SD70Dude-- That's my now adopted homer railroad. Thanks for the pics!
Got stopped on what I consider a very dangerous highway crossing this morning. Heading back home North to the 5 hour away yet Great Canadian Shield. Hwy 11 Saskatoon to connect with Hwy 2 to Prince Albert is 4 lanes wide, huge medium, typical flat as a pancake prairie land, and it's relatively busy. The Carlton Trail Railway crosses over the Hwy, has crossing flashers, no gates. Speed limit for me is posted 110. Lots of what I consider way to big, big rigs hauling a second trailer just as enormous as the the first ( not a pup anymore).
Never got stopped before in almost ten years on that Hwy but within maybe 400 feet or less the crossng signals go. I'm going 110 cruise control. Light snow all morning, powdery stuff and the roads are a wee bit slippery in spots. Blue skies, wind blowing, -15, snow drifting across the highway right to left. I'm the sole car around me, but 3 big rigs not too far behind. No time to think. What to do? Go or hit the brakes. Slight indecision cause me to lose more safe ground, I see the headlights of the lead locomotive maybe 1/6 mile away. I brake, easy does it, don't want to slide, stopping 15 feet maybe from the track.
I really was not sure if I could stop safely before the tracks. No gates, so flat, all the snow, made it hard to see just where the heck they were, I used the flashers as my marker.
Train is doing a very good clip, kicking up some snow. I'm worried about getting rammed from behind by someone. Everyone is going pretty fast on that highway.
A BC Rail unit up front Red White and Blue, CN behind it and a solid consist of black tank cars. Normally, IF, big IF, I was a bit further back when the lights activated and roads conditions were a bit more friendly I would have got out and fetched my iPad and shot a video.
I was just too grateful that I made the stop, a bit white knuckled, and kept glancing my eyes on the rear view to make sure everyone was stopping. Kept kicking myself over that indecision time. I don't get it and don't like it, that crossing that is.
Tried to enjoy the train go by, which I did of course, but not 100% as usual, I'd say 76.49% this time.
By the way, being originally from the 'East', a funny term really ( what do they call people from the real 'East"...maritimers I guess), I don't really care for those suicide crossings that are so prevalent throughout the West. Those things are dangerous. Simply do not have them, there is an overpass or underpass for vehicles, or a cloverleaf.
Next time I'm slowing down to 80 a good km before that crossing and keep my eyes on the signals. ...and have my iPad at the ready just in case.
SD70Dude...looks like she started life as an Illinois Central GP9:
Indeed! I'd know those frog eyes and ox yoke anywhere...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
It seems the 1040 ended up as a parts source on Central Kansas, and was finally scrapped in 2012. Here are some photos of the CTRW:
http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/photos/shortline/CTRW.htm
This page has a history of 1040, looks like she started life as an Illinois Central GP9:
http://www.trainweb.org/rosters/CTRW.html
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
Stylized maple leaf on a green & yellow/ green & cream locomotive (at least the ones that came back to Loveland)
Does anyone know of an eng roster for Omnitrax carrier Carlton Trail Railway (CTR). Would like to know history of GP10 #1040 that was transferred to Central Kansas Ry. The large logo on the eng body was the maple leaf flag of Canada? Correct?
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