Re: A memory hole...


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Previous # Next ] [ Start New Thread ] [ TarBoard ]

Posted by Peter Ceresole on November 03, 2011 at 02:58:55 user PeterC.

In Reply to: Re: A memory hole... posted by Jock on November 02, 2011 at 13:33:18:

Thank you so much for posting those lovely pictures.

You mention the catenaries at Oxenholme, but my early (serious) train memories are of crossing France infinitely slowly after the war, going from London to Geneva to visit our family abroad. Of course they were steam trains then, smuts and all, but I'll never forget the panting of the Westinghouse air compressor as we were stopped at the station, then the gradual introduction of electrification. It was so exciting; our journey took us via Dijon, and when they replaced the Mountain class engines (massive 4-8-2 steamers with large diameter driving wheels) with CC electrics, suddenly the journey out of the Rhone valley into the Jura, which had been a spectacular drive with gouts of steam, drama and noise, at maybe 120kph, became an electric elevator... My dad had once been a railway engineer at Schneider, Le Creusot, and he would bring a stop watch and slide rule to measure our speed against the trackside kilometer posts. Climbing steeply at an easy 130kph was such a thrill for both of us; we'd walk up front to talk to the driver when we reached Geneva or Culoz.

But from then on, catenaries were the normal decor- and for me they have been ever since.



Follow Ups:



Post a Followup

Name:
Eel-Mail:

Existing subject (please edit appropriately) :

or is it time to start a New Thread?

Comments:

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

post direct to TarBoard test post first

Before posting it is necessary to be a registered user.


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TarBoard ]