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String Lining

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, June 17, 2022 10:06 PM

Electroliner 1935
How have John Augustus Roebling's suspension bridges (Cincinnati Suspension Bridge, 1867; and the Brooklyn Bridge, 1883) lastd so long with no rusting issues? I believe his cables as I understand them are sealed  in tar and  wrapped with a painted cloth. No rust.

In the 19th Century 'Engineers' did not have finite knowledge of the materials they were using to build their creations - the basically adhered to the adage - If a little gets the job done for now, a lot more will keep doing the job for a lot longer.  Engineers of that age wanted their creations to last 'forever'.

Mid 20th Century and later engineers now have strength specifications on virtually every material they use for their creations - they also know, in most cases, they are designing for a 50 year life span - not a 'forever' life.  As such they design accordingly.  These engineers are more cost concious than they are longevity concious.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Overmod on Saturday, June 18, 2022 11:58 AM

Sometimes "improved" material did not give better longevity.  If I remember Steinman's biography correctly, he mentioned a great use of hardened steel wire in the wire rope and cabling used in suspension-bridge construction in the post-WWI period.  This came to grief in much the same way nickel boiler steels did.

The bridge cables in Quebec are more victims of neglect than "postwar technology" design.  Part of the fun is watching the shucking and jiving at upper levels about who reported this issue and when, with a certain 'wait and see' attitude entirely objectively unjustified.

It's almost to the point they can't pull cables for replacement without risking an accelerated load shedding leading to span collapse. 

Perhaps that spot is haunted.

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Monday, June 20, 2022 7:21 PM

Could Be!

 

 

 

 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 6:59 AM
 
Passenger Extra 4081 West at Field.
 

 

 

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Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 9:23 AM

NDG
Another Incident.

I have a somewhat different take on this -- woman driver jokes aside.

There's less than 15 seconds from the time the gate finishes dropping to the time the train is on the crossing.  That seems short for passenger service where the train is moving as fast as pictured.

She decides to go across, then evidently sees the train coming and stops ASAP; whether she tried to engage reverse 'in time' I can't tell.  But this looks suspiciously like a case where someone expected the gates to be down a longer time before the actual train arrived... oops.

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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 9:51 AM

Overmod
 
NDG
Another Incident. 

I have a somewhat different take on this -- woman driver jokes aside. 

There's less than 15 seconds from the time the gate finishes dropping to the time the train is on the crossing.  That seems short for passenger service where the train is moving as fast as pictured.

She decides to go across, then evidently sees the train coming and stops ASAP; whether she tried to engage reverse 'in time' I can't tell.  But this looks suspiciously like a case where someone expected the gates to be down a longer time before the actual train arrived... oops.

Gates are DOWN - wait for the train to pass and for the gates to go UP.

What a original concept!

In any event - once you get on the tracks - KEEP MOVING

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 11:31 AM

She had plenty of warning, and chose to ignore it.  That award that shall not be mentioned here comes to mind.

We're required to start our whistle/horn 20 seconds or a quarter mile from the crossing.  Crossing protection is configured to meet that requirement at track speed.

 

LarryWhistling
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...

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Saturday, June 25, 2022 11:49 AM
An Experiment in Repowering?
 
CN 1719, Engine Unknown?
 
 
When Built, CN 1719 would have looked like this.
 
 
Vertical Radiator Shutters, Exhaust Stack at rear of Hood, A1A Trucks.
 
 
Engine " Unknown " CNR 1719.
 
As Built. 539. Stack at Rear of Hood. Vertical Shutters.
 
Rebuilt, for a time. 1964. A1A.
 
 
 
Smaller Rad.  Horizontal Shutters. Exhaust Stack and Air Filters at front.
 
251 Repowering Experiment?
 
 
Other Modifications included.
 
 
CNR took idlers out of these A1A Units making them B-B and coupled them in sets for Transfer Service.
 
Branchline Service.
 
 
Transfer Set. B-B.
 
 
 
 
Then to some of These RS18s, allowing CN to get rid of 539 Fleet.
 
 
Diesel derated to 1400 HP as SWITCHER TMs.
 
 
 
PGE 561 Received A1A in Preservation as it was Built.
 
 
 
 
 
These Four Factory-New A1A Units CN 1800-03, using 244 Engines from A-Bs Repowered w 251 had 752 TMs
 
 
For much of their early lives 3  of 4 ran coupled in Transfer Service in Montreal.
 
Saw them every day.
 
Other Transfer power were Two H-12-44 Sets.
 
As A1A, CN 1800 ran on an Passenger Special over the M&SC Interurban rails.
 
 
 
 
 

Thank You.

 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Saturday, July 2, 2022 6:26 PM
NDG
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Posted by NDG on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 10:44 PM
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Posted by SD70Dude on Thursday, July 7, 2022 3:18 AM

Now we only need the Montrealer, the Winnipeger and the Atlantic to complete the set!

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Thursday, July 21, 2022 5:31 AM
 
For the Modeller, From ebay. 1967.
 
Spans the World Crest. CP 4078.
 
FWIW.
 
 
C. April 1967,  CP 7116?? and CP 4078?? being handled Dead in Train Six 6 Cars behind Units derailed just East of East Switch Eager  on old line Cranbrook Wardner before Libby Dam, and wound up in swamp.
 
Eager = M. 94.4 OLD Cranbrook Sub to Wardner
 
Cranbrook = M. 99.2 OLD Cranbrook Sub to Wardner.
 
CP 4078 needed Nose Repairs and in doing so, CP applied a Spans the World Crest.
 
 
 
 
 
 
It did not run long this way and was Out of Service by July 1968.
 
A few photos exist of Unit on Road West of Nelson.
 
FWIW.
 

CP 4055 ALSO Received a STW Crest after it derailed destroying Station Greenwood.B C.

 

Thank You.

 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Sunday, July 24, 2022 3:01 PM
Another Rare View from ebay.
 
 
CP 4100 Montreal West.
 
Renumbered to CP 1401 1954. 
 
 
 
This would indicate a change from Freight to Passenger Traction
Motor Gearing.
 
CP 1400/1900 = Psgr Gearing.
 
For a time Two 2 GP9s CP 8511-12 were Psgr. Geared. S/G
Torpedo Geeps.
 
CP Ordered new GP9s w Psgr. Gearing, then swapped trucks from under Freight Geared GM S/G Cab Units.

Thank You.

 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Thursday, July 28, 2022 5:46 AM

 

 

Interior View Montreal Tramways 1250 from ebay.
 
 
 
Similar Car. There were over 200. Most lasted 40 Years.
 
 
Two Man Rear Entrance signified by colour Green.
 
One Man cars were usually Creme/Red Trim.
 
 
The different colours positioned the patrons at the stops to move
 to front or rear for boarding when car stopped.
 
Cartierville 17 was second to last route to get Autobuses, 
June 1959.
 
( We did not know it, but CPR Steam would wind up a year later
 in June 1960. )
 
 
 
The 1200 Series cars were my favorites and I liked to ride on the
Sideways wood seat at the front on the right.
 
 There was a Sand Box beneath, and look down the
righthand rail thru the tall narrow window to right of EXIT Sign watching the Right Rail for Switch Work, and the soon
 to follow rattle and clatter and sway.
 
Could  watch the Motorman running the car. wishing it was I.
 
Note red pull cords by electric lights.
 
These were used by Conductor at rear to ring bell over Motorman
 to Stop to let rider off at Rear Door, to Start when all boarders
 were on rear platform from ground and when Backing
 at Wyes, etc.
 
Memories.
 

Thank You.

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Friday, July 29, 2022 3:10 PM
Brake Slug on ebay
 
When extra Locomotive Braking is required when moving heavy
 cuts as in Yards, a 'Dead' locomotive can be used for it's
 air braking ability alone.
 
In 1970 CP added a Retired CLC B Unit to each of Two 2
Hump sets, CP 4449 and CP 4458.
 
Here is the CP 4458 Set on ebay.
 
 
 

FYI.  The short stack ahead of Bell on CP 8166 is Exhaust Stack

for oil-fired Watchman Heater which keeps Diesel warm when

shut down in Cold Weather.

 

Thank You.

 

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, July 29, 2022 7:45 PM

NDG
CN 9344, CP Ogden Shops 1967.
 
In 1967 CP 4054 hit a Rock on Nelson Sub, demolishing former.
 
 
 
...

The rock was the hard place.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 4:31 AM
Another rare Diesel from ebay.
 
CPR 8921 RSD17.
 
 
 
Sent to Torrrana to become 'The Empress of Agincourt'
 
When Built Demoed on both CNR And PGE.
 
 
 
Chop Nosed and now  Preserved.
 
Tacked on at end of CPR's Train Masters CP 8900-8920.
 
Replaced @ Hochelaga by CP 8901 and CP 8407.
 
 
 
And so on.
 

Thank You.

 

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 7:38 AM

BaltACD
 
NDG
CN 9344, CP Ogden Shops 1967.
 
In 1967 CP 4054 hit a Rock on Nelson Sub, demolishing former.
 
 
 
...
 

That would be Rock with a capital R...

LarryWhistling
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...

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Posted by SD70Dude on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 1:52 PM

NDG
 
When extra Locomotive Braking is required when moving heavy
 cuts as in Yards, a 'Dead' locomotive can be used for it's
 air braking ability alone.

CN still does this, the SD40s and other six axle units that have been 'demoted' to yard and hump service are not set up to supply power to slugs, but at Mac and Symington they are commonly paired with slugs.  

https://www.traingeek.ca/wp/a-visit-to-the-hump/

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Monday, August 8, 2022 2:20 PM
OT.
 
ERRATA.
 
What is wrong in these two photographs?
 
 
 

Thank You.

 

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Posted by Overmod on Monday, August 8, 2022 4:16 PM

#1: I sure wouldn't want the be riding whatever shove move bowed the end platform and whacked those steps in like that!   Hard to believe that was legal, even for proprietary mine railroads.

#2.  It is a sad day when the only communication device the young victim has is a coin telephone.  Even if he could vocalize 'reverse the charges'  I don't see how he gets the coins in there in the first place.  And the gritted look on his face may be trying to hear while the microphone on the handset is pressed to his ear with the speaker up in the air...

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, August 8, 2022 5:05 PM

Overmod
...

#2.  It is a sad day when the only communication device the young victim has is a coin telephone.  Even if he could vocalize 'reverse the charges'  I don't see how he gets the coins in there in the first place.

Since he can't individually handle the hand set of the phone - the caregiver that is holding the phone would also be the one to handle the change and the dialing action.  One could only hope that the caregiver would be in earshot of the ringing from a incoming call.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Monday, August 8, 2022 10:57 PM

2nd picture:

   Is she holding the phone backward?  The cord is usually attached to the mouthpiece end of the handset which seems to be against his ear.

   Brings back memories of the sad scenes on TV back in the fifties of rows of kids in iron lungs.

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 12:02 AM

Correct.

 

The Telephone Receiver is being held Reversed.

Darkened Wards with rows of Iron Lungs were a chilling sight in Hospitals back in our day.

Thank You.

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, August 11, 2022 9:33 PM

I would suspect that the shot was posed and no one put two and two together.  Or they didn't want the cord to block his face.

In the series "Emergency" there is a shot in which Captain Stanley is famously talking at the back of the radio mic.  I think it  was a "stock shot," so it showed up in several episodes.

LarryWhistling
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...

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Louisiana
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Posted by Paul of Covington on Friday, August 12, 2022 1:59 AM

   Aha!  I've been looking at that first picture for three days, and all I could come up with was that that car has endured a mighty rough life, and that I felt very nervous for the safety of that brakeman, but I couldn't find anything wrong. Then it hit me. The knuckle on the coupler seems to be on the wrong side.  The clincher was the brakeman's shirt.  Unless he's wearing a woman's blouse, the buttons are on the wrong side.  The picture was printed backwards.

Edit:  I just realized that the brakeman is wearing overalls, but the convention for buttons should still apply.

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Friday, August 12, 2022 4:10 AM
Correct!
 
 
 
Spent a summer dumping Air Dumps and noticed the hoses wrong in photo, and much else.
 
Fill for Bank Widening for CWR, and Rip Rap the size of Econoline Vans
 
 
 
Made a 50 MPH Run at night to save the Railway w Kootenay under cutting the ties w Spring Runoff.
 
Roadmaster pointedly trying to NOT look at Speedometer on the H-16. Still 85 lb. steel above tired ties last changed during the Depression.
 
H-Lines had better ' Loading ' characteristics and Compressors than latest GP9s,and could 'Shake Out ' 40' Londitudinal Ballast Hoppers with alacrity.  Doors opened and closed w cranks.
 
 
 
Mosquitoes were Awful.
 
Behind the Wings Cab, Wood, Spreader, Air, had a Single Note
Westinghouse Honker from early Diesel which received much
use just for the Hell of it round curves. Safety First re MoW.
 
 
Horns Modernized c. 1951.
 
Just Lovely. Water Level Route and All.
 
 
 
Youth, Hope.... and where did it all go?
 
 
 

Thank You.

 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Sunday, August 14, 2022 1:34 AM

 

Pusher, Frank, Alberta.
 
Rather than Turn Pusher and Caboose to return East to Bottom
of Frank Slide for another Push, they fitted rear of Caboose
w a Locomotive Headlight on Running Board, and ran in
Reverse back down.
 
 
Thank You.
 
FYI.
 
Pipe above coal bunker on tender is Stoker Exhaust.
 
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Posted by SD70Dude on Friday, August 19, 2022 8:02 PM

Alberta Prairie did the same thing with the tank car they used as an auxiliary tender for their ex-Frisco and Mississippian 2-8-0.  The tank car is now used as a stationary storage tank at the south end of their run (Big Valley, AB) and the headlight is back in its original location on 41's tender. 

http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/tourist/alberta_prairie.htm

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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