Hello everyone!!
Welcome to the Diner, this time in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Ontario has it all, from huge urban centers like the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) to endless miles of wilderness. There is something for everyone!
For those (two) of you who like statistics, here's the low down:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario
Pictures speak louder that words:
Downtown Toronto:
Typical 'cottage country':
Niagara Falls from the Canadian side:
Northern Ontario:
The Rideau Canal in Ottawa. Canada's longest skating rink:
Canada's Parliament Buildings looking from the back:
Uxbridge. Typical small town Ontario:
Northern Lights at Chapleau:
Here is a video about railroading in Ontario:
We will start off in the town of Tottenham at the South Simcoe Railway Museum. The museum is home to 4-4-0 #136 which is used throughout the summer months for excursions between Tottenham and Beeton. The locomotive was built in 1883 and was initially used to build the transcontinental railway in the 1880s:
Here it is in more detail:
More details on Ontario to follow throughout the month.
For those new to this place, Jeffrey´s Trackside Diner is the place for you to go to relax and talk off topic about most anything - as long as you stay within the forum rules, which means certain hot button topics are excluded. Please refer to Steven Otte´s post on Forum Policies. Everybody is welcome to participate in the Diner !
The staff - that´s Zoe, Chloe, Flo, Janie, and Brunhilda — is very friendly and will serve up plenty of virtual diner fare with a smile. Just don´t forget to leave a generous tip! Now and then, our host Steven Otte chips in and brings along some goodies for us to try - which is always heartily welcomed!
As always, in rememberance of our fallen but not forgotten comrades, here is the RIP Track:
At the beginning of each month, it is the time to pay our respect to friends no longer with us.
Barry Arnold aka BlownoutCylinder
Alan B
Jerry Cox aka Cox47
Wolfgang Dudler aka Westport Terminal
Bob Hartle aka cmrproducts
Tom Mills
Harold Minkwitz aka hminky
Ed Murphy
Michael L. Myles aka Inch
Bill North
James W. Rohde aka CapeJim
Stein Rypern, Jr. aka Steinjr
Andy Sperandeo
Jeffrey "Running Bear" Wimberley
Gone, but not forgotten!
Cheers!!
HOn30critter Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Dave,
Thanks for moving the diner this month, good job---
herrinchoker
Here is an older video of three iconic steam engines saluting each other. South Simcoe Railway #136 and #1057 and CP #2816. Taken just north of Tottenham, Ontario:
Dave
Thank You for the (almost) cross-continent Diner move, Dave!
Barely a ripple in my drink along the way
Looking forward to some fine Ontario hospitality
CN_Toronto by Edmund, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
Everyone has their favourite railway bridges. This is mine:
It is located in Little Current and it connects the Manitoulin Island with the mainland. The bridge was built by the Algoma Eastern Railway. Construction on the abutments was begun in 1912 and the bridge itself was built in 1913. It has a 368' span. It still operates through the summer to allow pleasure boats to access the North Channel of Georgian Bay. Railroad traffic was discontinued many years ago but it is still used for vehicular traffic.
Perhaps the most important feature of the bridge is that there is a really great ice cream parlour just past the bridge on the Manitoulin side! Seriously, the ice cream is locally produced and it is to die for!
Thanks for openning the forum.
I came across a small box of slides mixed in with my train stuff. It slides from different years in my life. The best was an old fire engine. There was also a pretty girl in my photography class. I must say the lighting was perfect.She had a young child and if she was not the photo professors girlfriend, the class would have been stunned. I can't remember her name, but I remember his. Ed had a big blonde beard, before people commonly had beards.
He had a story of being a press photographer and covering President Eisenhower. It was a hot day and Ike was complaining he was thirsty. He went a bought Ike a coke and pushed through the crowd and thrust it at Ike. The secret service agents were not pleased.
Photography was the most enjoyable course I ever took.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Smooooth mooooove Dave! I used to go with a group of guys to Dryden, to a resort on an "every other year" fishing adventure.
And many adventures were had... That was in the early 70's. I couldn't find that resort right now, or if it even still exist, but I remember Dryden was the closest town for things, including local pubs, which had seperate entrances for men and women.
And where we bought cases of Labott's to take back to camp with us, it was like going to the post office, everyone who worked there was in uniform, and you made your choice, looking through a glass case, and a worker would bring it out to the pick up.
We could only bring a few walleyes back across the border, I think it was 6 a piece, but we ate walleyes ( and drank Labott's) morning noon and night while at the resort.
Mike.
My You Tube
Good morning
A nice wake up in Ontario this morning. The Host with the most ... Thanks for moving the Diner Dave!
A beautiful view of the City and I see all the Wilderness is here as well. The first thing I did was enjoy my ride in the 4-4-0 cab on # 136.
Enjoyed all the pics. & vids. Great job Dave! Thanks
TF
One of the great scenic railways in North America is the Agawa Canyon Tour Train operated by the Algoma Central Railway. It travels up through the Agawa Canyon from Sault Ste. Marie. In the fall the colours are spectacular. The railway caters to those who would like to adventure into the deep woods. It will stop just about anywhere on its route to let off or pick up back country hikers, campers, canoeists and hunters. Check out the 'Stories and Galleries' section. Unfortunately the video isn't working:
http://www.agawatrain.com/the-train/
Here are some of the photos:
Meanwhile, back in Toronto, there is some great railway history being preserved thanks to the Toronto Railway Historical Association:
http://www.trha.ca/trha/
Here are a few pictures of what they have to offer:
The John St. roundhouse is a neat place. It even houses a brewery!
The roundhouse is a great place to start your tour of Toronto. It is right next to the Skydome where the Toronto Blue Jays play, and just across the street is the Ripley's Aquarium. No, you can't bring your fishing rod! However, a couple of years ago one adventurous sole doffed his clothes and went for a swim in the shark tank! Good thing the sharks were well fed! All he got was arrested!
Also in downtown Toronto is the massive Union Station. Construction was started in 1914 but because of materials shortages during WWI it didn't actually begin operations until 1927. It is still in heavy use as the major commuter hub in the city.
I liked the Fall colors and reflection at Ogawa Canyon, Stubby the switcher and the massive Round House where you can get a beer on your visit, ... I'm Inn! and may stay there for a while on this trip
P.S. The Union Station is impressive with all its stonework and beautiful floor, ... let's see if I can carve that out of foam with a pen
My mother always commented, "The further you go North, the more beautiful it gets". The thing I always loved about Canada is thier beautiful cities, quaint little towns, just a hop skip and a jump and you're back in the wilderness again. Not too many places in the world like that
Nice job Dave.
https://youtu.be/MojqoNz-_Cw
This is the museum sometimes diner patron Trolley Rob volunteered at. Haven't heard from him for a while but if the link works it's worth a look. J.R.
Edit: I did what Ed said to make the video visible.
Thanks GMT! I didn't even know the place existed!
And now, let's make the link watchable
Just copy the YouTube link from the header and paste it into the video icon menu box at the MR site
Amtrak is FORTY-NINE today! Happy Birthday, Amtrak!
Amtrak_631-641_DC-3-23-79 by Edmund, on Flickr
RR_views_0001 by Edmund, on Flickr
Regards, Ed
Thanks for the move. I locked up the old place for you.
It's Friday, we're in Ontario, and virtual calories don't count, so let's have some poutine!
Have a good weekend, and stay healthy, everybody!
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Good morning ...... I'll have an original Tim Horton's donut and TH coffee please.
(Edit) Steve O .... Thanks for the poutine. Looks good, but I had a donut. Later it will be yummy.
Dave ! ....... Great job moving the Diner !!!!
I recall many trips to Toronto and Montreal for meetings with CN. I worked in Detroit for CN's GTW. Before VIA Rail was created, we traveled on CN trains from Windsor, across the river from Detroit. The CN trains between Windsor and Trornto had nice quipment, and they were called "Tempo" trains.
In Toronto, we often stayed at the Royal York Hotel which was across the street from Union Station. I remember the CN Tower was under construction during those times.
If going to Montreal, we changed trains at Toronto for an overnight trip in a sleeping car.
Ed .... Thanks for observing Amtrak's anniversary !
....
Below is my "West End Depot" I just made. More photos are in Weekend Phto Fun .
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Steven OtteIt's Friday, we're in Ontario, and virtual calories don't count, so let's have some poutine!
That is an unfair temptation. With the lockdown I cannot get any real poutine right now, and the virtual kind will not hit the target.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Great suggestion Steven! Harvey's Burgers has the best tasting poutine! Unfortunately their portions are disappointingly small. If you are going to eat unhealthy food, IMHO go big or go home!
Thank You Canada!
Mask shortage? Not for ME
Crown-face by Edmund, on Flickr
I don't know how I come up with these ideas, but in a moment of deep contemplation, while unsheathing another bottle from the pretty, royal blue satchel it just came to me!
Golden drawstrings included!
I think I'm on the cutting-edge of a fashion trend
Here's to 'ya! Ed
gmpullmanJust copy the YouTube link from the header and paste it into the video icon menu box at the MR site
Thanks Ed,
I'm still not entirely up to speed on the video thing.
gmpullmanI don't know how I come up with these ideas, but in a moment of deep contemplation, while unsheathing another bottle from the pretty, royal blue satchel it just came to me! Golden drawstrings included! I think I'm on the cutting-edge of a fashion trend
Ed! You have good taste! I could go for a $50.00 surgical mask if it came wrapped around a bottle of CR!
hon30critterI'm still not entirely up to speed on the video thing.
In the reply box, the second group of icons, (chain, mountain, film) third one over looks like a film strip. Click it > This window will open:
Paste_video by Edmund, on Flickr
Just paste the youTube link you copied where I have it, leave the other lines blank. Good to go!
Oh Yeah... It is a new month.
Did I tell you about the seagulls.
Yes, we do have a lot of seagulls here in North Dakotqa. That big lake is only about 60 miles north of us : )
Anyway the seagulls were doing some precision flying, as if they were a fleet of Blue Angels...
This way and that, and the they had to pull up all of a sudden to avoid flying into our floor to ceiling 80' long diningroom window. Then all in unison they shat on the windows trying to lighten the load to clear the buildings.
GRRrrrrrr
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Thanks for fixing the video guys. The museum was great and my son and I went on the tour in the restored street car as well when we visited.
Poutine is great - Thanks Steven.
Dump turkeys is what you have out there Lion. Since we covered and shut down our landfill they are very much reduced here. Now the geese on the other hand....
Back to it! Ciao, J.R.
Quite some years ago, I was in Toronto for a friend's wedding. I had a day free, so went up in a big tower. Below me was an active railroad faculty, as I recall a locomotive service area with an active turntable. I don't know what that prime real estate is now, but I really enjoyed watching the scene from above.
I also remember eating dinner that night at a Pakistani restaurant. Everything on the menu was pure fire, and most of us spent the night close to the bathroom. Fortunately, toilet paper was not in short supply back then.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Afternoon all from the West Coast where it is 17c and half sunny.
Did a little yard work and then I finally unpact the new additions. They sure are nice.
Spent lots of time in the trainroom today so that makes it a good day. Need to do some maintenance as a couple of things need attention. The turntable ran like a dream and saw lots of action.
Look what the kid brought me. I came in from riding the Deere to this. He also gave me a huge hug to go along with it. He still has the credit card I gave him when he was twelve for emergencies. We will see if the booze falls into that category.
Well, back to trains for one more quick spin and then it's happy hour.
All the best to all.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Evening, ...Another beautiful day and I just got back from another picnic, every day has been a picnic lately!
Ahhhhhh. That's a darn good kid you got there Brent. I'd stay away from the sweet stuff, like the Morgan and the Cider if you like tomorrow enough. I'd stick to the Team beer in those Vancouver Canuck mugs. The kid has a young enough liver and kidneys for that sweet stuff, let him have that
Have fun running those new unique painted CP's
There ain't no Sports anymore so I'm going to play my own football. Remember these, the first computer in my book and was the only one I understood
The site is frozen again but I have found ways to hack my way through it.
Post Hog!
I just had to post again already. Look what just came into my brother-in-law's shop in Mid Northern Wisconsin.
For those of you that haven't been following, my brother-in-law's the one that rebuilt my 351 Windsor and Bossed it out
It's a 1930 Ford Model A.
Everyone calls my brother-in-law Steveo. He is a Ford Master Mechanic Senior Tech. with over 30 years experience but still waiting until he turns 65 to get his maximum pension.
I have already texted him back what his privilege is of fixing and I have not heard back from him yet.
My wife and I drove from Maryland to Cape Cod in 2007 and along the way we encountered a tour from NC to Mass or maybe Maine of 1920's vintage Roll Royces. The kind with the spare mounted behind the front fender and an open cockpit.
If anyone ventures near Randy Rinker, the is the Boyertown PA museum. That area of PA was a hotbed of car building in the early 1900's and they built things like Reading work trucks and delivery vehicles of the time.