And what about trains?

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jasonl

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Who else in here is a train lover? I can't identify locomotives by make and model but I love trains, any kind.

My favorite would definitely have to be steam trains, but streamlined vintage diesels are beautiful.
 
New York, New York, It's a wonderful town.

When you get to visit NYC, please consider a guided tour with *moi-meme* (myself). We will stick you on all kinds of diesel and electric trains. The subway (sarcastically) is not to be missed!
 
Sesitive stomach? DONT READ THIS.

*DING*
*DING*
*DING*
*DING*

Excellent point and commentary!
SPOT-ON!

Here's a real *YUKKERS* story.
Ex and I traveling via subway
Ex loses a hard contact lens.
Where does it land?
Near a column/pillar.

Proceeds to pick it up.
Cleans it by putting it in mouth.
Sticks in eye.
Not ONE health repercussion.

I nearly tossed my cookies.
Every type and manner of body fluid/waste is by those pillars.

Trust me.
 
Was it downhill after that, Steve?

For me, THAT would be THE breaking point. NO more kisses, nothing!

OH gods, Im gonna hurl.
 
REALY. DON'T READ THIS IF SENSITIVE

Let's just say the Listerine (antiseptic) mouth-wash pump was then mandatory.

Do you really want to know what killed it?
WEll, you asked.
*GET OUT OF THIS POST RIGHT NOW WHILE YOU STILL CAN*.

Here we go.........
#2 purge
no washy hands.
Went straight to the ref.

THAT KILLED IT ON THE SPOT.
ADD MAJOR NASTY ATTITUDE AS TO WHY IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO WASH HANDS. (It's on the paper isn't it?)
I nearly pushed the MF out of a 4th floor window.
 
Excelsior

In the 60's and 70's Rod McKuen was a popular poet and bard.

He wrote a poem and titled it excelsior.

One line from the poem was "Why is it, in the night, you will put your mouth on all parts of my body, but in the morning you won't use my toothbrush?"

Ponderable.

Kelly
 
Contamination prevention- on a VERY serious note, here:

Well, all kidding aside.

One should not really brush their teeth before deep kissing (blood/open *wounds*). Mouthwash-will have to do!

Taught to kids in kindergarten:
If it's wet and it's not yours don't touch it.

Taught to adults:
On me not in me.

and my personal favorite
No glove, no love.

and the expression
(s)he is to DIE for is now..
(s)he is to LIVE for.

So without furhter ado... back to trains.
 
Anothing hijacked thread

We were talking about trains.

Ok, well, wanna talk sh*t?

When I go have my daily crap at the bathroom at work, 99% of the guys that pee, just shake it and leave. And I've seen people poo and run, LEAVING SHIAT PARTICLES ON EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE SAME DOOR HANDLE THAT I HAVE TO USE TO GET OUT.

Hello? What's those bowl looking things in the front of the bathroom with water and soap?

Now back to trains. I've been on a vintage train that when you flush, you see the tracks rolling by beneath you. Modern trains have more modern ways of disposing of the waste like with that blue water like on an airplane.
 
I have a great fondness for trains. When my brother and I were little kids, we really enjoyed the grade crossing in Ottawa, Illinois where we would sometimes have to stop for a train. We would ask daddy all about it as it went by. The business where I pick up our appliance parts is the last one before the train tracks. There is still a grade crossing so when I am in the store, we get plenty of warning before the trains some by. In the late afternoon when I am there, we get not only freight trains, but the B&O commuter trains that run between Baltimore and Washington. Last week the manager's 8 year old son was there because of a teachers' workday or something and he and his dad were out watching the train go past. It is probably illegal in most places to watch a train from as close a distance as we can right there. One thing bothers me about the rails and ties. There is a place where the rail is not fastened down tightly to the tie. Everytime the front wheels on a car go over this, you can see the rail sink down to the tie and then spring back up until the rear wheels go over it. It makes a good bit of noise. I wonder if this is something that should be reported or if it is something that accommodates thermal expansion and contraction.

In western Maryland there are steam excursion trains. A Boston friend and I had reservations to go one year, but the drought was so bad that they were only taking the diesel-electric locomotives out and the main reason I wanted to go was the steam engine. I have some friends who are for trains like we are for appliances and they say that a steam locomotive comes as close to having life as any piece of machinery ever has or will.

In the late 40s, diesel-electric locomotives began replacing steam engines in most of the United States. Around 20 years ago, I was listening to a radio program on one of the local FM stations that actually had varied programs and they played an absolutely hauntingly beautiful recording. It was New Year's Eve, I believe they said, someplace in Alabama and a recording was being made of the organ in a church. The organist was playing Silent Night and off in the distance came the sound of an approaching steam locomotive. It got a little louder and then you heard the whistle at a crossing and the train continued its approach. It did not stop at the depot, but kept moving on its way and the sound gradually faded. It was recorded by pure chance and was the last steam locomotive to pass through the town.
 
Trains are fun!

I like trains as well, especially reading about train wrecks! I have a great book on train wrecks, most of which took place during the 19th. century. Traveling on a train then was just asking for trouble. Gary
 
Jason, I was always fascinated by trains from the time I was a tiny tot. My uncle and dad built me a "steam train" looking sort of toy I could push myself around on when I was about 3 or 4 and got my first battery train set when I was about 5 or 6. My uncle came back from a visit in England and brought me back a real electric set when I was about 8 and I added on to that for years. I would hang aroud the rail yards watching everything by the time I was about 10 and sometimes was even lucky enough to get a ride in the engines. Going to my grandmas by train in the summer was a highlight. Then when my mom took me and my sister to England back in 66 one of my dreams came true was to travel on the Flying Scotsman. Was a fluke actually because we arrived in London and were heading north to my grans in Newcastle and there it was. A few years later I was off on my Euro trip with my Eurailpass, loved it and only a few years after that I finished my first year at college and decided for a break. A close friend and I hitchhiked out west, we got as far as Lake Louise in the Rockies and I cheated and took "the Canadian" into Vancouver, that was another dream of mine realized.. the ride the Canadian through the Rockies. So we get to Vancouver and spend some days looking for work in restaurants etc when I happened upon the railways office, applied, and started working that very day at the yard office on the waterfront as a junior clerk and car checker. So I can't complain everytime I got stuck waiting for a freight train crossing the road.. each one of those cars was paying for my house LOL. btw I just retired last January from the railroad. I had a pretty good career with them, did lots of jobs like I say starting from a clerk/car checker, switchman, thru a range of supervisory/trainer/managerial jobs all across the country as well as on the Soo Line in Chicago and Mpls.
 
Trains

Growing up, at the bottom of the hill where our house stood, was a train track, which was next to a drain ditch.

We were threatened within an inch of our lives never go to the track and NEVER go to the drain ditch (it was a sewer of sorts) so that is exactly what we did.

My brothers and I spent one summer digging a cave on the bank of the drain ditch and under the railroad track. My dad was irrigating and the water run down the hill and pooled at the edge of the train track.

One day the train came along. The irrigation water had washed under the track and through our cave. The train flumped into a v where the track gave way and schreeched to a halt.

God, were we ever in trouble.

I used to dare myself to get closer to the train as it went by.

We were told that the train created suction and if you were too close, you'd get sucked right under.

I would sneek down and hide under the fence until the engineer was out of view.

I finally got close enough to hold a stick in my hand and have it rumble against the side of the train.

I can still feel the excitement and terror of the incredible size and energy of a moving train. The very earth shook.

Since I was a sissy, I had to have tests with myself, over and over, to prove I wasn't a chicken

kelly
 
The worker shortage on the railroads is critical.

and another BTW...
If anyone is looking for a job on the railroad now is a good time. All the big 6 are experiencing a critical shortage of workers, conductors, engineers etc. It's so bad in some areas that they have had to strand trains in the middle of nowhere because they don't have enough crews to relieve the previous crew on hours. The UP for instance has had to borrow engineers and conductors from other railroads including Canadian ones just to keep some of its trains running.
The reason it's so bad is because they can no longer get enough kids these days who are willing to do the "dirty work". Traditionallly railroads have hired the young to start at the bottom and work their way up. They were also strong employers along the "family line" grandpas, fathers, dads, but now the sons and daughters would rather work in an office or something clean, so it's left all the railroads with a workforce that is now 10 years ahead of the national average in employee's due to retire. If you do know someone who's looking for a well paying job, doesn't mind shift work/outdoor work,crazy hours sometimes and being away from home for stretches you should tell them about it. A train engineer can pull in big bucks these days, in the 80 to 100k range after a few years on the job but even the starting wages are high and the paid benefits are also excellent.
 
I have always loved trains!!

When I was a kid, my family would go to the Meier and Frank in DT Portland and ride the train. I had so much fun looking at the entire store from up top of everyone. It was a tradition that the store had for many years. I also love the model trains. I could look at them for hours. The Canadian tour looks really neat as well. :)
 
I love trains! We live about a half mile from one of the last operating electric trains,the Chicago,South Shore,and South Bend.Got the Norfolk Southern(formerly Conrail,formerly PennCentral,formerly NYC) main running next to it.Lots of trains going by.

Pete,if I were about 10 years younger,I would go for it.But the crazy hours,living with a pager,gone from home,etc,would take it's toll.

kennyGF
 
I love them too!

I lived about 20 yards from Railroad tracks in 2000-20001.

Currently I'm a half mile from tracks, I love to listen to the freight trains come thru!
 
So there's no confusion, the link above is for Canadian Pacifics train the "Royal Canadian" five or six vintage coaches from the 20's etc, only about 24 passengers and as much or more staff. Prices for a two or three day excursion thru the Rockies can cost +10,000 per person. For the less affluent such as moi the old Canadian Pacifics "Canadian" now operated by Via Rail Canada (the Amtrak of Canada) since the r.r. ditched passenger service back in the late 70's, still operates back and forth between Vancouver and Toronto/Montreal every other day. Still with the wonderful old stainless steel Budd cars, dome cars, vista domes etc. They spent millions on them a couple of years ago refurbishing them to their past glory. It's a fantastic trip through the Rockies, especially if you cough up the extra and get your own private roomette or bedroom. I travelled on it numerous times back in the 70's when I had a free pass, just for a weekend getaway now and then. I'll never forget sitting there in the dining car, white linen tableclothes, real china and silver, eating my breakfast bacon and eggs as the train slowly crept along the mountainsides and over these trestles suspended so high over gorges. Absolutely breathtaking.
 
sorry, not about trains

Jason, I can out do you on this. I work in a hospital. I cannot tell you how many doctors come in and do what needs to be done in the facilities and promptly leave without washing hands. So many times I wanna yell out, "hey buster, wash your hyands before you walk out that door". And how many memos have I seen sent to these people about totally not doing what they're doing? I have lost count. On the other side of the coin, I've see one flush both styles with foot; wash hands and turn faucet off with foot. Any surface required touching is done with a paper towel. This particular one is in charge of Infectious Diseases. Sure makes one think. The first thing I do when I walk in the house from work is wash my hands.
 
I work about 500ft away from train tracks and you can hear and feel them coming. I'm starting to distinguish the freight from the passenger trains. The freights usually have 3 or 4 engines running wide open and about 100 cars. The passenger trains are short but they haul ass when they're coming through.

Looks like corporate takeover is prevalent in the rail road. Everything is mostly BNSF or UP. And Amtrak is the only passenger line going.
 
I've liked trains for a long time.

Back in the '70's, I used to ride the Pacific Coast Starlight from SF to Davis, where I was attending college for a few years. Back then these were the classic old maroon and beige cars, with hand-painted murals on the end walls of the riding cars. Very classic, roomy, and comfortable. Ten years later I rode the same train up to Portland, but they had replaced all the classic old cars with new Amtrakified cars. I guess they were better in some way, but the old ones were special. I understand they got sold down south, to Mexico or some place in South America.

Today my home is less than a half-mile from two major railroad tracks. The Capitol Corridor/Amtrak commuter train whizzes by several times a day. You can tell which it is from my house because it goes so fast. Freight trains take a lot longer and leave a deeper rumble.

There are several good train museums in Northern California. One in the delta, at Rio Vista, another in old town Sacramento. And there are running vintage railways in Niles (part of Fremont) and up north in Sonoma (the so-called Skunk Train).

My favorite train set was powered by an Gilbert two-rail O-gauge silver square-set diesel locomotive. Sadly, I had to part with it as a child as a result of a family split.
 
I've always been more of a light rail / subway type person myself, and I LOVE riding subways in big cities. A few bucks for a day pass, and I'll be happy all day. Here's some of the most frequent subways I've been on: the Washington DC Metro-rail...a very fast, quiet modern subway system with unique architecture. It's beginning to show a little age, and lack of maintaince is starting to catch up with it. New York's subway system is the polar opposite. A fascinating, traditional subway system that reveals a tremendous amount of history. It's unique 4 track system can be complex and confusing. NYC's subway is recovering from years of neglet to being quite a nice well-oiled machine, and a beautiful piece of history. Atlanta's Marta is another rail system I've been on. It is sort of modeled after DC's metrorail, but is hardly anywhere near as big and sophisticated. It too, is suffering from deferred maintaince, as well as valdalism problems. It's a good design, but sadly, it is not quite large enough yet to really alleviate traffic issues. Still, despite its shortcomings, it is a nice example of a modern commuter rail, with PWM controllers, electronic switching, etc.

One of the most interesting things that always puzzled me that I just recently figured out was why the shape of the subway rail cars was different. I figured out it has to do with the way the tunnels are made! Washington's metro-rail cars have sloped sides to their rail cars, that are angled in. New York's are perfectly straight. It's the tunnel shape that dictates the shape of the cars. New York's subway was built using "cut and cover" where massive holes were dug out of the city streets, and the subway tunnels were built using ordinary steel beam construction techniques of 1903. The shape of the tunnels was basically square. DC's tunnels however were dug out using a tunnel boring machine deep below the city's streets (WMATA also contains some of the world's longest escalators!) the tunnels are round. A flat bottom was created to mount the tracks to. The shape of the train cars reflects the maximum use of the tunnel shape as the rail cars travel through them!
 
Yes I like trains as well-rode on DC Metro system,talked to some of their employees.Made observations on their system-their older train cars had PWM DC traction motors.Now all trains they run use AC traction motors---no brushes to replace!!GE and EMD deisel electric and all electric locomotives are going to AC traction as well.Variable frequency drives that feed the traction motors replace the DC controllers.The AC motors are simpler in construction too.the older DC motors were what is called Compound wound.the motor could actr as a series motor or a shunt wound motor.upon start of the train it was configured as a Series motor for max torque.As the train picks up speed-then is switched to a shunt wound for best efficiency.The AC motors need no switching-and no commutators to dress!!The AC motors for trains are simply 3 phase induction motors.Both AC and DC locomotives now use solid state devices-before it was ignitron tubes.An ignitron was a mercury filled tube that didn't have a filament-it duplicated the modern SCR.
 
Cybrvanr,

I've ridden on the SF Bay Area BART (of course, since I have lived in this are most of my life), NYC's subways in the 70's, and various inter-city trains in Japan.

Have you ever ridden BART?

I think BART is a good system, but really needs to upgrade its cars. They were originally furnished with cloth upholstered seats and carpeting. Sadly, both have suffered mightily over the years, and sometimes the stench inside the cars makes me move from one to another searching for breathable air. They need to replace the carpet upholstery with leatherette and the carpeting with rubber runners. Just like the old MUNI system in SF proper. Something that can be hosed down on a regular basis.

BART would also be much improved if the system were to be extended to San Jose. I commuted there from the East Bay for years and the local freeways are completely inadequate to the task of carrying commuter traffic during economic boom times. A simple 25 mile trip, with little in-town miles, could take 2 hours - usually one hour was a good commute time. Very aggravating. Now I have a 2 mile, five mile commute and it's almost heaven.

BART also had severe teething problems in its early years. Instead of buying proven technology, the system decided to go with Rockwell for the cars and God knows who for the computerized control system. Both have been real nightmares. Example: the cars were supposed to be silent, but because they didn't figure that the tracks, being steel, would rust (oxidize) that the electronic systems couldn't always detect where the cars were in the system. So they had to put scrapers on the wheel carriages, which make all the cars emit a much louder sound than planned and promised.
 

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