Interesting events on the CASO Part III

[Overmod]

Miningman

Overmod--  So the often used C&O/Chessie logo really is a broken plate and NOT a sleeping kitten.

No, it's the change from 'sleep like a kitten' to 'sleep with the fishes'.  Must be some Italian 'investment' with Bob Young?

[Miningman]

Overmod--  So the often used C&O/Chessie logo really is a broken plate and NOT a sleeping kitten.

[Overmod]

Miningman

Q...How come the NYC/MCRR/CASO can haul live fish in tank cars and aquariums and the Chessie could not!

Probably for the same reason the slogan said "Water Level Route - You Can Sleep".  C&O had very solid track but plenty of curves, grades and thrashing.  Even the comparative calm of being hauled by steam turbines said to never finish a run without some kind of breakdown couldn't keep the slosh from being lethal.

[SD70Dude]

Miningman

19). May 13, 1942 - Oil tank trains of one hundred cars are becoming quite common.

A sign of things to come 70 years later, unfortunately too late for the CASO.

Much refined fuel was also moved as part of the war effort, and many of the tank cars were in less than perfect condition.  

A book of mine on CN's Niagara operations of that era contains an interesting story of fuel theft.  With gas rationing in effect driving became a luxury.  So some creative employees at CN's Niagara Falls yard noticed a tank car with a cracked end, set it over to the RIP track and ran it up on the end block, causing the remaining fuel to pour out into their waiting containers.

One fellow filled up his Buick and drove home.  When he arrived the engine would not shut down, and upon popping the hood he saw that the exhaust manifold and several other parts were glowing bright red.

The tank car had contained high-octane aircraft fuel.

[Miningman]

1). June 19, 1936 - MCR train No. 44 carried an unusual car. A large fish car from John G. Sheld Aquarium of Chicago en route to Massachusetts for loading.

 

2).  March 25, 1937 - The NYC dispatched six hudsons in three sets of doubleheaders from St Thomas to Hamilton on the TH&B with one coach load of train crews for Easter traffic. 

 

3). April 27, 1937 - The towerman at Pelton Junction threw a Pere Marquette train off the track when he saw an approaching NYC passenger train he quickly changed his instructions to the PM train and set a derail against the PM train. 

 

4).  September 23, 1937 - The Rock Island Railroad "Rocket" makes a trip through St Thomas. The latest stainless steel streamlined train passed over the CASO en route to Chicago. It happened at 6:45 Wednesday evening and it was pulled by NYC 4390 

 

5).September 30, 1937 - CASO rails get annual crude oil bath - Oiler started in Windsor and worked east.  
 

6). March 11, 1938 - 4 sections of the 20th Century Limited travel over the CASO due to derailment at Dunkirk, NY - Fourth time 20th Century Limited has detoured over the CASO. 

 

7). March 15, 1938 - Ethel Barrymore came through St Thomas. on the CASO

 

8). October 6, 1938 - A solid train of 50 tank cars of coconut oil destined for Lever Brothers at Kober, Indiana was hauled over the CASO by NYC 2974. 

 

9). March 24, 1939 - NYC 2269 pulls train of substantial tonnage, the reporter noticed that farther back from the pipe which released the sand on the rails there was another pipe which emitted boiling water almost like steam. Inquiries revealed that this hot water heater washes the released sand off the rails. Often the sand cakes on the rails and clings to the wheels and later accumulates  in the brake shoes. 

 

10). April 28, 1939 - Danish Royalty, Crown Prince Frederick and Princess Ingrid were in St Thomas on Thursday They came in on Train No. 44,with engine NYC 5417. 

May 3, 1939 - The Norwegian Royal Party en route to Detroit on the Michigan Central from the 1939 New York World's Fair came through St Thomas. Crown Prince Olav rode in Private Car No. 2. 

11). September 4, 1939 - Due to WWII - All bridges on CASO to be protected by armed guards  

12). July 28, 1940 - Model Airplane crashes into yard switcher in Windsor

13). September 17, 1940 - One dozen passenger trains in one hour and 15 minutes were handled over the CASO. In addition to half a dozen freight trains that were handled. There were six sections of train No. 17 of the westbound Wolverine, and two sections of train No. 47, the Detroiter, and two sections of train No. 40, The North Shore Limited. As well there was a special for Al Jolson and the "Hold your Hat Company', and a special train for the "Detroit Lions" baseball club. 

14). October 19, 1940 - All NYC trains are routed over the CASO because of a collision Friday night at South Bend, Indiana. All south shore trains are routed through St Thomas. Several sections of CD-4 the solid meat train came through Saturday, and two sections of the Wolverine.

15). June 12, 1941 - Many rebuilt automotive boxcars appearing on the CASO as rail traffic increases for defence purposes 

16). July 22, 1941 - Canada Southern Railway name to appear on rebuilt boxcars 

17. December 9, 1941 - No train tickets to be sold to Japanese persons 

18). January 6, 1942 - The streamlined 20th Century Limited was routed through Canada in five sections due to a freight train wreck near Sandusky, Ohio. 

19). May 13, 1942 - Oil tank trains of one hundred cars are becoming quite common

20). January 7, 1943 - NYC streamlined engine No. 5429, a huge streamlined monster of the NYC System, on Wednesday was on the International run from Harmon, New York to Windsor with the Wolverine. It returned on The Empire State Express.. The engine has Disc wheels and a bullet shaped nose

Q...How come the NYC/MCRR/CASO can haul live fish in tank cars and aquariums and the Chessie could not!