G'day Gents!
Always a good day when Eric begins it after mid-nite - CM3 Shane provides his AM submission 'n Lars follows up with his chat 'n bookcovers!
Time again for a few shots from my Can-Am HO layout for this OPTIONAL Toy 'n Hobby Day! at the Tavern by the Tracks - a Wednesday feature from days gone by . . .
CP Kokanee Park car observation dome
CPR Kootenay Park car
Same road, different liveries - Park car observation domes!
VIA Rail Revelstoke Park car
VIA Rail Waterton Park car
Only on the Can-Am!
BE SURE TO ENLARGE THESE by clicking on 'em . . .
Enjoy!
Tom
House approves changes in Deepwater program
By MARIA RECIOSUN HERALD WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON --
By a resounding unanimous roll call vote, 426 House members approved far-reaching changes in the U.S. Coast Guard's Deepwater program, making reforms in the troubled 25-year $24 billion plan to update the fleets, including the Pascagoula-built National Security Cutter.
The bill, H.R.2722, would remove Integrated Coast Guard Systems, the private consortium that runs Deepwater - Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman Ship Systems of Pascagoula - within four years, install a civilian acquisitions officer and impose a series of deadlines, reports and oversight on the programs.
The Coast Guard contracted for eight NSC ships but concerns have been raised about the two under construction. U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, said that the bill "would take significant steps to ensure that the National Security Cutter meets all contractual requirements and the expectations of the American taxpayer by requiring that the designs for cutters 3 through 8 be reviewed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center - Carderock Division, which helped identify potential concerns with the hull fatigue life of cutters 1 and 2."
U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Bay St. Louis, had called for the review by the naval experts in an amendment when the bill was approved by the House Transportation Committee last month.
The bill would also require that the design and construction be certified by an independent third party.
Sunhearld.com will update this story in Wednesday's editions of the Sun Herald.
For all who may be interested in ferries(not the funny kind), the following link shows the one I took on my Irish venture, http://www.irishferries.com/dublinswift/index.shtml. BTW, the port in Britain was Holyhead and on the Irish side, the town's name was Dun Laoghaire(pronounced dun leary). Not to offend anyone, especially those from across the pond, I have made the following observations about British steam locomotives in general. While I can understand why they don't have headlights, they look like someone vandalized the engine and stole the headlight. The other thing that is curious to me is the lack of any cover over the engineer and fireman on older locomotives. Looks to me like they ran out of material when they were building it. Just a bit of Yankee humor.
BTW, I was born in 1934, so that make me 72, not 73, not until October. I'm still the oldest, but remember; age doesn't always mean wise, so take your best shot.
Tom, Have you noticed when you are on those tour junkets, people ignore the scenery going past them and sit there talking to one another. I noticed that in your Canada pictures. Women especially seem to do it the most. When I'm on a train, my nose is glued to the window, taking in all the railroad related items, like rails, turnouts, ballast, signals, ROW equipment, etc. Maybe I'm just a little wacko. Japan has an extensive rail network and I found much there to keep me occupied.
Little known tidbits of information:
In Japan, some of the railway stations incorporate old rails into the station structure. In several places, I saw rails used to support a shed roof and "Bethlehem Steel" was embossed on the rail web. They probably got the rails from us way back before WWII.
Beer is sold in vending machines on streets. Family structure is such that underage drinking is not a problem.
The Mississippi Export Railroad, headquartered in Moss Point(a few miles east of me) is a short line with an interesting history. It was formed under various names and served and still does, as a link between rails lines in the north and south. More on this RR at a future date.
Have you seen the railroad films shown on RFD-TV, channel 379? It's a regular feature that comes on late at night, usually around midnight.
Over and out, Ron
Special for RON (DD1)
The Birthday Watch List for 2007 reflects the age one will attain during that year. See the note in dark brown at the bottom of the Page . . . 73 is what you WILL be!
The train we were aboard was not a tour train, but a regularly scheduled train. Anyway, those gals you referred to got on at Drummondville for the run into Montréal along with a "bunch" of others that avail themselves of that schedule. They use the train for commuting. So, they may be forgiven for chit 'n chat, as my guess is they make the trek every day.
Now having said that, yes - I've noted that when tour groups descend upon a train, there always seem to be those who are more interested in talking loudly about every topic that comes to mind, thereby annoying the rest of us who wish to enjoy the ambiance of the dome!
Later . . .
Hello Tom and all in - some people in now I see unlike my earlier visit - so I'll have a pint of bitter please.
Ron - I think the post you were referring to was probably Holyhead. There are three main ports for Ireland - Stranrear (for the north - Ulster) and Holyhead and Fishguard - all of course originally developed by the railway companies.
They house purchase system in Ireland sounds similar to here - but since the legal situation in Scotland is different even to England I would hesitate to put money on it!
Tom, sorry about the wide page phenomenon - I thought there was risk there - I certainly don't get that happening but appreciate that is no condolence to you!
Pete - I agree with you that Past Time Rail a run great tours - one I went on was very well organised. Nice to read that info on the NER electric loco.
You make a good point about the way rail fans are treated and it is something I have often thougth about - you do not get the same thing with other esoteric interest (eg Art, Opera, sport etc) and you know what I think - it is because people have found a way to get big money into and more importantly out of those enthusiasts (as Lars would say P-R-O-F-I-T) so the media - who rely on big money interest of advertisers etc will not ridicule such activities where the top people get so much money fromt he fans it beggars belief - much of the railroad enthusiasm goes back to past times of a simpler age - when you were interested in something for interest's sake - and it was a free past time - I wonder what others think?
Allan - nice link on the Newcastle system - it must have been a pioneering network really - and an economic powerhouse for the NER - why did they de-electrify it (prior to the creation of the Metro of course) - do you know? It was interesting to see the four generations of EMU cars. After all other early electrified areas like Liverpool were never de-electrified in the same way.
That link reminded me of the early work the LBSCR did with overhead electrification in south London - but I've not found a good link to that yet.
Pete - I'll try this link again: You need to then click on the images of the locos they have in their collection on the left hand side of the page:
http://www.klassieke-locs.nl/
DL
PS - Doug just seen your post where you make more observations on Irish travel - here's a great website I think you will enjoy - you can explore any train travel in the wrold on this site - here are the Ireland pages: http://www.seat61.com/Ireland.htm
I'll leave Pete to defend UK locomotive design - I just ask why north american steam designers shoved all the pipework all over the outside - weld it on as an after thougth and paint it black - no one will notice....(ho, ho - that's just some Limey humour by the way!)
Another good start with CM3 Shane - Lars - Ron 'n Dan . . .
The VIA Rail journey from Gaspé, Quebéc aboard the "Chaleur" continues:
The views from and in the dome on the final day of our Canadian Railway Adventure continue as we made our way to Montréal.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
Crossing the St. Lawrence Seaway on the Victoria Jubilee Bridge to Montréal
(7)
Eastward view from the bridge
(8)
(9)
(10)
Montréal
(11)
(12)
To be continued . . .
Hi Tom and all.
A pint of Bathams please LEON
ALLAN. Many thanks for the links; I was able to view them with Tom's help. The Garrett looks to have larger driving wheels than the usual Garretts. They seem to be unsuited to for the traffic, even without the troubles they had. It must have been quite a rebuilding task to convert them.
Enjoyed the link to the Tyneside electrics. The North Eastern Railway was a progressive railway, with electrification on the Shildon line as well.
We had a railtour quite a few years back now that went to Newcastle on Tyne, then we had a special train on the Tyne and Wear Metro, which traveled the system including the one leg of the triangle behind their maintenance depot not usually used for passengers. The extension to Sunderland was not open then. It was an interesting and good day out. After the tour there was enough time to visit a few hostelries around Newcastle station, before the train headed back home.
A lot of British enthusiasts would love to go back to 1969 when the Deltics ruled the roost on the East Coast Main Line. I wrote a piece for the bar on a trip on the ECML I had last year, with some photos, I will dig it out and repost it.
ERIC Good news that line through Phoenix could be reopened again.
From advice from Hart, Bart and Fargo lawyers I been have advised to decline comment on Sonia.
I see the electric locomotive NER No1 is now at the NRM outstation called Locomotion at Shildon in County Durham. Shildon is on the historic Stockton and Darlington Railway, of 1825, perhaps No 1 was not at York when I was there last. I have seen her there before and No 1 looked excellent.
Dugald Drummond, when he was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London & South Western Railway, had a small locomotive built with a small saloon built on the frames of the locomotive and used it as his means of traveling on the L&SWR. It was known as ‘The Bug'.
Good photo of the US Navy boxcar..
Why is Lars so keen to get you to eat fish
CM3 As well as the semaphores disappearing it is the same with the signalboxes; I guess they are called ‘Towers' over here. During the West of England signal modernization from semaphore to colour light the signal boxes went as well. One large box from Exeter was preserved and rebuilt on a preservation site. The volunteers had the box wired so that on certain occasions they could simulate a summer Saturday during the mid 1950s running to the timetable of the time. It was just like the real thing with the bell codes and track circuit board and block instruments all working. There was a viewing area at the back of the box.
Thanks for the piece of the GM&O. Those two ‘Midnight Specials' would have been useful trains. I guess most of the trains that ran over night between distances similar to that between St Louis and Chicago have all been discontinued now.
I would guess the Air Force on the Helium question.
LARS What's this, despite all those ‘Admin Duties' still interested in Sonia.
What an experience Tom and you had with them tour guides; luckily I have not come across them in the UK. One experience on a preserved railway in the UK that left a bad memory was that the steam train had been booked for a number of parties, which had more than half the train as reserved cars, which is fair enough, but the railway had sadly underestimated the number of ‘ordinary' passengers, so it was standing room only, no fun when it is supposed to be an pleasurable day out. As it was the last train of the day there was no choice, to be honest if I had known it would be that crowded I would not have gone, but of course there was no mention when buying the ticket. On Gala days you expect the trains to be busy but this was a normal day.
I still would have though they would have put the dearer magazines like the specials and Classic Trains in a plastic bag, what happens if the replacement gets damaged as well.
Thanks for the GM&Q book covers
RON Thanks for the drink.
I am the same when on a train; it is nose to the window
I will look forward to more on the Mississippi Export Railroad.
DL I'm glad you enjoyed your trip with Past Time Rail, they are as you say, well organized and also try to do some tours out of the ordinary .The thing I really like about them is their friendliness and on the very rare occasions something goes wrong, they will come along the train, unlike some, telling everyone what is happening e.g. problem with the steam loco and often change the itinerary if possible like allowing longer at the stop.
That is a good point a
Hi Tom and all,
Leon, another round for the crew please, DB Draught if you like!
Tom. Thanx for correcting those darned URL`s for me, must have suffered that dreaded CRAFT disease again. See we were on the page at the same time earlier, tried to get a message to you but the window would`nt open properly DB Breweries also brews the Tui ale, used to drink the Draught but acquired a taste for Tui somehow.
Enjoyed perusing all your posts and pics, and thanks for the DB.
Eric. Glad you enjoyed the Tyneside electric page, it brought back a lot of nostalgia of my youth way back when, Tom did a great job of tidying up those other URL`s for you. Hope you are continuing to improve as time goes on, we used to have an old saying in the Brit army going "Hurry up and Wait", time is a great healer. As far as I know there was a standard gauge line from Bluff to Invercargill early on until it was re-gauged to 3ft 6in.
Lars. Garratts were an unusual loco used throughout the Brit Commonwealth, they had to have a lot of maintainance spent on them though, they were very successful in South and East Africa, and in Australia also. Enjoyed your posts as usual, great pics.
Dan. Glad you enjoyed the Tyneside electric page as well, I think the reason they de-electrified it was that the old stock was "clapped out" and also the power supply had to be replaced, the cheaper option was to run DMU`s instead, these were running the year we left. Deltics were great loco`s, was on the Tyne/Tees Pullman quite a lot and they would cruise at 100+ on the long stretches of the ECML with 12 car consists. An A4 would have been better though!
Pete. Glad you got through to that site OK, thanks to Tom, those G pacifics were`nt as pretty as the others on NZ railways were they? Really enjoying the discussion on the NE electrics and history, Locomotion used to be on the platform of Darlington station for a long time until they relocated it. Enjoyed all your info and pics.
DD1. We have a rail ferry service here between the North and South Islands, about a 3hr trip. Used to travel on the Holyhead to Dun Loughaire ferry now and again in the 50`s, had an army buddy who lived in Dublin, we used to have great long weekends on the Porter!
Shane. Enjoyed all your posts and info, i`ve certainly learned a lot about your systems back where you live, keep it coming.
Anyone know where Mike is? and Nick and Per.
See ya, Allan
Good morning Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!
Leon, my friend, still awake? A ham sandwich would be perfect, thank you! Coffee, please!
Just happened to stop by that other thread and found some pix of electrics from the old country! What is going on? Strange. Anyway, I just had to add some info on Class El 16.
The Class El 16 electrics are basically the same locos as Amtrak’s AEM-7 (and the Swedish Class Rc4), except the fronts and they are geared for 84 mph. They were originally built for the Norwegian State Railways 1977-1984 by ABB.
Tom – I don’t know about Amtrak’s future in Phoenix if that line is reopened. Lets hope for the best. Yeah, the $5 coffee helped a lot! Fell asleep right away after I had it! Must be decaf? Thanks for those NZ links! Interesting Garrats. I did not think they had any of those locos at all. The other site, Steam Incorporated had some very interesting railroad maps with a lot of info!I thought you would know everything about that USN box car! Thanks for the CanAm pictures of the dome cars! Approaching Montréal with your pictures! I just noticed that Pete and Sonia are missing! Hmm. Ron – The train in the photo of “the man at work keeping the trains running” was not moving. It was sitting there waiting for the afternoon rush hour several hours later.CM3 – No, Scottsdale is still east of us and I hope it will stay there. But some of it was flushed away. They got a lot of rain and we just a few drops. Dit you ever figure out about which was heavier of thoe tank cars carrying helium? The loaded or the empty ones? Interesting!Interesting info on the Gulf Mobile and Ohio Railroad! But how did train 5 manage to “waste” 7 1/2 hours from Chicago to St. Louis? Train 3 was 2 hours faster! Lars – Sandstorm? We have dust storms, that is more than enough so you can keep that old Rotary Plow in your back yard. I think you may be right about my stomach and fish deficiency. Just the word fish is sometimes enough. Thanks for the book covers! GM&O! The first book looks more interesting, a dynamic history of the Tigrett Road. I did some research about Tigrett Road and found that it was about Isaac Burton Tigrett, president of GM&O. Very interesting story! There was an article about him in Time May 7 1945! Ron – You are right about people riding trains. Most of them ignore what is on the outside of the windows, especially if they have somebody else to talk to. I think I am very much like you, I am looking at everything outside the window that has anything to do with the railroad. DL – I tried that link you gave to Pete and it worked just fine. Pete – I think the Hart, Bart and Fargo lawyers are pretty smart but mayne you can explain why both you and Sonia are missing in Tom’s pictures today? Hmm. Fish? That is cat food! Allan – Thanks for the info on that old standard gauge line!I am feeling better for each day, thank you! The last few days my stomach has not been 100% satisfied for whatever reason, but that is another story. I think "Hurry up and Wait" is a good advice, time is a great healer.
Eric
Hi Tom and everyone, a round for the house
Catastrophe in Minneapolis. Structural failure seems inexcusable. Bridges should be built 10 times stronger than what they think will ever be necessary.
Allan, Hurry up and wait is famous in the U.S. Army too.
Boot camp at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Hot in August down there.
Growing System Time Magazine June 24, 1940 http://www.time.com/
In 1911 diminutive Isaac Burton Tigrett of Jackson, Tenn. took on the presidency of diminutive (48 miles) Birmingham & Northwestern Railroad as a sideline to his banking business. Eight years later he was a dyed-in-the-wool railroad man, head of Gulf, Mobile & Northern, and going strong. Four times in the next 20 years Railroader Tigrett enlarged his line, each time taking over another road, until he had 824 miles of right of way from Jackson to Mobile and New Orleans. Last week he stepped out of the diminutive class, stood to get a major trunk line from St. Louis to the Gulf.
For an upset price of some $11,000,000, the Mobile Federal Court ordered the properties of bankrupt Mobile & Ohio (St. Louis to Mobile) sold at foreclosure to G. M. & N., which already had ICC approval to absorb the larger road into a single, 2,007-mile system. First large railroad consolidation since 1934, it puts "Ike" Tigrett at the head of a new railroad named Gulf, Mobile & Ohio, which will start with a $31,870,000 funded debt and annual interest charges of $1,399,920 (about half the two roads' present fixed charges). An additional $6,025,800 of 5% bonds will pay interest only if earned, and dividends on the 305,750 shares of $5 preferred are on a similar basis. If G. M. & O. can jump those three hurdles, holders of its 609,847 common shares may see a dividend.
Most of the water to be squeezed out of M. & O. (in receivership since 1932) will shower on Southern Railway, owner of 94% of the ailing road's common, which will be wiped out. For $7,839,500 worth of M. & O. bonds Southern gets 93¢ on the dollar. To pay Southern off, G. M. & N. borrowed $7,500,000 from RFC last month, will get another $2,000,000 to pay additional merger expenses.
This setup will give modest, canny, homespun Ike Tigrett a chance to step up the $427,388 net profit his road made last year (M. & O, lost $440,924) to a respect able figure by getting a longer haul on a larger portion of the two lines' traffic. Al ready benefiting from the movement of industries to the South, he hopes to add more manufactured goods to the lumber, petroleum, bananas, etc. which are , the standbys of his new road. Now 60, not old as railroad presidents go, he has been a railroad president longer than any other U. S. railroader except Baltimore & Ohio's venerable ''Uncle Dan" Willard. He is also a pioneer of new railroading wrinkles.
First to introduce streamliners to the South with the Rebels (New Orleans to Jackson, Tenn.), he went competitors one better by stocking his streamliners with smart, good-looking college girls - the U. S.'s first train hostesses. Scheduled to pay for themselves in seven and a half years, the sleek, Diesel-powered stream liners paid out in less than half that time. In 1936 President Tigrett formed Gulf Transport Co. to handle freight over a coordinated rail-highway system. To it he added a passenger service with tickets interchangeable between busses and trains. Says he: "We believe in hauling as far as we can by rail and then the rest of the way by highway." A recent traveler on the line observed: "All over the system you see young faces. They believe in the railroad."
Gulf, Mobile & Northern 1939
http://photoswest.org/photos/00012126/00012185.jpg
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=687612
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=692737
http://www.cvrma.org/pictures/MISC/dfrr5_070_gm&o_veterans_bridge_st_louis_1970.jpg
http://www.cvrma.org/pictures/MISC/dfrr5_068_gm&o_alco_s1_switcher.jpg
http://www.cvrma.org/pictures/MISC/dfrr5_066_gm&o_route_map_&_statistics.jpg
http://www.acmeme.org/gmo/index.htm
Amtrak in Phoenix 1987
http://www.railpictures.net/images/images2/r/rr5559.jpg.62199.jpg
Orient Express-type luxury service on 3 Amtrak trains beginning in November
http://grandluxerail.com/html/tours/GrandLuxeLimitedWash.html
British Railways Deltic "Royal Scots Grey" arriving Kings Cross from Edinburgh 1962
http://www.railpictures.net/images/images2/b/BS21750001BS2175.JPG.95916.jpg
Festiniog Railway oldie
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/ppmsc/07400/07419v.jpg
Dwight D. Eisenhower
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c10000/3c18000/3c18500/3c18511v.jpg
http://saulnadler.railfan.net/display.cgi?A-4_Dwight_Eisenhower.jpg
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=807973
New Zealand coal train
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=399646
Fred Harvey food service
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=43973
Mississippi Export Railroad
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=100807
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=550319
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=550320
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=550322
Constellation
http://www.richard-seaman.com/Wallpaper/Aircraft/NonCombatants/ConstellationBanking11oClock.jpg
Los Angeles streetcar
http://images.nycsubway.org/i17000/img_17342.jpg
Jack Delano's Super Chief
http://www.shorpy.com/files/images/1a34726u_1.jpg
Mike
<courtesy: www.viarail.ca>
Mid-week in mid-continent USA ‘n it's HOT! <frown> Supposed to reach 95 (F) - but last year at this time we were plus 100. So, we takes what we gets! <grin>
Menu Board features <light> ‘n <traditional> breakfasts. The Mentor Village Bakery case is chock full of freshly baked pastries ‘n the coffee's freshly ground ‘n brewed. What's your pleasure
3rd Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous in Chicago 2008 dates have been firmed up - arrival on Thurs, May 15th - departure Sun, May 18th. Send me an Email if you're interested in attending . . . All planning ‘n discussion of this event will remain out of the bar ‘til things get firmed up. So, Email is IT.
Customer ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (since my last narrative):
CM3 Shane (coalminer3) at 8:59 AM Wednesday - Aug 1st: Your Email was received ‘n responded to - thanx!
Teleservice Suppression Manager! Really?? Good Gawd Gertie, what's next
Looks like Lars answered your question regarding the helium program. And WHERE do you come up with such "stuff"!!?? <grin>
Some super fine GM&O material! Nice choice.
Quarters, round, visit ‘n GM&O info very much appreciated . . .
Lars (LoveDomes) at 10:31 AM Wednesday - Aug 1st: As always, our Manager comes through with a fine AM Post!
Nice pick-up on the GM&O!
Yeah, Sonia was perhaps the "brightest" note aboard that train . . . <grin>
Sometime we should compare notes - by Email - regarding our boot camp experiences. There's always a propensity to reveal far more personal info on these Pages than should be. Especially with so many "anon" people out there ‘n Gawd knows how many disingenuous ones at that.
Cards got knocked out in the 1st inning last nite in Pittsburgh - not pretty. <ugh>
Round appreciated along with visit . . .
Ron (DD1) at 11:36 AM Wednesday - Aug 1st: USCG info of interest to only me . . . had read about it in one of the "periodicals" I receive as a retiree. Appreciate your thoughtfulness!
Responded to the "dome talk" comment. Again, totally concur about most of the people who do those things - very annoying. However, as stated in my ‘special Post,' those folks were not being loud, rude or otherwise distracting. Just commuting to work on a daily basis ‘n my guess is they could inventory, from memory, all of the trees, poles, cows, etc. between Drummondville ‘n Montréal.
By the by "Over ‘n Out" is INCORRECT radiotelephone procedure. "Over" means "I'm finished, your turn" whereas "Out" means I'm finished ‘n do not expect a response nor is one required. How do I know this? Used to instruct military R/T procedure way back when things like that "counted" for something. <grin>
Thanx for the visit ‘n round . . .
Dan (DL-UK) at 12:10 PM Wednesday - Aug 1st: Good to see ya "in," Mate!
I've summed up my thoughts a few times regarding those who are derisive regarding the pleasure of others. It's a sick society that nurtures these creeps; ‘nuf said from me.
Visit appreciated . . .
Pete (pwolfe) at 9:16 PM Wednesday - Aug 1st: Yes, winter never goes away in the high mountain country of the Can-Am! As you discovered, one gets the "feeling" of winter just by taking in the sights of the mountain village, the surrounding forests with snow covered evergreens ‘n of course Mt. Mentor itself! <grin>
Had been considering one of those "take a chance" round trips to KCity for a short turnaround on the 12:30 PM eastbound. Gave it up in that I'm really not excited about 4 hours out there by myself, especially if there's nothing special going on at Union Station.
Also pretty much scrapped my long held desire to take the train from Winnipeg up to Churchill this fall. We've decided on a short Missouri-getaway during the Thanksgiving break from the university instead. One day that train to polar bear country will happen!
Hart, Bart and Fargo
You are so correct about the material condition of our Skyline car. The dome was in terrific condition. I've traveled in a few Park cars where the glass was most times "cloudy," damaged or a combination of both and of course always in need of scrubbing. That surely puts a damper on the wonder of it all . . .
Glad you made it "in," was wonderin' what happened. Sonia came to town??
Round, chat, info ‘n visit appreciated . . .
Allan (Gunneral) at 11:54 PM Wednesday - Aug 1st: My pleasure - glad the URLs worked. CRAFTS disease, indeed!
Hurry up ‘n wait is a "given" thr
Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house, and $ for the Jukebox. Well, it's August now which means we get heavy fog in the morning followed by boiling heat later in the day. Gas is about $2.83 right now.
We have a winner! Lars is correct abt. Bureau of Mines and helium. Prize is a collection of classic timetables from the Greater Mentor Zeppelin Commutation and Resupply Company. I'll say that their business has dropped of since Nick no longer uses them for shipments.
Today we have comments and stories.
DD1 is going to favor us with some information on the Mississippi Export. I just have one question, do they still go to Peekaboo? MS short lines are truly fascinating. I have been a Columbus and Greenville devotee for a lot of years, if only because of their Baldwin diesels. Looking forward to your post.
Many people don't look out the window when they ride, especially in the Northeast Corridor. I remember a long while back now when we were traveling back to WV from Boston (via a long convoluted routing.) The first leg of the trip was via parlor car from Boston to Penn Station where we were going to take the Broadway west. I know, Awk, try and do any of that now. Well, here we are riding along with a bunch of suits engrossed in the Wall Street Journal and other devotional reading. We pull into Providence only to see that the Ringling Bros. red train was on the track adjacent to us. We stopped beside several carloads of elephants, and all papers went down, the suits got up and crowded around the windows to see what was going on . So if the motivation is there...
Pete - Towers are called "cabins" on the C&O. Of course, a "cabin car" was a caboose on the PRR. I would like to have seen the exhibit you described. Incidentally, a lot of C&O branch line traffic ran by train order when I moved here - I used to sit in with a couple of dispatchers now and then and it was interesting to watch them set up a three-way meet all on paper. They still kept a handwritten train sheet (pen and ink) as God intended it. Those sheets were huge. Oh well, another story for the rendezvous.
GWR - didn't that stand for "God's Wonderful Railway?" I still favor the LMS.
Allan - Good to hear from you.
Eric - Don't know about you, but I can still drink coffee late and fall asleep.
Regarding GM&O 5 vs 3 - the schedule included longer dwell times at station on the night train - no doubt to work mail. The New Haven deliberately ran their Boston-New York overnights slowly not only for a better ride, but also because the distances were relatively short. Amtrak did the same thing with 66 and 67. I do miss the sleeper on that train as I used it a lot.
Mike's here with a bunch of pictures. Every link worked but the Jack Delano item.
First, I copied the article - he was a character.
GM&O 101 (E7) is, of course, in Alton colors. Check out the horn cluster, the firecracker radio antenna, and the whistle post (it's in the right hand corner of the photo."
The picture of the RS1 in Chicago is outstanding. I want them to move the cuts of cars so we can look at the UP sleepers and the PRR observation which is barely visible at the rt. Hand margin of the photo. The REA car beside the locomotive probably carried Stonewall's troops to Manassas. In contrast to that, there is a SOU COFC in the far background. Last for the MOW folks in the group, check out the double slip switches.
The ad material is good - the GM&O PA in the picture is, unless my eyes deceive me, at St. Louis.
I have the TT with the Fred Harvey ad in it somewhere in the piles of stuff.
I'll withhold comments on the ME material until we hear more about the railroad.
The Connie and the LA street car - "holy cow!," as Harry used to say.
OSP - Helium material. I have seen several photo albums put together by the Bureau of Mines back when the program was very active. Also read some of the reports on the program as I have an interest in lighter than air flying machines (rigid frame and blimps).
Enjoyed seeing the pictures of Montreal, and the Park cars on the CanAm. It took me awhile to figure out where the passengers were. But than it came to me, they're all below in the lounge because the trains are stopped. Or was it a refreshment stop at Our Place?
I was surprised to see how the GM&O "took off" this week. Also, didn't Pittsburgh take the Cardinals through the sawmill last night?
Work safe
Ahoy Cap'n Tom 'n fellow travelers at the bar!
Ruth, my deAH, a mugga Joe with a jolt, round for the guys, treats for the crittAHs, small jar of pickled pig's feet for Boris 'n the change is yours! <phewL
Best regards to the guys who have been keeping this joint rockin' these past weeks. THANKS to Eric - Pete - Dan - Ron - Allan 'n of course CM3 I'm NOT Shane! <grin> Have a tankard of ale on me! Oooooops, best not leave out the guy who makes this place HAPPEN - Cap'n Tom!
All this talk of domes has made me think about 'em more 'n more. So here's a departure from my routine morning dribble, something that I know was provided over on the old site a few times . . . but very appropriate for today!
Dome car
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Former California Zephyr dome car in excursion train service with the Inland Lakes Railway -- Plymouth, Florida.
A dome car is a type of railway passenger car that can include features of a lounge car, dining car and an observation. Its primary feature is a glass dome on the top of the car where passengers can ride and see in all directions around the train. Seats in the dome were considered "non-revenue" like lounge car seats. When dome cars operate today in excursion trains, the dome seats often command a premium fare.
Configuration
A plan view diagram of the Challenger dome car, built in 1958 by Pullman-Standard as Union Pacific Dome Coach #7015, the last such car built.
A portion of the car, usually in the center of the car, is split between two levels, with stairs leading both up and down from the train's regular passenger car floor level. The lower level of the dome usually contained the car's restrooms or a small lounge area, while the upper portion was usually coach or lounge seating within a "bubble" of glass on the car's roof. Passengers in the upper portion of the dome were able to see in all directions from a vantage point above the train's roofline.
On some dome cars, the lower portion was outfitted with a galley, where car attendants used dumbwaiters to transfer items between the galley and a dining area in the dome portion of the car.
History
The upper level interior of a dome car that has been configured as a dining area, on display at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Although the design of a dome car can be likened to a cupola caboose, the dome car's development is not directly related. The earliest documented predecessor of the dome car was first developed in the 1880s; known at the time as the "birdcage car", it was used on an 1882 sightseeing tour on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. In 1891, T. J. McBride received a patent for a car design called an "observation-sleeper"; illustrations of the design in Scientific American at the time showed a car with three observation domes. Canadian Pacific Railway used "tourist cars" with raised, glass-sided viewing cupolas on their trains through the Canadian Rocky Mountains in the 1920s.
These dome car designs did not prove successful, and further refinements to the idea didn't come for a few decades. The first successful dome cars were conceived by Cyrus Osborn of General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD). In 1944, while traveling in an EMD-built Rio Grande locomotive through Glenwood Canyon in Colorado, it was Mr. Osborn that recognized the wonderful views the passengers could enjoy from a panoramic dome. His idea was to provide a full 360-degree view from above the train in newly built "Vista-Dome" cars.
Mr. Osborn took the idea to the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q). The CB&Q took a stainless steel
I see CM3 Shane 'n Manager Lars have been "in" - good to see ya, both!
The views from and in the dome on the final day of our Canadian Railway Adventure continue as we made our way to Montréal. The dual consist of "Chaleur-Ocean" backed into Central Station with the "Ocean" on one side of the platform and "Chaleur" on the other. An interesting evolution to witness from the dome, something totally missed when traveling in Renaissance consists or trains without domes.
Montréal's Central Station approach is beneath Place Bonaventure (retail & business complex) - watch for the lettering!
The approach to Montréal's Central Station
AMT commuter train departing Central Station
Good day Tom and all, present or not. Drinks on me. Tom, those are great shots of your HO pike. I can't tell if the trackwork is hand laid or not. Remember "Truscale" milled wood roadbed? I used to use that along with fiber tie track, usually in 36" lengths. When I got into the larger scales(G gauge), I used individual wood ties, hand spiked. The problem with wood spliting in the smaller scales went away. I still like HO, but the costs have driven me away. A car kit 50 years ago could cost me less than $2. A good car kit, if you can find one today might cost upwards of 10x. In the larger scales, I can mill my own wood and put it together more easily than I could with "splinter" size wood.
You are so right about vista dome cars. I have never ridden in one, but going by your pictures, the view from the dome can't be beaten. The photos too are excellent. I imagine you are using a digital camera. I have a couple a thousand dollars worth of 35 mm equipment, and have never gotten results like that. I too use a digital camera. It's not the most expensive one around, but takes pictures comparable to, if not better than my old equipment.
Mike; Thanks for providing the links to the Mississippi Export RR. There isn't much more I can add to it.
All; Everyone has their own idea about locomotion and model railroads. Some prefer steam, others diesel and some electric. I fall into the last catagory and let me tell you why. Electric provides the most direct conversion from the real thing to a model. Just as the full size engine runs by electric power, so does the model. Steam and diesel doesn't convert directly from full size to model, except in the large scales. There are some live steam models in "O" scale and larger and there is even a diesel-electric in 1-1/2" scale, but in the smaller scales, no such conversion exists. Maybe I'm talking as a purist, but that's how I feel. It's the same to me as the comparison between a formica countertop of maple and a genuine maple countertop, genuine leather vs Naugahyde, real beer vs alcohol free, wooden boat decks covered with vinyl vs teak. I think I have made my point. To each his own, I guess. Over but not out.
Nice to see Ron (DD1) visit BOTH Threads today - must be a slow day down in "Mississip" <grin>
The final leg of our Canadian Railway Adventure aboard VIA Rail's "Chaleur" continues:
Next to last batch of fotos on the final day of our Canadian Railway Adventure as we backed into Montréal's Central Station.
Winding our way to Montréal's Central Station
C'mon, Mate - we gotta go!
Hey look, it's Amtrak!
One last look at the Chaleur . . .
It's OH-FISH-UL, the train from Gaspe made it back !
That's our gear, but where's Stealthy Pete
One more batch tomorrow!
A pint of Holden's please LEON and, of course the Fish ‘N' Chips later.
ALLAN Those G Pacifics did look different; I wonder how they worked after their conversion.
I too am enjoying the talk on the North East, I was fortunate enough to get the 150th celebration of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1975 with the cavalcade at Shildon. It was a great occasion. A working replica of Locomotion was built and appeared at the event.
ERIC I know it won't help my reputation but I was with Tom in the dome approaching Montreal. I see Tom has captured me in today's pics.
Is the photo of the Texas Eagle at Springfield Illinois.( I see Tom as beat me to it)
MIKE Thanks for the GM&O links and info, great color photos and map.
I can recall seeing D 9000 soon after she was named and a good photo of a Double-Fairley on the Ffestiniog.
Doesn't 60008 looks in great condition, if only she could be steam and run some tours.
That is a good photo of the NZ steam loco too. I wonder if Kansas City's Union Station is the only station that has a Harvey House now.
CM3 I shall look forward to hearing more about the dispatchers at the rendezvous.
A few years back now I took a mid week trip to the Severn Valley Railway and stopped off a small station, there was a fairly long wait for the next train and I got in to conversation with the volunteer signalman, who invited me into the signalbox and explained how the single line tokens that are used, as the station is a passing place, on the single track line. It really was a time warp with an immaculate signalbox and the signalman in full uniform and as an added bonus one of their 0-6-0 pannier tanks was running light engine and turned up unexpectedly.
Another fond memory, though from much father back, was as a youngster we would often push-bike down a country lane to Newbold signalbox on the West Coast Main Line on a summer's evening. From the road, with the door of the box open you could hear the bell code announcing that a train was on the way. At a certain time each evening there were trains signaled on three of the four tracks that passed the box. Usually it was an 8F 2-8-0 on the up goods line with a slow freight, a Jubilee 4-6-0, often 45689 Ajax on a fast up fitted freight and on the down main line a Duchess Pacific heading north, wonderful memories.
As you can see I was an LMS man too, to some the GWR was known as the Great Way Round I have also heard it called the Gas Works Railway.
Thanks for the info on Mike's links.
LARS Many thanks for the interesting and detailed post on the Domes. I would not personally class the Superliner lounge as a dome car though. Good to see the post mentioned the Alaska Dome cars.
Thanks for the tankard of ale.
RON Thanks for the drink. Yes Tom as taken some really great photos, I was using a digital but I did not get the same results as Tom had.
TOM I was reading about an English railway artist and he always painted the trains in the snow during the hot weather, he said it helped him feel cool.
With the new times it is 2 hours in Kansas City, it should be back earlier as well. It will interesting to see how the afternoon trains keeps to time, if the engineering works are over it should be better, and with that web site you supplied it will be easy to keep a check on it.
As you say it is bad enough when a normal car's windows are dirty but it must be a lot worse when it is a dome car.
Many thanks for the photos on the way into Montreal; I noticed there was not a lot of traffic on the streets considering it was rush hour. Good photos of the commuter train heading out. I see the shoulder bag is missing along with 'Stealthy Pete'
I wonder if anyone can guess why the trains from Halifax and Gaspe are shown as different arrival times on the board.
Well Leon lat
Leon, it's time for my weekly Rumpsteak Café de Paris! With all the sidings. I think I'll have Tui. Not bad at all. Thank you!
Another Thursday gone! Who cares, every day is about the same right now. I found some interesting reading here this morning and a lot of nice pictures and that makes the day special!
Mike – I agree with you about the strength of bridges! You found an even more detailed article about Mr Tigrett! Streamliners withgood-looking college girls!! What else could you ask for? A bunch of interesting pictures tonight! Including a flying Constellation and an Amtrak train in Phoenix pulled by two F40’s!! I am just missing those girls!Thanks Mike!!Tom – You are correct about the pix last morning, Texas Eagle at Springfield! Not too hard to see or guess. Nice pictures from Montréal! I don’t like when they have too much greenery in the tracks. It is not good for the track and it looks bad. Interesting to see the pictures from Montréal Central Station! Never made it there.Too much green! Also this is pretty close to Montréal.
CM3 – I have no problem to combine coffee and good sleep! But I have a problem right now because I was told I should drink unled... decaffed coffee and that I don’t like. I am going to talk to the doctor tomorrow morning. A blimp for Shane!
Lars – Thanks for the interesting article about the dome car! I put that book, The Railroad Passenger Car, on my "Wanted" list!Use your brain, go by train!Ron – I understand your points about electrics with a direct conversion from the real thing to a model. I like electrics more because of the old types where they used contactors and big relays and you could hear and feel when you operated that locomotive. Modern electrics are so sophisticated and quiet. But they certainly have plenty of power!Pete – You were with Tom approaching Montreal? So how come Tom couldn’t find you after you detrained? Where... how about Sonia? Where was she? Hmmm. Yes, my pix showed Texas Eagle at Springfield. Different arriving times for the trains from Halifax and Gaspé? Because the Halifax train was backed in first to the platform and then the Gaspé train on the other side of the platform? I guess that could be about 15 minutes difference in arrival time.
Friday, the end of the work week <for many> ‘n the heralding of a weekend to come!
We hit 97 (F) yesterday on a bright ‘n sunny day here in mid-continent USA. Supposed to be on the rise, along with the humidity, for the next several days. <groan> It is August fer sure, fer sure.
An Email was sent to all planning to attend our 3rd Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous in Chicago 2008. PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE receipt . . . thanx!
Time for breakfast ‘n we've got plenty to select from - check out the Menu Board for a <light> or <traditional> dish. The Mentor Village Bakery case awaits ‘n the coffee's freshly ground ‘n brewed <unleaded> ‘n <regular>.
CM3 Shane (coalminer3) at 9:10 AM Thursday - Aug 2nd: Looks like at least one person thinks you are indeed SHANE! There's a ‘story' attached to that moniker - something we at "Our" Place can take "credit" for - same for "CM3" eh, Shane?? <grin>
I haven't gotten to the point whereby "detailing" of those store bought <actually internet> passenger cars has overtaken my wish to restrain spending on that layout!! However, I DID place some "people" within the RDCs, - seating was already there. Those Proto-1000s by LifeLike were "done" right. Anyway, one day when I'm through watching paint dry ‘n grass grow, perhaps I'll begin that aspect of the hobby. <grin> All kidding aside, I'd love to do more, but as you read on, you'll get the reason why not.
Thumped rather soundly on Wednesday nite, beaten on Thursday afternoon by themselves I'd say. Don't like to be a fair-weather sailor about this, but this edition of the Cardinals "ain't your father's Red Birds"!! I see that Eric's snakes are in 1st place in their division. When did that happen?? Honestly haven't been paying that much attention to the standings, but there they are! So, when does the NFL begin
Round, quarters ‘n chat most appreciated!
Lars (LoveDomes) at 10:11 AM Thursday - Aug 2nd: Quite an effort from our Manager to liven up things! Nice Post of the dome car background, etc.
Ever wonder whether you've traveled in any of those domes you find fotos of??? I seem to recall that you said your father taught you how to keep notes. But my guess is those are long gone. Anyway, that featured dome was once part of the CZ - a train you know all about.
In all of the trips I've experienced in dome cars, I must admit, there have been very, very few occasions whereby I couldn't get a seat. In fact, more times than not I could count on one hand how many people remained in the dome for more than an hour at a time. Guess it's something with people like us who like to remain "fixed" in the dome! Can't figure out why someone would prefer a one-sided view of the journey when dome seating offers the panorama!?!!?
Thanx for the round, visit, dome piece ‘n chat!
Ron (DD1) at 12:43 PM Thursday - Aug 2nd: Appreciate the kind words regarding the fotos. I'm hardly an expert at taking Pix with the digital I have. Had all sorts of "operator error" with the thing ‘n honestly don't care for it. However, having spent far too much money on it ‘n not being willing to cast it aside until I get my money's worth <HA> it will have to do! <grin>
Track on the Can-AM HO layout is hardly anything approaching the quality of Tru-Scale. That stuff was something I used to <drool> over way back when I first got interested in HO (mid-60s). However, due to several factors - moving so much (13 times in my career - mainly in the 1st half), insufficient $$$ ‘n a preoccupation with things like fatherhood, etc., my "desires" had to be postponed ‘til just a couple of years ago when I built the Can-Am.
The track is nothing more than Bachmann's E-Z track with "ballasted" roadbed. I hand laid the ballast you see, gluing over that "cheesy" stuff to get the results you see. Why did I go for such track when there's far better out there? Answer: Arthritis ‘n carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands causes me much grief with things like modeling. However, I've found that the more I use my fingers, the better it is. I have to just "work through" the pain. Anyway, I initially thought that getting something with the roadbed attached would make it easier on me, since I had such terrible luck with cork roadbed some years back. Shudda gone with KATO, oh well . . . There's far too much invested in that pike to rip ‘er out - ain't gonna happen!
You are oh so correct with your commentary regarding the prices of model trains. My HO stuff on the Can-AM was purchased new, two years ago - all of it with the exception of 3 or 4 structures that I had built many decades past ‘n wanted to use again. Everything - autos, trucks, buses, locos, freight cars, passenger cars, power packs, track - all of it. Yeah, I know how much the costs have skyrocketed! <Don't even ask me what the S-gauge stuff cost!> AND I didn't go with the "hi-quality" stuff for HO - s
Ahoy Cap'n Tom ‘n fellow travelers at the bar!
Ruth, my deAH say it isn't so!! This, the final day of the week for me to feast in the glow of your radiant beauty! <blush> Can Monday be THAT far away?!?!
A mugga Joe with a jolt ‘n a handful of treats from the bakery case should do it for me. Treats all around for the crittAHs, with that small jar of pickled pig's feet for Boris after he completes the feedings! A round on me ‘n the change is for you my deAH!
It's an early start for me, so I bettAH get right to it . . . the Mrs. is giving me "the look"!!
Surely appears that we've had a decent week here at Cap'n Tom's Main Line Emporium. A steady flow of visits ‘n conversation along with all of those great pix from Da Boss. A fine week indeed.
Just so youse guys don't forget, we've got some dates comin' up to keep in mind:
Saturday, August 11th is Pete's B'day (56)! Sunday, August 12th is our monthly anniversary for Da Bar - 29 months of good times by the tracks. And Thursday, August 16th is Allan's B'day (72)!
Too bad the B'day Bash celebrations "died" some time back. However, let's at least remember to offer our respects on the days indicated! Also, keep in mind that Allan in down under territory will be celebrating his day when it's the 15th here! Ohhhhhhhh, the International Date Line, huh??? I suppose two days worth of congrats won't hurt for a guy THAT OLD! <grin>
Pleased to see the favorable comments regarding the dome submission. It's an interesting compilation and I found it to be rather exact for wikipedia "stuff."
Happy to see all of this talk about Pete ‘n Sonia. Kinda takes the heat away from Ruth ‘n me. <grin>
For Da Boss: Many thanks for the trip pix ‘n reports! All of this began so far back that it's hard to recall the first one! I've counted well over 400 pix from the Canadian trip. Really quite an effort ‘n my guess is we won't be experiencing the likes of that here at the bar for quite some time. 5- Salute to our Cap'n!
Also the layout pix from the other day weren't missed, just not commented on - sorry! Hate to do that. Anyway, your Can-Am model RR is one to be envied ‘n I commend you on the effort for putting that together too! The guys who attended the St. Louis Rendezvous really were provided with an extra-treat! Love those observation domes.
Agree with your comments regarding personal info in the ether. I know I've yapped too much about my life and now it's out there. Feel exactly the same, who KNOWS what's being done with the "stuff" that's being revealed on sites like these?? One of the major reasons why I dislike the anonymous people who frequent these threads. Of course, we'll never really know if the "names" others use are authentic. So the best thing to do is be careful with personal info put on the thread that you wouldn't tell your next door neighbor! <uh oh>
I got your e-mail, but didn't respond since I'm an "info" guy. Thanx for the update though!
For Pete: Why not?? The Superliner Sightseer cars are domes, just not the conventional type of days long gone. Those ultradomes made by Colorado Railcar that are used on the Alaska RR ‘n many cruise ship lines, are indeed domes too. Just the modern type. What would you classify them as?? Just curious.
Have another tankard, mate!
For Eric: Abandoned or seldom used right of way with grass growing between the ties turns me off. Can't grow grass on a busy street - say we bald guys! <grin>
So many books, so little shelf space! If you mind the orders from the quacks doctors, maybe Santa will fill your stocking with a couple of RR books (or perhaps some sardines)!
For the enjoyment of the gang!
Colorado Railcar Ultra Dome - ARR
Colorado Railcar UltraDome - Celebrity cruise lines
Colorado Railcar UltraDome- Princess cruise lines
Colorado Railcar Ultra Dome - Holland America cruise lines
Colorado Railcar Ultra Dome - Rocky Mountaineer
Ruth, one more, then we've got to get that <ahem> admin "work" s
Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox. O.K., Boris, punch up one of my favorites, "Dying Cub Fans Last Request." HHH here today and it will continue for awhile - next week is supposed to be the hottest of the season.
Eric - Thanks for the blimp picture.
Lars sent a fine historical summary of dome cars. The former CZ car is a bit banged up, but at least it's still on the rails. Heartily recommend any of John White's books. You will enjoy the passenger car set, for sure.
DD1 - Yes, I remember TruScale roadbed. How about GarGraves track (there is a name from the dark, deep past).
Pete - Good remembrances of signal boxes, etc. The Lake Shore Museum in North East, PA has a former NKP (IIRC), CTC board which they light up every now and then. Bells were used at certain places that I remember growing up. However, these told gatemen that a train was approaching. Signals and routes were set up elsewhere.
OSP - Getting closer to Montreal - who IS that guy in the roomette (LOL). If the Pirates played the Cards every day, Pittsburgh would have a much better record. The Yankees hired gun certainly got lit up yesterday, but his infield didn't help him all that much, either. It's a little too early to scoreboard watch, but the Olde Towne Team is hanging in there. Wouldn't it be something if they survived till the end and the Cubs did as well. B4 I forget, is the email you mentioned a new one or an old one? If it is new, it hasn't arrived here yet.
Will try and post more later today, but gotta get after it now.
Hello Tom and all in
I'll cast my eye over the menu please while I take Ron's kind offer of a pint.
Tom - I think the evidence points towards Budd equipment still on The Ocean: check this out from Via - which suggests that winter season Budd stock is in use certain days!
Admittedly it is hard to believe a site that you have to seek out info on 3 different pages of and put together the clues - but one page does have the date 2008 suggesting that it may be correct:
"For couples seeking a more intimate Easterly class experience, choose a triple or quadruple bedroom (for 2 persons) with the distinctive ambience of the Park car and large picture windows! Additional perks include a closet, a call button, a private washroom with vanity, and cosy armchairs that transform into two twin beds once night falls."
http://www.viarail.ca/classes/en_serv_clas_tour_aloc.html
"If travelling in Easterly class aboard the Ocean between Montréal and Halifax, couples may choose a triple or quadruple bedroom (for 2 persons). Available between mid-June and mid-October, these accommodations offer the distinctive ambience of the Park car and large picture windows for your viewing pleasure."
http://www.viarail.ca/classes/en_serv_visi_parc.html
"Please note that during the off-peak season (November 15, 2007 to April 14, 2008), VIA alternates between HEP cars and Renaissance cars. During the peak season, Renaissance cars are used exclusively. You can confirm the equipment of your departure by calling us at 1 800 VIA-RAIL (1 800 845-7245) or 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired). "
http://www.viarail.ca/classes/en_serv_clas_voit_hamo.html
Ron - good explanation on your electric enthusiasm - makes sense to me - my father is a keen modeller and works in Gauge ) and Gauge 1 live steam - in fact it is live steam that he is enthusiastic about - more so than true scale outline since esp in gauge O it is hard to manage true scale within the limitations of the size - although the Hornby 00 live steam launched recently is quite remarkable.
Ron - you certainly need to get yourself up in a Vista Dome - worth every penny (nice contrib. from Lars on that one). I was fortunate enough in that when I rode The Ocean last year to have Tom's hints on when to get to the Dome for great scenery - which meant me and the other half I could beat the competition to the best seats.
Eric - unleaded coffee - that must be like full fat cola?
CM3 - I got the Delano link with the ATSF train - so it does show OK sometimes - GWR certainly does stand for God's Wonderful railway - or Great Way Round to its detractors. If I may ask what fired your interest in the LMS over here? (Which is a great road and at one time was the largest joint stock company in the world - or so I'm told!)
Mike - great links selection - the Ffestiniog pic was good and a great Deltic picture - I think that head code 1A35 is the Flying Scotsman service - Pete may know the answer to that for certain. Loved that LA street scene too.
Amazing scenery in the NZ coal train shot - Allan - is that the view from your front door? I can see why you might have swapped the Tyne for that sort of view!
Pete - when I was a teenager back in the early 1980s (yeah yeah, not so long ago to some of you old lags) I cycled to my local station regularly and if I wanted to leave my bike in secure place overnight etc you could lock it in a staff sore room - if you arrived back when the station was unstaffed I'd have to get the key from the signal man as the box was staffed 24 hours - that meant a trip up to the hallowed portals of the box where there was a great view down the lines. Often staff were quite friendly and would let you have a look - and I recall when I was younger BR were testing the Gatwick Express units on the Coastway East route - station staff suggested I go up to the box to get a good picture from the signal man's view point. Very generous of them and happy memories for me.
Here's a pic of that station - 3rd pic down is the building where you could lock your bike inside with the informal agreement of the staff:
http://www.semg.org.uk/location/berwick_01.html
Last pic here shows the signal box still in use today - the pink house behind is an ex LBSCR railway constructed staff house - now in private ownership of course.
http://www.semg.org.uk/location/berwick_02.html
Regards all
Lars (LoveDomes) at 8:41 AM, Friday - Aug 3rd: I see you've been busy at ensuring we know about the "events" coming up. Thanx - saved me some work!!
Yeah, we used to have some fun at those B'day Bash celebrations. Some fine times, indeed. They were only as good as the guys willing to partake in ‘em . . . So, we'll just continue on wishing the BEST to those as the dates come ‘n go.
Not planning anything special for our Monthiversary (a wanswheel Mike innovation!). Just hope it doesn't slip on by without a notice. Even though it falls on Sunday, and we're CLOSED, doesn't mean a note through the mail slot can't be dropped off!
Enjoyed those UltraDome car fotos - sweet! Domes come in all forms, some are full car length, some aren't ‘n some are bi-level affairs. I too love ‘em!
Thanx for the visit, Pix, chat ‘n round!
CM3 Shane (coalminer3) at 9:16 AM, Friday - Aug 3rd: Email sent to you - you're in good standing!
Sonia said she was going to hang a "Do Not Disturb!" sign on "that guy" in the room! by the by, that was a double bedroom.
I must agree that a BoSox vs Cubs World Series would indeed be a <hoot> - no NOT you Artie!! - anyway, certainly something to think about. Wudda been far better a few years back though when the Bahstun Bullies rolled over my Cardinals. <oooooooooh, still hurts!> Then there was the Super Bowl where the Rams snatched defeat from the jaws of victory . . . ‘nuf of that, I'm feeling ill.
Appreciate the quarters, round, chat ‘n visit!
Dan (DL-UK) at 10:50 AM, Friday - Aug 3rd: Nice work with those excerpts from the VIA Rail web site. They use the "one size fits all approach" to the dissemination of information. I'm not one to accept "evidence" ‘n "suggests' in the same breath. <uh oh>
Let me say this about that <JFK> - the VIA Rail web site is a compound fracture ‘n I've wasted so much time trying to piece together information with which to base trip planning that I've given up. For example, irrespective of the appearance of 2008, take note that the "definition" for off-season does NOT coincide with what you'll be told when asking about the placement of the Park Cars. This year for example, I was told June 1st, whereas the web site said June 15th and then we saw one on our return to Montréal in late May!! How in the world is one to plan for such things? Answer: you cannot.
The only reason there are Budd cars still on the line is because of the ongoing retro-fitting for the Renaissance. Perhaps there will be more - one can only HOPE! When we made our trip this past May, all three train sets were Renaissance. A crewman told me that during the late winter, one consist of Budd equipment was put into service because of problems with the Renaissance. I think it would take a Rosetta Stone to figure out precisely what is ‘n what isn't with regard to this subject from their web site.
Much appreciate your continued support of "Our" Place ‘n appreciate your timely and well thought out submissions!
Well, it's been a long haul, but we've made it to the FINAL set of fotos from the Canadian Railway Adventure that Pete ‘n I experienced this past May. There are hundreds of fotos on these Pages ‘n they represent some fine memories for us.
My thanx to those of you who have been courteous enough to acknowledge ‘n offer comments regarding these efforts 'n our experiences. It's what this Thread was created for - interaction amongst the customers.
These then are the last 14 of the bunch as Pete ‘n I spent our final day in Montréal, passing time ‘til our flights back to Missouri. As you can see, it was a splendid day, weather-wise . . .
A park not far from Central Station on René Lévesque Blvd.
Statue of Sir John A. MacDonald - 1st Prime Minister of Canada and a "father" of confederation.
St. Patrick's Basilica - QE Hotel is where we caught the airport transportation (also one of the entrances to the underground to Central Station).
Views from "our" concourse at Pierre Trudeau International in Montréal
Gate area
Finally, our flight is arriving in Montréal
(13)
One last flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport . . .
(14)
That's IT!
Hard to believe that this foto-journey began back on Page 63 on May 31st. Since then 466 fotos have been provided . . . That's a bunch! <grin>
A Pint of Bathams please RUTH.
ERIC There certainly is too much green on those tracks, by the shine on the rails it looks a though the line is well used. A couple of the British railways magazines run a series called ‘Weedwatch' in which readers are asked to send in photos of rail line with too much greenery on them, and even major station tracks can look quite bad. Although I think a lot is caused, because regulations control the strength of weed killer that can be used nowadays.
Quite right about the Halifax/Gaspe trains. The combined train was too long for the platform so the Gaspe portion was uncoupled and pulled out a reversed into an adjacent platform.
CM3 Bell codes were used in the signalboxes not only to indicate which line the train was on by a different tone, but by the number of the beats on the bell the type of train. For example
Express Passenger 4 beats
Empty coaching stock 2-2-1 beats.
When the train was entering the box's section the signalman would receive, 2 beats from the box to the rear and when the train had passed his box the signalman would send 2 beats to the box ahead and send the code 2-1 to the box in the rear to inform the signalman that the train had passed and his section was clear and the train was complete and showing a tail lamp. If the tail lamp was not visible there was two codes used, one to the box in the rear 4-5 and 9 beats to the box ahead, who would stop the train. The box to the rear would stop all traffic until the all clear was given.
L.T.C. Rolt's book Red For Danger which tells of railway accidents in the British Isles from the early days up to 1957 and how railway safety was improved,has a lot about signalling.
There is a great quote at the start of the book from HENRY IV (Part 1)
"Out of this nettle, Danger
We pluck this flower, Safety".
LARS Yes my birthday is coming up, we are going down to the bride's moms for the weekend, as the bride's birthday is the day after mine. When I was in England it would be her birthday in my time zone and my birthday in her time zone, after 6PM until midnight here.
That is very good advice from Tom and yourself about what you put on the web, sometimes it is so easy to forget, at least for me, that it is not just the regulars who are reading this.
In Britain we do not have domes, the loading gauge is too small, having traveled in one they are, to my mind THE best cars to travel in. I am very glad they have the Sightseer lounge and the SuperLiners, but what I would class as a true Dome would be one where there was all round views or at least a forward view like most of the old domes I have seen in photos. It looks like the modern dome cars have a forward view, love the open balcony on the Alaska car. Thanks for the photos.
The tankard goes down a treat this hot weather, thanks
With the Pete and Sonia thing, if only I had your stamina for ‘Admin Duties'.
DL 1A35 does sound familiar for the Flying Scotsman train, though I have to admit I am not at all sure. I am pretty sure 1M22 and 1S57 was the up and down Royal Scot on the London Midland.
Many thanks for link to Berwick station and signalbox, it is great the LB&SCR station is like that today and with the signalbox manned 24 hours it keeps the vandals away.
When you look back it was remarkable the friendliness of most of the railwaymen, not knowing that their kindness would be remembered for a very long time. A lot of that has changed today and a lot of it is not the railwaymen's fault.
TOM I don't know about the NFL but the English soccer season starts next Saturday. I have just got to tell the bride about NO ‘Honey-Dos' between 9 and 11AM while the ‘Mighty Shrews' are playing, also to remember to shut the door of the computer room in case, as last year, she had a friend round when they missed a winning penalty in the last minute.
It looks as though the hot weather here is going to stay for a while, perhaps Eric would find it cool though.
I may have got it wrong in my reply to Eric about the different arrivals at Montreal, as you say I may have been preoccupied.
I am that your Montreal photos have come to an end and may I join LARS in the salute to you.
Drinks all round please Leon, whatever anyone wants, mines a Tui please.
Tom. DB [Dominion Breweries] bottle and can there Draught beer for sale, it`s in kegs for the pubs and clubs, so you don`t get that sediment from the bottom of the keg in the packaged brew. Still enjoying all your info and pics on the Cannuck trip, you looked a bit sleepy in that Dome shot.
Lars. That Domes info was great reading and the pics were top draw. You have got that International Date Line difference down to a "T", as I was saying to Tom a while ago, each New day begins right here!
Mike. Thanx for the URL`s, the NZ ones were great, we went to see our son in the South Island in January and drove over from the West Coast following the Midland Line where the coal train and the J loco were running in the pics, the scenery is spectacular, saw the TranzScenic train at Aurthers Pass. My boot camp was at Rhyl, North Wales, Royal Artillery, hence Gunneral!
Eric. See we were on site at the same time yesterday "here", wish they had voice capabilty on the site, [a hint to Bergie] enjoyed all your posts.
Pete. Looks as if you and Tom have an exciting trip ahead of you, watch out for those Harvey Girls in KC, and have a very Happy Birthday, on the 11th. two Leo`s on the site. We are going up to Auckland on Thursday for my wife`s sister`s 50th wedding anniversary so will be off line for about a week, my brother in law does not have a PC so will have to go Cold Turkey.
Dan. We have a great view of the Ruahine Ranges from our place but they are not as spectacular as the Southern Alps! One thing about NZ is the scenery changes in short distances compared to other countries, probably due to being on the edge of the Pacific plate area. Napier, about 40 miles north of us had a big quake in 1931 and they had to completely rebuild the city, Art Deco style. Your posts and links are great.
Ron. As Dan was saying Hornby has produced live steam in HO/OO run by DCC, have seen it running and it is very realistic, even has a chime whistle! If you click on the site below you will find the relevant info, wish they could do it in N gauge!
http://www.hornby.com and enter "live steam" in the Search box.
CM3 Shane. Thanx for the interesting info in your posts, they call Towers signal boxes here in NZ as well even though a lot of loco`s and running was based on US practice, they used to run the Tablet system here until going to CTC.
Ahh, finally time to sit down for a while! Leon, an early breakfast, coffee (leaded) and a Cheese Danish!
A pretty nice Friday! A short visit at my doctor's office and lunch with some good friends!
Tom – Yeah, the snakes are in 1st place in their division! Don’t ask me how, I really don’t follow them that close anymore. They lost my sympathies after they won the World Series and dumped a whole bunch of their best players. Something they have continued to do and when the new owners changed uniforms and everything else I just lost it. I haven’t been to a game for several years now and we used to go to quite a few. My visit at the doctor’s office today turned out real well. The doctor was very satisfied and so am I. I would say I’m on the right track! He even allowed me to dring a few cups of real coffee every day! 15 -25 mugs of coffee/day sounds like my brother-in-law in the old country! I think we have to keep an eye on Pete from now on. Something is going on. Maybe he learned something from Manager Lars? Admin duties?Thanks for all the pictures from Montréal and from the whole trip you and Pete made to Halifax!! It has been very interesting to follow your travel!
I like that green park in Montréal! But Pete looks kind of sad. Wonder why?
Received your mail the other day and responded to it.Lars – Taking the heat away? No way. You’ll find out!Tracks with a lot of greenery look (and are) poorly maintained. I had lunch today with some people from work and one of them actually gave me a book, Railway Masterpieces! I have had a quick look and I found a lot of interesting stuff in it, including from this country, from NZ, from UK and from the old country. Maybe that was because I mind the doctor’s orders? Very nice pictures of those Ultra Domes! But in a way I think the old fashion Domes look nicer! I don’t know. Dan – Unleaded coffee is... , well I prefer “real” coffee and the doctor gave me okay today to drink a couple of cups (mugs) a day if my heart doesn’t start to rev up. Thanks for the pictures from the Southern E-Group! But the Signal Box was in the fourth pix from top (not the third), right?
Pete – Yes, you are right about regulations control the strength of weed killer that can be used, but it doesn’t make it look any nicer. Stamina for ‘Admin Duties’? You can call it whatever you want! It still is what it is! Hmm.Thanks for the pictures from ExpoRail! 2 1/2 electrics!?
#6711 was built by GE in 1914. It was the electric locomotive that pulled the first passenger train through the Mount Royal Tunnel, Montréal 10/21/18. #6711 was designed to haul long distance and commuter trains through the mile-and-a-half long Mount Royal Tunnel for the Canadian Northern Railway.Allan – Same time yesterday? No wonder it felt kind of crowded! No PC? I did not think that was possible today. It would probably be pretty nice once i a while to do other things than sitting in front of the computer all the time! Maybe your brother in law is a smart guy? Or maybe he is hiding it in a closet somewhere? Have a nice week off and Congratulations to your in-laws from the gang at “Our” Place! Make sure they send you back here when all the Tui is gone!
I'll be back later with some pictures.
This is ENCORE! Saturday - and - Photo Posting Day!
Remember: "Our" Place is CLOSED on Sundays.
Today is COAST GUARD Day - founded in 1790. A round of cheer to those who serve ‘n have served! <klink>
It's THAT day again - SATURDAY, man's next-best-friend! Time to get those things done ‘round the house, with the kids, with the bride, or just do nothing at all. Yeah, Saturday!
Why not imbibe with us in some breakfast fare, hot coffee ‘n pastries? You know the routine by now - let's get going!
Received an Email from our Maritime Canada Connection, Fergie. He's back out to sea and this time as the Commanding Officer. Don't know the details, but he's the Skipper for this trip - says it's temporary. Hope we'll be seeing him stop by in a few days . . . HOWEVER, Skippers never sleep, so who knows!?!!?
Pete (pwolfe) at 4:45 PM Friday - Aug 3rd: Three fine shots from ExpoRail Canadian Railway Museum at Saint-Constant, Quebéc, Canada! I don't think you've provided ‘em before . . .
Regs on weedkiller - hmmmmm, methinks you're on to something!
I suppose dome nomenclature is in the eye of the traveler - so to speak. There were full car length domes way, way back when . . . they aren't new in concept.
Email received ‘n responded to - thanx!
ANOTHER weekend away???? But I suppose you can be excused for your Natal Day! <bride's too>
Round, chat, fotos ‘n visit always welcome!
Allan (Gunneral) at 10:18 PM Friday - Aug 3rd: Sounds like Tui is a quality brew - will have to hoist a couple when in NZ! <wish>
Appreciate the heads up on the anticipated absence from the bar. Your place at the bar will be kept for you ‘til your return. Boris is good at things like that by keeping an eye out for ya - what else can a Cyclops do?? <grin>
If you're referring to that foto of me on Page 84 - yes, I definitely was feeling ‘n showing my years. Ya think it's easy traveling with Stealthy Pete??
Tired ‘n feeling it - But lovin' the dome!(6)
From what I've seen of Hornby products, they put out some quality stuff!
Always look forward to a visit from our Resident Down Under Connection!
Round, visit, link ‘n chat appreciated!
Eric (EricX2000) at 2:20 AM today - Aug 4th: Great news on your return visit to the doc! Just keep on doing what's required ‘n you'll be a "new man" in no time at all. Maybe even "that" brunette at Hooters will seek you out, being "new" ‘n all . . . <uh oh>
Appears that we've traveled a similar road in that I got totally turned off with baseball when they trashed the 1994 season - no playoffs, no World Series. It actually began for me back in 1981 when the first serious walkout occurred. Since those times, my attendance at games has been reduced to maybe once a year - maybe. I don't reward bad behavior - or try not to.
Yeah - now I'm down to 2 mugs in the morning of decaf - that's it! Been that way seemingly forever. "Works" for me . . .
Pete was in denial sitting in that park. Found her, lost her ‘n now heading back to reality. Sad time for Stealthy Pete ‘n who'll EVER know what cudda been!?!!? <grin> Talking of the all Budd stainless steel train, what else
Glad you enjoyed the fotos from the entire series of adventures! Properly, our Canadian Rail Adventure, fer sure, fer sure! Montréal to Halifax ‘n back. Montréal to Gaspé (by train ‘n bus <frown>) ‘n back. The day at ExpoRail - all of it. Just a wonderful set of experiences.
Thanx for the visit, chat ‘n foto!
Reminder: Cindy has the bar from 9 AM until Leon the Night Man comes in at 5 PM ‘til closing.
Thursday is Fish ‘ Chips Nite!
Friday is Pizza ‘n Beer Nite! - and - Steak ‘n Fries Nite!
Saturday is S
The U.S. Coast Guard has the most diverse missions of the Armed Forces of this nation. Different from the four branches of the Defense Department, the USCG has solid peacetime and wartime responsibilities. In this era of terrorism, we are familiar with the role the organization carries out through port security and vessel inspections. We know of the maritime law enforcement activities in the ongoing effort to interdict drugs and perhaps there are some who know that our icebreakers may be found at both Polar regions. And who can forget the images brought to us during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when our heroic rescue operations swung into action?
The USCG has fought in all the wars this nation has engaged in where ships have been involved. For those of us who have served, we like to say the USCG is that small but hardened nucleus around which the Navy forms in times of war!
Whether protecting ports, convoys, operating landing craft, anti-submarine activities, or keeping the seaways open for the safe passage of shipping, the USCG has a proud history and one that I'm pleased to say includes my 32 years of active duty.
"A Tradition of Heroes"History of Coast Guard DayAugust 4 is celebrated as Coast Guard Day to honor the establishment on that day in 1790 of the Revenue Cutter Service, forebear of today's Coast Guard, by the Treasury Department. On that date, Congress, guided by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, authorized the building of a fleet of ten cutters, whose responsibility would be enforcement of the first tariff laws enacted by Congress under the Constitution. The Coast Guard has been continuously at sea since its inception, although the name Coast Guard didn't come about until 1915 when the Revenue Cutter Service was merged with the Lifesaving Service. The Lighthouse Service joined the Coast Guard in 1939, followed in 1946 by the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection. Finally, in 1967, after 177 years in the Treasury Department, the Coast Guard was transferred to the newly formed Department of Transportation.<On February 25, 2003, the Coast Guard was again transferred to the newly created Department of Homeland Security>Coast Guard Day is primarily an internal activity for active duty Coast Guard personnel, civilian members, reservists, retirees, auxiliarists, and dependents, but it does have a significant share of interest outside the Service. Grand Haven, Michigan, also known as Coast Guard City, USA, annually sponsors the Coast Guard Festival around August 4. Typically it is the largest community celebration of a branch of the Armed Forces in the nation.In addition to celebrating their own day every year, Coast Guard members also participate as equal partners in Armed Forces Day activities.<from: http://www.defenselink.mil/afd/military/coastgrd.html>
"A Tradition of Heroes"
History of Coast Guard Day
August 4 is celebrated as Coast Guard Day to honor the establishment on that day in 1790 of the Revenue Cutter Service, forebear of today's Coast Guard, by the Treasury Department. On that date, Congress, guided by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, authorized the building of a fleet of ten cutters, whose responsibility would be enforcement of the first tariff laws enacted by Congress under the Constitution.
The Coast Guard has been continuously at sea since its inception, although the name Coast Guard didn't come about until 1915 when the Revenue Cutter Service was merged with the Lifesaving Service. The Lighthouse Service joined the Coast Guard in 1939, followed in 1946 by the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection. Finally, in 1967, after 177 years in the Treasury Department, the Coast Guard was transferred to the newly formed Department of Transportation.
<On February 25, 2003, the Coast Guard was again transferred to the newly created Department of Homeland Security>
Coast Guard Day is primarily an internal activity for active duty Coast Guard personnel, civilian members, reservists, retirees, auxiliarists, and dependents, but it does have a significant share of interest outside the Service. Grand Haven, Michigan, also known as Coast Guard City, USA, annually sponsors the Coast Guard Festival around August 4. Typically it is the largest community celebration of a branch of the Armed Forces in the nation.
In addition to celebrating their own day every year, Coast Guard members also participate as equal partners in Armed Forces Day activities.
<from: http://www.defenselink.mil/afd/military/coastgrd.html>
Good Afternoon Tom and Company!
First off I was unaware today was USCG Day so on behalf of the Officers and Crew of the CCGS Hudson a hearty Happy Coast Guard Day Tom! As Tom pointed out I am Captain on this trip to sable Island and surrounding waters as my Captain had other business to attend to this month and I have the papers, I was temporarily promoted to Captain. I'll take that please and thank you very much!!
CCGS Hudson is powered by 4 ALCO's and has a HP of 7500. She's twin screwed, has a small bow thruster and has an overall length of 296 feet.
We are presently off of sable Is in a location called "The Gully". It's a protected area as it is home to many fragile and endangered marine life. We revovered 4 deep sea moorings yesterday that measures sea temps, density, salinity, water current and speed and so forth. As of now we are doing organic sampling and will do that until the 8th and back in port for the 9th.
So hold the Keith's until I get back in homeport.
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
"That small but hardened nucleus around which the Navy forms in times of war!" Now there's one for ya - the Hooligan Navy speaks! <grin> You shallow water sailors really come up with the one liners! C'mon out to SEA, where the water's over your head!
Cindy my sweet, I think it's time for me to have a DOUBLE jolt in that mugga Joe! A round for the boys while I check out the bakery case. Keep the change my lovely!
Boris, the crittAHs are lined up - so let's get a move on! Yeah, yeah, the small jar of pickled pig's feet is waiting when you finish up!
For Da Boss: So, the photo spread is over and the 400 plus pictures are now "ours" to enjoy here in the ether. Nicely done, Mate ‘n many, many thanks for your untiring efforts along with willingness to share the good (and not so good) times with those of us who give a rat's patoot! 5- Salue to our Cap'n!
I see we've got some absences coming up with Pete ‘n Allan. Probably will be some others as this summer progresses. Let's just try ‘n keep things movin' forward with a bit of help for Da Boss. How can I help?? Provide your submissions at times when perhaps there's a drought. That's what we should be striving for, if your schedule permits of course.
Hey! My Mets are trying to help youse guys - we beat the Brewers, but you're beating yourselves. <Good Grief Charlie Brown!>
For example: Pete provides his material in mid to late afternoons (wellllllll, maybe not always!) - so if he's away, maybe someone else can step up. That keeps the burden off of the Cap'n.
Good to see the boys at the bar yesterday ‘n early this morning.
FINALLY: Best wishes for a HAPPY COAST GUARD DAY! There's not a mariner alive who doesn't appreciate all you guys do! When out on the briny deep, the USCG pulled many a sailor out of the drink, in peace ‘n war. And yeah, I know, you guys are all over the world. Just pulling your leg, mate! 5- Salute to the USCG!
For Eric: Good news regarding the progress noted by his Dr. Speaking of the Resident Desert Swede - you made mention of a book you've been given.
Well over a year ago, Cap'n Tom came up with a great idea - he called it the RR Book Relay. He had a great book of train shots from all ‘round the world. The idea was to mail it to the guys. Upon receipt they'd check it out, make written comments - then mail it to the next guy on the list. Really was a lot of fun. Wonder if we could resurrect that idea. Interested???
So, Ruth ‘n me are still in the "spotlight," huh <grimace>
For Allan: I can tell you're a man of great distinction when it comes to choices of brew ‘n trains to ride! Those dome cars are THE BEST ‘n there's just no way to describe it, one has to try. Just like with beer - gotta drink it down, then order another!
50 years with the same boss woman is a long time, for sure. Listen to me - I'm not all that far off with my Sarge Mrs. <grin>
I'm going to look into arranging for Zeppelin flights between "Our" Place ‘n New Zealand. We surely need to sock in a supply of Tui - the imported stuff ain't quite like the real thing! Too bad Nick has taken leave <again> for he's the organizer for those airship flights. Even had a pad constructed out back for ‘em to tie down. <grin>
We'll miss ya while you're gone. But not to worry, Boris will make sure your stool isn't disturbed while you're away. A small token of appreciation will be expected once you do get back though. Boris likes most things RAW. <ugh>
For Pete: Odd, I don't recall seeing a "chit" from you in the form of a request for a leave of absence. Funny that you'd decide upon skipping out on ANOTHER weekend without first checking with the MANAGER! Now where's that micro-dipper when I need it???
I'll leave the stamina commentary alone - I think we'd get into troubled waters with a pursuit of that! <uh oh>
Yeah, I can accept your point of view with the domes. But as the Cap'n mentioned, there were full length domes decades ago - and with forward facing seating too. That's a huge plus in my opinion.
For: CM3 I'm NOT Shane! I'll be sure to check out John White for passenger domes . . .
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