Month: February 2013

Rail Flicks by Tommy Johnson

February 25, 2013 Jim Pearson No Comments Rail Flicks, Tommy Johnson

Mojave Magic 2

Mojave Magic 2 is a very good RR video, especially if you like desert scenery.  The wide screen format really brings out the vastness and beauty of the desert.  Highball videos can be very good but they can also be very bad with respect to image quality; this is one of their very good ones.

We begin the journey in Needles, CA, and run westward for 167.9 miles on the BNSF Needles Sub Division to Barstow, CA, on the western end of the sub.  The narrator informs us that 60 to 70 trains a day make use of the double track mainline.

It would have been very helpful to the viewer if maps had been used to show our route but that was not the case, which is almost unforgivable.  For maps and other information about the Needles Sub go to www.trainweb.org/brettrw/bnsf/needles.html.

Mixed manifest and double stack trains are pulled with a nice variety of locomotive types in the lash-ups.  We see a Norfolk Southern SD70M-2 locomotive teamed up with the BNSF locomotives on one train.

Places encountered as we make our westward progress are Java, Goffs, Danby, Cadiz, Amboy, Bagdad, Klondike, Ash Hill, Ludlow, and Daggett.  Someone had a sense of humor when they named a place in the middle of the desert “Klondike” and there is another place called “Siberia.”

This video was a good purchase but it would have been so much better if maps had been included along with periodic updates showing where we were on the map.

Title Mojave Magic 2
Producer Highball Productions.
Format 2 DVD set in Wide Screen
Playing Time 3 hrs 0 min
Purchased From RailFanDepot.com
Date Purchased 8/15/2010
Price Paid $34.15

1977 shot at the west end of the big C&O yard at Russell, KY

February 25, 2013 Jim Pearson No Comments Fred Ripley, Photo Section

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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

 

Regional Rail News

February 25, 2013 Jim Pearson No Comments Regional Rail Notes

 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.

 

Chaffee, MO Derailment

February 25, 2013 Jim Pearson No Comments Photo Section

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.

 

Excursion Opportunities

February 25, 2013 Jim Pearson No Comments General Post

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

 

 

This day an history

February 25, 2013 Jim Pearson No Comments Thomas Bryan

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.

 

February 2013 Mystery Location – Where Are We?

February 25, 2013 Jim Pearson No Comments Mystery Location, Where are we?

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.

 

INFO Needed

February 25, 2013 Jim Pearson No Comments General Post

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

CSX News

February 25, 2013 Jim Pearson No Comments CSX News, Wallace Henderson

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.

 

January 2013 Ricky’s Replies

February 25, 2013 Jim Pearson No Comments Rick Bivins, Ricky's Replies

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.