Harvey House girl info, now that BK has mentioned the subject.
And now ... for the joke (you know the one I mean ....)
Neighbor 1: "Hi, there, new neighbor, it sure is a nice day to be moving"New Neighbor: "Yes, it is and people around here seem extremely friendly"Neighbor 1: "So what is it you do for a living?"New Neighbor: "I am a professor at the University, I teach deductive reasoning"Neighbor 1: "Deductive reasoning, what is that?"New Neighbor: "Let me give you and example. I see you have a dog house out back. By that I deduce that you have a dog."Neighbor 1: "That is right"New Neighbor: "The fact that you have a dog, Leads me to deduce that you have a family."Neighbor 1: "Right again"New Neighbor: "Since you have a family I deduce that you have a wife"Neighbor 1: "Correct"New Neighbor: "And since you have a wife, I can deduce that you are heterosexual"Neighbor 1: "Yup"New Neighbor: "That is deductive reasoning"Neighbor 1: "Cool"
Later that same day...
Neighbor 1: "Hey, I was talking to that new guy who moved in next door"Neighbor 3: "Is he a nice guy?"Neighbor 1: "Yes, and he has an interesting job"Neighbor 3: "Oh, yeah what does he do?"Neighbor 1: "He is a professor of deductive reasoning at the University"Neighbor 3: "Deductive reasoning, what is that"Neighbor 1: "Let me give you an example. Do you have a dog house?"Neighbor 3: "No"Neighbor 1: "***."
Good Afternoon Captain Tom and all assembled!
A round for the house, Cindy, and I would like a Kokanee if you please.
Kudos all around to the guys for such informative submissions.
I never heard of the sleeping car arrangement and enjoyed reading about it. Can you imagine such a practice in this day and age I cannot. Then again, how many of us take to the rails for overnight journeys other than for pleasure Surely not for business in the world we live in. Glad you brought it up, CM3 - but was surprised that you were seriously looking for an answer rather than quizing us.
Those Harvey Houses were very common throughout the U.S. and Canada and were fine eating establishments. Now, that reference to the Harvey Girls that Pete made is only relevant for one who has a fascination for Hollywood. By the by, the reference to an overnight rail trip to Scotland, with some time in the bar car sounds pretty good to me!
Given that I have no point of reference for Petticoat Junction, I will not make further comment on that quiz question from P.
I enjoyed those Q&As from Doug - very informative as always. Without the As, I would have flunked big time!
Been totally frustrated this day in trying to post some photos . . . appears these forums really have been screwed with and what used to work easily, does not any longer. Sorry, Gents - perhaps another day.
Hope to see you over the weekend, if not then Monday for sure!
BK in Alberta, Canada's beautiful high mountain country!
Hi Tom and all.
A pint of Bathams and some of H & H's Haddock and Chips if there is any left over.
Another busy time at the bar.
Thanks to all who commented on the BR model yes TOM it is the same one brought over as the bride's present.
Two great Classic Steams ROB. I have noticed here along the KATY trail each town has a feed mill along the trackbed, I suppose the grain harvest is about to take place here soon it must be a major traffic for the RRs today?What a great name for a lake Nippissing is.
LARS Good posts. A great idea to post the Our Place Schedule and Protocol list.
BK Glad you liked the link to the model web-site and thanks for the Light Rail topic.
CM3 Great starter for the NYC theme day next Tuesday.The sleeper info is very interesting. In the UK one of the Scottish sleepers still splits into three in Edinburgh with portions for Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William. It is a wonderful experience to catch the sleeper in London, the nearest stop for our town, and to wake up in the Scottish Highlands after spending a couple hours in the bar-car at the start of the journey.
DOUG Thanks for the Information Booth posts for the old Railroad Mag.A couple of British raiway mags used to have a Queston & Answer section until fairly recently, it is a shame they dont run them still as they are very informative. Trains Magazine over here still has this feature although I notice that the Letters section has been smaller of late which is a pity. E.H. Harriman's round the world railroad would have been a great achievement if it had succeeded.
Are you going try to post the joke which may have been cut out again
P That would be a good quiz question as to how many pints I've had at Our Place , they have all been good.
As to your question I would have gone with Rob and said Thomas the Tank, he seem to be everywhere. Although to be avoided by railfans there is no doubt he has been a godsend to preserved railways with the amount of money he has brought in.
TOM Thanks for answer to the Pennsy Red stripe livery query. I wonder if it inspired the LMS to used a simular paint scheme on the second batch of the Streamliners in the late 30s, one of which is beeing restored to a Streamline state which it has not worn for nearly 60 years.
In the local paper it says there is now a Harvey House Diner in Kansas City Union Station with the dearest item on the menu at $8.49 and sandwiches selling at $3.99 to $5.99, although there are no Harvey Girls yet. If it is between where we get off Amtrak and the Irish pub (when it opens) perhaps we can give it a try.
Another Bathams CINDY and let me get a round .
Pete.
Good morning Tom, Manager Lars, Barndad and the rest of the gang.
Dont have much time, got to go to work. Just need the thermos filled up. well since nobody could answer my question it is the Wabash Cannonball or just Cannonball (as in the the TV show Pettycoat Junction) Yep the Cannonball shows up just about everywhere.
As far as the railroad approved watch goes it must have a white background, black roman numerals, 24 hour dail with 13-24 marked in red, and a sweeping secondhand.Well guys gotta run see ya latter.
P
Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please, round for the house and $ for the jukebox. Three all-time favrotes today: "If I Had Shot You When I First Wanted To, I'de Be Out of Prison By Now," "Her Teeth Weere Stained But Her Heart Was Pure," and "I Liked You Better Before I Got to Know You So Well."
Thanks to all for interesting posts and material.
I asked the setout sleeper question because I was not sure of the answer. My thought was that it might have been Amtrak's "Executive Sleeper" which operated between New York and Washington. 66 picked it up en route to DC and 67 set it out enroute to Boston. It was usually a 10/6 car. Now you can't even get a sleeper on anything out of Boston. Better stop here b4 I get dragged out to the Rat Room for awhile.
Here's some more NYC consists from 1942; our friends who have an interest in things Canadian will find this intriguing, I think.
No.
Train
Depart
Arrive
6
“Fifth Avenue Special”
11:20 a.m. (LaSalle St.)
7:30 a.m. (New York)
Chicago-New York Sleeping Cars: 10 roomettes/5 double bedrooms; 14 sections; 8 section/drawing room/2 compartments
Pittsburgh-Boston Sleeping Car: 12 sections/2 double bedrooms (From P&LE 33; NYC 84 @ Buffalo to NYC 28 @ Albany
Pittsburgh-Massena Sleeping Car: 12 sections/2 double bedrooms (From P&LE 33; NYC 84 @ Buffalo to St. Lawrence Division 55 @ Utica
Diner (Lounge): Chicago-New York
Coaches: Chicago-New York
Train 28 departed Albany at 5:38 a.m. and arrived in Boston at 10:38 a.m.
48
“Detroiter”
7:00 p.m. (Detroit)
7:40 a.m. (New York)
Detroit-New York Sleeping Cars: 17 roomettes (2 cars); 13 double bedrooms; 4 compartments/4 bedrooms/2 drawing rooms (two cars); 14 sections (2 cars)
Lounge Car: 6 double bedrooms/buffet ( 2 cars): Detroit-New York
Diner: Detroit-New York
No coaches
82
“Ontarian”
11:25 p.m. (Buffalo)
7:50 a.m. (New York)
Toronto-New York Sleeping Cars: 10 roomettes/5 double bedrooms; 4 compartments/4 bedrooms/2 drawing rooms; 14 sections; 6 sections/
6 double bedrooms (Xpt. Sat.)
Buffalo-New York Sleeping Cars: 10 roomettes/5 double bedrooms; 8 sections/drawing room/2 compartments
Toronto-Pittsburgh Sleeping Car: 10 sections/drawing room/2 compartments (In NYC 279 from Buffalo to P&LE 38
Toronto-Cleveland Sleeping Car: 12 sections/drawing room (In NYC 207 from Buffalo)
Diner
Coaches: Toronto-Buffalo;
No coaches Buffalo-New York
20
“Cleveland Limited”
8:15 p.m. (Cleveland)
Cleveland-New York Sleeping Cars: 10 roomettes/5 double bedrooms; 17 roomettes; 4 compartments/4 bedrooms/2 drawing rooms; 12 section/ drawing room 18 roomettes (Xpt. Sat.); 13 double bedrooms (Xpt. Sat.)
Lounge Car: Cleveland-New York (6 double bedrooms/buffet)
Diner Lounge: Cleveland-New York
Trains 82 and 20 ran together from Harmon to New York.
work safe
G'day Captain Tom and fellow travelers at the bar!
Looks like I just missed Da Bossman - drat it! However, good to see him up 'n about the decks this day!
An early start for me too as the Mrs. has all kinds of plans today. Heading over to "the city" for her "Macy's fix" - even though there are more of those stores than Carters has pills these days. Nevertheless, she loves the old place on 34th Street, so off we go - ta da, ta da. <ugh>
Where to begin with all the posts I think I'll draw a bye on the individual accolades and just say, "Well done" to one and all who have made the effort and taken the time to keep us afloat! 5- Salute to youse guys!
Nice looking light-rail vehicles out there in St. Looooo, Captain Tom. I know you don't want to take either the credit or blame for the way things have shaken with the system, but the pix reveal something positive, wouldn't you agree I researched the system on the web and it is quite expansive since the original construction. Appears as if it goes through an awful lot of countryside over in Illinois on the way out to your Air Force Base. Kinda makes me wonder what in the world they were thinking, as my impression of light-rail is that it serves urban populations. What do I know!
Hey Doug - good to see ya this day and nicely done submissions too I should add. You keep coming up with something special for us and we just might give you a drink on the house! <grin>
Rob, enjoyed your night time visit and hope to see ya 'round the tavern by the tracks this weekend. Can't say for sure what tomorrow and Sunday hold, but the good Lord willing and the creek don't rise - I'll do my best to check in!
Gotta work on my NYC submission for Tuesday's "Theme for the Day!" . . . hope the rest of you are thinking of it too.
Finally, after getting thoroughly thumped in Philly for the 1st two games, my Mets finally pulled one out yesterday. Dog days of summer, fer sure, fer sure. August is soooooooo loooooooong, in so many ways, huh Let's get to October - like NOW!
A round on me, Cindy you lovely thing and Boris, ring that bell! I'll have a #3 from the Menu Board, then I'm gonezo!
Lars
G'day Gents!
Friday has arrived and all's well here in mid-continent USA. Temps are supposed to be in the high 90s (F), but there's a storm front moving in packing a whollop for later on this PM. Petrol up at Collusion Corner was $2.79 (rounded) yesterday . . .
Really quite a return for many of our customers as the Posts keep rolling in, chock full of good 'n interesting material. Quality over quantity is what we strive for and quality we've got! Moving into the weekend, I'm going to continue with the "let's see where this takes us" mode . . . but my take on it is that the "regulars" want "regularity" - so let the good times roll!
Rob, you've been a rather busy Bar Chandler and contributor, as has Lars with the mulitple Posts. It shows rather evidently just what you two have been plotting! Also much appreciation for the efforts from CM3 (twice yesterday) - BK - Doug and red P.
I looked into that set-out sleeper question and although nothing has turned up definitively, the references to Amtrak seem to hold true that they were the last to use 'em. Had a brief bout with their use with the "Owl" and appears that the "California Zephyr" was the last. So, looks like that's the best I can come up with - I'll go along with Lars with 2001 as the year. How about it, Shane
A few "blurbs" about some RRs we like to feature at the tavern by the tracks:
Pennsylvania RR:
An independent railroad from 1846 to 1969, the PRR was the largest line in the United States based on traffic and revenue. Chartered in Pennsylvania in 1846, construction began in 1847, and the first all-rail line reached Pittsburgh in 1852. Eventually PRR connected Chicago with Washington, D.C. Pennsylvania Railroad recalls the unique engines and trains of "The Standard Railroad of the World."
Southern Pacific:
The Southern Pacific line was formed out of its parent company, the Central Pacific, which was chartered by an Act of Congress in 1863, signed by Abraham Lincoln. Its original charter was to build east from Sacramento and meet the Union Pacific "somewhere in the middle", thus creating the first transcontinental railroad.
Santa Fe
Chartered in 1863, the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway's first trains rolled the next year, and the line reached Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1880. By the 1890s, the line reached across 2,200 miles of track to Los Angeles and Chicago, making it one of the world's longest rail systems. By 1929, at its peak, the Santa Fe had over 13,000 miles of track. Santa Fe captures images of steam and diesel across this vast system.
Just caught your Friday AM Post, Doug! Nicely done . . . just what we need, mind benders to start the day! Seriously, good stuff and I'm sure the guys will pick up on it. The punch info is most revealing . . .
Enjoy the weekend, Gents and have one on me! Ring it Boris . . .
Tom
Good morning Tom and friends! I’ll have two light breakfasts and an “Our Place” T-shirt, size L, please. Rob, I think my post from yesterday might have actually been removed by the forum gods, because of the joke I attached to it. Not sure, but this is the first time I ever saw one of my posts evaporate! Here’s more Q & A’s from Barbara:
Q – How do crane-order cranes function?
A – These are used by operators for delivering “flimsies” to the crews of moving trains. Over the years, patents have been granted to more than 60 such devices. At First, operators delivered the orders by hand, using a rough willow hoop equipped with a handle and a small snap of spring wire to hold the orders. These were superseded by hoops of finished wood, bamboo, or rattan with still larger handles. The hoop was designed to be picked up by the crew man’s outstretched arm. He would then take the orders out of the snap, and throw off the hoop.
More recent developments for delivering train orders include the post and crane structures. A common type is equipped with three fasteners, one above the other, which hold the hoops so that the brakeman and fireman can reach the orders without the operator’s help. A drawback to this type is that it cannot be seen clearly in dark weather, snowstorms, sandstorms, etc. Wherever possible, lights and reflectors have been installed above the hoops.
Q – What type of watch are railroad employees required to use?
A – It is a rule that railroaders working in engines, trains, yards, etc., must carry a standard 21-jewel watch which has been tested for accuracy under varying conditions. These watches are subject to inspection once a month.
Q – How long is the New York City subway-elevated system?
A – By route miles, the system’s total is 236. Measured in terms of double-tracking and, in many stretches, quadruple-tracking, the number of miles is 729.
Q – Is it true that Commodore Vanderbilt once called George Westinghouse a fool?
A – Yes. When Westinghouse perfected his airbrake in 1875 he offered it to Cornelius Vanderbilt, then president of the New York Central & Hudson River. Vanderbilt scribbled a reply to the inventor which read, “I have no time to waste on fools!”
Q – What is a business car?
A – This is a Pullman-type car assigned to railroad officials. Equipped with lounge, bedroom, bath, and kitchen. The car is coupled behind whichever train the official is riding. An operating officer’s job involves much travel and inspection. In such cases it is usually better for him to work in the privacy of this “office-hotel-room” arrangement.
Q – I understand the Chesapeake & Ohio got rid of its Vista Dome cars because they were too large for certain tunnels. Is this true?
A – Not that we know of. The C&O was designing a new daylight-run train. The Vista Dome cars to be used on it were delayed in production, and while awaiting them the C&O needed the rest of its cars for regular service. Later, when the Dome cars were ready, there was no other new equipment available for the proposed daylight train, so the company decided to sell its Dome cars to the Baltimore & Ohio. They did this in 1950.
Q – Is it true that E.H. Harriman once started what was intended to be a “round-the-world railroad?”
A – Yes. He proposed building a railroad to the Bering Strait to connect with a line constructed by the Russian government. The plan was actually launched about 1900. After failing in negotiations with Japan regarding the South Manchuria Railway, Mr. Harriman decided to include the Alaska Railroad in the scheme. With this vital link assured, he was ready to buy the Chinese Eastern from Russia. He hoped to double-track the Trans-Siberian line in exchange for trackage rights between North Manchuria and the Baltic Sea. Unfortunately, his death in 1909 brought an end to the fabulous blue-prints of a continent-to-continent rail system which might have changed world history.
Q – Is it true that each passenger trainman has a differently designed ticket punch?
A – Yes, indeed. Ticket punches have distinctive forms, as the identities of thousands of men engaged in passenger service depend upon them. The punches have various shapes – hearts, spades, squares, triangles, circles, semi-circles, and so on When a conductor receives a punch, it is registered in his name at division headquarters and entrusted to his care for as long as he remains with the road. It is not to be duplicated. Some punches have been used for fifty years or more. In rare cases conductors pass them on to sons or friends who succeed them on the same run. When a conductor retires, his last official act is to turn in his ticket punch.
Years ago, trainmen used to void passenger tickets by simply marking them with pencil. However, dishonest travelers often erased the markings, so that tickets could be used again. As a result, the roads lost much revenue. By getting off the train at a stop, the trickster would buy a second ticket, which also would be voided. As the second ticket was cheaper than the first, he would surrender it at the end of the trip. He would hold the through ticket and use it again at the starting point, or sell it. Thus, many a through ticket made the trip several times.
The punch system was adopted in 1852, having been devised by an Erie conductor, “Pappy” Ayres, who was determined to put a stop to this swindle.
The tour bus traveling through northern Nevada passed briefly at the Mustang Ranch, near Sparks. The guide noted: "We are now passing the largest house of prostitution in America." A male passenger shouted "WHY?!?"
Good evening again gents,just a final check in to make sure alls well at the tavern. I see that it is so I'll settle down and enjoy some haddock and chips ( best bet on the menu as H&H cook haddock the best) Seems like Leon has the bell well stocked so I'll grab a guniess to go along with the F&C.Boris and Tex have the track gangs under control and nothing is broken ( yet )
LARS -I see that you did indeed make it back in. Thanks for adding another tidbit of info to the set-out sleepers question. More proof as to why this is the best place to hang out enjoy and learn. I've had a busy couple of days here, my two off in a row so my weekend as it were, so I'll be more scarce likely one morning one evening post the rest of this week but that's okay the gangs picking up where they left off.
DOUG -I had wondered if something odd had happened to you, as we were with out our morning giggle or groan dependingInteresting Q & A story. I would have thought that the PRR would have had gaggles of camelbacks as well, so you see my newly learned info for the day And yes making one's friends spew liquids from the nasel cavities was the tour de force in my highschool days (daze ) as well. I imagine that something as mundane as that doesn't happen in todays cell phone toting MP3 player packing teen society of today. Sad but true
Well I'll leave everyone to their fish and chips and remind one and all of the steak speacials tomorrow evening T-bones sirloins and even some top grade Alberta prime rib as well order early and often Also a reminder of "chat" and "encore" Saturday.
Have a good night everyone.
Good evening Leon .. I’ll have a bottomless draught with the fish and chips, and please set-up a round for the boyz. Got some more Michigan quarters for the coal scuttle, so let’s load up the tunes, and crank-up the volume!
I actually left a real nice post early this AM .. but for some reason, it didn’t stick! It looked something like this:
Nice post on the Liberty Limited CM3, and a terrific follow-up with the Pennsy Army/Navy link Captain Tom. I had no idea that trains were involved with this annual match-up. Apparently I also need to educate myself on what is considered “light rail”, and will be doing so courtesy of BK’s link. Really like the URLs of the skyline from a hundred years ago Mike. Absolutely fascinating. Great to see Lars and [red]P[/red], and thanks to Pete for the HO scale Brit steamer. Reminds me that I need to get some Pike material ready for next Wednesday. Finally, Rob reports a coffee nasalectomy from reading my groaner yesterday. Takes me back to old school daze, when you did all you could to get your friends to spew chocolate milk. Now that was fun! Enjoyed your Dover and Stratford article Rob.
Anyhow …that’s pretty much what I wrote before it was blown away, which brings me up to present. CM3 seems to be doing an Al impersonation with all his NY Central info. Good stuff sir! I see Manager Lars provided the Our Place re-orientation and summary material. It’s easy to see that a lot of the things that Tom used to do every day would be quite time consuming. Looks like Rob beat me to [red]P[/red]’s answer of Thomas, which be the way, is at the IRM now. Lars guessed the Gravy Train, so maybe I’ll change my answer to the Soul Train. I enjoyed reading your words Lars, and examining your excellent pix. Thanks for the great idea on giving the wife trains for special occasions Tom. I think my bride would like a Polar Express this holiday season! Spiffy Metrolink pix Tom. Wow Rob … great classic steam stuff sir, and I’ll bet you can feel those extra digits starting to grow. You may well one day have more fingers than brother Al.
Here’s a little something from me. The 1950’s Railroad Magazines had a nifty section called Information Booth, written by Barbara Kreimer in Question/Anwer format. Here are some examples:
Q – As the Pennsylvania operates in anthracite regions, why didn’t it ever use Camelback engines?
A- The PRR did build three camelbacks at its Jaunita shops in 1899, to compete with the Reading, Numbered 698, 700 and 820, and designated as E-1 Class Atlantics, they had 20 ½ X 26-inch cylinders, 80-inch drivers, and a boiler pressure of 205 pounds. The firebox was a combination of Belpaire and Wootten designs. One distinctive feature was the arrangement of the six-wheeled tanks, which were discarded when the engines went over to the Long Island years later. Renumbered 198, 199 and 200, they remained in LIRR service until around 1912, when they were scrapped.
Q – I have heard that car wheels are used in interchange service. What does this mean?
A- it means that wheels can be supplied to the cars of any railroad in any one of the thousands of shops. A complete record is kept on every wheel. Data include the road applying the wheel, the serial number, the date and place of casting, and the manufacturer, as well as the weight and diameter – all of which is marked on the outer and inner surface of the wheel itself.
Q- Why are the railroads slow in modernizing such structures as signal towers, many of which look positively archaic?
A – They are not slow. Modernization of railroad buildings, including towers, is being pushed as fast as revenue permits. A great many signal towers have been built or rebuilt in keeping with the principles of modern design. One example is the Canadian Pacific control tower pictured here. This structure, located in the new terminal freight yards at Cote St. Luc, Montreal, blends the smooth streamlined touch of up-to-date architecture with the practical planning of improved operation facilities. Looking through Polaroid window, the control operator watches cars roll down the hump, and checks their speeds by means of the electrically-charged retarders.
A man died and was taken to his place of eternal torment by the devil.As he passed raging fire pits and shrieking sinners, he saw a man he recognized as a lawyer snuggling up to a beautiful woman.'That's unfair!' he cried. 'I have to roast for all eternity, and that lawyer gets to spend it with a beautiful woman.''Shut up,' barked the devil, jabbing the man with his pitchfork.'Who are you to question that woman's punishment?'
Okay folks Cindy I think we all need another rond on me ( I'm feeling generous today ) Boris hit it,, not the bottle you moron oh well he tries or is it trying
CLASSIC STEAM #33 LINE TO THE LAKE ; THE LAKE SIMCOE JCT RAILWAY
Okay one more new bit then I'm giving it a rest for this week, gotta fill in for 20 fingers absence donchaknow.
One of the main goals of Ontario's early railway builders was to tap the hinterlands.Here they found the timber, the minerals and the barley vital to thhe flegling provinces' and countries young economy.The first lines were usually anchored at a lake port from which point they would build their way to wherever thier charter, and their funding took them.Often, it wasn't very far with some of these lines. A number of them were simply portage lines that simply connected the existing lake ports.
While the Toronto & Nippissing Railway ( which never even remotly neared Lake Nippissing ) wound from Toronto tp Coboconk , it still lacked a portage connection. Accordingly , a feeder line was proposed from a point on the TN to Lake Simcoe , then a key transportation route for Ontario's early settlers and lumber companies. This would give them the portage route they sought.
The Lake Simcoe Junction Railway began at Stouffville, a booming town set amidst some of Ontario's best farmland,and terminated at Sutton,with a spur line extending to the warf at Jackson's Point.Watre tanks were located at Mount Albert,and Sutton,while engine houses were constructed at Sutton,and Stouffville.Eight stations and sidings were also located along this line.The stations at Mount Albert and Sutton were identuical 2 story wooden buildings, those at Stouffville ( demolished in 1970 ) and at Blake ( now Brown Hill ) were patterned after the single story TN station at Kirkfield ( still stands ), while the remaining stations would repeat the style of the single floor wood stations the TN built at Woodville,Eldon,and Markham ( this latter the only one left was restored by a federal Millenium fund grant )
train service on the LSj was not particularly frequent. the two daily mixed trains were reduced to one after just three years of operation, however a full passenger train was running by 1910.By 1917 ot was back to just one mixed train a day. Then due largely to competition from lake Simcoe tourist trains run by interurban Toronto and York Radial Railway, service was cut back from Jackson's Point to Sutton.
By 1928 the newly formed canadian National had assumed control of both these lines and undertook a major relocation project. they eleiminated part of the LSj line between Stouffville and Zepher, and moved the junction closer to Sutton on the former CnoR line at Zepher. Then in 1928, the CN eleiminated all passenger service to Sutton, although occational seasonal freight traffic was still run. Service was maintained this way until complete abandonement occured in 1979
Good afternoon again Cindy, I think another round of Keith's would do nicley, just got back in from cleaning out the roof gutters never my favourite job but what can you do.
BK - Nice to see you and I see you came barring gifts of more lite-rail , nice shots again. It will be interesting to see what Eric makes of them.Alot of people used to travel in and out of Stratford in it's heyday as a major division point. CNR's big shop for heavy steam locomotive repair along with the powerplant and close to 40 stall roundhouse used to be based there, all but torn down in the last 10 yeasr or so. Hard to believe how much of the mid ontario rail network used to filter through there. If you can try to get some copies of Ian Wilson's CNR steam series, one book the second of the set was called TO Stratford Under Steam you would be amazed at what was there. Our Museum sells them or you can order right from Ian http://www.canadianbranchline.com/
CM3-Hey thanks for the second visit today, your part two has indeed cleared up the how and the why of the drop off Pullman services. To take a crack at your question , I would have to go with Amtrak's version of the Empire Builder , and I would think that the service would have ended in the early 80's.
LARS -My bad congrats on your elevation , we will all now have to call your Herr Lars
TOM -Hey thanks for putting u that link to the Stratford Station , adds a bit of finish to my classic steam post. This is what I love about this thread we all tend to build off each other's momentum. I think yours and BK's guess as to P's mystery train are likely correct. Mine was a stab in the dark at best. I think we should be able to come up with some new NYC stuff on Tuesday , if not we've got lots of ENCORE's in the archieves. Nice shot's of the Metro Link. Looks like a clean and fairly well designed set up too bad it's marred with all the politics.
Good Afternoon Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox.
Let's see if we can sort out the NYC post from this a.m. This will "jump the gun" on upcoming NYC festivities, but...
The NYC had a bewildering variety of passenger trains. Some of them such as the 20th Century, Commodore Vanderbilt, Wolverine, and the New England States are still well-known today. The Central also had a lot of trains which handled many sleepers en route. I chose train 44, the “New York Special,” as an example.
The train originated at Chicago. Sleeping cars were picked up and set out at different cities along the way. For example: NYC 14 handled a Chicago-New York Pullman as far as Buffalo. Train 44 picked up this car at Buffalo and carried it the rest of the way to New York.
NYC 246 handled a Chicago-New York car via Niagara Falls which was handed off to Train 44 at Buffalo.
And so on. You can see that 44 was a monster at times, depending on the day it ran.
The date of the timetable was June 7, 1942 which is why there are so many seasonal cars to places such as Lake Placid, etc. These were pretty much summer-only operations.
As an aside, many roads had these kinds of operations. Some that I recall quite well were trains to deepest Maine from Washington and NY which handled a humongous amount of cars during the summer. This was often a PRR-NYNH&H-B&M-MEC routing. I need to do a post on that sometime. These lines also ran a lot of camp trains to carry youngsters to summer camps in the Great North. PRR and C&O/PM handled trains way up into Michigan for camps, fishing expeditions, etc.
Those of you familiar with Sinclair Lewis’s novel, Babbitt, will recall his trip to go fishing in Maine. If you haven’t read the book, it has some very evocative passages about Pullman travel; devoid of a lot of the romance that seems to have gathered about it as the years have gone by. But then Lewis always wrote with the "bark on."
Back to Train 44: as you proceed east you’ll see cars from points on the Adirondack Division and the St. Lawrence Division being handed off to Train 44 at Utica. These NYC divisions are fondly remembered by our Canadian friends, and, in many ways, they operated as subsidiaries of the larger NYC System. It’s hard to believe now, but Utica was a hotbed of activity.
I hope this clarifies things a little. You can trace it out on a map of the NYC and it will start to make sense. IOW, cars from different cities were added/subtracted as 44 headed east. The same process (with some exceptions) applied to westbound trains.
I hope this helps clear things up a little.
Work safe
P.S. What was the last setout sleeper to operate on a U.S. passenger train?
Another day at the ole watering hole as things appear to be settling into a pattern ‘round the tavern by the tracks. And we have a “Manager” once again. Thanx for stepping up to the plate, Lars and it seems “forever and a day” since we had that position filled.
Appreciate the rundown you’ve provided on the way things are done ‘round the tavern by the tracks – or saloon by the siding – take your pick! <grin> You certainly are on top of things as much of that info isn’t necessarily upfront in the memory banks.
I think the idea to provide repetitious reminders of the “Our” Place features is a good idea – goes a long way toward keeping everyone on the same page, so to speak.
Isn't that the same model loco 'n tender you "gave" to your bride as a "gift" upon return from Merry Olde, Pete Surely can't understand why she hasn't done back flips over it. <grin> Appreciate your input for "Toys 'n Model Trains Day!"
Also for Pete - earliest reference I could find for the PRRs use of 5 gold stripes was in 1934 and they began with my favorite loco, the GG1s.
Enjoyed the Classic Steam on the PDS from Rob. Browsed the Stratford, Ontario station web site http://www.viarail.ca/train-stations/en-station-stratford-ontario.html to check out the location of the station. Surely reminds me of many a town throughout both countries where the RR was so very important to the business interests downtown. Ah, those were the days, eh
The Emails are continuing and if I’m not responding right away it’s because I’ve limited myself to checking the account once per day and only responding where it appears appropriate or if requested to do so.
Nice rundown on the NYC from CM3 Shane. I would attempt to address the concern mentioned by BK, but I’ll yield to our WVA friend for that. Quarters and round appreciated – as ever!
Looks like BK has taken the lead with the light-rail info and Pix. Good stuff and keep it coming. Aside from keeping trolleyboy Rob totally involved, it provides yet another dimension to the “stuff” that makes this bar perk along.
Looking forward to seeing what you guys come up with for Tuesday’s “theme day” – New York Central!
A quiz from red P - hmmmm, doesn't ring a bell with me - so I'll throw in with BK and go for the Gravy Train.
A couple of St. Louis MetroLink light-rail Pix for y’all . . . .
MetroLink eastbound from Lambert Field at Hanley Road, Nov 19, 2003
(Foto credit: unknown)
MetroLink westbound at old Busch Stadium, Nov 19, 2003
Set ‘em up Cindy, drinks on da boss! Ring it, Boris!
Portland TriMet MAX Yellow Line tram on opening day, May 1, 2004, with new Siemens Type 3 cars.
(credit: www.wikipedia.com)
The San Diego Trolley (Siemens-Duewag U2) at America Plaza on November 10, 2003.
Hey P I'm likley going to regret this ... but the only fictious train that seems to pop up everywhere is that full size ride on Thomas The Tank Engine, scourage of the rails. Actaully most musuem's and real railroads that have hosted this show have head one heck of a good time,and made alot of cash with it for their orginization along the way as well. I know the answer's wrong, but hey it's an attempt and it's still relitivly early this morning. Make sure that Hilda didn't slip you the EXTRA HOT TOBASCO !We may need that crash cart twice in one day. Cindy I think another Keith's for me and if you would be so kind as to set up a round, gotta keep Tilla and cashinator humming along do we not.The bathtub slsh fund is almost back to where it needs to be !
Good morning;
let me have a cup of coffee and a western omelette, and bring me a bottle of tabassco.
And how many of you know the answer to this question? What is the name of the fictitious train that goes everywhere?
Good morning Cindy my lovely. My usual large thermos of joe and a #5 from the brunch board,I mat regret it but Helga's Seafood and Steak, burrito / omelette combo seems to weird to be bad Mind you the fact that Hilda is standing in the wings with a crash cart does make one pause...any takers for the cheif chefs position ...please
LARS -Thnaks for reposting the rules of engagement for the bar.I;m glad to see it, though I'm also glad that most of us thus far have abided by the way things work around here as well.So a 5x for everyone for that as well Gentlemen and Ladies.
CM3 -Good to see you back at your usual perch at your usual time in the mornings. Nice to know that we will still have our "Old Reliables" keeping us chugging along throughout the day. Save some of your "A" list NYC material for next tuesday, but today's post and info is most welcome. I've always been facinated by the through pullman and sleeper car services from the golden age of railroading.I imagine that the cars that came up into Canada were brought through on the NYC's candian subsidiaries trains the Canada Southern,The Toronto Hamilton & Buffalo , and to a lessor extent the Michigan Central.
Well Cindy while we await the rest of the patrons for the day I'll join Lars in a slightly loaded coffee. ring your bells there Boris. bwoong-gwooong- bwoong. Boris that golden striker needs to go back to Awk's cage, you may only use it on official Holiday's here at the bar. Why oh Why did we let Dave buy that last year oh well, it's all in good fun.
Good Morning Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please, round for the house and $ for the jukebox.
Let's give equal time to the NYC. Here's something from 1942. A train that departed Central Station in Chicago and wandered around picking up and setting out sleepers. The pickup and setout sleeper operations are something that many folks don't think about. Anyway, here 'tis.
44
“New York Special”
9:40 a.m. (Central Sta.)
9:40 p.m. (Buffalo)
Chicago-New York Sleeping Cars: 14 sections (From NYC 14 @ Buffalo)
8 section/drawing room/2 compartments (via Niagara Falls From NYC 246 @ Buffalo
Cincinnati-New York Sleeping Car: 14 sections (From NYC 404-14 @ Buffalo)
Cleveland-Lake Placid Sleeping Car: 10 sections/ drawing room/ compartment (Tuesdays and Fridays only; June 26-September 24) From NYC 14 @ Buffalo; in NYC 44 from Buffalo to Utica-to Adirondack Division Train 13 from Utica
Chicago-Montreal Sleeping Car: 8 sections/drawing room/2 compartments (In CP 22 from Detroit)
Grand Rapids-New York Sleeping Car: 8 sections/drawing room/2 compartments (From NYC 108 @ Jackson)
Detroit-Boston Sleeping Car: 8 sections/drawing room/3 double bedrooms (To NYC 46 @ Buffalo)
Bay City-New York Sleeping Car: 8 sections/drawing room/2 compartments (From NYC 208 @ Detroit)
Toronto-New York Sleeping Car: 10 sections/drawing room/2 compartments (From TH&B 380 @ Buffalo)
Niagara Falls-New York Sleeping Car: 6 sections/6 double bedrooms (From NYC 246 @ Buffalo)
Rochester-New York Sleeping Car: 12 sections/drawing room (From Auburn Road 18 @ Syracuse
Sleeping Cars from Adirondack Division 4 @ Utica
Malone-New York: 10 sections/drawing room/2 compartments
Lake Placid-New York: 8 sections/drawing room/2 compartments (from Adirondack Division 14 June 20-Sept. 13)
Sleeping Cars from Adirondack Division 14 @ Utica June 20-Sept. 13
Lake Placid-New York: 8 section/buffet lounge; 8 section/drawing room/
2 compartments; 10 sections/drawing room/2 compartments;
Sleeping Cars from Adirondack Division 14 @ Utica June 21-Sept. 13 (Sun. only)
Lake Placid-New York: 4 compartments/4 double bedrooms/2 drawing rooms; 13 double bedrooms
Sleeping Cars from St. Lawrence Division 80 @ Utica
Watertown-New York: 10 sections/2 drawing rooms (Ex. Sat.)
Massena-New York: 10 sections/3 double bedrooms
Ogdensburg-New York: 12 sections/drawing room; 8 sections/drawing room/2 compartments (Sun. only; June 14-Sept 7, Sept 13 and 30)
Clayton-New York: 8 sections/5 double bedrooms (Xpt Fri and Sat; June 14-Sept. 7, Sept. 13 and 30; 4 compartments/4 bedrooms/2 drawing rooms (Sun. only July 5-Aug 30, Sept. 7)
Parlor Car (Sleeper as Parlor): Chicago-Buffalo)
Diners: Chicago-Detroit (Lounge); Detroit-Buffalo
Coaches: Chicago-New York; Chicago-Montreal (via CP23 from Detroit); Lake Placid-New York (From Adirondack Division 14 @ Utica June 30-Sept. 13)
Hey P good to have you twice in one day. It will be nice to see another of your stories in multiple parts, everyone loved the last one which happened I'm not sure how long ago but we are overdue, hopefully your tab isn't as well, we wouldn't want Leon to have to put his collectors cap on LOL.Think i'll join you by the window Leon a Keith's please we want to stay tweet free this first week were back open.Been alot of things derailing up here lately as well , CN still hasn't figured out how to not run over length trains in their former BC Rail region Mr Harrison just doesn't know how to run a railroad the Canadian Way yet.Well Ithink time to pack up the ole tents for me this evening. See everyone in the AM
Hey all just a coffee please, sorry I havnt been around much latly been real busy at work.
lars You are quite right I do this for a living as well.And the traffic is booming. They want to add 6 more trains to the line up. I have know idea where they are going to put them. Had a massive derailment up here a couple of weeks ago. It was a triple crown train, the cause was broken rail. Both engines and 27 trailers on the ground. Here check the pictures: http://www.fwarailfan.net/coppermine/
Pete- How many pints have you had now? Come to think of it wernt you sitting in that same place last time I was here?
And tell tom Ill have another storrie posted soon.
Good evening Leon, how's about a CR while I take in the Mentor Villiage Glee Clubs 1st anual Barbershop Quartette Idol Contest. Yes folks even the Mentor Villiage has gone to reality programing of a sort, you should have seen the cooking with Helga weekend a couple weeks back !
CLASSIC STEAM #32 THE PORT DOVER & STRATFORD
Okay here's the first new Classic Steam in a while, just in time for tomorrow's breakfast reading here at the best little "Tavern By the Tracks "
Except for a small segment, this is a line that has been long lost in Ontario railway lore.When optimism reigned, plans were to have this line going to Lake Huron.It was known as the Port Dover and Lake Huron at that time.However when it became eveident that the line would not run beyond Stratford it became the Port Dover & Stratford RR.Oppenning in 1876, it's main line ran from Stratford via Tavistock to Simcoe and Port Dover with a short branch ( known as the South Norfolk ) to Port Rowan.
While it began as a separate line,it's main role was as a feeder for major lines like The Wellington Grey & Bruce and The Grand Trunk. In 1881, the PDS, along with the Stratford & Huron that ran to Wiarton, and the Georgian Bay and Wellington ( Palmerston to Durham ), were amalgamated to form a railway with the lengthy name of Grand Trunk,Georgian Bay and Lake Erie Railway, in effect an affiliate of and for the Grand Trunk.
The land through which it passed is some of Canada's richest farmland. It is not supprising that the sidings and platforms of the PDS stations were piled with farm produce awaiting shipment, as passengers bustled from town to town to attend the many fairs and markets.A common sight beside many of the stations were cattle yards,grain elevators, and feed mills.In many of these communities today the feed mill is the only clue that a railway line even existed.CNR has sold most of the right of way to abutting property owners and only two short segments,between Hickson and Woodstock, and between Simcoe and Port Dover, have been retained as public trails.
Becauseit was the main railway town, this route started out in Stratford.While two earlier stations had stood in Stratford ( the Grand Trunk / Buffalo and lake Huron union station was at Guelph and Downie streets, while The Port Dover & lake Huron's was on Falstaff at Nile )the current structure is located at Shakespere street and was built in 1913 and served all four lines that converged in the town.This station still see's four VIA trains a day as well as the frieght shipments of the shortline Goderich and Exeter. Of the four lines that radiated from Stratford, The Piort Dover and Stratford, and the once vital Wellington Grey and Bruce line to Owen Sound were both abandonned in 1995. The Goderich and exeter owns the third and CN's former big shiop line is still the active CN mainline on which the sattion still stands.
Good afternoon again Cindy. I see that you are as busy as ever, which is good I think a Kieth's for me and a nice big round for everyone else. Boris ring the old bell sir.
Pete -Nice looking locomotive that you carried home.It is a looker fer sure fer sure.Nice to see you remembered the wednesday rituals, another reason to be happy that the ole bar by the tracks is flurishing again. I'll leave the Pennsy paint questions to Tom,but I willl agree with you those locomotives looked absolutly splendid in that paint job.
Lars -I'm glad you concur. I was thinking long and hard about the NYC myself the other day. I said self wouldn't the NYC make a good inagural theme day run next week. Some I'm thinking that if your thinking the same thing, than next Tuesday the railroad theme for the day will be the NYC.
Bk-Flying solo today eh? Oh well we'll save the good tea for tomorrow in hopes of Lydia's return.It is indeed nice to see so many frequenting regularly agin isn't it. 10's a happy number I should think. I see that you have brought me a homework assignment to read through <grin> I shall endevour to enjoy it <grin>
Well folks I'm off again, gotta check out Mike's lateest batch of urls.
A pint of Bathams CINDY, unless there the brew from ST George's Arms has arrived.
ROB Two good trolley tales although the odds of hitting a box of dynamite in road must be over a million to one, a sad story. Tom and I will check out the pubs in Shrewsbury Missouri. I could take you a few good pubs in Shrewsbury England. A great country pub is on a rail line served by a 2-Hourly service, it is about 7 miles out of Shrewsbury, the bride came with us one day, as we go to the pub before we go to see Shrewsbury Town soccer club, I think it amused her when we have to tell the conductor to stop the train at the small station. The pub looks out over fields, sells real ales( by Wood's of Salop) and famous pickled onions served with the sandwiches.
Unfortunaly Shrewsbury Town are moving to a new ground after this season and no longer will the ground be within walking distance of the town center and many pubs..
Good to see CM3 again. I have missed the song titles. and the post on the Pennsy.
BK Thanks for the link to the light rail. It is marvellous how they have taken off over the last 20 years or so. it was good to see a photo of the Tyne & Wear Metro. this has been extended recently. Before it was extended they ran a special train over the system which travelled on all parts of the line some of which are not used by normal services. A good day out.
MIKE thanks for the links to the great old buildings. I wonder what the engineer thought when the bridge collapsed.
P Good to see you again.
TOM Great links and doesn't the Pennsy diesel look splendid in the Pennsy livery. I wonder when that maroon and gold stripe livery was first introduced.
I see in the KC Star paper the Irish pub is going ahead at Union Station in KC. Perhaps the Amtrak schedule will give us time for a decent visit when it opens.
In a blast from the past here(model Day) is a pic of a model loco I brought over from the old land
This is a Hornby HO scale model of a British Railways Britannia class 4-6-2 #70000 Britannia.The silver cab roof was applied by Stratford depot in East London when the loco was used on Royal Train duties soon after it was built in 1951.
The picture looks better if enlarged by clicking on it
Another great model train layout is one I found on this link.
http://llandudnojunction.fotopic.net/
Click on the photo descritions for the pics. It is worth a look I hope.
Cindy another pint please.
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