New Site
For Rail Travelers
I recently received an email from Amtrak about a new site for rail travelers. The Whistle Stop is designed to be an interactive place to post your own stories about rail travel and to read what others have experienced. Just go to
Amtrak and click on the Whistle Stop icon. -Bill Thomas, editor
RAILROAD PROPERTY IS PRIVATE PROPERTY
Take your pictures and watch your trains but don’t trespass!
Railroad
Emergency Numbers
As rail fans we are often at trackside and
in position to observe emergency conditions that could affect
railroad safety or security. Keep these numbers handy to report
incidents.
Odd Photo Section These odd-ball locomotives showed up in Atkinson Yard, Madisonville, in late March 2008. One unit looks like a genset in a GP38 shell and the other a cab and chassis and what appears to be a radiator or dynamic brake housing. The units are on the way to Paducah via P&L and may be on the way to the new locomotive facility in Mayfield. – Photos by Chuck Hinrichs
Mark your calendar!
The Annual Chapter Picnic and Train Watching Extravaganza will be held on Saturday September 20, 2008 at the twin shelters behind City Hall in Crofton. The Hopkinsville members will supply soft drinks and excellent food is available at several places in Crofton.
Man with a Trombone
by Rick Bivins
As I begin this little piece of an article for the Newsletter, I am listening to “The Swing Era” on Playa Cofi Jukebox. Funny spelling and all for a really neat music sight on the Net. As I listen and “work” at the airport, I am reminded of a story told to me by a very special and unforgettable friend, Joe Wirth. Joe Wirth of Owensboro KY passed away in April of 1998, soon to be ten years ago. Those of you whom new him…well you just know what I mean. [ More ]
Rich's April 2008 Ramblings By Rich Hane, President
The Director of the Center, Carolyn Ferrell, asked me about a month ago if we could put up a handicapped parking space sign on the ramp that we built last year. I decided it would be better to just buy the materials and build the sign myself after getting the OK from the Chapter to spend the money. It only cost about $25. [ More ] Regional Rail Notes 50 Year Mark for Paducah Shops - From Cliff Downey
Believe it or not, it has been 50 years since the last steamer was rebuilt at IC's Paducah shops. 2-10-2 2741 was released on March 12, 1958, and afterwards only diesel locomotives were rebuilt/overhauled at the shops. Of course, IC continued to run steam out of Paducah until early 1960, and these were serviced at the Paducah roundhouse, which was right next to the shops.
Even after the last IC steamers were scrapped, reminders of the steam era remained at Paducah for many years. Up into the 1970s a cab salvaged from a steam locomotive (and still with its I.C.R.R. lettering) could be found tucked between the buildings. Also, there was a scrap bin fabricated from two auxiliary water cars (these had been removed from their trucks and were sitting on the ground). The steam locomotive cab was gone by the mid-1980s, but the scrap bin fabricated from the water cars survived until the mid-1990s.
Progress Rail (Mayfield, KY) Courtesy of Jody Moore, Genset Locomotive Rosters, http://www.trainweb.org/gensets
Details of Progress Rail Services' entry into the genset market are sketchy at this time, as the Caterpillar-owned company has made no formal announcements. So most of the details that we are able to present at least initially should be considered preliminary and subject to change. Not surprisingly, the locomotives will use Caterpillar C18 engines for power. They will also be fitted with Cat's ACERT emissions reduction technology. Each genset is rated at 745 horsepower. Progress' three engine genset will have a total rating of 2,235 hp, while their twin engine model will be rated at 1,490 hp. Those are the highest horsepower ratings in the industry thus far.
The locomotives will be built on refurbished frames, with all new cabs and appliances. Extended range dynamic braking is an available option as well.
The first of Progress' gensets showed up briefly in Georgia in late August and early Sept. 2007. That unit, PRSX 3802, was apparently a test bed of some sort, as the gensets sat very high on the frame, and the unit had a conventional cab. Future arrivals were spotted in March 2008 with higher visibility cabs and much lower hoods.
Initial information is that Progress will be centering most of its genset production around a new facility in Mayfield, KY. To that end, the 3802 and 2003 both moved to the facility in mid-March 2008, and expected genset donors PRSX 2005 and 2006 (both GP38's) were believed to be on the move there as well.
Timetable Number 122 -May 10 - Bike/Hike at White Plains on old IC Rail to Trail.
-May 19 - Monthly Chapter Meeting at Hopkinsville Historical Society
-The planned annual Milwaukee Road Historical Association convention in Terre Haute, Indiana has been moved to the weekend of June 28-29.
-L&N Historical Society 2008 Convention - September 18-20, Vonore, TN (near Etowah). Copper Hill trip.
Chapter Meeting
Notes
Monday, April 28th, 2008 at The Center (old L&N Depot) Arch St at the
Railroad starting at 7pm, Madisonville, Kentucky.
APRIL 28th PROGRAM David Millen will present a 1934 classic film titled "Danger Lights" that was filmed entirely on the Milwaukee Road with all steam action and refreshments will be provided by Tom Steiner Refreshments by Bring something for Show and Tell and maybe even an item for the raffle. Please encourage one another to attend our monthly meetings, every “squealing flange” counts!
