A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....03-07,08-06....All Aboard!

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

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We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, Mama_Bear, GodBlessUSA ~

CLICK

In September, 1825, the Stockton & Darlington Railroad Company began as the first railroad to carry both goods and passengers on regular schedules using locomotives designed by English inventor, George Stephenson. Stephenson's locomotive pulled six loaded coal cars and 21 passenger cars with 450 passengers over 9 miles in about one hour.

I am fascinated by trains. I love to ride on them. When I was a little girl, my teacher took our whole class on a short ride (about 20 miles) on the train that came through our small town every day. Ever notice, especially in small towns, how the engineer always waves at the cars waiting for the train to pass at a railroad crossing? :)

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Songs are written about trains. Movies have been made about them. The first western to tell a complete story in film was "The Great Train Robbery" filmed in 1903 in New Jersey. That movie started a great relationship between trains and movies that still survives 100 years later.

"The General" (1927), a comedy starring Buster Keaton, was regarded as one of the greatest of all silent comedies - and possibly the best train film ever made. It was a Civil War adventure-epic classic made toward the end of the silent era. Posters described the slapstick film as: "Love, Locomotives and Laughs."

Trains were a big factor in several of the James Bond movies, most notably: "From Russia With Love", and "Live and Let Die."

Here are a few more movies either written *about* trains or, as noted above, were a big factor in the storyline. The list is by no means complete, and most of them I've neither seen nor heard of, but for what it's worth, here they are....in no particular order:

• Silver Streak ~ 1934
• Union Pacific ~ 1939
• Murder on the Orient Express
• Von Ryan's Express
• Strangers on a Train
• The Lady Vanishes
• Son of Frankenstein
• Sherlock Holmes in Washington
• Terror by Night
• Ticket to Tomahawk
• The Great Locomotive Chase
• The Narrow Margin
• North by Northwest
• The Train
• Orphan Train
• Terror Train
• Chattanooga Choo Choo
• Back to the Future Part III
• Runaway Train
• Planes, Trains and Automobiles ~ 1987
• Throw Momma from the Train

These are but a few songs I found about trains. I'm sure you can all add many, many more to the list. I've listed only those I could link to music - mostly midis, but the last one is an mp3 - and still a favorite of mine: "Midnight Train to Georgia" by Gladys Knight and the Pips.

"Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe"
"Casey Jones"
"Chattanooga Choo Choo"
"City of New Orleans"
"Freight Train"
"Honky Tonk Train Blues"
"King of the Road"
"Last Steam Engine Ride"
"Night Train"
"Orange Blossom Special"
"Wabash Cannonball"




~ Gladys Knight and the Pips ~

Finally, let me close with a link to an inspirational album by Country & Western Singer, Randy Travis. You should be able to view the titles of the songs in the album; and hear clips of those you might be interested in.

"Glory Train, Songs of Faith, worship & praise" ~ Randy Travis

12-28-05 ~ Hall of Fame #14

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 03-06-06 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Billie]

[Billie]

[NautiNurse]

Ping for a train ride!

[.30Carbine]

I also love trains, but I've never taken a trip on one! I love everything about them--the sound of the whistle in the night, so lonesome and homesick; the chug and rustle of the engine and wheels; the track through the canyon and along the river; the velvet covered seats and the smartly dressed Conductor--these things stir a longing in me that goes beyond a mere train ride.

I also love Randy Travis (: Thank you for all the great pics and the links to the songs!

"The Polar Express" has joined my collection of all-time favorite Christmas movies!

[Mama_Bear]

I am enjoying your mp3, Midnight Train to Georgia. What an interesting topic, Billie, and beautifully presented, as always. Didn't you say once that you have traveled on the Orient Express? I would love to do that! I saw a special about it on TV sometime ago. Very elegant!

Interestingly enough, I just arranged for one of our shore excursions in Alaska while we are in port in Skagway next July. We are going on the train trip through White Pass to the summit. This is the Pass that thousands of hopeful gold miners traversed after gold was discovered near Dawson. This doesnt' look like it will be quite as elegant as the Orient Express, but I think it will be one of the highlights of our trip to Alaska.

[Mama_Bear]

The Polar Express" has joined my collection of all-time favorite Christmas movies!

Hi, .30Carbine. Thanks for the recommendation on "The Polar Express" I have been thinking about renting it. I am going to put it at the top of my Netflix queue. :-)

[.30Carbine]

Hi, Mama_Bear! The movie does an incredible job of transferring and transforming the artwork from the book to the screen. For the most part the film is the secular message of Christmas and not the holy, but if you listen carefully there is one actual hymn! If you "read between the lines" as the story progresses it is possible to see an underlying message of Faith In God Who Is Unseen.

[Mama_Bear]

I am looking forward to seeing it even more now. Thanks, .30.

I have one more post to make and then I am off to bed. Good night and sweet dreams. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Here is a song about a "Gospel Train" that has special meaning to me because it features our very own VWNan's son on the fiddle (I believe he is also one of the vocalists). The melody has a haunting, mournful quality, like the sound of a distant train, which can be heard throughout the song. I think it is beautiful.

"Talk About Suffering Here Below"

[jwfiv]

Gosh, are you on the right track with this fine thread, Miss Billie ... thank you.

Not a half hour ago, I was listening to Johnny Cash singing Orange Blossom Special.

I've been on only one train trip ... when I was 10 ... from L.A. to Clovis, NM, where Grandma and Grandpa picked us up and took us on home to the farm across the line in Texas ... I remember we loved the French toast for breakfast in the dining car ... and that soothing lull of the clackety-clack ... )

[.30Carbine]

I couldn't work your link, but I found it HERE. I love those sounds! Thank you.

[.30Carbine]

Just "WOW!" to that pic! Alaska is one of only two states I have not visited (the other Hawaii). I really hope to visit someday.

[GodBlessUSA]

What a fun thread. Always beautiful. The pledge is gorgeous. :)

I thought Silver Streak was very silly and funny. Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder were great together.

North by Northwest, a classic with a very handsome favorite actor of mine. :)

My son loved trains. Maybe, more so than any child. There was a train display in the town we lived in. It was always in that store window for years. It was fantastic. We loved going and watching that train. I remember having to leave to go home one day, and that was his first ever temper tantrum. :)

I must go listen to the songs. :)

[aumrl]

"I love everything about them--the sound of the whistle in the night, so lonesome and homesick; the chug and rustle of the engine and wheels; the track through the canyon and along the river" I HOPE IT"S NOT A GENERATIONAL THING. REMEMBER NEXT CHRISTMAS - PUT ONE UNDER YOUR TREE!

[lonestar]

My favorite book is, "The Little Engine that Could." TOOT! TOOT!

Weinie

[GodBlessUSA]

This song is beautiful! Thanks Mama_Bear. :) WVNan's son is very talented.

[The Mayor]

March 7, 2006

Dirty Hands

Read:
Romans 2:12-16

Gentiles, . . . although not having the law, are a law to themselves, . . . their conscience also bearing witness. —Romans 2:14-15

Bible In One Year: Deuteronomy 3-4; Mark 10:32-52

One of William Shakespeare's most intriguing characters is Lady Macbeth. Having heard a prophecy that her husband would become king, she convinced him to assassinate the reigning monarch. When the bloody deed was done, Macbeth was conscience-stricken. His wife rebuked his squeamishness and helped him cover up the crime. Her husband was crowned king. But that wasn't the end.

Lady Macbeth's initial resolve turned to remorse. She grew mentally unstable, and couldn't stop washing her hands. "Will these hands ne'er be clean?" she asked. Finally, the guilt drove Lady Macbeth to suicide.

Guilt is an emotion that can weigh us down whenever we cross a moral boundary. All of us are capable of feeling guilty when we violate the law of God written in our hearts (Romans 2:14-15). If we continue to sin willfully, however, we will dull our conscience.

Lady Macbeth is a good reminder of a biblical principle: Whatever we sow, we will certainly reap (Galatians 6:7-8). When we feel temptation, we need to listen to our conscience—not try to silence it. It's far better to avoid committing an act we will later regret than to live with the consequences. —Dennis Fisher

Sometimes there's just one step to go
Before we yield to sin,
But God will help us to say no
If we trust His power within. —Hess

Only Jesus' blood can wash away the stain of sin.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
The Forgiveness Of God

[DollyCali]

Good morning everyone!!! Colors, Content, Contrast - so wonderful - a great thread &presentation today Billie.. I like trains too.

A couple favorite movies for me involving trains in one way or another: Bridge over River Kwai; Polar Express; Die Hard: With a Vengeance; Harry Potter movies; Triplets of Belleville (where a train seems to have hit a memory area despite the main theme of tour de France /biking,); how the west was won; Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, . It seems so many movies now add train "fight" scenes - of course atop the train... to the necessary car chase scene.

Then there are the MANY sad movies including the trains that carried the Jewish captives to the death camps.. Schlinder's List perhaps among the most famous.

some favorite trains of mine:

Bullet Train (Japan) -- I was only in Japan once but during the several weeks there spent a lot of time on the very fast train

Cleveland RTA -- well this is not a system of prestige / notoriety but one that I have been on many times over the years in NE Ohio. It is substandard in many ways when comparing with NYC or DC systems.. but it is the best we have.

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad -- I am a volunteer with this train. Do Polar Express, Summer wine tasting trains, special events. The train runs about 1/2 mile from my house, down the valley & along the towpath thru national park.

This pix is very close to my home. The bridge spans the river on which I kayak, & the towpath on which I bike.



Durango/Silverton Narrow Gage - have been there & took ride several times.. had my first margarita at the Strater Hotel in Silverton..MANY years ago

Old trains & trails become restaurants, shops.. and for me the common use is the Rails to Trails We have many of them near my home.. the closest being .3 mile!

I have many hundreds of train pix in archives but as I will be gone most of day , will not have time to prepare, put on server & post. I do a lot of biking along train side areas with my friend John. He is a big time train person & each train track has a service road that runs aside it. IT IS TERRIBLE to bike on.. big holes, ruts, rocky /rough terrain.. but you see things & areas you NEVER see from roads.. and take lots of great pix. After 30 or more miles of a bike ride like that you are very dirty, and very sore from the assault to your body parts.

Anyone who is really into trains usually is really into big train trestles also.. Have a ton of pix of those also...

[MEG33]

Great thread, Billie.


Wonderful memories of lunch in the dining car, keeping the very young kiddies entertained on a train ride home to see my parents..My daughter would not stay in the flimsy car seat in a car and did somersaults into my lap while I drove so I chose a two hour train ride instead of crashing the car! My dad would drive to another town to pick me up..There was illness in the family and they just needed our presence..The train was a wonderful solution..

My mother and dad took many train trips to vacation.

[MEG33]

Colorado was my parents' favorite train trip destination.