Changes at Beverly Yard(Former CNW)

[al-in-chgo]

The directions are excellent -- thanks!   -  al

 

[Semper Vaporo]

Well... I don't know anything about roads in or around Chicago, except that Interstate 80 goes a wee bit south of there.  Soooo...

If you can get to I-80, go west.  At Iowa City (about 100 70- miles west of the Mississippi river) go north on I-380 to Cedar Rapids.  On the south side of C.R. is Highway 30.  Go west about a couple of miles and get off at Edgewood road.  Then go south on Edgewood about 1/2 mile.

You will cross 3 tracks there.  The 1st (north most) is presently called the industrial spur to downtown Cedar Rapids.  The next two are the old C&NW mainlines.  Beverly yard is to the west as you cross the tracks.

How's that?

See google earth:

"Beverly Yard" lat=41.9323878189, lon=-91.7157183239

That is the center of Edgewood Road and the mainline tracks.

edit: correct milage

[al-in-chgo]

Even though I'm a Chicagoan I have no idea how to get to Beverly Yard.

Could someone please direct me, starting with any expressway that leaves downtown (your choice)??

Grateful for any info, etc.

[jeffhergert]

Each of the crossover switches has two signs that read:

 Moveable
Point Frog

one sign at the points and the other at about the location of the frog.  They sure do seem to be really nice switches as there is no clanking as the wheels go through them from any direction.  I am assumming that "Moveable Point Frog" means that the point of the frog shifts to close the gap of the flangeway of the alternate direction and that this makes them suitable for higher speeds and a much smoother ride.

 

The sign is there to remind anyone using the dual control turnouts in hand operation to not only line the switch points, but also line the moveable point frog for the intendent route.  Even with the signs some have forgot and put equipment on the ground. 

Jeff

[billbtrain]

Brian,Charles and anyone interested in C&NW can check out my threads on the Layouts and layout construction forum.Here are the links.

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1268915/ShowPost.aspx

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1268079/ShowPost.aspx

Have a good one.

Bill B 

[Semper Vaporo]

Each of the crossover switches has two signs that read:

 Moveable
Point Frog

one sign at the points and the other at about the location of the frog.  They sure do seem to be really nice switches as there is no clanking as the wheels go through them from any direction.  I am assumming that "Moveable Point Frog" means that the point of the frog shifts to close the gap of the flangeway of the alternate direction and that this makes them suitable for higher speeds and a much smoother ride.

YES, that train coming right at me did create a moment of mental anguish.  My mind went through the actions of starting the car and slamming it in reverse, but the muscles did not respond AT ALL before I realized the engines were still on the tracks and everything was okay.  That train was the fastest of the 3 or 4 I have seen do this.

I think the angles or curves involved through those switches are gentler than where the "moved" south track bends back to the original track just west of the new signal masts.  That curve seems to be much sharper than I would expect for a mainline... but maybe the viewing angle from Edgewood Rd. is deceiving.

 

[Los Angeles Rams Guy]

Wow, some interesting changes around Beverly.  I remember going down to Beverly from time to time back in the early 80's (CNW days) when they still had an operator there. 

Also, that must have been some sight to see an empty unit coal train go through a crossover at speed like that.  Is that normal?  I have NEVER seen anything like that before.

Nice shot, Brian.

 

[billbtrain]

Charles-I hadn't noticed the difference in width between the main tracks while We were down there,but I did notice that the UP had widened the subroadbed quite a bit,thus narrowing the road between 26th St and Edgewood Rd.

Brian-Nice photos on your site.Now I can see the difference in track spacing between Mains 1 and 2,plus the concrete ties really stand out in your photos.

Have a good one.

Bill B

Now I need to really get moving on my son's layout of Beverly.CNW pre-1995 of course!

[blhanel]

How about it Brian? Have you been around there lately?

Yep, here's a shot from that same spot a couple of weeks ago...

 

[Semper Vaporo]

Yes, quite a few "little" changes. 

Did you notice that track 2 (the south most one) was moved south about a track width?  I think this was to make room for the signal mast between the mains. 

I believe all the switches connected to the mains are now Dispatcher controlled only. 

Trains that want to enter the yard now have to go almost all the way to the Hwy 30 underpass to clear the signals at that end for the switches to be thrown.  Seems strange to have to go 3/4 mile so the switch into the yard can be set to allow entrance into the yard, but I guess that is the only way to see the signals.

I think some of the changes added a few feet to a couple of the yard tracks on the South side also.

I have seen empty coal trains take one of the crossovers at full speed.  Kinda scared me the first time I saw it.  It was going west on the north track and suddenly was "headed right at me" parked at the grade crossing, as it switched to the south track.

 

[billbtrain]

   My son,Will,and I took a ride out to Beverly Yard this morning to see what was going on and look at the progress on the Edgewood Rd overpass construction.This is the first time in a year that we have had time to check out any action.

  We arrived on 26th St by the Hwy 30 overpass and the first thing we noticed were 3 new signals facing east about halfway between 26th St and Edgewood.Closer inspection found that these signals appear to govern the east end of 2 new crossovers and the crossover from the CR running track to main 1.Looking west are a new crossover from Main 2 to Main 1 and then a crossover from 1 to 2.These look to be #18 or 20 switches.We rode over to Edgewood and noticed that the old crossover in front of the yard office had been removed and that the entrances from Main 1 to the north side and from Main 2 to the south side yards had been rebuilt and moved closer to Edgewood Rd than they had been before.4 new signals face west a short distance from Edgewood that appear to govern the entrances to the Main lines and the approaches to the crossovers with all new switches looking to be dispatcher controlled(dual control maybe?dispatcher or yard crew?).New concrete ties under everything on the mains,not sure about yard leads and such.

   Some work has been taken away from the Beverly crews as the new UP/Crandic interchange at Fairfax takes unit coal and grain trains and associated empties.Crews for the empties coming off the Crandic are brought in from Boone.

  A far cry from what things were like a year or even 6 months ago.

  How about it Brian? Have you been around there lately?

Have a good one.

Bill B