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Classic Railroad Quiz (at least 50 years old).

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, April 18, 2011 3:39 PM

Keep in mind the timeframe for this question.  Which was the only Class 1 railroad in the diesel era to have a roster comprised entirely of Lima-Hamilton locomotives?

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by henry6 on Monday, April 18, 2011 3:55 PM

A.C.& Y.

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 6:55 AM

henry6

A.C.& Y.

Definitely not. AC&Y had a fair number of FM's on the roster, but no Lima's.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by narig01 on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 12:04 AM

WAG Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern ?   Or  Norfolk Southern( the RR from Norfolk, that ran to NC).

thx IGN

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 9:57 AM

narig01

WAG Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern ?   Or  Norfolk Southern( the RR from Norfolk, that ran to NC).

thx IGN

WAG was famous for its ex-Ford GE's.  MN&S rostered FM's and Baldwins, but no Lima's.  The original NS was noted for its Baldwins and GP18's, no Lima's.

Hint, it's a switching/terminal railroad.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by narig01 on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 4:25 PM

This is one at least I should remember.  If no one answers I'll be back at the house next week and look it up.   For what is is worth I think this road was mentioned in the 2nd Diesel Spotters Guide.

Thx IGN

PS Pittsburg area?

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Posted by henry6 on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 4:28 PM

Peoria and Peking Union

 

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Posted by narig01 on Thursday, April 21, 2011 5:48 AM

Chicago & ( something) . New York Central subsidary. I did not think they were a class 1 or 1

TRRA in St Louis. Thought they also had some Baldwins.   Rgds IGN

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Thursday, April 21, 2011 7:03 AM

narig01

Chicago & ( something) . New York Central subsidary. I did not think they were a class 1 or 1

You're getting close.

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Posted by KCSfan on Thursday, April 21, 2011 8:06 AM

Elgin Joliet & Eastern

Mark

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Thursday, April 21, 2011 9:56 AM

KCSfan

Elgin Joliet & Eastern

Mark

EJ&E didn't have any Lima diesels on its roster.

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Posted by ShopsYardMaster on Thursday, April 21, 2011 4:24 PM
Cincinnati Union Terminal
Jim North Fond du Lac WI Home of the late, great Wisconsin Central
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Posted by narig01 on Thursday, April 21, 2011 5:35 PM

Please do not tell me it was the Chicago River & Indiana.  I did not think this was a class 1 RR The only reason it occured to m  was the article in CT Working on the Railroad.  The article is by a tower operator who worked for B&OCT.

rgds ign

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Posted by FlyingCrow on Thursday, April 21, 2011 8:35 PM

Can't be the CR&I.   They had SW's on their roster passed down from the IHB.     This one's a booger.

Cincy had Limas...but they also had SW8's.

 

I'm stumped

 

 

 

AB Dean Jacksonville,FL
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Posted by henry6 on Thursday, April 21, 2011 8:43 PM

A real stumper in fact.  But a good questions...I know I've heard the answer as a footnote to a story or article once...just....can't.....think......... 

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Posted by narig01 on Thursday, April 21, 2011 10:00 PM

When the New York Central (which controlled the CR&I) dieselized the CR&I they bought all the locomotives from one source Lima.  Sometime in the 1950's CR&I did get more power from IHB in the form of EMD.   I am trying to remember where I read this. 

     As I said I did not think CR&I was a class 1.

thx IGN

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Friday, April 22, 2011 6:51 AM

narig01

Please do not tell me it was the Chicago River & Indiana.  I did not think this was a class 1 RR The only reason it occured to m  was the article in CT Working on the Railroad.  The article is by a tower operator who worked for B&OCT.

rgds ign

You're right, it was CR&I, which was a Class 1 under the definition at the time of annual revenues of $3,000,000.  There was a brief period in the early 1960's when CR&I unloaded its Winton switchers and had an all-Lima roster until parent NYC transferred some EMD switchers from itself and IHB to CR&I.

narig01, you get to ask the next question since you were the first correct answer.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by narig01 on Friday, April 22, 2011 2:46 PM

OK. I will try for something simple.  In the 1880's a narrow gauge railwaywas built with a gauge of 3' 6".  Inspite of mergers, a natural disaster, and a complete rebuild. It still operates today. 

   This is I think the only 3'6" railway in the US and I suspect in North America.  Originally it was steam powered, Then for a number of years diesel powered. Currently if I remember correctly it is an electric operation.

   Thx IGN

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Posted by Mikec6201 on Friday, April 22, 2011 6:11 PM

Um  is it U.S. Borax co.?

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Posted by narig01 on Friday, April 22, 2011 7:17 PM

Not US Borax. Thought that was a 3 footer. As is US Gypsums Plastrr City operation. 

   As I said the gauge is the give away.  

 If no one gets it tonite by   1am ET I throw a clue or two out there.

Thx IGN

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Posted by FlyingCrow on Friday, April 22, 2011 10:00 PM

The Huntsville and Lake of Bays is 42" gauge, but I don't think this is the answer.

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Posted by narig01 on Saturday, April 23, 2011 3:20 PM

No not what I am looking for.

I will admit to some obfuscation in the question.

1st clue . This operation has evolved into a major tourist attraction. 

Rgds IGN

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Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, April 24, 2011 6:47 AM

I think it is still diesel and it is the Manitou and Pikes Peak.

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Posted by narig01 on Sunday, April 24, 2011 2:16 PM

The Manitou & Pikes Peak is a standard gauge operation(4'8 1/2") also it uses self propelled diesel railcars. 

Rgds IGN

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Posted by narig01 on Sunday, April 24, 2011 2:20 PM

The Huntsville & Lake of Bays uses steam locomotives.

What I am looking for uses electric motors.

Rgds IGN

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Posted by KCSfan on Monday, April 25, 2011 6:16 AM

The cable cars of the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) are 3'-6" gauge. The first line was built in 1873 and of course the operation is a major tourist attraction today. The system survived the 1906 earthquake and has undergone several rebuilds, the most recent being in 1982 IIRC. The cables were originally powered by steam engines but electric motors are used today. I don't know if diesel power was ever used but with that exception the Muni fits all parameters of the original question and subsequent hints.

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Posted by narig01 on Monday, April 25, 2011 7:10 AM

KCSfan

The cable cars of the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) are 3'-6" gauge. The first line was built in 1873 and of course the operation is a major tourist attraction today. The system survived the 1906 earthquake and has undergone several rebuilds, the most recent being in 1982 IIRC. The cables were originally powered by steam engines but electric motors are used today. I don't know if diesel power was ever used but with that exception the Muni fits all parameters of the original question and subsequent hints.

Mark

Ding Ding. We have a winner.  Diesel engines were used from the 1950's or early 1960's until the 1983 shutdown and rebuild.  It is, energy wise, a very effiecient operation. If I remember correctly currently the system uses 6 900hp electric motors to run the whole system. Before the rebuild 4 500hp diesel engines were used. I am not sure about the steam engines that were used before that.

    When the cable car system was rebuilt in the 1980's it went from wood ties(a lot of untreated redwood) and jointed rail to a reinforced concrete guideway with continuos welded rail.   When the old rail was pulled out there was alot that actually predated the earthquake of 1906. I can remember friends  showing me rail that was over100 years old. I also remeber any number of rail pieces that had less then 1/8" of head(? the top part were the wheel rides).

    The system rode thru the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake without any major damage.   

    SF's Municipal Ry in the lastg 2 years especially has been very apprecitive of having as many electric lines as it has.(The cable cars as I said are now run by electric motors, in addition the city has a large fleet of electric buses, as well as the electric streetcar lines)

  The next question is yours Mark.

Thx IGN

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Posted by wanswheel on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 5:13 AM
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Posted by daveklepper on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 11:28 AM

What through me off from giving the same answer was your statement that it was switched from steam to diesel.  I believe the cable room was switched directly from steam to electricity.   Still, I'll enjoy waiting for the next question.   No problem.

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Posted by KCSfan on Thursday, April 28, 2011 11:37 AM

During WW1 the USRA forced independent express companies to merge into the American Railway Express Co. In the post war period the ban on individual railroads competing with Railway Express was lifted and around 1920 at least one major railroad reentered the express business and formed a subsidiary company offering express shipment services over its system and a number of smaller connecting railroads. What was this railroad and what was the name of its subsidary express company? Name at least five of the connecting railroads over whose lines this company offered express service.

Mark

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