Whatzit?

[chuck]

Purple prickly pear cactus?

[rogruth]

Looks like some kind of cactus to me.

This does seem to be a "Whatzit" of the old school.
Start with a small part and expand until someone recognizes it.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Purple prickly pear cactus?

Does appear to be a variety of opuntia.

[webenda]

Correct, Chuck and Rufus.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Looks just like the compressa that I used to have for years with those yellow blooms; used to see some purplish cast to those in cold weather.

[webenda]

What railroad izit?

[E7]

Snorklewacker Short Line

[webenda]

Snorklewacker Short Line

No.
Clue: First word is, "Fonda."

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Fonda, Johnstown and Gloversville ?? Comes to mind as a traction line......

[webenda]

Fonda, Johnstown and Gloversville ?? Comes to mind as a traction line......

Correct.



The Fonda, Johnstown and Gloversville Railroad (FJ&G) was formerly a 132-mile steam engine and electric interurban railroad that connected its namesake towns in east central New York State to Schenectady, New York.

It also handled freight and had freight interchange with both the New York Central and the Delaware and Hudson railroads. Passenger business declined starting before the Great Depression and particularly during it. Following a determined and expensive effort to recapture passenger business by acquiring five ultra modern high-speed Bullet interurban cars in 1932, the FJ&G abandoned passenger service in 1938. Freight business continued on for a few more decades, was later taken over by the Delaware and Otsego Railroad management and then eventually abandoned in 1984.

I possess a 2nd Mortgage Bond issued by the FJ&G on July 1, 1941. It was due July 1, 2011. Obviously, anyone possessing these FJ&G bonds never got their money back.



The bond claims to pay 4.5% interest annually but the fine print says, "Only if net income allows it."

This image can be enlarged by right clicking on it.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Fonda, Johnstown and Gloversville ?? Comes to mind as a traction line......

Correct.

Think I may have posted a photo/card of trolleys of the line over in Subway, Elevated, Trolley & Traction Lines

[webenda]

Speaking of trolleys, why did electric power replace animal power for trolleys?

Clue:

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Also, in NYC, as an example, some folks are quick to complain when the weather is too hot or too cold regarding the horses that pull carriages throughout central parks roadways. The horses seem, to onlookers, to be under stress and suffering. I don't personally know if they are, having observed them quite a number of times as I have roamed Central Park afoot and even taken a carriage ride or two, years ago.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Also, in NYC, as an example, some folks are quick to complain.....

Just stop there.

Same folks probably barely know which end of the horse is the head.

[E7]

Speaking of trolleys, why did electric power replace animal power for trolleys?

Exhaust emissions