The Proof, the Whole Proof.

I burned the late night oil last night. It all started with a knock on my door. It was Bryan with the proof copy that he'd just finished, and I am very pleased with the work he's done. There are a couple of minor text edits, and white space to fill with more photos. Memo to self: must include a Flexliner photo. At 2330 hours (a little earlier than the last Cavaliers, shown above in January 1990) I put the proof down for the night.

Coming in at a meaty but manageable 114 pages, the book has a good heft to it, while still keeping shipping costs reasonable. Next task is to set pricing and get some mailers ready.

As you can see in the sidebar, this project is now governed by signal indication. So the background is red - watch for it to turn green which means I have a stack of books ready for shipping. A true highball!

Going Without Knowing

This is my last post. For awhile. Waiting for my book proof to return from the printer, I'm going to indulge in the freedom that is blogging. Reflecting on this book project, I realize that like Abraham, at many stages I've been going without knowing. That is, embarking on a journey without reluctance and without questioning, trusting in the journey itself and where it might lead, like the track stretching out westward from the cab window of 6507 in 1982.

Considering content and page count, I decided to include everything and let the book take shape as it would. That resulted in 95% of all the VIA trains I've seen in 35 years being included. (Not a bad result.) I decided not to impose any self-limitation, letting the book grow organically.

The narrative of this book encapsulates my VIA experience, from trackside as well as onboard. I've included trips I made west on the Super Continental and the Canadian, perhaps self-indulgently, but also to give readers an idea what the pre-HEP Canadian experience was like.

More self-indulgence: recording all my VIA sightings together in one place. No matter where, the trains I observed as I observed them, plus additional detail so it makes sense to the reader. As I wait, I'm given to wonder where the next stage of the journey leads. We'll all find out together once the ink hits the pages. Waiting for the Highball?

39 and Holding

Here's 6439 "third eye" holding its place at Belleville station during train 57's station stop.

Right now I'm also in a holding pattern while the book proof is finished. Like the travellers behind 6439, I'm anticipating the journey, since getting there is half the fun. Promotional material is taking shape, and I'm anticipating doing everything I can to get this book into readers' hands.

I'm receiving lots of inquiries about when and where. Answers: soon and here. I will be permanently posting ordering information in the sidebar as soon as I have it. I'll also include this information in a post.

While you're waiting, peruse the hopefully humorous information I've added to the sidebar. Thanks to those who've contributed comments, even my wife. Patience - while waiting for the inevitable...HIGHBALL!

Here's the Proof

The LRC was in production for years. It wasn't until we saw the initial touring consist, pictured at Kingston (above) that we could believe it was finally complete, and about to debut.

I received a proof from my printer on Sunday. It wasn't until I saw the initial proof that I could believe it was almost complete, and about to be printed.

The proof was a full-colour illustrated cover, and several pages for my perusal. Bryan Babcock of Allan Graphics has done some very nice graphic design work. I shouldn't have been impressed, knowing he's good at what he does, but I was. Truly impressed.

I've heard a lot about this moment, when an author sees his work coming to fruition for the first time. Though only a partial proof, I shared that feeling. I'll be adding some more photos and making some minor revisions, but I already know this book is going to look good on my bookshelf. Or night table, railfanning bag, computer desk or other handy location. Maybe yours too.

Highball!

The Talisman

No, the talisman is not the biggest guy on a basketball team. It's from the Greek and refers to an amulet or other item that possesses magical powers. In my world, it refers to the memory stick I've been carrying around with me for the last 7 months. On this stick was the text and data for my new book.

On Tuesday, I visited Bryan, my graphic designer at Allan Graphics here in Kingston, where my book is about to be printed. He magically downloaded all the files from the memory stick, and returned it to me. That was it. I had my talisman, and although it still retained the files, they had gone on to be transmitted into something mysterious and as yet unseen.

OK, enough mysticism. This is where it gets good. Bryan is now working to get my jottings, which have been transcribed, checked, reformatted and rechecked, into book form, sandwiching them with titles, text, photos, tables, schedules and rosters. I'll let him work his magic. I predict (mystical background music here) a book of about one hundred pages.

Highball!

Gimme Two on the Trainline

The cab whistle's shrill "pheeeeep-pheeeeeep" sounds in the FPA4 cab as the conductor pulls twice on the trainline. The engineer reaches for the controls and he replies with two toots on the air horn. The train is about to leave the station.

The finality of departure, coupled with the anticipation of the journey are wrapped up in the sounds of air whistle, air horn, and engines throttling up.

Same goes for my book. Everything is in readiness. The text, data and photos have been selected, gathered and are ready for the next step in the journey. Supporting rosters, schedules, some historical notes and data. Lots of data. This step will involve transmission from computer files to paper. Finally. Highball!

Chapters

This picture encapsulates VIA's history: a telegraph pole dating back to the era when passenger service was a proud part of CN's operations and a P42DC - the most modern units in the modern VIA locomotive fleet.

As I enter the final stages of tying together the two ends of VIA's relatively short history, I'm struck by the stages of its evolution. Here are the working titles for chapters covering these eras:

1976-1981 Beginnings

1982-1986 Potpourri

1987-1990 New Power

1991-1995 End of Steam

1996-2000 Transition

2011-2011 Renaissance

Now, to select photos to accompany the text. Highball!