Although the plot was quite gruesome, I think Ken and their staff really love how their shop was chosen to appear in a popular TV show. Actually, if there was more fake blood and better sound effect when Bobby falling on the layout, it would be more amusing… to me. [C][:P] By the way, if it wasn’t Trainworld/Trainland who uploaded a video of the HO scale PRR S2 steam turbine engine on youtube, I probably never pick up this hobby again.
And yes, that’s the O gauge “The Bullet” I mentioned in my previous post. I guess CNJ #834 “The Bullet” was supposed to be a section of the famed Comet, wasn’t it? But the Blue Comet falling down faster than a bullet, therefore “The Bullet” only lasted less than two years and in
Here’s some “Trainland” action for everyone. The first video has Ken Bianco Jr. showing us the tinplate Blue Comet used in the “Sopranos” show. Be patient.
The second has Ken Bianco Sr. describing the filming
I’m so glad everyone’s enjoying this thread, by the way!
Awesome effort Wayne!
Although the plot was quite gruesome, I think Ken and their staff really love how their shop was chosen to appear in a popular TV show. Actually, if there was more fake blood and better sound effect when Bobby falling on the layout, it would be more amusing… to me. By the way, if it wasn’t Trainworld/Trainland who uploaded a video of the HO scale PRR S2 steam turbine engine on youtube, I probably never pick up this hobby again.
That would have made “The Sopranos” a comedy but I like your alt script for the show. [(-D] “When Bobby heard the price of The Blue Comet free-freedom edition, he faints and falls into the shelve turning them into d**omino which blocks the front door of the shop. Whole Trainland is in panic mode: customer screaming, crying for help. The Shop owner calls the police immediately and the hitman knows their original plan is not going to work at this point…”[~]
[quote user=“Miningman”]
When Bobby says " he doesn’t care" referring to his son’s interest in the hobby and then later falls into the layout dead destroying it, I’m thinking that would be a fitting way to go. My kids don’t care either despite being brought up with it so if I do a face plant into the layout breathing my last so be it.
Well the gals have always loved their Chessie sleepwear and their kids love Thomas so maybe there is hope yet, on a cutesy scale anyway.
Yes, I have never imagined that the show “Thomas the Tank Engine” is still alive and kicking! This show probably turned many kids and teenagers into railfans, therefore, although some of the characters look kind of creepy, I hope this show or Thomas himself could stay on the roster as long as he can.
The original stories were very well written.
They date from the Second World War. and were published in the early post war years. I was given three of the original books as a child in the early 1950s (The Three Railway Engines,Thomas the Tank Engine and Henry the Green Engine). I still have them.The first two were reprints but I think the Henry book may have been a first printing.
The earliest of the TV series used No 1 gauge models based on Maerklin chassis with some larger scale models used with stop frame animation. Today they use computer generated animation.
I never thought I’d see a Hudson with a case of “Bassetosis.” What’s “Bassetosis?” Ever try to wake up a Basset Hound that doesn’t want to get up?
I’ll tell you, that old Chevy promo film does a great job explaining basic physics and how there’s no “free lunch” when it come to automotive design.
A couple of things. I wanted to get back “on the air” last night but fell asleep watching a Smithsonian Channel show on a giant volcano under Yellowstone National Park that’s going to blow up any time soon and destroy life on earth as we know it. I guess I nodded off when it didn’t happen.
Anyway, Becky posted a great example of Lionel’s Standard Gauge Blue Comet set from the 1930’s. The last time I saw one of those engines, and engine alone, it had a $15,000 price tag on it! Mr. Jones’ scenario of Bobby having a heart attack almost happened to me! Mind you, that Standard Gauge set was for rich kids only, back in 1937 it had a $75 price. That same amount of money at the time would have bought you a Winchester 30-30 rifle and a Colt .38 revolver, and you would have had $5 change coming to you!
The O gauge set Bobby was handling was $30 in 1937. That would have gotten you the Colt.&nb
I still almost can’t believe that a 4 hour 20 minute timing, with steam, would be possible the ‘long way round’ via Jim Thorpe (as Mauch Chunk would have been known then) considering the rather heroic arrangements CNJ has to make after it crosses the Delaware and turns north. Let alone that it would be almost perfectly achieved!
In case anyone wonders: the Depression killed this train; it only lasted about 2 years total, and of course didn’t get to experience streamlining – would be highly interesting to see what sort of counterpart of the Crusader the ‘family’ might have come up with for it. But it was amazing while it lasted…
But we do have ‘comps’ for this particular question: remember the Amtrak ACE? If they couldn’t make the service work with THOSE operating assets, you can imagine what it would have been trying to go via Red Bank (and forgoing all the logical traffic ‘sources’ on That Other Route).
Four hours, twenty minutes, Jersey City to Wilkes-Barre. That’s some smart running. A great head-end crew and a superb locomotive made it possible. Which makes it doubly sad none of those CNJ Pacifics were saved.
The Atlantic City Express? Oh, that died when they ran out of geezers going to Atlantic City casinos to blow money. The geezers died or moved to Florida. [:-^]
One thing, remember during World War Two there was a hell of a lot of military training and other action going on in South Jersey, in the AC environs and elsewhere. They had to get there somehow. Maybe the troops wouldn’t have been moved on the Comet but the “big brass” would have ridden it. All speculation anyway. Doesn’t matter.
The driver of the car was pretty ‘brave’ too! It could have rolled back and the resulting rollovers would be horrendous. Wonder if he had a quick exit plan in place?
Even the faculty are wearing goofy hats, looking like the Swiss Guard with those poofy things. Of course the grads have the usual ’ flattened out brains’ headgear to symbolize their now conformity and conversion.
Academia is easily subject to ridicule of course, leaving themselves wide open like that. Student Services came in last week to measure up my Seniors for their graduation garb and gowns.
Personally I think they should wear traditional North West Cree Native attire. Their formal wear is quite stunning. Not the spiritual ceremonial dress with all the feathers and colours, but the formal buckskin with beading … very simple but elegant.
But whoa-ho … look a little more closely. That is including FOUR stops en route.
And it isn’t Jersey City to Wilkes-Barre in 4:20 … it’s NEW YORK LIBERTY STREET. (They allow 12 minutes for the ferry trip and ‘transfer’, which might be a tad rushed… but that’s what the schedule says.) Actual running time … achieved over 99% … was no more than 4 hours 8 minutes, and that’s a LOT on a railroad like CNJ.
I am trying to put this in perspective by remembering how long it took to get from Englewood, NJ, which is reasonably close to Jersey City, to Wilkes-Barre by way of 46, 611, and 115 via Brodheadsville, which is how the trip would have been made (via the Delaware Water Gap) on the ‘northern’ route, basically following the Lackawanna through Stroudsburg. Even pushing speed limits I think it was comparable … in good weather. We had to stay over in motels a couple of times when the snow came unexpectedly to the Poconos…
But whoa-ho … look a little more closely. That is including FOUR stops en route.
And it isn’t Jersey City to Wilkes-Barre in 4:20 … it’s NEW YORK LIBERTY STREET. (They allow 12 minutes for the ferry trip and ‘transfer’, which might be a tad rushed… but that’s what the schedule says.) Actual running time … achieved over 99% … was no more than 4 hours 8 minutes, and that’s a LOT of difference on a railroad like CNJ. (Leads me to wonder if there was some unsung ‘bulletry’ on that particular ferry trip!)
I am trying to put this in perspective by remembering how long it took to get from Englewood, NJ, which is reasonably close to Jersey City, to Wilkes-Barre by way of 46, 611, and 115 via Brodheadsville, which is how the trip would have been made (via the Delaware Water Gap) on the ‘northern’ route, basically following the Lackawanna through Stroudsburg. Even pushing speed limits I think it was comparable … in good weather. We had to stay over in motels a couple of times when the snow came unexpectedly to the Poconos…
… and not all that much faster even in the days 80 was finished over Garrett Mountain all the way to 115N at exit 43. Nowadays, with traffic and the usual spate of delays, and Jersey’s Finest watching at nearly every exit for speeders … fugeddaboudid.
New Jersey’s Finest watching? Well, as a Jersey state trooper told me years ago as far as exceeding the speed limit was concerned…
“Five, you’re fine. Ten? You’re MINE!”
It just keeps getting better! I just found this on the You Tube by accident. It’s from PBS’s “Antiques Roadshow,” 2007, and with an original Lionel Standard Gauge “Blue Comet” set. Leila Dunbar, who I call “The Sports Gal,” does the commenting. She doesn’t get everything right, but gets most of it right.
The video gives a pretty good idea of just how big the thing is, but seeing it in person takes your breath away.
By the way, I remember watching this show, looking at the “Comet” set owner, and muttering " I hate youuuuuuu…"
Just kidding! Actually, I said the same thing about another guy on an “Antiques Roadshow” who dug up a Civil War era 12-pounder mountain howitzer in his backyard. And who didn’t know what it was. [:(!]
As long as it is not written in the script, it won’t blow up. The biggest threat to humanity at this very moment is still… humanity itself. “Team Black Sheep” still having the upper hand, they are extremely smart, resourceful but many of them always act emotionless; they occupied all top tier university, corporation, media, and seat of governments, just to ensure the “show” will go on according to their plan until their master want to sink the ship aka “pressing the reset button”, but that’s not gonna happen any time soon. [C]
What cost $75 in 1937 would cost $1327.05 in 2018.
Great colorizing job on the “Comet” Mr. Jones, you nailed it!
Oh, and that $1,327.05 you mentioned, the $75 adjusted for inflation? It would still get you a Winchester 30-30 rifle and a Colt .38 revolver!
More or less, depending where you shop and what they’ve got.
It’s not in production at the present time, but the Lionel-MTH Standard Gauge “Blue Comet” reproduction set, locomotive plus cars, produced in 2017, sold for around $2,000, complete.
Still for rich kids only!
Getting back to the real “Blue Comet,” I just found a 3-plus minute You Tube video with film of the “Comet,” plus stills, and ephemera, and Hoagie Carmichael’s clssic “Stardust” for background music. Nice!
[:$] If only it is my work, Wayne. I just found it on Pinterest. [:P] But it was probably colorized by a artist who is very good at colorizing black and white photo of America’s trains. I think he or she is still active on Facebook. (link added below the pic)
