Hi Tom and all.
I,ll have a Holdens Golden please Ruth.
Well it looks a though Tom's guest is being given the bum's rush as I should be on the Amtrak this afternoon .
Good to see Eric and James yesterday evening.
JAMES good set of pictures and I hope the exams turn out ok. Was that picture of the abandoned Milwaukee, the electrified line Great picture of the Alco!
ERIC we were spared the ice from the third front as it was more rain than anything else. Although they are saying it is going to get real cold here into the teens before too long. Hopefully I shall be able to get to Jeff City before it sets in. At least they are running again.
Hopefully I will have some new pictures for next Sunday. I would have had some but for a misunderstanding with the camera. I will let Tom tell you all about it when I'm gone!
Hope all is well with Rob and Doug as things are not quite the same without you both.
Pete
foto credit: www.viarail.ca
G'day Gents!
A Holiday Monday (for many) and the bar is OPEN! Try our <light> or <traditional> breakfasts from the Menu Board, some pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery and of course our freshly ground 'n brewed coffee! A great way to begin the day.
Been noticing a few things 'round here - 1st, some of the "smilies" seem to be getting piled on top of the narrative. Is that so with others Also, an appearance or two from someone who apparently wishes to remain anonymous (nothing in the profile). Always welcome new visitors, but it is a shame to do "hit 'n run" Posts, as we really do not engage in that sort of thing at this cyber bar 'n grill.
Pete is STILL HERE!! Amtrak says the trains will roll tomorrow morning, so he's booked for his return then. Should something change for this afternoon, perhaps we can "deep six" him sooner!
Good to see Eric (twice), Doug, Mike 'n James yesterday. Was beginning to think there was something going on and the word didn't reach me!
It was indeed a full day of football 'round many homes and the results perhaps were surprising to some as they were to me. Figured the Bears would win, but didn't think it would be THAT close! <phew> Figured wrong on the Chargers, and I shudda known better! After all the Patriots are and have been quite the 4th quarter team. Can't argue with success, eh So the "showdowns" are set for next weekend. Will it ever end <grin>
Will try to get back a bit later on, there are things happening 'round here and I have to attend to them. We haven't had too many downed branches and trees, but the immediate area is really hurting from the ice damage. Right now the temps are above freezing, but that's not expected to last. Teens predicted for tonight. Brrrrrrrrrr.
Reminder: Ruth has the bar until Leon the Night Man comes in at 5 PM ‘til closing.
Boris, serve ‘em all of the "spiked" OJ they can handle!
Tom
Good evening Captain Tom and all!
A very cold morning here in Phoenix! The coldest in 16 years! Officially 27° but at our house we had 25°! And it is going to be even colder Monday morning! Brrrr!
Thank you all for all Birthday wishes!!! Times goes fast when you are having fun, so I guess I must have had a very fun life and that I have!
This day started very slow but it picked up in the afternoon.
Tom – A 3rd round of freezing rain? That is at least three too many! Must be nice to have a generator when the power is gone! The Sunday movies seem to be good ones. I have not seen any of them though. Nice pictures of nice dome cars! I think I like the old Amtrak livery better than the new one, including the logo. Doug – Thank you for dropping and the Birthday wishes! Did you get any more ice or snow? Mike – Thanks for the url’s! I like the pictures form Penn Station with those classic electrics from New Haven and Pennsy! The picture of the X2000 and the ICE-train is from August 11, 1993. A close-up of the ICE below.
Pete – Hope you can make it back home tomorrow to your bride!James – Nice pictures! I don’t think the Amtrak picture is from Nebraska. It looks more like northern New Mexico to me.
Eric
CMSTPP Great Alco photo!
underworld
G-day Tom and all present.
I have finally seen some light in the dark of studying.
I will now beable to come back more regularly.
But to start off. Tom, I'm sure you have heard of some of the frost bite weather that northern Minnesota and Canada is getting. Just the other day, The CN was almost completely shut down here in Minnesota due to temperatures near 40 below zero. They couldn't get any trains out of Winnipeg. I heard Winnipeg had 40 below and was getting close to 45 below. Now thats cold! Here in Duluth, we have been reaching 10 below at night. And we even hit 15 below a couple nights ago.
Anyway I have been catching up on a little reading here and I have seen some good articles from Rob and his classical juice and from Doug and the Pickel disaster. Some good pictures from Lars, Pete and Eric. And some from Tom too. I will give all a through reading and looking through and will come back for some more acknowledgements tomorrow.
But It's that time of night.
Now I realize that the train is not the most classic thing seen around. But the bridge and scenery are absolutely spectacular. Thats Montana for you. You want the coal you need to work for it.
Now I know what you're going to ask, "What does a bunch of grass have to do with classic trains?" Right. Well this "grass" land is a very classic railway moment.
Between the Green bush in the middle of the picture and the telephone poles used to be the Milwaukee roads mainline. This was at one time a 1 percent grade on the Milwaukee. But not anymore. The what use to be road bed, is now nolonger visible.
Now what do you think of this flat land. The last time I saw something this flat was when I was in the state of Kansas. But this Amtraks Southwest Chief. I don't know what state this is but I would guess Nebraska? possibly?
Well, I was happy to see one of these. A pair of Alco FA1's The only places your going to find some of these now-a-days at a museum, or you can find an A-B-B-A set still working for the Grandcanyon railway. They're really nice looking. Got to see the four of them chugging away when I was at the grand Canyon. Also got a picture of them. I will load the picture up sometime for you guys to see.
Pete I must have just missed you. Thanks for the B-day update.
And I would also like to wish Erik a fine .
Happy railroading
James
Awesome pics everyone!!!!!!
Tom has let me look at the pics and links, and I like to say to ERIC .
It was good to see the classic cars that TOM posted from some posted by LARS a while back . I guess it has been a long while since Moberley MO has seen a passenger train
Thanks for the Swedish loco pictures and the Pheonix light rail construction ERIC .
DOUG I was hoping to do some pics too, but mine will have to wait as well, anyway at least the BEARS done good .
MIKE Great set of links, as usual .Tom got a kick out of the Pennsy, New Haven & Brooklyn Dodgers links!!
I really enjoyed the Flying Scotsman against the Romney engine.
I have heard that Amtrak may run tomorrow afternoon which will be a good thing as Tom's beer supply is running low and we may not be able to replenish it!
to Eric
http://homepage.mac.com/ericx2000/.Pictures/X2%20and%20ICE%201993.jpg
Navy Zep
http://stlpics.homestead.com/files/oldaerials/oldny3.JPG
New Haven & Pennsy
http://www.knorek.com/RR/Found/PRR/PennStation1.jpg
http://www.knorek.com/RR/Found/PRR/PennStation2.jpg
http://www.knorek.com/RR/Found/PRR/PennStation3.jpg
Jefferson City, Missouri
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c30000/3c30000/3c30600/3c30606v.jpg
Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch
http://imageserver.ebscohost.com/embimages/imh/getty/full/2664096.jpg
Ebbets Field
http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/Duke-Snider-Wall-Jump-Photograph-C12043088.jpeg
http://66.230.220.70/images/post/ny/112.jpg
A special Sunday Greeting for Eric!
TO YOU!
And many, many MORE!
Best regards!
Tom 'n Pete
Dang ..another day of my being absent here, but couldn't let the day go by without wishing Eric the happiest of birthdays. I'd drink to your health if the bar was opened, but I guess that will have to wait until tomorrow. Sure hope your weather improves in St. Louis and Mo. in general. We got the lightest bit of ice over here, and that's about it. I'm about to melt it off of my grill now. No pix from me today. No time to prepare them, so let's try for next week?
Have a great evening all.
Even though the bar at "Our" Place is
CLOSED on Sundays -
We do observe Sunday Photo Posting Day!
Been quite the day 'round here - NFL all day inside - pouring rain outside - ice expected later this evening - power is still on - lazy, lazy day! Bears won! Right now the Chargers are "up" - kinda expected that. But the Patriots JUST scored a touchdown. We'll see, eh Pete's still here as Amtrak is "down" here in Missouri. Roads are in bad shape west of here. May claim him on my taxes as a dependent!
Good to see ya, Eric - in the daylight at that !! Thanx for shots of the light-rail construction, etc. "Classic" is indeed in the eye of the contributor, or something like that! <grin>
Another from the Larsman, first Posted on page 221 back on Jan 15th . . . .
Good Day! Here's a few more dome pix for this Sunday Pix Post Fest: Wabash #200 (1956, Moberly, MO) {from: www.trainweb.org} #200 as Amtrak #9560 (1972, Newport News, VA) (from: www.trainweb.org) Former Wabash #201 as N&W #1611 (from: www.trainweb.org) Former Wabash #201 as Amtrak #9561(from: www.trainweb.org) NFL Sunday is about to begin, may or may not return! Lars
See ya in the AM!
Good afternoon Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!
Since the bar is closed I'll just leave these pictures here, this Photo Posting Sunday! They really don't show any classic trains, but a, hopefully, classic light rail under construction in Phoenix. All pictures from downtown Phoenix about a month ago. I'll be back later tonight!
Below two pictures of the Swedish State Railways Class T43, GM-diesels built by Nohab in the early 60's. The bottom picture is from Hull, Québec.
We're still ice-bound here in mid-continent USA and it surely appears that there's no one moving in Mentor Village either! Perhaps a good day to run an ENCORE! Here's something from the "old" Thread, Page 220 from Lars on Jan 15th, 2005:
Good Afternoon Tom, One more pix posting and then I'm going to settle in for another Sunday of NFL Playoff games! Wabash #200 (1956) (from: www.trainweb.org) Amtrak #9560, former Wabash #200 (from: www.trainweb.org) Amtrak #9561 former Wabash #201 (from: www.trainweb.org) N&W #1611, former Wabash #201 (from: www.trainweb.org) Until the next time! Lars
Now playing at the Mentor Village Emporium Theatre!
. . . Sunday, January 14th thru 20th: Ice Station Zebra (1968) Starring: Rock Hudson, Ernest Borgnine, Patrick McGoohan, Jim Brown, Tony Bill - and - A Night to Remember (1958) Starring: Kenneth More, Ronald Allen, Robert Ayres, Honor Blackman, Anthony Bushell. SHORT: The Three Stooges - Three Little Sew and Sews (1939).
Ice Station Zebra (1968)
PLOT SUMMARY:
The U.S. nuclear sub Tigerfish churns toward the North Pole. Its mission: rescue the imperiled members of weather outpost Ice Station Zebra. On board are Cmdr. Ferraday and his crew, several unexpected arrivals with secret orders - and enough suspicions, suspense and twists to make Ice Station Zebra an engrossing espionage thriller. The Cold War heats up as John Sturges (The Great Escape) directs Rock Hudson, Ernest Borgnine, Patrick McGoohan, Jim Brown and more in this epic adventure nominated for two Academy Awards?* and featuring taut action set pieces above and below the ice. All hands to stations for excitement!
from: amazon.com
A Night to Remember (1958)
The Titanic disaster is depicted in straightforward fashion without the addition of fictional subplots. On its maiden voyage across the Atlantic, the British liner Titanic with 2200 people on board is gashed along 300 feet of its hull by an iceberg. As it starts to sink, the new invention of radio is used to try and summon help, although this is disastrously ignored by the closest vessel. With lifeboat places for only 1200 people, it is not only women and children first, but also First Class before Steerage.
SHORT: Three Little Sew and Sews (1939)PLOT SUMMARY: Featuring Moe, Larry & Curly
The Stooges are tailors in the Navy, and when they can't get a pass they steal some officers' uniforms. Curly is mistaken for Admiral Taylor, and the Stooges go to a party where some spies try to get them to show them the Navy's new top secret submarine. When the real Admiral Taylor shows up, the Stooges pretend not to know him, and decide that they had better make themselves scarce, so they hide out in the submarine, accompanied by the spies!
from: threestooges.net
Enjoy! Tom
Just a "quickie" to let you know we're still pretty much "ice bound" here in mid-continent USA. Pete's still with us as a 3rd round of below freezing rain is on the way. We lost power for about 12 hours early last evening. Fortunately the emergency generator provided us with sufficient "juice" to keep the essentials going - fridge 'n lamps. Feel rather sorry for our friend as I know he's concerned about his bride in central Missouri, where conditions are even worse. At least the roads around here are okay.
So, hardly a soul in sight here in the Ether as well. Thought fer sure we'd see some "help" during these times of difficulties. Must be bad all over, eh
I'll catch up with things a bit later on - time to get Juneau on the move. He's taking quite a liking to the Wolfman! Why not - Siberian Huskies look "wolflike"!
Later!
Good morning Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!
Boris, just a black cup of coffee, thank you!
A cold Saturday here in the southwest so it is time to stop by at the Bar and drink something warm (not beer though) before going to bed.
Doug – You know, it is amazing! Kids have Monday of because of my birthday and the very first locomotive I operated all by myself after becoming an engineer is today in a museum! It feels good to be so famous!Interesting story about the Great Pickle Works Wreck! Did they ever figure out what caused the wreck? I must say I admire the Camelback’s fireman who stayed cool and most likely saved a lot of people by extinguishing the fire in No. 2!Tom – You have an ice storm in St. Louis and we have the coldest night/morning for three years in Phoenix tonight. You are obviously well prepared for the worst.
Some very nice pictures of those British locomotives! Pete – First time Chicago and first time ice storm! I bet you prefer Chicago. At least I do. Glad you had a great trip! The steam loco (on its way to the scrap yard) was in a very good condition. During the cold war the Swedish State Railways stored hundred of steam locomotives to have in case of war. They expected the electric system would be destroyed by bombs and thus the electric locomotives would be useless. In the early 1990’s the last 200 locos were taken out of storage and many of them sold/donated to railway museums etc. Several of them ended up in other countries, like in UK, USA, Canada, Holland, and other countries.
A mix of a few pictures in random order.
One of many stored steam locomotives in 1968. Class E10, 4-8-0, built 1947.
New innovation! Rubberized wheels.
Southern Pacific Class S-2, 4-10-2.
A very blurry picture from when I (to the left) first started my railroad career in the late 40's.
Well it look as though Tom as got me longer than we both thought,so it had better have a Bathams XXX please RUTH..
This is the first time I have seen an ice storm in person,very prettyto look at but not at all nice to go out in but at leasthere and at the brides there is still power.Both Amtrak trains are cancelled today and there web site says there are12 frieght trains stranded by fallen trees between St.Louis and Jeff City. We are OK as long as we have pwer to run the Can-AM though.
It was agreat trip to Chicago and back yesterday.Chiicago seems a great city and I will have to spend some more time there. The railroad scene there is great and what it must have been like in the hayday of the classic passenger trains in the steam and early diesel era would have been unbelieveable.Still it is great that today it is possible to travel in a Sightseer Lounge and have a good dinner in the diner.
Well TOM has kindly let me look at the posts so I am upto date at the bar.
ERIC Thanks for the pics,and more info on the Heisler locos. The Swedish 2-6-0 steam loco looks in far too good of a condion to be heading to the scrapyard.
CM3 Thanks for the info on the logging.It is good to know that one compny still uses rail.I am glad that the reports of the Emporium celebrations are getting through to our reporter.
DL Good news about being able to getthe pics now.Looking forward to your next post.
DOUG IT would have been good to see you in Chicago, but we will meetup at the rendezvous.
Many Thanks for the Great Pickle Works Wreak Encore.It is still sobering to think if it had not been for that heavy thunder storm th factory couldhave still had the workers in it.
TOM It is a bit strange to read your posts on your own com puter but they are still great, with the Canadian RR History for January Part 1 and the British photo encore.
The Class 5 No 45110 was one of the locos that hauled thelst BR steam hauled train, and 6100 Royal Scot is in the Unrebult state in which the loco toured North America. The loco is being restored into running order at the present, although it is in the rebuilt state with a taper boiler which it recieved in the late 1940s.
Pete.
ENCORE! Saturday - ENCORE! Saturday
first Posted on Page 258
Something for Pete & Nick (and now, DL)(1) Great Britain: LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 45110 at Bewdley(GNU Free Documentation) (2) Great Britain: LMS Stainer Class 5 4-6-0 45110 at Bridgnorth (Wikimedia Commons) (3) Great Britain: LMS Royal Scot Class 6100 Royal Scot(Public Domain) (4) Great Britain: The nameplate of 6100 Royal Scot with the text commemorating its North American tour. (Wikimedia Commons) Enjoy! Tom
Wow Tom and Pete! Bet you're having fun with that weather! As you probably know, Chicago has escaped serious weather changes for another day. It's just cold. But snow seems to be on the way for the Bear game tomorrow. I don't have a generator to keep vital appliances, like the TV during Bear games, powered. So Commonwealth Edison better make sure I have uninterrupted coverage. We're running our errands today while we can. Here's part II of my ENCORE:
The Great Pickleworks Wreck by Ron Ziel - Rail Classics May 1979 Engineer Squires eased out the throttle of Engine No. 214 after a brief stop at Manorville. The time was 5:41 p.m., and Train No. 212, The Shelter Island Express, was right on the advertised, not one minute late. Montgomery paused long enough in his shoveling to wipe long rivulets of black sweat off his brow with his big, red bandana. He had shoveled six tons of coal through the firebox doors of engine No. 214 in the 73 minutes since they left Jamaica, and he was exhausted. From the wildly lurching gangway, he looked hopefully toward building thunderheads and the cooling rain, which he knew was just minutes away. Assisted by the big Camelback behind, No. 214 was leading the train at 70 mph. In the Easter Lily, Harold Fish was making his way toward the front vestibule of the rocking 90-ton parlor car. In his heavy, dark suit and high celluloid collar, Fish was sweltering. He needed a breath of fresh air. As he walked down the corridor of the car, the mother of the two children was telling them of the wonderful weekend ahead on Shelter Island. A maid brought them cups of ice water from the sweating cooler at the rear of the car. Train No. 212 roared into Calverton at better than 70 mph. Half a mile ahead, a pickup truck approached the Edwards Avenue grade crossing. The driver decided to stop, for he knew the speed of the Shelter Island Express on this stretch of the railroad. As the two men in the truck watched, engine No. 214 reached the Golden siding switch, made a sudden, violent lurch, jumped into the air and rolled over on her side with a great crunching sound. Engine No. 2 veered off the main track and, still coupled with the train, careened into the siding alongside the Golden Pickle Works, then left the rails and hit the side of the building, sending pickles and brine in every direction. The big Atlantic spun completely around knocking out the entire side of the pickle plant before it came to a stop. The Easter Lily, still coupled to No 2's tender, wrenched free and burrowed deep into the collapsing building. A cloud of dust rose 200 feet in the air. The men in the truck stared in disbelief at the scene. All was quiet, except for the distant rolling thunder. The Camelback's fireman had been thrown off his firing deck and was badly bruised. His engineer had a deep gash in the side of his head where he had been thrown against a red-hot injector pipe, but was still conscious. The fireman grabbed his shovel and began to heave dirt into the firebox, for he knew that if flames reached the wrecked building the passengers trapped inside the parlor car and the combine were doomed. After extinguishing the fire in No. 2, the fireman ran down to No. 214 which was lying on her side, enveloped in clouds of escaping steam. As he began shoveling sand into the firebox of the No. 214, he found the bodies of her crew. Squires and Montgomery had been pinned against the red-hot boiler backhead by several tons of coal. The two men in the truck regained their composure and raced to the wreck scene. A dazed man staggered out of the rear vestibule of Easter Lily. He was carrying a little boy. The boy was put in the truck, and the men sped the vehicle toward the hospital in Riverhead. They had gotten less than halfway when he died. Back in the parlor car, his sister was already dead. Their mother, Mrs. Schuford, was trapped in the wreckage. A few miles away, at Camp Upton, the 62nd Coast Artillery Regiment was on maneuvers. The men had heard the Shelter Island Express pass, and they had heard the great crash as the engines left the rails. As the thunderstorm broke, the soldiers drove searchlight trucks over to Calverton. Doctors and rescue workers were crawling through the wreckage as the regiment set up its lights. The macabre scene was continually accentuated by brilliant lightning bolts. The thunder was deafening, and torrents of rain turned the dust and earth which the engines had churned up into a quagmire. Men with lights reached the front vestibule of Easter Lily and found the body of Fish, who had smothered to death as salt poured down on him from the attic of the demolished building. The mother of the dead children, Mrs. Schuford, passed away shortly after reaching the hospital, six hours later. Meanwhile, the electrifying news flashed up to the North Fork. The telegrapher at Calverton sent word of the wreck to Jamaica, and the agents farther east at Riverhead, Aquebogue, Jamesport, Mattituck, Cutchogue, Peconic, Southhold and Greenport all picked it up. They rushed out onto the station platforms to tell the people who were waiting to meet the train, what had happened. Within minutes, everybody had heard of the Great Pickle Works Wreck. Anybody who had an automobile loaded up with family, friends and neighbors and headed for Calverton. By 7 p.m., on the Friday the thirteenth, Riverhead had a traffic jam - the first in its history.
Joe took his blind date to the carnival. "What would you like to do first, Kim?" asked Joe. I want to get weighed," she said. They ambled over to the weight guesser. He guessed 120 pounds. She got on the scale; it read 117 and she won a prize.Next, the couple went on the Ferris Wheel. When the ride was over, Joe again asked Kim what she would like to do."I want to get weighed," she said.Back to the weight guesser they went. Since they had been there before, he guessed her correct weight, and Joe lost his dollar.The couple walked around the carnival and again he asked where to next. "I want to get weighed," she responded.By this time, Joe figured she was really weird and took her home early, dropping her off with a handshake.Her roommate, Laura, asked her about the blind date, "How'd it go?"Kim responded, "Oh, Waura, it was wousy."
<fweeeet< <fweeeet> Now hear this! Now hear this! This is the Captain speaking. Royal Navy still on board. All hands are expected to exercise good order, discipline and behavior! An exceptioin to the regulations has been made as beer ‘n rum rations will be available in double the quantities considered normal for our friends from Great Britain. Additionally, the cooks will have fish ‘n chips available for the duration of the presence of our distinguished guest. Holiday routine throughout the ship until further notice! Carry on. <fweeeet> <fweeeet>
A bit of a different Saturday here in mid-continent USA as the ice storm has descended upon us with some not so pleasant outcomes. Power is out for nearly 100 thousand thus far, transportation has pretty much ground to a halt, although the highways seem to be okay, Amtrak has cancelled it's Missouri service for the day and night, and our electrified light-rail system (MetroLink) has stopped service on its main line.
All's well here at the Siberianmo Haus, with plenty of provisions, liquid included, well stocked. There's an emergency generator on hand with sufficient fuel supplies to get us through ‘til early in the coming week, and of course all kinds of vitals for Juneau!
Just wanted to touch base with y'all on this ENCORE! Saturday and I expect Pete will be logging in for some thoughts to share with the gang.
Appreciate the "plug" for our Rendezvous in May. As you say, the more the merrier - so if there is anyone seriously interested in participating, ship me an Email ASAP so that I can get you "in" on the things that require advance planning. Also thanx for kicking off our Saturday with your ENCORE! Post - and - the ‘funny.' Pete ‘n I had a good chuckle over that!
Eric, nice "stuff" on the Swedish locos - really liked that Nohab GM diesel.
I'll be back later on with an ENCORE! Post.
Good morning Tom and crew. I'll have a light breakfast and attempt to get this day off to whatever "normal" is these daze. Did ya'll know that yesterday was the 21st month anniversary of the original "Our Place"? Did ya'll also know that tomorrow is Eric's birthday, and that Kids all across America have the day off on Monday because of it? Way to go Eric!
Welcome home to our railbound Captain and Pete! Glad your trip went well sirs, and wish I could have gotten away to have met you at Chicago's Union Station yesterday. Had yesterday been a "normal" day, I would have taken off from work, taken the train into town, met you at Union, and then hung around the city until my Railroad and Historical Society meeting. Fortunately/unfortunately, my bride and I had arranged to meet with friends, (our former and fellow horse-boarding friends), for dinner in Crystal Lake. So, I missed seeing ya'll and my meeting as well, which looked to be a good one. The speaker was to show slides of the steam locomotive restoration in which he participated. I did manage to attend a meeting of the 20th Century Railroad club on Wednesday evening, and was entertained by pictures of a cross-country varnish trip, and also slides from yet another one of our member's rail trip to China.
Locally, we've got nasty weather on the way, but it's calm and warm at the moment. Woodstock (location for the Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day) will have 5 days of groundhog-related activities this year, which looks to be even better than last year. Can't wait!
I still need to read all the fine posts ya'll have been contributing this past week, so please forgive my not saying anything about that yet.
I gotta tell you guys .... from the e-mails I've been seeing, Tom is putting together an incredible Rendezvous (May 17th-20) that you need to attend if at all possible. The more the merrier .. so if you're even thinking about coming, just plain do it!
... And now ... here's Part I of an ENCORE, from my humble self:
The Great Pickleworks Wreck by Ron Ziel - Rail Classics May 1979 Ever since the Long Island Railroad built its mainline out to Greenport in 1814, the route has been synonymous with luxury trains. In the railway vernacular of the 19th century, these plush limiteds were simply called "varnish" in reference to the wooden coaches and parlor cars. Long after steel replaced wood in the railway car builder's art, the term "varnish" still lingered. In the early years, the fast passenger express trains made the trip from Brooklyn to Greensport in less time than it takes today (two hours, five minutes in 1901, compared to two hours, forty-three now). The original purpose of the mainline to Greensport was to speed passengers to Boston via a combination of two trains connected by a steamboat across Long Island Sound. By 1850, however, the New York , New Haven & Hartford Railroad had been completed across southern Connecticut, making the through train route faster and more convenient. The LIRR went into its first bankruptcy and began catering more to the needs of local traffic. With good, fast and comfortable accommodations available right to the Shelter Island Ferry dock in Greensport, many of the most prominent of New York's most upper crust of society built mansions on Shelter Island and summered there. For their particular needs, the railroad inaugurated a Friday evening express which has operated for nearly a century variously as "The Shelter Island Flyer," "The Shelter Island Flyer," or "The Shelter Island Express." Whichever name it went by, the train was as much a symbol of luxurious travel as was the "Cannon Ball" or the "Sunrise Special" which ran to the Hamptons and Montauk, on Long Island's South Fork. By the 1920's, The Shelter Island Express, double-headed with two locomotives, carried the stock brokers, the diplomats, the Broadway stars and the nabobs to their summer reverie on the North Fork and Shelter Island. Friday afternoon, August 13, 1926, was hot and muggy in New York, as passengers descended the steps from the high concourse of Penn Station, to the sweltering tunnel level, to board the electric cars for Jamaica, it was 3:50 p.m., when most New Yorkers were still at work. These passengers were obviously well-to-do and their comings and goings were determined by their own whims, rather than by the clock. One was Harold Fish, a prominent stock broker, who lived in East Marion, beyond the terminal at Greenport. A young mother, Mrs. George Schuford, with two children in tow, followed close behind. They sat on the hard wicker seats of the electric car. Precisely at 4 p.m., the train rolled out of the station and into the tepid, damp tunnel, toward Jamaica. One mile west of Jamaica station, in the Morris Park engine terminal, forty steam locomotives simmered on the ready tracks. More were being wheeled out of the roundhouse and onto the turntable. It was just an hour before the evening rush began. Engineer Squires and fireman Montgomery signed in with the engine-house clerk, walked over to the turntable pit, just in time to see a handsome four-drivered 1906 Pennsylvania Railroad-built D-16sb American-type locomotive, No. 214 drift out of the roundhouse. Almost noiselessly, the engine rolled the 100 feet to the edge of the turntable and with a loud clunk, clank as the weight shifted the balance of the table, the trim passenger locomotive was aboard. As she was being turned, Squires and Montgomery walked back to the engine-house to get their orders. A few minutes later, they were in the cab of No. 214, at the throat of the yard. Soon, a larger locomotive - a Camelback type, with the engineer's cab astride the boiler - rolled up behind No. 214. This was a big 4-4-2 engine, built by Baldwin in 1901, with 876-inch driving wheels. The gold numeral 2 shone on the black flanks of her cab. This was one of the most renowned engines on the road, and the fastest, having hit close to 120 mph on several occasions, when making up lost time. The crews of both engines compared watches, complained about the heat and wiped the sweat that left wide steaks of soot down their faces and necks, and returned to their cabs. No. 2 coupled onto the rear of No. 214's tender, there was a blast of No. 2's whistle, and the tandem of steam and steel slowly chugged out of the engine yard toward the station. The electric train from Penn Station had barely discharged its passengers at Jamaica when engines 214 and 2 trundled up to the opposite side of the platform. Right behind No. 2 was the Pullman parlor car Easter Lily. Harold Fish was welcomed aboard by the porter, as were 31 other passengers, including Mrs. Schuford and her two children. A few noticed the gathering thunderheads in the muggy sky and remarked that a storm might bring some relief from the oppressive heat. Easter Lily was not air conditioned; all the widows were open, and the cinder screens were up. The screens offered some protection, but by the end of a run, celluloid collars and white bonnets would be grey with fine coal dust. After an exchange of whistle blasts, the two locomotives began to roll eastward from track number eight. Directly behind Easter Lily was a combination baggage/coach (the baggage section kept the peasant
Leon, I would like a juicy Filet Mignon and Fries!
Another quiet day at Our Place. I will not stay long, just finish my late dinner.
CM3 – Kind of a strange route for a bus, El Paso – Globe. I have read Harrison Salisbury’s book, The Thousand Days! It is a very interesting book!The Swedish 2-6-0 was built 1931 by Nohab, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NOHAB in Sweden. Nohab later built GM diesel locomotives like the one seen in the picture below.
Swedish State Railways Class T44.DL – Don’t tell me you had a warm beer I have to ask Boris.Tom ‘n Pete – We are expecting a full report from your trip! Including pictures! Glad you had a great trip! Be careful in that winter storm!
G'evening Gents!
Pete 'n Moi have returned from Chicago and it was a glorious round trip; everythng went as planned. Amtrak was close to being on-time, just a tad late for the return aboard the Texas Eagle, but nothing to cause alarm. Dinner in the diner - couldn't have been finer! And so forth. You had to have been with us to fully appreciate the experience. We're gonna do it AGAIN!
Greetings and THANX to all who took the time and made the effort to Post both last night and today. Fully understand how we all have priorities with our time, especially those of you who work for your keep!
We're about to experience a winter ice storm - just made it home before the rains turned to freezing. Doubtful regarding Pete's morning Amtrak return to Jefferson City. I'm aghast at the prospect of having to put up with him for yet another day! Heard that his bride thinks he should stay here permanently. Hmmmmmm, wonder if there's a message there However, Juneau has found a friend - a new Mate, as Pete puts it - so all's not so bad.
No promises, but I'll try to get something more tangible put together for those of you who give a Rat's Patoot either this weekend or surely over the Holiday Monday!
Leon, give 'em what they please - drinks on Pete 'n Moi!
'Til later!
Pete 'n Tom
Hello all
I'll have a beer as this is a quick visit - - not had much time to drop by these last few days but have just had enough time to reveiew recent posts - not enough time to respond to points, will do that later on, but suffice to say somemthing weird (but good) in computer land is now letting me see a whole lot more pics (eg pics from Tom and Pete are now up in glorious colour, as Erics have alsways been) - and what great pics you have been posting. Superb.
Catch up with you soon!
DL
Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house, and $ for the jukebox. Sorry for the silence yesterday, but work is the curse of the drinking class.
Speaking of drinking class, I have rec'd fragmentary posts from Mighty Mt. Mentor. The problem is that the Second Class Boys really entered into the sprit (in more ways than one) of the "Great Locomotive Chase," and have been cutting the telegraph wires and dynamiting the pole line. We'll get there, however. Awk is, even as we speak, getting ready to attempt to carry a message to our intrepid reporter.
Now, let's look at a few items.
DL has provided all sorts of general comments, historical info. etc. Many thanks.
Lars sent along B&O material. The Odyssey video sets are good ones - check out the one on the Rio Grande if you have not seen it already. Staufer's book on B&O power is a good one - I am not sure if it is still in print.
Pete - You're welcome re the Heisler information. I thought the boys would be interested in the price quotes on the Heisler book - it sure got quiet (LOL). Cass is well worth the trip.
You had a question re logging. A lot of it goes on in this part of WV. In fact, log trucks are all over the back roads, big rods, etc. around here. Most of the logs travel by truck to mills. GP has a facility in Fayette County which is served by rail. R.J. Corman operates trains on the old Loup Creek Branch of the C&O between Thurmond and Mt. Hope. There are a few GP employees in my neighborhood. The plant makes specialty board for construction. Corman operates 6-axle power on the branch; much of it quite visible by auto, especially when the trees are bare. If you want to find out more, check out Ron Lewis's excellent work, Transforming the Appalachia Countryside.
Rob - Thanks for B&O items.
James made a rapid stop. Study hard...
Eric - Globe, AZ - egad! On an SP branch line, no less. Back in the day, Globe was connected to the outside world by a bus which operated on the following route: El Paso-Lordsburg-Safford-Globe. It took abt. 7 hours to make the trip. No, Boris, I don't know why I remember this sort of stuff. Then we had a mention of the Lake Ladoga ice ry. This sent me to the east wing to dig up my copy of Harrison Salisbury's book, The Thousand Days. It's a good one if you haven't read it. BTW. The Swedish 2-6-0 shot was beautiful. Who built it? I see all sorts of German design influence in looking at the picture. Speaking of designs, IMHO, one of the handsomest engines out there was a SP&S 10-wheeler. Just something about how it all fit together.
2-6-0s were common in New England as the B&M operated them on branch lines throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts. They lasted right up to the end of steam.
Last (but never least); kudos to our 'Steamed Proprietor who sent along all sorts of B&O items as well as the print of the EM1 which was portrayed in the heart of B&O country. Used to travel up through there a lot to Somerset, PA and other points in the area to do safety meetings; it's a bear in the winter sometimes. Sidebar - See, I told you I'd show up on Friday. I hope all have a good time in Chicago - stay away from Capone's vaults, and I hope you get to Englewood in time to see the departure of the eastbound 20th Century and Broadway - if only, if only.
Work safe
Good evening Captain Tom and all!!
Leon, Rumpsteak Café de Paris please! Medium.
It was indeed a very quiet day today at Our Place! I have talked to Ruth, she is still up and running around. She said she feels a little bit better tonight. I convinced her to drink some “spiked’ OJ that Boris offered. I don't know where he kept it but it helped!
Tom – We were supposed to have a cool day today with rain, but the sky was blue and we had plenty of sunshine instead! I understand that Royal Navy made it to St. Louis today! Hope you will have a real nice day tomorrow sailing all the way to Chicago and back!I don ‘t understand why the road atlases don’t show the railroads??? The road atlases covering just one state do, but not AAA or RandMcNally. Strange! I would have done the same thing you did, checking the distances to different cities using a road atlas. I have also been to a few of those rest areas where they have signs warning for poisonous snakes. But no problems so far. Ice railway! That is something also the Russians built during WWII on the Lake Ladoga to get food and weapons to Leningrad. It must have been kind of risky to cross the river between Longueuil and Montreal on the ice railway. Interesting things happened in Canada in January over the years! Tell Pete that beer is supposed to be cooold! Nothing else! Doug – Thanks for the drink!! See you this weekend!
Finally two pictures.
An old workhorse! I guess AEM-7 now is a Classic locomotive!
Another even older workhorse. A Swedish State Railways Class L5, 2-6-0, #1779, waiting for the last trip, to the scrap yard in 1971.
A surprise for this evening as Wolfman Pete and Moi are reporting in from the Siberianmo Haus!
Don't want to dwell on a "downer" BUT where in %# is everyone today!! Poor Ruth left with tears in her lovely eyes and Leon has threatened to lock the doors! Regulars or Irregulars - we are foundering, Gentlemen, and that ain't good!
Pete's train was a tad bit late, but not all that bad to where we couldn't swing by the TrainWreck if for no other reason than to assure that it is still standing. Getting him into the joint was no problem, it was the getting out . . . <grin>
As should be apparent, our Chicago trip is imminent and due to an early start tomorrow morning, it will be TOTALLY up to you guys to keep things going 'til our return.
Would love to respond to your comments, however, there ain't any!
Pete has convinced me that he DOES INDEED PREFER WARM BEER! Imagine that
'Til the next time . . .
Leon set 'em up . . .
Regards from Pete 'n Tom!
Significant events in Canadian RR History
during the month of January.
Part I of II - 1800's to 1900:
Initially Posted on Pages 215 - 216 of the "original" Thread*January 27th, 1854: - The Great Western Railway opens its Hamilton to London, Ontario section of its main line between Windsor and Niagara Falls. Moving on to acquire other railroads throughout Southern Ontario, it can be claimed to be the first Canadian railway system. * January 4, 1875: The Intercolonial Railway of Prince Edward Island opened the line between Charlottetown and Tignish for rail traffic. * January 31st, 1880: The Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa & Occidental Railay opened an Ice Railway between Longueuil and Montreal by placing railway track on large timbers laid on the ice of the St. Lawrence Seaway. A car ferry was used by the QMO&O during warmer months. The ice railway continued each winter until 1883. * January 1st, 1882: The Canadian Pacific Railway appointed William Cornelius Van Horne as General Manager. Under his tenure, 480 miles of track was laid across the Prairies in the summer of 1882. * January 13th, 1899: The joining of the Winnipeg Great Northern Railway with the Lake Manitoba Railway and Canal Company formed the Canadian Northern Railway. By 1915, under the leadership of Donald Mann and William Mackenzie, the Canadian Northern system expanded to 9,362 miles of track.
Part II of II - 1900's to present times: * January 3rd, 1912: The Canadian Pacific Railway leases the Dominion Atlantic Railway Company of Nova Scotia. * January 1st, 1914: Twelve miles of what was to become the Pacific Great Eastern Railway opens between North Vancouver and Horseshoe Bay, British Columbia. * January 19th, 1923: , January 19 - The Grand Trunk Railway is amalgamated into the Canadian National System by governmental order. The system took in the Canadian Government Railways (including the Intercolonial, the Prince Edward Island and the National Transcontinental Railways); the Hudson Bay Railway; the Canadian Northern and subsidiaries; the Grand Trunk Pacific; and the Grand Trunk (including the Grand Trunk Western and the Grand Trunk New England routes). * January 31st, 1930: This day commemorates the first use of the new elevated tracks through the new station platform at Toronto's Union Station. * January 13th, 1955: The Terrace to Kitimat, BC line was opened for traffic on this date by Canadian National Railways, although the official "last spike" ceremony took place on July 8 with the driving of an aluminum sp-ike produced at Kitmat. * January 20th, 1960: Canada's northernmost railroad (at the time) began operations by the Quebec Cartier Mining Company between Port Cartier to Gagnon, QC. * January 31, 1964: The Canadian National Railways extended its Optic and Chisel Lake line to Stall Lake, MB. * January 7th, 1969: Technical problems forces the suspension of Turbo Train service between Montreal and Toronto. * January 12th, 1977: Inter-city passenger rail service is officially granted to Via Rail Canada. * January 3, 1986: Vancouver's Skytrain begins operation between downtown Vancouver, Waterfront and New Westminster, BC. * January 15, 1990: Half of the VIA Rail Canada passenger network gets the budget axe. As a result of this action, a decision is made to run just one transcontinental train between Toronto and Vancouver via CN through Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Jasper, thereby discontinuing the use of CP trackage. * January 16th, 1990: The Minister of Transport approves the Canadian Rail Operating Rules. * January of 1993: The Rivard Commission the report of the National Transportation Act Review Commission is published. * January 7th, 1995: The New Brunswick Southern Railway begins operation over former CP tracks from McAdam to Saint John, N.B. with a line between McAdam and St. Stephen. * January 7th, 1995: The Wisconsin Central Railway acquires the Algoma Central Railway. * January 1st, 1998: The Guelph Junction Railway (formerly the Goderich subdivision), is acquired by the Ontario Southland Railway. This line had been leased by CP from the City of Guelph since 1888. The Ontario Southland also took over the 3.1 mile segment of the CP owned Guelph and Goderich Railway. * January 19th, 1998: The CN tracks between Mont-Joli, QC and Moncton, NB is acquired by the Quebec Railway Corporation through its owned subsidiaries: (1) New Brunswick East Coast Railway between Pacific Junction, near Montcton, and Campbellton, NB. (2) Matapedia Railway between Campbellton, NB and Mont-Joli, QC. * January 15, 1999: Formal ceremonies of the handing over of the former CP line between Sicamous and Kelowna, BC (including operating rights over the CN tracks between Vernon and Kelowna) takes place under the operation of the Okanagan Valley Railway. * January 8th, 1999: CP relinquishes operation of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway which is assumed by RailAmerica, Inc. * January of 2000: The acquisition of 21.9 kilometers of track between Prince Albert and Birch Hills, SK is announced by OmniTRAX. * January 5th, 2002: Vancouver's Skytrain opens the Millennium Line section from Columbus to Braid. * January 9th, 2003: The Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Canada Company begins operations through the acquisition of the Bangor & Aroostook Railro
<fweeeet< <fweeeet> Now hear this! Now hear this! This is the Captain speaking. Royal Navy expected to arrive early this afternoon. Soogie parties assemble on the fore decks. Sweepers man your brooms. Clean sweepdown fore ‘n aft! This is no drill! <fweeeet> <fweeeet>
And so, another day has dawned here in mid-continent USA along with a cold front that has put us back into the "feel" of winter. All we need is snow and it would be a perfect world for Juneau and those who revel in this time of year!
Congrats to the Larsman for providing the 100th Post on our "reborn" Thread! We're moving along toward the 10,000th overall.
Moving on to the acknowledgments:
Lars at 4:23 PM yesterday: The 100th Post! Good to have you aboard and appreciate those great looking steam loco's of the B&O! Amazing how much info is out there on that historic railroad. One day you'll have to share the family legacy with us. I recall the B&O operating on Staten Island as freight and running the S.I.R.T. (Staten Island Rapid Transit). The herald was everywhere in those days, kinda grew up with that image in my mind. HOWEVER, it never supplanted the Pennsy or NY Central! Then in later years, the New Haven became my favorite. Fickle kinda guy, eh
Best to you and your bride for a relaxing get-away. Take full advantage of these opportunities, my friend, as there really are no "do overs" in life. But then, you already know that, eh See ya when you get back!
Pete at 4:46 PM yesterday: Slipped that one in on us, eh Was thinking you'd be an evening visitor, but either way, great to see ya! Sorry ‘bout that duplicate Post of mine - I deleted one of ‘em. Don't have a clue how that occurred, but then again, these Forum Gremlins are EVERYWHERE!
Really fine material on the "bell" and fully appreciate your sharing the info with us. Really love the look of that loco! Reminds me just a bit of a Baldwin. Anyway, can you imagine such attention being given these days to an anniversary for a railroad [?[ Methinks NOT! My oh my how times have changed. That's was quite a gesture on the part of the King and says a lot regarding the ties between our two countries.
Email received - Looking forward to our Chicago adventure!
Rob at 12:02 AM today: As you already know, Gordon Lightfoot's Canadian RR Trilogy is one of my all time favorite of favorites when it comes to railroad songs - good choice!
Really sorry to learn that you cannot "cut ‘n paste" from the "old" site to the new. Can't quite understand why not. It has to be something disabled within your software, methinks. The challenge is to find out precisely what it is and how to fix it! <groan>
Received your Email and responded to same - THANX!
Eric at 12:46 AM today: I took the mileages from my road Atlas and used the distances between Phoenix and "wherever" 1,200 appeared. Nothing more elaborate than that! I can't believe I missed San Francisco. Now, Las Vegas is 292 road miles from Phoenix, so I wouldn't have thought of that one. Anyway, NICE ‘quiz' - something to keep the grey matter functioning!
Don't even wanna talk about health issues these days (daze). I'm not really falling apart at the seams, just springing a leak here ‘n there - figuratively speaking that is!
Oh if ONLY we could turn back the hands of time for a chance to travel aboard those wonderful streamliners of yesteryear. The B&O domes, the Santa Fe Chiefs, the California Zephyr, the Empire Builder, and it goes on and on. Fortunately, the information still exists for one and all here in the Ether and of course through a myriad of books and videos. Amen!
That photo of yours reminds me of a rest stop or two that I frequented on my road trips into the desert areas of the southwest. Several of them had signs warning of poisonous snakes in the area. Made one feel rather uncomfortable and having second thoughts about whether it was REALLY necessary to go to the restroom! Nope - I'll take the colder climates with sufficient drops in temps to kill off those kinds of critters! <grin>
Reminder: Ruth has the bar from 9 AM until Leon the Night Man comes in at 5 PM ‘til closing.
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