Good morning Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!
Boris? What the heck are you doing here? Leon did? He went to the Mentor Village National Bank to open a savings account? Wow! That much in Sterling? No, I'll just have a burger and a coke!
Tuesday went by and not much happened here in the desert but some good news at the Bar! New and new old faces!
Tom – Of course you all should know the precise location of the bell on the DD40. That is basic knowledge!Nice pictures of nice memories! My plaque is hanging on the wall in my den! Very much appreciated! Today it is actually exactly one month since we said farewell that Sunday morning outside the hotel! CM3 – We have the TV-Land channel. TV-Land used to run another of my favorite shows, “Hogan’s Heroes”, but not any more.Since you missed the bell quiz I’ll give you another chance to guess what and where? (see picture below).What and where?I hope they manage to clear that area of unexploded ordnance without any accidents.Lars – Thank you for the nice words! Ruth is very happy to have you back at the Bar by the siding. Thanks for the round on Nick! Pete – Talking about buses, I just read that the Swedish Bus builder Scania landed an order for 300 buses to the UK. “Scania has won its largest ever single order for buses and coaches in the UK. National Express Group has selected 300 Scania vehicles for delivery over the coming three years.The order comprises 180 Scania Omni single- and double-deck buses and 120 Scania coaches with bodywork supplied by Caetano Levante. The vehicles will be used by National Express Group's UK-wide coach network and bus operations in the West Midlands and London areas.”Allan – Welcome to “Our” Place!! This is indeed a very international Bar! New Zeeland! I’ve never been there but certainly would love to go there one day. I have heard a lot of different information about the NZ railways so I hope you can tell us the facts whenever you have a chance! Nick – Good to see you back so soon! And thanks for the rounds!!! The sunshine is getting hot, tonight the weatherman threatened us with a possible 118°F (47.7°C) on Thursday. But it is a dry heat!
Eric
<w/permission: http://www.scenic-railroads.com/>
Wednesday's Witticism
The stuff that makes you tipsy, makes you tip your hand.
G'day Gents!
Mid-week in mid-continent USA - skies are mostly blue, temps should be tolerable as summer approaches and there's a chance of some needed precip. Petrol, last time I looked, was still at $2.82 (rounded) up at "Collusion Corner" and expected to make that rapid climb as the 4th of July holiday approaches . . . <groan>
Life at the bar has taken an "up turn" with the return of Nick and perhaps a new customer in Allan from New Zealand. Losing Doug as a regular and Rob completely cannot be compensated for, however, we "takes what we gets" at the Bar by the Ballast!
The bright side is we're still up ‘n running, PLUS it appears as if we've got FIVE locked in for our 3rd Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous in Chicago 2008!
Customer ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (since my last narrative):
CM3 Shane at 9:21 AM Tuesday - June 19th: Good grins from your "Nick Quiz"!
I remember WHEN Busch Gardens was "new" in Williamsburg, VA. We were living in Chesapeake in those days and the kids simply loved that place - adults too! Ahhhh, the brew in the German bier garten!
Speaking of "oldies," we purchased the DVD set of the F Troop series. Wanna laff These are priceless . . . <grin>
Second Class Saloon gang have been making rumblings about another grudge match Dart's Tournament and Apple Bobbing Nite! Stay tuned . . .
Thanx for the quarters, round ‘n visit!
Lars at 10:32 AM Tuesday - June 19th: Seeing your avatar on the screen once again makes things appear "normal" ‘round here. We got very used to your daily visits and indefatigable support for the bar! Great having you back and hope the staggering load of paperwork doesn't keep you from your <ahem> duties - Ruth awaits! <grin>
Sports rundown of interest - but ya know, I've really been turned "off" thus far this year. Can't get "into" baseball and it's not only the Red Birds and their nose dive, just pretty much had it with it all. I'll take riding trains thank you very much! <grin>
Did note that the Mets took one on the chin last night - big time and the Cards beat the Royals <ho hum>. Interleague play is a bummer for me too . . .
Of the Rendezvous: Let things simply fall where they may. If you can - you can. There's a long road ahead ‘til May 2008! Who knows what's around that "corner"
Thanx for the round <on Nick!> and we'll be looking for our Manager to keep things movin' along in the style to which we've become accustomed! <whip. <snap>
Pete at 3:43 PM Tuesday - June 19th: THANX for the Email reply to planning document #2 . . .
Those VIA Rail Spiderman abominations seem to be featuring Spiderman II - whereas the flick is now at III. There's a contest (or was) that's behind all of this promotion. Of course, VIA Rail reaps some financial benefit - they need it.
Too bad Amtrak can't figure out a money maker. But then again they DID. For awhile the U.S. Mail returned to the rails along with some freight. But alas, the whiners ‘n complainers got their way and that rather brief experiment ended. Seems to me they were doing fine - but those in power sidestepped supporting ‘em and . . .
The reality of it all is that we'll not be seeing a return to the halcyon days of passenger railroads. Ain't gonna happen in North America and I'm grateful for having had the opportunities to travel aboard some of those great trains of the past. Most cherished of all have been our trips across Canada and to Halifax aboard the Budd stainless steel beauties.
Appreciate the visit!
Gunneral - Allan at 5:21 PM Tuesday - June 19th: A return visit earned you the SPECIAL RECOGNITION previously Posted! Aboard <again>!
Nick at 8:21 PM Tuesday - June 19th: IN-corrigible is a state of mind whereas we were wondering more along the lines of WHERE as opposed to what we already KNEW! <grin>
Good to see ya, Mate and as with my comments regarding the return of Lars, having you aboard makes things seem "normal" at the bar.
The past Pages are replete with Pix from the Rendezvous in St. Louis - AND - the recent Canada Rail Adventure with Pete. Recommend you scroll back a few Pages every now ‘n then - you'll be treated to all kinds of "stuff" - even Can-Am shots.
The Rendezvous was in a word - GREAT. Couldn't have asked for it to have been any better. The guys hit if off as if we've known one another for years - which I suppose one could say is true - and our planned activities kept us out of trouble and into some grand times as the time flew by . . . Photos simply can't do justice to what was the best thus far of our get togethers. I have HUNDREDS of Pix of my own - ditto for Eric ‘n Doug. So the entire thing was well chronicled in pixels.
Have a few zillion Pix of the
Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the Jukebox. The hot weather has gone away for awhile after some serious rock and roll wind, thunder, rain, etc. last night. Nonetheless we are still standing.
A note to the modelers out there. Overland has posted announcements that they will be producing GN electric locomotives and Genset locomotives as well. Delivery is a ways off and prices are "TBD." Quick, Boris, a couple of finers of Captain Jack's finest in my cup!
Lars - Good morning sir! Glad you have returned with the shiny side up! There is a Red Sox-Yankee item for you at the end of this post.
Pete - I forgot about him and then as soon as I saw the name, it came back. Howard Hunter - Aviator glasses, flak vest, ball cap, and pipe.
Nick - Couldn't help the reference to Capt, Jack. I got to see Caribbean Part 2 while on the road trip to Tennessee with the school group last month - surprisingly good movie.
Eric - Gotta study on that picture for awhile.
Gunneral - Welcome in.
OSP sent more pictures. I hardly recognized some of the folks as I am used to seeing three pictures (full face and two profiles) when I go to the Post Office. Thanks for sharing. I am going to make every effort to travel to Chicago for next year's festivities.
Here's a little something from the Nickel Plate file. I posted it awhile ago, but there are some who may not have seen it before.
CURRENT FACTS ABOUT TRAVEL
Passenger travel on the railroads is now twice what it was a year ago, and four times what it was in 1939. The railroads are doing their best to meet this great and sudden increase in the demand for service although they have just about the same number of passenger cars and engines which they had in 1939. The demand for steel and other materials essential to the war effort, practically precludes the construction of new equipment at this time.
Two million service man and women travel each month under military orders, This vast army requires more than half of all the sleeping cars and about one-third of all the coaches.
With the remaining equipment the railroads must move service men traveling individually or in small groups; soldiers and sailors on furlough; families visiting service men in camps; business men and other workers traveling on urgent missions.
TO THOSE WHO FEEL THE NECESSITY OF TRAVEL
Plan trips for the less-crowded days of the week. Mid-week trains are preferable.
Carry a minimum a mount of baggage to conserve seating space.
Cancel reservations of Pullman space promptly if travel plans are changed.
Stagger vacations to avoid seasonal travel peaks.
Make room in dining car promptly after finishing meal, as others may be waiting.
The comforts of peacetime travel are of necessity subordinated to the needs of a nation at war and every true American faces this conditions just as other wartime problems are met - with firmness and the resolve to do everything necessary to win the war and establish a victorious and lasting peace.
Nickel Plate Road - 1943
Now for Lars and all other baseball fans out there. This is truly a good one.
A Red Sox fan liked to amuse himself by scaring every Yankees fan he saw strutting down the street in an obnoxious NY pinstripe shirt. He would swerve his van as if to hit them, then swerve back just missing them.One day while driving along, he saw a priest. He thought he would do a good deed, so he pulled over and asked the priest, "Where are you going, Father?" "I'm going to give Mass at St. Francis church, about two miles down the road," replied the priest. "Climb in, Father. I'll give you a lift!" The priest climbed into the passenger seat, and they continued down the road. Suddenly, the driver saw a Yankees fan walking down the road, and he instinctively swerved as if to hit him. But, as usual, he swerved back onto the road just in time. Even though he was certain that he had missed the guy, he still heard a loud THUD. Not knowing where the noise came from, he glanced in his mirrors but still didn't see anything.He then remembered the priest, and he turned to the priest and said, "Sorry Father, I almost hit that Yankees fan." "That's OK," replied the priest "I got him with the door."
Work safe
Ahoy Cap'n Tom ‘n fellow travelers at the bar!
Had a hulluva time trying to get "in" this morning - even used Da Boss' log in data. Don't know even if this is going to "take" . . . strange things are happening!
Ruth my deAH, seeing your smile brings joy to my heart! I'm in the mood for a mugga Joe with a jolt if you please! And of course treats for the crittAHs, including a small jar of pickled pig's feet for Boris. A round on "ice" for the bar and the change is yours, you loveRly thing you!
Well, it surely appears as if things have begun the upward rise ‘round here. Do we attribute that to Nick? Or perhaps the fellow from New Zealand? Or maybe MY return?? How about a combo deal?!?!?
We're missing Per, who said he'd be gone ‘til month's end, and DL who seems to be tied up with whatever he does to earn his keep, then of course the MIAs Doug ‘n Rob (covered quite well by the Cap'n). So given all of this, we're still lookin' mighty good from where I sit!
In checking out those final rendezvous pix, it occurred to me that the gala event encompassed your B'day, Tom! Now that must've been a winnAH in all respects, huh?? While I didn't see very much here at the bar to commemorate your "big number day" (if anything at all!) my guess is you had a grand time with and amongst those who gave that Rat's Patoot you seem to appreciate! Pix from the restaurant looked fine and I'm never quite sure with the expressions from Pete. You know, kinda "reading" into the photo - what's he saying - things like that. Perhaps the beer was too cold for me, huh? OR maybe just not to his liking? That's probably more like it. <grin>
Thanks for sending the Email attachments of the more "private" stuff - they all are great and as I've mentioned several times, I surely wish my time could have been orchestrated a bit better to have spent it with youse guyz in St. Looooooo.
For Allan: What's the current situation with passenger rail travel in New Zealand? I've read this ‘n that over the years leading me to the conclusion that it really isn't anything one would want to spend time or money on. Is that so? If so, why?
For Eric: Dontchajustluvit - "It's a dry heat!" Right. When one's eyebrows feel like they've been exposed to the ‘wind' from a blast furnace when leaving an air conditioned building for the outdoors, dry or not, that's plain HOT to me. <ugh>
An interesting and challenging photo. Question is, did you have any toys when you were a child? What kindamind comes up with these pix?
I see Cap'n Tom "did it again" with those plaques for the attendees at the Rendezvous. A class act, huh? Youbetchaboots!
For Pete: Look, it's quite simple: Michigan quarters SPEND just as easily as others, plus they are stamped on BOTH sides. Others are called "slugs" - be careful, mate! <grin>
Never could take my eyes from a football game, even if trains were in view. Although a good looking "thing" passing by now ‘n then may have caused the turn of my head . . . <uh oh>
For Shane: Nice RR ads - and I do recall reading them, but I thought they were from a bunch posted on Vet's Day by our leader. Anyway, good stuff and a fine reminder of what we're "about" at this bar!
Simply LOVED that joke! Heard it before, but it was "tailored" another part of the world. Nevertheless, the idea of it simply cracked me up!
For Nick: Only YOU can come up with those "lines" that keep us rolling. I figure you got thrown out of your digs, denied access to the home ‘n hearth, thereby keeping you offline for these months. Further, you were then abducted by a traveling rock band, forcing you into a state of bondage to where it was most difficult to keep the smile from overtaking the feigned grimace on your mug. Close?
The reference to the cabs in London really was of interest. No connection with taxis in my lot, however, the term "Hackneys" always kinda made me wonder . . . Great to have you back amongst the sick-o group at the bar!
I didn't really think this day would be "open" for me, but I managed to make it in. Still have that huge pile of paperwork to attack. <groan> Well, a guy's gotta do, what a guy's gotta do! RUTH . . .
A round on NICK - Boris ring the bell! <grin>
Until the next time!
Lars
Hello all in
Tom, I'll have a pint of Woodforde's Wherry please.
Certainly been an up turn of business around here last few days - must have been that round I left on the bar - combined withthe exchange rate Pete mentioned! Good to see nick and lars in - plus the regulars and a handy contribution from our new Geordie Kiwi resident - a warm welcome of course. Thanks for filling in on the bus info. The Bendy Buses are pretty useless but they've bougth plenty of them - they work well in the straight line streets of Europe but not in the older street patterns of London. Of course there are plenty of double deckers in London and the regional cities - but as Eric I think pointed out - Scania are makign many of the chassis units.
I'll work up my trip report as promised (east anglian lines) plus soem other info on a couple of long disusused stations I chanced upon on a road based expedition at the weekend.
Back in due course!
DL
An interesting mid-week collection of morning <central USA> visits from CM3 Shane - Lars 'n DL!
Continuing on with Pix from Day Three: Saturday - May 26th, 2007 - departing Halifax, Nova Scotia, en route Montreal, Quebec
Bedford Basin
If you look REALLY hard through the trees, that's "mom's house" on the left . . .
First stop - Truro, Nova Scotia
My favorite mural at Truro from the moving train
The east bound Ocean through the service car windows shortly after departing Truro
Nova Scotia scenery
Sackville Depot <New Brunswick> reflections ‘n all!
Sackville area scenery
To be continued . . .
Tom
Hi Tom and all.
A pint of Double Dragon please RUTH.
ALLAN Great to see you back in the bar. I see you were from Newcastle On Tyne, that was a great place for railways, unfortunately I did not get to see the area until steam had finished there it still was a very busy area in the 1970s.Do you recall steam in the Newcastle area.
I am from the Rugby Warwickshire area, so it was mainly ex LMS steam although there were ex LNER locomotives, as well as BR Standards, that worked over the Great Central line.
I hear that some BR coaches are being shipped over for use with NZ Railways.
NICK Certainly I will have a Double Dragon with you and it would be great to have a Brains SA in the brewery tap in Cardiff.
YES I have had trouble over here with ‘Chips'. At one place it was "Fish and Chips" and when I got it it was fish with crisps. I generally ask now. At one restaurant where it was Fish and Chips I asked it the chips were fries and the waitress replied "Yes, but they are called chips in Britain, what are they called in Australia" Me confused with an Australian with my perfect English accent, as TOM will attest. I must be showing my age as I can remember when the only food you could get in pubs was crisps or if you were lucky a small pork pie.
Interesting info about the ‘Hackney Cabs and your Grandfather's link to the London General Cab Co.Do you know if the London Cabdrivers still have to pass an exam on the route ‘Knowledge' before getting their cab driver's license.
Another Our Place coincidence Alan has just sent some photos, some which are from the Devon area when class 5 no 45407 done some tours of Devon and Cornwall branch lines, which included the South Devon railway. I will look forward to your photos from the area.
ERIC Yes it was a month ago we said farewell at the hotel after the rendezvous, still only 11 months till the next one.
That is a big order for buses for Scaniait seems that bus passenger rider ship as well as rail passengersis on the rise in Britain In the West Midlands there is a very reasonable priced ticket that allows travel on trains, trams, and buses in the West Midland Metropolitan area after 9.30 AM. I believe there is also a ticket for travel before 9.30 AM which costs a bit more.
I will have a guess at the Aerotrain in the photo.
118F.
CM3 Yes that was Lt Hunter, I believe at one time he patrolled the precinct in an armored car.
Great news that you are coming to Chicago.
Thanks for the wartime Nickel Plate wartime notice; the railroads did wonders with the increase in traffic with the same equipment. I see the Classic Trains special magazine later this year is going to be Railroads and World War II
Enjoyed the baseball joke.
LARS Great to see you in your regular spot again.
We had a great time at Erio's celebrating Tom's birthday and the rendezvous, looking at the photo I must admit I do look a bit on the red side. I think the waitress did find me a drink I liked but I can't recall what it was.
Thinking of the railway running by Shrewsbury's ground it must have been great at a evening match in the winter in steam days with the locomotives working hard leaving the station and heading for the South West. The loco depot was not far from the ground as well.
DL Great to see you in. Looking forward to your trip report.
In the photos Alan has E-mailed me are some of old closed lines in the West Country, hopefully I should get the details and will started posting them soon.
Talking of buses I heard at one time there was going to be a road transport museum at Ruddington on the Great Central (North) preservation site, do you know if this happened.
TOM So the Second Class Saloon boys want revenge for last years darts match. I wonder what happened to the trophy last time I saw it BORIS had it.
I recall on my first visit to the U.S., on an Amt
What Ho Chaps !!! Happy half-way-there day to you all (if memory serves,this is model train night,of which more anon--) Anyway,Leon,bestir yourself-there is work to be done here dear boy--looks like the Double Dragon is reaching the end of its useful life so time to broach the Brains S.A-the second pump is cleaned and ready --ahh,good man-right,a glass for each and one for yourself................
Right,as ever,starting at the top --Capt TOM-Am blown away by the pix-an insight into the country that no travelogue could ever compete with-that glimpse of the family home through the trees deserves framing-no explanation needed, anybody with half a brain could find a story in there-whilst on the subject,that pic of you with your plaque-will you look at the face on that lady in the background-absolutely priceless !!!!! Am still mulling over my own contribution to the " where has he been" quiz (the truth is out there.......) Is a shame we have lost ROB,but if his life requires that he give his time elsewhere we can only wish him well and hope he drops in from time to time to keep us updated
Now ,as for those rogues from the second class saloon....Bring it on says I..!!!!!!!!
LARS-glad I find you well,-and glad you enjoyed the black cab references-As important an element of people transportation as the trains they connected with,indeed most of the London Terminii were layed out with this in mind,as I am sure Grand Central and your other local stations were...as a quick addendum R.E Barflys- this was the name under which myself,Missisnick and fat Steve the drummer previously trod the boards..synchronicity at work here
ALLEN--A warm welcome to one of the more unusual of the threads on this forum--given that you are a Kiwi by adoption might we enter into a pact not to mention rugby scores at all ??
CM3--Useful and interesting notes as ever from our man in the mountains,also liked the joke ( the priest had a strong Irish accent from where I was sitting )...Re `Pirates`-enjoyed both but felt #2 was a little cartoonish-the scene in #1 where Capt Jack crosses swords with Orlando Blooms` character held genuine menace--loved Bill Nighy with the Muppet workshop make-up though..................
ERIC--Dry heat be d****d -where I live we have 27 different kinds of rain--but I guess you know all about that sort of stuff..anyway,good to see you mate !!
PETE--thanks for explaining the crisps/chips thing -hot news,looks like the Severn Valley line will be operating a reduced service for a while,flash floods have taken out part of their main line just outside Bewdley--not sure where the break is but the whole of that stretch will need checking--has been some fierce weather here just lately...As to Taxi drivers badges,there are two types-green badges which are applicable in central London and yellow badges which are only good for local use.
DL-Nice to see you as well mate-grab yorself a beer and lets settle round the fire and catch up
Right then--its wednesday and model train night ,so lets throw a topic out and see if anybody bites ......!!
VIRTUAL TRAINS-now I`m sure this will get some feedback <grin>-right,I currently have 3 of these beasts running-the most basic is `Trainplayer`-this gives you all of Lin Westcott`s 101 layout plans brought to life-as supplied it has very basic `GIFS` to represent the trains but has a huge library of loco and car images to draw on-it is 2D overhead views and within its own parameters quite satisfying-there is also a more sophisticated version called `Tracklayer` which allow you to write your own layouts.
Next up we have a disc which runs as `Build your own model railroad`--this gives you full 3d action-the version I have gives mostly west German trains and buildings but I understand that later versions are more universal-this one is quite good fun-it allows for a great deal of automatic working via what would be relays in the real world
The most sophisticated of them is TRAINZ--I only have a very early version of this,but I would recommend it to anyone-you can be in the driving cab,next to the track or in helicopter follow mode--again you can build your own layout or take a train around a previously established track--there are pre-written scenarios where you are the engineer and have to get the train in on time (without breaking speed limits)--also you can design your own liveries for stock ..(South Ontario Bridge Line stock runs with green & Yellow sides and red ends)
No doubt there will be universal condemnation of this approach to modelling ,and its a point I will happily concede,since there has been no progress on the real S.O.B lines in recent times,however ,I do feel it has the potential to be a useful tool -if used wisely
O.K-thats my contribution to this weeks model day--I look forward to responses from you all
LEON-another round of the S.A if you please.....good man yourself
O.K chaps-enjoy---
Hi Tom and at "Our place reborn,
Many thanks for your very warm welcome to your pages, I will try to enter the portals from time to time as I have to compete with my better halve`s daily phoning programme!
Pete. My home town was Wallsend and it was only a short distance from the East Coast main Line, so I spent a lot of time watching the Gresley loco`s passing by, especially the A4`s on Flying Scotsman duties, they were an awe inspiring sight and sound, the chime whistle was very different to the usual UK "peep". Gresley`s Moguls were a great sight too. Stephensons Killingworth coal railway line used to run about a block away from where we lived.
You will have to excuse me at the moment not memtioning names of everyone with queries, I shall get to know you all as time progresses.
NZ railways are now operated by Toll Transport an Austrialian group, the system was run down when the government sold it to private investors, they were once owned by Wisconson? Central, then were profit stripped by Faye Richwhite of America`s Cup fame! The track is now owned and operated by a government enterprise called "On Track". They are now introducing refurbished BR Mk 2 coaches mainly the on Wellington to Masterton and Auckland to Hamilton commuter services, they had to re-bogie them to 3ft 6in gauge for NZ service.
I live in Hawkes Bay on the east coast of the North Island and we get quite a few steam hauled enthusiasts trains running during our summers, October/March, hauled by AB Pacific`s and J class Mountains, NZ railways used the standard American whistle on all their steam in later years and the loco`s sound great coming up the valley here!
Thats about all at the moment from NZ, once again thanks for the welcome aboard, it`s my shout next time I think?
Allan
Leon, just a cup of coffee tonight! You keep the change!
Time for a visit before hitting the sack! Nice to see Nick and Allan again!
Tom – Gas prices here in the desert is now down to $2.88!
I agree with you that photos can’t do justice to what was the best of the Rendezvous get together! The photos are just reminders of some great days!Titanic? Under water? Hmmm, no I am quite sure it was kind of dry and even if the picture is showing some details of a big thing it was not the Titanic size.More nice pictures from Canada! I must say those cars don’t look bad inside, looking at the picture of the inside of the service car! I thought Truro was a singel track station? I guess you met the eastbound Ocean on a siding outside Truro. That mural looks very nice!CM3 – I give you a day or two to study that picture.During the Rendezvous we discussed if we should take the pictures you are used to see (full face and two profiles) but decided against it since we know you are good at recognizing things/people regardless. Another problem was that the memory card in my camera was kind of getting full. Interesting facts about traveling by train in 1943! That priest was helpful! LOLLars – Toys when I was a kid? Of course! I had some rocks and two wooden sticks! I was just looking for a good place to hide some rocks and sticks when I took that photo. To give us those plaques certainly was a class act! Tom unwrapping his Birthday gifts. Kirkwood Station, MO.DL – Scania was my favorite buses when I worked as a bus driver many, many years ago. Looking forward to yourtrip report!Pete – Sorry, but this time it is not the Aerotrain in the picture. You are right, just 11 months till the next Rendezvous! Time flies. before we know it it’s time to go!This is not a picture (below) of a Rail-Roader car, it is a Road-Railer.
St. Louis, MO.
Nick – 27 different kinds of rain? I remember only 2 kinds, wet and super wet!I used to have a computer game called Railroad Tycoon years ago. I liked it and the other day I bought the latest version. I have not had time to install and try it yet but I will next weekend. Allan – Thanks for the info on the NZ railways! I remember that Wisconsin Central was involved but all details have faded away. Do you know how many miles/kilometers of track with passenger service there is today?
Summer has arrived in the northern hemisphere! <phew> C'mon FALL! <grin>
Thursday - the day before Friday - which is close to week's end! And so we find ourselves at the Saloon by the Siding, enjoying a 2nd mugga Joe, pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery and pondering a <light> or <traditional> breakfast. Ahhhhh, life is good, eh
Been thinking of things past ‘n present and how the more things CHANGE the more the remain the SAME. It's been quite the past couple of days and I must attribute the good vibes to the return of two of our most esteemed characters from the distant and recent past - NICK 'n LARS! The irrepressible transplanted Londoner and the Norseman from Staten Island - there's a twosome, fer sure, fer sure!
Then along came the man from New Zealand who goes by the handle of GUNNERAL - ALLAN to his newfound friends at the bar. Isn't it grand to be amongst those with like-minded interests in a setting designed for fun ‘n relaxation
<crash> <bang> <slam> Ohhhhhh, Boris, WHAT in the world was THAT??!?!??! Will you put Tex down, you know he doesn't appreciate being held by tail. Armadillos can be rather nasty critters once removed from terra firma. <geesh> Boyz will be boyz! <grin>
CM3 Shane at 8:39 AM Wednesday - June 20th: Anytime a modeling outfit announces that prices are TBD, I KNOW it's gonna be outta my league! Yeah, I know - whatever the market forces dictate . . .<groan>
Never, ever thought I'd enjoy a movie with THAT actor - however, the Pirates of the Caribbean flicks are part of our DVD library and really entertaining, fer sure, fer sure! Will be adding #3 once released . . . Yo-Ho-Ho and a bottle of . . . <grin>
We try to avoid the truly personal when it comes to Pix at the bar - however - "mug shots" are unavoidable at times, and we DO have a few "mugs," eh That Chicago gathering in May 2008 should be one for the ages, methinks!
Wonderful nostalgia with your Nickel Plate ad! I know I've read it before - probably while perusing my seemingly inexhaustible archives of RR ads from the 1940s . . . I haven't been brazen enough to chance the <copyright> restrictions for duplication herein. Narrative reproduction "works" just fine. Thanx!
And the story about the Red Sox fan and the priest is a "keeper," fer sure, fer sure. Still grinning on that one . . .
Are you READY for another Dart's Tournament "report" assignment We had been thinking of making this an annual event, but it seems like the rabble over at the Second Class Saloon are restless for another drubbing . . . <uh oh>
Appreciate the visit, quarters ‘n support of the bar . . . that is YOU holding things UP from down there, eh Best to use those "seat belts" on the stools! <grin>
Lars at 10:59 AM Wednesday - June 20th: Great to have our Manager on board once again.
Yes, the farewell dinner at Erio's Italian Ristorante turned out to be a fine night out for all. The guys managed to turn it into a belated B'day dinner for me and a thank you for Carol for putting up with us at the haus (dinner ‘n two breakfasts). I think Pete even found ONE brew to his liking . . . <grin>
The Rendezvous in St. Louis will ALWAYS remain a special moment in time for me as everything truly went "off" so well . . . . The sessions with the Can-Am and S-Capades were great fun, even though we had some uncouplings with the HO. Interesting how they seemed to happen "over there" where Pete was acting as train spotter! Hmmmmm - and it was on the side where "Our" Place is located. <double Hmmmmmm>
Round appreciated along with the resumption of your place at the bar!
DL at 11:16 AM Wednesday - June 20th: Email received - thanx! Not to be concerned - the "planning document" messages are for those who are "in" and those who wish to be included as "info only." My pleasure, Mate!
Never factored in THAT round you purchased as perhaps being the impetus behind the upsurge in activity ‘round here. Hmmmmmm. <grin>
Of buses ‘n things that roll on rubber. As a kid, I dearly loved riding the city buses in NYCity. I recall the Whites, the Macks ‘n GMCs of the 1940s ‘n 50s. I believe the Whites had a "co pilot's seat" reserved for supervisory personnel. Every now ‘n then the driver would let me sit in it - oh what a grand treat that was. Used to cost a nickel to ride the bus - the driver used to have a hand-held "thing" to insert the coins when he came around at "transfer" points. I ALWAYS wanted one of those gadgets!! They disappeared with the raising of the fare to 7 cents and free transfers. Ahhhhh the memories are sooooooo vivid!
Thanx for stopping by! We look forward to your next "report"!
Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox. Nice day here as temperatures were down in the 40s last night so you could actually get some sleep. Joys of living in the "higher" elevations. Gas is at $2.95 this a.m.
Following is in no particular order.
Lars stopped by as did DL. Good to hear from you both.
OSP visited with pictures and commentary. Time for another darts tournament? We still haven't cleaned up from the Christmas party. One of my neighbors never takes down his house decorations. Icicle lights are a nice touch on a hot and humid night.
Since the cast of characters has changed, I suppose we need to have a draft to see who the Our Place team will be. Then pick uniforms - the shirts were a class touch last time (I think). Trophy? What's Boris groing in the trophy?
Nick - We do a lot of virtual reality, 3D animations, etc. when we produce training materials, so I have no problem with making the leap to trains.
I "test drove" one of the simulations last fall at the WNY show in Buffalo. The one I tried was pretty realistic. I ran a BNSF train on the old GN high line. Terrain was good as were the signals, ballast color, etc. Once I got used to operating the beasts (a pair of SD70MACs), I added in some extras such as dynamic braking, etc. That really made it interesting as you had to handle the train, not just push it through the landscape. Another scenario I tried was set on the NEC; got to drive a GG1 (with working cab signals).
Incidentally, the July 2007 issue of RMC has an article on a virtual modeling of a NYC subway line - Article showed IRT and IND lines with appropriate cars. Check it out. Now OSP can have the subway line he always wanted w/o having to tunnel through the walls.
Also, b4 I forget, CMT over here has a program called "Crossroads." I hope that it airs in your part of the world. Anyway, the other night they had a show featuring Hank Williams Jr., and Kid Rock. A most unlikely pairing, but it turned out to be excellent.
Allan - We all share memories here (not just because we're old, either) - that's what keeps the bar up and going.
Pete - Australian? As the Aflac goat says, "Nah, nah, nah." Australian miners I have been around all partied hard, as did some of the ones from Cape Breton back in the day. Nick will be proud, however, that the honors go to a bunch of Welsh shaft sinkers. I spent a "week one night" with them. That is definitely a story for the rendezvous.
Eric visited with information. IIRC, the RoadRailers were something that originally ran on the C&O, basically on the old PM. IIRC, they never really pursued the technology and it sort of was around but not used or exploited until the Triple Crown trains started running.
NYC had an interesting concept called Flexivan which was the ancestor of today's stack trains. After the worms came around, it was strange to see Flexivan cars opertaing on trains running on the old New HAven.
The NYC later twitched the "flexi" prefix and applied it to pressure unloading bulk cars. These were called Flexiflo cars. There was a Flexiflo terminal at Framingham (just west of Boston). It was interesting to watch them work with these cars.
Materials handling cars ran in and out of New England Amtrak 448 and 449 (Boston side of the Lake Shore Limited. Eastbounds originated at Chicago on 48. They were spliced into the consist with the other Boston cars. They would be cut in and out at Springfield, MA. Westbounds were picked up by 449 at Springfield. 50 and 51 around here handled Amtrak Express and some pouch stuff. All of this was carried in the baggage car. No, Awk, we're not going to sing "In the Baggage Coach" ahead; the neighbors will complain that they can't hear the railroad!
Ruth my deAH, I couldn't help but notice that "glow" this morning! Young, beautiful and what's a nice gal like you doing in a place like THIS??!! I cudda said, "What's your sign?" or something REALLY clever - but not suitable for "family viewing." Ahhh, summertime is upon us and my sentiments are in line with those of our Cap'n. I'll take the fall ‘n spring! Really detest the humid, hot ‘n sticky (and stinky) days of summer in these parts. Makes me wonder what things will be like down in the Keys - but then, we'll KNOW in short order! Expect to make a trip down in July, but not a long one as two of the boys and their families have designs on the place from mid-month ‘til August something or other.
A round on me if you please and line another one up ON NICK! Remember, we have a WEEK's WORTH of free brew on the man from Wales!
This morning I'll stick with my mugga Joe with a jolt if you please. Of course, treats for the crittAHs, including a small jar of pickled pig's feet for Boris. Speaking of our giant Cyclops, he looks rather pleased of late as his "boss" has returned to the fold. It's a giveaway once he drags out his favorite inflatable and places it next to Nick's stool! <uh oh>
So, there's really been an outpouring of material these past couple of days. Great to see the guys interacting and we don't need "data dumps" to keep things on a roll around "Our" Place! The conversation flows quite well and that all speaks highly of the group we have on board at this time.
Noticed a swing in gas prices on "the island" with $3.35 the highest and $3.14 the low. Who wuddathunk we'd be "happy" at dipping below 3 bucks??!! <good grief Charlie Brown!>
We're partly cloudy with temperatures predicted to be in the hi-70's - lo-80's range (F) for the next few days. A mild beginning to an anticipated long, hot summAH in the City! <arrrrgggghhhh>
One of my sons is into those virtual games BIG TIME and has "threatened" to teach me how to indulge. HA! Given the way my Mrs. reacts to the time I'm spending doing my Manager's duties, I can well imagine her "joy" at my "playing" virtual games. I can imagine that these "things" have gotten to the point where one probably has difficulty sorting out the make believe from reality. I like my REALITY as is right NOW - for example, RUTH standing in the rays of the morning sun. Ahhhhhhhhhh. Now that's my REALITY!
Wanna give a heads up for the morning. I'm not sure how things are going to stack up for me. The Mrs. has "declared" that my time will be HER time on Friday. Sooooooo, we'll see. <groan> <double groan>
Yeah, Tom, Amtrak was doing quite well with the mail and freight venture. I too believe there's a hulluvalotmore to the story than we've been told. Not interested in the anecdotal crap that comes from "sources" in the ether, I'd really like to KNOW what the skinny was with dropping both.
I think our Cap'n has adequately summarized the posts from the gang, so I'll try my best to avoid being repetitious. Just let me say that it's most enjoyable to see the activity and let's see what we can do to keep things on an even keel!
I'm "in" for the Darts Challenge grudge match and weenie roast! When will it be? Also, why not "go" with the shirts from last year -they surely were "winnAHs." Hope Shane will be our "reporter" again . . .
For Pete: Oh, before I totally forget - somewhere I read that you're planning an Amtrak trip to California. Be sure to check the Amtrak website for their "specials" and rail passes. There is a rail pass that enables one to ride the CalTrans trains AND Amtrak. Would save you a few bucks. Also, I just noticed a change in the Zephyr schedule due to an "arrangement" with UP. It's good to read their Press Releases too - keeps you "up" on things. Hope your experiences turn out bettAH than our last one and the one B4 that . . . . San Diego and the entire Balboa Park experience is an absolute MUST.
For Shane: Ah yes, I recall those "flexivans" in use by my favorite of favorite RR's - the New York Central! While mine was a love affair with the passenger fleet, couldn't help but notice ALL of the freight traffic that used to be . . . While the majority of my travels with the Central involved trips "up state," I enjoy reading about their operations in your former part of the world.
Love that Aflac goat - <nah nah nah> !
For Allan: Many thanks for the "skinny" on the New Zealand passenger ops. Was wondering if you recall when the government sold ‘em off to private concerns? And yes, Wisconsin Central is correct - surely didn't know their "reach" extended half a globe away.
Nothing like the sound of a ‘steamer' and it's whistle breaking the silence of an evening or early morning. Ahhhh, now those are great recollections!
For Eric: You must have really practiced hard to get that pix of Juneau's ears! <grin> Was wondering about the "gate ‘n chair" - didn't want to "push it," as who knows what kind of "games" go on in the Haus of our Cap'n! <uh oh>
Hello Tom and all in - I'll follow on from Lars
Another pint of Woodforde's Wherry for me please.
Acknowledgments all round - even if no names mentioned below I've enjoyed the posts!
By the way - I've been mistaken for an Aussie in the USA too - just like Pete. I had a theory - (and it is up to you state siders to consider) - I think there is a lot in common between every day speech used in modern British accents and Australian ones - some commonality as accents have changed over time - but I think that some people in the US who are not so familiar with English people (‘phew' some of you might say) - tend to think of an English accent as more of what we call a ‘cut glass' accent - you know - like the Queen speaks - unfortunately us lower orders don't sound like her and I wonder if this is where the confusion comes from? Anyone else any ideas....
Yes, Pete we are having some heavy down pours here - caused a few wash outs around the place. Pete - there is / was indeed a bus collection at Ruddington - with some rare buses in it - in an absolutely tragic situation earlier this year vandals broke into the site and set vehicles alight - form what I read several vehicles were totally destroyed - well beyond restoration -
"A fire at the Ruddington premises of Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre (at the northern end of the Great Central Railway) has destroyed five historic buses and severely damaged two others, as well as damaging a number of other artefacts.
Believed to be arson, the blaze was discovered at 6am on Wednesday 21st February among vehicles parked closely together outside the main building. The fire service reached the blaze in time to prevent it spreading to the building.
All the vehicles lost were privately owned - the last Daimler Fleetline built (a 1982 South Notts bus), the last Albion Lowlander built (1967 South Notts), ex Nottingham AEC Renown & Leyland Atlantean, and an ex Lincs Road Car Bedford Plaxton. Not all were runners, but others had been fully restored"
Here is some info and a pic of the wreckage:
http://www.nthc.co.uk/news/news_output/index.asp?id=250&page=1&checkSource=1
Nick - presumably you have simply had an all line rail rover + inter rail card for a few months and thus off line as you travel on the wheels of steel around and about?
Hopefully Tom will forgive this off topic comment but I've done some more bus research - and I've got a cunning way of bringing the matter back ‘on topic' - so read on:
I checked out the situation with the Leyland Bus plant in Workington - Workington is in a relatively remote part of north west England but had a proud history of steel making due to the presence of iron ore deposits in the area I think. I think it was during the 1970s that the government persuaded the nationalised British Leyland to locate a large modern bus manufacturing plant in the town - probably to alleviate unemployment caused by a down turn in the steel industry.
Well, in the 1980s it seems like this plant was privatised and sold off to Volvo / Scania.
It sounds like by the early 1990s Volvo decided to close the plant - here is a reference from Parliament:
"The need for a debate on the closure of the Volvo bus plant, formerly known as Leyland National, in my constituency".
This matter is urgent, as west Cumbria is now on the eve of a renewed spate of large-scale redundancies. Last week, job losses were announced at Allbright and Wilson, and last weekend Volvo announced the closure of its bus plant in Workington with a loss of 370 jobs. That closure will, from July next year, leave empty a modern factory of 650,000 sq ft in my constituency. The matter is important, as Volvo clearly blamed the Government's economic policies for its decision. In the press release announcing the closure, Volvo states :
"The actions are the direct result of deregulation of bus services and the recession, which have combined to severely depress demand." The matter is specific, because the Leyland/Volvo plant in Workington is Britain's principal bus producing plant. Surely it cannot be right for a foreign company, faced with recession and a lack of profitability at home, in Sweden, to cut its overseas operations and, in doing so, close down the United Kingdom's strategic bus manufacturing plant. The plant was built under a Labour Government, with a large amount of taxpayers' money, as part of efforts to consolidate bus manufacturing within the United Kingdom. Its loss can lead only to an invasion of imports when the recession ends and the market picks up. In the absence of adequate bus production capacity in the United Kingdom, we can face only danger in terms of the future bus market."
So - I presume that was the end of the factory there.
Anyway - I think it was originally built to construct the Leyland National Bus which looked like this (with some history):
http://www.woottens.co.uk/rrm148m.htm
or slightly larger pictures here:
http://www.ampyx.org.uk/lcountry/vehicles/lnc.html
Anyway, how does this relate to trains you ask?
Well, by the late 1970s early 1980s the railways in the UK realised that the generation of diesel railcars introduced in the 1950s and 60s were getting a bit long in the tooth. However, government expenditure requirements were severe so British Railways tried to look at a cheap replacement diesel railcar (like an RDC but a long way off the quality).
Their research division came up with the idea of merging the Leyland National Bus body with a 4 wheeled wagon style chassis to build one of these:
http://www.wtht.co.uk/bre%20railbus.htm
As you can see there is a remarkable similarity - esp if you scroll down to the larger picture of it when new.
Now as I understand it this vehicle went to the USA for a while - I think on some sort of sales tour, but I'm not sure who suggested that because I can't imagine it being very successful on US lines. Maybe we have to leave it to Mike to find us a link of this Brit vehicle in the USA!
I think some production models actually got bought by Iranian Railways and are still in use!!
It was a precursor of a range of railcars built on similar 4 wheel chassis, but with body work less like a bus - however they all suffer from very poor riding conditions because of the 4 wheel design - with no bogies to aid going round curves! They certainly were / are cheap and cheerful.
Another prototype
http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Pages%20DMU/Recognition%20DMU/IllusDMU_140.html
A production design (although all now withdrawn)
http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Pages%20DMU/Recognition%20DMU/IllusDMU_141.html
Yet another variant
http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Pages%20DMU/Recognition%20DMU/IllusDMU_142.html
Still plenty of these about:
http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Pages%20DMU/Recognition%20DMU/IllusDMU_143.html
and of these
http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Pages%20DMU/Recognition%20DMU/IllusDMU_144.html
The other characteristic they have is that when going fast (well not that fast) they tend to start ‘bouncing' up and down on their suspension - this has earned them the nickname ‘nodding donkey'. I bet you have a few in West Wales Nick?
However, it should be recognised that the cheap construction methods mean the government of the day were prepared to buy them - which probably helped ensure a number of the lines on which they operate did not get closed. They have the advantage of large glass windows so the views from them are good if you are a passenger.
I hope this is of interest!
Regards
Greetings to Shane - Lars 'n DL! Good to see ya this fine day . . .
Continuing on with Pix from Day Three: Saturday - May 26th, 2007 - en route Montreal, Quebec
Stealthy Pete in the service car
Approaching Moncton, NB
Ocean at Moncton for refueling, etc.
VIA Rail Station at Moncton
New Brunswick scenery
Renaissance coach
Quick stop at Bathurst, NB - that's Pete!
Loading baggage at Bathurst
As it is a little early I will try a pint of Brains Mild please RUTH, if you have finished with the ‘administrative' duties with Lars.
NICK Thanks for the week's beer.
Thanks for the info on the London Taxi driver's badges. I have heard a little of the heavy rain in England through the radio on the Internet but not many details. I was sad to hear of the Severn Valley's trouble with the rain. I know a stretch of the line, along side the river, at Sterns between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade is vulnerable to land slips. There is a permanent speed restriction of 5 MPH there. Another Our Place Co-incidence, just as I was writing this, on the radio it said that the Severn Valley had been damaged in 9 places by the weather and was only running between Kidderminster and Bewdley.
ALLAN Yes the A4s Chime whistle was unique, the whistle used on the LMS Stanier locomotives was more of a hooter based on a Caledonian Railway design I believe. It was when the Standard Britannia Pacifics appeared they were fitted with a chime whistle, although different sounding than an A4.
Talking of steam in the Newcastle area I had a look in my book collection and found a book that was issued when the National Railway Museum in York held a photographic display called North East Focus which featured the last years of steam in the area, with some very atmospheric photos taken by six of the leading steam photographers of the time. The area was known as "The Cradle of Railways" and I was fortunate to attend the 150th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway cavalcade at Shildon in 1975.
I always thought the BR Mk 2 coaches were good coaches.
ERIC Great photo of Tom and the Kirkwood station painting.
It would be interesting to watch the operation of getting the Road-Railer changed from road to rail operation.
CM3 I shall look forward to the story of the Welsh miners at the rendezvous.
Thanks for the info on the RoadRailers and the Amtrak handling cars, did Amtrak locomotives do the switching do you know.
I enjoy the Aflac adverts as well.
LARS Many thanks for the tip on the rail pass. We shall be visiting some friends who used to live here and are now in Poway CA, a visit to Balboa Park is already penciled in.
The bride seems quite keen to give train travel to California a go; we have built in a fair bit of time at the destinations so unless it runs really late we should be OK.
I must agree with what you say about Tom's photographs they really are first rate.
DL It will be good to hear the others views on the accents. It is strange even in England how an accent is heard differently Alan who is from Shropshire thinks we sound like Londoners in Rugby, although we don't. If you go 20 miles north the people of Leicester have a different accent, yet 30 miles northwest the Brummies have a totally different one.
There is an old joke on the Glasgow accent:
Q. "What is the difference between Bing Crosby and Walt Disney.
A. Bing Crosby sings and Walt Disnae
(For our American friends ‘Disnae is the way Glaswegians pronounce ‘does not').
That is a very sad story of the historic buses at Ruddington including some last built examples. It must have been heartbreaking for the volunteers who saved and restored the buses. It is bad enough when a natural disasters cause the loss of historic vehicles, like what has happened at the B&O museum and the railway museum in Germany but when it is caused by vandalism it is beyond words.
Many thanks for the interesting details on Workington, the Leyland National bus and the Leyland railcars.
I have traveled many miles in these vehicles mainly in the Yorkshire area. I can recall a sleeping passenger being bounced out of his seat and on to the floor as a 141 unit passed over a bad piece of track. They also gained the nickname ‘Squealers" from the sound the wheel flanges made when traveling over tightly curved track, approaching the High Level Bridge, Newcastle-on-Tyne, from the Sunderland direction springs to mind.
I will have to tell about when an engine on one of the 142 units gave out in spectacular fashion in their early days. I think I still have the trip in an old notebook.
TOM I don't think I covered my self with glory with my watching for ‘uncouplings' on the CAN-AM.
Hi Tom and everyone, a round for the..
House
http://pro.corbis.com/images/IH138785.jpg?size=67&uid={71f98d31-3697-4bba-81b2-5ac84ea9b385}
Thanks to CM3 for explaining it all
And hi to Nick the Hippie, long time no see. It's 2007 have you got your haircut yet? Tom has a great barber. But don't go to Barndad's guy as he tends to take a little too much off the top. Luckily Doug has movie-star looks, so when the cameras are rolling he never gets caught not smiling. Eric is the picture of a wary train engineer, looking skeptical that conditions will remain ideal but ready for whatever comes next. Pete is great at conveying that Monty Pythgonesque pique: Man Enduring Millionth Photo Op.
Anheuser-Busch
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c20000/3c23000/3c23200/3c23216v.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/ggbain/01900/01916v.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/mo/mo0900/mo0926/photos/099653pv.jpg
Oxford Canal
http://pro.corbis.com/images/HU008219.jpg?size=67&uid={7be66160-6f17-4e81-9874-57872d3644b2}
http://pro.corbis.com/images/HU008274.jpg?size=67&uid={9a147b5a-bcd7-4972-a8bc-7b101376c350}
Rugby
http://pro.corbis.com/images/IL003224.jpg?size=67&uid={0e1af25f-e89e-4531-a932-1afbbd73f2c1}
http://pro.corbis.com/search/searchFrame.aspx?as=True&loc=Rugby,+England,+UK
For James a Hiawatha observation car at Minneapolis Depot
http://pro.corbis.com/images/IH162724.jpg?size=67&uid={4c7c5d91-cf40-45b6-8c18-6cea7a8f5c5b}
http://www.railpictures.net/images/images2/t/tcwr2004.jpg.86873.jpg
Welcome to Allan. In Zea they drive on the left.
http://www.railpictures.net/images/n/NZR4191-121593.jpg.61902.jpg
http://www.railpictures.net/images/images2/c/coastdftdcdc.jpg.41666.jpg
http://www.railpictures.net/images/images2/c/cassa.jpg.35316.jpg
http://www.railpictures.net/images/n/Nz501_copy.jpg.91961.jpg
http://www.railpictures.net/images/images2/b/bankers_dft_bridge_600.jpg.72712.jpg
http://www.railpictures.net/images/images2/p/prev.jpg.12551.jpg
http://www.railpictures.net/images/d/DX5419+DC4035_BlueDuck_2.jpg.43631.jpg.jpg
http://www.railpictures.net/images/d/DSC00261-800x600.jpg.51615.jpg
http://www.railpictures.net/images/a/ad0026.JPG.64792.jpg
http://www.railpictures.net/images/a/Ab663.jpg.66922.jpg
http://www.railpictures.net/images/d/D16_and_train_2.jpg.27303.jpg
http://www.railpictures.net/images/d/DFT7117+DFT7104_TaramakauRiver.jpg.96705.jpg.jpg
http://www.railpictures.net/images/d/DX5483+DC4640_Claverly.jpg.77287.jpg.jpg
DL, thus far there's seems to be no evidence that this darn thing
http://www.53a-pix.co.uk/picture/RailbusRB004-YD-210894.jpg
was ever in the United States. But if you like Leyland (or need a nap) here's some data
http://www.petergould.co.uk/local_transport_history/manufacturers/chassis/leyland1.htm
http://www.petergould.co.uk/local_transport_history/manufacturers/chassis/leyland2.htm
Yogi Berra
http://pro.corbis.com/images/U882568ACME.jpg?size=67&uid={2cf6e731-b1a5-4b41-811c-230a8ce5d86c}
Well then-roll up,roll up my lambkins and welcome to the feast-`tis thursday night here at the hottest joint in town and after a most productive trip to the Mentor fish market the house is delighted to offer to discerning customers:-
starters..
Roasted baby peppers stuffed with crab meat
Fillets of smoked mackeral with gooseberry sauce
Grilled giant tiger prawns with sweet chilli sauce
Entrees..
Seared tuna steak with fine beans
Darne of Canadian salmon with cloudberry sauce
Calamari with noodles
Mains...
Pembrokeshire sea bass poached in rum,lime & ginger with pommes duchess and seasonal veg
Pembrokeshire Lobster,with a selection of dips and salads and oven-fresh wholemeal breads
North Atlantic cod in a light beer batter with home fries and a choice of mushy peas (for the Brits) or a wholesome salad platter
Oven baked Cleddau Trout stuffed with garlic and button mushrooms served with mange-tout , garden-grown baby carrots and pommes Diane
Vegetarian dishes are always available,please ask for the daily specials
ENJOY !!!!!!!
Ok boys-thats me for the next week-will be back next weekend with,hopefully, some decent pix of various steam and main-line workings around the south Devon area-be lucky everybody,and as the man says--take care out there..............Nick
Good evening Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!
No tnaks, Leon. I am in a hurry. I just wanted to say I'll be back tomorrow with an inclusive post! Other things popped up tonight.
But I am leaving this picture for you to figure out what it shows. Not that hard to see what it is.
Extra point for location!
Hi to you all,
It`s my "shout" at the bar this time, set em` up Ruth, a round of Tui, a kiwi beer named after a native bird, or a Steinlager, world famous in NZ, if it suits you.
Tom. The pics of your travels are great, top shots.
Nick. Bora`da, spent a lot of time in Wales in the 50`s during my army service, at Rhyl, Tofanau near Towyn, Ty Croes Anglesey, and Manorbier near Tenby. I sincerely promise not to ever mention the All Blacks!
Pete. You are bringing back old memories for me when you mentioned the tram wheel squeal coming off the High Level bridge in Gateshead from the Newcastle side, used to get the tram to Saltwell Park now and then, their was a great little transport museum there if I remember?
Eric. NZ railways were sold in 1990, current length of track is 3,898kms, Toll operates three major passenger trains, the Overlander from Wellington to Auckland, the Tranzcoastal from Christchurch to Kaikora, a Whale watching place, and the Tranzalpine from Christchurch to Greymouth, this is noted as one of the most scenic trips in the world. Wellington commuter services are run by Tranzmetro with financial aid from the area. Auckland commuter services are run by Connex NZ and are in the process of a major build and re-equipment programme, this is because Aucklander`s love their cars and all public transport was very sparse and run down due to apathy. If you Google " New Zealand Railways" you will find a lot of info and some great steam sites there.
Lars and DL thanks for the welcome aboard the forum, and that goes to all who`s names I cannot recall at this moment.
Good Morning from the, albeit foggy, Flat Calm North Atlantic! Got into Argentia for a few hours Tuesday, stretched the legs, saw the sights (yah right) and now we are back out off the shelf gathering more info for the scientist to mull over.
Can't stay long as I have work to do but might as well order a.... let's see...mmm
2 Fish cakes, baked beens, german potatoes and a couple of sunnyside ups!
Should hold me to coffe time!
Later All
Fergie
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959
If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007
It's the END OF THE WORK WEEK <for many>! Time to rejoice - no, that's for Sunday! Anyway, how about a cuppa Joe Yeah, and have a few pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery. Perhaps a breakfast selection of a <light> or <traditional> breakfast will help kick off this final week day in the proper direction!
Spent a HUGE portion of yesterday printing out Pix on my SONY "Picture Station" digital photo printer. Working on making an album for the Rendezvous in St. Louis - and those shots are lookin' fine if I do say so myself! Am using an "editing" package that has helped with some PP lighting problems and also blur. So, at least I'm able to make corrections to shots I thought were "lost."There's 233 Pix in the bunch, NOT counting the zillion Eric sent in his marvelous 3-disc set. This could take awhile . . . <grin>
Another fine day at the bar and I refrain from making THAT statement about things getting back to NORMAL - for NORMAL ‘round the Saloon by the Siding has been Feast or Famine much of the time. So, I'll stick with ‘nother saying of mine, "We takes what we gets!"
CM3 Shane at 8:44 AM Thursday - June 21st: Good to see the willingness to engage in another Grudge Match Darts Challenge ‘n Apple Bobbing Contest <or weenie roast>!
I'll put together "something" appropriate, following the last format - I'm confident we'll manage to scrape up a cuppla teams. Shirts?? It's SUMMER and we're a rough bunch, leading a rough life. SHIRTLESS darts, now that's a MAN's GAME! <uh oh> Perhaps we'll use the same outfit who provided the shirts last time . . . <grin>
So what's wrong with Christmas decorations in mid-June??? Down under I'd imagine it's perfectly "normal"! Anyway, have you been looking at fotos of our haus?? <grin> Speaking of that - I've just got to move that rusting hulk of a "fridge" out in the "back 40" along with the Case lawn tractor that has been welded in place since it no longer could claim the manta of "Case Tough"! Yeah, right. <frown>
MORE on the materials handling cars, PULEEZE!
Many thanx for another fine Post, quarters ‘n round!
Lars at 10:17 AM Thursday - June 21st: A fine rendering of disjointed commentary from our Manager <as usual> BUT most appreciated!
So what's so UNUSUAL about a gate ‘n a chair Boys have toys ya know! <grin> YOU, Sir are SICK, SICK, SICK!
Watch this space for info on the planning for the next Grudge Match Dart's Challenge ‘n "whatever" . . . The Second Class Saloon guys are really getting "antsy" these daze . . . <uh oh>
DITTOs for your definition of REALITY! I can handle that . . .
Many thanx for a fine Post <really> and your continuing support for the bar!
DL at 12:23 PM Thursday - June 21st: Buses!?!? Buses!?!?!? Hmmmmmm, borderline <tweeting> territory, Mate. HOWEVER, you have indeed put together a convincing case for linking them to Classic Trains. <stretch> <grin>
Some super fine links and ed-u-mah-kay-shun-al stuff too. Thanx!
Of accents, Brits ‘n Aussies. You're giving far too much credit to we Yanks, Mate! Anyone who speaks with so much as a "twinge" of "proper" English gets a label. This is a country where many couldn't locate Canada on a map if their lives depended upon it. So to give credence to calling a Brit an Aussie or vice versa is most generous, from my point of view. For I am of a mind that "those" types don't really know the difference, much less the geographic location of the island continent! <ugh>
Now having said all of THAT, your idea just may hold true for the more sophisticated - you know, the one's who are BELIEVERS in Crocodile Dundee!
Many thanx for a most interesting Post, one that required much effort on your part!
Pete at 4:42 PM Thursday - June 21st: That's one of your better Posts, Mate - although ALL of your submissions are surely in keeping with the INCLUSIVE theme of this joint!
Don't recall a whistle being sounded aboard the city buses - if so, I'd say there'd have been a mad scramble to exit the rear door by some with "reason" to evade and avoid the PO-LEECE! <grin>
Don't be too hard on yourself with regard to your "train spotting" duties - Juneau had you distracted! He's awfully hard to ignore and after all,
Good Morning Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox.
OSP - Chairs and gates - we had 'em for dogs and kids. You gotta do what you gotta do. How about bobbing for mines?
Speaking of thigs ordnance, the Military Channel has been running a series about a Pythonesque group down on the Isle of Wight who rebuild tanks. I watched two segments of it last night; one about a Sherman r/b, and the other about a Comet (no Boris, the tank, not the airplane) - man, do they have some neat toys in their shop. They also dug a German Panther out of a river in Poland, but that episode did not begin until after my bedtime.
Somewhere in the annex to the east wing, I have a manual for Case steam tractors - lovely piece of equipment. They'd burn anything; hay, peat, coal, straw. The manual is a real keeper.
Lars stopped by for a visit - My, my, what happened to the pinstripers when they went to Denver? Now they go to San Francisco. Gotta love it.
DL visited with a wide-ranging post. I think (Boris and others, stop laughing!) that one of the rail cars was in the states for tests. It was, however, made by Fiat (say no more!) and did not work out very well. The New Haven, back in the day had rail cars made by Mack. You can find pictures of them in a bunch of places. They ran pretty well, but it was kind of scary as they were so light, they did not enable signals to work.
Pete - ATK did their own switching. Cars were arranged so that they could be cut in and out easily, generally by road power.
Mike sent pictures - I love the picture of the Our Place building being returned to its rightful place after the darts tournament last year.
Yogi in the Pullman - excellent. I'll bet OSP can help here, but is that not Gil McDougald sitting across the aisle? What was he noted for?
Also enjoyed the "We Want Beer" picture - nice candid snap from last year's Christmas bash.
The G motor at Broad Street series was good. The last one in the series is an up close and personal visit with a K4. Incidentally, fans in Phialdelphia believe (for whatever reason) that the Phillies will never win a championship until the Wm. Penn statue comes down. Geez, maybe it might be about the ball club? Sort of like waht George Pickett said when asked about his escapade at Getysburg. He thought a second and said, "Well, the Yankee Army had something to do with it."
Nick - Be careful, indeed! When do we eat?
Allen was here and Fergie as well; glad to see you.
April 24 marked the 75th anniversary of the C&Os "George Washington." Hey, it's a little late, but any excuse for a party. Boris, get the sword so we can cut the cake. Careful with the candles, buddy. The present issue of the C&O History is devoted to the George.
Let's talk about passenger power on the C&O.
The C&O, as did many roads, assigned motive power according to the terrain. They divided the railroad into three parts: Flatland west, Mountain, and Flatland east. Flatland west was between Hinton and Cincinnati, Mountain between Charlottesville and Hinton, and flatland east between Washington and Charlottesville.
In the early 30s, flatland power was 4-6-2s and mountain power was 4-8-2s.
In the mid 30s to the beginning of WW2, flatland west runs were handled by 4-6-2s, mountain by 4-8-4s, and flatland east by 4-8-2s.
WW2 to abt. 1951 marked the last stand of steam. Flatland west trains were pulled by 4-6-4s, mountain trains by 4-8-4s and flatland east by 4-8-2s.
From 1951 until Amtrak pairs of E8s handled everything. Between 1956 and 1971, trios of E8s handled the mountain sections.
I do recall, that sometimes more than three Es were used. I have talked about this in other posts.
Good night, Stan Lopata, wherever you are.
Hello Tom and all in
First of all to the various points and queries (or rather second of all - firstly thanks to Allan for the round -I've not tasted an NZ beer before so I'm not going to pass up on the chance).
Mike - That Leyland bus post plus pic is good - the history section was detailed but interesting - they were a very famous brand here. That link mentioned the railcar production work Leyland did.
Nick - Have a good time in Devon
Eric - that wheel is pretty rusty!
CM3 - interesting you mention those other railcars - I think the lightweight nature of the ones I was linking too was / is part of their problem - although they are useful on lightly used liens (which may well have no freight use here) since the line maintenance costs are reduced accordingly.
Tom - appreciate your thoughts on the accents! In terms of some of your countrymen it sounds like you ‘don't suffer fools gladly' - a phrase we use here!
Pete - a trip across to California has to be a good one - my trip n the modern California Zephyr a few years back was worth every penny - although no doubt it bears little comparison with the classic zephyr. I think an Amtrak small bedroom is adequate and can be priced well if booked well in advance at a slack period.
As you say, accents in Britain vary over quite short distances but I expect that is declining as people move about more and the influence of TV reduces local accents - I prefer the diversity myself!
That north Wales land cruise sounds interesting - was that a BR organised tour? I recall seeing pictures of land cruises organised by the LNER back in the 1930s.
A for conductors on buses here I think the only buses with them now are the few that work the day time ‘heritage Routemaster' services in central London - since the end of full Routemaster services that is it. However, Nottingham and Sheffield trams have conductors and I think that is now a rare example of public transport with a conductor on board in the traditional sense (not counting a railway guard of course)
Any way - here is some recent info on a trip I made. I did not in fact get to Little Bytham as hoped - but this was because I was staying near Grantham and studied the map and realised I was not too far from the Rutland Railway Museum.
http://ukhrail.uel.ac.uk/rrm.html
This is a museum based in what is left of some iron ore quarry sidings in a rural part of central England - it is only small and has no other locomotives bigger than 0-4-0 and 0-6-0 shunting engines both diesel and steam. When we turned up we found it was gala day with both steam and diesel in operation, and also the opportunity to drive the diesel hydraulic shunter plus 3 wagon and break van up and down the ¾ mile line for five quid. Both myself and the bride took a turn. It was great fun and showed how tricky it was to keep the loose coupled wagons from buffering up too suddenly when braking!
We learned a lot about the iron industry in the area - where they had quarried ore out of the ground and taken it by train to the steel works in Corby (all closed in the early 1980s) - now ore is not mined here but imported from cheaper sources, but in this area it had been mined / quarried since the late 19th century.
However, it was strip mined (open cast mined) and this required drag line diggers to remove top soil etc. It turns out that in 1957 the largest ever drag line digger built in the world to that date was constructed to work at this site. It was given the name ‘Sundew' after the 1957 Grand National horse race winner. Subsequently larger diggers have been built in the USA and Australia for open cast mining but this was the first big one I think. If anyone can find any web info on this Ransomes and Rapier drag line excavator (I think others were buolt for other quarries and may have eventually been sold to the states) I would be interested - althoygh I did buy a little booklet about it at the museum.
I can't find much information about this massive excavator - but they had a scale model and it was clearly massive - when the quarry closed in 1974 it was walked 13 miles to Corby to another quarry but was eventually scraped in 1986. Pete - do you recall reading about this at the time? - the pictures of them walking the excavator across the midlands landscape were remarkable - but I see none on the web.
A cab was saved from scraping but it was located at the museum in the open air and was now - after 20 years - very rusty and looked pretty much beyond repair to me. Sadly the museum was fighting a losing battle against the elements as they only had undercover for the workshop. However, like many small musueums the enthusiats runnign ti were highly welcoming - friendly and doing a great job. It was superb visit!
It is hard to imagine the whole area - which is very rural now with all the land restored for farming and the local cottages picturesque with their thatched roofs - had been the site of such massive open cast mining activity.
After a visit there we then drove to visit a windmill in a village called Wymondham and found the site of the old long abandoned station on the Midland and Great Northern railway - more of that in the next post!
Great seeing the continuing interest 'n activity at the bar! I see CM3 Shane 'n DL have been "in" since my AM Acknowledgments . . .
Continuing on with Pix from Day Four: Sunday - May 27th, 2007 - en route Montreal, Quebec
Hydro facility- Drummondville, Quebec
Drummondville, Quebec
In the diner - can't go wrong with a Continental Breakfast! - that's Pete!
En route Montreal
A pint of Kimberley mild please RUTH
MIKE Many thanks for the links.
Really enjoyed those of Rugby and the Oxford Canal. I wonder if the lad standing by the, not very often photographed, Rugby No 3 signalbox watching ‘Royal Scot class ‘King's Own' is me, I had a rain coat like that (but so did a lot of others at the time) and usually the belt was hanging down.
In the photo of class 5 No 44870 below the smokebox handles can be seen a small plate with 2A on it, this was the shed code for Rugby Motive Power depot and indicates the loco was allocated to Rugby.
Great photos of the New Zealand railways, sadly this area is not often shown in the railway magazines. Loved the ‘We Want Beer' photo.
NICK Thanks for the great menu. H&H try but they have not quite got the knack of making mushy peas so it is great to have you back in the kitchen.
Have a great time in Devon and we shall look forward to your photos from there.
ERIC Is the mystery photo the Aerotrains braking system of a pulley arrangement for working a car generator for the lights etc
Is the location at St Louis.
ALLAN Thanks for the round I will try a Tui.
I used to holiday in the North Wales area, in my post to DL I have put a link to the shed at Llandudno Junction, there are some photos in there of the area in steam days.
It is amazing how being here at Our Place can recall a memory long forgotten.
There are two railway museums I have been to in the Newcastle area One is the Tanfield Railway at Marley Hill and the other is the Bowes Railway at Springwell near Gateshead, both feature industrial locomotives and there is an incline plain at the Bowes, although I am not sure if it is in working order just at the minute.
Thanks for the info on NZ Railways; I will have a look at their web-site.
FERGIE Great to see you in. Not sure about the menu you have selected though. Fish cake, beans and eggs.
Glad the sea is calm and hope it stays that way for you.
CM3. It is scary when a locomotive or trains that wont operate the signals. I recall a certain class of short wheel-based diesel switcher in the UK had to have a wagon permanently coupled to it, as it would not work the track circuits in a certain areas
Enjoyed the piece on the C&O passenger power, the 4-8-4s and the E8s must have sounded great in the mountains.
DL Sounds a though you had a great time at the Rutland Railway Museum. I have not been there for many years and indeed would love to go there on a Gala Day. We I was there I found the folks there friendly as well.
As to the large excavator. I believe it is the one that was at Corby, when I was with the company in England. I worked at Corby Steelworks, on one of their shutdown periods we refurbished an electrical machine in the rolling mill. While we were there we met a manager who arranged, after work one day, to visit the giant excavator. We were allowed in to the cab and watched it operate as it dug the iron ore. The size of the bucket was huge. I believe it was powered by a 12,000 Volt AC landline, which fed a Motor generator set in side the excavator. The set had been made in the same factory as I worked. Unfortunately none of us had a camera with us. That sounds and interesting booklet you picked up. Also working at the site was some ex BR class 14 Diesel Hydraulics.
As another Our Place co-incidence The following article appeared in the Kansas City Star newspaper a couple of days ago about the "World's Largest Electric Shovel Still In Existence". It is called "Big Brutus" and is in a town called West Mineral, Kansas. It has not moved for 33 years. Hope you enjoy the article.
http://www.kansascity.com/news/columnists/mike_hendricks/story/157427.html
The North Wales Land Cruise was a British Railways run tour. I have found this link to a ride on it in 1954. I must have traveled on it a few years later, but not many. I do not know when it stopped operation but I suspect in the early 1960s.It says in the link there were 4 trains that ran from 4 starting points. We would have joined the train at Rhyl. They gave a booklet out on the train sadly mine was lost many years ago
Leon, thank you for keeping this place open at this hour. I think it is a great time for a juicy Filet Mignon again! Of course, lots of mushrooms!
A lot of activities since my last visit. So I better start right away.
Tom – I can see that the Renaissance cars aren’t that spacious inside. Yes, I liked the old version of “RR Tycoon”! Built a very successful railroad and made a lot of money. But they are all gone now. I’ll see if I can repeat it with this new version. You must have been very lucky during your Halifax trip! You managed to catch Stealthy Pete several pictures!! This time I actually checked the map to see where your pictures were taken. I found Moncton right away! Nice pictures!People at the Second Class Saloon have already started planning the next Grudge Match Dart’s Challenge ‘n “whatever” according to third hand information directly from someone (no name).
What do you mean? One point isn’t enough? My points are so called Megapoints!Looking at your pictures from day 4, I wonder if the guy sitting behind Pete in the diner didn’t want to be in the picture? Maybe he was running from the police!?! CM3 – I experienced RoadRailers the first time as a truck driver when I picked up a trailer from a RoadRailer train close to Los Angeles in 1996. It did not take long time to break up the train.I have a picture (see below) of Amtrak 42 from somewhere along the line between Philadelphia and Harrisburg.
A question about C&O and their motive power. You say that they used 4-8-4s for the mountain trains and 4-8-2s for flatland east. Wouldn’t it had been better to do the opposite? Especially if those locomotives all were about the same size/weight? The 4-8-2 should have had more weight on its drivers than the 4-8-4. But maybe the 4-8-4 was a much heavier locomotive than the 4-8-2. Lars – It took a lot of practice to get Juneau’s ears at the right spot! But finally I got my shot!Strange, Ruth said that she helped you with that... hmm, administrative stuff up in the Penthouse suite!? I thought that was something for the manager’s office? DL – I don’t understand people who, just for the fun (?) of it, destroy things. Must be sick in their heads. Thanks for the info on the bus manufacturing in the UK! I wonder why Leyland National only had doors in the front? Must take some extra time to get people off the bus at each stop. Interesting to see that picture of the Leyland Railbus again! I remember one was on a tour in Sweden many years ago. Leyland Railbus (two of them) actually made it to the US according to Wikipedia:“It should be noted that even though some of these vehicles carried numbers in the departmental coach series, they were actually used in ordinary passenger service. LEV1 was tested in passenger service at first in East Anglia, and then elsewhere, before being exported to the USA, which was also the destination for LEV2. Similarly, R3 was exported to Canada after its testing phase. These Railbuses were sent abroad in the hope of gathering export orders, but they never transpired.”More info:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_RailbusesYes, that wheel in the picture is rusty. That car has not been in service for many years. It belongs to the Santa Fe Museum in Atchison, Kansas, see picture below.Thanks for the trip report! So you tried the job as an engineer! Hope you liked it!Pete – I am afraid I don’t have any pictures of getting the RoadRailer changed from road to rail operation. I have seen it first hand, but did not have a camera available at that time. As I said to Shane above, I have even pulled one of those trailers when I worked as a truck driver.You are half right about what is in the picture! It is not the Aerotrain, but an old Burlington coach at the Santa Fe Museum in Atchison, KS. The generator below.
The generator was sitting under one of these coaches, don't remember which one though.
Mike – You got me right! “...wary train engineer, looking skeptical that conditions will remain ideal but ready for whatever comes next.”. That is how I feel after 29 years with the railroad. But I loved them all (the years). As my boss at Amtrak used to say “To work for the railroad is not just a job, it is a way of living!Thanks for all the pictures! You must spend a lot of time looking up all those (always) interesting pictures! Especially liked the ones from NZ!Nick – Wow, a lot of fish! I think I’ll have your vegeterian special!
pwolfe wrote: Hi Tom and all.A pint of Kimberley mild please RUTHMIKE Many thanks for the links.FERGIE Great to see you in. Not sure about the menu you have selected though. Fish cake, beans and eggs.
Pete! Don't knock it until you've tried it. It is very, very good, especially the Fish cakes as they were made from the left over Salt Cod, Pork Scraps and Onion dinner we had on Wednesday!
Good Morning All
Though it's only 7am here and I've just logged an hour in the gym I think a pint of Kimberley Mild is in order Ah heck make it two, Just had a bagel with cream cheese and will need something to wash it down with!
Not much on the go, still off the Shelf gathering data. Was up to 23:00 last night recovering deep water moorings. One is missing and we hope to get it this morning. Did a bit of boat driving yesterday, did a perfect approach on a buoy ($100,000 worth) and not a scratch! Put a smile on the "Old Man's " face so life is good.
Chicken Wings were last night and Tenderloins tonight!!
Anyway must run
This is ENCORE! Saturday - and - Photo Posting Day!
Remember: "Our" Place is CLOSED on Sundays.
Saturday has begun in fine form as we have blue skies, the threat of severe storms has passed us by and it's not supposed to make it to 90 (F) today! Petrol jumped to $2.89 (rounded) as the 4th of July approaches.
Some fine Posts to finish Friday and this resurgence of activity makes for interactive times once again! Thanx to all who've made it so . . .
CM3 Shane at 8:34 AM Friday - June 22nd: A fine submission on the C&Os passenger power! Can just "see" those E8s - although the Amtrak livery would definitely be a downer . . .
Gilbert James McDougald (born May 19, 1928) is a former Major League Baseball infielder.He was born in San Francisco, California.He played his first major league game on April 20, 1951. On May 6 of that year, he tied a major league record by batting in 6 runs in one inning. Later in the year, in the World Series, he became the first rookie to hit a grand slam home run in the Series. He narrowly beat out Minnie Miñoso in the voting for the 1951 American League Rookie of the Year. His entire major league career was spent on the New York Yankees, wearing uniform number 12. He was a versatile player, playing all the infield positions except first base: 599 games at second base, 508 games at third, and 284 at shortstop. He played in five All-Star Games: in 1952, 1956, 1957, 1958, and 1959.On May 7, 1957, McDougald, batting against Herb Score of the Cleveland Indians, hit a line drive that hit Score in the eye. It caused Score to miss the rest of the 1957 and much of the 1958 season, and Score was never again the outstanding pitcher he had been up to that event. McDougald reportedly vowed at the time of the incident to retire if Score was blinded.In 1958, McDougald was given the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, which is awarded annually by the Phi Delta Theta fraternity (to which Gehrig belonged) at Columbia University.In 1961 he was selected by the Washington Senators in the expansion draft. Rather than play for that team, he retired.Gilbert now lives in Wall Township, New Jersey.
He was born in San Francisco, California.
He played his first major league game on April 20, 1951. On May 6 of that year, he tied a major league record by batting in 6 runs in one inning. Later in the year, in the World Series, he became the first rookie to hit a grand slam home run in the Series. He narrowly beat out Minnie Miñoso in the voting for the 1951 American League Rookie of the Year. His entire major league career was spent on the New York Yankees, wearing uniform number 12. He was a versatile player, playing all the infield positions except first base: 599 games at second base, 508 games at third, and 284 at shortstop. He played in five All-Star Games: in 1952, 1956, 1957, 1958, and 1959.
On May 7, 1957, McDougald, batting against Herb Score of the Cleveland Indians, hit a line drive that hit Score in the eye. It caused Score to miss the rest of the 1957 and much of the 1958 season, and Score was never again the outstanding pitcher he had been up to that event. McDougald reportedly vowed at the time of the incident to retire if Score was blinded.
In 1958, McDougald was given the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, which is awarded annually by the Phi Delta Theta fraternity (to which Gehrig belonged) at Columbia University.
In 1961 he was selected by the Washington Senators in the expansion draft. Rather than play for that team, he retired.
Gilbert now lives in Wall Township, New Jersey.
- and -
Stanley Edward "Stan" Lopata (born September 12, 1925 in Delray, Michigan) was a former Major League Baseball player.Lopata, a catcher was a two-time all-star who played for parts of 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Braves. He made his debut in 1948 and served as a backup to Andy Seminick and Smoky Burgess for many seasons. In 1955 he hit 22 home runs and became the Phillies full time catcher the next season. In 1955, Lopata had his best season as he hit 32 home runs finished second in the league in doubles and was in the top ten in other statistical categories including Slugging percentage, Runs batted in, OPS, and homers.After two years of declining performance Lopata was traded to the Braves in 1960 and played in 32 games over two more seasons before retiring.He finished his career having played in 863 games with a .254 batting average and 116 home runs.Lopata ser Happy Railroading! Siberianmo LoveDomes Member sinceJanuary 2006 From: northeast U.S. 1,225 posts "Our" Place reborn! 3rd Year of adults 'n REAL Classic Trains in a special environment! Posted by LoveDomes on Saturday, June 23, 2007 11:02 AM Ahoy Cap'n Tom ‘n fellow travelers at the bar!Ah it's Cindy behind the bar and what a pleasing sight to the eyes! A mugga Joe with a jolt, if you please. I'll prepare the treats for the crittAHs my deAH as they appear anxious for "uncle" Lars to get a move on! <grin>Boris, you're looking . . . well, looking . . . let's just say, you're LOOKING! So, what's with the attire this morning You've got your Oktoberfest Alpine hat, bib overalls with Leon's red cummerbund and boondockers with steel reinforced toes with red spats. You MUST be trying to impress the gals today - I'm sure it'll "work"! <yeah, right!>So, it's the Encore! time once again, and I'll see what's in my library of "stuff" - most probably book covers, as they seem to please the gang the most. Thoroughly enjoying the Tom Show with those pix from the Rendezvous and Canadian RR journeys. Really fine stuff and only the guys at the bar can truly appreciate the meaning behind the effort. A five Salute to our Mentor - Cap'n Tom! Wanted to also add some "directed" comments to our newfound friend from so far away - Allan in New Zealand. Great having you aboard, mate and thanks for the dialogue on the trains down your way. I did check out those pix via Url that Mike posted and found the "looks" to be pretty much what I had seen in some RR books and mags from years ago. Have you traveled very much by rail in NZ? I can well imagine the scenery must be outstanding. As Tom likes to say, maybe one day . . . . <ahhhhh>Great to see Fergie back again (and again!) - appears as if you're finding this place to YOUR liking, huh?? As another sailor (retired Merchie - below decks) lemme add my aboard and perhaps we can engage in some ship board exchanges one day. For example, I'm curious about your engineroom, having spent the greater part of my adult life in all kinds of 'em, what's the power plant? B4 getting to that, let me make a few comments about the goings on ‘round the bar: Great work from Eric - Pete - Shane 'n DL - terrific, encouraging and entertaining! That should cover it. I offer these words to those who may not do so - read the WORDS guys, all of ‘em. There's an awful lot of "good stuff" in the responses and just because they may be "directed" to another, doesn't mean the info within isn't for your eyes too. Can't document how many times I've picked up on some great material, some that has gone on with active exchanges between the guys. Can't tell you how much I've missed over the weeks 'n months and now years since I've been participating. I mean, how many of us GO BACK to check???? <groan>Want to make particular mention to and about a guy who has been with the bar for quite some time. Maybe not a "regular" in that sense, but regular enough. Mike the Url guy is without peer. There's just no getting around it. Drop a subject, or a WOID, and this guy picks up on it like stink on <doo doo> - Sorry, best analogy I could come up with! <grin> Anyway, there's lots of efffort in those Urls and it's simply up to the reader to take advantage of 'em . . . Speaking just for myself, I'm a bit remiss with the Url browsing, primarily because they take up more time than I wish. If they are supplemental to the ‘story' being told, sure, otherwise I put ‘em on the back burner - which most times means I don't get to ‘em. Sorry. But at least I'm up front about it. No point in glossing over these things by offering hollow platitudes. Seen far too much of that in days gone by. Glad this group is much more interactive. The California Zephyr, mentioned by a few lately, brings to mind some mixed remembrances. Most of ‘em are good and only the last two trips with Amtrak have soured us. My first round trip was with my mother & father "way back when" as he took us to the left coast by train from Penn Station. Being a retired 2nd generation B&O man, rail travel was always his preference for our family vacations. Why not? Anyway, we'd take the Broadway Limited to Chicago and then wait for the boarding of the CB&Qs California Zephyr at Union Station.It was always a grand experience for the family as my sister and I would run amok through the station's many "hiding places," only to be "found" by my father who would act "mad," but was thoroughly enjoying our game of "let's drive our parents crazy!" <grin>Needless to say, the dome cars were our favorites, and of course were the feature of that wonderful train. Glued to the windows, we'd count the telephone poles until they zipped by so fast that neither of us could keep up. Then there were the freight cars with all of those road names. It was nearly impossible to jot them all down in my little note book, something my father instilled in me, and absolutely maddening to file in memory. Another thing my father also passed to me was that riding in a dome car is NOT like riding in a coach, where the passing scenery is along side of you, kind of like watching the world pass by through one of those View Masters of old - you got the 3 dimensions, but the scenes just zipped by. Sitting in the dome affords one of a PANARAMIC view, something unavailable in a coach or bedroom window. Never knew what's coming or what just passed by. In the dome, you could take it all in with a 180 degree perspective ahead. That's the way to do it! I recall seeing lots of people pretty much perpendicular to the windows and always wondered if they realized how much they were missing on the other side of the train!! « First«45464748495051»Last » SUBSCRIBER & MEMBER LOGIN Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more! Login Register FREE NEWSLETTER SIGNUP Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter Submit More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy
Lopata, a catcher was a two-time all-star who played for parts of 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Braves. He made his debut in 1948 and served as a backup to Andy Seminick and Smoky Burgess for many seasons. In 1955 he hit 22 home runs and became the Phillies full time catcher the next season. In 1955, Lopata had his best season as he hit 32 home runs finished second in the league in doubles and was in the top ten in other statistical categories including Slugging percentage, Runs batted in, OPS, and homers.
After two years of declining performance Lopata was traded to the Braves in 1960 and played in 32 games over two more seasons before retiring.
He finished his career having played in 863 games with a .254 batting average and 116 home runs.
Lopata ser
Ah it's Cindy behind the bar and what a pleasing sight to the eyes! A mugga Joe with a jolt, if you please. I'll prepare the treats for the crittAHs my deAH as they appear anxious for "uncle" Lars to get a move on! <grin>
Boris, you're looking . . . well, looking . . . let's just say, you're LOOKING! So, what's with the attire this morning You've got your Oktoberfest Alpine hat, bib overalls with Leon's red cummerbund and boondockers with steel reinforced toes with red spats. You MUST be trying to impress the gals today - I'm sure it'll "work"! <yeah, right!>
So, it's the Encore! time once again, and I'll see what's in my library of "stuff" - most probably book covers, as they seem to please the gang the most.
Thoroughly enjoying the Tom Show with those pix from the Rendezvous and Canadian RR journeys. Really fine stuff and only the guys at the bar can truly appreciate the meaning behind the effort. A five Salute to our Mentor - Cap'n Tom!
Wanted to also add some "directed" comments to our newfound friend from so far away - Allan in New Zealand. Great having you aboard, mate and thanks for the dialogue on the trains down your way. I did check out those pix via Url that Mike posted and found the "looks" to be pretty much what I had seen in some RR books and mags from years ago. Have you traveled very much by rail in NZ? I can well imagine the scenery must be outstanding. As Tom likes to say, maybe one day . . . . <ahhhhh>
Great to see Fergie back again (and again!) - appears as if you're finding this place to YOUR liking, huh?? As another sailor (retired Merchie - below decks) lemme add my aboard and perhaps we can engage in some ship board exchanges one day. For example, I'm curious about your engineroom, having spent the greater part of my adult life in all kinds of 'em, what's the power plant?
B4 getting to that, let me make a few comments about the goings on ‘round the bar: Great work from Eric - Pete - Shane 'n DL - terrific, encouraging and entertaining! That should cover it.
I offer these words to those who may not do so - read the WORDS guys, all of ‘em. There's an awful lot of "good stuff" in the responses and just because they may be "directed" to another, doesn't mean the info within isn't for your eyes too. Can't document how many times I've picked up on some great material, some that has gone on with active exchanges between the guys.
Can't tell you how much I've missed over the weeks 'n months and now years since I've been participating. I mean, how many of us GO BACK to check???? <groan>
Want to make particular mention to and about a guy who has been with the bar for quite some time. Maybe not a "regular" in that sense, but regular enough. Mike the Url guy is without peer. There's just no getting around it. Drop a subject, or a WOID, and this guy picks up on it like stink on <doo doo> - Sorry, best analogy I could come up with! <grin> Anyway, there's lots of efffort in those Urls and it's simply up to the reader to take advantage of 'em . . .
Speaking just for myself, I'm a bit remiss with the Url browsing, primarily because they take up more time than I wish. If they are supplemental to the ‘story' being told, sure, otherwise I put ‘em on the back burner - which most times means I don't get to ‘em. Sorry. But at least I'm up front about it. No point in glossing over these things by offering hollow platitudes. Seen far too much of that in days gone by. Glad this group is much more interactive.
The California Zephyr, mentioned by a few lately, brings to mind some mixed remembrances. Most of ‘em are good and only the last two trips with Amtrak have soured us. My first round trip was with my mother & father "way back when" as he took us to the left coast by train from Penn Station. Being a retired 2nd generation B&O man, rail travel was always his preference for our family vacations. Why not? Anyway, we'd take the Broadway Limited to Chicago and then wait for the boarding of the CB&Qs California Zephyr at Union Station.
It was always a grand experience for the family as my sister and I would run amok through the station's many "hiding places," only to be "found" by my father who would act "mad," but was thoroughly enjoying our game of "let's drive our parents crazy!" <grin>
Needless to say, the dome cars were our favorites, and of course were the feature of that wonderful train. Glued to the windows, we'd count the telephone poles until they zipped by so fast that neither of us could keep up. Then there were the freight cars with all of those road names. It was nearly impossible to jot them all down in my little note book, something my father instilled in me, and absolutely maddening to file in memory.
Another thing my father also passed to me was that riding in a dome car is NOT like riding in a coach, where the passing scenery is along side of you, kind of like watching the world pass by through one of those View Masters of old - you got the 3 dimensions, but the scenes just zipped by. Sitting in the dome affords one of a PANARAMIC view, something unavailable in a coach or bedroom window. Never knew what's coming or what just passed by. In the dome, you could take it all in with a 180 degree perspective ahead. That's the way to do it! I recall seeing lots of people pretty much perpendicular to the windows and always wondered if they realized how much they were missing on the other side of the train!!
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