Posted on 05/06/2017 12:02:17 PM PDT by BenLurkin
The disaster struck without the least warning. The ship had angled its blunt nose toward the mooring mast, the spider-like landing lines had been snaked down and the ground crew had grasped the ropes from the nose, when the explosion roared out, scattering ground crew and spectators like frightened sheep.
The passengers, who were waving gayly a minute before from the observation windows, were so stunned they could not describe late what happened. Some jumped to the sandy landing field along with members of the crew. Others seemed to have been pitched from the careening skyliner as it made its death plunge.
The heat drove back would-be rescuers, so it could not be determined for how many the Hindenburg made a burning tomb. Fire departments from nearby communities converged on the field and soon had streams of water playing on the broken air liner. The flames still enveloped the outline of the ship, apparently feeding on the fuel oil supply with the Hindenburg carried for its Diesel engines.
Somewhere in the glowing furnace were the two dogs, 340 pounds of mail, and the ton of baggage which it had aboard.
Thirty-one survivors were accounted for in hospitals and other places in the Lakehurst area at 10:45 p.m.
...
Even as the flames were consuming the dirigible, passengers were arriving at the air station with luggage for the return trip. The schedule called for a rapid turnabout this time, with departure toward midnight tonight.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
I would love to take a nice train trip. Been wanting to do it my whole life.
I’ve been on a bus and as Hank Jr said “bussin’ ain’t where it’s at”.
My grandfather was next to the landing tower when it exploded. My mom, aunt, and grandmother were in the housing base and saw it. My grandfather lived thru it but they did not know for almost 3 hours after it happened.
Thanks. We had a nice time eating KFC (one of her delights) and watching the Derby. And having ice-cream cake.
She said she needs to find a different, younger event to claim so no one knows how old she really is!
My parents did finally take the train around the country. Stopped in L.A. to visit with my brother, then continued on south side back home. Dad is a train nut so definitely his bag. I would like to too, if I had the time and money. Trains are great (I’ve used many times both for vacation and just visiting from my home to hometown, etc); even if you’re just in coach you can walk around freely, put your luggage in easy access where you can get to it if needed, have food either in snack bar and/or dining car.
Amtrak did make me mad that they abandoned this WONDERFUL silly ham-and-cheese sandwich. I’m not big on sandwiches, but I found out their honey-ham & Muenster on a soft small sub roll, heated, was FANTASTIC. Didn’t even need condiments, it was so good. For me, that’s saying something! Curse them for dropping it!
I would love doing what your parents did. I’m green with envy!
I saw quite a bit of all the 48 continental states in my years as a truck driver. Enough to want to see much more of each. This is a beautiful country!
Problem was a truck driver is on a tight schedule so very little look around time.
I did go to Dodge City, KS with it’s old west Main street, hitching rails and all.
Saw the Painted Desert, drove through Donner Pass several times (what were they thinking!), took US and state highways from San Diego, CA to El Paso, TX (BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY!), drove I-10 across Texas all the way to Florida, been to all the northern states during snow season, and all that did was make me want to see more.
I’ve been a truck and train fella my whole life.
Now that I’m retired I just want to take the time to explore the country.
I think a combination of train and rental car would suit me just fine.
I LOVE sandwiches!
My favorite is a Reuben on white bread as most rye bread masks the flavor of the meat and cheese.
My wife used to take a thin cut ribeye, slow cook it then put it on wheat bread with mustard and sauerkraut! HEAVEN!
You’ve made me put a coast to coast train trip on my bucket list.
With the problems with the TSA and airline practices you would think that AMTRAK would advertise to create more business, but they aren’t.
Opportunity missed IMHO.
When I lived in Philly, I once lived down the street from an older lawyer. Occasionally he would come over while I showed him how to use a computer.
One day when he came over, I mentioned that I was watching a show about the Hindenburg. He told me he had seen it himself, as it passed overhead.
He was a Jewish guy and said that seeing the swastika so close was unnerving.
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