String Lining

[Miningman]

Well you would have to inspect the rails before you go zooming down them...may I suggest this.

Greater Winnipeg Water District 34 is a 1946 Packard. 

Now at the Winnipeg Railway Museum inside the former CNoR station in downtown Winnipeg.

[Electroliner 1935]

That is one CLASSY CHASSIS. Sharpest Hi-Railer I have seen. 

Is it still operable?

[Miningman]

I do not know. There is a link to where it is currently on display. A person could inquire to the Museum. How about that horn!

[Miningman]

Makes you wonder if Packard had not merged with Studebaker or if the both of them joined Nash and Hudson to form AMC. 

Packard is the source of many innovations in the auto industry such as electronic controlled suspension and their electrical connectors are still used even today. They probably should have stuck to high end autos to be the Mercedes Benz/BMW/Bentley of North America. Can you picture a modern day 2018 model Caribbean and Clipper?

At least be the high end of AMC. 

Too bad the independents did not make it. It would have served us all better if they did. 

Packard has parallels to the railroads post war, being cash rich immediately after, ( they made the engines for the P-51's Mustangs ( ironic name) and PT boats among other important things, the future looked bright and optimism was the order of the day but the 50's saw everything change because the deck was stacked against them by the Big 3. 

By 1960 Packard was a mere shadow and the railroads in severe decline with the end in sight for both. 

[SD70Dude]

The sights and sounds of steam returned to the Alberta Railway Museum this weekend:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAh3qTc_6zQ

And to spice things up a bit a couple volunteers were doing flagging demonstrations:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWDnjRee5Z0

[SD70Dude]

Error: duplicate post.

[Miningman]

So good! Nice work ...with everything.

[zugmann]

SD70Dude

And to spice things up a bit a couple volunteers were doing flagging demonstrations:

If you listened to some of the folk on RYPN, you would have had to call out the bomb squad for those torpedoes.

I remember when some engines came through our yard with torpedoes left over in the cabs.  That's all I will say...

[zardoz]

zugmann

I remember when some engines came through our yard with torpedoes left over in the cabs.  That's all I will say...

Ah, yes...a source of much amusement (when done safely).

[BaltACD]

I can only imagine what would happen if torpedoes were used today in some of the NIMBY areas!

[NDG]

BaltACD

I can only imagine what would happen if torpedoes were used today in some of the NIMBY areas!

 

Track Torpedoes.

 

Over fifty 50 years ago the track torpedoes in use were made of a fiber? type of material on a cardboard base, the latter having grit glued it's underside so the whole torpedo would not ' squirt ' out from under the wheel as it was compressed. The whole torpedo held on the rail top by wire spring clips shown.

 

http://www.cilexplosives.com/images/torpedoes/torpedoes.jpg

 

As said, a source of MUCH mirth when utilized safely, or not.

 

Sectionmen would place them on railhead and detonate them with spike mauls, or larger rocks near a guy eating lunch.

 

Trainmen would place them under rear side of wheel on first axle in a cut and when the yard made the joint, set them off. Ditto on next track to Caboose track w Occupied Cabooses. They could be placed anywhere, even on street railway trackage downtown.

 

The fibre-type could be slit open with a knife and the granular explosive within dumped out for other uses.

 

True Story.

 

Tie Gang dudes cut open a torpedo and placed the explosive inside the cavity formed by threading a track bolt part way into a corresponding nut. A second track bolt threaded in from opposite end and screwed in carefully until it just compressed the material.

 

The nut and two bolts would then be thrown at bedrock and, hopefully explode.

 

Of course, what can go wrong, will.

 

This dude tightened a set too far, and it exploded in his hands, miles from any road, the broad Columbia rolling complacently by.

 

The North Wyft stopped by radio and transported him to nearest road where an ambulance was waiting alerted by dial phone. Dial step-by-step, and new.

 

At one of the coal mines, unit trains were loaded by Pacesetter and moving at point-something passing thru a large culvert for mine trucks overhead.

 

This one Engineer was a real A Hole and a bully and treated everyone like S. ( No one went to his funeral, the family swooped in like vultures and glommed on to the Estate, and left. Just like that.)

 

So, his Tail End Crew with one of the Seniorist Conductors set a trap for Mr. A Hole, Locomotive Engineer.

 

As loading was already going on at the loadout the Conductor and the Tail End Trainman had time to both get off the Caboose and walk behind placing several Torpedoes in the culvert. Giggles and Snorts all around as in a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon. Coal dust sprinkled on same to hide them, a bit.

 

Anyway, when they knew the headend was getting close ' round the loadout loop, they called up Mr. A Hole on the radio and said something to the effect that there was a message for him written in chalk on the roof of the culvert left by another Conductor standing on the cupola of his caboose and that Mr. A H should stand out on the front platform of his SD to read it.

 

They could hear the explosions in their caboose over half a mile away.

 

The Head End Trainman later said it was one of the worst scares he had ever had, and he was in the cab.

 

Torpedoes could also be placed on the ring rail of the turntable.

 

In those easy days you could get them by the BOX FULL from Stores, or tramp cabooses not assigned.

 

Every Flagging Kit had several in it's lid. Fusees in base.

 

Flagging Kit. Paint peeled off.

 

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/54/37/f3/5437f3f194fd12ffc2cce4611076677c.jpg

 

When place under the provisions of Flagging Rules, MoW, their location advertised by light branches across them to alert Sectionmen and MoW approaching on their machines or Fairmonts.

 

 

Years ago Carbide was available for use in Track Walker's lamps and thawing culverts and other fun uses.

 

http://www.halslamppost.com/Miscellaneous%20Lamps/slides/National%20Carbide%20Front.JPG

 

http://www.tjtywh.com/UploadFiles/201562162417156.jpg

 

The Kat is purring, soporific in the click of the keys.

 

Good omen.

 

Years Ago.

 

Thank You.

 

 

OT.

 

Forecast for 98 F next few days. Water Bombers Circulating, one an Electra.

 

They fly right over on final for refilling.

 

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hIl4eJHZxL0/maxresdefault.jpg

 

Highway shown, closed. Near the Divide.

 

https://www.columbiavalleypioneer.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/13002828_web1_180803-CVP-M-WardleWildfire_cPCA_Murphy.jpg

 

 

[NDG]

SD70Dude

The sights and sounds of steam returned to the Alberta Railway Museum this weekend:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAh3qTc_6zQ

And to spice things up a bit a couple volunteers were doing flagging demonstrations:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWDnjRee5Z0

 

 

A Pleasure to see, and inspiration.

Are there TWO Dynamos ahead of the cab on 1392??

Thank You.

[Deggesty]

Thanks, NDG. 

Hearing the whistle brought back memories of hearing the N&W J on the point of the Washington-bound Pelican in Bristol after supper my first three years in college (then the Southern's E's began running through) I think I rode the first eastbound Tenneseean that did not have an engine change in Bristol.) From time to time, I would take a bus into town after the evening meal jsut to admire the J that was waiting to take #42 to Roanoke or even on to Monroe, but if I did not go into town, I could still hear the whistle from out at the college.

Torpedoes--all that I saw had a narrow lead strap on each end; one strap tied the torpedo to the rail, and the other was stretched out for the lead wheel to roll on and thus keep the torpedo from being knocked off.

On one occasion I saw a Southern flagman's supply of fusees in a cardboard box that was fastened to the gate at the rear of the last car--and a small boy saw them and said, "Look at the dynamite!"

[NDG]

 

Thank You.

[SD70Dude]

We've been having some pretty extreme weather out west too, heat waves, downpours, and about a week ago the Edmonton area had the most spectacular thunderstorm I've ever seen, just constant lightning.  And now a thick blanket of smoke has blown in from all the forest fires in B.C.

Alberta has not had any tornadoes so far this year, but there was one in Manitoba:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/alonsa-manitoba-tornado-severity-level-environment-canada-1.4775513

It is supposed to be +36°C (97 F) on Friday.  If you are from the deep South that may not sound too extreme but it is unheard of for us.

[SD70Dude]

NDG

A Pleasure to see, and inspiration.

Are there TWO Dynamos ahead of the cab on 1392??

Thank You.

Good eye!  And thank you for the kind words!

Due to modern safety regulations 1392 has been equipped with ditchlights.  This overtaxed the single dynamo, so the second one was added.  I believe this happened around 20 years ago.

We do not use the ditchlights when operating at the Museum site, but the second dynamo is still kept in serviceable condition.  

6060 has ditchlights now too:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2160240

And while looking up 6060 photos I found this, can't believe I hadn't heard of this one before!  Not steam but still looks pretty sharp!

https://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/news/local-news/new-ice-groomer-at-cn-centre-1.1743848

[Miningman]

How close is 1392 to these loco's? You can really see the influence the Canadian Northern had on the Canadian National.

[Miningman]

[Miningman]

[Miningman]

[Miningman]

[SD70Dude]

Wow!  Thanks for digging those up!

1392 was under construction at the time that second article was published.  As far as I know She has always had the same number, and with 63" drivers that fits right into Canadian Northern's classification scheme.

[SD70Dude]

Shiny diesels on display:

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=34316

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=34315

On monday the Museum had our annual "NAR Day", with a number of former Northern Alberta Railway employees out and about.  A small ceremony was held to "hand over" the GMD1 and NAR bay window caboose (also in fresh paint) from a NAR train crew to the regular Museum crew, and a great time was had by all.  As 302 is not operable 1392 got to play yard engine switching out the NAR equipment from the display tracks to our station platform, and then back again.

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

SD70Dude

In addition to a large fleet of the diesel ones, Edmonton had a unique version of the GM "New Look":

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolley_buses_in_Edmonton#/media/File:Edmonton_BBC_trolleybus_192.jpg

They were all retired in 2009 when our system was shut down but several have been preserved, including this one at the Illinois Railway Museum:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx_zPcLtl04 

SouthEastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority - SEPTA - reportedly has the 2nd oldest trolley bus system in the world, and its current fleet dates from 2007 - 2008:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolleybuses_in_Philadelphia#Current_fleet 

- PDN. 

[Leo_Ames]

Are the trucks original?

I would've guessed the NAR had the A1A models, so perhaps this was one of the units that CN rebuilt with 4 axle trucks?

[NDG]

Paul_D_North_Jr

 

 

SD70Dude

In addition to a large fleet of the diesel ones, Edmonton had a unique version of the GM "New Look":

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolley_buses_in_Edmonton#/media/File:Edmonton_BBC_trolleybus_192.jpg

They were all retired in 2009 when our system was shut down but several have been preserved, including this one at the Illinois Railway Museum:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx_zPcLtl04 

 

 

SouthEastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority - SEPTA - reportedly has the 2nd oldest trolley bus system in the world, and its current fleet dates from 2007 - 2008:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolleybuses_in_Philadelphia#Current_fleet 

- PDN. 

 

 

 

Would a Canadian NORTHERN Number Plate exist??

 

Thank You, Sirs!!

 

 

[SD70Dude]

Leo_Ames

Are the trucks original?

I would've guessed the NAR had the A1A models, so perhaps this was one of the units that CN rebuilt with 4 axle trucks?

All the GMD1's were rebuilt with B trucks at one time or another, the last few with A1A trucks were retired or rebuilt in 2000.

302 became CN 1079 after the takeover, and was rebuilt into CN 1179 in 1986.  That is when the trucks were swapped, and a larger fuel tank was installed.  1179 was retired in 2001, and became a parts source stored outside the Symington diesel shop in Winnipeg.  CN donated her to the Museum in 2014.

I have no idea if there are any A1A trucks left in existence outside of Cuba, but if you know anyone with a pair for sale at a reasonable price we would love to know about it!

[NDG]

 

Lead.

 

For Mr. Miningman.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HhdkkdsvTM

 

Thank You. For So Much.

 

[Overmod]

NDG

Lead.

But, as soon as he's watched this, he needs to google "Fairfield" in the Hamptons of Long Island, and follow back to Ira Rennert's career through (not in) this 'field of endeavour'.

 

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

While both CN and NAR had GMD1's riding on six axles, CN's GMD1's in the 1900 series were built as B-B units, they also had steam generators.