"OUR" PLACE - SEE NEW THREAD!

Classic Trains General Discussion
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Evenin’ Guys!

In looking at that list of our current customers, the names of the “missing” really jumps out at ya.

I commend those of you who have stuck with this idea – and in no particular ranking, CM3 – Rob – Ted – Pete and Al are the faithful regulars lately. But with personal schedules, work and school, the forecast for drought is still with us. It may not be showing guys, but the load is getting rather heavy.

Some acknowledgements for the evening:

pwolfe Pete Thanx for the round and kind words regarding the Posts. Your Email response was received and I will add the descriptions to your pix for our Sunday Photo Posting Day! Thanx. [tup]

passengerfan Al Thanx for the round and the elaboration on SP’s Sunset Limited. [tup] Can always count on your for some great input and insights. Check out the “other” thread, there’s an interesting Post you may want to check out from agentatascadero.

I’ve always admired the livery of the SP – all of them. If I were to model a west coast RR, that would be my choice. However, I like to model those roads I can relate to, so I’m left with the “admiration factor.” [swg]

Catch y’all later!

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]

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Good evening Tom,day off tomorrow so hopefully I can be more talkative. [tup][swg].I’ll nab a cr while I transpose my thoughts to the either.

Tom I’m glad that you are happy to help me spend my money. Though I’m not sure that Heather will approve of such free spdending.[:O] I may indeed add a touch of the red subway cars if i find a worhy set. Heck they may just run on the surface lines,dam the third rail and all speed ahead [tup]

Thank’s for sending through the Reading story, it is funny how most people would automatically just think about that sqauare on the monoploly board. The fact that thier one train was called King coal sort of tells their railway history in a nut shell though dosen’t it. ? Another fine archieve of the SP as well. I have to say that it is amazing as to how much of the country could be reached by rail during the golden age.

Ted glad that you liked the PCC bit. One could post pictures and info on them ad nauseum. Yes the standee’s were and early and late part of the cars. Some early airelectrics from the thirties had them some from the 40’s didn’t yet you can see some built in 49-50 with them. As with the anticlimber number of control ends ( 1 or 2 ) or the type of doors the options were many between the major operators. at best the bowser model represents an early 40’s air electric the less desirous bachman model a later 50’s style ( with standee’s ) I think that one could do a theseus on PCC’s. Did you order a union jack and a red ensign cake for the 11th as well ?

CM3 Glad you were able to catch the PCC story as well.I thank-you for the info on the Cincinati cars in the latest mag. it’s one that i may buy.To this point I haven’t purchased any of the classic trains mags ( hopefully no lightening shorts out my pc [xx(][:O] ) Most of tthe Cinci Pcc’s ended up in the high 4600 number series on the TTC.In fact the cars that ***'s line purchased from the TTC for the Dallas trolley routes may even be ex

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WEDNESDAY’s INFO & SUMMARY of RECENT POSTS

We open at 6 AM (all time zones!) Stop by for some freshly brewed coffee, pastries from The Mentor Village Bakery and our breakfasts! Whatillyahave [?]

Info for the Day:

(1) Today is Pike Perspectives Day! A good time for those engaged in the model railroading hobby (or any other aspect of railroading for pleasure) to discuss and Post what they are doing, have done, or plan to do. [tup]

(2) Thursday is Fish ‘n Chips Nite!. [dinner] Dinner begins at 5 PM. [tup]

(3) Friday is Pizza Nite! along with Steak ‘n Fries Nite! [dinner] Dinner begins at 5 PM. [tup]

(4) Friday, November 11th is Veteran’s Day (U.S.) and Remembrance Day (Canada & Great Britain). In recognition of all those who have served or are serving, let’s do something special on that day at ”Our” Place.

Find something to Post that is reflective of either of the World Wars that has some connection to the railroads, the war effort or both. Advertisements abound from those times, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.

With ample time to prepare, my hope is that we’ll get good participation! [tup][tup][tup]

INDEX Mondays only!

SUMMARY

Name - Date/Time - (Page#) – Remarks

(1) siberianmo Tom Posted: 08 Nov 2005, 06:00:01 (157) Tuesday’s Info & Summary

(2) siberia

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Early mornin’ Rob

Nothing like a touch of insomnia to make life interesting … [tdn] The older I get, the more this happens. While you are a long way off (and remember, I have The Birthday Watch List!) [swg] the closer you will get to experiencing these changes in life. And who said it was just a "gal’ thing [?]

Nice Post and glad that you’ve been able to resurface. Covered quite a few bases with that one …

Subway sets are all over the place these days (daze); didn’t know it until I began researching the subject for my new venture. I found my two sets on two different sites and both at the same price - $129 US. Wouldn’t surprise me if that could be beaten by frequenting a train show or two, but that’s the lowest I’ve seen on my visits to about two dozen sites. Trainworld in NYC has the “Red Birds” in stock - set #30300 and ships the day you order.

The Walthers web site gives good pictures and run downs of the LifeLike sets, albeit mostly unavailable and very pricey. If you go there, I purchased the red set with the silver roofs and the “Red Bird” set which is all red. I really wanted that silver set w/blue stripes, but gave up on it as all of my Email inquiries came back negative.

By the by - this ISN’T [#offtopic] Boris since today IS Pike Perspectives Day! [swg]

Your Email response was received - thanx! I concur with your thinking.

I have a suggestion regarding getting some “new blood” into “Our” Place. Why not 'talk us up" a bit when you visit over at the CS [?] There are a couple of guys who stop in (Fergie and Duke) and we could surely use some more. For example, our Posts coming up for Friday may be of interest to some. Between you, me and BK (whenever he returns), we could make some postiive progress. Just a thought …

I’ve been Posting there for a bit over a week and can’t say that it wi

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

Monon (The Hoosier Line)

Headquarters: Chicago, IL

Mileage in 1950: 573

Locomotives in 1951

Diesel: 57

Rolling stock in 1951:

Freight cars: 2,609
Passenger cars: 59

Principal routes in 1950:

Chicago-Indianapolis
Louisville-Michigan City
Wallace Junction-Midland
Orleans-French Lick

Passenger trains of note:

Bluegrass (Chicago-Louisville)
Chicago Limited (Indianpolis-Chicago)
Day Express (Chicago-Louisville)
Daylight Limited (Chicago-Indianapolis)
Executive (Chicago-Indianapolis)
Hoosier (Chicago-Indianapolis)
Hoosier Limited (Chicago-French Lick)
Night Express (Chicago-Louisville)
Thoroughbred (Chicago-Louisville)
Tippecanoe (Chicago-Indianapolis)
Varsity (Chicago-Bloomington)
Velvet Train (Chicago-Cincinnati)
Mid-Night Special (Chicago-Cincinnati)

Of note:
Trains east of Indianapolis handled by Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton
Monon operated on Chicago & Western Indiana tracks between Hammond and Dearborn Station.
Monon operated on Kentucky & Indiana Terminal tracks between New Albany-Youngstown Yard-Union Station.

Enjoy! [tup]

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]

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G’mornin’ everyone. Tom, I’ll just snatch a crulller and a cuppa Folgers for now, thanks. “Take a ride on the Reading,” I believe was printed on the Monopoly “chance” cards. Oh yes, thanks Pete for your remarks on the miniature Kid’s trains.[tup] During the war years, few children were able to buy electric trains (shortages), so we fell back on wooden and card stock (lithograph?) kits and “cut-outs.” My only streamliner was a kit made by Stromberg of wooden roof, ends and floor stock with card stock sides printed up for the windows, road name, details, etc. The loco was modeled after the earliest EMC (forerunner of EMD), first run of the “E” series diesels. The glued on Road features (loco) were fashioned after the Rocket Island Rocket which was a popular train of those times. I had nearly a dozen steam (card stock) locos which were “cut outs” from the back of Kix dry cereal boxes. Amazingly, The Kellog Cereal Co. paid some mind to scale as the U.P. Challenger was proportionally larger than, say, the 0-6-0 switcher. I used to pay neighborhood kids from my allowance for their empty Kix boxes and soon amassed a roster of about a dozen locos.[^] Passenger cars also were printed on them (usually 2). I don’t have to tell you that I ate a lot of dry cereal in those days.[V] I also threw a lot of it out when Mom wasn’t around.[}:)] The “Jig was up” when she spotted me “in-the-act.”[:-^] OUCH![:O]

It appears to me that Reading passenger service was largely commuter runs around the Northeast “corridor.” The Road probably was a competitor to Central of New Jersey and like “feeder” lines? The size and scope of a city of ten million suddenly comes into focus when we summize the number of Roads serving the “Big Apple.”[:O] Monon seems to provide a similar role in and around the Chicago area. Good Fallen Flag choices again Tom, thanks.

Au contrare Rob, the U.K. and Canada will naturally be represented along with the “Stars & Stripes” Cake. T

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Good Mornin’ Guys!

Here’s something you may find interesting.

Via Rail of Canada has put together a Veteran’s Train that will take more than 300 Vets, military retirees and their families to Ottawa for Remembrance Day ceremonies on Nov 11th. This train will begin it’s journey from Halifax, Nova Scotia today as the “Ocean,” train #15 with a total of 32 cars - yes 32. The consist will include 3 diners and 20 sleepers (those numbers have not been confirmed). Change of trains takes place in Montreal where the “Corridor” train will supposedly be lengthened to accommodate the group. Return trip from Ottawa begins on Saturday, Nov 12th with arrival back in Halifax on Sunday on Via Rail’s “Ocean” train #14.

A barbershop quartet will provide on board entertainment, and menus will have a vintage look.

What a grand idea! Kudo’s to Via Rail and all behind the scenes for putting this together! [tup][tup][tup]

From the Via Rail website:

As some may recall, I was in Ottawa this last May - traveling from Halifax by train - for the commemoration of the War Museum. Although I missed the formal ceremonies by a day, there were sufficient “left overs” and lots of Vets to meet which made the trip such a success.

Remember, we too will mark the occasion of Veterans & Remembrance Days with the Posting of relevant material from our "customers.

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Good Afternoon All: Coffe, please; round for the house, and let’s see if we can find “Up and Down the Monon” on the jukebox.

My, I would like to see the Remembrance Day Train. I will have some material to post on Thursday as we are off on Friday.

The Reading handled a lot more passenger traffic than most people realize. A lot of this was interline service, of course.

Sleeping car lines that operated over the Reading for parts of their runs included the following:

Rochester-Philadelphia
Wilkes-Barre-Philadelphia
Chicago-Philadelphia (via MC and LV - that’s one I would have liked to traveled)
Chicago-New York (via CN and LV)
Buffalo-Philadelphia(via LV)
Syracuse-Philadelphia
Binghamton-Philadelphia
Philadelphia-Detroit (via LV and MC)
Phiuladelphia-Toronto (via LV and CN)
New York-Toronto (via LV and CN)
New York-Niagara Falls
New York-Ithaca
New York-Wilkes-Barre

Not bad

work safe

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G’day All!

PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #22

Here’s something to enjoy regarding the Southern Pacific (SP) from a 1951 advertisement in my personal collection.

Did you hear what the ‘49er said about the “City of San Francisco”

”WHAT A TRAIN, PARDNER! SHE’S THE FASTEST THING ON WHEELS BETWEEN CHICAGO AND THE GOLDEN GATE! ANOTHER OF SP’S WONDERFUL WAYS WEST!”

Did you know that you can board a modern streamliner in Chicago and travedl at your ease the same route the ‘49ers struggled over in the Gold Rush? Well, you can. In the crack extra-fare ”City of San Francisco” for instance, or the ”Overland” that shows you California’s lovely High Sierra by day.

Until you’ve done this you’ve never really seen the West.

We’ve just issued a new folder we’re rather proud of, ”Planning Your Overland Route Trip.” Tells you all about accommodations on these great “name trains” (finest Pullman; economical Chair Car).

By the way, at San Francisco these streamliners connect with our famous ”Lark,” “Daylight” and “Starlight” south to Los Angeles, thence with other great S.P. streamliners eastward. Or with the new ”Cascade” and ”Shasta Daylight” northward, right past gorgeous 14,161 foot Mt. Shasta to the lovely Pacific Northwest.

Mail that coupon today for free folders.

”CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO” Chicago-San Francisco via Omaha, Ogden, Great Salt Lake, Reno, Oakland. 40 ½ hours westbound via CNW-UP-SP. Shown here with Golden Gate Bridge in the background.

SP AMERICA’S MOS

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Afternoon Tom. Tom ? Toooom? Sorry thought you dozed off behind the bar. Your head was getting quite close to the lit aroma therapy candles Boris put out to make Tex feel more at home.[:O]

Thank’s for the uopdate on the LL “tube rockets” The all red redbirds will likely ( if any ) be the ones i go with. They are the closest to the TTc Gloster cars from the openning of the Yonge subway line in 1954. Structurally they aren’t close at all but if it’s underground who’s gonna know ? [swg]

I’m glad that Via is going that extra mile for the vets.It’s a classy move ( hopefully not just politically motivated ) A 32 car train has likley not been seen in Canada in likey a few decades. I’m sure that Branchline magazine will coper it. Hopefully Trains will as well.

Ted The PCC’s do have a way of “loping along” don’t they. The movement isn’t so lively as say a single truck Birney aka " vomit rocket ". The funny thing about the PCC’s that i have found when operating them is that if they start to pitch side to side or fore and aft ( yes on a rural non street line they will do that [:O] )b If you increase speed they level out. Guess they just want to go.

Funny Ted that you mention waiting for or enjoying the older cars when you were a kid. Heather’s dad grew up in Toronto. He would go downtown to pay bills etc for hios mom. He would wait for the old wooden TR deck roofed cars,prefering them over the Modern Witt’s,he had moved to Brantford just after the start of WW2 so he never got into the PCC cars. funny thouigh idf he visted family in the 50’s and 60’s he’d wait for the Witts as opposed to riding the PCC’s.

Tom Haven’t been over at the CS in three or four days but i certainly will chat up the 11th [tup]

I’m glad you picked the Monon. It seems to be a road that few people know off and even less model. How could you not with that gorgeous diesel paint scheme. Question however who absorbe

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Hey Tom this next nostalgia piece should be right up your alley. And everyone else’s as well. it’s a max speed and slow order chart from the PGE. I have taken it from the BC Rail book by J.F. Garden

Maximum Speed and Permanent Slow Orders Located Between

Permissable speed in MPH
RDC Units Passenger/Mixed freight

North Vancouver mile 0.0 & Britannia mile 31.0.35…25

mileage 1.7…public grade crossing… 20… 15
mileage 4.6… over bridge … 20… 20
mileage 28.8 &29.rock bluffs & tunnel…15… 15
mileage 30.7 &31.restricted vision…15…10

Britannia Mileage 31.0 to Squamish 39.2…45…40
Britannia 31.0 to 31.2 .restricted vision…20…10
mileage 38.5…logging crossing…20…10

Squamish Mileage 39.2 to 51.0…45…40

Mileage 51 & Alta lake 74.4…35…25
mileage 51.5 to 57.8…slide area…25…20
mileage 69.3 to 70.4… curvature…25…20

Alta lake mileage 74.4 to 78.3…35…25

Mileage78.3 Pemberton to 94.6…35…

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G’day!

Sun’s still shining, temps are beginning to drop (we set a record yesterday at 82 (F) for the date), and the wind is pickin’ up. Petrol is now at $2.16 (rounded) and dropping up at “Collusion Corner.” Ain’t life grand [?] [swg]

Some acknowledgements:

Theodorebear Ted Posted: 09 Nov 2005, 08:12:48

Surely your reference to “the Head Baker” refers to our friends over at The Mentor Village Bakery. Unless of course you have hired someone without the Proprietor knowing, in which case his or her salary comes out of yours! [swg]

Now, I have been assured that no one, or nothing, will jump out of the cakes. This isn’t that kinda day! [swg] Boris and his “pet” Tex the Armadillo are to be kept in line and away from the cakes! This is not up for negotiation, we’ve had too many “situations” with this cloven-footed transplant from Transylvania before.

Received your Email … thanx.

You are correct about those “Chance” cards, but of course there were the four railroads on the board as “property” – PRR, B&O RR, SHORT LINE RR and READING RR. Rent, if you owned all four came to $200. [yeah] Great game and greater memories. Used to play it with a friend and they stretched into days …… My three kids used to love it as well. I guess you know that many of the “street names” can be found in Atlantic City, NJ. Good old Parker Brothers, they really hit on something big. Today’s versions, sold by Hasbro, are localized and hardly resemble the board game from my youth. But then again, what does [?]

By the by, did you know that the SHORT LINE RR referred to the Shore Fast Line, a streetcar line in Atlantic City?

coalminer3 CM3 Posted: 09 Nov 2005, 11:12:45

Okay – I guess my offer either didn’t catch your attention, or …… Post away tomorrow! [swg]

Nice rundown on those Reading sleeping cars. [tup]

trolleyboy R

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Hey Tom it still doesn’t look right. It lined up quite nicely on my end. Wierd. I figured that you would like it though. If it remains slow I’ll pop in a few more tidbits from the “book”. At least this way you can enjoy some of it till i’.m able to track down a whole copy for you.[tup][:D]

Nail polish remover should un-glue your case of my-fingers-are- stuck togetheritis. [swg]

Rob

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Hey Rob

Cute, real cute - “my-fingers-are-stuck-togetheritis” is a way of life once I got introduced to that Greek guy named “Arthur Ritis.” [swg]

Regarding the formatting situation - it really is a trial and error “thing” - keep at it and you’ll figure it out. Using that feature of “Preview Reply” - then going back to your word processing document for eiding - and going thru it all again is time consuming, but the results are worth it. No matter - I appreciate the Post and have already copied it and it is now inside the front cover of my RDC “bible.” [tup]

Catch ya later!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

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Good Afternoon Captain Tom and Crew,

I have returned from my northern European trip and am rather fatigued today. Still not adjusting very well, must be my age. Spent a bit of time in Iceland on the way back. Intriguing place.

I have not had sufficient time to review all of the postings and it appears that there are several to mull through. Therefore I will refrain from commentary other than to say I am pleased that you all are still here.

The summary pages were looked at for today, yesterday and the day before and I see that you are looking for submissions that are appropriate for Veterans Day and Remembrance Day. No guarantee, but I will try to join you in that.

Oh yes, before you hit me with a “rules violation,” I will have one quick hit of VO on the rocks if you please.

Until later.

BK

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Hello,

Back again and I presume that the routine starts over: Hello Captain Tom, nothing for me right now.

Has anything been decided for certain regarding that trip to Churchill that we discussed [?] It appears rather late to make reservations for this month, as I understand the bedrooms for November are just about booked solid.

Also is your May rendezvous still on for the May 11th arrival date [?] Perhaps I should inquire by email, but right now this seems rather convenient. My schedule for that time of year is in draft form and if possible I would appreciate knowing about the May dates.

An observation: it appears several of your customers are away and it is amazing how you are able to keep this thread operating at the levels the pages reflect. Then of course, it is you, Captain Tom, who is keeping the ship upright with the frequency and timing of your postings. Must get rather weary I should think.

Congratulations are in order for your coalminer3 person and the elevation to the Order of the Permanent Stools (club, association, covern?). I suppose if I can use BK he can be known as CM3 Good show, your contributions are well done and on the mark.

Back to the review.

BK

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Good afternoon one and all. It’s “break time” around this “neck of the woods.” So, a Gilby’s & tonic w/twist please Tom. That will ease me through this 85 deg. F., humid day. The pastries ordered for Veterans (Rememberance) Day are indeed from Mentor’s own Bakery. I didn’t know this was a 2 bakery Village.[:O]

Oh, by the way, not to worry about losing the solemnity of the Veterans (Rememberance) Day traditional protocol. Having performed for over 20 of these “Armistice Day” (Veterans Day since 1954) occasions with The U.S. Army Field Band, it isn’t likely that I would forget the respect and sobriety appropriate to the observance. Memorial Day (“Decoration Day”) May 30th, of course, honors the deceased members of the U.S. Armed Forces and a legal holiday. Sometimes the two become transposed. Via rail, Canada and the U.K. should be commended by us all. Pomp and cicumstance apporpriate to long honored traditions is stedfastly supported by these respective countries and their citizens.[tup] Apparantely, the U.S. is the only major power that has developed an identity crisis, alas, these past thirty years.[:(]

CM3, thanks for the closer view of the Reading R.R. Looks like this Road made most of its “long distance” connection via other road’s ROWs. Didn’t realize Niagra Falls and Wiles Barre were in Reading’s parameters. Rob, interesting stats on the speed charts of the B.C. Rail, especially the pyramidal log forms “skeleton” cars.

We called the single truck Birney cars “Dinkeys” and more than once folks landed on their keesters from their bone shaking gyrations.[:O] A standee was “at his own risk” and had better have a “dead man’s grip” on the straps and posts. Thanks again for remembering the photos when it is practical.[tup] It seems that track work and scenics are unanimously disliked by at least 3 of us. Oh yes, nail polish remover works fine but I found Acetone works as well and is cheaper (wash hands, soap & water afterward). On

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Good Afternoon Tom and the rest of the gang. Guess its time for a CR and round for the house.

Could help but see your fallen flag piece on the MONON.
Always a small railroad surrounded by giants they managed to stay solvent longer than most ever thought they would.
Shortly after WW II when they looked at streamlining they found out all of the manufacturers were backlogged with orders so MONON purchased 28 surplus US Army Hospital cars that had been built by American Car & Foundry in 1944.
From these cars they created a streamlined fleet of cars to equip four complete streamlined consists One each for the Hoosier and Tippecanoe and a pair for the Thoroughbred. The former two trains operated between Indianapolis and Chgicago round trip daily while the Thoroughbred required two consists to provide daily Louisville - Chicago service in each direction. To power the new streamliners the MONON purchased four sets of A-B EMD F-3 diesels 81A-B - 84A-B. Among the cars streamlineed in the MONON’s own shops were Baggage 30’RPO cars 11 and 12. $6-Seat Coaches with smoker 21-26, 52- Seat Coaches 27-34, 24-Seat Dining Bar 20-Seat Lounge Cars 51-53, 18-Seat Dining 10-Seat Parlor Observations 58,59, 44 Seat Grill Coaches 65-69, and 25-Seat Parlor 11 Seat Lounge Observations 71 and 72. The streamlined HOOSIER was inaugurated August 17, 1947 and the streamlined TIPPECANOE was inaugurated November 15, 1947.
The streamlined THOROUGHBREDS did not enter service until February 15, 1948. The last of the streamlined cars was not retired until 1968.
I wil;l always have regrets about not riding any of the MONON trains but did visit their former resort at French Lick and the rail museum located there.

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Hi Tom and all.

A pint of the usual please.

ROB. When I was talking about the trams in the U.K. I have forgotten to mention a tramway which is still about today .It is in Blackpool Lancashire in the North West of England it opened in 1885 and is operated by the town . They have a neat web site with some pictures. It is
http:www.blackpooltransport.com
I hope it is of some interest.
Thanks for the speed restriction chart it must have kept the engineers on their toes.

TED Great story of the cereal boxes. Did you have the plastic model kits in your youth they were popular in my day. The companies who made them were Kitmaster and later Airfix who did some railroad stuff. Kitmaster done an early American 4-4-0 loco which was the first one I got. They also done a Swiss ‘Crocodile’ electric loco which a lad down the street had( they were a lot dearer if I remember right.) I know that when I did get an electric train set they did not take to being pushed very kindly. [sigh]

TOM Thanks for the advert and the flag and CM3 for the extra info By the way what is a HOOSIER[?]
The mention of Monopoly takes me back as lads we used to play on an American version with dollars and if I remember Broadway was the dearest property.

I agree that VIA-RAIL derserves a lot of credit for running the Veterens train I do hope there is some photos of it[tup].

Its good to see BK back
PETE.

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Good Evenin’,

I suppose the news of the day insofar as U.S. passenger rail fans are concerned would be the firing of Amtrak’s President – David Gunn. Rather than my going though it all here, there surely will be something said on other threads ‘n forums. This person was opposed to the administration’s stance regarding the selling off of the NE corridor and disestablishment of our national passenger rail system. Check out this URL for more details: http://www.cnn.com/2005/TRAVEL/11/09/amtrak.gunn.ap/index.html
You may want to keep in mind that these type URL’s don’t stay “up” for very long – perishable in other words.

Okay – on to the acknowledgements:

BudKarr BK
Posted: 09 Nov 2005, 15:15:49 and 16:00:48

Hey, he’s baaaaaaaack! [#welcome] Back! From what you’ve indicated and perhaps our conjecture, you’ve had an interesting time of it in northern Europe. We respect everyone’s right to privacy, however, so prying isn’t part of what we do ‘round here. If you want to tell us, you will.

Take your time with the catch up – but not too much! [swg] Need some contributions from you as we really are getting’ down to the low numbers ‘round here in terms of daily Posts are concerned. It’s all understandable, given that people work, people play, and people have other things to do. I really understand that – I used to have a life, once, myself! [swg] Then I became Chief What’s In Charge of Overseeing a Cyber Bar ‘n Grill (CWICOVACBNG). [yeah] [wow]

I noted your presence on a couple of other threads and forums – good for you. Appreciate your “beating the drum” for new blood. Nice of you to do so. [tup]

Regarding the Churchill trip, there’s been no movement on it. Perhaps better for fall 2006 than now. In fact, I thought that’s what we were speaking of – however, I could be wrong – it happens! [swg]

Our Rendezvous in Toronto is on for arrival on May 11th. Th