BATMANMost of us own GE stock either directly or through our pension funds. I wonder what a $100.00 worth of stock in 1915 is worth today.
Not quite as much as you might think...
$5,538.86 [edit] I just noticed that the data I used only went back to 1962 so these numbers are fuzzy! Seems like all the databases I find only go back to '62.
Now the 5,000 shares I bought about a year ago at $30.53?
Easy come, easy go they say
Now if you want something reliable...
8784 002 by John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, on Flickr
You just can't beat a "Reliable" Ham!
Cheers! Ed
Ed, those electric vehicles are really neat, thanks for the link, I will put them on my Christmas toy list.
Here is an old film from General Electric. Hard to believe they are getting out of the locomotive biz after all these years. As Randy and Ed pointed out earlier, electric seemed to be the way of the future a hundred years ago. I wonder where we would be today on this side of the pond if we had stuck with electric instead of letting the mighty dollar determine the future. High speed rail would be everywhere by now, (maybe)
Most of us own GE stock either directly or through our pension funds. I wonder what a $100.00 worth of stock in 1915 is worth today.
Back to the future.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
BATMANCan't seem to find them produced by a MRR manufacturer, should be easy enough to build from scratch though.
I have the same fascination for electric trucks as you, Brent. Cleveland was a mecca of electric vehicle manufacturers. Elwell-Parker, Baker, Yale, Rauch & Lang and a few more I forget.
I made a bunch of these for baggage and express handling around my Union Station. I think they're pretty neat
IMG_6285_fix2 by Edmund, on Flickr
IMG_6244_fix by Edmund, on Flickr
They are made in several styles, kit or finished:
https://www.walthers.com/electric-flatbed-vehicle-w-3-trailers-kit
https://www.walthers.com/electric-baggage-truck-nonoperating-w-trailer-driver-german-railways-early-era-iii
Have fun! Ed
gmpullmanFascinating find, Brent. An uphill tank car.
Ya, I wonder how they got it down the hill.
I have seen one of those twin dome tank cars before and I am pretty sure it was used in the booze business, Beer, wine or is maybe bringing my Captain Morgan to the West Coast.
Here is another oldie, best watched on the big screen in my new power recliner.
Fascinating find, Brent. An uphill tank car. Who'd a thunk it?
So after a little snooping I found another twin-domer:
57001 by John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, on Flickr
Fun Stuff,
Ed
How about this for you loggers.
One of the more interesting—and unique—cars built by Seattle Car & Foundry was this tank car built for the Yosemite Lumber Company for use on a 7,800' incline with grades up to 78%. The expansion dome had to be placed at the uphill end of the car to avoid spillage, and special flanges between the tank and the frame kept the tank from slipping out of the hold-down bands. Drawings and photos of this car may be found in the May/June 2004 issue of Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette.
More here.
http://www.midcontinent.org/rollingstock/builders/pacific_car.htm
gmpullmanI want to know more about the funky two-dome tank car. Single, triple, sure. I don't recall ever seeing a two-dome?
They certainly seem to be a rarity Ed, and that one a real oddity.
http://photobucket.com/gallery/user/Chris_Zygmunt/media/cGF0aDovVGFua2NhcnBob3RvY29weS5qcGc=/?ref=
http://berwickrailfan.webs.com/rollstockphotos/STOWNtanker0001.jpg
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Yea, nice catch Ed. That icing machine was awesome! Thanks Brent!
Mike.
My You Tube
Forget the kid—
I want to know more about the funky two-dome tank car. Single, triple, sure. I don't recall ever seeing a two-dome?
Tank_car_2dome by Edmund, on Flickr
Fun Stuff, Ed
Okay, which one of you is the kid in the car. Larry!????????
Only thing I can think of is that with the lack of high current rectification, there was probably no way to stop the batteries from feeding in to the third rail if the third rail voltage dropped, say due to other nearby locos starting a train. The diesel and generator would have no such issue since the load was consistant - charging the batteries.
That's as good a reason as any to keep the batteries isolated from the third rail. Much like electrified lines in mountainous areas used dynamic braking on the downhill train, feeding power back into the overhead, not wasting it in resistors, to add power to trains climbing the hills. You might sit there thinking the batteries are recharging only to find they are now completely drained and you have to start the diesel.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinkerElectric cars are nothing new - in the early 1900's, they were the preferred form, gasoline cars were crude, noisy, and very unreliable in the early days.
Anyone who knows me can tell you that I frequently preach that there are truly no NEW ideas.
All this talk about hybrid cars and I'm reminded of the New York Central's tri-power DES-2 locomotive first built in 1928 as a joint effort of Alco, GE, ESB and Ingersoll-Rand.
It had 240 cell storage battery, a 300 HP diesel and a third-rail pick-up shoe. The diesel or the third rail could be used to charge the batteries‡ and it could run inside the dock and warehouse buildings, without smoke, for about three hours!
So everyone is Ooh and Aah about GEVO and hybrid locomotives!
NYC says... been there — done that.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GE_three-power_boxcab
‡ Two NYC books I have say the batteries COULD be charged off the third rail. The Wiki article says no? Both the generator and third rail were 600 VDC so I don't see why not but I can not confirm for sure.
Cheers, Ed
Take a look at Jay Leno's Garage on Youtube, in particular the episode on his Baker electric car from right around the turn of the century. It does better than some current electric cars, the horribly pointless Mitsubishi one in particular - that one couldn't get me back and forth to work just one day. Jay's 1909 Baker goes 100 miles on a charge. Yes, using 1909 battery technology. Edison Cell Nickel-Iron batteries, to be exact - which have such long lives there are still original ones that take and hold a charge. Railroads used them a lot - you could keep them under continuous charge without killing them, and they would last at LEAST 20 years. So they powered signals and crossing gates and so forth on the railroad all over.
Given the slow speed those baggage carts would run, they almost certainly had the same run time as a more modern electric fork lift with the big lead-acid battery packs. And Edison batteries could be charged faster than lead-acid, with no worries about hydrogen gas being given off.
Electric cars are nothing new - in the early 1900's, they were the preferred form, gasoline cars were crude, noisy, and very unreliable in the early days. They disappeared when gasoline and the engines to burn it were cheap, and you had effectively unlimited range. The mostly DIY attempts to bring them back in the 60's and 70's were complete flops, most were poorly engineered and all they ever used were regular car batteries which were not designed for the continuous cycling of an electric car. Even the best of today, with exotic lithium ion battery chemistry, aren't all that much better range-wise as those early 1900's cars. Some, like the previously mentioned Mitsubushi, and the Nissan Leaf, are actually far worse. Note though, that the top speed on those old cars was 20-25mph, and most driving was done going even slower, considering paved roads were a thing of the future.
I was looking for early 1900s power equipment to place around the roundhouse I am working on. Once the PRR had them, they spread like wildfire to all railroads and other industries. I wonder how long they ran on a charge, batteries being what they were back then. A charging station for these would also be required.
Can't seem to find them produced by a MRR manufacturer, should be easy enough to build from scratch though. It's on the docket for 2026.
Here is a video of a train break. I found it interesting how it was able to stop in unison even though the front part was packing a lot more weight.
Cheers, the still confused Bear.
How to confuse a Bear, actually it’s easy! Ed, I see that site you linked to referred to a Burlington “birdcage” car.
A birdcage car— now, to me, that congers up a vision of those ancient victorian lifts, elevators to those of us Stateside, with ornate, scrolling metal-work.
I have the book by John H. White, Jr. which is mentioned. It pretty much follows the text of the website in that "no records or description of this car exists".
Generally, it seems that this design is accepted as the first "true" dome car:
September, 1902 Railway Master Mechanic Magazine
http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/photos/cpr_rolling/86_observ.jpg
and it seems that at least four of this design were built. I visited the "Silver Dome" as it now resides in the Mad River and NKP Museum in Orrville, Ohio.
Fun Stuff!
gmpullmanThat sure is one of the wildest "Doodlebugs" I've ever seen, Steemtrain!
gmpullmanThey say credit goes to Mr. Cyrus Osborn of EMD for having the concept of the "Dome Car" ... http://streamlinermemories.info/?p=934
That sure is one of the wildest "Doodlebugs" I've ever seen, Steemtrain!
They say credit goes to Mr. Cyrus Osborn of EMD for having the concept of the "Dome Car" ...
http://streamlinermemories.info/?p=934
But that second photo [in your link] of the Pickwick Observation Buffet coach sure looks like it could be the inspiration of the popular dome car, for sure.
Thanks for posting that link! Can you imagine trying to negotiate that beast on a winding, hilly road?!
Regards, Ed
http://theoldmotor.com/?p=166339
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
That Klingon trailer sure looks like it could have been the progenitor for the 1940s Airstream Automobile trailer
https://www.airstream.com/history/
Okay Dave, time to get going on the trailer.
about ten mail/baggage Klingons were made.
Some of those trial runs are shown on the New York central near Erie, Pa. One of the locomotives was run into Grand Central Terminal for a public display.
When UP had returned them back to GE the New York Central continued to test them through 1941. The Great Northern had them for a while, too.
The turbines also drove an auxiliary generator providing three-phase 220V. head end power for the passenger cars. An idea well before its time. They also had dynamic brakes.
Interesting times, then!
Reviving this one yet again - check out this! GE steam turbine electric loco built for the UP.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqLayk9Vw4E
Better not show this to the wife, she'll make take down the layout.
Check out the old pickups parked on the side of the road. They probably belong to the guys filming. I wonder if they are model railroaders?
Interesting I guess that it's all in one place but most of those stills come from various books, and the movies are from Arch and Bruce Kantner or one of the other well-known people who did 16mm movies of various points on the Reading. I have most of the books those pictures come from.
Hot off the press.
I acquired this railroad in 1965 playing Monopoly. Thought I'd show you a video.
Check out the bridge into the building at 2:05 That would never happen in real life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGK7_H3UqFA
Wow, Ed! What page did you find this on. It looks like it has had quite a few views since last I checked in. I have been saving up a couple of pic's I collected since last summer, however, Photobucket is just not behaving. It made most of my stored pic's vanish. While I still have them on my computer, it won't let me transfer them over.
I had another account for hockey, it had hundreds of pic's from over the years of all the kids on the teams and from when they went to tournaments and special events like an afternoon with the Vancouver Canucks. POOF! All gone except for a few. Some of the parents have asked if I still have those ones. I probably have most, but that is going to be work to restore them if PB ever works for me again.
I think it is a good idea to carry on as new stuff pops up on the web on a regular basis. Time to do battle with Photochuckit.
For today, a video for Dave. At 8 minutes we see the McKeen. I want to know if Dave has all those window drain stanchions installed on his fine masterpiece.
We might have to start "Waldorf And Statlers Photo Of The Day PartDeux"
I'd guess that the info writ on the photo is a mis-spellin', and it's actually meant to be the "disc-o crew". Yew'll note that there's an early model chain-driven disc player behind the gent sittin' on the outrigger. (He don't look all that heavy, but take a looky at all them other guys on t'other side, tryin' t' counterbalance his weight.) Besides all that, the real bizness of that there rig is 'neath the seated gent...looks like a big scooper o' some sort. I'm purty sure that there thing is meant to git alla that stray ballast offen the ties, before the next machine comes along to spread yer mixture o' de-looted white glue, fer to make yer ballast stay put.
Wayne