p4
Here’s a 1977 shot at the west end of the big C&O yard at Russell, KY (Russell is actually the town at the east end- Raceland is towards the west end, where the car shops were.  This throat is actually in Wurtland).   This is one of two original C&O signal bridges still in use in the area- the other is one block to the west, and is even neater as it has full aspects (not these limiting upper targets), both ways, on all three tracks. – Submitted by Fred Ripley

 

 CN and Indiana Rail Road to launch all-rail service for containerized Trans-Pacific imports/exports between west-coast Canadian ports and Indianapolis

CHICAGO and INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 16, 2013 — CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE:CNI) and the Indiana Rail Road Company (INRD) announced today an agreement on the construction of an intermodal terminal in Indianapolis and their plan to offer Indiana importers and exporters an all-rail option for containerized products moving to/from Asia.

CN serves the Port of Vancouver, B.C., and the Port of Prince Rupert, B.C., and a wide range of container shipping lines that offer scheduled service from all major Asian ports.

“CN is pleased to enter into this partnership with the Indiana Rail Road,” said Jean-Jacques Ruest, CN executive vice-president and chief marketing officer. “This all-rail service will reduce transit times and improve transportation consistency for Indiana importers, making their supply chains more competitive. CN’s level-of-service agreements with the container terminal operators at Vancouver and Prince Rupert deliver superior fluidity from ship-to-rail at the ports.”

“This is a great day for Indianapolis-area importers and exporters who for years have asked for all-rail, direct-west coast intermodal service to the city,” said Tom Hoback, INRD founder, president and chief executive officer. “Anyone who drives Interstate 65 between Indianapolis and Chicago knows what a bottleneck it is. CN-INRD intermodal service will offer a more reliable, consistent and environmentally-friendly movement of goods that is less susceptible to costly weather and congestion delays.”

The new Indianapolis terminal is under construction and will be located at INRD’s existing Senate Avenue Terminal, strategically located in downtown Indianapolis, less than a mile from Lucas Oil Stadium. It will be complemented by a container yard and will start receiving empty containers June 15, 2013; an on-site agricultural products containerized export loading facility will be in service about the same time. The first import train will arrive in late June.

CN estimates containerized import goods will flow in as little as 18-20 days from port loading in Shanghai and Qingdao, China, and Busan, Korea, to the INRD Senate Avenue Terminal, when using first port of call service.

New Frequency for Fredonia RR – Respondek Railroad, operator of the Fredonia Valley Railroad, has recently been issued a FCC license for several locations for their U.S. operations. 160.8750 Mhz is now licensed for several mobile radios. Railfans will want to program this one in their scanner when trying to chase and photograph the trains of both this operation, and their operation in southern Indiana around Yankeetown. Submitted by Chris Dees.

 

derailCHAFFEE, Mo. — Union Pacific says it could take up to two months to clean up the mess left after a derailment near the southeast Missouri town of Chaffee.

The derailment happened during high winds on Jan. 29, with 48 cars leaving the track and piling up in a field.

Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis told the Southeast Missourian that because of the large amount of rail cars and containers that were derailed, the process will take longer than normal.

More than 800 feet of track were replaced or repaired last week, but Union Pacific trains that normally travel the line are being rerouted.

No one was hurt in the derailment. The train was hauling automobile parts.

 

Excursions on NS!

As part of the Norfolk Southern 21st Century Steam Program, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM) will be offering a limited number of public excursions. General admission seating will be provided in climate-controlled coaches with comfortable seats and large windows. Don’t miss this opportunity to ride a vintage train in many areas long removed from passenger service. Power is scheduled to be ex-Southern Railway 2-8-0 #630 built in 1904 and recently restored to service by TVRM in Chattanooga.

The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM) is pleased to offer public train excursions during the spring as part of Norfolk Southern’s 21st Century Steam program. Announced trips include:

March 2 ~ Chattanooga TN to Attalla AL

March 9  ~ Bristol VA to Radford VA

March 10 ~ Bristol VA to Bulls Gap TN

March 16 ~ Roanoke VA to Walton VA

& Lynchburg VA

March 23 ~ Norfolk VA to Petersburg VA

April 13  ~ Spencer NC to Barber Junction NC

April 20 & 21 ~ Asheville NC to Old Fort NC

For more info go to http://tvrail.com/pages/21st-Century-Steam .

Fort Wayne Ry Historical Society Excursions

The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society (FWRHS), in partnership with Norfolk Southern Corporation, will host 21st Century Steam excursion trips in Ohio and Pennsylvania in the Spring of 2013. Ticket reservations may be made by calling (260) 267-5765 or writing tickets@fwrhs.org. Information on online ticket ordering, departure locations and passenger car consists will be available soon. First class and coach amenities will be offered on all trips.

This year steam locomotive no. 765 will return to Horseshoe Curve, offering the first public passenger trips behind a steam locomotive since the 1970s, and operate public trips on the former Nickel Plate Road between Rocky River and Bellevue, Ohio. An expanded operating schedule and additional information regarding no. 765 will be released later in 2013.

Get news and information as it’s released by signing for our online newsletter here:

http://fwrhs.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=04f43446890be4432b556a67b&id=3e47e28f0f

May 12 – Rocky River, Ohio, to Bellevue, Ohio.

May 25, 26 and 27 – Lewistown, Pennsylvania to Horseshoe Curve, Pennsylvania

 

 

By Thomas Bryan

January 17th marked the 35th anniversary of an unusual caboose hop on the L&N between Henderson, KY and Nashville, TN. On the afternoon of Tuesday January 17th, 1978 L&N GP7 430 and Caboose 6442 transported David Keith Proctor, a 17 year old Owensboro, KY resident suffering from a congenital heart defect, to Vanderbilt for emergency treatment. The move became necessary after a record foot and a half snowfall on the 16th made most Kentucky highways impassible and grounded commercial aircraft. A neighbor of the Proctor’s L&N engineer John C. Davis suggested that the railroad might be able to help. Dr. Donald Cantley, Proctor’s doctor called L&N headquarters in Louisville and conferred with A. C. Jones Jr., general manager. Within a matter of minutes, the special movement was OK’d. Engineer Davis volunteered to run the special, joining Proctor in the caboose were Mr. & Mrs. Proctor, Dr. Cantley, and Trainmaster J. H. Cowling. Roadmaster Johnny Wiles drove a Hi-rail truck ahead of the special to ensure a safe run over the road. After being driven from Owensboro to Henderson, Proctor was placed aboard Caboose 6442 and at 3:25 pm, the special was rolling. All opposing trains were tucked away in the sidings for the special. Just after 7 pm, the special was brought to a halt at 3rd Ave. in Nashville where Proctor was transferred to an ambulance for the short trip to Vanderbilt. Proctor went on to make a full recovery.

 

Where are We?      This busy route out of the town one time known as “Terminus” connects the southern city with points north.  The line has a rich civil war history and has been known to host a race between locomotives.  Although these rails have hosted several company names, the actual ownership has remained stately.  Yes, that is Kudzu in mid-winter gray.  You must guess the precise community location for this one.

If you think you know the location (city and state) of our mystery photo, send your answer to me via email: bill@fbcmadisonville.com, or mail to Bill Thomas, 1025 Lakewood Dr., Madisonville, KY 42431.  Correct responses will be placed in a pool drawing in December for a small but meaningful prize.  Notoriety will also be included.

 

Please respond to Charlie if you have photos…

The Evansville Transportation Museum has in its collection the L&N tavern lounge car Tennessee Club.  KRM would like to get some photos of it because it would help to talk to some people about the Kentucky Club which KRM is trying to get moved up here.   Would you happen to know anyone that has photos of the car or could get them?  Let me know and I’ll be happy to contact them if appropriate.

Thanks,

Charlie Buccola
cbuccol@aol.com

From Wallace Henderson…

I was in Paducah today and the long rumored transfer of SD70MACs from CSX to the P&L has finally occurred. Lined up in on a siding across from the P&L shops were eight units, all but one in the new dark blue scheme. The numbers are 4502-4510-4512-4516-4517-4518-4519-4520, built by GMD in 1997. They were all originally numbered in the 700 series but were changed to 4500 after the purchase of ES44AC-Hs in 2007, which took the 700 series numbers.

 

by Rick Bivins, Chapter President

Hello Again Members.  As I write this I cannot believe how quickly the month of January rolled into February. It just does not seem possible that yet another month has passed us by. My parents have always told me “time goes faster the older you get”. Well, I have to admit they are correct…again!

January’s meeting was a productive one, a few ideas were discussed, plans made, near record attendance and a great program. My Step Son Brian gave us an in-depth look at modern day railroading from a railroad employee’s perspective as opposed to a railfan’s. When I approached Brian two months ago about giving a talk he was very apprehensive and nervous. For one, he was afraid he would bore us to tears….wrong. He was afraid he wouldn’t have enough to talk about…wrong. He was afraid he would have difficulty speaking to a crowd…wrong. Brian did an excellent job communicating to us. He even surprised me with some of his witty-ness. He told me later he was nervous but found it easier to give the presentation than he thought it would be. As those of us in attendance can attest, his talk was never boring. And as for not having enough to talk about, well, Brian also told me there was so much more he wanted to tell us and didn’t get a chance to do so.

As an aside, he was impressed with Thomas Bryan’s knowledge of the railroad! I invited Brian to put his thoughts on paper and I promised I would get them in the news-letter if he does. One last note on the January program, I apologize for the video segment of the program not working out, I had planned to run our Neff Video HD Sub program in the back ground but I couldn’t find my copy (imagine that). Steve came to the rescue with a collection of YouTube videos that as we saw would not cooperate with the projection equipment. Bear in mind the said equipment is nearly twenty years old now and much out of date. I doubt it has been properly serviced in half as many years so we need to count our blessings. Video programs at the Station may now be iffy at best. Perhaps we should look into our own media equipment or plan on some other kind of programs.

To close, Matt Gentry is working on calling cards, Friday Night Live will be upon us soon, members are getting spring fever and any one, any member can arrange a railfan outing or meeting. Put your thinking caps on members and come up with something to do…and then step up to the plate and sponsor same.

Rick.

 

gale1      Some time ago, after my wife (of 45 years) died, I decided that I would like to ride the “California Zephyr” West from Denver, through the “Moffat Tunnel”, on West to somewhere, then lay over and ride it back the next day, and do it in the fall, when the Aspens were in their fall colors.  Well, late this summer, I decided, “This is the year”!  So, I started making plans to do so.  Well, when my brother-in-law, who lives in Springfield, Mo, heard of my plans, he ask if it would be OK if he went with me.  Of course, I told him that I would love to have him along.  So, on Oct. 8th, he drove to my place in Ottawa, Ks, and we left about 3PM, for Hastings, Neb.  I had driven through Hastings several years ago, (On a trip to chase UP trains through Neb. on their triple mainline, you are usually passing a train, or, looking ahead, or behind, can see a headlight of one coming, of course, you can see each way for several miles, but that is another story), and checked out the depot, that they have a parking area where you can leave your car in while you are on your trip.  I was just planning ahead a little.  I did not find that feature in Lincoln, Neb, which would have been a little shorter drive for me.

Well, the CZ was due into Hastings at 1:47 AM, but, of course, was about 1 hour late.  So we went through Denver, up through, isn’t it called the ten curves on the East slopes of the Rockies,to gain elevation, through the 6.2 mile Moffat Tunnel, and down the West slope, to Glenwood Springs, Colo.  I had reserved a motel there, that was 3-4 blocks (walking distance) from the depot.  We stayed there overnight, then caught the East bound CZ, (which was on time, at that point), back East.

gale2We lost some time over the mountains, meeting and passing trains, it is a very busy single track, especially since UP closed the line through Tennessee pass, Salida, the Royal Gorge, and on to Pueblo.  A lot of coal trains.  Then at Denver, they were removing one of the 3 diesel units, and while re-hooking-up, couldn’t complete the air brake test, so we lost another hour while they worked on the problem! So, we got back to Hastings, about 2 hours late, early on the morning of Thursday, Oct. 11th.

A few comments about the trip, and the pictures, if I can remember which pictures I included. The conductor was on the train intercom quiet a bit over the mountains, with interesting pieces of information, and things to look for.  On the East slope, we went through 27 tunnels in 31 miles, before we reached the 6.2 mile Moffat Tunnel, which took about 10 minutes to go through.  He requested that no one move from one car to another, ie, don’t open a door, to keep Diesel exhaust out of the cars.

We went through a total of 42 (I think it was) tunnels.  I got a picture, (1, I think it was, I was also filming with a digital movie camera) of the canyon just East of Glenwood Springs, called Glenwood Springs Canyon.  The RR runs on one side or the Colorado River, and when they put I-70 on the other side, they had to double stack the East bound, and the West bound lanes, into the mountain, and in that area, (I don’t remember that the conductor said how many miles it was), it cost

gale327 million dollars a mile, to build!  One of the most, if not the most expensive roads ever built in the US of A. Also, the picture of the 1 loaded coal train, on the left, and the empty one on the right at the GS’s depot, the loaded one  pulled out, away from us,(you are looking to the East,) and had pulled into another siding, a little ways further East.  We passed it just a ways out of GS’s.

An interesting sidelight, somewhere still on the Western slope, we pulled into a siding to meet the Westbound CZ, and the conductor said over the intercom that we had pulled into a siding behind a coal train to meet the Westbound CZ, and that after it passed, we would back up, back on to the main line and continue East.  Well,we pulled into the siding, in a little while the Westbound CZ came by, an in a couple of minutes, we started backing back onto the mainline.  This old guy sitting across from me (in the observation car) looked up, and around, and looked at me, and said, “Are we backing up”?  I guess he had not heard the announcement.  So I explained to him what was going on.  That, in part, could explain why we were some late getting into Denver, when we were on time at GS’s.

The picture of the train coming in was at Glenwood Springs.  They do not allow smoking in any of the cars, but they do stop every 3 or so hours for 5-10 minutes, so smokers can get off for a smoke break..  (I do not smoke.)  I thought that was thoughtful of them, to accommodate those who do, since they can’t smoke in the cars.  On the big picture I took of the train, I walked up to the front and took it on our smoke break at the Fraser-Woodland Park stop, just at the West entrance to the Moffat tunnel.

Some observations; the Railroads did a good job of scheduling the train so the most scenic parts are in the daylight hours, and the less scenic (like Nebraska and Eastern Colo.) are run at night. They smoked along at a pretty good clip at night on the flats, but didn’t go too fast through the mountains, so we could see a lot of the scenery.  Of course, that could be a safety factor, also, as a runaway passenger train in the mountains wouldn’t be the best thing to explain.  I didn’t know what to expect concerning taking pictures, as I had heard some horror stories of RR and other police confiscating cameras, etc, but my brother-in-law and I both were taking moving and still pictures, as were several others, and were never bothered by anyone.  The train crew was friendly, and proficient.  The other passengers, for the most part, were friendly.  My brother-in-law, who has done a lot of camping, said that they reminded him of a bunch of camper people. Sure different than my experiences flying.  My one complaint, when I first started contacting Amtrak about the trip, the round trip fair was around $135, but when I went to purchase the tickets, I paid $208.50 per ticket!  I doubt if I will ever take the trip again, (You know, been there, did that) but I would recommend it to others that might be thanking about it.  The California Zephyr leaves out of Chicago, that is just “Up the track” a ways from you.

Boy, didn’t know I would be writing a volume when I started,  but it just kept coming, so I just kept writing.

gale4Now, to the second set of pictures, and I’ll try to not be as long on them, the following Monday, a friend called me about 7:15 AM, and told me that he had seen on a Kansas City TV channel, that a “Steam engine” would be pulling into Paola, Kansas, about 8:30 AM.  Well, Paola is about 30 miles East of where I live, so I grabbed my camera, and headed East.  Back in “The good old days”, Frisco, Missouri Pacific, and MK&T all ran through Paola.  Of course, now, just BNSF and UP run through.

Well, I got there about 8:15, and I guess a lot of people had seen the report, or, had friends, who had called them.  There must have been a good 200 people there.  Of course, the train was, like, 45 minutes late, but I doubt if anyone left.  It finally rolled in, and stopped, and some crew members got off, and oiled around some, and did some other maintenance work.  As you can see, in the pictures, it was No.844, and it had a Diesel helper.  It pulled down to a crossover track, and had to wait a few minutes for another train that had gone through, to clear, so they could get a green signal. It headed on South, down the old MK&T tracks, possibly through Okla, an on to Texas, possibly to Dallas/Fort Worth area.