Group - thought I'd share an oldie scan - This is one of my dad's images taken when he was 12-years-old, of the GM Train of Tomorrow at Elizabeth NJ
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=251195&nseq=0
Image was on a 620 negative.
Corrections and additional information are both very welcome.
Charles Freericks
....Now that photo entry really catches my eye...! I too saw that train....Who knows, might have been on that very swing thru the east. I saw that train {as a 16 year old....!}, on the coal branch {S&C}, of the B&O in Kantner, Pennsylvania. It would have had to leave the Pennsylvania RR at Johnstown and onto the branch and run the roughly 30 plus miles to Rockwood and enter the east / west main of the B&O....{Sand Patch route}.
Our school officials found out about it....{how I'd never guess}, and our school was located less than a half a mile from the tracks....and we were let out of school {high school /middle school}, to walk to the tracks to see it....{Can you imagine that in today's world}. It {from memory}, had 4 short domes in the consist. I still have vivid memories of seeing it 61 years later....
Edit: Note the number of the engine...."765", duplicating the famous Berkshire in this area....
Quentin
I too remember the GM Train of Tomorrow and my mother actually took my brother and I on the tour of the train and helped cement my lifelong love of trains. That picture brings back a flood of memories for me. Thx.
Al - in - Stockton
Some more Train of Tomorrow history on one of Don Strack's webpages here: http://utahrails.net/all-time/all-time-18.php#e7a-988 Union Pacific ended up buying the entire train, including the locomotive!
Ed
Modelcar wrote:....Now that photo entry really catches my eye...! I too saw that train....Who knows, might have been on that very swing thru the east. I saw that train {as a 16 year old....!}, on the coal branch {S&C}, of the B&O in Kantner, Pennsylvania. It would have had to leave the Pennsylvania RR at Johnstown and onto the branch and run the roughly 30 plus miles to Rockwood and enter the east / west main of the B&O....{Sand Patch route}.Our school officials found out about it....{how I'd never guess}, and our school was located less than a half a mile from the tracks....and we were let out of school {high school /middle school}, to walk to the tracks to see it....{Can you imagine that in today's world}. It {from memory}, had 4 short domes in the consist. I still have vivid memories of seeing it 61 years later....Edit: Note the number of the engine...."765", dubilicating the famous Berkshire in this area....
Edit: Note the number of the engine...."765", dubilicating the famous Berkshire in this area....
REALLY!!!!!
Did it stop in Kantner? (I grew up in Lambertsville, family's from Kimmelton)
.....Hello Bob:
Small world....Our originial home is Stoystown.
As for the train stopping....no it just came thru slowly....Did not stop.
Amazing the school officials excused classes for us to walk the short distance to witness it's passing....Must have been a rather important event at the time. Train passed thru coming from Johnstown.
A book has been published on the Train of Tomorrow
http://www.iupress.indiana.edu/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=41112
Very informative!
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
pmsteamman:
Oh, isn't that all so true....Very different times. Back then, that event was important to me as a 16 year old....
Hey, have you found any more pics from the San Antonio area?
By the way, great pic!!!
Not only was the GM Train of Tomorrow a major event back them but I also remeber lining up again with my mother and brother to tour the American Freedom Train that was pulled by a PA and was painted Red White & Blue. That particular PA was then sold to the GM&O for its remaining years of service. At that time and at that age I wasn't particularly interested in the artifacts displayed on the train but that big diesel sure fascinated my brother and I.
I rode the former GM Train of Tomorrow on many occasions when it was in Seattle - Portland service. But was always disappointed that UP charged a premium to use the domes except for the dome diner where a hamburger as I recall was $3.50. That was a lot of money for someone in Junior High School. In fact for me it was two weeks allowance. For that $1.75 per week allowance I had to mow the grass, rake the grass, trim the edges. Water the flowers and wash the dinner dishes. Oh' and keep my room clean and the bed made and change the bed twice a week.
.....Sounds to me like parents tought you well....ha.
Quentin,
You are right about being taught well in those days.
I recently visited my grandson and was astonished to find that his room was a shambles and even though he is ten I did not think there was any excuse for the condition of his room. He is an only child and the mother my daughter does not work. We did not bring her up that way I guess she has forgotten. But at least he enjoys trains so things aren't all bad. Spent one whole day at the two RR stations and he enjoyed being out with me. We had a nice lunch and he was well mannered and a pleasure to be alone with. He was nothing like at home. Maybe they don't do enough things with him. I will send him a train set for christmas and see what happens. In any event I want him to come visit for a couple weeks next summer and he seemed very happy about that idea.
I see we have roving gangs in our city thanks to the rapid growth and now its being blamed for the number of foreclosures. I would not mind seeing the draft brought back. Seems like they need the discipline they are not getting at home.
....Al...guess not to worry. Our {only} daughter was brought up in a neat, orderly home and now she seems to live differently....But we still love her and she us.....
pmsteamman wrote:Modelcar just goes to show the times. Now kids only know about a train is that it holds them up at the crossing or something to play chicken with. Sad really.
Most kids...anyway... There's actually a pretty large community of teen railfans (including myself) and model railroaders in this country... I have four railfan friends in the Massachusetts area alone, and I know there are many, many more out there.
TrainManTy wrote: pmsteamman wrote:Modelcar just goes to show the times. Now kids only know about a train is that it holds them up at the crossing or something to play chicken with. Sad really.Most kids...anyway... There's actually a pretty large community of teen railfans (including myself) and model railroaders in this country... I have four railfan friends in the Massachusetts area alone, and I know there are many, many more out there.
The thing is, there was a time when pretty much every kid thought trains were cool.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
tree68 wrote:The thing is, there was a time when pretty much every kid thought trains were cool.
Yeah... I was taking pictures of a train recently and my friend asked my dad "Is he taking pictures of a train again?" Most of my friends like to tease me about it, but they know I'll never change so they might as well live with it...
.....Yep, including me as a kid.....
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