Saturday night at Hugh's Room watching Chris Whiteley & Friends. Now heading for the UK to host the breakfast show on Rocket Radio. The following press release cheered me up:
PRESS RELEASE
ROCKET LAUNCHES ON MONDAY
Rocket Radio is back on the air this Monday! Broadcasting on 87.8 FM, the station features twenty-two local presenters, some nationally-known, with a mix of local news and information and a wide range of music. On the Fifth, special extended Bonfire coverage, live from the key locations, will provide on-the-spot news of all the processions and sites, so don't forget to take your tranny or walkman.
Rocket Radio also presents the World Premiere of a new play for radio "The Trial of the Bonfire Boys". It is based on an account of the historic events of 1906 by local author Jim Etherington, adapted by broadcaster Dilly Barlow - with a certain degree of artistic licence.
The cast includes several well-known present-day bonfire boys such as Paul Wheeler of Commercial Square and Mark "Moose" Jarvis of Cliffe.
Celebrities local and national have lent a hand: Lord (Denis) Healey is the Chairman of the Magistrates and Peter Donaldson, the chief newsreader of BBC Radio 4 is the Counsel for the Defence. Other cameo roles are performed by Radio One legend John Peel, comedian Arthur Smith, Professor Laurie Taylor, and Felicity Finch, who plays Ruth Archer in "The Archers".
The whole adds up to a tense courtroom drama - the Bonfire Boys versus the Brighton Bobbies with authentic historical detail and bonfire sound effects.
Over the next two weeks from 28th October, Rocket, which is produced by the East Sussex Radio Society, will feature one hundred shows, covering nearly two hundred hours of airtime. Listeners can call the station with dedications on (0)1273 474741, or via the website - find out lots more and listen online at www.rocketradio.co.uk.
Thursday, October 24, 2002
Wednesday, October 16, 2002
Fall tour
To Collingwood, Ontario for Thanksgiving spending three nights at the Best Western near the centre of this town on the Georgian Bay (pop 16,500). Friday night fine dining at Wendy's.
To Tottenham on Saturday to ride the steam train on the South Simcoe Railway. Stop by Beeton on the way south to see the train reach the end of the line in a housing estate - there is no station here and the passengers cannot disembark.
They have about five miles of track on this railway and the steam engine #1057 pulls us through the countryside. They say that some 43,000 have ridden the train this season. The car parks are full when we were there. The railway owns more track to the south and can extend the length of the ride in future - there is no prospect of extending northwards.
We return via Creemore and take afternoon tea at the Mad River Tea House.
Sunday late start and call by the rebuilt replica-train station in Collingwood which now houses a museum and the Chamber of Commerce. They are laying a short section of track outside to display a caboose but sadly there are no plans to hook up with the local railway.
Brunch at the Harbour Cafe on the corner of Simcoe and Hurontario Streets. Home fries and country music. Afternoon ride through the hills to Thornbury past massive apple orchards still harvesting.
To Stouffville on Monday to ride on the York-Durham Heritage Railway for a round trip to Uxbridge and back. The journey takes about an hour one way and is 20km/12 miles approximately in length.
The train is pulled by a diesel engine dating from 1956, an Alco RS11 #3612 built at Schenectady, New York, pulling vintage railcars. Our coach, #4977 built by Canadian Car & Foundry, dates from May 1924.
This is a volunteer-run railway and the enthusiasm of the train crew is infectious. The railway shares Stouffville Station with the GO commuter double-deck train which runs on weekdays to Union Station in Toronto.
The railway isn't easy to find due to lack of signage on the approach roads. The local authorities could do more to recognise the effort made by this heritage railroad - they often apply commercial criteria to groups who are working hard for the love of it.
Ridership is "three to four thousand" for the season according to one of the crew. Thanksgiving had seen the best attendance this year. They identify shortage of money for publicity and the lack of a 'star' draw like a steam engine as limiting the number of visitors.
The restored "Witch's hat" station at Uxbridge is a gem with a small museum detailing the history of the Toronto and Nipissing Railway. A sign says that Toronto is 42 miles and Port Hope 68 miles.
By the way there is an art deco cinema in Uxbridge which is not to be missed. The church bells were playing "Singing in the rain" while we were there which is nothing if not different. The atmosphere is wonderful taking you back to a dream time when trains ran at a steady pace through the countryside and the passengers had the time to be polite.
My advice is take a ride on this train before it is discovered.
To Tottenham on Saturday to ride the steam train on the South Simcoe Railway. Stop by Beeton on the way south to see the train reach the end of the line in a housing estate - there is no station here and the passengers cannot disembark.
They have about five miles of track on this railway and the steam engine #1057 pulls us through the countryside. They say that some 43,000 have ridden the train this season. The car parks are full when we were there. The railway owns more track to the south and can extend the length of the ride in future - there is no prospect of extending northwards.
We return via Creemore and take afternoon tea at the Mad River Tea House.
Sunday late start and call by the rebuilt replica-train station in Collingwood which now houses a museum and the Chamber of Commerce. They are laying a short section of track outside to display a caboose but sadly there are no plans to hook up with the local railway.
Brunch at the Harbour Cafe on the corner of Simcoe and Hurontario Streets. Home fries and country music. Afternoon ride through the hills to Thornbury past massive apple orchards still harvesting.
To Stouffville on Monday to ride on the York-Durham Heritage Railway for a round trip to Uxbridge and back. The journey takes about an hour one way and is 20km/12 miles approximately in length.
The train is pulled by a diesel engine dating from 1956, an Alco RS11 #3612 built at Schenectady, New York, pulling vintage railcars. Our coach, #4977 built by Canadian Car & Foundry, dates from May 1924.
This is a volunteer-run railway and the enthusiasm of the train crew is infectious. The railway shares Stouffville Station with the GO commuter double-deck train which runs on weekdays to Union Station in Toronto.
The railway isn't easy to find due to lack of signage on the approach roads. The local authorities could do more to recognise the effort made by this heritage railroad - they often apply commercial criteria to groups who are working hard for the love of it.
Ridership is "three to four thousand" for the season according to one of the crew. Thanksgiving had seen the best attendance this year. They identify shortage of money for publicity and the lack of a 'star' draw like a steam engine as limiting the number of visitors.
The restored "Witch's hat" station at Uxbridge is a gem with a small museum detailing the history of the Toronto and Nipissing Railway. A sign says that Toronto is 42 miles and Port Hope 68 miles.
By the way there is an art deco cinema in Uxbridge which is not to be missed. The church bells were playing "Singing in the rain" while we were there which is nothing if not different. The atmosphere is wonderful taking you back to a dream time when trains ran at a steady pace through the countryside and the passengers had the time to be polite.
My advice is take a ride on this train before it is discovered.
Friday, October 11, 2002
VIA-Fast trains for the corridor
The National Post carries plans for a $3bn upgrade of service in the Windsor-Quebec City corridor.
Monday, October 7, 2002
Sunday, October 6, 2002
Toronto Islands airport plans expansion
Controversial plans to expand service from this downtown airport are covered in the Globe and Mail.
Fast ferry set for 2003
The Toronto-Rochester fast ferry is due to launch in 2003. The cross-Lake Ontario service will have capacity for 800 passengers and 200 cars. It will initially run three round trips daily with a one-way journey time of two hours. More here.
Chilly Oktoberfest
To Bloor West Village in Toronto last night for the Oktoberfest, a two-day event scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Friday was cancelled due to a storm warning and Saturday poorly attended - maybe folk thought the whole thing was called off. Anyway after dining at the Amber Restaurant we ventured outdoors for beer and entertainment.
Star of the night was Michael Ross, a madcap magician. Highly recommended - if you want to book him email here. He tells me that he lives by email as he is moving around so much.
A trio with accordian, guitar and clarinet followed - all the old favourites such as "The Birdie Song" and "Wooden Heart" were well received. It was rather cold but a good time was had by all - I think definitely the last outdoor gig of the year.
Star of the night was Michael Ross, a madcap magician. Highly recommended - if you want to book him email here. He tells me that he lives by email as he is moving around so much.
A trio with accordian, guitar and clarinet followed - all the old favourites such as "The Birdie Song" and "Wooden Heart" were well received. It was rather cold but a good time was had by all - I think definitely the last outdoor gig of the year.
VIA raises its game
A new station in the west end of Ottawa complements improved VIA Rail service on the Toronto-Ottawa line due to start at the end of October. The Ottawa Citizen reports.
Saturday, October 5, 2002
Ride the Rocket
It's nearly time for Rocket Radio to take to the air again - I'm presenting the breakfast show 7-9 - and you can get all the news from bonfire on November 5th, an old British tradition that refuses to go away.
Take the train to the station
Tuesday, October 1, 2002
What a way to run a railway
The Telegraph documents the shambles of the British railway system. "the taxpayer's generous offer of £21 billion of grants and guarantees" makes the argument about Amtrak's $1.2 billion look like small change.
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