Category: Regional Rail Notes

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A $6 million railroad project in Chattanooga for the new Volkswagen plant and suppliers at the Enterprise South industrial Park will be funded partly with federal stimulus funds.  The project set to start in August will help Volkswagen deliver cars when production starts in early 2011. – Chuck Hinrichs

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum – Chattanooga, TN – a collection of historic photographs by noted commercial and industrial photographer O. Winston Link will be shown in a newly-created display gallery at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s Grand Junction Station from August 22 through November 1. The exhibit Steam, Fading into the Night includes fine-art photographs documenting the last great steam locomotives used by the Norfolk & Western Railway in Virginia during the 1950’s. Link captured the sights and sounds of the powerful locomotives and the communities along the line. The majority of Link’s photographs were recorded in the dark of night using a complex system with dozens of flashbulbs triggered by a custom-built electric unit connected with hundreds of feet of wire.  – TVRM Website

Note: anyone interested in a day-trip to see this exhibit, contact John Licht, madrrterminal@yahoo.com.

Hardin, KY – Just to let you all know that the former NC/L&N track operated by the Hardin Southern RR between Hardin KY and North Murray KY is being taken up and scrapped starting Monday 8/3/09 by A&K materials. They are starting at Hardin and moving South to just north of the former Webasto spur. This brings a sad close to the HSRR fiasco.

-Submitted by Chuck Hinrichs with permission to print email message from Steve Wilhelm.

After an absence of 12 years, Roanoke Chapter, National Railway Historical Society announces the return of an Amtrak excursion train to Roanoke!  On the weekend of November 7 and 8, riders will have the chance to ride the rails in our area once again.

In cooperation with Amtrak and Norfolk Southern, we will operate two round-trip excursions. On Saturday, November 7, 2009, bright and early at 8:00 am, our excursion train will depart the former N&W passenger station bound for Bluefield, West Virginia, climbing Christiansburg Mountain, rolling along the New River Valley before climbing the grade into Bluefield. After a layover of several hours to experience the local sights, sounds and food, passengers will board the train to return to Roanoke.

On Sunday, November 8, 2009, the same train will again head out, this time bound for Shenandoah, Virginia running through the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. While laying over in Shenandoah, passenger can choose their meal, or see the local area before a return to Roanoke that afternoon.

Want to be a part of this historic event? We expect to have full information available in a few weeks, send a stamped, self-addressed business sized envelope to: Amtrak Excursions, Roanoke Chapter NRHS, P.O. Box 13222, Roanoke, VA 24032.  Postal Service not quick enough? We’ll email out a PDF to all those on our mailing list just as soon as it is finalized for the printer, just send an email with “Amtrak Excursion” in the subject line and we’ll send the PDF.

Editor’s Note: Website for Roanoke Chapter:
http://www.nrhs.com/chapters/roanoke.htm

50-year-old train ride from Jasper to French Lick

Updated: Apr 07, 2008 1:34 PM CDT

Reporter: Jared Austin, Web Producer: Mike Mardis

It’s been over 50 years since passengers have ridden the train from Jasper to French Lick. This year you may be able to buy a ticket to make that trip.

The city of Jasper is putting the finishing touches on the first of three new train cars.  “It will be a fully functional car you get on board you will think you are almost home,” Raymie Eckerle, JAsper Street Commissioner, said.

The train car is lined with quarter saw oak, historic light fixtures, and an old style tin ceiling.

“One of the cleanest economic boost we can have for our community is tourism,” Jasper Mayor William Schmitt said, “it is a good clean industry and in order to get people into your community you have got to have something to offer them.”

The train ride from the Jasper depot to the French Lick casinos will take just over an hour. That’s twice as long as in a car. So why would passengers choose a train ride instead.

“So many people say ‘I have never really ridden on a train,’ and this will give them the opportunity to take a scenic train ride from Jasper, Indiana to French Lick where you will travel through the longest tunnel in the state of Indiana,” Schmitt said.

“I have driven to French Lick many times myself in cars,” Eckerle said, “and this is going to be one the fantastic opportunities for people to see the country side in a nice easy setting.”

The rail line is complete from Huntingburg to Jasper, but still needs repairs. City officials hope to have all three cars and the tracks ready before the end of the year.  – submitted by Steve Miller

Railroad Crossing Systems Manufacturer Safetran Planning $2.8 Million Expansion in Marion, Kentucky – The company, which manufactures crossing components and systems for the railroad industry, plans to make the improvements to its 110,000 square-foot facility on Industrial Drive in Marion, according to an announcement from the office of Governor Steve Beshear. The 24-acre site is a short distance from Safetran’s corporate headquarters in Louisville.

Established in 1920, Safetran has five facilities. In addition to the two in Kentucky, Safetran has operations in California, New York and Florida. The company’s products include electro-mechanical signal devices and the control systems that activate them; communications systems; and complete signal system design and construction.

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority gave preliminarily approval for more than $2.2 million in tax incentives for the project as well as a $525,000 economic development bond to assist Safetran in the expansion.  – Submitted by Chuck Hinrichs

Scanner Chatter…
Today while listening to my scanner I heard a dispatcher and conductor having a conversation about when the CSX dispatchers will be relocated. The dispatcher told him that they would be moved and working in Nashville by Monday, June 29th. That just a couple weeks away. Looks like we will be hearing “SD Dispatcher Nashville” instead of “SD Dispatcher Jacksonville” on our scanners in the very near future. – David Porter

I think the move will effect the Henderson Sub as well,  “SA Dispatcher”   – Chuck Hinrichs

As you may have heard, for the past few months a new, larger museum has been under construction at the Casey Jones Village in Jackson, TN. It replaces the old gift shop/theatre/museum and is sandwiched between the steamer and the Jones house (both of which are still there). A grand opening for the new museum is scheduled for June 19. I drove by the area last week and crews are still scrambling outside to finish.

Also, out in the parking lot, restoration of the “Judge Milton Brown” passenger car is well under way. It has been painted in GM&O colors, but not yet lettered. The car will house offices and studio for the local American Family Radio affiliate. More info about AFR and a video of moving the car can be found at http://wamp.afr.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=106&Itemid=148
– Cliff Downey

Hard to Believe!
– submitted by Jim Futrell

This is not a cropped photo.  It is a blower off a freight train that this guy found at a junk yard.  They did start the car with it on.  With one blip of the throttle lifted the left rear wheel a foot off the ground and blew both head gaskets.

Interesting factoid – February 4, 1936,  Vidette Messenger
From the ‘Round About section… – Submitted by Chuck Hinrichs

Approximately 7,000 tons of ice making up 275 carloads, has been harvested and shipped from Cedar Lake by the Monon Railroad company.  More than 100 men have been engaged on the project, cutting the ice which was fifteen to sixteen inches thick. It was reported work was handicapped by a lack of sufficient men.

The Today Show ran a short segment on the resurgence of model trains.

Click HERE to view the clip.

Act Now!! Murray Scholarship Deadline Set for March 2 –
– Submitted by John Licht, Western Bluegrass Terminal, LLC

The deadline will be March 2, 2009 for applications for the annual Susan C. Murray Memorial Women?s Scholarship. The four-year college scholarship is named after Mrs. Murray–an executive at Commonwealth Business Media who was instrumental in the creation and early success of the ASLRRA?s annual exhibition–who passed away in January 2003.

The ASLRRA scholarship is open to daughters and granddaughters of ASLRRA Railroad and Associate Members in good standing.  Past winners are: Amanda Dawn Simmons, granddaughter of Tommy Joe Alexander from Jefferson Warrior Railroad; Dina McKenney, daughter of Rob McKenney from the former Georgia & Florida RailNet; Kathryn Medlock, daughter of Mike Medlock from Klutts Equipment; Marion Joy, daughter of Christine Joy from Union Switch & Signal; Kristin Wegner, daughter of Mark Wegner from Twin Cities & Western Railroad.

Click  HERE for the application form. Please contact Kathy Keeney (kkeeney@cbizmedia.com) with any questions about the scholarship program.

I am very excited to announce that shortly after seven Central Time tonight, the Mattoon (Illinois) City Council unanimously approved the following motion: Adopt Resolution 2009-2763: Approving the plans and specifications, and authorizing the call for bids for the restoration of the historic Illinois Central Depot.

With over seven years on this project already, I’ve learned that there are still plenty of challenges and disappointments ahead. However, the spending of the first dollar on actual restoration of the three story Illinois Central depot does finally seem to be within sight.

Thomas French

Project Depot Committee Mattoon, Illinois

http://www.projectdepot.org

– Submitted by Chuck Hinrichs

IOWA INTERSTATE TO OPERATE STEAM TRIPS FOR SARock Island, Ill. — On October 18-19, 2008 the Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) will operate Railroad Development Corporation’s (RDC’s) 2 QJ-type steam locomotives on two days of special events to benefit The Salvation Army’s efforts to assist communities impacted by June flooding. A variety of rail-oriented events and rail excursions will be held, with the City of Rock Island, Illinois acting as host and coordinator of the event.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.rigov.org (click on “train tickets” under important links). Customers will first have to establish an account before tickets can be purchased. Tickets can also be purchased through Rock Island Parks and Recreation by calling 309.732.PARK (7275) or in person at 1320 24th
Street, Rock Island, Illinois from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST Monday through Friday.

Special hotel rates will be available as part of the excursions online at www.visitquadcities.com. Event day activities “Rail Ride for Flood Relief” event t-shirts will be sold for a $20 donation. A limited-edition shirt (100 maximum) is available for a $35 donation prior to the event and $40 on-site. The shirt will feature a
same-day photo of the record-setting steam-hauled tonnage pull from Iowa City to Rock Island that will start the event.

Excursion train might be derailed for good. The owner of the East Broad Top Railroad says this might be its last year. By BIL BOWDEN Daily Record/Sunday News Article Last Updated: 08/01/2008 09:53:22 AM EDT, For die-hard railroad fans, the East Broad Top Railroad is one of the few left regionally. York County’s two excursion trains have died, their whistles and chug-chugging silenced, at least for now.

But in Rockhill Furnace, about two hours’ drive west of York, the EBT still takes passengers back to the 1900s. If you want a ride on its five miles of track or to browse its historic industrial complex, you mightwant to hurry. EBT owner Joe Kovalchick hints this year might be the end of the (rail) road. The country’s oldest narrowgauge train, the EBT is running up against tougher environmental and safety requirements. Kovalchick says those regulations are making it difficult for the train to run – and impossible to profit from – and this year might be the last. But volunteer welders, carpenters, engineers and firemen say they’ve heard all that before. Lee Rainey, vice president of the Friends of the East Broad Top, acknowledges the uncertainty. “The East Broad Top has a great future, we’re just not sure exactly what that is yet. So our job is to help preserve this historic railroad so that we’re ready for that future when it comes.”

Evidently Jim Finley is at least a part time engineer for Fredonia Valley RR. FVRR 3145 just went by the Pidcock Road crossing at 8 tonight heading for the Princeton Yard. Couldn’t tell if engineer Jim Finley was at the controls or not. Plenty of empty gons in the yard here in Princeton for him to take back to the Fredonia quarry. Looked like about 18 loaded cars at least tagging along behind 3145. -Chuck Hinrichs

I’ve received word that another loop track, washer and prep machinery is in store for Warrior Coal on the west side of Madisonville, KY, in Hopkins County. After some comments from the CSX roadmaster in July, it seems that coal from Dotiki, in Webster County, will be belted to Warrior for prep and loading at the proposed new tipple. What this means for the Morganfield branch west of the Madisonville Industrial Park is uncertain at this time. If you have info from reliable sources, let me know. -Bill Thomas, editor