There is a BNSF islolated yard off of 16th street next to the Rock Island/IAIS railroad...why is that there?
https://goo.gl/maps/AdegUvHnn6VAcNj86
I believe that Amtrak was the last through movements between Council Bluffs and Pacific Jct. The BN was able to get Amtrak to reroute to the Nebraska side and BN abandoned the line. I remember seeing a portion pulled up. Eventually, the line was restored, but Amtrak stayed on the Nebraska side.
To use the Iowa side as a through route, Amtrak and BN had to use the UP bridge. There's a coal fired power plant just south of Council Bluffs. It seems to me this had something to do with restoring the Iowa side. The BN wanted to avoid using the UP bridge for their coal trains is what I heard.
Jeff
Thanks, Jeff.
On one trip, while Amtrak still had a dome car on the California Zephyr, I was in the dome when we left Omaha. I was astounded when we crossed the Missouri very soon after leaving the station and then made our southward run to the main line, reaching it at Pacific Junction.
As an aside, I first crossed the Missouri from Iowa to Nebraska the night of the first night major league baseball game. I had my radio at the front of the dome--and the flagman had his at the rear. A gentleman sitting behind me was also listening to my radio. I met him in his home town about a year later--and he told me that he had wanted the team that lost to win the game--and did not express his desire that evening for he feared I would tell him not to listen to my radio .
Johnny
Deggesty jeffhergert All the old heads, almost all retired now, have said it was CNW. Never heard anyone say it was also used by the CB&Q. The old "River track" ( removed some years ago) that came off the main track just north of the volleyball court was accessed by other CB railroads, as well as CNW, at one time. There are crossovers (and the switch to the 12th street line) on the other (track) side. One time I was out getting the crossovers while a teen league was playing. I saw the ball come over the high fence. While it was still in the air I started toward where it was going to land so I could throw it back. I didn't have to worry. The ball struck the rail just right and bounced back over the fence to the players. I bet that doesn't happen very often. Jeff Jeff, was the "River track" the Q's track from Council Bluffs down to Pacific Junction?
jeffhergert All the old heads, almost all retired now, have said it was CNW. Never heard anyone say it was also used by the CB&Q. The old "River track" ( removed some years ago) that came off the main track just north of the volleyball court was accessed by other CB railroads, as well as CNW, at one time. There are crossovers (and the switch to the 12th street line) on the other (track) side. One time I was out getting the crossovers while a teen league was playing. I saw the ball come over the high fence. While it was still in the air I started toward where it was going to land so I could throw it back. I didn't have to worry. The ball struck the rail just right and bounced back over the fence to the players. I bet that doesn't happen very often. Jeff
All the old heads, almost all retired now, have said it was CNW. Never heard anyone say it was also used by the CB&Q. The old "River track" ( removed some years ago) that came off the main track just north of the volleyball court was accessed by other CB railroads, as well as CNW, at one time.
There are crossovers (and the switch to the 12th street line) on the other (track) side. One time I was out getting the crossovers while a teen league was playing. I saw the ball come over the high fence. While it was still in the air I started toward where it was going to land so I could throw it back. I didn't have to worry. The ball struck the rail just right and bounced back over the fence to the players. I bet that doesn't happen very often.
Jeff, was the "River track" the Q's track from Council Bluffs down to Pacific Junction?
No. The River track was an industrial lead. It was still in when I hired out, but I never worked over it. I think the last customer was a grain elevator that closed up. It was removed within the last 5 or 10 years. I'm really bad with remembering dates when such changes were made. Often it just seems like a year or two ago, but turns out closer to 5 or 10, or more. The older I get, the faster time seems to pass.
2.00-2.50 beer all day! & the Rumble of a train every 20-30 min..
https://goo.gl/maps/H8Ryp41mj2jQJMNm8
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