Carl, how far has the UP gotten with their tie replacing project anyway? I know you said they were working on it before, and you mentioned it again. Just curious.
Thought I'd drop in with some photos this time too. This last Saturday a friend and I went over the tracks along the Mississippi River south of La Crosse, Wisconsin in search of some trains. I absolutely love it over on the River; it's pretty much my favorite stretch of railfanning in the upper midwest, that I've done so far anyway.
We had heard the Iowa, Chicago, and Eastern ran a passenger special from Marquette, IA to LaCrescent MN, which is across the river from La Crosse, and we chased the return trip about halfway back to Lansing, IA. We also caught one BNSF freight in the morning, as well as chased a ICE freight a short ways too. Both the freight and the passenger train had the DME's two Anniversary units on them, and I thought it was kind of neat to catch them both in the same day. The MILW 261 was also in the area, but since it's more likely the the ICE train won't be around next year, we concentrated on shooting that instead. Anyway, enough rambling, on to my photos. Hopefully I don't make anybody on dial up sit too long:
North of Genoa, WI:
North of Lansing, IA
Harpers Ferry, IA (where the sun decided to hide under the clouds):
Onto the chase of the passenger train. LaCrescent:
The classic shot South of LaCrescent:
North of Reno, MN:
Reno Bottoms:
South of New Albin, IA
Street running at Lansing, IA:
Despite only catching three trains all day and not seeing the 261, I still think it was a great day. Lots of photos, got to see a few other railfans I haven't talked to in a while, and just plain a heck of a lot of fun. After all, shouldn't that be the point of railfanning?
Enjoy the photos,
Noah
Bosshen!
-ChrisWest Chicago, ILChristopher May Fine Art Photography"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams
A quick birthday greeting to Pat, AKA Boss Hen!
More birthdays to come tomorrow--heading to the dungeon for today.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
Good trip to Rochelle this afternoon. We caught a UP freight in each direction while dining at Culver's. At the diamond we were treated to a couple of BNSF intermodals, and A UP empty coal train, some stack action, a couple of manifests (freight consists roughly identical, though in opposite directions--no doubt to/from North Platte), and UP geometry car EC-5, working east on Track 1 (still not rebuilt at Rochelle, but concrete ties east of Creston).
The shop at Rochelle is open again, and has a couple of interesting changes from before: first, there's a CRT screen that apparently mimics the dispatcher's board of the BNSF's line through town, and includes the track indicators for UP from Ashton to Dement (next control points west and east of Rochelle/Global 3, respectively). Second, they have a "playroom" with plenty of toy trains to keep impatient youngsters occupied.
Coming home (lunch and time at the park totalled about 90 minutes max) we ran across the EC-5 east of Rochelle, the eastbound manifest from North Platte at Malta, the eastbound auto train we'd seen during lunch (by the hotels at DeKalb--Mookie knows this spot!), and two more standing eastbounds before we got to Maple Park, west of Elburn. Westbound trains were also around, but they were moving. At DeKalb we noted the grade-crossing horns at the Lincoln Highway crossing, and noted the damaged fence where the "Monster Car" went awry and landed on the tracks this past summer.
At LaFox, two freights and a scoot went through while Pat was in the quilt store (not that long, really!). Michael, you're absolutely right about how weird those crossing bells are at LaFox Road!
We noticed a brand-new pedestrian overpass in the western area of Wheaton. It's meant to provide a route for school children to get to the school south of the tracks. I haven't checked to see how accessible it is to the public from either end, but it might be a new overhead vantage point, with the right sun angles.
LaFox and Elmhurst were probably the places to be when that logjam of eastbounds was turned loose!
Modelcar wrote: ....Then you have been right to the "depot" we've been talking about here in Muncie Carl...only via rails. It did stop here, so might have seen how dilapidated our depot was back than....Not now.That would be weird, to possibly later have a chance to ride your bike on the route you once passed over via railroad passenger car.
....Then you have been right to the "depot" we've been talking about here in Muncie Carl...only via rails. It did stop here, so might have seen how dilapidated our depot was back than....Not now.
That would be weird, to possibly later have a chance to ride your bike on the route you once passed over via railroad passenger car.
You're right about that--I've already ridden on a trail on which I'd previously ridden the caboose of a GTW freight.
Quentin
Coming down Cheviot Hill into Cincinnati by train at night was about as spectacular an entrance as I'd seen, at least until we saw the Front Range hill into Denver.
Quentin, I had the "pleasure" of riding the Cardinal along that route in 1977, with a wife beset by morning sickness that lingered all day, and in the first coach behind a smoky Amtrak Pooch.
....The Cardinal passenger train passed thru Muncie each way each day for about 10 years back in the 70 - 80's era. The route is now our Trail.
nanaimo73 wrote: Poppa_Zit wrote: June 23, 1910, after more than two years in receivership, the CC&L was sold to the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co. of Indiana, effective July 2, 1910. From Butler County Historical Society filesI wonder what the eastern railroad network would look like today if C&O's rival N&W had purchased the CC&L first ?
Poppa_Zit wrote: June 23, 1910, after more than two years in receivership, the CC&L was sold to the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co. of Indiana, effective July 2, 1910. From Butler County Historical Society files
From Butler County Historical Society files
I wonder what the eastern railroad network would look like today if C&O's rival N&W had purchased the CC&L first ?
No different. The climb out of the Mill Creek Valley was brutal which is why the CUT to Westwood/Mack portion disappeared immediately after the James Whitcomb Riley/ Cardinal routing went away with the last passenger train. N&W got a very good deal on the Pennsy Line they took over in terms of grade and route.
The surviving shortline is out there on a wing and a prayer.
Poppa_Zit wrote: nanaimo73 wrote: G Mack wrote: Speaking of the emblems. I saw one that read "CC&L, The Straight Line." Does any know what railroad this was? It would probably be the Chicago, Cincinnati and Louisville, which ran from Cincinnati through Muncie to Hammond. C&O purchased it in 1910 to reach Chicago.Chicago, Cincinnati & Louisville Railroad -- with tracks through western Butler County -- conducted business under several names. In the planning stages, 1900-03, it was the Cincinnati, Richmond & Muncie Railroad (CR&M) and the Chicago & Cincinnati Railroad (C&C). The CR&M abbreviation suggested a nickname, "Crooked, Rough and Muddy." June 1, 1903, the same day track laying began in Butler County, it was part of a consolidation named the Chicago, Cincinnati & Louisville Railroad (CC&L). From Cincinnati to Chicago, it served Richmond, Muncie, Peru, Merrillville and Hammond in Indiana. There were three stops or stations in Butler County -- Shandon, Okeana and Newkirk -- between Fernald in Hamilton County and Peoria, Ind. Feb. 7, 1904, service began through Butler County. Service over the 284.5 miles between Cincinnati and Chicago started April 7, 1907. June 23, 1910, after more than two years in receivership, the CC&L was sold to the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co. of Indiana, effective July 2, 1910. The line was transferred Oct. 1, 1934, from the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co. of Indiana to its parent company, the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad. In July 1978 the former CC&L route between Cheviot (west of Cincinnati) and Fernald (near the Butler County line) was abandoned.From Butler County Historical Society files
nanaimo73 wrote: G Mack wrote: Speaking of the emblems. I saw one that read "CC&L, The Straight Line." Does any know what railroad this was? It would probably be the Chicago, Cincinnati and Louisville, which ran from Cincinnati through Muncie to Hammond. C&O purchased it in 1910 to reach Chicago.
G Mack wrote: Speaking of the emblems. I saw one that read "CC&L, The Straight Line." Does any know what railroad this was?
Speaking of the emblems. I saw one that read "CC&L, The Straight Line." Does any know what railroad this was?
It would probably be the Chicago, Cincinnati and Louisville, which ran from Cincinnati through Muncie to Hammond. C&O purchased it in 1910 to reach Chicago.
Chicago, Cincinnati & Louisville Railroad -- with tracks through western Butler County -- conducted business under several names. In the planning stages, 1900-03, it was the Cincinnati, Richmond & Muncie Railroad (CR&M) and the Chicago & Cincinnati Railroad (C&C). The CR&M abbreviation suggested a nickname, "Crooked, Rough and Muddy." June 1, 1903, the same day track laying began in Butler County, it was part of a consolidation named the Chicago, Cincinnati & Louisville Railroad (CC&L). From Cincinnati to Chicago, it served Richmond, Muncie, Peru, Merrillville and Hammond in Indiana. There were three stops or stations in Butler County -- Shandon, Okeana and Newkirk -- between Fernald in Hamilton County and Peoria, Ind. Feb. 7, 1904, service began through Butler County. Service over the 284.5 miles between Cincinnati and Chicago started April 7, 1907. June 23, 1910, after more than two years in receivership, the CC&L was sold to the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co. of Indiana, effective July 2, 1910. The line was transferred Oct. 1, 1934, from the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co. of Indiana to its parent company, the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad. In July 1978 the former CC&L route between Cheviot (west of Cincinnati) and Fernald (near the Butler County line) was abandoned.
Good afternoon everyone,
Thanks Poppa, and everyone else, for adding to my knowledge of Indiana railroads. All the little pieces of information slowly add up and begin to paint a picture of past history.
Carl, I like your assesment of how the CC&L "cleverly" managed to miss Louisville. It's amusing to see how some of the railroad routes were far different than their names implied.
Quentin. The Muncie station does have a paver embossed for the BIG FOUR. It's actually, in my opinion, the best looking one.
This heat was totally unexpected by me. I've been working the past couple of days in the lower cargo bay of a DC10 freighter with no moving fresh air. Will stop by the lounge again soon for some air conditioning, cool drinks, and conversation.
Gregory
Glad your trip yesterday went well, Willy! I'm surprised you don't hear more about this special spot in the railfan press--I've been there three times and never been disappointed.
Congratulations, too, on your nomination for the National Honor Society! I was inducted as a senior, in the first year that the chapter was active in our school. My younger daughter actually turned it down, though--she didn't have extracurricular hours to spare for service work, participating in an "outside" student orchestra.
Our temps will begin to cool off tomorrow, with a chance of thunderstorms. We had some surprise showers in places this afternoon--Pat says we got .05" here at home; I never saw them at work, eight miles east. By Wednesday, 60 is supposed to be the high--we haven't been down that low for weeks!
Dan - I second Noah's suggestion. Photoshop Elements really delivers a lot of bang for the buck. There are other affordable options, but I don't think that any will deliver like Elements can.
Dale - It depends what you're working with. If you're shooting film, there aren't a lot of options. The best I could suggest is using a saturated film like Fuji Velvia (either the re-introduced ISO 50 version, or the ISO 100 version). They behave a little differently, but both deliver some added saturation that will put a little punch in faded yellows. The downside is that all colors will be saturated (some more than others...for example, the original Velvia 50 really put some punch in greens). I don't know if that works for you or not.
If you're shooting digital or are scanning your film, you have more options. If you have a photo editing program that allows saturation of individual color channels, you can selectively pump up the yellow (actually a combination of red and green color channels) saturation. This may not completely bring back a faded UP job, but it should help somewhat.
Hope this helps a little bit.
CNW 6000 wrote:What's a good photo editing program under $100? $50? I don't think my Roxio software will please me anymore...ugh.
I recomend Adobe Photoshop Elements myself. It gives you a lot of the features of the high end CS3 software for between $60 and $90 on sale (and I think $100 dollars retail), depending on where you look. I'd say it's certainly good enough for the average railfan/photographer as far as cropping, resizing, sharpening, etc, without breaking the bank for CS3. There is a slight learning curve to it, but once you play around with it enough and get used to it, you can get really good results with it. I bought it this summer after working with Photoshop 7.0 at school last year, and I've been extremely happy with it.
If you are interested, Adobe has 30 day free trials avalible at their website that'll let you try out the software. That's what I did first to make sure that the software did what I wanted it to do.
Still hot and humid here today, but a cold front will move through shortly (I've been watching its progress on radar in the form of a narrow green line that is now just west of Omaha) and that will put an end to the heat. Highs Monday through Friday will be in the 60s and lower 70s with lows down in the 40s. It's about time... I'm sick of the heat.
My visit with Mookie Saturday was excellent. BNSF put on an amazing show with 15 trains (including two light engine moves and a Loram Rail Grinder) in 2.5 hours. At one point there were three trains moving and a fourth waiting to get a green signal at once. Not too bad of a day.
Willy
Well, according to the Natonal Weather Service.....
Hi Temps for Monday and even Tuesday should be near 90, and the rest of the week, in the low 60's but, with a 20% chance of showers for Wed, Thurs, and Friday....
Oh, and to fellow Chicago-area folks... who went to the NWS open house in Romeoville yesterday???
....The end of the first week in October and still flirting with 90's in temps.....What is going on....The have projected 92 for Monday in our morning paper.
Our October's can be very nice here but this is outrageous and we have humidity with it too....
I note {in the paper}, last season and a normal season, we already have heating degree days listed for this time of year....Certainly not this year.
I note we might get some cooling mid week upcoming so Carl....It might not be too bad by the time you get to Muncie.
Another photography question,
If I was going to take a picture of a Union Pacific locomotive with faded old yellow paint, is there a filter I could buy which would deepen that yellow without changing the other colors too much ?
Dan
....Cannonball: Seems this thread is an interesting one. Lots of chatter of all kinds of stuff. Your lock find in the dirt was a pretty neat find. I don't really know too much about Dayton...visited there once some years ago just briefly.
Our travels take us just north of there as passing by on I 70 as we head to the homeland of Pennsylvania. Seems I could do that route now without too much thought. 45 years back and forth to Pa. {Not all on I 70 as it did not exist when we first started to make trips across there.
TimChgo9 wrote: Excellent shots, Chris, you manage to get the lighting nearly "spot on". I like black and white conversions also, but I don't know if I like them better from my camera as B&W or converting them in GIMP 2.2...
Tim,
Thanks! As for my B&W conversions, I always shoot RAW and then convert them later in post-processing. It gives me the most flexibility with fine-tuning the shot. Of course, I'd still like to see some true B&W digitals (so far there have been a couple prototypes but nothing mainstream). Since there would be no Bayer pattern, and hence no interpolation the resolution figures for a given sensor size would be much higher. Maybe someday...
Y6bs evergreen in my mind
Excellent shots, Chris, you manage to get the lighting nearly "spot on". I like black and white conversions also, but I don't know if I like them better from my camera as B&W or converting them in GIMP 2.2...
I tried to get up to Romeo Rd Bridge the other day, for some late afternoon shots of the BNSF, unfortunately, the railroad didn't cooperate, and my son and I didn't see a train until well after sunset...... I'll try again this week.
I don't think I ever heard "The Straight Line" applied to CC&L before--if you look at the route, it's anything but straight (and it cleverly manages to miss Louisville completely).
Any Hoosiers want to speculate on which railroad was "The Fishing Line?"
.....Gregory: I'll take a chance and suggest you might have seen an embossed stone: C C C & SL RR If so....That was the Big Four....later to be the New York Central which passed thru Muncie east and west. And is now CSX.
I wonder if you might be familiar how that "depot" appeared before it was renovated....? It was a complete eyesore. Used over the years by CSX maintenance and it was a complete mess. Inside and out. Roof leaking and overhang falling off, and so on.....Junk inside. Really bad.
$800,000 dollars took car of that....Completely renovated inside.....all new mechanicals....A/C added.....All masonry restored on outside.....A complete new {genuine clay tile roof installed}, along with rebuilding the dormers back on the roof as it was constructed originally. It is a nice place to see the action on the NS New Castle line that passes just on the other side of the verticle iron fence for several hundred yards......The route of Triple Crown.
Edit: Just saw Dale's explanation on the C C & L and concur he must be correct as that line did end up a C&O line
My other thoughts still apply on the other route but perhaps you did see what Dale described.
Greetings,
I was at the Muncie depot just this last Friday, October 5th. Have finally managed to ride the complete Cardinal Greenway Trail, had to take it in two segments on different days. It is a really well done trail to either ride or walk. One thing I discovered is that you need to take plenty to drink along with you, not any convenient water stops as the trail runs mostly through rural country. But this is a terrific time to ride since the temperature is coming down and the trees will be changing color throughout the next couple of weeks. It's fun, as you ride along, to think of all the trains that once ran along the same route.
I usually spend abour an hour at the former C&O station resting up and can usually hear a train whistling somewhere in the Muncie area. The station is a great place to watch the NS action as the trains are no farther away than about ten to twelve feet from the pedestrian benches. Also, they have paving stones set in the station walkway with the emblems of different railways, a thoughtful detail.
....I think the one or so B&W's mixed in give it a nice comparison. Enjoy seeing them as they too have their place. In fact, a beautiful B&W photo with a nice appropriate white matte and perhaps a black frame can make a beautiful eye catching beauty.
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