.jpg)
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Monday, January 19, 2015
New Haven Railroad Greater Power Poster
New Haven Railroad Greater Power 1938 Poster by stanrail
Browse through more Posters, Art & Prints at Zazzle.com
Sunday, January 18, 2015
“See Tracks? Think Train!” Campaign Spokesman Kalina to participate in safety event | Operation Lifesaver, Inc.
“See Tracks? Think Train!” Campaign Spokesman Kalina to participate in safety event | Operation Lifesaver, Inc.
BY OPERATION LIFESAVER - 1-13-2015
Train incident survivor will speak to Chicago-area high school students at Metra Commuter Rail’s live YouTube broadcast.
Self-propelled rail cars are blast from MBTA’s past - Metro - The Boston Globe
Self-propelled rail cars are blast from MBTA’s past - Metro - The Boston Globe
Nicole Dungca -GLOBE STAFF - JANUARY 18, 2015 -
What’s old is new again for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
When I reported last week that the MBTA is soliciting bids for self-propelled diesel trains that would run on existing commuter rail tracks, some readers reached out with memories of the T’s old Budd cars, which were essentially the same.
Richard Danca of Newton said he remembers riding one of the trains on a Boy Scout trip to learn about rail cars and jumping off a trestle to avoid getting run over by one in West Roxbury in the 1950s.
Smoke at Washington DC Metrorail tunnel kills one woman - Railway Technology
Smoke at Washington DC Metrorail tunnel kills one woman - Railway Technology
14 January 2015 - A woman has died and at least two have been critically injured after smoke filled a Virginia-bound subway train on the Washington DC Metro, the second busiest mass transit system in the US.
"The preliminary reason of the smoke was high-voltage electrical arcing that occurred about 335m ahead of the train."
14 January 2015 - A woman has died and at least two have been critically injured after smoke filled a Virginia-bound subway train on the Washington DC Metro, the second busiest mass transit system in the US.
UK's first battery-powered train enters revenue service - Railway Technology
15 January 2015 - UK's first battery-powered train enters revenue service - Railway Technology
Network Rail has launched UK's first battery-powered train, a modified Class 379 Electrostar known as an independently powered electric multiple unit (IPEMU), in timetabled service this week.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Neither Here Nor There: The Liberty Limited 01-01-2006 ( A Feel Good Story if there ever was one)
Neither Here Nor There: The Liberty Limited 01-01-2006
NICKI BRUCE LOGAN Herald Lifestyles EditorWhat did we know and how did we keep in touch with the world before the Internet came along enabling all of us to receive e-mail in an instant? I got started on e-mails late, compared to many computerphobes, but once I got started, I loved it.
It´s great to be able to send an e-mail message and not have to wait days for an answer through “snail mail.”
Sure, I get a bunch of “If you don´t send this to 10 friends in 6 seconds, no one will love you,” messages -- usually the result of forwarded forwards.
Amidst the e-mail drivel (great word) I find an occasional gem, like this one below sent from a friend in Houston.
You´re going to love it.
This heart-warming story was written by Ronnie Polaneczky, a columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News, and ran on page 6 of that paper Dec. 22, 2005. I also found a related story on the Association of American Railroads website.
This true story reflects the best in all of us and upholds our hope for the future of our country.
And now, I bring you the best Christmas story you never heard.
It started last Christmas, when Bennett and Vivian Levin were overwhelmed by sadness while listening to radio reports of injured American troops.
“We have to let them know we care,” Vivian told Bennett.
So they organized a trip to bring soldiers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital to the annual Army-Navy football game in Philly, on Dec. 3.
The cool part is, they created their own train line to do it.
Yes, there are people in this country who actually own real trains. Bennett Levin -- native Philly guy, self-made millionaire and irascible former L&I commish -- is one of them.
He has three luxury rail cars. Think mahogany paneling, plush seating and white-linen dining areas. He also has two locomotives, which he stores at his Juniata Park train yard.
One car, the elegant Pennsylvania, carried John F. Kennedy to the Army-Navy game in 1961 and ´62. Later, it carried his brother Bobby´s body to D.C. for burial.
“That´s a lot of history for one car,” says Bennett.
He and Vivian wanted to revive a tradition that endured from 1936 to 1975, during which trains carried Army-Navy spectators from around the country directly to the stadium where the annual game is played.
The Levins could think of no better passengers to reinstate the ceremonial ride than the wounded men and women recovering at Walter Reed in D.C. and Bethesda, in Maryland.
“We wanted to give them a first-class experience,” says Bennett. “Gourmet meals on board, private transportation from the train to the stadium, perfect seats -- real hero treatment.”
Through the Army War College Foundation, of which he is a trustee, Bennett met with Walter Reed´s commanding general, who loved the idea.
But Bennett had some ground rules first, all designed to keep the focus on the troops alone:
No press on the trip, lest the soldiers´ day of pampering devolve into a media circus.
No politicians either, because, says Bennett, “I didn´t want some idiot making this trip into a campaign photo op.”
And no Pentagon suits on board, otherwise the soldiers would be too busy saluting superiors to relax. The general agreed to the conditions, and Bennett realized he had a problem on his hands.
“I had to actually make this thing happen,” he laughs.
Over the next months, he recruited owners of 15 other sumptuous rail cars from around the country -- these people tend to know each other -- into lending their vehicles for the day. The name of their temporary train?
The Liberty Limited.
Amtrak volunteered to transport the cars to D.C. -- where they´d be coupled together for the round-trip ride to Philly -- then back to their owners later.
Conrail offered to service the Liberty while it was in Philly. And SEPTA drivers would bus the disabled soldiers 200 yards from the train to Lincoln Financial Field, for the game.
A benefactor from the War College ponied up 100 seats to the game -- on the 50-yard line -- and lunch in a hospitality suite.
And corporate donors filled, for free and without asking for publicity, goodie bags for attendees: From Woolrich, stadium blankets. From Wal-Mart, digital cameras. From Nikon, field glasses. From GEAR, down jackets. There was booty not just for the soldiers, but for their guests, too, since each was allowed to bring a friend or family member.
The Marines, though, declined the offer. “They voted not to take guests with them, so they could take more Marines,” says Levin, choking up at the memory.
Bennett´s an emotional guy, so he was worried about how he´d react to meeting the 88 troops and guests at D.C.´s Union Station, where the trip originated. Some GIs were missing limbs. Others were wheelchair-bound or accompanied by medical personnel for the day.
“They made it easy to be with them,” he says. “They were all smiles on the ride to Philly. Not an ounce of self-pity from any of them. They´re so full of life and determination.” At the stadium, the troops reveled in the game, recalls Bennett. Not even Army´s lopsided loss to Navy could deflate the group´s rollicking mood.
Afterward, it was back to the train and yet another gourmet meal -- heroes get hungry, says Levin -- before returning to Walter Reed and Bethesda. “The day was spectacular,” says Levin. “It was all about these kids. It was awesome to be part of it.”
The most poignant moment for the Levins was when 11 Marines hugged them goodbye, then sang them the Marine Hymn on the platform at Union Station.
“One of the guys was blind, but he said, I can´t see you, but man, you must be (expletive) beautiful!´ ” says Bennett. “I got a lump so big in my throat, I couldn´t even answer him.” It´s been three weeks, but the Levins and their guests are still feeling the day´s love.
“My Christmas came early,” says Levin, who is Jewish and who loves the Christmas season. “I can´t describe the feeling in the air.”
Maybe it was hope.
As one guest wrote in a thank-you note to Bennett and Vivian, “The fond memories generated last Saturday will sustain us all - whatever the future may bring.”
God bless the Levins.
And bless the troops, every one. Posted to MyPlainview: JANUARY 03, 2006 16:59 CST http://www.myplainview.com/n2w/parsed/stories/01012006neitherlibert.shtml
New Haven Railroad Christmas 1947 Wood Wall Art
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)