re: Observations From the U.S.
pcc7407
Wednesday, August 7, 2002 12:29 AM
Paul - This "yank" has been coming DownUnder to see and ride Melbourne's
trams and trains every Southern summer for anywhere from one month to
five months at a stretch for the past 12 years (although even when there
I still call the trams streetcars, as trams in most US lexicons are
thought of as little four wheel things in Europe - anything bigger is
Light Rail - or as the rubber tired (tyred) amusement and sightseeing
things a'la Universal Studios and Washington, DC. Melbourne's cars are,
or at least were when they still had trolley poles, much closer to an
American streetcar than they were to any other country's trams). This
"yank" probably knows more about Melbourne's current and recent past
trams and tram operations than many who live with them every day. ++
I've stayed at many friends' homes in Melbourne and other parts of Oz
and feel as at home there as I do in the US. I have been called by more
than one person in Australia, "an honorary Aussie". I've got an
open-ended visa in my passport. +++ I think Melbourne has a fantastic
transportation system (or did before Jeff broke it up), but that a lot
of it is now going to waste with absolutely stupid management, and
absurd political-correctness. I feel sure that the ill-fated experiment
with privatisation will collapse someday and all the private operations
will again be reunited as one. At least I hope they are. I must say
though that to me the streetcar system is much less interesting now with
pantographs than it was with trolley poles. There is just nothing like
trolley poles when it comes to class. But even Yarra's Ws are probably
going to lose their poles in the near future shortly after they come
back on line, unless the National Trust steps in and stops them from
putting pans on. Even bow collectors would be better than pans in my
view. ++ I could go on and on with a "yank's" views but by now a few
up in Sydney are already scribbling hate letters ready to post in
rebuttal. ++ I've also ridden every piece of railroad that hauls
passengers in Australia and a few that don't. I've ridden cross-country
on a freight train, and both of Queensland's mixed trains. Yeah, I love
Australia; I love Melbourne; I even know the words to Advance
Australia Fair, including the second verse. ++ I'll put my "two cents"
in any time you ask for it, but I don't feel it is really fair to do so
when I'm not there full time.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ John Engleman ----
UpSide/DownUnder ---- Importers of the fine line of St. Petersburg Tram
Collection streetcar, trackless trolley, and bus models.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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trams and trains every Southern summer for anywhere from one month to
five months at a stretch for the past 12 years (although even when there
I still call the trams streetcars, as trams in most US lexicons are
thought of as little four wheel things in Europe - anything bigger is
Light Rail - or as the rubber tired (tyred) amusement and sightseeing
things a'la Universal Studios and Washington, DC. Melbourne's cars are,
or at least were when they still had trolley poles, much closer to an
American streetcar than they were to any other country's trams). This
"yank" probably knows more about Melbourne's current and recent past
trams and tram operations than many who live with them every day. ++
I've stayed at many friends' homes in Melbourne and other parts of Oz
and feel as at home there as I do in the US. I have been called by more
than one person in Australia, "an honorary Aussie". I've got an
open-ended visa in my passport. +++ I think Melbourne has a fantastic
transportation system (or did before Jeff broke it up), but that a lot
of it is now going to waste with absolutely stupid management, and
absurd political-correctness. I feel sure that the ill-fated experiment
with privatisation will collapse someday and all the private operations
will again be reunited as one. At least I hope they are. I must say
though that to me the streetcar system is much less interesting now with
pantographs than it was with trolley poles. There is just nothing like
trolley poles when it comes to class. But even Yarra's Ws are probably
going to lose their poles in the near future shortly after they come
back on line, unless the National Trust steps in and stops them from
putting pans on. Even bow collectors would be better than pans in my
view. ++ I could go on and on with a "yank's" views but by now a few
up in Sydney are already scribbling hate letters ready to post in
rebuttal. ++ I've also ridden every piece of railroad that hauls
passengers in Australia and a few that don't. I've ridden cross-country
on a freight train, and both of Queensland's mixed trains. Yeah, I love
Australia; I love Melbourne; I even know the words to Advance
Australia Fair, including the second verse. ++ I'll put my "two cents"
in any time you ask for it, but I don't feel it is really fair to do so
when I'm not there full time.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ John Engleman ----
UpSide/DownUnder ---- Importers of the fine line of St. Petersburg Tram
Collection streetcar, trackless trolley, and bus models.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Free $5 Love Reading
Risk Free!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/09Lw8C/PfREAA/Ey.GAA/DiTxlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/