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
Hi Tom and all.
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
Pete.
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.
Eric
Denali Star - from my personal collection
G'day Gents!
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."
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS!
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:
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!)
<
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
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!
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
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.
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 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.
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."<
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.
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
Hi Tom and everyone, a round for the house.
."Heave us that line, Captain," he cried, and Hornblower obediently threw up the bow line for him to secure forward. The law of the sea applied equally in inland waters - the ship first and personal dignity a long way second.
Already the lock-keeper was closing the gates behind them and the lock-keeper's wife was opening the paddles of the upper gate, the water swirling in. The lower gates closed with a crash with the mounting pressure, and the boat rose with the gurgling water. The horses were changed in a twinkling; the postillion scrambled into his saddle, and proceeded to tilt a black bottle against his lips during the remaining few seconds while the lock filled. The steersman was casting off the lines - Hornblower took the bow line from him - and the lock-keeper's wife was thrusting at one upper gate while the lock-keeper, running up from the lower gate, thrust at the other. The postillion yelled and cracked his whip, the boat sprang forward while the helmsman leaped to his place astern, and they were off again with not a second wasted. Assuredly this canal traffic was a miracle of modernity, and it was gratifying to be on board the very fastest of the canal boats, the Queen Charlotte, that took priority over all other traffic. On her bow she carried a glittering scythe-blade as the proud symbol of her superior importance. It would sever the towline of any approaching boat which did not drop her line quickly enough to let her through. The two score of farmers' wives and wenches who sat aft in the second class with their chickens and ducks and eggs and butter were all of them travelling as much as twenty miles to market, in the confident expectation of returning the same day. Quite astonishing.
Here, as they climbed to the summit level, lock succeeded lock at frequent intervals, and at each the postillion held his black bottle to his lips, and his yells to his horses became more raucous and his whip-cracking more continuous. Hornblower obediently handed the bow line at each lock, despite Maria's urgings to the contrary.
"My dear," said Hornblower, "we save time if I do."
Mike
Good morning Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!
I guess you will not be in until Monday morning though.
Leon, thanks for keeping this place open this late/early. Saturday evening, I think the right meal tonight is that super good Filet Mignon! No, no coffee tonight. I'll have an ice cold beer! You surpirse me with something extra good!
Found some very nice posts tonight. Something strange happened when I refreshed this page before posting, more than half of Mike's latest post disappeared! Most of the text is gone!
Tom – Thanks for the link to info on WP’s RDCs! Most interesting info about the service WP used the RDCs for. Don’t worry, I have to use my grey matter almost every day at work! They call me the investigator because one of my tasks is to help engineering to figure out what is and what went wrong with defective sockets returned from customers. It is like being a detective and I like that part of my job. It is amazing how much information one can find on some pieces of metal and plastic just by using a microscope and some common sense.Time will tell how things will be around this bar in 300 days! You never know, things might turn for the better all of a sudden! At least that is what I hope. Maybe that is a good idea to keep my thoughts about the failure to sell the X2000 to Amtrak out of the ether. Especially since some people, if they read it, easily will recognize themselves and others. Thanks for the Cast of Characters!! I know most of them by now. One question though, when and where are those lingerie shows taking place? Good movies coming up on the Mentor Village Emporium Theatre! I saw Night Train on TV many years ago but I don’t think that was an American movie. Is it Polish? A John Wayne movie is always right! Add Ann-Margret (from the old country) and it is perfect!The passenger cars you can see on the “exhaust” pix are the X2000. The RDCs were sitting on track 15 to the right. It is kind of a fun feeling to run a train on a completly snowed over track! Mike – Thanks for the rounds!Very nice pictures. I love those color pix from the fifties! Especially the RDC in Hazleton!You are providing the answer to Pete’s quiz! Nice job! But what happened to your post?10 railroads “Pacific”?
United Pacific; Southern Pacific; Northern Pacific; Western Pacific; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; Butte, Anaconda & Pacific; Cincinnati, New orleans & Texas Pacific; Denver, Northwestern & Pacific; Grand Trunk Pacific; Missouri Pacific.Pete – Thanks for the info on the canals! 2,200 miles of canals! I have to check my slides from UK, maybe I took some pictures of a canal or two. The picture of the snow covered track was taken during the X2000 winter tests almost exactly 17 years ago north of the Arctic cricle. The snow did not stop us. The suspended railway in Wuppertal, Germany, opened in 1901. The line is 13.3 km (8.3 miles) long (30 minutes). On both ends turning loops are installed. The cars used today were built in the 70’s and each car seats 48 and take 100 standing passengers. The average speed is 27 km/h (16.8 mph). Top speed 60 km/h (37 mph). During weekdays the trains are running every 3-4 minutes and every 8 minutes on week ends. More info:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwebebahn_Wuppertal#_note-12The locomotives on Alan’s pictures are German Class 204 Bo-Bo diesel hydraulic locomotives, rated at 1050 kW, 1408 hp and have top speed of 100 km/h, 62 mph. They were built in the 1970’s. Railion is the same railroad as former Deutsche Bundesbahn and are running trains in several different European countries. I am afraid I have to pass on your quiz tonight. Hm, I guess Mike solved it!Lars – Couldn’t stay away from the bar and Ruth, could you? The new bar, is that where we will find Ruth in the future? A very nice picture of a very good looking locomotive, NYC PA3!Doug – Thanks for the round! I start feeling round under my feet now!Thanks for the article Battle Over Coal! Interesting to read and learn facts that are not known to most people. Explains a lot of things. The sad thing is that the railroads lost a lot of freight to the trucking industry. Today they are winning back a lot of it though!Pushing the X2000 was kind of different! You can see me in the middle of the pushing people, dressed in dark blue. That soldier learned the some facts of life the hard way!
See you on Monday
Good morning Tom and friends. I'll have two light breakfast after shoveling all that snow and ice off the driveway this A.M. I see that Eric has the answers to Mike's quiz. Here's a little reading material for ya'll to start the day:
Frozen coal posed a growing problem because transit times on PRR were lengthening. Although most Penn State coal for many years had come from the Snow Shoe area, about 40 miles distant, underground mines were playing out and strip mines usually shipped by truck.
PRR had reduced service on its 21-mile-long Snow Shoe branch - a line that climbed the Allegheny Front via a series of switchbacks - to a train or two weekly in the early 1950s. In May 1959, the branch was abandoned altogether.
Even before the abandonment Penn State began buying more coal from Clearfield district mines, served by trains from PRR's yard at Osceola Mills, 28 highway miles and 70 rail miles from University Park. That service too, was deteriorating. Cars sat longer at loading tipples, in the yard, and at Tyrone, where Osceola crews placed them for pickup by eastbound trains operating over PRR's Bald Eagle branch to Bellefonte.
The 1958 Penn State study found that coal typically was in transit on the rails to State College for one to two weeks - ample time to allow the black diamonds to freeze. Trucks could make the trip to State College in one to two hours.
A third issue was coal storage. The university's physical plant managers lack confidence in the short line's ability to maintain a steady flow of coal as consumption grew. The power plant had an outside storage bunker capacity of only 900 tons: additional coal was stored in the cars in which it was delivered, either in BFC's five-track State College yard or on a siding at Alto, about five miles north of town.
Normal operations saw the train from Bellefonte arrive in State College around noon, Monday through Saturday. On three or four of those days, the power plant had to be served. In that case, the locomotive's first chore was to push three loaded cars across busy North Atherton Street (U.S. Route 322) onto a trestle adjacent to the plant's west wall. Penn State personnel began discharging the coal into the bunker below the track, while the train crew departed with the locomotive to switch other local customers.
Before returning to Bellefonte, the crew pulled the now empty cars from the plant and placed three more loads - the maximum the trestle could accommodate. If the power plant increased its coal consumption as expected, more fuel would have to be stored in hopper cars, requiring more switching activity because there was not adequate space nearby for ground storage.
Penn State had asked the railroad to base one of its two Electro-Motive diesel switcher locomotives in State College. BFC's longtime vice president and general manager, George E. McClellan, declined. He pointed out that on those rare occasions when the university stockpile ran low, he had dispatched a locomotive to the campus just to place more hoppers from the storage siding - a practice the railroad would gladly continue.
The university was not satisfied, contending that McClellan's solution did not take into account car shortages, or strikes by railroad or mine workers. Penn State then considered buying a small industrial locomotive to handle power plant switching. It was still pondering this alternative when Eric Walter ordered the 1958 trucking feasibility study.
Even if the problems of coal handling and storage could be resolved, truckers still underbid PRR and BFC's combined rate. Railroad rates were, by regulatory law, a matter of public record. If truckers bought the coal they carried and sold it to the university as their own - a common practice - they were not subject to common carrier regulations and thus did not have to disclose transportation charges, giving them a competitive advantage in any bidding process. McClellan and PRR executives knew of the 75-cent-per-ton differential identified in the 1958 study only because Patchell had told them.
In May 1959, the university informed the Bellefonte Central that, beginning in September, coal shipments would come by truck. (Penn State did not mention that 500 tons of bituminous had already arrived by truck for test burning, so that the university could be sure that the trucked product met its quality standards. The shipment were delivered in the dead of night so as not to arouse BFC suspicions). PRR had already lowered its rate at least once over the past few years, and was willing to consider another reduction only if the university guaranteed a long-term contract - a proposal that PSU summarily rejected. <End of part II>
We all know how misleading the description of hotels and motels can be. So we put together a translation table to help you out... So when you see one of the phrases listed on the left, you will know what it really means by reading the translation on the right!
Old world charm ................................. No bath
Tropical ............................................. Rainy
Majestic setting ................................. A long way from town
Options galore ................................... Nothing is included in the itinerary
Secluded hideaway ............................ Impossible to find or get to
Pre-registered rooms .......................... Already occupied
Explore on your own ........................... Pay for it yourself
Knowledgeable trip hosts .................... They've flown in an airplane before
No extra fees ..................................... No extras
Nominal fee ....................................... Outrageous charge
Standard ........................................... Sub-standard
Deluxe .............................................. Standard
Superior ............................................ One free shower cap
Cozy ................................................. Small
All the amenities ................................ Two free shower caps
Plush ................................................ Top and bottom sheets
Gentle breezes .................................. Occasional Gale-force winds
Light and airy ..................................... No air conditioning
Picturesque ....................................... Theme park nearby
Open bar ........................................... Free ice cubes
Concierge ....................................... Stand with tourist brochures
Continental breakfast ..................... Free muffin
A smile to begin the week!
What time is it? You mean now?
(A Yogi-ism!)
Coffee ‘n pastries are fresh and the breakfasts <light> ‘n <traditional> are ready for serving, so whaddyawaitinfer
Monday at the Tavern by the Tracks and a new work week (for many) has begun. Good to see those of you who've taken the time and made the effort to drop by!
Hope y'all had a fine weekend! In spite of the nasty weather here in mid-continent USA, it was relaxing ‘round das Haus! <grin> Noted that Petrol has dropped to $2.19 (rounded) up at "Collusion Corner," perhaps a positive sign as spring approaches.
A really nice Saturday from the guys and some interesting follow-ons after my closing narrative.
Mike at 9:39 PM Saturday: Something totally different and unique from "silent Mike"! The answer to Pete's QUIZ question. Figured it wasn't an episode from the DVD series as the Atropos isn't one of ‘em. Anyway, nicely done and now we all know!
With a QUIZ of his own, "silent Mike" wants a listing of 10 railroads with "Pacific" in the name. So, here's my offering: (1) Canadian Pacific - (2) Union Pacific - (3) Missouri Pacific - (4) Western Pacific - (5) Northern Pacific - (6) Southern Pacific - (7) Texas & Pacific - (8) Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific - (9) Northwestern Pacific (10) Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific.
Eric at 1:30 AM yesterday: A fine early AM Post from our "Desert Swede"! Always looks forward to your contributions to the conversation "at hand."
Now, I've gotta know - are you sure about "United Pacific" Hmmmmmmmm.
You are correct, Sir! Night Train (1959) is indeed a flick from Poland. Check out this URL for even more info:
http://www.moviehabit.com/reviews/nig_le06.shtml
How about "saving" your X2000 ‘n ICE "analysis" for the Rendezvous in May
Many THANX for the clarification on the RDC Pix . . . figured what I was viewing surely wasn't my favorite rail car! <grin> Also got a kick out of that Pix in an earlier Post of you guys pushing the X2000. That's a one in a million shot, fer sure, fer sure!
Doug at 5:54 AM today: Just caught your Post . . . Surprise, Surprise! A morning start-up from the barndad!
More reading material than most can handle first thing off in the AM - however, will get to it and much appreciated!
Special note: There will be an "Our" Place QUIZ begun today and will be in FOUR PARTS! Watch for the start-up this morning!
Reminder: Ruth has the bar from 9 AM until Leon the Night Man comes in at 5 PM ‘til closing.
Boris, serve ‘em all of the "spiked" OJ they can handle!
"Our" Place QUIZ
Just how familiar with "Our" Place are you? Wanna take a crack at this 4-part test of your skills?
Here's how it works:
The levels of knowledge begins at NOVICE and progresses through APPRENTICE, JOURNEYMAN to ORACLE.
One Part of the QUIZ will be Posted daily, ending on Thursday.
Each part has an "answer key" lettered from A thru P (more answers than questions, of course!) Simply place the LETTER of your answer next to the question (printing the Quiz will really help!).
Answers for all 4-parts will be Posted on Saturday morning!
PART I - Skill level: NOVICE
(1) Four letter word for the Red Head who tends bar during the daytime at "Our" Place?
(2) Cloven-footed Cyclops who watches over "Our" Place?
(3) Night bartender at "Our" Place?
(4) Pizza Nite & Steak ‘n Fries Nite at "Our" Place?
(5) Steak ‘n All The Trimmings Nite at "Our" Place?
(6) Fish ‘n Chips Nite at "Our" Place?
(7) Flying Circus at "Our" Place?
(8) Ankle Biter at "Our" Place?
(9) Wears a tuxedo all of the time?
(10) First mascot of "Our" Place?
Select answers for NOVICE group:
A. Frostbite I. Friday
B. Tex J. Ruth
C. Leon K. Cindy
D. Awk L. Boris
E. Juneau M. Lydia
F. Thursday N. Tuesday
G. Saturday O. Penguin
H. Wednesday P. H&H
(Sorry ‘bout the formatting - still can't figure it out!!) <groan>
So, how many times through did it take you to answer the 10 questions
Enjoy!
Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox. It was certainly quite a weather weekend and I hope the lights are on, heat working, and buildings still standing wherever you are. Most of the really bad stuff went around us.
Lots of material to look at this a.m.
Mike sent along some links. Continuing in my role as archivist (euphemism for he's so !@$ old he remembers this stuff," here are a few comments.
The LVs Hazleton Branch was the home of RDC service on the Valley. The branch was 40.7 miles long and ran from M&H Junction to Midvalley. Hazleton was about midway between the two end points.
The shot made at Sayre, PA brought back more than a few memories. Much of what was shown in the picture is long gone. The Sayre station, just outside of the shot to the left still stands. The LV shops are the buildings in the background - yes, Awk, the ones with the big smokestacks. The D&H train is on the main line. It was most interesting to see all of the red-painted power at the engine facility. The gray-painted unit is an Alco C-420; if you look real hard in the middle of the picture you will see a so-called "hammerhead" RS3; this is an RS3 with a high short hood.
The LV FA's are in an early color scheme; red with black stripes.
On to the Erie pictures.
The one with the passenger train(s) was, I think, made near Jersey City. An Alco HH series switcher is working the cut of refrigerator cars at the left of the picture; first car in the cut belongs to the MILW. The Erie Berks were monsters - you can get an idea of the size of them from the picture. The last shot is probably of a fan trip.
The shot of the Phoebe Snow obs was made, as near as I can tell, in Binghamton, NY; the train is eastbound.
Both of the Pennsy diesel shots were taken in Chicago. The first one shows an E8 and E7 near the coach yards just outside Union Station. The E8 is a newer locomotive, but has an older paint scheme. PRR 5791 is crossing the 21st St. Interlocking. My initial thought is that it might be the "Broadway," but the cars don't look right - we'll have to study this one some more.
The electric pictures are all good ones. The E44s were what a friend's son used to call "big ‘uns." They were the last PRR electrics. The G motor in the snow brought back a lot of memories - cold, damp, and just a great thing to see.
Thanks for the Hornblower reference. I rememberd the narrative, but could not remember the book title.
Barndads Penn State story is an interesting one. PSU is not easy to get to from here, anyway; we have to go through Cumberland (tough for those of us who are interested in railroads).
Lars provided a travelogue, comments, and a good-looking builders shot of an NYC PA. BTW, the Lehigh Valley had PAs as well, which were very striking in red and black color scheme. Lars, any day that I am not in an airplane is a good one to me. As our ‘Steamed Proprietor would say, "I did my time, thank you."
Pete provided more commentary and pictures from Belgium. Thanks for sharing - quite a lineup outside the engine house. Reminds me of seeing a bunch of C&O U25s lined up at Clifton Forge one time.
Eric - Thanks for pictures and reminiscences - I assume that the X2000 was not only light enough but also had the kind of bearings that would allow you to push it around. IMHO, common sense is in even shorter supply than gasoline. Boris, unhand me you mad beast of Russia, put me down, that's all I'm going to say!
Our' Steamed Proprietor has a fine selection of moves. I have never seen the first one and have not seen the "Train Robbers" in a long time. The Stooges one is a classic, especially the scenes when they are trying to repair the pump. As my man Curly said, "It's a geezer!" I'll have to get after your quiz.
Before I forget, for those interested in canals, a good book is Ronald E. Shaw, Canals for a Nation: The Canal Era in the United States, 1790-1860. I believe its o/p, but you can probably get it as an interlibrary loan.
P.S. Tom - If you use Word, setting up your quiz as a table really helps. I still miss WordPerfect which had column features and block protection which made life a lot easier for thos of us "in the trade."
Ruth, time for a mugga Joe with one of those "BK splashes" and I'll take 3 pastries from the bakery case! Ah yes, some treats for the critters and of course a small jar of pickled pig's feet for Boris! My oh my you are lookin' mighty fine this mornining!
Hey Tom! I "aced" the first part of the Quiz! Guess that makes me a bonafide NOVICE, huh
Bring on Part Two!
Really great idea and if the guys get with it, this could turn out to be lotsafun.
I've been thinking that Mondays shoul dbe the BEST DAY of the week for material. Why
Well, since Sunday is a day of rest and most guys don't show up on Saturday, that gives plenty of time to have something prepared for submission on Monday. How difficult is THAT
Of course I'm in hopes that the guys who give a rat's patoot will take this to heart and make "it" happen!
I just barely remember the John Wayne flick and never did see the one from Poland. Poland! Man oh man, I don't think I've EVER seen a movie made in Poland. Where do you find these movies <grin>
Some fine stuff from Doug on Saturday and again early this morning! Got me all interested in things I either forgot about or never knew! Nice going.
Eric pushing the X2000. I was thinking pretty much along the lines of CM3 I'm NOT Shane! when it came to the bearings that would permit such a thing to take place. Just appears rather odd, huh
Pete, those pix from your friend Alan are surely different as were the ones of the hanging railroad. Provided yet another interesting twist to the conversations taking place in this great bar of ours! And who says one can't enjoy adult conversation, beverages and good times in the ether
So, the question IS WHEN do we see the return of my "bookend" - BK - from the far reaches of the Canadian Rockies Surely have missed him these past months. What has it been, at least two months. That's too long.
The way things appear to be heading, BK may be our only "Canadian connection" as Rob surely seems to have dropped of the earth with no effort made to communicate his situation. Not good and very surprising. Surely HOPE all's well with the trolleyman!
Should make mention we're not thrilled about being back in the winter climate! That respite down in the Keys just about ruined the both of us (for life!). Ain't no way I'm intersted in living through a full winter up here, evAH again!
But home is where the heart 'n hearth are, or something like that. It IS good to be back in many ways. We've called this place home for so many years and our grown up sons still do. For those of you with "ties" like that, they are most difficult to let loose of, huh Also, just being around "our stuff" and in familiar territory means a lot as well. The Mrs. is in "hog heaven" now that she can resume her shopping schedule. <arrrrgggghhhh>
Hope y'all have a great week and let's remember to keep this thread alive 'n well. How hard is it to pick a time slot for posting and then come through Let's give it a try, shall we
One more, Ruth, then I'm headin' up to the Penthouse Suite to check on "things," wanna join me
Down Boris, down - no "threat" intended. I know you're her "guardian," but <geesh> man, I'm the Manager!!
So, what's not to like about THESE
D&H Baldwin RF16 & Alco PA1 (photo credit: Jay Winn)
Good Morning Captain Tom and fellow sophisticates!
Be careful what you wish for, Lars, otherwise it just MAY come true and wind up biting you in the "keester"!
Yes, I've returned and have all sorts of pages of postings to sort through before I feel comfortable with engaging this fine group of classic train enthusiasts in conversation.
So, first let me say to Ruth, you are a magnificent looking lady and if it weren't for Lydia "boring holes" in the back of my head with her "look," why I'd give Lars a run for the money for your affections!
I'd like a steaming hot mug of cofee with just a "splash" to make it interesting. Two number 3s from the Menu Board and a pot of tea for Lydia. Keep the change!
Certainly appears as if you are all settled in here at the new thread and I'm not quite sure why the move was made, but I'm sure I'll get to it as I begin to play the game of catch up.
As some of you may recall, we departed our mountain retreat on December 20th and arrived in Hawaii (Honolulu) on the 22nd. Christmas was spent on the "big" island, at a rather intimate resort, and from there on we pretty much "hopped" from island to island, spending a week here, two weeks there and so on. Don't want to bore any of you with this personal "drivvel."
After that we set our sights on the territories "down under" and arrived in Sydney on the 20th of January. A wonderful place, Australia, and we enjoyed each and every day of our experience. We were able to get over to New Zealand for a week, and in fact that's where we departed for Vancouver from. Lydia took all sorts of photos and perhaps she'll one day share some of the more scenic ones with the group.
While in Australia, we did take a few train trips, but more along the lines of getting from one place to another, rather than simply for the joy of it. Expensive, well used and on time would be my assessment of things in that regard. We were able to visit many of the continents major cities and left no grass to grow beneath our footsteps. It was a very active couple of months, minus a few weeks of total "chilling out" in Hawaii.
Thought I'd drop off an Encore from my very last submission made on December 19th over on the former thread. This will have to "do" until I can get totally caught up!
Good to be back and hope to check in again in a day or two!
Good Morning Captain Tom and fellow sophisticates!Greetings from Alberta which in all probability will be my last for several weeks. Ruth, a round on me, a steaming mug of coffee with just a "splash" to make it interesting, and a couple of crullers from the Mentor Village Bakery; thank you! I have received many e-mails from several of you and appreciate being placed on the distribution for your thoughts. However, perhaps you should consider dropping my addresss, at least until my return, as I am not planning to access that account. It was established strictly for the bar. Further, I must admit that my habits are rather hit and miss when it comes to checking the in box. It has been a most exasperating experience since Saturday morning with reference to logging into the forums. For whatever the reason, my efforts were to no avail. I could read what had been provided, but could not contribute. That continued through Sunday and probably yesterday. I was not "up" on Monday, therefore I cannot speak with authority on the situation in the ether. <groan> I can well understand how these experiences can, and probably do, drive some to take their leisure time elsewhere.Captain Tom, I read your most recent thoughts this morning and since I am not planning to respond in kind, let me simply say that you have summed the situation up quite well. If the bar has relocated prior to my return, I will contact you to find out where. I enjoyed the feature Theme for the Day that you, Tom, provided and recall that the first time around, the Southern Railway was well received. I have a few photos to offer and then will have to return to helping Lydia with the last minute arrangements before we depart.Of the Sunday photo display, Tom, I enjoyed those Train Wreck saloon shots along with those taken at the local train station. Even the window display of the Lionel train provided just a bit of a flashback to the days when department stores featured those elaborate layouts. Nicely done, Sir Tom, and if the opportunity presents itself, I would dearly love to hoist a toast to those of you at the Rendezvous! I shall miss this place. The mascots, the banter at the bar, t he staff, the enormous amounts of reading material, the humor from Doug (if we still are able to call it that!) and the comfort in knowing that there is indeed a special place set aside for those of us with like minds (as Tom mentioned in his e-mail). A very special Christmas and New Years greeting to all who have been so kind to me over the months I have been a part of this group. In particular, Sir Lars and Sir Rob and Sir Doug and Sir CM3 and Sir Pete and Sir Nick (is he "off" again??) and of course, Sir Tom. Wishing all of you and yours the happiest of holidays! Southern Railway No. 1401 at the Smithsonian Instiution, Washington, D.C. Southern 2-8-8-2 #4057 (1938)(from: www.yesteryeardepot.com) Southern 4-8-2 #495 (1950)(from: www.yesteryeardepot.com) Southern Railway 2-8-8-2 #4053 (1946)(from: www.yesteryeardepot.com)
Greetings from Alberta which in all probability will be my last for several weeks. Ruth, a round on me, a steaming mug of coffee with just a "splash" to make it interesting, and a couple of crullers from the Mentor Village Bakery; thank you!
I have received many e-mails from several of you and appreciate being placed on the distribution for your thoughts. However, perhaps you should consider dropping my addresss, at least until my return, as I am not planning to access that account. It was established strictly for the bar. Further, I must admit that my habits are rather hit and miss when it comes to checking the in box.
It has been a most exasperating experience since Saturday morning with reference to logging into the forums. For whatever the reason, my efforts were to no avail. I could read what had been provided, but could not contribute. That continued through Sunday and probably yesterday. I was not "up" on Monday, therefore I cannot speak with authority on the situation in the ether. <groan> I can well understand how these experiences can, and probably do, drive some to take their leisure time elsewhere.
Captain Tom, I read your most recent thoughts this morning and since I am not planning to respond in kind, let me simply say that you have summed the situation up quite well. If the bar has relocated prior to my return, I will contact you to find out where.
I enjoyed the feature Theme for the Day that you, Tom, provided and recall that the first time around, the Southern Railway was well received. I have a few photos to offer and then will have to return to helping Lydia with the last minute arrangements before we depart.
Of the Sunday photo display, Tom, I enjoyed those Train Wreck saloon shots along with those taken at the local train station. Even the window display of the Lionel train provided just a bit of a flashback to the days when department stores featured those elaborate layouts. Nicely done, Sir Tom, and if the opportunity presents itself, I would dearly love to hoist a toast to those of you at the Rendezvous!
I shall miss this place. The mascots, the banter at the bar, t he staff, the enormous amounts of reading material, the humor from Doug (if we still are able to call it that!) and the comfort in knowing that there is indeed a special place set aside for those of us with like minds (as Tom mentioned in his e-mail).
A very special Christmas and New Years greeting to all who have been so kind to me over the months I have been a part of this group. In particular, Sir Lars and Sir Rob and Sir Doug and Sir CM3 and Sir Pete and Sir Nick (is he "off" again??) and of course, Sir Tom. Wishing all of you and yours the happiest of holidays!
Southern Railway No. 1401 at the Smithsonian Instiution, Washington, D.C.
Southern 2-8-8-2 #4057 (1938)(from: www.yesteryeardepot.com)
Southern 4-8-2 #495 (1950)(from: www.yesteryeardepot.com)
Southern Railway 2-8-8-2 #4053 (1946)(from: www.yesteryeardepot.com)
BK in Alberta, Canad
Just got in from a bit of snow shoveling! Can you imagine THAT!! <groan> Wet 'n heavy stuff and should be gone in a day or two as the temperatures will be on the rise. Just a messy bunchaslop!
Ruth, just your presence warms the "hackles of my aging heart"! A double hit of JD on the rocks if you please and set 'em for the guys at the bar.
Awwwwwwwwright, my "bookend" has indeed made his presence known and things may indeed be getting back to a healthy point here at the tavern by the tracks!
Great having you back with us, BK and I surely hope that our downturn in frequency of visits by some of the guys won't turn you off as it had (and has) with me. Anyway, there's lots of quality posts to catch up on and if I know you, it won't be long B4 you're up 'n running!
Like that Southern spread of pix - anytime is fine with me. Hey! The guys who used to make such a big thing out of Sunday pix day aren't doing it anymore, so Da Bossman changed things around to Saturday and we still haven't set the world afired with pix. So, I say THANKS for yours!
Apprecite the e-mails while you were gone and there's one on the way to ya today. No rush in answering, just FYI.
Looks as if we're "down" in numbers as Nick 'n Al are definitely in the legion of the lost and Rob is heading that way. Don't know about DL, as he posted something a week or so ago indicating that wouldn't be his situation. Also haven't seen the regularity from James (the youngster) but then again, consider where he is in life, huh
You'll also note that Doug isn't quite the regular he once was and we rarely see him durng the work week. However, he's still showing up on Saturdays, and every so often suprises us with a weekday visit - like this morning.
So, things are not perking, but we're still "up on the page" as Tom used to put it and there's no shortage of quality material, for sure.
When you get the time, take Lydia up to the Penthouse Suite! There's something special up there that you'll surely enjoy (aside from the "normal" stuff! ) The keys are in the "regular" place and Tom has authorized me to "judiciously" hand 'em out. So, feel free!
Better WATCH OUT for those comments regarding "my fair lady" Ruth! While I'm being WATCHED very closely by the Mrs. the old saying, "Where there's a will, there's a way," applies.
One more Ruth, then I'm outta here. Where's the bricks for the boots
A pint of Holdens Mild and a round please RUTH for a busy Saturday and a great start to Monday, I earned my pay this weekend with the heavy chandelling.
DOUG Glad you liked the pics, I will pass on your compliments to Alan.
Thanks for that well written piece on the Battle over Coal about the Penn State University. It is a most in depth piece I have read about how the railway lost the trade of a substantial customer I am looking forward to the next installment.
Liked the joke and the hotel translations.
ERIC Many thanks for the details on the German class 204s and the suspended railway at Wuppertal, This is a good link and I will pass it on to Alan.
The line had a good safety record with only one accident in over 100 years to sadly involve loss of life, although that publicity stunt in 1950 involving Tufti the elephant who wrecked a car and ended up in the river could have had much more serious consequences. I bet poor old Tufti made a big splash when she landed in the river, luckily suffering ‘minor injuries'
It must have been a bit unnerving on the X2000 in that snow not being able to see the track. Talking of track what is the second pair of rails in the pic you posted, is it a narrow gauge line or new rail waiting to be laid, Interesting.
MIKE I would not have remembered the book in which Hornblower traveled on the narrow boat on the canal was Hornblower and the Atropos, Many thanks. It is OK tying the boat up when the lock is filling to go up the level; it is not such a good idea when the lock is emptying. YES I have done it. I knew someone who worked on the maintenance of some Narrow boats and he arranged a cheap hire of one, for a weekend, although it was February and very cold, luckily there was no maintenance being carried out on the canal and we went from Brauneston to Newbold and back which involved going through some locks.
Anyway a bit further on in the story you posted, is when the barge Hornblower is on gets to a canal tunnel and Hornblower ‘legs' the boat through the tunnel. The older tunnels had no towpath and two people lying on their backs with their feet against the tunnel wall and ‘walked' the boat through the tunnel. The horse was taken over the top of the tunnel to meet the boat on the other side.
There is a place near Dudley in the West Midlands of England where there are boat trips to old limestone mines where you are carried in Battery powered narrow boats and you can have a try at ‘legging' the boat.
http://www.dudleycanaltrust.org.uk/Trips/prices.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dudley_Tunnel.
They used to do, once a month, a trip the whole length of the old Dudley Tunnel. I will have to find out if they still do this.
It seems that Eric as answered your quiz, can I add a couple more lines with Pacific in the title. Canadian Pacific. Chicago Central and Pacific, Texas & Pacific, Pacific Electric.
CM3 Many thanks for the details on the pics in Mike's links. I think I have picked out the hammerhead having looked at the photo again. As you say, I too enjoy the photos of locos both steam and diesel at engine sheds. I can remember visiting Crewe South loco depot on a Sunday in the early to mid 1960s and there were over 100 steam locos on shed. It was a great feeling waiting out side a depot on a shed visit wondering what locos were waiting to be seen inside.
Congratulations LARS being the one who posted the 500th post.Your prize is.
I see you are settling in back at home although the cold I guess is none too welcome. Many thanks for the great pic of the D&H locos. I guess the locos are painted in the same color but with the different lighting the nearer loco seems in a much deeper blue. It is also the same with the LNER A4 ‘Mallard when she ran for a short time again the 1980s. She is painted in the LNER garter blue and never seemed to be exactly the same color twice depending on the lighting conditions.
Back BK. I see Lars has just posted on how the bar is and it is real great to see you back. That sounds a fantastic holiday you have been on it will be good to see some photos when you are settled back in.
Enjoyed reading the post from December and seeing those Southern loco pics. What a lovely sight No 1401 makes in the Smithsonian.
TOM What a great place Our Place is. I had forgotten all about our mishap in the lock and reading the piece Mike posted on Horatio brought it all back and brought a at the memory. Alan has sent some good pics on a German Narrow gauge railway I will share at Our Place.
I see you have found the same ‘Pacific' names I have (I wrote them yesterday). Thanks for the link to ‘Night train' the reviewer did not seem to think too much of it but I would still like to see the film.
I enjoyed part 1 of the "Our Place Quiz"
The Passenger Railroad Fallen Flags of "Our" Place #4
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (SLSF)
A form of this was initially Posted on Page 109 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: St. Louis, MO
Route mileage in 1950: 5,100
Locomotives in 1963 (all diesel-electric):
Freight: 286
Passenger: 23
Switchers: 102
Rolling stock in 1963: Freight cars - 17,889 Passenger cars - 230
Principal routes in 1950:
St. Louis-Quanah, TX
Kansas City-Birmingham, AL via Ft. Scott, KS
St. Louis-Memphis
Amory, MS-Pensacola, FL
Monee, MO-Paris, TX
Sapulpa (Tulsa) OK-Dallas/Ft. Worth
Fort Scott-Afton, OK
Kansas City-Springfield, MO via Clinton, MO
Monett-Ellsworth, KS
Tulsa-Avard, OK
Nash, MO-Hoxie, AR
Passenger trains of note:
Black Gold (Tulsa-Fort Worth)
Firefly (Kansas City-Oklahoma City)
Kansas City-Florida Special (Kansas City-Jacksonville)
Memphian (St. Louis-Memphis)
Meteor (St. Louis-Oklahoma City & Fort Smith, AR)
Oklahoman (1st iteration) (Kansas City-Tulsa)
Oklahoman (2nd iteration, 1965-67) (St. Louis-Oklahoma City)
Southland (Kansas City & St. Louis-Atlanta & Pensacola)
Texas Special (St. Louis-San Antonio & Forth Worth)
Will Rogers (St. Louis-Oklahoma City & Wichita, KS)
Of note:
Southern Railway handled trains east of Birmingham.
MKT (Katy) handled the Texas Special between Vinita, OK and Texas destinations.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
foto from internet sources - credit: undetermined
Good evening Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!
Hello Leon, you look happy tonight! I'll have a ham sandwich on rye, please! Coffee. No, sugar cured ham. Cold!
Monday, and I survived it! Some interesting posts to read tonight!
Doug – Thanks for the contiuation of the Battle Over Coal story! Very interesting indeed! Is Penn State still running that power plant? I copied the translation table for future use on my travels! Like in May going to St. Louis. It is always good to understand what they (the hotels/motels) really mean when I read their ads!
Tom – $2.19 for gas? This last weekend it jumped to $2.39 here! A week ago I paid $2.21. “United Pacific”? All I can say is that you should not read what I typed, you should read what I meant!! I wonder if it could be my new Mac that did that? No way, I think Bill Gates did it after I posted it. Thanks for the Night Train link! It seems like a complicated story, the police taking the wrong guy and so on. I have to ask a lady at the office, she is from Poland. I think that is a good idea to save the X2000 and ICE analysis for the Rendezvous! That will give me more time to add some more stuff to it, including some clippings. I could not answer all questions in the Quiz tonight so I have to try again tomorrow. I wonder why Ruth is mentioned as number 1 though? Thanks for the Frisco info! A railroad I don’t know much about. Maybe their headquarters (the building) is still standing and worth at least a drive by in May? I like their paint scheme! Nice pictures. CM3 – Yes, it was a little bit chilly here this last weekend but at least in the 60’s. Thanks for all info on those pictures Mike linked! I remember Binghamton for a fueling stop on the way back from Canada. What I remember the most from there is a lot of hot air ballons. The X2000 was unbelievable easy to push. When operating it under its own power one can tell it does not take much power to get it going. Lars – That time was the only time I have been pushing the X2000! You should have seen when the capacitros blew and made the train inoperable, that was what I call fireworks!How about the new bar? Are you going to have a Grand Opening
I like the picture of those two D&H diesels!! BK – Welcome back to Our Place!! You have been missed!! It sounds like you have had a most relaxing and interesting time away from this place. Nice pictures of the Southern Railway locomotives. I saw No. 1401 at Smithsonian and did obviously not take any pictures of it (can't find any)!!! Shame on me! It’s a beautiful locomotive! Looks very fast.Pete – The track you can see to the left in the picture is the main line. The snow covered track is a branch line going to a iron ore mine. Actually there was an EMU in Sweden that derailed last week trying to run through a 4-5 ft deep and 300 ft wide snowdrift (snow mixed with dirt) last week. No big deal, but the passengers had to be evacuated to a train on the other track.
Manager Lars called for it AND Monday turned out to be a better than average Monday day!
It's Tuesday at the Saloon by the Siding, pull uppastool and enjoy a cuppa Joe, pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery and of course a <light> or <traditional> breakfast from our Menu Board!
Wonder how many of you can lay claim to getting all of the Part I Quiz questions correct the first time through <grin>
Stick around, Part II will be Posted this morning . . .
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
CM3 at 9:02 AM yesterday: A fine Monday Post from our WVA connection. Good to
know that all's well in the hinterlands of southwestern WVA!
I've only been to Cumberland, MD on one occasion, and that was to ride the restored dinner train of the W&M. Anyway, it IS quite an area to check out and the railroading history is unbelievable! Very much worth the time to experience . . .
For a continuing annoyance of unexplained rationale, I still cannot get the formatting to ‘work" properly, whether I use Word or not and whether I use tables or not. Just won't "take" AND I've got the most current downloads for my browser and all associated "stuff". Go figger! Surely was easier with the OLD format . . . <bah humbug>
Thanx for the quarters, round and great descriptions for the URLs from "silent Mike."
Lars at 10:09 AM yesterday: Great seeing ya in the AM, something rather unusual to say the least! Didn't figure you'd be up ‘n about the decks today, especially with the inclement crap in the form of weather going on in your part of the world. <ugh> Retirement is supposed to mean HIRING KIDS TO SHOVEL THE WALK! Yeah - right! Can't find a kid in these parts who will do anything for a buck. Nope - parents give ‘em all they need, therefore they aren't out there "humping" for a buck the way we did back in the dark ages. <grin> <groan>
Appreciate your ‘call to arms' as we really had quite a Monday in comparison with some extremely slow ones over the past several weeks. Nicely done!
I do concur with your thinking, given that most guys are now able to get away from the Forums (if they so desire) on weekends, Monday could really become THE day of the week for "stuff." That would be a refreshing change . . .
Great looking D&H locos!!
BK at 11:17 AM yesterday: back to our Alberta connection!
Great having you back with us and it truly has been a looooooong time. I imagine you ‘n your bride are somewhat "jet lagged" and pretty much trying to figure out which end is up, eh
Well take your time insofar as the bar is concerned. We'll be here when you're ready to resume activity. Appreciate the Emails and cards during the time you were vacationing. Please convey my "welcome home" to Lydia!
Best way to play catch up is to participate in the Quiz!! You'll be surprised how quickly "it" will all come back. Just like that Encore! of yours, you (or Lydia) figured out how to copy ‘n paste it from the "original" Thread to the new. Just liking riding a horse, eh <grin>
Some things around here have changed, whereas others have stayed the same. In the latter category Ruth ‘n Lars are an "item" - so I'd be careful if I were you!
Really liked those Southern "steamers" and no matter how many times we see ‘em, they look mighty fine to Moi!
Lars at 2:31 PM yesterday: Back for a second go ‘round, eh
Well, no problem as Ruth "glows" when you walk through that doorway. Yeah, I know, some guys just "have it" whereas the rest of us mortals "chug along." <grin>
Pete at 3:19 PM yesterday: Quite the inclusive Post from the Wolfman! Begun on Sunday and completed on Monday. Now that's the way to do it - you ‘n Lars must be on the same wave length!
Fascinating "stuff" with the Dudley tunnel URLs - thanx!
Yes, you are correct about what a great place this bar is and has been. A shame that so many fail to recognize the quality of information being exchanged, but then again, I think the majority of those who frequent this particular Forum aren't interested in engaging in anything other than a "quick" response (if that) and then move on . . . We on the other hand treat this Thread as if it was in fact a "place" where adults gather to do the things we do best.
Is it true that the Bathams STRONG Ale comes in bottles because it is far too TOXIC for cans <grin>
CINDY was here MY Cindy How in the world did she manage that without my seeing her Hmmmmmm. Could it be that Pete ‘n Cindy . . . . Nah, I don't wanna believe it. Nope, not today.
Eric at 12:14 AM today: Not to worry, even the best of us get caught up in THAT moment - y
Here's PART II of the "Our" Place Knowledge Quiz! (Part I was Posted yesterday!)
PART II - Skill level: APPRENTICE
(1) Site for the 1st Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous?
(2) RR Theme Day at "Our" Place?
(3) OPTIONAL Toy ‘n Model Trains Day at "Our" Place?
(4) Only remaining Charter Member at "Our" Place?
(5) What "Our" Place customer "digs" the Milwaukee Road RR?
(6) Who at "Our" Place lives in central Missouri and is from Rugby, England?
(7) What "Our" Place customer resides in England?
(8) Site for the 2nd Annual Classic Trains Rendezvous?
(9) Challengers for the "Our" Place Annual DARTS Tournament?
(10) The name for the Mentor Village Theatre?
Select answers for APPRENTICE group:
A. Emporium I. Monday
B. Montreal, Quebec, Canada J. Wednesday
C. St. Louis, MO, USA K. pwolfe Pete
D. Chicago, IL, USA L. trolleyboy Rob
E. Toronto, Ontario, Canada M. DL-UK
F. Gazette N. James
G. Second Class Saloon O. Dew Drop Inn
H. Tuesday P. Mountain Village Tavern
<Sorry 'bout the formatting - still TRYING! <groan>)
PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #18
Initially Posted on Page 154 of the original Thread
Here's something to enjoy regarding the Budd RDC's from a 1953 advertisement found in my personal collection.
40 RDC's FOR THE PROGRESSIVE NEW HAVEN
If anybody should know how to carry passengers profitably it's the New Haven. Nearly half its income is derived from this source in contrast with most railroads where freight is king.
This adds significance to the fact that the New Haven has become the largest purchaser of Budd RDC's - stainless steel, self-propelled, rail diesel cars.
In the nearly three years RDC's have been operating in this country and abroad they have compiled an impressive record. In performance, they have improved every schedule they were assigned to. In operation they have proved both reliable and economical - two RDC's saved one railroad $600,000 in a year. In the comfortable, air-conditioned service they render, RDC's have increased passenger patronage - one RDC, operating in a new service between Worcester and New London, picked up 944 passengers in its first week.
Both New England and the New Haven will benefit from expanded RDC operation.
The Budd Company, Philadelphia, Detroit, Gary
Budd
PIONEERS IN BETTER TRANSPORTATION
NH RDC1 #41 (foto credit: unknown/www.trainweb.org)
NH RDC3 #125 w/RDC1 (foto credit: B. Coolidge/www.trainweb.org)
NH RDC1 #40 and #37 (foto credit: B. Coolidge/www.trainweb.org)
All kinds of job-related activities have kept me away from the keyboard until now. Anyway, here goes.
BK returns! What else can we say?
Lars paid a visit as well.
Pete stopped by with comments and other information. Locks around here are river-related, e.g. on the Kanawha River. They handle coal barge tows - fascinating to watch.
Eric also stopped by with comments.
Our ‘Steamed Proprietor paid a visit with SLSF material. You probably know that several former SLSF Es (named for famous racehorses) found their way to the L&N where they ran in passenger service up to and after Amtrak. Neither of the units pictured, to the best of what's left of my memory made it to the L&N.
The NYNH&H RDC material has some interesting details.
The picture of the RDC3/RDC1 was taken at South Station. You can see a corner of the South Station head house and also part of the Boston Postal Annex if you look in back of the drawbridges. Now the equipment at the right hand side of the picture is interesting as well. The coach was used for maintenance folks and was there for a long time. However, if you blow the shot up, you will find another RDC beastie beside the MOW coach. To wit, an RDC 4; these were built c. 1953. Incidentally, everything in the picture (except for the post office) is gone or unrecognizable from what it used to be - progress? Humbug! Boris, put me down!
The shot of New Haven 37 may have been made at Needham Jct. I wish the picture had been a little wider and showed more of the surroundings as I probably could have made a better identification. Used to ride that line often - a lot of fun, especially in a snowstorm.
BTW, New Haven had the famous slogan, "Train Yourself to Relax."
A pint of the Bathams Mild please RUTH. and a round please..
ERIC I know some units in Britain had bad trouble with the snow getting in the electrics when they were new, although there is nowhere the amount of snow in England than there was years ago. I believe the units were modified. I have not heard how the units got on this year when Britain had some bad weather.
Thanks for the info on the pic from the cab of the X 2000 in the snowI was wondering about the photo you posted Sunday morning of the train approaching the station with two more rails between track the train is on, wether it was a narrow gauge track or just rails ready to replace the rails the train is on.
TOM It was great to talk to you this morning. I will send a note to Bergie.
Great posts last evening and today The Frisco ran some interesting passenger routes. Loved the name 'Will Rodgers' for a train.It would be good if they could run a passenger service today linking Kansas City to Springfield MO like the Frisco ran. I wonder who owns the KC to Springfield line now and how busy it is with frieght traffic
Great photos of the NH Budd RDCs and many thanks CM3 for the details on the pics.As you say the the photo of Boston is indeed full of interest. I wonder if that MOW car was saved for a preserved line. A lot of the interesting pre British Railways passenger stock on preserved lines, survived long after other cars of the same type were scrapped, in departmental use( which was what MOW was known on BR).It must have wonderful to have travelled those New England branch lines on the RDCs, especially in the Fall..
If you get the chance to desribe the operation of the locks on the Kanawha I would be glad to hear them.
TOM On todays part of the quiz I'm afraid that questions 2 & 5 have got me .
You have no worries about CINDY and I, she has made it plain that she has eyes for the owner not the part- time assistant staff
As far as I know they only do the Bathams in bottles. That Special ale is the same as the Bathams XXX that is served on tap for a very short time usually around Christmas time.They serve the Bathams Bitter in full pint bottles as well. These are usually available from the buffet cars on the Severn Valley Railway, it is a wonderful way to travel; on a steam hauled train through the Worcestershire and Shropshire countryside in a pre or early BR carriage, with steam heat if the weather is cold.
All this talk about Bathams as made me feel a bit thristy Ruth so I had better have another.
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