<"Our" Place Christmas Holiday Train>
Friday's Grin
Variation Law: If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will start to move faster than the one you are in now.
G'day Gents!
Yeah buddy! It's Friday ‘n that means a couple of days OFF for <many> ‘round here. Before heading off to the grind, check out the pastries in The Mentor Village Bakery case - the offerings on our Menu Board for <light> ‘n <traditional> breakfasts, ‘n of course the freshly ground ‘n brewed coffee in the urns <regular> ‘n <unleaded>!
Comments from the Proprietor:
Seeing how it's Friday, it's time for a few contributions to the "Our" Place Warehouse of Wondrous Forgotten Technologies and Skills. (WWFTS)! <grin>
78 rpm records! <uuuuuuuuh, what's "rpm" ‘n whats "records"
. . . Tuning "eyes" on radios.
. . . . . . Galoshes with metal "clasps."
. . . . . . . . . Skate keys.
Customer Acknowledgments (since my last narrative)
Wednesday - Dec 12th:
Sven (Sven Olov) at 9:29 AM: You did it! Your WP prepared submission "made it" just fine.
Lars is correct - we did in fact discuss St. Lucia Day back on Nov 30th, Page 147 by Eric - Moi ‘n Lars . . . BUT thanx for the input!
Lars (LoveDomes) at 1:14 PM: It surely gets exasperating to try, try ‘n try again <to no avail> in order to get to this place. <ugh> Greatly appreciate your visit ‘n not to worry - we'll keep things going ‘til those Gremlins find greener pastures!
Rob (trolleyboy) at 2:34 PM ‘n 2:59 PM: A couple of visits from our Resident Ontario Connection, who seems to be "back in the saddle again" <Roy Rogers!>.
A good read <again> on the Booze Line material.
With Wolfman being away ‘til Monday - ANY help ‘round here is a definite PLUS. He's been a mid-late afternoon arrival . . .
Pete (pwolfe) at 4:21 PM: A fine elaboration on MAGLEV in the UK. Always good to have first-hand info rather than the anecdotal . . . or some error-laden internet sources.
A "qualifier" to a return trip to ExpoRail with you - leave the "black bag" in the trunk of the car!
A fine link to the Foxfield Railway - nice bar!
And for more fotos from Alan!
Sven (Sven Olov) at 7:31 PM: A getting-to-know you better infusion from our newly arrived Swede from ‘somewhere' in the U.S. But WAIT! You mentioned the Twin Cities - so may we presume you are in Minneapolis-St. Paul Perhaps we can refer to you as our Resident Twin Cities Swede! Does that "work" for you
Ahoy Cap'n Tom ‘n fellow travelers at the bar!!
Ruth my deAH, finally back at the bar without difficulty! Yesterday was a nightmare. Anyway, good to see your beautiful ‘n smiling face - makes a man happy to be alive! <blush>
A round for da boyz - treats for da crittAHs - PPF for Boris ‘n the change is YOURS!
Good to see some activity again from Pete - Sven - Rob ‘n Eric! Sorry to learn that our Swede in the sandbox (Eric) is still having bouts of discomfort. Too bad your episode may have interfered with any celebration of the "holiday." <groan>
Sven - it isn't difficult to recognize who Da Bossman is! He's the guy keeping this site moving forward! He's siberiamo (Tom) . . .
Note to the IRREGULARS - it's TIME for youse guyz to step up to the plate! We're really in need of an infusion of some support. So where in is PER (marthastrainyard) - Dan (DL-UK) - ‘n a couple of others who've pretty much disappeared on us ovAH time
WANTED: REGULARS at the bAH!
Let me get straight to the covAHs for this day . . . then I'm OFF ‘n runnin' - really on a tight one!
Ok - here's my NEW book covAH selection from the Larsman Mobile . . . enjoy you precious few!
Grand Central Terminal - New York City
Chicago Union Station
Union Pacific & Omaha Union Station
Railroad Depots of Minnesota
Railroad Depots of North & South Dakota
Until the next time!
Lars
Good Afternoon Capt Tom and Crew
It's a very cold and bitter December day so better fill the Thermos with the full "Harbour Package" and don't spare the anti freeze!!!
Might as well top up on stores as well so I'll have the Fish Cakes, Baked Beans, Hash Browns and a couple of Sunny Sides! Please and thanks~
Sven wrote: Fergie, Thank for the advise. I read the first page with the rules. Are there any fine print rules too hidden somewhere? I'll try not to burp too loud at the bar.Ruth, delicous Belgian Waffles. Awk and I enjoyed them immensley. I will be bacK. If Fergie do not think I misbehave, and bounces me at the door.
Fergie, Thank for the advise. I read the first page with the rules. Are there any fine print rules too hidden somewhere? I'll try not to burp too loud at the bar.
Ruth, delicous Belgian Waffles. Awk and I enjoyed them immensley. I will be bacK. If Fergie do not think I misbehave, and bounces me at the door.
Burping? was there a rule against that? I hope not as I would have been tweeted continually! Gawd No there's a contest in the making there
And No I do not bounce for this establishment, Heck I keep the bouncers gainfully employed.
Anyway they are calling for a wicked Nor'Easteron Sunday so ye it's good to be dockside.
Lars: Read your comment regarding Christmas Cards... Unfortunately I am an "offender in that regard As I was never one to get round to it or have the ability to sit down and do it. I have to say thios is one year that if I was doing it the time would not be available as I am way behind the ! Normally i am the "Tim Allan" of the street when it comes to decorating the house and it is normally done by the end of November. No such luck! I wan't suppose to make the November trip but it was "suggested" that it would be in my best interests to do the trip and hone my "command skills". So here I be! Yes a learning curve it was and no I don't regret it.
Peter: I stay dry when I'm at sea in other words "Not a dram will touch these mine lips while we are away from the wharf". Come on Wednesday and Crew Change.
Anyway we are hauling apart one of our ALCOs for inspection and refit so I will try o get a few pics if anyone is interested.
Well thanks for the scoff
later all
Fergie
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
Good afternoon Ruth , hey who dragged all this seaweed in here well at least Boris seems interested in it ( the only greens he eats ) It's still a chilly one sooo I think a BK splashed coffee and an Irish coffee for a chaser.
Eric-Sorry to hear that you had another relapse, I'm guessing that january can't come fast enough.Yes that Niagara Falls airshow has been a yearly event for teh last three or four years.To make a long story short, the guy that owns the airstrip ( private grass field for small aircraft )used to work for one of the "big" media outfits,he had some work he was working on missapropriated or unpaid for or some such and recieved a handsome re large out of court settlement,therefore being the plane nut he was he's slowley amased his collection.On the upside he has all the right people on the payroll helping him to preserve his collection and maintain it, he's also learning how to fly them under proper supervision of coarse.
He has kept good relations with various other warbird types and every years gets others to come down with their aricraft as well,which is a great thing
Thanks for the editional info on the Lokomoters and the picture, I see that the wto of you are on the same wavelength. It's amazing howmany Swede's have resettled over here, mind you if Sven's in the twin cities then at least he has embraced the northern climes more than yourself.Snow and cold man it's a good thing
Tom-Hey boss , yup I heard the drivel outta the MLB offices or orifices depending on your slant.A truer pile of stinky garbage I have not heard. One thought I had however,maybe they should allow all performance enhancing drugs to make it a level playing field, perhaps reverse pshycology is the best way to attack it.If everyone's on it and they all can perform superhuman feats, then they may decide that actually doing it the old way might be better, just a thought.
I'm game if you are ( exporail ) a suggestion would be ensure that Pete leaves the black bag at home. Maybe we can buy him a suitable replacement that's pink or somethingI'm glad that you can speak fench , I was actuallyu figuring that you could translate Pete for me as opposed to the natives, seeing as how you know him and spent more time with him than myself
Lars- Ah yes in and ut with a flash and a flourish, and some mighty nifty book covah's
Fergie-Nice to know I'm not the only one who did not get the decorations up on the outside this year. Mind you sure fired lazyness is what kept me from doing itGood to knwo I suppose that you don't need to venture forth into this comming storm.Pics of teh engine rebuild would be wunnerfull if you are able. just tell you guys didn't rip it out of some poor unsuspecting locomotive though
Rob
Well Ruthy I think a quick top up of the Irish coffee is in order, I can just about feel my toes again, which is a good thing. Here'sa bit of afternoon nap time reading for everybody.
CLASSIC JUICE #39 TORONTO'S FIRST COMMUTER LINES
By 1890 Toronto was booming the old Union station was bursting at capacity and the heavily industrialized shoreline was covered with railyards and the pall of coal smoke from plants and locomotives and the steamships and ferries that called on the portlands.
Meanwhile in the purer air of the suburbs, the landboom was well underway.In this period a group of businessmen decided to build a new railway line,radical in it's design and approach.It would encircle the booming city and would link up with the various radial ( interurban ) lines then being built to and from the city.
This would be the Belt Line Railway. It would consist of two belts,starting from a station in the Don Valley, the Rosedale Station. From here one loop would creep up the valley from the Don River towards the Mount Pleasant Cemetary.Then it would angle northwest to Bathurst street and then bend west to the Grand Trunk line and follow it south into the city.From the Davenport Station,located just south of St Clair the second belt loop would venture westerly to lambton and follow a route southerly along the east bank of the Humber River to Swamsea station on the western branch of the Grand Trunk line.
The plan called for ten stations,two of which it would share with the Grand Trunk ( stations at Davenport and Parkdale )While most of the other stations were set up as flagstops.The pne built at Moore Park was the pride of the line.Of all the new subdivisions the line would serve Moore Park was the wealthiest.To fit in with the giant mansions and wide streets, local archetect John Moore designed this grand station with four turrets and placed it in the middle of a large park.
Unfortunatly the park with it's public gardens was never completed as two years after the lines completion, the boom collapsed and the Belt line was absorbed by the Grand Trunk and used as an industrial spur ( much of it still today infact )
The radial lines however were another story and were much more successfull.The first one the Metroploitan RR began as a horse car line running along Yonge street between Summerhill & Eglington St's. In 1890 the horses were replaced by speedier electric streetcars.Following the demise of the Belt Line,and the suburban growth recovered and this line now called the North Yonge railways continued north to Glen Echo by 1892 and Newmarket by 1899.To attract more customers the radial line started up recreation parks in Bond Head on the shores of Bond Lake a 200 acre park all together.And a second park on the large Glacial pond in the town of Oak Ridges.
Radial fever was now in full swing and radial lines were built westward to Port Credit in 1905,eastward to West Hill in 1906. Like the North Yonge line this line the Toronto and Scarborough RR built parks to gain more business.Victoria Park at Blayntyre Street and the Toronto Hunt Club on Kingston road at Warden, and Scarborough Heights Park on St Clair.
Upto this point all these lines followed existing roads.In 1904 Mackenzie and Mann of the Canadian Northern fame satrted building their coast to coast railway empire and bought up these radial lines and began extending them acccross the countryside.The Toronto & Yrok was extended into Sutton on Lake Simcoe in 1909 with another Branch built to Schomberg known as the Schomberg and Auruora.In 1911 the Toronto Suburban then just a small streetcar line was added to the empire, and by 1917 was built into a radial reaching Guelph ontario, with twenty station stops between Weston & Guelph ( our musuem property is part of this old line ).
In 1912 when sir Adam Beck's Ontario Hydro entered the radial fray electric lines were everywhere in Ontario.Kitchener through Galt ( Grand River Railway ) Brantford to Port Dover ( Lake Erie and Northern )Hamilton to Brantford ( Hamilton & Brantford ) Hamilton to Beamsville and prot Dalhousie to Port Colbourne ( Niagara St Catharines and Toronto RR ) along with the proto type The London and Port Stanley which ran from London thorugh St Thomas to Port Stanley.
In 1922 when Mackenzie & Mann's Canadian Northern Empire failed Toronto's newly formed Toronto Transportation Commision (TTC) took over all the radials in the city while the Ontario Hydro Corp took over the North Yonge & the Scarborough radials.CNR assumed control of the NS&T and the Toronto Suburban as well as the Oshawa radial Railway and the Montreal and Southern Counties forming the CN electric lines.They even continued the construction on the eastern leg of the belt line which had worked stopped on it in 1913 eventually extending it to Coburg Ontario.
By 1927 buses and cars were sounding the death nell for the smaller radials.The Schomberg branch was the first to go followed in 1931 by the Toronto Suburban to Guelph.By 1936 most of the lines were gone with the Toronto york radil comming under the control of the TTC until it was replaced in 1954 by the Yonge Subway Line.The Ontario Hyudro lines faired better with the L&PS,GRR and LE&N all surviving till the late 1950's. Similarly the CN owned lines the NS&T and MS&C all made it to 1960 however losing bits and pieces along the way to abandonement since shortly after the war.A brief synposis.
Good to see Lars - Fergie 'n Rob today! Guess Jan (JanOlov) has dropped by the wayside . . . strange. And "who knows" where Per (marthastrainyard) is. He said he'd be back on Nov 29th . . . hmmmmmm.
Just dropping off a little something for the late afternoon "slot" . . .
I think our Manger's idea to go with "reruns" from here 'til the New Year makes great sence . . . so here's one to enjoy!
Great Railroad Bridges - #1Used with permission from Wikipedia.com
Hell Gate
<First appeared on Page 389 of the Original Thread on Sep 6th, 2006>
Hell Gate, shown in red, in a satellite photo of New York Harbor. It separates Ward's Island (to the west) and Astoria, Queens (to the east)
Hell Gate is a narrow tidal strait in the East River in New York City in the United States. It separates Randall's Island and Ward's Island (formerly two islands that are now joined by landfill) and Astoria, Queens.
It was spanned in 1917 by the New York Connecting Railroad Bridge (now called the Hell Gate Bridge), which connects the Bronx and Queens. The bridge provides a direct rail link between New England and New York City. In 1936 it was spanned by the Triborough Bridge, allowing vehicular traffic to pass between Manhattan, the Bronx, and Queens.
The name "Hell Gate" is a corruption of the Dutch phrase Hellegat, meaning "bright passage," which was originally applied to the entirety of the East River. The strait was described in the journals of Dutch explorer Adriaen Block, who is the first European known to have navigated the strait, during his 1614 voyage aboard the Onrust.
The first Hellegat is a branch of the Scheldt River estuary in East Flanders, which is still today an idyllic camping spot popular with European tourists. But because explorers found navigation hazardous in this New World place of rocks and converging tide-driven currents (from the Long Island Sound, Harlem River strait, Upper Bay of New York Harbor and lesser channels, some of which have been filled), the Anglicization stuck.
Some theorize, however, that Block might have named the strait with both meanings in mind, sliding a pun into place to evade the censorship of his strict Lutheran paymasters.
By the late 19th century, hundreds of ships had sunk in the strait. In 1876, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers blasted the dangerous rocks, which was followed by further blasting work. One explosion in Hell Gate was the largest man-made blast in history up until the Atomic Age.
Though Hell Gate is still considered difficult to navigate due to strong tidal flows, its reputation is based on myth more than fact. At certain points in the tidal cycle, its waters briefly go slack, making it as placid as a lake. Even at peak current, competent kayakers and canoeists pass through without trouble. The greatest danger is the artificial one posed by heavy commercial vessel traffic through the tight channel.
Hell Gate Bridge
Good evening again , hmmm slooow day here, guess Leon's had an easy shift. Oh well I'll poor myself a Keith's as Leon deserves this right before christmas break. Good plan to go with encores till were over the holiday hump.
Tom-Nice bridge article , I'll read it more in depth tomorrow once my eyes are a bit more co-operative.
I'll drop off a few photo's to start off the saturday picture posting fest.
Here's four from our summer trip out to the rock.
enjoy Rob
Good morning Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!Leon, I’ll have just a cup of coffee. Can't stay very long tonight. You keep the change!Friday! Just one more week! The Bar by the Siding was a quiet place today! I guess most are busy getting things in order for Christmas! We had the 3rd morning in row with ice on the windshield! Tom – I remember those magic, green, eyes on the radios from yesteryear! Very fascinating!Add to that... ...reel to reel tape player/recorder. ...8-track tape playersNo, nothing special was going on in my life on Dec. 13, St. Lucia Day. But Lucia was something that was (and still is) celebrated every year and I grew up with it. Watching it on TV nowadays make me feel very nostalgic. No, it has nothing to do with “home sickness”.Hell Gate Bridge, very interesting! One of my favorite railroad bridges! See pictures below
Hell Gate Bridge 1993.
Lars – I feel fine again, but it certainly is interfering with my Christmas. I have to skip a lot of the real good stuff this year. I’m going to IKEA this weekend to get some super good Swedish Christmas food! Nice books! Railroad depots is a very interesting topic! I’ll pick the last one, Railroad Depots of North & South Dakota.Fergie – As far as I know there are no rules against burping. I would like to see pictures of the ALCO engine inspection and refit! Rob – Feeling much better today, thank you. I am looking forward to get this problem taking care of. Most likely it will happen the second week of January. Maybe one day I’ll be around Buffalo/Niagara Falls when it is time for the Air Show! That would be interesting. I have always been a very poor Swede. I never, ever, liked cold weather. Everything below 75° F is toooooo cold! I just hate snow and ice. Interesting to read about Toronto’s first commuter lines, beltway and radial lines! Thanks!Nice pictures, especially of the dome-observation car! Way to travel! The other two pictures are very small and do hardly enlarge at all.
Eric
Good Morning Capt'n Tom and All
low 20's this a.m. as we prepare for the Nor Easter coming in late tomorrow then temps will go to 40 or so. So I'll have a large Cafe with the normal extras.
Rob Excellent synopsis of the early history of Toronto's Railways. I have two books at home on that subject but have to say you really captured the history in one fell swoop. Thank you.
Anyway must un as I have paper to shuffle
Later All
This is ENCORE! Saturday - and - Photo Posting Day!
Remember: "Our" Place is CLOSED on Sundays.
It's SNOWING here in mid-continent USA with the temps in the hi-20s (F) <hoooooooray!!!> Juneau enjoyed his first morning walk ‘n will be in doggie delight as we're to have white stuff falling all through the day ‘n nite! <grin>
Coffee's ready - pastries fresh ‘n breakfasts all ready for orderin' - so what's the delay
We're well into "that" time of year where "things" overtake the time available to "play" in the Ether . . . so, keep this Tavern by the Tracks in mind whenever you happen to be online, will ya
Friday - Dec 14th:
Lars (LoveDomes) at 8:45 AM: Always happy to have our Manager on board . . . ‘n been thinking about some of the thoughts you've shared. Pretty much comes down to the reality that it's you, Pete, Eric ‘n Moi as regulars ‘round here with <CM3 Shane on the cusp>‘n that's the way it's been for months ‘n months. Everyone else falls into their own niche, so to speak. But don't misunderstand - EVERYONE's contributions ARE appreciated ‘n most welcome!
There was a brief period when it looked like our "irregular regulars" would bail us out of the <doldrums>, ‘n they did. But now, well - they too can't be depended on very much. A bright note is the return of our Resident Ontario Connection - Rob, who is making every effort to get back into full sway. Just don't wanna have him <or anyone else> burn out on us . . . that's a definite drawback to these Forums . . .
Can't come up for "reasons" why some disappear without so much as a notice - whereas others take a hiatus from the bar due to constraints on time. Just the way it is ‘n we have NO choice but to move along with or without ‘em . . . We have our "off-line Email net" which is sparsely used. It's a good vehicle to let me KNOW what's "up" . . .
I have a "practice" in my life that pretty much goes like this: Take the time to remember those who remember you. Works for me . . . Of course there are always those who find the excuses for "why not," but hardly ever for "of course I did!"
Liked that spate of book covers you came up with for the railway stations ‘n depots. Good idea!
Many thanx for the continued ‘n sincere support for the bar! Round too . . .
Fergie (Fergmiester) at 1:16 PM: I don't know why it was, but whenever winter set in with dark days ‘n <gloom> the conditions ALWAYS were far harsher at dockside than at the gate, if you follow my drift. <brrrrrrrrrrr> Can still recall those loooooooong Quarterdeck watches <4 hours>, especially Boston, standing on deck freezing one's <patoot> to the bone, but ALWAYS looking sharp! <groan> Guess you civilians don't have to be concerned with any of that, though . . . some pluses for being non-military, eh <grin>
YOU haven't really been <bad> at the bar, just took you a bit of time to figure out that we're <different> from what you've been used to . . . However, the <tweeter> is at "the ready" whenever you pass through those portals! <grin>
Thanx for the visit!
Rob (trolleyboy) at : 1:52 PM ‘n 1:58 PM: Many thanx for the dual visits! I enjoyed reading through your account of the commuter ‘n radial lines in Toronto. That Classic Juice #39 first appeared on Apr 26th, 2007 here on the reborn Thread, Page 53 to be precise! <grin> Good reading!
Don't wanna be a <wet blanket> but there's just gotta be a reeling in of international travel for me, especially to Canada <Nova Scotia remains the exception>. I
Ahoy Cap'n Tom ‘n fellow travelers at the bar!
Cindy my sweet, you are such a delight to behold on this Saturday morn' where things are wintry ‘n the blustAH is all about. A mugga Joe with a "BK splash" will be fine ‘n I'll grab a few crullAHs from the bakery case.
Boris, feed the gang wudja please When you're finished, that small jar of PPF is YOURS!
A round of CHEER for da boyz my sweet, ‘n the change is YOURS! <grin>
Good support from our Canadian Connections as we've seen Rob ‘n Fergie holding things together with a visit from our Sandbox Swede - Eric in the early, early AM too!
Thanks guyz, it's good that you care - for we'd be adrift withoutcha! <uh oh>
Gotta couple of days off for the Mrs. as her tests will continue into next week. I'll keep Da Bossman apprised by email when something is known. Right now, we're still planning on heading south right after Christmas . . . hope to spend the celebration of the New Year at our getaway place in the Keys. If not, boy oh boy there will be H to pay ‘round here. <uh oh>
The discussion about steroids ‘n baseball <sports in general> is a TOTAL turn-off. I'm "with" Cap'n Tom when it comes to hoping all of it will self-destruct. Isn't it amazing how many of us have succeeded in life WITHOUT have to resort to cheating Good Grief Charlie Brown!
For Fergie: At least you own up to your shortcomings. Some guys are just too busy to recognize that there are things in life requiring time ‘n attention as well. I'm not the best at the written word - the Mrs. takes care of the cards ‘n lettHs <yeah, we still write lettAHs!!> But I'll be if I'll evAH understand or tolerate those who can't find them time to respond in kind to a kind gesture. <triple barf>
Had you been a snipe, you'd be comfy cozy down in the engineroom! Anyway, would LOVE to view any pix you come up with of the ALCOs . . . .
For Da Bossman: Liked the Hell Gate material - top drawer, mate! Also the Thursday material on those Railroad Magzine covAHS flicked my switch too! <grin>
Enjoyed the pix of our cash registers - Tilla ‘n Cashinator that appeared on the Thursday summary! Good way to introduce the "fun things" to the new guyz ‘n reacquaint to the crew.
Glad you've agreed to go with reruns ‘til the New Year . . .
SNOW for the puppy has to be a lots of fun! Sounds like YOU like it as much as he does. ,grin>
For Pete: Hope your trip to wherever you go was safe. I see that Missouri is in the snow band, so wintAH has arrived, huh Do they let you drive in the states If so, do you have that <black bag> strapped to you behind the wheel <tee hee>
Nice Thursday photos from your mate, Alan!
For Rob: Guess we'll have to get "the Committee" together to determine whether you've "won" their approval for reinstatement as a "regular" ‘round here. You've been very diligent ‘n back to "normal" <which requires MUCH imagination!!> . . . .
You've really put together some fine reading mattAH, ‘n my guess is the majority of it is "new" to the guyz at the bar. I recall "some," but enjoy going through it again <aside from your typo problem, that is!!!> Appears that you'll be heading off to Molly Throttlebottom's Adult Learning Center <'n Mud Wrestling Emporium> for the Typing Challenged with Pete ‘n Boris! <uh oh>
For Eric: Too bad the surgery has to be so far off, for my guess is you'd prefer to have all of this way behind you.
Not even a thread of "home sickness" for ya Wudda thunk otherwise. Sounds like
<But if you must "talk," drop your thoughts thru the mail slots on either set of front doors!>
Snow is still falling, but rather intermittent - Juneau is having a BLAST! He just doesn't want to come inside . . .
Appreciate seeing our Manager aboard this Saturday with a few selections from his inexhaustible supply of dome Pix! <grin>
Here's some traction shots from my archives to keep things going on this rather quiet Saturday at the Bar by the Ballast! All of these are ENCORES! from the Original Thread . . .
IT #122 - (courtesy: donsdepot.donrossgroup.net - foto credit: unknown)
IT #121 (courtesy: donsdepot.donrossgroup.net - fotocredit: unknown)
IT #101 (courtesy: donsdepot.donrossgroup.net - foto credit: unknown)
IT #100 (courtesy: donsdepot.donrossgroup.net - foto credit: unknown)
IT #203 (courtesy: donsdepot.donrossgroup.net - foto credit: unknown)
IT #234 - party car trailer (courtesy: donsdept.donrossgroup.net - foto credit: unknown)
Enjoy!
Tom
ENCORE! Saturday ‘n Photo Posting Day!
at "Our" Place!
We are CLOSED on SUNDAYs!
Starting Sunday at the Mentor Village Emporium Theatre!
The Santa Clause 2 (2002)
PLOT SUMMARY: Walt Disney Pictures presents an all-new comedy adventure overflowing with holiday cheer. Tim Allen reappears in SANTA CLAUSE 2, the hilarious sequel to everybody's holiday favorite. Scott Calvin (Allen) has been Santa Claus for the past eight years, and his loyal elves consider him the best one ever. But Scott's got problems. His son Charlie has landed on this year's "naughty" list, and if Scott doesn't marry by Christmas Eve -- one very, very short month away -- he'll stop being Santa forever. Embracing Christmas and the magic of family with heart, warmth, fun, and charm, SANTA CLAUSE 2 is classic holiday entertainment everybody will enjoy again and again.
Walt Disney Pictures presents an all-new comedy adventure overflowing with holiday cheer. Tim Allen reappears in SANTA CLAUSE 2, the hilarious sequel to everybody's holiday favorite. Scott Calvin (Allen) has been Santa Claus for the past eight years, and his loyal elves consider him the best one ever. But Scott's got problems. His son Charlie has landed on this year's "naughty" list, and if Scott doesn't marry by Christmas Eve -- one very, very short month away -- he'll stop being Santa forever. Embracing Christmas and the magic of family with heart, warmth, fun, and charm, SANTA CLAUSE 2 is classic holiday entertainment everybody will enjoy again and again.
A Christmas Carol (1951)
PLOT SUMMARY: This is the desert-island choice of the many versions of A Christmas Carol, with a magnificent, full-bodied portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge by Alastair Sim that leaves everyone else in the dust. Lean and direct, this film's version of the story wastes no time trying to impress viewers with the magical nature of the spirits' visitations. Director Brian Desmond Hurst keeps the focus on Scrooge's life story, beautifully simplifying and underscoring the theme of lost women with a haunting musical refrain from the folk song "Barbara Allen." Sim's commitment to the role is at times astonishing; his Scrooge's Christmas-morning ecstasy is a marvel of giddy technique. Watch for Patrick Macnee (Steed in The Avengers) as the young Jacob Marley--the actor made his screen debut in this 1951 production. --Tom Keogh
This is the desert-island choice of the many versions of A Christmas Carol, with a magnificent, full-bodied portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge by Alastair Sim that leaves everyone else in the dust. Lean and direct, this film's version of the story wastes no time trying to impress viewers with the magical nature of the spirits' visitations. Director Brian Desmond Hurst keeps the focus on Scrooge's life story, beautifully simplifying and underscoring the theme of lost women with a haunting musical refrain from the folk song "Barbara Allen." Sim's commitment to the role is at times astonishing; his Scrooge's Christmas-morning ecstasy is a marvel of giddy technique. Watch for Patrick Macnee (Steed in The Avengers) as the young Jacob Marley--the actor made his screen debut in this 1951 production. --Tom Keogh
SHORT: Crash Goes the Hash (1944)
PLOT SUMMARY: The stooges are mistaken for reporters and are hired to do a story on Prince Shaam for a $100 bonus. Larry and Curly pose as butlers while Moe is the cook. After some failed attempts to get a picture of Prince Shaam and his girlfriend the stooges really mess up on the delivery of the turkey and are fired. After trying to sneak for a picture one last time they find out that Prince Shaam and the head butler are crooks that are just trying to get the girlfriend's money. So the stooges take a picture of them and a wild fight goes on. The stooges win and are successful reporters. Plus, the girlfriend wants to marry Curly!
The stooges are mistaken for reporters and are hired to do a story on Prince Shaam for a $100 bonus. Larry and Curly pose as butlers while Moe is the cook. After some failed attempts to get a picture of Prince Shaam and his girlfriend the stooges really mess up on the delivery of the turkey and are fired. After trying to sneak for a picture one last time they find out that Prince Shaam and the head butler are crooks that are just trying to get the girlfriend's money. So the stooges take a picture of them and a wild fight goes on. The stooges win and are successful reporters. Plus, the girlfriend wants to marry Curly!
Hi Tom and all,
Hi Leon, the usual round of Tui`s for all the crew please!
Tom. You are so right about the social grace`s these days, it`s the same down here, no manners and the lack of coherent communication, most the younger set seem to talk including a lot expletives in their vocabulary. My vacuum tube days go back to 1950 when I started work as a trainee projectionist, this was only until I joined the army at 16yrs of age as a Boy Entrant, carried on with it at times at various camp cinema`s, used to get extra duty pay! Nice pic of the reel to reel tape deck, had a Grundig deck once. Enjoyed all of your very informative posts and all the great pics, Lionel and American Flyer catalogs, Classic covers #5, Hells Gate Bridge write up and pics, Hells Gate Bridge is very much a look-alike of the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle, the old home town, it was built by the same builders as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Dorman & Long.[no relation!] Nice trolley pics and a nice selection of flicks for the weekend.
Rob. Many thanks for all those great War birds photo`s and the history of the Niagara Air Show, their is a Lancaster over here in NZ it`s been restored but is not fly-able, if you Google "MOTAT Auckland NZ" you will be able to see it! The D&H paint job on their PA`s was nice looking, nice shade of blue, has a Warbonnet look about it as well. Enjoyed all your fine pics and info, Classic steam #19 and the Booze line was neat, my Bride`s maiden surname was Walker, wonder if their`s any link? A great lot of interesting info in the Classic Juice #39 Toronto 1st commuter lines, and all the other pics, thanks for that!
Eric. Hope you have got over your discomfort already, your new surgeon sounds very efficient, so your in good hands which is more than half the battle! Like you I found a few discrepencies in the Railways book, thanks for the correct info on the X2000`s power ratio and tilting speeds. Enjoyed your pics of the Hells Gate Bridge. Hang on in their!
Sven. Thanks for those two links to the Gavle rail museum and St Lucia one. My Bride`s favourite perfume was 4711, now it`s Red Door!
Lars. Great selection from the Larsman Mobile, American Flyer catalogs and the GC/NY covers and the neat dome pics, keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well for your wife and that your wintering over trip to the Key`s goes as planned, we always go up to Auckland for Christmas to spend it with my wife`s sister`s family, their will be seventeen of us including all the in-laws for dinner, hope the turkey does`nt run out! Although we always take one up their with us each time.
Pete. Hope you had a nice trip and got back safely! Alan Pegler did a great service to the nation when he purchased Flying Scotsman, I`ve got the BBC DVD of it`s 40th anniversary non stop run on 1st May 1968, apart from a little "drop out" in the original video it`s a great bit of video history, I still class Flying Scotsman as an A1 even though it was brought up to A3 standards later on, thank god Thompson did`nt alter it like he did with Great Northern! It sounds as if Alan is really tempting you about the A4 anniversary next year, what I would`nt give! Nice quote of Gresley`s about the need for streamlining! Enjoyed Alan`s pics and the Foxfield link, and your info on the Birmingham Magalev service.
Ron. Many thanks for the info on your loco project, looking forward to seeing the results of all your labor later on, will it help to stem off the "cabin fever" for you over winter? Sorry to read you won`t be popping in so much from now on.
CM3. Saw you over at the Foto site as well, did that storm affect your area at all?
Fergie. Hope your next voyage is a lot smoother weather and wave wise.
See ya, Allan
Evening Leon. Just bunkering for a good ole fashioned snowstorm due to pound us for the next twelve hours or so. good thing I'm off tomorrow as it sounds as though the roads may well be impassable. If we get the worst of it they are calling for 60-70kph winds and upto 45cm of white stuff <uh oh>Juneau weather to be sure So with that said here's some bucks for tilla and I think Irish coffee's all around.
Tom-Yup pro sports in gebneral seems to be in a downward spiral , higher ticket prices , higher paycheques for the millionaires and billionaires , and less entertaining drivel onm the field/rink/court etc etc <barf and double barf>
Just an odd thought have you looked into alternate airlines than "Scare Canada" I know that a local line called West Jet flies to Europe,alot of spots in the US and all over Canada for a good 1/4 to 1/2 teh price of Air Canada Service. I've also noticed that Southwest is flying more and more into the frozen far north , including into the new and improved Kitchener Airport which is close to me. Just a thought.
loved the IT shots trying to flick my switch and succeeded.
Eric-I'm with you in away I don't like extreme cold, but I do enjoy the snow so long as the temps around 0C to -4C .I hope Heather does not read over my shoulder as Ikea is her favourite store, which means I end up assembling furnature for days afterwards <uh oh>.Nice shot of the Hells gate from you to sir
Lars-Ah yes I'm happy to be in the running for re-enstatement.Is that something I dress up for or is it strictly a lederhosen and tie affairNice dome pictures by the way.Hopefully teh slime at Throttlebottom's is the festive green and red variety this year. I've noticed that Molly has a new slogan on the wall in the main study hall. "PEOPLE ARE JUST LIKE SLINKY"S THEY ARE MOMENTARILY FUN AS THEY ARE PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS" <uh oh> the sign has autographed pictures of H&H on it as well.
Allan-I'm glad that you enjoyed the photo's and the light reading. Thank-you for the link to teh other Lanc project. Another interesting similar musuem to that one is another project currently happening at teh air museum at Canadian Forces Base Trenton Ontario. They have a Halifax III that was recovered from a Norwegian Fjord several years ago.It is/ has been 90% restored.and is their new central display. it will not be made operational.At it's rolling out ceremony a couple years back the surviving crew members ( all survived the shooting down in 1944 )weer on hand , and the Ppilot was gien back his thermos which was found still wedged under his pilots seat.
Fergie-I'm glad that you enjoyed the Toronto commuter line bit. Nice to know that, it was followable in the abreviated non 200 page format. I'll have to dig out a few more tidbits like that from the old thread over the next couple of weeks.
Good morning Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!Leon, my lucky day! Made it just in time before you are closing this place for the weekend! I think it is the right time for a juicy Filet Mignon and a lot of mushrooms! And an ice cold Keith's, please.
Busy day today, but obviously not that busy here at the Bar. People have too much to do this time of the year with Christmas coming up. Very understandable.
Fergie – Maybe you have the answer to this question, what year started the first electric streetcar to operate n Toronto? I got that question from a friend in the old country.Tom – I never heard of any Wollensac tape recorder. My last reel to reel tape recorder was (is) a Revox A77. Kind of expensive, but a very good machine! Your Wollensac looks like a a design from the 50’s. Snow in St. Louis? At least we don’t get any of that stuff here. But it is almost cold enough for it, especially in the mornings.Thanks for the traction photos! Union, IL, isn’t that the Illinois Railroad Museum? Perfect choice of Christmas movies coming up on the Emporium next week! I actually saw A Christmas Carol many, many years ago! I’ll be happy to see it (plus Tim Allen’s Santa Clause 2) again. Lars – This is another visit in the early AM. Thought I would be able to stop by in the late afternoon, but we were busy most of the day spending all the money we don’t have.You are right, I would have prefered to have the surgery done right away, but that was not possible. I never had any Scandinavian makeup for frigid everything. I am working as a Quality Engineer for a company making test equipment for the semiconductor industry. Five more days! As a matter of fact, I am also the company’s photographer and that is what I will be doing, working part time next year, take pictures and produce videos. Nice pictures of good looking dome cars! Santa Fe #500 seems to have some kind of generator (?). There is an exhaust pipe coming up on the corner of the car. I think the third picture from the bottom (Santa Fe dome-observation car) got the wrong text. Thanks for the pictures!Allan – I bet you are happy that your Bride’s favorite perfume is Red Door and not Red Odor. I am very careful about what I am eating now and it seems to work pretty good, except the other evening. I’ll be happy when all this is over though.One will always find some incorrect info in books and that does not surprise me.Rob – -4° C? No, that is way too cold for me. I like it on the warm side. I’ll repeat my question to you (I also asked Fergie), what year started the first electric streetcar to operate in Toronto? I got the question from a friend in the old country.
Finally a few pictures in random order.
No, it is not a race.
Control stand, Pacific Elecgtric's #418.
Answering questions, Boston. 1993.
Not exactly Pullman.
,<Huff Puff> Just in for a quick check on the critters,not as much snow to shovel here as ther was at home at least we only got half the allotment the weather guessers had promised but the wind was full measure, lost at least one hat while we weer shovelling the driveway,and we still will have to have another go at it,so I figured that I would whip up at batch of BK'd hot chocolate adn take it to go ( not to worru Tom I have prepaid for it and left a healthy tip for Ruth when she comes in in the morning )
fergie-this one's headed in your general direction,it's supposed to hit NB and NS tonight or tomorrow morning,hopefully it finds you still warm and dockside.
Eric-A nice assemble collection of pictures,teh not quite a pullman car doesn't look all that badIn fact it looks much more comfortable than VIA's ex chunnel-chuggers.
To answer your friends question, street railways in Toronto began as animal powered street railways in the 1870's. the Toronto Railway Company started up electric service in 1892-93 and haven't looked back.
These cold and dark Sunday nights. But I thought I should drop this little note in the slot since I was nearby. Hmmm, I can hear a woman laugh upstairs, but I can’t see any light. Hmmm. I can tell that Rob has been here today. I guess he wanted to get away from all that snow in and around Toronto. Rob – Thanks for the answer to my question! I have forwarded the info to the old country! The "not quite a Pullman car" was built for a narrow gauge railroad in Sweden in the 1870’s. I don’t have the details about it though. Since you stopped by this Sunday I thought I should show an old streetcar.
Now belonging to Orange Empire Railway Museum in California. Eric
Mond Morn' Ruth. Did you have a good weekend? Mine was just full of routine chores, walking dogs, cleaning house, (I am the only one that has a license for running the vacuum cleaner in our house. My wife did not pass the test), shopping for life essential things, and then it was Monday Morning.
Ruth Please let me have my cup of Gevalia, and two fat dripping original donuts. Hold it, Awk! Because you got to nibble on my donuts once, doesn't mean you can do it every time. Oh it does, you say? After once there is a prejudice?
Even if it is early in the morning, and I am not yet drunk, I guess I can tell a bad joke at the bar. It was those two Swedes, Sven and Ollie, that came running full speed to the railway station. Sven said: "Shucks! We missed the train!" "How can you be so sure? It might not have come yet." Ollie said, and Sven replied in despair: "Of course it has come and left. You can still see the tracks after it!"
Tom, I really enjoyed the write up and pictures of the Hell Gate. My wife grew up in the Bronx in late 40-ies, and through the 50-ies, in an environment you see in West Side Story. She still, 60 years later, hits first, and talks later. Tuff environment creates tuff people.
Eric, thank you for the photos from the bridge. A cab view is always interesting. I know you have thousands of books in your library, but how many photos do you have? It seems you have several photos for every occasion, every issue that comes up here. It is great of you to share them with us. Thank you.
This will be a short, self centered entry today. Some more about me. I live on the east shores of the St Croix River, just north of Hudson in WI, and work for Target, in their headquarters in Brooklyn Park, MN, about 45 miles west of Hudson. Yes, I drive about 90 miles daily. I pass both the St Croix River, and Mississippi River on my way to and from work. I started working for Target not long after we arrived in the States in 1983. I have mainly worked in logistics, but at the present time I am crunching numbers in the Finance Control department.
Work is calling. Have to quit. Sorry for the short entry, but it is a sign of life from me.
Sven
A smile to begin the week!
We were overwhelming underdogs.
<A Yogi-ism!>
We awoke to a winter wonderland on Sunday morning with snow blanketing everything ‘n everywhere. Juneau has been in "full flight" with pulling, tugging ‘n romping through it. Husky dogs LOVE this stuff! Looks like about 6 inches fell <15 cm for those of you on the metric system>. Temps were in the lo-20s (F) when we set out for walk #1 of the day <that's about minus 6 (C)>
This morning it is 15 (F) - that's around -10 (C) . . . clear skies 'n just a great feeling to be outdoors!
"They" say we'll get a warm-up ‘n by mid-week all of this will vanish. <barf>
Didjano this is the final FULL week before Christmas That means you better get a move on IF you haven't made your "list," and "checked it twice," and so forth! Especially IMPORTANT for those of us with the "fairer sex" in our lives, eh Youbetcha!! <uh oh>
Okay - time to fill up the mugs with our freshly ground ‘n brewed special blend coffee. Sample a couple of pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery case while waiting for your order from our Menu Board for a <light> or <traditional> breakfast! <awwwwwwright!!>
Most pleased to see Dallas get beaten! Made my Sunday . . . very surprised 'n sorry to see the Giants go down. What an unpredictable team they are . . . games you figure they should win, they . . . So, the wild card "wrap" goes on. <groan> Sorry, Lars! And the Patriots roll on . . .
I see a notice has been affixed to our Bulletin Board back in the Rat's Patoot Room, that reads as follows:
To all who shall see these presents, Greetings! The oversight group for the smooth and efficient operation of the bar known as "Our" Place < hereinafter referred to as "The Committee"> will hold an irregularly unscheduled annual < or semi-annual, or quarterly> meeting to determine justification for the restoration of one known as trolleyboy Rob to the status as a Regular Customer. Having received proper documentation for the review, the time and place for the meeting has been established as mid-night, Wednesday the 19th day of December in the Rat's Patoot Room, Lounge & Library. No interlopers will be permitted to view, participate or otherwise present themselves to the Committee. Be it so this day by my hand./s/ Inspector Throckmorton Clueless, Presiding Chairman of the "Our" Place Committee for What Am - Is & Should Be!<Officer, Mentor Village Constabulary, Self Defense Forces & Anti-Litter Coalition for the Trash Can Challenged (ALCTCC)>
The oversight group for the smooth and efficient operation of the bar known as "Our" Place < hereinafter referred to as "The Committee"> will hold an irregularly unscheduled annual < or semi-annual, or quarterly> meeting to determine justification for the restoration of one known as trolleyboy Rob to the status as a Regular Customer.
Having received proper documentation for the review, the time and place for the meeting has been established as mid-night, Wednesday the 19th day of December in the Rat's Patoot Room, Lounge & Library. No interlopers will be permitted to view, participate or otherwise present themselves to the Committee.
Be it so this day by my hand.
/s/ Inspector Throckmorton Clueless,
Presiding Chairman of the "Our" Place Committee for What Am - Is & Should Be!
<Officer, Mentor Village Constabulary, Self Defense Forces & Anti-Litter Coalition for the Trash Can Challenged (ALCTCC)>
Saturday - Dec 15th:
Lars (LoveDomes) at 10:55 AM: Another find Saturday visit by our Manager!
Beginning to sound like a broken record, but don't be concerned about the bar - we'll poke along ‘n be here whenever you're able to partake in the good times!
We've got a guest room <presently called "Juneau's room"> should the need arise! <grin>
Noticed that your part of the world is immersed in rain, whereas much of the country has had some snow ‘n ice. Count your blessings, Mate! Of course, it can snow from now ‘til the first day of spring ‘n I"ll be happy.
Saw where Eric thought one of your fotos had the wrong description. Hmmmmm, I have that one in my archives as well - checked it out with trainweb.org ‘n it comes up the same as you have. Say what Anyway, nice spate of domes, Mate!
Appreciate the continuing support for the bar! Round too!!
Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox. I apologize for the long silence but I was well and truly felled by whatever the "sickness du jour" is that is presently in this part of the country. Nice respiratory stuff, slight fever, every joint hurts, and then you start coughing up unidentified body parts. All of that leaves you feeling like you have been thrown under the Mentor and Southern Narrow Gauge snowplow. Then you start all over again Anyway, we are kinda on our feet again. I realize that I have some catching up to do and will get after it ASAP.
Talk to you later.
work safe
Good Afternoon Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please and we'll take a sandwich as well. Let's see, whole wheat bread, roast beef sliced just right, Colby cheese, Weber's mustard (made in Buffalo and not for the faint-hearted), and a couple of dills from the barrel. We'll finish that and look at the pie case in a little while. Weather here is clear and cold. We got some snow yesterday but the wind blew so hard that it really didn't cover the ground all that much. K9 Korps decided to spend most of he day outside. The younger academic set had a 2-hour delay this a.m. Gas had gone up 10 cents since Friday - back up to $3.09.
Jeez! Miss a few days and you've got a lot of catching up to do. So here goes.
Rob has been keeping things going. Re CP pool power in Boston. They did as did Maine Central. I know somewhere in the archives I have some shots (not done by me) of CP stuff at North Station. I remember it, but was just a "pup"," (No Artie, not a LV switcher), and did not have a camera. So I will go on a hunt and try and find a couple of references. Enjoyed your offerings re Toronto commuter service. I remember your offering on the "Booze Line" from earlier posts. The picture of the Pas and C628 was probably made around Saratoga. I remember getting stabbed by a freight there which they ran NB just as the SB passenger was making its station stop; one of my more frustrating photographic moments. Also many thanks for the aircraft pictures.
Sven - Good to hear from you again - you seem to be getting into the swing of things. Incidentally, the mascots are a "big help" to many of us. Boris has turned out to be a good research assistant to me (as you may have gathered) because he's not afraid to do into dark and dusty places. He's tractable as long as he is fed regularly.
Pete has been here - Lovely GWR photos and I am always interested in anything that did colliery work. The name Heath brought back a few memories as there was a man named Heath who opened some of the earliest coal mines in the U.S. They were near Richmond, VA and prone to explode with depressing regularity.
DD1 visited - Hope you will be able to stop by now and then.
Lars - Is it just me or do our Jints seem to be performing their usual late season, "Let's play ourselves out of contention" freefall? I won't tell you what the wife said about Eli. Thanks for the book covers. I have been to three of the union Stations mentioned. The Dakota book looks like a good one.
Fergie - Take the inspection and refit pictures, please.
Allan has visited as well.
Eric sent some Hell Gate pictures. I enjoyed the shot of you at So. Station. It was b4 they electrified everything. How dod you get the interior shot of the Mentor and Southern Narrow Gauge Parlor Car? Over the years there were many sleepers that operated between Boston and Washington. Before the Shore Line/Hell Gate was completed, they used a rail/car float situation. This later became an all-rail line. Cars operated on a NYNH&H-PRR routing and there were lots of them. A most interesting NH-PRR line ran between Boston and Pittsburgh. The Boston-Washington sleeper (10/6 car usually ex Santa Fe or Union Pacific) lasted well into Amtrak and I rode it frequently as it provided a good connection to 51 at Washington. This car ran on 66/67 which for awhile handled a setout car at New York. If I recall rightly, it was the last setout car in the country. This situation made for some interesting switching at Penn Station in the early morning hours. Now, you can't ride a sleeper from Boston to anywhere.
OSP has been keeping us going. A good choice of movies. I agree with the reviewer of "Christmas Carol." Reel-to-reel? Egad, a find for the Forgotten technologies collection. I agree with your comments re the Cowboys. See my comment to Lars re the Giants. I think you got a winter game in Cleveland yesterday for sure. We had the Steelers vs. Jacksonville on here (UGGLY!) but there was nowhere near the snow they had a little more to the north and west. We won't even discuss the steroids issue or the departure of West Virginia's coach to Michigan. I know, Artie, it's all about the money.
How about those magazine covers. Let's see, the one from 1952 is a stylized rendition of the B&M at Whitefield, New Hampshire. Then we have one from 1942 with an N&W J in a generic West Virginia scene. Then there is one from 1943 which is SP - I know Awk, it can't be anything else.
IT photos were excellent!!
Also appreciated information re Hell Gate. All Penn Jobs on the New Haven traversed that structure. If you are interested in things urban and rail, interlibrary loan Carl Condit's books, Port of New York - excellent stuff!
I think I'm back to where I should be.
Work safe
HI Tom and all.
A Cup of your 'famous' coffee please and a bacon sarnie RUTH please.
Back from southern MO , the snow is a bit deeper here in mid MO than there, although it got a bit nasty on Saturday evening time with snow and freezing rain although it warmed up and melted most of it yesterday and it was only near here that the snow and ice was lingering but the roads are OK .
I will catch up on the posts and photos that have been posted since Thursday..
Meanwhile a round please RUTH..
Pete.
Ruth my deAH, fill up the extra large mug with some hot coffee ‘n a double jolt if you please. A rough time of it for me as I'm definitely coming down with ‘something' not good. <ugh> Anyway, just wanted to make a stop to let the gang know I'm still functioning <barely> though . . .
Ruth, you are the brightest note in my day - but then again, that's ALWAYS the case! <blush> Boris - feed the gang wudja Then that small jar of PPF is YOURS!
Went to the JINTS fiasco over at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands last night. Long cold, wet ‘n dreary time of it. Shouldn't have gone, but the Mrs. insisted - my sons insisted ‘n I said "what the H" . . . now I'm paying the price. JINTS LOST ‘n I feel like crap, both ways! What an awful game ‘n I'm here to tell ya, those guys do NOT belong in the playoffs.
Good to see some activity since my last visit on Saturday. Please forgive me if I fail to make any specific commentary - just NOT up to it right now. DID note the return of Shane ‘n Pete - good to see the two of you. Sorry you've been under the weather, Shane - ‘n glad you made it back safely, Pete!
Let me get to some covAHs for youse guyz . . . then I'm skedaddling. Even have to skip the <ahem> admin business for the day. It's THAT bad . . . <frown>
A Nostalgic Look at Belfast Trolley Buses - 1938-1968
(does not enlarge)
London Trolleybus Routes
(best clarity I could get)
NYC Transit System Bus & Trolley Coach Fleet 1946-1958
Trolley Buses - 1913-2001 - Photo Archive
Trolley Buses Around the World
What Ho! Great to see the return of our WVA Connection - CM3 Shane, who was down but not all the way out! And I see Wolfman Pete made it back 'n has been "in" as well. Also the Larsman made it, but isn't functioning on all cylinders. Sorry to hear that.
Since we're "into" reruns for the rest of the year <although the Larsman either forgot or plainly didn't give a Rat's Patoot on this not-so-feeling-well day!> - here's something from the Original Thread, Page that was Posted on July 7th, 2006 . . . .
RAILWAYS of EUROPE #7 -
Norwegian State Railways, Norges Statsbaner (NSB) Used with permission from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Formatting differences made necessary due to Forums requirements. Some photos from other sources. Norwegian State Railways, Norges Statsbaner (NSB) Norges Statsbaner (Norwegian State Railways, commonly known as NSB) is a Norwegian transport company, created in its present form by the Norwegian National Rail Administration through legislation on December 1, 1996, but then privatized on July 1, 2002, owned privately by Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications. Operations of NSB include passenger trains and buses. Cargo Net owns the freight train transport. Rolling stock During the 1990s NSB modernized their rolling stock, expanding their fleet of multiple units and retiring many of the traditional locomotive hauled trains. Most of the locomotives went to the freight company CargoNet AS, but the El18 and Di4 remain to pull passenger trains. Some of the new trains were plagued with troubles, in particular a brand new BM73 derailed (fortunately at low speed) at Nelaug in 2000 because of an axle breaking due to metal fatigue. As of 2005 however, these trains have been performing satisfactorily. Locomotives
NSB EI 18 #2254 (GNU Free Documentation) Electric multiple units
NSB BM69 #69639 (GNU Free Documentation) NSB BFM70 #70010 (GNU Free Documentation) Diesel multiple units
NSB DM93 (GNU Free Documentation) NSB BM93 at Hamar (foto: Leif-Harald Ruud) NSB BM93 at Åndalsnes (foto: Marco van Uden) NSB BM93 at Hamar (foto: Marco van Uden) NSB DM93 & Di8 at Åndalsnes (foto credit: unknown) DSB Talent train (foto credit: unknown)
Hi Tom and all.
A pint of Bathams XXX please RUTH.
SVEN Thanks for the explanation of the lokomotor. When you mentioned the Eau-De-Cologne 4711 it brought back the TV advert in the UK for it, where the 4711 was said in song. It must be many years since it was aired but I can here it now in head.
ROB Yes I suppose it would be a lot easier to restore a Swordfish than a more modern aircraft, it is hard to belief that the Swordfish done so much good work in WWII considering the other aircraft that was around at that time. It would be great to get to the warplane museum today.
Glad you enjoyed Alan's photos, the number of locomotives the preserved railways steam on gala days is amazing, there is a fair amount of locos that are exchanged between lines for galas.
Thanks for the info on the MCRR building, I may have to take you up on the ExpoRail book, I will have another good look for it in the house I know it was here but I cant think where I have put it.
Many thanks for the info about the Niagara Air show and the man who owns those great aircraft.
Enjoyed reading about Toronto's commuter lines, it is good to see much of the Belt line is still used as an industrial spur. Thanks for sharing.
ERIC Yes it is they have done a real good paint job on No 850.
We don't have any solid plans to travel on the Empire Builder yet, but seeing as the bride enjoyed the trip on the Southwest Chief she is willing to try the Empire Builder across to the West Coast down the coast to connect with the California Zephyr back to Chicago.
The white roof on engines for Royal Train duty was as far as I know just used by Stratford Locomotive Depot in the East End of London which was the main loco depot in London for the Great Eastern Railway which became part of the LNER and then the Eastern Region of BR, in fact Stratford had the largest allocation of locomotives on BR at one time. The white cab roofs may have been painted on other ex GE depots The line would have seen quite regular Royal Trains as the Royal family visited Sandringham.
The white roofs became a Stratford symbol in later years. In the early 1970s on BR after steam there was a corporate policy where all locomotives were painted what was known as BR blue with no deviation and no names on locomotives. Stratford broke the mould by unofficially naming a locomotive and later decorated two locomotives for the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977 with Union Jacks on the side and white roofs. I don't, think the BR bosses were too pleased at first but the locos got a good reception from the public so they were allowed to stay and the originals which was done by depot workers in their own time were improved. After this Stratford painted a lot of their locomotives with a white roof and the locos were nearly always turn out in a good condition.
Not long after this BR started having different liveries some including a white roof and the naming ban was lifted.
Thanks for the photo of the Z65.
LARS Many thanks for the great covers from the Larsman Mobile. Great themes with depots, the light shining through the windows of NY Grand Central Terminal is a famous photo.
FERGIE Yes a burping contest sounds just right, mind you Hilda & Helga are odds on favorites to win it.
Are the Canadian ships ‘dry'. I'm not sure whether they still have alcoholic drinks still on the Royal Navy ships. I believe the rum ration was done away with a while ago now, although I believe they ‘Splice the Mainbrace' on very special occasions.
It would be great to see some photos of those Alcos.
TOM Thanks for the kind words on Alan's photos, the bar on the Foxfield Railway must be fairly new as it was not there the last time I was there, although I guess that is a few years ago now.
Enjoyed reading about the Hell Gate Bridge Encore I recall it inspired a lot of talk at the bar when it was first posted, it is hard to believe that was back in September 2006. The bridge is one of those that are instantly recognizable. Many thanks for the encore.
It was great to talk to you today and I am looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.
Well I am half way down page 154 and the post is getting long so I will post this first part and catch up on the rest, so a round please LEON.
Good day Tom and all at Our place. Please set up the bar on me. My wife is returning tomorrow from Chile, so after that, I probably won't have much free time to visit. While she was there, she experienced several small earth tremors (around Richter 5). No damage reported. When I lived in California, I felt the earth shake on numerous occasions. I don't know if they were quakes or just too much liquid libation. No matter where you live, something is going to get you. If it's not hurricanes, it's earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, tornadoes, mud slides, forest fires or any other thing nature wants to send our way. I always laugh when I hear of people moving away from an area, because of some natural disaster only to relocate some place prone to a different disaster. People worry too much. There's nothing anyone can do to prevent a disaster. My favorite song is "Don't worry, be happy" by Bobby McFerrin.Here is a little song I wrote You might want to sing it note for note Don't worry be happy In every life we have some trouble When you worry you make it double Don't worry, be happy...... Ain't got no place to lay your head Somebody came and took your bed Don't worry, be happy The land lord say your rent is late He may have to litigate Don't worry, be happy Lood at me I am happy Don't worry, be happy Here I give you my phone number When you worry call me I make you happy Don't worry, be happy Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style Ain't got not girl to make you smile But don't worry be happy Cause when you worry Your face will frown And that will bring everybody down So don't worry, be happy (now)..... There is this little song I wrote I hope you learn it note for note Like good little children Don't worry, be happy Listen to what I say In your life expect some trouble But when you worry You make it double Don't worry, be happy...... Don't worry don't do it, be happy Put a smile on your face Don't bring everybody down like this Don't worry, it will soon past Whatever it is Don't worry, be happy
A beautiful round of photos from Tom, (Norwegian State Railways, interurbans); Lars, ( trolley buses, Santa Fe streamliners).
Tom, Your Wollensac brings to mind my first reel to reel. It was a Wilcox-Gay. Before that, I had a Webster wire recorder. I wonder if you remember the audio shows that were held at the hotel New Yorker around the mid 50's. There was some fantastic audio equipment demonstrated, some of it at "drive you out of the room" decibel levels. My first venture into stereo, (binaural in those days) consisted of running my Wilcox-Gay RTR simultaneously with my friends RTR machine. Once you got the syncronization right, the effect was astonishing to say the least, considering the quality of the machines. I built my first loudspeaker system using a 12"Wharfdale speaker mounted in a sand filled folded horn enclosure. Mr G.A.Briggs, a British audio engineer was the inspiration for me. I kept my interest in audio alive ever since. I couldn't afford the high end stuff like McIntosh, Marantz, Conrad Johnson, Krell, Mark Levinson and many more. The closest I got to "high end" was a Dynaco component Preamp and amplifier. At the time , it wasn't "high end", but many years later, a guy did some simple modifications to it and made it perform almost identical to a Hafler amplifier. The Dynaco cost $69, the Hafler around $600. Vacuum tubes are still around in the high end stuff, apparently because they can handle enormous amounts of power and overloads without a lot of distortion. Sound equipment used at rock concerts also use tube amps for the same reason. Most of the tubes come from Russia. I'm not aware of any other country still making tubes.
Sorry, I got sidetracked on sound, but it is a favorite topic of mine. I also liked the pictures of the Hell gate bridge and it's history. Rob's photo coverage of the Spitfires, Hurricanes, ME109's and Lancasters was a welcome departure from trains. I think they fit in well as another mode of transportation.
Pete, I enjoyed your coverage of the Foxfield Railway. Although I'm really not into engines of British flavor, they are none-the-less fine examples of mechanical engineering, that I can appreciate. I mentioned before about crime in Chile. It is mostly of the non-violent type, not the killing type. Chile is really not a tourist destination. I think most tourists come from Germany and Britain. Norte' Americanos haven't discovered Chile yet. We tend to flock to the places that are the least expensive (as far as transportation gos) to see the sights offered by TV travel shows and travel agents. I for one prefer the out-of-the-ordinary destination. I won't put up with "Cook's tours" and other tourists with their Rolex's and spoiled brats. If I want to see the Eiffel tower, I'll visit it on the web. I whole lot cheaper. After all, how long can one spend looking at or from the tower. If I were to go to Yellowstone Park, how long can one spend watching a geyser? 5 minutes tops for me. Then it would be off to the nearest bar. I'm not a traveler. I'm a homebody. I enjoy my little "castle". It has all I want in life.
Eric, My wife has family in Santiago, where she is staying. Her home was in Limanche which is about 100 miles west of there. As I mentioned to Pete, crime is of the non-violent type, purse snatching, petty crime really. I'm sure glad she will be back tomorrow (Tuesday). When she is back, it will be rush-rush to get some Christmas shopping done, so I might not be able to get time to visit Our place.
Good evening Leon,I think I need to warm up by the fireplace ,yes I know that Boris is airing out his socks by it, but I don't see hazmat around so I'll risk it.I think a Keith's though to numb any pain that the olfactory assult may dish out.
Tom-Howdy hi there , I'm glad to hear that you finally got some white stuff and weather to enjoy,myself I've had almost enough of it. oh well three more months of it to endure.I hear that the Enviroment Canada folks are calling for a fairly heavy ie snowy winter for us.We ended up with I would say 14" of it in Brantford , Toronto and just north of them got a good deal more most of it Lake effect of Lake Ontario,I'm guessing that Buffalo and Niagara falls got even more as the lake effect of Lake Erie tends to be much much heavier.
Let see hmm don't talk to me about gas priced it's $1.02.9 a litre here at the moment, hasn't been under the $0.95 mark since JulyGood thing that I have to gas misers as far as cars go.Both will take almost to weeks to drain themselves of their 50 litre tanks.
Well as always we will keep the light on for you,who knows with the new VIA budget maybe international service to New York or Chicago will resume on a more human and normal scheduale, at least when VIA operates in the US you only have to deal with one language
Should I wear the dress Scarlett of the Mentor Home Guard if I can make it in for the re-enstatement hearing Boris loves polishing all the brass buttons on the tunic,he likes the tall bearskin hat that goes along with it, says something about it reminding him of home. I'm not really sure I want to find out more about exactly what it reminds him of, but he does tend to get teary eyed wehn he speaks of it, mind you that could just be his socks doing that.
Thanks for reposting the Norwegian Railways , it may spark some excitement from our transplanted northerners.By the way we did recieve the Christmas card today thank -you hopefully yours arrives before next Christmas,Canada Post will deliver just not necessarily when you want it to ( likely a union thing )
I thought I did turn in my keys , though Boris did show me the backway in under his shed and through the emergency escape tunnel that connects the bar to the Mentor Morgue .<uh oh>Boris claims it was built as an airraid shelter but that the tunnellers , got so into their work that the dug out an entire system of underground passeges, which makes the mentor sanitation depts job much easier as they don't need to didg down throught the streets to get at water mains and sewers.
Shane-Ah yes I'm glad to know that I was more or less correct on my CP pool train thoughts. I too have just recently stopped coughing up the bizarre bits of who knows what with this years plague / cold or flu. I'm glad I got my flu shots god knows how this thing would have gone without it.It was the most awfull thing easch day it seemed to attack a different body part or parts.
I would love to count how many good pictures of now long gone locomotives I could have photographed had I had a camera or gave a rats patoot when I was growing up. With in walking distance of home and school we had the old NS&T switching districts that served the industries ( still do ) in St Catharines. High hood GP 9's and 7's GMD1's Alco Rs3's and 10's and 18's none of which I ever photographed. Worse still the twenty min car ride to Grandma's would have allowed me to photograph TH&B GP7's and 9's and their switchers along with the occational NYC or PC or Wabash power using the CASO running rights through Niagara Falls and Welland. Who knwos maybe someone will invent a time machine long before I'm gone.
Sven-Nice to learn a bit more about you,looks as thought eh ole groan-a -meter MK3 will possibly require reactivation,I hope Boris still ahs the spare parts in his shed. Shane's right, however properly fed and motivated ( electric cattle prod ) will garner you a great help and resarch partner around these parts.
Lars-Some mighty fine "covah's" from the 'ole bookmobile,trolley's and trolley buses it's all good.I do hope that you can sidestep this plague truly an unwelcome experiance to be sure.
Pete-Maybe you could take Boris home and use him as a blood hound of sorts. he may well be able to find the missing book.He afterall can tell you under exactly which pile of filth in his shed that you can find any of the assorted lost articles that mysteriously gravitate to his shed.
Eric-I'm glad that I was able to help you and your friend with his query.I will in the comming month's and weeks find and repost the pre-history of the TTC pieces I put out on the original thread,they will have a bit more info that your friend may be intrested in as well.Thanks for posting that little trolley for me. A nice little Birney looks to be a single trucker as well or a vomit rocket as they were lovingly refered to as ( they tended to pitch to and fro like a ship if you got them up over 50mph )
So Leon, I think another round of the good stuff while I attempt to bring up some new info,an attempt at least to get back into the swing of things here at the Saloon by the Siding.Herer's another blast from the back pages to keep the chat dribbling along.
CLASSIC STEAM #38 THE LAKE SIMCOE JCT RAILWAY
One of the main goals of the early railway builders in Ontario,was to tap the resorces of the Provinces hinterlands.Here was where the timber,minerals and the farmland resided. All vital to the new countries fledgling economy.The first lines were usually anchored to a lake port, and from there they wound their way inland to wherever their charter and their funding would take them.Often with many of the first lines this wasn't very far ,and many of the lines were simply built as portages.
While the Toronto & Nippissing Railway ( never even got close to lake nippissing ) was being built and wound it's way from Toronto to Coboconk,it lacked a neccessary portage conection.Accordingly a feeder line was proposed from a point on the TN to Lake Simcoe,which was at that time a key transportation route for Ontario's early settlers, and lumber companies.
The Lake Simcoe Junction Railway,began ant Stouffville a booming town set amidst some of Ontario's finest farmland,and terminated at Sutton,with a spur extending to the warf at Jackson's point on Lake Simcoe.Water tanks and a small coal facility were placed at Mount Albert,while two engine sheds were built in both Sutton and Stouffville.Eight stations and sidings were located along the line, with the buildings at Mount Albert and Sutton being built to the specs of the two stroy wood frame sattion at Stouffville. The rest were simple single story buildings built in the style of the TN parent road.The station at Kirkfield still stands as does the TN station at Markham Ontario ( suburb of Toronto ).
Train service on the LSJ was not frequent. Two daily train mixed trains called at each station for the first three years of operation,by the fourth year this was reduced to one,however by 1910 a full passeneger train was operating in each direction on the line.By 1917 this was reduced once again to just the one mixed train as the interurban rr The Toronto and York radial (TTC forerunner ) was offering daily excursions to Lake Simcoe on the faster, quieter and cleaner electric interurban cars.With this heavily patronised competition the LSJ cut train service back from Jackson's Point to Sutton ( thus not evening reaching Lake Simcoe ).further competion arrived in 1919 in the form of the Canadian Northern's new transcontinnetal line which ran from Toronto northeast of Lake simcoe along the eastern shore of the lake. this line actually ran parallell to the LSJ,with the lines almost adjacent to each other at Mount Albert !
By 1928, the newly formed Canadian National had assumed control of both lines,and undertook a major line relocation project.They eliminated a section of the LSJ between Stouffville and Zepher and moved the junction closer to Sutton to a point along the higher quality Canadian Northern Line built between Zepher and Sutton.In 1928 the CNR eliminated all the passenger runs on the remaining chunks of the LSJ, regulating it to part time freight only traffic.During the 30's - 50s' it was a major farm produce,livestock line feeding traffic to the CNR's eastern lines.Through the late 50's and into the 60's trains became less and less frequent with most of the produce going to trucks.1979 saw CN abandone the line , along with alot of it's other mid Ontario small yeild lines.
Good morning Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!Leon, good to see you again. Hope you had a nice weekend! I'll have a double cheeseburger and curly fries! Root Beer, please!
Another cool day in the Valley of the Sun, 65°F. Maybe we will be in the 70's next week.
Sven – I really don’t know how many railroad photos I have. Not enough though. After Christmas I will start scanning more old photos. I just hope I can find all photos and negatives. Tom – Two of the photos Lars posted had the same text, WP #881 Silver Chalet and WP #881 Silver Crescent resp. But only one looks like a dome-observation car. Silver Chalet had #831 and was a dome-buffet-dormitory car. The steam locomotive in my picture is ex-GW #90, 2-10-0, built by Baldwin. Belongs to Strasburg Railroad. The picture was taken at Leaman Place, not far from Lancaster, PA. It is hard to know why some people just “disappear” from the bar, but I guess they have some kind of reason(s). NSB. I have had the pleasure to work with people from NSB at many occasions and they have always been very nice. I noticed that the electric Class El16 is missing in the list. Probably because they are now only used for freight trains by Cargo Net. El16 is very much related to Amtrak’s AEM-7. The last picture shows DSB (Danish State Railways) Talent train. CM3 – Boston - Pittsburgh sounds like an odd line for a sleeper. Thanks for the info! Pete – Snow and ice, I am glad I don’t have to be where you are. Stay away from it as much as you can. Thanks for the info on the white roofs! Stratford Locomotive Depot was obviously doing things their own way many times! Lars – Catching a cold (or the flu)? That is no fun at all. Take it easy and keep warm. Hope you will feel better soon!Trolley buses! That is interesting! I used to work as a coductor on trolley buses, streetcars and regular buses years and years ago. Trolley buses are quiet and have a good acceleration.
Seattle, WA.
Ron – I see that we have one more ting in common, interest in audio! Especially in the 60’s I built a many radios, amplifiers, etc. Almost all with vacuum tubes. As you say, almost all very high end amps still use vacuum tubes today. Glad to hear that your wife will be back when you read this. I agree, don’t worry, be happy!!! I like your song!
Rob – Birney, the vomit rocket! Never heard that before. #10 was not bad at all, but we never reached 50 mph. But I can imagine that they could pitch at higher rates of speed.
The control stand in #10.
Thanks for Classic Steam #38, The Lake Simcoe Jct Railway. Today just a memory. Was the entire line abandoned in 1979?
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