Rusty Rails Part Two - Engine Shed with a Side of Tofu!

One of the perks of model railroading is the freedom to work on whatever section or theme suits your mood, whether it be foundation, track laying, scenery, rolling stock, electrics, etc., etc.  Nonetheless, construction has now begun in earnest, so the first thing I decided to do was one of the primary structures, the engine shed.  The concept has been in the back of my mind for quite some time in many iterations.  But the basic structure is to hold/service engines.  Luckily a recent work project lent itself to being adapted for train use, rather than for its other more "lofty" function, so I modified and scaled the virtual model accordingly, and had it 3D printed.

A truss frame only partially clad, it is 10" long, 5" wide and 5" high.  It was scaled to fit the track plan, located on the lower left side of the layout.

That was the easy part.  What followed then were many evenings of scrounging various parts, greeblies and other bits and pieces from the many storage boxes.  Nothing was safe...  Eventually through alot of trial and error, the shed appeared.  It is very similar to a previous project of mine...

Earlier designs had a much larger crane on the upper platform, but it looked clumsy so I opted for a small gantry crane on I-beams.  

Surplus laser and 3D printed parts, various scale model bits from tanks, aircraft, & other sacrificial trains,  lots of good ole dollar store acrylic shapes, vitamin bottles, and of course, the now traditional Zaini egg, which has replaced the previous Kinder egg (due to the design change, and I have run out of the old style).  

 

I wanted it to look functional, with every part having a logical reason.  (You can get an idea of the scale if you look for the 00 gauge fellow in the high visibility vest).  One thing I waffled about was whether or not to include lighting.  Since there was no blueprint or plan, I had to wait until the model was finished and add the lights in post construction.  That was several hours of frustration weaving a 20 foot string of mini lights through the structure, starting at the two large tanks and working to the rear.  Most of the lights are inside.

With the lighting completed, the bulbs were masked and it was off to the "Cheap as Chips" spray booth for prime time!

The red oxide gives it a nice industrial/steel mill kind of vibe.  Also brings out much more detail.  The caps to mask the lights were not as effective, so I had to use a cotton bud with some white spirits to remove the paint.  An electrical test (which I forgot to photograph...) assured me all the lights were working.  I didn't want to go through that again!

There are still many small detail parts to be added, such as ladders (which are too fragile to include at this time).  Hopefully soon I will come up with some kind of colour scheme.  I have to avoid yellow and black as all of my switcher engines are that colour.  But there will be lots of graphics; signage, wasp strips and checkerboards, much like that previous model from a few years ago...  

And lets not forget about the weathering.  Those pastels, pigments, and washes will be getting quite the workout!  Stay tuned to this blog; it's going to be a few months before the final product will be ready.

Rusty Rails, or A Very Long Train Journey

 Welcome back, Readers!  Hard to believe it has been almost a year since the last post.  But, as hinted in that post, time to talk trains!  Yet another interest/hobby that goes way back to England.  Besides getting influenced by the productions of Gerry Anderson, I frequently would watch the steam trains (yes, steam!) go by the house along the Walsall-Lichfield line.  The tracks were only 700 feet away from the front door, across a field with no obstructed view (too bad I don't have photos of this..).  We would also take these trains to visit Mum's parents in Walsall, as Dad was busy with the wine shop.  But as you may know, the five of us packed up and relocated to Canada in 1964.  (Surprisingly that field stayed empty, until in 2005, it was bulldozed for a housing estate).  But the active line was also gone for many years as well.  (If you want to fast forward and avoid the long life story, just scroll down past the italics...)

So watching these trains got me interested.  I discovered you can buy operating model trains!  On and off for years later I tried unsuccessfully to get a layout started.  I had the obligatory ovals, but now it was for the Canadian variety, all diesels and no steam.  British train models were limited in availability back then.  Only Tri-ang was around at the time.  I still watched trains around home, a 5 minute bike ride to a small shunting spur line.  Here we little perishers would put pebbles on the tracks so when the engines ran over the rocks they would be pulverized to dust.  All the while hiding in the bushes, as we were told by a reliable source that if we got caught, the train men would kill us and throw our bodies in the ditch...  

Interest began to wane so I diverted to another pursuit, slot cars.  I got my first 1/32 Eldon set around 1968, took over the 5x9 ping pong table in the rec room and built an empire for about four years.  Even had the dune buggy set!  Towards the end of this period I became bored with the larger scale cars and decided to liquidate the inventory and converted to HO scale AFX cars by Aurora.  You could get a lot more in the same space, and there was the possibility of integrating the race track with trains.  This I attempted but soon realized the cars could go and leave the rails behind, this being sometime in 1975.  Keep in mind that I only received new sets/cars/etc during Christmas and birthdays, or whatever I could scrape up with my allowance.

Then it happened.  Late 1976 I walked into the local Leisureworld (Google that!), and found this new product line of 00 gauge British trains called "Mainline Railways".  They were great!  Steam, diesel, wagons and a track line (found out recently it was Peco track).  But trains from the UK are not the same scale; 00 gauge is 1:76 but runs on HO (1:87) scale track.  I read the print off the catalogue, but unfortunately at this time, I was working part-time and all my money had to go to College tuition and supplies, plus keeping the new/used car working!  (Also remember during all this time I am still heavily entrenched in sci-fi, which has always had priority!)

So three years later, I graduated as an Industrial Designer, and find that the promised prospects for a career in this field are not as available as lead to believe, so I stay at my current job.  During this time, of course, those British Trains are not being sold locally any more so I decide to get started on a Canadian theme in HO.  I start with a basic oval on a 4x6 plywood table in my bedroom.  Inventory is easy to obtain.  I have a steady paycheck and there are many stores in the area, plus I read "Model Railroader" for the latest tips and tricks.  I became bored with the round and round oval and dismantled the layout.  I had seen a shelf switching layout plan in MR and found that was more my style. I planned it out on paper; it was based on a plan called the "Iron Mountain".  And here is the first illustration in this long winded life history!

At least I was able to use some of the College skills!  I got as far as benchwork and laying track, but when it was time to wire it up, two things happened.  First I acquired a stable full time job, and I was 19 and still living at home.  Second was the escape; my own bachelor flat.  The layout was dismantled yet again and all bits put in a box, and eventually selling most of it.  The model railroad was put aside to allow me to enjoy my new found independence!  And to top it off I discovered sources selling imported anime kits from Japan.  Poor trains...  And then it changed again, in June of 1982.

"Blade Runner" came to town.  Saw it opening night and have never been the same!  Two weeks later I took a girl to see it; she is now my wife of almost 39 years!  At least she knew what she was getting herself into!  And there's more.  Her Dad has a basement empire of HO trains, in the theme of the Duetches Bundesbahn.  You may remember him, the afore mentioned "Mister H" in an earlier post, "My First Commission".  So at least I can enjoy trains again, albeit vicariously to some extent.  With so much to do now, the personal train journey goes on an indefinite hiatus.  I eventually give the remaining items to the future Father-In-Law (and it's all still there!).  

In this long period of time between 1982 and the present, many things happen as in life often does.  Other hobbies & interests, employment ups and downs, family, health, home renovations, etc. and etc.  And then about two years ago, things began to change yet again.  I was looking for a new model project and happened to catch a TV show on abandoned areas throughout the world.  Here was a derelict railyard.  Empty buildings, cars and engines idle and rusting, and lots of green taking it all back!  Started the diorama the next day.  I was going to build a scene about 12" x 24" with an abandoned railway in HO scale (1:87) with people running from and/or attacking a group of terminator-like hunter-killer units, similar to that smaller "Hunter-Prey" model I did several years ago.  I had alot of old rail cars (from a charity shop purchase), and other railway bits from here and there.  About a few nights later while arranging the cars, I thought to myself, why am I wasting time doing a static diorama?  I have the capability to do a fully functional layout in the same space.  Everything was packed up and I began to work on a track plan for an operating switching layout.

But during this interim time I had also been slowly collecting British trains again.  I had found several sources and was attending Train Shows.  I was finding used "Mainline" products and finally getting those items lost all those many years ago.  As I was most familiar with Atlas track products, I downloaded their ATPS software.  The final result was a very familiar configuration...

Now that we are past the long intro,  I'll back up a bit first.  The layout above is only 15" x 62".  The base is an old door acquired during renovations.  I figured as this was going to be my first actual layout in over 40 years, I should build a small portable shelf to get my skills back.  Seems the "Iron Mountain" has followed me all this way!  It's a two level with a railyard on the right and then ramps up to an industrial area to the left.  Satisfied with the plan, I went out to get the track.  Unfortunately, there had been something happening on planet Earth recently...

Covid-19 threw quite the spanner in the works.  Everything and everyone was affected as you all remember in many ways; we are only just coming out of the worst of it in this part of the world.   With so many people at home, locked down and travel restricted, there was suddenly free time to work on hobbies and such.  Muggins here wasn't so fortunate; he has an essential service job.  (Don't get me wrong; I was grateful to still be working).  But when I tried to order the track and parts I needed, they are sold out everywhere.  Even now there are shortages, back orders and advanced reservations.  Looks like the train is going to be but on hold yet again.  Someone trying to tell me something...?

One of the major facets of model railroading is the diversity of skills one can utilize.  Depending on how much you want to put into it, there is of course model construction, scenery, carpentry and electronics to name a few.  So even though stymied by lack of track, I can work on other elements.  And then, quite recently, I came upon an advert on Kijiji; new and used HO track both Atlas and Peco.  Bought it all the next day! (Thanks, Lance!).  It had everything I needed; turnouts, sectional & flex track and some special wyes and crossings.  I could now get the track down.  But yet again there was a small problem...

The original plan used all Atlas track; now I have to convert to Peco components.  Not a problem.  Just have to redo the track plan with the available parts.  I downloaded S-C-A-R-M, Simple Computer Aided Railway Modeler.  It has all the templates I required, so the plan was converted.  It had to be mirrored as the original plan is "left-centric", whereas most of the turnouts I now had were right hand.  And now the final track plan, "Rusty Rails".

It's basically the same plan, just mirrored and a few more changes added.  Left side is the rail yard and engine facilities, which ramps up to the industrial area.  I omitted a runaround track in favour of using helper engines instead; more operational possibilities.  On the left there is also a track which will connect to the fiddle yard, and possibly to extend the layout at a later date.  (I have another door the same size...)  Here is a shot of the reclaimed door.

It fits perfectly on my workbench with room for the fiddle yard.  There is also a frame underneath for extra support and room for wiring.  The workspace and the operating space will be the same location.  In a small area like this there will be hyper-detailing throughout.  And the inclusion of sci-fi Easter eggs will abound!  I next printed the track plan at full scale.

That gives you more perspective of the size of the layout.  I will be using foam for contouring, and  backdrops & flats for structures and other scenery elements.  To get a further vision of the layout, I added some engines and wagons.

So I now have everything I need to finally get started!  Except time of course, but it's good to have something planned for retirement.  Currently I am working out the contouring and grading in RHINO, and building the engine shed.  Subtle changes and modifications are bound to happen over time.  The theme at present is an alternate near future just slightly sideways from ours.  Originally the "Blade Runner" aesthetic was going to be predominant but I decided a lush/greener/overgrown (and less rainy) scenario would be better.   (But keep an eye out for an electric sheep or two...)

That was a long one!  See what happens when I don't blog for a while...  Updates and progress reports will be posted as they transpire.  It's almost summer now and the garden beckons, so I fear the trains will be slow moving for the next several months.  

Have a better one!

Voyage of the Spammed - Part 7: "Strangers on a Train"

 Previously in Part 6, we were just docking in Montreal.  The long sea voyage is now officially over, and it is time to get back on to dry land.  But there is still one more mode of transport to get to our destination of Kitchener, Ontario from Montreal, Quebec.  We will be taking the train!

Not my first train trip by far.  Back in Lichfield, we would take the steam train many times (yes, steam!), to visit relatives in the city of Walsall.  Actually the main line ran very close to the old bungalow and I remember just watching them from my bedroom window.  (This will affect me in later years which will be addressed in future posts...).

Three hours previous before we docked, Dad had a telegram sent from the ship to his sister in Kitchener.  We would be bunking at their home for a few weeks until we got a place of our own.  If you don't know what a (traditional) telegram was, Google it.  Very basic message; no filler and just the facts:

There is the 6"x8" very well aged (and slightly redacted) telegram my Auntie would have received that day.  It would have been personally delivered to her doorstep.  Not like this mind you, but in an inconspicuous 3.5"x6" envelope of the same paper.

The address would have been in that window; I have no idea what the "phoned" stamp means.  And of course, the back of same.  (Too bad we never got the hat-trick for this trip...  Oh well, two out of three ain't bad).

 So as the message read, we will be departing on the 4:30 train.  There won't be much down time as we will have to disembark the ship, get our luggage, and make way to the station.  Dad had planned the journey well as he had already purchased the tickets in Birmingham before we left.  There were three tickets still intact.  As none had specific names, I suspect it was one for each adult, plus Angie, who was 10 years old.  Guess my younger sister and I travelled for free, or were smuggled in one of the suitcases...  The train ticket came in these very bright and graphic 3.5"x7" envelopes.

This is not the train we will be taking.  Too bad; would have liked to see the mountains.  Back of the envelope shows Canadian Pacific's then World Wide Web.

  

The train ticket itself is 2.75"x6".  Done in the same bright yellow and using the same graphics as the envelope, but more monochromatic.

The black border is the binding edge.  It opens up to this first page:

Got the official stamp from ship and a few other details plus other does & don'ts.  Opposite has more specific information as it pertains to this trip.  This page also has carbon underneath so there are two copies of this page on the ticket.

So Dad had purchased these tickets two months ahead of departure, costing him 8 pounds and 40 per ticket.  Times three would have been 25 pounds and 20 in total for the rail journey.  The same today would be 438 pounds ($755.00 CAD).  

As you can see, we will be changing trains in Toronto.  The last part of the trip will be not will CP, but now Canadian National.  All this running around; must have been very stressful for Mum and Dad managing all this; the itinerary, the baggage, and three kids who are probably very confused and sleep deprived by now.  But before "All Aboard", the back of the ticket.

More on the Canadian Pacific empire that was.  I have no idea what time we finally arrived in Kitchener.  Today it is roughly eight to nine hours, but I suspect it took a little longer as this was 57 years ago.  Either way it would have been sometime after midnight on June 10.  Was Auntie there to meet us?  I have vague recollections of the train trip, but since it was mostly dark, not much to remember.  I guess I woke up in a strange house in a new country.  What's for breakfast?  Got any Weetabix...?

Now temporarily settled, we bunked with my Auntie, her husband and two kids close to our ages.  I reckon it was not long and acquired an apartment in the area.  Dad was a UK trained (by apprenticeship) fine woodworker, and had sent ahead CVs to various plants in the area; he had a job within the week.  It was only a few weeks before we moved to our own 2 bedroom apartment, not far from Auntie.  Lucky me I got to start school that first September!  But it was only temporary yet again.  A few months later the family now had a house nearby in a new subdivision, but a different school district, so Kindergarten was split that year.

My parents worked their assess off to give us all a good life.  Dad actually had three jobs going, and Mum would work part time as well as caring for the kiddies.  School for the rest of us and dealing with this new thing called "snow" for about half a year.  

The only evidence of our crossing in later years (besides the period slide shows with the good ole Carousel projector), was the only actual souvenir purchased on the trip.  This banner hung on the rec room wall for many years, near the bar with the awesome cedar shingled roof.

Made of some plastic canvas, it is 5" wide and 11" long.  I think it originally had a dowel through the upper sleeve and then some tassels or ornate twine to hang it.  Perhaps one of the cats took care of that...  

So there we have it.  In closing I would like to dedicate and remember all the original family members from the trip who are no longer with us.

Dad passed away in 2014 from Alzheimer's after a seven year battle with the disease.  Not a very fair or honourable way to go after working so hard for many years.  I will be addressing his legacy in a future post.

We lost Mum four years later on (ironically) Father's Day in 2018, and then as mentioned previously, Angie in 2020 due to cancer.  

As for myself, I am still in Ontario rather close to the original "landing site".  But Sister "M" moved to the Bahamas Group of islands over twenty years ago, leaving me all alone in the Great White North.

And so ends the tale.  Next time, as hinted, the scars left by British Rail...

 

Voyage of the Spammed - Part 6: "Bienvenue Au Canada!"

Welcome back, readers!  We've been eight days at sea and we are almost at the end of the voyage.  This last day will be spent traversing the Saint Lawrence Seaway, with a brief stopover in Quebec and then on to the final docking in Montreal.  So now is the time to get everything packed, pay off some tabs and say good bye to the ship and crew.

But before we dock, here are some more fun facts.  There were other cards issued daily besides the Entertainment guides (see previous Part 5).  Unfortunately Mum only saved three days worth.  These cards contained important information, rules and regulations.  Not just what to do but to do it properly.  These 4.5" x 6" cards on heavy (pastel coloured) paper were folded with a very basic header.  The card opened up to a 9" x 6" page with such things as mealtimes and ship etiquette.  

This is the cover for the first card for June 2, 1964, the day of departure.  The interior is a little more informative...

All of it fairly self explanatory.  You will notice they make no allusion to the fact that we are Tourist Class (enhanced with bold type!) and to basically Keep off the Grass in First Class!  At least we have a window seat!  The second issue of "Today" is for June 3.

Meal times again, with the option of visiting the kitchen as health inspectors!  Try not to smoke in bed and keep it down after midnight!  The final card was for June 7, 1964; the Sunday.

First indication of a laundry service, time to pay the bar tab and you can call home if you want to.  It's a little late to turn back now...

So this being June 8, 1964, we have entered the Seaway.  But as per normal maritime procedure, the ship will be navigated by the harbour pilot.  Looks like he will be on board for almost a day!  The Pilot Boat is approaching...

Such calm water in the Seaway today!  Not like those early gut-wrenching waves at the beginning of the trip.  The Pilot boat is now coming alongside.

Surprised Dad didn't take more photos along the way.  Did I fall asleep...?  The next shot is an aft view; we have already sailed under the Jacques Cartier Bridge.  Lots of ships moored and other water traffic.  That red brick building on the left is Molson's Brewery.  Don't know who that fellow in the dark suit is, but the crew cut and ears belong to yours truly.

This ain't no fancy terminal!  We have at least one tug escorting us into the docks, and it is very industrial area, including some of the other ships.  Guess they just put us where there is room...

Almost there.  Not sure which side of the ship this is but now mooring lines are being anchored to the pier.  Mum is looking over her shoulder at Dad who is taking this final shot of the journey.  I wonder what she was thinking at the time...?  No matter, we have arrived and look, there are some locals to meet us!

The last card distributed to the passengers was not entertainment or regulations, but an 8 x 10 pastel coloured card "Abstract of Log".  It is the good-bye from Captain W. S. W. Main along with the data from the voyage.  Except for June 4 and 5, we had fairly good seas.  Good too if you want to go back and chart the ship's course.

According to the log we docked in Montreal at approximately 12:30 on June 9, 1964.  57 years ago today.  I reckon that was followed by several hours of disembarking, immigration, and retrieving luggage.  

But we are not settling here.  My Auntie is in Ontario, so next time it will be the last part of the journey.  Not on water this time but by rail.  CP runs trains too!

 

Voyage of the Spammed - Part 5: "It Was 57 Years Ago Today"

 Welcome back to the Atlantic Ocean, Readers.  It has been a few years since the last post in this series so I felt it was high time to get back on the boat!  And as the title suggests, today is the 57th anniversary of the departure from Liverpool way back on June 2, 1964!  

So this post will focus on the many varied activities to do during the 7 day voyage.  Of course this is not a luxury liner with the amenities of today.  It was back to basics, take it easy and relax.  Eating and dining was on a schedule, as were many of the activities.  

On the Empress there were 8 decks that was accessible for the tourist class.  (First Class had their exclusive areas which were off limits, mostly in dining and a few activities).  The best way to illustrate this is with the following cut-away image found on the internet.  (It was posted on several sites with no indications of copyright.  Please don't sue me; it is only for reference and I do not make any money on this blog...)

I have augmented some areas as well as indicated the areas of dining and leisure.  The coloured ellipses will make more sense when you refer to the Entertainment Cards which were made available to all passengers.  There was a specific card for each day.  The cards measured 5"x7" on a heavy stock with a colour illustration.  

This is the first card of the trip from June 2, 1964.  It opens up to 10" x 7" to reveal the text inside.

Now this being the day of departure it is of course not a full day schedule.  The ship is set to leave Liverpool docks at 1630 hours; I have no idea what time we boarded but I am sure it was early.  Giving people time to find their berth, unpack and get settled was the priority, but there is always time for Tea, being served at 4:00pm in the Carleton Restaurant.  

Now as you can see from the cutaway,  this is located in the lower deck of the ship, actually the Restaurant deck, which is Deck 7.  (light green ellipse)  At least it is two decks high, but except for a few portholes, no exterior views.  This is where Tourist Class will eat all meals for the next 7 days.

Now with the ship underway, there is an event in the Windsor Lounge.  This room is located on the Empress Deck.  (middle red ellipse)  A casual room with seats, sofas, tables and a piano.  I believe people came here to socialize, read and play board games, which were available upon request.  At 6:00pm there is a radio News Broadcast.  I think it was possibly the BBC.

And now it is dinner time.  Since the Carleton had to accommodate all the Tourist Class, there were two sittings.  One at 6:30 and the second at 7:45.  You only get an hour and a quarter for dinner so more than likely no seconds!  Besides, who wants to spend time in the "basement"?  (If you would like to know more about what the food choices were, please refer to the previous post in this series from September 26, 2018 - "There's no spam!?")

Back to the Windsor Lounge now for some bingo at 8:00pm.  If that is too much excitement for you, you can take in a movie!  The cinema is located on the Main Deck.  (green ellipse).   It is two decks high and seats 212 from what I can gather.  Tonight's film is "The Great Escape".  Is that a metaphor?  Nice that it's a fairly recent film, only one year old.  Surprisingly there is no smoking in the theatre.  I find that very unusual for the time.

The film is over at 12:00am as it is a 3 hour movie; I believe the ship shuts down by then.  No all night parties or carrying on past midnight.  Silent running...?  The last bit on the June 2 card is a land lubber's guide to ship terminology.  So ends day one at sea.  I am sure most were exhausted to attend many events, but the big surprise was yet to come!

That was the cover for Wednesday, June 3, 1963.  This is going to be our first full day at sea.  For many of us, it will be hell for the next 24 to 48 hours.  Before I go into more detail on that statement, I would like to describe other activities which I was not able to indicate on the cutaway.

Starting from the topmost deck, the Sun Deck, you could play deck games such as shuffleboard and tennis.  You just had to ask the sailors on duty for the game pieces.  Here is a previously posted pic of Mum on the Sun Deck where you can clearly see the playing areas.  

There were also some areas on the next deck down, the Sports Deck.  Deck 3 was the Promenade Deck, and only walking was allowed for Tourist Class.  Amenities on this level was First Class only, the cheek, but there was this little niche called The Den... 

The Empress Deck was the main gathering place of the Tourist Class.  Besides the afore mentioned Windsor Lounge, there was the Banff Club (a casual gathering place and bar), and the Canada Room.  This was a large expansive area; the main Ballroom.  There was a large dance floor and small stage for an orchestra and grand piano.  Also on this level was a Beauty Salon, Barber Shop, and Gift Shop.  

The Upper Deck was mostly cabins, but there was a Library and Writing Room.  The upper void level for the Cinema was also on this deck.

The Main Deck was again all cabins (including our berth), and the Cinema.  The Restaurant Deck is self explanatory with the good ole Carleton Restaurant.  There was another smaller restaurant on this deck known as the Salle Frontenac, which was used for other events.  

And lastly, deep in the bowels of the Lower Deck, was the Coral Pool.  Not your usual outdoor luxury pool with sunbathing spaces and waterslides.  This was more institutional with no windows for natural light.  This deck was right on the waterline so, please, don't pull the plug!

So back to the Wednesday, June 3,1964 itinerary.  Pools open early for an early morning swim, two times for breakfast, the film from last night is playing again.  The Orchestra is playing in the Windsor Lounge and we can get a nice hot cup of Bovril if we want one.  Over luncheon we are making a short stopover in Greenock, Scotland, departing 90 minutes later for a view of the Firth of Clyde on the starboard side.  

The big event today is at 3:30.  The Boat Muster.  Actually life boat drills; this little event I remember.  Horns and whistles and everyone running about with bright orange life vests on.  No first class distinction here!

A few more afternoon events, dinner, the same movie (three showings today), and then the first dance in the Canada Room.  A few other activities as you can see but then it all shuts down at midnight.

 

Its Thursday, June 4, and this is when it got interesting.  Now we are officially in the Atlantic Ocean and based on the tales my parents told me, most of the boat was down with sea sickness.  Our lot was incapacitated except for youngest sister "M".  Getting a table at the Carleton would have been no problem; I am sure it was pretty empty most of the time that day.  

New film today, "Charade" with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn.  A nice little romantic mystery from (again) 1963.  The cinema runs the film four times a day from now on.  Dance classes are available, if you can stand,  more music venues, bingo and later more dancing.  This Record Rendezvous in The Den is a mystery.  Just listening to vinyl records before bed?  

Now it's Friday, June 5 and it appears most of us are finally getting our sea legs and keeping food down.  Maybe we can all do something today...?

Hey!  Cartoons in the cinema!  Can I go, Mum?  New film "Zulu" today, and only 5 months old.  but this ain't you family film, it's a war epic.  Playing four times today too!  

I saw them advertising for something called the Atlantic Derby.  I cannot find any info on what this event was.  I think it was basically a race for woman?  I doubt that would not go over too well these days.  The usual routine with meals, bingo, dancing and music.  

It's Saturday and everyone by now has adjusted to life aboard ship.  No more evidence of sea sickness in the family; all is well.  Even though we were all sick, the weather up to this point has been great.  Mostly sunny; the rain stopped once we were clear of the British Isles.  No more land in sight and if you look very carefully you can see the curvature of the Earth.  Freaky!  Another memory.

This was the only schedule that was marked up.  Looks we we went for an early swim and a later breakfast.  Cartoons too but looks like no deck games today.  New film for the weekend.  "Running Man" (no not that one...) from 1963 about a man who fakes his own death.  Doesn't look like a family movie either.  Thank goodness for the cartoons!

Dinner tonight is the Gala Event.  Guess we got dressed up for this, but I fear we had dinner and then the kiddies were banished to the cabin.  

Sunday, June 7, 1964.  Since these days are still treated with some respect and tradition, it will no doubt be a quieter day.  As you can see from the itinerary, there are less scheduled activities.

You may have noticed I am not describing every event on the cards; I will let you use your imagination as to what was going on.  At last a family film, and it's animated!  Disney movie from 1963 so the kids could get dumped at the cinema while Mum and Dad have a break.  Church service in the Canada Room, and no dancing tonight.  Looks like we will be turning in early...

The card illustration for Monday, June 8, 1964 is the same as Thursday's; must have been a limited pool of art.  This is our official last day at sea.  Newfoundland is looming in the distance, and we have been passing by many icebergs (unfortunately the photos taken of that subject have been forever lost).  

Same routine as before.  Swimming, eating, listening to music and dancing.  Final film for the cinema for this trip is "The Thrill of it All".  It's a Rom-Com from 1963; think I will give that one a miss.  No cartoons today either.  Maybe this is the captain's way of weaning us off the ship and back to dry land?  And it doesn't appear to be another late night.  Oh well, tomorrow we arrive!

If there was a card for Tuesday, June 9, 1964, Mum either never got one or did not save it. Breakfast would have been served surely.  As we are expected to dock in Montreal around 12:30pm, most I'm sure are packing, buying souvenirs, having a last walk around decks and watching the fast approaching Canadian cityscape as we cruise down the St. Lawrence Seaway.  

I'll document the events of June 9, 1964 in the next post.  Still more schedules and ships rules to post, the Captain's final message to the ship, and the last pictures of the arrival in Montreal.

On a sad note I would like to dedicate this post to my elder sister Angela, who was taken from us far too soon last August 2020 after a thirteen year battle with cancer.  She was 9 years old when we took the voyage.  She still had so much more to give.  Good-bye Angie, you are so missed....