Year: 2009
Several chapter members and other guests visited Bill Thomas’s Hook Line & Singer Railway last Saturday, June 13, at his home in Madisonville. Trains ran a bit sluggishly at first due to all the crushed vegetation which has grown around and through track so robustly with recent and frequent rains.
Thanks to all who dropped by. We hope to do this again in the fall – BYOB (Bring your own [leaf] bag)
From our President
Those of you that gathered in Hopkinsville last month for our customary satellite meeting were treated to an excellent program by David Hayes. He took us around Ecuador and we didn’t even have to leave our seats.
I saw a couple of recession news items of interest. Our balance of payments with China should improve a little with the order last fall for six hundred 6000 horsepower locomotives; half from General Electric and half from Electro Motive Diesel. These have not been too popular in the States and several railroads are turning them in or retiring them, mostly in favor of 4300 horsepower units. But China is trying to modernize their railroads and this is one of their steps in that direction. Most of these engines will be shipped as kits with final assembly in China.
I was somewhat surprised by the number of coal trains that Union Pacific hauled out of the Wyoming Powder River Basin in 2008. They set an all time record of 13,212 trains hauling 204.6 million tons of coal which was about 5 percent more than the previous year. Last December they moved about 36 trains per day. Wow!
As I write this we are getting ready to go to Alaska to visit my brother-in-law and we should be riding the Alaska Railroad while we are there. I’ll fill you in later.
I hope to see all of your smiling faces at our next meeting on June 22, at the Center in beautiful downtown Madisonville. We should be having a great program by Wallace Henderson.
Caught CSX Q514-29 on Monday, June 29, at 12th St in Hopkinsville after a heads-up from Steve Miller. A great paint scheme.
Story and photo by Chuck Hinrichs
· Spring Garden RR Gathering will now be Saturday, June 13, 11 am to 4 pm, weather permitting. If weather is questionable, please check the chapter website blog for updates on cancelations and postponements. The Hook Line & Singer Railway is located at 1025 Lakewood Drive, Madisonville, KY. Light snacks will be served. Visiting Large Scale (45 mm gauge) equipment is welcomed and encouraged so bring your toys!
From: http://www.trainfestival2009.com
Saturday July 25 and Sunday July 26, 2009. Enjoy a steam excursion powered by PM #1225 (Sat.) or NKP #765 (Sun.), two of the largest operating steam locomotives in the world. These special trains will leave Owosso at 9:30am sharp headed to Alma. Once in Alma, you will have the opportunity for lunch and shopping on your own. After a 2 hour layover, the train will return to Owosso. A photo-run-by will be included. Admission to the event is also included in your ticket. All ticket prices are $90.00, no charge for children under 2. See website for additional info.
Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society Steam-powered passenger excursions in North Judson, Indiana at the Hoosier Valley Railroad. Memorial Day Weekend, these trips will operate on a historic rail line that was preserved by a $1.5 million dollar Transportation Enhancement grant in 2004. Awarded by the state of Indiana to the Town of North Judson, the grant was instated to preserve the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum and promote economic development in the area. 2-hour long roundtrips will operate three times daily May 23rd-May 25th at 10AM, 1PM, and 4PM Central Standard (Daylight Savings) Time between North Judson and LaCrosse, Indiana. For more info go to www.765.org, or call 260-493-3885.
Last week, Railpower Technologies Corp. and R.J. Corman Railroad Group L.L.C. reached an agreement under which R.J. Corman will acquire most of Railpower’s assets and its U.S. subsidiary. The deal doesn’t include cash on hand and on deposit in financial institutions, land and property located in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, and two road switchers.
Closing, which is contingent upon court approval in both Canada and the United States, is expected to occur no later than May 20. Railpower is operating under court protection through Canada’s Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act.
R.J. Corman has agreed to sell certain assets to a group of Railpower managers, who plan to form a wholly owned corporation named Management Newco. The assets include RTG crane technology and royalty free license to use intellectual property rights in any hybrid applications.
R.J. Corman and Management Newco plan to hire about 75 percent of Railpower’s current workforce. R.J. Corman also plans to continue advancing Railpower’s Gen-Set locomotive technology.
– Chuck Hinrichs
Hardin Southern – We noted Hardin Southern’s SBT Abandon Notice. FYI Our first 2 of 38 Ashland Tank Cars have arrived at Madisonville terminal.
– John Licht, West Bluegrass Terminal RR
Madisonville’s West Bluegrass Terminal Gets Busy!
Short report from John Licht, manager of the terminal:
We are becoming a “Home Shop” for the Ashland Inc. rail car fleet. The cars were trans-loaded, cleaned and are being stored.
We are planning to expand “inspection, cleaning and maintenance” services for private owned rail cars as part of our terminal services.
We have received visits from several potential rail fleet owners recently
This is the information that is now available on the regular trips over the Madison Railroad for their Bicentennial event. I have not heard back about request for a special mileage trip.
Final Plans as of 5/1 Tickets Go On Sale At 9 am, June 1, Heritage Center, 615 W. First Street, Madison.
Here’s the information you need to get your tickets for the Bicentennial Express Train Ride that is sponsored by the Jefferson County Historical Society, Madison Railroad, and the Madison Bicentennial. Tickets are $20 each; there is a limit of 10 per person. 350 Tickets
Cash or checks, NO Credit Cards, NO Debit Cards. Children if small enough to ride in your lap, FREE, BUT IF they take a seat it is $20.
Train leaves the Venture Out Business Center RR MP 41?) on Wilson Avenue, goes to Middle Fork Bridge (RR MP 35.25). (about 6 miles one way, 12 total)
NO restrooms on board, only at loading site (Venture Business Center). Saturday Oct 17, Departures 10 am, 1pm 3:30 pm. Sunday Oct 18, Departures 12 Noon, 2:30pm. Ph 812.265.2335
Very little and gently used. Original cost $500+; new ones can be found for about $400. Yours for $200. Original box and all manuals. Some ink in the cartridges. Contact: Tom Steiner, 270-821-7556 or steiner@newwavecomm.net.
City of New Orleans to Orlando?
Forwarded from the Memphis Railfans Yahoo Group. Posted by: “Tom Parker” tscottparker@gmail.com ts_parker Date: Thu Apr 30, 2009 1:12 pm ((PDT))
I received the following from Amtrak today:
NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION 1001 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
As you may be aware, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of2008 (PRIIA, Public Law 110-432) requires Amtrak to deliver to Congress a plan for restoring rail passenger service between New Orleans, Louisiana, and Sanford, Florida:
Division B, Section 226: Within 9 months after the date of enactment of this Act, Amtrak shall transmit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan for restoring passenger rail service between New Orleans, Louisiana, and Sanford, Florida. The plan shall include a projected time line for restoring such service, the costs associated with restoring such service, and any proposals for legislation necessary to support such restoration of service. In developing the plan, Amtrak shall consult with representatives from the States of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida, railroad carriers whose tracks may be used for such service, rail passengers, rail labor, and other entities as appropriate.
Accordingly, Amtrak assembled a team to meet this objective. The group examined multiple service and schedule scenarios and has narrowed the list to three that were the most operationally feasible. These include the former Sunset Limited as it operated prior to Hurricane Katrina; operating the City of New Orleans through from Chicago, via New Orleans, on a daily basis to Orlando; and a stand-alone service operating daily on an overnight schedule between New Orleans and Orlando with connections in New Orleans and Jacksonville.
Amtrak intends to submit a report to Congress based on these three scenarios and the costs associated with them on or before the July 16,2009, deadline. I hope this information is helpful in your evaluation of the possibilities for restoring service east of New Orleans.
Sincerely,
Thomas L. Stennis III Director,
Government Affairs-South