VINTAGE SHOTS FROM DAYS GONE BY! (Part 2)

rotten ron · Dec 17, 2021

'57 Gasser with a wild intake and a Chrysler with an even wilder intake . . .

rotten ron · Dec 17, 2021

rotten ron · Dec 17, 2021

rotten ron · Dec 17, 2021

rotten ron · Dec 17, 2021

rotten ron · Dec 17, 2021

rotten ron · Dec 17, 2021

'28phonebooth · Dec 18, 2021

HEMIDAV said: ↑

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Wendell Scott

loudbang · Dec 18, 2021

rotten ron said: ↑

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Actor in TV seires Dobie Gillis

Real name Dwayne Hickman

perk03 · Dec 18, 2021

HEMIDAV said: ↑

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early form of drifting!

bschwoeble · Dec 18, 2021

George Klass said: ↑

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When Amtrak was first created, they used old and outdated locomotives, and warn out passenger cars. On top of that, many in Congress were not happy about funding a passenger railroad. Congess was much happier in funding corporations and industires that sent them campaign money so they can keep getting elected. The dialog from Congessmen was, "why should the government pay to have people be able to go to and from Los Angeles to Chicago on a train, when they can get on an airplane?" Basically, Congressmen were asking, "what's in it for them?"

Thankfully, this atitude didn't last long, however. A reality became apparent to Congress. The public revolted. Congressmen thought it was about going to and from L.A. and Chicago on a train. It wasn't, it was about all the stops on the way in small and larger towns and communities. It was really about transportation. Many towns between L.A. and Chicago had only three types of transportation, a private vehicle, a Greyhound bus, or the train. The people in these smaller towns had to drive or bus sometimes for 200+ miles to find a commercial airport. AND THESE PEOPLE WERE VOTERS. Congressmen in Washinton DC got the message pretty quick, and changed their minds about supporting the funding for Amtrak. I reference the L.A. to Chicago train (The Southwest Chief) a lot, because I have taken it numerous times, but all of the long distant Amtrak trains opperate the same. For instance, from L.A. to Chicago, the Soutwest Chief stops at almoat 30 stations along the way. The stops are usually about 2 to 3 minutes. People can get off or get on. Leaving downtown L.A. the train stops at Fullerton, CA, Riverside, CA, San Bernardino, CA, Victorville, CA, Barstow, CA, Needles, CA, Kingman, AZ, Flagstaff, AZ, Winslow, AZ, Gallup, NM, Albuquerque, NM, Lamy, NM, Trinidad, CO, La Junta, CO, Lamar, CO, Garden City, KS, Dodge City, KS, Hutchison, KS, Newton, KS, Lawrence, KS, Kansas City, MO, La Plata, MO, Fort Madison, IA, Galesburg, IL, Princeton, IL, Mendota, IL, Naperville, Il and Chicago, IL The trip takes about 2 1/2 days, some of the stops are during the day, and some at night. I always book sleeping accomodations. I sleep on the train, eat breakfast, lunch and dinner on the train, and take in all the sights along the way. Let me tell you something, you cannot see this beautiful country from 30,000 feet in the air. If you really want to see it, take the train. You don't have to concentrate on the highway, and there is no such thing as "clear air turbulance" on the train or the hassles at the airports. More than half the people on the train are not going from L.A. to Chicago, they have tickets for one of the stops along the way. And the reverse is that someone in one of the towns along the way may be going to Chicago...

Another good thing to know about Amtrak, the trains do not need to put on tire chains or de-ice the wings when it snows.
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I think you're onto something. We used to look forward to commercial flying. Now, not so much.

perk03 · Dec 18, 2021

HEMIDAV said: ↑

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seems like Santa always has the best looking helpers!

bschwoeble · Dec 18, 2021

George Klass said: ↑

As usual, dads are usually right. The federal government is great at screwing things up.

Amtrak was formed in 1971. With almost no budget. The railroads that had been running passenger trains were very happy to give their old locomotives and passenger cars to Amtrak. The first few years, people that road the rails with Amtrak called it the "rainbow era".
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The passenger cars didn't even match each other, they all came from other railroads. As in this case, even the locomotives didn't match. Most of the rolling stock was junk. But Amtrak needed passenger cars. If they had wheels, seats and windows, Amtrak used them. It took many years before Amtrak had enough cash to purchase new rail cars. Another problem was that Amtrak did not (nor does it now except in the Northeastern corridor between Washington DC and Boston) own the tracks. Amtrak has to pay a fee to run on Santa Fe or Union Pacific or Southeren Pacific or any other railroads tracks (Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) own the tracks between L.A. and Chicago, and Warren Buffett owns the BNSF railroad).
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I grew up with this railroad, the Southern Pacific, in the steam era, riding between L.A. and San Francisco on the Coast Daylight, which had to be about the most beautiful train in the world (at least to me). Amtrak runs on the same tracks today, as the Coast Starlight. The steam train made the trip about an hour quicker than the diesels do today. The Coast Daylight ran up to 85 mph on a good part of the trip. Amtrak, by federal law, cannot run more than 79 mph, unless the tracks have been updated to certain specifications, but Amtrak does not own the tracks, and the railroads that do own them are unwilling (it seems) to pay to upgrade their tracks.

But Amtrak has made major advances over the years. The new locomotives being purchased now are magnificent.
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Manufactured by Siemens, and built in Sacramento, CA. Each locomotive puts out 4,400 HP and runs in an RPM range between 600 (at idle) and 1,800 RPM (pedal to the metal). They are geared to run over 125 MPH (and do on the Northeast Corridor). The long distance Amtrak trains usually have between 10 and 12 passenger/sleeping/dining/and lounge cars combined, and each train is powered by two of these locomotives in tandem (or, 8,800 HP).

Another interesting tidbit. By federal law, freight trains are required to pull off the main lines when there is an Amtrak train coming up from either behind or in front of them. What the freight railroads do is to hook up so many freight cars to make up a freight train, the trains are too long to fit on the sideings. A lot of freight trains today are over 3 miles in length, which won't quite fit on sidings that are only two and a half miles long. One other thing, Amtrak trains are controlled exactly the same way the FAA controls pilots. Rail Traffic Control (or whatever it's called, I forgot) is in constant communications with the engineers driving the trains. Every Amtrak train is connected via satalite up in space. I have been in the locomotive cabs of many trains, passenger and freight, and it is an amazing experience. And with new technology with cell phones, etc., there are Apps that let you listen to everything said between the engineers and the people in the control centers...
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As usual, you give us everything we need to know. Thanks.

swi66 · Dec 18, 2021

jeepsterhemi said: ↑

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Great set of pictures!

down-the-road · Dec 18, 2021

HEMIDAV said: ↑

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swi66 · Dec 18, 2021

wicarnut · Dec 18, 2021

wicarnut · Dec 18, 2021

wicarnut · Dec 18, 2021

wicarnut · Dec 18, 2021

wicarnut · Dec 18, 2021

Cracked Windshield · Dec 18, 2021

HEMIDAV said: ↑

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Safety Frame with a fiberglass body....Humm

wicarnut · Dec 18, 2021

wicarnut · Dec 18, 2021

wicarnut · Dec 18, 2021

wicarnut · Dec 18, 2021

wicarnut · Dec 18, 2021

Cracked Windshield · Dec 18, 2021

We needed steel to build a nation. Now we need steel to rebuild the nation.

Cracked Windshield · Dec 18, 2021

HEMIDAV said: ↑

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New Mexico Trooper got lost..

jeepsterhemi · Dec 18, 2021

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VINTAGE SHOTS FROM DAYS GONE BY! (Part 2)

rotten ron
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rotten ron
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'28phonebooth
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loudbang
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from The right coast

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from pennsylvania

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swi66
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from Gasport, NY

down-the-road
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1952-59 Ford Social Group

swi66
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wicarnut
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Cracked Windshield
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VINTAGE SHOTS FROM DAYS GONE BY! (Part 2)

rotten ron BANNED from Camarillo Ca.

rotten ron BANNED from Camarillo Ca.

rotten ron BANNED from Camarillo Ca.

rotten ron BANNED from Camarillo Ca.

rotten ron BANNED from Camarillo Ca.

rotten ron BANNED from Camarillo Ca.

rotten ron BANNED from Camarillo Ca.

'28phonebooth Member from Pacific NorthWET (SW Washington)

loudbang Member from The right coast

perk03 Member from VA

bschwoeble Member from pennsylvania

perk03 Member from VA

bschwoeble Member from pennsylvania

swi66 Member from Gasport, NY

down-the-road ALLIANCE MEMBER from Cranberry Township, PA 1952-59 Ford Social Group

swi66 Member from Gasport, NY

wicarnut Member from St Germain Wi.

wicarnut Member from St Germain Wi.

wicarnut Member from St Germain Wi.

wicarnut Member from St Germain Wi.

wicarnut Member from St Germain Wi.

Cracked Windshield ALLIANCE MEMBER from DFW Texas

wicarnut Member from St Germain Wi.

wicarnut Member from St Germain Wi.

wicarnut Member from St Germain Wi.

wicarnut Member from St Germain Wi.

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rotten ron
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rotten ron
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rotten ron
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from Camarillo Ca.

rotten ron
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from Camarillo Ca.

rotten ron
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from Camarillo Ca.

rotten ron
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from Camarillo Ca.

rotten ron
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from Camarillo Ca.

'28phonebooth
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from Pacific NorthWET (SW Washington)

loudbang
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from The right coast

perk03
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from VA

bschwoeble
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from pennsylvania

perk03
Member

from VA

bschwoeble
Member

from pennsylvania

swi66
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from Gasport, NY

down-the-road
ALLIANCE MEMBER

from Cranberry Township, PA

1952-59 Ford Social Group

swi66
Member

from Gasport, NY

wicarnut
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from St Germain Wi.

wicarnut
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from St Germain Wi.

wicarnut
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from St Germain Wi.

wicarnut
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from St Germain Wi.

wicarnut
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from St Germain Wi.

Cracked Windshield
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from DFW Texas

wicarnut
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from St Germain Wi.

wicarnut
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from St Germain Wi.

wicarnut
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from St Germain Wi.

wicarnut
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from St Germain Wi.

wicarnut
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from St Germain Wi.

Cracked Windshield
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from DFW Texas

Cracked Windshield
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from DFW Texas

jeepsterhemi
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from Quebec Canada