The Underground Brewery Stories about brewing beer and train traveling from Tom Coughlin

July 25, 2012

Rail imagery and iconography show at Apex Gallery NYC (closes Saturday, so hurry).

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tom @ 10:09 pm

Train travel and photography–natural compliments. Both introduced in the mid 19th century. The developing western rail lines, and the places along side them, were extensively photographed during their construction, for the benefit of investors and promoters.

These photos, popularized as postcard images and in the popular press, led to America’s fascination with the Old West, Native American culture, and places of natural splendor. Conversely, photographing trains led to the development of a number of photographic techniques–panorama cameras, long exposures using multiple flashbulbs. wide-angle lenses, twilight photography, etc. Apexart is at 291 Church St., and the show is free. Unfortunately, the shows turn over quickly there. Exhibit info.

St. Paul Union Depot–New Amtrak station for Minneapolis and St. Paul, opens fall 2012.

Filed under: Destinations — Tom @ 7:01 pm

Interior of Wating room at St. Paul Union DepotNo announcements yet as to when the actual moving day will take place–likely in November. The station will replace Amtrak’s Midway station and immediately serve the Empire Builder. Between 2012 and 2015, a planned expansion of the Northstar commuter rail service will move in to the station, and an extension of the light rail will open with an underground station below the depot’s front steps.

Plans/renderings available online suggest that there will be three tracks at the station. No information as to whether the station will provide parking/power/water/ice service to visiting private cars.

http://www.twincities.com/stpaul/ci_20375699/st-pauls-union-depot-renovation-nearing-completion st-pauls-union-depot-renovation-nearing-completion

July 23, 2012

An introduction

Filed under: About Tom and Meg — Tom @ 8:31 pm

I can’t tell you about trains without mentioning my wife Meg, my traveling companion of more than 20 years. I married a person who loves adventure traveling, rail safaris, industrial history as much as I do. Amazingly, we didn’t discover that we were both rail travel devotees until we were on our honeymoon–I took Meg off to ride the subways and trolleys of Boston and Toronto, and took in a couple of rail museums in between, she didn’t say a word; she didn’t even blink. When we returned home, Meg revealed a side of herself I couldn’t have anticipated–her trousseau was filled with old railroad advertising posters that she had been collecting for some time.

Twenty years later, our home filled up with railroad antique artifacts, and our computers filled up with pictures and stories. Some of our stories have been published, most haven’t. Over time, we’ve traveled about 90 percent of the Amtrak system, 90 percent of Viarail Canada, and also some amazing lines that few people get to travel on. Through our involvement with AAPRCO (the American Association of Private Rail Car Owners), and the National Rail Historical Society, we’ve become involved in devising, operating and promoting unusual rail travels using some pretty snazzy equipment.

 

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