Friday, August 28, 2015

More Train Wreck #2


9 comments:

Chic Silber said...


A larry wheel blew up crossing a switch

fragments of which came up through floor

Gray market wheels were discontinued

Bob Karczewski said...

There have been issues with certain brands of railroad car wheels in years past. They can shatter under the right conditions, causing derailments like this.

Buckles said...

My father always said, "A gentleman travels by rail!"
In 1978-79 we were fortunate enough to have half a railroad car in the Beverly Hills section."

Chic Silber said...


I believe you had the rear section

of the 3rd car from the end which

was more than half & Bobby Johnsen

had the front section I can't be

sure of the number (might be 155)

The Hickory Creek was the last &

the Baumanns had the back half of

the next car with Tito in front

He shared your vestibule as the

next was your car (3rd from end)

There were no other staterooms

nearly as large in cars forward

Quarters & smaller as you went

There were about 20 coaches of

a total car count nearing 40

Buckles said...

I referred to the car as, "S______' in High Cotton!"

Chic Silber said...


I believe it was a Budd built car

from the 50s remodeled many times

Chic Silber said...


In 1965 the entire TGSOE traveled

on a mere 17 rail cars which was

perhaps the smallest it ever was

In 1979 our Monte Carlo train had

either 15 or 16 cars in total

Nowadays I'm told both trains are

nearing 60 cars each

Chic Silber said...


The Hickory Creek had been planned

to be the ass end of the MC train

but at the last minute it was left

in Venice to rot & rust (long story)

Many years later it was bought by

a rail club in Jersey & has been

beautifuly & authenticaly restored

Chic Silber said...


On 2nd recall it was Tito's

vestibule as your entry door

would have led to a formidable

drop to the tracks without an

adjoining car or ladder which

was the same as the Baumann's

(there's an old joke line in

showbiz "watch that 1st step

it's a bitch")