Crazy me--I forgot that our line doesn't go up that far any more! I figure that if the business was worth keeping, CNW would have kept the line.
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)
Here's where my recollections get fuzzy...cuz I was a wee lad when things happened.
Wasn't everything north of Milwaukee (not counting the Upper Peninsula ore operations) spun off to the FRV/WC/Lake States as a whole?
Dan
Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, I'm sure: The Fox River Valley Railroad was spun off from CNW and owned by the Itel Rail Corportation, as was GB&W. This included most of the lines north of Milwaukee (CNW kept the line to Granville and up north beyond Sheboygan). The line north of Green Bay (Duck Creek) to Menominee, Eacanaba, and points into Michigan was still CNW's, and became UP's before becoming the Sault Sainte Marie Bridge Company (by this time WC had been formed, of course).
It's been years since I've gotten the "Hey, Carl!" greeting from the cab of a UP road freight, but it happened today.
This was part of an amazing cap to an afternoon of train-watching in Elmhurst...with lunch from the Hot Dog Lady, a new book from the hobby shop, free wi-fi, plenty of action to keep me busy on my files, time to back up the computer and my files (separate operations), a chance to arrange a get-together in Michigan, and, best of all, a nice breeze coupled with temperatures in the 70s. I was just getting ready to leave for home when I caught sight of a manifest (MPRCB, judging from the cars) leaving the yard. I positioned myself on the south side to be close to it, noting that all of the signals were red (obviously, since the train was crossing over everything to leave the yard). So I was very surprised to hear the ATWS start sounding off! Whoever was coming in from the west wasn't going to go anywhere for a while.
I moved along the tracks to the next grade crossing after the MPRCB started picking up speed, and got there just as the eastbound started up...that's when the engineer spotted me and yelled. I waved back and responded with a "Hey!" That's the problem with old age: recognized the voice, thought I recognized the face, but couldn't put a name to it any more. His train appeared to be QNPSKP, or possibly QNPEL. Had he been going into the yard, he wouldn't have needed to stop for the outbound.
When his train cleared the crossing, the gates started up, but came right back down again, for yet another manifest. This would have been MELNP; he came from in the city, and was coming around the yard (and one of his two units was an NS). He was moving fast enough when the engines went by, but he slowed up a little later...he might have been getting approach signals from MPRCB being ahead of him. (Yes, approach signals--the signal bridge at Villa Avenue now appears to be functional; a development since last week.)
When this train cleared, I noticed the home signals--high green on Track 2! Something else was going to go around the yard. Before I could bike the block back to the station, the train was there--a grain train with mostly UP covered hoppers in enough flavors to keep it very interesting.
By the time I got away from the station (potty stop), the outbound scoot was arriving, and there had been an announcement for a delayed inbound scoot (which had an approach signal by then). All of this action took place in about a half hour. But the greeting from the engineer, whoever he was, was the best part of that whole flurry. In fact, it made the whole 16-mile bike trip worthwhile!
CNW 6000 Here's where my recollections get fuzzy...cuz I was a wee lad when things happened. Wasn't everything north of Milwaukee (not counting the Upper Peninsula ore operations) spun off to the FRV/WC/Lake States as a whole?
This from Wikipedia, if this is the right one:
"Lake State Railway is a railroad operating in the northeast quadrant of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.[1] The railroad moves large quantities of aggregate and limestone."
Good luck. There was some more info when I Googled it, too, so that might help you.
Nance-CCABW/LEI
“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” --Will Rogers
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right! --unknown
I didn't want to mention that. The Lake State is the current name for what used to be the Detroit & Mackinac.
WMNB4THRTL This from Wikipedia, if this is the right one: "Lake State Railway is a railroad operating in the northeast quadrant of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.[1] The railroad moves large quantities of aggregate and limestone." Good luck. There was some more info when I Googled it, too, so that might help you.
I wonder if I'll ever get it through my thick cranium that when I am in need of information to just "google" it.
zardoz WMNB4THRTL: This from Wikipedia, if this is the right one: "Lake State Railway is a railroad operating in the northeast quadrant of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.[1] The railroad moves large quantities of aggregate and limestone." Good luck. There was some more info when I Googled it, too, so that might help you. Thanks! I wonder if I'll ever get it through my thick cranium that when I am in need of information to just "google" it.
WMNB4THRTL: This from Wikipedia, if this is the right one: "Lake State Railway is a railroad operating in the northeast quadrant of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.[1] The railroad moves large quantities of aggregate and limestone." Good luck. There was some more info when I Googled it, too, so that might help you.
Thanks for including me among the pros!
So, I do seem to remember the Soo Line (post-MILW) spinoff of some low-density lines being called something like Lake States, but I can't remember whether that was just a proposal name or what. It became the Wisconsin Central by late 1987, and the SOO-MILW merger was in 1986, IIRC (this spinoff would have come after that).
Looking at some maps this morning, I just found out that I paid a visit to Cimic, Illinois, without realizing it. There was a UP Com Ed coal train waiting on the Illinois & Midland; it would eventually hang a right on the CN to go to Springfield, and probably up our Peoria Sub to the Overland Route. The I&M (the old Chicago & Illinois Midland) had trackage rights on CN (the old IC) from this junction (Cimic=CIM-IC...get it?) to Springfield, where it regained its own trackage to Pekin via Havana. So I checked out the train, noticed the junction (with the 90 degrees of curvature), and had no idea what I was looking at. Never too old to discover something!
[snip] quote Carl: "It's been years since I've gotten the "Hey, Carl!" greeting from the cab of a UP road freight, but it happened today."
This reminds me of an event back in the late sixties, when I was living in Reform, Alabama. There is a stretch between Gordo and Reform where the GM&O and US 82 were side by side. Late one evening, as I was returning to Reform from Tuscaloosa, I came up upon a freight headed for Artesia. I slowed down to his speed and, after a little while, turned my lights off and back on--and the engineer responded with two shorts. He had no idea who I was (nor had I any idea as to who he was, for I knew no one in GM&O road service, I knew only the Gordo-Reform agent and the man in charge of the local section gang). He apparently saw that a friend to the railroad was on the highway and responded.
Johnny
CShaveRR Thanks for including me among the pros! CShaveRR So, I do seem to remember the Soo Line (post-MILW) spinoff of some low-density lines being called something like Lake States, but I can't remember whether that was just a proposal name or what. It became the Wisconsin Central by late 1987, and the SOO-MILW merger was in 1986, IIRC (this spinoff would have come after that). This would be the "Lake States" I was referring to earlier.
CShaveRR So, I do seem to remember the Soo Line (post-MILW) spinoff of some low-density lines being called something like Lake States, but I can't remember whether that was just a proposal name or what. It became the Wisconsin Central by late 1987, and the SOO-MILW merger was in 1986, IIRC (this spinoff would have come after that).
Oh goodness, my apologies.
CNW 6000 zardoz: WMNB4THRTL: This from Wikipedia, if this is the right one: "Lake State Railway is a railroad operating in the northeast quadrant of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.[1] The railroad moves large quantities of aggregate and limestone." Good luck. There was some more info when I Googled it, too, so that might help you. Thanks! I wonder if I'll ever get it through my thick cranium that when I am in need of information to just "google" it. Google is nice, but the information lacks the flavor of someone who's been there and done that. I'd rather read one of yours (Zardoz') or Ed Blysard or Carl or (insert pro's name here) post on how things worked or what was. Anyone can fact check.
zardoz: WMNB4THRTL: This from Wikipedia, if this is the right one: "Lake State Railway is a railroad operating in the northeast quadrant of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.[1] The railroad moves large quantities of aggregate and limestone." Good luck. There was some more info when I Googled it, too, so that might help you. Thanks! I wonder if I'll ever get it through my thick cranium that when I am in need of information to just "google" it.
Fear not Nancy, I wasn't trying to offend you or anyone else. I simply meant that reading what some objective person wrote often gives a story a slightly different flavor than someone who was living through it or working with it every day. Yes, Google is great and a wonderful mechanism to find answers to many questions...but if it was perfect...would this site and others like it be necessary?
Got ya; thanks for the clarification.
CNW 6000 Fear not Nancy, I wasn't trying to offend you or anyone else. I simply meant that reading what some objective person wrote often gives a story a slightly different flavor than someone who was living through it or working with it every day. Yes, Google is great and a wonderful mechanism to find answers to many questions...but if it was perfect...would this site and others like it be necessary?
Exactly.
Another sad note to report: John Kenefick, former CEO and Chairman of the UP, passed away today at the age of 90. He was UP's president from 1971 until 1983, then became chairman until his retirement. Even after retirement, he maintained an office in UP's headquarters. Over his career there had been many changes in UP...some good, some not so good, some that might have been good or bad depending on one's viewpoint (remember the 80-mph SD40-2s on the point of some freights?).
CShaveRR Another sad note to report: John Kenefick, former CEO and Chairman of the UP, passed away today at the age of 90. He was UP's president from 1971 until 1983, then became chairman until his retirement. Even after retirement, he maintained an office in UP's headquarters. Over his career there had been many changes in UP...some good, some not so good, some that might have been good or bad depending on one's viewpoint (remember the 80-mph SD40-2s on the point of some freights?).
Of course, since I was speeding by quite a bit (like about 28 over--ah, those were the good old days), and to cover my tush, I'll qualify it by saying perhaps it was only a dream.
I did actually do something railfan-related Friday. I went to Steamtown and the Electric City Trolley Museum. First time there in a couple of years, and the first time since they extended the trolley ride to the ballpark. I wish there was a trolley museum that was closer than 2 hours from me. It just blows my mind we had such great electric transportation 100 years ago in so man spots in this country. I'm no great photographer like Chris, but nonetheless:
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
I think you did just fine, Z-man...interesting angle!
Happy birthday today to our dear friend Nora! Hope things go your way today!
Rockhill Trolley Museum, Rockhill Furnace = Orbisonia, next to the East Broad Top RR, just south of Mt. Union and not far from Huntingdon, PA :
http://www.rockhilltrolley.org/
Baltimore Streetcar Museum (northern side, near junction of I-83 and I-695):
http://www.baltimorestreetcar.org/index.html
National Capitol Trolley Museum, Silver Spring, MD (14 miles north of Wash., D.C.):
http://www.dctrolley.org/
- Paul North.
Here's my report from last weekend.
This weekend, although hot, proved to be quite nice trackside.Saturday 7/16I started my day by heading to Byron. I wasn't there long when a northbound came and started his descent of the hill. Nice hogger.http://flic.kr/p/a4m3Qq
I knew a southbound (A446) was coming up the hill so I waited. Didn't have long.http://flic.kr/p/a4iddn
Sure enough there was a pusher with yet another friendly hogger.http://flic.kr/p/a4m4zN
I really wanted to hit CP's Watertown Sub so I kept going south. Upon arrival I'm greeted by some DME & ICE power on 637.http://flic.kr/p/a4m4N7
Shortly after 637 clears 498 comes in.http://flic.kr/p/a4iedz
Then it was 281's turn.http://flic.kr/p/a4m5k9
Then a nice treat. I had a double with AMTRAK 7 & CP train 695. The 'baby Builder' reminded some cranes to move.http://flic.kr/p/a4ieTB
AMTK 7http://flic.kr/p/a4m65Y
CP 695http://flic.kr/p/a4m6ps
Heading home I swung through Horicon. I caught L593 (HC or Horicon - Cambria) train coming in.http://flic.kr/p/a4m6Ad
Sunday July 17
Sunday the word was that the Adams line might have some detour traffic because of the issues on the BNSF near Minneapolis. After spending most of the morning kicking around the idea of what to do I decided a late start was better than none, so south I went just after mid-day.
Nearing Lowell, WI on the way to Reeseville, WI I heard the UP dispatcher talking to a train about "...meeting one at Clyman..." which was less than 10 miles away. I had yet to catch anything here...and if I could get two, why not. I had just completed that thought when I looked to my left and saw MITDMX heading east.http://flic.kr/p/a4EnNv
I kept going East myself and got to Clyman ahead of him. Here's the "standard" coaling tower shot.http://flic.kr/p/a4HdYG
Then I heard someone say "Train complete with a marker on a tank" and looked East. There was MPRSS with three SD9043MACs on the head.http://flic.kr/p/a4HeiC
Knowing time was probably tight and "sources" indicating that CP train 800 was probably close I headed to Reeseville in the hope of catching what I really came for. I didn't have long to wait.http://flic.kr/p/a4EoUB
Time & temperature dictated that I head home for the day. I'm glad I went and I'm taking these trips as proof that you don't have to be up at the crack of dawn to get some good catches.
Paul_D_North_Jr Rockhill Trolley Museum, Rockhill Furnace = Orbisonia, next to the East Broad Top RR, just south of Mt. Union and not far from Huntingdon, PA : http://www.rockhilltrolley.org/ Baltimore Streetcar Museum (northern side, near junction of I-83 and I-695): http://www.baltimorestreetcar.org/index.html National Capitol Trolley Museum, Silver Spring, MD (14 miles north of Wash., D.C.): http://www.dctrolley.org/ - Paul North.
Here are a few more that I know of:
http://www.trolleymuseum.org/Seashore Trolley Museum Kennebunkport, ME
$60 lets you be a guest motorman (unless, of course, you're a woman)
Shoreline Trolley Museum East Haven, CT and $50 lets you be a guest operator here, too!http://www.bera.org/
http://www.oldthreshers.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.midwestElectricRailway
Mt Pleasant, IA linked in with Midwest Central RR
near Rochester NY and linked with Rochester & Genesee Valley RR Museum
http://nymtmuseum.org/
Although also >2 hrs. from zugmann, there's the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum outside of Pittsburgh at Washington - appaently yesterday was "Frank the Trolley Cat" day ! See: http://www.pa-trolley.org/
Mystery solved! Regular readers will probably remember my post about the hopper car marked "GREEN ONLY" with a large arrow pointing to the top of the car? Well, I solved the case and the guess of 'glass recycling' was right!! YEAH!!
I love it when a case gets closed out!! Be safe in this heat wave!! Drink more than you think you need and check on those at risk--you might save a life!! (This message brought to you by the gal currently battling heat sickness!! Hey, somebody's got to keep our local doctors & hospitals in business!!)
Hope to get a chance to write at length a little later. For now, chew on this quote from Railway Age:
Gross & Janes Co., a supplier and shipper of untreated railroad, said Monday it is moving its headquarters...
Comments welcome!
CShaveRR Hope to get a chance to write at length a little later. For now, chew on this quote from Railway Age: Gross & Janes Co., a supplier and shipper of untreated railroad, said Monday it is moving its headquarters... Comments welcome!
Question 2: Is there a railroad so perfect taht it does not need treatment for anything?
Great questions, Johnny...hope you're not expecting answers from here!
Nance, I hope you're feeling back to normal soon. There should be a cure coming toward you from here by Friday, they say. (As for the hopper car, did I cullet or what?)
We passed the promised high of "upper 80s" before noon today. Also before noon, the village crews were out paving the street intersecting ours (they're saving our street for tomorrow, when the temp is supposed to be even hotter). Just what one loves to smell on a hot day--fresh, steaming asphalt!
I took the bike out for an errand earlier today (it's just fine as long as one keeps moving!), and in less than half an hour I caught three UP trains, including an eastbound stacker with two nearly-new GEVOs, 7480 and 7486. Still no remarkable action on the crossovers here in town (it's keeping signal folks busy, so it's probably necessary work going on, but I wish I could see the signal bridges go up!).
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