Have a happy Independence Day, and enjoy the fireworks!

LET FREEDOM RING!!!

Please remember Freedom isn't free. Thank a Veteran!! Happy Birthday America !!

Ross Rowland

What Ross said. Also, thank servicemen when you see them. I always take the few seconds when I see them.

Andy Pullen

Once again, have a happy Independence Day!

A Fourth-appropriate image found online. I don't know the car, but I bet Rainier Rails can ID it! :)

Green Mountain RR (GMRC) observation car #1323, rebuilt from a CNJ coach (same #). Besides the #1323, GMRC has 7 more of these CNJ Pressed Steel-built 86 seat coaches: #1301 (converted to a table car), #1305, #1306, #1312, #1313, #1317 (has cab controls), and #1319 (formerly also had cab controls).

And in closing...

#4449 at Grenada, MS, circa June 1975. Photographer unknown, Fred Goff Collection, uploaded to RR Picture Archives by Joe Marascalco:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2438731



#4449 at Gainesville, TX, circa March 9th, 1976. Photo taken and uploaded by Charles Stookey.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2706561

Wilmington and Western No. 98 was built for the Mississippi Central RR. For a number of years, on each 4th of July the Mississippi Central operated a special train that carried employees, their families and friends to the banks of the Pearl River at Wanilla, Mississippi, where they were treated to a memorable day of festivities. Employees and their families rode for free and friends and neighbors paid a special low fare. These picnics were such an institution that in 1922 the officials and employees all attended amidst a strike.

Documentation exists that shows her sister engine, No. 99, took a turn on July 4th, so it likely that engine No. 98 did as well. These Fourth of July trains were gaily decorated. A 1920 the Hattiesburg American newspaper reported the engine was decked out in red, white, and blue with a gilded horseshoe and star on the front. This is the look your engine crew has tried to recreate for you today.

Since July 4th of this year occurred on a Saturday, would be interesting to see how those trains that ran on 7/4/2015, were decorated. Was it simply a case of flying American flags, or did others decorate more in the Wilmington & Western style? Photos welcome!

Les

Have a happy Independence Day!

More Bicentennial memories from 1975-1976.

Following a tradition of painting streetcars for special occasions (especially WWII bond drives), Third Ave. Railway System 678 sports a paint scheme for the Bicentennial at National Capital Trolley Museum. At that time the car still retains much of the hardware from its years of service in Vienna, Austria as Wiener Stadtwerke 4220, including pantograph, marker lights, and roof-mounted route number sign.

Happy 4th!

Hope everyone has enjoyed their Independence Day!!!

Ted -

Thanks for reposting this thread. I had just read a story in the newspaper about how certain southern communities and/or states, didn't commemorate the Independence Day holiday for many years after the Civil War ended. I had forgotten about the Mississippi Central's special trains for the 4th of July holiday so it was gratifying to re-read the story about that railroads celebration of our nations history.

Hope everyone's 4th this year was enjoyable...and safe!


Les

Have a happy Independence Day!