Mr. Henderson Goes to Minnesota!

August 27, 2013 Jim Pearson No Comments Wallace Henderson

By Wallace Henderson

When I arrived in the Twin Cities before noon on June 27th, I looked for a good photo location, and found one at Fordson Jct. along the Mississippi River in St. Paul. (photo #1) Here the Milwaukee Road mainline, now Canadian Pacific, descends from the bluffs above to join the former Omaha Road (C&NW)

now UP, to head east to St. Paul Union Station. Soon a Twin Cities & Western transfer run came down this line behind a Red River & Western GP15CAT and a TC&W GP20CAT.

The next day was our activities day for the NRHS Board Conference, which began with a visit to the immense newly restored St. Paul Union Station, which Amtrak will begin using this fall. (photo #2)

Next we visited the Minnesota Transportation Museum’s ex-GN Jackson Street Roundhouse. Then we went to the 261 group’s home at Minneapolis Junction where we ate lunch in some of the cars of 261′ s train and photographed the 261 in her shop building “home”. (photo #3)

In the afternoon, we rode a double-headed Northstar commuter train north to Big Lake and back on the former NP/GN mainline also used by Amtrak (photo #4), returning to our hotel in the suburb of Bloomington on the light rail.

On Sunday morning, June 30th, I drove across to Green Bay, Wisconsin to visit the National Railroad Museum to see their huge collection of railroad dining car china and drumheads (photo #5, page 1). They also have a UP “Big Boy” and Pennsy GG1 inside (photo #6).

On the way home, I stopped in Paducah and found the EMD Caterpillar yellow SD70ACE demonstrator

behind the power on the BNSF’s outbound local. On the next track, just out of Progress Rail’s shop in Mayfield were a pair of Canadian Pacific SD30C-ECO units #5014 & 5015. (photos #7 & 8).

Rail Flicks by Tommy Johnson

August 27, 2013 Jim Pearson No Comments Rail Flicks, Tommy Johnson

This DVD was extremely enjoyable to watch. It is another gem from 7idea Productions and definitely lives up to the high standard of excellence for which 7idea Productions is known. The format is wide screen, the image quality is superb, the camera work is professional, the RR action is good, the scenery is beautiful, the narration is informative, and a nice 3-D map is used early in the video to show us not only the route we will take but the topography of the terrain as well. It would have been nice if the map had been referred to from time to time as we progressed westward but it was only used at the beginning.

We travel westward over the length of Union Pacific’s Green River Sub from Grand Junction in western Colorado to Helper, Utah. Construction of this stretch of track was finished by the Denver & Rio Grande RR in 1884 and it completed the link between Denver and Salt Lake City. It was originally narrow gauge but was converted to standard gauge in 1990. Grand Junction is the division point betwee the Glenwood Springs Sub to the east and the Green River Sub to the west. While in Grand Junction we see the arrival and departure of Amtrak Train #6, the eastbound California Zephyr.

After leaving Grand Junction we follow the Colorado River into Ruby Canyon where we cross into Utah. I can still remember seeing the state boundary marked in paint on the canyon wall during my trip on the California Zephyr in 1960 when I was just eleven years old. That same boundary mark is shown in this video

The most spectacular scenery is encountered on the 37.4 mile long Cane Creek branch line. This branch line descends 1000 feet in elevation to a potash mine in the Colorado River Canyon. Beautiful red rock cliffs line the right of way and there is a scene where a train is viewed through the opening of a natural arch known as the Corona Arch. The trip down this branch line and back is worth the price of the video by itself.

If you like western scenery and good train action, then this video is one you won’t want to miss.

Title	Across the Utah Desert Union Pacific’s Green River Sub
Producer	7idea Productions
Format	Wide Screen DVD
Playing Time	1 hr. 58 min.
Purchased From	Trainvideodepot.com
Date Purchased	07/15/13
Price Paid	$25.95

I heard it through the scanner!

August 27, 2013 Jim Pearson No Comments Thomas Bryan

By Thomas Bryan

Progress is painful. – CSX SA Dispatcher:

CSX SA Dispatcher answering over (Pause) Q647 wait for a signal and we’ll go South and play with the other trains (Pause) y’all play nice now (Pause) Did you say always, alright here we go, SA out. –CSX SA Dispatcher

Southbound train-Is it raining down there (Pause) Northbound train-Whew I’m soaked from head to toe (Pause) Southbound train-Aw, I forgot my rain gear. –South and North bound trains during a meet.

Train Night!

August 27, 2013 Jim Pearson No Comments Photo Section

R.J. Corman to launch long-delayed Lexington Dinner Train

August 27, 2013 Jim Pearson No Comments Regional Rail Notes

By Cheryl Truman — ctruman@herald-leader.com

The R.J. Corman Railroad Co. said Monday that it will launch its Lexington Dinner Train on Aug. 14, a key move in a dispute between the company and Lexington Center Corp. that spawned a lawsuit.

The train’s first run, which boards at the company’s Lexington Station, 150 Oliver Lewis Way, near Rupp Arena, is to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the original My Old Kentucky Dinner Train in Bardstown.

The Nicholasville-based company said in a news release that the Lexington Dinner Train will run along a 15-mile track from Lexington to Versailles, passing through the Ashview and Calumet horse farms, Keeneland Race Course and the Woodford County village of Pisgah before returning to Lexington.

The trip begins and ends on a rail spur where the company first pledged to start a dinner train in 2010.

The spur extends east from Corman’s Lexington yard, running beneath a bridge on Oliver Lewis Way and onto the parking lot owned by Lexington Center Corp., Rupp Arena’s parent company. The spur leads to a glass-walled structure with red Churchill Downs-like spires that Corman built last year to house “Old Smoky,” a steam locomotive that once chugged through China.

Corman said in a federal lawsuit filed in May that Lexington Center Corp. wanted to shut down the spur.

The launch of the dinner train apparently doesn’t mean that the legal dispute between Corman and Lexington Center has been settled.

“As this continues to be a matter of litigation, we have no comment,” said Bill Owen, chief executive of Lexington Center.

“We’re not going to comment about the lawsuit,” said Noel Rush, vice president of finance and administration for the R.J. Corman Railroad Group, “We are … trying to reach the public through the media about this Lexington dinner train.”

In late June, Lexington Center Corp. asked the court to determine a date by which the excursion train must begin and resolve other disputes regarding the 2010 lease.

In addition to its regular run, the train will cater groups and events. Tickets are sold online at Kydinnertrain.com and at 1-866-801-3463.

The train will begin service at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Lunch is $69.95 for adults and $44.95 for children. Dinner is $84.95 and $54.95. Special adult and children’s murder mystery trains will be $109.95 and $69.95, respectively.

The menu includes a “golden spike” salad with local goat cheese, and a “chocolate choo-choo” dessert: a chocolate engine filled with Chantilly cream and dark chocolate mousse on a chocolate-raspberry track.

Where are we?? Again!

August 27, 2013 Jim Pearson No Comments Mystery Location

All aboard Fort Wayne!

August 27, 2013 Jim Pearson No Comments Regional Rail Notes

On October 26th and 27th, restored steam locomotive no. 765 will operate a round-trip excursion between Fort Wayne and Lafayette, Indiana, retracing the route of the famous Wabash Cannonball passenger train. Sponsored by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society in cooperation with Norfolk Southern Corp, the excursion will feature economy and coach class seating aboard vintage passenger cars. Passengers will enjoy a day long trip behind steam locomotive no. 765, lunch and layover in downtown Lafayette along the Wabash River, on-board entertainment, and more. Visitors to the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society’s Open House this weekend at 15808 Edgerton Road, New Haven will be able to tour the locomotive up close. Tickets will go on sale at 6:00PM EST on September 1st. Ticket prices will range from $89 and $99 for economy coach seating for children and adults and $109 and $119 for deluxe coach. Railroad historical society members are eligible for a 10% discount on all coach class tickets. Additional accommodations to be announced. Boarding and parking locations yet to be determined.

NS Excursion Schedule!

from: http://tvrail.com/pages/21st-Century-Steam

September 7 & 8 ~ Chattanooga TN to Cleveland TN

Railfest – two round trips per day; 10am & 2pm – In conjunction with TVRM’s “Railfest”, round trip mainline excursion trains will operate from Chattanooga to Cleveland. Departing from TVRM’s Grand Junction Station, the train will travel to Cleveland through Ooltewah, using NS’s Knoxville route. The train will turn on the wye track in Cleveland. Passengers will remain on the train until it returns to Grand Junction. It is expected, as with past Railfest trips, excursions from Chattanooga to Cleveland wiill feature #630 without diesel assistance. Tickets are $45 for the excursion, which includes Railfest admission.

September 14 & 15 (mornings) ~ Birmingham AL to Parrish AL. Steel City Rail Adventure – Approximate 4-1/2 hour, 82-mile round trip rail excursions depart at 8:00am and return around 12:30pm. These trips operate northwestwardly on the Norfolk Southern mainline toward

Sheffield, and return. Passengers will remain on the train for the complete round trip, including the turn around point in Parrish. The boarding location will be the old Southern Railway Terminal Station property (now a vacant lot with parking) located at 2680 2nd Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203.

All times shown are Central Time. Tickets are $45 for adults and $35 for children age 3-12. Children under age 3 not occupying a seat do not require a ticket.

September 14 & 15 (afternoons) ~ Birmingham AL to Wilton AL. Steel City Rail Adventure – Approximate 4-1/2 hour, 98-mile round trip rail excursions depart at 2:00pm and return around 6:00pm. These trips operate southwardly on the Norfolk Southern mainline toward Selma and Mobile. Passengers will remain on the train for the complete round trip, including the turn around point in Wilton. The boarding location will be the old Southern Railway Terminal Station property (now a vacant lot with parking) located at 2680 2nd Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203.

All times shown are Central Time. Tickets are $45 for adults and $35 for children age 3-12. Children under age 3 not occupying a seat do not require a ticket.

Submitted by Don Clayton

August 2013 Ricky’s Replies

August 27, 2013 Jim Pearson No Comments Rick Bivins, Ricky's Replies

Greetings NRHS Members. As we find ourselves in the month of August, 2013, much has happened and things have taken a change. Thursday August 8^th found us at Keith Kittinger’s House for an evening of friendship and trains. Keith is a gracious host with his Louisville & Nashville based HO Scale layout in operation. Keith has many custom built (by him) cars and locomotives running the mainline under a DCC control system. There is plenty of room to visit and sit/stand or lean! I for one really enjoy these sessions…as if some sort of “group therapy”!

Our last Friday Night Light Live in Downtown Madisonville was moved to the Glema Mahr Center due to heavy rains in the forecast. I elected to not involve our chapter due to possible confusion and low turnout. I understand the music portion was a success for the City of Madisonville but I doubt we could have done much to promote our Chapter there. Of course there is always next year and other events in which one can participate.

Member Bill Grady, his Wife Lisa and their children mourn the loss of Lisa Father. Keep them in Prayer and thought as applicable.

As of this writing, no contact has been made with the Parkway Plaza Mall concerning our proposed display there in. Nor have I been to the Nortonville KY City Museum to check on our display there. My current work schedule is seven days per week and I simply do not have time during business hours to make those contacts.

Upcoming events: The much anticipated annual Fall Picnic will be September 28^th In Crofton KY. Co-sponsored by our Hopkinsville KY Members. We will meet at the Veterans Park which is track side just off Hwy 41. Time is loosely from 9:00AM until the last one leaves. Food can be had locally or bring your own picnic basket.

The Chapter Fall Foliage trip on the Nashville & Eastern will be October 12^th. I would suggest we discuss car-pool arrangements outside of Meeting time. This will be a fun day and greatly enjoyed I am sure.

David Hayes has the program for this month. David is a store house of knowledge of the Illinois Central Railroad. With the ICRR being a focus railroad of his and a local railroad to us, I am sure we can look forward to a great program.

Make it a point to attend the meeting Monday, September 16^th 2013 at the former Louisville & Nashville Railroad Passenger Station on West Arch Street in Madisonville KY.

Bring a guest and a “Show-N-Tell” item.