Happy Veterans' Day #6 -- November 11, 2012

Happy Veterans Day to all the veterans out there. Thank you for your service to your country.

This is the 94th anniversary of Armistice Day. The last surviving World War One veteran, Florence Green of the RAF, died on 04-February-2012. The last combat veteran was Claude Choules of the Royal Navy, who died in May, 2011. The last US veteran was Frank Buckles, who died in February, 2011.

The poster, by Charles Buckles Falls, is from the site LearnNC (http://www.learnnc.org/).  

Ferry Mendocino -- November 10, 2012

Golden Gate ferry Mendocino at the Ferry Building in August, 2001. 

It was very cold today. 

Lowest Fares Best Service -- November 9, 2012

This ad, from Railway Agent, February 1899, encourages people to "save money in the cost of your ticket" by taking the Lehigh Valley Railroad, which was known as the Black Diamond Route because it hauled a lot of anthracite coal. 

The Celebrated Aeolian Pianist -- November 8, 2012

Doctor Peter Henri Van Der Weyde wrote the series of articles which gave this blog its name. He was an accomplished keyboard player and composer. This may be the earliest item I have found that refers to him. It is from the 19-February-1851 New York Daily Tribune.

I have given some thought to ending this monthly series.  

Train Station #53 -- November 7, 2012

Monorail Orange arrives at Downtown Disney Station, wrapped to celebrate the opening of Cars Land. I took this photo during our visit in July.

See more photos on my Park Trains page:
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/index.html

Election Day 2012 -- November 6, 2012

 

I worked from home today so I could leave at 4 and walk down to the polling place.  It was so warm that I didn't wear a jacket.  There was a good crowd, but I had to wait just a few minutes for a machine at my precinct.  

Update 9pm Pacific: It looks as if President Obama has been reelected.  I hope the Republicans don't pull some ugly trick as they did in 2000.  Governor Romney is slightly ahead in the popular vote, but that could change as more western states finish counting.  I hope racists and reactionaries don't take the popular vote as an excuse to make more trouble. 

Firehouse #61 -- November 5, 2012

Engine 33 on Broad Street served as a firehouse from 1896 to 1974.  Note the hose drying tower.  Later it housed Fire Engine Tours (http://www.fireenginetours.com/). 

I took the photo on 10-January-2011.

It was very warm today.