Siberianmo - I am in WV, but spent my allegedly formative years in New England.
Passengerfan - The NE States was a fine train, even thought it was a shadow of its former self at the end. I did have the good fortune to have a bedroom suite on the Broadway once from New York to Chicago.
Return with us to those thrilling days of yesteryear when the Merchants Limited had 14 parlors and two diners.
BTW, for those SP folks who visit, and there seem to be a few, the most recent issue of the SP Historical Society’s magazine has an article called “Last Gasp of Steam.” Interesting material to say the least.
Let’s get busy. Maybe, I’ll have time to shoot a couple of racks this evening…
West Coast S
I have a black and white picture of WP #60, a 2-8-0, pulling a short passenger train, in a small valley, with a rpo, baggage, and maybe 2 heavyweight coaches. The darn thing is that I still can’t post pics on this forum!!! But if I had your E-mail I could send it to you to check it out . Look at my profile, I think I put my E-mail there.
Chris
Today’s the day! “Our Place” officially has a “home.” And the winner is …
Pool tables are in the back room - and will be ready for play at noon. Man oh man, those things are heavy … glad I checked the basement to make sure the floor can handle the load.
Okay - so let’s check the conversations …
Thanx! The Alco looks great - glad to see one in operation. Those were truly “classics”![tup][;)]
[quote]
QUOTE: passengerfan Posted: 18 Apr 2005, 18:39:17
Since its a Classic Trains subject matter how about All Puilman trains. I personally have ridden the TWENTIETH CENTURY LIMITED, BROADWAY LIMITED, CHIEF, SUPER CHIEF, CITY OF LOS ANGELES, FLORIDA SPECIAL and NEW ENGLAND STATES the latter was operating in two sections at Xmas time 1961 one all Coach the other All Pullman. The All Pullman Train I wished I had the pleasure of riding was the ARIZONA LIMITED but it was before my time. I have talked to SP old timers and thirty years after the train ran they still had fond memories of the winter only train.
I have never ridden an All Pullman train outsi
Let’s talk classic colour schemes.[;)]
Do you guys have a theory on why western railroads colour schemes, especialy in the 50’s and 60’s, were so colourfull compared to eastern railroads who had “drab” colours? Example: ATSF’s Warbonnet, Westen Pacific’s Zephir, UP’s yellow, Milwaukee’s orange and maroon, CRIP’s red and yellow passenger diesels and SP’s daylight , compared to Pensylvannia’s green or dark red, or CN’s green and gold, or NYC’s two tone grey? The list could go on and on…
Chris[?]
Greetings from the fortified bunker , there was no passenger service on the high line, so we can rule that out…perhaps it could be the Exposition Flyer with a depression era train. Don’t let the presence of a 2-8-0 in passenger service decieve you. The WP had
2-8-0s, 2-8-2s built for and assigned to passenger service until the end of steam.
I forgot to add a diesel powered excursion on the SN to my prior list , using a WP S1 and 22 passenger cars! Good locos those Alcos were!
Speaking of SN I just aquired some 16mm footage of a post war excursion, i’m still working on the locations and the date.
Chris; I urge you to go to www.Cantanaryvideo.com and order a copy of Western Pacific the first 50 years. It is by far the best resource for the WP I have yet reviewed.
What’s for dinner tonight? Keep it light, The wife promised me a S scale SP S1 0-6-0 if I loose 20 pounds… 21 years of marriage has its advantages!
Thought I would stop in and sit over here in the corner and learn something of which I hope I am not too old to do yet. The conversation has been intresting.
I’m going to post some pictures of my “classic” shelf railroad for the “classic” Lionel “classic” Polar Express set … take a look: (CLICK TO ENLARGE)
This idea came about when Lionel announced the creation of their O-gauge Polar Express set - modeled after the movie. The animated movie really is going to be a Christmas classic, in my opinion. Just one of those “feel good” flicks that entertain young and old around that time of year. Especially rewarding is the train … My grandkids should love this … take a look:
It’s come a long way since arrival:
Then to the basement:
To where it is now:
It’s really nothing fancy … the wallpaper background is called “Night Sky” - the shelves and brackets are from Home Depot … the “snow” is white styrofoam cut with a “hot” sculpting tool … the Fir trees are from Faller … “snow” effect on the trees is Woodland Scenics … glue is Elmers white mixed at 50/50 … oh yes, the run (20 ft x 5 ft) is ringed with blue rope lighting … with the lights out, it’s “way cool”! That’s it!
How about that shot Manny hit last night? Connection with Classic Trains is that he hit it over the old Boston and Albany tracks out onto the Mass. Turnpike. Back in the day it was 4+ tracks (down to 2 now), but they still run behind the left field wall at Fenway.
Let’s get something started abt. urban railroading. What follows is based on what I remember of the New Haven at Providence, RI, back 50+ (how did that happen?) yrs ago. People always ask what everyday railroading was like, so here goes.
The Providence waterfront combined railroads and ocean shipping along with tugboats and barges into a fascinating mixture of sights, soiunds, and smells. Aromas of salt air, wet wooden spiles, seaweed, lumber, decomposing fish, coal smoke, and the heavy, tarry fragrance of bunker oil blended into a breathtaking perfume. There were many brick buildings along the waterfront such as rubber companies, paint factories, coal yards, lumber yards, and tank farms: all were served by the railroad.
The tracks were in the street. It was a world where Alco switchers prowled at night to pick up and set out cars at shadowy buildings. Growing up, this activity was always better on rainy nights because things were more mysterious. The rain made the streets and rails shiny. The rain ran down the sides of the factory buildings and made the neon signs on top of the buildings seem to shine a little brighter. The streetlights were sharper and brighter, too.
Down the street comes a battered New Haven Alco switcher pushing a cut of cars. A brakeman, electric lantern in hand, perches on the ladder on the side of a Baltimore and Ohio boxcar passing signals back to the engineman. Carefully, carefully they move into a siding between two buildings to pick up a filthy tank car. A “cl-lang” sound with other metal-on-metal noise as they couple on. The brakeman loosens the hand brake on the tank car and flips a s
Well, I think I’ll forgo my “normal” compilation … looks like we have only a handful of “stuff” to read through … but that post by Coalminer3 is something else! Gotta read that a couple of times … sure hits a home run with me. And, bjdukert - I saw you over in the corner last night … most of the guys were in the back room, knocking those little balls around the tables … sold a few brews, I’ll tell ya … [tup][;)]
Ok Coalminer3
Now, I could care less - REPEAT - care less about “Manny” and whatever you think was so splendiforous last evening at Fenway. Before you jump my case - I spent more than a couple of years “up thataway” - as previously explained - and enjoyed that ball park many times … even “died with them” for the loss to the Cards in '67 - that was some series. Broke my heart that the Sox couldn’t pull it out … I never would have imagined making my retirement home in the mid-west - much less the St. Louis area … but here I am - enjoying it immensely - except for the “Boston” Patriots (I’ll always refer to them that way … I was an “original” AFL fan and remember their “birth”) and of course the Sox of 2004. Just “destroyed” many of us in these parts … the 2002 Super Bowl was give 'n take - either team could’ve won it … but the Series - hey - no contest! They were a steamroller … Now, where was I?
Oh yeah - you can comment about “Manny” but not a word - not one single syllable about my “classic” post! Arghhhhhhhhh - to the plank with ye Coalminer3 - you’ve invoked the wrath of the Master of this here ship![oX)]
Seemed that I got carried away - again! Gotta stop drinking the stuff I’m supposed to be selling![}:)]
All kidding aside - GREAT story - I could envision it all as I read through it![tup][tup][tup] - That’s a 3-thumbs up - hard to come by 'round these parts![;)]
Morning Chris and the crew, coffee with some biscuits and gravy with a side of ham please…Had the oppertunity to study that photo, here’s my analysis:
Without a doubt taken in the Feather River Canyon. This portion of the WP was unique for its geological features. Location wise, between Berry Creek and Intake on the old line now sumerged under the waters of the Oroville dam. .
It helps that this location was well photographed by company photgraphers.
Time frame is prior to 1936, WP aquired ex FEC 4-8-2s and they became the principle power for the Flyer.
I’ll relate a story about the hazzards of standing too close to trackside…Back when the world was young and dinosaurs and SP SD9s roamed the planet. A aquaintance and I skipped our afternoon classes, out the back fence and behind the bull pen one could gain unauthorized access to the right of way. After a short wait headlights appeared to the east, soon after the sounds of EMD 567s could be discerned. A SP beet train! Three SD9s and two SD40s on the point. My euphoria was short lived, as the lead SD9 passed by me, my father stuck his head out the cab window and gave me a stare that sent chills down my spine! Suffice to say I got a talking to that night about the importance of attending my classes!
West Coast S
I can see Berry Creek on my map but where is “Intake”?
And what about the Exposition Flyer? Can you tell me more about this train?
What was it’s route? What was it’s consist…
Chris
Post 1957 WP timtables did list a Berry Creek, on the new alignment. BC 1and Intake no longer exist. The timetable desgination of intake was replaced by Pulga where the new line regains the orginal alignment through the canyon.
The Exposition Flyer (also know as the Scenic Limited prior to 1938) debut in 1925, operating from Chicago to Denver via the CB&Q, D&RGW from Denver to Salt Lake and WP from Salt Lake to Oakland.
Due to WPs superior alignment in the canyon and the 1% average grades light power such as 4-6-0s, 2-8-0s,2-8-2s provided all the power needed in the early years .
Makeup included heavyweight lounges, coaches, usually a through Pullman sleeper off one of the connecting roads , RPO and observation car.
WP owned very few passenger cars so relied on the D&RGW and the CB&Q for the bulk of its passenger equiptment.
Seven to nine cars would be avarage for this train in the off season, during the summer this could increase due to vacation travel.
The Flyer was discontinued in 1946 being replaced by the California Zepher
Hello from Indiana.Cfournier asked why classic eastern railroads had such a drab paint scheme.The NYC gray paint scheme was designed by a color blind person who could only see in shades of gray.Seriously,I read that somewhere.PBR is good enough for me.Joe G.
Sound economic sense I suppose, most eastern roads seemd be involved in the movement of coal or engaged in heavy industry that took a toll on equiptment . There were a few brave souls who defied convention and did a fantastic job with the B&O royal blue, IC orange/brown and VGR black and yellow for example.
A caustic rumor claimed SP staved off bankruptcy by retiring all wash and paint facalities.
No evidence to support such a claim, but at the end, SP power were some filthy, paint peeling or no paint animinals so who can say?
Just returned from a quick trip to Las Vegas and was truly disappointed with the rail scene their the former downtown yard is of course gone replaced by much new construction including an interesting huge box with few windows. Of course that beautiful classic art deco station has be gone for years a victim of city politics. Almost any other city in the country would have kept such an architecturally classic station. The replacement Union Plaza hotel that served Amtrak Desert Wind is now simply called the Plaza and the Desert Wind is history.
My wifes oldest son was on TDY at Nellis AFB from Georgia so we enjoyed some sightseeing as it was his first time in the city that never sleeps.
The UP traffic was heavy in both directions saw many double stacks eastbound as well as a lesser number westbound. At Yermo yesterday saw a coal train out of Utah headed for Long Beach.
As we crossed to Bakersfield from Barstow lots of traffic on the BNSF many hot shot TOFC trains and general merchandise trains all going westbound with to two units on rear for helper service one BNSF train had tthree new GE’s up front spliced by a GP-9 Slug and SW-1500 Slug units interesting head end power. Going down Tehachapi witness a UP train with helpers negotiating the loop first time ever seeing a train long enough to pass over itself on this loop. Traffic on the San Joaquin Valley line that runs alongside 99 witnessed several BNSF trains operating on the UP line running south mixed in with UP traffic. Must have been doing some work on the BNSF line down the valley. TRaffic along the valley seemed to be quite fluid very few trains in sidings. To early for a cognac so will just settle for a coffee. THX
A bit stormy here in mid-Continent USA - but all’s “comfy” in “Our Place.”[8D]
Looks like the dialogue is picking up with some good exchanges going on. Having “fun” is what this idea is all about …[tup][:D]
I like the idea of “regulars,” but would like to see a bit more responsiveness when it comes to guys taking the time to put together a story, etc. - rather than simply ignoring it. That’s what other threads do - not appreciated around these parts![:(!]
Joke for the day! (a new feature …)
This one appeared on another thread some weeks back …
YOU KNOW YOU’RE FROM (fill in the state/province) WHEN:
You let your 14-year-old daughter smoke at the
dinner table in front of her kids.
The Blue Book value of your truck goes up and down
depending on how much gas is in it.
You’ve been married three times and still have the
same in-laws.
You think a woman who is “out of your league” bowls
on a different night.
You wonder how service stations keep their rest-rooms
so clean.
Someone in your family died right after saying,
“Hey, guys, watch this”
You think Dom Perignon is a Mafia leader.
Your wife’s hairdo was once ruined by a ceiling fan.
Your junior prom offered day care.
You think the last words of the “Star-spangled
Banner” are “Gentlemen, start your engines.”
You lit a match in the bathroom and your house
exploded right off its wheels.
The Halloween pumpkin on your porch has more teeth
than your spouse.
You have to go outside to get something from the
fridge.
One of your kids was born on a pool table.
You need one more hole punched in your card to get
a freebie at the House of Tattoos.
Well, good morning. Since the menu is “light” I will take an order on biscuits and gravy and a steaming cup of coffee, black please. Tom, you are doing a wonderful job at starting and encouraging great conversations. Stormy down here in this corner of the show-me state, too.
Been going thru my old Trains mags and looking for things I’ve missed or something that might be of interest again. The current issue is, in my opinion, the best they have put out in ages. I like all facets of rring, but especially enjoy anything preservation related and first person reports of life on the rail. The photo looking out the door of the NYC RS3 makes me want the operating season to begin so I can resume the right hand seat of a identical loco.
Kinda slow on BNSF this morning. Usually about 10 trains have passed my vantage point by now but only about 4 since sunup. No coal trains either. These usually have 2 road engines on the point, about 130 cars, and 3 pushers that stay on for all 126 miles of the Thayer North sub. Sometimes 3 of these trains are stacked up waiting to get out.
But I digress from the classic trains topic. this weekend I will see how the local rail museum fared over the winter. We repainted the steamer’s cab interior last fall and are touching up the tender. The speeder and handcar were tarped and with the new paint on the double decker coach and the baggage car and caboose, everything should look great. The caboose interior is being repainted, also. I may try to hook up the hose and wa***he loco in preparation for opening in May.
For the earlier customer contemplating purchasing a rail car, my suggestion would be a late model, steel caboose. They can be found easy, and are light enough to be moved by truck fairly cheap, and are easy to restore and maintain. Wooden equipment is a never ending maintenance headache.{Just like trackage}. Enough for now.
Good Morning, Earlydiesels! Thanx for stopping by and sharing your thougths with us. Appreciate the kind words - everyone like’s to hear 'em now and then![tup][;)]
Just wondering - where are you located in the Show-Me-State? You gotta hook up with a friend of mine - trolleyboy (Rob) up in Ontario. He’s into museum work - big time - although traction is “where it’s at” for him. He really is a ‘font’ of info when it comes to rail and preservation …
So, I gather that you not only are involved in rail preservation but also into real railroad ops as well. Why not share a bit of that with us too? Hey - no problem - I’m the “bar keep” around here, and if someone doesn’t like it - I hope the door doesn’t hit 'em in the caboose (so to speak)![;)]
Hope your day ends with lots of sunshine … it’s been peeking out at us for the last hour, so the storms must have skipped 'round to the south (again).
Down here in SW Mo the sun is shining for a while. That’s the only good thing about today. Doctors.
Storms are brewing off to the west but sitting here with the tall,cold glass of water (with lemon) that Tom brought I’m saying bring it on! Coal train crossing and he’s slowing. That means he has a red and the train is too long to clear the crossing so I’ll be hearing bells for a while. Well, dispatcher must have knocked down the red cause now he’s gaining speed and I hear the pushers now. 3 of them.
Would like to share more about rr preservation. Most every town of consequence on a railroad has a caboose or a depot or at least a mention of the rr history there. I like to seek these out to kinda sew together a fabric in my head of the way things used to be when this country was growing and the railroad was what made it all possible. Being from SW Mo my favorite rr is the Frisco but have memories of Katy and Rock Island too. Now I am involved in 3 rr groups ranging from a static museum to a group that sponsors occasional excursions on a freight rr to a 11 mile, scheduled tourist railroad.
Well, my thought processes are going in about 8 different directions and I seem to be rambling so I will fade into a corner over here by the jukebox and hope someone will play something good and perhaps another would like the glow of the amber light.
Hello ereryone,
Great stories from you guys, this is entertaining. I would have a suggestion for you Tom. I think you should backdate the picture of “OUR PLACE” with cars and engine from the 40’s or 50’s since it’s a forum about classic trains. Then post it again and use it as a signature at the end of your posts.
Got to go but would stay if you have pastrami and cheese curds with a Carrabasset ale.
Chris
