Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 79

[Modelcar]

...I agree with steve's evaluation of the track on the branch line 100%....I noticed those questionable spots when I first pulled up the photos.  Especially, that extremely short piece  of rail.  Surely one would think the maintenance group could find even a used rail to put in place to eliminate those close joints.

[zardoz]

 

 I have a technical question for you guys re your cameras....do the Canons have a shut off feature that puts them in "standby mode" if you wait too long between shots? If so, is there a way to prevent it from happening? My Nikon keeps going black at the most in-opportune times. I have searched the owners manual but haven't found anything useful. Do you or any of the posters have any suggestions?

I have the D70 and it never shuts itself down or off.  I have left it on overnight, and it is ready to go right away the next day (assuming the battery is still charged).

[LVJJJ]

gots to be Erik, high mountain railroading wins it for me.  (this is not a sympathy vote, maybe next time).

[CShaveRR]

I'm going to give up trying to explain my choices!  In the past I've stated that I like green--Mike's shot has more green.  In the past I've stated that shots taken out west are too drab-looking--Erik's shot was taken out west, and the scenery seems a little more austere than on Mike's.

But Erik's is the one that gets my vote this time.  The rough-looking stick rail on the CN shot might be a turn-off for me, and there's certainly no arguing with the perspective of Erik's shot, or the possible thoughts of the crew (who'd still better be paying attention to the track ahead!).  We railroaders aren't so tough that we don't think about such things (and even though my view doesn't vary, the circumstances do--and, yes, I notice and appreciate the good views!).

[ValorStorm]

Unquestionably Erik's.

[JSGreen]

I went with Bergie's shot this time...even before reading their comments.

To me, Mike's represented the Past and History of Railroading...the train coming at you from where it has been.

Bergie's offered a different perspective...where the train (and by implication, Railroading) is going...

Further comtemplation of this similie also allows one to contmeplate the rough but beautiful things ahead for railroading....

(OK, going any further with this would require breaking out the shovels...) 

 

[gravel123]

I think the CN shot near Grafton, WI is on the old Milwaukee Road line from Milwaukee to Green Bay via Cedarburg, Random Lake, Hilbert, etc. I think it only goes to Hilbert or Forest Junction now.

I used to be employed on the Cedarburg Section gang. I was number two to section foreman Elmer Flom, so I guess I am responsible in a way for the deplorable condition of the tracks. It was 1920's 90 pound rail in 1968, when I left for the Army, with the same low and worn joint ends. It is obviously the same rail now. It does look like the ballast has been renewed, though.

The short piece of rail may be (probably is) angle bars protecting a rail burn or some other defect that is a worry to the maintenance gang. Its more work to put in a short piece than it would be to replace the whole rail. We had no power tools of any kind, just hand wrenches and spike pullers. Rails were cut to size by scoring with cold chisels and sledge hammers and then spiking it between the running rails, bending it with a jack braced against the running rail and the replacement rail, and when at full tension, a final whack to the chisel would break the rail neatly along the score. We then had to hand drill the angle bar holes to bolt the new rail in. Broken rails were a real joy at midnight, temperature below zero, and with a ride out and back in a curtained motor car.

That line used to be home to two (one each way) daily time freights (80 and 81 as I recall), and two passenger runs (9 and 10?). I have a copy of the 1966 Official Guide, but I'm too lazy to go double check the train numbers. The passenger run was all the way from Chicago to Houghton, Michigan, via Channing, and was called the Copper Country Special

I last saw the line when I went through Saukville around 2000, and the track was mainly sunk into the grass and mud. Same thing at Brown Deer some 10 years earlier. So it does appear to have had some ballast work done since then.

So, my vote is for Mike's photo, for sentimental reasons.

Mike
Park Falls, WI

[CNW 6000]

Great insight.  Thanks for that peek at the past, now revisited.

[espeefoamer]

I voted for Mike's CN shot.I liked the local running through the Wisconsin woods.Erik's photo was nice,but my anti-UP bias showed up.It was close,but Mike came out the winner.

[Bergie]

I think the CN shot near Grafton, WI is on the old Milwaukee Road line from Milwaukee to Green Bay via Cedarburg, Random Lake, Hilbert, etc. I think it only goes to Hilbert or Forest Junction now.

I used to be employed on the Cedarburg Section gang. I was number two to section foreman Elmer Flom, so I guess I am responsible in a way for the deplorable condition of the tracks. It was 1920's 90 pound rail in 1968, when I left for the Army, with the same low and worn joint ends. It is obviously the same rail now. It does look like the ballast has been renewed, though.

The short piece of rail may be (probably is) angle bars protecting a rail burn or some other defect that is a worry to the maintenance gang. Its more work to put in a short piece than it would be to replace the whole rail. We had no power tools of any kind, just hand wrenches and spike pullers. Rails were cut to size by scoring with cold chisels and sledge hammers and then spiking it between the running rails, bending it with a jack braced against the running rail and the replacement rail, and when at full tension, a final whack to the chisel would break the rail neatly along the score. We then had to hand drill the angle bar holes to bolt the new rail in. Broken rails were a real joy at midnight, temperature below zero, and with a ride out and back in a curtained motor car.

That line used to be home to two (one each way) daily time freights (80 and 81 as I recall), and two passenger runs (9 and 10?). I have a copy of the 1966 Official Guide, but I'm too lazy to go double check the train numbers. The passenger run was all the way from Chicago to Houghton, Michigan, via Channing, and was called the Copper Country Special

I last saw the line when I went through Saukville around 2000, and the track was mainly sunk into the grass and mud. Same thing at Brown Deer some 10 years earlier. So it does appear to have had some ballast work done since then.

So, my vote is for Mike's photo, for sentimental reasons.

Mike
Park Falls, WI

Hi Mike,

Thanks for sharing that insight. Good stuff.

Also, thanks for joining the site and getting in on the conversation.

Bergie

[billbtrain]

First time voting.I just had to go with Mike's CN Local shot.Bergie's photo is very good,but I'm always drawn to 'down-to-the-roots' branchline or wayfreight railroading.Good job on both parts!

Bill B 

[Ted Marshall]

Both you guys take very nice photos. Keep up the good work. Erik, your contributions will be missed.