Showing posts with label railcars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label railcars. Show all posts

1.02.2011

Russian locomotive graveyard


Kiev subway construction railcars... that's a new variation I've never come across

Makes sense that the easiest way to get concrete into the subway where you need it is with a mixer truck... but I'd never thought about it..

12.19.2010

12.15.2010

I often come across photos that I add to posts with similar items... but this time I'll just post the new stuff and links to where they would go

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search?q=weasel

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/12/photos-of-unusual-from-days-gone-by.html

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/03/few-more-from-shorpy.html

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/Disney

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/10/chuck-yeager-american-hero-drove-hot.html







All those labels under these posts, and in the long column (about 1000) are there to help me, and you, find the stuff you are looking for. They sure help me find the things I recall having posted before, so I can add photos like these to the posts I want them in, or want to let you know where you can find similar things.

photos from http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585&page=270

8.14.2010

Can anyone identify this vehicle by year or manufacturer for Travis at the Santa Fe Super Chief website?

I am trying to find some information about a inspection car that Santa Fe used in Richmond. I found a picture of it in a Santa Fe book but it says nothing about the year or what kind of vehicle it was.
Thanks so much.
Travis www.santafesuperchief.com

webmaster@santafesuperchief.com

8.11.2010

the Olympian Hiawatha railroad observation cars

the above is from http://www.coffeedrome.com/dayhi.html and they have a couple more interior photos

Above image via http://cruiselinehistory.com/?p=233

not exactly the interior view of the top two photos, but close enough


The 10 Skytops, created by industrial designer Brooks Stevens http://wisconsinology.blogspot.com/2009/02/brooks-stevensthe-designer-of-20.html in 1948, were probably the most distinctive cars ever built. Milwaukee Road built the 4 parlor cars in their own shops (1 drawing room and 24 parlor seats) and had Pullman Standard build 6 sleepers, each with 8 bedrooms and a lounge. The observation ends on the Milwaukee built cars are more of a bullet than the Pullman built cars, with the rear couch about 4 inches narrower.

The lounges served on the Chicago - Minneapolis "Hiawatha Service" until 1970, and the sleepers were on the "Olympian Hiawatha" until 1964, then were sold to CN.

CN renamed them "Skyview" cars, and used them mainly on their Halifax-Montreal trains, the 'Ocean Limited' and the 'Scotian', from 1965 to 1969. They saw brief service on Montreal-Toronto corridor trains in 1969, then moved to the Gaspé-Montreal and Jasper-Prince Rupert routes until their withdrawal from service in September 1971.
Due to fire regulations (no rear door - only one access), the cars found no further use and 2 were scrapped in Canada and the other 4 sold back into the US.

One is on display in Glenview Illinois, another is permanent display at the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach, Fla. http://moas.org/collections.html

6.27.2010

I'd rather have a motorbike to ride the rails, but if you've got a ten speed, and a bit of time, this oughta work!

via: http://theokie.tumblr.com

Plaster City, 1947... but what the heck is going on with this 8 wheel double front ended railcar


former curator of the Imperial Valley transportation museum Steve wrote in the comments to inform us about this and said...

This was used for years to transport crews by rail over the narrow gauge railroad (last industrial narrow gauge railway in the state, if not the whole country) between the processing mill at Plaster City California, and the gypsum mine in the Fish Mountains 25 miles away.

With two front ends, it wasn't necessary to turn it around for the return trip. After it wore out it was acquired by the owner of the trucking company that hauled the finished sheetrock from the mill. About 12 years ago the vehicle was donated back to the company.

I can't reply by email to thank Steve because this blog set up doesn't require email addresses to comment. But I can thank you sincerely for providing me and all the readers with this incredible information that likely, you are the only person to know. It's astonishing that of all the people who might have known the information on the railcar, one reads my blog, and took the time to help us all know what this railcars history is.

My compliments, and applause! Thanks for sharing!

Wikipedia has a good article on narrow gauge railways, and confirms the part about the Plaster City line being the last "There is one narrow gauge industrial railroad still in commercial operation in the United States, the US Gypsum operation in Plaster City, California" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrow_gauge_railroads_in_the_United_States

For a post about the coolest old 1920's through 1940's railroad cars:
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/11/inspection-cars-for-railroad-inspectors.html

4.13.2010

The coolest thing we'll see all week, an Indian motorcycle from the 1910's or 20's made into a railroad service car

http://www.flickr.com/photos/reweston-sat/2314428681/ for the original photo posted by Earl G Weston, who commented "This was my Grandfather's transportation when he was a telegraph operator on The Texas & Pacific Railway near Marshall, Texas in the early 20s"

via: http://megamoto.tumblr.com/

12.09.2009

Bikes, aren't they the wrong way to see the country by rail?



J. Graham Oates, the subject of the charming paperback 'Aurora to Ariel'
This was the first journey across the country by a vehicle with 'rubber tires', and as roads simply didn't exist for a thousand miles within the Canadian interior, railway lines were simply the only option available.
In 1928 Oates suggested that Castrol Oil sponsor him on an across Canada ride on an Ariel 500 cc motorcycle and sidecar. The trip had never before been achieved on a rubber tired vehicle. Oates began the trip at Halifax in July 1928 and soon realized that roads did not exist for many sections of the country and was forced to ride 800 miles between the railway lines. After 21 days of adventure, Oates arrived in Vancouver.
During the next three years, Oates remained in Canada and created a thriving motorcycle and boat dealership. In 1932, he returned to Britain and with the assistance of the editor of the Weekly Times, Oates planned his longest and most spectacular trip throughout England and Canada, this time to promote the sale of Empire Goods.
He was the first person to reach Hudson Bay on a rubber tired vehicle. There was still a lack of roads across the centre of Canada, but this time Oates was better prepared for rail travel. A small pair of flanged wheels were attached to the front and rear of the machine and the sidecar wheel axel extended outward to fit the gauge of the rails, making it possible to ride on the rails.

11.29.2009

Inspection cars for railroad inspectors to look over the rails in style and comfort, Packards, Pontiacs, Buicks and more


Coolest new find in a railcar!: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/06/plaster-city-1947-but-what-heck-is.html



Above two are from http://www.sportschrono.com/

Above: a trio of DeSoto 4 doors and Below: A Willys

Saving the best for last, Nik just told me he'd posted a gallery from Life's archives of Alaska in the 1950's, and these were in his post: http://carrosantigos.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/life-photo-archive-parte-1/#comment-2770 Nik finds the coolest stuff!

Aint that cool?!

Sorta makes the next one look really big

For a very unusual rail car, a WW2 armored vehicle: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/12/marmon-harrington-4-wheel-drive.html




Above: 1929 Packard
Above: 1946 packard


1957 Pontiac Chieftain Safari Station Wagon that a family used to cruise across Canada


above and below 1947 Cadillac

Above: a Paige


above: late 1920's Packard


Above: 1934 Buick

above: 1930 Buick
Above: 1932 Buick
1938 Buick Special


Above: 1938 Chevrolet
Below: 1929 Packard and 1938 Buick Special



For inspecting the rails with motorcycles, or just traveling by motorbike on the rails: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/12/bikes-arent-they-wrong-way-to-see.html