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

[siberianmo]

<w/permission: http://www.scenic-railroads.com/>

 

Wednesday's Witticism

The saloon keeper loves a drunk, but not as his son-in-law.

 

G'day Gents!

Wednesday and mid-week in mid-continent USA! A bit boggling realization that this time last week Pete ‘n I were back from our Canadian rail adventure!  Time flies, eh

Coffee's fresh - pastries fresh and breakfast selections ready - so what's stoppin' ya??? <grin>

 

Customer ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (since my last narrative):

Pete at 6:11 PM Monday - June 4^th: Well I know this much - between the two of us, there ain't a photographer in the group!!! <arrrrggghhh> Sorry to learn of your Pix not turning out as hoped . . . I do think those that are within tolerance of mine will suffice.

One thing about Titanic that seemingly hasn't gotten the "play" deserved was the rather small rudder she had. Surprising to me - but that's more hindsight than anything else. Nevertheless, she just couldn't make those maneuvers expected in times of extremis.

A pay RAISE?? Be REAL, Mate - be REAL!! <grin>

Thanx for the round, chat ‘n inclusiveness of your Post!

 

Eric at 1:25 AM Tuesday - June 5^th: That class 3 car is nearly half the length of what we consider "normal" here in North America! But of course, the era had a lot to do with it, eh

Enjoyed the 4 Pix - last one of the guy stashing his bike in the luggage rack on our trip up to Springfield, IL!!

Surely you KNOW there are weeks where FIVE MONDAYs are included! Been there, done that - far too many times! <groan> <grin>

 

Mike at 8:24 AM Tuesday - June 5^th: Two Pix and a host of URLs and a round from Silent Mike!

 

CM3 Shane at 8:59 AM Tuesday - June 5^th: WHO could possibly forget the 5^th Dimension and their great hit "Up-up and Away!" either as a "straight" version or in the TWA commercial form?? Also, "Connies" were great to look at and I had two experience flying in one - a Pacific Northern Airlines (PNA) flight from Seattle to Anchorage in 1959 then the return 18 months later . . .

Ambassador class?!?! I still have my FF card(s) and recall many, many trips aboard L1011s and 747s between St. Louis and LAX during the latter part of my career (1986-88). I used to pay for the upgrade on government flights and use my mileage for others. Well worth it, but in today's bucks - simply outrageous would be my guess.

Walter Alston and Casey Stengel at the opening game of the 1956 World Series in Ebbets Field as the Brooklyn Dodgers defended their World Champion title from the year before. They won that particular game, but lost the series in 7 games - a series known more for Don Larsen's perfect game than anything else. I missed all of that series as my military career had begun earlier. Ike was my first Commander-in-Chief!

Wonder what the tax bite will be for the Maserati?? <grin> I'll take the Park Car AND the maintenance fee, thanx! <grin>

Pete ‘n I fared quite well in Montreal, albeit much of the time inside Central Station. It's really not that hard ordering coffee, brew or a bite of this ‘n that . . . it's the more meaningful stuff that "gets ya". . . perhaps for another day. <groan>

Hard ball schedule is simply "daffy"! Methinks it's past due to scrap the inter-league play and get back to a more balanced sked within the division and league.

We viewed "Fear Strikes Out" last night and for a 1956 flick, not bad - not bad at all. I do recall seeing it decades ago and now that I'm aware of the great career Jimmy Piersall wound up having, I'd say the movie may have been a bit premature in making. Too bad there's no "Post Script" . . . . A link worth viewing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Piersall

 

Thanx for the quarters, round ‘n continuing dialogue!

 

Pete at 3:17 PM ‘n 3:58 PM Tuesday - June 5^th: In the world of sailors, some things are best left aboard ship! Hmmmmm, methinks that applies to trains as well AND "secret stashes" of beer! This is NOT the way to a raise in pay . . . <uh-oh>

That question you posed regarding the rigging on the ship tied up in Dartmouth in 2004 may be answered thusly: It has to do with the "jack up drilling" natural gas exploration in the Sable Island field off of Nova Scotia. Check out this link for a bit of detail:

http://www.soep.com/cgi-bin/getpage?pageid=1/5/0&dpa=2/4/2/1

Also in that particular URL, the view of VIA Rail's Ocean brings to mind that it was most probably a 12 car consist of Budd stainless steel beauties waiting for departure on that December day. Note the two domes - the rear Park Car obs dome and the Skyline dome (similar to the one we traveled in aboard in the Chaleur. At that time in 2004, VIA was supposed to have replaced all Budd consists with Renaissance, but found that those cars weren't insulated for North American winters - so off they went to Moncton for refitting! <gasp>

Additionally, "our hotel windows" are in clear view as well!

Good to see your Pix from our trip aboard the Ocean . . . . hmmmmm, methinks that shot of "Nessie" may have been in Nova Scotia, at least according the scenery it appears that way.

Round appreciated - and many, many THANX for the treats for the critters

[EricX2000]

Good morning Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!

Hello Leon! How about a Cheese Danish and a cup of coffee. That would be perfect! 

More pictures form the traveling duo's trip to Halifax! It certainly doesn't look the way I thought it would. I expected more forests, but instead it is wide open landscape. 

Tom –  Secret supply of Keith’s during your recent trip to and from Halifax??? What do you know about it?

I like those “Significant events in Canadian RR History” posts! Very informative! Interesting that Canadian Pacific Angus Shops, Montreal, produced tanks during WW II. You think they should be busy keeping the trains rolling.

Some very nice (and sharp!) pictures from your trip! The train station in Truro, NS, obviously lost a track. Was there only a single track through the station? Your favorite cars look kind of unusual in my eyes too.

Mike –  A bunch of interesting pictures! You certainly know how to find them! Including a picture from the D-Day 1944, 63 years ago.

The picture of the steam locomotive somewhere in Sweden is confusing me (doesn't take much to do that). I am not sure it is from Sweden, can’t identify the locomotive class or the cars in the background. It looks a little bit like Finland to me. I will do some research to see if I can find out. Thanks!!

CM3 –  ATSF 811 is a Class 789, 2-8-0 built 1902 by Baldwin. The last one of the 35 in its class was retired in 1954. I don’t know what that thing on top of the tender is, but I don’t recall it was a backup light. I might be wrong. For whatever reason that picture is the only one I took of that locomotive.

Pete –  ATSF 811 was built 1902.

Good to see your pictures from Canada! No soda pop on them!? It’s also good to see some F40’s still in service. But I think they should skip the advertising on them, like the Spider Man. I know... money! Nice pictures!

 

I'll add some more pix from the Rendezvous.

Pete is trying to get rid of the soda pop that drowned his camera.

I liked this view car.

 

The front of the Brulington #9908 "silver Charger".

 

The front truck.

 

 

Eric 

[siberianmo]

G'day Gents!

Customer ACKNOWLEDGMENTS in the 'morrow . . . 

Continuing on with MORE Pix from Day Two: Friday - May 25^th, 2007 - VIA Rail to Halifax, NS from Montreal, QC . . .

Nova Scotia scenery from the eastbound Ocean

(between Truro & Halifax)

Approaching Truro - check out the mural!

 

Truro, NS train station - a mere shadow of what once was

 

The Ocean at Truro

 

Interesting building at Truro - Enlarge this one!

 

Scenes

 

To be continued . . .

 

Tom

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all Another Clancey's please RUTH while I load these Pics from our Canada trip.

From the window of the Ocean , could that be a New Brunswick "NESSIE" in the lake.

VIA locomotives 6425 and 6408 after arrival at Halifax NS.

In the waiting area of Halifax Station.

In the waiting area there was a display, in a glass case, showing items featuring the Veterans Rememberance Train of 2005,a very good feature I thought..

These should enlarge.

Pete.  

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all.

A pint of Clancy's please RUTH.

ERIC Thanks for the info on the Swedish electrics.

The AT&SF steam locomotive #811 looks about from the turn of the century, do you know when she was built. I had forgotten about that bike on the train to Springfield Ill, I gave the guy a hand to get it up into the rack, I wonder who gave him a hand to get it down again, but it does show how much you can get in an Amtrak luggage rack.

Ask TOM about his ‘secret' supply of Keith's on our trip.

MIKE Many thanks for the interesting links. I wonder if the conductor told John Lennon to get his feet down.

Great photo, of Halifax with the Budd cars in the station. I wonder what that structure on the ship across the harbor is for.

There can't be many photos of the Titanic out at sea.

Good tribute for the anniversary of D-Day tomorrow.

CM3 Yes if a camera crew had followed Tom and I in Montreal they probably could have made a series out of it.

Enjoyed reading about the golden age of air travel.

TOM Thanks for the Canadian RR History for May. I see it was that month that the LMS locomotive No 6100 Royal Scot toured Canada and the Hudson locomotive we saw in the Museum at Delson worked the Royal Train from Quebec to Vancouver quite a feat for the same loco to work the 3224 miles.

Very much enjoyed the link to Marconi and his work on the early days of wireless in Nova Scotia. To think he was only 22 years of age when he first was successful in 1899.

I see the first message was exchanging pleasantries between the British And French scientists (I will refrain from comment)

 Well Ruth I will have another please and let me get a round and some treats for the mascots, while I load a few more pics. .

Pete.

[coalminer3]

Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house, and $ for the jukebox.  Cloudy and cool here today.  It started to rain just as I finished doing the yard work last night.  I wanted to get it taken care of early as it is supposed to be pushing 90 degrees here a little later this week.  Gas is $3.09 this a.m.

Per - Thanks for the pictures I enjoyed the one of the sunrise in KS.  Some of my wife's people live out there and Garden City is the nearest ATK stop to where they are.  I also appreciated the shots around Raton.  It's one of the spots I would like to visit if I had a time machine that could take me back to the 1946-48 period. 

Albany is a bewildering mess of trackage.  The line you saw at Schenectady would be the old D&H.  "Adirondack" service operates on that trackage north.  Used to photograph all up and down that road.

Pete was by with far ranging commentary.

Eric stopped by with pictures.  ATSF 811 has a lot of interesting details to look at; especially the tender (oil type, monstrous backup light, etc.)  The ATSF cab - every train set in the world comes with one. 

OSP - I just thought of you wining the locomotive because of the "I won the Maserati" Spiderman scratch off ad that is saturating TV down here.  The Park car would probably be the better deal, although it would be high maintenance. 

Incidentally, the idea of the two of you being "linguistically challenged" (how about that one, Leon!), AND on the loose in Montreal; I can't decide if it's a plot for a sitcom or a Stephen King short story.   Anyway, you made it and that's all that matters.

You were talking about TWA.  Our family had a friend who flew Connies for TWA between New York and Rome; talk about a long haul.  The Connie, IMHO, was a beautiful airplane, but especially in TWA livery; the same as a DC7 looked great in the old Eastern colors.  Yes, Boris, I did fly on an Eastern DC7; never got a Connie trip, but rode on plenty of TWA "three-holers" (727).  Who else out here remembers the "Fifth Dimension's" TWA ads, and "Ambassador Service?" 

Thanks for today's installment of Canadian RR History.

Re the Red Sox - that's why they play.  They don't see NY again until the end of August, and Boston has yet to even play a single game against Tampa Bay, who is in the AL East - gotta love it!

Mike sent pictures whic arrived just as I was abt. to post this.

ATSF train is probably the "Super."  At any rate it is arriving at Dearborn Station - that was a lovely shot.

Gagnon, Bradley, and Hayes.  Wow!  Bradley's son wrote Flags of Our Fathers.

Last - I'll bet OSP knows where the shots of Ike were made.  Last is a good one with Casey  and Smokey.  Many thanks!

Work safe

[wanswheel]

Hi Tom and everyone, a round for the house

Just some pics, some classic oldies.

5 locomotives

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3b00000/3b05000/3b05500/3b05560r.jpg

East Dubuque, IL 1940

http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a05000/8a05500/8a05519v.jpg

Super Chief (?) Chicago 1949

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3d00000/3d02000/3d02300/3d02371v.jpg

Aerotrain

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=655142

A  Beatle on the Pennsylvania Railroad

http://img.nytstore.com/IMAGES/NSAP535_EXTR.JPG

The Titanic

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c10000/3c16000/3c16000/3c16091v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c10000/3c16000/3c16000/3c16095v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c10000/3c16000/3c16000/3c16096v.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c10000/3c16000/3c16000/3c16092v.jpg

Pier 21

http://beacon.chebucto.info/Photo_Album/Webcam_Dec_2004/img/13.jpg

Rene Gagnon, John H. Bradley, and Ira H. Hayes

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/ppmsca/13300/13342v.jpg

June 6, 1944

http://www.archives.gov/research/ww2/photos/images/ww2-99.jpg

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c10000/3c11000/3c11200/3c11201v.jpg

President Eisenhower

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c30000/3c34000/3c34200/3c34220v.jpg

http://img.nytstore.com/IMAGES/NSAPSP12_EXTR.JPG

Somewhere in Sweden about 1910

Mike

[siberianmo]

<w/permission: www.scenic-railroads.com>

G'day Gents!

Hope all's well with you ‘n yours as we begin a new day here at the Saloon by the Siding! Gonna be a busy day for Moi as there's things to do, people to see ‘n places to go. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS later on or tomorrow fer sure, fer sure!

 

Good to see Pete ‘n Eric "in" though . . .

 

Here's something that shudda been Posted last month - busy, busy month for Moi! <phew>

 

Significant events in Canadian RR History during the month of May.

Initially Posted on Page 331 of the original Thread . . . .

Caveat: Much of the information appearing was gathered from internet sources, with credit to "Colin Churcher's Railway Pages" at http://www.railways.incanada.net/


* May 16th, 1853: The first train in Ontario runs between Toronto and Aurora on the Ontario Simcoe and Huron Railroad Union Company. The name was changed to Northern Railway of Canada on August 16, 1858 and it became part of the Northern and Northwestern Railway on June 6, 1879, now part of Canadian National. The first train was driven by W.T. Hackett who also took the first locomotive into Kansas City.


* May 20th, 1879: The Department of Railways and Canals comes into effect with a Minister having jurisdiction over all railways pertaining to the Dominion Government. Previously this function had been covered by the Department of Public Works.


* May 23rd, 1887: The CP main line is extended 12.2 miles along Burrard Inlet to Vancouver. The first train is pulled by Port Moody based locomotive No. 374, now preserved at the Vancouver Drake Street roundhouse.


* May 17th, 1908: Electric operation begins through the St. Clair Tunnel between Sarnia and Port Huron. This ended steam operation which had asphyxiated several crew members. A formal inspection and opening ceremony took place on November 12.


* May 6th, 1912: The body of C.M. Hays, President of the Grand Trunk and Grand Trunk Pacific Railways, who was lost in the Titanic disaster, was landed at Halifax by the Mackay-Bennett cable steamship Minia. It was immediately placed on a special GTR train which had been waiting at Halifax for several days and which reached Bonaventure station in Montreal May 7. The funeral took place the next day at Mount Royal Cemetery and the GTR offices were closed for a portion of the afternoon so that staff could attend.


* May 1st, 1915: Canadian Government Railways are formed to operate the Intercolonial and the National Transcontinental Railways.


* May 2nd, 1917: The Drayton-Acworth report is produced being the findings of two out of three members of a Royal Commission which was set up in 1916. Sir Henry L. Drayton was Chairman of the Board of Railway Commissioners for Canada while William Ackworth came from London. The third member, who produced a minority report, was Alfred H. Smith, President of the New York Central Railway. The report recommends that the Government take over the Grand Trunk, the Grand Trunk Pacific and the Canadian Northern companies and operate them as one system together with the Intercolonial and the National Transcontinental Railway. The recommendations are accepted by the Government.


* May 1st thru 4th, 1933: London, Midland and Scottish
Railway (UK) 4-6-0 steam locomotive Royal Scot with eight passenger cars en route to the Century of Progress Exhibition in Chicago is exhibited at: (numbers in brackets show numbers of visitors) May 1 - Montreal Windsor Station (16,979); May 2 - Ottawa
(11,870), May 3-4 - Toronto Exhibition Grounds (20,687); May 4 - Hamilton (3,631).


* May 17th, 1939: Royal Tour of Canada commences with the arrival of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Wolfe's Cove, Quebec on the Empress of Canada. The 12 car train, (five from CP, five from CN and the two vice-regal cars), in royal blue and aluminum, left Quebec City on May 18. A pilot train, carrying officials and the press, preceded the royal train by one hour and no other trains were permitted to travel within this period. The travel arrangements were shared by the two railways with CP being responsible for the westward journey to Victoria. CP used 4-6-4 locomotives 2850 and 2851 for the royal and pilot trains respectively, except for the Ottawa to Brighton, Ont, section, which was over CN track. 2850 hauled the royal train without change right through to Vancouver, a total distance of 3224 miles. Royal crowns were affixed to the running boards of both locomotives and these were eventually fitted to the entire class (2820-2864) which, following approval from their majesties, came to be known as Royal Hudsons.


* May 22nd, 1941: As part of the war effort, the first tank (Mark III) is produced at the Canadian Pacific Angus Shops, Montreal. On June 30 Montreal Locomotive Works produced the first M-3 (Modified) Cruiser tank.


* May 14th, 1955: A causeway is completed across the Strait of Canso between Cape Porcupine and Balache Point, Nova Scotia. This involved a 14 mile main line diversion for the rerouting of railway traffic linking directly Cape Breton Island with the mainland. Previous movements were by car ferry across the Strait of Canso. The line was officially opened on August 13.


* May 17th, 1957: Canadian National opens a 40 mile diversion of its Montréal to Toronto main line required in the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway.


* May 2nd, 1960: For the first time, a Canadian National passenger train conveys piggyback flatcars conveying highway trailers. This was on train 44 from Saint John, NB to Moncton, NB.


* May 11th, 1961: Canadian National installs Canada's first hot axle box detector near Coteau, QC.


* May 24th, 1964: Canadian National commences operation of a new transcontinental passenger train called Panorama.


* May 23rd, 1967: "GO Transit" is inaugurated by the Province of Ontario between Pickering, Toronto, Oakville and Hamilton under an operating agreement with Canadian National.


* May 31st, 1972

[EricX2000]

Good morning Captain Tom and Gentlemen!! 

Leon, tonight it is time for my Rumpsteak Café de Paris! Yes, medium! Coors light, please!

Another Monday is gone (outlaw Mondays!) and I survived. A lot to read and see here tonight!

Fergie –  Looking forward to see you here again next month!

Tom –  Good news about Lars!! Lets hope for the best about BK and the trolleyMAN!

Aha, Pier 21 was something like Ellis Island! Then I understand why it means a lot to many people.

The Class C3 car was 46’ 9” long (total length).

Thanks for the pictures from Canada! The nature reminds me in a way about the northern part of the old country, close to the coast line. Nice!

And thanks for the report!! I read somewhere that the Keith’s brewery is working night shift now. I wonder why?

CM3 –  Good news! You are on the mailing list for the Chicago Rendezvous!! I hope it will work out okay!

I had a feeling that those double numbers were related to “combined” trains. Thanks for the info!

DL –  Juneau was a very friendly dog. But I am sure he will let you know if something is wrong. The CanAm layout is very impressive! A lot of details. You will discover new things all the time.

Per –  Moving back to California?!

Your memory is correct, you have to be out of the sleeper at a certain time in Sweden too! As an engineer you always try to operate the train very smoothly if you are running a night train.

The Rc class in Sweden started with Rc1 and for a short period of time there was a couple of Rc7. Rc1 was the very first one, introduced 1967. Rc2 had different electronics. Rc3 was the same as Rc2 except they were geared for 100 mph (Rc1-2, 84 mph). Rc4 was more sophisticated, geared for 84 mph. AEM-7 is/was basically the same as Rc4 but with more power and geared for 125 mph. Rc5 was last development of the Rc class. Geared for 85 mph. Rc6 same as Rc5 but geared for 100 mph. Rc7 same as Rc5 but geared for 112 mph. Today there are no Rc5 or Rc7, they have been regeared for 100 mph. ALP-44 is basically the same as Rc6 but more power and geared for 125 mph.

eBay? No, I want more money for the second camera than I can get there. Most likely my employer will buy it.                                                                                                The smart thing to do is to avoid having your hand stuck in a door when it is getting closed. I also learned that the hard way in a Class Rc2 locomotive.

Thanks a lot for your travel report!!! That was a looooong lake wasn’t it? The Mississippi? Snow is okay on a post card. That is about it, not closer. Didn’t the train stop at Trinidad, CO? Raton looks bigger from the Interstate than from the train station. Looking forward to the rest of your report!!

Pete –  Thanks for the info about those electrics! You are probably right about arcing when the pantograph passed under the insulators, bouncing.

 

Some pictures from Atchison, KS.

 

On the train to Springfield, IL. 

 

 

 

Eric 

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all.

A pint of Holden's and a round please RUTH.

DOUG To see those cars from the IRM is another reason to see Flags of my Fathers.

Many thanks for the next set of photos from the Fox Valley; they have some interesting stock at the museum. I liked the L202 switching locomotive and car 20 from 1902 is worth seeing and having a ride in.

ERIC The electric locos on the West Coast route of BR are on 25kv AC supply. The locos have just one pantograph. I can remember traveling in a darkened compartment coach at night and the arcing was very bad. I think this was caused by ‘pantograph bounce' that happens at higher speeds, it seemed to occur when the pantograph came under the insulators of the masts holding the cantenery wire. Thinking about it this was in the 1970s and I don't recall seeing this on units or noticing it much nowadays, except as you say in frosty weather. Probably the pantograph design was changed or the cantenary wire was altered to stop this arcing, perhaps DL has some info on this.

Thanks for the info on DVD players I will have look round to see if I can find one that will play British DVDs.

Enjoyed the photos and thanks for the beer.

Great to see you in the bar again FERGIE before you head out to sea.

CM3 It would be great to see you at the next Rendezvous.

DL Many thanks for the link to map of Helston, by looking at it we may well have been in the wrong area, as I cannot see the supermarket on the street map. I'm afraid our search was curtailed by opening time at the Blue Anchor. Yes it does seem odd that the Helston Branch was not kept although North Cornwall and Devon were badly hit in the Beeching line closures of the 1960s especially the Ex Southern Railway lines, with places like Padstow Wadebridge and Ilfracombe, all busy tourist places in the summer no longer on the railway map. At least with the area there is a good bus service, when we were there in February a few years ago at least there was a bus service from Penzance to Helston on a Sunday morning, if only running 2-hourly, it is much better than the service in my part of Rugby where they stopped about 6PM Saturday and that was it until Monday morning.

I found the scenery on the Challeur reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands and very scenic. I think I will let Tom describe the line as he is doing such a great job.

I have read though that the line could be closed as the company owning a portion of the middle piece of the line intends to file for abandonment. Tom and I did comment at the time on the lack of any freight traffic to be seen on the Gaspe line. Luckily the Halifax line still appeared to have container traffic heading to the port.

I seem to recall a couple of years back they brewed a limited amount of the Worthington White Shield on draught, my mate who was a connoisseur of the old White Shield in bottles said it was quite like the old brew. Unfortunately Worthingtons always used to give me a rotten hangover especially the Worthington E.

I did see one of the Routemasters in Halifax although I didn't get a photo.

PER Thanks for the round. We have a friend and his wife who have just moved to Poway California and he has sent me some details of the local breweries in that area there looks some interesting ales I would like to try.

Enjoyed the second part of your trip and the great photos. I was hoping to go to Dodge City from Kansas City by train with the bride but the times of arrival and departure put a stop to that, being brought up on Westerns as a kid in the UK I would still like to visit the city.

A British lady running the dining car, I would have liked to have been there.

Thanks for the link to the Dining car in Mendota. Tom has a great knack of taking photos through girder bridges.

Looking forward to the next installment of your trip.

TOM Not only can I not speak French properly I can't spell it ether.

There will be some more of my pics from the trip although some of mine are out of focus as well; it appears the camera struggled in the museum and the shed where no 60010 was. Glad the photo I took with your camera of Fergie and you came out well. Thanks for the link to Pier 21, there is certainly a lot to see and do in Halifax. I have visited a museum in Cobh, near to Cork in Ireland, which tells the story of the Irish p

[siberianmo]

G'day Gents!

Customer ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (since my last narrative):

CM3 Shane at 8:20 AM Monday - June 4th: Although the Yanks-BoSox game was on the tube last night, we opted to watch one of our DVDs . . .I'm burned out on baseball and it's only the beginning of JUNE!! Did catch a few of the hi-lites though and it appeared to be one of those "typical" games at Fenway between the arch rivals. Boston has a huge lead and my guess is unless there's some sort of collapse, they should remain on top. Can't say what's wrong with George's team, other than money doesn't always get you where you want to be.

Can't get overly excited about the Red Birds as things at Busch aren't at all encouraging this season. Pitching has gone south and while the hitting appears to be on the rebound, they've dug themselves a hole fer sure, fer sure. Only saving grace is that the division is equally puzzling - and that's a "kind" description. <grin>

Consider yourself "on" the Email list for the 3^rd Annual "Our" Place Classic Trains Rendezvous in Chicago 2008. Anyone else out there who is interested in joining us, let me know. Best to do so by Email as things have a way of getting "missed" in the Ether from time to time. <uh oh>

While I'd dearly love to own an F40PH of my own - the Spiderman II livery doesn't "do it" at all! <ugh> Perhaps I could trade it in for my own Park Car (obs dome)!

That foto Eric took of Juneau does make him look a bit fierce. Had to look twice just to be sure it was him!

 

DL at 11:35 AM Monday - June 4th: Spot on commentary regarding the "Chunnel Chugger" Euro cars! It never ceases to amaze me how the OBVIOUS somehow escapes those who are in the business to garner as much EFFICIENCY from a PLAN - especially when it comes to transportation. Yeah, I know - my "vote" doesn't count! Found that out with light-rail in these parts and from what you've opined, same thing with the use of short haul airliners in lieu of in-place rail links. Go figure!

We learned that VIA Rail has poured approximately one million additional dollars (CDN) into EACH Renaissance car brought to North America in order to bring them up to standards and to make them compatible with other equipment. The original cost was $125m for 137 cars . . . do the math. I was told some years back that Bombardier had been queried with regard to replicating the Budd stainless steel cars and they came back with a $5m per car price tag!

One of the comments I've made to VIA Rail is that with two service cars in the Renaissance consist - why not use one for the movies and the other for simply socializing? Ah, but something that sensible hardly gets the attention deserved, or so it seems.

Regarding our trip over to ExpoRail (Saint-Constant/Delson) and the Canadian Railway Museum - there was NO public transportation available on the Sunday for our visit. However, all turned out well and in spite of the costs associated with the rental car, when split 50/50, it wasn't all that bad. We would've enjoyed traveling aboard the AMT commuter train, something I've yet to do in Montreal. Noticed that some still use pantographs whereas others are powered by an F40PH.

A bit more on our Canada 2007 Rail Adventure:

The Ocean was powered by two F40PH locos and the consist was made up of a baggage car - three coaches - two service cars - a diner in between the service cars - and six sleepers. From what I could determine, it appeared the train was rather full, especially in coach. In speaking with the Service Manager, I was told that many people in the bedrooms have been avoiding the dining car due to the manner in which the food is being prepared these days <daze>, opting for the sandwiches they brought aboard or those purchased in the service cars. The biggest "meal" is the Continental breakfast, which is rather hard to screw up! With no Chef, they're not getting the customers . . . .

It was a treat to meet up with an old "friend" at the VIA Rail sleeper class check-in kiosk at Montreal's Central Station. "Claude" is a guy who used to work the Park Car when the Budd stainless steel equipment was on that route and always an entertaining, accommodating and friendly person. Unfortunately, we didn't have that much time to take in the sights ‘n sounds of Central Station prior to our departure - but did manage to quaff down a few brews . . . we did have our PRIORITIES! <grin>

For those who've never experienced this fine rail station, the train platforms are located on a level below the main concourse. An escalator takes the passengers down to the waiting train and that's where the real odyssey begins - in my opinion! The trains somehow ALWAYS look bright ‘n shiny - the consist long and the daylight appearing at the far, far end where the loco's are, appears as an invitation to climb aboard in order to commence the travel.

There's an attendant at each open door to the train, and as Pete mentioned earlier, a "bridge" has to be used to cross from the platform to the waiting Renaissance cars. When the Budd stainless steel cars are in use, they are "snug" to the platform. Quite a difference in width - height too.

With only the slightest feeling of movement, the Ocean began the journey out of Central Station at 1830 to the Victoria Jubilee bridge across the St. Lawrence Seaway. Unfortunately, one doesn't get the views offered in a dome and there's just no way to describe the passing scenes with a rather one-dimensional perspective. <barf> Weather conditions were cooperative for Pix taking . . .

Years ago, the train used to stop at a place called Levis, located on the south bank of the St. Lawrence in Quebec - directly across from Quebec City. The eastbound arrival was around 2230 and the stop lasted between 20 ‘n 30 minutes, thereby giving everyone a chance to view Quebec City's illuminated ramparts in all of its glory. A fantastic stop in the dome, fer sure, fer sure. But as I said - that was "years ago." The right-of-way was sold off by CN and my understanding is the land was used to construct condominiums. The train now passes far south of that great vantage point and only the experienced traveler knows when and where to look to catch a distance glimpse of what used to be . . . <arrggghhhh>

Seating in the diner was arranged with tables for 4 on the port side and for 2 on the starboard. For some strange reason, they sat us at a table for 4, even though there were plenty of "2s" available and the diner was hardly crowded. When asked about this, the response

[marthastrainyard]

Good Morning everybody present!

Ruth, Ill have a pint of that Holden's Pete is talking about, and a round for everybody present.

It's been a stormy weekend here in Dallas. Not much of a weather for outdoors activities, so I was catching up on posting pictures to my new Flickr account instead.

 

Tom, thank you again for the kind words. I have noticed in my old days that I kind of like writing and it is hard to stop once I get started (and have something to write about [wink]). If you assign a Texas/Cowboy style nickname, I'm afraid you will have to change it soon since I will be moving back to California in January. That date is approaching faster than what I thought it would.

Thank you for explaining the observation car assignments. "Park" cars; what an appropriate name! You'll see the landscape as it disappears in front of you. Riding in the last car of the train and be able to look out back is the most enjoyable place to be in a train, I think. It is really good to see that they are still in official, regular service. I have never ridden in one but I hope I will be able to do so before it is too late. I will try to remember the bedroom "D"!

You put together a very good travel report. Thank you! I enjoyed reading it and I must say that your experiences with the diner and the sleeper are pretty much the same as mine, even though we were on such different trains! Too bad you missed the brewery tour. A tour with some accompanying free beer is always welcome, isn't it? I tried to get a tourof the Absolut distillery in Sweden, but they didn't offer any.  I saw you rented a car in Montreal. That's something I have never had the guts to do. With all signs in French I would be lost immediately and get tickets left and right! I hope at least one of you speak French enough to get by.

I hope you didn't take offence at my interpretation of TWA. Yes, in its glory days it was, together with PANAM, the symbol of classy, international air travel. My Father-In-Law came up with both expressions, and I'm not sure what awful experiences he had had with them. I was a PANAM flier myself and did log quite a few miles with them before they went under. It was not an overall pleasant experience towards the end.

I had missed your original trip report from the Canadian trip that you posted as an encore. I'm glad you did! That's a great report. It makes me want to take a trip up there and hopefully it will be a reality one day!

And as for the movies: A great selection as always! I will try to see the first two; I have never built up an appreciation for the Three Stooges, but I guess that's because they were not part of the movie when I grew up.

 

It was some Interesting links you provided, DL. Although I hate it when a site has background sound, it does make an interesting, and many times embarrassing, surprise when you open the page at work!

There was a BBC (I think) program over here about the Marconi experiments and his efforts to get the first message across the Atlantic. It was really interesting and I am glad they can preserve the huts he was using. Do you know if the program was filmed on site?

The tin mine site is interesting. I have been in a couple of "museum mines" but none with such narrow, low tunnels as this seems to have. You better not be claustrophobic when visiting that one! There is a picture of children panning for gold. Is gold commonly found as a by-product in tin mines?

Yes, it is quite a feeling isn't it, to wake up in a sleeper in the station whilst others are running around getting to their jobs!  We had (probably still have) that in Sweden too, and many times have I opened my eyes at the Central Station in Stockholm and seen people running back and forth to their trains. It's just too bad they don't let you roll over and go back to sleep, but as far as I remembered it, you had to be out by a certain time.

 

Pete, I wish I had a chance to try some of those brews you are talking about. I will take a tour to the local BevMo in Irvine next time I get home to California. They have a few beers from all over the world so hopefully I'll find something that sounds familiar. The thought of Bass going Coors is horrific! I better change to something else!

That turtle in Chicago is fantastic! The reflections when you are "inside" (or underneath) are mind boggling. It's hard to see where you are in those, and how many times you appear. It is a popular sight and as Doug suggested, it didn't take a long time to take a picture with the correct foreground

  

James, yes that is a subtle difference between the two Little Joes. I guess it is for maintenance sake they give them different class designations. Something like the Rc class in Sweden, right Eric? There are Rc classes from Rc1 to, at least, Rc6 and many of them are identical on the outside but apparently very different on the inside.

Your explanation of the Milwaukee Road dilemma made perfect sense.  I hadn't thought of it from a freight perspective, but now it's clear that that's where the profit lies and without it you will have a hard time keeping the road going.

Not only was the catenary still up, but in place the rails looked shiny as if it was in use still. It could of course be diesels using the track, but I'm not so sure.

 

Well, Eric, I still maintain that on average, there is less snow down south in Sweden that up north! And I also think the memory is the second to go, I just can't remember what the first was

You mentioned "flying pictures" and I just saw a CBS program yesterday morning about the Stanley Cup. Everywhere they went with the cup there were people with cell phones taking pictures. I saw an ad in the T in Stockholm about this device; it had an MP3 player, 6 Mpixel camera, a few other things, and, oh by the way, you could use it as a phone as well! The technology is really going forward with huge leaps.

The Genesis looks longer in your picture but that must be because of the proportions compared to the E8. The interesting part with the picture of the Springfield station is that I didn't see the bad roof until I looked at the picture. It disappeared a little bit too quickly when I took the picture.

Two cameras, eh! There's only one word for that: eBay!

Thank you for the C3c picture. With "fish hook" and all! I knew I could trust you to dig up an old picture. This is great!  There are so many fond childhood memories connected with those cars and one not so fond: I got my hand stuck in the door when the conductor closed it! There was no damage done, except to the ears of the fellow passengers.

 

Doug, I already mentioned the turtle (or bean), but yes, isn't it awful that such a nice sculpture gets blocked by such a foreground?

[DL - UK]

Hello Tom

I'll take a selection of those pastries and some fruit juice pleased to start off the day.

I certainly enjoyed your trip report and of course it was nice to get the run down to the consist for the Chaleur etc.

I found the Ren Service car pretty poor and who wants a movie screening in the corner at the same time - you need a movie car and a service car! I think the Ren stock is good for the short distance services (The Corridor) but I can see the objections for the routes you mention.

I bet your exchange of views with the senior guy of VIA was frank. Mind you the fact of the matter is, I would guess, that under the current financial strictures there would be no way that Canada would sanction the build of new cars to replace the Budd Cars would they? So the Euro stock looked like a gift - re-equipping the fleet with new stock at a bargain price.

That stock should have stayed here - instead they fudged the issue this side of the pond and instead gave away the market to the low cost airlines with serious environmental consequences (not just from the pollutants, but also for their demand for land for runways that we just don't have space for - now to meet that demand communities are in conflict with the pans to expand the airports needed to satisfy the demand - juts when an overnight train to Europe would have done the job!!)

Of course my journey on The Ocean had a dome car as it was Dome season -so that is where we spent our leisure time.

How full of passengers was your trip?

I noticed when at Montréal that a few times a year a special train was run to the museum at Delson from Montréal Gare Centrale by AMT - shame that is not a regular run.

Given your limited time in Halifax I can see why you chose to see the sights - not get inside a museum with the clock ticking, that would have been my choice too.

Pete - as it happens I've got a 1946 OS map of Helston area and it shows the station to the north east of the town - which back then was a very small community. So the town has grown since the railroad was cut back - typical! I wonder how the other Cornish branches survived but this one did not? It even would have served the RNAS base which did not exist in 1946.

If you look on http://www.streetmap.co.uk/ and type in Helston then you get the town - you can see the disused line running in - west of the B3297 road - I think the station was just near the building marked ‘college' - if you then zoom in on the map you can see ‘Station Road' I guess that was where it was.

It is not yet featured on this superb site of closed stations:

http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/sites.shtml

I enjoyed your comments on the Ren Vs Budd cars - I'd like to take a trip on the Chaleur - what was the scenery like on that part of the trip?

I think the Bass Museum has been the Coors Visitor centre for about 5 years - does not have the same ring to it I'm afraid - but they still have the brewery there which now has the contract to Brew Worthington White Shield in Bottle - which is an excellent beer.

By the way Pete - did you see any of the old London Routemaster buses when you were in Halifax - I was surprised to see them - not quite painted the correct shade of red !

Eric - nice to see those pics of the guys - also of Juneau (he does not look like you'd want to get on the wrong side of him) and some nice pics of the Can Am layout - that is impressive Tom!

As to others in (Doug, Fergie, James, CM3) good to see you - hope I've got everyone.

Anyway - I'll leave these bottles of White Shield as a sample for anyone who cares to try one, on me.

Regards

DL

 

 

[coalminer3]

Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house; $ for the jukebox.

I stayed up way too late watching the Olde Towne Team vs. the Yankees.  It was a good one (if you're a Yankees rooter) with a lot of drama.  They finished up about 12:30 a.m. then had to load up and fly to Oakland where they play tonight.  Yankees headed wet, too, but just to Chicago. 

A few comments.

Please put me on the mailing list for Chicago rendezvous information.

Barndad sent many interesting pictures.

DL sent comments as well - at least they were able to add sleepers to your train.  You can't even GET a sleeper to anywhere out of Boston.  Back, Boris, I'm in no mood to be trifled with this morning!

James - Marion steam shovel - EXCELLENT!  As a card-carrying "Captain of Industry," I love going to those sorts of gatherings.  They have several every year in NY which feature all sorts of beasties.  Last one I went to had a bunch of Case steam tractors powering other types of machines such as corn shellers, a portable sawmill, etc. 

Per - You were on the Boston and Albany - one of my old home roads.  If you have any B&A questions, fire away.  I go back far enough to recall steam in service on the B&A.

Eric - PRR (as did NYC) often ran trains together and than split them up en route.  Thus the different numbers.  The train in question ran combined to Harrisburg and then split; typical PRR procedure.  Sometimes you would see three operations running together.  At the end of rr-operated service, the C&O's "George Washington" ran as a three-in-one.  You really had to pay attention if you got out at a station stop to walk around.

Juneau looked ready to administer the rule book exam.  I think one of his relatives gave me my mine law exam back in the day - all I remember was eyeballs and teeth, but we passed.

OSP sent many pictures.  The question I have is, it looked like he won the FP40 in the Spiderman scratch-off contest.  How did he get it home through customs?  Flags of Our Fathers and the Right Stuff are both good picks for movies.  I read the books and saw the movies.  The Right Stuff is excellent reading if you have not encountered it before.

Work safe

[siberianmo]

G'day Gents!

 

Time again for MORE Pix from Day Two: Friday - May 25^th, 2007 - VIA Rail to Halifax, NS from Montreal, QC . . .

Nova Scotia scenery from the eastbound Ocean (between Amherst & Truro)

 

To be continued . . .

 

Tom

[siberianmo]

<w/permission: www.scenic-railroads.com>

 

A smile to begin the week!

This is very poorly unorganized.

(A Yogi-ism!)

G'day Gents!

Monday at the Bar by the Ballast and time for a mugga Joe, pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery and perhaps a <light> or <traditional> breakfast from our Menu Board!

Here's the latest regarding three guys who are sorely missed ‘round here:

Heard from Lars via Email and they are in California with no reliable means to check in at the bar. Seems he cannot gain access to the Forums (is that something new???)! <groan> Said they'd be back home (NYC) in mid-June and he'd pick up where he left off - if we'll still have him. Don't know why NOT!

No news from BK as my phone calls went to an answering device - also sent him a few Emails (but he's been upfront about not checking those). So let's hope that "no news IS good news."

The mystery of the trolleyMAN continues! Who KNOWS?!?!?!

 

Customer ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (since my last narrative):

Eric at 1:34 AM today: Here's a link to Halifax's Pier 21 - http://www.pier21.ca/

As you will find, it is as relevant to past Canadian immigration as Ellis Island in New York Harbor used to be. Enjoy!

The CN heavyweight most probably was used to transport the new arrivals along the way to their new locations.

Some good mileage out of those Burlington streamliners! Nice looking cars, eh Also, that Swedish class 3 appears a bit small - do you happen to recall the length??

 

Fergie at 6:17 AM today: Can't recall the last time we've seen you at the bar for three Posts in such a short span. Most appreciated!

Anyway, your plans to get everything squared away before shoving off surely brings back memories from my sea-going days <daze> . . . But once the ship passed the sea buoy, well it was shipboard routine - <ahhhhhh>

Bon voyage, mon ami!

 

Reminder: Ruth 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 Steak ‘n All The Trimmings Nite!

Dinner begins at 5 PM so come early ‘n often!

  

Cindy is now our Saturday bartender!

Boris, serve ‘em all of the "spiked" OJ they can handle!

Tom

[Fergmiester]

Fergie (Canadian Coast Guard) and Tom (U.S. Coast Guard - retired)

 

 

Tom

Me thinks it's time for the ears to be lowered! A No. 4 guard should do it.

Thanks once again for the kind words Tom. The Garden is planted and it's just the perfect day to tidy up the garage and basement bfore I head out for another 28 day stint. Always did love the Pullman heavyweights.

Later All

Fergie 

[EricX2000]

Just a stop to drop these pictures through the mail slot! Sunday is gone and it is finally Monday again!!!

Fergie –  Good to see you again, Sir! Good luck with the plants!

Tom –  First, have a beer on me, Sir! I guess I kind of screwed up, didn’t I?

Two cameras of the same model? I really don’t need that so I’ll see if I can sell one of them to the company I work for. It certainly is no fun when things are acting up and don’t work the way they are supposed to. It is very frustrating to say the least!

The pictures today are sharp and nice! And one with two sailors! Pier 21. Was that used during WW II? Is that why it is so significant for many Canadians? They shipped out there and returned the same way? And the railroad car outside was used to bring the troops to and from Halifax?

 

First Per's favorite old car, Swedish State railways Class C3. 

 

Followed by Burlington's somewhat newer car, Silver Glow.

 

 

Eric 

[siberianmo]

"Our" Place is CLOSED on Sundays!

 

G'day Gents!

A rare treat to speak with y'all today - as I'm here to straighten up the joint, catch up on the paperwork (now that we are minus a Manager) and take Boris 'n Leon up to Can-Am Gorge for their "romp" through the forests!

Customer ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (since my last narrative):

Pete at 6:57 PM ‘n 7:15 PM Saturday - June 2^nd: Good to see ya, Mate - after my Posting 4 in succession, I thought perhaps it was going to be one of "those daze"!! <grin>

French is indeed an interesting language - as sung in "My Fair Lady," there's a great quote - "The French never care what they say, actually, as long as they pronounce it properly. Your quote "looks" better, but still pretty much comes out the same way -  whether it's scabby monkey or mangy - still a rather repugnant image! <grin> Ah, but a point to make - it's galeUx, mon ami! <grin>

And yes, no matter how many times we've traveled the "old" Ocean to Halifax ‘n return, the trip was much more fun in the Budd cars than what we experienced. Such is life, eh

Happy to see that your Pix turned out so well! Appreciate the 4 you Posted - hopefully there'll be others. Two Super Hero's, eh Wellllllllll, that just MAY get you a "freebie" - I'll take it up with Boris!

 

Doug at 7:17 PM Saturday - June 2^nd: Nine more great Pix from the Fox Valley Trolley Museum! All lookin' mighty fine to me. I'll "go" with your judgment regarding whether it's worth the time to travel to ‘n from the place when we meet up in Chicago . . . Fotos somehow don't always "tell" the entire story, eh I'm sure you'll pack the time with all kinds of great things to see ‘n do.

You DO realize that you committed a <tweetable> oh-fence, don't you???? Hmmmm - didn't order a THING!! Well, given that you've been soooooooo good at providing some fantastic insights to our St. Louis Rendezvous and those fine shots from Fox Valley, you're OFF the hook - this time!

 

Eric at 1:18 AM Sunday - June 3^rd: Six fotos and all with differing meanings! Enjoyed ‘em all . . . Sorry, THAT's hardly the Emporium Theatre shown on these Pages back in January when we had the anniversary celebration for the Grand Re-Opening - nice try!

The Can-Am layout shots turned out quite well - you surely know what you're doing behind the camera. But why would you want TWO of the same thing?? Hmmmmm - I guess that logic applies quite well to brunettes - but to digital cameras?? <grin>

I haven't a clue what happened regarding my SONY and the focus dilemma. It has happened in the past and most probably will again. As you'll see, far many more will look just fine as I progress through our pictorial-spate of Canada Pix. I didn't touch the settings - so hard to say. Gremlins! <arrrrggggghhhhh> I've been doing a bit of research on software designed to "fix" the blur. I have one, but it doesn't measure up when it comes to serious stuff - minor blur okay. There's all kinds "out there," just want to make sure I get some objective reviews before making the purchase.

That narrative ENCORE! of my 2005 VIA Rail trips involves an intinerary that began on May 5^th with a round trip between Montreal ‘n Halifax aboard the Budd stainless steel beauties with my bride -  and a solo-round trip for me from Halifax to Ottawa via Montreal for the commemoration of the Canadian War Museum. That trip involved the Budd cars to ‘n from Montreal and the leg to Ottawa was aboard LRCs - a fine trip all ‘round.

I had been in communication with several VIA Rail management people from the onset of the decision to purchase those "Chunnel Chuggers" and in fact had a personal conversation with the former CEO ‘n President about them. It was simply a chance meeting aboard the train some years ago - a most interesting guy and informative chat.

Your are correct - there was nothing I liked then (or now) about the Renaissance cars in light of the fact that we'd be losing the domes, the Chef and other amenities to the smaller and rather sterile cars. We've spent quite a few dollars over the decades with VIA Rail travel and I'll be if I'm going to throw our bucks down the tubes for something that isn't enjoyable. <frown>

If I was the brave soul to let you all into my home - how come Pete gets the free beer???? He doesn't care for Coors Light anyway! <grin>

 

Fergie at 7:20 AM Sunday - June 3^rd: Nice of you to swing by our CLOSED bar! <grin> Anyway, I provided a few Pix over on "your" Thread, which I'll repeat here - also received your Email - Thanx!!  Be "talkin' at ya" via the electrons as you head back to the frigid waters . . . I'm envious!

Posted over at "Elliott's Trackside Diner" - formerly the Coffee Shop - on the MR General Forum where Fergie hangs out . . .

Hardly seems like a week has passed since Fergie 'n I met up in Halifax - last time was two years ago in Dartmouth . . . time flies when you're having fun!

A few shots from Saturday morning of last week . . .

Pier 21 in Halifax - a place of great significance to many Canadians

 

 

 

A CN heavweight on display at Pier 21

 

Happy Railroading! Siberianmo