Benny wrote:Ok, probably, being not English-speaking native, I cannot explain myself very well. When I wrote about the can opener my idea was only to confirm the NorthWest nickname for this logo and reporting memories about the ventures in Eastern Europe was only about logos and colours; I'm not interested in questioning what Rail Development Corporation done or is doing.
For better informs about Rail Development Corporation you can see http://www.rrdc.com/operating_html;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; the Spanish language version of FCCA Wikipedia article is far more complete against the English one if you can read it.
And, speaking of fire from the stack, I referred only to the Ferrocarril Central and my little knowledge of it. I experienced various times railside fires started from sparks emitted by steam locos, even with arrester in the stack.
The Canadian flag on the side of the railcars is, coincidentally, very similar to the Peru one and, at first sight, I was thinking at second hand units for a direct service.
I don't know north-American railroad slang. What is a towerman? Is he the man that moves points from a control center?
Ciao 
I agree that your English is fine, Benny, and my Spanish, meager; even though it was my Venezuelan grandmother's native language. She was married to a Peruvian, by the way.
I'll see if I can get the Spanish FCCA Wiki article and translate it to Ingles.
I wasn't aware that steam engines were prone to starting wayside fires, and also didn't know what caused it in diesels, I just presumed that it was a defective or missing spark arrestor.
I hope the Peruvian flag doesn't have an orange maple leaf in the middle of it. Apologies to my Canadian friends, but I much prefer the former Canadian flag.
A tower is what they call a signal box in the UK. A towerman or block operator, (term held over from the days when they were telegraph operators,) does move points and display signals for the plant in front of him, under the direction of a train dispatcher. These days, in North America, most towers have been done away with, their function performed directly by the dispatcher, who may be hundreds of miles away.
Top photo: standard design small Pennsylvania RR tower. I worked this one from 1960 to '64, and in 1972 for a few months until it closed. By the time this picture was taken (1972?) the strong arm rods had been removed and replaced by a hand switch and hand throw derail.
Bottom photo: a signal box on the Great Western Railway, UK. Note the dual gauge track; standard gauge? and seven foot gauge. Photo by Rev. A.H. Malan. Also, one of the strong arm rods for moving points or displaying signals is visible on the ground.
Adios amigos!
