When you are feeling sorry for yourself!

[SteamGene]

Can't afford a new locomotive?  A sound decoder is too expensive?  No room for anything larger than a 5x10? 
Take a look at these train pictures.
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/b?ammem/fsaall:LC-USF34-020312-E:collection=fsa

Gene

[Santa Fe buff]

Gene,
Those photos are sad evidence of poor classes in those days. Rail travel isn't by the Empire Builder, or Super Cheif, or any passenger train. Today, we don't see that a lot, well, it's mostly because of the money and security involved.

I still see a few unforunate souls in the streets of Kankakee, IL. This makes me glad, and sad. Glad I'm lucky to be more weathly, but sad for the homeless.

Joshua

[jettrainfan]

Gene,
Those photos are sad evidence of poor classes in those days. Rail travel isn't by the Empire Builder, or Super Cheif, or any passenger train. Today, we don't see that a lot, well, it's mostly because of the money and security involved. .....
Joshua

To be honest, back in the day, The railroads were not making any money from passenger trains in the day. The government made Amtrak to fix the problem. So Amtrak was literally the only passenger service other than commuter trains.

[SteamGene]

Um - do you know when Amtrak began?
Gene

[jward]

may 1, 1971.

[jsmvmd]

Dear Gene,

Thanks for the reality check !

Best Wishes,

Jack

P.S.  Remember the 14th Rule of Military Acquisition:  Incoming Fire Has the Right of Way.

[SteamGene]

Jack,
Never share a foxhole with somebody braver than you.   
Gene

[Stephen D. Richards]

Gene,  Amen!    Stephen

[Atlantic Central]

When from time to time I am reminded about the current state of our society, I have been known to respond with "there is nothing wrong with America today that a depression and a world war could not fix.

We truely are blessed to live in such good times dispite our problems and failings. It is a shame however that so many in our society today have no idea how good things are or how bad things could be, or, how bad there were in those desperate days of the late 30's and early 40's.

Gene, it is good that you should point out these things to any who will listen. Thank you.

Sheldon

[jsmvmd]

Dear Guys,

Nobody is shooting at us, eh ?

Reminds me of a quote attributed to Gen. Jimmy Doolittle.  I could not find except in a Dale Carnegie book "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living."

"If you have all you want to eat and drink and shelter, you have nothing to worry about." (paraphrased, sorry).

However, I found this terrific link:

http://www.pacaf.af.mil/library/pacafheritage/jimmydoolittle/index.asp

Hope you enjoy it.

Best Wishes,

Jack

[SteamGene]

Hey, Sheldon,
I'm reminded of my time in Korea when Koreans would sneak out into artillery impact areas and collect shell fragments after we fired.  At night they'd put blue filters on flashlights and go out while we fired.  Blue is not as good as red, but better than pure white to keep the beam from being seen. 
Going to another country is an eye opener, believe me. 
Gene

[jsmvmd]

Dear Gene,

I knew a guy who told me when he arrived in Korea, USArmy, for the conflict, the stench of dead bodies filled the air.  Too, from friends and family who have traveled the world, many Americans, me included do not know how nice we have it.   GBA !

Best Wishes,

Jack