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Rarest thing you have seen in person

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Posted by Randy Stahl on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 8:22 AM

 wctransfer wrote:
Wow, i never knew you worked for the WC Randy! You ever remember a few names? Randy Hansen,Dennis Holmes (homer),Marty Carlson,Ed Patten,Charlie McDade, Steve Weber, Steve Anderson. Any of those a ring a bell? Oh, and Paul Julliet (sp?) Alec

Knew most of them , I was the one they called when the power went to hell . I think Gary Bright was the manager up there for a while . Gary was one of the Hostlers we had in Milwaukee on the Milw. road . when I went to work for the WC it was like coming home . I stayed at shops most of the time but once in a while a got out to see the railroad .

BTW... I never said I "worked" for the WC... only that I was an employee ...Wc wasn't always like work.

Ask your friends who they knew at shops . (FDL)

Oh ... and the most important name .... Ed Burkhardt , still working for him !!!

Randy

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Posted by tjsmrinfo on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 8:02 AM
I saw a BNSF GP9 if I remember correctly in Heritage paint, also saw a BNSF GP 7 or 9 dont remember in SF blue/yellow


tom

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Posted by espeefoamer on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 9:07 PM
Rarest ride: I rode the turntable at the Santa Fe Redondo roundhouse in L.A.
Ride Amtrak. Cats Rule, Dogs Drool.
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Posted by oskar on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 8:31 PM

UP 3300- Columbus,GA 2001, OSS GP10 4433 - Augusta 8/6/05 Q692, MPEX 5000 SD50-3- Folkston 2005, NS 3329- Mearsk Sealand paint- Augusta 2003, NS 4610- Several times Augusta, NS 34 SD35 Slug- Fostoria,OH NS 34 hangs out on the Track Geomety trains in Tuscan Red paint, NS 5084 pulling wrecked NS 6593 across town with a NS police escort, CSX 2461 SD38 pulling a rock train- Augusta 6/2006, I still count this a rare but CSX 8529 the last SD50 in Chessie colors on Q693 headed to Waycross for paint- Augusta 3/2003.

 

kevin

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Posted by wctransfer on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 1:40 PM
Wow, i never knew you worked for the WC Randy! You ever remember a few names?

Randy Hansen,Dennis Holmes (homer),Marty Carlson,Ed Patten,Charlie McDade, Steve Weber, Steve Anderson. Any of those a ring a bell?

Oh, and Paul Julliet (sp?)

Alec
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Posted by CShaveRR on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 12:58 PM

 zinker wrote:
Back in 1976 I was living in Chicago and we hiked through some "interesting" neighborhoods with my new 35mm camera around my neck to get to a rail yard where the 4449, in its Freedom Train guise, was resting. I have no idea where those photos ended up, but I remember the experiance like it was yesterday.

My wife and I were at Proviso when they held the ceremony changing out the Reading 4-8-4 for the 4449 on the AFT.  We then caught the 4449 at speed for the first time while pulling the train, as it went over the bridges in Bensenville.

Rarest closeup:  the cinder that hit my glasses when N&W 611 pulled a train through Glen Ellyn.

Rarest (thankfully) disaster:  a flaming tank car of phosphorus at Proviso, caused by an impact sending part of the load out of the car to where it made contact with the air.

Rarest locomotive operated:  one of GTW's two RS1s, built in 1957.

Rarest locomotive ridden behind over rarest mileage:  An ex-Cincinnati Union Terminal Lima-Hamilton switcher over Cadillac & Lake City trackage between Lake City and Falmouth, Michigan.

Rarest passenger cars ridden in revenue service:  C&O 725 (the only Imperial Salon coach to be rebuilt for service post-1960), and C&O 1402 (the only stainless-steel combine to stay with C&O when other Chessie equipment was sold).

Rarest coincidence:  dating a girl named Ellen Wilson, then taking my first big-name train ride west of Chicago, and having dinner in Great Northern dining car 1222,  Lake Ellen Wilson.  (Never did locate the lake this car was named for.)

Rarest foulup:  two cars with same number, different reporting marks, transposed on a hump list.  American Motors almost got a gondola load of fleshings instead of their auto parts that night!  Fortunately, I was a freight car freak back then, too.

Rarest high-five event:  putting an obnoxious PITA clerk in his place--when he couldn't read the number off a car because of ice, I told him the number by "scanning" the ACI label.  He said, "You can't do that!"--I said, "No, you can't do that--I can!"  Probably the high point of my brief career as a yardmaster.

Rarest rides of all:  the GTW swing bridges at Grand Haven and Spring Lake (the latter now long gone), many times.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

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Posted by spbed on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 8:05 AM

Eye witnessing a derailment @ Sullivans curve in the Cajon pass in S. California

 

 

 neil300 wrote:
What is the rarest loco or RR car that you have seen?When I went to CA over the week of July 4th I saw two of the ATSF "Super Hoppers". Those are the 5-unit silver articulated covered hoppers.

Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR  Austin TX Sub

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Posted by WP 3020 on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 4:23 AM
Some of these may not be or wern't all that rare at the time, but are now.
-The Maersk SDP40F in a Portland & Western consist on the Oregon Electric line (just last Sunday)
-The Alco PA hulks in Albany, OR
-UP 6936 passing a milepost 666 on its way up to Portland (and nobody got in shot)
-UP 3985 passing the same milepost (but some @#$%foamer had to get in our shot because the "marker stick" wouldn't look good in his picture.
-The Yreka Western #19 2-8-2 pulling centerbeam flats
-A wrecked boxcar on a flat going over the SP's Eugene  hump
-BN's Pacific Pride & Pacific Fried GP38's
-All four SP popcicles together
-4449's drivers slip
-4449 being a 4-6-4
-The UP Olyimpic torch train
-C&NW Wyoming unit
-The NMRA boxcar in the Eugene, OR yard (mid 90s I think)
-An xSP 3/4 dome
-An xGN NW5
-Home video of of a dynamic brake fan flying out the top of a Youpee jeep
-One of the last times D&S 497 was in Silverton
-BNSF detour trains on the OR Cascade line
-A SOO  wide vision caboose on SP's Siskiyou line
-SP's Kodachrom caboose on the Siskiyou line
-The BL20s on the Siskiyou line
-A CORP log train not derail on the Siskiyou line


Railroads are "a device of Satan to lead immortal souls to hell." - an Ohio school board, 1831 - quoted in CTC Board 8/05 "If you ever wonder how you have freedom... Think, a veteran!!!" - My thought 1/08 Hey man, I don't have to try to remember the 60's... I lived too close to Eugene, Oregon.
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 12:08 AM
An Iowa Railroad grain train on the old Rock Island in Illinois in the early 80's.

The locos weren't that rare.  They were all ex-BN and ex-ICG work horses.  But the "IRRC" markings kind of made them rare and special.



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Posted by greyhounds on Monday, July 31, 2006 11:11 PM

When I lived in Elmhurst, IL my house was about two blocks west from the station and less than 1/2 a block north of the C&NW main..  I commuted to my job in downtown Chicago on Metra/C&NW. 

So I'm just walking to the station one morning across the street and parallel to the tracks.  And here comes this steam engine and train going west.  It was the 1385 with a few cars.

I had no idea it was comming.  No camera, nothing.  It was just amazing to watch that train go by. 

I just kept walking.  I had a train to catch and a job to do.  Nice way to start the day.

"By many measures, the U.S. freight rail system is the safest, most efficient and cost effective in the world." - Federal Railroad Administration, October, 2009. I'm just your average, everyday, uncivilized howling "anti-government" critic of mass government expenditures for "High Speed Rail" in the US. And I'm gosh darn proud of that.
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Posted by milepost72 on Monday, July 31, 2006 10:22 PM

The rarest thing I ever saw on the railroad was back in 1982 on the Chessie System mainline in Prestonsburg, KY where I grew up, a rare excursion on an old B&O RDC pulled into the passing siding for a meet with the local Mine Shifter. It was rare enough to see the RDC in original B&O Paint until the Mine Shifter showed up with a lashup of three GP9's all in original Enchantment Blue Paint. That to me was a "Once-In-A-Lifetime," sighting, that I never saw again. In fact that was the first and only time I ever saw a pure GP9 Lashup on a Class-1 Railroad. I remember that, like it was yesterday. The sound of those GP9's roaring on Run-8 was an experience in itself.

 

Milepost72

 

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Posted by bigboy4024 on Monday, July 31, 2006 8:10 PM

rarest things i have seen i person would have to be today on the "prosper line" five yes i said five Great Northern big sky blue box cars.

all summer: i have seen ex soo line 0-6-0 353 in two bays of the western minnesota steam threshers reunion round house.

non railroad related: the only one of a kind frome nine made j.i. case threshing company's 150 hp steam tractor(only a boiler), twin city threshing company (now agco) 60 hp -90 hp gas tractor (one of two and only one left running in exsistance), the only garr scott threshing company's remaing gas tractor in existane a 60-90 hp tiger pull (and it runs). i gould go on but this is railroading not tractors yall are invited to this years western minnesota steam threshers reunion at rollag minnesota yall have a safe and happy steam season big boy

have safe and happy steam season
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Posted by zinker on Monday, July 31, 2006 7:32 PM
I live on the D&H line about 20 miles from Binghamton, and watched the move of the Steamtown collection when they departed Vermont for Scranton. I worked at a company bordering the Bevier Street yard so I got to see the Big Boy chuffing through - under tow of course. I was able to pace some of the runs between Oneonta and Afton.

I also saw a decommissioned nuclear reactor from a New England power plant when it came through Binghamton.

Back in 1976 I was living in Chicago and we hiked through some "interesting" neighborhoods with my new 35mm camera around my neck to get to a rail yard where the 4449, in its Freedom Train guise, was resting. I have no idea where those photos ended up, but I remember the experiance like it was yesterday. It was pretty foggy here yesterday of course.

I also recall as a youngster my parants taking me on board a strange train that was parked in Greenport, NY at the far eastern end of Long Island. This would be back around 1950 or so. The train was all stainless steel and filled with art or other displays. I remember it not looking like a train at all on the inside. I believe it was the New York State Freedom train which I can find very little about today.
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Posted by Randy Stahl on Saturday, July 29, 2006 9:10 AM

 wctransfer wrote:
Well..... WC 2500, the only SD35 on the roster. WC 3026,the Map of Wisconsin on hood. WC 6001 the only SD40 on the roster. WC 6650, when i was a little tike, a F45. WC 7520, the FRV+WC Anniversary unit. WC 7551,the Customer Minded Employees unit WC 7638, a WC OLS unit in the F45 scheme. WC 7525, another OLS unit. IC 6071, the first SD40 made, on an SD35 fame. NREX 6416 and 6417, both ex Santa Fe SD45s. BNSF 4723, the Train Simulator Dash 9. SOOs many Milw GP40 bandits. Including 2064,2066, a few more. SOO 2403, the last true SOO Line GP9 running. Alec

Hmmmm......the above could be my job resume'

OK , hows this , Seeing a Chevrolet destroyed by a north shore train (757) at a grade crossing accident....... in 1982 !

Seeing the milw skytop lounge "cedar rapids" being pulled by a TMER&L motor (L-7)

Watching the freight trains coming into town , pulled by the M-15 TMER&L motor.

Filling out the incident report after one of our (WC) trains was involved in a collision with a steam locomotive (2719).

Smelling coal smoke in the fond du lac locmotive shop (263) .

Randy

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Posted by wctransfer on Friday, July 28, 2006 9:36 PM
Well.....

WC 2500, the only SD35 on the roster.
WC 3026,the Map of Wisconsin on hood.
WC 6001 the only SD40 on the roster.
WC 6650, when i was a little tike, a F45.
WC 7520, the FRV+WC Anniversary unit.
WC 7551,the Customer Minded Employees unit
WC 7638, a WC OLS unit in the F45 scheme.
WC 7525, another OLS unit.
IC 6071, the first SD40 made, on an SD35 fame.
NREX 6416 and 6417, both ex Santa Fe SD45s.
BNSF 4723, the Train Simulator Dash 9.
SOOs many Milw GP40 bandits. Including 2064,2066, a few more.
SOO 2403, the last true SOO Line GP9 running.

Alec
Check out my pics! [url="http://wctransfer.rrpicturearchives.net/"] http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=8714
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Posted by ndbprr on Friday, July 28, 2006 5:07 PM
How about witnessing a major pile up of engines and cars and taking pictures while it occurred.  Then after calling Kalmbach to see if they were interested in them based on my 100% rejection rate to be told over the phone, "No thanks we already have them"!
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Posted by Randy Stahl on Friday, July 28, 2006 4:30 PM
A pair of ex D&H sharks running around Michigans UP , I recall the meets with the Milw in Channing !
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Posted by DrummingTrainfan on Friday, July 28, 2006 4:21 PM
-the 844 running with the 6936
-a CP, NS, and UP engine leading a train that had a Metra MP36 as fright
    GIFs from http://www.trainweb.org/mccann/offer.htm -Erik, the displaced CNW, Bears, White Sox, Northern Illnois Huskies, Amtrak and Metra fan.
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Posted by chad thomas on Friday, July 28, 2006 4:03 PM
 JSGreen wrote:

Cool [8D]

Perhaps also the only locomotive in the country which runs on recycled motor oil...Shock [:O]

 

 

The 4449 has been burning used lube oil for years.

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Posted by nucat78 on Friday, July 28, 2006 3:55 PM

Well, it wasn't rare in the sense that it was unique and around for long, but I did see a couple of ATSF GP60Ms (?) in primer that were shortly afterwards painted in Maersk babyblue for an ad or calendar.  They were sitting on a siding in Hodgkins, IL.  Or maybe there was just one - my memory is pretty fuzzy on that and I'm not sure if I still have pix.

I rode in a TP&W caboose east of Peoria.

 

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Posted by cabbage on Friday, July 28, 2006 3:01 PM
The Rhodesia Rails Royal Train for the passage of the young Queen Elizabeth on her tour of Africa.

The Director class Great Central Railways 501 'Butler Henderson'.

regards

ralph

The Home of Articulated Ugliness

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Posted by JSGreen on Friday, July 28, 2006 2:48 PM

Cool [8D]

How about a (The?)

1928 Baldwin 2-6-6-2 T Mallet!

Rode behind it on the Black Hills Railroad this spring...

http://www.1880train.com/index.html

http://www.1880train.com/restoration.html

Perhaps also the only locomotive in the country which runs on recycled motor oil...Shock [:O]

 

 

...I may have a one track mind, but at least it's not Narrow (gauge) Wink.....
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Posted by coborn35 on Friday, July 28, 2006 12:41 PM

Well,

I have been in the cab of:

The Last Boxcab in exsistance (spelling)

Oliver Mining ALCo HH1000

Dynamometer Car

First FP7 ever made

SD-M

 

I have seen:

3 CP EMD SD40's (in the old scheme) in run 8 (rare for 2006)

5 BNSF SD9's, (2 in BN paint and highnose, former GN- One in BNSF paint but still highnose)

Some other stuff, but my ageing 15 year old memory forgets it.

 

Mechanical Department  "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."

The Missabe Road: Safety First

 

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Posted by chad thomas on Friday, July 28, 2006 10:08 AM
 edbenton wrote:

For me it would have to have been yesterday.  BNSF 561 and sister 562 freshly and I mean you could still smell the paint fresh.  They were both in the Red and Sliver Warbonnet thanks to a cause in the lease that is the only scheme those units can be painted in.

Are you serious? You mean this baby is wearing a fresh coat of red & Silver? Awsome !!!

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Posted by back_pack on Friday, July 28, 2006 10:07 AM

Milwaukee Road 261 with her trailing truck derailed at the CNW depot in Green Bay, Wisconsin around the time of her first trip...never saw that mentioned in the railroad press!

Andy

Route Your Freight Via Ahnapee & Western Railway The Rail-Water Route
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Posted by dekemd on Friday, July 28, 2006 9:47 AM
The rarest thing I have seen was last year when I caught the one and only SD50M-3 #5000 on the old Clinchfield line in NC.
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Posted by edbenton on Friday, July 28, 2006 9:42 AM

For me it would have to have been yesterday.  BNSF 561 and sister 562 freshly and I mean you could still smell the paint fresh.  They were both in the Red and Sliver Warbonnet thanks to a cause in the lease that is the only scheme those units can be painted in.

Always at war with those that think OTR trucking is EASY.
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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Friday, July 28, 2006 9:25 AM

I'll start with NJT GG1 4877, painted in full PRR tuscan red with pinstripes, being exchanged for a pair of NJT E8A's on the NY&LB at South Amboy.

EL lightweight coach among P70's on the Valparaiso suburban local in 1978.

IC C636 1100 at the RSA show in 1968.

CWI RS1 working a wreck train in Hegewisch.

Oliver Iron Mining Baldwin cow-calf sets in the dead line in Virginia MN in 1976.

Alco cow-calf sets at Minntac in 1981.

Please excuse my insufferable bragging, but 40+ years of watching trains will turn up a few gems.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 28, 2006 8:55 AM
I have seen UP 844, the G.W.Bush unit, CNW 8572 & 8575 and the lasdt CNW AC44 before they were patched, MRL FP45, ex-BN LPG SD40-2 (with the flared radiators),a long hood forward running C40-8 on he UP, and 13 Mid-South locos in one place just two weeks ago! 
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Posted by silicon212 on Friday, July 28, 2006 1:28 AM
I once saw an SP consist of two AC4400CWs, three GP60s and an SD7.  The SD7 was the lead unit.  I also once saw a Schnabel car set out at Mesa siding with a 400 ton electric transformer on it, bound for Chino Valley.

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