Hi Rob and all! I'll take a shot at the quiz question.
Could the answer possibly be 1912?
... and did ya'll know that Alexander Graham Bell was lived in Brantford in 1876 when he made his first successful experiment in the transmission of sound by electric wire?
G'day!
Nice! Some input from James - Rob 'n Doug over here on the "lonely Thread!"
Spent a bit of time checking out the available "stuff" regarding Brantford's railway station and here's what I found:
Built in 1905 by GTR (source: http://home.primus.ca/~robkath/statbran.htm)
Noted that Rob's Pix site lists it as 1912 (sorry, Doug!!), but I also noted that there are post cards for sale on eBay showing a 1910 photo date. Soooooooo, I'm going with 1905!!
I suppose this Thread isn't really the place for such things as we're just feeding ourselves. Best to run 'em over at the bar, where at least we'll get some additional (and timely) responses!
Pix are ALWAYS appreciated!
Thanx!
Tom
Ok, no fair!
Rob's site said 1912, so that was supposed to be the answer. Still, I have a hard time disputing actual facts. You're right about taking this over to the bar though. I think we have a rule about misleading the patrons ... right?
Anyhow, I checked the postcards on E-Bay and your link. Sure is a nice-looking station!
Hey Doug . . ."rules" only apply to those at the bar! Speakiing of which, how come you ain't there Hmmmmmmm - do I sense a <tweeting> comin' up
Something for the day in terms of an appropriate Classic Trains Pix!
Toronto Union Station (GNU Free Documentation)
Enjoy!
Awww... don't tweet me. I'm working on some stuff for the bar, you can be sure. Seems to me that another appropriate station might also be the one at Punxsutawney PA, where Groundhog Day festivities are still in progress!
Did you know you can also find Groundhog Day cars for your layout on E-Bay?
Hi Tom and Gents.
Some great Classic Steam and diesel pics and talk.
A German Narrow Gauge Steam loco.
.
And Standard Gauge steam loco
And a German unit.
Pete.
G'day Cap'n Tom!
Ohhhhhhhh boy, are YOU in deep kimshee barndad Doug. Posting three times over here but NOT at the bar! WHERE are your priorities Good grief Charlie Brown, Da Boss is gonna be all over YOU!
Anyway, nice photo and probably should share that with the boys at the bar!
Good to see James, Rob & Pete make a stop too. This thread was supposed to be all about attracting some "new blood," but it seems like we're attracting one another! So be it. Sure beats the H out of the nonsense I've been noticing on the Classic Trains forums with toy and model stuff. Guess there are lots of browsers out there who just cannot figure out how Kalmbach has organized this freebie. Oh well, just an observation.
See ya at the bar!
Until the next time!
Lars
Many THANX to the boys from the bar who have provided some very intersting and diverse Pix and "stuff" for this lonely Thread!
For some reason, I have Florida on my mind today. Wonder why <grin>
ACL poster "The Champion" Streamlining through wonderful Florida
(from: www.getcruising.com/rails)
FEC poster - "Henry M. Flagler" Streamliner on the Florida East Coast
(from: www.getcruising.com)
Enjoy the game! Go Bears! (But place your bets on the Colts!)
Hi Tom and gang. Here's a little something ya'll might find of interest:
The Secret Paris Subway ... An elderly couple waltz to carnival music from an organ grinder on the dingy platform of a Paris subway station. It's nearly 3 a.m., and the station has been closed since World War II.
They are part of a traveling nocturnal party that barrels through the tunnels of the Metro long after the passenger trains have been tucked away. These riders are on a monthly all-night Metro history tour.
The ADEMAS association, dedicated to restoring old trains and preserving the Metro's history, has been around since 1992. (ADEMAS stands for Association D'Exploitation du Material Sprague; the Paris Metro's Sprague-Thomson model cars date to the early 1900s.)
Until recently, the group was as mysterious as the phantom stations it visits. Rumors about the all-night Metro rides circulated, but details were almost impossible to track down until June, when ADEMAS launched a Web site. But even that lacks specific times and dates.
Association president Julian Pepinster says its with good reason. There are just 2,400 spots available each year. The tours are so popular, there's a six-month wait list, he said.
It begins before midnight in the northern outskirts of Paris. The guides, all railway enthusiasts from ADEMAS, explain historical changes in voltage and how different wheels connect to the rails. As midnight approaches, the Metro prepares to close, clearing its tunnels of trains and making way for the tour. The night travelers clamber onto a vintage model from 1930. On seats and enamel decoration in cream, mustard and burgundy. Original maps showing Line 2 stops and streets are posted overhead, and iron baskets hang above the seats for small luggage.
The train departs with a surprising jolt. Passengers smile, grip seat-backs, and laugh as high-pitched whirring and chugging noises accompany the train into the tunnels. From the loudspeakers, banter emerges from the night's hosts, veritable tomes of history on the Paris Metro.
The train travels through the city center between the last two passenger trains, called the Sleeve and the Sweeper. Bewildered late-night Metro riders watch from the platform as the 1930s-vintage train rumbles through the station without stopping.
After changing Metro lines via a shortcut, the train makes its first stop" Croix-Rouge in southwest Paris, one of the Metro's "phantom stations." The economic stresses of World War II forced Paris to close many stops. Much of the population had left, and energy needed to be conserved.
Four of the stations that closed in 1939 - Arsenal, Champ de Mars, Saint-Martin and Croix-Rouge - never to be reopened. After the war, the two Metro companies combined to form the RATP agency, which decided those two stations were not needed.
Everything is oddly familiar as the train pulls into the grime and dust-covered platform of the abandoned station at Croix-Rouge. Like other, still operating stations designed in the 20th century, Croix-Rouge has tile-covered vaulted ceilings and large frames for advertisements. The doors open, spilling almost 200 onto the platform, and a 20-minute party begins.
The organ grinder begins cranking out music and singing along. People rush to the bar in the first-class car for coffee or beer. Some dance. Others explore.
Soon, guides usher the crowds back on board, and the group is off to explore other phantom stations. At 3:30 a.m., the group gets champagne and pastries.
The evening ends in western Paris, where guides provide hot chocolate and croissants before the crowd heads home, many on the first Metro of the new day.
If you go ... Signing up: Dates for 2007 have not been announced. The best way to book is to sign up for the mailing list on the ADEMAS Web site, at http://ademas.assoc.free.fr/ (the site is in French), or join for $31.
Costs: A ticket will cost $57. Included is a map with directions on how to get to the railyard.
What to bring: Flashlight, water and money for items at the bar. Dress comfortably.
Language: Tours are conducted in French. Groups can arrange to bring a translator.
1930's vintage Paris Subway car's interior
G-day Tom and all present.
So I see there has been some activity going on and some nice pictures stuck in there also.
Now it's time for some more pictures.
This is one of the more impressive pictures I found. The B&O's complicated signal system is in the back ground. I don't know what the signals are telling me except for the red.
Here is an operating switch tower. These are armstrong type levers used in the tower. This is located along the B&Os line at the Viaduct junction. This photo was taken shortly before operations ended in the tower in the fall of 2001.
Happy railroading
James
Howdy guys. Couldn't help but notice this thread needs a little bump, so here's some information on the Florida Special. More can be found at "Our" Place Reborn!
No train in the record, not even the magnificent Sunset Limited of 1894 or the all-room Century and Broadway of the late 1930s, could be more aptly cited as a paradigm of the concept of the luxury train as an extension of the functions of a grand hotel the The Florida Special when it was placed in service in 1888. Here in every aspect and detail the parallel was fulfilled. The equipment incorporated in its structural economy every perfection both operational and in décor that was known to its age. In much the same manner that, the following year when it opened its doors in London, The Savoy Hotel enlisted the services of Cesar Ritz to conduct its operations, the Florida East Coast prevailed upon George M. Pullman in person to ride the maiden run and lend it the enormous prestige of his name. As when any de luxe hostel was to open its doors in a later age of skilled Madison Avenue press agentry, social and civic leaders participated, on the cuff of course, at its inaugural. Communities along the right of way the train followed were encouraged to light bonfires in the night to illuminate its passing and the press, also present in the capacity of honored guests, reported breathlessly every detail of its luxurious progress. The muse of gastronomy was invoked on the palates of the patrons flattered with rare viands and costly vintages whose service was personally superintended by urbane and cheerful George M. Pullman. The director of the United States Marine Band was inspired perhaps with tangible encouragement from Henry M. Flagler, to compose a "Florida Special March." Travel editors were sluiced and gentled in a manner familiar from that day until the present and Sunday supplements shortly blossomed with spreads in praise of The Special and the fine hotels at whose very portals it deposited fortunate seekers of Florida sunshine and relaxed attitudes generally. Nothing was neglected that could project a more than favorable image of The Florida Special on the general awareness, and passengers when they boarded the cars at Jersey City were made to feel as though they were already enjoying the amenities of the well-conducted Ponce de Leon Hotel and other equally sumptuous caravansaries of The American Riviera. In a very real sense they were.
Here's another bump for the thread, along with more info!
This diesel pioneer, a model E3-A EMD construction number 956, was built in late 1939 for the Florida East Coast's new Budd-built all-coach streamliner between Jacksonville and Miami, the Henry M. Flagler. Flagler was not only the organizer of the FEC but in many ways was the father of modern Florida.
The E3 design was the first of EMD's standard passenger locomotive models, and although only 18 were produced, along with 19 E4 and 113 E6 models, during 1938-42, these locomotives were pivotal in the history of diesel power, for they were widely successful. They were powered with twin diesel engines, the then-new EMD 12-cylinder 567 prime movers capable of 1000 hp each, which were conservatively built and the result of evolutionary development. Many of these locomotives accomplished several million miles of service over 20 more years of life, a good record by any measure.
This was the FEC's first diesel and was numbered 1001. The locomotive carried the Flagler name for a number of years, although the Henry M. Flagler train became the Dixie Flagler in December, 1940, operating every third day between Miami and Chicago via Atlanta and Evansville, Ind. (in a multi-railroad operation via Atlantic Coast Line; Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis; Louisville & Nashville; and Chicago & Eastern Illinois). It alternated with South Wind via Montgomery and Louisville and the City of Miami via Birmingham. The Miami-New York trains, such as the East Coast Champion, were operated via ACL, Richmond, Fredericksburg Potomac and Pennsylvania Railroad. Indeed, most FEC trains with service beyond Jacksonville were handed over to ACL.
No. 1001 continued to handle a variety of passenger duties between Jacksonville and Miami for a number of years until it was retired in `960. This photo at Miami (the Dade County Courthouse towers in the background) evidently dates from the mid to late 1940s, and shows an unidentified departing train with a mixture of heavyweight and lightweight equipment. The depot is hidden behind the consist.
The Larsman reporting in from Marathon in the Keys! I see things have been quite active here on your lonely thread. Thanks to Doug, there's more material floating around in cyber space than I can recall. Too bad the responses are so hard to come by. Just a bunch of people who aren't interested in communicating I guess. The individual's choice, huh
Many thanx to Doug - James 'n Lars for the contributions these past days - nicely done!
Some Canadian steam locos from Classic Trains days . . .
CPR 4-6-4 #2860 Royal Hudson (foto credit: Greg Chadwick)
GTW 4-8-4 U-4-B (foto credit: Richard Leonard)
Mighty fine lookin' Canadian steam . . . here's a little something a bit different:
Good evening Gents, nice to see this thread still plugging along as it were. Some fine steam shots from Tom. 2860's due to see some action again this year if alls going well. She's been undergoing a retubing and fire box refurbishment. The hope is that she will be back up and running on her old excursion services again.5x for that anyway. Great info from Doug as well nice to see some substance here again
Well her'sa couple new shots from me, ioriginally intended for Sunday at the bar till I was called away , anyway hope you enjoy them, they will resurface with friends at the bar next Sunday.
A shot of 1943 Port Dalhousie Ontario. NS&T Streetcars and interurbans meeting the cross lake steamer to Toronto. From te OERHA Arechieves Al Patterson the photographer.
A shot of the TTC's Modern CLRV's in transit along King street. Car 4004 is one of the frist ten built in the 70's in Switzerland.
Shot from the nations capitol. Car 842 on the Britannia line. parliment Hill is in the Background c1946. From the OERHA collection.
Enjoy Rob
Nice Pix from Rob!
Here's one of my favorite shots that I took on our last cross-Canada rail trip aboard VIA Rail . . .
Mt. Robson - Highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies at 12,972 ft/3,953 m. Taken from the observation dome of VIA Rail's Strathcona Park Car - eastbound "Canadian."
Here's another personal photo, this one take by my bride on our recent rail trip in Alaska.
Mt. McKinley, highest mountain in North America at 20,320 feet (6,194 m)
Taken from ARRs southbound Denali Star on the observation deck of their Gold Star Service ultra dome car.
Good evening folks. Tom that's a couple of mighty fine pictures fer sure fer sure. I'm glad you liked the traction shots, here'sa couple more just for the heck of it.
Here's a rare shot of TTC's crane car C2 taken at the Hillcreat shops. This car was built in 1912 by the Toronto Railway Company one of the TTc's predessesor roads it and it's sister C1. our museum has C1 and C2 is also preserved and is located at the Warehouse Point Museum in Connecticutt.
This is a classic shot from the late 50's.A Peter Witt tye car leading it's eventual successor a PCC on St Clair street. By 1962 all the Witt's were retired after giving yoeman's service to te TTC since 1921.
enjoy Rob
Nice looking pix of those mountains! Really great shots and both from moving trains at that! My guess is that your work has already been "pirated" for use elsewhere! <grin> Really nice!
Good to see Rob over here with his traction pix! Keeps us on our toes, huh Nicely done!
Been quite a bit of talk over at the bar on the Mountain steam locos - here's one of my favorites:
CN #6071 4-8-2 (from: www.yesteryeardepot.com)
Fine looking machine, Lars! My bet is Rob will like it as well, fer sure, fer sure!
Here's a Pix taken from our hotel window in Toronto the morning after returning from Vancouver aboard the Canadian . . .
Toronto GO train eastbound to Union Station
Good evening again folks,nice to see some contributions still rolling in.
Lars-Tom's right love that locomotive too, actually that type is the wifes favourite unit as well, and we are lucky enough that 6060 is still around and running excurions in Alberta maybe BK will partake in one should he come home to roost again at some point. A vice GO shot from Tom to always nice to get that semi overhead angle makes for a nice picture.
Here's a couple more new traction shots for everyone.
Oshawa Street Railway #82 in service in the late 40's. this car is also awaiting it's turn at restoration at our museum, a fine early double ended city car. From the OERHA collection.
Another Ottawa car this car number 955 an ex TTC TR car built in 1914 and sold to Ottawa in 1943 to help with the passenger overflow during the war. From the OERHA collection.
Rob
So, how is everyone doing with all these cold days. We are hitting our usual 15 below at night and about 10 to 20 degrees during the day.
Now for some pictures.
Here is one of the Rock's many passenger units. unfortunatly when this picture was taken back in 1969 in Blue Island, IL, The locomotibe was near the end if it's days. Now it is hard to tell but I believe this is an E6 but could also be an E5.
Here is the same locomotive, only six years later. It is now 1975. As you can see the yellow wing that used to be on the front is now gone and the locomotive isn't looking so good. It is coupled up to a commuter train.
Now, I decided to go with an FP45 for the last picture. These locomotives have now almost completely disappeared. The only place you may find any of these running would be at a museum. I guess, if you're extremely lucky, you can still find one or two roaming around on mainline railroads. These locomotive look great, especially behind a passenger train. This is located in Temple, Texas, in September of 1990.
Enjoy
Some really great pics and text from TOM,LARS, DOUG, ROB and JAMES, recently
A couple of pics of British steam locomotives on main line steam tours last year.
Ex LMS Stanier 4-6-0class 5 no 45407 leaving Crewe the town where many of this class were built.
BRs only Standard 8P 3-clyinder pacific no 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' the last all new Express Passenger steam loco built for BR in 1954,at Carlisle .
Pete
G'day Gents!
Looks as if the "boyz from the bar" are keeping this Thread up 'n running - nice work!
Ya know, some of those Pix would do just fine over at the bar, especially for this coming Saturday Photo Posting Day!
Here's a little something from my photo files to keep things movin' forward . . .
VIA Rail's Revelstoke Park Car on the "Ocean" consist at Montreal's Central Station
Just dropped off my submission over at the bar and noticed that fine looking obs dome you put up over here! Ya sure know how to "hook" me in, huh LOVE those domes . . .
VIA Rail #8708 Kootenay Park (from: www.trainweb.org - photo: Gordon Hall)
Nice one, Lars! The guy who took that Pix really did a nice job fer sure, fer sure!
Speaking of domes . . .
VIA Rail's Glacier Park car at Sioux Lookout, Ontario, Canada - westbound "Canadian."
Some nice looking pics have accumulated over the last couple of days. It got quite busy over here, which is a good thing.
I will start off with a small brochure cover. This is from 1947 advertising the hiawathas and there schedules. Now usually it would give schedules to a curtain train, so I'm not sure which of the many Hiawathas this would be. Now If I were to guess I would say this would be one of the morning or afternoon "Hi"s, since there is a skytop Parlor on the end.
Photo from: http://www.plan59.com/images/JPGs/hiawatha48.jpg
Now I realize this is not exactly "real" but there are very few photos of these in cars in color. These were built for the Milwaukee's 1947 Hiawatha. You can tell by the orange, maroon and grey colors. They were very bueatiful passenger cars in those days. The skytop Parlor lounge car was like no other passenger car ever made.
Photo from: www.railwayclassics.com/milw07.htm
The Milwaukee's nicest looking passenger steam engine ever made. The 4-6-4 Hudson. This locomotive set speed records. Top speed was suppose to be 130 mph and it hit 124 mph. Now that is fast for steam. To have a train pass you in 5 seconds flat. Literally.
Photo from: http://www.ironhorse129.com/Projects/engines/hiawatha/Graphics/Painting.jpg
Nice Park Car shot! They're especially significant when you know they come from a personal trip. Bet you and your Mrs. enjoyed that one! New Year's Day I noted . . . New Year's Eve on the train must've been a great time.
Enjoyed the spate of pix from James as well. Suggest you post 'em at the bar for our Saturday pix posting . . . nice!
Having a great time down here in the Keys - temps are about to hit the 80 degree mark (F) and I'll bet THAT info really "gets" you guys in the frozen northland! <grin>
Another dome . . .
SP #3606 full length dome (from: LA River RRs)
Greetings and salutations from Jerusalem. Well, some people like shrouded streamlined steam locomotives, like the Milwaukee's 4-6-4's and4-4-2's, and the Gresley A-4's, and the Commodore Vanderbilt, and the Aeolius of the Q, and the Reading's Crusader Pacifics, but I prefer the streamlining that keeps to the basic shape of steam locomotive, like the Daylights, and the Norfolk and Western J's, and most of all, as far as looks go, the New Haven I-5's. I like the Central's Century and Empire State Express J-3's too, but not as well as the afformentioned three.
I rode the postwar Florida Special several times in the period 1957-1967. Since it was a seasonal train, all first class for at least part of this period, it used a lot of sleepers borrowed off other railroads, UP mostly, some SP, some NP. It definitely did NOT have an observation car at the rear during this period. The diner (sometimes two) and the lounge car were ACL. There was hostess, Bingo games with prizes, but let us face it, a roomette is a roomette, whether it is on the Super Chief or Florida Special on the one hand, or the Everglades or Havana ---er Gulf Coast Special on the other hand. But ACL and then SCL kept up high standards of service.
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