QUOTE: trolleyboy Posted: 15 Aug 2005, 09:30:00 Good morning Tom I now i'm not usually around this early but hey how can one stay away from a joint like this. I'll share the unleaded with Ted and some of the not so diet pastries. Al/b]you must let us all know how you manage to nab all the diet pastries Nick , Tom , Ted, Jeff let me join you in raising a glass to the vets, departed and still with us. As some of you may know canada buried the last living canadian VC winner over the weekend Smokey Smith he fought of what was apparently an entire column of panzers during the italian campaign saving most of the Glengary highlanders of Canada in the process. Every nov 11th he would fly in from Vancouver and take part in the Rememberance day services in Ottawa and then have tea and wiskey at Rideau hall with the Governor General.He was quite a character and will be missed. Nick you mentioned Vimy Ridge& Pachendale, I would like to add the Somme and Ypres in the first world war and Hong Kong in the second. Canada left many brave soles behind and changed many other's in those terrible battles.Now more than ever we need to remember and support the vets as the first war ones are all but gone and the second war vets are all 80+.A pat on the back for your uncles in bomber comand Ted i hope to meet up with you on your birthday eve. One suggestion for recuing the "dolly" would be to first tranquilize Boris, then I'll lend you a BB gun.We'll get her back down and then back into "plastic surgery". My next suggestion would be to then put a lock on her valvesso that no more foreign gas can be instilled. Dan or any one looking for some large bits of railroadianna (sp) If you go onto CN's website they are in the process of selling off several BC rail bits and pieces. SD40's RS18's freight cars the whole shebang. well folks I'm off and running work this aft,hopefully I'll pop back in later. Rob
QUOTE: trolleyboy Posted: 15 Aug 2005, 09:36:54 Well look at that I developed Ted's aflicton. Oh well. Tom Nice new s stuff as well.I would have to say by the apparent look of quality they were worth the wait.Soooo when does the CNR f units and Via train and coaches materialize in the "S-pire"? You could do a good job of traction in that guage as well!!! Rob
QUOTE: wrwatkins Posted: 15 Aug 2005, 11:14:21 Good morning Y'all. It is good to be back in hot Texas after a refreshing two weeks in the cool Maritimes of Canada. We flew to Montrael and took the overnight Ocean to Halifax and returned the same way. I have finally found a bathroom that is smaller than those on the airlines--the bathrooms in the compartments. They tend to be a little cozy. Had a surprise when we went to the Halifax station for the trturn trip on Wednesday. There were two Oceans on the tracks. Since they do not run an Ocean on Wednesday Tuesday's arrival in Halifax will be Thursday's departure. The second set had the Renissance equipment, but due to popular demand a Budd observation dome car was on the end. There is hope after all. We tried to sleep on the return trip bedding down about midway between Moncton and Campbelltown. Did not get much sleep until after Campbelltown and were back on CN rails. CN has sold off the line between Campbelltown and Moncton to two short lines, Chemin de Fur Montagaslpa Gulf and New Brunswick East Coast, and their maintenance standards are not up to those of CN. We had squeaks and rattles in our car that I did not know were possible until we got back on CN rails. VIA is considering switching to the CN line through Edmonston for the better track, however, the train is the only means of public transportation for some of the stops. We would see 30 to 50 perople getting on at each station stop. Did VIA miss out and not have a clause regarding maintaining the tracks to the standards as on the day of VIA startup? Amtrak had such a clause in their contracts with the US railroads. Sorry I will miss the birthday ba***omorrow. Tom and I will be playing with the RDCs in Dallas. Visited a couple of railroad museums on the trip. One interesting onw was in Hillsbouro on the road to Louisbourg from Sydney. This was the Salem and Hillsbouro railroad which ran a dinner excursion train on part of the old Sydney and Louisbourg railroad. They are shut down from operating the dinner train due to lack of insurance. (Darn lawyers have struck again!) One interesting piece of equipment was a double headed wedge snow plow. It had a cupola in the center with a wedge plow on each end. I guess it snows so hard in Canada that they need to run the plow back to the yard after the enging is switched to the rear. I did get a picutre of it and will post it after I get my camera unloaded (and figure out how to post a photo). All for now. The work is a foot deep on my desk as no one did it for me during my absence. Cheers, ***
QUOTE: Trainnut484 Posted: 15 Aug 2005, 14:24:39 Good afternoon Tom and everyone Cindy I'll have a Miller Lite and a sandwich. The house wasn't burned as bad as we thought. All 4 rooms upstairs were hit by the fire. Of course the worst rooms were one of the bathrooms and a bedroom where the fire started. Nothing left of the ceiling, but the roof and the rafters are still there. The upstairs was well insulated and the fire dept had put out "flame-ups" caused by the insulation and other things. I couldn't stand up there too long because the smell was still so strong. Kitchen downstairs received water damage. Living and dining rooms are ok. The cause of it is still unknown, but neighbors say they heard a loud POP and then saw flames coming out of the windows. My wife's friend has great insurance and the house will be redone. No one was home at the time. Dan, sorry I didn't have time to email you. The purpose of the trip wasn't for fun, really for moral support. We also visited some family. BUT, I did manage to catch a couple of trains over the weekend. One of them, a westbound, I took a couple of pics from the walkover bridge. My good fortune an ol' warbonnet was in the lead. Going away shot. My wife's friend's house is just on the other side of the grain elevator on the right side. The shops are a little further West. For those who aren't familiar with the Springfield, MO area, here's a pic of the bridge, which goes back to around 1902 and is a registered landmark (actually it's of a gondola but the only one I took that had the bridge in it ), a little stone memorial mentioning the landmark, and a yard. Take care, Russell
QUOTE: trainnut484 Posted: 15 Aug 2005, 14:38:05 Hello again all. Almost forgot the next B DAY victim celebrity, Ted. Count me in for tomorrow night . I'll be looking for the CD in the mail. If you need it, I can email you my snail mail addy. Russell
QUOTE: pwolfe Posted: 15 Aug 2005, 17:56:26 Hi Tom and all. May I be permitted to add my apprciation on V.J DAY to all VETS. My grandfather served in the Somme in WW1 I had Uncles in the Army Navy and R.A.F in WW11. My father was in the Royal Navy 1941-1945.being in the Far-East at the end of the war.My wife had her father and one uncle in the USAAF, two uncles in the US NAVY and one uncle in the US ARMY.Who served in WW11The horrors they must have gone through at a very early age (my father was 18) I cannot imagine All I can do is honour their memory and honour the brave men and women who are serving today.Unfortunatly I must go now I will get back later to talk Classic Trains PETE.
QUOTE: Theodorebear Posted: 15 Aug 2005, 18:28:30 Good evening Group. I'll fetch my own Royal and soda and Boris, peal the bell please. This group looks more thristy than a Dromedary spittin' cotten in the Sahara. Russell, its good to hear the damage is manageable. Also, the pix are outstanding and the foot bridge a "classic." Oh yes, I'm still in the "urban renewal" mode in HO but will need your USPS addy for future mailings. Check my "Profile" for my e-mail addy (no hurry). Looking forward to "hoisting a cool one" with ya tomorrow. ***, glad to have you back and everyone at "Our" Place send "happy rails" wishes to you and Tom on the Trinity/Dart mini "Rendesvous." Know what you mean about rough roadbed. On the N de M about a 60 mile stretch between "Mexico" (City) and Guadalajara left me with a "floating" kidney. The balance of the trip, however, made AmTrak seem 19th Century. Tom, my proposed "roundy" from Tampa to New Orleans is still "on the table." When the V.A. let's me "off the hook" for more than a couple of weeks, I can plan. You'll be the first to know if and when it happens. Rob, the Lancaster pix are only exceeded by your commentary on the truly great Heroes involved in both World Wars. Words fail to grasp the immense debt we all owe those generations. Okay Leon, I see the Tux is back from the "Village Cleansers" and I could shave from the reflection on your spit shined "jump boots." I'll keep an eye on the bar tonight and the "Permanent Stool" fellows will handle the chores tomorow while I celebrate one more year closer to the "Old Soldier's Home." BTW Rob, your suggestion with the B.B. gun did the trick. Dolly is now at Olaf Artmen's "Tire, Tow and Snow Truck Emporium" getting a retread. This will come out of Boris' allowance. So long for now, hope you can make it down tomorrow, Ted
QUOTE: earlydiesels Posted: 15 Aug 2005, 18:46:52 Hello all. I will take a Guiness,Tom, before you prepare for Texas. Have a safe,fun, adventure. Russell, we were around the Kansas Ave. yard Saturday evening before heading out to Elwood and chasing a train clear to Ash Grove. Decided to chase it because it had a beautiful green BN SD40-2 on the point and a blonde behind the throttle! Sunday afternoon we checked out the Kansas ave. yard after shopping. If I had known you were so close. The footbridge crosses what's left of the North yard. The oncoming shot looks east. To the left of the main line were extensive facilities for maintaining steamers and across the underpass was 1 of 3 roundhouses Frisco had at one time here. The going away shot looks west towards the current yard. Broadway is the street crossing the east end of the yard which must be where the burned house of the friend is located. Living here all my life, I am very familiar with this area. Currently, BNSF is trying to convince the city to close this crossing so the remote control yard engines can cross it without a man on the ground. They are using the usual argument about safety but according to the numbers, this is the safest crossing for miles! BTW, the WW2 sub found recently that I was referring to was the U.S.S. Lagarto. I forget who asked for the name but there' tis! Borrowed some more mags from the museum. Several called Slim Guage News from the early 70s. Evidently the mag did'nt last long. Mostly modeling but a lot of prototype info. Always heard about Alpine Tunnel-now have an article about it to read. Am I the only narrow guage nut here? Tom, loved the pix of the Sguage. Mop and Frisco rolling stock. Reminds me of my misspent youth! Another Guiness, please. About the 60th anniversary of VJ Day. I for one am glad we had a President with a backbone to order the Abomb drop. We did not start the war but we finished it. My father would have probably had to be in on the invasion of Japan as he was an Army engineer. The casualties would have been staggering on both sides and I more than likely would have not been here. Once is enough on the bell, Boris!!
QUOTE: Lordhawke Posted: 15 Aug 2005, 19:24:16 Good E'nin' everyone; hope this finds the world right with everyone. Tom I gotta admit, if I hadn't already started in F scale, I'd go for S. Your pics are impressive! I've always liked that size for models(since I can't afford the 1:1 stuff and the yard's too blasted small for it anyhow) an American Flyer in S was my first train set for Christmas 1953. I'm pretty sure it was Pap's idea even though he cussed the RR every chance he got; never found out if he was serious about cussin' the RR or not, he sure waxed verbose about some of the times he had working for the RR. I'm reasonably sure he DID NOT cuss the gold pass he had! But he surely did earn every mile he put on it. Seems to me I heard folks say that the District Super loved him because he was the only man in Northern NM that could put a locomotive back on the track without using a crane; just a derailer frog and prybars, and maybe a helper loco. Of course, if the loco was on it's side, that's a bit different! (lol) Sorry I don't have time for refreshment nor some of the finest company this side of.......well just about anywhere I''ve ever been, but the chile plant is calling me to move another load of frozen down to ElPaso. Takes about two and a half hrs round trip. Ted I hope the doc will let ya have yer "toot" and yer bash. Still don't know if I'll make it yet or not, but I sure hope so. Gents, I salute you one and all, will return later if possible. Jeff
QUOTE: pwolfe Posted: 15 Aug 2005, 20:47:09 HI Tom and all. May I have a pint and round for the house Thanks NICK for the and the odd Yorkshire beer. I remember when they used to sell this in the Keighley and Worth Valley Railrail i nthe '70s on tap. to Lordhawke Jeff. It was really interesting to hear railroad chat. You can't beat talking to people who actually worked on the railroad. As to diesels at Union Station, the KC Star today says there is a KC rail experience opening Sept. 23rd. It says it will feature restored vintage railroad cars and artifacts. It doesn't mention any locomotives. Perhaps someone, 'specially our KC folks, may have heard different. I'll pop in again soon. Pete
QUOTE: Trainnut484 Posted: 15 Aug 2005, 21:21:45 Evening Tom and everyone. I think I see Leon. I'll have my usual. I thought I felt your presence in the force yesterday Dan . Funny thing you mentioned BNSF wanting to close the Broadway crossing. My wife's friend lives on Chase street, and she asked me why BNSF wanted to close that crossing. I told her my best guess would be operating remote controlled switchers. I told her if that was the case, then watch for bright colored signs warning of remote control locomotive operation. Looks like I was right in my assumption. I've been around the west side a couple of times, mainly around the shops. I was curious though. In this shot looking West, looks like the ramp in the very far left of pic (partly cut-off) was used by the Frisco for loading military vehicles or automobiles. I'm thinking more of military vehicles because the ramp height looks about the same for a flat car. Do you have any info about the ramp? Pete, I'll pick up a brochure about the train displays at Union Station, and give you the scoop. Right now CRS is kicking in. MMMM another Miller Lite please Leon
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