Well, I have no idea why I purchased these, but I thought they were just plain "cool" so I got them.

I guess I thought I would make some neet earrings with them, but like everything else, I just can't "part out" anything. Anyway, I thought some might enjoy seeing some Train Cuffflinks.

They are from a train that runs in ALASKA!

I found a site about the train, and will post it when I find it. In the meantime, check out the Cufflinks.

Lake Dewey, WPYR


Take a look

#2

Pretty neat Sheila. Do folks still wear cufflinks these days? I haven't worn any in about 50 years.

Yep...we do...when we can find shirts with cuffs that take them.

Regard! Mark

Well, I don't think many wear them now, but Russell sure used them. (about once a year) hehehe

He only got dressed up when he had to wear a suit to the yearly Firemen's Instilation of Officers. Awards Dinner/Banquet.

I think they look great when you have the right shirt.

Of course, all the firemen had their coats off, and shirt sleeve's rolled up, just about the time they walked in the door of the Banquet Hall.

I have to say, that I also thought about giving them to my brother as a joke. He's the brother that you couldn't catch in a suit, if his life depended on it, and that would be fun enough, but he also loves trains, and has asked me about a RailRoad Pocket Watch for a while now. So, it seemed only natural for me to give him the cufflinks with the watch. He will get a kick out of them.

He's a good dresser, but we all used to teased him terrible about never wearing a suit to anything.

(he was the smart one)

Neat cufflinks, Sheila! Please post what you find out about them. It would be interesting to know if they were given to employees or not.

I have read that the use of cufflinks is making a comeback and that people are looking for vintage examples. I personally think they add a look of elegance and class. My husband is like Russell and only wears a suit to weddings and funerals so I will probably never see him wear cufflinks. Unless he has to replace his one and only suit!

Mary Ann, hehehehe you make me laugh, I know the feeling. Russell really doesn't like suits either. He never complains when he has to wear one, but he's a "sit around in anything" kind of guy.

I think they are really classy too, I love to see a man in a suit. mmmmmmmmmmmmm but we won't get into that!!!

Now that you mention it, about your husband's only suit, I think we tossed Russell's out in the last move. eeekk...

I know a lot of my cousin's husbands still wear suits, and wear cufflinks too, but they work on "The Hill" (in D.C.) and you have to wear one there.

Russell still has some from years ago.

It's nice to know that their popular again, even if they are just for collecting. Fun!

I found the site of the Railroad. You can see it below.

It's for the WPYR which is:

White Pass & Yukon Route.

http://www.wpyr.com/

WP&YR History
Built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, this narrow gauge railroad is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, a designation shared with the Panama Canal, the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.

The WP&YR railway was considered an impossible task but it was literally blasted through coastal mountains in only 26 months.

The $10 million project was the product of British financing, American engineering and Canadian contracting. Tens of thousands of men and 450 tons of explosives overcame harsh and challenging climate and geography to create "the railway built of gold."

The WP&YR climbs almost 3000 feet in just 20 miles and features steep grades of up to 3.9%, cliff-hanging turns of 16 degrees, two tunnels and numerous bridges and trestles. The steel cantilever bridge was the tallest of its kind in the world when it was constructed in 1901.



The 110 mile WP&YR Railroad was completed with the driving of the golden spike on July 29, 1900 in Carcross Yukon connecting the deep water port of Skagway Alaska to Whitehorse Yukon and beyond to northwest Canada and interior Alaska.



White Pass & Yukon Route became a fully integrated transportation company operating docks, trains, stage coaches, sleighs, buses, paddlewheelers, trucks, ships, airplanes, hotels and pipelines. It provided the essential infrastructure servicing the freight and passenger requirements of Yukon's population and mining industry. WP&YR proved to be a successful transportation innovator and pioneered the inter-modal (ship-train-truck) movement of containers.



The WP&YR suspended operations in 1982 when Yukon's mining industry collapsed due to low mineral prices. The railway was reopened in 1988 as a seasonal tourism operation and served 37,000 passengers. Today, the WP&YR is Alaska's most popular shore excursion carrying over 431,000 passengers in 2006 during the May to September tourism season operating on the first 67.5 miles (Skagway, Alaska to Carcross, Yukon) of the original 110 mile line.

Thanks, Sheila. I had never heard of it, but there is a lot of history on that line! Tom Brown has mentioned narrow gauge railroads near Durango, Colorado. A trip on a narrow gauge train
would be something I think Richard and I would like to do. We would like to take another Alaskan cruise before we get too old to enjoy it, too. We went to the Inside Passage (Juneau, Sitka) but didn't get to Skagway. I guess I am going to have to stop buying watches and save up in order to either one. Anway, great story and cufflinks!

Sheila we did that last June on our Tour of Alaska. A real beauty, and the rail cars are the same, but they put up a little better bridge just "uphill" from the original White Pass one. Just think this is in the middle of June!

Speaking of suits . . . that was the first time in about 10 years for me on the ship and don't hold your breath waiting for the next time.

Dave, was that for the Captain's dinner? We did that on our first cruise and decided never to do it again. Richard really does not like to wear a suit, and we aren't in to dressing up and frills, so we ate in our cabin the next time. Less stressful and more time to spend with each other alone for which we don't have much opportunity lately.

PS - you are a very nice looking couple!

Mary Ann,
Boy, from what I read about that area, you have to be really powerful to take on the area around the upper or lower Lake Dewey area. I read a lot on those pages, and it looks like a serious trip.
Hope you get your wish,..... and your watches.


David,
Just look at you two!!! You rascals! and Good Lookin too!

I have to say that I don't think I would choose Alaska as a vacation place, but everyone that I have ever talked to that has been there, has said, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, that it was the best trip they ever took. I can't imagine that, but it must be true, because they all want to go back.

Must be nice to be able to take a trip.

Boy, this has reminded me of how long it's been since I have gone anywhere, when it was just for Russell and I. Actually I can't even figure it out!

It's nice to see that all of you guys get to travel.

I have to add this..........

My version of a PERFECT VACATION

A Super Dooper Room, in a posh place, with a whirlpool tub, a 50" TV, with every channel, including movies, Room service, Breakfast in bed, NEVER LEAVE THE ROOM other than to go out to dinner, and my sweet honey by my side.

PERFECTION!

(and it can be down the street) as long as it's all of the above.


OOOOHHH I forgot!

Kahlua and Cream! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!

All good dress shirts should have French cuffs that require cuff links.

I still have collars studs. That's because I'm one of a group that still wears stiff, detachable collars.
(Member...Ask Andy's Fashion Forum. And you think the watch folk are crazed.)

Mitchell,

I must say that being "Dressed up" is far better, than the way people use clothing today.

Sometimes I have to laugh at what I see out there. Many say it's just our age group, but I think not.

Even when I watch TV today, no one will convince me that having stringy, greasy hair, a dirty t-shirt, and jeans with holes, does anything for anyone.

AND.............

As far as what the TV world is doing to the american male, is enough to make you sick.

Every time I see these men, especially on good shows, looking like a rag picker, I want to just scream.

Dumbing down the american male is getting old, and I sure would love to see some gorgeous, well dressed hunks, IN SUITS again.

AND...........

Don't EVEN get me started about women!!!!!!!!!!!!

I may have gotten rid of some of my "strangle you" clothing of the mid 60's, but that's no excuse for the filth some women wear today.

I think many would feel better about themselves today, if they had enough brains to at least look clean.

I'm happy to hear that you wear clothing with pride. We all should.

And don't get me started on the improper way so called male stars wear formal wear. Their formal concoctions remind me of eBay 992B watch auctions.

Times have changed. When I was a child every male wore a suit jacket, shirt and tie to church. Woman usually wore a dress or blouse and skirt. Yesterday at Church I only saw one man with a jacket, two men with a shirt and tie and on woman with a dress. Everyone else was casual with golf shirts and slacks.

When I started working for the state of Wisconsin 35 years ago they sent you home if you were not wearing a dress shirt with a tie.

I sometimes think we are living in a side show culture today. So many people you see could have been an attraction in a carnival thirty years ago.

Steve,

Sideshow ya say? It's worse. I've come to the conclusion we're living in a pile of leftovers in a vain burlesque act, where 20 somethings with ipods glued to their faces play the leading role.

I'm sure you've noticed how young people at store count change. They have to stare at the computer read-out to figure it. I asked one once about what they would do if the register failed. They said they'd taken a "Change-making course" in school.

This is why there's so many 'collectibles" on the market today. The collectibles, including our watches, are leftover reminders of what we were so many long decades ago.

I was at Advance Auto day before yesterday and purchased a small item from a young man who must have been high school age. My purchase came to $11.01. He rang up my purchase when I gave him a $20...but things when 'south' when I handed him a penny. Since he had already entered in '$20', he had to figure out how much to give back to me, since I no longer needed coinage.

He actually stood there and started counting on his fingers, not once, but 3 TIMES trying to come up with the proper amount due me.

I said, 'you only owe me $9 back, no coins.' He said, 'Oh...yeah...I knew that. I was just double checking the register!'

Regards! Mark

That's sorta like the ole' boy that went to the store and bought a few things, handed the cashier a $20.00 bill....She gave him is change and he stood there counting it two, three times....finally, she said, "sir did I give you the correct change"....he looked at her and said,"just barely"....

These kids, especially in the fast food, if something goes wrong with the register they are lost....and this isn't new, been going on a few years now....

Regards,
Jerry

a little off topic but..

I went into a fast food place to get coffee. It said no refills.

When I finished the coffee, I went back to the counter and asked for another cup.

The cashier pointed to the sign.

I said that I would buy another cup.

She turned to the manager and asked.

Can he do that?


happy hunting,

In 1986 (Can't forget this one) I took a machine stand for my bench saw to the checkout stand at a business (now bankrupt) called "Handyman" and the Cashier told me that she was closing her register. Then she said "come with me" and went to the "rebate" kiosk at the entrance to the store. There she had me fill in my name and address and gave me a $5.00 cash REBATE for the stand I had not yet purchased. I told her "But.. . . . I still need to buy this!" She told me "never mind it's yours now! ALL I AM AUTHORIZED TO DO IS PAY REBATES, Thank You!"

I keep it just as a reminder . . .

And they wondered why they went bankrupt.