Today in Railroad history.....last updated ..... March 22nd...on page 19..

[GN-Rick]

You'll get no argument from me on that, although my own personal preference
is the 1955 Builder as equipped with Great Dome coaches and the full
Great Dome lounge car. Especially before the GN removed the round end
observation cars due to diminished customer interest (they all wanted to
be in the domes). But, to me, the Coulee series and particularly the
Mountain series observation cars were a beautiful way to complete the
consist.
I am also partial to 3-or-4 unit Fs on the Builder rather than the 1947 edition's
paired E7As, though the Es were beautiful as well.

[Murphy Siding]

Now that you mention it, most of the "classic pictures" you see of it, are with F-units and dome cars.

[Murphy Siding]

Today, Feb. 24th, in railroad history........

1893: Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, files for bankruptcy. At the time, their debts of over $125 million must have looked like a really big figure. 1893 was the start of a depression, and I know a fair amount of railroads and other businesses went through hard times.

Anybody else?

[cherokee woman]

On February 24, 1839, William Otis received a patent for his steam shovel.

[Murphy Siding]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cherokee woman

On February 24, 1839, William Otis received a patent for his steam shovel.

I would bet that the steam shovel did as much for western railroads as nearly any other machine than the locomotive.
(Quite off-topic: What is the name of the kids' book about the steam shovel that dug a foundation for a big building, then became the furnace, when he couldn't get back out? Every kid read it-something like "Sam the Steamshovel? Now I'll have that stuck in my brain all day[:o)])

[Murphy Siding]

Today, Feb. 25th, in railroad history...

1832: First railroad chartered in Canada, The Champlain & St. Lawrence-not sure if this was the first railroad actually built in Canada.

1908: First railway tunnel under the Hudson River (New York City) opens.

Anybody else?

[nanaimo73]

Feb 25, 1848 Railroad baron Edward Harriman, the controversial savior of the transcontinental Union Pacific Railroad, is born in Hempstead, New York.
http://www.historychannel.com/tdih/tdih.jsp?category=oldwest&month=10272954&day=10272990

QUOTE: (Quite off-topic: What is the name of the kids' book about the steam shovel that dug a foundation for a big building, then became the furnace, when he couldn't get back out? Every kid read it-something like "Sam the Steamshovel? Now I'll have that stuck in my brain all day)

This it ?
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/catalog/titledetail.cfm?titleNumber=482618

[Murphy Siding]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nanaimo73

This it ?
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/catalog/titledetail.cfm?titleNumber=482618

That's it. I didn't remember the steam shovel being a girl. though.'Must be a memory thing. I do remember reading it to all three boys, and the youngest is 7 1/2, so it couln't have been too long ago.[:)]

[Murphy Siding]

Today, Feb. 26th, in railroad history

1975: USRA releases Conrail Preliminary System Plan. (Personally, I've always felt they could have picked a better name than Conrail!)

1979: Amtrak Superliner cars enter service.

Anybody else?

[Murphy Siding]

1973: Chessie System Incorporated, with the consolidation of C&O, B&O, and Western Maryland. (And- they had the neatest paint scheme , with the kitten emblom)

Anybody else?

[dmoore74]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

1973: Chessie System Incorporated, with the consolidation of B&O, B&O, and Western Maryland. (And- they had the neatest paint scheme , with the kitten emblom)

Anybody else?

How about C&O, B&O and Western Maryland? The Chessie name didn't come from either B&O.

[Murphy Siding]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dmoore74

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

1973: Chessie System Incorporated, with the consolidation of B&O, B&O, and Western Maryland. (And- they had the neatest paint scheme , with the kitten emblom)

Anybody else?

How about C&O, B&O and Western Maryland? The Chessie name didn't come from either B&O.

[(-D]The sad part is that I do proofread,just not always too well.

[dmoore74]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

QUOTE: Originally posted by dmoore74

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

1973: Chessie System Incorporated, with the consolidation of B&O, B&O, and Western Maryland. (And- they had the neatest paint scheme , with the kitten emblom)

Anybody else?

How about C&O, B&O and Western Maryland? The Chessie name didn't come from either B&O.

[(-D]The sad part is that I do proofread,just not always too well.

At least you know people are reading your posts.

[Murphy Siding]

Today, Feb. 27th, in railroad history......

1965: All steam Buffalo Creek & Gauley quits. ( I would guess that it was one of the last all steam shortlines, but am not sure.)

Anybody else?

[TheStationmaster]

Murphy - If you're getting these from my site, could you please include an occasional credit (http://www.railwaystation.com/rrhistory.html). I realize that there are many other sources for the same information, but I noticed a similarity

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind this information being re-posted here, but it was a lot of work to compile and would appreciate acknowledgment.

[Murphy Siding]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TheStationmaster

Murphy - If you're getting these from my site, could you please include an occasional credit (http://www.railwaystation.com/rrhistory.html). I realize that there are many other sources for the same information, but I noticed a similarity

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind this information being re-posted here, but it was a lot of work to compile and would appreciate acknowledgment.

For the most part, the info comes from various books, and magazines. I have, however, on occasion found myself able to find nothing for a particular date. Rather than post "uh, nothing happened this day", I have used some info from your site. I feel *guilty* when I do. You certainly have a fine website, and it appears you have the same love of things historical. I'd be more than happy to give you credit for your great research work. There are a few things I'd need to check out, to make sure I wouldn't be breaking the rules here. Would you be willing to e-mail me, so I can discuss it further? Thanks

[TheStationmaster]

Thanks Murphy, emailed you.

[Murphy Siding]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TheStationmaster

Thanks Murphy, emailed you.

And reply sent.[:)] (Why is there no train related smilies?)

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

Today, Feb. 27th, in railroad history......

1965: All steam Buffalo Creek & Gauley quits. ( I would guess that it was one of the last all steam shortlines, but am not sure.)

Anybody else?

I think the Graham County used a shay until some time in the mid 70s I am not sure though

[Murphy Siding]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fastrains

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

Today, Feb. 27th, in railroad history......

1965: All steam Buffalo Creek & Gauley quits. ( I would guess that it was one of the last all steam shortlines, but am not sure.)

Anybody else?

I think the Graham County used a shay until some time in the mid 70s I am not sure though

A shay, that's interesting. Where is Graham County? I presume in the mountains somewhere, if they used a geared locomotive?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

QUOTE: Originally posted by fastrains

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

Today, Feb. 27th, in railroad history......

1965: All steam Buffalo Creek & Gauley quits. ( I would guess that it was one of the last all steam shortlines, but am not sure.)

Anybody else?

I think the Graham County used a shay until some time in the mid 70s I am not sure though

A shay, that's interesting. Where is Graham County? I presume in the mountains somewhere, if they used a geared locomotive?

The Graham County Railway operated in Graham County North Carolina between Topton and Robinsville the steepest grade being 6% the last run of shay number 1925 was in 1970 but Number 1925 still operates today at the North Carolina Transportion Museum and was also at Railfair 99

[Murphy Siding]

Today, Feb. 28th, in railroad history..(OK- Feb. 29th also...)

Yes- I am posting this a day early. I'm such a slow typer, that I'd be late for work, if I did this much typing in the morning.[:)]

February 28th: Nothing, really, that I could find..

February 29th:

1948: ATSF begins daily Super Chief

1980: Milwaukee Road ends revenue service west of Miles City, Montana.

1988: Illinois Central Gulf Railroad morphs back into Illinois Central. (Over the years, railroads must have spent fortunes on paint and stationary!)

February in general:

1953:UP opens Sherman Hill line relocation.

1959: EMD introduced the first "second generation" diesel, the SD 24. (I bet at the time they didn't call it the "second generation")

1967: Illinois Central replaced their diamond logo with their split-rail logo. (There's that paint and stationary issue again).

Anyone else?

.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

Today, Feb. 28th, in railroad history..(OK- Feb. 29th also...)

Yes- I am posting this a day early. I'm such a slow typer, that I'd be late for work, if I did this much typing in the morning.[:)]

February 28th: Nothing, really, that I could find.

February 29th:

1948: ATSF begins daily Super Chief

1980: Milwaukee Road ends revenue service west of Miles City, Montana.

1988: Illinois Central Gulf Railroad morphs back into Illinois Central. (Over the years, railroads must have spent fortunes on paint and stationary!)

February in general:

1953:UP opens Sherman Hill line relocation.

1959: EMD introduced the first "second generation" diesel, the SD 24. (I bet at the time they didn't call it the "second generation")

1967: Illinois Central replaced their diamond logo with their split-rail logo. (There's that paint and stationary issue again).

Anyone else?

.

MIlwaukee Road ended service west of MIles City on March 15th

[nanaimo73]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fastrains

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

QUOTE: Originally posted by fastrains

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

Today, Feb. 27th, in railroad history......

1965: All steam Buffalo Creek & Gauley quits. ( I would guess that it was one of the last all steam shortlines, but am not sure.)

Anybody else?

I think the Graham County used a shay until some time in the mid 70s I am not sure though

A shay, that's interesting. Where is Graham County? I presume in the mountains somewhere, if they used a geared locomotive?

The Graham County Railway operated in Graham County North Carolina between Topton and Robinsville the steepest grade being 6% the last run of shay number 1925 was in 1970 but Number 1925 still operates today at the North Carolina Transportion Museum and was also at Railfair 99

And our Editor Jim Wrinn (Shay1925) took the 1925 to Railfair in Sacramento and had Shay drag races with it.

Feb 27, 1837- Illinois Legislature approves "An Act to Establish and Maintain a General System of Internal Improvement", including $3.5 million for a railroad from Cairo to Galena. The line was not built then because of the Panic of 1837.

Feb 28, 1978- GN Minneapolis Station closes, Amtrak switches to Midway Station.

Feb 28, 2000- Amtrak announces a “Network Growth Strategy”, which includes several more trains, none of which are scheduled for South Dakota.

[cherokee woman]

On February 28, 1827, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was chartered.

[Murphy Siding]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fastrains

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

February 29th:

1980: Milwaukee Road ends revenue service west of Miles City, Montana.

MIlwaukee Road ended service west of MIles City on March 15th

I'll buy that. A lot of events seem to have been tagged with ambiguous dates, probably written down years after the event?

[Murphy Siding]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nanaimo73

And our Editor Jim Wrinn (Shay1925) took the 1925 to Railfair in Sacramento and had Shay drag races with it.

Drag races with it? Someone explain that one to me.[:0]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nanaimo73 Feb 28, 2000- Amtrak announces a “Network Growth Strategy”, which includes several more trains, none of which are scheduled for South Dakota.

Every so often, one of our politicians will squawk about SD not having an Amtrak route. Typically, Amtrak will run some sort of publicity run through Aberdeen, on the Milwaukee trans-con, so that said politician can have his picture taken.[xx(]

.

[nanaimo73]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

QUOTE: Originally posted by nanaimo73

And our Editor Jim Wrinn (Shay1925) took the 1925 to Railfair in Sacramento and had Shay drag races with it.

Drag races with it? Someone explain that one to me.[:0]

During June of 1999 Railfair was held at Sacramento. This was when UP 844 had her boiler tube failure.This event also introduced a new sport to the world, Shay drag racing.This event was the idea of Jim Wrinn and Martin Hansen.The eastern entrant was Graham County Shay 1925 which had been recently restored at Historic Spencer Shops in NC.
www.ci.salisbury.nc.us/nctrans/Rolling_stock/Steam/1925/1925info.htm

The western entrant was Mount Emily Shay No1.

www.goldenrailvideo.com/powertour.htm

The races were over 75 yards from a standing start. On Thursday the #1925 had times of 11.9 and 14.57 seconds, while #1 had times of 16.66 and 16.41 seconds. On friday the times were 13.38 vs. 15.61 giving shay 1925 a clean sweep.

[SALfan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

QUOTE: Originally posted by nanaimo73

And our Editor Jim Wrinn (Shay1925) took the 1925 to Railfair in Sacramento and had Shay drag races with it.

Drag races with it? Someone explain that one to me.[:0]

The only possible explanation is that there are a lot of very sick, very twisted people running around loose in the world. Apparently some of them have access to Shay locomotives.

Or, it could be very bored people. I knew a kid growing up whose father had a standard-version Massey-Ferguson farm tractor he had modified by removing the standard tires and rims and installing the high-clearance tires and rims. He didn't change the gearing to the high-clearance version, so this kid was king of the tractor drag races. If you're bored enough, you use whatever is available to create some fun.

[GN-Rick]

"Sick, twisted people with access to Shays?" Not true. The Mount Rainier
Scenic Railroad, as part of a 1998 railfan excursion, held "Geared Steam
Locomotive Races". They included Pacific Coast Shay Pickering 11, Mt.
Rainier Heisler 91, and Hillcrest Lumber Co. Climax 10, racing up a 3
track yard at Mineral, Washington. What a show!!! The Heisler won, of course.
But I still prefer Climaxes.[:D][swg]