JRT,

Urgent despatch from the Front on its way to your creaking mailbox...

Folks,

I too am saddened to hear that one of our long standing BoB and BDG members has been going through a tribulation period like I have recently experienced. Three other people we know that were diagnosed within weeks of my wife have passed away within weeks of my wife's passing. The medical profession has come a long way since barbers were surgeons yet they still have a long way to go. Everything is supposed to happen for a reason so they say and dying is part of living as we all come to learn however I see no benefit from such terrible suffering.

Dux:

I have not been notified that anything bearing your personal pass code has passed through the 90 feet tall, squirrel on a treadmill powered, electrified SPAM gates. Perhaps it was held up for some reason on your side of the big wet spot and it will be delivered soon?

Saddened to learn the news concerning our friend Bader.

Folks,

Dux:

Message received this morning.

Of course that particular acronym used as a nome de plume might represent anyone. It would be especially interesting if it turned out to be Mark C. Is there any way to communicate and confirm?

Did you wander as far from the castle today as you had planned? Your rail excursions across the UK are particularly interesting since I only know one person who travels regularly by train around here. That is my late wife's aunt whose late husband (incidentally a Ranger in WW2) retired from the railroad years ago. Along with his pension she has a lifetime pass.

"The sons of Pullman porters, and the sons of engineers ride their fathers' magic carpet made of steel" -Arlo Guthrie, "City of New Orleans"

That's what that line is referring to. Suggesting that most of the AmTrak ridership was freeloading...
Well, with the immanent collapse of the world oil supply, rail is going to be back in the spotlight:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2012/03/15/u-s-poised-for-passenger-rail-boom/

Gents,

I have travelled a lot by rail over the last eighteen months thanks to my Senior Railcard and I am left in no doubt that we are entering a new railway age here in Britain. The motorways which were built and widened to accommodate increasing traffic have now become virtually choked at peak periods and with weekend getaway traffic.

Local branch line passenger usage has increased by 85% over the last two years as more and more people discover the ease of rail travel - although morning overcrowded commuter services nationwide still leave a great deal to be desired. It is up to Government legislation to improve and develop rail services and dis-enfranchise those companies that can't deliver. I believe re-nationalization to be the best option with profits directed to modernization and not bunged to shareholders.

This Conservative government promised the re-opening of many miles of closed down rail track which died due to the disastrous transport policies of the fifties and sixties. As yet, there are signs of such plans being implemented from within their pre-election manifesto with new track being built including the controversial Birmingham-London high speed service.

JRT,

I can't think of a way to contact MC through RoF short of engaging him in mortal combat. I will watch out for Johann Heitmann....

Folks,

Good old Arlo. Thanks for explaining his train of thought PV1.

The US lags behind China and other countries in implementing fast rail service. This is not something new. I found articles on the expected resurgence of passenger rail travel and the steadily increasing demand for it in the US as far back as 1994. Here is a recent one found on Kapitall:

http://wire.kapitall.com/investment-idea/railroads-stocks-the-industry-prepares-for-record-demand/

Whatever happens, whatever form the emerging passenger service takes here those who pine for the opulent atmosphere and luxurious elegance of private cars and trains like the Orient Express, The Royal Scotsman, Danube Express, or those great streamlines of the past will most likely be disappointed. The mystique of steam lingers in the minds of those of us who are old enough to remember it. Of course steam power could not compete in most situations.

You can find steam engines on display at the Smithsonian. There are restored steam powered trains available for the brief pleasure of those who want to experience that mode of travel again or for the first time. A steam locomotive didn't require much oil but no one expects to see steam return; do they?

The UK has some sleek and beautiful, meticulously restored steam powered trains running like the British "Pullman". I think the Royal Scotsman is running. For those who can afford it and wish to revisit the luxury of the past there is the "Danube Express" "The Pride of Africa" plus other such trains in operation around the globe. Such trains offer for the price of a ticket a kind of time travel but they do not, cannot cater to the masses in need of fast, economical transportation.

Chaps,

JRT

I didn't make it to Cheltenham after all. Took too much notice of the weather forecast which proved to be over-pessimistic.

Now, the wet weather is closing in as might be expected for the Easter break.

I can go away any time but I sympathise with families who have to take Bank Holidays, come what may.

Folks,

Dux:

Weather forecasting beyond a day or two seems to be more of an art than a science. There will be other opportunities. Even a damp holiday is better than none at all. Speaking of which, our Canadian mate C51 will be off soon for several exciting weeks wearing lederhosen, drinking tall steins full of Pilsner and gobbling down large plates of sauerkraut in der fatherland. He has been practicing his guttural pronunciations. I wonder what German sounds like with an Irish-Canadian accent? I understand they will be visiting his wife's many Bavarian relatives. That sounds like an excellent holiday to me even if it does rain now and then.

I am at a loss as to what to wear until they return. What colors look best with the green of envy? When he is high over Germany (possibly in more than one way) I suggested he might look out the cabin window and fantasize he is flying in a 262 or a B-17 but not a Lanc since it will be a daytime flight. I do hope they bring back photos of all the interesting sights to share.

Ah, while we're continuing to wear our snorkels and waterproof parkas when
venturing out into the deluge, folks at C51's end of the country are basking
in altered climate weather, as you can see from ten days ago(!):
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/03/22/toronto-weather-record.html
Their March was 7.6deg C (like, 12deg F) above normal, and I see they're still
about 4C above our temps. So it would seem it must already feel like a holiday,
at least a vacation in sunnier climes, for him. Meanwhile our ski hills are
crowing over metre deep snowfalls in the last 24hrs, setting records, and
announcing extending their seasons. For us down here at sea level, that just
translates to another dark day of horizontal sleet.