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

[Anonymous]

Good evening Leon and gents! I'll have the worm in the bottom of the tequila bottle, and and free rounds until the next bottle runs dry.

Couldn't let the day go by without popping in, and seeing the many fine posts from Rob especially, and some top notch stuff from James and Tom. Nice bookcovers from manager Lars, and I'm going to have to catch-up on the posts from the rest of the esteemed patrons of Our Place. Still have to apologize for being so scarce, as I try to accomodate more horse time in my schedule. I do what I can, and then try to remember to shower before collapsing. Just not enough hours in the day, as usual. Sure miss hanging here regularly. Did any of you miss ....

A man walked into a shop and found the clerk stalking flies with a fly swatter. "Have you gotten any?" he asked. The clerk replied, "Yeah. Three males and two females." "How do you tell the difference?" the man asked curiously. "Three were on a beer can and two were on the phone!"

[trolleyboy]

Howdy again folks.looks like the theme is taking hold anyway <grin>

James-just caught the pics good ones thnaks for sharing. I'm going to go check your friends site as that's a wonderfull picture. snow or not !I think they got the caption wrong on the steam picture though. Blow it up and you'll see what I mean. It's still a nice engine though, that's CNR Northern 6218 doing one of it's excursions in the 1970's. It ran in southern Ontario from approx 1965-1974 from niagara Falls to Toronto Union on railfan excursions. that bridge is CNR's Welland canl crossing Bridge number 20 in Port Colbourne Ontario on lake Erie. I know that spot well.The 6218 is still aorund as a static display at the Fort Erie Railway Musuem, though not in as nice shape as she is in that shot. The 6218 was the last steamer to be outshopped from CNR's Stratford Ontario "Big Shop" the shops in Stratfiord were a division point as well as Ontario's major steam rebuild center.It closed it's doors in 1974 as diesels don't need as much service. The 6218 was outshopped from Stratford in 1960 giving her 14 more years of excursion life.many times in the 70's 6218 would double head with CN mountain 6060 as emi streamlined passenger engine that still exists and is under steam just west of Calgary ! 

here's a shot of 6060 in Niagara Falls right before the excurisons were ended the summer iof '76 was the last season for Ontario's regular steam excursions on the CN. this shot was snapped by my dad I was on that train somewhere.

here's a shot of the CPR owned aand rebuilt Royal Hudson 2816 in Milton Ontario in the summer of 2005 she was on her cross country trel along the CPR to celebrate her comming back from the dead. The CPR bought her back from steamtown in pennsylvania in late 2000 and began the rebuilding process $2M later she first steamed again in 2004.The CPR will run her with their Royal Canadian Pacific excursions out west.

Rob

[trolleyboy]

Good evening Mr Leon, my glass is empty so I think that another Keith's is in order if I do say so myself.

James-Nice to see you. I'm glad that you enjoyed the pictures etc.I'm not suopprised at all that you are seeing so much CN power now out your way, and yes the old Zebra scheme is dissapearing as fast as the paint shop can paint them.Mind you I much prefer the original CNR Green Yellow maple leaf schemes as originally applied to all their locomotives,domestic and US based.

Your eyes are not decieving you, The RS23's were built from the get go to sit on AAR type B's.Heavy transfer and road freights were typically powered by stes of three on the CPR and it's Dominion Atlantic lines. Also they were built for road speeds of 65mph not the slower switcher speeds. kit was cheaper for the CPR to speacial order these unit's than to put heavier rail down on their maritime branches and secondary mainlines.

The GMD1's area  favourite of mine as well and are all but extinct,you seldom see them out on the road anymore those still in service are kept to the hump yards and classification yards.They all have lost their A1A trucks as well, replaced by stabdard Geep trucks.The 1200RS's flexcoils are different than the road flexcioils you see in the states on say an MP15 or an SW1500. They' re a shorter wheelbase version built by Dofasco ( Dominion Steel fabricating Co of Hamilton On )Again they were built to be flexible a road unit and a switcher. CN and CP still will use them on branchlines for roadswitching industries when GP38's or GP9's are unavailable.

Pete-I just noticed that I failed to answer a query of yours silly me allow me to buy you a bantham's for my rudness.You mentioned about locomotive painting. Most new builds are painted at the factory if it's a GM product. They have when orders are big and the railroads needs the locomotive yesterday snet out primered and numbered only units to the railriad leaving the painting to be completed by the railroads own shops. NS SD70's and UP SD90's come to mind as having this done recently.Now in the case of CN's takeovers of the WC, IC and DMIR the repainting is usually done by the local shops.

Rob 

[CMSTPP]

G-day Tom and all present!

Leon- Could a get another coffee before I go and do some more cleaning. Thanks

Boris, you'll be happy to know that your shed is going to get a cleaning. I know Tom, but I feel it needs to be done, Just something I feel I owe this place.

Anyway, I hope it's not to late for some pictures......

Another nice picture of the shot of the 2816. An she's looking extra nice this day. This place looks really familiar to me. Would this be at Souix St. Marie? That dark blue and white really gives away the ownership of the car at on point in time. The Canadian National.

Picture from: www.trainnet.org/Libraries/catalog001.htm

Now here is a nice picture. A GT SD40-2 leads a passenger train out of Duluth.. Ya I know snow.. But I wasn't surprised by the picture but the man who took this picture. I just found this website and all of the pictures except a few are by a good friend who lives in Superior Wisconsin, Dan Mackey. A well know railfan around this area. I didn't know he had a website like this. I advise you to check out all of the pictures that they have taken. The other guy I know really well is Scott Carney. Now that is cool!!

picture from: duluthsuperior.railfan.net/DWP%20and%20CN.htm

Happy railroading

James

[trolleyboy]

Good evening Leon, your looking relativly dapper this evening in that CPR conductors hat. I'll just have a Keith's oh and here's an extra twenty for a bit more of a round.

Tom-No problem I have stuff to last a few more days (daze ) as well. It's been not to bad a party anyway. Love those winter shots of the Canadian.Not sure I would want to be in Sioux lookout anytime but summer but some pretty shots none the less.

THEME FOR THE DAY THEME FOR THE DAY THEME FOR THE DAY THEME FOR THE DAY

Okay , I got the photobucket site to cooperate and got the rest of the new photo's uploaded so here goes with part two of the odd ball diesels of Canada.Sorry the numbers of the classic's are out of order but what can you do

CLASSIC DIESEL's#41ONLY IN CANADA YOU SAY PART TWO

Okay here's another look at some of the more unusual one off production runs that came out of the locomotive erecting shops in Canada for the railways located NOB as Tom would say.

As I mentioned in part one , all the big players of the locomotive building market paired up with or built their own assembly plants in Canada to avoid the associated costs of tarrifs on locomotives built in the USA, all but GE.As I said the CLC company of Kingston was building Baldwin and Lima steam engines for their contract partners in stateside for decades. So once the diesel bug bit baldwins few sales to CPR were built by CLC. Also Fairbanks Morse set up shop at CLC for their line of railroad diesels so along with the H series roadswitchers C-liners and trainmasters that were built all to US spec a couple odd balls were also constructed.

The first one was an order for 5 trainmasters for the CPR. Not unusual in any respect other than the CPR ordered them with the optional 2750 pound per hour steam generators which were mounted in a full width of the walkway hood in front of the cab giving them a hammerhead appearance. these were the only FM trainmasters built with this optional feature CPR #8901-8904, after about ten yeasr the CPR discontinued the trains they were pulling and they joined their 15 'normal" sisters in the frieght pool when this happened they were rebuilt with a conventional hood. I haven't got any pictures of these locomotives sorry.

The second semi odd ball were 10 passenger C-liners CLC built for the CNR Super continental,5 A's and 5 B's. These had the full passenegr control features and the 2750 lbs per hour steam gen sets for car heating mounted in the back of the car body, this called for a 5 axle format to carry the weighttwo axle BB front truck and a six axle ( all powered ) rear truck.Thes were designated CPA , CPB 16-5's or a C-liner passenger "A" or "B" 1600hp with 5 axles. similar units were built by FM for teh NYC and the LIRR and the New haven but those were all the larger 2000 or 2400 hp varients so had different motor size and load ratings so the 1600hp units were exclusive to the CNR.

Builders photo from the delson collection no idea te photographer.

Next we move onto the favourite of Canadian alcofans or alcophiles depending on one's prefered designation.thes are the RS10's and the RS18's and their various subvarients. Both locomotives look alike but are different in use and in internals. The RS10 is essentially a full height hooded RS2 same 244 prime mover, but with a full height hood for making work on the prime mover much easier in the elements up here. Most RS10's were fitted with a smaller fuel tank than the RS18 and had lighter weight trucks and wieght for secondary mains and branchlines. they were dual mode in that all the CPR one's were steam generator equiped for commuter train service.The RS10's were always set up to run long hood forward as well as the steam generators were located in the short hood.The RS18 is te MLW take on the Alco RS11. Same basic dimentions but different hood end treatments, no classic Alco nose notches. They came in various set ups but they all used the improved 251 series prime movers,late units were built with factory short hoods.PGE and Cartier ordered the factory low hood units. the CPR rebuilt all their RS18's in the 1980's to short hood configuration in their own shops. it was one of the most wide spread locomotive types of the 50's and 60's in Canada with only the GP7-9 and the SW1200's more numerous. CNR had 150 units, CPR 100 BCRail/PGE 60, Roberville and Sagunay 24 the last ten built with short hoods and the Cartier had 30 all shorthood models. The RS18 was buolt from 1957-1962. The RS10's were built from 1954-56 and rostered 60 units on the CN 45 on the CPR, 2 on The Ontario Northland. All are gone from the big road rosters now, many went on to the various shortlines some in the US some in Canada. several are at the Delson Museum most notably RS10 1400 and ONR unit and the only RS10 still in existance.The CNR rebuilt 12 of their RS18's in the early 70's with A1A-A1A trucks for service on PEI's and Nova Scotia's light branchlines. these replaced smaller RSC13 units that were worn out the A1A trucks all came from scrapped RSC13's. these units were also lightend and downrated from 1800hp to 1400hp and redesignated as RSC14's by the CN shops that did the conversions.

CN RS18 in troonto's Mimico yard photo from the Patterson collection 

CP RS10 in Montreal's St luc yarfrom the Patterson collection

CP rebuilt RS18U in welland Ontario.

RS18U in the service of new owner Ontario Southland St thomas Ontario

The next two one offs were built by MLW strictly for the CNR. the first were four little 1000hp roadswitchers built to run on Ontario's and the maritimes ligth branchlines. they were built in conjunction with the GMD1's from GMD as a test to see which manufacterers units were more viable. The RSC24 ws essentially a 1000hp S3 switcher with multiple unit controls and a small electrical cabinet mounted in a tiner shorthood behind the cab. they ran on a short wheel base A1a-A1A truck built by Dofasco. The GMD1's from GMD proved to be more flexable and only te four RSC24's were built. The second small MLW roadswitcher intended for branchline use was the RSC13.A light weight A1A-A1A trucked unit built on the RS2 plateform, similar to US built RSC2's but they had a slightly higher long hood and a difernt truck in this case Dofasco built versions. they were rated at 1250hp and spent their lives 1953-1975 in the maritimes until worn out they were replaced by the prevoiously di

[CMSTPP]

G-day Tom and all present!

Leon- Just a coffee for me, I really need to wake up! Thanks.

I've noticed that my morning posts are looking like hit and runs. Which I don't want them too, but my mornings are really scarce for time and I tried to get in and post some interesting stuff. So I'm going to stick to the afternoons when I know I can come in and enjoy it as long as I want.

To start off the acknowledgements:

Rob- Sorry I took your space for the beginning of the theme even if you couldn't come in due to phone and internet problems. Sorry again.

Well, you were busy Saturday night! Every time I came back I would see a new post from you. Some great looking photos in that bunch. I was really impressed with the CP train coming across a bridge going under a bridge. Where is that located I really like the look of that. Ah yes, and all the CN power which is becoming all too familiar to me. I now see CN locomotives everyday. On the ore docks and on the WC mainline. I do like the paint scheme, especially the scarce Zebra stripe paint job. Saw one of those on Saturday along the WC mainline. There pretty cool.

So you got the GMD1 in there, as thought it might pop up. I have to say that, that is one of my favorite looking locomotives the CN owned. And some interesting looking SW1200s except these types of trucks don't usually sit under the locomotives I have seen. So a flexcoil truck. Very interesting. Well, they can certainly move some freight now. I would like to see that. The RS23, very similar to the ALCO S series locomotives except...WOW.. is that sitting on an AAR type B truck?!! That thing looks huge compared to ALCO's switcher truck that the S series sat on. I'm not use to seeing ones of those standing so tall, but it does look really cool Thanks for sharing.

Great Classical Juice on the CN passenger trains. $59 million was a lot of money to spend on passenger cars but I would do the same if I had the money. To bad the Turbo trains didn't survive but I think your right, gas guzzling beasts, I wonder how much it would cost to keep that thing fueled and running?

Tom-  Huh? Edited my post? I did no such thing?? I have been writing this response the whole time and I haven't touched any of my last posts since this morning?? Weird... I'm looking into that, someone may have gotten into my account... I hope not.

Well, you may notice that the rat's patoot <Oh my lordy lou.> is a little cleaner than it was. I decided to sneak in and do a little work for my small mishap this morning. Maybe that will teach me a thing or two.......  Thanks for the significant events in Canadian RR history. First unit coal train in 1970.. Now that must have been a cool looking train. I wonder when the U.S.A started there coal trains

Also some nice pictures of the Kansas City area and the places along the way. I really like the shelf with all those model trains. That had to be a nice show. Of course, I enjoy all train shows I go to.  I am surprised how big the Union station is in KCity. What a nice looking building. I really liked the interior of the building in your second post. Like I said, A very nice building!

Well, when I said modern train, I really meant a passenger train running today. Just put it in the wrong text. But I did get a good explanation about the cars, Thanks.

Pete-  Thanks for the great looking steam pictures. Also that saddle tank engine looks like Henry from Thomas the tank engine. Pretty cool.

An "ICE" SD40-2 locomotive. Or the Iowa, Chicago and Eastern. I do know a little about them. For they are in the vicinity of one of my favorite short lines, the Twin City and Western. Anyway I know that the "ICE" gave most of there locomotives names. Plus they were formed from the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern along with another railroad with a similar name. Can't remember. But they have become one of the larger regional railroads here in the U.S. I saw a few of the locomotive coming back from a trip to Arizona. I will see what other info I can find out about it. I will get back to you on that.

 Doors would be a problem. I think I would like to get off the train someday in my lifetime. But I think they could be fixed if someone spent a little time on them. Maybe.. Thanks for the interior shot of what looks like to me to be an F40. The standard AAR control stand in there along with the front glass pains, give that away. But a very cool looking interior at that. I saw the picture of the pedal on the floor. That pedal, also know as the Dead man's alarm pedal is meant to keep the alerted off. Just a precaution so you don't fall asleep. It makes one heck of a noise..yike. Thanks for sharing.

[pwolfe]

Hi Tom and all.

A round please LEON for my late and I'm afraid short visit..

I had read the posts earlier today and got my post in word when a rather heavy Thunder storm rolled in with much lightning so I switched the puter off, now the storm as passed I have got back on but no sign of my post in word. So I will start again  and I see there are some more posts to read first..

Pete.  

[siberianmo]

G'day Gents!

Hey Rob! Let's just go with it as planned and I'll save my "stuff" for tomorrow and into the week. With the sparse turnout for this, it's better that way . . .

Scenery in the "Shield" taken from Glacier Park Car on Cross-Canada westbound in 2002 

 

VIA Rail's Canadian westbound at Sioux Lookout - Glacier Park car

 

Tom

P.S. For the "umpteenth time" - PLEASE do NOT "edit" Posts that are hours, days or weeks old. It causes the "most recent Post" to become skewed when logging in. James - you did it again!! Just picked up on it at 6:15 PM today and my editing THIS Post will set it "right." <grrrrrrr>

Next time and you get MULTIPLE <tweetings>!! Boris' shed is in dire need of cleaning, not to mention the "spitoons" in the Rat's Patoot room! <ugh>

[trolleyboy]

Well good afternoon again gents.Things are finally underway here on this strange theme tuesday.I see the manager snuck in while I was replying to Tom. Oh well at least we are all moving in the same direction again.

Lars-Great book covers sir, I own a couple of those and the rest look just as intriging. The Greg McDonnel book, Passing Trains is a real keeper. I try to get most of his as I haven't seen a bad one yet. two to look out for from him that are not specifically candian content are Heartland, which covers the midsection of the US and it's railroads and U-boats that covers all the GE U series engines both are excellant. Well, I'm having trouble uploading part 2's pictures to the diesel oddities to photobucket at the moment so I will go onto a CN passsenger piece in stead.

THEME FOR THE DAY THEME FOR THE DAY THEME FOR THE DAY THEM FOR THE DAY

CN PASSENGER SERVICE POST WORLD WAR TWO CLASSIC DIESEL'S # 42

 After the second world war ended, CN's passenger equipmnet and locomotives were well worn out by the rigors of extra trains and heavuer traffic patterns.After Company president Donald Gordon started to renew the companies freight rolling stock and started the diesilization of the tired locomotive roster did he turn to the companies passenger business.

  In 1953 CN ordered an imense for the time $59 million woth of light wieght passenger cars ( steamlined ) all from Canadian Car and Foundry 218 coaches, and 141 sleeping, dinning and parlour cars from Pullman Standard.This was enough to re-equip all the name trains and most of the minor services in CN's timetable.The idea was to ensure that all candians would benefit from the modern requipment, not just those who purchased first class train tickets.

 CN promoted this purchase in a cross country advertising campaign that described it aas "The dawn of a new era." in 1955 the new trancontinental streamliner, The Super Continental was launched using an all light weight consist from this new purchase.this equipment was to be the backbone of CN's passenger service for the next two decades, though not as flashy as rival CP's  The Canadian and it's stainless Budd cars which also premiered in 1955.The CN train did not use domes as they would have fouled the electric overhead at Montreals central station but the Super Continental was a big step forward of the formerly staunchy CN passenger service.

  The next big change came about in 1963.The new CN campaign promted the new cheaoper fares,better equipment and better service" to entice rail travellers. It began running passenger trains with dedicated management,rather than being run as an after thought by the freight management team of the railway.Employees were trained to deal with the passengers in a way which would make them want to come back again and again.As a test to see if passengers could be lured back to the railways CN set up a new pricing system on the Ocean limited. It was set up to achieve maximum revenue on te days in which the demand was traditionally high and offered cheaper prices the rest of the time to see if patronage could be boosted year round. this was the new REd, White,and Blue fare structure. In July for example, weekends were blue ( high fare ) and weekfays were white (medium fare )in february  weekends were white ( medium fare ) with weekdays red ( low fare )The result was a 50% increase in overall passenger numbers.

  With the test successful the new approach was rolled out to all passenger service in the country.Another change in the 60's was the purchase of streeamlined equipment from teh Reading and NYC railways for use on the new Montreal to Quebec Champlain and the corridor trains from Montreal to Windsor.Former MILW observation casr were purchased for teh maritime trains and the new business calss Rapido trains were put on between Montreal and Toronto in an effort to grab a bigger share of business commuters.

   One exparament that did not pan out was the turbo trains built by United aircraft.these gas turbine powered trainsets ( 5 of them ) were put into service between Montreal and Toronto in 1968, they were on a four hour high speed schedule.The first run was mared by a collision with a truck at a road crossing near Kingston which left the nose of teh lead power unit severly damaged ( aluminum construction ) this demonstrated a vulnerability to damage on these trains. They also proved to be fuel-hungery and uneconomical in the 1970's era fuel prices( imagine what today's costs would be ? )they also were plagued with all sorts of reliability issues and were costly to fix, so the service lives ended in the early 80's.

    Despite te success of CN's passenger service initiatives in the 60's tey continued to lose money on the passenger operation.In 1976 CN put a new blue and yellow image on it's rail service ( started with the turbos ) and gave the passenger service a new name VIA. CN hoped that by turing the passenegr service into a separate operating unit would help dramatisize the scope of the monetary loses.VIA quickly evolved into coordinated marketing effort by both CN and CP, and by the fall of 1976 a VIA timetable was produced that contained passenger scheduales for both railways.Two years later in 1978,VIA became a separate crown corperation,folowing the business model of Amtrak.The government was now financially responsible for all passenger rail service and would contract trackage right with CN and CP.

  After five decades CN was finally free of their passenger mandate and VIAtill soldiers on today.

Rob

[trolleyboy]

Hi Tom , thnaks for the reprieve. Not to worry though i say lets continue on with it. As most of our theme days run into the next two or three days at least anyway. similar fines are levied here for those who dig without thinking and yes we have the free line finder services here as well.Both run by the utilities and contracted out, so there is no excuse. Intreesting to see that the Harvey hoise still operates in the station, nice little blast from the railroading past to be sure. I didn't see any nice looking Harvey girls in that photo though hmmm. All been hired up by Hooters I guess.

Rob

[LoveDomes]

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

Ruth, set 'em up and I'll take a double "hit" of JD on the rocks! Treats for the crittAHs of course, including Boris and his small jar of pickled pig's feet. Keep the change!

Some really fine pix from your KCity trip with the Wolfman! Love that Kansas Southern consist!

So, the trolleyMAN has made it to the bar and his delay has :"assed mustAH"!! Dontchajusthateit when that happens. As Cap'n Tom said, ARRRGGGGHHHH! <groan> Until recently, all of our phone lines were up on the poles. Only time we had problems was when the winds or some fool knocked 'em down. Wasn't even 6 months after "burial" that a neighbor "whacked" 'em big time. We were all on the verge of getting out the tar 'n feathers! <grin>

Without further adieu, let me get to some of my Canadian material to initiate this day once 'n for all - then I gotta skedaddle!

 

 

 

 

 

 

What's that?? Of course I have time to meet with you now. Upstairs is fine . . . <blush>

 

Until the next time!

Lars

[trolleyboy]

THEME FOR THE DAY THEME FOR THE DAY THEME FOR THE DAY THEME FOR THE DAY

So here I am finally <grin> so far so good. Ruth could you be so kind as to ring up another round for me thank-you. Oh and some of the usual treats for the our place critters and non-paid staff, thanks.

ONLY IN CANADA YOU SAY PART # 1CLASSIC DIESELS #40

Canada in the late 40's and 50's had some very heavy duties on items bought by companies for use in Canada, so very early on the locomotive builders alls crambled to open plants or at least get a Canadian manufacturing firm on hand to porduce their products for the Canadian market.Alco for years had MLW ( Montreal locomotive works ) producing their steam designs for the various railroads  and indusrial lines in Canada, so when diesilization began in earnest up here ALCO/MLW already had a leg up.Likewise the CLC plant in Kingston Ontario ( Canadian locomotive Company ) was already building Baldwin and Lima designed steamers for CN and CP, so Baldwin instantly began using CLC for their diesel designs.Likewise Fairbanks Morse also contracted with CLC to build their locomotive designs. GM not having a candain sudsidiary went one step further and built teh GMD plant in London Ontario which began producing the EMD catalogue for the Candian market.For whatever reason GE did not open a candain plant so they sold few locomotives NOB the few 44 ton and 70 ton switchers that were produced for Canada were geberally shipped accross as kits for final assembly at the  railway shops on the CNR. CPR just said no. As a result none of the larger U series of loco's ever found a market up here. Not until free trade lifted most tarrifs did the GE plant make any significant dent in the candain locomotive market which was dominated by MLW and later EMD products. So this post and part two will deal with the oddballs the Candian only units produced by GMD , MLW and CLC enjoy.

The GMD 1. This small light wieght roadswitcher was designed by GMD for use on the light wieght branchlines CNR inherrited from the old CnoR and GTP lines on the prairies where 55 and 70 lbs rail was not an uncomon thing. Only CNR and the NAR ( Northern Alberta railway ) satbbled these little road switchers. As built theyu had A1A-A1A truck set ups with the middle axel being an unpowered idler. later CN rebuilt them to BB-BB configuration both theirs and the NAR ones when CN officially assumed control of the NAR in the 1980's today only 26 of them remain in service mostly as hump and transfer service jobs. Of note these 1950's vintage engines (at least 50) have been sold and shipped to the Cuban state railways to formally diesilize their operations. Fitting I suppose 1950's cars on their roads and 1950's diesels on their railtoad.

The stats:1200hp 567C pime mover L  numbered 1000-1082 inclucivly 33" idler wheels with 40" powered wheels all built between 1952-58

GMD1 at mack yard in Toronto Ontario in 1998 on this locomotives 40th birthday,used for yard to yard transfer runs and hump yard switching.

The SW1200RS On the surface this Canada only model from GMD would appear to be a standard SW1200 switcher. It is to a point the major difference bieng that they sit on flexicoil road trucks instead of slow speed switcher trucks. again these were dual mode road and yard service locomotives primarily to handle heavy trains on in town trackage that was not capable of holding up larger roadswitchers. it also freed up GP7's and 9's for passenger and mainline frieght duties.The other "spottinbf feature is the prominent "eyebrow" headlight arrangements. front and back on CN units only on the front of CP units. Only CN and CP ordered these engines though by now some have been sold off into the US for industrial and shortline uses.

CPR SW1200RS at Kineer yard ( former TH&B ) ontop of the Niagara escarpment in Hamilton Ontario.

CN SW1200RS leased to Railink, Hamilton Ontario Shortline locomotive shows off it's rear eyebrow.

The last unit type covered in this sitting is the RS23. This is a ubique to Canada roaadswitcher produced by MLW. It is a 1000hp raodswitcher built from their S13 switcher model. the onkly difference is the use of AAR typr B road trucks and gearing instead of standard blunt ALCO switcher trucks. again these were used for light duty lines and for transfer runs. Only the CPR bought this type 60 units in all. Most were found in eastern Canada on the Dominion Atlantic Lines. all have now been sold off for scrap or top shorlines.

Two former CP RS23;'s now owned by the Ontario Southland railway. these switch the city of Guelph Ontario and are based at Guelph Junction.Note the wonderfull TH&B inpired paint scheme the OSR uses.

Enjoy  Rob

[siberianmo]

G'day Gents!

A bit puzzled with the turn of events for our "Theme" - but, it's happened before - better late than never.     So, we'll just move along . . .

Good to see James, BK 'n Lars "in" today.

Customer ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (since my last narrative): 

James at 8:15 AM today: First "in" with the "theme" stuff, BUT jumped the gun. TrolleyMAN was supposed to do that. <uh oh> Gotta read the words, it'll "get you" every time!

I MUST comment on the "Ocean,"  oldest continually running passenger train in North America.  No dispute there. A route traveled many, many times since 1990. And one that Pete and I will experience later this month.

Anyway, that is not "modern" equipment. VIA Rail's Budd cars are the former Canadian Pacific stock from the 1950s and in fact no longer run on the route between Montreal 'n Halifax. Those cars are now in use on the western routes. Something pointed out several times here and on the original Thread. It IS an interesting Pix, though . . .

A nice CP steamer w/passsenger consist that Rob will surely pick up on . . .

Thanx for the visit!

Lars at 8:42 AM today: Best of intentions, eh Save your work for 'nother day. Perhaps tomorrow . . .

Many thanx for stopping by and trying to keep ahead with the paperwork. Don't know what to tell ya, but I think our "Assistant Manager" has scrammed outta here, at least as far as 'work' is concerned. We best try to identify someone else . . . Hmmmmmm. <uh oh>

Figured you'd be heading down to the Keys again. Heck, who wouldn't?? You own it, why not use it??!! Spend that money, no point in passing it along. Email info makes me envious - and that's hard to do when it comes to subjects OTHER than real passenger trains.

Don't worry about this joint while you're away. You've got plenty of stuff to keep ya busy and my guess is your bride will find even MORE!

BK at 11:37 AM today: Double treat - you stopped by AND provided us with a most appropriate Canadian Passenger Train story! [tup ] Must wholeheartedly concur with what you said regarding the times of today and so forth. Things have changed, fer sure, fer sure and not all or always for the better. That must've been some great time you guys had back then . . .

You mentioned some time back that you still keep contact with those two Mounties (both now retired). That's great! I think some of the finest people I've met, aside from shipmates, have been those traveling aboard trains - mainly up in the domes! Some long term friendships have resulted. Far easier to do aboard a train than in a jam-packed-uncomfortable airplane, eh Youbetcha!

Hmmmm, so Lars "borrowed" YOUR sandwich and made it his own, with a "twist" of course. Well, that's one of the reasons you two are "bookends"!!

Regards to Lydia!

 

JUST IN: Rob at 1:55 PM: Figured it had to be 'puter issues. Glad you made it in and sorry about the exasperation. Happens! We can "do" this whenever you're ready - next week would be fine too. Your call!

Big fines result 'round here if one "digs" and then causes utility outages WITHOUT first having the area surveyed. There's an outfit that does it for FREE, as they are paid by the utility companies, and people still screw it up. <arrrggghhh> Again, sorry for your exasperation. I always KNEW your heart was in the right place (Count Robulla!!) it's just the uncertainty of it all, eh

 

Here's a few more Pix from my KCity trip with Pete this past Friday . . .

Eastbound St. Louis Mule at KCity Union Station

 

Engineer of St. Lous Mule

 

The Harvey House in KCity's Union Station

 

Mural in KCity's Union Station

 

KCity traction at KCity Union Station!

 

Kansas City Southern at KCity Union Station

 

More to come . . . but not today. <grin>

Enjoy!

Tom

[trolleyboy]

Good afternoon Ruth, well better late than never I suppose.It's been one of those if it wasn't for bad luck there would be no luck whatsoever type weekends. I'll nab a Keith's and pop for a round there Ruth.This is the first computer "time" I've had since saturday. One of teh JO's down the street, not following the call before you dig protocalls managed to unearth and cut the underground bell lines sunday afternoon. Got the phones back monday around 6 the internt lines back an hour or so ago.Why the peole out there follow the posted rules n regs. Sorry my rant for the day. to top it off the stuff I had planed to post today was wipped out by me not properly saving it to the WP so looks like it will be a several day presentation,whicch is okay because the last few theme's have stretched to pieces for at least a week so why should the Canadian railway scene be any different than anything else.

 A couple acknowledgements first then I'll try to find part one of today's posts ( retyped from scratch )

Tom-Great preemptive today in railway history thanks for sharing the april segmnet again some intreesting shots from yourr ecent rail foray with Pete as well enjoyed them.

Lars-Congrats on your successfull trip to the swamp Florida. sounds like you guys found the right spot good for you. you'll be happy to know that you will be spared the large influx of 20 fingers like material from me. Do to my own failing to save moment, you will be spared the visual onslaught all in one day.

BK-Thanks for popping by, I enjoyed your bit on the Canadian the second time around. i'm gald someone was able to jump in today to get the ole ball rolling as it were. I have to say that it is good to be back in the saddle and contributing again,I'll keep teh homefires burning while everyone is "rendezvousing" as well.

Eric-Interesting inside shots sir. We so often see good outside shots but as modellers or members of the general public we don't often get to see the insides of the objects we love.

Pete-Thanks for the steam shots, they were things of beauty.As well as the sudden end to steam operations in Canada, one must mention that the CPR had taken delivery of several hundred steam locomotives not a decade before the fires were put out,the technonlogy changed that swiftly !Figured that you might like that oddunderbridge angle of the CN / CP crossings at bayview. The bridge the trains are ducking under is the Plain avenue roaad access between Burlington and hamilton ontario, four lane road bridge. sadly I can't duplicate that shot anymore. The shot was taken from a bank along tthe tracks in a public park which is now a housing developement. The trains still run there but you can't shoot them from that vantage point anymore.

James-Nice shot of the Ocean,. Tom espeacillay will like that one

Now onto the first of teh meat for the day

Rob

[BudKarr]

Good Morning Captain Tom and fellow sophisticates!

Ruth, time again for my weekly large mug of hot coffee with just a "splash" to make it interesting. The breakfast menu looks appealing and I just may order something in a bit. Put the twenty aside for a round on me when the gang trickles in.

Good to see the place still "ticking" and very happy to note the return of the fellow from Ontario calling himself a "boy" when we all know better. I think trolleyMAN better suits him. Welcome back my friend and you came back with a flourish with those contributions on Friday past when Cap'n Tom and Sir Pete were enjoying themselves on the train. Let me add my Well Done!

You may not believe this, but I am one of the few left on earth who has not viewed the motion picture Forest Gump! Further, I have no idea who that Boston Red Sox fellow was (or may still be). Puts me in the category of "not with it," I suppose. Lydia wants me to rent the DVD for the Gump movie, so next time I make the trip to the valley, I will do just that.

Wonderful photos from the gang throughout the past week. Especially enjoyed those from our leader and as always, keeps bringing us back to what this idea of his is all about. A photo is worth so much when one scrolls through the pages. Most effective way to bring the point home. Also many kudos to the fellow calling himself coalminer, but we call Shane, for the continuation of insights to railroading only found here!

Took note of my "bookend" becoming a "wealthy land grabber" down in the southernmost area of Florida. Undoubtedly your neighbors MUST be from Canada! <grin> Much good luck to you and your lady as you embark upon a new chapter in the life ahead. Sun, salt air and relaxation. Sounds just about right for a retired sailor.

Horses and the man from Illinois seem to fit well. Much success to you in what you have taken on. Surely speaks well of and for you, Sir Doug! However, it does appear that you have reduced your participation in rather dramatic fashion and left us with those terrible things you call jokes. <grin> Then I have no room to speak, as the frequency of my visits have very much deteriorated. <Alas>

Sir Pete and his wry sense of humor is indeed a plus for this group of ours and we are all the better for it. I have spent a fair amount of time in the UK and found myself "understanding" many of the dialects. Especially found the Scots to be the most intriguing of all where linguists are concerned.

I would definitely say that Sir Eric in Phoenix is as "regular" as one can be without "additives." A pleasure reading your thoughts and I expect you will find the gang attending the rendezvous with you to be EVERYTHING you thought, and perhaps even a little more! <grin>

I have taken note that Sir Rob is supposed to begin the contributions for the Canadian Passenger Railway theme. However, I do wish to drop this "oldie" of mine off from my very limited archives. It is something some of you have read over at the old site, but the newer arrivals may not have seen. My contribution, not really meant to "jump the gun."

Posted 12 Oct 2005, page 135 (on the old site)

Good evening and I will have one of those Moosehead Ales please.  I recall seeing that your food service is sandwiches on Monday thru Wednesday, so perhaps a hoagie - ham and swiss, butter and mustard should do it, on a hard roll.  (Note that my "bookend" now uses this as HIS hero sandwich!!) Oh yes - how are you barkeep?  It seems that your Anniversary celebration has fizzled, but I concur with your accolades for those who took the time to participate.

I am not one for the type of story you may be looking for, but here is something I recall from several years ago - too many in fact.

It was a dark and stormy night ..... no, actually it was a very clear and star filled night crossing the plains in Saskatchewan Province en route Vancouver.  I had boarded the train in Winnipeg, having completed my business there and decided to kill off my free weekend by taking CP Rail's "The Canadian" to the west coast.  The train in those days was in the livery of the CP "Pacman" logo and in that "action red" color.  Did not care for either very much, but the cars were what was important to me (and for you too Tom, as I understand it!).  My bedroom was in a Chateau series sleeping car and I wound up with a double at no extra fare.  I had requested to know what the fare was for a double room for single occupancy and the ticket agent simply booked one and that was that.  Nice gesture I thought.

During that era it did not seem as if the tourist trade had taken over the route the way it has since VIA Rail entered the picture.  Cutting back those trains to 3 departures per week has added to the crowded trains.  But I digress.

I spent a bit of time back in the Park car (Strathcona seems to ring a bell) and was having a rather spirited conversation with two RCMP officers who were on holiday, having come down from Churchill and also en route Vancouver.  Well, by the time the last call was sounded, we had pretty much emptied the inventory of the "spirits" we preferred.  That did not dampen the spirit for my new found companions, as they begged their leave, to indicate they would return shortly.  And that they did - with each holding an Imperial quart of Canadian Club and VO whiskey.  Where did it come from and how?  Why from the baggage car, where else?

It was a grand time in the lounge until the wee hours, as one of them furnished a guitar and the other a banjo.  Before too long a crowd gathered and the "song fest" began with all in attendance joining in.  The car attendant and train conductor re-opened the bar, as we were in need of ice and "chasers."  I could go on with this, but I think you get the message.

It was a grand time aboard "The Canadian," one perhaps never to be experienced again anywhere else.  Times and people are far, far different these days.