"Our" Place IV - <est 12 Apr 2005> Adults 'n Classic Trains

Classic Trains General Discussion
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Hi Tom and all.

A Holden’s please LEON[tup].

TOM Many thanks for the Passenger Train nostalgia on the Canadian National Super Continental[tup][tup][tup]. a train that traveled across 4 time zones[wow]. Looking at a map I am[%-)] about the Ottawa and Toronto times.

I have found some info on the the locomotive and coach in the photo I posted Saturday[tup], it does help to look at the right railway[:)]. I am sure now it is at Beamish Open Air Museum.

.

The locomotive is a R&H Hawthorne Leslie 0-4-0 Saddle Tank built in 1914 Works number 3056. It was Lambton Hetton & Joicey Colliery No.14.

The Coach has an interresting history. Built in 1903 it is a North Eastern Railway Composite Clerestory. It was sold to the National Coal Board in 1949 and worked at Ashington Colliery until around 1967 when saved. It must have taken alot of hard work to get her in the condition in the photo[bow].

In my notes I see I had a ride behing two tramcars at Beamish[tup]. One was a ex Gateshead tram No.10 and a tram from Oporto Portugal No. 196. I have a link to these cars and some photos I think Rob will like.

http://www.beamishcollections.com/search/default.asp

To get to the trams put Tram 10 in the search box in the link.(The link was too long going straight to the photos) clicking on the photo of No. 10 and 196 gives the details[tup].

Well LEON another round please.[tup].

Pete,

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Hi Tom and all,

Leon, the usual round of Tuis for all the guys please![yeah]

Pete. Looking forward to Alan getting that Tanfield info back to you. I still remember our Co-op members number, 1492, its amazing how numbers stick in your mind, like my old army service number, they are branded in the old memory banks forever.[%-)] Those old delivery bikes with the basket upfront must have been hard to ride in the winter. Nice repeat shot of the tank and clerestory roofed coach with the added history of the coach and a very nice link to the Beamish trams.[^][:)][tup]

Rob. Thank goodness weve only had two big winter storms over here, thats up to now anyway?[?] Couple of fine shots of those old cruiser`s that were the start of the RCN, and a nice set of trolley shots from your museum.[wow][:)][tup]

Fergie. Thank`s for that link to the B&O “Big Six”.[:)][tup]

CM3. Its funny how things used to stick in the memory when showing a movie for a week or more, was your Dad a projectionist as well?[:)][tup]

Dan. Good to see you in on a quick visit.[:)][tup]

Eric. Hope your temperatures` are getting back to their usual range now.[:)][tup]

Tom. Nice looking photo of that railbus at the MOT, Kirkwood. A couple of good flicks` for the weekend, a suspense starring Harrison Ford, and a train flick with the inimitable Burt Lancaster.[^] A fine spread of pix of your Dallas RDC trip with Dick and the link to your trip report on Page 80 in Aug 2005, and a very intere

163

Good evening Leon , just when you thought you could close the door in came a customer [:D] Just a Keith’s for me please , I’ll leave some cash for a round for the before noon bunch.

**Tom-**Nice to see the CN material from the basement , and your Dallas trip from the deep sub basement [tup] Great shots of the TRE and all it’s facilities.Too bad about Dick, he was a good customer for quite a while,I always thought it was odd the way he disapeared [sigh] I guess retirement was too busy for him.

Pete-More wonderfull shots,I liked the Beamish link as well thanks for sharing. [tup] When 327 went back to Toronto for it’s one day of festivities it was the star of the show ( it is at the museum at any rate ) but it was nice to have it back where it could really stretch it’s legs so to speak.

From what I undersatnd the Niobe and it’s sisiers were not great sea boats, and they were underpowered for their bulk.They were shrunk down versions of the two Powerfull class ships,layout was the same except for the weapons fit and the engines.

I see that you have found the problem with having Vito serve as the in bewteen guy on the MVG subscriptions,go for the two year rate ( the fine print for the single year rate will charge you for the two years anyway [sigh] )

**Dan-**Nice to see you in this afternoon,I hope you can arrange to meet Pete.We all look forward to the next installment of the Paris adventure, [tup]

**Allan-**Glad you liked the photo’s.Sounds like you are having a good winter,no terrible hurricanes or typhoons is a good thing.

Rob

164

Good evening Captain Tom and Gentlemen!!

Leon, Monday night, that means it is time for my Sugar Cured Ham Sandwich with Fries!! Tuborg Gold, please!

I can tell it is getting close to my trip now. Too little time for everything that has to be done! I wonder why?

Allan – Yes, that guy ran away, but not far enough. [|(] The worst part is that he actually drove away!

Pomona is a very interesting place to visit.[yeah]

30 is a very good number, personally I stick to 27++ and I have done that since I was 27. [:)]

Rob – This area, where I live, is ranked as a nice area but I would say it is slowly getting worse. Not bad, but a not so good area is less than a mile away, south of us.

In a way we got the SUV back, my wife bought a similar one as replacement.[;)]

Tom – There has been recent shootings (and car thefts and burglaries) in upscale areas in the Valley so I think one will never be 100 % safe.[tdn]

Hold it, you can’t just let your photos/slides get thrown away the day you are gone![:(!] I don’t know what kind of photos you have but I bet there are X number of very interesting ones! Both for your family and maybe even for some train buffs![yeah] You better warm up the scanner!

Glad you liked the pictures![:)]

Two very good movies this week at the Emporium! I have seen Air Force One and I think (but I’m not sure) I have seen The Train as well, many years ago. But I’ll be glad to see them again![:)]

Thanks for the photos of the

165

<IT Rail bus at MoT, Kirkwood____, MO - personal foto>

G’day Gents!

It’s THAT day at the Saloon by the Siding - the day AFTER Monday! Best thing about this day is “Our” Place ‘n The Mentor Village Bakery case goodies along with a freshly ground ‘n brewed mugga Joe. And of course our ‘n breakfasts from the Menu Board. [bow]

Petrol has dropped BELOW the $3.40 (US) level up at “Collusion Corner.” Still at least 2 bucks more than it should be ‘n to think many are “thankful.”

Weather report continues to be unbelievably good for this time of year in this part of the continent. Amazing, simply amazing. Saw a stat on the tube indicating that last year the average high temp for the 1st fifteen days of August was 97 (F) - this year it’s 86 (F). We’ll take it.

Comments from the Proprietor

NOTE: An Email was sent on Monday to our - please check your in boxes, Gents! [tup]

Customer Acknowledgments

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Good Morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox. Nice morning here today temperatures in the 50s and a bit of fog, but it’s supposed to be warmer later on today. Gas is $3.89 here - highest price in the state, but there is no collusion.

Pete - In steam days, Broadway usually got a pair of K4s which was typical PRR practice. Thanks for the information on the coach - it was probably used in an employee train? Again a not uncommon practice over here as well.

Rob - The nasty stuff is supposed to be applied next week - if the weather permits - we will see. Anyway, we have a stand-down plan in place for whenever it starts. IO went out and read the MSDS for this material; my liver started falling out when I read some of the compounds involved and then we got to the PPE part of the sheet - yikes! It’s worse than the punchbowl at the darts tournament! Let me know if you decide to venture down to Cass.

Also, a lovely picture of the open car. I remember riding old Connecticut Company open cars at Seashore back in the long ago; the Conn. Co. cars were bigger, of course.

I was watching the Olympics the other day and they were showing rowing. There were many cyclists in the background pacing the rowers. Brought to mind the old Harvard-Yale boat races when the New Haven ran special trains with bleacher-equipped cars so folks could pace the regatta events as they occurred. That would be something to model. Staufer’s New Haven Power has pictures of them, IIRC.

Allan - No, he was an usher.

Eric - As a starting point, the Climax book sold for $67.95 when new. I got mine from Barnes and Noble for much less, even with shipping. Good hunting. BTW, Sunkist locomotive did not belong to them originally - at least I can’t find it.

OSP - Texas fight! Great pictures of your trip to the Trans-Mississippi Department.

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G’day Gents!

Shane was “in” with his typical mornin’ chat, quarters 'n ROUND! [bow] Fine way to begin the day, eh [?] Youbetcha! [swg]

Continuing on with my 2005 Dallas trip are fotos from a most memorable day with Dick Watkins riding the rails . . .

Rule of Six Suspended !

Eastbound to Dallas in cab of TRE RDC #2011

(11)

(12)

(13)

(14)

</

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Hello Tom and all in

Pint of Holden’s Golden Glow for me please (Pete you were right about the name!)

Tom - enjoyed your schedule for the Super Continental. You’re right about enjoying the ambience of the rail environment - that is what I like - people coming and going, things happening, bursts of activity and such and such - more on that later.

Rob - glad you appreciated the Vimy Ridge material - for me ‘Vimy’ and ‘Dieppe**'** are 2 important words in the catalogue of Canadian action - but that is not to undermine the contribution in other areas of course - far from it!

CM3 - interesting to read that you found the NCB stuff useful - big employer round here once also with all the support equipment manufacturers etc in the area plus all the ancillary staff at their Regional HQ here - all gone now sadly. I have a pair of NCB steel toe capped Wellington Boots (do you guys use the phrase ‘Wellington Boot’? - fine quality - still use em - must be 15 years old now.

Allan - thanks for the Whitley Bay cinema memories!

Eric - nice selection of photos from here and there - enjoyed them. Free peanuts a luxury - things are not good!

Pete - look forward to details of your UK visit in the fullness of time. Would be good to check out the Holdens and the Bathams with more thoroughness!

Yes, look forward to hearing more about Ashford visit some time - I guess we are talking about Class 33 and 73, maybe some of he special SR DEMUs - I think Tom would be interested in them. No doubt some of the special narrow bodies stock constructed for the London - Hastings line that required a narrow body due to restricted clearances on this line.

<

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G’day Gents!

A treat from across the pond on this Tuesday from Dan ! [bow]

Specific comments in my next round of acknowledgments . . .

And now, from the sub-basement archives room . . .

The Passenger Railroad Fallen Flags of “Our” Place #12

New York Central Railroad

Here’s another Passenger RR Fallen Flag for the gang from Classic American Railroads:

<A form of this was initially Posted on 30 Sep 2005*, Page 122 at “Our” Place I>*

http://cs.trains.com/forums/129/991587/ShowPost.aspx

Caveat: The information provided is NOT all inclusive and is reflective only of the periods mentioned.

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Hi Tom and all.

A pint of Holden’s Glow please RUTH[tup].

ALLAN Yes I am pretty good at remembering numbers[tup] but have trouble with names,[sigh] ask the bride[:)]. I can recall my check numbers from work right back to the day I started.

Yes the old Co-Op bike kept me fit, no gears and with a load of groceries in the basket you knew about it. I had a major tyre blow out on it once,[:O] a lad I knew was across the street and he jumped about 6 foot in the air when it went which made me laugh[(-D], I did not laugh long though[:(], for about a week I had to deliver by sack barrow[:O][:)]. The bike had to go to the Co-Op repair shop; if I had known I would have fixed it myself.[yeah]

That coach did have an interesting history[bow] and I did not know that the Gateshead Tramcar No.10 worked on the Grimsby and Immingham tramway, that was owned by the Great Central and lasted in to BR days.

ROB Thanks for the kind words on the photos and I hoped you would like the link to the Tramcars[tup]. What speed was No.327 allowed to get to on her return to the streets of Toronto[?].

It is strange, but just by the look; Niobe looks not a ship to be in with rough seas to me.

Thought it best to pay up for the MVG subscription[yeah] although not seeing a copy yet[%-)], mind you VITO has promised my ‘Mid-Missouri Cricket Monthly’ will arrive as soon two teams get together and play a match.[:D]

ERIC As I said to Rob I have decided to pay VITO[tup].

As you say it would take a g

171

G’day Gents!

An evening appearance in order to catch up . . .

Customer Acknowledgments (since my last narrative):

Tuesday - August 19th :

Page 9 - CM3 Shane at 9:02 AM: Straining the few remaining functioning brain cells to figure out why petrol prices are 50 cents higher where you are than here in mid-continent USA. Hmmmmm. No, no - PU-LEEZE don’t try to explain! [swg]

Email received ‘n responded to - thanx! [tup]

Glad you’re enjoying my 2005 Dallas Rail Adventure fotos . . . Too bad we don’t have a “connection” in Dallas, for it would be a fine place for a Rendezvous - although when I was there in was hotter ‘n the shades of Hades. Hopefully, the month of May would be more tolerable . . . Anyway, Rendezvous IV in WVA ought to be most comfortable with the temps . . . [tup]

Mention of the Dart’s Challenge ‘n Grudge Match III brings to mind that once Sir Moderation returns from the UK, we’ll be getting ready for that event again . . . Probably will get it organized before he departs . . . better safe than sorry, eh [?] [swg]

Boat racing in New England - ahhhhhh, the games of the rich &lsquo

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Good evening Leon , a nice day today lots of rounds bought and some good info out there.[tup] So I’ll pop for a round and a nice cold Keith’s for myself. I might as well “try” it. [:-^]

**Tom-**I’ve heard from a reliable sorce up in the villiage ( Lance ,Vito’s manicurist/hair stylest ) that the glow we’ve been seeing is Queenie’s aroma therapy candles. Apparently made from a family mixture consisting turpintine,clove oil,skunk extract and a lot of rose water.All bonded with creosote.[:O]

Nice info on The NYC and more fine pictures from your day in Dallas. I’m guessing that TRE bought the load of parts you saw when they purchased the RDC’s from VIA.It is amazing how well those old cars can hold up if they are properly maintained by those who give a rat’s patoot.

I don’t know why Ruth was affraid to ask , I’d never say no to her requests.She must have heard the disscussions with the Chandler on his every other weekend off requests.I just hope we get some work out of Cindy,with you hovering about when she’s here it can get awkward[:I] Still if she’s noty a hired hand then maybe she’s a hired “leg”[:-,][:P]

Yes 327 is Heather’s baby. She’s as possesive of it , as you are of Cindy

**Dan-**A fine catch up and more wonderfull websites for me to explore.Actually Heather will really like them as she’s the plane buff [tup] It does indeed look like it was a fine trip,with lots to see

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So Leon since we are all still here how about another Keith’s I need to try another to make sure I do like it.[:D]

I figured that I’d pop back in with a few more photo’s,museum stuff again.As Shane had mentioned this morning 327 is a small ten bench open car with a single truck.We do have one double trucked open car similar to the Conn one’s he mentioned. Both types were common on the Canadian street railways as well , but few people had the foresight to preserve them so ours is the only canadian one that’s still around .

Some shots of the restoration of London Street Railway #23

Rob

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Good evening Captain Tom and all present!!

No Leon, just a cold Keith’s, please! Can’t stay long tonight.

Sorry to be in such a rush, but I am getting short on time to get everything done before I leave on Friday morning. So I have to pass tonight, but will be back tomorrow evening with an inclusive post.

Just read your comment Tom and here is another photo from my den where you can see the two Rendezvous plaques above the door. The picture between the plaques is something I painted (watercolor) in 1956, 13 years old. It shows the house where I spent most of my childhood. It is still standing, looks very much the same, and I will go there during my visit in the old country.

Eric

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<IT Rail bus at MoT, Kirkwood____, MO - personal foto>

Wednesday’s Witticism

A gentle horse is soon curried.

G’day Gents!

Mid-week, mid-month in mid-continent USA means we’ve arrived at Hump Day for the work week! [yeah] Begin the day with us by ordering a or breakfast from our Menu Board - fill up the coffee mugs ‘n check out The Mentor Village Bakery case for those freshly baked goodies!

Comments from the Proprietor

  1. Nothing about the Gazette “article” [?] Hmmmmm.
  2. Ruth leaves for a long weekend after her shift today . . .
  3. Eric departs for his 3-week visit to the old country on Friday
  4. Where’s Nick [?]

Customer Acknowledgments (since my last narrative):

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Good morning Barkeep and all Present; coffee, please; round for the house and $ for the jukebox. Another nice day today for which we are grateful.

DL - We have more than steel toes as the rulebook says we have to have metatarsal guards as well. I was intrigued by what you found while looking for something else - we had a similar situation during the Rendezvous trip to Springfield earlier this spring. Eric posted pictures of the restored station that we found. I also enjoyed more of your travelogue.

Pete - That’s why I asked the question about the car in your picture. BTW, New York Central ran RDC trains in WV around Charleston to get kids to and from school. New York Central electrification was (for the most part) around New York City. Main line electrification ran from Grand Central to Harmon where power was swapped out. Power was also swapped out at White Plains - the latter line is all electrified now, something that was done after I left the area. No, Boris, it’s not because they thought I couldn’t be trusted around electricity!

Rob was by with shop pictures.

Eric - Always a lot of last minute stuff to do, no matter how far ahead you plan.

OSP was by with more track shots - the signals look like the “new” ones that are being installed on both the old C&O and old N&W. Nice rerun batch of NYC material, but I am biased. The book you included is a good one.

PCBs - nothing wrong with them at the time. Kind of like when lead was used as a gasoline additive. As one of my IH friends says, “It’s all about discovering that we didn’t know as much as we thought we did.”

Back in the day, the NYC St. Louis train was the "Southwestern.’ It was right up there with the “Century” in terms of appointments, services, etc. Here’s a 1950-era sample consist for those who might be interested.

Train 12 "Sou

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G’day Gents!

Shane was “in” - some fine NYC info. Specific comments in my next round of acknowledgments . . .

Ruth - looks like this day is a “wash” - go ahead 'n secure for the day. I’m sure you have some things to attend to prior to your flight from Can-Am International . . . We’ll miss ya while you’re gone. Give our best regards to you-know-who! [}:)] [:-,]

Here’s a mid-day offering on this Wednesday OP-SHUN-UL Toy ‘ n Model Trains Day!

Display Cases in the Can-Am Train Room

<each case is 2 x 4 ft ‘n made of Lucite>

Rule of Six suspended !

(1) Retired U.S. RR passenger trains

(

178

Hi Tom and all.

A pint of Bathams before you go on holiday please RUTH[tup], oh I see you have left already, so it must be[4:-)] Tom behind the bar[tup].

TOM I am a bit confused[%-)] as usual, was the Gazette article the one about George[?], I did make a comment about that in my post yesterday near the end of my post[tup] (no editing honest[:)]).

I thought that great film we saw on the I-Max screen[bow] was going on general release but I have not seen anything about it being shown. Yes the Exporail is a museum well worth a return visit[yeah] and I recall you saying the Chaleur will be running for a few more years,at least[^], lets hope the train is still formed by those great BUDD cars for a long time to come[tup].

As you say, if Dick Watkins was still with us at the bar there seems plenty to see and do in Dallas for a Rendezvous[tup]. I am looking forward to the next Rendezvous in West Virginia[^].

It would have been great to travel from St Louis to New York out by either PRR or NYC and back by the other back in the day.

Many thanks for the great photos of the display cases in the Can-Am train room[tup][tup][tup]. Noticed the GG1s in passenger and freight liveries[^] and enjoyed studying those older Canadian National and Canadian Pacific passenger cars on the 2nd from bottom shelf in the last photo.[tup]

ROB I’m real glad VITO and his boys will not have to work overtime this weekend at the concrete galoshes plant

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Afternoon Tom. Nice of you to let Ruth off to finish some of her last minute stuff .I’ll just TRY a Keith’s please.[:-^]

I see that the “unhealthy” glow from the hills has subsided.Most likley due to the Mentor Hazmats requested and repeated orders.That or the creosote plant ran dry.[:O] Supprising that no pete has popped by, I’m guessing that Nick’s still busy with the MIL,hopefully we see him soon or Boris will slip into his funk that he gets into when his lord and master is absent.

There isn’t much of a grade wheer the parade took place.327 was designed for a top speed of about 35 mph at fully bore notch 8.At anyrate she’s never run at that speed becuase it’s not required so the TTC wanted a nice pace for the onlookers ( and company and paper photographers ) anyway so they set the speed accordingly.Heather was unimpressed by teh speeds at which they used it,however at our insistance the operators were museum members as no one at the TTC would have a clue how to run the car at any rate.It helped that the member was a retired TTC guy so the union was happy as well.

I have to say I was trying not to envision the poor projectionist and his plight from the gazette excerpt.I had no luck however.[:O]

Nice to see the equipment cases again, oh what a speacial run day could happen on the days (daze) the retired stuff gets it’s occational run.

Eric-Always a ton of running around to do the last few days before a trip,weather it be a one day of a one month trip it’s always the same.Looks like you could embark on a third career as a water colour painter [tup]<

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Well look at that Sir Pete has made it in [yeah][:D] Tom I think I’ll TRY another Keith’s then since I have someone to sit and share it with [tup]

**Pete-**As usual some neat shots of the class 37’s. Can’t get much more English than them [tup] 327 was a bit on the cool side when we run it’s airconditioning [;)][:-^] So we tend to keep the windows closed.[;)] We almost had two of those London cars. There were three that weere used in Springbank Park as park buildings. Two were changerooms for the pool the other was a hot dog stand.The food stand car was too modified and deteriorated to be saved,we treide to jack up the other one put the dry rot was to extensive so we got the one and a bunch of bits and pieces from the other to make a complete car.Yes teh Niobe and it’s mate weer aboyut ten yeasr past their prime when we got them,and it was not worth spending loads of money to maintain them as the designs were obsolete even by WW1 standards.they served their purpose and their crews were split between eight ships so in the end it all worked out.

Well since I’m back I’ll put up another couple of museum shots.

A night shot of Large Witt 2424 in front of Rockwood station.

PCC grinding train W30 and W31 in front of barn 3