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Miami Herald
12-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
B&O Railroad steams toward its 200th anniversary
BALTIMORE - A college lad spent his Christmas days off in the winter of 1937 working as extra help on the Camden Station platform near today's Oriole Park at Camden Yards. What made an impression that day was the arrival of President Washington, one of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's fanciest steam locomotives that headed a string of passenger coaches bound for Philadelphia and Jersey City. That 19-year-old on the platform was my father, Joe Kelly, who long after recalled his experience as temporary Christmas help unloading orange and grapefruit crates (and the occasional bicycle) sent via express baggage car to Baltimore. He didn't much like the job, but he never forgot the steam locomotive. He called it "majestic," a visually stunning piece of rolling machinery painted dark olive green and striped in gold and maroon. It's three, 80-inch driving wheels dwarfed him as the train slid away into the darkness of the Howard Street Tunnel and soon roaring through Remington, Charles Village and Waverly. The words "President Washington," lettered in gold under the engineer's cab lookout window, announced this was a bespoke, rail aristocrat. Other people continue to regard President Washington as very special. Today, that locomotive and its coal and water tender rest temporarily in a metal-sided building in the 600 block of South Fulton Avenue, just across from the Mount Clare Mansion in Southwest Baltimore's Carroll Park. The locomotive never suffered the fate of its similar steam-powered machines that were routinely scrapped as newer technologies arrived in the 1950s. The President Washington was a Baltimore treasure, one of 20 built in 1927 for the 100th anniversary of the railroad's founding. The 19 other presidents (Jefferson, Adams, etc.) in this class of locomotive were built in Philadelphia at the Baldwin Locomotive Works. As they arrived in 1927, they were assigned to the B&O's passenger trains - the Washington to Jersey City and Washington to Chicago runs. Two B&O Railroad Museum staff members, George Harwood and Jamie Partridge, are readying the Washington, known as No. 5300, for another majestic appearance. "We are an army of two," they said of their work description. Harwood is the son of rail executive and historian Herbert Harwood. His late mother, Janice, was a Walters Art Museum docent. Partridge, who once worked for the Loizeaux demolition firm, says, "I'm dyslexic and have to be using my hands." The President Washington will reappear a few blocks away at the main museum campus at Pratt and Poppleton streets in time for the 200th anniversary of the oldest class-one railroad in the U.S. Conservators Harwood and Partridge work in an amazing environment. They run a locomotive and passenger car hospital for the rehabilitation of heavily used railroad equipment. The spotless, towering workshop contains a working coal-fired blacksmith forge and machines that look as if they could bend the girders of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge into toothpicks. Next week, the B&O Railroad Museum will be breaking ground for a $38 million Campus Transformation Plan, which will entail a public garden and amphitheater, as well as an Innovation Hall, an enlarged archival research center, and more classrooms for the students who take field trips here. The event marks the B&O's 1827 founding in Baltimore. The train repair facility, connected by rail to the main museum, is not open to the public. Here, Harwood has devoted months to mending the rusty and disintegrating sections of steel. When an oil chamber needed a new cap, he made one. A missing headlamp part? He gets creative. And in the final years of President Washington's active service, it was minimally maintained and assigned to less glamorous runs. "When locomotives get old, they begin to eat themselves," Harwood said of the fate of these aging assemblages of valves, pistons, boilers and driving rods. While the two men do most of the work (Harwood on metal repairs and Partridge on painting and interior restoration), they are also helped by students from the Baltimore City Community College enrolled in a restoration pilot program. The main museum, a few blocks away, sees 200,000 visitors a year who inspect its collection of railroad equipment, much of its from the 19th Century, and many pieces that were put on display at the 1892 Chicago Columbian Exposition. The President Washington, numbered 5300, was a star of the 1927 Fair of the Iron Horse, a celebration of the centenary of the B&O, alongside several other B&O steam locomotives. The event, the closest pageant Baltimore ever had to a world's fair, was held at Halethorpe just off the main line to Washington. The President Washington was a lucky survivor. After about 30 years of hard work, it was retired and was sold to a former B&O fireman, Ed Striegel, who ran a supply and equipment business on Chemical Road in Curtis Bay. Striegel knew its value and donated it to the museum, where it was displayed outdoors along West Pratt Street. "It has had a hard life. Most of the coal bunker had so many holes it was Swiss cheese," Harwood said of the locomotive. "It's a composition - a blend of art overlapping with engineering." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
B&O Railroad steams toward its 200th anniversary
BALTIMORE — A college lad spent his Christmas days off in the winter of 1937 working as extra help on the Camden Station platform near today's Oriole Park at Camden Yards. What made an impression that day was the arrival of President Washington, one of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's fanciest steam locomotives that headed a string of passenger coaches bound for Philadelphia and Jersey City. That 19-year-old on the platform was my father, Joe Kelly, who long after recalled his experience as temporary Christmas help unloading orange and grapefruit crates (and the occasional bicycle) sent via express baggage car to Baltimore. He didn't much like the job, but he never forgot the steam locomotive. He called it 'majestic,' a visually stunning piece of rolling machinery painted dark olive green and striped in gold and maroon. It's three, 80-inch driving wheels dwarfed him as the train slid away into the darkness of the Howard Street Tunnel and soon roaring through Remington, Charles Village and Waverly. The words 'President Washington,' lettered in gold under the engineer's cab lookout window, announced this was a bespoke, rail aristocrat. Other people continue to regard President Washington as very special. Today, that locomotive and its coal and water tender rest temporarily in a metal-sided building in the 600 block of South Fulton Avenue, just across from the Mount Clare Mansion in Southwest Baltimore's Carroll Park. The locomotive never suffered the fate of its similar steam-powered machines that were routinely scrapped as newer technologies arrived in the 1950s. The President Washington was a Baltimore treasure, one of 20 built in 1927 for the 100th anniversary of the railroad's founding. The 19 other presidents (Jefferson, Adams, etc.) in this class of locomotive were built in Philadelphia at the Baldwin Locomotive Works. As they arrived in 1927, they were assigned to the B&O's passenger trains — the Washington to Jersey City and Washington to Chicago runs. Two B&O Railroad Museum staff members, George Harwood and Jamie Partridge, are readying the Washington, known as No. 5300, for another majestic appearance. 'We are an army of two,' they said of their work description. Harwood is the son of rail executive and historian Herbert Harwood. His late mother, Janice, was a Walters Art Museum docent. Partridge, who once worked for the Loizeaux demolition firm, says, 'I'm dyslexic and have to be using my hands.' The President Washington will reappear a few blocks away at the main museum campus at Pratt and Poppleton streets in time for the 200th anniversary of the oldest class-one railroad in the U.S. Conservators Harwood and Partridge work in an amazing environment. They run a locomotive and passenger car hospital for the rehabilitation of heavily used railroad equipment. The spotless, towering workshop contains a working coal-fired blacksmith forge and machines that look as if they could bend the girders of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge into toothpicks. Next week, the B&O Railroad Museum will be breaking ground for a $38 million Campus Transformation Plan, which will entail a public garden and amphitheater, as well as an Innovation Hall, an enlarged archival research center, and more classrooms for the students who take field trips here. The event marks the B&O's 1827 founding in Baltimore. The train repair facility, connected by rail to the main museum, is not open to the public. Here, Harwood has devoted months to mending the rusty and disintegrating sections of steel. When an oil chamber needed a new cap, he made one. A missing headlamp part? He gets creative. And in the final years of President Washington's active service, it was minimally maintained and assigned to less glamorous runs. 'When locomotives get old, they begin to eat themselves,' Harwood said of the fate of these aging assemblages of valves, pistons, boilers and driving rods. While the two men do most of the work (Harwood on metal repairs and Partridge on painting and interior restoration), they are also helped by students from the Baltimore City Community College enrolled in a restoration pilot program. The main museum, a few blocks away, sees 200,000 visitors a year who inspect its collection of railroad equipment, much of its from the 19th Century, and many pieces that were put on display at the 1892 Chicago Columbian Exposition. The President Washington, numbered 5300, was a star of the 1927 Fair of the Iron Horse, a celebration of the centenary of the B&O, alongside several other B&O steam locomotives. The event, the closest pageant Baltimore ever had to a world's fair, was held at Halethorpe just off the main line to Washington. The President Washington was a lucky survivor. After about 30 years of hard work, it was retired and was sold to a former B&O fireman, Ed Striegel, who ran a supply and equipment business on Chemical Road in Curtis Bay. Striegel knew its value and donated it to the museum, where it was displayed outdoors along West Pratt Street. 'It has had a hard life. Most of the coal bunker had so many holes it was Swiss cheese,' Harwood said of the locomotive. 'It's a composition — a blend of art overlapping with engineering.'
Stuff.tv
12-05-2025
- Stuff.tv
Here's why the B&O Beosound A1 3rd Gen is the new premium portable speaker to beat
Stuff Verdict Still possibly the best-looking Bluetooth travel speaker, and now with more low-end muscle. You pay a premium for the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1's signature styling, but it's brilliantly capable all t Pros Gorgeous, uses luxury yet environmentally conscious materials Wonderfully engaging audio Long-lasting battery Cons B&O name carries a significant price premium Not as future-proof as some rivals There are louder outdoor speakers Introduction Every bit of Bang and Olufsen kit sits at a crossroads between gadget and art piece, and the new Beosound A1 is no exception. This (relatively) affordable Bluetooth speaker might be a heck of a lot smaller than the firm's statement-making floor standers, but it's just as iconic. So much so, you might think little has changed for this third generation. Underneath, though, the audio engineers have been hard at work boosting bass response. It means this mini music box should have the low end oomph to rival much larger speakers. Battery life has also been extended, making it even more of an outdoor essential. One or two features from the old model have been jettisoned, though, and the $349/£299/€349 asking price puts an awful lot of room between it and the more mainstream travel speaker crowd. I took one on tour for a week to see how it performs. How we test Hi-Fi products Every speaker, amp and Hi-Fi separate reviewed on Stuff is used for a minimum of a week's worth of daily listening. We use a playlist of test tracks made up of multiple genres to assess sound, and use our years of experience to compare to other models. Manufacturers have no visibility on reviews before they appear online, and we never accept payment to feature products. Find out more about how we test and rate products. Design & build: pearl-blasted burger bun I'm not sure there's another portable speaker as distinctive as the Beosound A1. The puck-like unit stays true to the two previous versions, keeping the pearl-blasted aluminium top grille with 2173 holes precision-milled across its surface. The polymer underside is built to withstand more punishment, and prevents speaker vibrations passing through to whatever surface you place it on. It's plenty grippy, too. There's some serious heft here, given the whole thing fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. Yet at 576g it's not so heavy I wanted to leave it at home, instead of bringing it with me on the move. Shape-wise it's not as easy to say, shove in a bike or bag bottle holder than some rivals, but I had no qualms finding room for it in my backpack's other pockets. My Honey Tone review unit (which lands somewhere between bronze and rose gold) is one of two new colours, the other being Eucalyptus. Bang & Olufsen has also brought back Natural Aluminium. Personally I don't think you can go wrong; all would look comfortable in an interior design catalogue. Danish industrial designer Cecilie Manz was brought back in for a third time to keep the new Beosound A1 looking fresh. The only real changes are to the leather wrist strap's metal fastener, which is a little simpler this time around. It's still water resistant, just like the speaker itself: an IP67 rating means it can shrug off showers and splashes. B&O also get a thumbs up for securing 'Cradle-to-Cradle Bronze' certification – the first Bluetooth speaker to get one – meaning it uses sustainable, recyclable materials. Though with the battery now able to be replaced (by a firm-approved technician, that is), this speaker should hopefully never see the scrapheap. Features & battery: Dane kept a-rollin' The 3rd-gen Beosound A1 keeps things simple, with just a single activity LED on the top subtly integrated into the grille, and a few buttons dotted around the edge for controlling power, playback, volume, and Bluetooth pairing. There's also a microphone mute button, as it still doubles as a speakerphone; the three integrated mics had no trouble picking up my voice when taking calls via my paired smartphone. What you won't find here is any sort of Alexa integration. The outgoing Beosound A1 2nd Gen could piggyback off your phone to ask Amazon's voice assistant questions, despite not having any Wi-Fi on board. Personally I don't miss it, as I usually have my phone close by when using any kind of travel speaker, but it's something to think about if you're an Alexa super-fan. The single USB-C port can be used for wired playback if you're so inclined, but I'm betting most owners will stick with Bluetooth. The Beosound A1 has multipoint connectivity, Microsoft Swift Pair and Google Fast Pair, which makes getting set up a breeze. aptX Adaptive returns for high quality streaming, though because B&O has gone with Bluetooth 5.1, it rules out getting Auracast connectivity later down the line via software updates. That makes it just a little less future-proof than some rivals. Though I didn't have a second speaker to test it, the Beosound A1 3rd Gen does support stereo pairing. It can also pair with the older A1 2nd Gen if you have one of those already. I was happy to see B&O's claim of improved battery life stack up. The 3300mAh cell inside the A1 3rd Gen gives it a six hour lead over the previous generation speaker, meaning at sensible volume levels I could eke 24 hours of playback per charge. Refuelling isn't the fastest, though, needing several hours on mains power before I was fully recharged. Interface: tune it in, turn it up With those on-device controls you might not instantly reach for the Bang & Olufsen smartphone companion app, but it's worth a download. As well as handling firmware updates and setting up stereo pairing (assuming you have the funds to buy two A1s) it also lets you customise the sound. A few of the five equalizer presets are a bit nebulous (ambient, favourite) while others are a little clearer (party, speech, optimal – which the speaker defaults to). You can create your own, but B&O has rejected the usual multi-band EQ in favour of a simple circle with labels like Energetic and Relaxed. It's a great way to simplify things for owners who might not understand bass or treble frequencies. The app in general doesn't overwhelm you with options, and the layout is as minimal as the speaker itself. Integrating an internet radio player into the app was a clever move, as it means you'll never be short on something to listen to. You can access your Deezer and Tidal libraries here too. Spotify also gets a mention here, though it's a token one – you've got to open the Spotify app proper to pick playlists. Sound quality: let me entertain you B&O has managed to squeeze an 85mm mid/bass driver and 15mm tweeter inside the Beosound A1. They're powered by 30W of Class D amplification, and promise a fair bit more bass this time around. Not to say the old one sounded at all hollow, mind – but I definitely appreciated a little extra oomph when playing my Spotify 'summer dance anthems' playlist. The kicks on Phats & Small's Turn around had real punch. It's not like Bang and Olufsen has cranked the tuning dial to totally favour the low-end, though – but the A1 3rd Gen isn't an analytical listen intended to only please audiophiles, either. This listen leans a little warm, a bit more dynamic than the firm's higher-end gear, just in a way that works so well for the sort of impromptu backing tracks a Bluetooth speaker is best at. Chaism's Isolated kept its soft electronic drum track intact while outdoors, so it's not like the presence falls off once you've left four walls behind. Things are clean and contained at the top-end, with no shortage of detail for such a compact speaker. Vocals have enough presence, with Luude's Big City Life coming through clearly over the relentless snares. Every part of the frequency range is well controlled, with rumble where it's deserved and room for the rest of the mix to breathe when it isn't. There's no obvious crossover point between the two drivers, and volume can be pushed pretty high without affecting the soundstage. OK, it's not going to out-shout speakers several times its size. I've heard similarly travel-friendly speakers get louder, which might be something to consider if you were hoping to supply sound for a pool party. But will it soundtrack a yacht pleasure cruise or après ski session? Absolutely. Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd gen verdict Rugged, long-lasting portable Bluetooth speakers aren't exactly a rarity, but there are far fewer that feel as luxurious as the Beosound A1. It continues to impress in its third generation, with the sound to match its styling. That sound isn't perhaps as loud as some of the cheaper alternatives, admittedly, but the quality is really rather great. So sure, a JBL Flip 7 costs almost a third of the price and has extra goodies like Auracast – but it's nowhere near as easy on the eyes, as repairable, or as much of a style statement as this. If your outdoor speaker needs are more garden party than trail hike (and your budget stretches this far) the B&O should be a top contender. Stuff Says… Score: 5/5 Still possibly the best-looking Bluetooth travel speaker, and now with more low-end muscle. You pay a premium for the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1's signature styling, but it's brilliantly capable all the same. Pros Gorgeous, uses luxury yet environmentally conscious materials Wonderfully engaging audio Long-lasting battery Cons B&O name carries a significant price premium Not as future-proof as some rivals There are louder outdoor speakers Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd gen technical specifications Drivers 1x 3.25in woofer, 1x 0.6in tweeter Amplification 2x 30W class D Bluetooth version Bluetooth 5.1 Codecs supported aptX Adaptive, AAC Durability IP67 Battery life Up to 24 hours Dimensions 133x46x133mm, 576g
Top Gear
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Buy Aston Martin Vantage Roadster Price, PPC or HP
Prices start at £175,000 – a £10k lift from the coupe. As tested, the one in our images was a shade over £240,000. That's a £15,000 paint job you're looking at. Carbon ceramic brakes ought to be standard in our opinion – nope, a £10k extra. The B&O hi-fi is almost £7,000 and you can add a semi-detached house's worth of carbon fibre if you're not careful. The Roadster isn't short of rivals. AMG SL, Roma Spider, Maserati GranCabrio, Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet… there's a huge amount of talent in the circa-£200k super-sports drop-top arena.
Tom's Guide
07-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
Bang & Olufsen's new Bluetooth speaker packs in plenty of battery life and a premium build
(Image credit: Bang & Olufsen) There are loads of the best Bluetooth speakers for you to choose from right now. And Danish audio firm Bang & Olufsen has just made finding your favorite a little harder with an upgrade to the excellent B&O A1. With some spec boosts and apparently more impressive bass response, it looks like the third-generation A1 could be a candidate for the top of the list. It doesn't come cheap, though. (Image credit: Bang & Olufsen) At the core of the design is a desire to add longevity to the speaker. The battery is replaceable, along with the aluminum top panel and presumably other components as well, which means it's "Cradle to Cradle Certified®" — something I've never seen before. You may like You'll find more information about the standard here, although I'll admit I don't feel too much the wiser having read through the page. Either way, the replaceable parts are a step up, although the fact that they have to be replaced by B&O technicians is less good. User-replaceable bits, please. Otherwise, the A1 V2 looks to be a typically top-notch piece of audio gear from B&O. 24 hours of battery life puts it up there with the likes of the Sonos Move 2, and I'm a particular fan of the new colors for the aluminum shell which join the Natural Titanium finish — Honey Tone and Eucalyptus Green. Sound-wise, it's looking good too, with what B&O says is "the largest woofer in its class". The first model already sounded excellent, but this new woofer could make the speaker sound even better — and that's exciting. You'll have no problem taking the speaker out and about thanks to IP67 water and dust protection, and the leather strap means you can hang it off just about anything. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The B&O A1 gen 3 is going to cost $349/£299, and I can't wait to get it on the testing table. You can buy one today from the Bang & Olufsen webstore. More from Tom's Guide Today's best Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A1 V2 deals
