Hm, I have to talk to Manager Lars to install better lights here so I can find the mail slot. Here it is!
A warm Sunday/weekend is almost over. Two more days and I'll be on my way!
Doug – Hope you managed to plant everything you intended to this sunny Sunday! Getting old is not always fun. I am going to take some kind of heart test this Monday morning. The first test was not conclusive. I guess that is why we have doctors. Rob – Remembering the first Rendezvous, huh? Too bad you can’t come to this one! You are right about the wide cabs. The workers on the picture didn’t move. Neither did we with the train. They were installing magnets for our tests. Some parts of Penn station are like catacombs, you are right! Thanks for the pictures from the first Rendezvous a year ago!! You obviously did and saw a lot of different things then! Lars – So that is how you make the days pass by, watching paint dry!?! I never tried that one! Living in 100+° would make you strange? Absolutley, that is how one survive here!Elena found you? Wow, was that a coincedence? Just happened to bump into you, huh? I am sure the brunette at Hooters doesn’t look the same today as she did 14 years ago. I don’t, but she was very good looking then and I wasn't. DL – Good to see that you made it across the Atlantic without any other problems than catching the wrong bus.
Talking about the Atlantic, this picture shows something I saw over the Atlantic last August. It was a round object that did not move. It was dark when I took the picture so the camera was open for several seconds and moved. That is why it looks like someone drew a line. Thanks to that it is possible to see that the object changed colors, white, red, green and blue.
Enlargement of the object:
Eric
<from my personal collection>
A smile to begin the week!
I double checked it six times.
(A Yogi-ism!)
G'day Gents!
This is Rendezvous in St. Louis Week - 2nd Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous - begins with the arrival of the crew on Thursday!
Monday has rolled ‘round once again and time for a hot mug of coffee, pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery and a Menu Board selection of a <light> or <traditional> breakfast!
Petrol dropped to $3.02 (rounded) last time I was up at "Collusion Corner," which by the way is now down to ONE station. The Shell ‘n Phillips 66 are being modernized with only Mobil left. Makes little or no difference, as I've seen the SAME tanker trucks delivering to 2 of the 3 and the prices are more times than not exactly the SAME!
Had a great weekend, weather wise and otherwise - hope the same for y'all as well!
Customer ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (since my last narrative on Saturday):
Lars at 2:55 PM Saturday: A visit from Marathon in the Keys by our Manager, the Larsman! Sounds like you and your family have had enough to keep you busy in outfitting your new digs. Figured the bride would find lots of ways to keep the economy down there in a "healthy" state!
So, Elena has found you, eh I KNEW there'd be a "price' to pay for that elegant bar she and the "girls" sent up here shortly after the Super Bowl. I don't even want to know what Ruth will have to say about all of THIS!! <arrrggghhh>
Not trying to be prophetic or anything like that, BUT - things in life happens and it all is "charged" to that thing we call CHANGE! To survive, one simply has to make the adjustments to those CHANGES. Sure, we'll miss not having you with us for the Rendezvous, but life moves on, eh
Nothing more from BK than I've passed to the guys by Email some time ago . . .
Enjoyed the "report" and please pass our regards to Phil - would surely like to see him visit the bar!
Oh yes - CONGRATS are in order for making the 2,000th Post over on "my other Thread"!!
Eric at 8:57 PM Saturday: A rare but most welcomed visit from our Resident Desert Swede! Thought for sure this place was in the "tank" for the rest of the day, but there you were - on your stool and at the bar.
Thanx for the Pix clarification - I still cannot figure out the "original"!! Don't do that, I confuse easily!
All of your cab shots came through in flying colors - looked great!
While I'm no golf aficionado, the movie "Tin Cup" is a good one. But I'm biased, as I enjoy Kevin Costner's flicks. The Three Stooges, now there's a group of nit-wits I NEVER got "into" - just too slapstick for my tastes. Surely "classics" in all regards and the focus of many a "cult" following - just not me.
Count down is nearing the zero hour - drive safely, Mate - we're all looking forward to this get together. Brunette at Hooters?? Hmmmmm, I think there is one using a "walker" if that's what you mean! <grin>
Doug at 9:11 PM Saturday: And another surprise, this time from our Barn Weevil. Hey man - "ditch" that Pix and go back to the Hoss!
I've done my time behind tillers - no thanx! In fact I have one that I'll GIVE AWAY - just too much for me to handle with the maladies that have overtaken my aging body these days. It's a man killer fer sure, fer sure!
Good seein' ya on Saturday nite!
Rob at 9:22 PM ‘ n 9:44 PM Saturday: A double-header from the trolleyMAN to round out the surprises for the nite!
Amazing that we can now say that the 1st Annual Rendezvous was OVER a year past - time flies, eh We had a FULL day of rail travel aboard VIA Rail, GO Transit and TTC trolley and subway, followed by a Saturday at the trolley and heritage warplane museums, with 3 nights at a Pub that one would have to go far ‘n wide to find an equal. It was indeed a fine Rendezvous. Only "downer" is it didn't last another day!
Appears you've been promoted to "something" - so CONGRATULATIONS - drinks on the trolleyMAN!!
Rendezvous Pix appreciated! Wonder if Ted ever "checks us out"?? Probably not.
Hopefully your trip aboard the "Ocean" will be a fun time. With all I've provided regarding the equipment (Renaissance ‘n Budd) you should have everything ‘n more to help you along the way. The observation dome (Park Car) is only accessible to those who purchase the Easterly Class accommodations. Just another way to squeeze some extra bucks from the paying passengers.
Just been thinking 'bout last year's Rendezvous in Toronto and thought some Pix might be in order . . . some of you have seen 'em before, but they're worth a re-visit!
Initially Posted on Page 336 of the original Thread . . .
1st Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous! Toronto, Canada - May 11th - 14th, 2006 Thursday, May 11th: Arrival day - Check-in at hotel, Brantford, Ontario Evening social & dinner at the St. George Arms, St. George, Ontario (Rob - Ted ‘n Tom) Friday, May 12th: Official Rendezvous Day! (Rob - Ted ‘n Tom) - 9:03 AM VIA Rail #70 from Brantford to Toronto (Union Station) - "Walk about" & brunch at Tim Horton's - 12: 13 PM GO Transit train #916 (Lakeshore Corridor) from Union Station to Pickering - 1:00 PM GO Transit train #917 from Pickering to Union Station - 2:00 - 4:00 PM: TTC subways (Yellow line) ‘n trolleys (Carlton Street line) - 4:00 - 5:00 PM "Happy Hour!" (Union Station bistro) - 5:15 PM VIA Rail #83 from Union Station to Brantford Evening "business" meeting, awards ceremony, drinks ‘n dinner at the St. George Arms! Saturday, May 13th: Extra day! (Heather - Rob - Ted ‘n Tom) - Late morning brunch followed by visits to the Halton County Steetcar and Electric Railway Museum and Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, Hamilton, Ontario. Evening awards ceremony for Heather, ‘n dinner at the St. George Arms! Sunday, May 14th: Getaway Day! (Ted ‘n Tom) to Tampa to St. Louis Enjoy - we did! Tom
Some more from last year's 1st Annual Rendezvous in Toronto . . .
Initially Posted on Page 330 of the original Thread . . .
Just a sample of what we experienced at the 1st Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous in Toronto! . . . . . .Day 1 - May 12th, 2006:Brantford, Ontario VIA Rail stationBrantfordsiberianmo - Theodorebear ‘n trolleyboy!CN GP9 at work!VIA Rail arriving!Way to go, VIA Rail!Toronto bound!Arrived, Toronto!Toronto's Union Station main hallToronto's Union StationUnion Station & CN TowerA keepsake!Enjoy! Tom
Hi Tom and all.
A Pint of Bathams please RUTH and a round for the 25th month anniversary of Our Place and for ROB and Doug's very welcome return, at the same time Friday as well.
ROB Glad you have recovered from that nasty illness and it is great to see you back in the bar again, H&H will be pleased they will have another taker for their steak. Congratulations on your promotion.
Many thanks for Part 3 of the Classic Diesels #43.
Interesting that the comfort cab was first introduced in Canada and now is the standard in North America. It is good that the ‘Empress of Agincourt' was saved after its 35 years of service with the CPR.
There is an amazing photo in the latest issue of the Railway Magazine (British). It shows a scene at Sackville New Brunswick of a Canadian National GE 9-44CW hauling no less than 14 new class 66s for transport to Europe, 9 of which are destined for Britain. One of the main things that show up in the photo is the small size of the 66s(due to the loading gauge) compared to the CN locomotive.
I am sure you will have a great time in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
Yes come and join Boris and I in Molly Throttlebottoms typing class, it is great fun, and we will have a Guinness for you at the rendezvous.
DOUG. Great to see you in at the bar. What a great set of tours with the Royal Hudson # 2816 and the Milwaukee Road #261. Are you planning to have a ride behind them when the train is running in the Chicago area.
Really hope you are felling OK today after all that hard work you put in on the tilling.
MIKE More Penn-Central merger details; it must have been a very sad time for the employees and fans of the two great lines.
Thanks for the great links. I noticed the streetcar in the 1941 photo and the newsreel was well worth waiting to load, the sound was loud and clear as well. Thanks for sharing.
ERIC I shall probably be using my 35mm camera at the rendezvous.
The trip I posted Friday was planned at fairly short notice once we had managed to get a room at the pub in Penally. We decided on an overnight trip to get the most time in West Wales, while we were there we had a local area Railrover that gave unlimited travel in the vicinity we were staying. In the week it was valid from 9:30 am but at weekends there was no time limit so it was valid from Swansea on the day we arrived. Luckily all the passenger branch lines that were open we went in the early 1970s are still open today. This is the area the much-missed NICK lives.
Many thanks for those photos from the cab Is one of the photos of the Hell Gate Bridge in New York and the Amtrak electric locomotive looks quite European from that angle.
Your photo of the door on the X2000 reminded me of what happen in the early 1900s when the then King Edward used the train to visit Gospel Hall in the East Midlands of England. The nearest station is Shackerstone on an ex L&NWR line from Nuneaton to Coalville/Moira. So the King wound not have too steep a drop to the platform a part of the platform was raised, apparently the portion of the platform was raised too high and when the train was stopped and the King's car lined up with the red carpet the car door could not be opened no doubt causing much embarrassment. Apparently this put the King in a foul mood, according to a local newspaper at the time, with him not acknowledging the crowd who had come to see him.
Shackerstone station still survives today at one end of a preserved steam railway, the other end of the line is at Shenton near to the site of the Battle of Bosworth in the War of the Roses. The raised part of the platform is still visible at Shakerstone, the station holds a great little museum and it is a pleasant train ride in the Leicestershire countryside.
As to the photo from the plane.
LARS Very glad you are able to come to the bar while you are in the Keys. It is great the equipping of the new home is going along well, it is good Phil and his bride is able to give you a hand and help with the local customs there. You certainly earned your day on the boat relaxing yesterday.
Thanks for the good wishes for the rendezvous, it would have been great to have you there, anyway we shall, no doubt, and raise a glass or two for you.
When RUTH finds out about Elena it will be the Bathams through the cooler again
DL Glad you arrived in Canada safely and are able to join us at the bar.
YES the biggest shock to the system here was the beer (and Mosquitoes). Luckily there
G-day Tom and all present!
Well, summer is in full swing with Thunderstorms, and some really nasty ones too. Yike, we had some really big hail here not to long ago. I did get some pictures of it so I will try to get them posted as soon as possible. Outside of that, we have been working on the house and things have been quite busy but that is expected when summer rolls around. But I have time now for a post or two.
Leon- I will have a coffee along with a turkey sandwich, thanks. Oh and a round for the guys too, thanks again!
Eric- I know I didn't bring a camera this time but I will next time. In fact I will be down in Minneapolis a couple more times this summer and I will get some pictures then. For now you will just have to go off from the website. Some nice in cab pictures you have there. I'm guessing that it's the X2000 by the look of the cab. Thanks for sharing. I'm glad you also showed the Grand Canyon train. You may have showed it to everyone else but, I hadn't seen it yet. They certainly have a nice train ride.
And some more nice pictures of the X2000, especially the one with the city in the background. What city is it Even though it's a little blurry I can still see it quite well. It's a nice pic indeed. Thanks again. And... Well I don't know what to make of the interesting looking smoke trail in the sky That's a lot of moving for a plane to make. So I wonder what made it. Did you see a airplane or anything that could have made it
CM3- Thanks for the list of sleeping cars on the NKP and NYC. I suppose most of these cars have been scrapped. I wonder if a friend of mine could locate any that survive?
Tom- Some nice ads you have there on the Santa fe. That Indian is how I've always recognized the passenger trains. Just a really classic look into the past! Thanks for sharing.
I noticed that Eric mentioned the "shed"....... Is that thing already a mess!! I just cleaned that less than two weeks ago!! I also hope it doesn't become a tweetable oh-fence. That would be bad for my health.... I always seem to do that when I know I should bring a camera any way.
Thanks for the nice UP heralds. Glad you posted them because I didn't know they had that many of them. I suppose some were used on passenger trains and on special locomotives. Some cool stuff there. Again with the Illinois Central, I didn't know there were that many heralds. Thanks for sharing.
Ah yes, HAPPY 25th MONTH ANNIVERSARY!!!!! I'm glad to see that this place has gotten this far. Now let see it go another 25 months. I will certainly be there all the way!!
The learning center.. Now that would be funny to watch.. I really liked the bathroom etiquettes! That was funny. Thanks for sharing. Well, if I'm brave enough, in a couple of years I might have to take one......... and then again, maybe not.
It looks to me like you guys had some fun on those rendezvous. Some really cool pics to go along with them too. Now I have a face to match Rob with. What a nice city to be in too. Toronto is one nice looking city from the water. Thanks for all the great pics.
Pete- A flying Scotsman in O gauge. I have seen one of those before at a train show in Chicago and they are really impressive. $2500 is a lot of money but if the train you have been looking for, it's worth having and you know it will keep it's value for as long as you have it. Also thanks for the link to the steam loco 1931/ 90733. They are doing some really extensive work on that loco. But it is cool that they are doing all that work to get that thing up and running. Plus it will look really nice when it is finished. Do you know how long it's going to take to complete all the work needed to be done
Nice little story you have there on your trip. I would have loved to stay in a car with steam heat. I'm sure it would have been a cozy little ride on a really cold night. I can just imagine sitting back in the coach seat and falling asleep. It would certainly be nice to experience that, but alas. Thanks for the story. Very cool.
Ah yes big UP power. I see some of the UP trains clamor up to Duluth just to "try" and get into the CN's already screwed up train schedule. The CN has been having some problems in Canada and has a back lashing affect across the railroad. So the UP trains are becoming more frequent. But some nice pics of the big SDs and Dash 9s. Also a nice pic of Amtrak.
Quiz Question...... let me get back to you on that...
Mike- Do I wish my uncle could spare me a few million dollars.. I would do some wonderful things in the real world of trains. I tell you, the Penn Central was not looking the greatest. I can't believe the two railroads even when they merged together into one railroad. The railroad need a man who could rule with an iron fist. All this bickering between the green and red teams need to
Good morning Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!
Leon, just a cup of coffee! I can't stay long at all. Have to get things ready for the Rendezvous!
Tom – I also like Kevin Costner’s movies! Using a walker? That must be her! I remember she used it to hit customers with a bad attitude in the head! My visit to AZ Heart Inst. went well. I’ll see my doc when I get home. That thing in the sky was something very strange, to say the least. A bunch of very nice pictures from Toronto and the 1st Rendezvous! You certainly had very nice awards! Did you have to fly to Tampa and then back to St. Louis from Toronto? Brantford, where... oh, I found it on the map! Not too far from Toronto. I like Toronto Union Station! As I mentioned before, I don’t understand why I didn’t take any pictures of the inside when I was there? But I took this shot outside of the CN Tower.Pete – I went to Best Buy tonight and asked for my camera. It is still in California! I wanted them to give me a great deal on a new camera and they offered me $60 off!!! Great deal! We will continue our discussions tomorrow, Tuesday. You are right, I miss Nick too! Correct, it is Hell Gate Bridge in that picture! Amtrak AEM-7 is a version of the Swedish State Railways Class Rc4. AEM-7 has more hp, geared for a higher speed and the front looks different. So the King didn’t like that they couldn’t open the door? Bad luck! James – You are right, those cab shots are from the X2000. The city in the background is Philadelphia, we were approaching 30th Street Station.It is not a smoke trail in the sky. It was a bright light that was sitting still in the sky for a long time (changing colors doing so) and then moved and passed in front of us. Don’t ask me what it was, I don’t know. No airplane was in sight. Nice video of the Milwaukee Road’s Electrics! Thanks!!
This will be all for this week! Tomorrow night I am going to bed early so i can hit the road early Wednesday morning.
Customer Acknowledgments tomorrow (Wednesday) - but mention is made of visits by Pete - James 'n Eric!
WEATHER REPORT for the Rendezvous: Supposed to be a marvelous 4 days with no rain, clear skies and temps in the 70s!! Awwwwwright.
Pete: Wyatt Earp was born in Monmouth, Illinois - but the "beer can" answer is up to you. Here's a link to the Illinois breweries: http://beerme.com/breweries/us/il/index.shtml
So when you provide the answer, remember where Monmouth is geographically located!
Eric: Drive safely, Mate and before you know it, the Rendezvous will be underway! And, my flight was non-stop to St. Louis from Toronto whereas Ted had to fly to Atlanta to get to Tampa . . .
Slim pickin's on Monday and perhaps even moreso throughout the week . . . I'm going to provide "something" each day during the Rendezvous - but it will be just to keep things "up 'n running" - probably early morning. Rest is up to whoever gives a Rat's Patoot!
More 1st Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous in Toronto 2006 Pix will be comin' up!
Tom
A few more Pix from last year's Rendezvous in Toronto . . .
Initially Posted on Page 338 on the original Thread . . . Just a continuing sample of what we experienced at the 1st Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous in Toronto! . . . . . .More from Day 1 - May 12th, 2006:TTC subway at Colllege station stopCollege TTC subway stationTTC subway at College station stopHere comes the subway train!Boarding VIA Rail at Union StationTed boarding VIA Rail coach #8306 bound for Brantford!VIA Rail coach #8306St. George Arms - Day is Done!That's it for Day 1 - the "official" Rendezvous Day!If you are browsing, how about letting the guys know that you've enjoyed their efforts!Enjoy!Tom
Good Afternoon Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house; $ for the jukebox. Belated 25th Monthly anniversary greetings, but this is the first chance I have had in awhile to get to the computer. Gas is $3.16 here this a.m.
Lots of material to look at and I am finally getting caught up.
Comments and then answers to questions.
Lars seems to be getting settled in; I'll bet he becomes our resident beach master.
Pete sent comments and Rob forwarded some more Canadian locomotive history.
Eric sent some interesting pictures. I liked the one of the approach to Hell Gate. Folks don't realize what a large structure that is until they ride over it, or better yet stand on the ground looking up.
Barndad provided a 261 schedule. I watched her go right by my father in law's place when they ran over the old BR&P south from Buffalo - Can't do that now can we?
OSP sent all sorts of material including drumheads, a brochure for upcoming "classes" at MADDOG (Mentor Applied Design and Dramaturgy Gatheratorium). What's that Boris? Oh, Gatheratorium is a new word I came up with for "meeting place." It's like an auditorium with a bar and police protection.
The movies are good ones as well; have Wyatt Earp on the shelf at home and have seen Tin Cup.
Some folks had some questions awhile back.
The term "Pooch" is a nickname for the GE P30CH. These were all built for Amtrak between 1975 and 1976, and carried ATK #s 700-724. They were basically U30s in passenger engine bodies. The Pooch ran all over the Amtrak system. I remember seeing (and riding behind) them on AT 50/51 a lot. They also operated on the RF&P. Later, most of them went west and spent a lot of time in California. Eventually they drifted back east and, in their last year if IIRC, were based in New Orleans. They were powerful enough and had that fine U-boat sound when accelerating.
Eric's picture of the operator at Paoli elicited a question about the Main Line. This was and is one of the wealthiest areas in the U.S. A lot of the land was at one time owned by the PRR who subdivided it for the purpose of large estates and "comfortable country" living for the elite of Philadelphia. Paoli is smack in the middle of the Main Line. The "Paoli Local" was a train celebrated for the wealth of its passengers. Sort of like the "Dude Train" on the New Haven.
Speaking of the P Company, I received my R&LHS Newsletter in the mail today. Therein is an article titled, "These Two Ladies Live in Kansas City...They Used to Live in New York." It talks about the sculptures that were on Penn Station in New York which were preserved and moved to Kansas City.
They are now part of a Boy Scout Memorial in a park in KC which is at 39th and Gilham. At least they were saved. The item in the park was once over the 7th Ave. entrance at Penn Station. Lovely stuff. Maybe our Missouri folks can seek them out the next time they go to KC.
Heartbreaking is that a lot of artifacts were dumped in the Jersey Meadows. Quick, barmaid, a couple of fingers of the good stuff - I'll go sit by the window for awhile and ponder all of this.
I hope all of you have a most excellent rendezvous. Wish I could be there, but I will be in the heartland of the Confederacy (no Awk, not Connecticut!) until Friday when I will try and visit again. Safe travels, all.
Work safe
Hi Tom and all
A pint of Holden's mild please RUTH.
JAMES Great to see you in, hope those thunderstorms and the large hail have passed by and you get some calm weather for a long time.
90733 has steamed after her overhaul and I dare say it is back on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway for running in turns before taking part in the normal steam fleet on the railway. If I hear some more about 90733 I will let you know, no doubt there will be some photos in the English railway magazines of her working.
There really seems something special about steam heating that electric heating on trains cannot seem to match. Luckily it is still possible to travel in a steam-heated compartment car on preserved lines in Britain, with individual wall lights and the main lights in the compartment with a switch to dim the lights, also a switch to control the steam heat. Most of the heating on the modern trains in the UK seem too hot to me.
Many thanks for that Milwaukee Road video. Great scenes of the electric locomotives, great to see a BI-Polar in action. Liked the music with the video but it would have been great to hear those locos. I guess there were some sound recordings of those electrics in action.
ERIC Sorry to hear about the camera, that sounds a rotten deal on a new one.
Great photo of the X2000 with the CN Tower in the background.
It was an AM-7 we had between Providence RI and Boston when we were up in that area.They seem to have been a really good buy for Amtrak.
No doubt if the Monarch could not get out of a railway car today there would be no end of television cameras to record the embarrassment.
Have a safe journey to St Louis and will see you in a couple of days.
CM3 Thanks for the info on the ‘Pooches', I found a website that had photos of all of the locos in the class, they were impressive looking locos. The site said that all of the P30 CHs were scrapped.
I will ask the bride about the Boy Scout Memorial and next time I am in KC I will try to have a look at those sculptures from Penn Station and hopefully get a photo.
Many thanks for the wishes for the rendezvous it would have been great if you could have joined us, hopefully the next one.
TOM Good to talk to you yesterday. I see it is the same weather forecast in your area as it is here, with after, the rain today, cooler but sunny, although Eric may miss the nearly 90F temps, mid 70sF is fine with me.
Many thanks for the Wyatt Earp answer (I had been told he was born in Missouri) really enjoyed the link to the Illinois breweries. I had to open section called ‘Liquid Solutions'. I noticed they stocked an ale from the UK called Dalesmans ‘Old Legover' (if I recall correctly the was an old stile on the label and it was quite a good ale).
Enjoyed the photos from the first rendezvous, ours is just 2 days away now, perhaps one day I will able to have a beer or two in the St George's Alms.
I have borrowed this from TOM from page 137 of the old Our Place.
GREAT BRITAIN PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #3 from multiple sources Here's something to ponder with regard to our appreciation and fascination with Classic Trains, this time from Great Britain! Check this pre-WWI poster out! LONDON & NORTH WESTERN & CALEDONIAN RAILWAYS TRAVEL BY WEST COAST ROUTE BETWEEN ENGLAND & SCOTLAND Comfort - Punctuality - Speed QUICKEST & BEST ROUTE BETWEEN ALL PARTS of ENGLAND and SCOTLAND PASSENGERS BY THE WEST COAST ROUTE MAY HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF TRAVELLING BY THE NEW "GRAMPIAN CORRIDOR" DINING CAR TRAINS of the CALEDONIA COMPANY in SCOTLAND. WEST COAST NIGHT EXPRESS LONDON (Euston) & SCOTLAND The Finest Vehicles in Europe, Vestibule Throughout. BREAKFAST, LUNCHEON & DINING CARS. Passengers traveling between England and the North of Scotland can go via EDINBURGH (Princes Street) and break their journey there, in both directions, without extra charge or inconvenience, and after visiting the places of interest in Edinburgh, resume their journey North or South from the same Station by the "GRAMPIAN CORRIDOR or other Express Trains. Enjoy!
And my reply from the same page
Another great G. B. nostalgia. I suspect the Caledonian Grampian Corridor coaches would be quite similar to the L&NWR stock, though I am not too sure about that. The Caledonian had some very handsome locomotives and the passenger ones was painted Caledonian blue. There is a magnificent Single Wheeler #123 preserved in Glasgow as part of the Scottish collection. As NICK says there was great rivalry at the time. In Scotland the Caledonian main competitors were the Glasgow & South Western rly. Between Glasgow and Ca
Good Evening Gents!
Continuing on with our experiences at the 1st Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous in Toronto (2006) . . . .
Initially Posted on Page 338 of the original Thread . . . .More from Day 1 - May 12th, 2006:Toronto (TTC) Subway carsTom ‘n Ted "fuzzy" on the TTC Subway!The best sides of Rob ‘n Ted - exiting the TTC Subway!"Our" Carlton Street (TTC) trolley"Our" Carlton Street (TTC) trolley - interior, looking aft at Ted ‘n RobToronto's Maple Leaf Gardens on Carlton Street - vacated"Our" Carlton Street (TTC) trolley - interior, looking forward - and yes, that's TROLLEYBOY (at least half of him!)"Our" Carlton Street (TTC) trolley"Our" Carlton Street (TTC) trolley
Enjoy! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Have a safe trip Eric! Good to see ya Pete 'n thanx for the visit Shane! Acknowledgments in the morning! Tom
Wednesday's Witticism
Treat mule-headed men the same way you'd treat a mule your fixin' to corral. Don't try to drive ‘em in. Just leave the gate open a crack and let ‘em bust in.
Mid-week in mid-continent USA where petrol is now at
The Mentor Village Bakery case is chock full o' great treats, our Menu Board has some fine <light> and <traditional> breakfasts to order and the coffee's freshly ground ‘n brewed! What are you waitin' for???? <grin>
Rendezvous arrivals TOMORROW!
I expect to be "busy" throughout the get together, so things ‘round here will be "different" - probably no acknowledgments for awhile - we'll see how things work out.
With Eric, Pete, Doug ‘n Moi all doing "things" away from the bar, it comes down to who's left . . . Hopefully we'll get a Post in the AM - Noon ‘n mid to late afternoon from the guys . . . "batch" Postings really don't help when it comes to keeping us "up on the Forum's Page." Space ‘em out, Gents - it makes far more sense that way. Thanx!
Customer ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (since my last narrative on Monday):
Pete at 5:12 PM Monday: Great having you aboard as I was beginning to think you were being held captive down there in southwestern MO!! <grin>
Fine inclusive - informative ‘n interesting Post from the Wolfman, Bar Chandler Supreme of "Our" Place!
Sorry, but your Pix didn't come thru - must be those Gremlins again! <groan>
Answered part of your "Quiz" yesterday . . .
Good talking to you on Monday and looks as if we're all set for not only the Rendezvous but our upcoming trip to Canada and the two round trips aboard VIA Rail. Speaking of which, I read some disturbing "stuff" in my quarterly newsletter from Transport 2000 Canada, an organization supportive of rail and public transportation throughout Canada.
This issue discussed the absence of federal funding for VIA Rail in the new budget. IF that were to remain as is, service to 450 Canadian communities by those passenger trains will come to a halt. Ottawa has refused to support VIA Rail's plea for increases in the budget due to inflation and rising fuel costs, holding their operating costs to $169 annually. This time, there's NO money allocated.
An item that "jumped" out at me was the reference to the court-ordered mandate to comply with the Supreme Court ruling to make the Renaissance cars fully accessible to the handicapped. VIA Rail has no money to comply, inferring that those cars may have to be taken off the Montreal-Halifax and Montreal-Quebec routes.
Also a capital program to refurbish the F40 locomotives is heading to a downward spiral as budget dollars dwindle. A major part of this endeavor is to get those locos to reduce energy consumption while cutting emissions and noise - also mandated by government.
Too bad this newsletter isn't available on line, for it is chock full of very interesting and current information for those of us who support passenger rail services in the U.S. and Canada.
We may very well be riding aboard trains destined for sidings down the line . . .
James at 6:35 PM Monday: My guess is that someone must've put out at least one book on the heralds used by the railroads, for they surely are captivating to look at. The drumheads used by the RRs back in the glory days of passenger railroading were reflective of the way the marketing was done then.
Passenger RRs competed with one another for the passengers. There was a real competition going on throughout the nation, and in Canada, for the dollar. Canadian Pacific against Canadian National and Grand Trunk Western. Clean and freshly painted cars with heralds that caught the eye were all part of the scheme. Name recognition of the trains as well. Many used those names as opposed the RR - for example, "I'm taking the Canadian," or the Ocean or the Super Continental etc. Here in the states it was similar with the 20th Century Limited, the Broadway Limited, the Super Chief, and on ‘n on.
Recognition was everything and there was a sense of pride in keeping those trains looking sharp. Life was far different than today . . .
You made reference to being around this week. As you've undoubtedly noted, this is going to be a rather difficult time for the bar and it will extend to the end of the month with the absences of many guys. You and anyone else can help out just by making a Post a day.
Good to see ya!
And yeah, Boris' Shed is in dire need of being taken over to Can-Am gorge and thrown into it! It's not good . . . <ugh>
Saw your Post on "my other Thread" on Tuesday . . .
Eric at 12:59 AM Tuesday: A finale from our Resident Desert Swede who is heading east today! Let the games begin (or something like that)!
I'm not even sure there is a Hooters at Union Station . . . but no shortage on brunettes! <grin>
Maps are deceiving for the distance between Toronto and Brantford may not look that far, but the route Rob took made us wonder if we shudda packed a lunch! <grin>
Good news about the Doc's visit - I'm heading to one of those this afternoon. Hopefully this will be "it" for awhile. Getting to know these guys far too well lately . . .
Sounds like you are experiencing a similar situation with your camera that I had with SONY and a digital photo printer that I had sent away for repair at considerable expense to me. A nightmare in all respects and I wound up getting a new model with far fewer "bells ‘n whistles" than the first one had. Probably the last SONY product I'll ever own.
That X2000 against the background of the CN Tower is a "keeper" fer sure, fer sure!
Just realized that you'll probably not read this ‘til the Rendezvous is either underway or over . . . Getting close, eh
Pete at 4:16 PM Tuesday: Something new ‘n something old, nice blend for your daily inclusive, informative ‘n interesting Post!
Well Ruth a bit quiet in the bar so I will keep you company for a while and have a Bathams.
TOM Thanks for the latest photos from last year's rendezvous. My pics on Monday were there at first and the next time they had gone, but they seem back again now.
That does seem very bad news for the passenger service on VIA Rail in Canada, with the witholding of subsdies. With the Renaissance cars I wonder if they will use the older cars, of if the service will be withdrawn, All in all not a good time for Canadian passenger travel.. As we have said before it is best to ride these services while the still run as who knows what is around the corner.
I think my reference to the ale yesterday got a bit lost in the translation. I had best explain it at the rendezvous. Many thanks for the link to the Old Style.I see on the web site they sponser the Cubs.
It is a shame when a beer is taken over and tastes differently than it used too like DL and I have talked about breweries doing this in the UK.Any link to beer is great with me.
When the bride and I went to St Louis the first time I was in the U.S. there was a Hooters in Union Station, I had no idea what the word meant or what type of bar it was. The last time I was there a little bar which I think was called Route 66 and that seemed not to be there anymore.
I had to go to town today and I noticed the Amtrak was in the siding here so it seems it is still a bus forming some of the services through here.
Well see Eric Doug and you tomorrow for the rendezvous
Following yesterday,s post I will do the same with one of TOM's post from page 135 of the old thread, then my comments
Here's something to ponder with regard to our appreciation and fascination with Classic Trains, this time from Great Britain! Check this pre-WWI poster out! LONDON & NORTHWESTERN and CALEDONIAN RAILWAYS London (Euston) .................. 8h. 0m. Birmingham ...... To ............ 6h. 45m. Liverpool .......... Glasgow ...... 5h. 10m. Manchester ..... (Central) ..... 5h. 5m. Bristol ............................... 9h. 35m. London (Euston) .................. 8h. 0m. Birmingham ...... To ............ 6h. 35m. Liverpool ......... Edinburgh ... 5h. 0m. Manchester .... (Prin. St.) .... 5h. 10m. Bristol ............................... 9h. 45m. London (Euston) .................. 9h. 55m. Birmingham ...... To ............ 9h. 25m. Liverpool ......... Dundee ...... 7h. 15m. Manchester .... (West) ........ 7h. 20m. Bristol .............................. 12h. 20m. London (Euston) .................. 11h. 15m. Birmingham ...... To ............ 11h. 0m. Liverpool ......... Aberdeen .... 8h. 20m. Manchester ........................ 8h. 15m. Bristol .............................. 14h. 20m. LUNCHEON and DINING CARS for the accommodation of FIRST and THIRD CLASS PASSENGERS are run on the undernoted Trains: .......... From London (Euston) To ............................... a.m. .... p.m. Glasgow (Central) .......... 10 0 .... 2 0 Edinburgh (Princes St.) ... 10 0 .... 2.0 ... Perth ........................ 10.0 ... 2*0 ... Aberdeen .................. 10.0 .... 2*0 *to Carstairs .......... From Liverpool To ............................... a. m. .... p.m. Glasgow (Central) .......... 9^50 .... 5 50 Edinburgh (Princes St.) ... 9^50 .... 5*50 ... Perth ....................... 9^50 .... 5*50 ... Aberdeen ................. 9^50 ..... 5*50 *to Carstairs; ^Luncheon Car, Manchester (Victoria) to Glasgow, Liverpool Passengers join at Preston. ........... From Manchester To .............................. a.m. .... p. m. Glasgow (Central) ......... 9 50 .... 5 45 Edinburgh (Princes St.) .. 9*50 .... 5^45 ... Perth ...................... 9*50 .... 5^45 ... Aberdeen ................. 9*50 .... 5^45 *to Carstairs; ^Luncheon Car, Manchester (Victoria) to Glasgow, Liverpool Passengers join at Preston. New and Improved SLEEPING SALOONS ................... between ......................... LONDON (Euston) & SCOTLAND by Night Trains.
ROB posted a question on the above advert which TOM let me answer.
Interesting cart on that British Railroad, I noticed that the first and third class tickets could get food. What of the second class ( maybe there wasn't one )? Or were they doing the cooking and serving?
This was my comment and the answer to Rob's question
Another great G.B. passenger train nostalgia.I see the 8 hour agreement was in force when this was issued. The 10.00AM departure became THE ROYAL SCOT, the 2.00PM train was known as THE CORRIDOR as it was one the first trains on the L&NWR to have this facility allowing the use of the Dining car for all passengers. This train was formed of magnificent 12-wheelers and the Royal train was for many years had a slightly modified form of these cars. I believe the livery was called Plum and Spilt Milk. Some of the Royal Train cars are preservred in the National Railway Museum at York. In latter days the 2PM became named The Mid-Day Scot. Talking of the Royal Sco
Probably as good a time as any to rerun the FIRST PAGE of this Thread -
Happy New Year to the regulars at "Our" Place!As requested by Kalmbach, the old Thread has been shut down and the new begins today, January 1st, 2007.What's different Nothing! Same crew, same way of doing things and hopefully the same supporting cast that has kept us afloat all this time.History: "Our" Place began on April 12th, 2005 on the General Discussion (Classic Trains) Forum.Concept: An adult bar & grill for all who are interested in and familiar with "Classic Trains." The conversations are as they would be in a neighborhood bar, where people know one another and share stories, photos and other information relevant to the idea of the Forum - Classic Trains. All of this with some humor thrown in and the rest is simple.Objective: Have fun!Ground rules: Leave ALL emotional baggage and "attitudes" on the front porch. Be inclusive with your comments through the acknowledgment of the other guy's efforts. Hit ‘n run Posts are not welcome.Greet the bartender upon entering and order a drink or food. Pretty easy, eh Final "stats" for the "old" Thread at mid-night!Replies: 9,013Views: 163,151 Pages: 451 For those who may require it, the link to the "old" Thread is:http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/451/991587/ShowPost.aspx#991587 Tom (siberianmo) Proprietor, "Our" Place
As requested by Kalmbach, the old Thread has been shut down and the new begins today, January 1st, 2007.
What's different Nothing! Same crew, same way of doing things and hopefully the same supporting cast that has kept us afloat all this time.
History: "Our" Place began on April 12th, 2005 on the General Discussion (Classic Trains) Forum.
Concept: An adult bar & grill for all who are interested in and familiar with "Classic Trains."
The conversations are as they would be in a neighborhood bar, where people know one another and share stories, photos and other information relevant to the idea of the Forum - Classic Trains.
All of this with some humor thrown in and the rest is simple.
Objective: Have fun!
Ground rules: Leave ALL emotional baggage and "attitudes" on the front porch.
Be inclusive with your comments through the acknowledgment of the other guy's efforts. Hit ‘n run Posts are not welcome.
Greet the bartender upon entering and order a drink or food. Pretty easy, eh
Final "stats" for the "old" Thread at mid-night!
Replies: 9,013
Views: 163,151
Pages: 451
For those who may require it, the link to the "old" Thread is:
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/451/991587/ShowPost.aspx#991587
Tom (siberianmo)
Proprietor, "Our" Place
Good to see ya Pete and very much looking forward to meeting Doug 'n Eric tomorrow as the Rendezvous arrivals take place!
Wake up, LEON!! Suprised that you'd be nodding off on this Wednesday night with the "goings on" in the back room! 'nuf said . . . Where's the Manager when we need him??!! Heck, where's the Assistant Manager while we're at it!!?? Where's the Chief Chef?!?! Where's everybody . . . .
We KNOW Doug has been peeking in - he changed his picture!! Hmmmmmm . . . . .
Here's a little something from the original Thread for anyone happening by . . .
PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #36
Originally Posted on Page 181 of the original Thread
Here's something to ponder with regard to our appreciation and fascination with Classic Trains. Check this out (from The Official Guide of the Railways - 1956)
THE LAKERCHICAGO - DULUTH - SUPERIOR
On the Following Fast and Convenient Schedule:NORTHBOUND . . . . . (Daily - Central Standard Time) . . . . . SOUTHBOUND Lve. CHICAGO . . . . . . . . . . 6 30 PM . . . . . . . . . . Lve. DULUTH . . . . . . . 7 30 PM Lve. WAUKESHA . . . . . . . . 9 20 PM . . . . . . . . . . Lve. SUPERIOR. . . . . . 8 00 PM Arr. SUPERIOR . . . . . . . . . .7 48 AM . . . . . . . . . . Arr. WAUKESHA . . . . . 5 40 AM Arr. DULUTH. . . . . . . . . . . . 8 15 AM . . . . . . . . . . Arr. CHICAGO. . . . . . . 8 15 AM
FEATURES - Pullman Sleepers offering a variety of private rooms (Bedrooms, Bedroom Suites and Roomettes) and open sections. Dining - Club - Lounge - Complete Beverage Service and the Best Meals on Wheels.
Enjoy! Tom
G'day Gents
The 2nd Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous in St. Louis has finally arrived! The guys come to town today and we're looking forward to a full agenda of things-to-do 'n see . . .
Things 'round the bar will be rather different as I'm not planning on being online, aside from maybe a morning start-up . . . from the looks of things, there's no one picking up the slack anyway.
Something from the original Thread, which is most appropriate for this area and the Rendezvous!
PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #37
Initially Posted on page 182 of the original Thread
Here's something to ponder with regard to our appreciation and fascination with Classic Trains.
Check this out (from The Official Guide of the Railways - 1956)
surround them with scenery! sell EAGLE Dome Coaches
Your Travel Patrons will enjoy thrilling Dome Coaches on these great trains! *The TEXAS EAGLES overnight between St. Louis, Memphis and the principal cities of Texas. Through sleeping cars between Chicago, New York, Washington and Texas. Planetarium-dome coaches between St. Louis and Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio. Direct connections at Laredo with new streamlined AZTEC EAGLE to Mexico City. *The COLORADO EAGLE between St. Louis, Kansas City, Wichita and Colorado. Planetarium-dome coaches between St. Louis and Denver. *The MISSOURI RIVER EAGLE between St. Louis and Kansas City, St. Joseph, Lincoln, Omaha. Planetarium-dome coaches between St. Louis and Omaha.
R. J. McDermottGeneral Passenger Traffic Mgr1601 Missouri Pacific Bldg.St. Louis 3, Mo.
MISSOURI PACIFIC LINES Route of the Eagles
Ruth- Good to see you on this warm and nice afternoon. Could I have a coffee and a Turkey sandwich, Thanks!
Well I can see that it hasn't been a real busy day here today. That's the beginning for summer for you. But I will do my best to spiff this place up a little bit. Starting with Acknowledgements.
Eric- A nice picture from Toronto. That tower just gives that city away. A changing color white smoke trail..<yike> I'm not quite sure. I really can't say much.. but you have a pic of the thing so we can guess. Glad you liked the Milwaukee video. I thought it was a good one. I certainly have not seen the Bipolars in action and there they were. I have a trillogy of videos on the Milwaukee Road and they show the Boxcabs and Little Joes working the rocky mountain division. It was really cool.
Tom- Some more nice pictures from the first rendezvous. I've been in a couple of subway stations and that is one of the bigger stations I have seen. Also a bit more fancy than the few I have been in. Nice pics, thanks for sharing. And some more nice pictures of the rendezvous. I really liked that TTC trolley. Now I would like to see a few more of those here in the U.S. I know Minneapolis, St. Paul in Minnesota put in a similar thing. An all electric light railsystem going all the way around the city. Its pretty nice. The shed.... I can't believe Boris has already put his name on everything already. I suppose he won't clean it even if you ask him..... will he...
Ah yes... I know the Passenger Nostalgia this time. Something that comes all to familiar to me. The laker. One of the more famous passenger trains through the Twin ports area. As you know, the Laker has ceased to exist for 40 years or so. But it was run by a famous loco which is being restored to running condition and we hope to use it here in the next year. The Pacific steam locomotive, SOO Line #2719. It ran the laker and many other SOO line trains. I will have to dig some info up on this most interesting route and loco. And another neat Nostalgia that I learned about. Thanks for all the info and thanks for keeping this thread going. Ruth, get Tom a round please.
Pete- When it comes to steam heat here in the U.S. there is no such thing. There are only memories of times gone by. But atleast there is some equipment that we can still ride as many people did in the past. That's our goal at the Duluth Depot. To keep the past alive with the railroads. So with the commuter lines coming to Duluth, we will have to see what happens.
There were quite a few recordings of the Milwaukee Road electrics. They pretty much sound like a power station. They have a deep roar to them with the traction motor blower going. It's hard to explain but they were one of the coolest locos.. Well in my eyes they were. If I could figure out how to make movies on this computer I could load a small video for you.
I liked the your list of trains from the LONDON & NORTHWESTERN and CALEDONIAN RAILWAYS. Some good info to go off from there if you want to make a few schedules for your models or for a book. Thanks for the info
Happy railroading
James
Ruth- Thanks but I'm good. Thanks again!
How about a little piece on the Soo Line railroad just to go off from Tom's Nostalgia.
The Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault St. Marie Railway/ SOO Line
The Soo Line Railroad (AAR reporting marks SOO) is the United States arm of the Canadian Pacific Railway, serving Chicago and the areas to the east and west. Formerly known as Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway (and commonly known as the Soo Line after the phonetic pronunciation of Sault), the present name was adopted as a trade name in 1950. In late 1960 the company was consolidated with several subsidiaries and reorganized under the current name.
In 1985 the Soo Line purchased the Milwaukee Road and attempted to operate the pre-1985 Soo Line and selected Milwaukee Road branchlines as a wholly owned subsidiary, the Lake States Transportation Division. Because of lackluster traffic levels and the need to pay off debt resulting from the purchase of the Milwaukee Road, most of the LSTD (including the original Wisconsin Central Railway) was sold in 1987 to the newly formed Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation.
Passenger trains
The Soo Line is a part of the Canadian Pacific Railway system. As time passes, more and more Soo Line equipment is being repainted into the Canadian Pacific's current paint scheme, slowly erasing the Soo's identity as a subsidiary railroad
The Soo Line was never a major carrier of passenger traffic since its route between Chicago and Minneapolis was much longer than the competing Milwaukee Road, Chicago and North Western and Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad railroads. The Soo Line also had no direct access to Milwaukee.
The primary train operated by the Soo was the Laker which operated from Chicago's Grand Central Station to Duluth/Superior with additional service to Minneapolis until it was discontinued on January 15, 1965. During the 1920s and 1930s the Soo Line operated the Soo-Pacific, a summer only Chicago-Vancouver service with the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Timeline
Good Afternoon Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house, and $ for the jukebox.
I assume that everyone is in the midst of RRRR&R (Railroad Related Roistering, Rest and Relaxation). We survived our trip to Tennessee with the heathenistics on their end-of-year trip. Nice to see the parts of the old N&W down there. Even saw a sign for the Virginia Creeper Trail - old branch line which OWL made famous in some of his photographs.
Theme park attraction is always part of one of these trips and this year was Dollywood. They still have their train ride, which is about a thirty minute trip behind an ex White Pass & Yukon 2-8-2 which was built by Baldwin in the late 30's. So while other folks were scrambling themselves on coasters, I got a chance to suck down some coal smoke and get behind a steam engine.
Part of the line has some 4 percent grades so it's more than just a short trip around the park. The whistle on this beast will curl your hair; as near as I can figure it came from the Southern Railway. They change out whistles every so often with one from the NYC, but this was sounded like nothing I ever heard on a Central steam engine. I told one of the folks I was riding with that when I heard that and closed my eyes, I was suddenly about four years old again.
Tom, a round for the house
Articles to slick up the pack....
Step To Nationalization Time Magazine Oct. 26, 1970 www.time.com
On the eve of adjournment last week, Congress belatedly shouted its approval of a costly federal rescue for the tottering passenger railroads. The House and Senate approved emergency legislation creating a National Railroad Passenger Corp. to take over and run intercity passenger trains. Commuter service is unaffected.
If President Nixon signs the measure as expected, the new corporation, to be known as "Railpax," will begin operations by May 1 as a semipublic but government-controlled body. Railroads will have until then to sign contracts transferring their passenger runs to the corporation. The railroads, however, will have to buy designated amounts of Railpax common stock, either with cash or by contributing equipment. The legislation authorizes not only a $40 million federal grant to assist Railpax to get started but also up to $100 million in Government loan guarantees to help the corporation buy rolling stock and improve roadbeds and up to $200 million in loan guarantees to enable private railroads to finance their required Railpax investment.
As TIME Correspondent Mark Sullivan reported: "This is quasi nationalization of the nation's rail system. It will most likely lead to more Government participation as time goes on. The U.S. until now has been the only industrialized country in the world with a totally private rail system. The Penn Central debacle, if not turned around quickly, will hasten the day that this private system becomes another arm of the Government."
No Miracles. Undoubtedly, railroads will waste no time choosing to turn their unwanted intercity trains over to Railpax. By their own computations, U.S. lines are losing $200 million a year on passenger operations. In a direct form of pressure, the legislation would force any railroad that remains outside of Railpax to continue running all its present passenger trains for at least two years.
Railpax seems likely to save some passenger trains from becoming extinct, but it will hardly work miracles in restoring long-haul service, which attracts mainly sightseers. Few passengers are still willing to spend three days traveling coast to coast, or two days from the Northeast to Texas. The legislation empowers Transportation Secretary John Volpe to decide what routes Railpax must serve at the outset. He will probably order continued service over heavily traveled corridors, particularly between Boston and Washington. Some long runs that draw varying amounts of patronage-for example, the Northeast to Florida, Chicago to New Orleans, and New York to Chicago -would presumably be continued. But a substantial number of the nation's 383 intercity trains are likely to die, including such little-used ones as the thrice-weekly Harrisburg-Buffalo run, or the Salt Lake City-Butte, Mont., runs.
Hope of Profits. Theoretically, the new rail corporation is supposed to earn a profit, like Comsat. Private railroaders consider this idea ludicrous, and predict that Railpax will be forced to turn to Congress for more subsidy within a year or two. Even if their freight operations are included, the much-admired nationalized railroads of Western Europe and Japan run deeply in the red. Railpax backers count on managerial innovations to entice more riders aboard trains. The average passenger may find conditions much the same for a considerable time. Railpax will pay the private railroads to operate its trains; they will run over the same bumpy tracks and be manned by the same surly crews that have made train travel a trauma instead of a treat.
===============================================================
Mournful Whistles Time Magazine May 10, 1971
In an almost literal sense, it was the railroad tie that bound the nation together - trains pumping commerce across the vast continental expanse, rattling and mournfully whistling through the prairie or small-town American nights with the promise of escape to the cities, of traveling on. For generations of Americans, the rhythm of trains has been part of their national memory, the clickety-clack of long journeys, the special sense of desolate silence that overwhelms the countryside when a train passes and disappears.
Last week, in an effort to turn the railroad into a modern if diminished mode of travel, the National Railroad Passenger Corp., called Amtrak, began its service. In the interests of efficiency, Amtrak eliminated nearly 200 trains. Among the casualties were some that had become legendary-the Wabash Cannonball from St. Louis to Detroit, the Capitol Limited from Washington to Chicago, the Nancy Hanks II from Savannah to Atlanta. Dozens of other great trains, such as the Twentieth Century Limited and the Phoebe Snow between Hoboken, N.J., and Chicago, had already vanished. What remains of rail service may become better than ever, as Amtrak promises rather unconvincingly, but the special mythic quality has been lost on the wind with the vanished steamers.
Minnetonka
http://muse.museum.montana.edu/rvndb/rvn-jpgs/RVN13933.jpg
http://muse.museum.montana.edu/rvndb/rvn-jpgs/RVN14518.jpg
http://muse.museum.montana.edu/rvndb/rvn-jpgs/RVN16053.jpg
http://muse.museum.montana.edu/rvndb/rvn-jpgs/RVN16052.jpg
Old New York
http://images.nypl.org/?id=1558218&t=w
http://images.nypl.org/?id=1558470&t=w
Good morning viewers from the Rendezvous!
Having a terrific time here in St. Louis with Captain Tom, Pete and Eric. I'd share pix but my laptop won't connect to the internet in my room, so this is being typed from the hotel lobby. Have a great day and I'll be sharing adventures both real and imagined real soon ... so stay tuned!
2007 BIRTHDAY WATCH LIST
(rev. May 19th)
January 14th (Eric - 64)
OKRA (Dec 22 - Jan 20) Are tough on the outside but tender on the inside. Okras have tremendous influence. An older Okra can look back over his life and see the seeds of his influence everywhere. You can do something good each day if you try. You go well with most anyone.
March 13th (Doug - 51)
BOLL WEEVIL (Feb 20 - March 20) You have an overwhelming curiosity. You're unsatisfied with the surface of things, and you feel the need to bore deep into the interior of everything. Needless to say, you are very intense and driven as if you had some inner hunger. You love to stay busy and tend to work too much. Nobody in their right mind is going to marry you, so don't worry about it.
March 31st (Lars - 67)
MOON PIE (March 21 - April 20) You're the type that spends a lot of time on the front porch. A cinch to recognize the physical appearance of Moon Pies. Big and round are the key words here. You should marry anybody who you can get remotely interested in the idea. A Chitlin would be a good mate but it's not going to be easy. You always have a big smile and are happy. This might be the year to think about aerobics. Maybe not.
May 18th (Tom - 69)
POSSUM (April 21 - May 21) When confronted with life's difficulties, possums have a marked tendency to withdraw and develop a don't-bother-me-about- it attitude. Sometimes you become so withdrawn, people actually think you're dead. This strategy is probably not psychologically healthy but seems to work for you. You are a rare breed. Most folks love to watch you work and play. You are a night person and mind your own business. You should definitely marry an Armadillo.
May 27th (Dave - 48) <Leave of absence - Iraq>
CRAWFISH (May 22 - June 21) Crawfish is a water sign. If you work in an office, you're hanging around the water cooler. Crawfish prefer the beach to the mountains, the pool to the golf course, and the bathtub to the living room. You tend not to be particularly attractive physically but have a good heart.
August 11th (Pete - 56)
CATFISH (July 24 - Aug 23) Catfish are traditionalists in matters of the heart, although one's whiskers may cause problems for loved ones. You Catfish are never easy people to understand. You run fast. You work and play hard. Even though you prefer the muddy bottoms to the clear surface of life, you are liked by most. Above all else, Catfish should stay away from Moon Pies.
September 8th (Rob - 36)
GRITS (Aug 24 - Sept 23) Your highest aim is to be with others like yourself. You like to huddle together with a big crowd of other Grits. You love to travel though, so maybe you should think about joining a club. Where do you like to go? Anywhere they have cheese, gravy, bacon, butter, or eggs and a good time. If you can go somewhere where they have all these things, that serves you well. You are pure in heart.
September 29th (James - 19)
BOILED PEANUTS (Sept 24 - Oct 23) You have a passionate desire to help your fellow man. Unfortunately, those who know you best, your friends and loved ones, may find that your personality is much too salty, and their criticism will affect you deeply because you are really much softer than you appear. You should go right ahead and marry anybody you want to because in a certain way, yours is a charmed life. On the road of life, you can be sure that people will always pull over and stop for you.
October 18th (BK - 67)
December 29th (CM3 - 61)
Not on the list Send me an Email with your birth date (month-day-year) Corrections too!
Tom (Siberianmo)
Proprietor of "Our" Place, an adult eating & drinking establishment!
Just a quickie this Saturday morning as we're expecting the guys for breakfast, then wer're off to another full day of activities. The 2nd "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous in St. Louis is going every bit as planned - if not better. Having loads of fun and of course, wish all of our "regulars" could join us. Pehaps next year!
Really a treat meeing up with Eric (Sweden 'n Phoenix, AZ) - Doug (Chicagoland) and of course Pete (Rugby, UK 'n Jefferson City, MO). Had a great day on Friday with light rail (MetroLink) and Amtrak to 'n from Springfield, IL as the highlights. Caught the Texas Eagle on the return with some fantastic views from the Sightseer Lounge car . . . just a fine time!
Thursday evening was drnks 'n dinner here followed by some fun moments in the Can-Am Trainroom - the guys seemed to enjoy the HO - O - 'n S gauge layouts. Got to play with a few!
Thanx for the B'day wishes, Mike - nice to know there's someone keeping track of these things! At my age, who counts???? <grin>
See y'all one of these days (daze)!
2nd Annul "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous
in St. Louis DEPARTURE Day!
We are CLOSED on SUNDAYs!Starting Sunday at the Mentor Village Emporium Theatre!
. . . May 20th thru 26th: Tombstone (1993) Starring: Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton & Powers Boothe - and - The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000) Starring: Will Smith, Matt Damon, Charlize Theron, Bruce McGill & Joel Gretsch. SHORT: The Three Stooges: Boobs in Arms (1940).
Tombstone (1993)
PLOT SUMMARY:
A sizzling, star-studded cast brings to life the legendary battle to deliver justice to TOMBSTONE! Kurt Russell (MIRACLE, VANILLA SKY) turns in a gripping performance as U.S. Marshall Wyatt Earp and Val Kilmer (THE MISSING, BATMAN FOREVER) ignites the screen as the outrageous Doc Holliday. Together, they team up to bring law to the lawless in a notorious showdown with the ruthless outlaws at the O.K. Corral! The all-star ensemble also includes Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton, Dana Delany, Jason Priestley, Michael Biehn, and long-time Hollywood favorite Charlton Heston. Get ready for an explosive, action-packed adventure the Wild West would never forget!
from: amazon.com
The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)
A down-and-out golfer attempts to recover his game and his life with help from a mystical caddy. A disillusioned war veteran, Capt. Rannulph Junah (Matt Damon), reluctantly agrees to play a game of golf. He finds the game futile until his caddy, Bagger Vance (Will Smith), teaches him the secret of the authentic golf stroke which turns out also to be the secret to mastering any challenge and finding meaning in life.
From: amazon.com
SHORT: Boobs in Arms (1940)PLOT SUMMARY: Featuring Moe, Larry & Curly
In this Stooge short, the boys are greeting card salesmen who try to help a wife by posing as her lovers. When her husband comes home, he sees the Stooges and chases them outside, where they hide in a line of people. Unfortunately for them, it's a line to sign up for the Army! To make matters worse, their commanding officer is the jealous husband who they ran away from. While in training, they march in the opposite direction than their supposed to, run away from the husband, hide in bayonet practice dummies, and their commanding officer does bayonet practice on them! Then, when their on the battlefield, they accidentally give themselves a dose of laughing gas and get captured by the enemy. They make a mess of the enemey's headquarters (while still on laughing gas), get bombed by their side, and ride off into the clouds on a bomb.
from: threestooges.net
2nd Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous
in St. Louis 2007 - AGENDA
Good Early Morning Gentlemen!
The bar opens at 6 AM, but just in case there's a "regular" or three out there who happens to be up 'n about the decks, here's a copy of the Rendezvous schedule of activities that took place from Thursday thru Sunday . . .
2nd Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous in St. Louis!
May 17th - 20th, 2007
Thursday, May 17th
Friday, May 18th
Saturday, May 19th
Sunday, May 20th
It was a Rendezvous that simply couldn't have been better!
Good morning Tom and friends! I'll have a light breakfast to go please, as I am once again off to the stable and then to work. I see that our Captain changed the marque at the Emporium, and the Tombstone film happens to be one of my favorites.
Can't say enough about the good times we had at the 2nd Rendezvous and the hospitality of Tom, Carol and 1st mascot Juneau, and surely enjoyed meeting Pete and Eric, who is still on his way home. We covered a lot of territory in the few days available, which ya'll will be reading about here for some time. Don't know how Tom arranged the terrific weather, but will hopefully learn the trick before the Rendezvous hits Chicago next year.
Have a great day gentlemen. I must be off!
I eat apples, but no fruit.
The 2nd Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous in St. Louis is HISTORY as the gang departed yesterday. We had a blast and I do not believe it could have turned out any better. The guys were as one, the events went off without a hitch, Juneau got to meet ‘n play with the guys and of course my bride lent her hospitality ‘n culinary talents to our arrival dinner ‘n morning breakfasts! Just an all ‘round wonderful time that has added another foundation block for the continuation of this event.
Next year, CHICAGO! Thanx to this bar environment, we have a nucleus of guys who give a Rat's Patoot! Doug will host the 3rd Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous! Tom (that's me) remains as the Coordinator, so watch for the announcements of time, place, and so forth. As has been the practice from day one of these things, we'll use Email to communicate the specifics.
Here it is Monday once again and the staff ‘n characters of "Our" Place are all ready to make the beginning of your week as pleasant as possible. So, why not head over to the coffee pot? Check out The Mentor Village Bakery case selections while you're at it and of course our Menu Board for a <light> or <traditional> breakfast!
Surely doesn't appear to be very many comments to catch up on, but then again, it was predictable, eh Perhaps a glaring "absence" here or there, but such is life here in the Ether . . . Surely appreciate any and all contributions to keeping our group going and of course this special Thread!
Customer ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (since my last narrative):
Pete at 5:16 PM Wednesday - James at 4:03 PM ‘n 4:13 PM Thursday - CM3 Shane at 1:03 PM Friday - Mike at 6:24 PM Friday - and - Doug at 7 AM Saturday.
Doug at 5:10 AM today! - Glad you made it home safely ‘n looking forward to continued friendship here at the Bar by the Ballast along with Pix ‘n stuff from our Rendezvous!
A recommendation:
Go back ‘n READ these Posts! Those of us who attended our 2nd Annual Rendezvous strongly support the idea of this cyber bar ‘n grill. The objective is to create ‘n maintain INTEREST in Classic Trains through DIALOGUE ‘n FUN! The only way to accomplish that is to READ the words - all of ‘em! Then respond accordingly, being sure to give credit where it is due and of course maintain inclusiveness through it all.
Reminder: Ruth has the bar from 9 AM until Leon the Night Man comes in at 5 PM ‘til closing.
Cindy is now our Saturday bartender!
Boris, serve ‘em all of the "spiked" OJ they can handle!
Time to provide some 2nd Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous in St. Louis fotos . . .
Thursday, May 17th, 2007
The barn weevil (Doug) has arrived!
Doug ‘n Wolfman (Pete)
Resident Desert Swede (Eric) - Doug - Pete - Siberianmo (Tom) at the Springhill Suites
Doug - Eric - Juneau - Pete in the Can-Am Trainroom
Pete at the controls of the S-Capades (S-gauge ceiling suspended layout)
Doug ‘n Eric checking out the S-Capades layout
More later . . .
Hello there Tom
Pint of bitter please.
Yes, sorry that was a Sunday post - I guess I had to leave it with the animals and that is why it appeared twice! In fact it was the only chance I got to get near a computer and file a post - I clean forgot what day it was (jet lag and all that).
It would certainly have been good to have headed south and joined the get together - sounds like you had a great time - well organized itinerary etc.
I'm back in the UK now, but thanks for the Toronto info from the prev re-union - helpful stuff.
By the way I did get the chance to head down to Union station (picked up GO Timetables, an up to date Amtrak system timetable which is a good souvenir, and a VIA one too). I only had the chance to ride TTC equipment (of all forms) so no heavy rail - but I did get a good view of a west bound GO train when I was in the restored Distillery District - the line passes right close by - so that was good. Plus from the apartment I was in in the distance you could see a good rail line with plenty of freight - no shortage of Auto racks anyway! Tis harks back to Rob's comment about the TTC - I did notice the system looked rather dirty in places with evidence of lack of investment in some stations and bus interchanges - I wonder if that is the result of the budget issue you mentioned Rob? - I guess cleansing etc is the easiest first cut to make - but it drives down the user experience as it undermines the appearance of quality - so it is not good.
Return flight was 1 hour early due to wind I guess so that was nice.
Another thing I noticed which might be of interest was a leaflet for guided tours of Toronto Union station on, I think the last sat of the month, by appointment. Looked good - shame I was not there on that Saturday or I'd have booked one
The way things turned out there will need to be a longer visit back to Toronto later in the year for dealing with personal affairs etc - with planning I'd like to combine this with an Ontario Northland trip if I can.
One of the places I did go to in Toronto was the worlds largest bookshop (more quantity than quality it must be said) - but they did have an extensive magazine selection but I noticed that many of the railroad magazines were actually from the UK! The copy of Trains I picked up cost more than it does here in the UK (when available!) - and I thought the exchange rate was supposed to favour the pound at the moment!
Worrying news about VIA rail in your recent post Tom - do keep us posted.
Return journey from the airport was made up better by taking a GNER express northbound and enjoying a 2 course meal in the dining car on the way from London to Grantham - very nice indeed - an antidote to 6 hours in a plane and airline food of indeterminate quality!
Pete - glad you got to explain the idiosyncrasies of UK passengers classes - which must have confused people back in the day - 1st and 3rd but no second class on most trains!!
I agree with you about the micro brews - some good stuff - I guess when you are in a strange city and short of time you don't have the chance to seek them out. Well, that is my excuse anyway. Not ideal but there we are - glad you have access to some good brews.
By the way you might be amused to know that before it was recently demolished the former GCR / GNR London Road high level station in Nottingham was a branch of Hooters! Before that it had been a bar / diner called Sam Fays which was really rather good - adorned with railway memorabilia and signage. I think that went when Hooters moved in but I don't know what happened to the memorabilia. It is a shame the building has now gone following redevelopment of the site - given it lasted so long after the trains were withdrawn!
By the way - the last ever National Rail timetable to be published in printed format is out - I've got mine last week. I wondered if you wanted to pick up a copy as a souvenir so thought I'd mention it (maybe one of your Rugby mates can get one for you?)
By the way Mike - couple of interesting articles there - I enjoyed reading them.
Once again, thanks to all of you for your good wishes - reading them when I was out there was very much appreciated.
Regards
DL
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