December 2, 2022

Meanwhile in Canada: VIA Rail Canada employees to get 10 paid sick days per year.

link to tweet:

https://twitter.com/SeamusORegan/status/1598397293278937088

The Minister of Labour's announcement also applies to federally regulated private sector industries, including freight rail workers.

October 19, 2022

The secret ingredient in all GOP recipes is the treason

Article on McCarthy's Ukraine threats:

The GOP doesn't care about democracy — anywhere:

https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/kevin-mccarthy-threat-ukraine-aid-shows-gop-shift-democracy-n1299982

August 1, 2022

Bullet Nosed Betty (Big & Small, edition 2)

Hello again DU'ers,

This is the second installment in a series of pics on the theme of 'big & small', whereby I post a pic of a scale model of a particular subject alongside the actual full-size object itself.

So with that in mind, here are a couple pics of Canadian National Railways U1f class steam locomotive #6069 on display at Centennial Waterfront Park in Sarnia, Ontario.

These engines were built by Montreal Locomotive Works in 1944 & were known informally as "Bullet Nose Bettys" due to their distinctive cone-shaped smokebox covers.

Posing with the full-sized Bullet Nose Betty is my 'O' Scale model of CN Bullet-Nose-Betty #6079.

In the first pic it was a challenge to get the entire full sized locomotive in view with all the trees in the park and the fixed focal length lens I was using. I ended up under a pine tree which cast a shade on my model necessitating the use of a flash:



Front View:



3/4 view:



In this last pic a local CN freight arrived to switch the Cargill plant on the waterfront. My model is in the foreground at the right side of the photo:



The photos are from a recent trip my wife & I took throughout Southwestern Ontario.

Hope you enjoy! Cheers, Pete

(On an unrelated note, the youtube video of our spring 2022 Trans-Canada train Odyssey on VIA's Canadian reached 100,000 views):

July 20, 2022

'Holy Roller' & 'Death Takes A Holiday' (Big & Small, edition 1)

Hello again DU'ers,

Thought I'd start a new series of pics on the theme of 'big & small', whereby I post a pic of a scale model of a particular subject alongside the actual full-size object itself.

So with that in mind, here are couple pics of "Holy Roller" - a recently-restored WWII 'Sherman' tank of the 1st Hussars Regiment (2nd Canadian Armored Brigade) on display in London, Ontario.

Alongside Holy Roller is "Death Takes a Holiday", my radio control model of a Fort Garry Horse 'Sherman Firefly' (a variant of the Sherman with a longer barreled 17-pounder cannon).

Both Shermans (full-sized original & radio control model) are vehicles of the 2nd Canadian Armored brigade.
The 1st Hussars was the first regiment within the brigade. The Fort Garry Horse was the second.

Note the unit markings on the fronts of the vehicles:



'Holy Roller' with 'Death Takes a Holiday' in the foreground:

The historical significance of "Holy Roller" is that it was the only tank within the 1st Canadian Hussars to survive & complete the entire campaign in Northwest Europe from D-Day to VE-Day.



'Death Takes A Holiday' in front of 'Holy Roller's' running gear:

July 4, 2022

Poster about gas prices. As true in the 1970s as it is today.

And before anyone tells me how 'Amtrak is no good' or 'Amtrak is expensive' ... I call BS

Amtrak is great. My wife & I traveled about a quarter million miles by train across N America and we've enjoyed every minute of it.

And you can go from NY to San Francisco for $213:
https://www.wideopencountry.com/train-ride-across-u-s-250/

July 2, 2022

A Trans-Canada Train Odyssey (HD) - My video surpasses 75,000 views on YT!

Now for a bit shameless self-promotion... and some motion picture photography instead of stills...

Here is my full-length video on "The Canadian" - VIA Rail's Transcontinental passenger train, recorded during our scenic land cruise across Canada in March of 2022.

Showcasing the breathtaking scenery & world class service to be found aboard VIA Rail Canada's premier passenger train.

It's a 95 hour trip condensed into 3hrs55min - Possibly the longest & most in-depth amateur video documentary of the Canadian on Youtube (if I do say so myself)

Hope you enjoy!

Cheers, Pete, webmaster https://northamericabyrail.info/

May 30, 2022

My Radio Control Tank Collection

Hi folks, thought I'd post a few pics of my radio control model tank collection.

These are fully functional RC models of WWII tanks, with sounds, and are set up for infrared battles where each tank can send & receive 'hits' through a system of IR transmitters & receivers mounted on the tanks. The in-laws love 'em and we usually have mock battles in the back yard when they come to visit

First off, my latest radio control tank build: "Death Takes A Holiday" - a Canadian Sherman Firefly of Fort Garry Horse (2nd Canadian Armored Brigade, 10th Armored Regiment) as it appeared during the June 6 1944 D-Day Landings (Operation Overlord) - the campaign to liberate France & western Europe from the Germans.
(During the Normandy Campaign many Allied tanks, including Canadian & British, had white stars painted on them as an aerial recognition aid):











And since I need some targets for my Allied AFV's - the bad guys: German Tiger I, Division Das Reich, spring 1943. This unit fought against American forces in the Normandy Campaign, France, summer 1944, and the Ardennes fighting, Belgium, winter 1944:











German King Tiger, Division LSSAH, Belgium, winter 1944. This unit fought against Canadian forces in the Normandy Campaign, France, summer 1944, and against the Americans in the Ardennes fighting, Belgium, winter 1944:











I'm including this here since these could be considered examples of close-up photography. If the group admins don't think it belongs, I can move it to the DU lounge which might be the next-closest fit...

May 20, 2022

A Trans-Canada Train Odyssey - My full-length documentary video! (HD)

Well, it's finally here! For those who have seen my preview video and for those interested who are checking in for the first time...

Here is my full-length documentary on "The Canadian" - VIA Rail's Transcontinental passenger train,
which runs from Vancouver to Toronto.

This was recorded during our scenic land cruise across Canada in March of 2022.

Showcasing the breathtaking scenery, and world class service & accommodations to be found aboard VIA Rail Canada's premier passenger train.

It's a 95 hour trip condensed into 3hrs55min - Possibly the longest & most in-depth amateur video documentary of the Canadian on Youtube (if I do say so myself )

Hope you enjoy!

For more videos, trip reports, & pics, see my website at: https://northamericabyrail.info/

April 1, 2022

A Trans-Canada Train Odyssey on VIA Rail's Canadian, Vancouver to Toronto March 2022 (HD video)

Hop aboard for a short preview of my upcoming documentary on "The Canadian" - VIA Rail's Transcontinental passenger train - which runs from Vancouver to Toronto.

This preview was recorded during our scenic land cruise across Canada in March of 2022. Watch this space for the full-length video coming soon - or see it on my website at https://northamericabyrail.info/

(cross posted this video from the photography group in case it's better suited for this forum)

April 1, 2022

Teaser - My upcoming documentary: A Trans-Canada Train Odyssey on VIA Rail's Canadian

(HD video link below, best with sound on - IMO)

My wife & I just got back from a cross-Canada train odyssey from Toronto to Vancouver & return this March of 2022.
It was our first trip since the covid pandemic began in 2020!

This trip was a celebration of sorts for my 50th birthday, as well as my eligibility for retirement and our wedding anniversary.

For this trip, I elected to depart with my previously-held tradition of still photography, and instead decided to record a detailed video documentary of our train odyssey which I am still working on - and will post here when it is done, as well as on my website.

In the meantime here is a short (10 minute) preview of that upcoming documentary.

So for those interested - hop aboard for a preview of our scenic land cruise across Canada aboard "The Canadian" - VIA Rail's Transcontinental passenger train - which runs both ways across the country from Vancouver to Toronto.

Watch this space for the full-length video coming soon, or see it on my website at https://northamericabyrail.info/

Hope you enjoy!