Thursday, February 21, 2013

Fort Ticonderoga, New York

Fort Ticonderoga, formerly Fort Carillon, is a large 18th-century star fort built by the Canadians and the French at a narrows near the south end of Lake Champlain in upstate New York in the United States. It was constructed by Canadien Michel Chartier de Lotbinière, Marquis de Lotbinière between 1754 and 1757 during the Seven Years' War, often referred to as the French and Indian War in the USA. It was of strategic importance during the 18th-century colonial conflicts between Great Britain and France, and again played a role during the American Revolutionary War.





In June 1758, British General James Abercromby began amassing a large force at Fort William Henry in preparation for the military campaign directed up the Champlain Valley. These forces landed at the north end of Lake George, only four miles from the fort, on July 6. The French general Louis-Joseph de Montcalm, who had only arrived at Carillon in late June, engaged his troops in a flurry of work to improve the fort's outer defenses. The French built, over two days, entrenchments around a rise between the fort and Mount Hope, about three-quarters of a mile (one kilometer) northwest of the fort, and then constructed an abatis (felled trees with sharpened branches pointing out, see photo above) below these entrenchments.

On July 8, 1758, Abercromby ordered a frontal attack against the hastily assembled French works. Abercromby tried to move rapidly against the few French defenders, opting to forgo field cannon and relying instead on the numerical superiority of his 16,000 troops. In the Battle of Carillon, the British were soundly defeated by the 4,000 French defenders. The battle took place far enough away from the fort that its guns were rarely used. 


The memorial below is dedicated to the failed attack on July 8, 1758

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Leesburg Airshow 2012

The Leesburg Airshow at the Leesburg Executive Airport on a rainy day

 The airport has an interesting history:
Radio and television personality Arthur Godfrey, who owned property near Leesburg, was an avid pilot. He bought George’s Field in 1952 and popularized it on his radio show as “The Old Cow Pasture.” As the Town grew, having an airport in what was beginning to be the center of Town became a problem, especially as Godfrey upgraded to larger and more powerful airplanes to support his weekly commute to New York City. In 1960, Godfrey deeded 100 acres of his property to the Town as part of a plan for the Town to sell the property and use the proceeds of the sale to match state and federal funding for the construction of a new airport south of town.  Godfrey Field was dedicated in 1964 by Mayor Frank Raflo with Arthur Godfrey in attendance. 

Can anyone identify the US Navy plane behind James?


One of the original American Airlines Flagship DC3s

James and myself with the DC3

T-6 Texan "Pamela Marie"

Not sure what this one is either, Soviet?


Saturday, February 16, 2013

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia is considered by many to be the most historic city in the country

CSX trains still use this line, that's James on the right

Two views of the Baltimore and Ohio train tunnel coming through the Maryland Heights


You can no longer sit on it as it was being worn out by too many bottoms


Thursday, February 14, 2013

A Trip to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania played a major role in American railroad history.
in Amish country near Lancaster, PA.  For you movie buffs, it is
also where the movie Witness was filmed with Harrison Ford.  
This is some of the railroad history James and I saw there.



Pennsylvania Railroad D16sb No. 1223 4-4-0 1905

Pennsylvania Railroad E7s No. 7002 4-4-0 1902

Pennsylvania Railroad G5s No. 5751 4-6-0 1924

New York, Chicago & St. Louis S-2 No. 757 2-8-4 1944


Pennsylvania Railroad E6s No. 460 4-4-2  1914
Pennsylvania Railroad H10s No. 7688 2-8-0 1915

Pennsylvania Railroad E6s No. 460 4-4-2 1914

Pennsylvania Power & Light Fireless No. 4094 0-8-0F 1940


Coudersport & Port Allegany Size 2 type Snow Plow  1890c.

Pennsylvania Railroad Ep20/E7 No. 5901 1945


Reading 903 1950

Pennsylvania Railroad No. 4935 1943


James at the turntable

An early refrigerated car!

Some overviews of the museum






Steamtown National Historic Site, Scranton, Pennsylvania

A Second, but short visit to Steamtown National Historic Site


The largest steam train ever built, only 25 were manufactured during WW II
James and Elin were impressed




Take a ride on the Reading!


Vanderbilt Mansion, Hyde Park




Vanderbilt's View of the Hudson and Catskill Mountains



Hyde Park Memorial Day 2012





Saturday, February 9, 2013

Military Show, Hyde Park, NY on Memorial Day Weekend 2012

James ready to fight for the Russian Motherland

James and sister Elin on a WW II Dodge Truck

Polish Army Uniforms in 1939