One of the reasons that the "all whites have a racist virus" trope grates on my nerves.Originally Posted by acptulsa
Half the family on my grandmother's side were all abolitionist Quakers.
Some going so far as to renounce their Quakerism and pacifism and actively fight in Federal forces.
“Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.” - Arnold Toynbee
Speaking of Matthew Baldwin...
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
· Paid Partnership · June 10 ·
The last Baldwin Locomotive built for use in the United States has once again been placed upon its wheels. This is the first time that both engines have been joined together since leaving the B&O Museum in Baltimore. If you would like to contribute to the 1309 restoration, consider a donation via www.wmsr.com/1309/, we’ll see you soon!
“Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.” - Arnold Toynbee
"The Patriarch"
US Sugar did a fabulous restoration job of FEC 148
Last edited by Anti Federalist; 10-04-2020 at 09:04 PM.
“Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.” - Arnold Toynbee
The last run of the Union Pacific "City of Everywhere", April 30, 1971
Last edited by acptulsa; 01-22-2021 at 10:54 PM.
“Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.” - Arnold Toynbee
LOL - Be careful of the Indians out west near Trenton.
“Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.” - Arnold Toynbee
I believe that working reproduction of Stephenson's Rocket was built for the Centennial of the Iron Horse. The Baltimore and Ohio was the first common carrier in the U.S, so when their centennial came up they invited all railroads to help them celebrate.
And since the steam locomotive appeared in both the U.S. and Britain within three years, it got celebrated too.
https://vimeo.com/11643754
I love how it stops before the station for the photographers, then blasts through the station.
Last edited by acptulsa; 02-12-2021 at 10:29 AM.
For Vimeo videos, use the [vimeo] tags (not the [video] tags) to enclose the video code in the URL (not the whole URL).
Like so:
URL: https://vimeo.com/11643754
Video code from URL: 11643754
Vimeo tags: [vimeo]11643754[/vimeo]
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The Bastiat Collection · FREE PDF · FREE EPUB · PAPER Frédéric Bastiat (1801-1850)
- "When law and morality are in contradiction to each other, the citizen finds himself in the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense, or of losing his respect for the law."
-- The Law (p. 54)- "Government is that great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else."
-- Government (p. 99)- "[W]ar is always begun in the interest of the few, and at the expense of the many."
-- Economic Sophisms - Second Series (p. 312)- "There are two principles that can never be reconciled - Liberty and Constraint."
-- Harmonies of Political Economy - Book One (p. 447)· tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito ·
The Kansas City Southern has been swallowed by CP Rail, formerly known as the Canadian Pacific, soon to be known as CPKC.
Because the KCS got itself some Mexican trackage since the last time the Mexican government nationalized the railroads, this is being touted as, "The First U.S.M.CA. Railroad".
https://www.railwayage.com/freight/c...railroad-cpkc/
Last edited by acptulsa; 03-21-2021 at 10:45 AM.
Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum
Thanks you
Dear Anti Federalist,
The WW&F Railway has a 30-year history of accomplishment that has gained it recognition around the country and abroad. An important part of that success has been the willingness of its members and friends to contribute financially.
Our current project, the construction of a reproduction of WW&F No. 7, presents us with a unique challenge. Your recent donation moves us closer to the day when the new locomotive, to be WW&F No. 11, steams for the first time. More importantly, your contribution brings the dream held by so many of our supporters, members and friends and perhaps even yourself, a reality!
Thank you for helping us Rebuild Maine History!
Updates for the Build 11 Project will be posted on the 11th of each month on the WW&F's Facebook page, on the Build 11 FundRazr campaign page at http://build11.wwfry.org, and at www.wwfry.org. Please feel free to contact the museum with any questions.
Here's the campaign:
Build 11 - Building Steam in 2021 - Help Rebuild Maine History!
by Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum
$7,121 raised · $50,000 goal
The WW&F Railway seeks your support to build locomotive #11 - a reconstruction of the road's original #7, scrapped in the 1930's.
This project will teach long-lost industrial skills, and provide a new steam locomotive to further the museum's mission.
View campaign
Last edited by Anti Federalist; 03-27-2021 at 03:35 AM.
“Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.” - Arnold Toynbee
Good god...
“Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.” - Arnold Toynbee
Another lockdown casualty: Mt. Ranier Scenic.
http://cs.trains.com/trn/b/staff/arc...-railroad.aspx
Speaking of Forneycation (not really) they had one of the few remaining Climax locomotives.
That's a damn shame.Another lockdown casualty: Mt. Ranier Scenic.
http://cs.trains.com/trn/b/staff/arc...-railroad.aspx
Speaking of Forneycation (not really) they had one of the few remaining Climax locomotives.
I hope an investor "angel" comes in to save that.
We have one of the last Climaxes as well at Clark's Trading Post in NH.
Clark's also has a very rare Hiesler, sadly not in service.
“Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.” - Arnold Toynbee
They, too have? had? a static Heisler.
@acptulsa
Amtrak Drops $7.3 Billion On Eco-Friendly Trains
https://www.dailywire.com/news/amtra...riendly-trains
By Ben Zeisloft • Jul 10, 2021 DailyWire.com
Amtrak is spending $7.3 billion on hybrid power trains.
The taxpayer-subsidized rail company is contracting with Siemens, which will manufacture the eighty-three trains in Sacramento, California.
According to Amtrak’s press release:
The latest trains will feature more comfortable seating, individual power outlets and USB ports, onboard Wi-Fi, enhanced lighting and panoramic windows, larger vestibules, a more contemporary food service experience, including self-service options, as well as state-of-the-art customer trip information, digital seat reservation system and navigation display systems. The trains were designed with the latest health and safety standards, including enhanced HVAC, touchless restroom controls, and automated steps.
Amtrak touted the trains’ multi-power systems, which will permit “a substantial environmental benefit through reduced criteria pollutants compared to the existing fleet.”
“These new trains, some of which will be our first hybrid battery operations in the United States, will transform the way Americans travel,” remarked Siemens executive Michael Cahill. “Over the past decade, we’ve worked closely with Amtrak and its state partners to develop and deliver trains that meet the needs of America’s travelers, these next generation trainsets build on that experience and offer much more.”
“Based right here in Sacramento for 30 years, this Siemens facility is one of the largest such plants on the continent and one of the most sustainable, and this new contract cements California’s leadership in clean transportation and reducing carbon emissions,” added Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA).
Throughout his four decades in the Senate, President Biden frequently advocated for increases in funding to Amtrak. Since his inauguration, the Commander-in-Chief has stressed a desire to promote green energy within the rail service.
As he stated during a celebration of Amtrak’s fiftieth anniversary in April:
And, as I’ve said from the beginning, when I think about fighting climate change, I think about jobs. And rail and hopefully the expansion of rail provides good union jobs, good-paying jobs. It also connects people to jobs and economic opportunities that can be reached from wherever you live.
Accordingly, the American Jobs Plan — President Biden’s $2.7 trillion infrastructure bill — contains multiple provisions that would increase spending on climate change solutions. For instance, the legislation suggests allocating “$35 billion in the full range of solutions needed to achieve technology breakthroughs that address the climate crisis and position America as the global leader in clean energy technology and clean energy jobs.”
On his first day in office, President Biden nixed the contract for the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would have transported over 800,000 barrels of oil per day from Alberta to refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast. He subsequently promised green energy jobs to the thousands of Americans who lost positions.
“Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.” - Arnold Toynbee
Siemens is getting their money's worth.
https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/sie...?id=D000042425
Let's hear from some people who were making (a little) money in the passenger train business in 1971:
Santa Fe's then head of public relations, Bill Burk: '(ATSF president John) Reed didn't want anyone running passenger trains across Santa Fe but Santa Fe. Those trains were the pride and joy of the railroad--the pride and joy of the nation, as far as he was concerned.' So why did they join Amtrak? Because they weren't allowed to drop the unpopular services that very, very few people cared about and which lost money. Even after Amtrak was announced and everyone knew the government didn't really think we couldn't get along without these unpopular services because Amtrak had no intention of running them, the roads weren't allowed to drop them. The government wouldn't run them, but was still insisting that private enterprise do so. Huh? Vital or not?
Same with the newly merged Seaboard Coast Line. It's chairman, Tom Rice, had recently told a Congressional subcommittee, 'We have some fine trains that we operate in through service, which we think are just the finest int he land. And we like them. We don't get rich on them, but we get by.' When he had to join, he remarked that it 'broke my heart'. 'It was amazing to see the demise of it.'
Of course, not every railroad felt that way. The Southern Pacific's Russell, for instance, was ruining the service on profitable trains to drive away passengers so he could show the ICC how much it was losing and get rid of it. Why, when he was famous for being a 'passenger watchdog' not long before, and for supporting anything that made the road a profit? Because if he didn't, he reasoned, he'd be forever getting rid of them if and when they ceased to be profitable.
As for the Southern Railway's William Brosnan and his lieutenant (and later his replacement) W. Graham Claytor, Jr., they were famous for using every trick in the book to be rid of unpopular trains. The came up with some interesting loopholes. The Southern didn't join Amtrak. Why, if they hated passenger trains so much? Who says they did? Once they got down to the popular trains by creatively bypassing or forcing the hand of the ICC, they were happy to run the profitable trains they had left. The government didn't like it, though--the Southern went from a passenger hauler of mediocre reputation to the people who ran the finest train in the nation. Amtrak could not come up with one train that was more of a pleasure to experience.
And now? Hard to say. On the one hand, Amtrak has so spoiled the experience for so many, trains are far less popular than they otherwise would be. On the other, Amtrak has so spoiled the experience for so many that people almost don't consider them trains, therefore if someone introduces a nice train people could well consider that something brand new to try. Basically, the continuity is broken, and decent intercity service in the twenty-first century is completely untried.
And now? Hard to say. On the one hand, Amtrak has so spoiled the experience for so many, trains are far less popular than they otherwise would be. On the other, Amtrak has so spoiled the experience for so many that people almost don't consider them trains, therefore if someone introduces a nice train people could well consider that something brand new to try. Basically, the continuity is broken, and decent intercity service in the twenty-first century is completely untried.
Use the cruise ship model.
Ultra luxury to travel to nowhere in particular.
The Japanese are doing it right now.
“Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.” - Arnold Toynbee
But let private enterprise do it. Because, you know, government just can't help rationing food for no reason.
Use the cruise ship model.
Ultra luxury to travel to nowhere in particular.
The Japanese are doing it right now.
For those railfans in the South Florida area, US Sugar has completed the passenger car restorations and is offering their first public excursion trains pulled by FEC/US Sugar 148.US Sugar did a fabulous restoration job of FEC 148
FIRST PASSENGER EXCURSION ANNOUNCED
http://sugarexpress.com/2021/11/firs...santa-express/
On December 12th, Sugar Express will operate the very first public passenger excursion behind steam locomotive no. 148 between Clewiston and Lake Placid, Florida.
“We’re very excited to give people the opportunity to ride aboard a steam-powered passenger train in the South Central Florida region, and this trip is just a preview of the wide variety of events we’re exploring with the Sugar Express as we build up our passenger train fleet. Future events like this will no doubt drive tourism and interest in the rich culture of the Glades communities and we’re proud to be a part of that effort,” said Ogle.
This day-long roundtrip includes accommodations in either deluxe coach and open-air passenger cars with a scheduled departure from Clewiston at 10 AM and return at approximately 4 PM. Passengers will enjoy a trip through the Florida countryside, a layover in downtown Lake Placid for lunch on their own, with a return to Clewiston later that same day.
Ticket sales will begin at sugarexpress.com on Tuesday, November 23rd at 6 PM. A limited number of tickets will be available at sugarexpress.com. Tickets start at $148.00 and light refreshments are included. Parking and boarding for the trip will take place at Basillian Cres and South Deane Duff Avenue, Clewiston, Florida.
“Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.” - Arnold Toynbee
Word around the campfire is that they sold out in six hours.
“Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.” - Arnold Toynbee
Not only would the Safety Nazis have a fit but so would the Sanitary NKVD
“Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.” - Arnold Toynbee
Amtrak Expects to Temporarily Slash Service over Biden Vaccine Mandate
https://www.breitbart.com/health/202...ccine-mandate/
JOSHUA CAPLAN 9 Dec 2021
Amtrak expects to temporarily cut some service next month as it warns of possible labor shortages due to the Biden administration’s coronavirus vaccine mandate which requires employees of government contractors to be fully jabbed by January 4th.
Bloomberg News reports:
As Amtrak prepares to comply with the federal vaccine mandate, it will likely need to temporarily reduce frequency, particularly on its long-distance services, Stephen J. Gardner, president of Amtrak, said in written testimony for a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing. About 94% of the rail company’s workers have been fully vaccinated as of this week. […] The problem is most acute on multi-day routes, where crew bases at some intermediate points have relatively lower rates of vaccinated employees.
“Achieving full service levels, while complying with the vaccination requirement and continuing to prioritize the safety of our customers and employees, is our goal,” Gardner testified.
Some Republican lawmakers expressed frustration with the impending labor shortages due to the vaccine mandate.
“Amtrak just got about $60 billion in new funding, but now President Biden’s vaccine mandates are spurring new worker shortages and service cuts, thwarting recovery from historic Amtrak losses last year,” Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) stated. “Taxpayers will be paying more money for less service.”
In addition to the mandate, Amtrak faces a staffing crunch due to a lack of human resource managers tasked with hiring new employees, according to the company’s Office of Inspector General report published Thursday.
Amtrak hopes to boost its workforce by over 2o% through October 2022.
“Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.” - Arnold Toynbee
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