Denali Star - from my personal collection
G'day Gents!
What blustery day this has been. Rains have been on the heavy side with winds gusting at or above 50 mph for much of this day. Poor Juneau has been perplexed by the absence of his "normal" walks (1 mile each) that have been reduced to simply getting out to do that which must be done! <oooooh>
What a nice day at the bar as Ruth has been kept busy, Cashinator ‘n Tilla have been <KaChingin'> away and all's apparently well at the Bar by the Ballast! Amazing, in spite of the noted absences of two guys who USED TO hold this place together on the weekends. But alas, that was then . . .
Good news! Received an E-mail from BK (Bud Karr) and they are back in Alberta, Canada in their mountain retreat. Got back last evening and he says it will take ‘em a bit of time to regroup and get organized sufficiently to where he'll be able to try and catch up with the goings on here.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS!
Eric at 11:51 AM today: Many thanx for the daylight visit! Most unusual, but much appreciated! Some fine Pix and all have "stories" that I'm sure you could expound on . . . Love that shot from the cab with the snow covering the right of way. Looking over to the left, the tracks appear to be visible whereas dead ahead, it's a "white out"!
Ya know, two of those passenger cars don't appear to be RDCs to me. Wonder if they are MetroLiners Would love to see them from another angle.
Mike at 12:37 PM today: URLs (what else!) from "silent Mike." I think Pete aptly covered my comments!
Pete at 1:21 PM & 2:50 PM today: Outstanding INCLUSIVE Posts from the Wolfman! Way to go, Pete.
We've had a bad day as apparently so have you in mid-Missouri. "They" say tomorrow is going to be more of the same, but with dropping temps. Welllllll, it IS winter, eh
Nice URL!
Many THANX for the additional Pix on that "suspended" railway. Now I get it!!
Regarding your QUIZ question: We've seen ALL of the Horatio Hornblower DVDs (several times) but cannot recall one scene where a canal was in use by the earstwhile hero. Must've been something you remembered from the book(s). Awaiting your description.
Appreciate the rail Pix from Belgium too!
Lars at 2:15 PM today: Glad you made it home, but sorry that you're back to winter! Ha, ha, ha, ha, he, he, he, ho, ho, ho, ho - oooooops, did my insincerity show [?} <grin> Hey Mate! You had your grand time in the Keys, [welcome] welcome back to REALITY!
I just checked out the Penthouse Suite and see that the Manager's Bar has been installed. Looks just fine and I'm sure the first happy couple will enjoy it . . .
Appreciate your endorsement of the way we operate this bar, but try to keep in mind that there'll ALWAYS be one or two who just won't be as willing or as enthusiastic as others. Just life in the fast lane, m'boy! <grin>
Love the NYC PA! Lightning bolt scheme is one of the best, fer sure, fer sure!
Doug at 5:51 PM today: JUST caught your long awaited 'n long Post! Thanx - something to read in the AM! Was wonderin' whether the weather gotcha . . . <grin> THANX for not forgetting about us!
Reminder: "Our" Place is CLOSED on Sundays. We open at 6 AM Monday. Ruth has the bar from 9 AM until Leon the Night Man comes in at 5 PM ‘til closing.
Boris, ring the bell, drinks on the house!
See y'all on Monday!
Tom
Good evening Tom and gents! In spite of the snow, I'll have my usual bottomless draught, and buy a round for the house. I've noticed that the honorable RDC has been a topic of lately, and will do some digging for material I have on the subject. I see CM3 provided some interesting coal-related material, which I always enjoy. Since I came across coal-stuff before RDC stuff, that's what I can submit today:
Battle Over Coal by Michael Bezilla
Late in the winter of 1969, as Eric A. Walker prepared to retire after 14 years as president of Pennsylvania State University, he reflected on the highs and lows of his administration in a series of memos to his personal file. He recalled that one of the lowest points came ten years earlier in 1959, when he was almost fired - not because of faculty unrest or dissatisfaction in the Legislature or any of the usual reasons why university presidents are pink-slipped. Instead, he nearly lost his job because he decided that Penn State, Pennsylvania's largest public university, should stop having coal hauled to the campus power plant by rail.
"I jeopardized my position when I decided to start buying coal delivered by truck," he wrote. "This became almost a state scandal, and yet ... the truckers could supply the coal cheaper than that coming by rail." The seemingly mundane issue of how to deliver coal to a university in fact mirrored a problem that railroads faced nationwide. There were losing increasing amounts of traffic of all kinds to their highway competitors, and were searching desperately for ways to staunch that loss. Penn State became a battleground of sorts, and President Walker a near-casualty.
The university and adjoining community of State College, near the geographic center of Pennsylvania, were served by the Bellefonte Central Railroad. BFC's sole interchange partner, the Pennsylvania Railroad, hauled bituminous coal from mines situated some 25 to 50 miles northwest of State College in the plateau region of the Allegheny Mountains. PRR transported it down the east face of the Alleghenies to Bellefonte's in the Nittany Valley. BFC then hauled the coal the remaining 19 miles through the valley to Penn State's University Park Campus.
This arrangement had prevailed since the school built its first power plant in 1893, a year after the Bellefonte Central was completed to State College and began providing freight and passenger service to the campus. About the only thing that changed over this period was the power plant. A new brick-and-limestone facility went on line in July 1930. Using two turbo-generators and four coal-fired boilers, the plant produced electricity as well as steam used for heating college buildings. At first, the plant consumed approximately 10,000 tons of coal annually, but that amount increased as the campus grew and generating equipment was upgraded.
By 1959, Penn State was burning about 30,000 tons of coal each year to support nearly 100 major buildings and 14,800 students. Of all the traffic BFC hauled to State College in a typical year, coal accounted for about 60 percent of the tonnage and 40 percent of the gross revenue. The short line expected coal to become even more important: because of continued campus expansion, the university projected that it would require nearly 70,000 ton annually by 1970.
Bellefonte Central was primarily a carrier of lime and limestone, all of which originated at a National Gypsum Co. plant near the east end of the line, 3.5 miles from the PRR interchange. On the west end were State College and Penn State, with virtually no customers in between. In addition to coal, inbound shipments to town and campus included building materials, farm equipment, food, paper products, and such consumer goods as appliances and furniture. The number of outbound loads was negligible.
The problem was that BFC was steadily losing high-value traffic to trucks. Gone completely was such lucrative business as petroleum products and automobiles. Less-than-carload traffic was in a death spiral, and just about everything else had declined. State College carload totals fell from a peak of 1,738 in 1947 to 1,146 a decade later.
The Pennsylvania Railroad was fighting the battle against trucks on a much grander scale, but basically with the same results: truckers were getting more, and PRR less. Under such circumstances, Walker knew that his decision to convert from rail to truck would draw fire, but he never anticipated that it would provoke "almost a state scandal." Walker grossly underestimated the reaction of the Penn State trustee and PRR vice president Walter W. Patchell.
Patchell had graduated from Penn State in 1919 with a degree in civil engineering before joining PRR's maintenance-of-way department. He transferred to the operating department, became a division superintendent, and continued to rise through the executive ranks. A vice president since 1952, he had headed, in succession, real estate, passenger traffic, and research and development.
In 1958, PRR President James M. Symes named him vice president for special services, putting him in charge of planning for a proposed merger with the New York Central System. A dedicated company man, Patchell once remarked that his greatest leisure-time activity was "railroading." He also devoted to his alma mater, and held volunteer posts in the Penn State Alumni Association prior to being named to the board of trustees in 1950.
As a member of the board's committee on physical plant, Patchell gained a reputation in some quarters for keeping one eye on the university's welfare, and the other on the PRR's. That was the opinion of Milton Eisenhower, who headed Penn State from 1950 to 1956. Eisenhower found Patchell to be difficult to work with and described him as "grumpy and critical ... he was always criticizing."
A study commissioned by Eisenhower showed that converting power-plant coal shipments from rail to truck could save the university nearly $10,000 a year. Patchell was opposed; Penn State coal was a growth business. Moreover, he feared that the other products the institution received by rail - mainly canned and frozen fruits and vegetables, flour, potatoes, sugar, and paper products - would also find their way to truckers. Eisenhower recognized that Patchell had influential allies among the trustess, and backed away from the coal issue "in light of attitudes ... present in the situation," an assistant delicately explained.
Eric Walker, who succeeded Eisenhower in 1956, possessed a forthright manner that matched Patchell's own bluntness. Trained as an electrical engineer, Walker preferred to make decisions based on logic rather than political subtleties. He supposed that if the numbers showed trucking coal was best for Penn State, it would be an untenable case for the railroads, even for Patchell. And anyway, "Patch" was a friend - he was among the trustees who had lobbied hardest for Walker's candidacy when Eisenhower had abruptly resigned to serve as a White House adviser to his older brother, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
In 1958, Walker ordered another study of the economics of coal delivery. The report noted that the combined PRR-BFC rate for coal delivered from the Snow Shoe, Pa., area was $1.84 per ton, and $2.14 from the slightly more distant Clearfield, Pa., district. Trucks could deliver the coal for about 75 cents less per ton from either source. Penn State expected to burn about 35,000 tons in 1960, so the savings would be considerable."<
Hi Tom and all again.
I'll have a bit of the meatloaf please RUTH and a Bathams to wash it down with.
MIKE Many thanks for those great links.With the Lehigh Valley in color and a great pic of D&H locos, how that color scheme suited those diesels, steamers on the Erie,and diesels and electrics on the Pennsy. It is good to see the Pennsy frieght electrics and that photo of the GG1 in the snow .
Thanks for the pics of the Great Central bridge over the Oxford Canal at Rugby. The scene as certainly changed today, all the remains of the bridge is one brick pier surrounded by a lot of undergrowth it can be hard to spot.
Glad to see you made it back home OK LARS.As you say it seems to be a matter of pride to the airlines today that they have to damage the luggage if they can, is it me or are things getting much worse today in that respect.
I bet it does seem cold after the warmth of Florida.
Thanks for the pic of the Alco on the NYC, although I have to admit, to me, they look better in D&H or Santa FE Livery, still a great looking locomotive.
This weeks pics are by Alan when he was in Belgium. I believe these locos took over from the diesel on the special train that I posted two weeks ago.
These are at Zalzat where the locos were changed
This is at the loco depot at Terneuzen.
Perhaps Eric can help with a description of these diesels.
A quick quiz question to do with canals. How did Horatio Hornblower help out when he travelled by narrow boat to join his ship.
Well RUTH now that LARS is back I will have a beer. It looks as though I will be busy stocking the bar later as the work crew look a thirsty bunch after fixing the private bar, and can you save me a steak for later please.
Pete.
G'day Cap'n Tom & fellow travelers at the bar!
Ruth you lovely creature, a frosty mug of Keiths Ale and a round for the house!
Home again, home again, jiggidy jog . . . We're baaaaaaaaaack! It's in the high 30's 'round here and expecting SNOW tomorrow! Arrrrgggghhhh, as Tom would say! How difficult do you think it is to adjust to THIS, huh
Trip back was largely uneventful, although we had a bit of a problem with the luggage. It all arrived (finally) but not after some anxiety and a loooooong wait. Bugs the daylights out of me the way they get away with this crap, especially given the air fares. Doesn't matter how much one pays, the bags still get crushed, delayed or lost. A train wudda been a far better experience. But these days, one would have to take out a 2nd mortgage to book a bedroom aboard Amtrak with all the "facilities," etc. Then you get stuck with P/P service, indifferent employee attitudes, and so forth. Sounds JUST LIKE the airlines! <arrrrgggghhhh>
Just thought I'd swing by and pay my respects to the lovely lady behind the bar, and of course buy a round for the crew!
Ruth, a Larsman special hero sandwich if you please, ham - Swiss - mustAH 'n buttAH - two large pickles from the barrel, a saucer of brine for Tex, platter of seeds for Awk, tray of ice cubes for Frostbite and a small jar of pickled pig's feet for Boris! <phew>
What a fine day here a the bar, and a Saturday at THAT! In spite of the noticeable absences on the part of the "new bookends" - ROB 'n DOUG - and of course the Monday thru Friday guys - we seem to have generated some interest on this rather cooooooooooold Saturday.
Really liked that compilation put together by Da Bossman! Puts it all together quite nicely AND especially if one goes back to PAGE ONE to scan through the way things are done 'round here. If there's anyone out there who cannot "get it" - find another place to roost, is what I say!
Sooooo, a bit of catching up and I'll be with ya in no time. Let me just catch my breath, as my Mrs. has had me hopping, which is a polite way of putting it!
I used to work for a Chief Engineer who I KNEW was a 2nd cousin to Hitler - just knew it - but my Mrs. would make 'em both look like panty waists, for sure! <grin> Better chill out, otherwise she'll bellow call my name again! <groan>
The work crew arrived to help install my bar up in the Penthouse Suite, so I'll be taking my leave to ensure that all gets done to my specifications! Thanks Bossman for letting me have it up there. Makes more sense that way. Sure, sure Ruth, you can come up (any time) to check it out!!
Just wanted to add that the movie selections are top shelf, as always! Also, we viewed that movie, Flags Of Our Fathers, and came away with the feeling that the "message" was something we hadn't expected. A well done movie, but one that surprised us. You were right about those train scenes, some nifty ones for sure!
Good to see Pete 'n Eric "at it again" and helping to keep this place rolling forward. Means a lot to have the interaction and inclusiveness of word and image!
Truly enjoyed the discussion on the canals and their connection to railroading. Great stuff and just the kinda thing that sets this thread above 'n apart from the rest. Excellent work from youse guys!
In reading through the past couple of pages, I too picked up on the fact that we've got to remind the guys to use that REFRESH feature. Seems that two of the guys are really behind in commentaries, which of course does make it difficult to maintain "conversation." Good point Boss!
So, what's NOT to like about THIS
NYC PA3 #4210 (photo credit: Bill Waller)
Until the next time!
Lars
Hi Tom and all.
A cup of your excellent coffee and a egg and bacon sarnie on this wet Mid-Mo morning please RUTH..
CM3 I, like Tom can recall, the original post on the anthracite canals then the railroads, it is good to read it again,.
ERIC. I am sure you will enjoy the Museum Of Transportation, they have some great exhibits, some of which are unique.
British Waterways look after 2,200 miles (3,540 km) of canals. I have found this link on the canels.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Waterways
There is a link on the site to the History of British Canals which I found interesting.
The Oxford Canal is very close to the ex Great Western Railway Oxford to Banbury railway line for a considerable distance, also the canal runs by the West Coast Main Line about 7 miles north of Rugby, it is a favourite subjects of railway artists. In fact at the moment a calender I have from England is, this month, showing a painting of a LMS Streamliner on the Coronation Scot passing a narrow boat in the snow.
Many thanks for your great pics.I guess the train did not get much further in that snow,great photo and that is a interesting narrow gauge streetcar I am sure Rob will enjoy.And pushing the X2000
TOM Feeling better thanksThe rain as eased here at the moment but the wind is getting up.
I will tell about a great tour they do on a battery powered narrow boat through a long canal tunnel in the Midlands, I will have to find some more info.
Thanks for links to the RDCs Zephyrettes, it seems 23 hours with no food was a long time. I suppose the RDCs stopped en route where the passengers could get some food and a hot drink.It was a pity when the RDCs were hauled by the F3,a diner car could not have been added. I see in the WP post yesterday the Royal Gorge was a train that ran into St Louis I suppose the name was transferred from the train mentioned in the link. It was shame that both the RDCs were scrapped after Amtrak was finished with them.
It is hard to think it was a year ago that we were talking about navvies on the old thread, doen't time fly. Thanks for those two interesting links. I wonder how many navvies, especially the Irish navvies who built a lot of the railways in the UK, came over to America and help build the railroads here
More good films this week on at the Emporium. I don't think I have seen Night Train and it is a long time since I have watched the The Train Robbers, I recall it is a good film and the Stoges getting marred.
Good to see the list of characters at Our Place and their history of the names. It seems we have a lot to thank NICK and TED for.And it is a good job ROB found H&H to do the cooking .I will have to call in after midnight to see if the 'ladies of negotiable affection' still come in.
I had not heard of the suspended railway before, I have a couple more pics. The pic I posted yesterday was, I believe, of the method of turning the cars at the terminus, so I guess the cars run on a loop, perhaps Eric has heard of the system.
Well I see Mike as called in and left some links, so I will have a look at those and be back with some more pics in a bit.
Hi Tom and everyone, a round for the house
Oxford Canal
http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/getobject.php?rnum=L3109&searchitem=rugby&mtv=L1&pnum=12
http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/getobject.php?rnum=L3108&searchitem=rugby&mtv=L1&pnum=12
Lehigh Valley
http://www.cvrma.org/pictures/MISC/dfrr5_094_lv_budd_rail_diesel_car_hazleton_pa_1959.jpg
http://www.cvrma.org/pictures/MISC/dfrr5_098_lv_main_repair_shops_sayre_pa_1975.jpg
http://67.15.20.45/images/images2/l/LV_590_Lehighton.jpg.52068.jpg
http://67.15.20.45/images/images2/l/LV608wHillisdeNJ0750-9rpB.jpg.74302.jpg
Erie
http://www.cvrma.org/pictures/MISC/dfrr5_055_erie_jersey_city_terminal_1947.jpg
http://www.cvrma.org/pictures/MISC/dfrr5_059_erie_berkshire_locomotive_coal_train.jpg
http://67.15.20.45/images/images2/e/EL_927_0601.1967.jpg.60849.jpg
Erie-Lackawanna
http://67.15.20.45/images/images2/e/ELcirca1966950.jpg.98870.jpg
Pennsy
http://67.15.20.45/images/p/PRR_5703_0601.1959.jpg.21319.jpg
http://67.15.20.45/images/p/PRR_5791_0601.1959.jpg.87902.jpg
Pennsy electrics
http://67.15.20.45/images/e/E-44__4400__Aug_10_1963.jpg.93058.jpg
http://67.15.20.45/images/e/E-44__4441__May_20_1965.jpg.41238.jpg
http://67.15.20.45/images/images2/p/PRRnphlgg1frtsnow950.jpg.48426.jpg
Good morning/afternoon Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!
Oh, hello Ruth! You look great today! Is that right? He promised? I am sure he will if he promised, but maybe he is a little bit tired after the long flight from Florida. Yeah, that would be good, a meatloaf sandwich. Tell him hi when you see him!
Just a bite before going out for some shopping today. I have a few pictures to show this sunny but kind of cold Saturday.
First a picture of the exhaust fumes from the RDCs in Washington D.C.
Passing a ghost town in a F40.
Where is the track?
During the extensive tests of the very first X2000 we had some mishaps. Like this time when we had to push the train back onto a siding after some capacitors blew up. 1989.
Finally a picture for Rob and Lars. A narrow gauge streetcar outside Trondheim, Norway.
I will be back later with an inclusive post. Have to go!
Eric
ENCORE! Saturday ‘n Photo Posting Day!
at "Our" Place!
We are CLOSED on SUNDAYs!Starting Sunday at the Mentor Village Emporium Theatre!
. . . Sunday, February 25th thru March 3rd: Night Train (1959) Starring: Lucyna Winnicka, Leon Niemczyk, Teresa Szmigielówna, Zbigniew Cybulski & Helena Dabrowska - and - The Train Robbers (1973) Starring: John Wayne, Ann-Margret, Rod Taylor, Ben Johnson & Christopher George. SHORT: The Three Stooges - Oily To Bed, Oily To Rise (1939).
Night Train (1959)
PLOT SUMMARY:
A man, Jerzy, enters a train set for the Baltic coast. He seems to be on the run from something. He has to share sleeping-compartment with a woman who also seems to be on the run. Eventually we get to know that the police are looking for an escaped murderer. Is it really Jerzy they are looking for?
from: amazon.com
The Train Robbers (1973)
The ravishing widow Mrs. Lowe (Ann Margaret) has just one wish: she wants the gold her late husband stole to be recovered and returned to its rightful owner, restoring her family's good name. The only problem is, she lacks the grit and guns needed to get it back. Lane (John Wayne) is a lightning fast gunman who doesn't sell himself short. When Mrs. Lowe cajoles him to help hunt down the stolen gold, he accepts, thinking it will be an easy day out in the Mexican country. The treasure hunt turns out to be more dangerous than they planned, however, when they encounter the villainous Pinkerton Man (Ricardo Montalban) and his horde of Mexican outlaws. As Lane and Mrs. Lowe search for the stolen booty and evade Pinkerton and his thugs, they develop a curious affection for one another and realize that love is more precious than gold.
SHORT: Oily To Bed, Oily to Rise (1939)PLOT SUMMARY: Featuring Moe, Larry & Curly
The Widow has just sold her farm to three swindlers. Meanwhile, Curly has the uncanny ability to make his wishes come true. He wishes for a car and finds one, which they drive to the Widow Jenkins' farm. They repay her for a nice meal by fixing her water pump. While they work, they discover an oil well. The boys tell Mrs. Jenkims the news, but realize she was swindled. The Stooges search for the crooks, who they find walking down the road. They find the deed to Mrs. Jenkins' property and return it. They win the love of Mrs. Jenkins' three daughters and get married.
from: threestooges.net
Enjoy! Tom
Saturday, the time for some ENCORE! material . . . so, how about some reminders of WHO's WHO at "Our" Place!
Caveat: Unless otherwise noted, these Characters were created ‘n named by the Proprietor.
The Cast of Characters from "Our" Place
siberianmo Tom is the Proprietor and head bartender.
loveDomes Lars is the Manager.
Chief Chef is VACANT.
Assistant Chief Chef currently being handled by the H&H "gals" - a creation of trolleyboy Rob who perhaps is the ONLY one able to describe ‘em. Let's just say they are extremely Teutonic in build, demeanor and so forth. YOU VIL EAT VATS ON DA PLATE, OR ELZZZZZ! <uh oh>
trolleyboy Rob is the Bar Chandler.
pwolfe Pete is Assistant Bar Chandler
Boris is - well, he's Boris who works in the kitchen and anywhere else needed.
He was hired by our former, Chief Chef nickinwestwales Nick (Permanent member of The Legion of the Lost) and is assistant cook. He's not too hard to spot, as Boris is not of this world. Kinda difficult to maintain eye contact with him. He's playful and unaware of his strength. We do not permit him to tend bar - however, he loves to ring the bell when a round is purchased.
Special mention: theodorebear Ted (Permanent member of The Legion of the Lost) created ‘n named Boris - and - barndad Doug came up with the animation for our cloven footed Cyclops! nickinwestwales Nick gets the "credit" for the geneology!
Leon the Night Man - Wandered in one day and never left. Leon is a "gentle giant" of a man who enjoys working and has little room in his demeanor for trouble makers. Loves his "combat boots" and "bib overalls" - Don't mess with Leon who works the bar from 5 PM ‘til closing!
Inspector Clueless of the Local Constabulary and his earstwhile friend and companion Mr. Doyle, Private Investigator make up the security force ‘round here.
Special mention: theodorebear Ted created ‘n named Mr. Doyle, PI.
Critters of "Our" Place:
Frostbite the Penguin - Named by West Coast S Dave - Permanent Member of the Legion of the Lost.
Awk the Parrot
Tex the Armadillo
Juneau the Wonder Husky - First mascot of "Our" Place!
Herr Wurlitzter
Coal Scuttle - Created and named by Bar Chandler trolleyboy Rob - currently AWOL and perhaps MIA. (This is used as a replacement for our Pickled Pig's Feet Jar to store the quarters for our Herr Wurlitzer!)
<
Rain, rain, go away, come again another day . . . Saturday and the rains have arrived in mid-continent USA. A rather damp trek through the subdivision with Juneau the Wonder Husky. By the looks of things, that may have been the last long walk for a day or two . . .
Always time for a cuppa Joe, pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery and a <light> or <traditional> breakfast from the Menu Board here at the Tavern by the Tracks!
We finally viewed "Flags of Our Fathers" last night on DVD. A "different" type of movie fer sure, fer sure - but from Clint Eastwood that's a given. Highly recommend the flick AND there are MANY great passenger train shots - good "stuff" from Chicago's Union Station. "THE" stairway to Canal Street - the Great Hall, and so forth.
Speaking of movies, remember this is ENCORE! Saturday - and - Saturday Photo Posting Day! So the preview for next week's movies at the Emporium will be Posted!
Some ADVICE regarding responses to the Posts here at the bar: BE SURE TO USE THE Reload/Refresh FEATURE ON YOUR browser. Otherwise you won't be getting the MOST CURRENT information. It is beginning to show up more frequently now, especially with so few who respond. Some guys are actually responding days behind, rather than hours. Makes it difficult to carry on a "conversation." So, REFRESH/RELOAD and you'll get CURRENT "stuff."
CM3 at 12:43 PM yesterday: Ask and ye shall receive! The coalminerman came through again - this time with an outstanding "bit" regarding the connection between canals and railroads of the anthracite coal industry. I recall reading your earlier epistle over at the original Thread, but this edition was every bit as enjoyable!
When I lived in "BahStun" the Celtics were THE team to beat in the NBA. Saw a few games at the "GahDun" and recall being thrilled to be in the joint, but not so happy about the "restricted view" seats I'd sometimes wind up with. Same for the "BruNes" in hockey!
I could write a short story or three about my experiences in and around North Station - ahhhh, some great times with the boyz back then.
Many thanx for the round ‘ quarters!
Pete at 1:17 PM yesterday: Appears as if the Wolfman is baaaaaaaack as a regular! Good sign, as you were surely missed. Hope things are also getting back to normal for you regarding the problem that had you sidelined.
That suspended railway Pix from Alan confuses me! Almost looks surreal. Another angle or perspective
I recall our conversation about the "navvies" that we had over on the original Thread. Anyway, I figured we'd get something started with regard to canals and railways and I wasn't wrong! THANX!
Something from 28 Feb 2006:
Check out these URLs for something on "navvy" and "navvies" http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-nav1.htm http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/navvies.htm
Note: You may have to use "copy 'n paste" for these . . .
The tunnel must have been intriguing to pass through. Only time I can recall going through a tunnel while waterborne was at an amusement park! NEVER enough time to "get done" what needed to "get done"! <grin>
Thanx for the canal link, by the by . . . lots of ‘em in Merry Olde, eh
Check this out for some WP RDC info for the run between Salt Lake City and Oakland:
http://www.wplives.com/operations/passenger/ZEPHYR_1/zephyr_1.html
Eric at 1:28 AM today: Shudda also picked up on Friday night's Steak ‘n Fries Nite feature as an alternative to the Pizza ‘n Beer thing. Anyway, glad to have you as a hungry customer. Keeps things "balanced" if yaknowwhutImean!
Three hundred days to retirement, eh Well, take it from someone who has been there, done that - don't let your diversions become EVERYTHING in your leisure time. Doesn't really work well. One must keep the grey matter exercised. The most difficult part for me has been the feeling of not contributing any more along with little or no interaction with and amongst those I had so much in common. Doesn't take long to wind up in the tar pits. <groan>
However, IF we're still around in Three Hundred Days, I just may "lease" this bar to you and perhaps Pete too. Heck, it just may be the three of us by then!
Really looking forward to your assessment of the failure of X2000 ‘n ICE to "make it" in North America. If you feel that certain of your thoughts should be kept out of the Ether, consider shipping off an Email to those you KNOW will be interested. Really a subject I'd love to learn more about . . . THANX!
The original Thread has info within it oregarding the Western Pacific's RDCs - they were called Zephyrettes. Here's a link (same as above): http://www.wplives.com/operations/passenger/ZEPHYR_1/zephyr_1.html
Not too worry ‘bout those RDC names at WashDC Union Station. It's all "researchable" in the Ether . . . will get a ROUNDTUIT one of these daze!
Love the cab shot!
Reminder:
Good morning Captain Tom and all!!
Pizza? No thanks, pizza is not for me. I'll have my favorite Rumpsteak Café de Paris instead. Thank you Leon!
Another quiet day at the bar! In 300 days I will be able to help keeping this place busy. Time flies so it will be like tomorrow!
Tom – I think the tax payers should be grateful that the idiot of week #15 identified himself! They did not have to pay much to get that guy. So give him a golden sign!Thanks for the warning about Cindy! Ohh, X2000 and ICE, why didn’t they make it? A good question that isn’t that wasy to answer. I have my opinion about the reasons and I’ll try to use some of my time this weekend to put it in writing. Since Our Place is closed Sundays I will post it on Monday. The pix is showing Amtrak’s RTL #154 and 158 in Rochester pulling the X2000 on a demo run. Inside of the cab of 154 is shown below.
A Classic Railroad, Western Pacific! Still alive as UP today. Some very nice looking locomotives! I like the FP7A in WP’s paint scheme! Very good looking!I am surprised to learn that WP was running RDCs between Oakland and Salt Lake City! How long did that trip take? I am afraid I don’t remember any road name on those RDCs in D.C.CM3 – A most interesting article about the anthracite railroads and canals! Pete – No, I have not been to the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis but I am looking forward to visit it in May! I see that you too noticed the long distance WP’s Budds covered. I wonder how many stops they made on the way. I have been to Oxford and Coventry but never saw Oxford Canal. How many canals (miles) are still in use in UK?
I'll be back later in the day with some pictures.
In early today so a mug of your coffee and a bacon sandwich before the lumber yard crew get in for their Friday lunch please RUTH.
ERIC I see you feel the same as I do about the Bar.
Thanks for the info on the S1 and the UP #6936. They have a DD-40AX #6944 as a static exhibit at the Museum of Transportation in St Louis which we should be able to see at the Rendezvous in May. Have you been to this museum before.
TOM It sounds as though we are in for a rough day with the weather tomorrow, with T-storms and they are saying maybe some snow here on Sunday in Mid-Mo.
I wasn,t sure the teletubbies were shown over here. I have an Our Place coincedence to tell you about when we talk again, to do with the Teletubbies .
Enjoyed the idiot of the week, I dont think that you will be running out of material,there seems plenty of them out there.
Thanks for the Western Pacific and the Budd Nostalgias. I see the WP ran the Royal Gorge into St Louis, what a great sight it must have been to spend a day at Union Station there in the early 1950s.I guess by the 1999 date on the photo of the FP7A it must be preserved
I also noticed that the WP ran two Budd RDCs nearly 1,000 miles from Oakland to Salt Lake City. It would make a great article in Classic Trains by someone who had done the whole journey on the train.
In my reply to the Seattle monorail I mention a pic Alan has sent of his trip to Germany, here is a pic of the suspended railway in Wappertal
We are indeed lucky in the UK that a resonable amount of the canals survived after being used for goods that they are now enjoying a second lease of life with the pleasure traffic, at some times the mooring places at the back of my old house is full, and there are two canal side pubs next door to each other which do a good trade from the holidaymakers in the Summer months.
As you say, the canals were the forerunners of the railway, the men who built the railways were called Navvy from the name Navigators given to the canal builders, a good testament of their skill is on the stretch of canal by the house there are two bridges that are over 200 years old now, one is just a farm track but the other carries a lot of road traffic, although the bridge has a weight limit on it.
The railways did own a lot of canals, I have heard it said that the reason Birmingham UK has not got the amount of rail lines around the city as some other cities, is the railways owned a lot of the canal network. In fact Birmingham has more miles of canals than Venice.
I have a link to the Oxford canal, with a pic of Newbold Tunnel which brought back some happy memories from my youth
http://www.canaljunction.com/canal/oxford.htm
Well RUTH I see it is after noon so I will try a Holdens Mild to start the weekend and a round for the house
I see CM3 is in so I will read the post now
Good Afternoon Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox.
James stopped by with comments as did Pete and Eric. I also see that Lars is "breaking camp" and heading north - right back into what is supposed to be some lovely weather.
Our ‘steamed proprietor included some RDC material. The B&M RDC shot was made at North Station in Boston and the RDC in the picture is in the "second" B&M RDC livery; when delivered, they had the Minute Man herald on them. This leads into the comments re DJ - well-remembered here for sure. NPR played a radio clip of Johnny Most broadcasting "from high above courtside" when the Celtics and Piston were in the playoffs. The game covered was where Bird got the ball to DJ who slammed it with one second left to give the C's the lead. I had a tremendous flashback. BTW, Boston Garden was atop North Station.
Railroads and canals? Your wish is my command, sir. It all goes back to anthracite. This is extracted from a much longer piece that I put together many yrs ago. More than a few fallen flags here.
Anthracite Canals
Rugged topography restricted transportation of anthracite to market. In the early days anthracite traveled to market by water. It was shipped down rivers in small boats in the 1800s, somewhat similar to how coal was shipped in Virginia. In the 1820s, canals were built to carry coal from mine to market. While wheelbarrows and scoops pulled by horses and mules made the job a little easier, the anthracite canals for the most part were built by pick and shovel labor, and injuries and disease killed many laborers.
The canals created local economies along their routes. Lumber yards, iron works and boatyards grew to support the canals. They also served to open up isolated areas and to carry agricultural goods and forest products as well as coal to market. A canal was still not the answer to the anthracite industry's need for reliable, all-weather transportation. Winter forced them to shut down. Spring floods often damaged the canal structure and locks and filled the canals with debris and silt which meant they had to be dredged before operations could resume. Canals generally did not operate at night and traffic flow was limited by the speed of the horses and mules that pulled the barges.
Anthracite Railroads
Railroads built the anthracite industry and put the canals out of business. The first railroads in the anthracite fields were feeder lines constructed in the 1820's and 1830's to carry coal from the mines to the canals. Five major "anthracite railroads" were operating by the time of the Civil War. These lines included the Philadelphia and Reading; Lehigh Valley; Delaware and Hudson; Delaware, Lackawanna and Western; and the Central of New Jersey.
The Philadelphia and Reading (Reading), incorporated on January 3, 1831, was the biggest anthracite railroad. The first section of the line opened between Reading and Norristown in July 1838 and the entire road from Reading to Philadelphia opened a year later. The Reading reached Pottsville in January 1842. The Reading, well-constructed and built to high engineering standards, continued as a coal hauler until the Civil War. Franklin B. Gowan became president of the P&R in 1869 and immediately decided to buy coal properties to ensure a steady supply of traffic for his railroad. Gowan's timing was unfortunate as he chose to buy land at a time when coal land prices were artificially inflated by a frenzy of postwar speculation. The Reading purchased 100,000 acres in the Schuylkill and western Lehigh coal fields in the early 1870s and organized the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company to hold these lands. The railroad lost money in mining due to overcapacity in the industry and, unable to meet its financial obligations, in 1880 the Reading went into receivership. For the next 20 years they tried to reduce fixed charges, make their coal business more profitable and to diversify their traffic base to lessen their dependence on coal.
The Middle anthracite field did not get a railroad at first due to its remote and also because the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company fought to keep its monopoly on anthracite shipments on the Lehigh Canal. The canal, however, was an undependable source of transportation because of weather and damage from repeated floods. Asa Packer, a businessman and canal boat operator, decided to try and solve the problem and bought the charter of the so-called "paper" Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad. Packer changed the company=s name to the Lehigh Valley (LV) and started laying track from Mauch Chunk (Jim Thorpe) to Easton. Packer's railroad was complete and operating by 1855. The LV eventually reached as far west as Buffalo and on the east to the shores of New York harbor. Packer was a visionary in that he built the Valley only as a railroad company rather than part of a larger mining operation. The Lehigh Valley got into the mining after the Civil War. In the 1870's the Valley set up the subsidiary Lehigh Valley Coal Company (LVCC) to watch over its mining interests. By 1911, the LVCC's operations ran more than 8 million tons per year and by 1916 they owned 30 breakers to handle their coal. At its height, only the Reading carried more coal than the Lehigh Valley.
The Delaware and Hudson (D&H) began as a mining company during the War of 1812 when Philadelphia was cut off from its supply of imported British coal. Philadelphia businessmen William and Morris Wurts bought coal lands in the Lackawanna Valley and the first shipment of coal from their properties reached Philadelphia in 1822. The Lehigh Canal had opened in 1820 and the Wurts turned their attention to supplying the coal needs of New York because New York City was closer to their coal properties than was Philadelphia. In 1823 they received charters from Pennsylvania and New York to construct the Delaware and Hudson Canal. The D&H Canal Company planned to go into the mining business from its inception. A railroad was constructed to carry coal from the mines to Honesdale. The canal carried the coal from Honesdale to Rondout, New York where it went down the Hudson River 94 miles to New York City. The canal and the railroad were completed in 1829. The D&H's rail operations expanded as new mines were developed and opened. In 1859 the Pennsylvania legislature allowed the company to build any lines needed to connect its coal lines to the canal. The Delaware and Hudson=s railroad operations expanded after the Civil War, and by 1871 their tracks were as far north as Whitehall, New York on the shores of Lake Champlain. By the turn of the century the D&H had sold the canal and their rail lines reached well into the northern part of New York where they served several iron mines. By 1907, the D&H had established connections in Quebec with both the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railway. As coal traffic declined, the D&H became more of a Abridge route@ to carry traffic between Canada and the United States.
The ancestry of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western (DL&W) goes back to 1826 when Henry Drinker received a charter from the Pennsylvania legislature to form the Susquehanna and Delaware Canal and Railroad Company to run from Pittston to the Delaware Water Gap. Nothing came of this project but two other railroads were chartered to run near the route surveyed by Drinker's company. These lines were combined to form the DL&W in 1853. From the beginning the Lackawanna had a vigorous and efficient management. The railroad contracted with large shippers to furnish their own cars which were pulled by Lackawanna locomotives. Small producers sold their coal to the railroad's coal department which in turn gave the line control over that part of their coal business. Anthracite was the DLW=s principle cargo until around the turn of the century when it began to be replaced by more general freight. The DL&W merged with the Erie Railroad in 1960.
Construction began on the Elizabeth and Somerville Railroad in 1831 after protracted legal wrangling over the line's proposed charter. The company was sold and reorganized in 1846 and extended into the Delaware Valley. The line was renamed the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) in 1849. The line reached from Elizabethport to Phillipsburg by 1852. Coal traffic became an important part of the CNJ's business starting in 1856 when they obtained connections with the Lehigh Valley and the Lackawanna. The Central of New Jersey expanded its operations after the Civil War when it built a line nearly parallel to the Lehigh Valley's route into the anthracite fields. The CNJ and the Lackawanna agreed to merge in 1872 but this plan was rejected by the Jersey Central's stockholders. In 1873 the Jersey Central greatly expanded its holdings of coal lands through purchasing properties that belonged to the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. These acquisitions occurred during a downturn in business conditions and the Central of New Jersey fell into receivership in 1873.
A series of protracted legal and financial maneuvers followed and by 1892 the CNJ was controlled by the Reading - a situation that was overturned the next year. J.P. Morgan had reorganized the Reading, purchased the Lehigh Valley, and by 1899, controlled the Central of New Jersey as part of his effort to stabilize the anthracite industry. The Reading finally purchased a controlling interest in the Central New Jersey in 1901 but the two railroads continued to operate independently. At the same time that this occurred, the Baltimore and Ohio took control of the Reading which allowed the B&O access to New York City.
The anthracite railroads exerted a profound economic influence where they operated. They built massive facilities at New York Harbor and Philadelphia to unload anthracite from trains and into colliers for shipment to east coast cities. Buffalo, New York became an anthracite port that shipped coal produced by Reading and Lehigh Valley-owned mines to industrial cities along the Great Lakes and to western states. The railroads owned and operated their own oceangoing vessels and lake boats. The Reading had the largest fleet of ships of all of the anthracite railroads. The anthracite companies sold their coal to consumers from yards in large cities such as Boston, New York, Buffalo, Chicago, and Philadelphia.
Work safe
PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #17
Initially Posted on Page 153 of the original Thread
Here's something to enjoy regarding the Budd RDC's from a 1950 advertisement found in my personal collection.
RDC - All-purpose Railway Passenger Coach
RDC introduced a year ago, is the new all-stainless steel, self-propelled Budd rail diesel car. It is good looking, quiet, smooth riding. It is comfortable, clean and air-conditioned.
The New York Central now has two Budd RDC's operating express service between Springfield and Boston, and a third, providing local service between western Massachusetts and Albany.
The Western Pacific has two RDC's covering the 924 miles which separate Oakland and Salt Lake City.
The Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines have just placed six RDC's in operation between Camden, Ocean City, Wildwood and Cape May. They leave Camden as a six-car train and end up as two-car trains at each of the three Jersey cities.,
The Chicago & North Western has three RDC's in commuter service; the Baltimore & Ohio will soon have two and the New York, Susquehanna Western, four.
These varied uses to which RDC is being put cover almost every kind of service a railway passenger coach can render.
The general acceptance of the Budd all-stainless steel RDC suggests that the development of railway passenger coach equipment may be headed in a new direction.
The Budd Company
Philadelphia, Detroit, Gary
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Enjoy!
The Passenger Railroad Fallen Flags of "Our" Place #3
Western Pacific Railroad (WP)
A form of this was initially Posted on Page 108 of the original Thread
source: Classic American Railroads
Caveat: The information provided is NOT all inclusive and is reflective only of the periods mentioned.
Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
Route mileage in 1950: 1,137
Locomotives in 1963: Diesel - 174
Rolling stock in 1950: Freight cars - 5,532; Passenger cars - 29
Principal routes in 1950 (not including subsidies):
Oakland-Stockton-Sacramento, CA-Salt Lake City, UT
Keddie-Bieber, CA
Reno Junction-Reno, NV
Niles-San Jose, CA
Passenger trains of note:
California Zephyr (Chicago-Oakland)
Exposition Flyer (Chicago - Oakland)
Feather River Express (Oakland-Portola, CA)
Royal Gorge (Oakland-St. Louis, MO)
Scenic Limited (Oakland-St. Louis)
Zephyrette (Oakland-Salt Lake City) [RDC's!]
WP drumheads
WP #581, Baldwin VO-1000 (from: http://www.wikipedia.com/ - authorized by: www.trainweb.com)
WP GP35 #3009 (1974) (from: http://www.trainweb.com/) - authorized by: www.trainweb.com)
WP FP7A #805A (1999) (from: http://www.trainweb.com/ - authorized by: www.trainweb.com)
*Idiot of the Week #5
A guy walked into a little corner store with a shotgun and demanded
all of the cash from the cash drawer. After the cashier put the cash
in a bag, the robber saw a bottle of Scotch that he wanted behind
the counter on the shelf. He told the cashier to put it in the bag
as well, but the cashier refused and said, "Because I don't believe
you are over 21." The robber said he was, but the clerk still
refused to give it to him because she didn't believe him. At this
point, the robber took his driver's license out of his wallet and
gave it to the clerk. The clerk looked it over and agreed that the
man was in fact over 21 and she put the Scotch in the bag. The
robber then ran from the store with his loot. The cashier promptly
called the police and gave the name and address of the robber that
he got off the license. They arrested the robber two hours later.
This guy definitely needs a sign!
STAY ALERT!
They walk among us .. and they REPRODUCE ..!!!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
They say that all good things do come to an end - so this week of mild temps and blue skies are about to give way to a weekend predicted to be stormy with lots of rain and high winds. Battten down the hatches, Boris, we're in fer it beginning tomorrow!
Friday at the Saloon by the Siding can only mean a relaxing start to the end of the work week by enjoying our Menu Board offerings for <light> ‘n <traditional> breakfasts along with pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery and of course our freshly ground ‘n brewed coffee - <unleaded> ‘n <regular>.
I see the sports world lost one of my "heros" - "DJ" of the Boston Celtics died at 52 after a work out. Dennis Johnson was an outstanding Celtic and will live on in memory amongst those who followed the basketball dynasty of earlier decades. RIP.
Pete at 7:11 PM yesterday: Return of the Wolfman for the 2nd successive evening!
Let's get ONE thing straight - Cindy is MINE, MINE, MINE! Lars ‘n Ruth Well, THAT's another matter!
A fine link to the Bressingham! Spent a bit o' time browsing it . . .
Can't say the same about the Teletubbies! Was just kidding with Doug - but the LESS I know about ‘em, the better I feel! <groan>
I also thought the C&O canal article was interesting, as was your story from "Merry Olde." Once upon a time, in either land, canal barge traffic was essential to the economy. Great pains were made to construct and maintain these canals. It's sad to realize that perhaps their significance has been lost in this modern world of ours.
The linkage between rails and canals shouldn't be forgotten. A subject perhaps someone else can pick up on, eh
I'm going to permit Lars to oversee the construction and installation of "his bar" up in the Penthouse Suite! Question is: Who gets to use the place first!!
Eric at 12:58 AM today: Another fine, but e-a-r-l-y AM visit from our Resident Desert Swede! <yikes>
So, perhaps you can enlighten us regarding the X2000 in North America. As I recall, both the Swedish ‘n German counterpart (ICE) made a tour throughout the land. The idea, I would think, was to SELL the product. Why in the world did either of these efforts fail
I understand that from your perspective, which surely isn't the Board Room, you may have seen things differently - which is precisely what would be interesting to learn.
Love that Pix - "cool" looking machine, fer sure, fer sure!
Do you happen to recall the road names on those RDCs at WashDC Union Station back in the early 90s I know we've discussed a bit of this over on the original Thread . . . just curious.
I'm not sure that VS sells dresses - perhaps "threads" of dresses, but the entire thing, hmmmmm. For Lars Sounds just about right to me! <grin>
Reminder: Ruth has the bar from 9 AM until Leon the Night Man comes in at 5 PM ‘til closing. Tonight is Pizza ‘n Beer Nite! - and - Steak 'n Fries Nite! Begins at 5 PM.
Boris, serve ‘em all of the "spiked" OJ they can handle!
Good morning Captain Tom and all present!!
Leon, still awake? No, no Fish and Chips for me. Promise not to tell, but I think fish is for cats. No, I'll just have a cup of coffee! What? I know, Ruth got the afternoon off. She went shopping, buying a new dress? That is true, Lars will be here soon. Hmm.
Interesting things are going on, that is for sure! I had a good day today, got an email from eBay that I won a bid on a very interesting book, Westinghouse Air Brake – 1911 Railroad Engine Book! Looking forward to receive it soon.
Tom – I think it is a little bit to soon for the life jackets yet! Thanks for the link to all the info on MP’s ALCO’s and other locomotives! A lot of interesting info to be found there!Thanks for the nice words, I just like the way things are done at this place. As a matter of fact, I have cut back on time on some other forums in the old country because I like it here. I am also very much looking forward to our Rendezvous in May!There is something special about Budd and RDC! Too bad I didn’t take any pictures of the BUdds that were parked at Union Station, Washington D.C. every weekday for some period of time in 1992 (track 15). I have a picture of the exhaust fumes from them though. CM3 – I have to go back to the old thread and look around for interesting posts on different subjects! James – IORE is a type of electric locomotives used to haul iron ore trains from northern Sweden to the seaports at Narvik, Norway, and Luleå. They are coupled together as twin units producing 10,800 kW of power (=14,483 hp) and weigh 661,500 lbs. Tractive effort: 1350 kN, 303,750 lbf (ballasted). In order to increase the weight they used sheet metal that is 1.57” thick in the walls!I remember Centralia from the tour with the X2000. We went through there a couple of times.The C&NW box car is a narrow gauge car and I have to find out where and why C&NW had narrow gauge cars. Lars – Thanks for the 5- As I said to Tom, I like this tavern and bar and the way things are being done here! Have a safe flight back to Newark and hopefully you will not get stuck in the traffic for the last miles home! Tell Phil that we hope we will see him stop by here in the future!Pete – I must have been tired last night. That is the only way I can think of why I didn’t pay any attention to the number of that Swedish locomotive, #1928. That is for sure a Class S1, nothing else. They had number 1910-1929.UP has only one operational Centennial DD40X left, #6936. It’s part of the Heritage Fleet and as far as I know it is kept in Cheyenne, WY.
A pint of Holdens Special please LEON and the Fish'n' Chips before the Candeling please.
I wonder if RUTH and CINDY going to VS as anything to do with LARS returning home.I,m a bit late getting in I have been reading those great links .
MIKE Thanks for another set of great links.Wonderful colour postcard of St Albans station a big contrast to the photo of Amtrak #207.The Rutland RR is a very intersting link with plenty of photos and info. It took a while to load but was well worth it
Great Mo-Pac pics and many thanks CM3 for making the colour shot of MP # 388 at St Louis come alive .
ERIC Thanks for the info on No 1928, thinking about this I am fairly sure I had a ride behind her quite a few years ago on the Nene Valley Railway. Another loco from the early days of the Great Central Railway preservation years I have fond memories of is Norweigian 2-6-0 King Haakon 7. it the days the GCR was just staring running the loco done great work, this would be in the early 1970s. The loco is now at Bressingham Steam Gardens in Norfolk, England .
http://www.bressingham.co.uk/ageofsteam/ageofsteam.htm
I think I have some old slides of the loco.
Good pic of UP # 6915. I have heard that UP have a working example of one of these locos in the Heritage Fleet, I dont know how often the loco is run or where it is kept.
JAMES Glad to see you are over your cold.Not long now to your trip to Chicago, I would have dearly loved to have been able to go there 50 years ago, when all those great passenger trains were running, still the city still has a lot of railroad interest today.
LARS May I join Tom in wishing you a safe and trouble free journey home after your great visit to Florida.
Its all right BORIS has been guarding the tub upstares well, so tonight I will make sure the bar is well stocked, including the private bar in the penthouse,although I see there are some Welsh pound notes in the tub.
I hope PHIL will continue to enjoy reading us at the bar and thanks for the kind words.
TOM It was,as always, great to talk to you today and many thanks for the kind words.
What great links, reading about the canal was very interesting and there was a great pic of the canal being built. At the back of my old house in England was the Oxford Canal opened in the 1780s although parts were straightened out in the 1830s, before this it was said that the bargees could hear Newbold church strike 12 hours as the horse drawn barge travelled the twists and turns of the original canal, parts of which can be made out almost 180 years after parts were not used, including one end of a tunnel next to the churchyard.
When I was a lad the canal was still quite busy with narrow boats carrying coal, heading for the south, after this traffic died out in the 1960s the canal became popular with leisure traffic, often with converted coal barges, it seems the canal is a popular as ever with this traffic today.
Enjoyed the BUDD RDC Encore, I wonder if their use did save a few of the branch lines from closure, at least for a few years. And the link to the Mo-Pac Screaming Eagles is brilliant certainly one to return too,it is amazing how times flies by when you get in to a site like that.
I have found a link to the Teletubbies, I have never seen it, but it was a very popular kids program in the UK.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teletubbies
Well LEON one more beer, then work it is, The Fish 'N' Chip was great.
A rare afternoon appearance by Da Boss! Ruth, take off early, I'll hold things down ‘til Leon gets here. Yeah, there's a sale on over VSs place. Maybe you'll see Cindy over there, if so, give her my regards. <oooooooh>
Had an opportunity to speak with the Wolfman today and he's on the mend from an ailment which has kept him "down" but not "out." Things just aren't the same ‘round here without Pete!
A bit of activity during the daylight kinda warrants a response from me. So have a brew on the house as we get right to it!
CM3 at 8:21 AM today: As ever vigilant, those descriptions you provided to the URLs from "silent Mike" made them all the better! Perhaps why I much prefer the narrative style supplemented by Pix . . .
Appreciate the round and quarters - as always!
James at 11:45 AM today: Couldn't have said it better myself as Lars pretty much hit the "hi notes"for me with his comments. Glad you enjoyed the Santa Fe material!
Nice Post from you and good to have you in a talkative ‘n inclusive frame of mind!
Lars at 2:03 PM today: One of the huge drawbacks about GREAT vacations is that they MUST come to an end. Surely felt that way when we were wrapping things up during our Alaska journey in June. But, the memories will live on!
Hope you have a safe journey back to your digs and that all's well when you arrive there. Not to worry about this joint, we'll still be perkin' along when you're able to find your way to your favorite stool!
Thanx for the kind words about the bar and the RDC Post!
Leon the Night Man comes in at 5 PM ‘til closing. Tonight is Fish ‘n Chips Nite with servings beginning at 5 PM.
Ruth my deAH, I'll take a frosty mug of Piels if you please! Treats for the critters, pickled pig's feet for Boris, and the change is for YOU!
Just taking a short time out from ensuring that all's ready for our departure tomorrow. Just wanted y'all to know that the Larsman is thinking ‘bout ya and this fine establishment of ours.
Cap'n Tom, that's a great rerun of your Nostalgia on the Budd RDC-1. I like the way you've revamped these by giving them a "shot" of something extra. Makes 'em even more appealing to the eye. You surely put a lot into this stuff and it shows!
Good to see that some life has been injected into the joint with the appearances last night by some "regulars" and "irregulars." Hard to tell one from the other these times, huh Anyway, unless something has totally escaped you, our customer base needs a "shot" of something stronger than the stuff being served! Think about it. Cap'n Tom shouldn't be alone in this boat, there's oars enough for plenty more and if the good ship "Our" Place is to remain afloat, we need oarsmen!
James m'boy, I follow your thoughts on that SF diesel. But perhaps you haven't taken the time to reflect just a bit on what CLASSIC really means. If you were to look at that locomotive from the perspective of the TIME it was introduced and the manner in which the public viewed it, perhaps you'd "see it" differently. My thinking is that in "its day" that engine was "revolutionary" by comparison to the steam locos and first iterations of diesels. Along came this particular one, truly a modern design and something never before witnessed. Make sense
Whenever we have the benefit of KNOWING what followed, it's rather easy to distinguish the "odd things" and perhaps things we don't care for. Kinda like looking at a Ford Model T in today's world and making mental comparisons with the cars that followed. Hindsight is just like that, huh
Just my two-cents.
Eric, I echo Cap'n Tom's thoughts on your participation at the bar. I too am very happy that you've found this place, and us, to your liking. We've had so many changes even in the year that I've been aboard, but it's ALWAYS the consistency from guys like you that keeps us on the surface. Your interest and enthusiasm does wonders for me and I suspect others as well. A well-deserved 5- for you, sir!
Appreciate the comments regarding the real estate. Makes sense to me too. The Mrs. and I just haven't felt "right" about it all and figured we'd have more of a chance to regret than celebrate. So we're going to take that step back, get home, regroup and take it from there. One thing we do know is that we're going to find a place down here. That's a given. Fortunately with Phil ‘n his Mrs. helping us out, we've got a leg up on things. The Keys are only a flight away, so to speak.
Go your e-mail and will respond when I get home. Thanks!
Also want to mention the return of Wolfman Pete to the group. Must say that I better NOT find you dipping into upstairs tub. Nope, you've haven't worked a "lick" to earn any Shillings! So don't even think about it!
Good to have you back and I received your e-mail. Thanks! Just haven't had the time to respond yet.
If all goes as "booked," we'll be home before supper time. From Newark to where we live is just about an hour, depending on the "crunch" on the highways. Come to think of it, perhaps I shudda said two hours, as it will be Friday and rush hour will have begun about 3 PM! <groan>
I hope to connect with y'all on Saturday, but if not, count on Monday for sure!
Oh, I almost forgot. Phil sends his regards to the gang at "Our" Place! Says that he will be sending Tom an e-mail before too long. Wants everyone who has provided so many well thought out posts that he is truly impressed with the way we "do things" here.
Ruth, another before I skedaddle. Do I hear my name being bellowed called
It either means I'm in trouble (again) OR we're heading out for a final afternoon aboard the boat. Man oh man that's the life! <aahhhhhhhh>
G-day Tom and all present!
Ruth- A good morning to you. I think I'm going to get an OJ this morning. That will do me, Thanks.
Tom- Thanks for the tips for getting to Sacromento. I will have to keep that in mind.
I enjoyed the pics you have posted. The Santa Fe Super Chief is a cool passenger train. But I have to say that the E1 is one of the more ugly locomotives. But it was the very first look of an E-unit. I just can't get over that the headlight isn't protruding from the front of the nose. It's a little weird looking.
I also liked the Southern Pacific's golden state. That's a pretty nice looking passenger train too.
Thanks for all the Passenger Nostalgia, including the Budd RDCs. The BCrail RDC is really nice looking. But what RDC isn't really nice looking anyway.
I also got a look at the monorail. Quite an interesting setup. I have seen some pictures of them before but I have never seen a picture of them ram into each other. I never thought you could "run into" problems. But I suppose when you're at the station, you need it to be as close as possible to get the people on. Interesting.
Eric- A train dispatcher. It's curtainly changed over the years. From throwing levers to touch screen computers. The Fortworth, Texas dispatching terminal is suppose to be one of the lager terminals here in the U.S. Controlling most of the BNSF and other class ones out there.
I saw you were talking about the IORE. I was a little surprised at how muych it weighed and the Tractive effort it can out out. I have only one question... What is it?
I also liked looking at the selection of pics you posted. A few in particular. I liked the C&NW Box car and the narrow gauage roundhouse. Those were some pretty nice finds. The other one that caught my attention was the overhead pic of Chicago. That Bascule bridge there on the river looked so fimiliar to me. then it hit me. The bridge crossing in the Foreground, I walked across a couple of years ago. We were heading for the field museum. I really enjoyed looking at all the railyards. Some pretty cool stuff. Thanks.
Thanks to you and CM3, for the information regarding Centralia, Washington. I can't believe that I have never heard of this town since quite a few railways ran through it, including my favorite, The Milwaukee Road.
Pete- Chicago is always a fun city to travel to. Infact my dad and a couple of his friends have it counting down. 21 days and counting. glad you liked the signal article. I did find the signal chart so maybe it won't be as confusing as before.
Doug- I was looking at your pictures of the theatre, and I can't imagine how long it took to build that thing. All the architecture and design that went into that building is unbelievable. Some nice pics. Thanks
Lars- Some really nice looking bookcovers. I really liked the "travel pullman" and the "London tramway." Those look like some really nice books. Of course anything that sits on rails and carries passengers is always a warm sight to see.
Mike-There was a picture in your group that I really liked. The pic with the NP RDC and The NP RS-11. Both are wounderful locomotives. I wish the Alco was still around. The RDC is still a really nice looking piece also. The best part, they were located in Duluth, MN. Thanks for showing.
Happy railroading
James
G'day All!
PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #16
Initially Posted on Page 151 of the original Thread
Single Car "Limited"
Here is the new railroad car which is a train in itself - the self-propelled, diesel-powered, all-stainless steel RDC-1. The Budd Company created it to perform a service both to railroads and their patrons, by carrying more passengers on short or long hauls at lower operating cost.
The RDC-1 seats ninety in air-conditioned comfort. With power transmitted hydraulically, from an effortless start it picks up speed like a whippet and stops in a fantastically short space . . . with the easy softness of pushing your hand against a pillow.
Railroad men foresee a wide usefulness for this car. It may be operated as a single unit, or a number of cars can be coupled into a train, operated by one engineman.
Improvement in any field of endeavor begins with imagination. The RDC-1 is another example of Budd practice which is first to envision clearly the need and then bring to bear all the resources of inventive engineering. It follows the modern stainless steel streamliner, the all-steel automobile body, the tapered steel disc wheel and so many other products in which Budd has translated imagination into practical accomplishment. The Budd Company, Philadelphia, Detroit.
Budd
RDC-1 (foto credit: unknown)
RDC-1 BC-15 (courtesy: http://www.trainweb.com/ - foto credit: unknown)
Good Morning Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox. The fog has lifted (no, Awk the weather, not my usual mental state), and we actually have a little sunlight this a.m., but it is supposed to get cloudy later with maybe some snow overnight.
Pete is here - as Boris would say, "Glad you're back on your hind legs."
Mike sent some interesting links. The MP steam was excellent. Always liked their locomotives. Also thanks for the shots of the SW1 and of the the passenger train.
The color shot at St. Louis provided a lot to look at. First is the train shed in the background. Then we have a TRRA switcher working a draft of PRR cars. The P Company cars include an RPO and a baggage car which could have been from any number of trains given what the Great Tuscan Father ran in and out of St. Louis. Next, check out the trackwork in the picture; count the diamonds and then look up and you can see part of what to my knowledge was about the only square signal bridge in the territory. Last but not least we have the MP train itself. Part One of Green Frog's DVD Twilight of Steam (I think that was the title) has some scenes at St. Louis which show the bridge and its environs in more detail.
Also thanks for sending the Rutland and CV links. Middlebury does have a large collection of Vermont-related material all housed in a fine library building.
Eric - In answer to your routing question - yes. Somewhere on the old thread I posted a lot about MP passenger service and car routings back in the 1930s - they went everywhere.
Barndad - Like to be there, but duty calls.
Our ‘Steamed Proprietor certainly got something going with the MP post. IIRC, I mentioned earlier that I almost wound up working for them; probably would not have survived the great UP takeover, though - well, what happens happens.
work safe
Another Thursday at the Saloon by the Siding and time for a hot mug of freshly ground ‘n brewed coffee - pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery and a <light> or <traditional> breakfast from the Menu Board.
What's to say, other than it is near-spring-line here in mid-continent USA and before we know it, the calendar will confirm it!
CM3 at 8:49 AM yesterday: A fine supporting slate of info for the Missouri Pacific!
That's really the point, isn't it
The idea is to get some dialogue going from and through the Posts provided by those who take the time and make the effort to do so!
When I first arrived in these parts (1977) the MoPac was "alive ‘n well." Of course, Amtrak had taken over all of the passenger service. The MoPac building downtown was still a bustling HQ place, right next to the SW Bell HQ. Both now long gone. I never had much of a background with mid-western RRs, but quickly recognized the "feelings" many ‘round here had for the Missouri Pacific - another "mighty fine road"!!
Lars at 1:55 PM yesterday: On the way back to the northland, eh Wise move, Mate. I've experienced similar encounters while "house hunting" and always found it to be to my advantage to "regroup"!
I want to make mention of the fact that in spite of your being away - in spite of the personal "things" going on in your life - and in spite of having a "life" - you've taken the time to keep current with the happenings here at the bar. Many thanx, Lars!
There's nothing I wish to add to your "doom ‘n gloom" commentary other than to say, I surely wish it wasn't so. Very hard to dispute what surely appears to be the reality of things these days. When the very core of our supporters have pretty much abandoned ship, there's only one thing left for the rest of us. Grab the life jackets! <oooooooh>
However, there's always HOPE and judging by the turnout last evening, things seem better now . . .
Your Email was received and I'm considering ‘sharing' it with the guys (as you've given the okay for) - but let's just say, the timing may not be "right" just yet. I understand your thinking and look forward to speaking with you by phone once you get back home.
Doug at 7:02 PM yesterday: Just when it appeared that we were mired down in this latest "funk," along comes the barndad with a second successive-day visit during the week. Now that's something different, but not only appreciated but NEEDED!
We're gonna have some problems with these "new dollars" as the costs to reconfigure our machines far outweighs the benefits. As y'all know, we accept U.S. ‘n Canadian coins, but this stuff is toooooooo much!
Sand dollars
Check out: http://www.thecosmicgift.com/articles/The_Sand_Dollar.htm
"Neat" looking RR building!
What's a "Telletubbie"
Pete at 7:30 PM yesterday: The return of the Wolfman! Been a looooooong absence for a "simple" weekend getaway! <grin>
Check out this URL regarding George Washington and his "connection" to the C&O . . .
http://www.cr.nps.gov/NR/TWHP/wwwlps/lessons/10c&o/10facts1.htm
What we miss when you aren't ‘round are those all-inclusive and DETAILED responses you put together. Nicely done, Sir!
Mike at 11:24 PM yesterday: Another fine spate of URLs from our ResidentURLMeisterMonster - "silent Mike." Enjoyed ‘em all, but have to say those MoPac Pix really were on the mark!
Most interesting "lead" Pix, too bad that our Ontario Connection apparently has disconnected . . . <groan>
Eric at 12:09 AM today: Great start to the day, albeit rather early for this crowd! <grin>
Check out this URL for some intriguing info on MoPac ‘n Alco locos, etc. . . .
http://www.trainweb.org/screamingeagle/
As with the Wolfman, YOU Sir are another who provides "seemless" Posts with an all inclusive theme. I'm most pleased that you've found a place to share your railroading (and other thoughts) and look forward to meeting you in May for our 2nd Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous in St. Louis!
Nice looking "mean machine" from the UP!
Reminder: Ruth has the bar from 9 AM until Leon the Night Man comes in at 5 PM ‘til closing. Tonight is Fish ‘n Chips Nite with servings beginning at 5 PM.
Good evening Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!
Hello Leon, what do you recommend tonight? Don't know? Hmm, how abou... oh, I know! I would like a Meatlof Sandwich and some fries, please! Coffee.
Only two more work days this week. Time flies! 70° F today, 75 tomorrow.
Tom – You know, my birth certificate says one thing about my age, but I feel like 27 so that is how old I am. OK, 27+ to be more correct.I like Seattle too. Have been there a few times and wouldn’t mind living there if it wasn’t for a little bit too much rain (and some snow).
You are right about the net “sources”, always be critical to the info you find. I never rode the monorail, it’s not my “thing”. I don’t know why, but that is how I feel about it. But I rode the Disneyland monorail almost 26 years ago. When I was seven years old I wanted to become a locomotive engineer and I decided that my sister had to work at a restaurant at Stockholm Central Station so I could go there and get something to eat before I started my daily job. But my sister did not like the idea. Thanks for the MP info! I did not know much about them. The first picture shows how they are filling the sand box with sand. Do you know if MP had many Alco’s?CM3 – The thing is, you can’t have it all (like living in a forest), so one has to pick the right thing whenever there is a choice.
Thanks for the info on MP! I understand that MP ran the trains to Pueblo and then DRGW took over the trains heading for the west coast, correct? Lars – You are doing the right thing, backing off when the real estate people are getting to “intensive”! Back off and get some time to make sure you will pick the right place when it is time! You are right about Our Place, it is very, very, slow now. Just wish I had more time (next year I will) so I could help keeping this place busy. But I think it is a little bit too soon to close it yet. I am sure Ruth would hate to miss your visits! Pete – Good to see you again, sir! The 2-6-4 tank is most likely a S1 or possibly a S2. The S1’s were built in the early 50’s and the last steam locomotives ordered by the Swedish State Railways. S2, which looks very much like S1, came 1917. Mike – Thanks for the Url’s! Liked the picture with the Santa Fe Train leving (?) Chicago. It is from the same area shown in my picture from Sears Tower. The last link (Rutland Pics) did not show any pictures at all.
(photo courtesy Canada Science & Technology Museum)
4-8-2 above is CV 601.
Mopac pics
http://photoswest.org/photos/00013126/00013127.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00013126/00013160.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00013001/00013053.jpg
http://photoswest.org/photos/00013126/00013203.jpg
http://www.cvrma.org/pictures/MISC/dfrr5_111_mo-pac_alco_diesel_st_louis_union_stn_1958.jpg
Chicago Board of Trade Building
http://67.15.20.45/images/r/rr452.jpg.63251.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/34/73071966_46b78ed76a_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/63/158269165_879ed5a7a5_b.jpg
CV postcard
http://maozi.middlebury.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/vtpostcards&CISOPTR=56&REC=19
Rutland pics
http://maozi.middlebury.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/rrphotos&CISOPTR=40&REC=2
http://maozi.middlebury.edu/cdm4/results.php?CISOOP1=exact&CISOFIELD1=CISOSEARCHALL&CISOROOT=all&CISOBOX1=Rutland%20Railroad%20Company
Mike
Well LEON a pint of Bathams please, as I am back from Southern Missouri, and a big change in the weather. Cold with snow flurries and a biting wind to Spring like temperatures y. It was amazing the tree damage from the ice-storm they had down there, it started at Camdenton and was all south of there. I think we were very lucky where we are here in Mid-MO.
Sorry I have not been in the bar the last couple of day's as I have been a bit ‘under the weather as we say in England'
There has been, as usual, very interesting posts while I've been away. Many thanks TOM, ERIC, CM3, LARS, DOUG, and JAMES AND MIKE. and I hope it is not too long before we see DL and ROB again.
ERIC I guessed which was the X2000 but not the location in the photo. Thanks for the pic of the narrow gauge Roundhouse and the pics of the S1 No 1921.There are 2 Swedish locos at the Nene Valley Railway near Peterborough England. They are 4-6-0 no 101 and 2-6-2 Tank No 1178,unfortunately neither are working at the present. There is a 2-6-4 tank loco 1928 at a preservation railway in Tunbridge Wells, which is about 30 mile south of London. Is this a class S1 as well
Looks as though Tom could get a job driving on Swedish railways.
MIKE Thanks for the links. Great pics and good details on the pics from Tom and CM3.
Enjoyed the painting of George Washington.
LARS Really enjoying the reports from Florida, and what a great place to spend Valentine's Day. I wish you the best in your search for a house.
Thanks for the Pullman posters. Reading the one on the Yorkshire Pullman, the train must have run in several portions, it would interesting to know in what stations the Pullmans were joined together to form the all Pullman train that would run to King's Cross London. My guess would be, that the Halifax and Bradford portions would join the Harrogate and Leeds portions at Wakefield and then the Hull Pullman cars would join at Doncaster for the non-stop run to London. I guess the Pullmans would be part of other trains until Wakefield possibly hauled by a small tank locomotive. I have seen a photo of the train south of Doncaster in the 1930s and it was hauled by one of Ivatt's large Atlantic locos, a handsome train it looks too. It is a great thing that Our Place can make one think of these things.
JAMES Hope you get over that cold soon.
Thanks for the pics and that great link to the Sou'wester magazine great pics and a fine text.
Many thanks to the link to the UP signals, it seems complicated being used to the BR signals. I see a signal with a plate can be passed at danger; I wonder if these signals are very common.
DOUG Thanks for sharing the pics of your trip to see ‘Wicked' at the magnificent Oriental Theatre. Do you know anymore about that piece outside the Thompson center.
TOM What can I say, above and beyond by you during a slack time at the Bar. Great Nostalgias on the Santa Fe, Wabash, SP, Chessie L&N and Missouri Pacific and Thanks CM3 for the details of the large freight service the MP operated.
That is a great photo still of #7001 at Jeff City and those Alcos do look good in the MP color scheme. I wonder what company George Washington was involved in that had a connection to the C&O.
And then a new series ‘Classic Transit'. I ‘m afraid to admit I had not heard of the Seattle Monorail before, an interesting line for sure. That collision of the two cars could have been so much worse. An Old Place coincidence Alan has sent some pics from Germany and there is an interesting transit system where the cars hang down from an overhead rail, I will try to get the pics loaded in my album and show them.
All this and two good films on at the Emporium and another good Idiot of the Week, good job the Police Department had a sense of humor. A
Good evening Leon. I'll have a bottomless draught and buy a round for the house with these new-fangled silver dollars that look like quarters. Who thinks of this stuff? I say, bring back the sand-dollar!
We installed our security system, and took care of some obligatory horse-duties for the day. Overall, whe're getting more involved in the horse scene these days. I'll tell ya'll more about that later.
Nice to see CM3 in here today, and I have no idea where to go in Galesburg just yet. I have to do some information gathering before making the trip, which should be a week from Saturday. Want to meet me there?
Great to see manager Lars today as well, and wish him a safe trip back home this Friday.
I see that Captain Tom posted some nice MoPac stuff. Here's a little something along those lines:
This typical frame railroad building with wide eaves stood at DeQuincy, Louisiana, which was the headquarers of the New Orleans, Texas & Mexico Railroad. The NOT&M was owned by the St. Louis-San Francisco, and in 1914 became a component of the SL_SF-controlled Gulf Coast Lines. The GCL was acquired by the Misouri Pacific in 1924. The building served not only as a passenger station but as general offices for the NOT&M and thus represents many such combined office-depot structures. This photograpgh evidently dates from the 1909-1913 period. After 1924, this structure served as headquarters for MoPac's DeQuincy Division for many years.
The following psychological test was developed by a think tank of top U.S. and European psychologists. The results are incredibly accurate in describing your personality with one simple question:Which is your favourite Teletubbie...A. YellowB. PurpleC. GreenD. Red(DECIDE BEFORE SCROLLING DOWN)Profile for women...A. If you chose the Yellow Teletubbie. You are bubbly and cheerful. People come to you when troubled because you always make them feel better about themselves. You are apt to clash with Red Teletubbie people!B. If you chose the Purple Teletubbie. You are active and erratic. You have many ideas and set high standards for yourselves and others. Stay away from Green Teletubbie people, they tend to bring you down.C. If you chose the Green Teletubbie. You are calm and reliable. Family plays a major role in your life and you often sacrifice your needs to please others. Yellow Teletubbie people are a good match for you.D. If you chose the Red Teletubbie. You are bold and emotional. You are fierce in your opinions and quick to anger, but stick by your friends through thick and thin. Purple and Red Teletubbie people are an explosive combination.
Profile for men...A. If you chose the Yellow Teletubbie. You are gay.B. If you chose the Purple Teletubbie. You are gay.C. If you chose the Green Teletubbie. You are gay.D. If you chose the Red Teletubbie. You are gay.
G'day Cap'n Tom!
Hello Ruth! I think today I'll skip lunch and just go for a cold brew - how about a Schaefer in frosty mug! You sure are looooooooookin' mighty fine, as always and hope all's well with you during these awfully slow times at the bar.
We'll be heading north on Friday as things have gotten a bit too involved for my tolerance regarding the real estate people down here. Not that we're in a hurry, but they sure do have a complicated way of going about "things." Our thoughts are to get back home and give all of this a new approach. We were feeling too pressured and the amount of bucks isn't something to take lightly. So, home it will be. We just haven't found that "right" place yet.
Fishing was fine the other night as we threw back everything caught. Amazing how many different kinds of fish were "hungry" that evening! I'm gonna miss that boat!!
Don't quite know what to say regarding "things" around here, Cap'n Tom. I'm rather perplexed, as my guess is so are you. This is really not a good thing and even my e-mails to certain of the guys are still unanswered. So, I'm at a loss to say anything more other than perhaps it IS time to padlock the door and go about finding other things to do.
Phil 'n I enjoyed your Seattle Monorail feature along with the Mo-Pac from today.
He's amazed, as some of us still are, at the energy you put into this "thing" called "Our" Place. Really bothers me to see the unraveling, especially at a time when we should be enjoying the coming months bring the Anniversary (2 years) and of course the Rendezvous. Sorry to go on 'n on like this, but I honestly got depressed looking through the past pages only to realize that if you didn't do the things you do, this thread would simply vanish. Even the banter at the bar seems to have ended as one or two just refuse to engage and the one's who used to "get with it" are gone. Sad.
Ok, so today is supposed to be our optional hobby-lobby day, huh Don't see anything readily available in my limited archives to make it "work." Sorry.
I just reread this and wonder whether I should delete it all and just check out! Nah - at least it will be a post to keep us going. <groan>
Since we've been down here I haven't been "hooked' on sporting events, other than going to the Super Bowl of course. Amazing how changing locations can do that to ya! I mean, I haven't even thought about the Mets, Yankees, Knicks, Rangers and so on. For me, that's saying something! When we get back, I'm sure the sports pages will be all ready for my 'review.'
We're so fortunate to have such a supportive family (sons and their wives) to watch over things for us. This getaway was not only fun, but very, very necessary for the Mrs. Kind of a mental relief from it all, if you know what I mean. Our short trip up to Plattsburgh pretty much set the stage for all of this. Surely very fortunate in so many respects.
Well, I've rattled on long enough and figure that if no one stops by for the rest of the day, I'll have the "distinction" of being the lone customer since CM3 I'm NOT Shane! dropped off his fine submission with the Missouri Pacific supplemental info.
Eric, I've enjoyed your consistency and appreciate your holding things together for the night crew! We used to have Rob at those times, but I suppose the Canuck Gods have taken him hostage at the LaBatts or Molson breweries! (are they the same these days??) Oh well . . .
Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house, and $ for the jukebox. Heavy fog here this a.m. The fog was layered in spots, so while crossing various bridges driving to work I was in clear weather with the fog below me. Joys of our terrain.
Barndad stopped by. Which side of Galesburg are you going to visit? I have not been there in a long time, but recall there being Burlington and Santa Fe "sides" as it were; probably all lumped together now.
Eric - I know what you mean about missing certain things. In my case, it's the Olde Towne Team and real seafood.
Our ‘Steamed Proprietor sent along some most fascinating material on the Seattle Monorail. I did not know that it had been around that long. Also thanks for the C&O material and the MP item(s). The first MP picture shows an E unit. In the early days, IIRC, you could get different options from the manufacturer. Thus, the two portholes on the E. The picture of the blue E8 shows it in an "as built" configuration. The PAs were beautiful in any configuration, but I always liked the MPs paint scheme.
Folks don't realize how big an operation the MP was. The MP, in the late 1960s, had three gateways for their freight service: St. Louis, Memphis, and New Orleans. Break out your maps and follow along; the MP took great pains to coordinate its freight service
Freights operated between:
St. Louis and Kansas City
St. Louis - Pueblo, Salt Lake City, Ogden, Oakland, and San Francisco (via MP-DRGW- SP and WP)
St. Louis - Atchison, St. Joseph, Lincoln, and Omaha
St. Louis - Joplin, Wichita, Topeka and Salina
St. Louis - Memphis, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Lake Charles
St. Louis - Little Rock, Pine Bluff, El Dorado, Ft. Smith, Hope, and Texarkana
St. Louis - Beaumont, Houston, and Galveston
St. Louis - Palestine, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, and Laredo
Memphis - Little Rock, Texarkana, Dallas, Ft. Worth, El Paso, and Los Angeles (via MP-SP)
Memphis -Beaumont, Houston, and Galveston
Memphis - Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, and New Orleans
Memphis - Wichita, Kansas City, St. Joseph, and Omaha
Memphis - Kansas City, Topeka, Salina, Pueblos, Denver, Salt Lake City, Ogden, Oakland, and San Francisco (via MP-DRGW-SP and WP)
New Orleans - Shreveport, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Sweetwater, El Paso, and Los Angeles (via MP-SP)
Here are some other routes
Omaha-St Joseph, Kansas City, Coffeyville, Muskogee, Ft. Worth, Dallas, Houston, Galveston, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Laredo, El Paso, and Los Angeles (via MP-SP)
Coffeyville-Little Rock, Alexandra, Lake Charles, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge
Topeka-Salina, Wichita, Joplin, and Springfield
Pueblo, Denver, Salt Lake City, Ogden, Oakland, and San Francisco (via MP-WP-SP)
I think you can see where cars were interchanged at common points.
Almost forgot - we were talking about Louisville Union Station yesterday. Other stations along the L&N with similar type train sheds included Nashville and Montgomery.
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