September 7, 2024

Amtrak Superliner Sleeping Car Tour

This video is a tour of the types of sleeping car & coach accommodations to be found onboard Amtrak's 'Superliner' western long-distance trains.

I put this video together primarily using footage from trips on Amtrak's California Zephyr & Empire-Builder.

To view the full videos of these trips, see my channel at https://www.youtube.com/@hiawathapete426/videos

For more VIA & Amtrak videos see my
website at:
https://northamericabyrail.info/

September 5, 2024

NORTH AMERICA BY RAIL CIRCLE TOUR: The complete 4 part video series

The complete 4 part video series of our photographic land cruise across Canada and the United States
-on VIA Rail & Amtrak-
all in one convenient playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI6blmtOOyJEMd7wLqfdYvGFT4jac1K6l

Alternately, here are the individual links to parts 1-4:

Cheers, Pete

August 20, 2024

A Great Lakes Cruise on the Chi-Cheemaun Ferry - Featuring Lake Huron, Georgian Bay & Manitoulin Island (Video)

In this video we will take a round-trip cruise on the Chi-Cheemaun ferry from Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula to Manitoulin Island on Lake Huron & Georgian Bay.

We will also spend a few days exploring some of the sights & attractions on Manitoulin Island.

The Chi-Cheemaun is the third largest passenger vessel sailing the Great Lakes after the Viking Octantis & SS Badger.

Manitoulin Island is the largest freshwater island in the world - and is so large that it has over 100 lakes itself!

For more videos see my YouTube channel at: youtube.com/@hiawathapete426/videos
or my website at: https://northamericabyrail.info/

August 18, 2024

Sherman Firefly IIc walkaround (video)

A walkaround video of the Sherman Firefly IIc preserved at the Base Borden Military Museum
- Borden, Ontario, Canada.

June 21, 2024

A Vintage Rail Journey on the Montana Daylight (Sandpoint, ID - Livingston, MT)

Hop aboard for a Rare-Mileage Journey on the "Montana Daylight"- a tour train that ran along the old Northern Pacific & Milwaukee Road mainlines on a 2-day journey from Sandpoint, Idaho to Livingston, Montana from 1995 until 2004. This train no longer runs & the line is freight-only, so the one of the only ways to see this route by rail is to watch this vintage video!

(Note: This video is low-res & was recorded on Super8 film & converted to digital MP4 and is included here for historical purposes)

For more trip videos & pics, see my website at https://northamericabyrail.info/

June 6, 2024

Canada at War: From Normandy to VE Day with the 4th Canadian Armoured Divsion (in-action photos)

For the WW2 history buffs:

( Not my photos -
These are from Library & Archives Canada's extensive collection documenting Canada's contribution to victory in Europe during WW2 )

The 4th Canadian Armoured Division fought throughout the entire campaign in Northwest Europe including:
-the Normandy battles in the summer of 1944
-the battle of the Falaise pocket
-the advance from Normandy
-the Breskens pocket, Liberation of Holland and clearing of the Scheldt estuary to open the port of Antwerp
-The division then fought its final battles during the drive into Germany including the battle of Oldenburg near Bremen

Tanks of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division - Canadian Grenadier Guards Regiment - move into position for the attack toward Falaise during Operation "Totalize" 8 August 1944:
Library and Archives Canada photo PA-132904


Sherman Vc of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division - Canadian Grenadier Guards - with a captured German HQ sign, Almelo, Netherlands, 5 April 1945:
Library and Archives Canada photo PA-130911


Sherman 1c of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division - Governor General's Foot Guards - attacking through a roadblock, supporting infantry wait with bayonets at the ready, Wertle, Germany, 11 April 1945:
Library and Archives Canada photo PA-159062


4th Canadian Armoured Division's drive towards Oldenburg under counter-attack by German Paratrooper Regiment. Street scene showing Canadian troops and tanks, and smoke from burning buildings. 10 April 1945:
Library and Archives Canada photo PA-159244


Sherman 1c of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division - British Columbia Regiment - firing on German positions (note discarded shell casing mid-air) north of Meppen, Germany, 8 April 1945:
Library and Archives Canada photo PA-159172


Sherman 1c of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division - South Alberta Regiment - during Operation "Blockbuster", the assault on Calcar Ridge, Rhineland Battles, Germany, Feb 1945:
Library and Archives Canada Photo PA113675


Sherman 1c of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division firing on German positions near Bad Zwischenahn, Germany, 29 Apr 1945:
Library and Archives Canada Photo PA113715


PS- Incidentally, I recently built a radio control model of a 4th Canadian Armoured Divsion Sherman and posted the build video on my Youtube channel:

May 12, 2024

Radio Control Sherman Firefly 1c - Canadian Grenadier Guards, Normandy 1944 (Build & operation video)

My latest project:
A radio-control Sherman Firefly 1c of the Canadian Grenadier Guards in 1/16 scale
- as it might have appeared during Operation Totalize - Normandy 1944.
Showcasing the steps I took to convert a Heng Long US Sherman into a Canadian Sherman Firefly 1c with the long-barreled 17pounder gun & a kitbashed approximation of the British-design All-Round-Vision hatch.
Also showcases the function & operation of the tank.

May 9, 2024

Canadian Grenadier Guards Sherman Firefly Mk 1c - Operation Totalize, Normandy 1944 - Work in progress photos

My latest project:

A radio-control Sherman Firefly 1c of the Canadian Grenadier Guards
- as it might have appeared during Operation Totalize: one of the preliminary battles which would lead to the encirclement & defeat at Falaise, France of German Army Group West by the combined forces of Canada, the USA & Great Britain in WW2.



Here is a link to a historic photo showing an actual Canadian Grenadier Guards Sherman 1c
(Peter Williams collection - Tapatalk.com ) :


Another link to another Canadian Grenadier Guards tank showing the countershaded barrel & spare track links [used as additional spaced-armor protection against the German anti-tank rocket weapons] which I attempted to recreate on my model.
(Library and Archives Canada photo PA-130911):


Though it's not a "rivet-counter special" by any means, I think my model captures the overall look of a Sherman 1c.

It's not finished yet but I'm planning to do a build video on youtube showcasing the steps I took to convert this model , which started life as an American Sherman M4A3 with a short-barreled 105mm howitzer:



Into this, a Canadian Sherman Firefly 1c variant with the long-barreled 17pounder anti-tank gun and a kitbashed approximation of the British-design All-Round-Vision hatch:



As a teaser, here are a few shots taken during the build, hope you enjoy!

April 8, 2024

My Eclipse Pics - Niagara Region, Ontario

Just a couple pics with my smartphone...

Crescent: 3:14pm:


Lighting conditions in our neighborhood 3:14pm:


Lighting conditions in our neighborhood 3:18pm:

March 19, 2024

A Trip on Amtrak's California Zephyr (San Francisco to Chicago) - My full-length documentary video! (HD)

Well, it's finally here! For those who have seen my preview video & for those checking in for the first time...Here is my full-length documentary on the "California Zephyr" - Amtrak's Transcontinental passenger train, which runs from San Francisco to Chicago & showcasing the breathtaking scenery to be found en route.

This video is second in a 2-part series documenting our scenic land cruise across the U.S. by rail in December of 2023.

-In Part 1 we traveled from Chicago to San Francisco aboard the westbound "California Zephyr" - and made a stopover in Reno to visit Las Vegas.

-Here in Part 2 we will journey from San Francisco to Chicago on the eastbound "California Zephyr" - and witness the stunning scenery to be found en route.

For more videos, trip reports, & pics, see my website at: https://northamericabyrail.info