What the hell, freezing my arse off in Kansas City outside Sunday night waiting on the 40 min late 4014 to finally arrive at Union Station. What happened to Precision Scheduled Railroading? Can't even move a special train on time to a destination.....oy!
It's a complex, one-of-a-kind piece of machinery. And hopefully, there's still plenty of revenue traffic running.
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...
I can understand the frustration, truly, but you've got to remember UP is a business, and 4014 is just a sideshow. The freight has to come first.
Of course, it doesn't mean you have to like it. I'd be pretty PO'd myself.
How cold was it?
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
zugmann How cold was it?
It was SO COLD that ...
RIP Johnny Carson.
40 minutes late, that's practically on time! Especially for a antique steam machine operating in cold weather.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
Most railfans would not whine about having to wait 40 minutes for a chance to see 4014. Steam excursions are not really expected to be on time.
charlie hebdo Most railfans would not whine about having to wait 40 minutes for a chance to see 4014. Steam excursions are not really expected to be on time.
True, but Norfolk-Southern didn't have that problem back in the glory days of the steam program when Graham and Bob Claytor were alive.
Flintlock76 charlie hebdo Most railfans would not whine about having to wait 40 minutes for a chance to see 4014. Steam excursions are not really expected to be on time. True, but Norfolk-Southern didn't have that problem back in the glory days of the steam program when Graham and Bob Claytor were alive.
Not always. I recall waiting patiently with my dad and thousands of fans for the Circus Train, powered by Southern 4501 to pass through a town (Brookfield?) west of Milwaukee. It was about an hour late, but no one cared. It was 1973 or 74.
Ah memories - things were always better in the past.
The mind is a funny thing, it embelishes the frustrations of the past into Golden Memories that todays frustrations are worse than those suffered in the foggy mists of time.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
The Southern had a problem one day when the 722 and the 4501 were headed for Opelika in May of 1972 (The 722 and some of the cars were to be turned at Opelika and go back to Birmingham, and the 4501, with the rest of the cars went on to Columbus, Ga.). The pony truck on the 722, which, as I recall, had just had new brasses installed, developed a hot box about half-way to Opelika--which meant we were way late returning to Birmingham that night. Other than that, I do not recall any problems on the other trips I took out of Birmingham. It is well that the 4501 had no such trouble, for it was making a much longer trip altogether before returning to Birmingham.
Johnny
OK, I'll give you that one Charlie, but wasn't 4501 a "Special Guest Locomotive" on Milwaukee Road tracks?
It was a Southern engine all right, but not on Southern rails or under Southern dispatch.
I could say something about "Damn Yankees!" but since I AM one I'd better keep my mouth shut!
And of course Johnny, concerning 722 we know these things DO happen and have to make allowances!
I seem to recall watching a steam excursion pass through Stone Mountain back in the early 1980s, running late, but who cared? I don't recall the engine, maybe GA RR?
My point is that real railfans don't whine after they've seen steam pass, north or south. While we wait, yes maybe, but not after. 4014 was late arriving and departing West Chicago this summer, as Overmod will attest, but who cares?
Vince you are not a trisyllalbic yankee; you're just a yankee.
Johnny... that would be Wayne. Vince is Miningman.
PSR does not mean running trains on a time table schedule. Scheduling refers more to trip plans and scheduled (planned) connections for cars. It doesn't mean the 5:15 leaves at 5:15.
Jeff
Miningman Johnny... that would be Wayne. Vince is Miningman.
I knew of another man who moved south, for his health, after 1865, and my great-grandfather took him in; after he recovered his health he moved to Charleston, and settled there. His son was a friend to my family--four of my brothers went to Charleston after finishing high school, and lived on the top floor of his house while going to college or working in the navy yard there; we called him "Uncle Bert."
jeffhergert PSR does not mean running trains on a time table schedule. Scheduling refers more to trip plans and scheduled (planned) connections for cars. It doesn't mean the 5:15 leaves at 5:15. Jeff
I actually got the impression that the OP was kind of a tweak on PSR...
Thanks Johnny!
I knew I'd really arrived here in Virginia when one of my co-workers called me a "Damn GOOD Yankee!"
Wayne
Flintlock76but wasn't 4501 a "Special Guest Locomotive" on Milwaukee Road tracks? It was a Southern engine all right,
That steam locomotive only ran once on Milwaukee Rails. Back then Milwaukee Road was still very much community oriented and openly friendly to the public (everything changed with bankruptcy in 1977). They leased a lot of ex-Southern Locomotives in 1978, first time I ever saw the Southern Railway paint. Milwaukee leased power in B&O blue paint, Chessie System yellow paint, Southern Railway black and white paint........all I remember. Next time I saw the Southern Railway was in Columbus, GA while undergoing basic training on Fort Benning, GA in 1982.
I think it was former Central of Georgia rails that went through the post. They had a decent freight business on post, spent a few hours a day switching in and out of the various warehouses on post with a pair of high hood units. About 4-6 through trains a day as well. It was the end of the era though and that business is gone now. I went back to Benning in 2007. Rails are still there but I suspect it is a shortline as they have been downgraded as far as no longer having the well maintained Southern Railway standards....with the weed free ballast, etc.
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