[PRCo] Re: Fwd: The Tornado

[John Swindler]

In 1954 went over on the QM, back on the QE.  But too young at 7 for any decent memories.  There is an image from the top deck of a LT trackless trolley, riding a Northern Line train, the 'up' train from Southampton and a steam powered branch line behind a cousin's country home.  As with West Penn, just too young.
 
Cheers
John
 
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org> From: fwschneider at comcast.net> Subject: [PRCo] Fwd: The Tornado> Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2009 16:13:56 -0500> > At the risk of being beaten over the head ... American steam engines > seemed so practical and utilitarian. We had big engines ... nothing > quite compared to a Southern Pacific GS6 or a Santa Fe 3750 or a New > York Central Niagara in size. Monstrous beasts they were. Even a > Pennsy K4 was huge next to a large British engine.> But those Brits gave the industry a degree of romance even into the > 1960s that we didn't understand. Can an American comprehend a train > pulling to halt under a shed that late still illumiated with gas > lights? Would we have named our engines after a president? Well > the Baltimore and Ohio did but things like that were uncommon. But > in 1960 I photographed a British locomotive named the "Princess > Elizabeth." Could there have been a more romantic group of engines > than those in the Merchant Navy class? Imagine, if you, will engines > with names such as the "Indomitable" and the "Invincible." (I > always thought one of those name plates would have looked great on > the side of my Volkswagen.)> > I first saw the U. K. back when I was an impressionable 19-year- > old. London Underground was still running the 1938 tube stock. > Trams were still running on the streets in Glasgow, Sheffield, > Blackpool and Grimsby. Outside of the Southern Region, most of > British Railways long distance trains were mostly still steam. > Automobiles were very uncommon. I think our friend John Swindler > saw it even earlier ... if my memory still works, his Mum took him on > the original QE or QM to England to see the grandparents when he was > still young lad. So please excuse us if we become bubble over with > memories. You can treasure memories from places other than > Pittsburgh and the world is filled with great places.> > Here is what Phil had to say after I told him I forward the clip to > yins....> > Begin forwarded message:> > > From: Phil Craig <philgcraig204 at yahoo.com>> >> > Subject: Re: [PRCo] The Tornado> > Reply-To: philgcraig204 at yahoo.com> >> > Fred:> >> > Glad that you enjoyed the BBC clip and passed it on to others. I > > understand that Network Rail has certified Tornado for 90 mph > > running but it is being limited to 75 mph for the time being to > > break it in. The high top speed will enable Tornado to use less > > time-consuming paths (slots) in the future, always valuable > > considering the habitual lateness attendent to any special move > > especially railway enthusiats excursions.> >> > Ah, to be in England while riding behind Tornado in first class > > with the windows open during fair weather and being served a > > "proper meal" and wine at you seat. Did that with behind A-4 > > Duchess of Canada while enroute from Kings Cross to York and back > > in 2004.> >> > Phil> >> >> > > 
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