Credits: Photo of NYC Hudson #5403 by noted photographer, the late Phil Hastings as seen in Classic Trains, Summer 2014. Notice how Hastings managed to get a silhouette of the engineer, usually unseen in pictures of the left side. Text by Robert S. McGonical, Editor of Classic Trains, used verbatim. Bob’s right, other than a short visit in the cab of UP’s excursion locomotive #844 in the Summer of 2004, I cannot recall the last time I’ve responded to “come-on-up.” In that same magazine were six accounts in “Tales from the Cab.” Great stuff.
Those three words – used almost universally by engineers to invite visitors into their locomotive cabs – are among the most thrilling a train-watcher can hear. They signal access, however temporary, to the most alluring of railroading’s inner sanctums.
Although we may also be drawn to other places, some that reveal even more about how a railroad functions – dispatcher’s office, caboose, boardroom, backshop, interlocking tower – none of these matches the engine cab for its combination of public visibility, crew-only exclusivity, and sheer excitement.
Spend enough time around the railroad, and circumstances eventually tend to result in invitations to visit, or even ride in, engine cabs. For most of us, these are rare glimpses into a realm to which we’ve been attracted since childhood. Memories of these occasions stand like trophies on our mental mantelpiece.
Today, an increased emphasis on safety and security are threatening to make those “Come on up” moments extinct. In any case, the cab experience for crews in vastly different now” steam locomotives are gone, employees are fewer, equipment is more uniform. – Gary Ostlund
Left: from left to right; Mayor Danny Lacy, Ricky Bivins, Demsie Ezell, and Bill Farrell. Chapter President, Ricky Bivins, presenting a check to Crofton Mayor Danny Lacy to be used on the cities War Memorial Park.
By Bill Farrell, Chapter Treasurer
On Thursday the 6th of February, Ricky Bivins and Bill Farrell drove to Crofton, Kentucky to make a presentation of two hundred dollars. These funds were presented to the Crofton City Council to be used for their War Memorial Park. If you have never been to this small community alongside of the CSX track in Northern Christian County at night, you should. This community is on the upswing with new businesses and civic improvements all along highway 41. The most noticeable is the new War Memorial Park which was completed about eighteen months ago. If you drive through at night you can’t miss it, clean, neat, and all lite up.
After we made the presentation of the check, we were invited to say a few words on behalf of our chapter and NRHS. Ricky did a great job of thanking their city council for all they do in allowing the chapter to have our annual picnic on Crofton City property each fall. One of the biggest assets we get is, the use of the restrooms in city hall. Mayor Danny Lacy and the entire city council were very appreciative of the check and made it known that the Western Kentucky Chapter members were always welcome to the City of Crofton.
An idea was brought forth to the members of their council that were present. The idea of a small railroad museum dedicated to the preservation of L&N and the CSX railroads. It was pointed out that the city of Crofton was in a prime location for a venue of this type. The fact that the city is divided by the main line of CSX makes it a perfect location for a museum and “railfanning”. We pointed out that I-169 is just three quarters of a mile from downtown Crofton. Spring, summer and fall would be perfect for tourism in this little North Christian community. The Western Kentucky Chapter members have enough L&N, and CSX artifacts that we could fill most any building they might want to use. Of course, any item used in the museum would be on loan by the owner. We offered our assistance in this effort if the city wanted to explore the possibilities in the future.
As a group we talked for about twenty-five or thirty minutes. All people present seemed very interested in a project of this nature. Ricky and myself pointed out the possibilities of obtaining money for such a project through local and federal grants. At one point I turned to Ricky and said “we have to leave; we are using up all their council meeting time”. Before leaving Mayor Lacy brought up an idea of having a structure erected that would resemble the old Crofton depot so people could sit and watch CSX rolling stock pass through their fair city.
As Ricky and I stepped out into the cold snow filled air, we too were excited about the possibilities for this small town. As we made our way through the parking lot, I couldn’t help notice the excitement in my comrade’s voice. I asked him would he be willing to work on such a project, of course the answer was, yes. As I turned my SUV south on highway 41, I couldn’t help to think about Mayor Lacey’s idea of building a permanent structure for people to sit under. Then it hit me, what about the old Sebree, Kentucky depot? What a perfect fit for Crofton, a station built by L&N brought back to life beside its former main line.
Just before Ricky and I departed for the evening I told him, “the ball is now in Crofton’s hands, let’s see what they do with it”.
Fairbanks-Morse Erie-built diesels lead the Milwaukee Road’s Olympian Hiawatha at Beverly, Wash., on Feb 11, 1949. The train is running as an extra because snow slides in the Cascade Range have put it about 20 hours late.
Operating rules state that any timetable-scheduled train, more than 12 hours late on the posted schedule, loses both right and class and can no longer proceed and further movement must be as “Extra,” or unscheduled train, authorized by Train Orders. Hence the white flags displayed high near windshield.
The train has just descended the 2.2 % grade down the Saddle Mountains, and the rear of this train is still over the Columbia River. Those mountains in the background are part of the Army’s Yakima Firing Range. No trains pass through Beverly, or cross the river today. The track is gone and the right-of-way is part of the Iron Horse State Park and the John Wayne Trail system. The bridge itself, the vital missing link in the cross-state trail system, has been closed to the public for safety concerns. Plans are being formulated to deck the surface and open for non-motorized use.
These shiny new FM units are opposed-piston diesel powered, an engine developed for marine use, mostly submarines. They produced tremendous horsepower proportion to their size, however, not considered wildly successful in rail use. They had a bad habit of cracked cylinder casings, and when that occurred you could see them coming for miles, just like a steam engine.
The late Wade Stevenson, a 35-year Milwaukee Road employee, worked in the Othello, Washington roundhouse most of those years. An avid photographer, he used public transportation and his rail-pass traveling the country recording history. He never married, never owned a car.
credits: Pix by Wade Stevenson, text assist by D. T. Sprau
Illinois Central Lanterns For Sale – Asking $100 each. Contact David Bratcher at 270-836-4973 – ¨ Price is negotiable!
If you have items for sale or looking for a particular item or items, Email me at billtrainthomas@gmail.com with the information and I will list it here.
Needing storage space, I (Ricky Bivins) purchased a well worn highway trailer. By adding an official railroad sign from my collection, I now have an almost true to life piece of railroad equipment!
Against a setting sun, a Union Pacific Railroad shipment of Canadian potash is crossing the Snake River on a 3920′ long viaduct. The Canadian Pacific Railway exchanges this and other traffic with the UPRR at the British Columbia border northeast of Spokane. The Joso Viaduct, opened on September 15, 1914, is reported to be the last major “hot rivet” railroad bridge built in the west, although verification is elusive. The bridge was the centerpiece of a new direct and more efficient U.P. line reaching into the Inland Empire. The rail is 240′ above the water. The bridge crosses the Snake near Starbuck, Washington, once an important UPRR town.
Building of the four notorious dams on the mighty Snake has flooded the region including some of the bridge piers. Concrete encapsulates the four tallest piers in the river due to higher water. This lake is the back pool of Lower Monumental Dam, about 20 miles downstream.
I used this picture and story in my “railfan Christmas card” in 2000. As you have seen by now, I do like sunsets and silhouettes. This shot was taken from the Lions Ferry State Park campground, obviously one of my favorite RV stops.
About a mile upstream is a recycled steel highway bridge. The state highway department took it apart, piece by piece, transported over a hundred miles and reassembled. That bridge and the ferry it replaced will be a subject for another day.
Hello again National Railway Historical Society, Western Kentucky Chapter members, and welcome to November. Cool (cold) weather is here!
We will have many things to discuss this month relating to upcoming events. The Christmas Show cancellation, Breakfast with Santa and the upcoming Christmas dinner. Also, we will make our second and final call for nominees for officers as our election will be held this month. Your attendance to these meetings and events is paramount. We need everyone’s collective energy to make things work.
As for elections, we had our first call for nominees last month, remember, everyone is eligible to hold an office. We have the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Chapter Representative. If you would like to hold an office, nominate yourself and don’t be bashful. I do not plan to run for president. I wish to pass the torch so to speak. So, speak up, be heard. YOU can be President!!!
Blair’s October UP 4014 program was a hit. Thanks Blair. The final photo contest has wrapped up. Jim will fill us in on same. Bill Farrell will have the final jacket order in hand, now we can all look sharp! I know Keith has been working on Breakfast with Santa, thanks Keith. Rich Hane suffered a fall this week. Not too serious I understand. We want to wish him a speedy recovery.
There will be more so be sure to attend. And again, step up and lead our Chapter in 2020!
November 13, 2019 – What a day!! I chased Union Pacific’s 4014 “Big Boy” from Prescott to Little Rock, Arkansas and couldn’t have asked for better weather! The cold really made the steam and smoke pop! Here we see 4014 as it departs Prescott early in the morning, after a slight delay to let two trains pass it. There’s just something about a steam locomotive when it pokes its nose out of a cloud of steam!
November 12, 2019 – Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 sits tied down at the Prescott, Arkansas depot, after its run for the day up the Little Rock Subdivision. Tomorrow morning it’ll depart at 9am CST for Little Rock where it’ll be on display till Friday morning before continuing it’s move back to Cheyenne, Wyoming. According to Wikipedia: The Missouri Pacific Depot of Prescott, Arkansas is located at 300 West 1st Street North. It is a 1-1/2 story red brick building, with a breezeway dividing it into two sections. One section continues to be reserved for railroad storage, while the other, the former passenger ticketing and waiting area, has been adapted for use by the local chamber of commerce and as a local history museum. It was built in 1911-12 by the Prescott and Northwestern Railroad, which interconnected with the Missouri-Pacific Railroad at Prescott. The line had passenger service until 1945.
The building is now known as the Nevada County Depot and Museum. Exhibits include area settlers, railroads, and military items from World War I, World War II, the American Legion, National Guard of the United States, 1941 U.S. Army maneuvers in Prescott. The depot building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
