"Our" Place reborn! 3rd Year of adults 'n REAL Classic Trains in a special environment!

[JanOlov]

Good evening Tom and fellow classic trains worshipers...

May I please have the usual extra cold Guinness, top up and cigars for the boys...and get yourself something as well.

A few $$$ for the cigar box and Mr Wurlitzer too of course.

Tom, great post about NYNH&H one of my favorite railroads! Read that the Merchants Limited was something to behold in luxury and comfort...

Da Larsman, Big Boys and Challengers....hmmm. Must have felt like an earthquake when they moved past you if you were close to the tracks... Have to say that I like the Challengers slightly more than the Big Boys though, with the D&RGW ones being the best looking of the breed. Looking forward to see more of your steamers.

DD1, nice collection that you have going there. Another stunning calendar picture admire too...

marthastrainyard, better get that in soon then, eh? Looks like you have a nice layout.

coalminer3, didn't know that about the Vikings. 1977 you say, wow that is a while back to say the least! I hope that it'll be their turn again soon and this time to win....

EricX2000, Orange Blossom Special and On the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, you could probably talk for some time with my dad about railroad music etc then...

DD1,  I can see why this one is your favorite, awesome! Below is a picture of D 101, I think that they built 100+ with wooden bodies, I can't remember the exact number, but I'm sure that Eric will inform us on that one...

Credit: http://www.olaviahokas.com

[DL - UK]

Hello Tom and all in

Pint of Batham's please (Pete will no doubt be asking for some on the South West Chief about now maybe!!)

Tom - you would very much enjoy the Toronto Union station tour I am sure - the speaker said that for passenger throughput the station was still busier than Pearson Airport in Toronto - hard to believe butt hat is what he said. Mostly due to GO trains I expect - their concourse is of course down below - I learned in the former RPS postal sorting area that was abandoned by the post office in about 1970 and taken over by GO. GO want to expand this area and their platform space to allow faster train boarding etc and permit more services. Godo to know.

Nice posters you've been posting - and nice link to UK toy trains. Hornby Dublo was mentioned and this site has some good pics of the real stuff (see the Gallery page)

http://www.hrca.net/hornby_dublo.html

Lars - I enjoyed those C-Zephyr interior shots a few posts back - Eric mentioned the views - I wonder if they were faked up by the PR department - I've seen pictures here of passengers in cars with scenery outside and turned out they were extras in the cars and they used pictures of scenery stuck to the windows to fake up the views that might be seen for advertising purposes - simpler to take the pictures in some siding somewhere than go out to the site!

Jan - you seem to have posted the lyrics of the whole canon of railroad songs! Nicely illustrated too.

CM3 - thanks for the comments on the BRE LEV - looks like the trail ends in Connecticut!

Your post reminded me that I have visited Wright Patterson AFB with my father when I was about 10 or 12 in 1980 ish - he was working in Tennessee then and we went up there to visit it - it was one big museum then - no doubt bigger now.

James - that pic of the 37 at night was very atmospheric.

Per - nice to see you back in - enjoyed the post.

Allan - enjoyed the NZ links MOTAT looks good and I see they have a van advertising my favourite spread - Marmite - great stuff.

http://www.motat.org.nz/collections/road_transport.htm

You mentioned the Short Sunderland they have there - of interest because I was looking through my late uncle's pilots log book which lists the actual aircraft he flew - I ran them through the web and one came up as having later on been sold by the RAF to the NZ air force as part of batch sold on by the UK - I expect the one in the MOTAT is part of that batch - nice to know it is preserved there - great stuff!

Ron - enjoying the calendar art - do you have the actual calendar in your collection? I agree with you about point to point journey time being the key to high speed rail - in France (and maybe elsewhere but I have not ridden high speed elsewhere) the trains will often go off the dedicated high speed line to run on the old lines into the city centre stations for the final few miles of journey - thus getting an advantage over the airlines as the high speed train can go into the heart of the city - in other places they tend to also build a station on the new line outside the town near a motorway (Interstate) so a quick stop can be made and immediate return to high speed running is possible - people have to drive out to these stations of course but the two system combine well to make an attractive product for the traveller.

Interesting picture of your garden layout plans. My father has a good friend who lives close by with a garden line in Gauge One - this is elevated about 3 feet off the ground on old railroad ties (stood up on end) - which of course keeps it clear of grass etc - snakes too if we had ‘em!

I was looking again at older pages and it was interesting to see your Chile info - re traction engines - we call them that too when they are built for agricultural use - Showman's engines for driving fairground equipment - the later tend to be more fancily decorated for obvious reasons.

Anyway - I think I might hold off posting the first part of my trip Report (ONR Toronto - Cochrane) until Pete is back maybe. I'll have a think about it. I need a little time to write it up properly anyway.

All the best

DL

PS - I'll try and post soemthign on Meccano next model day - as it is a very famous British toy - still manufactured and not, as far as I can work out, in China!

 

[CMSTPP]

G-day Tom and all present!!

Ruth- Good to see you this afternoon... Don't listen to Tom, he wants me to get two 5$ coffees... <grin> Well I think I will have an OJ and a turkey sandwich. Thanks.

Eric- Looking good with those electrics. Especially that Class Dm3. Some great looking electrics. Ya, I'd have to say the SD10 is on a sea.. just a bunch of grass rails... Anyway. Thanks for the great pic. And a great pic of that UP Big Boy. I can see why they called them Big Boys. The Mallet at the Museum here in Duluth is only 10 feet shorter than the Ups steamer. But they made the same HP. Was the Big Boy able to put out a larger tractive effort? Because it is the strongest steamer made...

Jan- Glad you liked the Milwaukee pics. I always enjoy seeing your pics. Especially the steamers. Those cab forward steamers were always a interesting looking steamer. They seemed very weird to me but when it came to a really long tunnel, I think the crew enjoyed them. Thanks for sharing. Also some really neat songs. I really like the Rock Island song. I have a video about the Rock Island. That would be a neat railroad to model. Thanks for all of the great song lyrics.

Tom- Ya, I somewhat forgot to add down were I got this. I actually got the pics from a friend who knows the guy and he has been sending me the pics. Then I forgot to put down were, so yes, I'm OK there. But I will be careful. I can see how it can get you in trouble. Thanks for the reminder.

Good piece on the OO gauge trains. It was really interesting learning that the track was more like HO scale. It was also interesting to learn that gauge represented 4 and 1 and 1 half inches instead of the regular gauge. Interesting stuff fer sure. Thanks for sharing. Also good piece on the New Haven. Another railroad that used electrics for some mainline freight and passenger service. Always come cool stuff to look at. Thanks for sharing.

Lars- Some good looking book and movie covers. The UP is one of the oldest names in railroading and hasn't changed since the beginning. Always some good history behind this railroad. Even today, they make railroad interesting.

DD1- Looking good with your models there. Good to hear that no one was hurt with the rattle snake. But I think you did the right thing. Glad you liked the Boxcabs. The Boxcabs were some of the greatest electrics built for the Milwaukee. At 120,000 pounds of tractive effort for each section of the locomotive, it made it a great hauler of freight, especially in the mountains. Anyway, thanks for the great pics.

Per- Thanks for the comment on those pics. I like the pic of the club layout. I'm sure you could spend a few hours just playing around with all of the switching you could do. Neat stuff.

CM3- I wish I had an SDL39. Unfortunately, to get one of these it would cost me about 500 dollars. The only company that makes them is Overland models, which is a brass company. There is another company, but they sell a kit without a working mechanism for 400 dollars which is not worth it. But the SDL39 was the Milwaukee's ultimate branch line and light rail loco. They weighed less than 130 tons and had a 2350 Horsepower engine in them. So they were string and lighter than most locomotives. A really neat loco.

Happy railroading

James

[LoveDomes]

Ahoy Cap'n Tom ‘n fellow travelers at the bar!

Ruth my deAH ‘tis the Larsman with a thirst to be quenched! Two frosty mugs of Schaefer ‘n slide the snack trays down my way wudja please My, my you are radiant this fine day, a mighty fine sight for these old eyes to feast on! <blush>

Boris, the crittAHs are lined up, so it must be feeding time - go get ‘em! Once finished, the small jar of PPF is YOURS! Don't forget to take Artie outback for his field mouse. <ugh>

All kinds of reading material to check out, but I must say that mention of a rattlesnake in Ron's driveway caught my attention!!

For Ron: The last snake I saw ‘round these parts was a garden snake trying to avoid my lawn mower - which it did. Just like the sayings about "Why would anyone want to jump out of a perfectly functioning airplane?" or "Why would anyone want to sink a perfectly good ship (submarine)?" I must ask, "Why does ANYONE want to live in places where there are things lurking about waiting to either eat you or harm you?" Good Grief Charlie Brown!! <double yikes>

Enjoyed the reference to the old Gilbert Hall of Science. However I think you have it further uptown than it was. Here's the address from a 1954 NYC Guidebook: GILBERT HALL OF SCIENCE, 1 W. 25th St. (corner of 5th Ave.)

Also this info:

Home of the Erector set, American Flyer electric trains, Gilbert scientific toys (chemistry, magic sets, toy microscopes, etc.). 80-foot model railroad, push-button scientific exhibits are part of an elaborate toy display. Group tours (by appointment) include a magic show.

And the original Lionel Showroom was at 27^th St. ‘n Madison Ave. - short walk from the Gilbert Hall of Science. I remember making those visits many, many times as a kid. Read where Lionel moved it's HQ back to Manhattan - 7 blocks north of where it used to be. I'll have to check it out next time the Mrs. drags my sorry butt to Macy's! Will surely give ME something worthwhile to do! <grin>

A link for your enjoyment!

http://www.nysun.com/article/42822

Really fine looking G scale trains! If you're planning on running ‘em outside, guess you'll need something to keep the snakes off the tracks! Rig up a super-powered set of grass shears with extra sharp blades, that should "work"!!

I think the best of all the old time hobby stores in that area was Polks on 5^th Avenue. I remember walking up those stairs many times and wishing that I had a boatload of money to buy some of the trains on display.

For Per (Pete): Yeah, Cap'n Tom caught me!! <grin> Of course we "squareheads" can figure out things like Per means Pete - but I wanted the guys to know, just like Da Boss figured! Thanx for "revealing" it.

For CM3 I'm NOT Shane! Speaking of the Mets, one of my sons already is "in" for the playoffs ‘n I'm going to at least one of the games, perhaps more. Hope your friend sees a good game, for this is THE YEAR of the METS! <grin>

Can't sneak that bookmobile onto the gravel parking area without you picking up the "crunch," huh Glad you're enjoying the submissions . . .

Yeah, that CN herald on the water tower looks "cool" - IF that's what you're referring to . . . a third Eagle Eye ‘round here!

For Jan: In my part of the U.S. there just weren't too many operating steam locos where I grew up. But when they did pass through Staten Island (B&O) they drew a crowd - generally smaller locos "back in the day." When my father took us on the west coast bound trips, we'd see steamers many times, but the transition to diesel had already taken hold. I may be old, but not THAT old!

For Dan: Yeah, I suppose the PR people would come up with some "cheesy" thing like that to save a few bucks in sacrificing realism. <barf> I've looked at those photos many times ‘n must admit my concentration was always "in" the car, rather than "out" of it. Goes to show what "tunnel vision" can do, huh

Ok, what for this fine day Enjoy more from the UP!

[marthastrainyard]

Good Evening everybody present! Leon, please a round for everybody and a pint of your best dark ale for me!

 

Tom, yes those Norwegians, they can trick you into almost anything, can’t they?  I liked your New Haven article. I have seen the word “Advanced” a couple of times in train names, what does it mean? I have no clue myself. I’m glad you liked the little scene from the club layout. I will try to remember to post some more pictures on a coming Wednesday.

 

Eric, the Wylie scene will remain at the club. I have used it to get some experience in landscaping and scratch building. It has been a very good practice, but I think I can do better next time! The transfer terminal is the third version I built; the other two had to be thrown away due to construction mishaps that I wasn’t prepared for. My next project is to build the church (what’s there is just a loan from another corner of the layout).

 

I agree with you, Shane, that the PT is a b***h. Right now I’m in a phase where there is no progress at all and that is a bit hard to deal with. The club layout is not modular so every member has his own area to scenic in a way that fits the over-all plan. We have different interests as well, but just about everyone has an area to complete besides serving on a committee, like electrical, operations, scenery, etc. The committees set the overall direction and the members do the work.

 

We operate the layout one day a month. We use the RailOp program to generate train and switch lists and we run all DCC which makes the operation really realistic. The tasks, yardmaster, running switch jobs or mainline freight, varies from operation night to operation night. There is a call list (I’ve never figured out how you get on top of it) so when the trains are ready we just pick what we want that evening, that is, if there is a choice left when you get towards the bottom of the list. It’s not unusual to have a two hour long run if you get one of the longest trains.

 

Ron, thanks for the picture of the wooden Swedish electric engine. I remember those very well, they were still in use when we got the overhead wires in our town. The local railroad museum (Kristianstad) has one of those engines restored and operable. That one is the Du 109, formerly Ds 109, built in 1929.

 

Your note on the hobby shop reminds me of how many of the hobby shops have closed in the 25 years that I have been here. We used to have quite a few in the Southern California area but there are only a handful left. Even Allied Hobby changed owner and down sized considerably. I will pay them a visit among the first thing I do when I get back to see how much building supplies they have. Most of the remaining stores have just ready-to-run stuff.

 

Jan Olov, thanks for the great picture of the 101! The museum I mentioned above has a picture of the 109 on their site (http://kulturguide.regionmuseet.m.se/hembygd/osj/index.html), it’s all in Swedish, but just find “Elektrolok” and follow the “Du109” link.

 

DL, I will be looking forward to your trip report with great anticipation. I just love to read those reports. Some more Meccano information will be welcome as well.

 

James, I wrote about the club operation earlier, but I can add that when it came to planning the trackwork in Wylie, one of the Master Model Railroaders suggested I put the crossing in there. I didn’t see the expression on his face when he said it, but I have heard from nearly everybody who had to switch Wylie, that the crossing makes it very difficult to switch anything there. Oh well. 

 

Lars, shame on you for tricking your fellow easterner like that   and I fell for it too, that’s the really bad part! 

 

  

Y’all take care and I will see you again soon!

  

Per

[EricX2000]

Good morning Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!

Leon, glad to see you are still awake! A ham sandwich would be perfect this time!

Friday! Yeah!!! We had another hot day, 108°F. At least, there is no snow!

Tom –  I love raw onions with my hamburgers but I have cut back on both onion and hamburgers. Once in a while though...

Big Boy is a fine looking locomotive, no doubt. Kind of sad that no one is operational.

I am kind of surprised to see that New Haven had only 1,800 miles of tracks in 1950! And only 33 electrics in 1963! Interesting info indeed! I think the two top drum heads were the best looking ones.

I would love to come along to St. Louis Museum of Transportation but I can't this year. I am out of vacation!

CM3 –  Interesting and true comment about the geese and their output! I used to raise geese for a few years in the old country and they were walking fertilizing machines.

Ron –  You have to help me, what electric is on your favorite calendar picture? Class?

I saw JanOlov posted a nice picture of the Swedish Class D electric. The body is made of teak. I’ll see if I can find a good picture of one.

I think you will have very good possibilities to get a very interesting layout around the pond. Irregular ground makes it so much better!

JanOlov –  It sounds like your dad has a very good taste when it comes to music! I have seen he has been posting a lot of pictures lately at the bus forum.

Class D with wooden bodies? I don’t remember the exact number but I think they built around 125 of them before changing to steel bodies. One reason for the wood was the insulation, to keep the cabs warmer in the winter time.

DL –  I remember when they took pictures and videos of the X2000 before it enetered revenue service in 1990. Many of those pictures and videos were shot with the train indoors. But it looked pretty real when you saw those pictures afterwards.

James –  I don’t know what Mallet is at the Museum in Duluth. According to the info I have Big Boy could put out 5,200 hp at 20 mph, 6,200 hp at 35 mph and 10,000 hp at 70 mph. Tractive effort was 135,375 lb.

Lars –  Very nice book covers! Since my wife grew up in UP territory (Nebraska) I learned to like them too.

Per –  I like scratch building! All buildings I have from my layout in the old country are all built from scratch. I also built a couple of locomotives and a streetcar  from scratch (the bodies). Good luck with the church!

Union Pacific.

 

 

Eric 

[siberianmo]

<personal foto>

G'day Gents!

<phew> We made it - Friday has finally arrived with the promise of rest ‘n relaxation ahead!

Time to try some pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery case, freshly ground ‘n brewed Colombian coffee along with a <light> or <traditional> breakfast from Our Menu Board! So, what's the delay

Comments from the Proprietor:

None!

Customer Acknowledgments (since my last narrative)

CM3 Shane (coalminer3) at 8:59 AM Thursday - Sep 13^th: An always interesting report from our WVA Connection regarding this ‘n that, but "on track" when it comes to the topic ‘round here - Classic Trains (real ‘n model)!

Exasperation continues with Kalmbach: Just received ANOTHER notice from them about renewing my Classic Trains subscription - which I renewed a couple of notices ago. Anyway, this time the "deal" is better than when I signed up for more issues. <arrrrggghhhh> Anyone want to place bets regarding where this will all "go"???? Don't bother - I've got other things to do than chase these "wind mills."

Cards dropped yet another ‘n were swept by Cincy. Recall my comments of a couple of weeks ago regarding the Reds It ain't over ‘til it's over - right Yogi

Quarters, round ‘n visit makes for a good morning start ‘round here - thanx!

  

Ron (DD1) at 11:32 AM Thursday - Sep 13^th: Thought you said the Pennsy calendar shot form the day before was your favorite!?!?! Hmmmmm. <grin> Nice one, fer sure, fer sure!

The talk regarding the Gilbert Hall of Science surely brings some good recollections my way. Can't tell you how many times my childhood "best friend" ‘n I used to make the trek from Staten Island up to Madison Avenue to view the American Flyer trains in the window, then go over to the Lionel Show Room to take in their splendid displays and layout. We were both Lionel "kids" ‘n loved looking at the stuff. Secretly though, I always thought the American Flyer set ups were much more appealing. Don't know whether it was the two-rail OR simply that the size of them "did it" for me. But, I remained a faithful Lionel ‘defender' ‘til adulthood . . .

Now of course, at this late stage of life along the continuum, I've gotten both Lionel ‘n S-gauge (not AF) running in my trainroom. Both supplemental ‘n apart from the feature layout, which is HO, but there nonetheless.

Thanx for the memories (a Bob Hope saying!) . . .

Thought you'd pick up on the New Haven piece - but maybe it wasn't visible to you. Gotta use that REFRESH/RELOAD feature on your browser if you want to ensure getting the most current "stuff"!!

Round ‘n visit appreciated!

Jan (JanOlov) at 12:28 PM Thursday - Sep 13^th: Good inclusive Post coming from our man in Glasgow! Now how can one call himself a Viking's fan IF unaware of their NFL history <geesh> Must be a "name only" thing, eh Back in the day (as Shane would say) they were known as the "Purple People Eaters" ‘n had some awesome teams. Just couldn't finish it off with a winner at the Super Bowls . . .

Thanx for the "top up," tips, money for Herr Wurlitzer ‘n cigars!

Dan (DL-UK) at 12:49 PM Thursday - Sep 13^th: I find that "stat' rather hard to accept about TOs Union Station having more passengers flow through it than Pearson International Airport. Yeah, the GO trains accommodate lots of people - same bunches twice a day - so the "stats" are a bit skewed, eh Anyway, just hard to believe. Wonder who ‘n how "they" figure these things out <ooooot, in Canadian!>

Too bad we no longer have our Ontario Connection with us - he'd shed some insights where needed. Oh well . . .

Hornby link appreciated - enjoyable!

Anticipating your contribution to our OPTIONAL Toy ‘n Model Trains Day!

[DL - UK]

Hello Tom and all in

Yes, Friday - time to peruse the food menu and have a look for something nice to eat. Let's have a pint of mild please.

Tom, I agree with you on the stats for Toronto Union Station - it seemed pretty unlikely to me, but there we are. Shame Rob not about to add to the thinking - I saw he posted in one time when I was away. Not quite LOL but no doubt nearly!

For Lars and Per - I've been checking on the relationship between Meccano and Erector - quite interesting really.

Meanwhile - on catching up on past pages I saw the book feature on LTC Rolt's Red for Danger - a long time since I've read any of that book but it is a classic. Rolt was a remarkable man - I first read one of his books when at school - it was about Victorian Engineering. Then I found some years later one part of his autobiography in a closing down bookstore - bought it and really enjoyed it - I must one day get the other 2 volumes and read them!

He can single handidly be credited with kick-starting the canal preservation movement in this country and from that also the railway preservation movement - essentially he started - with some like minded people - the society that preserved the Talyllyn Narrow Gauge Railway in Wales

http://www.talyllyn.co.uk/index-about.html

They formed what is thought to be the 1^st preserved railway run by volunteers in the world - in 1951 - and in fact their efforts are supposed to have been the inspiration for the Film Titfield Thunderbolt - which we have discussed before - so I guess we all have a lot to thank them for.

More info on the man is here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._T._C._Rolt

But this inspired me to check out the local book store to see what they had - one copy of his first book ‘Narrow Boat' - 1^st published in 1944 and still in print - not too bad by any standards. I'd been meaning to read this book for a while so I spent the 6 pints (standard international currency) to buy this book. Hopefully it will be a good read.

"The boat was ‘Cressy' - a converted working boat - and this account of canal travel immediately prior to the Second World War has been dubbed ‘the book that saved the waterways'. Published in 1945, it became a best seller, and its warning of the threat hanging over the canal system led to the founding of The Inland Waterways Association. This latest edition includes a selection of Angela Rolt's photographs taken around the time of Cressy's voyage"

Anyway here's a link I've been sent which might be of interest to those of you with Swedish connections: "This fascinating film covers the electrification of Swedish railways before World War 2.There's an 1 minute's worth after about 6m 15s. (And yes... it's in Swedish!)

Hope the link works

http://tinyurl.com/2jz2ol

Cheerio

DL

[coalminer3]

Good Morning Barkeep and All Present; coffee, please; round for the house, and $ for the jukebox.  Let's see what to play today.  How about "Who Is The Girl Wearing Nothing But a Towel and a Smile on the Billboard by the Big Old Highway," followed by "Tombstone Every Mile," and "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights."  It's raining here today which is a good thing as we truly need it.  Gas is at $2.95 (but hang on).

DD1 - Sent a fine calendar shot of an unmodified P5.  Hadn't seen that one in awhile.

DL was here with comments and observations.  Here's aonother canal book for you.  Ronald E. Shaw.  Canals for a Nation: The Canal Era in the United States, 1790-1860. It was released in 1990 and is probably long o/p.  It sold for $28, but I got it for $10 as it somehow landed on a sale table at the Genessee Museum in Mumford, New York - one of may favorite places to visit.

James - I figured that an SDL39 would either be a kitbash project (yikes - I was thinking of doors and louvers and stuff on the roof) or a brass model.  IIRC, the SDL was a locomotive unique to the Milwaukee. 

Lars - Yep, it was the CN logo on the water tower.  Turbines West sits on a bookshelf somewhere in the stack of stuff. 

Per - Thanks for the club information.  That's how we did things as well.  Control system we used was Dynatrol; ancestor to DCC.  I liked both the YM and DS "jobs" because they were close to the coffee.   Call list?  Patience, patience - just like on the real thing. 

I have friends (rr employees) who spent 25+ yrs. on the extra board before landing a regular turn.   

In shifter work, C&O around here used to use a system called "pool crews" who worked in rotation from the bottom of the board up to the top.  It worked pretty well as they had a rough idea of when they were going to be called for a run.  Real high tech stuff as names were on blocks of wood that were moved up in different slots on what looked like an old fashioned printers type case.   No Boris, we're not going to go out and crank up the Linotype today.

Eric - The Yankee Clipper drumhead you mentioned was a square flat sign that was on the rear of the hw observation on the train.  The "Clipper" and the "Merchants" were the candy trains on the NYNH&H. 

OSP - For what it's worth (never stops us, does it), I did my Classic Trains renewal online; it went through fine.  Maybe we can do a session closer to the holidays re department store layouts, etc.   

Thanks for the NYNH&H rerun and the reminiscene of Polks - remember it well. 

Jan - Vikings?  Try harboring a Bills fan.  I had to be REAL careful the year the Giants beat the Bills in the Super Bowl, lest I spend the rest of the winter out in the yard (LOL).  Anyway, after about three months or so, she resumed speaking in coherent sentences. 

I may be offline Monday, but will try and stop by.

work safe

[West Coast S]

Howdy strangers, sharp eye there Tom, what can I say, was harrased off the puter before I could post, pesky one stars, messing with my play time while on Government pay!!

Tom, had you in my thoughts earlier this week during my 24 hour tour de-force in St. Louis, well that and being in Chicago and Louisville in the same week. Discovered something interesting in downtown Louisville, the former L&N headquarters building and a magnficient cut stone ediface I believe to be a former passenger terminal next door, though in use by the transit authority these days, the passenger platform canopies and central courtyard betray it's former use and disconnected rail in the pavement provide additional clues, Alas my camera didn't travel with me and i'm not sure i'd be brave enough to investigate on foot given the state of the surrounding area. I got it, i'll tote my 45 and my camera during my next visit. Opps, got so wound up I forgot to order breakfest, eggs over easy with country fries and a spot of Folgers.

I see the faithfull have been at work, so without further ado...

Jan... Great interest in the MLW, I was surprised to learn they were the last to maintain and use with frequency, Morse Code communication circuits, until there demise, though BN maintained isolated emergency circuits into the mid 80s they were rarely used due to lack of experienced operators..

Pete..I see the California trip is a do, have a great stay in our fair state, I do say your coverage of British railroading is most educational....Hope you are able to make it to Rio Vista, you will not be dissapointed....

Eric... Those MLW electrics could have had kissing cousins, if Southern Pacific had electrified the route over Donner Pass, SP officials were assigned to the to project and became temporary MLW employees during the evaluation period, unlike the MLW, SP was forbidden by the state PUC to purchase or control power generating stations, thus the cost of having to buy from commercial utilities at a open market rate, nixed the project and resulted in the purchase of additional Cab Forwards in 1928 which was deemd a far more prudent investment in the long term.

CM3...I'm still undecided as to the concept of reproducing what could have been paint schemes, in my mind the C&NW is plausable and perhaps the SP as well, as pop used to say, one man's Buick is another man's Dodge, I do have my latest copy of TRAINS with that photo spread, wonder if they plan to offer it as a poster without the staple holes or fold as they did with the Bicentenial Shoot which is now a much sought collector item (though I do have a framed copy of the never circlulated N&W Bicentenial poster which 99 percent of the railfan community is unfamilar with)...

Well heck, got to complete my travel vouchers if I want to see my check, my best to those I have failed to acknowledge, a special hello to Sir Lars, Boris and the critter barn...

Dave

[siberianmo]

G'day Gents!

Appearances by Dan (DL-UK) - CM3 Shane (coalminer3) 'n some guy called West Coast S (Dave) this fine day . . . My comments in tomorrow's ACKNOWLEDGMENTS!

Time again for a Blast from the Past - this one a Nostalgia Post from early 2006 . . .

 

 

 

PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #57

<A form of this was initially Posted on Page 219 of the Original Thread on 13 Jan 2006>

Here's something to enjoy regarding the Southern Pacific (SP) from a 1946 advertisement in my personal collection. 

 

 

 

 

 

Now you may choose from

5 fine, fast trains daily to
the Southwest Sun Country

ARIZONA * CALIFORNIA * TEXAS * NEW MEXICO

For your winter vacation, Southern Pacific offers the only main line train service direct to Phoenix, Tucson, Palm Springs and other Southwestern resort and guest ranch centers.

On the Golden State Route, low altitude way from Chicago to Los Angeles, via El Paso, Phoenix, Tucson and Palm Springs you may ride;

1. The Golden State Limited, with through streamlined Pullmans from Chicago, New York and St. Louis and streamlined chair cars from Chicago. Now on the fastest schedule in its history, the Golden State streaks from Chicago to Tucson in only 36 ¾ hours, Phoenix in 39 ½ hours, Los Angeles in 49 ¼ hours. No extra fare.

2. The swift Imperial, new 53-hour train between Chicago and Los Angeles, gives you an exciting 51-mile trip through Mexico, and shows you California's sunny Imperial Valley. No extra fare.

3. The friendly Californian, popular economy train, carries coaches and tourist sleeping cars and a lounge car. Economy meal service. Through cars to San Diego.

4. The Sunset Limited, now making the run from New Orleans to Tucson and Phoenix in a day and a half, to Los Angeles in only 48 hours. No extra fare.

5. The Argonaut, carries chair cars and coaches, tourist and standard Pullmans and full lounge car. Through cars to San Diego. Fast, luxurious daily trains from principal eastern cities connect with the Sunset Limited and Argonaut at New Orleans.


Incidentally, we would like to remind you that the peak winter resort season will continue until February. Most resorts, however, will remain open until late spring. To insure getting the train and resort reservation you want, if possible try to take your trip a little later, during the less crowded months. All train and resort reservations should be made well in advance.

FOUR SCENIC ROUTES TO CALIFORNIA

1. Sunset Route

. . . . . 2. Golden State Route

. . . . . . . . . 3. Overland Route

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. Shasta Route

 

S*P 

The friendly Southern Pacific

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

Some drumheads of the SP:

 

 

 

Enjoy!   

Tom

[West Coast S]

Tom:

You do indeed know how to smoke me out with that fantastic SP brochure, I would like to add that the Imperial often resembled a common reefer drag during packing season. Seems SP decreed once upon a time, that no express/general reefer cars of any type were to be permited on any first or second class carded passenger trains. Thus when a hot shipment had to get a move on, and no extra was scheduled or available,  the Imperial provided that convience, as a result these consits could exceed thirty revenue cars, restricted to the rear due to lack of steam and signal connections while providing optium block switching at a minium impact to paying passengers. When necessary, following sections were employed as required on a acclerated schedule. Often on these massive movements, Cab Forwards were employed to eliminate double heading whenever possible, although, depending on conditions, a second locomotive was added to maintain sufficient train heating and brake pipe pressure. 

Technically, the Argonaut ceased to exist during the WWII years, though listed in timetables as such from this period, the military held precedence and control over it for the movement of troops, crews and motive power continued to be assigned according to their home roads however. As one can imagine, this made for some unique equiptment allocation, ancient wooden coaches next to brand spanking new streamlined equiptment, a riot of colors and car design from across the nation and from all builders. One can only fathom the nightmare of maintaince headaches and grimlins this must have caused...

The Sunset, poor Sunset..never fulfilled it's grand design due to Rock Islands continued poverty. Despite this, managed to survive and prosper despite the Rock defaulting on car construction payments on a number of occasions, leaving SP with the tab. When possible RI equiptment and even locomotives were run through, especially in the latter years when SP was disposing of pure passenger power, it is said that Rock crews tolerated having it's equiptment bad ordered upon arrival in Los Angeles, due to a reasonable shop labor rate and a superior SP maintaince staff. 

Dave

[LoveDomes]

Ahoy Cap'n Tom ‘n fellow travelers at the bar!

Ruth my deAH how lovely you are on this ‘n every day! <blush> I'm ready for . . . a tankard of Keiths fine ale, a Larsman hero sandwich of ham, Swiss, mustAHd ‘n buttAH along with two large ‘n extra crunchy pickles from the barrel. A round for the house ‘n the change from that fifty is YOURS!

Boris, the crittAHs are lined up - so draw a sauce of brine for Tex, a tray of seeds for Awk, a bucket of ice cubes for Frostbite, a chew bone for Juneau ‘n a field mouse for Artie <but, take him outback for THAT!!> Yes, yes - the small jar of pickled pig's feet (PPF) is YOURS!

First ‘n foremost - congrats to Da Bossman - he posted the 2,200^th offering at "Our" Place. Also did the same thing ‘n number over on his other thread a couple of days ago. Busy man that Cap'n of ours. 5-tup Salute to Da Boss!

So do you suppose Wolfman Pete is glued to the windows in the sightseer lounge on this day Hope he's learned to turn his head ‘n not just look straight on . . . bad habits for modern day traveling with domes and so on. <grin> Wonder how many brews he's amassed on the voyage Probably don't have "his kind" though - so he'll have to settle for that "inferior" U.S. stuff. <grin> Hope to see him back here Monday so we can all revel in the stories of his 2 week vacation (holiday).

Interesting spattering of conversations going on - airplanes, trains, museums - all kinds of things!

Good to see some activity from Per - Eric - Dan - CM3 I'm NOT Shane! - Da Boss ‘n "some guy" called West Coast S. All good stuff since my last post . . .

Liked the SP nostalgia piece from Cap'n Tom - glad to see that the "aficionado" surfaced to make comment on it  - nice drumheads, for sure!

Hey Tom! Yeah, I've wondered the same thing too about maybe being at the Gilbert & Lionel displays at the same time, but not knowing each other. Both from Staten Island at that! Could've happened - but we'll nevAH know, huh

Weekend is upon us ‘n I'm gonna "chill." Was able to talk my Mrs. out of a trip to the Keys right now. Finally got her to realize that hurricane season isn't the "ideal" time to be going down there. We can wait it out a couple of more months . . .

Sorry about your Cards, Cap'n Tom - this just isn't their year. They've had a terrible time of it ‘n this 7-game losing streak pretty much sums it up. Bask in the glory of what they did last year. At least YOUR World Series win is a hulluvalot closer than the last one for the Mets. <grin>

 

Time to provide a few more steamers for the gang, then I'm departing the scene - may not be in tomorrow . . . got quite a few things going on with family ‘n friends. BUT, you can bet I'll TRY!!

N&W #611 4-8-4 Class J (credit unidentified)

B&O P7 4-6-2 President series \"Cincinnatian\" Pacific loco (courtesy: Cincinnati Railroad Club collection)

B&O EM1 2-8-8-4 (courtesy: Cincinnati Railroad Club collection)

Wheeling & Lake Erie 0-6-6 Loco #3 (from: www.yesteryeardepot.com)

Wheeling & Lake Erie 4-4-0 Loco #19 (from: www.yesteryeardepot.com)

Ok Ruth my deAH, we're heading off to get that <ahem> admin work done! Yes - yes, the secret passageway . . .

[Anonymous]

Good day Tom and all in attendance. Drinks all around and Guinness for me. Here is today's calendar.

Jan: Thanks for the super picture of the 1-C-1. That really is a beauty. From my info, 417 were built with most still in service.

DL: Sorry to say, I don't have those calendars. I wish I did, I found them on a web site. Calendar art is highly collectible. Many years ago every store owner had a calendar on their wall depicting everything from railroads to tools. It would be nice if high speed trains could run between large cities and transfer to feeder lines for local service. It could work similar to the subway system where express trains bypass a number of stations and local trains take you the rest of the way. The Japan railway system works this way, but not with the bullet trains. I traveled many times on Japanese trains and found them to be unbelievable. You can actually set your watch to their schedule. Even if you don't understand Japanese, foreigners have no difficulty getting around on their rail system. I'm thinking of elevating my garden railway maybe two feet (due to back problems). I will try to find the traction engine photos and post them. I visited a Hornby site They sure have a tremendous array of engines.

Lars: Are you sure of the location of A.C. Gilbert? I can remember there was a place just a few blocks up from Times Square where Broadway and 7^th Ave cross each other and down a block or two from the old Madison Square Garden. Where the two avenues crossed, they formed a triangular shaped building and on the street level, was The Hall of Science. Maybe I'm wrong????

Per: When I lived in Northern California, there were some great train stores in the area. Most were in the Silicon Valley and some in the Sacramento area. In Mississippi, there is zilch. If I don't make it myself, I have to get mail order. I went to the Swedish museum site you told Jan about. Great site.

James: Glad you liked the models and thanks for your concern over my snake. I used to be better at building models many moons ago, but due to eyesight and manual dexterity, I'm concentrating on large scale models. In the large scales, there is little in the way of kits or "dress-up" parts, so most of what I need, I have to make. Fortunately, I've built up over the years quite a collection of wood and metalworking machine tools, so another aspect of model railroading involving tools is open to me. I never really liked those plastic trains. I don't know if you are into model railroading. I always built all my own rolling stock, bridges, stations and buildings. I used to lay my own track with ties, rail and spikes. Even my turnouts were scratch-built. I don't think it was because of cheapness, but I enjoyed knowing and finding out how to do things on my own. This way, I could take pride in knowing that everything was 100% (nearly) done by me. I even messed around with outside third rail in HO, but it wasn't practical in those days. Maybe today, a workable third rail system can be built with today's technology. Being brought up around the tracks of the Pennsy, NY&NH, and Long Island railroads, third rail and catenary systems are of interest to me. A steam or diesel engine running on 12VDC, does nothing for me, but an electric engine running on electric power, either third rail or overhead wire, comes closest to realistic operation. Here's another favorite.

Photo courtesy of Bob Redden collection.

Eric: According to CM3, that electric on the calendar was a P5. Sound good to me.

[CMSTPP]

G-day Tom and all present!!!

Leon- Good even my fine fellow. Could I get a...... OUCH!!! Boris.. Why do you bother me now Okay, could I get a pickled pig's foot for Boris, a coffee and a turkey sandwich for me... Thanks, keep the change.

So Boris, is your shed dirty again

Anyway. Good evening gentlemen. She's a cold one tonight here in the Northland. So far it is near freezing. 37 degrees... <brrrr> I can't believe it's getting cold already. We usually don't get this until the end of this month.

Lars- Good show on the UP covers. I once saw a video about the UP's Turbines, and I have to tell you, they are the most impressive monsters. When they started one up from a dead cold start it blew flames about 20 feet into the sky. That was crazy!!!! I had never seen that before. It was a fascinating movie. They sure were neat to watch. Thanks for sharing.

Per- Hey, if it makes it harder to switch the layout then it's like the real world. Nothing goes as planned and then you get hung up on the main waiting for mainline traffic to clear and then switching takes hours.... Now with the road added, they can't be on the road for more than ten minutes. So there switching becomes very interesting and fun at the same time. Sounds like fun to me.. he he.

Eric- Well, just by your stats on the big boy the Mallet, a 2-8-8-2 DM&IR Yellowstone, put out about 6000 HP. Nowhere near the 10000 HP at 70 MPH for the Big Boy. Of course, the Yellowstone handled trains at nearly 20000 tons... I don't think the Big boy handled Iron ore trains. But you never know. Thanks for the stats. Also, good shot of that UP SD70MAC. They may not be the prettiest of locomotives, but they do move freight more efficiently. Good pic.

Tom- I would gladly join in with a brewsky... but... you know the whole liquor license and age limit and all of that. I don't think that would go over big with the police.... So ya.. But I will have a coffee.

That movie about the Rock Island I was talking about earlier was probably the most impressive of movies. They have motion picture in there that would blow your mind away. One shot is of this trailer train with 4 GP40s leading and they are just whipping across the land at probably 80+ MPH. The passenger trains are probably just as impressive. There are a couple of shots that show these trains running at 120+ mph. It's just a blur when they pass in front of the camera. If you like passenger trains. This would be the movie to own. I will see if I can get the name of the company who made the movie.

Great Passenger Nostalgia on the Southern Pacific. They always had some great trains, like the Shasta Daylight. Great stuff, Thanks for sharing.

CM3- Well, when it comes to the SDL39, I would actually be more worried about the trucks. Unlike a regular EMD truck The SDL39 sat on a specially designed lightweight truck. If you were to kit bash the truck it would actually call for about 4 different locomotive side frames. There are parts from truck side frames and the wheels are spaced differently than a regular EMD. SO the hard part would come with the underterior. But a cool locomotive none-the-less.

DD1- When it comes to Model RRing, I completely agree with you. I model in HO scale. But I model the Milwaukee Road. Well, every manufacturer that makes a Milwaukee Road loco (Except Overland Brass Models) has made a few mistakes. They take one form of the locomotive and make it in all different roads but... each road specifically had there locomotives built to match there "standards" and this was no exception with the Milwaukee Road. When I do buy a loco, I usually take a day and modify it, kit bash, detailing, and make it look like a prototype model that the Milwaukee Road actually used. For example, the Milwaukee Roads SD40-2 loco had a 3200 gallon gas tank instead of the 4000 gallon version.. Well, I bought a Kato model of the SD40-2. I didn't like the fact that it was so incorrect for my tastes that I actually spent half a day modifying and detailing it to match the prototype. This type of work gives you that sense of actually going ahead and doing something with it. It's that feeling you get when something looks right to you.

Dave- Good to see you back. It's been awhile. Hope to get into some good conversations in the near future.

Happy railroading

James

[CMSTPP]

G-day Tom and all present!!!

Leon- Good even my fine fellow. Could I get a...... OUCH!!! Boris.. Why do you bother me now Okay, could I get a pickled pig's foot for Boris, a coffee and a turkey sandwich for me... Thanks, keep the change.

So Boris, is your shed dirty again

Anyway. Good evening gentlemen. She's a cold one tonight here in the Northland. So far it is near freezing. 37 degrees... <brrrr> I can't believe it's getting cold already. We usually don't get this until the end of this month.

Lars- Good show on the UP covers. I once saw a video about the UP's Turbines, and I have to tell you, they are the most impressive monsters. When they started one up from a dead cold start it blew flames about 20 feet into the sky. That was crazy!!!! I had never seen that before. It was a fascinating movie. They sure were neat to watch. Thanks for sharing.

Per- Hey, if it makes it harder to switch the layout then it's like the real world. Nothing goes as planned and then you get hung up on the main waiting for mainline traffic to clear and then switching takes hours.... Now with the road added, they can't be on the road for more than ten minutes. So there switching becomes very interesting and fun at the same time. Sounds like fun to me.. he he.

Eric- Well, just by your stats on the big boy the Mallet, a 2-8-8-2 DM&IR Yellowstone, put out about 6000 HP. Nowhere near the 10000 HP at 70 MPH for the Big Boy. Of course, the Yellowstone handled trains at nearly 20000 tons... I don't think the Big boy handled Iron ore trains. But you never know. Thanks for the stats. Also, good shot of that UP SD70MAC. They may not be the prettiest of locomotives, but they do move freight more efficiently. Good pic.

Tom- I would gladly join in with a brewsky... but... you know the whole liquor license and age limit and all of that. I don't think that would go over big with the police.... So ya.. But I will have a coffee.

That movie about the Rock Island I was talking about earlier was probably the most impressive of movies. They have motion picture in there that would blow your mind away. One shot is of this trailer train with 4 GP40s leading and they are just whipping across the land at probably 80+ MPH. The passenger trains are probably just as impressive. There are a couple of shots that show these trains running at 120+ mph. It's just a blur when they pass in front of the camera. If you like passenger trains. This would be the movie to own. I will see if I can get the name of the company who made the movie.

Great Passenger Nostalgia on the Southern Pacific. They always had some great trains, like the Shasta Daylight. Great stuff, Thanks for sharing.

CM3- Well, when it comes to the SDL39, I would actually be more worried about the trucks. Unlike a regular EMD truck The SDL39 sat on a specially designed lightweight truck. If you were to kit bash the truck it would actually call for about 4 different locomotive side frames. There are parts from truck side frames and the wheels are spaced differently than a regular EMD. SO the hard part would come with the underterior. But a cool locomotive none-the-less.

DD1- When it comes to Model RRing, I completely agree with you. I model in HO scale. But I model the Milwaukee Road. Well, every manufacturer that makes a Milwaukee Road loco (Except Overland Brass Models) has made a few mistakes. They take one form of the locomotive and make it in all different roads but... each road specifically had there locomotives built to match there "standards" and this was no exception with the Milwaukee Road. When I do buy a loco, I usually take a day and modify it, kit bash, detailing, and make it look like a prototype model that the Milwaukee Road actually used. For example, the Milwaukee Roads SD40-2 loco had a 3200 gallon gas tank instead of the 4000 gallon version.. Well, I bought a Kato model of the SD40-2. I didn't like the fact that it was so incorrect for my tastes that I actually spent half a day modifying and detailing it to match the prototype. This type of work gives you that sense of actually going ahead and doing something with it. It's that feeling you get when something looks right to you.

Dave- Good to see you back. It's been awhile. Hope to get into some good conversations in the near future.

Happy railroading

James

[EricX2000]

Good morning Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!

Leon, I'll have an early breakfast. French Toast, powder sugar and syrup, please!. Coffee and a large OJ.

Found  some interesting reading here this early hour!  

Tom –  Dan’s stat about Toronto Union Station is obviously correct. Wikipedia has this information:
Union Station is a major railway, subway, and streetcar hub at 65 Front Street West between Bay Street and York Street in downtown Toronto. Currently, the primary function of the railway station is to act as a terminus for commuters on GO Transit, thanks to which it is busier than any other transport facility in the country, including airports. It also serves as a hub for intercity trains, and many railway companies have their offices within the building.

Counting passengers (commuters) twice a day is correct. They do the same thing at airports. If you are arriving with one flight and then change to another flight from the same airport you are counted twice, once arriving and then again departing.

Stockholm Central Station has almost as many passengers/year as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the world, 80 million and 84 million resp. Thanks to all commuters.

Erios, nice memories from the last night of the 2nd Annual Rendezvous! Too bad you can’t have what you really want.

I hope to get some time to start building (from scratch) anything necessary for my future display after my retirement by the end of this year. I have the same problem as you though, arthritic hands. But it should work.

The geese I raised were “normal’ white ones, perfect as watch dogs!

Ah, Southern Pacific! Take the Sunset Limited to Phoenix! Not today though. I like the Southern Pacific Daylight drumhead!

I'll add a picture of a Daylight car (shown before).

DL –  The stats about Toronto Union Station is correct, see my comments to Tom.

Thanks for the link about the electrification of the Swedish Railways! I have seen it before, but it is still very interesting to see it again!

CM3 –  We can still get gas for $2.51, but it is going up.

Flat square sign? It should be a real drumhead, no flat signs.

Dave –  Thanks for the SP info! I read somewhere about SP’s plans to electrify the Donner Pass but don’t remember why they didn’t. Now I know!

Interesting info on SP’s trains!

Lars –  Interesting mix of steam locomotive pictures! I like the B&O EM1 2-8-8-2! B&O bought 30 of them from Baldwin 1944 and 1945. They were all retired in 1960.

Ron –  P5! 3,750 hp, traction effort 57,250 lb. Weight 392,000 lb. P5 was plagued by lateral swaying and cracked axles.

Nice picture of Virginian EL-3A #100! I think those boxcabs normally were run as triple-units, but the picture shows a double unit.

James –  Yellowstone! How could I forget Yellowstone? Anyway, I do not have any hp rating for Class M3 Yellowstone. But they put out higher traction effort, 140,000 lb, than Big Boy.

Streetcar controls.

 

 

Eric 

[siberianmo]

<personal foto>

 

This is ENCORE! Saturday - and - Photo Posting Day!

Remember: "Our" Place is CLOSED on Sundays.

G'day Gents!

Saturday at the Saloon by the Siding ‘n time to fill up that coffee mug, grab a few pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery case! Don't forget the Menu Board with our <light> ‘n <traditional> breakfast selections!

Customer Acknowledgments (since my last narrative)

Dan (DL-UK) at 8:55 AM Friday - Sep 14^th: Most welcome Post to kick off the daylight segment - thanx!

No one did it better than our UTB ‘n permanent member of the Legion of the Lost trolleyboy Rob up in Ontario. He's missed. Also in that department is another UTB, barndad Doug in Chicagoland (well north of the city, actually). He too is missed.

I don't expect either to return, in spite of what they've said. The longer one stays away, the easier it is to find other things to do with ‘spare' time. If either does, it won't be at the level once attained. Oh well, as I said - no one did it better than they.

Nice rundown on Mr. Rolt's writing accomplishments ‘n reviews. Red for Danger is the first I"ve read from him or any other author regarding railroad accidents.

A.C. Gilbert's Erector sets used to be a huge part of the early development for boys in this country. My experience with the set I had introduced me to mechanics ‘n electricity. When coupled with my toy trains (Lionel) I was "set" for being unafraid to tackle things mechanical. I fear in today's world, our boys are more into keyboards than wrenches. <sad>

Interesting links ‘n conversations in your submission - thanx for the visit!

CM3 Shane (coalminer3) at 9:50 AM Friday - Sep 14^th: Special days are fine with me - just provide a REMINDER! Department store layouts would be a good topic ‘round Christmastime!

Filled up the buggy yesterday at $2.59 (rounded) - filled the bride's car night before at $2.53. Upward trend not surprising given the record level prices per barrel. <yikes) Appears you'll be over 3 bucks well before us. <groan>

RR Book Relay 2007: Book en route WVA - watch for it . . . mailed yesterday. Email on the way . . .

No sweat with the subscription extension for me - just decided to renew the renewal! That should put ‘em in a dither for awhile. Now I'm "good" for 4 years worth of Classic Trains mag . . . Guess that means I HAVE to live that long, eh <grin>

Caught in the act: As the stomach turns in pro-sports, this time the Pats got "nailed"!! There used to be a saying, "Does Macy's tell Gimbels?" No - but either has a way of finding out!

Visit, chat, round ‘n quarters appreciated!

Dave (West Coast S) at 11:36 AM ‘& 4:06 PM Friday - Sep 14^th: So it IS you! Won't even ask the obvious questions . . .

Covered a wide variety of insights with those Posts.

Two visits appreciated.

Lars (LoveDomes) at 5 PM Friday - Sep 14^th: And our Manager didn't disappoint - got here just as the "shift" was changing. Figured you'd not miss a Friday late-afternoon "delight" with Ruth!

Thanx for the "recognition" on the 2,200^th Post - didn't realize it either here or over on "my other Thread"! Anyway, we're perking along on this reborn site, eh

Figure Pete is having a great time aboard Amtrak's Southwest Chief - just hope the service is good ‘n dining car stocked appropriately. Can't imagine the beer supply will be to his liking, but a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do, eh

The N&W Class J is sharp looking in that livery. Great selection of steamers, Mate!

Appreciate the visit, chat, Pix ‘n round!

Ron (DD1) at 5:08 PM Friday - Sep 14^th: Nice round of inclusiv

[JanOlov]

Greetings Tom and fellow bar visitors....

May I please have the usual extra cold Guinness, top up around bar with cigars please? Here's something for yourself as well....

Few $$$ for the cigar box and Mr Wurlitzer.

Tom, awesome posts as always matey. Loved the SP one, they had some really colorful signs at the en of their trains....yummy.

CMSTPP, anything Milwaukee Road is good if you ask me mate. What is there NOT to like with that railroad?

Da Larsman, when I was born in '69 the steam had just been gone from the Swedish rails for a few years I think . But, with a dad that has been working for the Swedish State Railway since '62 I soon cought up... Now I've been working on steamers as a fireman, it's heavy and dirty but I LOVE it... Great pics on the steamers as usual.

marthastrainyard, no problem at all mate...

EricX2000, thanks for the info on the number of D's with wooden bodies. My dad has the book about the D class locomotives and its history, there it mention the number built with that, but as usual my memory is as short as my nose...Question for you Eric, do you remember what they called the class D's that had a wooden body but recieved steel cabs in both ends?

coalminer3, sounds like the families over here that house both Celtic and Rangers football supporters.....

West Coast S, same here. I'm still learning new things about my favorite railroads every day. That is something that I really enjoy...and as I've noticed here in the bar, it's a pure goldmine in knowledge and the willingness to pass that on....

DD1, another wonderful PRR calendar picture. Thanks for the info on the numbers built on the class D's...

Some Southern Pacific steamers.....

Southern Pacific dble-hdr steam on #14

Southern Pacific, 4-8-2, #4349 and cab-forward 4160
are seen on the head end of train #1-14, the "Pacific
Limited" as it rounds Cape Horn.

Photographer: Fred C. Stoes

Southern Pacific "West Coast" #15 1937

Southern Pacific Train #1-15, the "West Coast" is seen along
the Sacramento River below Dunsmuir, California, 1937.

Photographer: Fred C. Stoes

A Southern Pacific 4-8-2 on #16, 1935

Southern Pacific eastbound Overland train #16 is seen
approaching Roseville, California on its way to the Sierra
and Donner Pass.  Note the plow on the 4300's pilot beam.
The nose of the train blurs slightly because of its high
speed and close proximity to the photographer!

Photographer: Fred C. Stoes

SP train #1-20 on Cantara Loop, 1937

Southern Pacific train #20, the "Klamath Limited," is seen on
the upper curve of Cantara Loop near Shasta City, California,
1937. Obviously the 3600 and 4300 series locomotives on the head
end have made light work of the grade out of Dunsmuir (formerly
Pusher) California.  The Sacramento River Canyon can be seen in
the background where the train just climbed from, 1937.

Photographer: Fred C. Stoes

SP dubbel-header-freight 4-6-6-2/2-8-2 Pleasanton

A double-headed Southern Pacific freight #406 works the main near
Pleasanton, California one lazy 1936 afternoon. It would have
been a fantastic record shot were it not for one tall blade of
grass that passed in front of the lens.. Still, it is a keeper
and a true image of the time and place.

Photographer: Fred C. Stoes

SP train #84 at Glenwood, CA 1919

In this wonderful view Train #84, the Monterey Local,
has just cleared the 5,792 ft. Santa Cruz Mountains
Route tunnel #2 and is about to make the stop at
Glenwood. It has been 60 years since a train last
visited Glenwood!

Photographer, unknown.

Credit: Yesteryeardepot....

I'm sorry if I've missed anyone. If so, just give me a slap on the back of my head and hopefully it won't happen again...

Have a great night/day everybody!

[siberianmo]

 ENCORE! Saturday ‘n Photo Posting Day!

at "Our" Place!

We are CLOSED on SUNDAYs!

 

G'day Gents!

A continuing display of my 2006 Alaskan Rail Adventure . . .   these fotos 'n those to follow have not been shown at the bar.

(1) ARR Denali Star - southbound at Denali Park Depot

 (2) ARR Denali Star - southbound en route Anchorage

(3) ARR Denali Star - southbound en route Anchorage

(4) ARR Denali Star - southbound en route Anchorage

(5) ARR Denali Star - southbound en route Anchorage

(6) ARR Denali Star - southbound en route Anchorage

(7) ARR Denali Star - southbound en route Anchorage

(8) ARR Denali Star - southbound en route Anchorage

(9) ARR Denali Star - southbound en route Anchorage

(10) ARR Denali Star - southbound en route Anchorage

Enjoy!

Tom

[West Coast S]

Good Encore day to all, I see Tom is providing us with yet another fantatsic virtual rail tour, geez why can't I have fun like that?

 

That was indeed the golden age of Southern Pacifc steam, you might discern that the 4300 retains raised nickle lettering, this was one of two MT's to have worn "special paint" grey green jacket, nickle plated cylinder covers and predating all other power by twenty years silver smokebox front and firebox surfaces...With the exception of a few switchers, special paint  was extinct by the early thirties, though the raised nickle lettering was retained on basic black well into the forties on some classes of passenger power.

Gotta love that flat faced 4000, in rebuilding they lost their bulldog face for the sake of crew safety, as orginally constructed, the outside train order number boards were accessed via a very narrow and pericious catwalk bolted to the cab front, after rebuilding, in which the cab front was extended one foot and the number boxes and roofline redesigned to permit access without leaving the comfort and safety of the cab. What the early class 4000s are perhaps best remembered for is the unique "peanut whistles" crafted by shop forces and not used with any other class of power.

One cannot conclude this period of SP steam without mention of the "Sacramento Headlight" as unique as the locomotives that wore it, in vogue from 1914 to the mid thirties it was a simple 24 inch sheet steel barrel with massive 4 inch number plates and mounting platform so large in size that federal regulations required it to be equipped with handholds! Designed and constructed by the capable Sacramento shop forces it was eventually phased out in favor of the common Pyle design.

Dave

[siberianmo]

For: West Coast S - Dave 

<tweeeeeeeeet> <tweeeeeeeet> Rules Violation! Rules Violation! Rule #1 AND Rule #2 - failure to greet the bartender AND order a drink or food!

Penalty: Polish all brass AND clean out the Rat's Patoot Room! <geesh> <double geesh>

AND: No going back to edit your Post - that will cost ya double!!

Tom the Proprietor  

[LoveDomes]

Ahoy Cap'n Tom ‘n fellow travelers at the bar!

Cindy my sweet, I've only time for a "quickie" - beer that is! <blush> Make it a Schaefer please, and ummmmmmmmm, yeah the snack tray too! <grin>

Boris, feed the crittAHs ‘n that small jar of PPF is YOURS!

A round for the boyz - then I'm outta here. Have a house full today - but figured I'd bettAH drop this off in order to keep my "promise" to do what I can to take up the slack in absence of our Bar Chandler - Pete. (Guess he's back in Missouri today, huh??)

Should mention the fine spate of Alaska photos from Da Bossman! Also noted he "nailed" the Left Coast guy! Long overdue and well earned!!

Here's something pre-prepared for this Encore! Saturday . . .

A post of mine seen over on the "old" thread on page 446, Dec 19, 2006 . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until the next time!

Lars

[West Coast S]

Ok you got me, lets see if I can get this right..Good day Tom and Lars, as a pentence I will also assume to cover all libations and nurishment for the next week!!, Tom, got any Brasso, sandblaster a quart or two of industrial acid cleaner?  Geez can't cheet the rules with you two prowling around In my defense (weak though it be) Jan got me so excited by nailing my favorite period of the SP, must be some ESP at work here fingers before brain will do it every time!!!  Ok guess i'll do the honors, round of Makers Mark hold the water..

Well, despite my flagrant viollations, Tom, Lars, Jan, CM3 have a fantastic next couple of days until my return but bear in mind there is talk of operable Pacific 2467 being restored to special colors with raised lettering in addition to being backdated wherever possible.

Until later

Dave  

[siberianmo]

ENCORE! Saturday ‘n Photo Posting Day!

at "Our" Place!

We are CLOSED on SUNDAYs!

Starting Sunday at the Mentor Village Emporium Theatre!

. . . September 16^th thru 22^nd: The Aviator (2004) Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Alan Alda, Alec Baldwin, Kate Beckinsale, Cate Blanchett & Frances Conroy  - and - Monte Walsh (2003) Starring: Tom Selleck, Isabella Rossellini, Keith Carradine, George Eads &  Robert Carradine. SHORT: The Three Stooges - Three Smart Saps (1942).

 

 

 

The Aviator (2004)

PLOT SUMMARY:

From Hollywood's legendary Cocoanut Grove to the pioneering conquest of the wild blue yonder, Martin Scorsese's The Aviator celebrates old-school filmmaking at its finest. We say "old school" only because Scorsese's love of golden-age Hollywood is evident in his approach to his subject--Howard Hughes in his prime (played by Leonardo DiCaprio in his)--and especially in his technical mastery of the medium reflecting his love for classical filmmaking of the studio era. Even when he's using state-of-the-art digital trickery for the film's exciting flight scenes (including one of the most spectacular crashes ever filmed), Scorsese's meticulous attention to art direction and costume design suggests an impassioned pursuit of craftsmanship from a bygone era; every frame seems to glow with gilded detail. And while DiCaprio bears little physical resemblance to Hughes during the film's 20-year span (late 1920s to late '40s), he efficiently captures the eccentric millionaire's golden-boy essence, and his tragic descent into obsessive-compulsive seclusion. Bolstered by Cate Blanchett's uncannily accurate portrayal of Katharine Hepburn as Hughes' most beloved lover, The Aviator is easily Scorsese's most accessible film, inviting mainstream popularity without compromising Scorsese's artistic reputation. As compelling crowd-pleasers go, it's a class act from start to finish. --Jeff Shannon

<from: amazon.com>

 

 

 

Monte Walsh (2003)

PLOT SUMMARY:

Tom Selleck is at his iconic best in this made-for-cable remake of Monte Walsh, a poignant Western about the passing of an American age and the people attached to it. Selleck plays the title character, a career cowboy whose rhythms are aligned with the seasons and the annual herding of cattle from Wyoming to Texas. Faithful to his ways, loyal to his best friend (Keith Carradine), and satisfied with his part-time romance with an ailing, aging saloon girl (Isabella Rosselini), Walsh is happy until his 1890s world rapidly unravels. Eastern corporations are buying up land and shutting down ranches; trains are shuttling livestock faster than an army of cowhands. Walsh can't accommodate the future, and those closest to him are moving on. Director Simon Wincer (Lonesome Dove) masterfully balances the epic and elegaic, Selleck is perfect as a fading footnote to history, and Monte Walsh becomes a universal tale of loss and integrity. --Tom Keogh

<from: amazon.com> 

 

 

 

SHORT: The Three Stooges - Three Smart Saps (1942)

PLOT SUMMARY:

Wedding plans for the Three Stooges are cut short when the father of their brides is wrongly jailed. Moe comes up with a plan for them to

Happy Railroading! Siberianmo