HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: easmith@hemlock.cray.com (Eric Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.railroad
Subject: Re: AMrail???
Date: 8 Apr 92 19:40:15 GMT
Article-I.D.: hemlock.1992Apr8.144016.14445
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Originator: easmith@hemlock


In article <1992Apr7.150059.13660@bony1.bony.com>, billg@bony1.bony.com (Bill Gripp) writes:
> Last night on tv, they broadcast the movie FINDERS KEEPERS.  A
> significant portion of the flick was set aboard a train pulled by a pair
> of "AMrail" F(P?)7/9's.  If memory serves me correctly, these were also
> used to pull the "Silver Streak".  Does anyone know if these were in
> fact the same units?  Were they used in any other movies?  Based upon
> the winterization hatch on the roof of one of the units, and the fact
> that the scenery looks like BC and Alberta (even though it was supposed
> to be Colorado and Kansas) I suspect these are CP (and/or CN) units
> repainted for the movie(s).  I am interested in any info on these.
>

Yes, they were CP Rail units.  In "Silver Streak", the CP Rail text was covered
up by "Silver Streak", but the multimark (pac-man) and the white stripes on red
nose were still there. 
-- 
Eric A. Smith 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cray Research Benchmarking Systems Group      :: easmith@cray.com
Purdue University Computing Center Consultant :: easmith@cc.purdue.edu
From: rambler@pnet51.orb.mn.org (Dan Meyer)
Newsgroups: rec.railroad
Subject: Re: Ham Radio Group.....SF Bay Area
Date: 10 Apr 92 23:20:05 GMT
Organization: People-Net [pnet51], Minneapolis, MN.

lelanda@Ampex.COM (Dave Leland) writes:
>
> 
>
>
>This is to let you know that there is a Ham Radio Railfan Discussion group
>operating in the S.F. Bay Area.
>The group meets on 145.330 every Wed. at 20:00.
>Anyone with a scanner is welcome to listen in.......One more source of info.
>
>BTW.....are there any other groups of this nature in the USA ???
>
>
>Dave Leland...........lelanda@ampex.com
>
> 

Myself and several other hams / railfans use the 444.100 repeater here in 
the twin city area quite a lot. it's quite a machine, and some of the time the
145.45 machine is linked in also. If you are in town, give us a shout.

-- Dan Meyer
    N0KFB

Remember: " Buffalo never Oink " Seen on a South Dakota travel brocure.
Advertisment: Try the Railway Post Office , a railfan BBS ! (612) 377-2197.
UUCP: {crash tcnet}!orbit!pnet51!rambler
INET: rambler@pnet51.orb.mn.org
From: johnm@hpmcaa.mcm.hp.com (John Mosbarger)
Newsgroups: rec.railroad
Subject: Re: SP/SF paint jobs.
Date: 16 Apr 92 19:11:56 GMT
Article-I.D.: hpmcaa.1992Apr16.191156.15945
Organization: HP Cardiology Business Unit - McMinnville, OR

bill@hpcndaw.CND.HP.COM (Bill Kepner) writes:
> In a related note,  the last Rio Grange Ski train of the year had SP 9738 on the
> point with the new paint.  I didn't get a close look at it, so I don't know
> whether it was a new GP-60 or not, but I don't recall SP getting any additional
> engines in the new paint, besides the GP40 rebuilds from MK.  Anybody know ?
> 
> Bill Kepner
> 
> 
> And next year it will be "The Southern Pacific Ski Train" ?
> 
     Just off the top of my (flat) head, the SP/SSW GP60's are numbered
9600-9759, with the last order delivered in the speed lettering; but I
can't remember how many were in the last order -- Rats!

--
John Mosbarger
HP McMinnville, OR
johnm@hpmcaa.mcm.hp.com
From: jimj@cleanplate.EBay.Sun.COM (James D. Jones)
Newsgroups: rec.railroad
Subject: Re: Car Attacks SP Train
Date: 13 Apr 92 14:42:07 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca.
NNTP-Posting-Host: cleanplate.ebay.sun.com

I was just supporised when I made my first posting
>because I have never seen an uncontrolled rail crossing in Oregon (that
>I remember or that wasn't controlled by brakemen with flares), not that
>they wouldn't exist, but the one that John is talking about above is in
>an area of significant population.  

If by "uncontrolled" you mean no lights or gate (just a non-lighted crossing
sign), we have at least one of those inside the city limits of Santa Cruz.
It's in what was a rural area/industrial area.  In the last few years,
though, a big office park has grown up on one side and the crossing gets
heavy traffic.  The trains (mainly tourist) use their horns almost 
constantly, and travel no faster than about 10 mph through this stretch.  I
know that there'll be a problem eventually.  I crossed that crossing once
and looked to the left to see a railroad work car approaching from no
more than 30-50 yards away.

Once the rail line gets into Santa Cruz proper, it heads down the middle of
surface streets for about 1/2 mile before it hits its destination, the 
Boardwalk amusement area.  It passes through easily 10-12 intersections.
There are no gates, and only about 2 bells that I know of.  Again, the 
trains move very slowly through this stretch -- but still, it's a bit 
scary.
From: chalup@presto.ig.com (Michael Chalup)
Newsgroups: rec.railroad
Subject: Re: Trolley Sliders (Was: Third Rail)
Date: 9 Apr 92 02:40:45 GMT
Organization: IntelliGenetics, Inc., Mountain View, California USA

In article <11930@ns-mx.uiowa.edu> jones@pyrite.cs.uiowa.edu (Douglas W. Jones,201H MLH,3193350740,3193382879) writes:
>From article <7394@orbit.cts.com>,
>by hudson@pnet51.orb.mn.org (Hudson Leighton):
>
>> What is the high speed limit on ... trolly wheels and sliders.
>

>The CTA's Skokie Swift was, for many years, the CTA's fastest line, and it
>used hoop pickups (essentially trolley pole with pantograph shoe on top,
>but the pole was doubled to provide stable support for the shoe.  They put
>airfoils on the hoops to provide extra lift as the speed went up and
>counteract the effect of the drag pulling the hoop down.
>
>The North Shore line used trolley poles at speeds of 60 MPH and above,
>but it's worth noting that the CTA's Skokie line is old North Shore
>trackage, and while the CTA used trolley poles into the 1970's and perhaps
>1980's on their slower Evanston line, but they moved to hoop pickups and
>airfoils some time before that on the Skokie line.
>
>				Doug Jones
>				jones@cs.uiowa.edu


I don't think this is quite right.  The original 5000 series
articulated cars for the Skokie Swift Demonstration Project were
outfited with the double trolley pole / pan arrangement to allow
automated pan raising at speed where the third rail ends by Prarie Rd
(I think this is the correct location, not having any Chicagoland maps
around).  To spot a (single pole) trolley shoe on the wire at speed
would normally require a crew member's direct manipulation of the
trolley rope (Capitol Transit 1500 class PCC's used their motorized
pole retrievers at the plow pits; they were standing and the wire
probably had a trough-like section to guide the shoe).  I sort of
recall that the 5000's were intended for single man crews at least off
hours, necessitating the trolley pan for successful unattended
operation by the operator.  Why not just install a classical pantograph
that could be raised and lowered by springs and an air cylinder, as
used by other dual pick-up lines?  Probably had to do with the North
Shore's overhead construction (which was raised a bit for Skokie Swift
service) and or cost.

To the original question, how fast can a trolley pole be used?  The
highest absolute speed operations on a trolley pole-equipped line were
probably runs by the Red Devil cars on the C&LE during the 1930's.
Certainly speeds in the 70's and 80's mph range were frequently
obtained.  The famous biplane race had a top speed of ~ 97 mph.

			Happy (electric) railroading,

			Mike Chalup

			Part-time motorman
			Part-time wrench turner
			Part-time trackworker

			Western Railway Museum
From: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins)
Newsgroups: rec.railroad
Subject: Re: RDC's and SPV's?
Date: 8 Apr 92 16:48:00 GMT
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins)
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA

In article <1992Apr8.100324.1@woods.ulowell.edu> andradee@woods.ulowell.edu writes:
> Could someone please answer this question for me? I am young, and so do not
> have first hand knowledge of all the details, but from what I have heard over
> the years, it sounds like the RDC's and SPV's were/are very unreliable units.
> Why is this? IS this because of a fault in the design of these units, of what?

Well, the RDC's were basically very successful and I suspect had a generally
good service record.  On the other hand, a railcar with a couple of relatively
small diesel engines is going to be inherently less reliable than a locomotive
or electric M.U. car.  This would only get worse as the equipment aged or if
it wasn't being carefully maintained.

I don't know the details of the SPV's, but having both diesel and electric
propulsion can only add to the complexity and invite problems from both the
electrical and diesel ends.

-- 
George Robbins - now working for,     uucp:   {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!grr
but no way officially representing:   domain: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com
Commodore, Engineering Department     phone:  215-431-9349 (only by moonlite)
From: M00209@MBVM.Mitre.Org
Newsgroups: rec.railroad
Subject: Re: Steam trains out of DC area
Date: 1 Apr 92 20:57:31 GMT
Article-I.D.: MBVM.167BCE06F.M00209
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, Bedford MA 01730

In article <953@netxcom.netx.com>
jwc@netxcom.netx.com (Jeff Comer) writes:
 
>
>Can someone provide me with a list of steam train excursions out of the DC
>area? I live along the NS DC-NOR mainline, and for awhile, steam trains
>were running fairly frequently, generally out to Front Royal VA or Char-
>lottesville VA. Does anyone know of a contact I can talk to about these
>trains?
>
There are a pair coming up REAL SOON!
 
On 25 April, the Norfolk Southern's Class J 4-8-4 #611 will be used on an
excursion out of Alexandria and Manassas to Lychburg and return.  Departure
from Alexandria is scheduled for 0715.  Fare is $69 coach, $125 "Club Service"
and $175 "First Class".  The same locomotive will be used on a train 26 April
from Alexandria to Front Royal and return.  Departure time is 0800; fares are
coach $62, $100 "Club Service" and $150 "First Class".  I have absolutely no
idea what they mean by "Club Service" and "First Class"!  Details and/or
tickets may be had from Steam Train Excursions, Box 151, Alexandria VA 22313-
0151, or by phoning (all 301) 459-1923, 946-9461 or 495-9668.
 
Better yet, join the Chesapeake Division of the Railroad Enthusiasts which
meets at the Holiday Inn in Laurel MD at 8 P.M. on the first Wednesdays.
Address is Chesapeake Division Railroad Enthusiasts, P. O. Box 328, Laurel MD
20725-0328.  There is also an Old Dominion Division which meets, I believe, on
Second Thursdays at James Madison High School in Vienna VA.  I don't know their
address off the top of my head, but contact David Squires, who lives on June
Street (1108?) in Springfield VA - he is an officer, and our former National
President.
 
There probably will be other steam excursions in VA later this summer.
Membership in either of these organizations (dues are someplace around $15-20)
will guarantee that you know about them.  Happy steamin'!
 
Len Bachelder        Archives Committee, Boston and Maine RR Historical Society
MITRE Corp.           Secretary, Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts
Bedford MA 01730      Member, 470 Railroad Club
<M00209@mbvm.mitre.org>
 
"Amazing love, how can it be that Thou, my God, should'st die for me!"
                                                 - Charles Wesley
Newsgroups: rec.railroad
From: johnm@hpmcaa.mcm.hp.com (John Mosbarger)
Subject: Re: Car Attacks SP Train
Organization: HP Cardiology Business Unit - McMinnville, OR
Date: Tue, 07 Apr 1992 19:15:45 GMT

     I almost feel some guilt for starting this whole thread.  Unfortunately,
just about daily one can pick up a newspaper and read about a grade cross-
ing accident, and it's usually caused by sheer stupidity on the driver's
part.  McMinnville has about 15,000 people and grade crossing accidents
are rare, but last week the Willamina Turn (2 SD9's dragging lumber loads
back into town) struck a car.  The street crosses the track at about a
30 degree angle, there are no gates or lights, but visibility is almost
unrestricted in both directions.  The engineer said he saw the car from a
long distance, but noticed it never slowed for the train.  He also said he
was laying on the horn but to no avail.  The train hit the car and spun it
around.  The driver had only cuts and bruises, but he was cited for:  Fail-
ure to yield the right of way, driving while suspended, driving with a
cancelled registration, and driving while uninsured.  The paper stated that
he "had the windows up and the music on".  My god, they're everywhere!!

     On a lighter note, a newspaper clipping showed up on my desk this morn-
ing, and while non-railroad related, it's a real classic.

     KENMORE, N.Y. -- A man who leaped from a fourth-story window and sur-
vived by landing on a car, rode an elevator back up and repeated his suicide
attempt -- jumping from the same window and landing on the same car.
     The 30-year-old survived both 40-foot leaps, and was in fair condition
in a Buffalo hospital.
     "That's a total of eight floors and other than a broken wrist and a
broken ankle, he's in as good shape as you or I," said police Capt. Emil
Palombo.
     In his first attempt Saturday morning, the man "had to take a running
leap because those windows don't open," Palombo said.
     He dove through a double-paned window, landing on the car, buckling
the roof and doors and smashing its rear windows.
     Although dazed and bleeding from facial cuts, the man got up and walked
to the building's elevator, a witness told police, and jumped the second
time, again landing on the car.

--
John Mosbarger
HP McMinnville, OR
johnm@hpmaa.mcm.hp.com
From: "nigel allen" <nigel.allen@canrem.com>
Newsgroups: rec.railroad
Subject: transport efficiency
Date: 11 Apr 92 03:00:15 EST
Reply-To: "nigel allen" <nigel.allen@canrem.com>
Distribution: rec
Organization: Canada Remote Systems

Here is a press release from the American Public Transit Association.

 News Conference on Funding of Transportation Efficiency Act
 To: National and Assignment desks, Transportation Writer
 Contact: Chip Bishop of the American Public Transit Association,
          202-898-4114

   News Advisory:

   Event:    The American Public Transit Association news conference

   When:     12:30 p.m. Monday, April 13

   Where:    AMTRAK Gate C, Washington Union Station

   Who:      Maryland Secretary of Transportation James Lighthizer
             Virginia Secretary of Transportation John D. Milliken
             Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) (invited)
             APTA Vice President of Rail Transit Rod Diridon

   Background:
   Full funding for the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency
Act may not be realized because the Bush administration has proposed
a cut in federal support for public transit, with funding less than
60 percent of what is authorized in last year's landmark
transportation bill.  Anything less than full funding will hamper
cities' and states' attempts to comply with the Clean Air Act and the
Americans with Disabilities Act, and serve to increase congestion in
the nation's streets and highways.

   Photo Opportunities:
   James Lighthizer will speak, along with Virginia Secretary of
Transportation John D. Milliken, and APTA Vice President for Rail
Transit Rod Diridon.  Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (invited) is also
scheduled to speak.  Representatives from the Washington, D.C.
metropolitan area's two commuter rail lines, MARC and VRE, will also
be on hand, and locomotives from both rail lines will be parked on
nearby tracks.
   APTA is the international association of operating transit
authorities, their suppliers and others interested in the advancement
of transit service.
 -0-
 /U.S. Newswire  202-347-2770
--
Canada Remote Systems  - Toronto, Ontario/Detroit, MI
World's Largest PCBOARD System - 416-629-7000/629-7044
Newsgroups: rec.railroad
From: BPorter@world.std.com (Barry M Porter)
Subject: Re: Rail Maps in General (was Re: Rail Maps - Wisc,Mich)
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 13:02:44 GMT


the BEST, imho, are the 7.5 minute series from the US geologic survey...
ESPECIALLY if you like abandoned railroad rights of way...AND they are
usually the most accurate in showing current railroad "maps"

These are usually available at local RR shows, or the US Government sells them,

for about $5.00 each.....Barry
.
Newsgroups: rec.railroad
From: fraserf@bmerh140.bnr.ca (Fraser Fulford)
Subject: Looking for address of "Pasadena Model Railroad Club"
Keywords: model club address california
Organization: Bell-Northern Research
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 92 02:53:05 GMT


I will be visiting the Los Angeles area soon and would like to visit
The Pasadena Model Railroad Club described in then August 1990 edition of
Model Railroader.

If someone has a phone number and/or address where I can contact the
club to get visiting times it would be greatly appreciated.  Please
email rather than posting replies as I do not read the newsgroup regularly.

Also, if any one knows of any other Model Railroads open to the public
that can be visited in the L.A.  and San Francisco areas, I would
appreciate information about them too.

Thanks in advance

...fraser

E-Mail:      fraserf@bnr.ca

"We're going to need another Timmy" 
- Mr. Lizard

..fraser

E-Mail:      fraserf@bnr.ca
From: ulf@spirit.dit.lth.se (Ulf Andersson)
Newsgroups: rec.railroad
Subject: Re: rdc (Off Subject Culture Clarifier II :-)
Date: 16 Apr 92 12:55:58 GMT
Reply-To: ulf@dit.lth.se
Distribution: rec
Organization: Lund Institute of Technology, Sweden


A small poke in Daves ribs.

>> (Culture Clarifier: Budweiser is a well known brand of US beer...)  I don't
>> think it was a Budd Car...)

Culture Clarifier II: Buweiser is originally a Tchekoslovakian beer from a
                      famous beer brewing family, from the town Budovar.
                      Members of the Budweiser family moved to USA to found
                      the US branch of the family.  They took their part of
                      culture with them to the new land.

Sorry Dave. I just couldn't resist this. :-)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ulf Andersson  	Student, Computer Engineering	 Ack ja, livet er svaert,
	     	Lund University  (LTH)		 men matematik er svaerere.
		Lund, SWEDEN			                 (Storm P)

Phone:          No, I don't have any.
Snail mail:     Magistratsvaegen 55R:304         E mail:   ulf@dit.lth.se
		222 44 LUND
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ulf Andersson  	Student, Computer Engineering	 Ack ja, livet er svfrt,
	     	Lund University  (LTH)		 men matematik er svfrere.
		Lund, SWEDEN			                 (Storm P)

Phone:          No, I don't have any.
Snail mail:     Magistratsvdgen 55R:304          E mail:   ulf@dit.lth.se
		222 44 LUND
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: gjs@wdl30.wdl.loral.com (Gregory Scott)
Subject: Re: SP/SF merger paint scheme spotted
Organization: Loral Western Development Labs
Distribution: na 
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 15:50:23 GMT

In article <10296@gollum.twg.com> nolan@twg.com writes:
>
>
>Just last Friday, 3 April, I was waiting for the Caltrain commuter on San
>Francisco's peninsula and spotted a GP9 in the Kodak paint job. I thought all
>the old stuff was gone by now. So who knows how many units of which types
>still wear that uniform? Where do they live? Feeble minds wanna know.
>--
>Nolan Hinshaw			Internet: nolan@twg.com
>The Wollongong Group		Dingalingnet: (415)962-7197
>Piobairi Uillean, San Francisco
>		Ritheann an charr seo ar phoitin!
>

I have seen two others within the last week:

1. Tuesday March 31, southbound out of Lodi, CA leading a mix of
TOFC & COFC. Didn't catch the number just had time to see it cross
Lodi Ave headed out of town about 8:45am.

2. Friday April 3, Ogden, UT Union Station, again didn't catch
the number but I think I got one clean picture with the telephoto.
Saw what I think was the same unit south of Salt Lake City about
11:30 am (fourth of four units).

Both units were extremely dirty.

Have Fun
Greg Scott
gjs@wdl1.wdl.loral.com
From: jr@ksr.com (John Robinson)
Newsgroups: rec.railroad
Subject: Re: Car Attacks SP Train
Date: 6 Apr 92 16:58:04 EDT
Organization: Kendall Square Research, Waltham, MA
In-reply-to: johnm@hpmcaa.mcm.hp.com's message of 3 Apr 92 12:08:24 EST

In article <1992Apr03.170824.21641@hpmcaa.mcm.hp.com> johnm@hpmcaa.mcm.hp.com (John Mosbarger) writes:

	Last Wednesday (4/1), a car drove around the crossing gates in Canby,
   OR, and struck the 33rd car of a westbound (south) train.  
...
	Was this driver:

   1)  On drugs?

... etc.

How about:

   9)  Suicidal.

In Lincoln, MA about a year back a fellow took off his auto before he
walked under an MBTA train.  It killed him instantly and it was ruled
a suicide, and did far less damage to the roadbed.  There was a brief
note in his car as I recall.
--
/jr, aka John Robinson                       Place stamps here
jr@ksr.com                              Post Office will not deliver
if troubles: ksr!jr@world.std.com       mail without correct postage
From: mef@cs.rit.edu (Mark E Fischer)
Newsgroups: rec.railroad
Subject: Re: Playing Chicken!!!
Date: 13 Apr 92 03:36:33 GMT
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY

Some people have some very strange reasoning why grade crossing accidents 
happen.  I few years back I had a long discussion with a woman who
insisted that there were electromagnetic forces in the rails that cause 
cars to stall on the tracks and jam the car doors shut so that you can't
get out.  That was here explanation and and hours worth of discussion 
couldn't convince her otherwise.

Sigh... How can you argue with logic like that?



Newsgroups: rec.railroad
From: johnm@hpmcaa.mcm.hp.com (John Mosbarger)
Subject: Re: Car Attacks SP Train
Organization: HP Cardiology Business Unit - McMinnville, OR
Date: Mon, 06 Apr 1992 19:14:50 GMT

ag900@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (David Burris) writes:
> 
> In a previous article, romeo@niagara.Tymnet.COM (Michael Stimac) says:
> >
> >This seems a little strange to me. I always thought it was the
> >train crews responsibility to actually look at their train fairly
> >often, especially on broad curves where they can get a good side
> >view. Did this crew not look back to see if their train was  OK
> >for over 5 miles? The 33rd car would be 1500' back (give or take),
> >not too hard to see I should think.
> >
> >Could one of the engine drivers comment on this?

> Actually 1500' would be a little short.Depending on the consist, it
> could have been almost 1/2 mile back, which would have been a little
> more difficult to notice.Hmmmm did the train have a caboose? Anybody
> know if it did?
> 
> Dave
> 
> 
> -- 
> ag900@cleveland.freenet.edu

     From what I could gather from conversations heard on the scanner, no,
there wasn't a caboose, and the car (1990 Honda Civic) was wedged squarely
in front of the rear truck of the tank car.  The last I heard, the driver
had a broken jaw and 'massive chest injuries'.  He should consider himself
lucky, as the car of methyl alcohol was adjacent to a tank car of oxygen.
BTW, is that legal?

--
John Mosbarger
HP McMinnville, OR
johnm@hpmcaa.mcm.hp.com