Things that are Red

Remember the show Password?  The category today is...things that are red*.  Clues: the New VIA Rail Book blog background, the CBC 40th anniversary F40, and my face.  Why, you ask?

This blog's background has gone from blue to red to signify that a significant amount of material has been sent to Bryan Babcock at Allan Graphics here in Kingston.  He puts it all in this computer thingie, fires it up and it spits out a book design.  Presto!  OK, it's not quite that easy, but the red signifies something is about to happen.  When the background turns green, the book is ready!!

I photographed the CBC F40, 6403 at Kingston station on a snowless December 22, 2002.  A problem with CN train No 363 ahead led to a backlog of VIA trains, so VIA trains 642 (left) and 60 (right) entered the station at the same time.  Reminds me of my book - once I receive a proof from the printer, I'll be adding a second section to bring my second VIA book up to fighting weight (I really mean mailing weight).  It's a bonus...like getting two VIA trains in the same photo.

My face is red because I haven't mentioned Manny Jacob's VIA F40PH-2 site.  Manny has been busy documenting and photographing VIA's F40 fleet including 6403, and I think these units would make a great book all on their own.

Many readers have expressed surprise that I'm already at this stage with my second book.  Well, I surprised myself too, and now I can't wait to see the results! The proof will be...in the proof.

Highball!

Eric

*Hosted by Allen Ludden, who married twice-divorced Betty White, the show revolved around clues passed between contestant and celebrity, to identify specific words in a given category.  Ludden was born Allen Packard Ellsworth, and yes, I did check to see if Ellsworth was the name of an E-series sleeper.  It was not.

It's Ren-tastic!

I snapped this photo while boarding VIA train 59 at Ottawa Union Station.  The Ren consist fairly glints in the late-day sun, as the ultra-modern (back in the day) station cantilever rooflines frame the scene.  VIA's logo is at left, the track leads into the [literal] distance and [figurative] future at right.

That feeling of stepping aboard is what I feel now.

I just loaded a thumb-drive with 220+ photos and 35+ documents.

I'm going to see the printer about this second VIA book.

The feeling is really Ren-tastic!

Finally... 

Highball!

Eric

Gold Discovered in Winnipeg!

What do you notice about these two pictures?  What do they have in common?  What makes them different?  (This sounds like back-to-school time, doesn't it?)  Well, they're at about the same location - the timetable west end of Winnipeg Union Station.  Brian Schuff took both photos.  The Hotel Fort Garry looms over the nose of each locomotive.  Decades show how VIA has changed, from a standardized paint scheme to cool wraps, in this case exhorting Quebecers to donate a few more 'piastres' to the provincial government and maybe find the golden egg (Quebec provincial election tonight, politicos!  Tune in to SRC or CBC for the results!)

These photos also show how far this second book on VIA Rail has progressed.  Over the last year-and-a-half, it's gone from scribbled notes to completed computer files, nearly ready for the printer.  Photos have been sourced, selected, scanned, formatted and fully captioned.  I've received many, many messages of support, interest and offers of assistance that are altogether quite overwhelming.  Thanks to all!  Going with the school theme, this is what I did on my summer vacation.

Who said MLW's didn't make it to Winnipeg.  Duh, steaming!

I expect to have some more very good news, very shortly.

Second section...

My first book is now available at four new locations:

-Canadian Express Line, Brighton ON

-The Right Track, Bracebridge ON

-Doug's Trains, London ON

-Flying Yankee Enterprises, Littleton NH, USA

Thanks to these retailers for stocking my book.

Highball!

Eric

Are 200 Photos Enough?

Well, it's crunch time.  Editing decisions being made amongst a sea of sticky-notes.  I'm making room for 200+ photos.  F's! F40's! P42's! Cars! RDC's! LRC's! Ren's! B&Y! S/S! IC3! Yikes! Even some VIA stuff I didn't know existed.

While this second book on VIA Rail is not primarily a 'picture book', it will be a book of pictures.  And text.  And data.  I've heard that a picture is worth a thousand words.  Well, here are 200,000 words!

The people have spoken.  And I hope to meet your expectations by honouring your requests for more photos.

Speaking of meets, that's VIA No 3 Eng 6519 meeting our VIA No 4 at Uncas AB, May 1986.

Highball!

Eric

Great! It's Glenfraser!

Glenfraser came through town this week.  Fellow VIAphile Jakob Mueller happened to take a photo of this unique car on the tail end of a ten-car VIA No 57 hauled by two P42's during VIA's afternoon rush.

From CN to VIA to BC Rail to VIA again, Glenfraser is one-of-a-kind on VIA's roster.  I've been thinking about what will make Trackside with VIA: Cross-Canada Compendium unique.  I want readers to be interested in it for the same reason Jakob photographed Glenfraser...it's absolutely different, it has a distinctive look, and it tells a very interesting story.  

This book may have too much content.  When I started out over a year ago, I was endeavouring to include everything from VIA factoids, consists from all eras, rosters and dispositions.  It seemed like an insurmountable challenge to find it all.

Now, with the binder of text full and the photo file bulging, something may have to give.  Sage advice from a contributor this past week...more photos, fewer consists.  And that's exactly the way the balance will tip.  Perhaps a supplement of consists will follow.

Highball!
Eric

Glenfraser photo by Jakob Mueller, Kingston ON August 2012

Houston...we have...a Title!

Until this morning, the working title of my second book on VIA has been 'V2'.  Now, I'm pleased to report that after much rumination, while sitting on my front porch, I am proud to announce that there is now a real title: Trackside with VIA : Cross-Canada Compendium.

I thought of giving up the 'Trackside with VIA' prefix, because now it sounds like the Lord of the Rings movie series, and they just keep adding suffixes.  However, this is very much a 'Trackside' book.  It's what an enthusiast or VIAphile would see passing by while trackside, and then be able to look up later.

'Cross-Canada' reflects the sea-to-sea information I've included.  From Prince Rupert and Vancouver, across the Prairies, through the wilds of northern Ontario and Quebec, to the mighty Atlantic.  If there's one thing I've heard loud and clear, it's that potential readers want all parts of Canada represented.  Check!  (The other thing I've heard loud and clear, is more pictures!  Check, too!)

'Compendium' describes the information to be contained herein, better than collection, collage, compilation, or any other alliterative 'C' words that I could have used.  This is a gathering-together, a concise compilation, a presentation of a body of knowledge from the delimited field of Canadian passenger train history. The Bible is a compendium, and it's done pretty well over the years.  Will this become the bible of VIA Rail?  It certainly has the potential.

So now you know...the rest of the story (Paul Harvey reference) and the title.

Highball!

Eric

VIA No 4 on CN's Ashcroft Sub, September 1985 (above)

Photos, anyone?

Oh boy, that was fun!  I just finished preparing a sheaf of photos for my upcoming book on VIA Rail.  As I've mentioned before, when I start looking at photos representing all eras of VIA's history, I forget there's work to do.  Easily distracted, I've included a very, very small sample here.  The one-of-a-kind blue-roof CP-painted 1418 (above) and stainless steel ex-CN sleeper waiting for disposition (below):

And here's E-series sleeper Ernestown (below).  The funny thing is, these are pictures that you won't be seeing in the book.  These are unassigned, waiting on the back burner so to speak, as extras.  I have so many photos to include that some very, very difficult decisions had to be made.  The photos in my book will directly support the text, instead of just being random, under-captioned photos to fill white space.  I've selected enough photos to produce complete photo pages matching the text.  Seriously considering some colour...

This post comes at the end of a nine-hour work block.  It's been a good book day.  Photos are nearing readiness, and eastern Canada's VIA history is looking a lot more complete.  I've printed off and proof-read a lot of text, and this thing is really coming together!

Another dealer...my first book is now available through Flying Yankee Enterprises in Littleton, Massachusetts.

Highball!
Eric