Track work is complete here on NS..

[Dough]

The one thing about track work is that it usually comes in nonstop work followed by long periods of waiting as they work between regular traffic and get all of the supplys and equipment together.

Also, I thought I would add this pic. When CSX came through Athens, GA they used this CAT trac hoe. Now this was the scarriest operation that I have seen. It would use this car as a ramp to get on top of the gondolas. It would then travel down them while placing ties on the sides of the track.

Unlike the herzog type attachemnts for backhoes, this thing just crawled between the middle of the cars. It would then use the arm to pull itself up and then drive to the next car using the track length and a blade on the front of the tractor. It was quite a thing to watch.

Oh and that engine was an old SD40, not dash 2.

[Modelcar]

....We'll keep our ears up for any additional info....and yes, the line into Muncie since the Conrail merger is rather busy compared to times in the past. They even installed signs at road / rail crossings in this area back at merger times: "Caution, rail line is soon to be more active"....or something close to that.

[rrnut282]

Find out if it goes past Alexandria, where trains swing over onto the ex NYC branch to Elkhart. I'm guessing the stretch from Muncie to Alexandria is 3 times busier than beyond Alexandria.

[Modelcar]

...rrnut282: It appears, at least for now it is on the Frankfort District line. That would be on the line heading northwest out of Muncie and of course right into the city itself. If you remember where Tilliotson Ave. is that is generally where it all appears to start but they will possibly go farther east too. I'll keep an eye on it and let you know how it is going. They have dumped a bunch of ties along the ROW as the track starts out of Muncie and heads for Frankfort. I don' know how far west this maintenance is planned.

[rrnut282]

Model Car
Is the track in question the New Castle or Frankfort District? I'm guessing the Frankfort line since I haven't seen any activity up my way on the NCD.

[Dough]

No problem MC. I have tons of pictures of NS tie cars, crane on flat, gondolas, ballast cars, ballast spreaders, tool cars, tie laying, railgrinders etc. I also have CSX tie cars, gondolas, ballast cars, spreaders, tie gangs, rail laying etc. So while I have a bunch of pics, I never have the time to scan and upload them.[;)]

[Anonymous]

Does it ever run on the BN In CHICAGO?

[Modelcar]

...M C: Tried to bring up the herzogcompanies.com and it just brought up the page indicating for me to try again, etc...checking my address, etc.....and Dough, surprisingly that caboose looks in pretty good shape too. Unusual. I am an amateur photographer so If I catch the work being done we'll sure try to gain some photos of it....Then, if I ever figure out how to put them on here I could do so.....

[JoeKoh]

they have been working on the old nyc main through nw ohio.they had cranes and gons full of panel track.Looks like a big order from atlas!!!!!2 cranes one yellow one black. they decided to park them in our siding at work.got pics
stay safe
Joe

[Dough]

MoW is the stuff that I really love. The NS line around here just had the ties replaced in the same way that you mentioned. I managed to photograph just about the entire operation on that line and also another CSX line. The CSX was interesting because they also replaced the curved rails as well as had two tie cranes going.

It usually lasts for quite a while, and in my case NS brought in some crew cars, which were basiclly trailors mounted on flatbeds. Nice to see that they added a caboose for your operation. I'd bet that they use it for backing that tie train down the tracks.

[mudchicken]

A jimbo crane or a cartopper (heavilly modified John Deere or CAT backhoe) can get between the cars on their own. A cartopper can get from the ground to up on the car on its own.....A cartopper has rubber tires like a conventional backhoe, a jimbo crane has no tires, just movable frames that are hydraulicly controlled.

http://herzogcompanies.com toggle to "cartopper"

Trying to renew a crossing under traffic is dangerous as hell and often times results in troubles that can be avoided by simply closing the crossing. The work goes faster and the quality is better if the crossing is closed for renewal. This fact escapes many municipal street engineers that are clueless about railroad construction. (Gramps and granny who have "gone this way for years" and complain about street closings can just find another route and see what they've missed for a couple of days[;)].)

[Modelcar]

...They generally close down intersections [crossings], for time needed in this area...and for the crane, I didn't note any markings on it yet...I will keep an eye on this stuff and maybe get some photos of this activity when it happens. I can see very well as it is right next to a McDonalds parking lot as for the crossing. The crane is not very large but it of course is big enough to manhandle ties, etc...I wondered how it gets from car to car...Perhaps "bridge rails" are installed to move to another car. It will be interesting. In the last decade the continuous rail was replaced through here on that line and all that equipment was interesting and they moved through pretty fast.

[mudchicken]

Hopefully the town fathers are wise enough to let the crossing be closed for 48-72 hours so that the crossing can be installed properly. Let us know if that one track panel suddenly becomes two....

Sounds like you'll have a crossing gang, a tie gang and a surfacing gang in your future. Have fun watching all the speciallized yellow equipment do their thing.

Can't tell if you have a Jimbo crane, a Herzog Cartopper or an old tie-kicker up on top of the gons.....

Mind candy for mudchickens!

[Modelcar]

...For the past week or so have noticed a work train set consisting of an engine and perhaps a half dozen medium high sided, gondolas, one with a crane mounted on top and capabile of running forward and backwards on the special rails of the Gon's sides....and hauling new ties....and of all things a caboose. Finally, a train that looks like a train again. They are distributing new ties along the ROW for installation in the near future. I expect they will move in equipment to run through and remove old and install the available new ties. A section of track is already made up for what looks like renewing the crossing at one of our city streets. Lots of traffic at these locations...both rail and vehicle traffic on the streets so it should be interesting. It looks like they mean business in keeping the ROW in good shape...This is the line that brings lots of covered grain car traffic through town [Muncie], and on beyond..etc...[8D]