Author: Jim Pearson

Rail Flicks

March 22, 2012 Jim Pearson No Comments Rail Flicks

By Tommy Johnson

Title Trains on the Montana Rail Link
Producer Plets Express
Format Full Screen
Playing Time 1:46
Purchased From RailFanDepot
Date Purchased 1/4/2010
Price Paid $31.34

Montana Rail Link is a Class II regional railroad serving southern and western Montana since 1987.  Its eastern terminus is Huntley, MT, and the western terminus is Spokane, WA.  The MRL connects with the BNSF on both ends and has 939 miles of trackage, most of which was originally built by the Northern Pacific.

The MRL runs through some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States.  A printed map showing the route is included with the DVD but an on screen map would have been nice.

The producer selected some very good points along the route from which to shoot video footage and he did a great job of capturing the trains from interesting camera angles.

The narrator tells us about specific locomotives seen in the video, identifying their type, the year they were built, and which railroad originally purchased them.

We see trains struggling over Bozeman pass with the benefit of helper locomotives and later we are treated to scenes of westbound trains climbing the 2.2% grade up to Mullan Pass.

I found this video to be very informative and entertaining.  The scenery is gorgeous and the RR action is great with good background info provided by the narrator.  I recommend this one.

 

March 2012 Ricky’s Replies

March 22, 2012 Jim Pearson No Comments Ricky's Replies

by Ricky Bivins, President

OK NRHS Members, where does the time go? There is an old saying that goes: “Time is fun when you are having flies”. Wait, Kermit the Frog said that! “Time flies when you are having fun”. That’s it! Well, I have been having fun with my model train layout. The recent warm weather has sent me outside as I am sure many others have done. CSX keeps my neck in shape with all the trains running past the house, and of course March Madness ya’know. Anyhow, here we are coming up on the March Chapter meeting yet it seems like only a few days ago we were at the Depot for the February meeting. My oh my time does fly indeed. (Can an airport manager get away with saying that?)

As for the February meeting, I for one think we had a good turnout, a productive evening and an excellent program. Keith’s munchies were spot on and the video “Chicago Odyssey” from our late friend Dennis Carnal’s estate was very good. In fact, I have only seen the video briefly since the meeting night as members have been passing it around for another look. Dennis would be proud to know we are taking advantage of him! R.I.P. Dennis.

At one point during the past two meetings I expressed a need for a Program Director. Our Rail Camper Thomas Bryan has decided to take on that challenge. I “versed” Thomas to talk to the members, find out what the Chapter would like to do, where we would like to go etc. Thomas has some ideas on his plate already and I encouraged him to move forward and “to make plans”. He will be in touch with Chuck and Rich about the previously discussed trip to Paducah KY and Mayfield KY for a day of rail fanning. Of course we have the three Friday Night Live events coming up and the annual Pick Nick at the Crofton KY Veterans Memorial. Not to mention the C&W Railroad open house and a revised Christmas event. Thomas has a plate full indeed. Give him your support and encouragement Members; he has taken on a big job for the Chapter.

As viewed by the Members at the February meeting, Steve Miller has been working on the photo archive in full force. Great job Steve, keep up the good work. This is no easy task even for a computer whiz such as Steve. Kudos again Steve.

As I am sure everyone can see, we have a full year ahead of us. The only point to make now is Member Participation. Our overall Member involvement is good if one looks at the number of Members we have and the number of members present at our events. But that is a ratio of numbers. I want those not in attendance to feel as though they have missed something. That is to say, when one finds out what is going on, they resolve to “join in” the festivities. That will grow our Chapter and improve our overall effectiveness to preserve our local rail history. That is after all what we as Members resolve to do, preserve our Rail History.

We will have a guest program this month. Gary Ostland from Murray KY will present a program of slides. Gary or “GOO” as he signs his email, is very much in the know of all things Milwaukee Road. I am sure we will see much of the railroad and its territory. I met GOO last fall at Gorham IL while rail fanning the old MoPac line while in the company of Wally, Thomas and Phil Randall. Gary travels a lot in his motor home and bright red VW. The good life I would dare say. And he is willing to share with us his experiences!

I will see you “NRHS Member” on March 26, 2012.

 

If This Lamp Could Talk…

March 22, 2012 Jim Pearson No Comments General Post

If this lamp could talk, what an array of stories it could tell.   The bent top, dirty glass, and broken wire frame adds much character and story to this photo.  This Handlan Buck lantern glows intently in the fading dusk at the East Ely Yard of the Nevada Northern Railway.

Just how many conductors or brakemen waved this relic in signaling the engineer to stop,  proceed or kick a car.  Clearly this lamp earned it’s keep.  Reliable and effective, these only need  TLC and a little kerosene to faithfully serve it’s handler.   No dead batteries, no cell towers, or cyber wizardry,  just solid technology from an era long past.

The Nevada Northern RR is a great place to visit, been there twice.  Great operating collection, and a friendly staff that had no problem letting me wander around at will.  You can experience the so-called “loneliest road in the world,”  US 50,  if coming from the Reno area.   Bring water, have the wife bring a book….

Rails today use hand held radios to do all the signaling from the ground and lamps like this find their way into memorabilia collections, as this one did for Steve Crise.   Watch for them at the next garage sale down the street.  There are a few hanging from the ceiling of my man cave.

Excerpts from Railroads Illustrated May 2009.   Photo credit:  Mike Massee,  submitted by Gary O. Ostlund

 

Rail Flicks by Tommy Johnson

February 26, 2012 Jim Pearson No Comments Rail Flicks, Tommy Johnson

This is a very enjoyable video that shows the narrow gauge Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad being cleared of snow in early May of 1997 by a steam powered rotary plow.  The C&TS RR runs the 64 miles of track between Chama, New Mexico, and Antonito, Colorado.  This is a section of what was once Denver & Rio Grand trackage that  ran from Alamosa,CO,  to Durango, CO, and was abandoned in 1968.

The viewer is given a very informative tour of the features and the controls of the rotary at the beginning of the video.

Even though it is early May, there is still 4 to 6 feet of snow over the track near the summit of Cumbres Pass, which is at 10,015 feet in elevation.

The scenery is great and the camera work is very good, capturing the snow plow from all angles.  There are good, tight shots of the rotary in action and also some nice vista shots.

This is a good video and is worth the price.

Title Rocky Mountain Snow Plow
Producer Greg Scholl
Format full screen
Playing Time 1 hr 30 min
Purchased From http://www.trainvideodepot.com
Date Purchased 01/04/12
Price Paid $27.95

Southern Belles… Railfanning The Gringo Way by Chris Dees

February 26, 2012 Jim Pearson No Comments Chris Dees
Triple track always means heavy traffic – no matter where you are. On January 26, 2012, triple track meant a couple of true “Southern Belles” as Kansas City Southern de Mexico ES44ACs 4710 and 4718 thunder through Queretaro, Mexico en-route to Mexico City with one of the numerous intermodal trains that ply the rails daily through this central Mexico town. Photo by Chris Dees

My job with TRW Automotive Commercial Steering Systems in Lafayette involves being the technical liaison between several TRW manufacturing locations and over 200 different component suppliers. While most of these suppliers are in the Midwest region of the United States, occasionally I get to travel outside the states to foreign locations. In the last days of January 2012, this Gringo headed south to our manufacturing facility in Queretaro, Mexico facility to work on a new product launch.

Please understand that on trips like this, the most important thing is not railfanning. However, if you drop enough hints and ask around, occasionally you’ll get treated to at least a small glimpse of railroading in such faraway places. In preparing for this trip, I did a fair amount of research on the internet, including the popular and most helpful MEXLIST yahoo group. After a couple hours of browsing, I had enough information on the local area to be able to know about a great railfan spot close to where I stayed – and that place was the main train station in Queretaro.

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NdeM class MR-6 Pacific-type steam locomotive #2520

February 26, 2012 Jim Pearson No Comments Chris Dees, Photo Section
Long before NAFTA, steam still ruled the rails in central Mexico. Now stuffed like the Burrito Mucho Grande at Queretaro’s Gran Hotel, NdeM class MR-6 Pacific-type steam locomotive #2520 sits in all its glory at the restored passenger depot in downtown Queretaro. The locomotive and depot are nicely restored and kept up by volunteers, railroad retirees, and a very active model railroad club. An excellent HO scale layout is also on display. Photo by Chris Dees.