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MAGNIFICENT is not too strong an adjective to describe the latest Bulletin effort... First of all it arrived yesterday in PERFECT CONDITION wrapped in a plastic wrapper which, apparently is going to be "standard" from now on..As per usual the USPS ignored the instruction to "not fold" but the plastic wrapper protected the integrity of the cover and the "innards" of the magazine.
Rupert's BELMONT TUNNEL article is my favorite..It required "superogatory" effort to produce this piece and him being thousands of miles away. It's the story of the tunnel from its original contemplation to the final not destruction but by its being bypassed by double track.
Rupert's piece brought back some "far distant memories"...Don't forget "everything reminds me of something" Here's my story.
I believe that I can say without fear of contradiction that I'm the only BRHS member who has twice ridden through the Belmont tunnel in both directions. Once behind steam on the open platform observation car on the rear of Train 43 in year 1942 when I was 6 years old..My GF and I stood on the platform as we went through the tunnel on the westbound trip.
On our return trip on No. 42 the conductor told us that we couldn't be out there since the tunnel is at the top of Crawford Hill and the gradient in the tunnel is UP that there would be too much smoke and cinders from the laboring engine for us to be outside.
The second trip was in June of 1957 when I accompanied my GF from Lincoln to Sheridan WY for a celebration of the opening of the Jim Gatchell Museum in Buffalo, WY. By this time the open platform Obs was long gone, But we did ride through the tunnel in both directions Trains 42 and 43 were, of course Diesel powered by this time.
Steve Holding has "outdone himself" with his reprise of his "OS Creston" piece from several years ago with his current effort OS BN (by the way he is not violating Society rules by writing about the Burlington Northern Railroad). Some of you guys will understand before you read the piece, but Steve is "taking no chances" and explains in the opening phase of his article.
This Bulletin is worth the Modest $40 annual dues and there is hope that there will be additional bulletins of this quality in the forseeable future.
Pete
__._,_.___ Posted by: jpslhedgpeth@aol.com __,_._,___ |