What's your favorite regional railroad?

[Angela Pusztai-Pasternak]

In the October 2005 issue of TRAINS, we had a feature on the Wisconsin & Southern and how it's developed into a successful regional after 25 years, but it still has its shortcomings. What is your favorite regional railroad? What condition is it in? What do you like about it? What could be better?

[MP173]

"had"? Did I miss something?

My last magazine featured CSX.

Right now I am kinda fond of the Chicago, Fort Wayne, and Eastern which runs thru town.

ed

[Angela Pusztai-Pasternak]

You'll be seeing it soon--maybe in your mailbox today? I'm working on updating everything on the Web site to October.

[Murphy Siding]

Only those of you that are smart enough! I'd still have to watch my mailbox.[*^_^*]

[Anonymous]

I enjoy watching the Utah Railway's trains. They've got a terminal in Midvale, Utah where they send out trains to work various businesses in the Salt Lake Valley. If I remember right, BNSF contracted with the Utah Rwy. to provide service in Utah on BNSF's behalf. It had something to do with UP's purchase of SP.
My kids like watching the Utah Rwy. trains, and the crews seem to enjoy watching my kids wave and watch the train go by.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

My favorite is Iowa Interstate. I always enjoy watching the maneuvering involved to get their interchange to IHB's Blue Island yard. They look like a well-run operation and don't try to bite off more than they can chew.

[Junctionfan]

I kind of like Ontario Northland. It is quite a prosperous regional for the size that it is and operates the Northlander (Northern Ontario-Toronto Union Station) and owns several SD75Is

[bbrant]

I don't know if you'd still call it a regional since CN purchased it, but I cast my vote for the Bessemer & Lake Erie.

[Tharmeni]

The Monon, RIP.

[DrummingTrainfan]

I vote for Metra...if that doesn't count [oops] I'll go for the Alaska RR...if still that one doesn't count [oops] I'll have to go with the Iowa Interstate.

[Anonymous]

i'm gonna have to vote for the iowa interstate also, although i can't give you any "real" answers to why. maybe because it runs through my hometown. maybe because they allowed the 261 to run from the qc's to bureau jct. and back (i'm still scratchin my head looking at that track and how it actually held up). it kept at least one once proud midwest mainline from being turned into a bike path. the only thing i'd like to see is more trains moving faster. maybe some turbocharged power too.

[fuzzybroken]

I was always a big fan of the Wisconsin Central, from its original startup (well, ok, when I first became aware of it...) to its demise. I still like seeing WC power rolling along on the CN, but I know its days are numbered... [:(]

WSOR is one of my favorite current regionals, they just have class! Their locomotives all look awesome, they are railfan-friendly, and I know several of us visited their events in Janesville and Madison! Mr. Gardner certainly has a fine operation.

I also like the Iowa Interstate, their paint scheme is awesome, although the days of a varied and interesting locomotive roster are now in the past. Nonetheless, it was a great pleasure to get pictures of one of their trains when my wife and I went to Iowa in March!

Another of my favorites are the Cedar American railroads: Dakota Minnesota & Eastern and Iowa Chicago & Eastern. I've had the pleasure of spotting ICE trains on more than one occasion, and both railroads have done an awesome job of taking cast-off trackage and turning it into a great operation. I can't wait for the PRB extension to get going!!!

-Mark
www.fuzzyworld3.com

[espeefoamer]

I like the Chicago,Fort Wayne,and Eastern,because it runs through the town I was born in[8D]!

[espeefoamer]

BC Rail is the most scenic line I have ever seen. And they had all those ALCos[:p]!

[Noah Hofrichter]

The WSOR truely is great. It's one of the few railroads that I know of where the President and CEO will take time of his busy day at their 25th anniversary celebration to talk to you for a few minutes. The motive power is usually kept quite clean, giving a good impression.

I'm really looking forward to the article. Being a WSOR fan and modeler, I'm curious to see how it comes out.

Noah

[Train Guy 3]

Buckingham Branch in Central Virginia along the James River. Serves small industries along the line and interchanges the cars with CSX. Also has a little excurison train throught the year.

[arbfbe]

Certainly that would be Montana Rail Link. They pay the bills around my house, they provided the opportunity to move from Nashville, TN back to the home state of Montana. Just three more years of working at all hours and the pension will be secure. All that just leaves a warm feeling.

Saturday I shot two brand new MRL SD70ACe units working the LASPAS in primer and today it was a matched set of three SD35s on a two per cent grade. New ribbon rail laid this year will be 142 #, the current Class 1 standard. What is there not to like about this line?

[Murphy Siding]

The Dakota & Iowa Railroad: the rock train. This is a railroad owned by the L.G.Everest quarry in Dell Rapids, S.D. They haul mile long trains of rocks and empties daily through town. Power is a bunch of old Geeps that are always painted and clean. They did have a DRG SD- unit but Ihaven't seen it recently, so maybe it's been painted.

[blhanel]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fuzzybroken

Another of my favorites are the Cedar American railroads: Dakota Minnesota & Eastern and Iowa Chicago & Eastern. I've had the pleasure of spotting ICE trains on more than one occasion, and both railroads have done an awesome job of taking cast-off trackage and turning it into a great operation. I can't wait for the PRB extension to get going!!!

Mark, there are alot of residents in Rochester, MN who would take issue with you on that one. They don't want coal trains running through town, and they don't want the railroad to build a bypass, either. In spite of that, I would have to agree that DM&E is one of my favorites. In fact, one winter evening back in 2000, I spotted a DM&E train making a rare appearance here in downtown Cedar Rapids. It was backing grain cars into the Quaker Oats yard- must've come down the Iowa Northern line, the engines were covered with snow! I sent an e-mail query to the Trains editors about it, but never got a reply.[%-)]

[Anonymous]

I would have to say the Arkansas and Missouri since it runs on some of the old Frisco's tracks. [:D] Plus they like Alcos and use them well. [:)]

[rvos1979]

Despite having worked for the WSOR, the Wisconsin Central still lives in my mind and in my modeling. I miss the nights listening to groups of 20-645 engines throbbing in the distance at my parents house.

Randy

[JPowell]

Finger Lakes Railway - They serve several industries in the western suburbs of Syracuse and offer great railfanning spots in those areas.
JP

[tmcc man]

My favorite regional line is the New Hope and Ivyland railroad. They run a 280 conny, and a GP7, and i believe a U33C. The scheme is burgandy red, black and gold. It does passenger on the weekend and sometimes on the weekdays. I have seen the crews stop for lunch, and they had the U33C parked, and it was still running. It was a sight to see. The cool thing is that they also have a railfan night. I also like The Black River & Western. They are restoring a Mikado I believe, and have a GP9 that they chopped the nose off of, and it is now a low nose. They also have a CNJ GP7, and it is a beauty. I also like The Cape May Seashore Lines, because they have a fleet of Pennsylvania Reading and Seashore Lines RDC's that still operate with excursion trains. They have an RS3, as well as 2 Lehigh Valley F unit in the red scheme.

[SALfan]

My first choice by a nose is Florida East Coast. It's a very well-managed railroad that consistently makes money while originating or terminating every load they carry. You have to admire the vision and tenacity of the road that first used two-man crews, decades before any other major railroad.

Second choice is Missouri & Arkansas. Beautifully-maintained Alcos in rugged surroundings - what's not to like?

[Anonymous]

I've got to go with the DME. A couple of years ago I spent some time in Pierre, SD and was fortunate enough to stay in a house which had the line running at the bottom of the back yard. For two weeks I saw all th trains that ran on the line, sometimes walking up to the Pierre Farmers Assoc. elevator to view the switching operations there (the employees were slightly bemused by my interest in their venerable switcher). Looking at http://www.railpictures.net/ i see they still haven't repainted their ex-CP units...I photographed them in '99, although on the same note, there were a few boxcars I managed to get shots of still in their Rock Island duck egg blue paintscheme.

[artpeterson]

I'd vote for WC if we can include the recently-deceased. Have to also admit to a fondness for IMRL and MRL, given the interesting motive power.

[cpbloom]

Its a tie: Wheeling and Lake Erie & Bessemer and Lake Erie. [:)]

[cherokee woman]

Here in Louisville, KY: Paducah & Louisville. Spun off from the old ICG.

[Valleyline]

The Providence & Worcester is tops! They are totally customer oriented and are a huge and growing asset for southern New England. The railroaders who work for Providence & Worcester are also tops.

[TheS.P.caboose]

I like the Montana Rail Link.