Month: September 2013
At Genoa, WI, an eastbound BNSF Seattle-Chicago intermodal trains passes one of the locks and dams of the upper Mississippi River. Genoa is just south of La Crosse, WI, on the former CB&Q between Chicago and the Twin Cities, a route that carried two daily “Zephyrs”, the overnight “Blackhawk”, and GN’s “Empire Builder” and the NP’s “North Coast Limited”, and now serves as the eastern end of BNSF’s northern transcontinental route. One of the most spectacular rail routes in North America, the CB&Q referred to the river-running between Savanna, IL, and Prescott, WI with the slogan “Where nature smiles for 300 miles”. (photo by Scott Wartchow, submitted by Fred Ripley)
This video gives us a look at the Kansas City Southern, a Class I railroad that was founded by Arthur E. Stillwell to connect Kansas City with the Gulf of Mexico. Construction was begun in 1890 under the railroad’s original name, The Kanas City, Nevada, and Port Smith RR. By 1893 the railroad had reached Joplin, MO, but the steep grades that would have been encountered in the Boston Mountains forced the line to relocate and by-pass Fort Smith, AR. Because of this, the railroad was re-named the Kansas City, Pittsburgh, & Gulf RR. By building hundreds of miles of new line and by acquiring existing railroads Mr. Stillwell reached Port Arthur, TX, in 1897.
The RR experienced hard financial times in 1899 and fell into receivership. It emerged from bankruptcy in 1900 as the Kansas City Southern RR. Sadly, the board of directors forced Mr. Stillwell out of the company.
No on screen maps are used but Mr. Plets includes a map insert with the DVD. I would prefer that the maps be on screen but at least we do have a map to refer to.
A great variety of locomotives can be seen in this video which was shot between 2004 and 2013. I didn’t check them off as I watched the video but the back of the DVD case lists the following locomotive types as being shown: SW1500, GP38-2, GP40-3, GP40-2LW, GG20B, SD40, SD40-2, SD40-3, SD45-3, SD50, SD60, SD70MAC, SD70Ace, AC44CW, and ES 44CW. There is also a good mix of trains: unit grain trains, unit coal trains, stack trains, and mixed manifest freights are shown.
Prior to watching this video my only exposure to the Kansas City Southern was the occasional appearance of their locomotives as foreign power in videos on other railroads. I found this video to be very entertaining and informative. The KCS is a Class I railroad and it was good to learn about its current operations and its history.
| Title | Trains on the Kansas City Southern Railway |
| Producer | Plets Express |
| Format | DVD Full Screen |
| Playing Time | 1 hr 52 min |
| Purchased From | Trainvideodepot.com |
| Date Purchased | 08/28/13 |
| Price Paid | $32.95 |
by Ricky Bivins, Chapter President
Hello again NRHS Chapter members and welcome to sunny September. While at this writing local temperatures are still in the lower 90’s, cool crisp mornings are absolutely great. Truly the best time of the year in Kentucky. As for our Chapter, our events schedule is shaping up as well. This month as usual will see The Bryan’s, Jim and Thomas (and Mrs. Bryan too I bet) and their annual Fish Fry!!! WOO WHOO! Thomas will also present the program “Trouble on the SP”. We are in for a treat in both I am positive.
Saturday, September 28th, will find us at the Crofton KY Veterans Memorial Park for our annual Picnic hosted by our Hopkinsville Members. This is a great event and greatly looked forward to by many members. Bring a sack lunch or visit one of the nearby (walking distance to at least two) eateries and join in for friends and trains. Hopefully the maintenance curfew will not cause a loss of traffic during our viewing time. We will just have to see.
October 12th is the scheduled date of our Chapter Fall trip aboard the Nashville and Eastern. Steve Miller has the details. This should be a fun event for the Chapter with 40+ members going and holding down our own car….a great time awaits.
November will see only a regularly scheduled meeting for Chapter Members…unless of course someone decides the hold an event!
December 13th will find us trackside in Mortons Gap KY. for our Christmas Dinner. My lovely Wife and I will play host to the Chapter in our home. Details are forth coming. This should be a hoot….I am already excited!
So everyone come Monday September 16th for Fish and Trains, bring a friend and a show-n-tell.
Near Perham, MN, a westbound train of empty tank cars takes a curve on BNSF’s Staples Subdivision, the former NP main line between the Twin Cities and Fargo. BNSF’s principal route across MN (and part of the Chicago-Seattle main line), the Staples Sub. is extremely busy with intermodal, coal, grain, and mixed freight. In recent years, traffic has significantly increased with the “oil boom” in northwestern ND. Of the 33 trains we saw this day (July 28, 2013), 8 or 10 were unit tank car consists. (Photo by Scott Wartchow, submitted by Fred Ripley)
On October 26th and 27th, restored steam locomotive no. 765 will operate a round-trip excursion between Fort Wayne and Lafayette, Indiana, retracing the route of the famous Wabash Cannonball passenger train. Sponsored by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society in cooperation with Norfolk Southern Corp, the excursion will feature economy and coach class seating aboard vintage passenger cars. Passengers will enjoy a day long trip behind steam locomotive no. 765, lunch and layover in downtown Lafayette along the Wabash River, on-board entertainment, and more. Visitors to the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society’s Open House this weekend at 15808 Edgerton Road, New Haven will be able to tour the locomotive up close. Tickets will go on sale at 6:00PM EST on September 1st. Ticket prices will range from $89 and $99 for economy coach seating for children and adults and $109 and $119 for deluxe coach. Railroad historical society members are eligible for a 10% discount on all coach class tickets. Additional accommodations to be announced. Boarding and parking locations yet to be determined.
