G’day Gents!
Well whaddyano It’s Monday again, time to grab a cuppa, a few pastries from the Mentor Village Bakery case, a selection from our Menu Board of <light> ‘n <traditional> breakfasts and enjoy the company of a few like minded individuals! Classic Trains is the topic ‘round here, with just a bit of adult humor thrown in. Of course, the NFL results will most likely enter the conversation. <groan>
So, let me begin with our St. Louis Lambs (aka: Rams) rolled over for the Arizona Buzzards (aka: former St. Louis Cardinals) and embarrassed the fan base big time. The team that made it to two Super Bowls in recent years is no more and the organization seems to have morphed back to the state they were in while located in SoCal (Anaheim). Awful display, so I viewed on the sports news, simply awful. I am proud to say that I did not view one live down – no one – as other things were far more important to enjoy yesterday than parking my aging butt in front of the TV. In fact, didn’t watch TV at all ‘til rather late at night.
We were treated to a great concert downtown at our local venue (ScottTrade Center – formerly Savvis Center; formerly the Kiel Center). Anyway, it’s where the NHL Blues play a game loosely resembling hockey (‘nother story!). Mannheim Steamroller put on another great show as they passed through on their once-every-three-years tour. Well worth the bucks and really put us in the Christmas frame of mind – until we got out into the traffic leaving the exorbitantly priced parking lot that is!
Back to feetsball: looks like my favorite AFC team also got knocked off – in overtime – the KCity Chiefs. <ugh> Mustn’t be my year for the NFL. Also, my guess is Lars is having a “bad hair day” reading through the New York papers with what has to be blistering accounts of yet another Giants loss – this time to the Cowboys. So when does spring training for baseball begin <grin>
To the acknowledgments!
The Sunday Photo Posting Day! turned out to be another extravaganza for Doug, with much appreciated support from Lars - Pete ‘n James. Nice going guys – all well done and worth the time to read up on or simply enjoy the visuals!
From yesterday: Doug at 10:23 AM – Lars at 12:03 PM – Doug (again) at 6:07 PM – Pete at 6:12 PM & 7:01 PM and James at 8:42 PM & 8:57 PM.
From this morning: Doug at 5:47 AM.
It’s gratifying to see that when things get really low ‘n slow ‘round the Saloon by the Siding, that we still have a few guys who take the time and make the effort to keep ‘er going!
Just a reminder: Tuesday’s Theme for the Day will be “Boat Trains” and we are expecting some interesting material from our Brits!
Can’t say when we’ll see our Canadian connection, Rob, again – haven’t heard from him and perhaps he’s offline due to the Ontario power outages. Don’t know. Insofar as Nick is concerned – well, we’ve been down that road before, eh Perhaps that “image” struck by Lars some days ago is precisely what happened. Do you suppose the guitar man is adrift somewhere in the stormy seas between Wales and the Emerald Isle <grin>
Ruth comes in at 9 AM and stays behind the bar ‘til 5 PM when Leon the Night Man takes over ‘til closing.
Boris, serve ‘em all of the “spiked” OJ they can handle!
Tom
Good morning Tom and all. I'll have two light breakfasts and wait for the Emporium to open its' doors for "The Meaning of Life". Great movie, and all so true! Really liked your pix yesterday Pete, and thanks for another installment of the "Milwaukee News" James. Surley appreciate all you two do here. Where would we be without you?
I found a little time to geat back to my CGW article, and here it is!
The Amazing Great Western Sept 1953 Railroad Magazine
Head end business at St. Paul. K2a Pacific type was built by Alco in 1903. Look at the GW roster nowadays and you'll find diesel-electrics and a couple of gas jobs
There was still one item of unfinished business on Stickney's mind, and that was to put his mighty Maple Leaf Route, as it was then called, into Omaha. Some years earlier the Stickney interests had acquired control of the Mason City Fort Dodge Railway, connecting the two Iowa cities in its name. Extensions were pushed to the north, completing the Mason City-Manly Junction link in 1901: and two years afterward the 133-mile route from Fort Dodge to Council Bluffs was opened with trackage rights into Omaha. Building this line entailed crossing the Des Moines River on a lofty bridge at Fort Dodge. The 2588-foot structure is said to the second largest railway bridge in Iowa.
The CGW was now competed as we see it today with the exception of the south side of the triangle in the center of the system, so conspicuous on the map. The Clarion-Oelwein segment was built by peacmeal and finally completed in 1904. A few years afterward the road's Oelwein shops had a new boss, a young man by the name of Walter P. Chrysler: "They were the biggest shops I had ever seen!" He also commented on the huge cranes and modern transfer tables. The gifted machinist soon rose to be superintendent f motive power on the CGW and, incidentally, the owner of Oelwein's first horseless carriage - a Locomobile, Later Chrysler left the Maple Leaf Route to become works manager of the American Locomotive Company's Pittsburgh plant.
The "strong face" of Stickney, as Chrysler put it, was not seen on the Great Western much longer. The panic of 1907 put the road into receivership, with Stickney as a co-receiver. In 1909, however, he was out of control; and with the formation of a new company, the Chicago Great Western Railroad, Samuel M. Fenton became president. Under Felton's sixteen-year regime as president the road secured fresh capital and underwent a complete rehabilitation.
The Felton administration was responsible for overhauling motive power and acquiring many new locomotives. During Stickney's regime, the Prairie type (2-6-2) engine was the most popular on the system. Although Prairies are generally thought of as freight locomotives, many were used in passenger service. But Sam Felton changed this: he rebuilt some 2-6-2s into Pacifics, and many that remained were converted from compound to simple expansion and superheated. Some forty Consolidations were purchased shortly after he assumed control. The real eye-openers, however, were the Mallet compounds employed to wheel heavy freights over the one percent grades between Stockton, Ill. And Oelwein, Ia. They were a 2-6-6- wheel arrangement, with a tractive force of 81,175 pounds.
To emphasize fast freight service, two pages of the October 1, 1901 timetable were devoted to "schedules of Through Freight Trains." This novel feature, after a lapse of four decades, was re-introduced in the road's passenger timecard effective April 27, 1952. In the same 1910 folder much emphasis was placed on the "New Wharton Switch," which featured a so-called "hump" rail opposite the point rail. At a certain point the hump rail inclined sufficiently to gradually raise he car wheel so that the flange would pass over the main track onto the side track as guided by the point rail. Another feature of the Wharton Switch was the use of a semaphore signal. To quote the advertisement:
"The position of the switch is clearly indicated by the dwarf semaphore switch signal which takes the place of the commonly used target signal, this being in line with the best signal practice, as it furnishes a postion signal rather than a target for daylight service."
Although the hump rails have long since been discarded, many switches stll have the semaphore signal, giving the Great Western an appearance unlike that of its neighboring roads.
Felton saw to it that millions went into improving the right-of-way. He block-signaled the line between Chicago and Oelwein, and built a new bridge across the Mississippi at St. Paul. Much more noticeable than these improvements was the widespread use of rail motorcars. The annual report, ended June 30, 1911, shows three 200-hp McKeen gasoline motor units on the roster. That was just a start; many more were in use in subsequent years. In 1924 the pioneering CGW took delivery of Electro-Motive's first gas-electric car, the M-300. It was initiated into service by hauling General Manager C.L. Hinkle's 85-ton business car from Chicago to Oelwein. The EMD people held their breath while the M-300 roared up the long Farley grade west of Dubuque, Iowa. But the doodlebug pulled the big car over the crest and up and down sawtooth hills into Oelwein. After that CGW was sold on gas-electrics.
Experimentals. With not too many hidebound traditions, CGW has always been noted for willingness to try out new ideas, some of which are shown in these pictures. Ungainly White rail motor car was snapped at Marshalltown, Iowa about 1924.
McKeen Motor Cars, were quite a success for a while. This one was pictured at Fort Dodge, Iowa
The Blue Bird, 3-unit motor train built on old McKeen Car underframes at Oelwein Shops
Meanwhile, more new developments were in the offing. On a trip abroad Sam Felton took a liking to the trim lines of English locomotives. Could it have been the clean coaching stock ad well-groomed engines of John Bull's Great Western? We have no way of knowing. We do know that the Old Man came back to the states and had Oelwein streamline one of his Pacifics. More than that he had it painted red and gold, with cars to match. When engine No. 916 hit the road with its polished driving rods and burnished cylinder heads, concealed pipes and glistening red cars, it created a sensation. The semi-streamliner was put into service on a non-stop run between the Twin Cities and Rochester, Minnesota. Appropriately called the Red Bird, it pleased Felton to no end.
Famed Red Bird was the result of CGW president Sam Felton's trip to British Isles.
A husband and wife are traveling by car from Atlanta to New York. After almost twenty-four hours on the road, they decide to stop at a nice hotel and take a room. They only plan to sleep for four hours and then get back on the road. When they check out four hours later, the desk clerk hands them a bill for $350. The man explodes and demands to know why the charge is so high. He tells the clerk although it's a nice hotel, the rooms certai
G-day Tom and all present! Issue 5
Milwaukee Road News
The Milwaukee road class EP-3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:MILW_Quill.jpg
One of the Westinghouse locomotives with a Passenger train.
The Milwaukee Road's class EP-3 comprised ten electric locomotives built in 1919 by Baldwin and Westinghouse. They were nicknamed Quills because of their use of a quill drive. Although they were good haulers and well liked by engineers, poor design and constant mechanical problems plagued them for their entire lives and they were the first of the Milwaukee Road's electric locomotives to be retired.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:MILW_Quill_drawing.jpg
This is the drawing of the locomotive and how it was going to look.
When the Milwaukee Road decided to electrify the Coast Division in 1917, it attempted to re-equip with equipment bought from General Electric. The United States Railroad Administration, however, dictated that the order for electrical equipment be split between GE and Westinghouse. This meant that of the 15 electric locomotives needed, five (the EP-2s, or bi-polars) came from GE and 10 - the EP-3s - came from Westinghouse.
The EP-3s, while designed to meet the same specifications as the bi-polars, were a completely different design from their GE counterparts. Their appearance was sleeker, ableit less distinctive, with a single long boxcab-style carbody containing all of the electric equipment. Their wheel arrangement was the same as a back-to-back pair of 4-6-2 "Pacific" steam engines, complete with high 68" drivers. They were double-ended and designed for high-speed passenger service.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:MILW_Quill_half_with_motors.jpg
Here one of the Quills is assembled.
The most noteworthy aspect of their design was the motor mounting system. The locomotive's six 566hp traction motors were mounted directly to the frame, one above each driving axle. They were geared to a "quill," a steel tube 15 inches in diameter that was mounted around the axle. At each end of the quill, seven-armed "spiders" stuck out between the spokes of the driving wheels, and were connected to the drivers by coil springs. This system, which was later used very effectively on the famous GG1 locomotive, minimized weight suspended directly from the axles, as the traction motors were bolted directly to the locomotive frame.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:President_Harding_Electric_Locomotive_Cab.jpg
A brand new Westinghouse EP-3 on it's first inagural run.
The "Quills" never really met the standards set by their GE-designed counterparts. They were constant headaches for the Milwaukee Road engineering department and were rebuilt five times during their service lives. They were very heavy and the large drivers were suspected of contributing to frame breakage. They were prone to derailing and their weight tended to increase the severity of such derailments. Locomotive E13 (the "Quills" were renumbered from to E10-E19 in 1939) was destroyed in a derailment at Soudan, Montana in 1947.
In the late 1940s, with the Little Joes entering service and the older electric locomotives worn out from heavy use during World War II, the Electrification Department initiated a program to rebuild the Milwaukee Road's electric locomotives for continued service. The "Quills" were not included in the program. Instead, the seven remaining locomotives (three had already been retired due to wrecks) were gradually retired and scrapped between 1952 and 1957.
Wikipedia is good at explaining this stuff. Information from www.wikipedia.com They do a good job of finding this info.
G-day Tom and all present.
X-mas is in Full swing here in Duluth just.. Not in with the snow. I think we have half an inch on the ground. If that. It's a bit sad.
Eric- Thanks for taking the time to look for the Yellowstones. I'm surprised three servived out of the 12 made. Quite surprising actually. Thanks again.
DL- The loaded coal trains are able to run 50 miles per hour. So there moving along pretty good for being so heavy. Some of the lines a know here in the Minnesota state are maintained every minute. The Fargo to Minneapolis line sees easily 70 trains a-day. And half of those are Coal trains. So the Ties are always new. I haven't seen any ties on that line that are older than two years.
Tom- Why couldn't I think of Grand Central Station!! I knew it, but couldn't think of it.. Just one of those days. Thanks.
Pete- As long as the Kansas Union Station stills see activity it will stand. Not like most stations that just stop being used and then there fate rests against a wrecking ball. I have seen a couple of good stations come down like that. The inside of the Station is great looking. Looks well maintained.
Also, the pics you posted today are really cool. The Earl #822 was a cool little steamer. Neat pics. Thanks.
Barndad- A 1910 model railroad magazine!!!! Wow. Now that is one really old magazin. I hadn't realized they went back that far. Very interesting.
That reminded me. Your article on the railroads on bank notes. I have a couple of them. One is a 100 dollar bill with a 4-4-0 on it. The other is 1 dollar bill with what looks like the same locomotive. Neat article by the way.
All of your IRM pics are really cool. To see that interesting locomotive with the BN marked on the side was something I have never seen. Is it a center cab of some type? Also, The MOW (Maintanence of way) car is really cool. There has been a passenger car on a MOW train for quite some time now. Nice catch there. The Balloon Missle was really funny
Mike- Another nice set of pics from you sir. I see you found pics of the NP's Z-5 locomotive. Now what did you think of that? In the model form that steamer doesn't seem so big but, look at it in real life and then you know how big it is. The guy hanging off the side of the one, gives you the idea.
Lars- Thanks for the book covers. Some of them look interesting. May have to look in to them. Thanks
That time of week again!!
Happy railroading
Jamees
Hi Tom and all.
DOUG Just seen your pics of the three very interesting cars at the IRM.What is LCL frieght? Do you think the mystery car in Barn10 could have been modified after its use as a passenger car and the last car being the only surviving car of the ICW. Although these cars, as you say,will need a lot of work they are in a good home now
I'm afraid I can't find the notes on Alans pics this week so I will have to guess.
The first two are of European tank locomotives the first one is in Germany the second is on the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway in Wales,perhaps NICK knows about this loco?
The next two are of the two locos that were originally on the line.
# 822 The Earl
# 823 The Countess
These 0-6-0 tank locos were a 1902 Beyer Peacock design the locos weigh 19 tons 18 cwt.
Pete.
I'll pop this through the mail slot. My oh my the puter is slow today. Just got back from trying to take some pics of some trains in the snow, only trouble no trains just a stationary coal train.
Mike great links liked the pic of Lord of the Isles it must have looked very old fashioned to Americans in 1893 the car behind it looks like a Caledonian Rly Saloon.Enjoyed the pics of the General and the large Northern Pacific Loco..
ERIC I bet it will be a fine house for the dog, you will have to post a pic when this annoying forum problem is sorted out. As Tom says thanks for hanging in there with us.
DOUG Glad you and Eric liked the beer link. I will have to look into some weird and wonderful beer names.
Yes VITO's car is best avoided.
Thanks for the pics. Another two gems at the IRM. It looks as though someone was not too keen on the Penn Central by the sign above 4715's number and it is good to see the U.S. Army 8537 under renovation.Looks like a great night at Woodstock last weekend it was good that is was warm enough to have those fine models running.
LARS The bride took the photos with her digital camera,I am using a 35mm at the moment as I bought some film last time I came over, and if this camera had been wrecked in transit it would be better that than the digital. I really hope you are able to come in May.
Thy are some great Pennsy book covers.
In the Battle of New Orleans the British were only running because someone shouted last orders at the bar.
TOM Many thanks for the lyrics to Battle of New Orleans. I would have been 8 when it came out and can still remember the tune, while singing the words I recalled that on the 'B' side of the 45 was song called Tom Dooley, who was in trouble withthe Revenue Officers, if memory serves.
So "Old Fart"is the official brew of Our Place only hope the track gang doesn't have too much of it on a Friday night.
Looking forward to the Our Place bank notes. It is true the ones from VITO's bank says"Pay the Bearer or Else".
More good laughs at the Emprorium in the run up to Chrismas.It is amazing how much good stuff there was in those first two seasons of the Pythons.
Now for something completely different, my pics.
At the Bluebell Railway in October.
A LMS Sleeping Car and a Southern Luggage Van
An E4. designed by R.J.Billington for the London Brighton & South Coast Railway in1897. this 0-6-2 tank loco was allocated to Bricklayers Arms loco shed in South London in1959.
Two pics of class 156 diesel multiple units at Dumfries station Scotland. This station is on the former Glasgow & South Western railway main line which ran from Glasgow St Enochs to Carlisle.
They should enlarge.
Being as the bar is closed, I'll just slip this through the slot ..... which appears to be frozen shut by ice, but that's what a maddux is for, right? )Great books Lars!
Here's an interesting car ... the Chicago and North Western #8784., built in 1915 by Pullman Car. Co. as a steel horse-express car (AAR class BH). This unique car has an 8'6" end door that permitted the loading of horses and carriages at a ramp. Swinging gate partitions allowed the creation of as many stalls as needed. A portion of the car could also be used for LCL freight. Later used as a maintenance-of-way car, it was donated to IRM in 1982 by the Chicago and Northwestern.
This has turned out to be a mystery car for me. It hides inside barn #10, which is not open to the public.
These picnic tables and benches are bolted or nailed to the floor
Here's another car hiding in barn 10 that's in need of a lot of help
Indianapolis, Crawfordsville & Western 102 1906 Passenger/Baggage Combine
A combination car (combine) provides both passenger seating and a separate space for baggage or express cargo. The Indianapolis,, Crawfordsville and Western interurban line was known as the "Ben Hur Route," honoring Crawfordsville author Lew Wallace. In 1912, ICW was acquired by the Terre Haute, Indianapolis and Eastern. The THI&E was one of the largest systems in the state, with street railways in Richmond, Terre Haute and Indianapolis, and interurban lines connecting those towns with Lafayette, Crawfordsville, Danville, and Paris, Illinois. This wooden combine (later THI&E 53) was retired in 1939, and was used as a cottage near Lake Shafer, Indiana. IRM purchased the car in 1996, and trucked it to Union for restoration. It is the only surviving car from the ICW.
G'day Cap'n Tom and fellow travelers waiting for the bar to open!
A CLOSED bar on a Sunday - well, I suppose that's a good sign. However, these days most everything else is open and going at full tilt. Oh do I recall the days when this truly was a day of rest and for families at that. Still pretty much that way in our clan, but we're diminishing and changing as the decades wear on. <groan>
So, my guess is the once frequent "regular" Bar Chandler Rob is probably experiencing one of those "infrequent" power outages he talked about up there in Ontario. Read where an ice storm took it's toll on southern Ontario. When WAS the last time we saw him And Nick is gone too. What is going on
My Jints have a slim chance to do something for themselves today as they square off against hated Dallas. Two teams loaded with superstar loudmouths, two teams of "used to be's" but only one will emerge on top. Kick off is later this afternoon and like it or not, I'll be parked in front of the tube for a Sunday of elation or frustration. To think we refer to this as entertainment is beyond my comprehension. <grin>
The ice out your way, Tom, is still in the news as I just saw where the Missouri and Illinois National Guard units have arrived to do what they can for the people without power and heat. Didn't parts of your area suffer a massive power outage during the summer Seem to recall that happening . . . Anyway, glad you and yours are ok and that life goes on for our 'steamed Properietor!
Pete, the white stuff looks fine and is that the Aflec duck Seems to be up to his lower beak in it. Also noted that Doug has picked up on the "home" theme with some winter weather shots! So maybe I should dig out my Brownie Hawkeye - take some snaps - wait a week for development - get them digitized - figure out how to load 'em - ahhhhhhh, the heck with it! <grin>
Eric, I'm with you, mate! Feel exactly the way you do about this forum. I would NOT be frequenting ANY of the threads if not for this bar 'n grill. Should Tom decide to pack it in, I'm gone from the ether. I'm finding it less 'n less enjoyable to wander away from here and I surely do not enjoy the nonsense many of us are experiencing with the formatting. Then there's the ongoing crap with the ratings system - which I note has attracted a couple of guys who have NEVER visited this site or Tom's other thread - yet they've rated it. How ridiculous is that Way to go Kalmbach.
Been thinking about the spring and hopefully my trip to St. Looooooo. I'll be flying in as the drive is too blasted long and coming by train is more hassle than pleasure. I'd have to connect in Chicago and IF everything operated on time, I still wouldn't get down to you until late night. That stinks. I'll just fly and come in at a time most convenient to you - just let me know by email and I'll begin to look into what's available. Really looking forward to this as it's been a long time since I've done anything even close to this - a get together with the boys! Sounds fine to me.
Sorry I couldn't get in yesterday, one of those Saturdays where there was too much to do and not enough time to do it in. Had quite a bit on my plate, as they say, and by the time I came up for air, it was nearly time to sack out. One of those days! I did take in the few posts and enjoyed what was provided. That Rock Island song brought back some memories, seems like only yesterday . . . And the mention of "The Battle of New Orleans" also brings back some thoughts as well. That song, by Johnny Horton, seemed to stick around for a long time, so it wouldn't surprise me to learn that it did indeed hit the charts in the mid 60's. Some tunes have been know to lead more than one life. When and if Rob ever gets back to us and should he read any of this, my guess is he'll provide the Canadian version of history for us regarding it!
Looking forward to going to the movies this week as I see we've got another set of Monty Python flicks to enjoy. Nice going, Tom! Nothing wrong with some laughs, huh
Found these books that I thought you in particular would enjoy!
Until the next time!
Lars
Good morning again Tom. You're certainly right about this house being located on a former farmers' field. The only trees here are the scrub-type that grow along the fencelines. Got some nice rock piles in them too. I know, because I cleaned-up the trash, and chopped everything that wasn't huge behind our yard a few weeks ago. One of my pictures is of that fenceline, which I have also decorated with an electric deer and lights. Speaking of which, here's a shot of Woodstock square during the "lighting of the square" celebration last weekend.
The temperature was about 50 degrees, which made it possible for this layout to be running outside!
Nice touch with your lyrics today! #2 hit in 1959? I could swear it was popular in the mid to late 60's.
CLOSED on SUNDAYs -
We do observe Sunday Photo Posting Day!
Now playing at the Mentor Village Emporium Theatre!
. . . Sunday, December 3rd thru 9th: Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life (1983) Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin & Terry Jones – and – Monty Python’s And Now For Something Completely Different (1972) Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin & Terry Jones. Short: The Three Stooges – Tassels in the Air (1938).
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life (1983)
PLOT SUMMARY:
The comedy groups last full length movie returns to the feel of the hugely popular BBC TV show. It features small comedy sketches dealing with all of the stages and trials of life. Expect the un-expected. Plenty of religious, vulgar, and sexual humor may offend some groups. There are even musical numbers, but with that same unmistakable brand of Python humor.
from: amazon.com
Monty Python’s And Now For Something Completely Different (1972) PLOT SUMMARY:
An anthology of Monty Python's best sketches from their 1st & 2nd seasons of their original TV show. A collection of re-filmed sketches from the first and second series of the cult TV comedy show "Monty Python's Flying Circus". Includes such classics as "Nudge, Nudge", "Hell's Grannies", "Killer Cars", "Dead Parrot", "Lumberjack Song", "Blackmail" and "Upper Class Twit of the Year".
SHORT: Tassels in the Air (1938) PLOT SUMMARY: Featuring Moe, Larry & Curly
The Stooges are employed as maintenance men in an office building. Curly has a phobia about tassels, and goes crazy whenever he sees one; the only thing that calms him down is to tickle his chin with a brush. After trying to teach Curly how to speak pig Latin, Moe is mistaken for one of the building's tenants (a decorator named Omay), and the Stooges are hired to redecorate Mrs. Smirch's home.
from: threestooges.net Enjoy! Tom
The bar is CLOSED on Sundays!
Sunday and it’s time for breakfast – brunch – lunch ‘til 2 PM here at the Saloon by the Siding! Of couse the coffee’s fresh ‘n hot – bakery goods just arrived from the Mentor Village Bakery, so check out our Menu Board and get going!
Some acknowledgments, then I’ve gotta get crackin’ on a few things ‘round here, including the Emporium Theatre’s bill o’ fare for the week!
Doug at 12:34 PM yesterday: Nice Pix, but where are the trees Guess that’s the way these developers are nowadays, knock ‘em all down and go for the subdivisions. Either that or the land was formerly farm land or pasture. Hmmmmm, think I’ve answered my own question! Winter Pix are great no matter where taken, just as long as snow is involved.
Eric at 2:06 PM yesterday: So, my suspicions were correct, eh Thought it had to be something like that – the “one size fits all” notion just doesn’t work all of the time. Wonder if anyone sells socks by exact size these days or you just have to purchase a sack o’ socks “fitted” for children through the starting center on the LA Lakers
Anyway, we’re more than pleased that you are keeping your place at the bar and would hate to lose you due to the seemingly unsolvable Forum problems caused when Kalmbach “improved” things. <geesh>
Pete at 5:56 PM yesterday: Nice Pix and love the duck!
I’ll put together another Email and see what develops! Presuming things are still “on” for the 16th
I’m working on an idea for our “official” bank notes for the bar . . . . may take a bit of time as things like these are time consuming (for Moi) and I wanna get it right before springing it on youse guyz! (Hanging around Vito the Hit! makes one taWk like dat!)
Old Fart’s beer, hmmmm, we can stock that!
The only recollection I have for the song, “Battle of New Orleans” was the Johnny Horton version. However, you are correct, in the UK, Lonnie Donegan and his Skiffle Group did have a #2 hit with it in 1959.
Well, in eighteen and fourteen we took a little trip along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip. We took a little bacon and we took a little beans, And we caught the bloody British near the town of New Orleans. We fired our guns and the British kept a'comin. There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago. We fired once more and they began to runnin' down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. Well, I see'd Mars Jackson walkin down the street talkin' to a pirate by the name of Jean Lafayette [pronounced La-feet] He gave Jean a drink that he brung from Tennessee and the pirate said he'd help us drive the British in the sea. The French said Andrew, you'd better run, for Packingham's a comin' with a bullet in his gun. Old Hickory said he didn't give a dang, he's gonna whip the britches off of Colonel Packingham. We fired our guns and the British kept a'comin. There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago. We fired once more and they began to runnin' down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. Well, we looked down the river and we see'd the British come, and there must have been a hundred of 'em beatin' on the drum. They stepped so high and they made their bugles ring while we stood by our cotton bales and didn't say a thing. Old Hickory said we could take 'em by surprise if we didn't fire a musket til we looked 'em in the eyes. We held our fire til we see'd their faces well, then we opened up with squirrel guns and really gave a yell. W
Good morning Tom and gang! I'll have a light breakfast, and get right to work here. Sorry you are having so many computer forum problems Eric. Have you tried ...
Mighty nifty Rock Island ENCORE from our captain yesterday, I must say. Been thinking about the OP notes, currency and bar chips. I find myself thinking ... why stop there? There should be OP tokens for riding the Can Am, S Capades, Polar Express, and the dumbwaiter up to your kitchen. But again, why stop there? You already have a good base of ice outside. Why not build a bobsled run from your house to the street? Think about it.
Enjoyed your beer link Pete. Perhaps "Old Fart" should become the official beer of "Who Darted?" Seems appropriate somehow. Nice snow pix, and I ran into Vito's car the other day ... oops.
Nice URLs from Mike, as usual. Glad you liked the banknote ENCORE, and you too Eric.
Now here's something interesting that showed-up in the diesel barn at IRM. The Penn Central 4715, built in 1906 by Alco/GE. It's 38 feet 7 inches long, 10 feet wide and 14 feet 4 inches high. Weight is 228,000 pounds. It's a double end / 2-D-2 / S motor (Ex 115NYC)
Here's a sneak-peek of the inside
Not sure what this is all about ....
Here's a diesel/electric getting some attention in the barn. The 1944, GE built United States Army 8537.
380 HP, 28 feet 5 inches long, 90,000 lbs
Pretty clever ... missile balloons!
Hi Tom and everyone, a round for the house.
Well they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles and they ran through the bushes where a rabbit wouldn't go. -- Johnny Horton
English locomotive at Columbian Exposition 1893
http://columbus.iit.edu/dreamcity/1500/00024075.JPG
John Bull
http://columbus.iit.edu/dreamcity/1500/00024074.JPG
Buster Keaton encore
http://www.nfb.ca/cinerobot/cinerobotheque/IMG428x321_WEB/65/65062/1.jpg
http://www.nfb.ca/cinerobot/cinerobotheque/IMG428x321_WEB/65/65062/3.jpg
The General
http://www.legrandaction.com/le-mecano-dela-general/img/mecano-genral04.jpg
http://www.legrandaction.com/le-mecano-dela-general/img/mecano-genral02.jpg
http://www.legrandaction.com/le-mecano-dela-general/img/mecano-genral03.jpg
Northern Pacific's great big locomotive
http://muse.museum.montana.edu/rvndb/rvnjpeg_img_rec.php?objno=RVN11503
http://muse.museum.montana.edu/rvndb/rvnjpeg_img_rec.php?objno=RVN01369
http://photoswest.org/photos/00014126/00014144.jpg
Truck stop
http://content.lib.washington.edu/imlswrvm/image/75.jpg
Mike
Hi Tom and all
Time for another winter brew this time I think I,ll try a Batemans Victory please LEON.
I think as you say Tom we were lucky to get snow and not the ice you had.
Great minds think a like and the Bride took this pics this morning
The last one is titled poor duck.
It was a lot more dig dig for me today to get the car out, but it was a lot warmer than they said it would be, it could get tricky tonight as the roads are wet just now.
DOUG I see you got your share of snow as well. Great encore on the bank notes, there is still a lot of good material in the Roundhouse site I have just been reading some.I remember the joke as well.I agree we should have Our Place banknotes no doubt Vito The Hit noes some guys who can print them for us.
ERIC Really hope you can get the forum probs sorted, it is annoying for you but at least we are still able to read your posts..
TOM Really interesting link to the Interstates, that was one under-estimation of the cost and time frame though.
I think we shall have to go on an Amtrak trip they said that the track repairs should have been completed at the end of November.
Unfortunatly I have not gotten your E-Mail.
TOM Although this in the link would not be popular in church do you think it would be popular behind the bar.
http://www.bottledbeer.co.uk/index.html?beerid=383
Actually I had it on tap a while ago and it is quite good.
Enjoyed the Rock Island encore and the Lonnie Donigan lyrics( I believe he also done a song about "The Battle of New Orleans" which was one of the first 45s I had.) I always think of the Rock Island when we head down Highway 54 as is passes along side the RI Kansas City to St Louis line near Eldon. The track is still there in places but it must have been many many years since it was used.
For a encore I will do a post of mine from the same time as the Rock Island one which was on the 26th of September 2005, it is about the locos that ran on the Scottish Highland steam run of that year
ENCORE
I have managed to get in touch with my pal in England and I have more info on the locos on the MALLIAG runs this year. For most of the season it was worked by ex L.N.E.R. locos 2-6-0 K1 class #62005 and 4-6-0 B1 class #61264. In September he went on a trip with LMS Black 5 # 45407 from Glasgow to Fort William where it was exchanged with 61264 which is doing a 3 days steam tours in its native East Anglia. I believe the class 5 #44767 as in the photo has had a season on the Malliag runs . The Valve gear you asked about NICK is STEPHENSON' S on this loco. There were no LMS class 5's saved with CAPROTTI valve gear althogh a B.R. Standard 5 with Caprotti gear has been restored this year and is running at the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley Derbyshire. As to THE GREAT MARQUESS, I have been told it is a 3-Cylinder K4 2-6-0 a small class of loco built special for working the West Highland line. It was owned by LORD GARNOCH. (not too sure about the spelling). Some time ago the elderly Lord became ill and the engine was made up to main line standard. It left its home on the Severn Valley Railway working a railtour part of the way to get the loco up to Fort William. As his Lordship had always wanted to see the engine working in the Highlands, I believe the loco stayed at Fort William only for a few weeks. I was fortunate enough to travel behind the loco as it made its way home. We travelled over the Settle-Carlisle where a stop was made at Garside where minute of silence was held signaled by the loco whistle for his Lordship who had passed away shortly after the engine arrived in the Highlands. His wish had been granted.
Well I'll have another ale and get ready for the Steak, LEON.
ENCORE! Saturday - ENCORE! Saturday
first Posted on Page 118
Here’s another Fallen Flag for the gang from Classic American Railroads: Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific (The Rock Island) Headquarters: Chicago, IL Mileage in 1950: 7,579 Locomotives in 1963: Diesel – 539 Rolling stock in 1963: Freight cars – 26,690; Passenger cars – 646 Principal routes in 1950: Chicago-Omaha, NE Omaha-Colorado Springs & Denver, CO Davenport, IA-Tucumcari, NM Bureau Junction-Peoria, IL Minneapolis, MN-Kansas City, MO Manly-Burlington, IA Cedar Rapids (Vinton), IA-Sioux Falls, SD Keokuk, IA-Bear Lake, SD Tucumcari-Memphis, TN Herington, KS-Houston, TX Little Rock, AR-Eunice, LA Kansas City-St. Louis Passenger trains of note: Choctaw Rocket (Amarillo, TX-Memphis) Corn Belt Rocket (Chicago-Omaha) Des Moines Rocket (Chicago-Des Moines, IA) Golden State (Chicago-LA; joint ops w/SP) The Imperial (Chicago-LA) Kansas City Rocket (Minneapolis-Kansas City) Peoria Rockets (Chicago-Peoria) Texas Rocket (Ft. Worth-Houston; then Kansas City-Dallas) Twin Star Rocket (Minneapolis-Houston) Quad City Rocket (Chicago-Rock Island) Rocky Mountain Rocket (Chicago-Colorado Springs & Denver) Zephyr Rocket (Minneapolis-St. Louis; joint ops w/CB&Q) And a little something extra ....... (press R8 on the Juke!) ----------------------------------------------------------- Rock Island Line Lonnie Donegan The Chorus is the only part sung The rest is spoken Now, this here's the story about the Rock Island line Now, the Rock Island line is a railroad line And it runs down into New Orleasn And just outside of New Orleans is a big toll gate And all the trains that go through the toll gate Why, they gotta pay the man some money Less of course, they got certain things on board Then they okay, then they don't ever have to pay the man nothin' And right now, we see a train She's comin' on down the line And when she got up here to the toll gate The-a depot, he shout down to the driver He want to know what he got on board So he say a What you got on board there, boy And the driver, he sing right on back Down to the depot agent Tell him what he got on board The got a way of singing I got sheep, I got cows I got horses, I got pigs I got all livestock I got all livestock I got all livestock And the man say, well, he say Your alright there, boy You don't have to pay me nothin' Just get 'em on through So the train go through the toll gate And as it go through It got up a little bit of steam And a, a little bit of speed And when he sees me On the other side of the toll gate They, the driver shout back Down the line to the man 'Course you don't hear what he say now But home down the Rock Island line I fooled you, I fooled you I got pig iron, I got pig iron I got all pig iron He said, tell you where I'm goin', boy Goin' down the Rock Island line, yes, yes She's a mighty good road Oh well, the Rock Island line She's a mighty good road Rock Island line is the road to ride Ya, the Rock Island line Is a mighty good road And if you want to ride You gotta ride it Like you find it Get your ticket at the station On the Rock Island line Well, I may be right I may be wrong I know you're gonna miss me when I'm gone Ya,the Rock Island line She's a mighty good road Rock Island line is the road to ride Ya, the Rock Island line she's a mighty good road And if you want to ride You gotta ride it Like you find it Get your ticket at the station On the Rock Island line A B C, W X Y Z Cat's in the cupboard But he don't see me Now, the Rock Island line She's a mighty good road Rock Island line is the road to ride Ya, the Rock Island line She's a mighty good road And if you want to ride You gotta ride it Like you find it Get your ticket at the station On the Rock Island line Hallaluah, I'm safe from sin The good Lord's comin' For to see me again Keep it goin' And the Rock Island line She's a mighty good road Rock Island line is the road to ride Ya, the Rock Island line She's a mighty good road And if you want to ride You gotta ride it Like you find it Get your ticket at the station On the Rock Island line The Rock Island line She's a mighty good road Rock Island line is the road to ride Ya, the Rock Island line She's a mighty good road And if you want to ride You gotta ride it Like you find it Get your ticket at the station On the Rock Island line ------------------------------------------------------------ Enjoy! Tom
Afternoon Ruth, and I'll take a hot buttered rum please. The change should more than enough to take care of a round, I would think. Tom, my ENCORE was from the roundhouse thread I started when Our Place closed There's only 4 pages of stuff over there. You remember our horse. His name is Apache. Mindy bought a new water-proof winter blanket for him that he'll be sporting tonight, as it's supposed to get really cold. He's got a pretty good coat these days, so he'd probably be fine without it. But like most horse-owners, we are guilty of pampering. Enjoyed your winter pix. and like the idea of OP currency, but I'll settle for some OP drink chips. Here's how our snow looks today:
G’day Again Gents!
Back with some acknowledgments . . . .
DL at 11:20 AM yesterday: In reference to the U.S. Interstate highway system, you may wish to peruse: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_highways
A simple search on “High speed rail” using any of the leading search engines (I prefer “dogpile.com” – as they use ALL the major indices for searches) will net a hodge-podge of efforts in varying stages of activity in the U.S. This is the major problem – no central effort and virtually nothing out of our self-engrossed representatives ‘n senators worried more about their next run for re-election than the needs of the country. Sorry – but that’s my view and I know it’s shared by many. If only we could really get these people to listen, eh Perhaps we should have a Parliament-Congress Nite here at the bar! Nah, would take far too much effort to sweep up and shovel out the enormous amount of BS left ‘round the floors! <grin>
Most interesting dialogue regarding your historic railway screenings. Now that’s something I would enjoy – but alas, I’d probably be unable to hold my tongue and find myself either “elected’ to some “volunteer” position, or banished to a far corner of the room about as welcome as a fart in church. <smile>
Loved that photo-spread in the “View From This Side” URL. Nicely done and very impressive equipment fer sure, fer sure! [utp]
Enjoy your weekend and it’s a shame we cannot connect over it, for your contributions to the small but interested clientele is always appreciated and looked forward to!
Lars at 3:46 PM yesterday: You ‘n I should form our own hi-speed rail compact and get these people off the dime. Perhaps we need to mobilize the “Our” Place Rangers, a special forces unit dedicated to the awakening of those who can make it happen, happen on the rails! There are times when the frustration level reaches that boiling over point in reference to the downward spiral of U.S. passenger rail (heavy ‘n light). Sure, many will come to the fore with “stats” to enforce their belief that light rail is the panacea, the way to go, and so forth. I’m not knocking it, but the costs are hardly in any semblance of fiscal responsibility. It is super expensive and the return for the buck just isn’t there as the subsidies must continue on an indefinite basis, otherwise the whole thing implodes. We have that very situation here in St. Louis with our MetroLink.
Through a series of Ppoor decision making, the transportation planning community (aka: The Scratch Our Backs Crowd and We May Scratch Yours! – SOBCWMCY) have squandered any hope for light-rail expansion to communities such as the one I reside in. Why Because ‘they’ are playing the political pandering game, it’s as simple as that. The MetroLink system is a fine example of what should be in terms of excellent design, wonderful equipment and so forth. But those pulling the strings border on either the inept or unable to accept reality syndrome. There’s a less-than-eight-mile expansion currently operational. The cost overruns were even more than predicted which puts the costs of it at something on the order of $75-85 million per mile. The “rub” is that instead of going in for federal funding, they opted to use the local sales tax revenues, for the next 20 years to pay for it – and they’ll still be in the red. Add to that an operating budget that is screaming for assistance, otherwise the trains will cease running. The governor of our state ordered an audit of the agency running the trains, but the agency decided to be less than cooperative, based on their contention that since they are a bi-state compact (Illinoisp-Missouri) they don’t have to comply! Lots of joy in the Gateway City over this; not!
Received your Email and responded. The ratings system isn’t going away nor are the JOs who are bent on discrediting Threads disappearing either. Only when something flares up will Kalmbach act – so the business of rewarding bad behavior continues with some sort of foolish belief that to clamp down on this stuff will hurt the sales of their magazines. Good Gawd Gertie! Believe that, and I’ve got a whole bunch of ‘sea stories’ to put in a binder and sell to ya!
Nope, don't have the foggiest what happened to jlample John. Quite frankly, we've had so many go "that way" - here for awhile, then gone-zo that it does more harm than good to think about it. Anway, he really never was a "regular," just a dependable "irregular." I'm sure he's quite involved with real life and dropping by this place has to be a rather low priority. However, it is a bit puzzling why he'd be at his Thread on the same Forum . . . hmmmm. NO, NO, NO - don't want to go there! <grin>
Had been wondering what the petrol prices are in Staten Island. Hard to believe given the proximity to the refineries over in New Jersey. Remember the “gas wars” of days gone by when you could get a gallon for 17 cents My 1953 Studebaker Champion could be driven for days on a couple of bucks of gas. Little did we know that the indulgence of those without foresight along with the apparent blinders that our Congressional leaders are issued upon being sworn in has contributed mightily to the dependence we find ourselves mired in.
A glorious winter’s day in late fall here in mid-continent USA! The winter wonderland of ice crystals set against the blue sky backdrop is most impressive. Pix taking morning ‘round here! Juneau, of course, is a handful as he simply wants to remain outdoors. Can’t blame him. Fortunately, our single digit temps never materialized and it’s only in the low 20s (F) at the moment. Should remain at or below freezing throughout the day; colder tomorrow.
A brief departure from my normal morning epistle – check these out from the frozen yard – what you’ll see is ice, not snow, would need some C4 to get through that stuff! <grin>
Be back later with some acknowledgments . . .
Ruth, set ‘em up if you please and Boris, ring the chimes!
Good morning Tom and friends! I'll have three light breakfasts! I'm starving! What a day we had yesterday with the snow storm. I completely shoveled about 6 or 8 inches of white stuff off my driveway from 5 to 6 am, wondering if I was just wasting my time. I was. Hours later, it was back to looking like I had done nothing at all, as our total snowfall hit 15 inches! High winds and continuous snowfall until 1 pm kept the kids shoveling for hours. Smart people stayed home from work, (I'm not a smart person) and every school closed. By 4:00 in the afternoon, most roads had been cleared, and traffic was light since so many stayed home. Not bad for 3 snowplows and 42,000 miles of state highways! Glad we didn't get the 3 " of ice that Tom got to see. Anyhow, got a busy morning here, with #2 son testing for a TaiSooDo belt, so I had better make a quick post here.
Really good micro-brew hotspot info from Pete yesterday. Seems like the kind of place a guy should be with his friends to wind down a busy day. James, seems to me there were model train magazines in the 1910's. I think I have one from 1917, but I'll have to look into it. I'm still not organized from my 2nd move in 6 months, and maybe I'll never be. Speaking of exotic train magazine material, I just scored some more from E-Bay that I'll be sharing here. Great posts on the Union station in Chicago. There are no longer any benches in the Grand Hall upstairs. I think it's because they frequently rent that room for parties and such. It was also a favorite place for homeless to snooze away their days when they weren't pan-handling the rush-hours. Unfortunately, when it comes to that sort of thing, the train stations, especially Olgilvie, is where you will find that kind of activity. As for the mention of Union not being directly connected to the elevated system, the same is true for Olgilvie, but the elevated tracks are only a few blocks away.
I just love to get credit for others peoples' posts, and it happened again! It was DL who provided the link for Eric on the NVR museum with the Swedish steamers, and not me. The high-speed discussions on this thread have been a treat, but as others have said, Lars included, we can forget seeing too much of that in this country, as freight pays the bills here. Someone sneezed here too, CM3. Gas cost me $2.25 yesterday. Bummer. Maybe the Christmas Concert at the Emporium will help me feel better.
My time is about up, so here's an ENCORE .. but you can bet I'll be working up some photos for tomorrow!
Railroads on Bank Notes by L. Miles Raisig Spet 1953 Railroad Magazine
In America today, it is often said and written that except for the fields of science and space travel there are no new frontiers, no new worlds to conquer. We beg to disagree, and freely offer to every collector of railroadiana and every student of railroad history, a virgin field, untapped, almost unknown, and bursting with collecting possibilities.
Few persons other than confirmed collectors of obsolete paper money, students of the graphic arts, and serious antique collectors, are aware that one of the cheapest, most fertile, and abundant sources of American history lies in the private bank notes issued within the United States between 1800 and 1865.
But what of railroads, locomotives, and trains? By the time our forebears became interested in the practicality and economy of the steam locomotive, bank note engraving was already a highly skilled, advanced, competitive business, employing some of the finest American engravers on wood, copper, stone and steel. The former colonies had fused into a raw, furiously growing democracy, feeling its new power and thrusting ever westward for new and richer opportunities.
Each new move, each new enterprise, required credit; new banking companies, with little specie but plenty of paper, mushroomed over night. The banks might be dangerously near insolvency, having their creditors and the future only on their manager's lie-ability, but their new paper was crisp and elegant and new, representing not only the best and latest in American life and living, but a bewildering array of portraits and events from Roman gods and senators to Napoleon, to American generals and presidents, and from Franklin experimenting with electricity to the Battle of New Orleans and beyond.
The railroad came to America; it stayed, grew, became many from one. Immediately its locomotives and trains appeared on the newer issues of private bank notes. The tremendous wave of new internal improvements - turnpikes, canals, and railroads - brought forth bank notes like snowflakes, and the rapid and inevitable American progress in locomotive building was quickly reproduced on the circulating currency. From about 1835, through hard times and good, through the War with Mexico and the War between the States, there was a continuous, thoroughly documented picture story of every major type and change in American locomotives and trains. The story ended only in 1866 when private bank notes were taxed out of existence.
In the year 1837, Michigan had just become a state. Its legislators believed completely in internal improvements, and with a collective eye to a large future profit, planned for three major railroads and two canals, within the state. With a population of 175,000, and with 68 mail routes, on 41 of which mail was collected and delivered once weekly. Michigan had 61 chartered banks and banking institutions.
The progeny of two of its banks may be seen in the accompanying photographs. It will be noted that the $1 note of the Tecumseh Bank is undated, unsigned, and unnumbered, and that the $2 note of the Bank of Washtenaw is undated. These two notes were never issued, and are in crisp, uncirculated condition, especially chosen for their sharp, clean engraving. Signed and dated notes of these designs were first issued about 1835.
The rain on the Washtenaw note is obviously a very early one, and appears to us today as little more than a team box on wheels dragging a carriage converted to rail travel. The locomotive is of the Planet type, originally imported from England, and showing refinements of construction over its predecessor type, the Rocket. In the four-wheeled Rocket, the larger front wheels had been the drivers, with power being transmitted through rods from outside cylinders. The Planet's drivers were placed in the rear, were larger than the front bearing wheels, and power was transmitted from inside cylinders by a cranked axle.
The locomotive which is shown on the central vignette of the $1 note of the Tecumseh Bank probably antedates the Planet type, although it appears to be much more advanced. The spark arrester must have been one of the very first in existence; the covered tender and the unusual cowcatcher identify the engine as being the John Bull or the John Bull type. It bears the honor of being the first locomotive used in the state of New Jersey, in spite of its British name and origin. The cowcatcher shown here is a very rare type, being supported upon the rails by two small wheels.
At this point a word of warning is necessary. To expect to find in bank note vignettes exact replicas or drawings of engineering accuracy of famous locomotives, is to be disappointed. There is only one locomotive known at this time to the author which can be po
I'll try a Robinsons Old Tom on this cold Mid- Mo day please Ruth and a round, as I see we have reached 150,000 views at Our Place, a great mile stone, it think it shows that quite a lot of folks look through the widows of the bar, it would be nice if some would call in and have a beer with us.
Just been dumped off the site so starting again. We had quite a lot of snow here overnight, it was mainly ice pellets coming down at bed time, luckily it did not stick to the power lines, this morning there is over a foot of snow. TOM I said to the bride "I know some one who will be happy, JUNEAU" our pooch cant see over the path I have shovelled in the front. I was hoping to get to the bar early today but the bride found some indoor chores to do after the shovelling. Still shovelling snow is good for the soul, if not for the back.
Very interesting discussion on the High Speed lines with TOM,LARS ERIC, CM3 and DL. as already said frieght and high speed passenger don,t mix, although over here if the large container and the coal traffic keeps increasing, perhaps a high speed line for passenger and time important goods like mail and parcles may make sence if the price of gas increased a large amount, but as been said the cost of building such a line would be astronomical. As LARS says What comes around goes around, perhaps a breakthrough in clean electricity generation may spur things on. To think that there was a great system below the streets in Chicago that DOUG posted about for moving goods etc, now abandoned. Still it wasn,t that long ago that the modern Light Rail systems we have today were said to be too expensive.
JAMES Great post on the Chicago Union Station, every time I read about what Chicago as to offer, railway wise, makes me more determined to get there .I have got a pic of the inside of the Union Station in Kansas City, which is serving Amtrak again but only a handful of sevices.
ERIC I see DL has provided some great info on the Swedish locos on the NVR. I have found some info on a Ex War Department loco that worked in Sweden and is being overhauled at the present.
It is half way down the page on this link.
http://www.kwvr.co.uk/stockbook/index.htm
It as some interesting details of where she worked in Sweden. I had some rides behind her on the Keighley line when she was SJ 1931, a fine loco.
CM3 Looking forward to the concert description, I think the Second Class Saloon guys took the darts defeat badly.
DL Great photo of Nottingham Victoria unfortunatly I have never been there, we were hoping to get to Nottingham this October but were unable too, the bride could have gone round the shopping centre and I would have examined the railway interest. I believe the North tunnal portal is still visible. The loco in the photo, a Brush class 4 later 47 diesel is on the 1O42 train which was the York to Poole the last cross country train on the Great Central Main Line. The loco would work as far as Banbury where it was of taken over by a Bullied Light Pacific. The train would return north as train 1N83 if I recall right.Some times the train was hauled by a brand new class47, it seems like yesterday but it was 40 years ago.
The Mac Hawkings book is very good, but my favorite on the GC is Main Line Lament by Colin Walker, who I believe died recently,I think he lived in the Leicester area.
Glad you enjoyed Alans description.Another sad thing is the number of pubs, usually that have been part of the local community for along time, that are closing nowadays often to be turned in to houses.
That was a great film show thanks for the links although the Immingham one is" Temporary Unavailable". I will try again, we had a discussion a long while back on The Tramway at Our Place and as you say the line was of interest to ROB. I Indeed would have liked to see it in action on the film.
I can remember the Railway Roundabout films on the TV. I too thought they would have been filmed in black and white, it is great they were done in colour, considering how much interest there was in railways in those days there was very little on the TV. Iwas wondering when colour TVs did come in in the UK? We did not have one until late on, if I remember right the first ones wern,t very good. Still it was hard to watch snooker on the black and white set.
The 15 Guinea Special on August 11th 1968, my birthday by the way( a guinea was 21 shillings in the old British money, there was 20 shillings to the pound. I believe the guinea was a gold coin many years ago. It was often used on posh items on sale, as guineas was though to sound grander than pounds) This was a special train ran to mark the end of British Railways Steam Traction( to be strictly correct on the standard gauge as BR still owned and ran the Vale of Rheidol Narrow guage line in Wales as it did for quite a few years afterwards)
The train , reporting number 1T57, ran from Liverpool Lime Street throgh Manchester and over the Settle & Carlisle. The locos used were two of Staniers Black 5 4-6-0s double headed Nos 45110 & 44781 and the last Britannia Pacific no 70013 Oliver Cromwell, which was the last steam loco to be overhauled at Crewe Works. Those in the know waited after the special to see 70013 work light engine to her new home at Bressingham Gardens in Norfolk.45110 was also saved for preservation and can be found running on theSevern Valley Railway. 70013 is under overhaul at Loughborough for a return to the main line for the first time since 1968. 44781 was not so lucky.
I really did seriously think about going on it although at that time it was a great deal of money for a 17 year old when the cost of going to and staying in Liverpool had to be added as well. we thought that was IT for steam at the time not knowing that a return to steam on BR would take place with GWR 6000 King George V in October 1971 using preserved locomotives. There is still a healthy number of main line steam tours today.
One odd fact was although that was the last day of BR steam the Flying Scotsman still had a contract allowing it to run on BR metals. The loco was on a tour of N. America when the contract expired.
Thanks for the kind words TOM & LARS.
I am with you on Micro-brews or Shed Beers as one or two of my mates call it. Do the big brewers own any bars over here, in the UK&nb
G'day Cap'n Tom 'n fellow travelers at the bar!
Not one of the busiest of days, but then some rather interesting dialogue, which is what it's all about as far as I'm concerned! Ruth, I'll take a double hit of JD on the rocks and slide the snack tray down my way, wudja please
High-speed rail works. Just doesn't work well in America. Why Far too many fingers in the political pie, but that's the system, God bless it! <frown> Anyone who has lived in a major metro area and in particular a mega city like New York, LA or Chicago, surely knows the benefits of moving vast amounts of people using rapid, reliable and efficient means of transport. It really doesn't have to be steel wheels on steel tracks, but something - anything to reduce the amount of unnecessary and costly traffic on our highways and byways. Cars and buses sitting at idle at traffic lights, stop signs, traffic jams and the like do far more harm than good when it comes to the enviornment and the waste of precious resoucres. Ah, but we can afford it, huh Or can we
It has been said that "what comes around goes around," so perhaps it is only a matter of time. However, do we really have the time For anyone who has flown across an ocean to return to America and has witnessed the low overhanging cloud of smog or has returned from sea only to view the diminished horizon can attest to the harm done by the comustion engine. And that, gents is from someone who is an engineer - a below decks sailor if you will.
Speaking of which, I wonder why in the world happened to jlampke John Remember him He was our "resident sailor" who sails the Pacific with today's version of what I recall was MSTS. Anyway, seen him now 'n then on his thread about those 4-8-4's, but he no longer stops in. What happened, I wonder Nice guy, but suddenly got tired of us I guess. Too bad, guess he's now a permanent member of the Legion of the Lost.
CM3, you are a most intesting chap and one day perhaps we can meet up. I'd like to compare notes with you regarding the NYC, as in railroad. I don't have an extensive collection of anything meaningful when it comes to keepsakes and the like. But I do recall my trips aboard those magnificent trains. To this day wheneve I'm in GCT, it's awfully hard not to look for the trainboard listings to find when the 20th Century Ltd is departing and so forth. What a wonderful time in our railroading past. As with most of us on this thread, we were either too young, too poor or just not born yet to experience those magnicent passenger trains. The lightning bolt livery rules!
Noticed that the Milwaukee Road was featured on your other thread yesterday, but our youngster didn't pick up on it.
Really been enjoying Pete and DL's conversations lately. Hardly understand it all, almost like listening to two Brits engaged in whatever dialect they're into (Cockney, etc.) but it's fun, it's good chat and hope it continues on. Really like the Urls each provides and both are credits to the leagues of folks who enjoy the type of interaction going on in such a place as this. Sure would be nice to have DL at our Rendezvous along with those who have committed!
Expecting some strong thunder boomers this evening with temps remaining unseasonably mild. No snow, yet. I've seen gasoline at $2.60 and $2.54 in the last couple of days here on the "island." So you guys in the midwest are doing far better than we. Fortunately, the buggy remains in the detached garage for most of the time. Our trips are short and a tank of gas last for weeks and weeks.
I've checked out that "tool bar" that Kalmbach has dropped on us and as Tom has said, try it out. Still has the features, just a matter of figuring out how to use 'em.
One more Ruth, then I gotta skedaddle. Hope you all enjoy the weekend and are able to stop by for ENCORE Saturday and Sunday's pix day!
A round on me, Ruth if you will! Boris you beast of a Cyclops, ring the bell!
Hello Tom
Pint of Holts please. I'll have something from the evening menu too,
Yes, agree with you on the scale of the demolitions etc.
Interesting to read the comments about High Speed in USA from sevral regulars - I've often wondered about his as an outsider. My take from European experience is that our population density pushed our railroads along the route to passenger service at the expense of freight back in the 60s - so too much freight hogs the highways which is a major problem in the UK.
If you want true high speed you can't mix that with freight - got to be people only, this is what the French obviously understood in the 70s and planned for it. Freight has to stay on the trad ROW. UK went for compromise which was to try to get modest high speed - 125mph - on the existing right of way, but it does squeeze out freight or relegates it to night time (when engineers want maintenance possession). US roads make their money from freight so they are never going to want high speed passenger on their ROW - and they have no incentive to build dedicated high speed ROW and will oppose it on their metals I guess. This means someone else has to build the dedicated ROW - in advanced western economies that is not going to be the private sector as the reward will not justify the risk - there are better investments elsewhere - so the state has to pay the construction cost (like the Interstate programme I guess), then it can be handed over to private operators to run it - maybe even the freight orientated roads would / could do a good job if the dedicated ROW for high speed was provided for them. The state does not have the profit motive to incentivise them so it is a recipe for people talking about things and no action. For action it would need the incentive - for politicians that has to be votes (not profit), whether there are votes in high speed rail I don't know. We shall see in UK if the opening of the 1st high speed line to Paris creates a groundswell of opinion for more lines to the rest of England, Scotland and Wales. I hope it does of course.
Anyway - we've put that issue to rights (based on pretty limited knowledge of the actual circumstances in your country I admit, but that has never stopped a guy from solving the worlds problems when propping up a bar....<grin>).
So historic railway movie screenings - (by the way Tom, take your policy on films with crooners in them at the picture house - makes some sense!).
Well I took the train across to Newark (the real one) which is a 30 minute journey by diesel railcar. Just a two car train deals with the passenger flow here even at commuter time so this is a line in receipt of subsidy no doubt. Time for a pint and some food in a local pub.
The movies on show would have gone down well with regulars here.
First of all what seemed to me a pretty rare film of Buster Keeting's last film The Rail Rodder made in 1965 - in the style of the great silents it shows him crossing Canada on a petrol driven inspection cart. IMDB.com says:
"After reading an newspaper advertisement in the London Times about touring Canada, an elderly Englishman decides to do just that. Following his long walk across the Atlantic Ocean, Keaton travels along the Canadian National Railway tracks in a motorized cart, performing a few stunts reminiscent of those in his younger days."
This was all filmed on CN metals so you get some good background shots of CN locos and passenger cars appropriate to the mid 1960s in the background - sorry could not recognise them - maybe one ALCO and some long hooded stuff on freights. Never been a fan of slapstick but I enjoyed this.
The we were treated to some rare amateur film of high quality including a section on the Wisbeech and Upwell Tramway - a sort of rural light rail system which closed in 1966 - some good info here. Rob will be interested. Run by steam trams until 1952! I see it represented a model for one of the Thomas The Tank Engine characters!
This link is well worth a look
http://www.lner.info/article/wisbech/wisbech.shtml
The introduction explained that the 10 seconds of film screened were thought to be the only known movie film of the particular tram type concerned which did not serve for long on the line.
Then we had an excerpt from about 1910 of movie film of a London to Dover Boat train - this was pretty old film and quite remarkable in its quality.
Following on from this was some b&w amateur film of a GWR line in an unknown location in England showing track gangs relaying the line circa 1947 with a succession of express trains passing by in the same area as well (not when the line was being relayed). These were rare shots no doubt from collections that had turned up on the market in recent years - fascinating stuff.
Then we had more shipping with a professionally made British Transport Film featuring the railway ferry service between UK and the continent - focussing on the movement of cars, passengers and freight via various ferry routes run by British Railways. A superb film from about 1955.
After the interval we had another streetcar film The Grimsby and Immingham tramway - the only tramway run by British Railways this was film taken by the BBC Film Club in 1961 a year before the service closed. This tram service was built to take workers to the railway built docks at Immingham - since no housing was close by. Some pics here, again Rob will find this of interest no doubt
http://www.leytransport.i12.com/imtram.htm
Then we had some superb colour film taken for a children's series called Railway Roudabout from about 1960 - this showed branch line steam trains in Devon in about 1960 - all filmed in the most glorious English summer weather. Here is some info about the series I have located. This must have been quite rare at the time as I expect many UK households still had black and white TVs then (we did not get a colour TV in our family till about 1980!!)
"The Railway Roundabout programmes were made during one of the most historically interesting periods in the history of British Railways. The programmes began three years after the BR Modernisation Plan of 1955 was announced and they ended a year before the Beeching Report. Nowadays, the programmes have developed far beyond their original concept of being made for the enjoyment of young viewers and are now of national historical importance.
The programme came about quite by chance after Pat Whitehouse and John Adams met at the Talyllyn Railway and, as a result, made one or two films together. One day John and his wife were at a neighbour's house and happened to mention that he had some railway films. The neighbour was Dennis Morris, who was the head of BBC for the Midlands. "Just the thing for your children's programming", John said. The outcome was an invitation to meet the Head of Children's Programmes in the Midlands, Peggy Bacon, along with Patrick Whitehouse. In all they made 100 films and there were 52 programmes"
After this we had an impressionistic film made by BR for cinema release (as a sort of B Movie I expect) to launch the Inter City 125 train in 1976, complete with specially commissioned music - called ‘Overture 125'. Then we ended off with the official film made to mark the end of steam services on British Rail in 1968 - film of the 15 Guinea Special - Pete can you explain about the 15 Guinea special? Some classic pics here.
http://www.theviewfromthisside.co.uk/pagelas.html
Anyway - pretty darn good show I thought. If you can think of a better way to spend an evening I reckon it's not a description of something you can necessarily print here!!
DL
Back again as threatened.
I do prepare these epistles in advance, so at times as you read thru my ramblings, the points of reference in time may actually have long passed by. For example, this morning’s scroll was begun last night, in order to get a leg up on it. Otherwise I’d be stitting at the keyboard for hours in the AM, which I really want to avoid. Okay – got it <grin>
The tool bar that is now appearing on the Forums is different. But take heart, Mates – just put your cursor (blinking thing) over each of the icons and check ‘em out. The features are still there, just takes a bit of adjustment to get where you used to be. Kalmabach is testing us, preparation for more CHANGES to come! <argggggggggh>
Now where was I Ah yes, acknowledgments:
DL at 5:58 AM today: Nice thing about being the barkeep is you get to eavesdrop on all of the conversations, thereby taking in some interesting ‘n educational stuff along the way. <grin>
I checked out those URLs provided for others and am finding that only the scale of demolishment of the rail system in the UK compared to what happened here is the issue. You’re a long way from losing it all – but the wholesale destruction of some grand structures, loss of right-of-way, demise of services (TPOs), and so forth is most disheartening to say the least. Much empathy from Moi! <groan>
So, how did your meeting go and more importantly the rail trip C’mon, Mate – can’t keep us in suspense ‘til Monday! <grin>
CM3 at 8:49 AM today: Yes, sneezing is definitely hazardous to the stability of petrol prices in the U.S. We heard it west of the Mississippi as well. <geesh>
Snow in West Virginia has always been one of those things that conjures up memories of many a road trip through the state en route Cincinnati or New York City back in the early 1960s. No interstates then – from New York City I’d take the NJ Turnpike to the PA Turnpike – exit at New Stanton, PA for highway 40 through WVA (Wheeling was the feature attraction) – pick up highway 22 for the trek to Cincy. Took about 13 ½ hours for the drive if I recall correctly. Far cry from today I’d guess. Anyway, when it snowed, it was beautiful to see, but oh so treacherous to navigate. Fun in the snow, yeah . . . .
We could really get into quite a discussion regarding high speed rail, the corridors, equipment and funding. And you know what It would all be good stuff, but alas – Congress should be doing this and more correctly, should’ve done it long ago. Where in &#%$ is the National Rail Transportation Plan included within a larger Transportation Plan taking us all far into this century No where – that’s where it is. All of the two-faced JOs calling themselves “leaders” can KMA in Macy’s window (34th street, preferred) when it comes to my opinion of the way they do business. Leaders, HA! None of ‘em could lead a starving rat to a mountain of cheese. Quote me anytime you wish!
Email sent as requested.
Never thought of it, BUT you may have come across something as the bunch from The Second Class Saloon have been stopping by lately, to take on the Track Gangs in our weekly pool-fests on Friday nite. Boris ‘n Leon have been doing double duty trying to keep the back room from being reduced to kindling. <groan> But, the beer is selling and so is the food. <KaChing – KaChing>
Didn’t know the “word” had leaked regarding the Christmas Concert over at the Emporium. The press release must’ve been released! <grin> Anyway, look for it on Sunday, December 10th. Should be quite the event. This is a black tie affair with reserved seating all under the auspices of TixRusuns – a subsidiary of the Mentor Village Second National Bank; Vito the Hit, CEO, President, Guy-what’s-in-charge, LSMFT, et cetera! We look forward to your coverage.
Thanx for the inclusion of the RDC9s from B&M days. Not many people know of ‘em, but those great Budd cars provided opportunity for innovativeness still being undertaken to this day by the owners.
Good Morning Barkeep and All Present; Coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox. Gas prices went up 6 cents this a.m. Somebody probably sneezed somewhere. We are still on the warm side of the front 65 degrees here this a.m., but it’s gonna rock and roll later on today, according to the Oracle. NOTE: Thiis is an edited version of my original post as the forum magically deleted all paragraphs and changed the font size, all without my having to touch the keyboard. Methinks the Second Class boys may be up to something.
I have been hearing rumors about the Mentor Pro Musica’s upcoming Christmas concert. I am given to understand that their rehearsals and cast parties are really something. Your roving reporter will have to check this out.
DL provided some interesting comments and observations.
Lars – Boy, do we have a big game this weekend. I see where Brother Shockey is trying to stir things up. That’s all we’ll discuss, but you know where I’ll be on Sunday if our cable system decides to run something other than the Steelers.
I appreciated your comments re high speed corridors in New York.
For those not familiar with it, this idea appears about every five years; the only thing that changes is the locales. Montreal-New York might be possible, but it would take a lot of work. Anyway, pretty soon it will be impossible to get to and from Canada so the entire issue may become academic. I’ll stop here b4 Boris escorts me from the premises.
The Buffalo-Toronto idea is another one that appears every so often. What I would like to see is to put back the track that used to be on the NYC and operate faster service between New York and Buffalo with connections to other points. IIRC, the State of NY spent a bunch of $ to refurbish turbo trains which suddenly vanished after the money was spent. I know, CSX will say we can’t do it. Cripes, parts of the old Central are nothing more than parking spots for outlawed trains. Boris, put the baton down.
Pete – Thanks for all of the information and the travelogue from Nottingham.
James – Maybe we can have the Mentor Theatuh run the “Untouchables” again. The movie, not the TV show. Many of you, I am sure, remember the scenes inside CUS.
Last – coal trains are tough on track that is not maintained in first-rate condition. Former C&O main line through here has very heavy rail which contains an alloy to help retard wear and tear. The problem, dear Brutus, is in the ties and the ballast; especially if there is water involved.
BTW, branch line that runs by the house has 131 pound welded rail. IOW, they come to play.
As always, thanks to our ‘steamed proprietor for overseeing this operation. Before I forget, could you please drop me an e-mail offline? Got a question for you.
One last thing, the table with the different types of RDCS was a good one. The B&M called their cabless units, RDC9s.
Work safe
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! (so the song goes) It’s Friday, it’s December 1st and we’ve got our first snow of the season! Sad to report that it’s more ice than snow, probably wound up with about 6 inches total with an underlay of perhaps 3 inches of ice.
Time to pour some freshly ground ‘n brewed coffee. Check out our pastries from the Mentor Village Bakery along with a selection from our Menu Board for a <light> or <traditional> breakfast!
Petrol up at “Collusion Corner” seems to have leveled off at $2.10 (rounded) per gallon, but . . . . Skies are supposed to clear with some arctic cold hanging ‘round mid-continent USA through next week. Juneau loves it!
Yes, something has changed on the Forums insofar as formats and the like are concerned. Happened with no notice that I could find. Don’t know why, nor do I fully understand this new set up. Time will tell what impact all of this will have on ENCORE presentations and those submissions prepared under the “old” format. Oh well, my favorite word (again): CHANGE!
On to the acknowledgments:
CM3 at 9:03 AM yesterday: Good to see you back in your morning slot! Things have been quite lonely without our West Virginia connection’s sage input, wit, witticisms, quarters for our Coal Scuttle and rounds for the house! <grin>
The Polar Express shelf system isn’t “new” – check the dates on the Pix. Just ran a spate of ‘em for Toy ‘n Model Trains Day!
Really some fine B&M material, covered many bases and found it all to my liking and interest!
I’m going to have to scroll back to that Melrose reference – must’ve missed it. As I’ve mentioned way back, I used to live there . . .
DL at 9:30 AM yesterday: Good to see ya and enjoyed your most interesting panoply of rail related info! Lots of material to digest and as always, most informative.
The majority of films that I select for the Mentor Village Emporium Theatre may actually be found in our home VHS/DVD library – most, not all. At first, I tried to focus just on rail-related flicks, but soon the well ran dry. Then on to sports, war, humor, etc. I draw the line when it comes to movies featuring “stars” such as Elvis, the Beatles, etc. Ain’t gonna happen. But, I do appreciate and welcome suggestions – just reserve the right to say “no thanx!” <grin>
Hope your meeting goes well, but more importantly, the rail roundtrip should be the highlight! <smile>
Lars at 3:31 PM yesterday: Thanx for holding down the PM time slot, things are really getting ridiculous between mid-morning and late-afternoon. Anyway, glad you took a break from the rigors of Christmas decorating to visit with us!
We have a mid-west compact of states that have aligned to look into high speed rail. Missouri has yet to officially join the group! Now that sez a lot, eh I know that Illinois was going great guns with their dedicated route from Chicago to St. Louis, but it has stalled, with no projected completion date known to me. I haven’t really explored the latest happenings since I dropped out of the focus group I belonged to some years ago. Not that I lost interest, but just got tired of the frustration – plus my head was beginning to hurt from having it banged against the wall so many times. Self-inflicted, of course! <groan>
The idea of the mid-west alignment was to connect the major metro areas with high speed rail, radiating out of Chicago. All sounds fine to me, makes sense and costs lots of bucks. The initiative all began pre-“911” and of course, we now have other priorities for the finite amount of taxpayer bucks available. At the time I was involved, there just wasn’t any serious effort undertaken by the Missouri legislature to move on a route between St. Louis and Kansas City. So, essentially, St. Louis would’ve been the last stop out of Chicago to the south. In a way it probably does make sense, as there just doesn’t seem to be a market for that type of travel for business purposes between the two largest cities in the “Show Me” state. We saw this loud ‘n clear when business class service was introduced on our state funded Amtrak trains between St. Louis and KCity.
Don’t know when the U.S. will “see the light” and get off the dime with all of this. Europe and Asia are leagues ahead (not that it is a race) with the use of rail, and you’d think we’d at least link the large metro areas (once again) with rapid, re
Morning Tom Light Breakfast please.
Just to feedback, first of all to Eric – my guess was that the Nene Valley Railway would have the Swedish locos as they specialise in stuff from overseas – and indeed that proves to be the case when I checked their site.
http://www.nvr.org.uk/
Look under ‘stock lists’ and you will see a Swedish B 4-6-0 101 and a Swedish S Class 2-6-2 1178 (under overhaul). They have a quite a bit of Danish, German and Polish stock including carriages as you will see.
http://www.nvr.org.uk/stock/
Hope this helps. Peterborough is about 1 hour north of London towards the east of Central England. This is one of the places in the UK where they do working RPO / TPO mail demonstrations as they have the gear set up beside the line side.
Pete – Beeston works – I bet the auction catalogue that listed that number plate was simply wrong. Would be interesting to read that magazine article and learn more about this site. If you track down a copy all well and good. A long shot I know.
Interesting to read about Alan’s Kimberley mission. Your analysis on the breweries is correct – a real tragic situation is being played out and the powers that be just seem happy to put this down to ‘market forces’ whilst an important aspect of local heritage is destroyed. The job loses are not great because you don’t need an army to run a brewery, but the issues are wider ones of course – as you indicate.
Sorry The White Heart was a duff recommendation, not been in there for some time. It must have existed when Victoria was still a station. (for others of you following this contribution who want to get a handle on this – pictures of the old station are here – now all demolished and replaced with a shopping mall of no great architectural distinction).
http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/n/nottingham_victoria/index.shtml
Hopefully the opportunity for Alan to examine the site of the Victoria Station made up for the poor quality beer!
I presume Mac Hawkins’ book ‘The Great central Then and Now’ needs no introduction as far as you are concerned?
Very sad to hear about the Midland Railway Station at Kimberley – on my last visit it was fully roofed, it was the Brewery Social Club so presume owned by the Brewery – now they have new owners I suspect no prospect of a repair the theft damage and the old station will just end up being demolished, unless the town council or whatever take it on – which is unlikely I would guess.
James – interesting info re -concrete ties – I expect those v heavy coal trains are capable of exerting the same high forces that fast passenger trains exert – if not more.
Regards
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