Intermodal service regional style
Today we chase WC Train T218 from Black Creek to Neenah.....This train runs from Green Bay all the way to Schiller Park....
Its dusk in Black Creek and Miller Time at the Cooper Kettle, one of dozens of neon-lit taverns that dot small town Wisconsin serving up fish frys and cold beer, two Friday evening staples in the Badger State. At 5:30 our train today on the point has 2 WC ex-SOO GP30's 703 and 700 with 21 loads and 45 empties with 4111 feet of train and totaling a 2384 tons....Here we catch the train as it comes of the GB&W tracks and onto the WC Shawano Sub
Entering track warrant No. 29 T218 proceeds southward over WC's Shawano Sub...At 6:05 we're rolling at restricted speed through the west side of Appleton, the deep-throated roar of the GP30's echo off industrial buildings, many with freight cars on their sidings...
At 6:30 T218 is at Milepost 361 on the Shawano Sub, also Mile Post 188 on the Neenah Sub as the formerChicago-Twin Cities main line now gains another train...From here south, WC trains enjoy welded rail and CTC operation...From Appleton to Fond du Lac, the Fox Valley main line parallels on the left...In Neenah, 218 makes the first of only five brief regular stops to work..
As T218 continues south we will head back north up to Green Bay and call it a night