Tom, I don't know how I could miss that.....! I think that I'll voluntarily scrub and polish all the brass etc. around our place to teach me a lesson....
My apologies....
Hi Tom and all,
Just time for a quick one please Ruth, a double shot for James today!
James. Have a good ONE mate!
To all, had a quick look at all the great posts since I was last in, a big load of links from Mike, catch you all later.
See ya, Allan
Hi Tom and all.
A pint of Bathams CINDY, this sunny Saturday please.
PER Unfortunately I have not heard of Campo have you some info on it.
We did have a very good Mexican meal at a restaurant just off the old town area, the wife had a tequila based drink, which she enjoyed, and I had a local brew or two.
It is a great station in San Diego and the harbour has a very good atmosphere. On the road from the station to the harbour, there is still a piece of rail and I saw an old photo showing steam locos on part of the harbour.
Many thanks for the photo of Sacramento Locomotive Works; it will be great if they can open it for the public one-day.
ALLAN Glad you are enjoying the photos and trip report.
I wonder what will happen if the traffic from York Canyon stops, I suppose Amtrak will transfer to another route.
I worked with a Geordie for quite a while so got used to the language. I had a Newcastle Brown to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the end of North East Steam, at the local Irish pub here. I though you might be a member of the Toon Army. They were live on Setanta this morning; they also show New Zealand Rugby Union matches.
JAMES It will be good to see the photos of your new models
Thanks for the kind words on the Photos, the bride took the good ones. It is great that pieces of art like that Santa Fe name in tiles as survived.
Enjoyed the extra info on Mr. Nystrom and Milwaukee observation cars.
FERGIE Good to see you in despite the heavy seas, 35 Knots.
I have learnt it is not the best policy to say bad things about the bride's favorite teams, that is hard when they are the Royals and the Chiefs, but she has stood on the terraces at the Mighty Shrews.
JAN Glad you liked the pics.
The 5 ships we toured in the San Diego Maritime museum were, Star of India an 1863 Merchant Sailing ship that is said to be the world's oldest active ship she was built at Ramsey Shipyard in the Isle of Man, at one time she was used as emigrant ship from Britain to New Zealand
Berkeley which was an 1898 Steam Ferry. She helped to evacuate people from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
HMS Surprise 18th century Royal Navy Frigate replica bought from 20th Century Fox.
Media a 1904 steam yacht that was used by the owner of Torrisdale Castle in Scotland converted from coal fired to oil in 1964.
Then the Russian submarine B-39.
Many thanks for the 4-8-2 photos, impressive locos. In the one of the double header I would have though they would have put the Cab Forward on the front.
I would have loved to see one of those Missouri Pacifics through here on a heavy freight.
Great SP ‘Daylight'advert.
LARS It did cross my mind to say to the rector when he married us, when he asked for any just cause, that we should not be married that I had a wife in England but I didn't think that counted. But thought better of it. (I haven't by the way).
Thanks for the kind words, that station in Santa Fe really is a gem, and good to see the light rail uses it.
That is a great engine in the Smithsonian I wonder if others of her class were saved.
Many thanks for the great photos and book covers. Do you think the B&O 4-6-4 on the Royal Blue has a British look about it.
MIKE Thanks for the links and the photos, unfortunately I am having problems with the links today, but I will certainly try again later.
TOM It seems that was how the publishers bound magazines back then
A round please LEON.
These ships were at San Diego but I'm afraid I do not know about them.
Star of India
Berkeley at night.
.
And before I get 'Tweeted' a railroad connection on the Berkeley.
Now some Irish Photos from Alan, in May this year.
Class WT 2-6-4T No 4 takes on water.
No 4 and an industrial tank locomotive at the Railway Preservation of Ireland Headquarters at Whitehead.
These should enlarge
Pete.
Good Evening everybody present! Leon, please a round for everybody, some coins for the juke box, and single malt with a touch of water for me, please.
Tom, I agree with you about visiting Norway. My wife and I drove across northern Sweden in to Narvik and the north to Nordapp, southeast to Finland before we turned west again and drove back to Sweden. A fantastic trip!
My wife has already contacted one of the California Senators. We got a very supportive letter back, but the only result was a letter where she could confirm that the FBI had received the application for background check but that there is no stated date for the return of it. The immigration attorney said that that’s the only thing they can do. So much for that avenue!
I agree with you regarding the MR inventory. It took me a long time before I started, but now I have a complete listing. I used the program “Yard Office” and I find that being pretty good. I tried a couple but this was the one I liked the best. It’s one of those you can get for free, or contribute $20 to the efforts of keeping it updated if you like.
You got some really great pictures of Mt. McKinley! You must have been lucky to be there on such a clear day. (“On a Clear Day, You Can See Forever”, remember that musical?) Number nine (the gorge and the river) is fantastic as well. The view and the depth of the scenery is just great!
Once again a great program at the Mentor Village Emporium Theatre.
Al, What’s a Tui? Something from “Kiwi land”, I’m sure, but I don’t know what. The word brings associations with that stuff they chew on the islands and then let ferment for a while (is that Koa, or something like that?)
I had never heard of Geordie, but the word “yem” sound just like the Norwegian word for home “hjem” (with a silent “H”. Funny how small the world really is, after all. Where are the Geordies located?
James (CMSTPP), HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Isn’t it strange how marketeering people think they know everything, but really don’t. Your story about the Hiawatha observation cars is a good example. Imagine having an observation car with forward-facing seats AND curtains? Why even bother with an observation car in that case? $3.98 a mile must a an enormous profit! What’s Amtrak doing these days?
Fergie, isn’t modern communications fantastic! There you are, sitting in a big, comfy chair out in the middle of the Atlantic and posting to our little bar! I take it the “big, comfy chair” means the Captain’s seat, does it? But it would have to be a REALLY comfy chair for me to be out in 35 knots. Whoa! I was out in less than that in a small fishing boat (well, it belonged to the Nay, but still, that was the size and shape of it). They wanted me below deck, but when they saw the color of my face, I could come up and spend the trip next to the skipper.
Jan Olov, The Roco I have is going to be a class GS. I have an English kit for the F steamer, made by Keyser but that may never be built. The F electric from Perl is built, thanks to my brother; he had it built and painted.
Nice pictures again! Well, nobody can blame you for posting them today, can they? That NP 4-8-2 is great! And so is the SP ad.
It’s not watching the telly that makes your head feel like that, it’s what you had while you were watching. Take it from me, I know from personal experience.
Lars (Lovedomes), California, oh yes! Where else can you ski on snow and water the same day, if you like! And before Alaska became a state, you could stand on the lowest point in the country and see the highest! The bragging rights to the highest point were taken away by Tome’s favorite Mt. McKinley.
It just so happened that my son and I went up to Allied when they had their close-out sale. Besides getting some good deals on G-track, a cable car for my wife’s future garden layout and the last car for my COLA train, I also got a couple of pictures of the old store. Yes, it is said that there won’t be a train store in that building anymore, but the owner said he will make more money by leasing it than by running the train store.
That Southern Ps-something is a beauty, isn’t it? That engine was the sole reason I went to the Smithsonian the first time I was in D.C. some 30 years ago. It turned out I saw many more fascinating displays, but that engine will forever be in my memory. Nice book covers. I especially liked the 20th Century Limited.
Mike (wanswheel), Jack Delano! That was his name! Thanks. I really like your pictures of the Penn Station in NYC. Oh, how I wish I had visited New York a couple of years earlier. When I was there, it was just a big (very big) hole in the ground where the station had stood.
Pete (pwolfe), Nice photos, both from San Diego and Ireland. Keep them coming!
Campo is the locati
Good evening Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!
Leon, I think it is time for my Rumpsteak Café de Paris tonight! A col Tui would be nice, thank you!
First I want to wish James a Very Happy Birthday!!! I hope you have and had a great one!!
Since this day was unusually short (at least it feels like it was) I will just post some pictures tonight and come back with an inclusive post tomorrow (through the mail slot).
Thank you all for all well wishes I have recieved!! I feel almost "normal" again and Monday morning I will know how normal I am.
I received a few hundred railroad pictures on a CD from the old country. It was an old friend, a locomotive engeineer, who sent me those pictures. He is also kind enough to let me post the pictures here at the Bar and I decided to start with some pictures othe Swedish State Railways (SJ) Class Ra (built 1955-1961). It is an electric locomotive with a design of the streamlined front looking very much like GM's F-Series.
But first I'll show a picture of another electric, Class Du #109. The reason is the wooden body with a panel of teak, something Ron was interested in. I operated #109 a few times in the late 70's.
Next is the first picture of Class Ra in its original design 1955. The picture is from last year and shows it next to the ugliest train I know, a doubledecked Class X40 EMU.
This pictures shows Ra with a slightly different front, another type of headlights next to a Class X14 EMU.
A couple of pictures of Ra from inside the cab.
My friend and photographer Hans Polanik operating Ra #846.
Finally a picture of a Class F, a 4-6-2 steam locomotive pulling a special train during the Railroad's 150 Years Anniversary last year.
Photographer, all pictures (except one), Hans Polanik.
Eric
Hmmmm.......awfully quiet in here.
I hope that everybody's enjoying a great weekend and James a great !! The next round is on me mate.
pwolfe, marthastrainyard and EricX2000, great pics fellas, keep em coming....!
Oh well, back to scrubbing for missing James B-day....
Good Sunday to all, got the 0900-2100 shift on SUNDAY courtesy of my new Army two star commander. I'll deposit this short acknowledgement in the drop box, with any luck AWK won't defile it before opening on Monday I see Jan has the rounds, add my contribution to the mix. Howdy Tom and Sir Lars...
A belated to James, as usual when festivities are occuring I seem to be Awol, but it always pays to return from the legion of the lost.
Tom:
Got your piece on the PFE, hard to fathom what a massive operation this was in scope. If not for the truckers under cutting rates and Southern Pacific strong arming Union Pacific over interchange rates and car lease fees perhaps it would be a viable alternative today...
Marthastrainyard...
You are quite correct in your observation of the San Diego Depot, in the late fifties the enclosed, south end covered covered courtyard was demolished to make way for a parking lot, a decision Santa Fe later regretted.
Hard to believe such a small porition of the Sacramento General Shops remain, considering it occupied several hundered acres during the heyday of the SP, SP disposed of as much property as was fiesible during the recovery years to generate cash to stave off losing independence.
Pwolf:
Good to see around, need more photos of your vist to our not so fair state.......
Cm3
If you catch this, appreciate the Louisville Ky, depot information, perhaps we'll have a chance to meet, seeing how I might be relocating to the Danville area in the near future pending my Fort Knox assignment......
Jan, Eric and all I have failed to acknowledge, keep up the photos and conversation.
Dave
Ahoy Cap'n Tom ‘n fellow travelers waiting for the bar to open!
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh! I don't want ANYONE talking to me about the METS! Got it Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!
The only good thing about this day is I turned down a chance to see the game at Shea! Stayed home to suffer along with thousands of others on the tube.
Until the next time!
Lars
Greetings Tom and gentlemen....
Just passing by quickly as I forgot to put some $$$ in the cigar box and Mr Wurlitzer.... Sorry to hear about.......Da Larsman. Here, have a snifter, I always carry some in a wee bottle for emergencies like these....nice single malt you know.
See you around the corner...
Hmm, very dark here. Let's see if I can find the mail slot. Here, just push this straight down and then get out of here!
Sunday and the Bar is closed. At least it gave me some time to catch up what I missed this last week. A few of you asked about the X2000 cake. It tasted very good (I know) and was served at West Palm Spring, FL railroad station. I had a big piece of it!!
My X2000 Tour shirt is still hanging in my closet but I haven't used it for many years. I don't want to wash it too often, the colors are kind of fading away more and more after each wash. DL – Thanks for the link to the canal map! It worked just fine. I also looked at the map of the Harecastle Tunnel. That is a pretty detailed map. Tom – Thanks for the Tigrett link! I remember I asked about Tigrett before and read this same article then! My memory is very good, but very short!
Thanks for the SF article! I would say that picture showing when they fuel a train in Albuquerque is kind of classic. Nice NP ad about going to Alaska! Did NP ever have any tracks in Alaska? The Railroad Magazine looks like it was an interesting publication. I guess it is no longer around though. Nice covers!Ah, more Alaska pictures! Nice views from the dome car. That gorge looks pretty deep!New week, new movies! Even though I am not big on Hornblower I like the other flick, Broken Trail! And, of course, the Stooges! So i will reserve an evening at the Emporium Theatre this week! CM3 – When I took the picture of the Sage Creek trestle I was facing west. But I am not sure if the trestle is oriented east-west, I have a feeling it is more like north - south. Anyway, I was facing the direction for westbound trains. Lars – The Snakes won their division by losing to the Rockies! I think they are ready to take care of any other team now. Nice books about Missouri Pacific! I’ll go for the last one, Freight Train Services and Equipment! I have been taking care of “the problem” all week and feel much better now. We’ll see tomorrow how fit I am. The book cover of Southern Pacific Sacramento Division has a picture that must be Tom’s and Juneau’s favorite! All that snow! Wow! Fasteners to the mirror? What is going on? What mirror? Southern #1401 is a very good looking locomotive. I have seen it at the Smithsonian but for no reason at all I did not take any pictures of it. Ron – Buying a tractor!? I drove a Peterbuilt for some time when I worked as a truck driver. They are nice trucks! The fact is that AC-motors provides about twice the adhesion compared with DC- motors and they cost less to maintain. See this link for more info.http://www.republiclocomotive.com/ac_traction_vs_dc_traction.htmlPete – Class F #701 had a very moderate top speed, 84 mph (135 km/h). But it felt much faster going thru curves. You had to hold on to something not to be trown out of the chair. Nice to be able to have your bride as a photographer during your trips! She is certainly doing a gret job!One day I have to go to Kansas City Union Station and see that layout! Exactly what I would like to have in our house. I have been to San Diego a number of times but I’ve never heard of Old Poway Park! Seems to be an interesting place to visit. I’ll remember that for the next trip. But I have been to Balboa park including that great model railway! It is really a nice one with high mountains and nice bridges! Nice pictures from San Diego! Plus the ones from Ireland! The picture of the Class WT 2-6-4T seems to be from the UK. DL – Sunset Limited used to run via Phoenix but was rerouted when the track turned too bad. Amtrak asked the city for some money to fix the tracks but the city declined. Thanks for the trip report! It is always a problem when you have both passemger and freight trains running on a single track. Which one has the highest priority? JanOlov – As far as I know all DVDs from Pentrex are sold in the NTSC format only. They have some VHS tapes recorded in PAL. That boxed Combo DVD is also availble as a boxed set of
Speaking of "Stiff Breezes" I'll take a stiff one once I'm home thank you!
Good Morning All
Lars not the trip to be oboard my friend as we hobble home on one shaft. Unfortunately got one of those calls at 3am from the Chief Engineer saying we had blown the packing on our port shaft. So after a 150nm trip in we should be tied up about lunchtime (Salt Cod, Onions, Pork Scraps and boiled potato. It doesn't get much better!! I'm serious)
LoveDomes wrote: Southern #1401 at the Smithsonian
Southern #1401 at the Smithsonian
Lars I wish they'd make these in an affordable model as I would love to have one of them ride the M.E.S.S. rails. As far as the Canadian Loonie. It's a blessing and a curse as the maunfacturing sector will get hit but the buyer is already starting to see some benifits. I've been buying up Semaphore Signals on E-bay like there is no tomorrow this past week.
Pete: 35 is a stiff breeze but it is comfortable as opposed to say... 100+ kts. I've got a shortcut on desktop to NOAA Hurricane Centre.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959
If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007
<personal foto>
Special Note: I've been trying to get on the Forums for nearly three HOURS this day . . . tried both 'puters, with the same negative results. Got onto other sites, but NOT this one!!! <arrrrggggghhhh>
A smile to begin the week!
If you can't imitate him, don't copy him.
<A Yogi-ism!>
Guten Morgen allerseits!
Wie ist jeder? Es is OKTOBERFEST! Partei wollen wir!
Of course we'll be sticking to the same bill o' fare ‘round here for the mornings - so enjoy the freshly brewed coffee <unleaded> ‘n <regular> along with the pastries from The Mentor Village Baker! And yes, the <light> ‘n <traditional> breakfasts are on the Menu Board! Happy MONDAY!!
Heard from Fergie yesterday via Email . . . he says his ship was taking on water due to a failure of the packing in the shaft. Not good. However, they are in no immediate danger and are heading to port for repairs in calm seas at 3 knots. Just the luck for him in his position as Acting Skipper! <geesh>
Comments from the Proprietor:
OKTOBERFEST at "Our" Place begins Saturday, October 6th at Noon!
We will feature GERMAN brew all month!
GERMAN sausages will be added to the menu for the month, with all the trimmings!
On Saturday's in October The Mentor Village Teutonic Society will sponsor Oompah Music live at the "Our" Place picnic grounds Pavillion and Dance Emporium! Performers include the Sauerkraut Band, Electric Lederhosen and Burst the Wurst Trio
Lederhosen and Alpine hats will be worn by "Our Place"! staff throughout the month!
Full scale LGB trains will be running on the main lines for free round trips to Can-Am Gorge on weekends - 10 AM to 4 PM. First northbound departs the "Our" Place platform at 10 AM sharp, undt ve mean, sharp!
PLAN TO SHARE THIS FALL CELEBRATION WITH US!
Customer Acknowledgments (since my last narrative)
Saturday - Sep 29th:
Jan (JanOlov) at 11:28 & 11:46 AM & 3:30 PM: Appreciate the insights to your past . . . let's hear MORE!! Undoubtedly there are some "stories" just waiting to be told. After all, how many of us have had the experiences of working aboard trains!!??
Modern locomotive design appears to me to be fashioned after the "kiddie" cut out's where one cuts ‘n folds along the dotted lines. End result Pretty sterile in my-not-so-humble OH-PIN-YUN! <grrrrrrrr>
I see you too have "discovered" that http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/ is a "gold mine" for steam loco Pix.
Fine looking SP Daylight ad!! Now THAT's a sure "keeper"! ALCOs RULE!!
Once upon a time we had a guy who wudda commented on it . . . oh well, now relegated to the UTBs ‘n Legion of the Lost. RIP.
AMAZING what one can "pick up" when the WORDS are READ, eh
As always - rounds, cash ‘n cigars appreciated!
Lars (LoveDomes) at 11:31 AM: Feeling foggy is something that happens in life, Mate! It's the getting over it that I can no longer tolerate! <ugh> So, I take it you ‘n a buddy or two suffered through the Friday nite game at Shea Well, it's all over now ‘n what the heck - what's wrong with a nite out, eh
Nice work with that combo job of yours - mixing a steam loco with a book cover! Now that's innovation, Mate! 5- Salute to our Manager!
Ahoy Cap'n Tom ‘n fellow travelers at the bar!
Ruth my deAH, I've had much bettAH Monday mornings, but there is ONE thing to cheer me up ‘n it's the sight of YOU! <blush>
A round for the boyz - treats for the crittAHS - a small jar of PPF for Boris - a mugga Joe with a jolt for me ‘n the change is YOURS!
My JINTS surely made up for the feelings I had yesterday afternoon with the total collapse of my METS! Anyway, 12 sacks - now I've nevAH seen such a defensive performance - nevAH! They looked awesome over at the Meadowlands . . . two of my boys went to the game, whereas the other one was at Shea for the collapse. I had the chance to go to either - but opted out. The Mrs. was looking a bit <sad> - her mother isn't doing well . . .
All kinds of activity since my Saturday visit ‘n it's good to see. While the "gaps" between posts still seem to be longer than what we'd like, I have to say that in spite of the UTBs who we used to depend on so much, our Faithful Few are keeping us moving forward! Five- Salute to all who give a Rat's Patoot about Cap'n Tom's Place!
Hey Fergie! I can remember having sea water overtaking our pumps to where the freeboard was disappearing faster than the water coming in!! Thanks to Cap'n Tom's organization, we survived it due to the pumps dropped to us. One of the most harrowing nightmare evAH at sea . . . We really thought we were "goners" - and yes, it was the packing that gave way - single screw ship.
Best of good fortune to you ‘n your crew as you make your way to port . . .
Exchange rate is good for something I see! Buying "train stuff" - well, why not
Hey Jan! I'm forever amazed at what comes outta your head! We're not open on Sundays, mate . . . every post that Da Bossman puts up on Saturday has a header saying this - week after week after week. Good Grief Charlie Brown, aren't you seeing what we're seeing??? Missed B'day greetings too along with . . . . oh well, WhatRyaGonnaDo - can lead the horse to water, but ya can't make it drink! <geesh>
BUT, you have a way of making up for it with a keen sense of humor, some fine photos ‘n of course generous rounds, cigars ‘n money for the juke (Herr Wurlitzer)!
I see the brass is looking rather "spiffy" this morning!
Some nice material from ya, mate!
For Pete! What's THIS So that gal from up in Canada IS flying to St. Louis to meet with Da Boss who is going to get her to where you live AND all this while your Mrs. is out of town [?[ Slick, mate - slick. I'll not tell anyone - nope - you can count on the Larsman me boy! <grin>
Some fine photos from San Diego ‘n from your friend Alan who for whatever the reason will not make an appearance here. How hard would that be for him, I wonder? Meaning, does he have a ‘puter and if so, is he comfortable using it for online stuff? Some guys aren't.
By the way, didjaknow that an awful lot of your photos are not showing up on some pages of this thread and over at the "old" site too???? I was browsing around trying to come up with some "stuff" and noticed it the other day.
Liked that Berkley ferry photo ‘n especially the stack!
For Eric! Some mighty fine shots of those trains in Sweden! Funny how some guys have all kinds of things to bring back their careers in photos, whereas others don't. I can't recall one single picture of me in any engine room . . . .
Somewhere in my boxes of "stuff' stowed away in the basement are my Navy pictures - have lots of ‘em from my around the world cruise, but all either on deck or on liberty. None that I can recall from being on duty.
Keep taking things on a slow bell, mate - we want you back in full form!
Wait 'til NEXT YEAR! Good luck to your Reptiles . . . <groan>
For Per! One could spend a week at the Smithsonian and NOT see it all! Used to be one of my "must visit" places when traveling to our Capital city . . .
This "thing" about your citizenship application seems rather screwed up with you as the victim. Makes me angry to think of how things have gotten so messed up - we have millions of people in our country who shouldn't be here - don't belong here - and won't leave because we either don't want to find ‘em or can't. With you, I'm presuming you are a "straight arrow" with nothing to hide and most probably an asset to be added to the roles of citizenship. So what do they do? Make it nearly impossible for you. Arrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhhh.
Does anyone in Washington DC understand the word, "competence"????
Greetings Tom and fellow railroad hobos.....
May I please have an extra cold Guinness, top up with cigars for the lads? Here's something for yourself....
Puts some $$$$ in the cigar box and Mr Wurlitzer..
EricX2000, E-10 1742, great pic! I've been on her sister 1744. Nice and easy when they're oil fired don't you think...? The other steamer that worked on was E 905 and E-2 1182. Unfortunately I have not photos of them here....
Tom, I loved to work on "my" steamers, winter or summer. Sorry to say they're not as BIG as the US ones, but still, STEAM! The trip when we had our King with us in the middle of the winter. One of those perfect winter days with high blue skies and deep freshly fallen snow, snowplows came in hand on that trip. I enjoyed the trip back more though which was in darkness with a fullmoon.
Another trip which we did in the summer (Inlandsbanan which was I on, makes steam trips every now and then during the summer period) which were a tad bit more exciting.. The start in the morning with firing up and all that went well with no problems at all, pumps and everything working fine. We left the roundhouse, headed for the station, picked up our passengers and took off. Can't remember where we were going, the few hours there went as well as anyhting. Arriving at the destination we had a few hours of music and BBQ in nice sunshine. Anyhoo, when it was all done and dusted we started to make preparations for the trip back....more coal on the fire and water.
Halfway back we started to have a water leak between tender and locomotive, which made us stop a couple of times to try fix. The last time we stopped, we saw that we were going to be late, so we fixed it good as we could. Well, everything was going dandy until our airpump stopped working....banging our heads together we tried to figure out what to do. Luckily we had both our engines on this trip, me on 1182 and my bset friend on 905. As we tried to gain as much lost time as possible, we deiced to keep going. So, there I was going out through the door on the engineers side, work on the airpump to get it going, back inside to check on coal and water, out on my side hang on to the steps to check on the leak, back inside to check on coal and water and if neccesary put some more coal and water on, back out to the airpump to see if it still was working.... fives times I did this in 50+ Km/h. Needles to say, my best friend and his engineer wondered what the I was doing.
After a while our train started to slow dramatically. Hearing on the radio that my buddy was loosing steam due to a "gubbe" in the fire (don't know what they're called in US those piles you can get in the fire) because of the coal quality wasn't the best.
So there we were, he loosing steam, me with water leak and faulty airpump trying to make up lost time...., I had to pull the train and he break the same.... In the end we were only 10 or so minutes late getting back. Must have lost a stone or two on that trip.
As for the Sunday, I thought that people would take the chance to check up on stock....
http://www.inlandsbanan.se/eng/index.php
See you around the corner....
Just edited some mistakes and there was Da Larsman, with EIGHT pics....what happened with the six rule friend of order might ask??
Great pics none the less mate! Have a dram on me.....
Yes Peter, Per and Eric I do know how to live a precarious life. But I also know how far I can push the Mrs without getting into the deep end. BTW my pick won yesterday
Go Cleveland GO!!!
Yes that was my suicide pool pick... Ya I know... Why? I picked the wrong team and it was too late once I realized I made a mistake.
Anyway I must run
Later All
Fergie
Tried to drop this earlier but as Tom said the server musta taken on water. Anyway We made it to the dock and are now safe and sound and the sweat is off my brow... Hate days like this!
Greetings Tom and fellow beer and other alcohol connoisseurs....
I think that it's time for a refill for me and the boys. So, one extra cold Guinness, top up with cigars for the lads.....and something for yourself, please.
$$$$ for the cigar box and Mr Wurlitzer....
Fergie, I was shopping for a really nice 1921-23 CMStP&P RR lantern on ebay, unfortunately I didn't win...... Oh well, just keep looking I guess.
G'day Gents!
An interesting morning at the Tavern by the Tracks! We've got Jan trying to "nail" Lars - we've got Fergie making it back to safe haven BUT editing his Post thereby skewing everyone else's!! - we've got Lars providing his "foursome" that equals eight, which is less than six AND we haven't heard from CM3 Shane <yet>
Here's my offering for the day - unsure about making it back later on.
Now Arriving on Track #1
Six Pack Special Number Four
RR advertisements from the Classic Era
Rock Island Line
Kansas City Southern
Missouri Pacific
Southern Pacific
Great Northern
Advance Zephyrs
Enjoy!
Tom
Good Afternoon Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox. Just a quick one to let you know that we survived our trip to Ohio County (Yes, Boris it is in WV). I got hit with a project as soon as I walked in this a.m., but will definitely read through material and post tomorrow. Just a couple of comments for now, however.
Lars - I feel your pain, but you'll always have Mookie and Buckner. Didn't the Jints do "good" yesterday?
OSP - I rec'd your e-mail and responeded - the research dept. is pondering the problem even as we speak.
James - Happy birthday, lad!
Talk to y'all tomorrow. Go Sox!
Work safe
Greetings Tom and fellowship of the turntable....
Tom, a foursome that's eight which equals four that's less than six???? I suddenly developed a headache here and need to lie down for a while..... Well, God loves a trier..... "Think of other ways to come up with a plot....."
Great ads mate!
Let's see.....1, 2, 3, 4, 5 which is less than six....good. Can I carry one over to tomorrow??
Credit: Allposters....
See you around the corner.....
A pint of Bathams please RUTH.
PER Thanks for the link to the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum at Campo. It looks well worth a visit and a ride with a good collection of locomotives. Do you know if they use a steam locomotive very often on the excursions, it seems they mainly use a diesel.
Glad you are enjoying the photos. Thanks for the old photo postcard of Horna station. It is fortunate that since the invention of the camera, that the railways have attracted photographers, even though they may not have had an interest in trains. I think those old sepia photos and postcards are great
ERIC Real glad you are feeling back to normal again.
It seems, like me, you have a friend in the old country sending great photos. As we have talked about at the bar, there are not many modern locomotives and railcars that have the style of the older locos, that really shows up when the two forms are shown alongside each other as in the photo of the Ra and the modern unit.
Can you pass on my thanks to HANS for letting us see those great photos at the bar.
Thanks for the interesting link to the AC versus DC traction motors, it make one wonder why some railroads are still having Dc motors on their new locomotives.
84 mph is not bad at all for #701.
I will pass on your kind words to the bride. I have some pics of the model railway at Balboa Park for Wednesday, hopefully.
A link to the railroad at Poway Park.
http://www.powaymidlandrr.org/default.htm
Yes the WT 2-6-4 tank locomotive was built in England. The Northern Counties Committee of Northern Ireland was owned by the LMS. The WTs were built in Derby England in 1946/7 based on a LMS 2-6-4 designs, to me looking more like a Fowler than Stanier design. One main difference is that the WTs had 6ft driving wheels as opposed to the English tanks that had 5' 9" drivers.
DAVE Great to see you in the bar.
Thanks for the info on the Santa Fe San Diego station. The Sacramento Locomotive Works building that is still standing looks a good size, is there a plan of the works when it was intact about, do you know.
I have some more photos of our visit to show, some of the museum in Sacramento and the line at Jamestown. The bride and I really enjoyed our visit to your fair state.
FERGIE. Real glad you made it safely back in harbor, by Tom's post, you had calm seas on the way back in. Perhaps a few Keith's tonight and treat yourself to that Southern model.
LARS Sorry to hear your wife's mother is not doing very well.
Thanks for the kind words.
I don't think Alan spends much time on the computer now and he is away again at the minute. I think you and he would get on well. He was a commissioning engineer for the company he worked for and this included some ships drives.
I think the photos that are missing are when I cleared out my Photobucket by mistake quite a while back; luckily I still have the photos in an album (I hope)
Perhaps you were moving about the engine room so fast that they could not get your photo. They were going to take my photo at work but said they did not want a ‘still life'.
Many thanks for the ‘Mix n Match' photos and book covers works very well.
Of course back in the Penthouse again, never did find out your ‘Secret Place'. Hope the mirror is well secured.
JAN Many thanks for the great description of your trip with No 1182. It must be hard enough to be a fireman on a steam locomotive when things are going OK, but when you run in to those sorts of problems it must be doubly hard.
Thanks for sharing.
Great selection of Milwaukee Road posters
CM3 Sorry you got hit with a project as soon as you got to work this morning
Leon, drinks all round please, seeing it`s Oktoberfest time how about a Hakkebeck[from Bremen] my favourite brew when stationed in Germany?[Way back when!]. And how about a Liverwurst sandwich and some Brokwurst to go?
Tom. Please apologise to Cindy for me, I sure was lucky not to get "Tweeted" for that! What with the double shot for James as well! I am now up to speed with time managment and am following your suggestions. Enjoyed your six pack, flicks, pics, the Alaska pics were great. The Newcastle football team got the name Magpies from their black and white playing gear. Their is a write up about them at,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcastle_United_FC
Pete. Enjoying all the story and photo`s of your trip, San Diego station looks great. Their is a site for Newcastle "Broon" Ale at,
http://www.newcastlebrown.com/home/
Did I mention they used to call it "Journey into Space"?
Eric. Nice to see you getting back to your old self again, a great crop of photo`s from your friend Hans, give him a big thank you from me.
Per. Geordies are native`s of Tyneside, north east england, their is a good write up about them in,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geordie
Tui beer is named after a NZ native bird, they have a Tui Brewery site at,
http://www.tui.co.nz/index.asp
The girls will give you a guided tour of the premises.
Lars. I am not going to mention the "????" at all mate! Hope your wife`s mother is on the improve? A great selection of book covers and steam photo`s on your posts.
Jan. Enjoying all your steam photo`s, you and Lars have a bit of a competition going on there, keep it up! Their is a bit about how the "Pacific" type came about at,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4-6-2
It has some very interesting info.
Fergie. Good to see you got back to port OK mate.
Dave. Good to see you on board again.
James. Remember that I owe you that "Double shot" when you reach your legal majority mate.
Hav`nt seen Dan or Ron for a while.
G-day Tom and all present!!
Leon- Make an OJ and a turkey sandwich. Thanks. Keep the change.
I would like to tahnk everyone for wishing me a happy Birthday. It was a good one. I picked up a Milwaukee Road GP40, some detail parts and a couple of truck trailers marked for the Milwaukee Road. I also got a lot of painting supplies. It was a good one. I will have pics tomorrow. I still have to take a couple of shots of the loco.
Tom- I would first like to say thanks. I would also like to say sorry for not being there on Saturday. We partied until midnight (family and I) and I was quite tired when we came home. It was enjoyable.
I would have to think that, that has to be one of the most impressive mountains... well, Volcano. It is very cool. Lots of neats photos. Those shots from the dome car of the other passenger train coming at you was pretty cool. I still find it a little unusual to see SD70Ms leading those trains. It's a little weird to see that, but cool in every sence.
I'm already a step ahead of you. When it comes down to inventoring my stuff, I have it down twice. One on notebook and I am going to be working putting it on the computer. I wrote down what manufacturer, the number of the locomotive and on the box, when I got it, and where. So I have it down double time. But I pretty much know my locos. Pretty much the only reason I have it, is so I don't go and buy one of the same locomotives with the same number.... That stinks. I usually bring it to train shows. It comes in pretty handy.
I have to say. The Emporium has a very good movie showing. One I have enjoyed for quite a while. Horatio Hornblower was one of the best naval movies I have seen. A great movie about the fighting of the French revolution. I highly recommend the movie.
The month of October is always a fun one. Especially with all of the events that go on here at the bar. I am certainly going to take one of those train rides to CanAm gorge. That should be fun.
Jan- Looks like Tom got to you... He certainly reminded you of something significant.. But you got around to it and I thank you!!
Yes sir, I have to say Mr. Scribbins did a nice job on that Book. Thats were most of that information came from. Infact, that book is his oldest. I have a very good friend by the name of Patrick Dorin (probably know him with all of the books he has written) who knows Jim. He is an exceptionally good writer. I do enjoy reading his books. I'm not sure how well the SP did on its passenger trains. That's a question for our man Dave. But the Milwaukee Road was the most successful train in the northern part of the states. The Twin Cities Hiawatha being the most popular. And yes, it did bring in some serious money!!!!
A latern!!!!! And one from the Milwaukee Road.... So why was I not notified!!! When it comes to the Milwaukee Road.... well you get the idea. Do mind telling what it went for?
Nice posters. The Olympian Hiawatha was one great looking train, but a little odd. Not all of the trains were stream lined. Some of the train consisted of Heavy weight cars. One that I know of had a Neavy weight diner and a business car, and a bunch of heavy weight head end cars. With stream lined mixed in with them. But the locomotives in charge of this train were some of the most stylish. The FM Erie Builts handling the trains most of the way and Bipolars handeling it in the electrified territories. It was quite the passenger train. One to definently be admired.
Lars- I apprciate you wishing me a happy B-day. It means a lot. Good material on the Southern, NYC, B&O railways. Especially that bueatiful Southern steam locomotive. I believe (If my memory serves me correctly) Doug introduced that picture to us. I wish he would come back. <sigh> Nicely done. Thanks for sharing.
Over the last few days, you have given some good steam material. A lot of great steam engines have come along. Maybe we could get one running on the mainline out side the bar here... It's a dream.. Good job on the pics... ummm ya, what Tom had said. the foursome that equals eight but is less than six!!!
Pete- Thanks for remembering my B-day. I enjoyed looking at the pics of the boats. Some really great looking old timers out there. I like the steam boat with the SP logo on there. Some classic stuff fer sure!!! Also thanks for the pics of the great little steam locos. Those little guys are pretty neat looking. I would certainly like to see one of those chugging down the tracks. Thanks for sharing.
Also, Thanks for the link to the Midland railroad. It reminded me of the Midland Continental that was based out of Ja
Good morning Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!
Leon, just a plain ham sandwich, please! Sugar cured ham! And coffee!
I passed my test at the rehab today. My heart is doing fine. It feels fine. More to read today than I expected!
Fergie – Hope your trip back to port goes well! Glad to learn you know how far you can push your Mrs! But you better be careful!Tom – Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Jawohl, jeder Oktober! I think I’ve forgotten most of my German though. Haven’t used it for so many years. But I still understand it when I read it! I know how you can take care of the loooong winters if you move to Alaska. Become a Snowbird and travel to Arizona every October! Return in April/May! A lot of people from Alaska is doing that every winter. I’ll tell Hans that you liked his photos (more are coming). He is also a very advanced model builder. Building locomotives from scratch, very detailed! I think Boris need to go to a refreshment class to improve his Swedish. I’ll see what pictures I have of the ugly EMU. Poway 25 miles outside San Diego? That explains it. I’ll have to look it up on the map. Thanks for the link!Nice, old fashion, ads! I think I like the Southern Belle the best!Lars – The only pictures of me actually operating locomotives are pictures from some newspapers and magazines. Plus one that was used by ABB in one of their worldwide ads. And I never took many photos at work. I should have taken many, many more. Thanks for the book covers and photos of good looking locomotives! I especially like MP #1716! Built by Brooks 1917 and retired 1953. I hope the Snakes will beat Chicago Cubs!JanOlov – You have to tell us more about your career as a fireman on different locomotives! I’ll see if I may have any pictures of #1182 and #905.Nice Hiawathas ads! Too bad it is too late to take a ride on one of them. Pete – I agree, that Class X40 is so ugly it is almost unbelievable. But I guess it is the same when it comes to modern cars. They get uglier for each year. I also have some pictures of that model railroad in Balboa Park. But I took them many years ago, in the 80’s, so I have to find them first. Thanks for the link to Poway Park! I’ll be happy to pass on your thanks to Hans!Nice pictures from San Diego! I have been driving by the Santa Fe station a few times but never been inside.Allan – I’ll pass on your thanks to Hans! James – The steering wheel is not a steering wheel. It is exactly what you think it is, a throttle of sort. The more you turn it clockwise, the more power you’ll get.
A Class T21, diesel-hydraulic switcher.
Greetings Tom Hood and all you merry men....
Could I trouble you for an extra cold Guinness, top up for the lads with cigars please? Here's something for yourself as well.....
Puts some $$$$ in the cigar box and Mr Wurlitzer.....
pwolfe, you're welcome mate. Even though our steamers are waaayyyy smaller than the ones that you find in the US, they're still good fun.
That is some awesome pics on the San Diego station. WOW! Back then they really knew how to design, well....stuff.
Gunneral, me and Da Larsman? Competing? Not at all, nothing of the sort....(darn...spotted) The railroad business is serious stuff....we do not take part in that kind of unsafe and highly inapropiate business.... Why does suddenly NYC and PRR suddenly pop up in my mind..?
CMSTPP, I've got the book Milwaukee East by Mr Dorin and I enjoy his way of writing as much as Mr Scribbins . Gonna look and see what other books he has done...
Don't mind at all telling what it went for..... $51.51. Here's a link, I hope: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=330169160770&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=014
This with Milwaukee Road......well, I think that you know what I'm talking about.... For the moment I'm following a NYNH&H and a GM&O lantern to see if I have better luck this time. I couldn't agree more about the Olympian Hiawatha, that must have been SOME train. The Olympian wasn't that bad either if I remember correctly . If the Pioneer Limited was the Rolls Royce as it says in "Some Classic Trains" then Olympian/Olympian Hiawatha must have been the Duesenberg.
Please forward Mr Dorin my very best the next that you meet him. That goes for Mr Scribbins as well. My "Hiawatha Story" Is signed by him, something that I just recently noticed....I know,
EricX2000, I hope that you'll have better luck than me Eric. My dad as you already know from that "other" forum that you're member of has all the pics from the trips....
Nice picture of the T-21, I drove one of those once, a very shakey experience you could say.... I'd love to take a ride in one of the Olympians or Olympian Hiawathas as well, as you put it, it's shame that they're not with us anymore.
Credit: Wikipedia and THE_IDE_VIRTUAL_DESIGN_MUSEUM
Yeah, it's Tuesday 'n some things never change! Coffee 'n pastries are ready! Breakfasts can be ordered too!
Monday - Oct 1st:
Lars (LoveDomes) at 9:19 AM: Old dependable comes through once again - what is this, your umpteenth consecutive day at the bar
So has the pain subsided sufficiently to where there's some objectivity to be had in the discussion of what went wrong with the Mets this year Hey - think about we Cardinals fans - defending World Champs looked like World Chumps. Such is life in the thrilling world of pro-sports . . . Anyway, you at least have a "fooooooball" team over in the Meadowlands that put together one hulluva defensive effort Sunday night. Our "Lambs," in case you haven't noticed, are OH ‘n FOUR! We're "thinking" hockey about this time of year in mid-continent USA! <grin>
Many thanx for the continuing "series" of your books ‘n steam locos. Those require quite a bit of effort to retrieve, download, etc. Only those of us who "do" these things understand the process . . . <tedium>
Regarding your experiences at sea - anytime one is taking on water at a rate whereby sinking becomes more the reality than not - well, it surely can ruin one's day! Glad the Coasties came to your assistance with those pumps. Our air "arm" is a "Johnny on the spot" outfit and has been for as long as I can remember. Hurricane Katrina was but one example of the fine work those crews ‘n pilots do - daily.
Anyway, one of the ships I was assigned to also experienced an episode whereby water was coming in through a place where it shouldn't have. Stern tube problems (aka: hemorrhoid at sea) can ‘n do cause much anxiety, especially in water that's a bit deeper than the Empire State Building is tall! <ooooooooooops) Thanx to the efforts of our engineering ‘n damage control people, we were able to stop the flow, get the problem neutralized ‘n complete our mission without having to return to port. The latter was questioned "heatedily" by the "mess deck experts" <grin> I'm here to report that we all lived through it to fight another day . . . . <phew>
Now to something much more SERIOUS: So, let me get this straight: Jan says you're exceeding the 6 Pix limit, whereas you say since your submissions are two to a set, you're really at 4, not 8 which of course is less than 6 (the 4 that is) but could be more, if looking at the 8. <huh>
Boris, give me that bottle of JD ‘n throw the stopper away!! <geesh>
Thanx for the continuing support ‘n of course the round, Pix ‘n covers!
Jan (JanOlov) at 9:43 AM & 12:50 PM: Now you've figured it out, Mate - some fine ‘story telling" that not only is of interest to the guys at this Tavern by the Tracks, but also provides a bit of insight into the guy who resides in Scotland, but calls Sweden home ‘n knows more about U.S. railroads than most of us, ‘n has a hard time figuring out the "new math - Lars style"!! <grin> Seriously, I enjoyed the accounting of your experiences in the cab - surely an element of danger, along with chance ‘n perhaps a bit of humor thrown in. Nicely done!! []tup] That chilled bottle of Vodka over there is for YOU!
Some fine looking Posters too, I should add. I've got some of them in my archives - but I'll tell ya this - depending on which sites you've found them on, some have "copyright" restrictions, whereas others do not. It's a "thing" with the internet ‘n far too "bollixed up" for me to sort out - anyway, just be careful . . .
Appreciate the visits - rounds, cash ‘n smokes!
Fergie (Fergmiester) at 11:07 AM: Most relieved to learn that you made it back to port safely. Now to get the ship repaired, figure out "why - what ‘n how" - then get ‘er back to sea!
My guess is that you've got far more on your mind than providing us with some Pix of your layout for this Wednesday's OPTIONAL Toy ‘n Model Trains Day! at the bar - HOWEVER - we'll be watching for future opportunities!!
By the by, somewhere in my collection of Model RR magazines I KNOW that the Southern's beautiful green steamer "lives." I believe Bachmann may have put that out in a lucite protective case as one of their collector's items a few years back . . . Anyway, she's a beauty - saw it a couple of times when in WashDC. <sweet>
Go Cleveland, Go - eh Well, IF you've ever been to Cleveland - you'd wanna "go" too - away, that is! <grin>
Thanx for stopping by - twice!!
CM3 Shane (coalminer3) at 12:28 PM: All's right with the world as our WVA Connection has returned to the bar! With a round for the house ‘n quarters for Herr Wurlitzer's Coal Scuttle, what more can we ask of the man
I think that I'll have a cup of black Java if you don't mind please....top the boys up as well please and a cigar to go with it.... Here's for you $$.
Tom, well you know me by now.....a bit of a slow starter you could say. I thank you kindly for the Vodka and the kind words . I can tell that you know good quality when you see it, the Vodka that is.....
......poors some up of for the lads......
I feel that I have to return the favor for running this great show of yours....got a bottle for Da Larsman as well for putting up with my wee "derailments"....
The more I visit this place of ours (yours) the more I like it, the atmosphere and the people. But beware, I'll probably come up with another frog or two in the future, I promise that they'll be small though But just for such an occasion I've bought a state of the art electric toothbrush to help me with my brass etc. polishing ....
No names, but here's to you all..... Slainte Mhor!
May the best you've ever seenBe the worst you'll ever see;May a moose ne'er leave yer girnalWi' a teardrop in his e'e.May ye aye keep hale and heartyTill ye're auld enough tae dee,May ye aye be just as happyAs I wish ye aye tae be.
Ruth my deAH, just a mugga Joe with a <double> jolt if you please! Boris, feed the gang - a round for the house ‘n the change is for you, my deAH!
Sorry to report that things on the home front aren't going as well as we had hoped. Grandma is hospitalized ‘n then if she pulls through, she'll require constant care. The Mrs. is preparing "her room" right now, almost as if she's "willing" it to be.
One thing about the old gal - she has put up a valient fight for such a long time that has all involved in awe of her will to carry on. Almost as if there'are no problems. Unbelievable, simply unbelievable. Anyway, she'll be giving up her apartment ‘n returning here for "hospice care." At least that's the plan . . .
So, if I'm "scarce" for awhile, you'll know why.
The Mrs. says "thanks" for your well wishes! She thinks you are a bunch of "nice boys" - ohhhhhhhhhh man, IF she only KNEW!!
On happier notes - I watched the Patriots destroy the Bengals last night while "flipping back ‘n forth" to the Padres-Rockies game.
That was some thrilling baseball game, huh The guy DID NOT touch the plate!! Had that been a Mets game the headlines wudda said, "We wuz robbed!!" Oh the pain . . . <groan>
Some fine posts I see, but an awfully long "silence" during the afternoon. Good to see the boyz come through in the evening!
Pleased to know that our friend Fergie has made it safely back to port . . .
Sorry, guyz - but I gotta cut this short . . .
Have some pre-prepared "stuff" to keep you enthralled! The Larsman-Mobile has arrived!
Western Pacific Color Pictorial - Vol One (book)
Western Pacific Locomotives & Cars (book)
Wabash Trackside 1954-1974 (book)
Spokane, Seattle & Portland Rwy - The Northwest's Own Railway (book)
The Sunset Limited - SP's Premiere Train with a Southern Accent (book)
Soo Line - From Michigan to Montana (book)
Ruth, I'll try to get back here in time for your break . . . can't let that <ahem> admin "stuff" pile up . . . <grin>
As promised a picture of my baby
She has 4 ALCOs and has several sets of train wheels up foward??? (Anchors for our deep sea moorings )
Ship Update: Earliest we can get to a drydock is October 27th But... divers are down sealing off the tubes in hopes we can take the internal covers off the shafts and repack the stern tubes. Fingers crossed all!!!
Eric: I have a thick hide, wide shoulders and calluses to provide plenty of protection.
Anyway it's
Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please (Let's see, New England Coffee has a good one called "San Francisco Blend" - let's have some of that; round for the house and $ for the jukebox.
Let's see what's happening.
Lars sent lots of materials and sports commentary. Nice MP items. The PFE book is excellent. Appalachian Crossing is a good one. I was fortunate to share a program with Gene Huddleston one time. He truly "was there," and it was a pleasure to be on the same platform with him. If you can find it, dig up a copy of C&O Power - he has some very evocative writing about C&O in the late 40s, early 50s. BTW, look what the switcher is handling on the cover picture of the RF&P book. Also have the Atlantic and Danville volume - it's a good one as well. One last thought on the baseball. To paraphrase a line from the movie ‘Battle of Britain," It should NEVAH repeat NEVAH have to come down to one game in September. Just the same as a whole season should not rest on a !@#$-poor call by an umpire in extra innings. It's totally bogus! Unhand me, Boris, I'm done!
Eric - Steady, lad. Thanks for sharing all of the pictures. Is that truly a 4-8-0T or is the angle of the photograph?
Dave - Good to hear from you; Danville, VA or Danville, KY? Knox is not all that far from this part of WV.
DL provided a neat trip report - thank you.
James has been providing commentary as well.
Pete sent more travel summaries and pictures. RE your question, head end helper generally goes on the point. However, the practice varies depending on operational concerns.
Fergie - Got an extra plate handy? Glad you made it back. One of our instructors in the class I attended last week is from Newfoundland so I got a chance to hear some about that part of the world. She had to fly back to Deer Lake.
Per - Jack Delano did the ATSF color picture. Also, New Hampshire is another state where you can water and snow ski if you wish.
Jan sent many photos. The prettiest 4-6-0s, IMHO, belonged to the SP&S although the NYC had some nice looking ones that ran on the "Put." ATSF "scout" was, IIRC, an all-coach train. The Erie engine in your picture is a 2-8-2, not a 4-6-2 (the extra driver always seems to hide from the camera - LOL) - picture was taken at Salamanca, NY. Fused pieces of coal in the firebox are called "clinkers." They are also referred to by a lot of politically incorrect terms which would, for sure, get us shot off the air. Enjoyed the MILW pictures and the designer plans for cars and car interiors.
Mike sent pictures. Another Delano shot with some beautiful freight cars. Less said about Penn Station, the better!
OSP - Trains 48 and 49 are the "Lakeshore" operating between NY and Chicago - that's why I was fussing re the diners. They had a Heritage diner on the last time I rode which had been r/b - it was a beautiful car (yes Boris, it was originally from the California Zephyr). NP Alaska poster was outstanding! Also liked the "Golden State" offering.
The picture of the Second Class was a little confusing. Then it hit me, no barbed wire, catapults, old cars, craters, and - the trees had greenery. Sorry folks, you had to be at the last darts tournament.
BTW, I got a call from the Intrepid Reporter who is still rusticating high atop Majestic Mount Mentor. He asked me to find out who was on the team(s) this year, and what was up with the shirt designs. As he told me, "Gotta have the background to make the coverage work." I asked him why he hadn't been seen lately and he gave a cryptic reply about owls eating the cogs on the cog railway. Then the line went dead. Man, you never know what you'll hear when you talk to that guy. Between us, I think his imagination gets the best of him sometimes. What's that Frostbite? I said imagination, not medication.
Now we are dealing with Oktoberfest. Does this involve overflights of aircraft with fire retardant? Not the same w/o the Zeppelin although I hear it may be brought back into service for the tournament.
Last, but not least, good selection of movies. I'll be over there soon.
Here's a little something you might enjoy:
A blind man wanders into an all girls biker bar by mistake.He finds his way to a bar stool and orders some coffee. After sitting there for awhile, he yells to the bartender, "Hey, you wanna hear a blonde joke?"The bar immediately falls absolutely silent. In a very deep, husky voice, the woman next to him says,"Before you tell that joke, Sir, I think it is only fair -- given that you are blind -- that you should know five things: 1 The bartender is a blonde girl with a baseball bat.2. The bouncer is a blonde girl.3. I'm a 6 foot tall, 175 lb. blonde woman with a black belt in karate.4. The woman sitting next to me is blonde and a professional weightlifter. 5. The lady to your right is blonde and a professional wrestler.Now, think about it seriously, Mister. Do you still wanna tell that joke?"The blind man thinks for a second, shakes his head, and mutters, "No... Not if I'm gonna have to explain it five times."
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