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Grand Trunk RR Name
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Author:  Alan [ Tue Dec 10, 2002 1:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Grand Trunk RR Name
It just occured to me; Did the band Grand Funk Railroad come from the line Grand Trunk Railroad?

Where did they get the name Grand Trunk Railroad from anyway?

Alan

adofmsu@aol.com
Author:  Greg Scholl [ Tue Dec 10, 2002 3:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Grand Trunk RR Name
> It just occured to me; Did the band Grand
> Funk Railroad come from the line Grand Trunk
> Railroad?

> Where did they get the name Grand Trunk
> Railroad from anyway?

> Alan

Taking a little stab at this one. The Band Grand Funk Railroad was indeed from the area of the Grand Trunk Railroad, as they guys were mainly from Detroit. I actually saw them several times in concert in Cincinnati. My guess is they adopted the name from the RR.

As for the GTW itself, well I don't know the exact reason for the name(or other RR names for that matter), but the main TRUNK of the CN-owned route was from Detroit to Chicago, so that might have had something to do with it, I don't know.

Greg Scholl


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Author:  Erik Ledbetter [ Tue Dec 10, 2002 3:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Grand Trunk RR Name
> It just occured to me; Did the band Grand
> Funk Railroad come from the line Grand Trunk
> Railroad?

Yep. Two of the founding members were from Flint, MI in GTW territory.

> Where did they get the name Grand Trunk
> Railroad from anyway?

The original ancestor was proposed in 1851 as the main trunk line through the United Provinces of Canada (ie, Quebec and Ontario). It was formally incorporated in 1852 to build a railway from Toronto to Montreal. It later extended east and west.

Just like Seaboard Air Line meant a "straight line" through the Seaboard states, Grand Trunk Railway chose its name to indicate that it was Canada's "big mainline railway" more or less.

The US GTW was a subsidiary of the parent Canadian company, which after several reorganizations ended up as part of CN. For legal and regulatory reasons the old Grand Trunk's US extensions remained incorporated as separate US companies named Grand Trank after the CN consolidation, albeit under Canadian control.

eledbetter@rypn.org
Author:  Dave Crosby [ Tue Dec 10, 2002 3:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Grand Trunk RR Name
Hello

This is why I watch "VH-1 Behind the Music" all the time. They had a special on Grand Funk and the story was told that someone had painted the "G" into an "F" on a Grand Trunk Bridge and thats where the idea came from. Even had an old photograph of an altered GTW girger bridge, though I'm not sure if the bridge was just done over as a publicity thing or weather it was the original bridge.

Now if we could only get Ohio Central to repaint their 4-8-4 in such a way....

Dave Crosby

bing@epix.net
Author:  John Burke [ Tue Dec 10, 2002 4:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Grand Trunk RR Name
> It just occured to me; Did the band Grand
> Funk Railroad come from the line Grand Trunk
> Railroad?
I may be dating myself, but I think the band originally took the name Grand Trunk RR (I might even have an album with that name) and were threatened legally by the GTW, whereupon they changed it to Grand Funk RR.
> Where did they get the name Grand Trunk
> Railroad from anyway?
Previously answered... the US subsidiaries of CN were: Grand Trunk Western, Grand Trunk(New England),Central Vermont, and Duluth, Winnepeg and Pacific. JB

> Alan


jjburke0918@aol.com
Author:  Greg Scholl [ Tue Dec 10, 2002 4:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Grand Trunk RR Name
(I
> might even have an album with that name)

Don't feel bad, I think I have 2 or three. Remember the first one with "Time Machine". That one featured the group sitting there each holding a model train component, and I think a railroad watch as well.

They were popular in a time of 3-piece rock bands, such as Cream. Brings back the college years!!!
Greg

Videos
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Author:  Greg Scholl [ Tue Dec 10, 2002 4:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Grand Trunk RR Name
> Hello

> This is why I watch "VH-1 Behind the
> Music" all the time. They had a special
> on Grand Funk and the story was told that
> someone had painted the "G" into
> an "F" on a Grand Trunk Bridge and
> thats where the idea came from. Even had an
> old photograph of an altered GTW girger
> bridge, though I'm not sure if the bridge
> was just done over as a publicity thing or
> weather it was the original bridge.

> Now if we could only get Ohio Central to
> repaint their 4-8-4 in such a way....

> Dave Crosby

Unfortunately I don't have cable or dish, so the only time I see cool stuff like this and History Channel is when I travel.

As for GTW 6325 it was transformed back to a GTW engine twice in 2002, one in June for a 6 car Passenger special, and for two days in October hauling freight. Good stuff, and she really worked hard!

Greg Scholl


Videos
sales@gregschollvideo.com
Author:  T.J. Gaffney [ Tue Dec 10, 2002 5:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Grand Trunk RR Name *PIC*
Erik-

That's got to be the most succinct explanation of the GT's history I ever seen. Anyway that I could copy that and use it for those all those who ask us just what "Grand Trunk" our combine came from? ;-) i.e., not to be confused with the Grand Trunk's New England Lines, the Grand Trunk of Canada, the Chicago & Grand Trunk, and the "Grand Trunk" routes in India.....

TJ
> Yep. Two of the founding members were from
> Flint, MI in GTW territory.

> The original ancestor was proposed in 1851
> as the main trunk line through the United
> Provinces of Canada (ie, Quebec and
> Ontario). It was formally incorporated in
> 1852 to build a railway from Toronto to
> Montreal. It later extended east and west.

> Just like Seaboard Air Line meant a
> "straight line" through the
> Seaboard states, Grand Trunk Railway chose
> its name to indicate that it was Canada's
> "big mainline railway" more or
> less.

> The US GTW was a subsidiary of the parent
> Canadian company, which after several
> reorganizations ended up as part of CN. For
> legal and regulatory reasons the old Grand
> Trunk's US extensions remained incorporated
> as separate US companies named Grand Trank
> after the CN consolidation, albeit under
> Canadian control.


Port Huron Museum
Image
tjgaffney@phmuseum.org
Author:  Ron Goldfeder [ Tue Dec 10, 2002 9:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Another RR Named Group
The group "Chicago" also had roots in railroading. They started as the "Chicago Transit Authority" until the legal department at the CTA made them cease and desist.

Museum of Transportation
rdgoldfede@aol.com
Author:  Erik Ledbetter [ Tue Dec 10, 2002 10:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Grand Trunk RR Name
> Anyway that I could copy that and use it for
> those all those who ask us just what
> "Grand Trunk" our combine came
> from? ;-)

Sure TJ, except that I cribbed the first paragraph from a Grand Trunk Web site I found with a quick Google search. The second two, which I DID write instead of stealing, yuo're free to use anyhow you like :-)

eledbetter@rypn.org
Author:  Greg Scholl [ Wed Dec 11, 2002 10:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Another RR Named Group
> The group "Chicago" also had roots
> in railroading. They started as the
> "Chicago Transit Authority" until
> the legal department at the CTA made them
> cease and desist.

That's correct...Saw them once also, but had bad seats in a bad location so it sounded awful. Date and tickets were free so can't complain.

Another rail name group was Pacific Gas & Electic
and there is a newer group called simply "Train"

Greg Scholl


Videos
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Author:  Jeff A. [ Wed Dec 11, 2002 2:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Another RR Named Group *PIC*
Also, a C&W group called Southern Pacific. Some of the members used to be with the Doobie Bros.
J

Image
ngdeadgoat@yahoo.com
Author:  Dave Crosby [ Wed Dec 11, 2002 4:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Grand Trunk RR Name
Hi Greg

Actually I meant I'd have a laugh seeing "Grand Funk" on the side of the engine, if per say the group ever had a revival tour....

Dave Crosby

bing@epix.net
Author:  Aarne H. Frobom [ Thu Dec 12, 2002 10:14 am ]
Post subject:  Don't forget Phoebe Snow
Soul singer Phoebe Snow, popular around 1980, was as I remember given some heat from the owners of the DL&W's trademark. Evidently she prevailed. The GTW was in the habit in the 1940's of painting its name on its many concrete grade separations, and "Grand Funk" altered overpasses were common in the 1970's in suburban Detroit. There was at least one in Lansing, too.

Aarne Frobom
The Steam Railroading Institute
P. O. Box 665
Owosso, MI 48867-0665
Author:  Tim O [ Fri Dec 13, 2002 2:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Don't forget Phoebe Snow
> Soul singer Phoebe Snow, popular around
> 1980, was as I remember given some heat from
> the owners of the DL&W's trademark.
> Evidently she prevailed.

Before things get out of hand. Phoebe's two top 40 hits "Poetry Man" and her duet with Paul Simon, "Gone at Last" were in 1975, although she had minor hits in 1981. I remember reading about a discovery by the Steamtown Foundation of how the DL&W never copyrighted their names, insignia, herald or the Phoebe Snow names or images. Therefore, the original "Phoebe" was up for grabs. With Steamtown coming to Scranton in 1984,( therefore, being more Lackawanna-oriented) I doubt the Foundation could hassle an established star

http://www.nps.gov/stea/
mustang746@earthlink.net
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