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!

[Majie Purple]

"... on the right track with this fine thread,..."
Perfect way to say it given the topic!

[Majie Purple]

Morning Meg!Thanks for sharing your train ride memories.

[freema]

Thank you, dutchess! I really appreciate it.

[Majie Purple]

ooo love that train pic in #50!

[freema]

Oh my goodness, Snugs. That's a beautiful 'portrait'!!!!

He is very handsome. I'd say he's beautiful, but don't know that he'd appreciate that sort of compliment! )

[Majie Purple]

H T H C graphic is aces Meg!

[freema]

We can bring in the Army, eh? (,she said, smiling.)

That side of the family is Army, but we've forgiven them.
He's a DAV, shrapnel all but deafened him, and classic Irish Catholic man of the sea... lovable pain in the arse who you have to love in spite of himself and yourself. LOL!
I can tell you right now he doesn't know whether to pray that I'm at his bedside or thank God that I'm not! More LOL and several tears:..(

[JustAmy]

Thank you, Billie, for this wonderful thread.

I have some wonderful memories of riding the train. About 1942 or 1943, we visited my grandparents. We rode the train from Fresno to the Texas panhandle. I only remember little bits and pieces of that trip.

In 1987 we rode Amtrak from Fresno to Seattle, WA. That trip was memorable. We had a family sleeper and it was very comfortable. While in Seattle, we took a ferry to Victoria Island.

We have since taken a few trips via train, hubby won't fly. We've gone to Salt Lake, Portland, OR, Denver and Spokane by train. We have enjoyed every trip.

PrissyMissy has taken a couple of short train trips ..... must be time for another.



Her first train ride was 2003.
She loved it.
There is just something about trains. Easy to fall in love with them.

[Mama_Bear]

I see the flowers now! Very pretty!

Thank you, wolfie, for my sparkly pink signature. I meant to post it earlier on the thread and forgot. I love pink!

I just brought Chachi home from the vet. He got a clean bill of health and it looks like his mite problem is under control. :-)

I need to run back out for awhile, will be back later.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Afternoon, Mayor.

[Diver Dave]

Mornin/Afternoon, Billie.
I would have been here sooner, but the train was late getting into the station. :)


Took my first train ride about ten years ago. A short journey down to Fresno and back.



One of my sisters took a cross country trip to Maine a few years ago. They rode Amtrack heading east and then returned riding the Canadian rail service. They liked the Canadian route and service much better than Amtrack. I guess the trip through the Canadian Rockies was spectacular.Don't know if it's still protocol, but years ago the military, when figuring travel pay, based point to point mileage via railroad miles.

I've always been fascinated with trains. As a young pup, an electric train was always on my wish list. Finally got my wish granted at age 31. Now I set it up under the Christmas tree every year. I'm not sure who enjoys it most - the Boys or Poppy. :)

[MEG33]

Oh snugs , what a handsome dad you have..Love the picture!

[MEG33]

LOL! How darling!

[snugs]

:0)

[snugs]

Thank you

[Majie Purple]

Neat Photo!

[.30Carbine]

You're very welcome! Nice to see you again!

[Billie]

Now back to your post about the Alaska trainride. That picture is spectacular - the setting would probably scare me to death though! YIKES! I don't think I would dare look out the window on the RIGHT side of the train! (if the train is *going* - on the LEFT side if it is *coming* LOL!)

[Billie]

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.

I downloaded the mp3, too, Lori, because I can never listen to one from a link, with all the *buffering* it has to do. I love it, Nan! It is beautiful! Thank you for posting the link, Lori!

[.30Carbine]

(: You're going to have a wonderful trip!