Milwaukee, WI – Considered a historic attraction, the North Shore Bank Safari Train is the Milwaukee County Zoo’s oldest and most popular ride. And this year, the Train’s No. 1916 and No. 1924 steam locomotives (engines) will leave the station for the last time, transferring to the Riverside & Great Northern Preservation Society (R&GN) in the Wisconsin Dells. The No. 1916 engine will depart on April 1, followed by the No. 1924 engine on Oct. 31. The sale of the steam engines supports the Zoo’s mission of conservation and sustainability and aligns with Milwaukee County’s vision of becoming the healthiest county in Wisconsin. The Train will continue to operate as usual with the Zoo’s No. 1958 and No. 1992 diesel engines. -submitted by Chris Dees
Moving at Milton – Two of Wisconsin & Southern’s new roster additions are on the move at the Milton, WI ethanol facility on the morning of October 13, 2023. SD60M 6023 is in the WSOR paint scheme, while sister 6031 is in patched out paint of its former owner Union Pacific.
New Paint at Janesville – On the morning of October 13, 2023, Wisconsin & Southern SD60M 6022 awaits its next assignment at the Janesville, WI engine terminal. 6022 is one of several ex-Union Pacific units recently acquired by the Badger State’s largest regional railroad.
They say technology marches on and those who don’t adapt will be left behind. Railroading is no exception as the golden age of steam evolved into the diesel era, and the next horizon of locomotive technology seems to be based on electric and battery power (yes, I do know a Pennsylvania GG-1 was cutting edge technology and electric way back in the day). The old trusty Cannon EOS Rebel with 35mm slide film gave way to the Digital EOS Rebel and now that even takes a back seat to the iPhone or Android in your back pocket for a quick on-demand shot of the day’s railfan action. Monitoring railroad communications as part of railfanning is no exception to this technology marching forward drum cadence. While the majority of railroad communications remains the plain analog technology from multiple decades ago, changes are slowly making their way into the industry.
The first change, called narrow banding, resulted in the existing 97-channel band plan to be expanded with channels 107 to 196 interleaved between the existing frequencies. One example would be AAR Channel 183 (161.3625 Mhz) and AAR Channel 184 (161.3775 Mhz) being adjacent to the old AAR Channel 84 (161.3700 Mhz and CSXT’s main road frequency assignment through Madisonville). These additional frequencies effectively doubled the amount of channels available to railroads and their associated communications. The main effect these new channels had on railfans was a slight notice of lesser range on all channels due to the nature of narrow band signals – usually not a big deal.
The other change, related to the FCC’s narrow banding initiative, was the transition from analog to digital, just as seen with broadcast TV and FM signals, as well as public safety communication systems. For railfans, this change to digital felt foreboding as the possibility of not being able to hear train crews, dispatchers and lineside hotbox detectors could impact the ability to locate the action and get that prize winning first-place photo entry. Luckily most of these digital trials are only affecting large terminal operations or other test locations.
Even as scanner manufacturers were starting to release digital scanners in the early 2000’s, the different modes (APCO P-25, NXDN, and DMR) caused a lot of confusion and railfans asking “what radio do I really need?” especially with some of the top-line scanners being $700 or more. Unless you were heavily interested in public safety communications, these digital scanners were really unnecessary for the average railfan. Plus all the new digital features made programming an exercise akin to an electrical engineering class final exam.
While the AAR standard for digital voice radio uses the NXDN/Nexedge digital format there has been no mandate to use digital so far. Regional and smaller railroads, as well as railroad museums, have been known to use channels and even trunked radio systems (a whole other animal) outside of the AAR plan in the business-band frequency ranges. Additionally, some small operations even use DMR or other digital modes for internal communications.
On July 26, 2023 Uniden announced two new radio scanners on The Scanner Guys weekly amateur radio/scanner Youtube channel specifically aimed at railfans who may not need all the fancy features and are only concerned about being ready for the local railroad’s switch to digital. The BCD160DN handheld and BCD260DN base/mobile are based on Uniden’s existing BCD396xx and BCD996xx series of full-featured digital scanners but at a lower price point and an easier learning curve without the need for paying for extra digital modes and features. The NXND and DMR digital modes are included at no additional cost. While no expected release date was given, these two new units may be the next future upgrade you may need for your railfan toolbox.
Article by Chris Dees, Photos courtesy of Coffeeville Company – Brookfield, WI
During the expansion of railroads in the 1800s across the country, the town depot was considered one of the key social gathering places of its time. On July 24, 2023, the 1867 depot in the Milwaukee suburb of Brookfield, Wisconsin reclaimed that status as the restored depot reopened as The Coffeeville Company’s newest location. In November of 2021, the depot was moved 300 feet across the street from its original location on Brookfield Road and North Hills Drive between two railroad tracks. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation says for nearly a decade, the city of Brookfield worked to save the 1867 train depot. It is believed to be the city’s second oldest surviving structure.
After purchasing the depot from Kansas City Canadian Pacific Railway for $1, the city moved the depot to its current site to serve as a Waukesha County trailhead for the new Fox River Bicycle and Walking Trail, and to return it to its historic social status as a community gathering place with a privately-run café. “We are extremely lucky to come into 1800s train depot and do this again,” says Jack Kulwikowski, the founder and owner of Coffeeville Company. For the last two years, this has been a passion project for Kulwikowski. This is the second location for the coffee company that first opened in Jackson in a restored log home built in the 1800s. “Coffeeville Company was born to bring historical excitement and restoration to the community,” says Kulwikowski.
The depot has been beautifully restored, including the waiting room (now a dining area), mail sorting rack and ticket office which give the coffee shop a great historic feel. Outside, railfans can sit and watch the trains roll by along the CPKC mainline while enjoying breakfast, lunch or just a nice cup of Joe.
Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society’s Nickel Plate Road 765 begins the steam up in Edon, OH for The Tri State Steam Excursion on June 18, 2023. This Father’s Day event traveled over Indiana Northeastern tracks through Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. Photos by Chris Dees
High noon on June 17, 2023 in Union Mills, Indiana sees the Chesapeake and Indiana power resting for the weekend. The railroad’s reporting marks of CKIN earned the railroad’s nickname of “The Chicken” by local railfans. 6386 is an SD40-2 and 5115 is a GP38-2. Photo by Chris Dees
Siemens Charger number 4611 is ready to depart Carbondale, Illinois with the morning Saluki to Chicago on the morning of July 7, 2023. Superliners are being used on the Illini and Saluki trains due to their heavier weight and improved detection by the PTC signal system. Photo by Chris Dees.
Morning at South Amana – On the morning of September 7, 2022, eastbound Iowa Interstate manifest CBIC (Council Bluffs to Iowa City) departs the South Amana, Iowa yard behind class ES44AC number 500. Photo by Chris DeesSilent Sentinel – The Chicago Great Western Railway found that Oelwein, Iowa’s central location between Kansas City, Minneapolis, Omaha and Chicago made it ideal as a hub for its passenger and freight divisions. This seven-story yard tower oversaw operations. On the morning of September 9, 2022, it stands watch over the Hub City Heritage Corporation Railway Museum. Photo by Chris Dees
Click on images for full view.
Capped and Stacked – Cedar Rapids and Iowa City MP15DC number 130 sits in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa deadline on September 7, 2022. Photo by Chris DeesWaiting in Waukesha – Wisconsin Southern train T003 (Janesville, WI to Horicon, WI manifest) patiently awaits at the Grand Avenue home signal in Waukesha, Wisconsin on August 14, 2022. Once the CN Waukesha Subdivision dispatcher gives the green light, T003 will proceed on CN trackage rights to Slinger, WI and get back on home rails for the run to Horicon. Photo by Chris Dees.
A Moment in Time – It’s August 25, 1994, as Midwest Coal Handling prepares to depart P&L’s Central City, Kentucky yard back to TVA’s Paradise Steam Plant. The four locomotive consist included CF7 2508, GP7u 2005, CF7 2525, and another unidentified CF7. CF7 2525 was still wearing the paint of previous owner Nashville & Eastern. Today CF7 2508 survives in Enid, Oklahoma serving Consolidated Grain & Barge. Photo by Evan Werkema, Chris Dees collection.
It’s August 1, 2022, and the email from Jim Pearson regarding the passing of long-time chapter member Chuck Hinrichs arrived in the early afternoon as I was returning from lunch. Today marked the start of another year with my current employer in the Milwaukee area, and Jim’s email brought back many comforting and happy memories of chapter meetings, train trips, and railfan adventures with Chuck that made me smile as the tears welled up inside. Bill Thomas has been requesting “how did you get into the hobby” stories for future newsletters, so I thought I would pass along a few remembrances of how Chuck got me interested in a wonderful aspect of the hobby – diesel locomotives.
My first introduction to Chuck occurred 10 years before I actually had a chance to meet him. Growing up in the far western part of Kentucky, Paducah was about the only true place I had ever “railfanned” by the time the February 1983 issue of Trains rolled onto the shelves of the local Readmore bookstore. Inside was the story of three Kentucky railfans – Jerry Mart, Timothy Baggett, and Chuck Hinrichs – detailing their July 29, 1982 visit to the Illinois Central Gulf in far southwest Kentucky during what was termed a “Slow Day in the Fulton Triangle”.
This article, documenting “when 27 trains ran and 22 didn’t”, was like opening pandora’s box for a then 12-year old railfan like myself. Fulton was only 52 miles away at the other end of the Jackson Purchase Parkway, and I begged Mom and Dad to drive down one Sunday after church to see the Illinois Central Gulf put on a show. It wouldn’t be the last time I went to Fulton, having spent many days just off Murray Street instead of studying at Murray State from 1989 to 1992. Chuck got the final frame of the 1983 article’s photo spread – a shot of northbound Birmingham-Chicago train BC-4 with ICG SD40 6000, GP35 2504, and GP30 2267 departing Fulton after making a set-out.
I discovered more of Chuck’s photography skills and his amazing knowledge of diesel locomotives through another magical place, The Hobby Shop in Hopkinsville. The Hobby Shop carried several railfan magazines that the local shop in Paducah did not: Pacific Rail News, CTC Board, and Extra 2200 South (aka “The Locomotive Newsmagazine”). Long before e-mail, Facebook and cell phone technology, Extra 2200 was THE magazine for learning about new locomotive orders, sales of locomotives to the plethora of new startup short line railroads, and just about anything diesel locomotive related (frame numbers, serial numbers, etc.). Chuck was a regular contributor to Extra 2200 South, and his knack for finding the rare, obscure, and one-of-a-kind locomotives was exceptionally detailed in several reports and photographs. A November 1989 photo at Princeton documented the brief time that former ICG GP38 9526 was patched up for up-and-coming locomotive rebuilder VMV Enterprises of Paducah.
In 1993, I finally met Chuck at the Thursday evening sessions at Don Clayton’s, and the monthly NRHS chapter meetings at the Madisonville depot. I remember Chuck being a very motivated and contributing member to the chapter, always ready to lend a hand, taking over editing of the monthly newsletter for a period of time, and representing the chapter during many director meetings on the national level. His knowledge of locomotives and the ongoing sales, swaps and new locomotive rebuilding was simply amazing in the pre-Internet era. Two railfan adventures with Chuck, one in the Centralia, Illinois area and one in the Lafayette, Indiana were epic adventures to say the least – a perusal of the chapter newsletter archives will forever be a testament to Chuck’s love of his fellow railfans and chapter members.
As I wrap up this tribute to Chuck, I have the chapter’s DVD “P&L – the first year” ready to go in the DVD for a walk down memory lane – it is narrated by Mr. Hinrichs himself, in that voice and demeanor only Chuck had. Even though it might have been a “Slow Day in the Fulton Triangle”, any time railfanning with friends sure makes for a great day of cherished memories. Rest in Peace.
A northbound Union Pacific intermodal train awaits inspection to be completed at the U.S.-Mexico crossing between Nuevo Laredo, Mexico and Laredo, Texas at 4:15 pm on December 10, 2021. Historically this was the border crossing and interchange between NdeM and Texas-Mexican Railway. Photo taken from Nuevo Laredo side of the border by Chris Dees.
Consolidated Grain and Barge GP9 6140 shuttles CSX covered hoppers for loading at Olney, Illinois on September 8, 2021. Later in the day CSX AC4400CW 231 and ES44AH 761 will haul the train east to Vincennes, Indiana and then points south. – Photo by Chris Dees
At JO Tower in Seymour, manifest Q688 (Louisville to Indianapolis) waits for the track gang and signal department to finish up PTC installation work on September 9 , 2021. Once cleared, the train will continue its northbound journey over the Louisville & Indiana Railroad. Photo by Chris Dees
Have you ever imagined “what might have been” if certain proposed railroad lines had been built, or if routes had been slightly altered to go to City A versus City B? On-line and inperson research at libraries can shed some very interesting stories of would-be rail barons that failed to reach their dreams of pushing steel rails into America’s new frontier during the 1800s and 1900s. Even as late as 1965, Illinois Central’s Kentucky Division Track Profile contained a proposed line from Providence to Dawson Springs.
An 1891 map of Kentucky’s then current and proposed rail lines available through the Library of Congress’ website shows another railroad closer to the Pennyrile Region. This line, the proposed Henderson & State Line Railroad, was to run from Henderson southeast toward Bowling Green and Scottsville via Hartford. Mr. S.K. Sneed of Henderson was the H&SL’s president and tried to obtain funding through bond issuances in Henderson in 1899 to construct his railroad “from the foot of the L&N’s Ohio River bridge”. Unfortunately, the H&SL had some stiff competition with the LH&StL between Henderson and Owensboro, and the O&N between Owensboro and Russellville.
A March 28, 1899 Owensboro Messenger news article clearly stated “if the success of the Henderson & State Line depends on aid from Henderson, it will never be built.” Two map segments showing proposed Henderson & State Line Railroad (H&SL).
CP GP20C-ECO 2204, rebuilt from GP 7/9 parts, is still laboring on during the morning of September 7, 2020 (Labor Day). Tucked in as the second unit on St. Paul, MN-Chicago Manifest 286, she awaits a clear signal across the CN diamond at Duplainville, WI. – Photo by Chris Dees
