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

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

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!

[snugs]

Thomas the tank engine

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Hi Billie! Just checking in, have much work to catch up on. Primary responsibilities are slow this week so have to catch up on work that I can't normally do - SHREDDING!

[snugs]

That is a beautiful photo sorry you have viewing problems.

[snugs]

I know it is a little earlier for the Easter Bunny but as you said you like bunnies I could not resist to post this one.

Then I saw this delightful kitty in my album and thought you would like this as well

[MEG33]

Meg33

Those are adorable!..Never too early to start! ;)

[Brad’s Gramma]

*sigh*

[Kitty Mittens]

Oh, Sweet Snugs, Thank you! Lol, that Bunny Gif is One of the Cutest I've Seen, and that Kitty is just Precious!

Lovely Flowers for you, Kind FRiend!

[DollyCali]

My trip at the end of this month is canceled. My friend Mark, who I was attending the conference with, has been diagnosed with cancer & will be having surgery in next week or so. We hope to reschedule at a future date(after chemo/radiation etc), although just to be tourists.

[DollyCali]

That is a beautiful photo sorry you have viewing problems.

Here let me fix this....

That is a beautiful photo sorry you have viewing MAN problems.

[DollyCali]

the butterfly shown will be featured HOPEFULLY next week. It is from Central America(dont think THIS EXACT one is stateside)... I recall seeing them when I lived in Panama.. Since I was into entomology, I was in dog's heaven there.. LOTSA BUGS of interest. Also a special amphibian was the golden frog of el valle.. beautiful little creature

[.30Carbine]

God's glorious best for you lies ahead.

True and lovely. Thank you so much for the ping!

[Mama_Bear]

So sorry to hear about your friend's illness and surgery. What a scary thing it must be to be diagnosed with cancer! I hope that you two will be able to reschedule your trip after he is healed and in in good health.

[.30Carbine]

HOORAY!

[Majie Purple]

Really adorable bunny pic. I found one too just like that...but it isn't animated.(Have it as part of my free gifs Sites of collected rabbits & other gifs.) Did you animate that gif for Kitty yourself, or did you come across this one already animated like that? Just wondering is all...ie curious interest.

[.30Carbine]

God's best to you, freema, with testimonies of praise resulting! Amen.

[.30Carbine]

Bunnies in Bluebonnets

Our Redeemer Lives! I love it when He does so with my "mistakes" too!

He makes it all beautiful in His time, amen! What you call your "goof" is one of the loveliest graphics I've seen (; It wouldn't have been as cute if it were only "Bunny in Bluebonnets."

Rabbits multiply; that's how they were made, and they are awfully good at it, LOL!

[MEG33]

I looked the butterfly up and believe it was a feature story in some Houston news site. I think the glass winged kind are Mexican to Central American..The Moody Garden in Galveston has a rain forest and just might be where I thought the picture came from.
I saved the link to the article and picture in favorites for a long while..but not to post..I could not even post a link at that time..LOL I am looking forward to your thread..I love butterflies.

Now to your bad news. The news about your friend is indeed anxiety provoking and scary ..My prayers for his full recovery. ((((Hugs))))..I am so sorry.

[MEG33]

LOL, Indeed!

[Majie Purple]

Such a lovely sparkly siggy there Mamma Bear...Hhhmm...I wonder who made it for you...aroo ? {:O)}@--->>-->and Billie and Meg and...and...and...

[Mama_Bear]

Such a lovely sparkly siggy there Mamma Bear...Hhhmm...I wonder who made it for you...aroo ?

LOL. Yes, wolfie is our very generous and sweet "gif" guru. He has a way of making us all feel very special, doesn't he? :-)

Thanks to him I have folders overflowing with cute bear graphics. He gave me this little pot-bellied bear years ago. I guess it's how he "pictures" me. LOL! It's one of my favorites.