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.
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.
Now that I have a teenager learning to drive, I am reminded that I must impress upon her the importance of carefully crossing railroad tracks, even in town, where trains travel relatively slow. Let’s all remember to be cautious at rail crossings. The damage can be great, even at a slow 35 mph. – Bill Thomas, Pennyrail Editor
Disney Productions to promote its movie “A CHRISTMAS CAROL” is running a coast to coast multi car Amtrak passenger train with on board exhibits. It will be in Memphis August 4, Indianapolis on September 9, Louisville September 11-13 at Union Station, and Cleveland September 18-19. No stop at Cincinnati is listed. I would guess it will come into and out of Louisville over the Louisville & Indiana. The total story of the 22 May to November 1 trip with station stops is in the Friday issue of USA Today
We had an interesting program by Wally Watts last month with steam and diesel action in Oregon. I hope that you were able to see it.
I saw an interesting article by the new President of Amtrak outlining his support for increasing the amount of electrified rail line in the US, especially along the East Coast. Joe Boardman told a House Subcommittee that he would like to see the present intercity electrified corridor which extends from Washington, D.C. to Boston extended to reach from Miami to Maine.
These thoughts have surfaced occasionally by many people and were last seriously considered in the 1970s. Europe and some other countries have extensive electrified stretches of track but these seem to be more easily justified in areas that are more densely populated, support very heavy traffic, or have air quality considerations. The high cost per mile of electrified track along with the necessary electric supply support system makes this a decision that requires much thought.
Mr. Boardman would like to see the extension done in stages, perhaps going to Richmond, VA in 5 years and to Jacksonville, FL in the next 5 years. These proposals would require sound support from Congress but perhaps could be justified with the present economic recovery bills to make new jobs and to improve the environment which are high on the new President’s agenda. There are even some rumors that the BNSF Railroad is quietly looking into the idea of electrifying some track.
Only time will tell if any of these proposals are viable given the extreme conditions in our economy. It has been a long time before any mainline track has been electrified in this country. However, there have been a lot of new electrified rail accomplishments in light rail and commuter service around the country. Those of us that have had electric trains in our basement for a half century would relish the new interest in quiet, efficient, and cleaner trains.
