Nice shot Max. Points traffic is, eh, so so. Not the busiest place in the world. Not sure how many trains run through in daylight, Brent would be able to tell you that. If you want CN power then go to point, if you want color, or SD40-2s, go anywhere else but Central Wisconsin. We don't have a SD40-2 to speak of! Except for maybe one SD40U.
My Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/JR7582 My Flickr Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wcfan/
Robby, im dissapointed. After all the bragging you did about the J units, they even pull a tac train with TWO units? SD38-2's no less. The Missabe's little SD-M #308 pulled a full 140 cars up Proctor Hill BY ITSELF until it stalled 1/2 mile from the yard.
Atmo, yes it is still standing.
BNSF-DMIR: They tresspass, and do not do it. Those of us around here also have contacts at various RR's and may sometimes get away with things. I would NOT reccomend this for you. For example, the EJE units (662 at least) does not have a sharp exhaust sound anymore. If you want to see them, listen for a train (usually 341 or 343) getting MTA to head north and find it climbing Steelton Hill where they will usually assist on the rear. They also run transfers to Itasca and 28th St. Yard.
Not too much happening today, just went out to catch a GT unit on the DMIR and the DRGW Ski Train heading north.
Mechanical Department "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."
The Missabe Road: Safety First
I thank you, good sir, as I now shouldn't have to search frantically for a shot inside Pokey(thus hopefully eliminating the road I got stuck on as well). Any kind of time table for these trains(up the hill and the transfers)? I don't have a scanner quite yet. Again, thanks for the help.
Here's the weekend report. The wife and I headed back to the Brainerd Sub for the weekend to visit the parents. While Friday was quite, the rest of the weekend wasn't. First, while walking the dog Saturday evening, a train passes with five engines at the point, and a DPU on the back. That was the largest move I've seen since catching a loaded coal with two MACs and two ACEs at the point. Without the camera, though, no shots. Back home, the wife called from her parents' house, letting me know of another empty coming my way. This one sported two ACEs(including the leader), two MACs, and a GEVO at the end, with another MAC DPUing. I set up, and ended up shooting it twice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqvF06VQanA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byMTpCJihQ0
From there, a quiet rest of the evening until Sunday morning, with another empty crusing by, this one with another ACE leading, and an Executive behind her, with the GEVO DPUing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIxr9D7aZDE
When I'm not here in the Ports frothing over SD38-2s and whatnot, I'm going nuts over SD70ACEs, and this weekend was great in that respect.
I actually did some railfanning on National Train Day 2009! I picked up my friend from Littleton, MA, and we worked on the layout all day... But I got a good video of train 1405 in Littleton, and a quick grab shot of the loco. I missed the specially painted Wi-Fi car, but did catch it on video.
EDIT: Here's the video, with the photo below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imjQHQXRMC
Enjoy!
Jordan,thanks for the info on Point. Ive wanted to go there for quite some time now. And catch a train on that truss bridge. And maybe get a shot of the dam (I'm weird, I know -_-) so that info helps!
Max, thanks. for the update on the ore dock I have an irrational attachment to. I heard from someone that part of it collapsed so I got worried, Wouldnt surprise me if the approach was demolished for the marina. I was told the company is trying to remove all access to the upper levels of the dock (As they should since it's a death trap up there) so good to hear!
For those of you not familiar with this dock, I offer thi photo. Some of you have seen it. but I know others have not. so here goes.
Love that dock....
GluefingerAccording to the UP computer...Franklin Park Railroad Days will have the 1995 and a "newbee" whatever that is, I'm guessing an ES44AC? They'll be heading out on the YPRCP 14.
Would be nice to see the E9s come back there with 1995 again. Poor things got stored.
But thankfully I saw them and even rode behind them shortly beforehand
Your friendly neighborhood CNW fan.
Max, would you be talking about this truss bridge? You’ll need to get there very early in the day, or stay late in the day. If you can catch them running down and back from Plover. There actually is an engine in plover now, or should be. They don’t bas the locomotives out of Point now. Guess it was too hard for the crews to make it back without dieing on hours.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z129/JR7582/101_6116.jpg
I'll try and give you some what of a photo guide to Point. I won't hit the yard that much, because that's so easy, but I'll hit the things around the yard. It would also help to have a map off Google to see where I'm talking about.
Ok so the first place you might hear on the scanner is "Clark Street". This is usually where trains are held before they can enter the yard. Lately I haven't heard them say that in a while. But you never know.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z129/JR7582/102_34355.jpg
For shots around the bridge there is a road called "West River Drive", and at the End of "Wisconsin Street" by Storo-Enso/New page.
At the former Storo-Enso, now called New Page, you can usually find crews working there in the morning hours.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z129/JR7582/102_32311.jpg
Next we move to the Whiting paper mill. They usually switch down there everyday (I think) in the morning, or maybe it's only on the weekdays. I can't give you directions right off the top of my head, but you might be able to find them on google.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z129/JR7582/101_61222.jpg
The yard is pretty easy to move around. So not much explaining there. There is a line that branchs off south, that is the line that heads to Whiting/Plover.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z129/JR7582/102_34455.jpg
Here is Hoover Road. This is on the East side of the yard. You can usually see trains pull down here, and sometimes find a train sitting on the siding. This is looking West.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z129/JR7582/101_61333.jpg
This is looking East.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z129/JR7582/103_43322.jpg
Moving farther east we find a place called "Orchard". This is where crew changes usually happen, this is also where the begging of the siding is.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z129/JR7582/101_60411.jpg
Going farther east we find Amherst Junction. You'll find Amherst Junction by heading east on highway 10 for a ways. Highway 10 also follows the tracks for quite a while. There is also a defect detector just north of Amherst Junction. Go on google to check out the area more.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z129/JR7582/101_61433.jpg
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z129/JR7582/102_144444.jpg
Not too far down the road is the town of Amherst, or as the railroad calls it "Nelsons". This is where the siding is.
I hope that helps a bit.
Ahh thanks Jordan. It helps a lot. I'm quite good at navigation and know where the paper mill is. (Next to the dam since the 2 plants kinda work in harmony). Learning the area should be simple enough. But your post will greatly help me decided where and when to be. thanks a mil, man!
Also, thats not the bridge I mean. The one I refer to is right in front of the dam.
BNSF & DMIR 4Ever I thank you, good sir, as I now shouldn't have to search frantically for a shot inside Pokey(thus hopefully eliminating the road I got stuck on as well). Any kind of time table for these trains(up the hill and the transfers)? I don't have a scanner quite yet. Again, thanks for the help. Here's the weekend report. The wife and I headed back to the Brainerd Sub for the weekend to visit the parents. While Friday was quite, the rest of the weekend wasn't. First, while walking the dog Saturday evening, a train passes with five engines at the point, and a DPU on the back. That was the largest move I've seen since catching a loaded coal with two MACs and two ACEs at the point. Without the camera, though, no shots. Back home, the wife called from her parents' house, letting me know of another empty coming my way. This one sported two ACEs(including the leader), two MACs, and a GEVO at the end, with another MAC DPUing. I set up, and ended up shooting it twice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqvF06VQanA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byMTpCJihQ0 From there, a quiet rest of the evening until Sunday morning, with another empty crusing by, this one with another ACE leading, and an Executive behind her, with the GEVO DPUing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIxr9D7aZDE When I'm not here in the Ports frothing over SD38-2s and whatnot, I'm going nuts over SD70ACEs, and this weekend was great in that respect.
EJE #665 and #666 (if on Pokey Transfer) will usually head over the BNSF early in the morning (around 0900 very roughly) and if they head to Itasca usually later in the day. The Transfer also makes various trips during the day.
Robby,
i was wondering is there a way i can ride the metra to franklin park from where where i can board outside the city so i dont have to drive too far? my parents are giving me suggstions my mom dont care if i drive but my dad is the iffy one. id say the metra wouldnt be a bad idea really.
BNSF & DMIR 4Everand the BNSF ore dock as well.
There's actually 4 of them in the same area. The dock I'm in front of is ex NP and the only one that had its chutes removed. There's 3 ex-GN docks just south of it. You can see them clearly from the NP dock. Whether BNSF still uses them is beyond me. Though their chutes are still present and the conveyor system DOES still connect to them. There's also an ore loading facility next to the GN docks, though they block it from view. That's the primary loading site, but I don't know if it completely replaced the GN docks or not.
well looks like i gotta kiss franklin park good bye for the 2nd year in a row, dont got a way to get there.i dont have a way to borrow the car. ill see maybe if i can go out to JO for the day. something to do then when im done i can visit a few freinds in Rapids. man i need to get a job & my own car. maybe rochelle i can make it to speaking of what day(s) is that.
I'm officially back in commision today, I've caught the State Line several times, and CN has gone back to using 3 units again, no doubt due to the multiple stalling problems on Joliet Hill. Franklin Park will have the 1995, a normal UP engine, one of the CN E9s, two business cars, a NS geep, a BRC switcher, a Metra MP36 and a Metra cab car. It is unknown what IHB and CP will send, and it is unknown if Amtrak or CSX will participate.
Needless to say it was not fun having very limited access here the past two weeks.
This is a perfect example of CN's quality service. First, underpower the train, then put two switchers, one of which was lucky it didn't set any brush fires. It is just unbelivable how stupid CN is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ySmS4qx_Aw&feature=channel_page
If that's not a fire hazard, I don't know what is. CN continues to show why they have that negative reputation.
On this end, this has got to be the slowest week ever as far as trains go. 403 continues to switch Proctor Yard, and aside from that, nothing. This could be a boring summer coming up.