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Jeffrey's Trackside Diner for September 2021 - Featuring Stations & Depots

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 2:58 PM

I use a Pseudonym for my RR/historical/music FB account and do not do the friends thing on it at all. The wealth of information on FB is mind-blowing and like here we have good conversations and even private ones as well without having to do the friends thing. The photos that show up on some of the RR historical FB sights are incredible, so many that have never seen the light of day until the person posts them on FB.

I also have a FB account that has my real name and use it to communicate with my kids, wife, sister, cousin, and 5 very close friends. I get plenty of friend requests on it but do not accept them and people are fine with that when I tell them I only have the account to stay in touch with my kids.

My son has four FB accounts one for his movie work, a second for his sports writing, a third is for his current job and he has his private one. It is a necessary tool for his line(s) of work. My sons' photos are plastered all over the DC/Marvel-verse from his movie/TV work even though he was just an extra he was an actual DC/Marvel character in some of them and that bumped him up to fame status as Marvel Wiki put it.Laugh

The RCMP would come to our kid's school and teach them about internet safety and that was a real eye-opener. One of my daughters' friends had a photo of herself she had posted at an event show up on a sex for sale ad in Russia. They had just pulled random photos off the internet for their ads and my daughters' friend was one of them. A call to the RCMP who then contacted their Russian counterpart soon had it removed.

If I type my name in Google absolutely nothing comes up, even my personal FB page does not have my photo. 

Vancouvers other RR station was the CNs, now used for VIA Rail and as the bus station, not that we have bus service anymore since Greyhound pulled out. The distances were just too great and they were driving empty buses around the country. 20 hours on a bus or an hour on a plane.Hmm

Pacific Central among most stressful train stations in world - Vancouver Is  Awesome

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
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  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
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Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 3:21 PM

I see I've got tops. Tims for all.

Tim Hortons unveils new downtown Toronto head office inspired by its  Canadian roots

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
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Posted by "JaBear" on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 3:57 PM

richhotrain
  Garry, I pass by the Diner on my daily walk, but I rarely stop in. I did stop in today, and I was surprised to read your comment about future posting.

And I’m disappointed that you haven't linked to this, Rich….
 
 
Cheers, the Bear.Sad

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
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Posted by York1 on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 4:01 PM

Here's one story from the school lawyer several years ago:

A teacher had some discipline issues with several students.

That evening, the teacher posted on her personal Facebook page that she had had a hard day at school.  She didn't say any more than that -- no names, no details.

One of the student's parents hired a lawyer and sued the teacher and the school, claiming that even though no names or details had been posted, everyone in the school knew who she was talking about.

The lawyer spent time and the teacher suffered sleepless nights due to worry, but the case was dismissed before it ever reached court.

Each year the school system has a district-wide meeting.  The lawyer speaks at this meeting, advising teachers not to have a Facebook page.  If they still want a page,  she advises them never to post anything that is school or student related.

At my point in life, I don't worry about that.  I just don't want the screen time.  It's the same reason I don't have a cell phone.  My wife does, and she loves it.  I just don't want the bother.

York1 John       

  • Member since
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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 4:08 PM

 
richhotrain
  Garry, I pass by the Diner on my daily walk, but I rarely stop in. I did stop in today, and I was surprised to read your comment about future posting. 
And I’m disappointed that you haven't linked to this, Rich….
 
 
Cheers, the Bear.Sad
 

Oh my, those were the days, Bear.

Earlier this month, Garry promised to post photos on some or all of the original six downtown Chicago terminals, so I didn't want to steal his thunder. But, alas, unless I missed some, I believe that Garry only posted photos of Chicago Union Station (CUS).

There is still time in September, Garry.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 4:10 PM

York1
It's the same reason I don't have a cell phone.

 I rarely ever took my phone with me, just because I never thought about it, having had an average of four calls a year on it. However, it now has my Vaccine QR code on it so I need to take it. I'll be glad when this pandemic has moved on and  I do not need to remember to take it with me.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
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  • From: Kentucky
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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 7:58 PM

Howdy.

 

Rich.  I did show C. U. S. , but I don't recall saying I would show the other Chicago stations. So feel free to post pictures of them if you want to. 

David ... We are very concerned about you, and are praying you are getting well. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 8:18 PM

Heartland Division CB&Q

Rich.  I did show C. U. S. , but I don't recall saying I would show the other Chicago stations. So feel free to post pictures of them if you want to. 

Oops, I stand corrected. Embarrassed

I went back to double check, not believing that I could possibly be wrong. Laugh

Sorry about that, Garry. Sigh

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
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  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
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Posted by "JaBear" on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 1:22 AM

BATMAN
Tims for all.

Gee Batman, I must admit I had to use Google to find out what “Tim’s for all” meant, and came away disappointed. Sad If you don’t mind, I’d rather get myself a Captain…Smile, Wink & Grin
 
Glad you didn't have any issues from it. In Pennsylvania we actually have had a couple of minor earthquakes, the last one in my area was several years back, and while we could not feel it, we could hear it.”
 
In that case I hope that’s all you ever get to experience, Ricky.
 
Her-in -Doors has a Facebook page which was basically set up so we could “Facebook” our kids and my sister in Australia. (Talking to, and seeing someone at the same time was science fiction stuff, when I was young!!) I also regularly engage in Zoom meetings run by a fellow Forum member. (Again, the realms of SF).
As far as I’m concerned, don’t put anything on the web that you wouldn’t like your Mum to see.
 With the sophistication of the scammers, and it can be tricky at times to discern what’s genuine, or not, my golden rule is, if in doubt, DON’T press the “accept” button!!
 
I’m enjoying everyone’s contributions this month, thanks, Chaps!!Thumbs UpThumbs Up
 
Cass Station, on the route of the TranzAlpine, was built around 1911, and is representative of the hundreds of small railway stations, basically a shelter shed with a “parcels room”, that was on the New Zealand Railways network, when trains were the most practicable way to travel. (The Monty Python pointy hand of God was completely unplanned.)
 
Cass by Bear, on Flickr
 
The Mackenzie Country is a high country basin located in the centre of the South Island, named after James Mackenzie, a convicted sheep rustler, though to be fair, he was later pardoned.
 
Mac by Bear, on Flickr
Mac1 by Bear, on Flickr
Mac2 by Bear, on Flickr
 
Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them. Kia Kaha.
Cheers, the Bear.Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 8:46 AM

Good morning, diners.  Out walking at 6:00 a.m., it looked like the sky was on fire.  The entire sky was red, so I guess we will get our rain today.

I have a couple of places around our front door to caulk before winter.  We put in a new front door several years ago, and it seems that it's finally settled into place.

I have always had a love of train stations.  As a kid, they always represented new and exciting places to go on vacation.  I have really liked this month's photos.

This one is not a real good picture, but it is in the interesting South Dakota town of Deadwood.  The town is a real attraction in the Black Hills:

 

I hope David is going to be OK.  That goes for others that are also missing.  I don't know you personally, but I count you as friends from this diner.  I am thinking of you.

York1 John       

  • Member since
    March 2021
  • 260 posts
Posted by Tin Can II on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 10:02 AM

I don't post very often anymore; primarily because I am very busy in my new job.  However, I do try to visit a couple of times a week.  Furthermore, I have nothing to report on train activity in the basement; that has been curtailed by home renovation projects and general home maintenance.  

It does not help that about a month ago I began experiencing blurry vision in my right eye.  It got bad enought that I went to the local eye doctor, who immediately referred me to the closest opthamologist in Garden City, KS.  My right cornea; which had been transplanted in 32 years ago, was rejecting.  I have been one-eyed since; on a course of medication which has stopped the rejection episode.  But there is so much swelling that my vision is still greatly impaired; and I am on drops that will hopefully fix that.  But the doctor says this is a long healing process; I do not go back for another 3 weeks.  If it does not get better, another transplant is on the table.  Regardless, I would like this to be over, hopefully without another surgery.

 

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 3:29 PM

JaBear
The Mackenzie Country is a high country basin located in the centre of the South Island, named after James Mackenzie, a convicted sheep rustler, though to be fair, he was later pardoned.

Bear: Thanks for sharing those beautiful photographs. That looks like a great place to visit.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    February 2008
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Posted by maxman on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 4:05 PM

named after James Mackenzie, a convicted sheep rustler, though to be fair, he was later pardoned.

Probably because all the potential witnesses had either already been eaten or were stored in a freezer case somewhere.

  • Member since
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  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
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Posted by "JaBear" on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 4:05 PM

SeeYou190
That looks like a great place to visit.

If you do happen to turn up, I’ll lend you some of my thick jerseys and a woolly hat!Smile, Wink & Grin
Cheers, the Bear.Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 10:20 PM

Howdy .... 

Stations in Chicago ....

Chicago LaSalle Station was New York Central and Rock Island

 

Chicago Dearborn Station was Santa Fe, Monon, Wabash, C&O, ERIE, C&EI, and GTW.

 

....

Birmingham, AL .... Some of the upper parts of the Birmingham Terminal Station are in the distance behind the Frisco E8's.  

 

 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, September 30, 2021 12:20 AM

Last day of the month!

Has anyone else noticed the font on the forum has changed slightly?

I finally bought a fisheye lens for my camera. This one has a focal lenth of 8mm and can "see" at 145 degrees.

I played with it a lttle today, and I like it. It is not a genuine Canon lens, and it does not have auto-focus or image stabilization. For as little as I will use it, I think it will be OK.

The queen of the house:

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • From: Ludington, MI
  • 1,872 posts
Posted by Water Level Route on Thursday, September 30, 2021 6:02 AM

Good morning all.  Chloe, a large coffee in a ALGOMA CENTRAL mug please.

Well, my oldest daughter has had an interesting week.  To start with, I think her incision that I have to pack daily may be infected again.  At least now it's open so no chance for build-up which will help.  We see her surgeon again on Tuesday.  Conversely, she got voted to homecoming court for her high school! Big Smile She isn't one of the popular kids and is anything but a social butterfly, but she is one of the nicest, prettiest girls (in my opinion anyway!) in the school.  Nice to see homecoming court wasn't just a popularity contest.

As fate would have it, my youngest daughter has a soccer game the night of the homecoming football game.  My wife's parents would be our fall-back to take her to her game, but they are on vacation.  Trying get my sister-in-law to take her now.  My youngest talked to her coach about missing the game and he said he needed her there.  Not just because a few of the other girls can't make it, but he said he needs her skill on offense in that game.  Big Smile  Happy Dad!  Stressed, but happy!

David, hope you are doing okay.

Track Fiddler, where are you?

Everyone, hope you have a good day!

Mike

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Thursday, September 30, 2021 7:29 AM

Good morning, everyone.  Bacon, eggs, and coffee, Brunhilda.

We woke up this morning to the best sound -- it was raining.  Even though corn harvest is about to begin and the rain will postpone it a couple of days, I don't think anyone I know will complain about the rain.

Dave, I continue to hope your daughter gets better.  That's good news about her homecoming royalty.  Things like that will make you proud even years from now.

David, I don't know if you're still in the hospital or if you are reading the diner at all, but we all hope everything is going well.

Kevin, that lens makes it look like Florida has hills!

Garry, great pictures of Chicago stations.  I have only personally been on a train in Chicago Union Station.  It was December, it was cold, the station was being remodeled, and there was no heat.  It was not a pleasant experience.

Tin Can, I hope your eyes are OK.  That doesn't sound like a pleasant experience.  It can't be fun trying to adjust to seeing only out of one eye.

Bear, great pictures of your beautiful country.  One of the photos shows you driving on the wrong side of the road.  If I ever visit, I think I will take a tour instead of drive.  I would probably forget and end up smashing head-on into someone.

Brent, since I don't carry a cell phone, I carry a paper vaccination card.  I'm not sure why I carry it -- since I got the vaccine in March, I haven't once had to show the card to anyone.

For anyone I've haven't mentioned, I hope everything is going well with you.

My last train station photo is kind of a repeat of one I showed earlier, except from a different angle.  Omaha had the Union Station and the Burlington Station very close, sharing a set of tracks between them.  Directly east of the stations, all the tracks converged into one set of tracks to cross the Missouri River.

On the left is the Union Station, and on the right is the Burlington Station.  There was an overhead covered walkway between them, with stairs down to access the various tracks.

Looking east:

 

Here's the view looking west:

 

Really a neat setup. 

I was in the Union Station as a kid meeting my aunt.  The thing I really remember is that this was where I got my first ride on an escalator.

Both stations are still there, with Union Station a museum and the Burlington Station the studios for the local ABC TV station.

I'm looking forward to seeing a lot good bridge pictures.

Tomorrow is pay day.  I love retirement.  Without doing any work, money magically appears in my bank account each month!

Have a good day, everyone.

York1 John       

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, September 30, 2021 10:48 AM

York1
Kevin, that lens makes it look like Florida has hills!

My house sits on an artificial hill about seven feet above the roadway. This is well above code, and nearly everyone else will flood before I do.

I am a couple of feet higher than the houses on either side of me.

York1
I carry a paper vaccination card.  I'm not sure why I carry it -- since I got the vaccine in March, I haven't once had to show the card to anyone.

No one has ever asked for mine either.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, September 30, 2021 11:41 AM

Before September fades away, I decided to post two more downtown Chicago passenger stations: Central Station and Grand Central Station. 

The top photo is Central Station, now long ago demolished, which was the passenger station for the Illinois Central RR, along with the Michigan Central RR, and at times a few other roads.

Central-Station.jpg

Source: Library of Congress

The photo below is Grand Central Station, now long ago demolished, which was the passenger station for the B&O, Soo Line, Pere Marquette, Chicago Great Western and C&O.

Grand-Central-Station.jpg

Source: Public Domain

Rich

 

Alton Junction

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Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, September 30, 2021 11:46 AM

Here is the sixth of six downtown Chicago passenger stations. It is the Chicago North Western, long ago demolished, which was the passenger station for the C&NW. 

cnw-station.jpg

Source: Chicagology

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, September 30, 2021 11:57 AM

A photo montage of Chicago passenger stations would not be complete without photos of two famous, but much less elegant, passenger stations: Englewood and Little Englewood.

Englewood Station (top photo) at 63rd and State Street, about 7 miles south of downtown, was the site where the NYC and PRR picked up and dropped off passengers who chose not to use the downtown stations. It was also the site of races between NYC and PRR trains heading out of Chicago.

Little Englewood Station (bottom photo), about a mile west of Englewood Station, was the site where several railroads that used C&WI trackage picked up and dropped off passengers who chose not to use Dearborn Station downtown. 

Englewood-Station-2.jpg

Little-Englewood.jpg

Source: monon.org

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, September 30, 2021 12:23 PM

Ophir, Colorado. About as quaint a location you could imagine:

 Ophir_Colorado_RGS by Edmund, on Flickr

Way over to big city Boston. South Station:

 South-Station-Boston by Edmund, on Flickr

Jack Delano's popular photo taken at Albuquerque in '43:

 Santa-Fe_Albuquerque-3-1943 by Edmund, on Flickr

And things are looking a little different at the same station thirty years later:

 Southwest-Chief_Albuquerque by Edmund, on Flickr

And when you don't even have a station, a road crossing will do:

 Builder_Stop by Edmund, on Flickr

I hope everyone is doing well. Wishing you a speedy recovery, David.

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
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  • From: Flyover Country
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Posted by York1 on Thursday, September 30, 2021 12:44 PM

Last day to get the station photos in:

Since we've mostly done historic old stations, how about a modern station for a new railroad:

I'm pretty sure this is Miami's new Brightline RR station:

 

 

It seems like all the Brightline stations have some of the same architectural features.

York1 John       

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,484 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, September 30, 2021 1:22 PM

My only photo contributions this month.  Sorry, with the trains gone long ago, southern Delaware has lost all its stations.

Here is an old picture from Boston, looking down the tracks from a Green Line station.  These are light rail cars, PCC cars at one time, that mostly travel above ground, but downtown there is a collections of underground stations.  I took this with a film camera, and no one got upset back then.

Here is another ancient picture, from 1973, again on film.  This is in Concord, Massachusetts, right across the street from where I lived.  Looking down the tracks, you can see the Concord station, but I was interested in the train more than its surroundings.

At the time, these were Boston and Maine tracks.  Some very rich people were having a wedding, and had chartered a train from Steamtown in Vermont.  I happened to hear a steam whistle, so I rushed outside and caught the train on its inbound trip to Boston.  Then, I had the sense to call the railroad and ask to speak to the dispatcher, who told me when the engine would be returning.  I was ready with my camera that day.  I suspect that this was the last time a steam engine ran through Concord.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
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  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
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Posted by "JaBear" on Thursday, September 30, 2021 2:14 PM
Many years ago, a young Bear lived in Sydney, Australia, and even though I drove a taxi, travelling by train was a fairly efficient and cheap means of commuting and so I was a reasonably regular user of Sydney Central Station.
 
Courtesy of Bahnfrend, Wikimedia Commons.
Sydney Central Station by Bear, on Flickr
 
Courtesy of MDRX, Wikimedia Commons.
SCconcourse by Bear, on Flickr
 
Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them. Kia Kaha.
Cheers, the Bear.Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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