$3.00 HIGHER IN CANADA SIERRA NEVADA RAILROADING

They Felled the Redwoods Diesels Over Donner The illustrated Story of the rise and fall of the Sanger Lumber Co. and the Legendary photographers Richard Steinheimer and Dick Dorn teamed up Hume-Bennett Lumber Co. Located just a few miles ftom today's with Shirley Burman and Don Sims to put together this stunning, all­ Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks high in the Sierra, these log­ color look at the West's first, and perhaps most famous , mountain pass. ging operations provided all the excitement of lumbering: straining Shay "A lovely , lyrical appreciation of what remains one of the toughest and locomotives, giant log chutes, a 54-mile flume, donkey engines, and a busiest passes negotiated by rail. The 105 good color photos and their unique cast of characters. Unfortunately, this show was carried on with captions justify the book; but we find the description of the now­ the Giant Sequoia as its victim, but there was a happy ending with the departed mole people of Norden, traversing their tunnels under 20 feet formation of Sequoia National Forest. Author Hank Johnston tells the of snow, to be of equal charm. ." says Reference & Research. "The events in exciting ptose and beautifully reptoduced photos. 160 pages, book is excellent," says Trains. 104 pages, 105 color photos, 10 '/.0 x8'h" 200 photos, maps, index, 8 '/2x11 " sewn softbound with duotone cover. hardbound album format with color dust jacket. Ttans-Anglo 203 (add $2 p/h) ...... 22 .95 Trans-Anglo 290 (add $2 p/h) ...... 49.95

The Feather River Route- Part One Thunder in the Mountains In this, the fust of a two-volume salon of the Western Pacific, author Ken The story of the life and times of a fascinating California lumber oper­ Rattenne takes you ftom corporate headquarters in San Francisco to the ation last known as the Madera Sugar Pine Company, operators of an town of Keddie , deep in the Feather River Canyon. Done with spectacular intriguing logging railroad with geared locomotives (part of which grade photography and sensitive ptose, it's highlighted by a variety of motive is operated over today by the Yosemite Mountain & Sugar Pine tourist power, from FP7-powered Caltfornia Zephyrs to green-and-orange rail toad) and logging flumes to bring lumber to market. 128 pages, 160 GP40-2s on Altamont Pass! " . . . a nice combination of old and new illustrations, maps, locomotive toster, 8'12 x11" sewn softbound with ... " says Railfon & Rat/road. 144 pages, 260 B&W and 16 color photos, duotone cover. By Hank Johnston 10 '/4X8 '12 " hardbound album format with striking color dust jacket. Trans-Anglo 217 (add $2 p/h) ...... 23 .95 Trans-Anglo 291 (add $2 p/h) ...... 42.95 Hetch Hetchy and Its Dam Railroad Slim Rails Through the Sand Until 1930, San Francisco's water was furnished by a private utility, a George Turner's classic book about the Carson & Colorado, narrow-gauge company which occasionally ran out of water and charged high rates for stepchild of the fabled Virginia & Truckee Railtoad. Sold in 1900 to the the service. The inadequacy of supply was btought sttongly to The City's Southern Pacific, the line turned imo an instant bonanza for the Espee attention in 1906, when the Great Earthquake and Fire ravaged the following the discovery of precious metals in Tonopah and Goldfield, business district and the homes of 250 ,000 people. Problems existed with Nevada. Soon enough, though, the glory days were over for the line, and obtaining rights-of-way, water rights, and funding, and there was plenty the nartow gauge soldiered on in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada until of opposition from the private water utility and conservationists as well­ 1960. 112 pages, 200 photos from all eras, maps, scale drawings, but today, the City and County of San Francisco owns and operates its 8'12 x11" softbound with color cover. own water and power system. The complete story of this fascinating Trans-Anglo 240 (add $2 p/h) ...... • ...... •...... 19.95 achievement is told, along with the building, operations, and equipment of a marvelous rail toad which overcame the ptoblem of getting men and materials into the rugged Sierra Nevada. A classic now back in print, by Rails to the Minarets Ted Wurm. 298 pages, 456 illustrations, maps, motive power tosters, The intriguing story of the Sugar Pine Lumber Co. of Fresno, California, index. 8'hx11" hardbound with color dust jacket. and its Minarets & Western Railway, renowned for its role in Sierra Nevada Trans-Anglo 293 (add $2 p I h) ...... 54.95 logging history. In addition, you'll see some of the finest photographs ever raken of Sierra logging, presented in large format style. Logging historian Hank Johnston's text is joined by 180 illustrarions, including maps and drawings. 128 pages, 8 '12 x11 " hardbound with new duotone dust jacket. Trans-Anglo 220 (add $2 pi h) ...... 29.95

Write for free color catalog. See your local dealer first. California residents add 6'/4/6314 % tax. - PACIFIC RAIL Fro m the H ea r t I and to t h e P a c i f ie NEWS

PACIFIC RAIL NEWS and PACIFIC NEWS are regis­ tered trademarks of Interurban Press , a California Corporation. PUBLISHER: Mac Sebree Gateway to the East EDITOR: Don Gulbrandsen ART DIRECTOR: Mark Danneman Regional Gateway Western rises from the ruins of failed CM&W ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Mike Schafer ASSISTANT EDITOR: Michael E. Fo lk 18 Sc ott Muskopf PRODUCnON ASSISTANT: Tom Danneman CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Elrond Lawrence EDITORIAL CONSULTANT: Dick Stephenson CONTRIBUnNG ARnST: John Signor PRODUCnON MANAGER: Ray Geyer CIRCULATION MANAGER: Bob Schneider Tough Times in Timber Country

RAILROAD COlUMNISTS Klamath Basin short lines struggle for survival AMTRAK/ PASSENGER-Dick Stephenson 655 Canyon Dr" Glendale, CA 91206 24 Greg Brown AT&SF-Elrond G. Lawrence 908 w. 25th Sl., San Bernardino, CA 92405 BURLINGTON NORTHERN-Karl Rasmussen 11449 Goldenrod st. NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433 CANADA WEST-Doug Cummings I DEPARTMENTS I 5963 Kitchener 51., Burnaby, BC V5B 2J3 C&NW-Michael W. Blaszak 910 N. Sherwood Dr" LaGrange Park, IL 60525 4 EXPEDITER 35 ILLINOIS CENTRAL D&RGW-Richard C. Farewell 6 SOUTHERN PACIFIC LINES 40 CANADA WEST 9729 w. 76th Ave" ANada, CO 80005 7 BURLINGTON NORTHERN 43 REGIONALS ILLINOIS CENTRAL-David J. Daisy 746 N. Bruns Lane Apt. A. Springfield, IL 627rJ2 9 AMTRAK/ PASSENGER 45 SHORT LINES MEXICO-Clifford R. Prather 10 UNION PACIFIC 46 TRANSIT P.O. Box 925. Santa Ana. CA 92702 11 ATCHISON , TOPEKA & SANTA FE 48 CITY SCENE PRESERVATION-Brian L. Norden PO. Box 3012. Industry, CA 91744 14 CHICAGO & NORTH WESTERN 52 IMAGES OF RAILROADING REGIONALS (EAST)-George Widener 16 SOO LINE 54 PRN CLASSIFIEDS 7934A N. 64th Ct" Milwaukee. WI 53223 REGIONALS (WEST)-Allen Meyers 15056 Binney St" Hacienda Heights, CA 91745 SHORT LINES-Robert C. Gallegos PACIFIC RAlLNEWS (USPS 862840) is published monthly by Interur· EDITORIAL ADDRESS: Submit all photos, article submissions ban Press (a corporation), 1741 Gardena Ave., Glendale, CA P.O. Box 379, Waukesha. WI 53187 and editorial correspondence to: 91204. Second-class postage paid at Glendale, CA 91209 and ad· PACIFIC RAILNEws SOO LINE-Karl Rasmussen ditional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: PACIF­ P.O. Box 379, Waukesha, WI 53187 11449 Goldenrod St. NW. Coon Rapids. MN 55433 IC RAILNEWS, P.O. Box 6128, Glendale, CA 91225. ISSN 8750-8486. (414) 542-4900 SP/ SSW-Joseph A. Strapac FAX: (414) 542-7595 P.O. Box 2268, Huntington Beach. CA 92647 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $30 (U.S.) for 12 issues, $58 for 24 is­ BUSINESS ADDRESS:Address all correspondence regarding UNION PACIFIC-Wayne Monger sues. Foreign add $6 for each 12 issues. Single copy $4.50 post­ paid from Glendale office (subject to change without notice). subscription and business matters to: 1300 Southhampton Rd. #214, Benicia. CA 94510 Interurban Press P.O . Box 6128, Gl endale, CA 91225 TRANSIT CHANGE OF ADDRESS: The Post Office does not regularly for­ ward 2nd Class Mail and PACIF IC RAILNEWS is not responsible (818) 240-9130 CHICAGO-Wynne DeCitti for copies not forwarded or destroyed by the Post Office. Re­ FAX: (818) 240-5436 LOS ANGELES-Norman K. Johnson placement copieslPO notifications will be billed. Please allow us at least four weeks for any address change. MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE: For all subscription SACRAMENTO-Robert Blymyer problems and inquiries call: SAN DIEGO-Chris Cucchiara (800) 899-TRACK SUBMISSIONS: Articles, news items and photographs are weI· SAN FRANCISCO/ MUNI-Don Jewell come and should be sent to our Wisconsin editorial office. © 1990 INTERURBAN PRESS WESTERN TRANSIT NOTES-Richard R. Kunz When submitting material for conSideration, include return en­ Mac Sebree, President velope and postage if you wish it returned. PACIFIC RAlLNEWS Jim Walker, Vice-President CITY SCENE does not assume responsibility for the safe return of material. BAY AREA/ CENTRAL VALLEY-Ken Rattenne Payment is made upon publication. CH/CAGOLAND-Mike Aba los ADVERTISING RATES: Contact Interurban Press, P.O. Box 379, DENVER/ FRONT RANGE-Rich Farewell Waukesha, WI 53187; (414) 542-4900. KANSAS CITY-Wayne Kuchinsky LA./ S. CALIFORNIA-Dick Stephenson NORTH TEXAS-Kirby Pople PACIFIC NORTHWEST-Steve Hart COVER: Shown in better days, Oregon's last log hauler, Oregon, California & Eastern, is west­ ST. LOUIS-Scott Muskopf and Pa ul Fries bound nearing Klamath Falls with a loaded log train pulled by a TE53-slug-TE53 set in fall of SOUTH TEXAS-Carl M. Lehman 1980. This spring, impacted by a dwindling supply of old-growth timber, OC&E suspended its log TWIN CITIES-Steve Glischinski train, and is now just a local switching operation. Times are tough for railroads in the Klamath WASATCH FRONT-Dave G a yer Basin that depend on timber for survival; turn to page 24 for the complete story. Wayne Monger

PACIFIC RAILNews • 3 Blockades by Indian groups sympathizing with the struggle of a Mohawk band near Montreal disrupted rail traffic across Canada during the month of August, forcing many trains to find new travel routes. In British Columbia, a westbound BC Rail detour train is shown Aug. 20 in the Fraser River canyon at Lytton using Canadian National trackage with CN 5157, BCR 744 and BCR 740 as power. Jeff Fattinger

PRAIRIE RAIL IS ALIVE: use, features a 50-ton crane for John Cazahous, stationed In late July, Soo reached an loading truck trailers. The com­ 1,500 miles away in Omaha, agreement with Minnesota plex could prove invaluable as Neb., noticed "moving blips" Valley chairman Larry Wood to trade increases between the on his video screen which ap­ operate 364 miles of North United States and its neigh­ peared to come from the Dakota branch line as the bors to the south. Southern Pacific yard. He Dakota, Missouri Valley & In related news a 30-day called SP to confirm his sight­ Western Railroad. Headquar­ trial run of doublestack con­ ing and also notified a UP crew tered in Bismarck, the railroad tainers from Chicago to Mexico in three locomotives traveling will service two branch lines City was conducted by UP in on the same line as the run­ on a lease basis, the primary late August and early Septem­ away freight cars. The crew business being hauling grain. ber. The service, planned to evacuated their locomotives Operations began on Sept. 1, operate five days a week, is to immediately and minutes later in the midst of the Dakota be used extensively by fourteen runaway freight cars, grain harvest. Chrysler Corp. to move auto­ loaded with large paper rolls, DMV&W will initially oper­ motive parts from scores of careened into the stationary lo­ ate a fleet of former C&NW Midwest auto parts suppliers comotives at speeds in excess GP35s resurrected from the to its Mexico City light-truck of 40 mph. Heavy damage was Oelwein storage lines. The assembly plant. UP provides sustained by the locomotives first unit in DMV&W's gray­ U.S. drayage, locomotives, but they did not leave the white-and-orange paint, the crew and track, until it reaches track. No one was hurt in the 324, was released from the the border beyond Laredo. At incident, though it caused an Minnesota Valley shop at Mor­ the border, Mexican National estimated $367,000 damage to ton, Minn., in late August. Railways takes control for equipment, track and signals. Mexican transit. UP OPENS PORT LAREDO MINE STRIKE STOPS C&NW RAIL COMPLEX: On Sept. 12, SP RUNAWAY ON UP TRACK: IRON ORE TRAFFIC: A strike UP held dedication ceremonies Quick action by a Union Pacific by the United Steelworkers at for its new Port Laredo rail dispatcher and an advanced two major iron ore mines in complex located at the south­ computer system averted what northern Michigan have ern end of its 23 ,OOO-mile rail could have been a major rail dropped C&NW iron ore load­ system. The 530-acre facility, disaster in Los Angeles on ings to zero. In anticipation of of which lBO-acres are now in Sunday Sept. 14. UP dispatcher the strike that began on Aug.

4. NOVEMBER 1990 1, CNW moved 26,000 railcars in June and July, about twice as many as normal. The ore is moved from mines on the Up­ per Peninsula of Michigan to private ports on Lake Superior. The ore is then carried by Lakes vessels to U.S. and Canadian steel mills. The workers are asking for a pay increase of about 30 percent -they have been offered 11 percent. A spokesman for the workers stated that no end is in sight for the work stoppage.

BC RAIL STRIKE: The BC Rail strike, which began Sept. 4, continued as of late Septem­ ber, costing the company an estimated U.S. $517,000 a day. Workers are seeking a 23 .5 Amtrak's F69PHACs have been released from the U.S. DOT test track in Pueblo into revenue service; the percent wage increase and an units are shown at Rondout, III. , pulling Milwaukee-Chicago train 336 on Sept. 8, 1990. As is evident, units end to contracting work to 450 and 451 are run as a pair, spliced by an EMD test car. The a.c.-powered units will probably run outside companies. The strike throughout the West in upcoming months, testing performance in all weather extremes. Erik Coleman brought to a close a tough summer for the British Columbia province-owned 40 percent of the freight haul of fleet of domestic tank contain­ from a decade ago, but well railroad, which had service railroads last year, and skyrock­ ers in the rail industry ... An behind the average profitabili­ disrupted throughout July and eting oil prices can only mean early morning UP derailment ty of American industries. The August by Indian protests and increased demand for coal. forced evacuation of 342 resi­ figure is also less than half the blockades of the main line. On the down side a slug­ dents in Chidester, Ark., on 11.5 percent rate of return es­ (See this month's Canada gish economy, brought about Sept. 17. The 51 -car train was tablished by the Interstate West column for a complete by high oil prices, slows all on a regular run between Gur­ Commerce Commission as a summary of BCR's Indian transportation demand includ­ don and El Dorado when it de­ minimum for long-term finan­ protest woes.) ing rail. For those firms haul­ railed, leaking a cloud of nitric cial viability. The AAR con­ ing goods from the Pacific acid over the town. No injuries cludes that while deregulation UP REBUILDING SHOP FOR Basin, a downturn in the econ­ were reported ... The Ameri­ provided by the Staggers Rail HISTORIC LOCOMOTIVES: omy with decreased consumer can Association of Railroads Act of 1980 helped railroads Union Pacific plans to rebuild a goods spending would signal recently reported that rail­ avert a financial collapse, shop in its Cheyenne yards to decreased transport. roads returned a profit of just many of the deep-seated finan­ house and maintain its five over five percent in 1989-well cial problems long-attendant to steam and three historic diesel SHORTS: The first phase of a ahead of returns on investment the rail industry remain. locomotives. The reconstruc­ three-year project to rehabili­ tion will cost about $1.1 million tate Southern Pacific's new with an additional $680,000 to 282-mile route between St. be spent to improve a nearby Louis and Chicago is on sched­ roundhouse. ule. The line was purchased The third diesel, recently last year from bankrupt Chica­ added to the collection, is a go, Missouri & Western second E9A to join the 951. Ex­ Railroad ... Carloadings UP 949 arrived from St. Louis dropped slightly in August, de­ via North Platte on the NPSC13 spite the strength of coal, on Sept. 14 in full RTA (Chica­ chemical and grain shipments. go) colors. After leaving UP, the Rail data is considered an ex­ unit worked on C&NW's Subur­ cellent coincidental indicator of ban service before becoming basic production, and the soft Metra property. UP has also carloading figures mirror the started a search for an E9B economy's sluggish perfor­ with the hopes of someday op­ mance .. . SP has signed an erating an A-B-A set of E9s for agreement with Ferrocarriles excursion service. Nacionales de Mexico that calls for SP locomotives to be OIL CRISIS CONTINUES: The used on specific SPIFNM tran­ current crisis in the Middle portation corridors in Mexico. East and the related jump in oil The number of SP units com­ prices could be good news for mitted to the FNM will vary, the nation's railroads. Since but should average about 20 a U.S. freight trains are three day ... UP has ordered 100 Labor Day weekend saw the Topeka Railroad Days celebration, times as fuel efficient as large new intermodalliquid tank marked by several excursions with Santa Fe equipment. On Sept. 1, trucks, sustained high fuel containers for its domestic two AT&SF GP38-2s are shown about to depart Pauline for Lakeview prices make trains an economi­ BulkTainer Service. The new with the Eisenhower Special, consisting of seven Santo Fe business cal option. In addition coal tankers, to be delivered in Jan­ cars. Also on display for the weekend were freshly repainted AT&SF shipments accounted for about uary, will give UP the largest GP60M 146 and EMD FT 103 demonstrator set. Karl Lee Sollman

PACIFIC RAILNews • 5 UTHERN PACI LINES

Purchase of line from 500 Derailed In a dramatic demonstration of just how many ghosts haunt the rail industry, RGI's "done deal" for purchase of a direct line between Kansas City and Chicago from Soo Line has fallen through, possibly stalled by an agreement inked by two rail­ roads which no longer exist. Chicago & North Western was willing to go to court to enforce a clause in a 1940 trackage rights agreement between Rock Island and Milwaukee Road which said neither of the owning roads could sell its portion of joint trackage between K.C . and Polo, Mo. Rio Grande Industries, faced with the prospect of protracted and costly litigation, chose to back out. Reports also indicate that the company may have been having difficulty lining up financing for the deal. Instead, SP-SSW trains will operate to Chicago via Kansas City thanks to a trackage rights agreement which has been worked out with Burlington Northern. BN's shorter and underutilized 466-mile route should be a speedy conduit for SP stack traffic. SP trains already use this route to Chicago, Framing the line's namesake mountain, Southern Pacific's WCEUM (West Colton-Eugene usually getting BN power in K.C ., though manifest) holds the Shasta Route main line through Dorris, Calif., on Aug. 4, 1990, while in the sometimes keeping scarlet and gray on the hole at left tunnel motor 6876 waits with a 66 -car EUBKM (Eugene-Bakersfield manifest) out point all the way to the Windy City. of Klamath Yard. Donovan Michael Gray

Just last month we listed the new lease and in the process tied up Amtrak's west­ Stored Locomotives Back in Service fleet set up by a subsidiary of Morrison­ bound NO . 5 as well as eastbound mixed­ Knudsen, with six-axle EMD units lettered bag train RODVM and unit-coal AIDRC. Hardly had the ink dried on our report that for Motive Power International. Now 15 of The worst-possible case was represent­ SP units were entering storage during a those MPI locomotives are working for SP ed by westbound DVROT, which stalled in period of slack business than those same -including those which once carried SP Tunnel 26, tying up the railroad for two units were returned to service as carload­ numbers. Their next stop is Mexico, prob­ hours while rail sanding efforts were at­ ings picked up. Not only are more locomo­ ably in November. tempted. The sand didn't work; there sim­ tives in operation now (early fall) than ply was not enough tractive effort to start there were in early summer, SP has run out DVROT on the grade. Finally, the dispatch­ of its own diesel units in "stored" status. Lots of Tonnage, Little Power er was forced to have DVROT back down­ The EMD loaner fleet of former Conrail grade to Crescent siding and wait for help. GP38 units (and additional varieties) has been tapped to supplement SP's The "new" SP operating philosophy, stretched-thin roster. Many of these loco­ which has trains run with maximum ton­ motives have been kept in "soft storage" nage, has been put into effect on the Rio Central Division Motive Power Notes on SP property during the past few Grande, but there have been problems. months (they continued to accumulate Witness westbound CHOAF dispatched Denver area switching and local chores rental charges, but at a considerably slow­ from Denver with D&RGW 5341 and 5357 have been the responsibility of GP30s of er rate than if they were operated), so it (SD40T-2s) for 37 loads and one empty on late. Included in the recently active list are was a simple matter to call them back. Sept. 1. Rather than rolling upgrade D&RGW 3003, 3007 and 3018. through Denver's suburbs at track speed, SD45s continue to cycle from Pueblo to the CHOAF was able to maintain but 24 Kansas and points east. Occasionally the mph in run-eight-with the nastiest part big gas-burners will make a round trip to of the Front Range ruling grade still Denver. Such was the case for SD45 5333 ahead. So much for Rio Grande's old on Sept. 1. The three SP SD45T-2s leased to "short and fast" marketing scheme. Rio Grande in exchange for new D&RGW Another problem with this operating 3154-3156 have been utilized in helper ser­ - . - Volume I - philosophy occurs when one of the as­ vice based at Tabernash, Colo. Operated in OVER THE BRIDGES signed motive-power units dies. Septem­ two-unit sets, the SP tunnel motors' most RIDGWAY TO ber 18 found westbound BNROM dis­ frequent task is to help boost loaded unit­ TELLURIDE patched from Denver with SSW 9703, SP coal trains up Winter Park hill from Taber­ 106 Full-Color Views 443 B&W Photos 9678, D&RGW 3147 and D&RGW 3083 nash to the west portal of Moffat Tunnel. 25 Maps· 26 Bridge ura'wln"s,. (two GP60s and two GP40s). Everything Some appreciation for the brute horsepow­ A 416·PAGE ILLUSTRATED CHRONICLE From the beginning of Ihe RGS at Ridgway In 1890 went well until 3147 and 3083 overheated er and tractive effort needed for this hill is 00 POSTPAID IN U.S.A. _ $ 65 and shut down going through lengthy Tun­ represented by eastbound AIDRC of Aug. ( J S'I1N'DAN'CE PUBUCA TIO NS se;NlrL. nel 17. BNROM's crew was able to restart 18 which required D&RGW 5357, 5508, 250 BROADWAY No. 3147; No. 3083, however, went down 5514 and 5517 (SD40T-2, three SD50s) on Q DENVER, COLORADO 80203 MasterCard I VISA Accepted • 303 I 777-2880 for the count. As a result, BNROM was the head-end, D&RGW 5412 and 5347 FREE FULL - COLOR CATALOG forced to creep up the Front Range grade (SD40T-2s) as a mid-train helper set and

6 • NOVEMBER 1990 aforementioned SP 6890 and 6889 (SD45T- scending into the Colorado River Canyon; 2s) shoving behind the last hopper to haul, the trackage is downhill from Brendel all Colorado Operational Notes sandblast and shove all 106 hoppers up the way to Moab. Thus, as of Aug. 1, the Operating windows have been in effect on the Westside grade. branch had its overall speed limit reduced the Joint Line for northbound as well as from 40 mph to 30 mph between Brendel southbound traffic through summer and and Seven Mile siding. The remainder of fall. This was needed to accomplish track­ Branchline Abandonments and Sales the branch between Seven Mile and the age upgrade/rail change-out projects. As a potash plant remains posted at 30 mph. result, Rio Grande has been running its The Interstate Commerce Commission has trains in blocks over the Joint Line. Com­ granted conditional permission allowing monly the restrictions are set from pre­ SP to abandon portions of three California Stretch 'Em Out dawn to early afternoon, with traffic flood­ branches: 13.87 miles of the Coalinga gates opened in the afternoon, evening Branch between Huron and Ora in Fresno Cisco (Utah) siding is located at the crest and through the night. Traffic flow pat­ County; the l1.72-mile Sandia Branch be­ of the grade which climbs westward from terns into Denver and Pueblo for tonnage tween Holtville and Orita in Imperial the Colorado River at Westwater. Westwa­ destined for travel over the Joint Line County; and the 4.87-mile end portion of ter siding, the midpoint siding at Agate, have not been altered; tonnage is simply the Placerville Branch between Placerville and Cisco are frequent meeting places for held at each respective terminal until the and Diamond Springs in El Dorado County. trains moving across the single-track in­ day's restrictions have been lifted. The Ogeechee Railway, a new shortline termountain desert main line. Unfortu­ operator, has received ICC approval to buy nately, Cisco siding at 4,930 feet in length five miles (for $171,000) of SP's Alexandria could not completely hold trains operated Want to Help Save an SP Steamer? Branch in Louisiana. The new line will also under SP's new full-tonnage philoso­ include 58 miles of Missouri Pacific track­ phy-at least, not until this fall. One of Rio Southern Pacific fans and preservationists age in order to serve industries around Grande's desert trackage upgrade projects in the Austin, Texas, area have formed a Opelousas, Eunice, Bunkie and Crowley. was to lengthen Cisco to the west. This new organization focused around restora­ has been accomplished to the tune of tion and eventual operation of former 1,960 feet, giving Cisco a revised length of T&NO 2-8-2 No. 786. The engine, owned Cane Creek Branch Safety Concerns 6,890 feet, long enough to hold almost any by the City of Austin, has been leased to train. The only remaining short siding is the Austin Steam Train Association. ASTA Rio Grande's Cane Creek Branch departs Shale, which is located deep in the depths has access to city-owned trackage mea­ the trans-desert main line at Brendel, of Ruby Canyon. Because of geographic suring 163 miles, so their steam train Utah, and drops down into the Colorado and geologic constraints, and the proximi­ won't have to leave home rails-or conflict River Canyon at Moab to reach a potash ty of Ruby siding on the east and Utaline with mainline traffic. If you're interested mine. Of late there has been some concern siding on the west, Shale will probably be in joining this group, contact them at Post about the potential for runaways while de- left at its present length. Office Box 200386, Austin, TX 78720-0386. BURLINGTON NORTHERN

and Western Pacific. Dubbed the "Inside found impact on BN operations in the BN and SP Negotiate Trackage Gateway," colorful consists of pooled pow­ states of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois Rights Pact er moved traffic between Arizona and in mid-August. The interruption of service Southern California and the Pacific North­ on CN's main near Longlac, Onto (180 miles In early August, BN and Rio Grande Indus­ west. Changes in traffic patterns and the northeast of Thunder Bay), forced a flood of tries announced a tentative agreement al­ buy-out of WP by Union Pacific severely re­ eastbound CN tonnage to hit BN at Pokega­ lowing SP to operate bridge traffic over duced the volume of business within this ma Yard near Superior, Wis ., on the 17th. BN's 466-mile Kansas City-Chicago corri­ corridor, with SP and the interstate high­ The first of several detour moves (sym­ dor. This pact was a necessity for RGI , af­ way system the principal benefactors. In boled CNEOl by BN) consisted of a solid ter a purchase agreement with Soo for the late July, a new Voluntary Coordination piggyback train powered by CN SD40s parallel (and longer) ex-Milwaukee route Agreement (VCA) between BN, Santa Fe was terminated. and UP was established, calling for a coop­ With this preliminary agreement inked, erative venture to market single-route rates "---TRAINS-THE WAY THEY WERE ---.. the two parties have 120 days to develop WESTERN RAILROAD MEMORIES . Streamlined . 1947. Don't Let it Happen to divert business from the trucking indus­ to You. Santa Fe. 1946. Stop, Look. & listen , Santa Fe, 1946. Doesn', Have a specific implementation plan for submit­ try (and barges to a lesser extent). to Happen . Southern Pacific Daylight, 1945. 55 min. bo w & COLOR. 524 .95 tal to the ICC for approval. At this writing, UNION PACIFIC MEMORIES . last of the Giants . "Big boy" steam. The Hu· At the present time, Santa Fe handles man Side . 1950. 50 min. COLOR. $24.95 SP plans to base crews out of West Quin­ 15 to 45 carloads of traffic out of New CH ICAGO & NORTHWESTERN RR MEMORIES. Song ollhe Pioneer. 1948. cy, Mo., with districts established be­ Service to Shippers. 1956. 55 min. COLOR. S24.95 Mexico, Arizona and Southern California VHS or Beta, S2.S0 shipping and size order. VISA/MC/AMEX accepted tween Armourdale (Kansas City) and West bound for the Pacific Northwest, which VHS or Beta. 82 .50 shipping an y size order. VISA/MC accepted. Quincy, Mo., and Chicago and West Quin­ MOVIECRAfT. Box 438, Orland Park, It 60462 are interchanged to UP at Stockton, Calif. (708)450·9082 (708)450.9099 cy. This concept may cause problems with It is hoped that sufficient volume can be BN operating personnel, as the road cur­ generated under this agreement to reinsti­ rently has four crew districts within this tute a dedicated train between the three corridor, with intermediate changes at carriers. Traffic moved on the "Northwest Galesburg and West Quincy, and Brook­ Passage" includes paper, timber, steel and ~~/ TEN PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED field, Mo. Southern Pacific is also consider­ lumber products. ing usage of Belt Rail of Chicago facilities TRAIN SONGS to access its other yards. • The Little Red Caboose • A Boxcar and a Prayer Canadian Blockades Impact • The Wedding Local - and 7 more! BN Operations Send check or Money Order for $7.95 + $2 P & H to: Inside Gateway Reborn (TN residents add 62¢ sales tax) The unrest with the Long Lake band of In­ • RED EElS IONEAlUSIC Shortly after the BN merger in the early dians in northern Ontario and subsequent • P.O. BOX 1714 1970s, a healthy interchange of north/south blockage of both Candian National and CP a MADISON, TN 37116 business occurred between BN, Santa Fe Rail transcontinental main lines had a pro-

PACIFIC RAllNews • 7 seen on No. 101 into Minneapolis from Chicago, with a quick dispersion to load­ ing points in the Dakotas and Minnesota.

BN Supports Desert Shield

With the buildup of military materiel in the Persian Gulf, BN has been active in the movement of cars into Fort Sill, Okla. On Aug. 28, a drag of empty flatcars arrived at the post behind GP50s 3136/3102 and B30-7 A 4066. Burlington Northern has been handling mostly empty cars for the Army, with UP moving loaded artillery pieces toward saltwater ports.

Operational News Briefs

Burlington Northern has added symbol 125 to handle manifest traffic moving be­ tween Kansas City and Pasco, via MRL. Train No. 25 has also been established to provide a connection with intermodal train 5 at Spokane, the former moving the Port­ land-bound traffic two days per week. In a somewhat related development, due to the increase of business between these points, BN is constructing an additional CTC Siding at Connell, Wash. A shortage of power in the coal pool On Aug. 30, 1990, a pair of GP38-2s power a short train westbound at Picnic Point along caused BN to temporarily borrow a few of Burlington Northern's Coast Line in Washington. This scenic-and busy-route hugs the Pacif­ the leased GATX SD38-2s for such service. ic Ocean between Seattle and Everett, hosting a mixed bag of trains each day dominated On Aug. 17, train 16-KR076 used the team by intermodal traffic traveling to and from the ports of Seattle and Tacoma. Kevin Bosma of 1239/ 1244 with BN SD40-2 7122 into the Big Stone power plant near Ortonville, 5212/ 5027. A second manifest train pulled trains from adjacent Soo trackage worked Minn. Additional Oakway SD60s have by international service CN SD40s was on BN between Detroit Lakes, Minn. , and been added to the coal pool (about 40 right behind the intermodal train, while St. Paul. Canadian National traffic contin­ units by mid-August), and are working the CNE03 (CN No. 304) was a 120-car ued throughout the 19th, as the CNW06 regularly with the 9200-series SD60Ms on monster propelled by CN SD40s (CN 9504 West) and CNW07 (CN 9657 CC274175 and KR076177 trains. 5016/ 5208/ 5211. West) arrived at Northtown during the af­ Westbound detours started leaving ternoon hours. GTW officials reported that Chicago on the 17th as well, with a variety 25 such trains moved between Chicago Motive Power Shorts of CN wide-nose GP40-2s and assorted and Port Huron before an agreement was Grand Trunk Western units providing reached with the Indians at Longlac on the The first of 40 GP39Vs, the 2960 (ex-CSX power. The second move received from 20th. Not all of these trains were handled GP35 4417), was noted on No. 241 into GTW (BN symbol CNW02) was called the by BN, with a few trains noted on C&NW. Minneapolis on Aug. 19. Meanwhile, EMD 2/X03 by operating forces and was noted The CPR trains handled for Soo continued continues to crank out GP39Es, with the with CN Geeps 9412/9402/9665. The third on until the last week of August. 2935 delivered July 22, the 2936 on Aug. X03 (CN No. 219) departed La Crosse, 11 , and the 2937 on Aug. 25. Sister 2938 Wis., on the morning of the 18th with 55 worked No. 47 into St. Paul on Sept. 8, cars of intermodal traffic handled by GTW New Freight Equipment Arrives probably on its inaugural trip . . . GP50 GP9R 4610, GP40-2 6425 and SD40 5901. 3156 has received a full repaint into the The fourth X03 (CN No. 305) followed a Burlington Northern's 1990 new freight whiteface scheme, similar to the treat­ couple of hours later with 87 cars powered car acquisitions continue to roll onto the ment done to the 3153. ILS of Bethel, by GTW GP40-2 6409 and GP40 6401 . property and are being rapidly assimilated Minn., continues to paint Geeps and On the 19th an overflow of CPR detour into the fleet due to strong traffic levels in switchers for BN, about one per week ... both coal and grain carloadings. One of Speaking of contract work, CEECO of the most impressive moves found 120 alu­ Tacoma will equip SD40-2 7890 to burn minum open top hoppers moved in a propane fuel ... Wreck-damaged GP38-2 Back Issues DDEOl out of Chicago into Northtuwn on 2265 was noted in Minneapolis on Aug. Aug. 31. The train of 533500- and 600-se­ 17, to be moved toward West Burlington Available ries cars was powered by the notable set shops on No. 144 on a flatcar . .. Snow­ of CSX GP40-2s 6292/6031 . Burlington plow power F9A 972569 arrived at North­ AT ORIGINAL COVER Northern GP39M 2803 and GATX GP40 town on Aug. 14, bound for MRL, although PRICE! 3702 took over on the coal field-bound it remained in Northtown as of Sept. 8 ... Some issues are in limited quantities. drag at Northtown. Burlington Northern will move eight of 17 so hurry! For a complete list. send a The 466000-series covered hoppers are new WC GP40s (ex-CM&W units) to LRC self-addressed long (# 10) envelope to: becoming more conspicuous on BN grain for an overhaul and paint. trains during the last month of summer, Thanks to John Baukus, Mike Blaszak, PACIFIC RAILNEWS with cars numbered as high as the mid- Pat Flynn, Jeff Hendricks, Michael Kiri­ P. O. Box 6128 300s noted by the end of August. Blocks of azis, NORTHWEST RAILFAN, Tom Robinson Glendale, CA 91225 new hoppers in groups of 10 to 20 cars are and TRAFFIC WORLD.

8. NOVEMBER 1990 AMTRAK/PASSENGER

from the San Joaquin pool. The extra cars between Del Rio and Sanderson, Texas. Pri­ Fall Schedule Changes deadheaded back to Oakland on the head vate car Silver Colt was on the rear of No. 1, end of a very long No. 14 the next day, added at San Antonio .. . An annoyingly Amtrak's semi-annual schedule changes powered by three F40s. On Sept. 8, the slow detour for Coast Starlight No. 11 on took effect Sunday, Oct. 28, 1990. The Southwest Chief operated seven hours late Aug. 4, occurred when a bridge fire near most significant change in the West was due to mechanical problems. The lead F40 Marysville caused the southbound train to the addition of the second Santa Barbara had been set out en route and AT&SF detour between Marysville and Sacramen­ San Diegan from Los Angeles, as new GP35R 2821 added . .. San Joaquin No. 708 to. A five-hour wait for a Union Pacific pilot trains 771 and 784. The California Zephyr experienced another collision with a trac­ was the biggest contributor to the train's and kin saw additional time added be­ tor/trailer rig just three miles from the loca­ eight-plus hours late arrival in LA at 3:53 tween Salt Lake City and Denver, and a tion of last December's tragic accident a.m. To Amtrak's credit, they turned, later arrival at Oakland. south of Stockton. Both trailers, loaded with cleaned and stocked the train for an on­ For passengers on the Pioneer, the new grapes, were destroyed in the Sept. 5 inci­ time departure later that same morning . . . 5 a.m. departure from Seattle may seem a dent, which delayed the southbound train A final detour note involves the Texas Ea­ bit early, as is the 4: 50 a.m. arrival in Salt an hour and 40 minutes ... The Desert gle on Aug. 15. Westbound No. 21 was de­ Lake City the next morning. At the latter Wind was expected to begin stopping at layed about 13 hours in Arkansas due to a point, extensive switching takes place to Victorville in October after completion of freight derailment on UP. The late arrival of transfer through cars from Los Angeles the new/refurbished station site. The equipment in San Antonio meant that No. and Seattle into the California Zephyr to fall/winter schedules contain no mention of 22 departed late and operated from Taylor continue on to Denver and Chicago. Train a stop for the Southwest Chief at this loca­ to Longview, Texas, via UP rails, bypassing 36 , the Desert Wind, now departs L.A. at tion . .. Oct. 30 marks the 20th anniversary Temple, Ft. Worth and Dallas. Cars from noon, meeting its westbound counterpart of the legislation which created Amtrak. the Houston section were combined with near Colton if both are on time. Festivities are planned for next May to the San Antonio section at Longview. Near­ On the San Diegan run, train 771 be­ mark the anniversary of Amtrak's start-up ly the same evolution took place the next comes a daily run, adding Anaheim as a on May 1, 1971. An entire generation of rid­ day, when the Chicago cars off the Sunset regular stop (remember when there was a ers now have known little, if any, other rail were late, and they operated as a separate controversy a dozen years ago about this passenger service . .. The eastbound Sun­ section via Palestine, returning to the regu­ being a commuter stop, and thus out of set Limited detoured from EI Paso to Hous­ lar route at Longview. They operated as an Amtrak's domain?). Returning in the after­ ton via Dallas on Aug. 4-5. Westbound No . extra section of No. 22 all the way through noon this set of equipment operates as No. 1 on the same dates detoured from San An­ to Chicago. 784, continuing on to San Diego. It is tonio to EI Paso via Union Pacific and Santa Thanks to Bill Farmer, Marvin Mavin, Ed hoped the additional service will relieve Fe trackage due to an SP freight derailment Von Nordeck, Rich Brown and Eddie Sands. some of the pressure on the Coast Starlight for short-haul seats to the coastal cities of Oxnard and Santa Barbara. It may be that the full benefit of this train will not be seen until next spring and summer. Weekend-only train 575 has been dropped. Most Western long-haul trains changed their schedules little: The Texas Eagle will operate from Chicago an hour and fifteen minutes later, and the City of New Or­ leans has had 45 minutes added to its run­ ning time, in great part due to Illinois Cen­ tral trackwork. PRESENTING New Equipment Order Expected ORIGINAL RECORDINGS OF At the October meeting of Amtrak's board GREAT AMERICAN of directors it was expected that approval TRAIN SONGS AND HARD TO FIND SPECIAIIY ITEMS (QUAUTV CASSEITE ONLy) would be given for an order for 79 addi­ (I) GREIlT JlMERICAN TRIlIN SONGS VOL. I. HEAR JOHNNY CASH' JERRY LEE LEWIS' JOHNNY HORTON tional Superliners, 43 new diesellocomo­ AND MORE PERFORM CLASSICS LIKE ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL' ROCK ISLAND LINE' WAITING tives and seven locomotives capable of FOR A TRAIN. PLUS MANY MORE-59.95+52.00 P&H propulsion on either diesel or electric pow­ (2) GREIlT JlMERICAN TRIlIN SONGS VOL. II. FEATURES ROY ACUFF' STEVE GOODMAN' JOHNNY CASH er (for use out of New York City). It is also ~. REX ALLEN JR. AND 6 MORE PERFORMING CLASSICS LIKE WABASH CANNONBALL, CITY OF NEW ~'i;i ORLEANS, CASEY JONES, JOHN HENRY AND MORE. PLUS AN ADDED BONUS-A 6 MINUTE expected that additional low-level cars EYEWITNESS TESTIMONIAL OF THE FAMOUS WRECK OF CASEY JONES BY CASEY'S ACTUAL FIREMAN will be ordered in 1991. '"SIMMS'" (RECORDED IN EARLY '50'S IN MEMPHIS, TN .)-59.9S+52.00 P&H (3) '"20 RIlILROIlD SONGS IlND BlILLIlDS" RARE COLLECTORS ITEM RECORDED BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. ACTUAL FIELD RECORDINGS MADE ON RAILROAD LINES AND IN HOBO JUNGLES ACROSS Around and About AMERICA MANY YEARS AGO-INFORMATIVE BOOKLET INCLUDED-MANY SONGS NEVER HEARD BEFORE!-59.95+52.00 P&H Both the use of double-ended San Diegans (4) "RIDING THE RIlILS" THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAIN VIDEO BY JOHNNY CASH. THIS 52 MINUTE and CalTrain equipment on weekends con­ DOCUMUSlCAL (AVAILABLE IN VHS) WAS A WINNER AT THE INTERNATIONAL FILM & TV FESTIVAL OF NEW YORK! SEE EXCITING TRAIN SCENES (STEAM & DIESEL) AND HEAR MORE THAN A DOZEN tinued through August and into September. GREAT TRAIN SONGS-SOME WRITTEN JUST FOR THIS SPECIAL VIDEO-529.9S+53.00 P&H Heavy seasonal travel included passengers SATISFACTION GUARANTEED-ORDER YOURS TODAY!!! PLEASE ADD 52.00 POSTAGE & HANDLING FOR for Del Mar Racetrack. Amtrak made re­ FIRST ORDER ADD 50 ~ (FIFTY CENTS) FOR EACH ADDITIONAL MUSIC CASSETTE. ADD 53.00 P&H FOR turning from the track easier with a team of VIDEO ONLY! (TENNESSEE RESIDENTS ADD 7% % SALES TAX.) assistant conductors on the platform to lift [Iiii!ii!!!!i! l DIlU. TOLL FREE 1-800-242-1171 AND USE VIS}! OR MJlSTERCARD OR ~ tickets and issue hat checks ... Late runs 17 RUSH CHECK OR MONEY ORDER (SORRY NO C,O.D.) ~ continued into September. The late Star­ light of Sept. 7 required an advance section ROUNDHOUSE RECORDS, INC. from Oakland to L.A. using Horizon cars P.o . BOX 210-314 NASHVILLE. TENNESSEE 37221-0314 (615) 646-5661

PAC IFIC RAILNews • 9 N PACIFIC

Pigs and more pigs: A Union Pacific "Farmer John" train-with a string of ten loaded HOGX hog-hauling cars-is westbound near Otto, Wyo., on July 27, 1990, behind a pair of Dash 8-40CWs. Because of their live porcine cargo, the HOGX trains are run with priority loads, such as the TOFC/COFC and racks in this consist, and must stop periodically for watering and other caretaking. Ronald C. Hill

itors and equipment restoration, plus the Included in this second phase, at a cost of UP Donates $1 Million to Nevada State preliminary work on the line to Hender­ $12 million, is streamlining and rehabilita­ Railroad Museum Project son. The final construction proposal is ex­ tion of the old yard in downtown Laredo. pected to be presented to the state legis­ There is also pressure from both sides of To further the creation of the "southern lature for consideration in 1991. the border to have a second railroad half" of the Nevada State Railroad Muse­ bridge spanning the Rio Grande River, as um in Boulder City, UP in July announced the current single bridge is reaching its it would donate enough rail, ties and as­ Laredo Expansion Programs Continue capacity very quickly. sociated track material to allow construc­ tion of a five-mile track between the State The importance of the Laredo, Texas/Nue­ Railroad Museum site in Boulder City and vo Laredo, Mexico, gateway for interna­ Making Good on a Promise the Clark County Heritage Museum in the tional trade between the U.S. and Mexico? city of Henderson. The donation is esti­ Thirty-five percent of the $59 billion in In mid-1990, UP, Santa Fe and Burlington mated to be worth in excess of $1 million. trade between the two countries in 1989 Northern spread the word that a Voluntary Union Pacific has so far been one of the passed through Laredo, a high percentage Coordination Agreement had been largest benefactors of this state-operated of which rode the rails of UP and Texas­ reached to provide an improved level of project, having in the past donated a por­ Mexican Railroad. In September, UP com­ service between the Pacific Northwest tion of the abandoned Boulder City pleted a new $12.5-million rail facility 12 and the Southwest to better compete with branch plus GP30 844 to the project. In miles north of Laredo, the first phase of its SP. If all of this sounds familiar, it is. This 1989, the museum project received a expansion in the area. Union Pacific is plan has been seen time and time again $750,000 grant plus a $900,000 legislative now planning a second phase to ease the since Western Pacific and Great Northern appropriation to begin work on structures bottleneck of traffic flowing both ways joined rails at Bieber, Calif., on Nov. 10, at the museum site in Boulder City for vis- across the international border at Laredo. 1931. For a better part of the 1960s and

10. NOVEMBER 1990 1970s, WP survived on traffic it moved there might be two pairs of trains using line to condition nearly equal to that of over the "Inside Gateway" between the Bieber Sub daily by the end of 1990. BN's "high speed " 88-mile counterpart AT&SF at Stockton and GN/BN at Bieber. Then, within a two-w eek period, UP had from Klamath Falls to Bieber. The key piece to this puzzle was, and is, three major derailments on the line: two the 112-mile "Highline" between Keddie within a half mile of each other on a curve and Bieber, Calif. With the merger of WP between Halls Flat and Little Valley and One Small Corner Still Open for into UP, and a resulting cancellation of lo­ another near the shores of Lake Almanor, Business comotive pool agreements that had been forcing evacuation of nearby cabins due in effect since the mid 1960s, a severe de­ to tank cars of LPG gas and sulfuric acid In late July, the final group of 17 employ­ crease in traffic occurred as BN and being involved. After investigators were ees at the Omaha Shop Complex retired, AT&SF sent as much traffic as possible to sent out, the people in Omaha learned leaving a small group of 30 employees to SP between Klamath Falls and Stockton to that most of the Bieber Sub was in terri­ continue on in a corner of the complex avoid the rapidly expanding "yellow gi­ ble shape and unable to handle increased that employed 800 as late as July 1988. ant." To UP, the newly renamed Bieber use. Ten mph slow orders w ere issued on These 30 craftsmen, who UP will keep em­ Subdivision was almost like a 112-mile­ track that trains used to take at 49 mph. ployed at Omaha, are known informally as long appendix. Without trackage rights Even before all of the derailed cars the passenger car rehabilitation team. So over BN to "home rails" at Bend, Ore., the were picked up, three maintenance-of­ far, this group of highly skilled people has line went nowhere that UP wanted to go. w ay trains with tie and rail gangs headed rebuilt 33 of the 39 passenger cars UP still There is only one customer on the entire for the Bieber Sub. By Sept. 1, every sid­ owns. When the remaining six cars are line: the connection with Almanor Rail­ ing and spur between Greenville and finished with the rebuilding process, all 30 road at Clear Creek Junction. Since the Bieber, Calif., was full of work trains, employees will remain at Omaha and pro­ merger, the Highline has been subject to maintenance equipment, empty and load­ vide future maintenance for the passenger deferred maintenance, a schedule with ed ballast trains and cars full of n ew ties. car fleet. When the cars are not in the but one train per day each way, trains run­ To allow more work to be accomplished, shops for repairs or on the road some­ ning with an average of 35-40 cars (mostly freight trains were held for work win­ where on the UP system, they are kept in empties), the systematic removal of sid­ dow s that lasted as long as 36 hours. the passenger car storage area called "Fox ings and spurs, and even the scrapping of There is even word from the work sites Park" in Council Bluffs, Iowa. CTC on the southern half of this piece of that some of the spurs that were pulled Thanks to Ken Meeker, John Walker, mountain railroad. out earlier this year may be replaced to Hank Stiles, Curt Howell, Richard Schmel­ As of August 1990, with the help of the regain flexibility in operating this line. Be­ ing, George Cockle, NORTHWEST RAiLFAN, new VCA, traffic on the Highline was fore the harsh winter weather of north­ FLIMSIES, Union Pacific Railroad, THE building as shippers tested the "im­ eastern California sets in, UP will have re­ MIXED TRAIN, THE LARK, Vic Neves and proved" schedules; word was out that turned its 112-mile segment of the High- Adam Clegg. SANTA FE

mph line, served by AT&SF's yard locomo­ (LKK35) and is rated from 10 to 20 mph Streamlining the Santa Fe-Again tive at Chanute. The line is also the former throughout the line. route of the Kansas Cityan and trains 211 • The 46-mile Larned Subdivision, be­ Fall 1990 may be remembered in later and 212, and was once rated at 90 mph. tween Larned and Jetmore, Kan. The 20- years as the time when Atchison, Topeka • 100 miles of the Tulsa Subdivision, be­ mph railroad is served only one day per & Santa Fe Railway placed two-thirds of tween Tulsa, Okla., and Cherryvale, Kan. week, by the LKK31 and 32 locals originat­ its namesake on the selling block. By early The 40-mph line is now served as needed ing in Newton (the locals travel from New- August the railway had targeted 715 miles by extra service out of Chanute; all Tulsa of Kansas trackage-including AT&SF's traffic is handled by BN from the AT&SF­ 50-mile Atchison-Topeka branch-and BN connection at Perry, Okla. was eyeing a similar fate for the branch to • The 81-mile Salina Subdivision, between Santa Fe, N.M. Salina and Osborne, Kan. The 30-mph line In all, the railway is looking to spin off is currently served either on Thursdays by 1,860 miles of trackage systemwide, most­ the Salina-Abilene local (LKK34) and/or by ly concentrating on networks of branches an extra crew from Newton out of Abilene in Kansas and Texas, with lesser amounts or Salina. in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and • The 88.4-mile McPherson Subdivision California. At the moment, however, the betw een Marion and Ellinwood, Kan. The massive "housecleaning" of Santa Fe's line is rated for 30 mph from Marion to Kansas lines has gained the most atten­ McPherson, and 20 mph from McPherson tion, with several historic lines being to Ellinwood. The LKK35 and 36 locals IN THE MIDDLE OF THE placed on the block. work from McPherson to Marion and re­ ACTION AT THE PASS Included in the planned sell-offs are: turn on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fri­ • The 50.6-mile branch between Atchison days, and from McPherson to Ellinwood on and St. Joseph, Mo. , one of the first lines Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Traf­ built by AT&SF and opened in 1872. The fic is currently delivered to McPherson by ECONOLODGE­ 40-mph line (now downgraded to 10 mph) the LKKOl from Newton on Mondays, CAJON'S BEST is presently served only by local LIL22 , op­ Wednesdays and Fridays over UP (ex-MP) erating out of Kansas City via Burlington trackage. LODGING VALUE Northern rails, with local industries be­ • The 47-mile Hutchinson Subdivision, be­ tween Atchison and Topeka served only tween Great Bend and Kinsley, Kan. The EconoLodge on an as-needed basis. 25-mph line is served from Newton on an • The 18-mile line between lola and as-needed basis. 8317 Hwy. 138, Cajon Pass Chanute, Kan. The 52 miles between Iola • The 54-mile Little River Subdivision, Corner of 1-15 & Hwy. 138 and the main line at Ottawa, Kan., were from Lyons to Galatia, Kan. The line is Phelan, CA 92371 previously sold to KCT Corp. ; this remain­ now served as needed on Tuesdays and (619) 249-6777 ing piece of trackage has become a 10- Thursdays by the McPherson local

PACIFIC RAILNews • II ton to Great Bend on day one, Great Bend board. As a result, AT&SF has a new way to Jetmore and return on day two, and Operational News of dealing with any movement of less than from Great Bend to Newton on day three). 12 axles. In CTC territory, the movements .79 miles between Wichita and Pratt, Kan., On Aug. 15, Santa Fe added a 2.5-percent will be authorized by rule 351, track and on the Wichita Subdivision. The first nine surcharge to the majority of its inter modal time authority, not exceeding restricted miles out of Wichita consist of industries business, as well as single-line carload speeds. In track warrant territory, move­ served by Wichita yard jobs-from Wichita business, to keep up with the staggering ments are to be made with authority to to Calista the line is 20 mph, and from Cal­ increase in fuel costs experienced as a re­ "work between" two specific points. In ista to Pratt, it's an FRA-exempt 10-mph sult of the Persian Gulf crisis. In a letter to addition to the above, movements of less railroad. The line is served one or two days all employees, AT&SF President Michael than 12 axles must also approach grade a week by an extra job from Wellington, en­ Haverty noted that the railway "really had crossings equipped with automatic warn­ tering the Wichita Sub at Kingman. no choice," as costs had risen 40 percent ing devices (flashers, gates, etc.) prepared • The remaining 120 miles of the Engle­ in the last three weeks. "We burn close to to stop until determined that the devices wood Subdivision between Rago and En­ 800,000 gallons of fuel per day," Haverty are working properly. glewood, Kan., scheduled for abandon­ added, "so I think you can easily see what Santa Fe has established new radio ment. The 20-mph line is served as need­ a 10-15 cents per gallon increase in fuel channels for the Eastern Region, with the ed by an extra crew (which usually takes prices does to our expenses." following road channels now in use: 30 = three days to serve the line) from Welling­ The main thrust of Haverty's letter, 160.560; 72 = 161.190; 36 = 160.650; 96 = ton also serving the Wichita SUb. The pre­ though, was to urge employees to con­ 161.550; 32 = 160.590; Yard Channel = vious 46 miles from Wichita to Rago were serve fuel as much as possible-something 161.370; 55 = 160.935. abandoned in November 1979, prompted AT&SF is attempting to do in other ways, The new "leapfrog" channels are used by a bridge washout near Viola, Kan. too. In August the railway implemented a as follows: Wellington to Gage- 72; Gage .127 miles of the H&S Subdivision be­ policy of shutting down locomotives idling to Amarillo- 55; Newton to La Junta- 55; tween Hutchinson, Kan., and Blackwell, for two or more hours at a time-a policy Newton to Arkansas City-32; Amarillo to Okla., up for abandonment. The 30-mph already in effect at locomotive terminals Clovis-32; Arkansas City to Lawrie-96; branch is served as needed by the same systemwide. However, Santa Fe now Lawrie to Gainesville-30; most branch extra out of Wellington as the Englewood hopes to extend the policy to include local lines-36. and Wichita subs, with the bulk of traffic trains as well; if a local is expected to sit located between Kingman, Kan., and idle for two or more hours, all but one of its Manchester, Okla. units will be shut down (a single unit must Symbol Shorts • And finally, the other 35 miles of the be left running in case other locomotives H&S Sub between Wellington and Black­ need to be "jump-started"). In addition, Effective Aug. 17, train 368 was estab­ well, Okla., placed for sale. The line is Santa Fe is also attempting to consolidate lished to operate from Kansas City to Los served by a turn out of Wellington daily trains whenever practical. Angeles, operating as required with over­ except for Sundays; located at Blackwell is In other news, Santa Fe recently had a flow intermodal and manifest traffic from a flour mill and gas plant, which generate problem with a light power movement on the 168 train. The 368 will also replace all almost all revenue for the entire branch the Illinois Division. Apparently, the move­ second sections of the 168 originating at (just under $1 million in 1989). ment did not show up on the dispatchers' Kansas City; schedules call for the train to leave K.C. at 10 p.m., with arrival into Los Angeles at 4: 15 a.m. three days later .. . The 123 train has been abolished, with the TRAVE l THE ~Ai l ~OAdiNG SCENEof EU~OPE wiTH ­ 133 operating from the Indiana Harbor Belt Blue Island, Ill. , yard to Kansas City OUT lEAvi NGHOME . EU RORAi ls is AfU N, EASYTO via McCook, carrying traffic from IHB and CSX at Chicago . .. The 581 train now op­ lEA~ N GAME of EU~OPEA N RAilbuildi NG TH ATCAN erates from Dallas, Texas, to Chicago Mon­ bE ENjOYEd HU N d~Eds of TiMES. day through Saturday, no longer running 1. ------from Dallas on Sundays .. . Train S-LACH8 I NAME ______is now authorized to handle doublestack AddRESS ______traffic destined for North Bergen, N.J., I routed AT&SF-Norfolk Southern via Chica­ I CiTy ______STATE -- go. At Chicago the NS traffic, to be located at the head end of the S-LACH8 , will be I Zip _ ____ P~ONE ______delivered to NS via a yard locomotive. I QUANTiTY ______I $40.00 fall EUIlOIlAiis Santa Fe Shorts I • ($7.00 EACH, SHippiNG ANd HANdliNq) I $25.00 fall EMpillE Buildm NOllri-f AMEllicAN VmsioN Former "Maersk" GP60M 146 made its red-and-silver debut on Aug. 24, emerging I • (52.00 EACH, sHippiNq ANd HANdliNq) from the Topeka shops that evening. The METHod of PAYMENT unit was seen a few days later on the point I 0 PERSO NAl CHEck o MO NEY ORd ER of the Ringling Brothers Red Unit train, I 0 VISA o MAsTERcA nd teamed with SF30-C 9532 as the train ran from Wichita, Kan., to Galesburg, IlL , on I ACCOUNT #: ______Aug. 26 . . . Santa Fe's on-time perfor­ I Exp. DAlE: ______mance for high-speed articulated trains I BAN k NAME ON CAnd: ------­ (see last issue's column) continued to out­ perform intermodal trains with convention­ I SiG NATU RE: ------­ al equipment. Between July 27 and Aug. I No C.O.D. ORd ERS ACCE PTEd • DO NOT SEND CASH! 29 the articulated trains were on time 91 I FOR CRED IT CARD ORDERS ONLY: j,800AJ2AH6 r==~-:---::~""":::'""""':"'" percent, one hour late three percent and more than one hour late six percent of the L!IEAS EA llow 2-~W E Eks ~R dElivmy __ time ... Speaking of performance, the com­ P.O.Box 48 5 ~ 9 NilES, Il. 60 petitive performance figures for intermodal traffic into Southern California in early Au-

12. NOVEMB ER 1990 VOLUMES ONE &TWO

1WO EXCITING VOLUMES OF UNION PACIFIC STEAM

SHARE THE EXCITEMENT, SCENERY, HISTORY, AND POWER OF STEAM THE UNION PACIFIC WAY. ... TWO SUPERBLY EDITED TAPES TAKE YOU HALF WAY ACROSS AMERICA ON UNION PACIFIC RAILS BOTH IN THE CAB AND TRACKSIDE.

UNION PACIFIC STEAM - VOLUME ONE (3985 & 8444). This UNION PACIFIC STEAM - VOLUME TWO (NUMBER 844 tape was three years in the making and features two sepa­ RETURNS). The sequel tape covers the nrst tour for renum­ rate trips of "The Challenger" #3985 from Cheyenne to bered 4-8-4 #844, in July 1989. She is to pull a Board of Laramie over the famous Sherman Hill Grade. Ride the Cab Directors Train from Omaha which is a "FIRST" for the cresting the summit, and through Hermosa Tunnel in a locomotive. To get there and back #844 pulls heavy freight dramatic sequence, and see all the action w ith the largest trains similar to the late 1950's, after diesels took over active steam locomotive in the world. Then we see #8444 844's passenger duties. The Board of Directors 8 coach in Los Angeles with 4449, and later on the Portland to train is covered plus the return to Cheyenne with 2 more Bend, Oregon trip. Then travel over 1200 miles from days of freight trains. Included is some 65 mph pacing, Portland to Cheyenne to witness superb mountain scenery, turntable, and tracks ide action. We were the only major and fast running, including a 70 mph cab ride. History is video company to cover these runs. In 5 days we see #844 made as we end with the 4-8-4 entering the r oundhouse as on 5 different trains, and between volumes one and two Number 8444 for the last time. This tape has something for you can see the 4-8-4 on U.P. Trackage from Portland to everyone, and especially U.P. Lovers. Omaha, nearly 1800 miles! 90 minutes ...... $44.95 60 minutes ...... $39.95 SPECIAL PACKAGE DEAL: Order both Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 at the same time and SAVE .... only $74.95 Over 20,000 travel miles to bring you the best! A total of 2 and one-half hours! gust revealed that AT&SF's 198 train, with time only 32.9 percent of the time .. . Santa of train 710 when the engineer's window an on-time average of 83.7 percent, had Fe is currently reconditioning the interiors of lead F40 375 was broken by a thrown the best performance of the corridor, with of 50- and 60-foot boxcars at its Barstow, object . . . And finally, 30 miles of the Nee­ UP's NPLAZ trains averaging an on-time Calif., classification yard. Two air-pac load dles Subdivision were taken out of service performance of 68.4 percent and SP's divider cars are being released per work between Fenner and Cadiz during the ear­ trains from St. Louis averaging on-time fig­ day; as of July 25 AT&SF had recondi­ ly morning hours of Sept. 4, as a result of ures of 50 percent. The BN-SP BNSXF train tioned 1,859 boxcars under the current flash flooding. The area was out of service from Chicago was on time only 13 percent program ... Santa Fe recently distributed from midnight to 2:30 a.m., causing delays of the time .. . Similar figures were found pasters for its systemwide timetables up­ to the eastbound QLANY1-03 and Am­ for Northern California service, with dating Amtrak schedules ... SD45 5322 trak's Southwest Chief. AT&SF's 199 and 189 trains being on time came to the rescue of a southbound Am­ Thanks to Jay Hawk, Gene Wilson, 80.6 percent and 64.5 percent of the time trak San Joaquin train at Fresno, Calif., on Santa Fe Railway, O.R. Bixler, Jim Grey, respectively and UP's SaLAZ being on Aug. 15. The unit was added to the point Starpacer and John Carr. CHICAGO & NORTH WESTERN

train at Proviso for a run up to the Pleas­ fic , although the company will not commit 5040-2 Fleet Sold and Leased Back ant Prairie, Wis., power plant and then to this for publication. back out to Wyoming, providing a rare In a move which has not been publicly an­ glimpse of the big GEs on the point of a nounced, the North Western sold SD40-2 train in Illinois and Wisconsin (in non­ Canadian Turmoil Causes Reroute locomotives 6801-6925 to an equipment ATC territory, that is). lessor and is leasing them back. While the The final unit of the order, C&NW 8542, Canadian Indians acting in sympathy with specific terms of this arrangement are not rolled out of GE's paint shop in Erie on the Mohawks at aka, Que., occupied a known, equipment or facility owners gen­ Sept. 9 in a specially modified paint bridge on Canadian National's main line erally enter into salelleaseback transac­ scheme commemorating Wyoming's cen­ near Hornepayne, ant., about Aug. 17, tions to raise quick cash, even though tennial. The locomotive bears a five-foot­ forcing CN to divert its transcontinental such transactions cost more than retaining tall by eight-foot-Iong Wyoming Centenni­ train traffic through the Unit~d States. At ownership of the asset in question over allogo on each side of the long hood first CN intended to detour all of its trains the long run. Helm Financial Corp. in­ where the unit number would ordinarily via Grand Trunk Western and Burlington spected the locomotives for the lessor pri­ be. The number has been shifted farther Northern between southern Ontario and or to the conveyance. The SD40-2s will back on the long hood as a result. The Superior, Wis., the southern terminus of stay in North Western service and will standard C&NW colors have been applied CN subsidiary Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific, continue to be maintained by C&NW em­ to the unit, with the centennial logo, like and trains began moving via this route on ployees in company facilities. The railroad the number, painted dark green. Aug. 18. However, the BN line between is proceeding with plans, made before the The North Western's goal is to use the the Twin Cities and Superior, which han­ conveyance, to install mechanically bond­ new Dash-8s to replace C&NW SD50s and dles the traffic of North Western and Soo ed radiators in these units to reduce the SD60s on the coal line. A number of the Line as well as BN, was congested by the incidence of leakage. EMD models were observed in service on sudden influx of traffic, forcing CN to seek coal trains in Wyoming during August, but alternatives. the 12 new GE units are expected to make Beginning late Aug. 18 or on Aug. 19, New Oash-8 Locomotives Have Arrived such sightings rare in the future. CN and DW&P tendered several trains to The 1989 order for 30 C40-8s (8501- the North Western for movement between Chicago & North Western's order for 12 8530) has begun to cycle through the Pro­ Chicago and Superior. These trains operat­ new General Electric C40-8 locomotives viso diesel shop for wheel truing and ed as CNDTR (CN Detour) symbols behind (8531-8542) was delivered to Proviso via flange cutting. The units experienced few CN and GTW power while on C&NW rails the daily Norfolk Southern transfer dur­ mechanical problems during their first and moved through yards without per­ ing late August and early September. year of service which, along with pulling forming local work. At least two of the The railroad didn't waste any time get­ capacity exceeding that of an SD60, ex­ trains were powered by CN's unique Gen­ ting the new units on the road. By Sept. plains C&NW's decision to buy more. eral Electric Dash 8-40CM locomotives: 10, nine of them were at work on the There are reports that management is One westbound CNDTR spotted at Rock, coal line, while just-delivered 8540 and considering an order for eight more C40-8s Wis., meeting an eastbound CNDTR had 8541 had been placed on the ECPPC coal to stay ahead of future growth in coal traf- Dash 8-40CMs 2409 and 2410. Other trains were powered by consists of wide-nose CN SD40-2s and GP40-2s. Some, if not all, of the trains C&NW received apparently operated via Conrail and Indiana Harbor Belt between Niagara Falls, N.Y., and Pro­ viso. By Aug. 21, the blockade apparently had been removed, permitting CN to dis­ continue the detour movements.

Clinton Shop Secures Outside Contract " ,er1l ioi\wO't ..I e\\s & ~os t tfti1lero\ 1. Chicago & North Western's car shop at t (e1l,ro , S Clinton, Iowa, was recently selected as o~rood,1e~oS 0' ~ the contractor for refurbishing 174 box­ \ - (hO\lO{{o\ "iu1I1Ii1l9 b,r ~o\. ~\.US 27 cars owned by Northwestern Oklahoma ZULEKA PRODUCTIONS P.O. BOX 472 BROWNWOOD, TEXAS 76804 Railroad. The shops will install new inte­ rior end linings and repair and caulk car Add $3.00 shipping. Check or money order. Texas residents odd 7.25%sales tox floors, in addition to sandblasting, paint-

14. NOVEMBER 1990 Scheduled C&NW Trains In and Out of Proviso Yard INBOUND OUTBOUND

SYMBOL TIME FROM SYMBOL TIME TO REMARKS CYPRA 12:01A Clinton PRCYA 3:00A Sterling/Clinton West Chicago block. CBPRA 2:30A Council Bluffs PRNPT 5:00A North Platte From CSX, GTW and Janesville/ Belvidere autos. DMPRB 9:00A Des Moines 5MBEQ 8:40A Belvidere Connects from CR ELPR. NPPTA 1:00P North Platte (UP) PRNPA 9:00A North Platte Connects from CSX, GTW. NPPRA 2:00P North Platte (UP) PRCBA 1:30P Council Bluffs Connects from ELPR. MAPRA 3:00P Madison, III. PRKWA 1:30P Kansas City To SSW, from GTW "Scat " train. DMPRA 7:00P Des Moines PRNPB 3:30P North Platte Cedar Rapids TOFC, W. Chicago blocks, IC transfer. EMPRA 8:00A East Minneapolis BUMAA 9:00P Madison, III. Originates Butler (Milwaukee). GBPRA 9:00A Green Bay PRDMA 11:00P Des MOines/K.C. JAPRA 1O:00A Janesville ELNPA 11:30P North Platte Elkhart run-through; CSX cars. ITPRA 10:00A Itasca (Duluth/Sup.) PRJAA 1:15A Janesville 115-car limit. NOPRA 11:00A North Ave. Yd .. Chi. PRGBA 4:00A Green Bay Appleton block. GBPTA 6:00P Green Bay PRITA 6:00A Duluth/Itasca Butler and Adams blocks. BUMAA 6:00P Butler (Milwaukee) PRJAB 1:30P Janesville Madison and Rock Springs blocks. JAPRB lO:00P Janesville PREMA 2:00P East Minneapolis Waukegan, Eau Claire and St. Paul blocks. IHB Trf. 5:00A IHB PRGBB 6:00P Green Bay Mitchell (Milwaukee) block. Job 72 Noon CSX Barr Yd. PRNOA 11:30P North Ave. (Chi.) Soo interchange, Elk Grove cars. NSPRA Noon NS PRNSA 1:00A NS via IHB Connects GBPRA, ITPRA. EMPRA. BEPRA. GTW 371 3:00P GTW Job 72 1:45A B&OCT Job 79 4:00P IC PRE LA 2:00A Elkhart Connects GBPRA, EMPRA, CBPRA, NPPRA. CSX 383 5:00P CSX Job 79 5:30A Wood St./IC ELPRA 9:00P CR, Elkhart Yd. Job 14 9:00A Conrail Selkirk, Buffalo blocks, connects NPCRA. PIPRA 1O:00P CR, Pittsburgh CSX 382 lO:00A CSX via B&OCT Connects NPPTA. ITPRA. EMPRA. BRCTrf. lO:00P Clearing Yard PRPI 1O:00A CR (Pittsburgh) PRGTA 1:00P GTWvia IHB Connects Des Moines trains, NPPRA. BRCTrf. 6:00P BRC via IHB Usually employs BRC Alco C424s ing and stenciling the car exteriors. After a-week road train in each direction, but as Operations between Rapid City and the units are released, they are expected C&NW retained all local service rights it Chadron are provided by a once-a-week to be assigned to paper service. Fifteen performs the industry switching. General­ local which has been arriving on Wednes­ employees were recalled to work for this ly, two Geeps are stationed at the round­ days and departing on eight hours rest. project, which is expected to run from house (a couple miles northwest of the SD40-2s and GP40s have been powering Aug. 1 through November. The Clinton fa­ yard) to make up and break up the DM&E this train. cility has won other contracts for repair of trains and serve the North Western's cus­ foreign-line and private cars over the past tomers, including the South Dakota few years. Cement Plant, which has a 65-ton Porter Quarterly Financial Report switcher to spot cars at its facility. Service on the north-south main is pro­ Chicago & North Western Holdings Corpo­ Garbage Transfer Facility Planned vided out of Belle Fourche, S.D., 50 miles ration, C&NW's parent company, an­ northwest of Rapid City. About five loco­ nounced its second quarter 1990 earnings North Western announced in August that motives are based at this point, primarily on Aug. 9. The news was positive, as net a group of independent Chicago-area Geeps and GP40s. The service cycle be­ income of $3.1 million for the quarter ex­ waste disposal companies plans to devel­ gins at night, when a train heads north­ ceeded the net income of $2.6 million op a 30-acre truck-to-rail garbage recy­ west to the bentonite mines, exchanges recorded (presumably by CNW Corp., cling and transfer facility at the dormant empties for loads, and returns to "Belle" Holdings' predecessor) in 1989. Revenue 40th Street Yard on Chicago's West Side. around 8 a.m. Another crew then takes for the quarter increased from $242.5 mil­ Garbage trucks will deliver the refuse to the train down to Rapid City, switching lo­ lion in 1989 to $243.1 million in 1990, the facility, where recyclable materials will cal customers along the way, and returns while operating cash flow rose 31.5 per­ be separated and the remaining material to Belle in the afternoon. cent, from $48 million in 1989 to $63.1 mil- compacted for rail shipment to distant landfills. The new facility, to be named the North West Center for Recycling, will han­ dle about 1,000 tons of waste per day when opened and about 5,000 tons when fully developed. The Zoning Board of Ap­ peals of the City of Chicago approved the proposed facility on July 6.

NEW ENGLAND Rapid City Review RAILROADING 1991 CALENDAR A rarely visited North Western outpost is 12 Full Color 8" x 10" captioned photos Rapid City, S.D., junction of the north­ $6.00 Post Paid U.S. Only south line from Dakota Junction Canada $7.00 Postal Money Order (Chadron), Neb., to Colony, Wyo., and the east-west line from Winona, Minn., that Please allow 3·4 weeks delivery was sold to Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern CARSON HOME VIDEO Dealer inquiries are invited in 1986. The DM&E provides much of the BOX 42582, Phila., PA 19101 Mystic Valley Railway Society, Inc. railroad action in town with its five-days- P.O. Box 486, Hyde Park, MA 02136-0486

PACIFIC RAILNews • 15 lion in 1990, due largely to a 6.9-percent steel and bulk and consumer commodities Western station in Rochester, Minn., was reduction in operating expenses (exclud­ were soft. Revenue from the Wyoming originally constructed by CGW predeces­ ing depreciation). Net interest expense in­ coal line declined slightly. sor Winona & Western. Donald E. Vaughn creased from $12.7 million in 1989 to $42.1 has informed us that the station in ques­ million in 1990, reflecting the debt from tion was in fact built by another CGW pre­ last year's buyout. -Errata cursor, the Minnesota & North Western. Holdings reported that C&NW's grain Thanks to Randy Keller, Bob Stein, THE and coal traffic was strong during the first In a recent column, we erroneously report­ N ORTH WESTERN D ISPATCH, Donald E. half of 1990, but movements of iron and ed that the extant former Chicago Great Vaughn, Bob Baker and Karl Rasm ussen. SOO LINE

to be seen if this corridor, in all or part, is the equation. There is the possibility that Line Sale Termination Impacts economically viable in light of Soo's new certain traffic not sensitive to time could relationship with CP Rail, as well as the remain on Soo between Kansas City and Soo Line's failed attempt to sell the Chica­ new arrangement RGI has with EN." A Chicago. One would assume that both go-K.C. line to Rio Grande Industries has significant shift in operating and market­ companies will examine ways to handle left the company facing some tough deci­ ing strategies will not take place until wheat and corn traffic on long-haul con­ sions about the future of the route and the sometime in 1991, however, as Soo and SP tracts benefiting both properties. direction of the entire company. Perhaps had previously established a VCA which Perhaps the second most expensive im­ the following quote from Soo President does not expire until sometime next year. pact of this action on Soo is the need to Edwin V. Dodge is an indication of the un­ It is speculated the new arrangement develop a new motive-power strategy for certainty facing the company in the com­ between EN and SP may necessitate cer­ the future. The imminent expiration of the ing year. "The business reasons which ini­ tain "concessions" to Soo in order to gain lease on the 64-unit MP15AC fleet is of tially prompted us to sell the line have not the latter's approval of the ultimate operat­ paramount concern to the mechanical de­ changed. This is a highly competitive cor­ ing agreement. One of the possible benefits partment. It was hoped the best of the ridor with excess capacity. It still remains to Soo could be the transfer of additional GP9s as well as the planned fleet of CAT coal traffic onto Soo from adjacent EN lines. rebuilds could hold down switching One such route being studied involves the chores with the remaining SW1200s and Wisconsin Power & Light trains originating the pair of ex-MN&S SW1500s. Retention at Colstrip, Mont., on EN and terminating of the Kansas City line also forces Soo to on Soo at Columbia, Wis. Rather than using examine the future utility of the GP40 the current route which employs former fleet, which is hovering around 30 service­ Milwaukee Road trackage between Terry, able units at present. Mont., and Minneapolis, EN could reroute traffic on the former NP across North Dako­ PACIFIC NORTHWEST ta to Fargo. Former GN trackage would be Impact of CP Rail Blockage HEADQUARTERS FOR: employed south to Aberdeen Line Junction (Tintah, Minn.), where Soo property would Due to the blockade of CP Rail's transcon­ MODEL TRAINS be accessed for the eastward trip via Glen­ tinental main line near Long Lake, Ont. , by wood to Minneapolis. (This plan would al­ Indian groups on Aug. 15, Soo participated BOOKS low Soo to "market" the portion of the line in over two weeks of detour movements VIDEOS from Ortonville to Minneapolis as speculat­ between Winnipeg and Windsor. Soo re­ ed previously in PRN.) ported the first relocated train crossed into 725 ROW RIVER ROAD While EN may cooperate with interline Minnesota early on the 17th. One of the COTTAGE GROVE, OR 97424 coal movements for Soo, no specific ideas first eastbound detour trains was spotted have surfaced relative to SP's input into in St. Paul early on the 18th, as CPR No. I.:iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii (503) 942-5117 iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii;:J PASSENGER TRAIN ANNUAL 1990 The ever-popular PASSENGER TRAIN AN­ muter; u.s. and Canada). NUAl returns once again, filled with 64 • TODAY'S PASSENGER SCENE-The pages of first-cl ass color and black & white surprising variety of rail activity in this age photography! It's time to sit back and of Amtrak and commuter authorities. enjoy images from all across the U .S. and 64 pages, 75 B&W and 35 color photos by Canada, brought to you from the publish­ noted rail photographers. 8'hxll" soft­ ers of Passenger Train Journal. This year's bound with color cover. ANNUAL includes : PlJ 490 (Ready October) (add $2 p / h) . . . . 18.95 • ILLUSTRATED COMMUTER RAIL ROS­ TER-Covering all active commuter rail Write for free color catalog. equipment, such as Chicago's Metra, Bos­ See your dealer first. Californians add sales tax . ton's MBTA, CalTrain, New York's Metro­ North , more. STILL AVAILABLE - PASSENGER • EARTHQUAKE '89-An account in TRAIN ANNUAL 1988. 80 pages! words and pictures of the Bay Area's Octo­ B488, S2 p / h . .. ON SAlE 9.95 ber 17 (almost) " Big One." • NRHS CONVENTION 1989 1 ASHE ­ rmY) INTERURBAN VILLE, N.c.-The events at the gathering. ; PRESS • THE HERITAGE YEARS-A photo­ • PO Box 6 44 4. Glendale CA ~1225 graphic essay of passenger trains (steam , - ., : 18181 240·9130 FAX (8 18) 240 ·5436 diesel, and electric; intercity and com- ~

16 • NOVEMBER 1990 i SAVE uiiI. $$$ wMl BOOKS & TAPES Prices shown are for check or VIsa/Master Card. 11 S Add 2 SO per tapc Qrder ,bpg Canada $5.1book order + $1 ....ch h.cn book; Canada #3/Tape order. Minn. re.ldont. add 6% .ale. tax. Send SAE ror complete free Video and/or book lI.t. YIDEO RAIl S VIDEO TAPES Blue Mounlaln-UP, Vol I, or II .et 42.95 Golden Age SP Steam Vo l III 33.95 Montan Rail Link 42.95 Challenger UP 4.6-6-4 33.95 Battle Up Sherman HIli 60 min 42.95 PENTREX VIDEO TAPF-S St. Loul. Steam Celebration NRIIS 26.95 Best 1989, SF, CSX, .team 2 hrs 35.95 Sand Patch (CSXIB&O) 60 min 31.95 Today'. St. Loul. RR. 60 mn 31.95 BERKSIllRE PROD TAPES Berea Interlocking 60 min 24.95 Cllmbln To The Canyon (Grd Cnyn) 33.95 1I0PEWEI L YIDEO TA PES Great Model Railroads Vol 5, 6 ••• 35.95 Sanla Fe Salut. 60 min excellent 35.95 MISCTAPES Narrow Rail. Stili Shine Colo NG 35.95 Monon--She's a Hoosier Line 57m 29.95 Mllepo.t 100, SF 1968, 27 min. 19.95 Georgetown Loop RR 25 .00 WB VmEO TAPES IIlue Ridge Steam N&W 82 min 51.95 Steam Over Sherman·-UP Steam. 'SO, 44.95 Ul' La.t Steam Giant., 24 min 21.95 Rio Grande NG In 1950'. 58 min. 44.95 Salute to Soldier Summit 60 min 44.95 I crend Rio Grande Zephyr 52 mIn ..... ii..2.5. GREEN FROG PRODUCTIONS Sanla Fe Odyssey Vol I (2 lape.) 88.00 Calif Zephyr, 60 min 43 .95 SCIIO! I . YIDEO PRODUCfJONS Early Dle.el., 90 min 40.45 Steam In St. Loul. 1990 25.95 UP Steam Vol I & II set ii...2..5. ~ listed below are 10% below lI.t price, add $2.5010rder UI'S ';new Overlands "lst Ten Years U Sen 9.95 Turbine. Westward, UP 184pp '36.00 CaJon--A Pictorial Album 184p '46.95 Those Amazing Cab Forward., 160p '27.95 Omesl Pull'n Lib Vol 9 C&NW '35.00 Penn.y Dle.el Yrs Vol III color '38.95 Dle.el Builders, Vall F-M/Llma '30.95 Budd Car.-RDC Story, 232 pp '42.50 Lackawanna RR In Color, -37.95 Conrail Vol 2 1983-90 color '33.95 Conrail Vol I 1976·82 color '33.95 Vol 8 Pullman Std Lib Rock Island $35 Milwaukee Rd Remembered 168pp 33.95 The Rio Grande Southern 280pp 39.95 lIIstory UP In Cheyenne 89.95 kRg Land Variety, RR of S. Dakota 25.75 Mainline Steam Revival, Ziel 208p 33.95 Kearney & Black 1II11., UJ' 414pp 49.95 N&W lst Generation Dlescis, 288p 39.95 Plttsbur~h & W. Virginia RR 384p 41.95 Green lIay & Westn Flr.t 111 yr. 41.00 Boston & Maine, P. lIasting. 39.95 Train. of America, color 34.95 High Green to Marceline, SF color 41.95 Katy Power 1912-1985, Coilla. 29.95 Not all railroad tunnels bore their way through mountainous obstacles. 500 Line's 950 train The T&P RR 1925.1975, Colli.. 38.95 emerges from the Westminster Street Tunnel-which lies below the east arm of the wye at The Great Northern RR, Wood. 63.50 Westminster Street Tower-just north of downtown St. Paul, Minn., on April 22, 1990. Powering Santa Fe Pre.cott & l'hoenlx Ry 33.95 Pennsy Steam A to T 208pp 30.95 the train is SD60M 6062. Steve Glischinski Featber River Rte, Part I 160p 35.95 NYC Lightning Strip' 1944·64 37.95 Motive Power of the UP, Kratvllle 34.50 406 (a solid consist of containers) was change at Noyes, Minn. CP Rail run­ N&W Giant of Steam, Jerrrles.333p 34.50 handled with SD40-2 6034, SD40 5509 and through power was not used due to the IIeteh lIetchy & Its Dam RR, 298p 45.95 C630 4503 . A second eastbound (CPR No. bridge restriction at Sault Ste. Marie. Pennsy Dle.el Yrs Vol I or II ea 39.50 SOIT COYER I!OOKS ,add S2Jorder .hpg 472) departed St. Paul early in the Additional detouring of CPR manifest Turbines West, UJ' 184pp .. reprlnt 27.00 evening, with SD40-2s 6017/5629 and trains in the 400-series continued on Soo UP Steam Roster 1915·90.reprlnt 16.95 SD40 5514 leading 60 loads of containers. until Aug. 31 , even though the CPR Qtr Century of SI' Con.lst. 208p 14.25 Alliance & Everywhere West 164p 22.50 The last eastbound noted through the transcontinental main line was reportedly Caboose. of Nil & NYC 72pp, color 11.95 Twin Cities on the 18th was CPR No. 404. opened on the 27th. The majority of the Story of the Cal Zephyr Zimmerman 10.50 The only westbound detour on the 18th power used on these trains were Paclnc 2572'. Famlly Album 21.95 Ul' Frcight Cars, Metcal fe, 216p 20.95 arrived in Minneapolis over WC , having SD40/SD40-2s, although several Grande Gold, Payne 120pp 16.95 operated via Sault Ste. Marie and Neenah, C630/M630s and at least one M636 and T,.cklng Ghost RR In Colo. 164p 13.95 Wis. The 73-car train, consisting primarily GP38-2 were reported in the U.S . Pin inter­ of pigs and containers, was handled into esting side effect of this detouring is that Perry's Hobbies the Twin Cities behind WC SD45s 6537 CP Rail may consider routing some Toron­ 114 Vernon Ave., P.O. Box 68P and 6559, while Soo SD40-2s 781 and 783 to-Western Canada traffic via Chicjigo and 24 Hr. FAX (507)249-3244 forwarded the traffic to the CPR inter- Continued on page 35 • Morgan, MN 56266 (507) 249-3173

PACIFIC RAILNews • 17 ATEWAY TO

--In what might better be compared to the rise of the Phoenix, that bird of mythol­ ogy which rose from the ash­ es, a new railroad was born todayfrom theformer Chica­ go, Missouri & Western Rail­ way. The new company will be known as the Gateway Western Railway. ~

he year 1990 was only a few days old when the first agreement, had reached a long-sought gateway and an old lines of a press release announced the end of the Alton route slogan, "The Only Way," took on new meaning. CM&W and the birth of the Gateway Western. The In the first few months of Gateway Western ownership, T new company emerged with CM&W's western half road train operations were not much different than in CM&W and a long-term contract with Santa Fe for hauling freight be­ days. Six or seven locomotives led a single, massive way tween Kansas City and East St. Louis, Ill. freight each way daily over the 325-mile Kansas City-East St. The preceding two months had brought drastic changes to Louis route, picking' up and setting out cars for local trains at the beleaguered CM&W. On Nov. 8, 1989, Southern Pacific Slater and Mexico, Mo ., Roodhouse, Ill., and Wann, an SP-op­ (through SPCSL Corp., an invisible SP subsidiary) took control erated yard northeast of St. Louis. Regularly scheduled KCSL of the CM&W East St. Louis-Chicago line, moving four daily and SLKC were supplemented by Santa Fe-powered extras on road trains off the CM&W. Not included in SP 's purchase were several occasions in March, but by early April business had locomotives, cars, and track equipment, which gathered in increased enough that blue-and-yellow AT&SF locomotives long, ominous lines in East St. Louis. Five days later, only began visiting the St. Louis area daily on new Gateway West­ hours before the remaining CM&W system would have shut ern trains 332 and 233. Gateway Western's own GP38s and down due to lack of operating funds, Santa Fe began volun­ GP40s became standard power after a few weeks. tary directed service over the line. This action brought few As the train symbols might suggest, 332 and 233 carry visible changes to the property; the CM&W name, diesels, Santa Fe cars in addition to GW's own TOFC traffic and use and East St. Louis-Kansas City operations remained intact as Argentine Yard instead of GW's 12th Street Yard in Kansas the line awaited sale through the rest of 1989. City. Both stop at Venice for intermodal and steel coil busi­ New York investment group Wertheim Schroder & Co. ness, and work as needed at Wann, Roodhouse, Mexico and (kIJ,own for financing regionals Montana Rail Link and Slater. At Argentine, power from inbound 233 proceeds di­ Wheeling & Lake Erie), which had originally bid for the en­ rectly to eastbound 332's train. tire CM&W, completed a $22 million purchase of the East St. In May, Santa Fe-powered unit coal trains began using Louis-Kansas City route on Jan. 9, 1990. Operations under Gateway Western to the Illinois Central at East St. Louis for the employee-chosen Gateway Western Railway name began eventual delivery to the Newton power plant at Lis ., Ill. The the next day, making GW the line's sixth owner in 50 years, 11O-car trains originate at York Canyon, N.M.; they are bro­ succeeding CM&W, Illinois Central Gulf, Gulf, Mobile & Ohio, ken down to 55-car strings on the GW. Frequency of these un­ Alton, and Chicago & Alton. Shortly thereafter, a large adver­ scheduled train has varied from one to three per week. Addi­ tisement in the ST. Lams PosT-DISPATCH featuring Santa Fe tional overhead sulfur and potash trains began operating in diesels under the Gateway Arch announced, "We're Glad To September at the rate of one per week. These trains are re- Be In St. Louis." Though neither Wertheim ceived at Argentine and delivered to CSX in Schroder nor Gateway Western are owned East St. Louis. by Santa Fe, the AT&SF, through its haulage BY SCOTT MUSKOPF Gateway Western's approximately 400

18. NOVEMBER 1990 THE EAST

LEFT: The look of new regional Gateway Western, worn by GP40 3008, is reminiscent of predecessor CM&W and fallen flag Nickel Plate as the unit and roster mates idle at the East St. Louis locomotive servicing facility on June 15, 1990. ABOVE: Gateway Western's KCSL makes its way toward St. Louis just west of Centralia, Mo., on Aug. 19, 1990. Powering this mixed-manifest freight is an impressive set of six locomotives wearing a mixture of GW/CM&W black and yellow, Conrail blue and Illinois Central Gulf orange and gray. Both photos, Scott Muskopf

PACIFIC RAILNews . 19 LEFT: Gateway Western black-and­ yellow 3013 leads the eastbound KCSL over the Missouri River bridge near Glasgow, Mo., on Aug. 19, 1990. Scott Muskopf BELOW: Gate­ way Western's 233 train is bound for Kansas City on July 8, 1990, but first must stop at GW's Venice, III., inter­ modal terminal to pick up cars. The train is led by No. 2036, the only CM&W maroon unit still on the GW roster. Paul Fries RIGHT: Before con­ tinuing on to Kansas City, Gateway Western's 233 train is bound for Kansas City on Aug. 12, 1990, but first must stop for a crew change at Mexico, MO.-at 1:50 a.m. On the pOint is GP38 2028, fully painted and lettered for GW. Scott Muskopf route-miles are divided into three districts: the Kansas City District extends from KC. to Mexico, the Springfield District runs from Mexico to Cock­ rell, and the Carrollton District extends south from Roodhouse to Godfrey. Two-person crews are used on road trains, with three usually assigned to the locals. Crews change at the classic two-story brick depot in Mexico, whose peeling signboards still reveal various pre­ decessor names and initials. Mexico is also home base for MEME, one of three locals patrolling Gate­ way Western. ME ME works the 24-mile Fulton branch and the main line between Clark and Louisiana (on duty at the depot 11 a.m. weekdays). Farther west at Slater, another local, called for 9 a.m., covers the sparsely populated main from Arm­ strong to Kansas City. It carries the symbol SRKC Mondays and Wednesdays from the Slater depot, and KCSR out of KC. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The local operates as a turn on Fridays, serving customers east of Slater as SRSR. One local and one road freight now originate at the former division point of Roodhouse, Ill. An abandoned For the first three months of 1990, a Roodhouse/Jack­ turntable, roundhouse foundations and a trackless diesel ser­ sonville turn, called "L101" by crews, originated at East St. vice area are about all that remain from the tiny junction Louis. Symboled SLRH and SLJV on alternating days, the town's busy past. A stretch of track long known as the "Air overnight job was unique in that its trips to Jacksonville were Line," once part of the KC.-Chicago main of GW predeces­ made almost entirely on trackage rights. Due to track condi­ sors, now functions as a branch to Springfield, Ill., from the tion on GW's Murrayville-Jacksonville Branch, SLJV used wye with the KC.-East St. Louis line at Roodhouse. The Air Southern Pacific from Godfrey to Girard, then BN to reach Line is used by road freight RHSP, on duty at Roodhouse Jacksonville. As rehabilitation progressed, the branch re­ about noon Monday-Saturday. It runs 40 miles east to the end opened, and in early April L101's home base was moved to of GW track ownership at Cockrell, five miles west of Kansas Roodhouse. The local goes on duty at 6 p.m. and works south City Junction on SP's ex-CM&W Chicago line. Trackage rights to the Mead Packaging plant in Godfrey on Mondays, over SP from Cockrell extend through Springfield to Ridgely Wednesdays and Fridays and northeast to Jacksonville on Yard on the city's north side, where interchange is made with Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Its symbol is now SP. Gateway Western carloads for Chicago are handled on SP RHRH, but it is usually referred to as an extra. trains under a haulage arrangement. After reaching Ridgely, Unlike other Illinois Central Gulf spin-offs that took Paduc­ the train returns south as SPRH, working connections with IC ah rebuilds for power, CM&W chose unrebuilt former Western and Chicago & Illinois Midland before leaving the capital city. Pacific GP40s and Conrail GP38s for its road fleet, and ex­ Tie-up is made late in the evening back in Roodhouse. P&LE SW1500s for yard switchers. The road units, especially

-20. NOVEMBER 1990 the GP40s, arrived in advanced stages of deferred mainte­ ty. Whatever color the paint, an immediate change with GW nance. Forces at the single-track enginehouse at East St. ownership has been a cleaner locomotive fleet. Units are now Louis struggled to keep the ragged-looking engines operable, hand-washed both for safety considerations and employee performing heavier classes of repairs than originally intended morale. There are no plans for Santa Fe power to eventually for the facility. To their credit, locomotive reliability improved replace Gateway Western's, but the increasing number of in 1989. Also that year, nine locomotives returned from vari­ Santa Fe overhead trains will often use AT&SF power. ous outside contractors wearing a new paint scheme nearly A major obstacle to the disposition of CM&W's plant was identical to the last used by the Nickel Plate in the early '60s. 32 miles of St. Louis area trackage, the "joint facility " from the Locomotives were not included in the Chicago line sale to junction at Godfrey, Ill. , south to East St. Louis. SPCSL Corp. SP, so CM&W's entire filthy fleet of 61 became Gateway and Wertheim Schroder bids overlapped here, both aiming for Western property on Jan. 10. Gateway Western chose the 38 control of this important corridor which also hosts Amtrak, best units for startup-28 GP38s, four GP40s and six UP, BN, CR and IC . CM&W's former stake in the route was di­ SW1500s- and sent the rest to dead lines in East St. Louis. vided equally between SP and GW, but heavyweight SP won SW1500 1505 was the first sold, moving to Kiamichi Railroad control. The joint facility along with the rest of the new SP in March. The 22 GP40s were next, with 17 sold to Wisconsin Chicago line is under the authority of the former CM&W dis­ Central and five to Morrison-Knudsen. patcher's office in Springfield, assisted locally by the now-SP A modified version of the "Nickel Plate" livery was select­ Wann operator in East Alton and Cotton Belt operators at ed for GW's paint scheme; GP40 3008 debuted the new look SSW's East St. Louis yard. Feb. 13 , and was followed by GP38 2044 (back from accident From Godfrey to Wann, ownership of the single track is repairs) and SW1500 1501 in May. The switcher was the first split 50/ 50 between GW and SP. Amtrak is the only tenant complete repaint by GW's East St. Louis shop. Summer 1990 here; its trains stop at the ex-GM&O station on the outskirts painting projects produced 1500 and 2028 ; two more GP38s, of Alton. The 12.8 miles between Wann and WR tower in 2041 and 2034, will be rebuilt and repainted in 1990, with Granite City are operated as a double-track main, although 2022 scheduled for early 1991. Current plans call for all re­ the northbound track is owned and maintained by Conrail building work to be done in-house at a rate of about six per and the southbound by GW and SP. year, with some repainting work to be contracted. Track ownership is again split between SP and GW from Remaining CM&W "NKP" diesels are having their cabside WR tower south 12.3 miles through East St. Louis Yard to the emblems replaced with the GW arch logo as an interim timetable location of Church in Centreville, Ill. , where Illinois scheme. Most locomotives retain their original Conrail blue or Central's line begins. Even though the SP dispatcher controls Penn Central black and have simply had CMNW reporting train movements, SP trains do not often use this segment, marks painted out and GWWR marks applied. One of much of which runs through vacant land in Brooklyn and East CM&W's maroon-and-red units, 2036, remains on the proper- St. Louis once packed with interchanges and yards of virtual-

PACIFIC RAILNews. 21 GATEWAY WESTERN RAILWAY

KANSAS

ABOVE: Gateway Western's 233 train is just starting its journey to Kansas City as it passes through Valley Junction in East St. Louis. Santa Fe units (GP38u/GP20) power this April 12, 1990, train, but AT&SF locomotives are rare on GW symbols, though often used on over­ head unit trains. Paul Fries BELOW: GW's 332 train follows the Kansas River as it departs Santa Fe's Argentine Yard on Aug. 12, 1990. Shortly, the train will use the Kansas City Ter­ minal for the run to Rock Creek Junction and the start of GW trackage. Scott Muskopf

ly every Eastern railroad. Still active next to a landmark pow­ CM&W, which simply called it "East St. Louis Yard," closed er plant is Gateway Western's Venice intermodal terminal the hump in April 1989 after then-tenant IC shifted to nearby and agency, formerly the site of an enormous AltonlGM&O Alton & Southern Gateway Yard. It is not likely to reopen, but yard and roundhouse. The facility was converted to a piggy­ a portion of the yard remains active handling all GW trains back terminal by ICG, which gradually eliminated the locomo­ and transfer jobs from A&S and Terminal Railroad Associa­ tive terminal in favor of its ex-IC counterpart at East St. Louis. tion (TRRA) . The two terminal roads join GW with friendly Venice was also home to the noted late-1970s ICG "sling­ Santa Fe connections CSX and Conrail, and all other St. Louis shot" piggyback trains to Chicago, and still hosts IC's Mem­ area lines. Gateway Western is not a TRRA owner road since phis piggyback trains III and 112 which use trackage rights ICG elected to retain both its IC and GM&O shares in TRRA from Church. Normally only GW trains 1-233 and 1-332 stop to when CM&W lines were spun off. Two tracks through the work Venice for intermodal. GW yard to Church are part of the SP/GW joint facility, but Gateway Western's main yard is the former IC Valley Yard are used primarily by IC trains to and from A&S or Venice. on the south edge of East St. Louis. It is now flat-switched, On the Kansas City side, Gateway Western trackage be­ but at one time was a bustling IC and lCG hump facility. gins east of the city at Rock Creek Junction where UP and

22. NOVEMBER 1990 To Bloomlnglon. III.

East St. Louis-Kansas City Road Train Schedules To Clinlon, III. WESTBOUND EASTBOUND 233 SLKC KCSL 332 2:30P 00 9:00P 0 0 3:15P LV' 10:00 LV East 51. Lou is ScOOP 6:00A ILLINOIS To Decatur, Ill. 2:00A 9:00A Mexico 10:00A 9:OOP ~ 5·6:00P K.C.·121h 51. 1:00A LV 11:00P 00 10:30A K.C.-Argentine 11:00A LV 9:30A 00

To Des Moines MISSOU~" To We stQU l n c v . MO~f'" ....

To St. louis

To Paducah, Ky.

e r GATEWAY WESTERN TRACKAGE ~ GWWR TRACKAGE RIGHTS OTHER RAILROADS SCANNER FREQUENCY: 161.280 MHz

Mop by Scott Muskopf and Tom Donneman To Du Quoin, III.

AT&SF lines also converge. Kansas City Terminal Railway (of Southern Pacific's former CM&W office in Springfield dis­ which GW is 8.5 percent owner) trackage is used to reach patched the GW system until a temporary installation could 12th Street Yard in the West Bottoms just north of downtown, be established at Roodhouse. Dispatchers are now located at and Argentine across the state line. A cramped yard long the Fairview Heights (IlL) office. Track Warrant Control is used by GW predecessors, 12th Street still handles daily road used to control the entire line except the joint facility, which trains KCSL and SLKC and local business, but the piggyback will remain under SP authority. Outside the joint facility GW ramp was closed and its work contracted to Santa Fe at Ar­ trackage is "dark" territory, signaled only at interlockings and gentine. As a cushion against traffic fluctuations, one or two the moveable bridges at Louisiana, Mo., and Pearl, Ill. locomotives are kept at 12th Street where a small fueling fa­ Company headquarters moved in late April 1990 from cility and turntable are maintained. As the GW/AT&SF rela­ CM&W's former Michigan Avenue address in Chicago to an tionship evolves and traffic growth continues, additional office park in Fairview Heights, in the St. Louis area. Agen­ through trains will operate directly from Argentine, even cies are located at East St. Louis, Venice and Kansas City. The though a complete move to that yard is not planned. Howev­ president of Gateway Western is Reilly McCarren, formerly er, the tight quarters at 12th Street will keep GW on the look­ general superintendent-transportation for CM&W. Most of out for ways to improve its K.C. terminal operation. GW's approximately 200 employees worked for CM&W, ICG When CM&W began operations in spring 1987, one of its and GM&O or IC. first priorities was trackwork on the Missouri line, but budget Gateway Western is unique among regional railroads. Be­ problems and the need to maintain Amtrak schedules forced sides serving as Santa Fe's St. Louis access, GW is the only attention to the Chicago-St. Louis route. While most portions regional line in either the Gateway City or Kansas City. Even of CM&W's system suffered from lack of maintenance, the with these two major railroad centers as endpoints, the road's much-publicized descriptions did not present an accurate pic­ overall character is very rural. The 1980s were rough on this ture of the entire line. And, considering its brief 30-month kind of railroading in Missouri-Katy's St. Louis line was tenure as owner, CM&W received much blame for track con­ pulled up in 1987, and trees grow between the rails on most ditions that were an ICG legacy. of Cotton Belt's ex-Rock Island K.C .-St. Louis route. Gateway Gateway Western is spending $24 million on capital im­ Western management considers it its rural territory an as­ provements in 1990-91, exceeding the purchase price of the set- low property prices and stable workforce make it a good railroad itself. Work is well under way and includes massive location for new industry. tie replacement, roadbed conditioning and 80 miles of contin­ The future looks bright for Gateway Western. The compa­ uous welded rail. Not surprisingly the biggest priority is the ny has a reasonable financial structure and union work-rule East St. Louis-Kansas City main line. The Godfrey-Roodhouse flexibility and reduced crew sizes. Numerous track projects segment will receive 24 miles of welded rail this year and are reversing the effects of years of deferred maintenance. 10,000 ties in 1991 supplementing 28 ,000 installed by CM&W Gateway Western is aggressively seeking new business, re­ in 1989. Additional tie and surfacing work is taking place be­ gardless of customer size. Much of the rural charm that sur­ tween Roodhouse and Louisiana, Mo., and on the west end rounded GM&O survives along Gateway Western in an inter­ between Slater and Yates. A major tie and surfacing project to esting mix of cross-state road trains, small-town local runs, cover the 50 miles from Louisiana to Mexico, Mo ., commenced friendly employees, and a variety of bridges and depots. Bal­ in late summer. Rehabilitation of the Jacksonville branch was ancing dual roles of small customer-oriented regional carrier to be complete by summer 1990, along with tie replacement and Santa Fe bridge line is a challenging task Gateway West­ on the Air Line in the Murrayville area. Improvements to ern Railway has well under control. yards and to the East St. Louis diesel service area have been Thanks to Gateway Western Railway Company for gener­ given a lower priority in favor of additional mainline work. ous assistance with this article.

PACIFIC RAILNews. 23 TOUGH T

BY GREG BROWN

24. NOVEMBER 1990 I M E SIN predictions of large employ- ment losses if the timber supply is constricted have been made An Oregon. California & Eastern east­ by the timber industry. bound empties train departs Hagar siding Environmentalists argue that in Klamath Falls on Aug. 27. 1986. bound for reloading at Bly. Wayne Monger production cutbacks and conse­ quential employment declines are a certainty regardless of the status of the owl. They point / out that as larger old growth is used up, mill machinery for cut- ting these big logs is made ob- solete. To survive, mills must invest in equipment designed for sawing smaller logs, and this new equipment, because of technological advances, leads to significant labor savings. In short, as the big trees disap­ pear, so go the timber jobs. Ac­ cording to environmentalists, this process has been taking place for many years within the industry; owl-related logging reductions will only accelerate an ongoing process, not start a new trend. It is a virtual certainty that the timber supply in the Northwest will be reduced at some allure of an alternative to SP was great, so ground was bro­ point in the future. A reduction in supply will decrease pro­ ken for Klamath Falls Municipal Railway in May i917. duction, which will impact railroads dependent on forest prod­ Not long after construction began, the fledgling line was ucts for traffic. The 1990s will likely see the disappearance of purchased by Strahorn's company, the Oregon, California & many short lines .in the Northwest. A microcosm of this trend Eastern, and the City of Klamath Falls exited the railroad can be seen in south central Oregon and northeastern Califor­ business. Work progressed slowly; after six years of sporadic nia, where three shortline railroads-Oregon, California & efforts, the line reached 38 miles to the town of Sprague Riv­ Eastern, the Nevada-California-Oregon Division of Great West­ er, located on the banks of its namesake waterway. For expe­ ern, and Klamath Northern-tenuously cling to life. dience, a double switchback was used to lift OC&E over Ely Bounded to the west by the Cascade Mountains, to the Mountain, in lieu of the quarter-mile tunnel originally north by the volcanic highlands of central Oregon, to the east planned. Construction then stalled at Sprague River. Despite by the northern edge of the great basin of Nevada, and to the the original intention of OC&E to break SP's monopoly on traf­ south by the lava formations north and east of Mt. Lassen and fic out of the Klamath Basin, Strahorn contracted to sell OC&E Mt. Shasta, respectively, the geographic region known as the to SP in early 1925. greater Klamath Basin was relatively undeveloped until pene­ While the sale of OC&E was pending, Great Northern com­ trated by railroads early in the 20th century. Home to vast pine plicated matters by applying to the Interstate Commerce forests and fertile, grassy meadows, the area experienced little Commission in 1926 to build a railroad from Bend into Kla­ economic growth until railroads provided a conduit for finished math Falls, utilizing OC&E trackage from Sprague River. lumber and agricultural products to flow to national markets. Southern Pacific, which had just built its new Natron Cutoff Railroads are still an important part of the region. The pri­ over the Cascades to Eugene, tried to maintain its monopoly mary north-south West Coast main lines of both Southern Pa­ of Klamath Basin traffic by arguing that GN's line would rep­ cific and Burlington Northern pass through the area, while resent a wasteful duplication of facilities. Bowing to political SP's Modoc Line cuts eastward from Klamath Falls. Most farm pressure to create competition, in 1927 the ICC allowed SP to products from the area are now shipped in trucks, which win the battle, yet lose the war in that GN was allowed track­ have also made large inroads into the forest products traffic. age rights on SP between Chemult and Klamath Falls (an ar­ The three short lines that are the subjects of this story mirror rangement that continues to this day with GN successor this decline, although they still handle outbound and inbound Burlington Northern) and in that SP was allowed to purchase traffic of significance. OC&E only if it sold a one-half interest in the line to GN , thus maintaining a competitive balance. Further, the ICC ordered Switchbacks to Switching: OC&E that OC&E must be completed east to Ely, which was done in November 1928. The arrival of Southern Pacific in Klamath Falls in 1909 Initially, OC&E was operated by SP and GN for alternating started a timber boom that saw an almost immediate ten-fold one-year periods, later changed to five year periods. Lumber increase in lumber production. Despite the prosperity, some and logs were the only on-line traffic to develop. Reputedly, businessmen in the area desired an alternative to SP; after during one month in the roaring Twenties, OC&E moved one all, this was the dreaded, Harriman-controlled "octopus" that billion board-feet of timber. To appreciate this feat, consider had a stranglehold on commerce in California. It wasn't long that a contemporary 75-car OC&E log train carried about one before entrepreneur Robert Strahorn set up shop to promote a million board feet of timber. During the 1920s, five logging rail system that would connect Klamath Falls with railheads railroads were built from points on the OC&E; all were gone in Bend, Burns and· Lakeview. Had anyone in town cared to by the late 1940s. It was one last logging line, built in 1940- check Strahorn's resume, they might have discovered that he 41, that would tap timber supplying the lifeblood of OC&E for had been part of two rail lines that ultimately ended up as the next half century. Harriman possessions, or that the Harriman-owned Union Pa­ The Weyerhaeuser Timber Company spent the early part cific was at two of the proposed railroad's three termini. The of the 20th century amassing extensive timber holdings in

26. NOVEMBER 1990 FREMONT The high-visibility yellow on OC&E 7603

N~TI ONA L stands out against the subdued green-and­ FOREST brown Oregon landscape. Dark skies and heavy winds mean an autumn storm is threatening as a westbound log train passes Olene in October 1980. Wayne Monger

The OC&E had its own modest roster of OREG ON employees who were augmented as needed from the Klamath Falls extra board of the operating railroad. Except CALIFORNIA for log cars, motive power and rolling stock were also supplied by the operat­ ing railroad. Neither GN nor SP allowed ~ TIMBER SHORT LINES frills like track maintenance to disrupt ---OTHER-RAILROADS operations; the railroad was a neglected stepchild of its owners. TIMBER The decade of the 1970s brought :6;: MODOC major changes to OC&E. Weyerhaeuser COUNTRy. purchased the mill at Ely, which was OC&E's only major commercial cus­ S~ORTLINES tomer remaining outside of Klamath Falls. With the national housing market booming, Weyerhaeuser expanded op­ erations at West Klamath, requiring sig­ nificantly more logs to be hauled by rail. Weyco's expansion plans undoubtedly Map by Don Gulbrandsen and Tom Danneman To Flanigan. Nev. created conflict with OC&E owners BN and SP, who were not interested in pumping millions into a branch line to Klamath, Lake and Jackson countie~. With the arrival of GN in nowhere for the benefit of only one customer. The logical so­ Klamath Falls, Weyco built a mill at West Klamath. A high-vol­ lution was to peddle the railroad to Weyerhaeuser, which was ume operation, the new facility had a production capability done effective Jan. 1, 1975. that dwarfed anything else i~:the area-the next four largest The remaining years of the 1970s were the golden age of mills in Klamath Falls equaltiftf

LEFT: The end of an era: flatcars loaded with what may be the last logs hauled by rail in Oregon await departure of the final OC&E Bly Turn at Bly Ore., on April 29, 1990. In the background, TE53s 7602 and 7605 power the train. RIGHT: Great West­ ern-NCO Division train NO.8 is bound for Alturas, Calif. behind Geep 1617 in February 1988. The train is making its first crossing of the Pit River in Northern California, which it will follow into Alturas. Both photos, Greg Brown

cant commercial shipments on OC&E. Surviving timber com­ appeared. On OC&E, many of the railroad's employees, seeing panies during this period were those that could work more the handwriting on the wall, had left for other work. If you productively. On OC&E, trains were limited to approximately were 10th in trainmen's seniority on OC&E in 1985, your num­ 45 cars because that was the capacity of the switchback tail ber would have been a lofty "two" in 1990. Most telling, the tracks. Since lengthening the tail tracks was not practical, in huge old growth logs hauled on OC&E in the 1970s were gone; 1982 a second tail track was put in service on the switch­ mostly smaller, second growth timber was filling bunks on backs. This addition allowed OC&E to roughly double train OC&E log flats. Even though only handling a fifth of the traffic sizes; one crew could now handle almost two trainloads of moved at the line's peak, the track was well maintained. logs. None of the sidings on the line werelengthened; with In early 1990, Weyerhaeuser announced it would halve the long trains unable to make meets anywhere on the railroad, capacity of its Klamath Falls sawmill, putting 390 employees this started the one train a day maximum operation that re­ out of work. Surprisingly, OC&E was not initially mentioned mained to the end. Also, OC&E 's practice of using a second, with the cutbacks. In fact, work was in process at Ely to build mid-train caboose to pilot reverse moves between switch­ a new track to facilitate switching. Then in April, the ax fell backs began at this time. on OC&E. A few final trainloads of logs would be taken out of The additional time necessary to double the halves of the Ely but all log-hauling operations were to cease by May 1. train from switchback to switchback, along with the 10-mph Spotted owls notwithstanding, just as the environmentalists track over the last eight miles into Ely, and Ely's difficult track predicted, once the big trees were gone, the jobs they sup­ arrangement for switching, meant that in normal practice it ported also vanished. was impossible for a crew to run to Bly and back to Klamath The final log trains run by OC&E were notably ironic. Com­ Falls in 12 hours. To stay within the federal hours-of-service monly, the image of a short line's last run is an abbreviated law, OC&E used two crews when hauling logs' out of Ely, train on decrepit track bobbing and weaving into eternity. negating the labor savings of the second tail track. After Wey­ The OC&E's last loggers were full-sized trains cruising at erhaeuser built a log reload at Sycan in 19"86, it wasn't hard to track speed on well maintained right-of-way. At the end, the envision the track east to Bly being removed and the right-of­ railroad had been granted a waiver of the federal hours-of­ way converted into a private truck road. Weyco had done this service law in emergency Situations, since only enough train­ with its logging railroad west of Klamath Falls in the late men remained to fill one crew. The last log train into Klamath 1950s. Although never upgraded for higher speeds, the rails Falls on Sunday, April 29 , 1990, generated a healthy motor­ stayed in place to the end, and the last logs hauled by OC&E , cade, although the vast majority lining the tracks were local came from Ely. residents seeking one last glimpse of the good old days. As the 1980s wore on, OC&E became.? much quieter li.iJ.e. ' Thankfully, the MK's did not sport any contrived "last run" Road jobs were usually run tri-weekly. Presumably, this pattern banners. Except for the skinny logs on the train, the scene was adopted so crews could be called extra, rather than ruIJ­ easily c.quld have been 1982. When the train made its last trip ning regular, bulletined jobs. The pauses between operatIons . to Weyerhaeuser's mill for unloading the following morning, it le.Q.gthened; often, the railroad would be shut down for jIlontns - pa,s,$ed·thfee permanently closed mills. at a time. As the big trees became more scarce, the size of the ,i ', I T'od,ay's OC&E has but one customer, Witco Chemical. Wit­ logs on the train shrank with each passing year. Los.s of the , co 's bulk plant in Klamath Falls is the primary supplier of as­ commercial traffic and second logger eliminated two corre­ phalt for southern Oregon and northern California, guarantee­ sponding yard jobs in Klamath Falls. This made the ex-SCL ing 'l .steady stream of inbound tank cars off SP from spring Baldwins surplus and they were off the property by 1985, sold through late summer for the foreseeable future. The plant is to the Escanaba & Lake Superior. On the Woods Line, three ex­ adja£ent to :~e BN and SP yards and either road could easily BN GP9s replaced the aging Weyco Baldwins. Weyerhaeuser access Witco on existing OC&E trackage. Weyerhaeuser is never wasted a coat of paint on the Geeps; they often slipped obviously not in business to operate single-customer industri­ into OC&E locomotive consists and added a splash of green to al short lines, so the present status of the railroad probably an otherwise yellow MK quartet. In 1987 Weyerhaeuser ended will not last long. Whether BN, SP or a third party will end up its rail operations at Springfield, making the OC&ElWoods Line with this last remnant of the Strahorn System will probably tandem the last log-hauling railroad in Oregon. be decided in 1991. Currently, OC&E switches Witco as need­ As 1990 began, much had changed in the Klamath Basin ed in mid-morning, usually two to three times per week. since Weyerhaeuser bought the railroad 15 years earlier. One Weyerhaeuser has been mum about the fate of OC&E and of every four timber industry jobs in Klamath County had dis- Woods Line. Except for two MK's held in Klamath Falls for

30. NOVEMBER 1990 switching Witco and a train of log flats at Ely, all equipment is threatened the very existence of the railroad. In the early in storage at Sycan. A consultant's report will be sought be­ 1920s, the Moran Brothers of New York, principal owners of fore a final decision regarding disposition is made. Weyer­ NCO , reached their limit-of patience with the situation and an­ haeuser will have to decide if the benefit of allowing the rails nounced the railroad would either be sold or abandoned. to lie fallow for decades until second growth trees are mature The NCO would probably have been finished off by the negates the short term gain from an abandonment, disman­ Great Depression had Southern Pacific not appeared to save tling and liquidation. Whatever the outcome, the images of the day. After completing the N atron Cutoff, SP was looking Oregon's last log hauler will survive long after rails over Ely for a shortcut to the Ogden Gateway for Oregon lumber traffic. Mountain are history. By combining existing SP trackage, the NCO , and the OC&E out of Klamath Falls, just such a line could be opened with a Sustained Unit Sustains Railroad: minimum of new construction. In 1925 SP purchased NCO in Great Western Railway-NCO Division anticipation of this, but the ICC's 1927 decision forcing SP to sell a one-half interest in OC&E to GN killed Lakeview's last Forty miles east of Ely, at the base of the Warner Moun­ chance to be located on a Class I main line. Southern Pacific tains, reposes Lakeview, seat of Lake County. Lakeview is standard-gauged NCO and built a new route between Kla­ home to the county-owned former SP Lakeview Branch, math Falls and Alturas to complete the cutoff. The remaining which stretches 55 miles south to a connection with SP 's NCO trackage north to Lakeview was retained as a branch. Modoc Line at Alturas, Calif. Since Lake County purchased Lumber traffic was the mainstay of SP 's new Lakeview the branch in 1986, it has been operated by Great Western Branch. Several mills at Lakeview and a large mill at Willow Railway of Colorado as GWR's Nevada-California-Oregon Di­ Ranch, Calif. , were the primary sources of traffic. After World vision, a bow to the line's historic past. Unfortunately, if cur­ War II, civic leaders in Lakeview realized the town's contin­ rent trends continue, in a few years it may be easier to view ued prosperity would depend on the vitality of the locallum­ spotted owls in Lake County than trains. As events have un­ ber mills. If Lakeview's modest mills had to compete with folded, the continued existence of the line is dependent on timber giants in Klamath Falls and Bend for logs, they could the unique relationship between the Fremont National Forest not last long, and their collapse would drag the community and the timber industry of Lake County. down as well. The Federal Sustained Forest Management Act If either the Nevada-California-Oregon or Southern Pacific of 1944, which had a goal of preserving rural communities by have their way, Lakeview would be just another station on a providing a stable timber supply, was used to create a Sus­ through route, not the terminus of a lonely short line. In 1912 tained Unit in the Fremont National Forest. Simply put, the the narrow-gauge rails of NCO reached Lakeview. The railway act specified that any purchaser of timber from within the projected a system stretching from its birthplace of Reno, unit area had to manufacture it into lumber in Lakeview or Nev., to the Columbia River, with branches over the Cascades Paisley, a town in northern Lake County. Purchasers of timber to the Rogue and Willamette valleys. Lakeview was where from within the unit could not import federal timber from oth­ NCO's construction budget expired for the last time. Not long er national forests to Lake County for milling. The Forest Ser­ afterward, NCO began paying the price for a 240-mile spur vice, in turn, guaranteed that a minimum amount of timber, line into a virtual wilderness. Deficits piled up; the red ink called the allowable cut, was to be available for bid. This ef-

PACIFIC RAllNews • 31 The sustained unit is only part of the reason Lake County's mills remained healthy through the years. The availability of rail transport, with cheaper shipping costs for long hauls than trucking, kept Lake County forest products competitive in dis­ tant eastern markets. Because of the combination of the working circle and the branch, in the early 1980s five mills were operating in Lakeview, long after similar plants in simi­ lar towns had disappeared. As late as 1974, 3,500 revenue cars moved over the Lake­ view Branch. The general switch of mouldings to piggyback service and the recession of the early 1980s combined to cause severe traffic declines. Alturas had been eliminated as a crew base in the 1970s, so the Lakeview Local had to come all the way from Klamath Falls, increasing costs. Service fell from five days per week in the early '70s to bi-weekly in the early '80s. Worse yet, the line had been shunned by SP main­ tenance forces for the previous two decades. A 199,000- pound weight restriction was placed on the branch because of a weakened bridge near the ex-NCO station in Lakeview; woodchip cars could not be fully loaded. Numerous slow or­ ders were in effect. In 1983, revenue carloadings dropped be­ fectively insulated Lake County mills from competitive forces low 1,500. This was enough for SP-discovering it was in the in the acquisition of raw material. The unit, referred to in same position as the Morans six decades earlier, in 1984 the Lake County as the working circle, has been criticized for de­ railroad announced its intention to file for abandonment of pressing the value of harvested timber, thus reducing rev­ the branch within three years. enue to the federal government. Unquestionably, the unit has Civic leaders in Lakeview formed a committee to come up succeeded in keeping Lakeview's timber industry healthy with alternatives to abandonment. Two viable options were and, in turn, the Lakeview community. Not long after the unit found: contracting for a surcharge with SP, or purchase of the was formed, the large sawmill at Willow Ranch closed perma­ branch for operation as a shortline. Seeing how well sur­ nently-its timber supply was exhausted, and it was fore­ charges had worked to kill traffic on the north end of North­ closed from buying timber in the working circle. western Pacific was enough to select the shortline option.

32. NOVEMBER 1990 LEFT: The ultimate runby at milepost 489 on the Great Western-NCO Divi­ sion. Between Willow Ranch and Davis Creek, Calif., along the shores of Goose Lake, a southbound train -carrying the usual wood prod­ ucts-chases some bovine railfans off the right-of-way on Aug. 9, 1986. BELOW LEFT: Sunset on the Great Western-NCO Division in Lakeview, Ore. on July 15, 1986. GP7 1509 has just switched the mills and made up a train for Alturas. The orange-black­ and-white GWR Geep-showing a small NCO stencil-will depart the following morning with its loads of timber products. RIGHT: Klamath Northern 207 crosses Oregon high ­ way 58 two miles north of Gilchrist Junction, Ore., the shortline's con­ nection with Southern Pacific, on June 22, 1990. All photos. Greg Brown

Finding a new owner would be a challenge. Despite claims equally sharing the 15-percent local match required by the lot­ that loss of rail service could result in closure of two mills and tery. Lake County's grant request was approved in December loss of up to 200 jobs, the Lake County mills determined early 1985 ; SP highballed Lakeview forever on Jan. 17, 1986. on that they would not attempt to purchase the line by them­ Since purchase of the line from SP, additional grant funds selves. The branch was shopped to several shortline railroad have been secured to rehabilitate most of the California track­ holding companies and potential investors, but the line's rela­ age. Also, a new enginehouse has been built in Lakeview. tive isolation and lack of traffic resulted in no serious pur­ Once the final 12 miles into Lakeview are upgraded, the en­ chase offers. Since no new operator was forthcoming, SP filed tire line will have been reworked. It is the county's goal to get an abandonment petition in March 1985. the track in condition so that routine maintenance will sus­ With the mills unwilling to buy the line and no outside in­ tain the railroad indefinitely. Adding to the maintenance bur­ terests seeking ownership, Lake County was courted as a po­ den is the presence of over 30 small bridges on the line. Main­ tential owner of the branch. The county was willing to take ti­ tenance-of-way spurs have been built at Willow Ranch and tle to the line if two major obstacles could be overcome. First, Davis Creek, Calif. In the final SP years, no turnouts were lo­ Oregon municipalities were legally unable to own real proper­ cated between Lakeview and Alturas-54 miles without a ty outside of the state; since most of the branch was in Cali­ single switch! fornia, this was a major problem. More importantly, funding Perhaps the best way to describe the current status of for the purchase had to be secured, as the county had no Lake County's railroad is to say that the line is still an SP funds available to buy a railroad. The county also stressed branch for the most part, with SP not having to assume any that it wasn't interested in operating a shortline and that lo­ direct operating costs. Great Western Railway operates the cal tax revenues could never be used to support the railroad. line as a terminal switching carrier, publishing a schedule of The Oregon Legislature solved the first problem by enacting switching charges; SP absorbs part of these charges, but a law enabling local governmental units to own and operate does not share any rate divisions. The difference between the railroads regardless of location. Funding hinged on locating SP absorption rate and GWR's switching fee is paid by the an entity willing to take a chance on the future of the timber mills as a surcharge. Surcharge funds are used for mainte­ industry in Lake County. This was most appropriate, as rev­ nance, capital projects and contingencies. All cars used on enue from gambling would ultimately provide the lion's share the line are supplied by SP without per diem charges. of funds to purchase the Lakeview Branch. Currently, GWR switches the mills in Lakeview on Tues­ In November 1984, Oregon voters seeking economic day and Friday afternoons; cabooseless road freights to Al­ growth approved formation of a state lottery, with proceeds turas depart the following mornings at approximately 7. Two designated for economic development. A large percentage of venerable GWR Geeps comprise the motive-power fleet. lottery revenues were targeted for infrastructure grants to Trains parallel the Warner Mountains for most of the three­ preserve existing roadways, public utilities and the like. Al­ hour trip, passing along the shore of Goose Lake for nearly 25 though unconventional, 85 percent of Lake County's railroad miles and traversing the short but scenic Pit River Canyon be­ purchase could be so funded. This would benefit the lottery fore arriving at Alturas. With U.S . 395 adjacent to most of the politically, since rural Oregonians were loudly complaining line, following operations is not difficult. that urban areas in the Willamette Valley were receiving an How much longer Lake County forest products will go to undue amount of lottery grants while communities in the market by rail is uncertain. The concept of an allowable tim­ "Other Oregon" outside the valley were languishing. The lot­ ber cut is anathema to environmentalists; virtually all recent tery tentatively agreed to fund the grant request if a purchase sales from the sustained unit have been challenged in court. price was set and a shortline operator was selected. As available timber in Oregon declines, other areas may lob­ The ICC approved SP's request to abandon the Lakeview by for dissolution of the sustained unit. Only three mills re­ Branch in August 1985. Shortly afterward, SP agreed to sell the main active in Lakeview today. Loss of the working circle branch for $550,000, while Great Western Railway of Colorado could decimate the mills and finish off the railroad. Traffic, was selected as the operator ofthe new short line. Four mills in which has never reached even the modest levels handled by Lakeview committed to pay approximately $21,000 each, SP at the end, is currently declining. Lake County is actively

PACIFIC RAILNews • 33 All that is left of a once-mighty log-hauler: OC&E 7604 stands next to a string of asphalt tankers, traf­ fic from the line's only remaining customer, Witco Chemical in Kla­ math Falls. The date is Aug. 12, 1990. Greg Brown

exploring ways to reduce costs on the railroad, including tak­ for conversion into a snowplow. A used Baldwin 40-ton loco­ ing over operation from Great Western. After struggling to motive was acquired from International Paper at Veneta, Ore., purchase its railroad, Lake County now is working hard to for occasional use as KN 206. This tandem served KN until keep service intact. the early 1980s, when the Baldwin was donated to the Cali­ fornia State Railroad Museum at Sacramento and a new GE For Sale By Owner (?): Klamath Northern 125-ton locomotive, KN 207, was delivered. The 70-tonner is still on the property, but unused and for sale. Seventy-five miles north of Klamath Falls lies Gilchrist, the A common carrier, KN had a second source of traffic be­ last company town in Oregon. Home of Gilchrist Timber Com­ tween 1965 and 1977. The Glaneville Box Company operated pany, Gilchrist's rail connection to the outside world is the a mill on the railroad approximately two miles south of 10.5-mile-Iong Klamath Northern Railway. Klamath Northern, Gilchrist. For a time, this facility put more traffic on KN than a subsidiary of Gilchrist Timber, has hauled forest products Gilchrist Timber. Shortly after Glaneville was sold to Brooks­ out of Gilchrist for over 50 years. How much longer it will con­ Scanlon in 1977, the mill was closed and dismantled. Today tinue may well depend on how much longer the Gilchrist fam­ only the remains of the loading dock mark the site. ily retains ownership of the property. Gilchrist Junction is switched by SP's Mowich Local, which With the current uncertainty in the timber industry, many works Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Consequently, owners and stockholders of forest product firms are taking a these are normally the only days KN operates. Usually, the critical look at their investments. For those with an aversion train to the junction operates in the morning, unless it waits to risk, now may be a good time to sell an operating facility for a last-minute "hot load" to be released by the mill. The before the market is glutted with surplus plants and equip­ Mowich Local goes on duty in Klamath Falls at 2 p.m., so KN ment. Those who appraise lumber mills and logging equip­ has almost all day to wait for cars to be loaded and still deliv­ ment are having a banner year in 1990, since it is hard to tell er them to the interchange in time to make their connection. if a purchase offer is reasonable without knowing an accurate Klamath Northern handles about 1,000 carloads per year, value for the property to be sold. which now represents about 25 percent of Gilchrist Timber's Gilchrist is not immune to these trends. The stockholders of production. Woodchip traffic predominates. Gilchrist Timber, most of whom are members of the Gilchrist Railfanning KN is relatively simple in dry weather, as a family, have commissioned a complete appraisal of the mill, dusty service road parallels the tracks from the south end of railroad, townsite and timberlands held by the company. It is mill property all the way to Gilchrist Junction. In wet weath­ stressed that that assessment is not being done because of a er, this road is nearly impassible for most vehicles. Since the pending sale, but so the stockholders can evaluate courses of railroad washes and waxes the 207 on a regular basis, it is as action relative to the value of their investments. If the decision sharp-looking as any shortline locomotive, and KN is reason­ is to sell, will the buyer want to be in the railroad busin~ss? ably tolerant of responsible railfans. For as long as the status This is the uncertain future faced by Klamath Northern. quo is maintained at Gilchrist, Klamath Northern will be haul­ In 1938, to escape high taxes and a dearth of timber, the ing lumber and woodchips to the junction. Gilchrists moved their lumber operation from Mississippi to the present site of Gilchrist. A railroad was built south to the The ultimate fate of these three railroads remains uncertain. Southern Pacific, which named the new interchange Gilchrist While weeds are taking over the OC&E right-of-way east of Kla­ Junction. A single Baldwin 2-6-2, No. 204, migrated west to math Falls, the carrier's present switching operation will likely power the new short line. Only finished lumber was hauled remain indefinitely, albeit in the near future it may be a differ­ by the new Klamath Northern Railway; over 90 percent of the ent company doing the work. Lake County is facing the reality new mill's output was shipped by rail. Somewhat surprising­ of maintaining 55 miles of railroad for only two active shippers ly, movement of logs to the mill has always been done by with traffic declining. Only KN appears secure, and that security trucks. From day one, KN operations were cabooseless, could vanish instantly if Gilchrist Timber Company is sold. Fu­ decades before it became fashionable elsewhere. ture operational changes or cessations will probably occur with Dieselization came to KN in 1955 with the purchase of a very little advance notice. If you have never sampled the short General Electric 70-tonner, numbered KN 205. Concurrently, lines of the greater Klamath Basin, a trip to the area is well the steamer was cut up at the mill, leaving its tender behind worth the effort. You may not have a second chance.

34. NOVEMBER 1990 Continued from page 17 build was used on the Humboldt Transfer supply units for run-through potash trains. the Twin Cities to reduce stress on the job on Aug. 30, operating in a bizarre set Such was the case on the 7th, as No. 670 single-track line north of Lake Superior with SD40-2 6612, GP9 2401 and MP15AC arrived in St. Paul behind SD40-2s during periods of extremely cold w eather 1527. Sister 4301 arrived in St. Paul from 6020/5841/5646. or heavy carloadings. Generation II at Babbitt, Minn., on Sept. 5. A heavy movement of grain has si­ phoned the desirable SD60s off the Sprint trains, with GP38-2s and GP40s commonly Operational Notes used. August 22 found GP40s 2010/2014 CAT Rebuilds Finally Arrive on No. 212, while GP38-2s 4409 and GP40 Soo continues to keep its motive power in 4601 worked No. 213 into Shoreham on The first of the CAT rebuilds, the 4300 offi­ very tight supply, despite the availability the 28th. cially designated as a "GP30-C, " arrived of EMD SD35s and at least four service­ Burlington Northern power remains a in St. Paul on Aug. 17. Resplendent in able 6300-series ex-Milwaukee Road fixture on Sao, including wandering SD40- Soo's candy-apple-red paint scheme, the SD40-2s at Shoreham. SD39s 6240 and 2 7835 as well as many Oakway SD60s 4300 was moved to Shoreham for the in­ 6241 also remain stored at Shoreham, de­ and 9200-series SD60Ms on coal trains. stallation of various equipment compo­ spite many trains held in the yard for lack Thanks to Mike Cleary, Fred Hyde, Soo nents, including ditch lights. After nearly of motive power. Help arrived early in Line Railroad, Tom Robinson, TRAFFIC two weeks under the microscope, the re- September, however, as CP Rail started to WORLD and the W A LL STREET J OURNAL . ILLINOIS CENTRAL

GP8s and GP10s are to be retired later Line Sales Locomotive News this year. The three remaining slugs On Aug. 7, 1990, the ICC approved the $5 As of August, all Illinois Central were retired this summer: BU1 No. 50 million sale of 91 miles of IC trackage locomotives on the active roster had and BU2s 55 and 59 (No. 50 was a for­ from Sullivan, Ind., to Newton, Ill. , and been repainted in the all-black scheme. mer SW1, and Nos. 55 and 59 were for­ from Newton, Ill., to Browns, Ill., to Indi­ There are 81 locomotives in ready stor­ mer SW9s). ana Rail Road, but a group of IC employ­ age, and 17 of these are still in one of Earlier this year, Illinois Central exer­ ees fearing layoffs have filed suit to stop the former ICG paint schemes: SW14 cised the purchase option on 40 GP38-2 lo­ the transaction. The United Transporta­ 1423; GP8s 7713, 7714, 7729, 7907, 7911, comotives in the 9600-9639 series after the tion Union (UTU) also has filed suit in the 7914,7917, 7970 and 7988 ; and GP10s 15-year lease expired. These locomotives U.S . District Court of Appeals in Washing­ Nos. 8220, 8265, 8288, 8316, 8321, 8365 were delivered to ICG in 1974 and were ton D.C. seeking to reverse the ICC rul­ and 8447. As of August, IC owned 573 named after various former IC and GM&O ing. Barring court action stopping or de­ locomotives with 363 in active service, employees. laying the sale, Indiana Rail Road was 26 in shops for maintenance, 81 stored scheduled to take over operations Aug. ready for service, 102 in heavy-bad-order 22 . Several grain companies on the 91 storage and one leased to a private con­ miles of trackage are opposing the sale cern. The HBO units stored are two due to fears that the regional w ill not be SW13s, 12 SW14s, five SD20s, two able to maintain the level of service IC GP35s, one GP40, six GP40Rs, four has provided or that it does not have the SD40s, 30 GP8s, 30 GP10s, two GP11s, resources to provide enough cars for one SD28 (in pieces) and seven GP38s. A grain loading. large number of the heavy-bad-order "CENTURIES of the NORTH WOODS" Another new book from Benchmark Publications, Ltd. A look at the Chicago & North Western's magnificent Alco Century 6285_ Join us as we cover the 67005 operating on C&NWs Up Clear Creek on The Narrow Gauge Lake Shore Division; explore the history of the C628; hit the road for a chase of MODELING THE COLORADO & SOUTHERN train ESGBA (Escanaba to Green Bay Manifest); and talk to the shop personnel Up Clear Creek an th e Narrow by Harry Brunk who maintain the big Alcos. Gauge is the story of the author's $60.00 I hr. 30 min. HOn3 model railroad. He based his Also from East End Productions: Union Central and Northern layout on the Clear Creek District of the 3- "EXTRA 6706 WEST" foot gauge Colorado & Southern Ride the 67005 from Escanaba to Empire Railroad that ran from Golden, Colo­ Mine and return_ See the C628s as the rado, to just beyond Silver Plume. crews see them: from the cab! Find out This book is not just a "how-to-do­ what the people who work with these it" book - it is rather a book of massive locomotives think about them. inspiration and motivation reflecting Then ride the caboose of a loaded ore the author's infectious enthusiasm for train back to Escanaba_ his modeling and his subject. Up $50.00 58 min. Clear Creek is also a history book - Both programs $90_00. __ Save $20.00_ modeling the C&S as it was in the 1920s and 1930s required a lot of research. The authornotonly describes A coll ection of 54 articles reprinted from the bi-monthly the railroad and its equipment, but NARROW GAUGE AND SHORTLINE GAZETTE, January also the houses, churches, mines, and 1980 - January 1989. Including an introduction, layo ut plan, Shot on '%" videotape with businesses along the line. layout photo album and index never before published. broadcast quality camera, Whether you are a model railroad­ professionally edited. er, railfan or just curious about the Send your order to: VHS or Beta. intimate details of the Clear Creek Benchmark Publications, Ltd_ Canyon area of Colorado, you will P_O_ Box 26 $37.25 Postpaid fi nd something of in terest in this book. Los Altos, CA 94023 CA residents add $2.70 Sales Tax P.O. BOX 645 FOX LAKE, It 60020

PACIFIC RAILNews • 35 the main line just north of Kentwood, La., were over 250 cars of grain in Decatur, Ill., Champaign Depot to be Restored at 3:40 a.m. on Aug. 16. The GBM15 was being unloaded at ADM or Stanley and one Two Champaign businessmen, architect also delayed for about three hours due to trainload of potash en route on IC. Neil Strack and physician William Younger­ local police investigating the death. As of the first of 1991 the active fleet of man, are planning to restore the IC passen­ The Freeman United Coal Company cabooses will be reduced to approximately ger station in downtown Champaign, m, Crown ill underground mine at Farm­ 30 for the whole IC system. Currently as a restaurant and office space; the sale of ersville, Ill. , (on IC's former St. Louis main there are a large number of bad-order and the structure was to have been completed line just south of Springfield) may be re­ stored cabooses in Centralia, Ill. by the end of August. IC Assistant Vice opened. Freeman's sales and marketing President G. McArdle said the sale of the staff is working hard to find several new station represented IC's efforts at downsiz­ customers. Should the mine reopen it Locomotive Review, Part 9 ing-selling facilities and property no would greatly increase IC business out of longer needed by the railroad. The building Springfield which now is down to just the This month we will review IC's 9500-series has a total of 36,000 square feet on three Monday-Friday Springfield switcher and GP38s. In 1970, IC purchased 30 new loco­ floors, of which 29,000 square feet will be the local out of Clinton. All Chicago-St. motives-20 were GP38s, adding a new developed for commercial use. The remain­ Louis trains were rerouted over IC south to model to the roster. Units 9500-9519 were ing space on the first floor will continue to DuQuoin then north to St. Louis after the painted in the old IC orange-and-white be used by Amtrak. Strack said the build­ Chicago, Missouri & Western sale. scheme; their maintenance base during the ing is in wonderful condition and over the As of the middle of August, IC car move­ ICIICG years was Woodcrest Shops in years has been well maintained by Illinois ments were ahead of projected figures and Chicago. Over the years, these 20 locomo­ Central; he plans to move his architectural 1990 looks to be a great year for IC grain tives could be found working all over the firm into the building as soon as possible. traffic; with the fall harvest on the horizon ICIICG system in all types of service. In IC should break last year's record move­ 1975, ICG repainted 9510 at the Woodcrest ment of grain. Currently, IC receives a large shops for the Bicentennial and renumbered From Around the System amount of grain traffic from Soo Line in it 1776 with the name The American Eagle. Chicago and C&NW at South Pekin, Ill. Dur­ On March 10, 1975, on its first trip south In the unusual-occurrence department, the ing one day in August the following cov­ from Chicago, the 1776 was heavily dam­ crew of IC's daily northbound New Or­ ered hoppers were en route over IC han­ aged and burned near Brookhaven, Miss., leans-Chicago intermodal train lI0216 dling grain traffic: over 450 Soo cars, 113 after hitting a loaded oil truck. After rebuild­ found a body laying between the rails of Cargill, 237 IC and 150 C&NW. Plus there ing by the Paducah shops in 1976, this unit was returned to service in its original num­ ber and standard ICG paint. To replace the destroyed Bicentennial unit, ICG repainted FIRST - CLASS RAILROAD PINS T. 9503 as the second 1776 in June 1975. After the Bicentennial, the 1776 was returned to The BEST in railroad pins - its original number and ICG orange-and­ RR heralds, name-trains, white. Of the 20 GP38s, only four were let­ manufacturer's logos, tered for ICG over the years: 9503, 9508 and signs, builder's plates, 9510 in ICG orange-and-white and 9512 in and more. ICG orange-and-gray. In 1986, after the 15- Custom pin service for - year lease expired, 9500-9509, 9511 and railroads, tourist railways, 9513-9519 were returned to their lessor and historical societies, clubs, sold to MKT. The 9512 was sold to Helm and museums and conventions. then to CM&W. Only 9510 is still on the ros­ ter (and is currently listed as active); it was purchased from the lessor in 1976 before it See your dealer or order direct - $5.00 each plus $1.00 per order for Postage &. Handling. NO credit cards. Send SASE for updated listing. was rebuilt. Thanks this month to Sonny Sellers Jr., Jon Roma and Brian Carlson. San Diego Trolley

The red trolleys of San Diego have become sury of black & white and color photogra­ a symbol of the success of light rail in the phy, maps, and more, it's a book you West. With steadily increasing ridership, won't want to miss if you're a fan of ambitious expansion plans under way, today's traction scene, the San Diego Trol­ four-car trains in rush hour, high stan­ ley, or just a railroading success story that's dards of maintenance, and the nation's not stopping! highest fare box recovery of any transit 104 pages, 85 B&W and 40 color illusrrations, system , it' s no wonder! Author Gena maps, ridership figures, 8 lh xll" sofrbound Holle takes us through San Diego's transit with color cover. ISBN 0-916374-92-0. yesterdays to the inception of the Trolley, Special 114 (Ready October) ...... 25.95 with a lively and detailed account of the (add 52 p / h) obstacles that had to be overcome along Write for free color catalog . the way. Soon, the red trolleys were run­ See your dealer first. ning on the first line, and since then, Californians add sales tax. there's been no looking back. Double­ tracking of the South Line was followed by the opening of the East Line, and now 1!J~ INTERURBAN even the Bayshore Line is open, and work : PRESS . po Box 6 444. Glendale CA 912 2 5 is under way to extend the Trolley to Old @.. .. - (8 181240·9 130 FAX 18 18) 240 ·5436 Town and beyond. Illustrated with a trea-

36 • NOVEMBER 1990

DENVER. RIO MISSOURI KANSAS TEXAS GRANDE WESTERN The Union Pacific has since purchased Spectacular railroading through the the "Katy" but Pentrex traveled the sys­ Rockies. Travel the Front Ra nge, Royal tem In 1988 before the merger. Witness Gorge and view Amtrak and the famous the famous green paint of the Katy and Ski Train. also its operations through Texas, Okla­ STEAM TO LOS ANGELIS 90 Minutes #PEN-DRGW $59.95 homa and Kansas. The most co mplete coverage of the steam 60 Minutes #PEN-KA TY $49.95 event of 1989. Both the UP 8444 and SP 4449 travel to Los Angeles and their side­ THE AWKA RAILROAD Climb into the cab of an F-unit and ARKANSAS. MISSOURI by-side trip over Cajon Pass is spectac­ travel betwee n Anchorage and Fair­ ular! RAILROAD banks. Plus, visit the Whittier Shuttle This is an "up close and personal"look at 75 Minutes #PEN-LASTEA S29.95 and freight operations. this all Alco railroad. See their Century 90 Minutes #PEN-ALASKA $59.95 420's in action along wi th their T-6 CANADIAN switcher and their RS-I pulling a special DOUBLEHEADER STEAM BRITISH COWMBIA Just for us. Canada's two largest steam locomotives 60 Minutes #PEN-ARK $49.95 the CP 2860 and CN 6060, doublehead RAILWAY ~ Steam, Diesels, Electrics and Alcos in passenger special through British Colum­ action traveling th rough some of North PRIVATE VARNISH ROUNDUP bia and Albert a. The beauty of the two America's most beautiful scenery. This is A g limpse into many of today's private steam loc?motives is matched only by one of our most popular tapes. railroad cars. Shot at the 1985 conve n­ the incredible scenery of this trip. 90 Minutes #PEN-BCRAIL $59.95 tion in Portland, Oregon. Luxury rail 60 Minutes #PEN-CANST $29.95 travel at it 's finest! Ove r 20 cars featured. 60 Minutes #PEN-PVR $49.95 BEST OF 1984 WASHINGTON Feather River, Cajon Pass, Olympic Spe­ CENTENNIAL STEAM cial, Speno Rail Grinder and more. SANTA FE TRAINING The Southern Pacific Daylight 4449 tra­ 90 Minutes #PEN-1984 $49.95 TAPE • ETD/ETM vels over Burlington Northern tracks An in-depth technical training tape pro­ through the Cascade Tunnel in the snow duced by Pen trex for the Santa Fe in for an incredible sight. Steam in the snow BEST OF 1985 operational procedures for their end of BN on Marias Pass, Southern Pacific can't be beat! train devices. Santa Fe, Union Pacific, Amtrak and 60 Minutes #PEN-WASHST $29.95 30 Minutes #PEN-SFETD $30.00 more. Two Hours #PEN-1985 $59.95 UNION PACIFIC 8444·1987 PRMEW TAPE • VOWME 1 The UP 8444 in it's new gray paint BEST OF 1986 Highli gh ts from By Daylight to the Fair scheme. Fast 70 mph running between Alaska Railroad, BC Rail , Best of 84 &. Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, Cheyenne and Omaha. Then a Denver to 85, Private Varnish, STEAM EX PO G P 60 demos, railroading in Chicago, Laramie excursion over Sherman Hill. 20 Minutes #PEN-PREVI $10.00 60 Minutes #PEN-8444 S49.95 SP 4449 to Hollywood and much more. Two Hours #PEN-1986 $59.95 PRMEW TAPE· VOWME 2 Highlights from UP 8444, Cajon & Te­ Over 20 operating steam locomoti ves! BEST OF 1987 hachapi, D&RGW, Best of86&87 Mis- The biggest steam event of the century. UP 8444 and 3985, NY&SW, UP & SP souri Kansas Texas. ' Super Bowl Specials, NRHS Conve n­ See the Grand Parade of Steam and 20 Minutes #PEN-PREV2 $)0.00 close-ups of all locos. ti on with the 121 8 & 611 and California 90 Minutes #PEN-EXPO $59.95 Operation Lifesaver. Two Hours #PEN-1987 $59.95 CAJON PASS/ BEST OF 1988 TEHACHAPI LOOP Cotton Beh 8 19, CSX F-Units, UP 3985, Two of California's most famous rail­ Eastern Canadian Railroads, Mexico roading landmarks. This is a detailed and the Cumbres & Tohec Scenic Nar­ look at Southern Pacific, Union Pacific row Gauge. and Santa Fe operati ons. Two Hours #PEN-1988 $59.95 90 Minutes #PEN-CAJON $59.95

BY DAYUGHT TO THE FAIR ORDER TOl1 FlEE 24 HIS. A AY The world's most beautiful steam loco­ motive. The 1984 trip from Portland to 1·8 ·950· 33 New Orleans. Includes free audio cas­ sette recorded in cab! CAll TODAY FOR QUICK DEUVEIY 90 Minutes #PEN-DA Y $59.95 BRITISH COWMBIA ASSOCIATION OF RAILWAY SERIES AMERICAN RAILROADS 995 DAYS RAILROADS AND This is a complete story of the building of NATIONAL DEFENSE COLORADO'S NARROW the Tumbler Ridge Line. This is the only THIS IS MY RAILROAD • The ation 's railroad played a major GAUGE RAILROADS 50 kilovolt electric railroad in orth SOUTHERN PACIFIC STEAM part in our Nation'sdefense and this film Trave l Colorado's four famous Narrow America. VERSION ·1947 features its contributions. Gauge Lines and visit the Colorado Rail­ 29 Minutes #BCR-995 $19.95 Spectacular Southern Pacific steam 15 Minutes #AAR-DEFEND $19.95 road Museum. In cl uded are the Duran­ abounds in this incredible film produced go & Si lverton Narrow Gauge, Cumbres DAYUNERONE by the Southern Pacific in 1947. It fea­ 225,000 Mill & Toltec Scenic, Georgetown Loop and AND SNOWTRAIN tures every as pect of operations of the PROVING GROUND Cripple Creek & Victor Railroads. Southern Pacific. These are two beautifully produced tra­ This informative 1953 film covers the 55 Minutes #SUB-CNG $39.95 60 Minutes #VFS-STEAM $49.95 velogs of the BC Rail Sys tem. Climb transitional time in American rail history aboard the Budd cars and experience the when diesel was replacing steam. GlACIER EXPRESS beauty of British Columbia. THIS IS MY RAILROAD • 20 M inutes #AAR-GROUND $19.95 Travel aboard the Glacier Express across 37 Minutes #BCR-DA Y $19.95 Switzerland. View the spectacular coun­ SOUTHERN PACIFIC DIESEL tryside on this magnificent journey. VERSION ON THE TRACK SP Cabforwards, steam-powered Day­ 55 Minutes #SUB-GLACIE $39.95 MILE 63.5 The 1950 updated film of "This Is My Witness the rerailment of three diesel Railroad". This version fea tures the first lighls and Black Widow diese ls open this locomotives. It is the dead of winter and generation of diesels as they are being film of the railroad's significant and 252 MPH ON RAILS the efforts to rerail these locomotives is delivered and put to use on the railroad. ongoing role in making America a pow­ In 1988, the ICE broke the current wo rld enormous. 30 Minutes #VFS-DIESEL $39.95 erful nation. A beautiful salute to rail­ speed record traveling an incredible 252 27 Minutes #BCR-63.5 $19.95 roading. mph. Seve nteen camera crews recorded 18 Minutes #AAR-TRACK $19.95 the eve nt! UNCOMMON CARRIER SNOW ON THE RUN 30 Minutes #SUB-252MPH $29.95 The greatest snow fighti ng film ever View the BC Rail operation including UFEUNE OF THE NATION made. Highlighted is the Southern Paci­ their steam, diesel and electric locomo­ Steam powered engines dominate this STEAM IN CHINA tives in this general overview of their rail fic's battle against the snowstorm on Don­ World War II era film. Take a rare view View an incredible assortment of huge system. ner Pass. of the essential role of the railroad in the 18 Minutes #VFS-SNOW $19.95 stea m locomotives pulling freight and 21 Minutes #BCR-UNCOM $19.95 war effort. passenger trains in the dead of winter in 20 Minutes #AAR-NA nON $19.95 China. This is a spectacular tribute to THE SUPER CHIEF China and its steam locomoti ves. Travel aboard the luxurious Santa Fe 80 Minutes #SUB-CHINA $49.95 Super Chief from C hicago to Los ". Angeles. Enjoy the scenery along wi th INDIA·DECCAN the fascinating look of this all stainless Steam is incredible in I ndia and this tape steel train. takes you on a 5-day trai n journey across STEAM ON PARADE 15 Minutes #VFS-CHIEF $19.95 this fascinating country. Travel to New Zealand and view over 50 VINTAGE SERIES 60 Minutes #GRJ-INDIA $39.95 locomotives in this historic accounting COWCTION VOWME I of steam! CHAWNGEFOR Five classic black & white film s of great 60 Minutes #NZ-PARADE $29.95 TOMORROW railroading subjects. From the 1947 SP CONFESSIONS OF A A 1950's lo ok at the Santa Fe's past and film "The Friendship Train" to "Right of TRAIN SPOnER DESTINATIONS prese nt. Warbonnet F-Units and Aleo Way USA" which features rare troop Michael Palin takes yo u on a humorous This is a celebration of 125 yea rs of New PA's abound in this film . train shots. Also included is a 1950 news­ and fascinating train journey the length Zealand Railway. Both passenger and 28 Minutes #VFS-CFT $19.95 reel visit to the famo us Denver & Rio of Britain. freight operations are featured. Grand e Western narrow gauge 60 Minutes #GRJ-ENGLAN $39.95 50 Minutes #NZ-DEST $29.95 along wi th the 1953 film which covers JOURNEY TO YESTERDAY one of the nation's largest ucross roads", Go behind the scenes for a view of the Omaha, Nebraska. More incredible foot­ ANNMRSARY CELIBRATION STEAM UVES ON OF THE GERMAN RAILROAD, 19 50 feature film "Denver and Rio age include scenes from both before and More spectacular footage of steam in Grande". after the 1906 earthquake in San Fran­ NUREMBERG 1985 New Zealand is featured in this beautiful 30 Minutes #VFS-JTY $24.95 cisco, taken from a streetcar traveli ng Witness a great parade of steam locomo­ tape. ·down Market Street. tives and passenger cars in this major 50 Minutes #NZ-LJVES $29.95 65 Minutes #VFS-VOLJ $49.95 event in European railroading. SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA 55 Minutes #SUB-NUREM 539.95 RAIL MICHIGAN ORE UNES TRANSIT RETROSPECTM TRANSPORTATION Featured are the operations of the,Lake An entertaining and educati onal view of ORIENT EXPRESS Superior & Ishpeming, Escanaba & the history of rail transit and its demise in IN THE USA Travel aboard this elegant trai n. Many Lake Superior and Chicago & North the San Francisco Bay Area. This 1948 film features vintage airplanes and paddlewheel river boats as well as of the journeys shown feature the train Western. Here the main purpose is to 27 Minutes #CVP-SF $34.95 classic automobiles and trucks, but the being pulled by a variety of steam locomo- move ore to the docks for loading onto majority of this fascinating film features lives. Ships. 55 Minutes #SUB-OEX $39.95 55 Minutes #SUB-ORE $29 .95 THE SACRAMENTO the country's most important form of NORTHERN RAILWAY 1940 transportation at the time - the ra ilroad! Travel this electric line from the Bay 18 Minutes #VFS-USA $19.95 Area to Chico. $54.95 Clteck or Money Order Visa/MasterCard 50 Minutes #CVP-SN VHSorBETA THE NORTH SHORE UNE Please add $3.00 shipping per order. Colifomia The most complete history of the North Shore Line available. Spectacul ar foot­ residents please add 6.75% sales tax. age featuring the last 25 years of this historic line. P.O. Box 94911 90 Minutes #CVP-NS $89.95 Pasadena, CA 91109 -..- ...... NADA WEST

Canadian National

On Aug. 2, the Gitwangak Indian Band an­ nounced it would no longer allow CN trains to travel through its territory (in the Terrace area of British Columbia) at night, necessitating a revision to CN's schedules, as most of its trains passed through the area at night. This was only one of many actions taken by Indian groups throughout the country during July and August to ap­ ply pressure on the government to settle long-standing disputes. In most instances, however, the actions only caused tempo­ rary interruptions in service. At one time in mid-August, both the CN and CPR lines through western Ontario were under blockade at the same time, necessitating detouring trains over GTW/BN or C&NWIDW&P (in the case of CN) and Soo, BN or Wisconsin Central (in the case of CPR) through the United States. Two more GP38-2s have been convert­ ed to hump masters: 7528 (ex-4735) and 7530 (ex-4734). New rebuilds for yard and transfer service include 7257 (ex-GP9 4332) with slug 250 (ex-GP9 4601) and More detour action: On Aug. 25, a westbound CPR detour train negotiates the Florida Street 7258 (ex-GP9 4496) with slug 251 (ex-GP9 curve in downtown Milwaukee. Though someday CP Rail locomotives may be common­ 4599). GMD1 1078 (ex-NAR 301) was con­ place on 500 Line trackage, they were quite a novelty during August when Indian block­ verted to a B-B transfer unit from its previ­ ades of Canadian rail lines sent trains south through the United States. Mike Schafer ous AlA-AlA status and renumbered 1178. It was the last of the seven ex­ piled up on the north track as well, block­ sued SUPPLEMENT No. 1 to TIME TABLE 36 ef­ Northern Alberta GMD1s to be converted ing all rail traffic for about 24 hours. Fortu­ fective Aug. 1 to include the Meadow and in fact leaves just four original A1A­ nately, there were no injuries in the Lake Subdivision from Tobey (milepost AlA umebuilt GMD1s in service: 1054- mishap. 0.0) west to Meadow Lake (milepost 93 .4) . 1056 and 1070. Hump slug units 260-282 An act of vandalism on Aug. 18 saw the This trackage was transferred from CP were renumbered 500-522 during August, Beaver River trestle at milepost 57.8 of the Rail in the swap which saw CN transfer releasing the previous numbers for addi­ Bonnyville Sub set on fir e, totally destroy­ its branch from Weyburn to Willow Bunch tional yard slug rebuilds. Several standard ing 300 feet of the 1,481 -foot structure. in southern Saskatchewan to CP Rail. SD40s have been stored at Symington The entire bridge might have burned ex­ Yard in Winnipeg on account of reduced cept for a 180-foot steel span supported by traffic; included are 5161 , 5164, 5168-5170, concrete piers which served as a fire -CPRail 5173 and 5229. break. Service from Edmonton to Grande Canadian National suffered a major de­ Centre including the Cold Lake military air Apparently, the ALCAM (Advanced Loco­ railment Aug. 3 when train 201 derailed base was disrupted until repairs could be motive Control and Management) concept 19 cars just west of Duffield on the main­ completed, in mid-September. An individ­ that has been under test for many months line Edson subdivision, about 39 miles ual has been arrested and charged with is proving quite successful. This system west of Edmonton. While the train was the crime. involves placing several locomotives traveling on the south track, wreckage Canadian National Prairie Region is- spaced throughout the train, under direct m.u . control from the head end via cables running the length of the train, and elimi­ nates the need for Locotrol. The cars are pre-blocked into sets, the cars in each set ~. being draw-bar connected, like a 700-foot articulated coal car. In service a locomo­ tive is placed between every second or ~ third set of cars. Since opening the coal­ train servicing facility at Golden about two P~~ ~~~~~RAILS ACROSS AM~RICA~ M~AP years ago, CP Rail has been working on building blocks of these cars, with the The raillans' map 01 the U.S. divided into goal that every time an empty train passes three regions. each the size of a standard through Golden one block of cars will be road map . 5-color printing. legible type size. showing primary and secondary highways Please specify region(s). replaced for servicing. This will eliminate para lleling rail lines ... plus rail towns and the Make payable by check a lot of switching and allow development Interstate hwy. system for quick crass-country or money order to: of a scheduled maintenance program, so travel to new photographic and viewing RAILROAD INFORMATION that every block of cars comes in for ser­ opportunities. Order just your region or all SERVICE three ... put them together for an accurate vicing about every ninth round trip. P.O. Box 1429 wall map of the entire U.S. Price $6 per map. Georgetown, TX . 76627 CP Rail issued SUP PLEMENT No. 2 to its TX. residents odd 6% soles fox TIME TABLE 64 to incorporate the branch

40 • NOVEMBER 1990 obtained in the swap with CN ; known as CPR's Radville Sub, the line has power re­ 1111111111111111111111111111111111 1111 stricted to CPR's six lightweight RS23s 8013-8018, which formerly roamed the "BEWARE OF TRAIN" Meadow Lake line; five of the special R.R. CROSSING CAP units left Lanigan Aug. 1 destined for Moose Jaw, their new home. The last CPR trip from Prince Albert to Meadow Lake With double set of red lights that ~ ff & on like at a ran July 25, returning the following day. R.R Crossing to let you know ~that a fast freight CPR has suspended all service out of is coming & you can warn on coming traffic. A crowd pleaser. Prince Albert, with trains no longer oper­ ated northward toward Nipawin nor southeastward to Lanigan. SD40-2 5748, the second-last unit to BEWARE sport the "Expo 86 " logo, received a No . 2 overhaul and was repainted in July; on­ OF ly 5775 retains the logo. Sister SD40-2s 5961 and 5769 were released from Ogden TRAIN with Positive Traction Control in July. More standard SD40s are being rebuilt to SD40-2 specifications-with 5515 and 5550 completed and 5526, 5545 and 5527 following. Comes with 9v. battery. Seasonal traffic adjustments in late July A vailable in blue saw rebuilt GP9 yard engines 1506, 1530, 1542, 1570 and 1694 and SW1200s 8114 & white only. and 8129 tied up at Thunder Bay while One size fits all- SW1200 8105 was similarly stored at Win­ nipeg. The latter point also saw GP35 road units 5003 and 5004 tied up, with sisters BEWARE TRAIN 5002, 5005 and 5006 along with GP9u 8247 OF furloughed at Calgary's Alyth Yard. At Co­ R.R. CROSSING TEE SHIRT quitlam, CP's pair of GP30s,5000 and 5001 , was put into storage together with - WITH BUILT IN RED LIGHTS! GP35 5007, 5008 and 5010-5013. INSIDE OF -BCRail SIGNAL The morning of July 25 started out as any THAT other, but shortly after 8 a.m. Native Indi­ \ ans from the Seton Lake Indian Band blockaded BC Rail tracks at Seton Portage, { just south of Lillooet. The Indians had no ~ complaint with BC Rail, but were using OFF & ON LIKE AT this tactic to put pressure on the British RAILROAD Columbia government. Passenger trains CROSSING. were stopped and passengers bused, and BCR was forced to detour two freights over CN before the situation was resolved #E155 ...... $24.50 the next day. August 1990, however, turned out to be a month BC Rail would just as soon forget. On Aug. 17, the Indians again set up their )DDDDO] blockade, stopping all freight service, but BEWARE OF TRAIN they did allow passenger trains to pass if Natives were allowed on board to state their case to passengers. This was done on the 18th, but passenger service was suspended on the 19th; meanwhile freight traffic was rerouted over CN. On Aug. 20 a . court injunction requiring removal of the • • ORDER FORM blockade was physically enforced by the Name Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Address line was reopened. On the 21st a different Indian band set City State Zip up another blockade near Spetch (about 10 o Check or Money Order Enclosed-Sorry no C.O.D. 's Charge to: 0 MC 0 VISA 0 AMEX 0 Discover miles north of Pemberton), and BC Rail o~ AL Residents add 8% went back to court to have their injunction Cj>.\l- fO~ Shipping Charges amended. However, before the amended ~~\1t:. :{ j>.\.OG injunction could be presented at the f~t:.t:.Cj>. TOTAL Encto sed Signature Ex. Date __ Yr. __ newest blockade, it was removed on the DELIVER Y: 2-4 Weeks From Receipt Of Order. morning of the 22nd. U.S. SHIPPING & HANDLING CHARGES That day another blockade started at Under $35.00 add ...... $ 3.95 Seton Portage, and BCR crews and Moun· $35.00 to $50.00 add ...... $ 4.95 crRHD~~~: The Train Station $50.00 to $75 .00 add ...... $ 6.95 ties brought in by helicopter had the situ a- (205) 240·8537 P.O. BO X 4923 $75.00 to $150 .00 add ...... $ 8.95 MONTGOMERY, AL 36103-4923 111111111111 11111111111111111111111111 tion in hand by the 24th- until a deliber­ Sacramento in May 1991 , and work has ately set fire destroyed the nearby Portage been authorized on 3716. r Carl Loucks ~ Creek bridge at milepost 138.1. Round­ On the motive power scene, GEs no ... SELLING RAILROAD TIMETABLES the-clock repair work opened the line by longer will operate exclusively in blocks of 199 Wayland St. , North Haven, CT 06473 Aug. 28. Freight traffic resumed, but in three; however, because of the Locotrol the interests of safety was restricted to system, if a GE is leading another GE SPECIALS OF THE MONTH ... daylight hours through the Seton Lake must be the remote master. Train ton­ a few of the more than 250,000 items in our area; all passenger service was suspend­ nages often exceed the capacity of three stock, We do NOT sell any reprints. All are ed. The railroad was about to restore pas­ GEs, and while we are not aware of any original railroad issue. Yo u'll learn about senger service a few days later, when a instance where four GEs have been used railroad operations from these ... new obstacle-a labor dispute- appeared. on a train, four and five unit sets were THE END OF AN ERA: Contract negotiations w ith BCR unions common this summer between North Van­ Public system timetables of the last year of broke down and on Sept. 4, the railroad couver and Prince George, the additional service before Amtrak. was shut down by a strike. units being SD40-2s or M630s. B&O/C&O Joint ...... 8 /01 /70 On the bright side, BC Rail formally The second Caterpillar unit (617) w hich Illinois Central ...... 12 /13/70 opened its new multimillion dollar North is considered the first production unit (609 Louisville & Nashville ...... 12 /10/70 Vancouver Intermodal terminal on Aug. is considered a prototype) was painted in Milwaukee Road ...... 10/25/70 30. In development for approximately a early August and returned to the backshop Missouri Pacific ...... 2/10/70 year and a half, the terminal features for completion. It was expected to be in Norfolk & Western ...... 8 /01170 over 7,000 feet of new trackage and has a service in mid-September, but will be set Penn Central (East-West) ...... 3 /03/71 new mobile container/trailer crane so back as a result of th e strike. It had been R F & P ...... 12/11 /70 containers or trailers can be loaded or un­ proposed to number the rebuilt units in the Seaboard Coast Line ...... 12 /11 170 Southern Pacific ...... 10 /20/70 loaded anywhere in the yard the crane 2400-series, and instructions to that effect Each timetable ...... $6 . can reach. have been issued; however they will keep Fivefor ...... $25. For only the second time since service their old numbers, at least for now. All ten for just ...... $40. began in 1974, the Royal Hudson service The first of the ex-VIA Budd cars to en­ was diesel-hauled July 24-26 by new GE ter service is the BC-15, the former VIA EMPLOYEE TIMETABLES: 621 while 4-6-4 2860 was out of service for 6102, which was in service fully repainted The best way to learn about railroad opera­ boiler washout. In previous years the train during the third week of July. There were tions. Line by line, branch by branch com­ has operated five days a week, allowing no immediate plans to place either of the plete details. time for maintenance work or another other two ex-VIA cars in service before ATSF-Eastern Region 1989 ...... $12. ATSF-Western Region 1989 ...... $ 12. steam locomotive has been available to fill 1991; both require considerably more CN-Great Lakes 1989 ...... $10. in. This summer trains operated seven work than did the 6102. It is possible the CP -Toronto/London 1988 ...... $12. days a week and the regular spare loco­ RDC2 (6211) will eventually be placed in CNJ -System 1971 ...... $10. motive, 2-8-0 3716 was still undergoing North Vancouver-Lillooet service, provid­ CSX - Atlanta 1987 ...... $10 . major overhaul work. Late word is that ing a compartment to handle mail and GTW/DT&I System 1981 ...... $9 . 2860 is expected to attend Railfair in supplies. NS - Eastern Div 1987 ...... $9. NS - Decatur Div 1987 ...... $12. PC - Eastern Region 1971 ...... $9. P & L E - System 1978 ...... $12 . Rock Island System 1979 ...... $15. SOO LINE - System 1987 ...... $12. SP - Eastern Region 1986 ...... $10. SP - Western Region 1987 ...... $ 10. ANY FIVE ABOVE FOR JUST $40. EMPLOYEE TIMETABLE STARTER KIT: Ideal for the new collector. Ten employee timetables, hours of interesting reading about railroad operations. One each from the SP, UP , IGC , SBD ,SOU , ATSF, BN , MP , L&N , and GN. All ten for $35.00 MAJOR RAILROAD EMPLOYEE TIMETABLES You'll receive seven different ETTs cover­ ing various divisions of these major lines. Random dates from the 70's and 80's. Choose from: ATSF ...... 7 Ens for ...... $30. Our popular Santa Fe color calendar is back, and it's great as ever: Aleo CN ...... 7 Ens for ...... $30. PAs, 9 F-units on the FastMailExpress, new GP60Ms and more! And, this ICG ...... 7 Ens for ...... $30. year we've added a fabulous Conrail color calendar. See Horse Shoe L&N ...... 7 Ens for ...... $30. Curve in fall colors, E-units in Ohio, a local in Maryland and other great N&W ...... 7 Ens for ...... $30. SP ...... 7 Ens for ...... $30. scenes. Each calendar features 14 photos, pleasing graphics and high ANY FOUR SETS FOR ...... $100. resolution printing on excellent paper stock. Opens to 14x22 inches. Order both calendars at the same time and save: $17.00. New Catalogue Issued Monthly Sent with each order or SSAE U.S. and Canadian Order Credit Card Holders now from: Carl Loucks Order Toll Free McMillan Publications, Inc. .. . SELUNG RAILROAD TIMETABLES 1-800-344-1106 2921 Two Paths Drive 199 Wayland Sr., North Haven, cr 06473 Illinois residents please Woodridge. Illinois 60517-4512 add 6-3/4% sales tax

42. NOVEMBER 1990 ONALS

Gator Tales

Late in June, Fox River Valley Railroad added another one of its Alco RSD15s to the active roster, the 2405. The status of the two remaining units, 2400 and 2403, is not known. This brings the number of op­ erational Alcos up to four, 2404-2407. An­ other possible explanation for the scarcity of these units on the point of trains has surfaced: the 2404 has no radio. It is not known if this situation exists with any of the other RSD15s , though at last report the 2406 did have a radio. Chicago & North Western has been do­ ing track work again in the Granville Sub­ division; FRVR trains use the Granville Sub to reach Butler Yard in suburban Mil­ waukee. Fifteen to 20 hoppers of ballast were dumped the week of Aug. 27, and other track maintenance equipment has been active in the area. New Chicago West Pullman Transportation property Iowa Interstate Railroad has been test­ ing General Electric's four-axle Super 7 demo~strators this su~mer. On Sept. 7, 1990, an IAIS Wisconsin Central Detour de Force eastbound freight is just minutes out of Council Bluffs, Iowa, With B30-SS7s 2000 and 2002 on the point, followed by IAIS 402/451 (GP10/GP8). G.M. Butcher Between Aug. 16 and 25, Wisconsin Cen­ tral was host to a number of CP Rail de­ in CM&W's short-lived Alton-inspired ma­ agreement under which it will provide all tour trains. Due to Indian protests and roon livery and, interestingly, many of the the freight cars needed by the Marinette, blockades over land and treaty rights in units still retain their WP-style Nathan Tomahawk & Western Railroad. The Canada, CP Rail was forced to route the M-5 airhorns. Current reports indicate that MT&W serves a large Nekoosa Paper bulk of its trains through the U.S.; the ma­ the units are bound for Livingston Rebuild plant at Wisconsin Darn, Wis. WC expects jority used Soo Line between Portal, N.D., Center in Montana for repairs and repaint­ to have 600 cars in MT&W service by year and Chicago. Soo, however, was unable to ing, thus will probably not be available for end. This figure includes the planned ac­ handle all this excess traffic so the over­ service for some time. quisition of 500 new (to WC) freight cars. flow was directed onto WC . Most trains Wisconsin Central recently signed an Wisconsin Central intends to abandon ap- traveled across Wisconsin via Stevens Point, and then up through Sault Ste. Marie. However, at least one train, on Aug. 19 led by CP Rail SD40-2s 6044/6053/6047, carne down through Fond du Lac and on to Schiller Park in Chicago. " FOR THE BEST As reported in a previous column, WC I I IN RAILROAD VIDEOS"TM has picked up 17 of Gateway Western's ex-CM&W, nee WP, GP40s. On Aug. 25, 10 of the units were reported at Shops Yard, CATENARY INTERURBAN North Fond du Lac. That same day, at Greg Scholl least five of the GP40s were seen at NEFF Stevens Point, including the 3002, 3006, GREEN 3015 and 3025. One of the units is painted VIDEO FROG

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PACIFIC RAILNews • 43 THOSE MAGNIFICENT PLANES 1991 Calendar 12" 24" x THOSE MAGNIFICENT TRAINS 1991 DATEBOOK 5" x 7"

COLORADO NARROW GAUGE 1991 Calendar PRICES: l!lm {'"lendar 12" x 24" (Includes shIpping In US & Canada) 1 Calendar $12 2 Calendars $20 RED CARS/YELLOW CARS 3 Calendars $9/ea 1991 Calendar or more Overseas $4 surcharge· U.S. Funds 12" x 24" Past year calendars are Only. CA ResIdents add 6.25% sales available for $6.00 each. tax. Mastercard & VIsa accepted. Please InquIre. Available at all better hobby stores & bookstores or call: .. ~(i'\ji)~4 TOLL FREE:1- 800 - 227 - 6162 .ti\lJlljil. Or order by mail from:

!!J~~I~ ~ CHARLES DITLEFSEN AMERICAN STREETCARS ~ ~ P.O. Box 1807 1991 Calendar CEDCO· ® Mill Valley, CA 94942 12" x 24" "Cedeo Publishing Co.-Fi"e Calendars since 1979" proximately 3,900 feet of track in Mar­ combining the efforts of both the railroad WICT reporting marks. The cars were seen quette, Mich. This trackage consists of the and local contractors. Equipment was bor­ moving north on Wisconsin Central in mid­ unused ore dock and its approaches. And, rowed from both Santa Fe and BN to help August . .. Chicago Central & Pacific re­ an independent study recently deemed with trackwork, while ballast from a local cently picked up three ex-MKT GP7s from WC's Marengo Junction-White Pine, Wis. , quarry was used. At least four old tank Wilson Railway Equipment in Des Moines, branch unprofitable, barring a major in­ cars were used as culverts in areas of poor Iowa. They are numbered 1600-1602 and crease in traffic. This trackage may be put drainage. are ex-MKT 95, 97 and 119 respectively. It up for abandonment in the near future. is suspected they will be kept primarily in yard and local service due to their small Short Stuff l ,200-gallon fuel tanks ... Iowa Interstate Kiamichi has been running an ex-Precision National Montana Rail Link's ex-BN F9 is to be used Leasing GP7, the 325. Also, spotted at Blue It now appears almost a certainty Kiarnichi to haul business car Silver Cloud. MRL offi­ Island, Ill., in late July were at least two ex­ Railroad will run passenger excursions cials rode the ex-CRI&P car between Mis­ N&W high-nose SD45s. • starting in May 1991. An unidentified oper­ soula and Spokane this summer, attached Special thanks to Bob Gallegos, the ator for the trains has been found, though to the rear of the MS/SM trains .. . Wiscon­ Beecher Boys, Dave Kroeger, Lance Bur­ it is not the Cimarron Valley. sin & Calumet has acquired a number of ton, Rick Barrington, the WAYBILL, Don The Hugo-Paris line damaged by the ex-Columbia & Cowlitz 60-foot woodchip Schneider, the Montana Kid, Bert Clark spring flooding was repaired this summer cars. They remain in full C&C paint with and Bob Hanggie. RT LINES

line's future viability as a freight hauler. Oregon Eastern at Burns, Ore., should be Prescott May Buy a Railroad Two companies are evaluating the feasi­ moving to new owners following the win­ bility of returning the line to operating ter season. As you may have noted earlier In central Arizona plans are shaping up for condition; reportedly, Kyle Railways is one in this column, the venerable units have the City of Prescott to buy the former San­ of the companies involved. been stored in the Snow Pine Mill since ta Fe line into the city. The 28-mile line the original O&NW shut down in 1984 be­ traverses some very beautiful territory, cause of the loss of its connection to the and the folks at city hall envision tourist For The Record outside world. trains as well as freight trains once again Fortunately, some of these rare units serving Prescott. The former Oregon & Northwestern Rail­ will be saved. The Feather River Rail Soci­ The line in question was built in the road Baldwin AS616s stored on the new ety at Portola, Calif., has purchased units late 1800s as part of the original main line between Ash Fork and Phoenix. The Santa Fe later relocated the line over a new alignment which eliminated many sharp 1991 ALL COLOR curves and grades, leaving the line into WALL CALENDAR Prescott as a 28-mile branch from Abra. UNION PACIFIC The line was offiCially abandoned several New for 1991! Every month in 1991 you can enjoy the sight of a Union Pacific steam locomotive in our new UP years ago after freight traffic dwindled to Color Calendar. Thirteen color photos, taken in the 1950's almost nothing. Through all of this the city by noted rail photographer Robert F. Collins , including Big has held talks with the railroad concern­ Boys, Challengers, Northerns and some smaller power in ing the acquisition of the line; only recent­ portrait and action . ly has anything come to fruition. Current­ The 8'/2 x 11 photos in this all steam calendar are in full ly, the Santa Fe is selling off surplus as­ color. The calendar opens to 11 x 17 and has room for sets and marginally profitable branches in your memos.

an attempt to strengthen its financial posi­ ' _ ; _ 6 _ 7 S 9 Kl Calendars can be seen and purchased at dealers nation­ tion. The abandoned line into Prescott is 16 11 wide, or, order direct, postpaid in U.S.A. ; foreign orders

one of these targets. ~"'(L.... :!l ¥'-¥'-¥"- add 15%. New York residents add sales tax. Dealer in­ Cun:ently, Santa Fe is addressing the 25 26 27 _ 25 quiries invited . issue of abandonment across Indian lands as this could have a bearing upon the ~-1IiJu«Jj qj)~ P.O. BOX 24 , EARLTON, N.Y. 1205B-0024

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PACIFIC RAllNews • 45 3 and 4. These units will spend the winter For years the Big Red Line performed Golden Triangle Railroad in Georgia), the inside the mill at Burns before being its switching duties using its two little red Curtis Milburn & Eastern Aleo C415 has shipped south to the group's museum at locomotives: No. 101, aGE 44-tonner (bi n been seeing more frequent service includ­ Portola, Calif. Number 1 is available as of 30849, 12/ 50) bought new from GE in the ing a run into Tacoma, Wash., in August. this writing; this unit is the former Bald­ early 1950s to replace an aging center cab Chehalis Western and CM&E are both the win Locomotive Works demonstrator, pre­ electric freight motor, and No. 102 (bi n operators of the former Milwaukee lines sumably the first AS616 built. Hopefully, a 31170, 10/ 51), aGE 70-tonner purchased east from Tacoma into the woods. Traffic museum or company will keep this unit from the Sioux City Terminal Railroad. over the line consists of logs going to the away from the torch as a scrapper already In July 1990 OL&B received its largest mills on Puget Sound at Tacoma ... An­ has a bid in on the unit. As for poor old locomotive ever, a Caterpillar repowered other logger in the Pacific Northwest, the No. 2, this unit has been cannibalized for SW1200. This unit was rebuilt on the Simpson Timber logging railroad at Shel­ parts over the years, meaning it would be frame of former Rock Island 926 and is ton, Wash., has been using a privately more difficult to restore to operating con­ now rated at 1,500 h.p., just enough pow­ owned Alco RSDl as needed. The unit is dition. er for hauling those long cuts of grain and usually stored on-line. Simpson Timber sand over to the UP and BN interchanges. will reportedly be running employee-only The unit is numbered 47 in honor of passenger specials over its main line over The Big Red Line George Abel's football team number; the the weekend of Oct. 6 and 7. The consists Abel family owns OL&B. With the arrival will probably include several of the com­ Lincoln, Neb. , is home to one of the Corn­ of the big red Cat, the 70-tonner will re­ pany's cabooses .. . Those Boeing GP40s husker state's few short lines, the Omaha, portedly be transferred to another family seen at Seattle a few months ago were the Lincoln & Beatrice Railway. The Big Red facility in Ashland, Neb. , the location of power for the MX Missile rail garrison. Line, as OL&B is called in honor of the several sand and gravel pits. The units are kept at Kent, Wash., and are University of Nebraska "Cornhuskers" As for operations on OL&B, they occur TBCX 4900 and 4901 .. . Finally, back in football team, operates about four-and-a­ as needed. Reportedly, the line's units can June the Mount Hood Railroad hosted the half miles of trackage in Lincoln. The be found busy working the elevators on a television crew for "Live! The World's OL&B was organized in 1913 as an elec­ fairly regular basis or hauling sand in for­ Greatest Stunts." The stunt involved a tric interurban intent on reaching Omaha mer GN, UP and NP ore jennies. motorcyclist named Johnny Airtime who and Beatrice; however, money ran out became airborne off a ramp just seconds and the line was never extended outside before a Mount Hood train (consisting of of Lincoln, giving rise to the line's" Only Short Stuff GP7 No. 88', a passenger car and a ca­ Lincoln & Back" moniker. Today the Big boose) crashed through the take-off ramp. Red Line is owned by a local construction North East Kansas & Missouri has begun Additionally, it was a bumpy ride for Mr. and materials conglomerate which pro­ to repaint its units into a red/blue scheme Airtime as his approach to the ramp was vides a great deal of traffic. Additionally, with white trim and lettering. The units down the ties between the rails. OL&B provides the only access to two of are the ex-Santa Fe GP7u's mentioned pre­ Thanks to Dick Schmeling, Luke R. Sin­ Lincoln's larger grain elevators, and the viously in this column ... With the depar­ clair, Michael Bartels, Fred Krause in Loco­ road hands over complete unit trains to ture of two of Chehalis Western's GP38-2s MOTIVE NOTES II, NORTHWEST RAILFAN , Loco­ both UP and BN. (sent to another Weyerhauser operation, MOTIVE NOTES II and THE P RESCOTT C OURIER. TRANSIT PRN STAFF

tors on the new cars and a computer-con­ MISCELLANY: Santee Extension-The San Diego trolled propulsion system that will regen­ City of EI Cajon has requested more stud­ erate electricity to other LRVs during brak­ ies on alternative alignments for this ex­ LRV SIXTH ORDER: Trolley officials ing. According to MTDB , a more powerful tension. MTDB can't certify the Environ­ thought their fleet of 71 LRVs would ade­ car could shave three minutes off an East mental Impact Report until it completes quately serve the system's needs until Line round trip. The price tag for one new the studies, which probably won't be un­ 1995. But with ridership climbing steadi­ LRV: as much as $1.4 million. The first ve­ til 1991. If this drags on beyond February ly-on average, 55,000 patrons ride trains hicles could arrive sometime in 1992 if (it was supposed to have been settled at each weekday- officials expect an equip­ bids are let soon. Once the Trolley takes the beginning of 1990), final design and ment crunch by 1992. To get a jump on delivery, it can run more four-car trains construction schedules could be delayed that squeeze, MTDB is planning to order and increase headways to every 7.5 min­ ... Bethlehem Steel won the contract to 100 LRVs with options for up to 100 more. utes. Meanwhile, rumors abound that the build the new double crossover at San MTDB wants more powerful traction mo- new cars may not be built by Siemens. Ysidro. Delivery is expected sometime in

UP STEAM SPECIALS '90 RETURN OF THE RAILS TO POCATELLO PART I WARBONNETS Witness all the excitement, scenery, and power that is the Union Pacific Railroad from Travel with Union Pacific 844 from Cheyenne The famous red and silver warbonn~t paint Granger, Wyoming to Pocatello, Idaho on to the NRHS Convention in St. Louis for the scheme is on the warpath again across the the Green River Division. spectacular gathering of Norfolk & Western Santa Fe system. See EMD Super Cab SD60s and GE 1218, Frisco 1522, Cotton belt 819 and 844 Travel back in time to the first Warbonnet Super Cab Dash 8-40C working the canyons doubleheaded with 1522. diesels that made railroad history, setting the and valleys on the old Oregon Short Line. UP 1243 and 6936 join 844 on the round trip stage for the return of today's Super Fleet GP Rails to Pocatello is where the scenery and IDA-WYO Centennial Train greeted by cheering 60s, induding·the inaugural run across New action is! • 60 mins., $39.95. crowds in both states. ·120 mins., $49.95. Mexico into California. ·90 mins., $49.95.

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46 • NOVEMBER 1990 March 1991 ... MTDB recently ordered a one hour at either end of the service day. light-rail planning study of the 1-15 corri­ The last northbound trip from Anaheim dor between Mission Valley and station (before the loop went into service) Make Tracks...... to your nearest mailbox and send for the Escondido. The Board wants to do the now departs at 8 p.m. while the last latest copy of the free Consumer Information study now to preserve needed right-of­ southbound leaves Pico station in Los An­ Catalog. It lists about 200 free or low·cost way before the area is further developed. geles at 9 p.m. The first trip of the day government publications. Just send your name and address to: The proposed line falls into the long­ from Anaheim now departs at 5: 07 a.m., Consumer Information Center range category and is part of the San however the first departure south from Pi­ Department MT, Pueblo, Colorado 81009 Diego Regional Transit Plan. Under the co remains unchanged at 5:35 a.m. plan, 80 miles of light-rail lines are to be In the opinion of some who have expe­ developed for the San Diego area ... San rience in mass-transit operations, there is Diego's trolleys are really getting a work­ a need to extend the evening service at GUATEMALAN RAIL ADVENTURE out these days. One-third of the LRV fleet least until 11 p.m. or later to tap the the­ is averaging 10,000 miles per month ... ater crowd business as well as those rid­ The Great American Plaza, under con­ ers who work overtime. The somewhat struction across from the Santa Fe Depot, limited service hours notwithstanding, was topped off recently. At 500 feet it is weekday ridership in the first days of the San Diego's tallest office tower. The build­ Blue Line has settled in at an average of ing, which will include a domed trolley 15,000 per day while weekend tallies have station, is scheduled to open in Dec.,1991. been about 20,000 daily. The Blue Line's Most likely, it will debut with a new name millionth passenger was awarded a one­ since Great American is renegotiating its year VIP pass good for unlimited rides on lease ... The Middle East crisis is affect­ Aug. 21-just 38 days after service began. ing local transit. North County bus rider­ ship has slowed since the deployment of METRO RAIL TUNNEL REPAIR COSTS hundreds of Camp Pendleton Marines to JUMP: A month after a raging fire swept the Middle East. The crisis-induced price through an uncompleted portion of the increase at the gas pump, however, is Red Line's access tunnel, estimated repair pumping up farebox returns on San costs have climbed to $2 million and the Diego's trolleys and buses as more drivers cause is still unknown. The fire in the 734- turn to mass transit to save money. foot tunnel occurred Friday, July 13 (the day before the Blue Line opened) and par­ Chris Cuchiara Escape the cold winter snows. Come with us to tially collapsed the tube. The tunnel con­ Guatemala, Land of Eternal Spring, and great train nects the end of the Red Line at Union Sta­ rides in the rugged Sierra Madre Mountains. This 3- l.A. Metro tion with the Red Line train yard along the foot gauge system has spectacular bridges, tunnels and 3-percent grades. Ride behind Baldwin 2-8-2s west bank of the Los Angeles River and on our charters. We will also use the president's pri­ BLUE LINE ROUNDUP: Saturday, Sept. 1, passes under the Hollywood Freeway in vate open observation car. The charters will feature saw the completion of the south end of the downtown Los Angeles. The fire caused classic passenger and freight consists with North Blue Line as the new loop went into ser­ the closure of the freeway for the week­ American equipment, photo runbys , cab rides and great roof riding . Tour great for the wife with plenty of vice in downtown Long Beach. Blue Line end, creating a monumental bottleneck in sightseeing and shopping opportunities. January 26 trains, which had been terminating at the downtown freeway system. In a par­ for 9 days from only $1 ,595 including airl Anaheim station on Long Beach Boule­ tial effort to alleviate the congestion, the WRITE OR CALL FOR DETAILS vard, now continue down the boulevard to Southern California Rapid Transit District 1st Street, then west to Pacific Avenue, pressed extra buses into service and TRAINS north to 8th Street and back to Long opened its busway between the east side Beach Boulevard. and downtown to auto traffic. UNLIMITED, TOURS Service hours on the Blue Line were ex­ (Thanks to Bob Bellinger and Ralph 235 W. Pueblo St. , Reno, NV 89509 tended on Aug. 26, although the expan­ Forty.) 1-800-359-4870 or (702) 329-5590 sion only amounts to the addition of about Norm Johnson CLINCHFIELD AMERICAN ALTAVISTA is proud to present the first tape of a video series on the illustrious Clinchfield Railroad. The first videos trace the entire 277-mile route as the 1990 CSX operates it - at high speed! See everything from coal mine switching, mountain climbs, cab rides, and the outstanding series of tunnels and bridges which grace this modem era railroad. Tapes include waypoint charts. CLINCHFIELD - CSX HOTSHOTS ...... $39.95 also available SALUDA MOUNTAIN - AMERICA'S STEEPEST CLAS8-1 GRADE ...... $39,95 SALUDA STEEP GRADE GUIDE 28-pages ..... $ 8,95 SAVE $$$: One Tape & One Guide ...... $46.95 83 Any Two Tapes & One Guide ...... $84.95 $3 Shipping - NC add 5% Tax - VISA/MC 919-725-3000 1520 Martin Street, Suite 202, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 CIC BUY TODAY: Send Check, or AMERICAN Call Toll Free 1-800/767-6067 ALTAVISTA

PACIFIC RAILNews • 47 CITY SCENE

With GEs smoking, a Santa Fe train departs the north fueling pad in Temple, Texas, in August 1987. This busy crew change and refueling stop is the focal point of AT&SF railroading in Temple. In this view, four trains occupy the six tracks with a wide array of motive power, includ­ ing several merger red units, cowl units and BN pool power (pulling an empty unit coal job). Carl M. Lehman

From the track side of the station, off to your Temple right is the AT&SF diesel shop [2], an outdoor facili­ ty located in a wye. When the shop at Cleburne was Temple is 150 miles north of San Antonio on Inter­ closed in 1988, the number of diesels found at Tem­ state 35. From I-35 take exit 301 eastbound and ple skyrocketed from about five to around 25-30. you'll be on Central Avenue, one of the main The wye is where the three Santa Fe main lines ra­ streets in Temple. Go east on Central for seven diating from Temple come together. The main line blocks, and you'll be on an overpass that crosses from the south originates in Galveston, the line from one of the three Santa Fe main lines in town. Turn the west comes from Clovis, N.M. , and the line from right at 7th Street, and in a block and a half you the north comes from Fort Worth. will be at the parking lot of the ex-Santa Fe-now Just to the north of the station is the south end of Amtrak-passenger station [11 . (Numbers in brack­ the AT&SF yard and the beginning of the bypass ets indicate locations on the map.) This is a very track. Temple siding is along the bypass track. good place to start railfanning in Temple because Trains exiting and entering the north end of the yard this large brick station is arguably one of the most and the adjacent bypass track can be seen and pho­ beautiful anywhere in the country. Amtrak's Texas tographed at the Industrial Boulevard crossings on Eagle stops at this station with the northbound the north edge of town. Trains on the yard lead track scheduled to call at 11:30 a.m. and the southbound travel slowly, but trains using the bypass frequently at 6:02 p.m. are running the speed limit of 55 mph. Those of you

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48. NOVEMBER 1990 tion the AT&SF main starts as double track, but just The lead units (including before the 24th Street overpass it becomes six tracks redbird 9540) of a south­ on the approach to the fueling pad; often all six bound Santa Fe potash tracks are full of trains simultaneously. The south fu­ train approach the 24th eling pad [5] can be seen from the Loop 363 over­ Street bridge in Temple, o Amt/ok Station pass, but it is not a good photo location. Trains can Texas, in fall 1988. Short­ e AJ!SF Diesel Shop ly, the train will reach () Crossing be photographed south of this point from U.S. 190, o North Fueling Pod which parallels the AT&SF main line south from the the Temple fueling facili­ o South fuelln9 Pod ty where a new crew (D MKTSlatlon Loop 363 intersection. awaits. As is the usual O Steome/ Santa Fe has many different kinds of unit trains practice, this train also running through Temple. Unit grain trains are very employed a three-unit common and about half of them use mid-train re­ mid-train helper set. mote units. There is also a heavy potash train that Carl M. Lehman always uses mid-train units, and a pool unit coal train that runs with mixed AT&SF and Burlington 1 Northern power that sometimes uses mid-train units. There are also unit gravel trains, as well as a N variety of mixed freights throughout the day. Loco­ motives seen in Temple on AT&SF trains run the entire gamut of the roster, from GP9s to the biggest six-axle EMDs, and including the cowl units and newest GEs. The "merger" Kodachrome paint schemes are still common. --- Railroads The other railroad in Temple is Union Pacific's --- Roads ex-Katy main line. Union Pacific runs north-south through town and crosses AT&SF's line to Galve­ ston under the Avenue H overpass [3]. The two roads interchange cars there, and Amtrak's Eagle uses the interchange track to go from UP to AT&SF on its northbound trip and vice versa on the south­ bound trip. The old Katy passenger station [6] in Temple is smaller than AT&SF's , but it is brick and has a cast-on Katy emblem on a tower that is defi­ with scanners will hear trains directed into and out nitely worth seeing. The station is seven blocks of this siding; the active AT&SF frequencies are: north of the crossing and on the west side of the Road 1 160.650, Road 2160.560, PBX 161 .295 and tracks. PBX 160.425. Another term you will hear on the Good photos of UP trains can be taken from the scanner is the fueling pad, the area where mainline Taylor Highway crossing and from the Katy station. trains are serviced and crews changed. The fueling Union Pacific runs quite a few trains on this line, as pad is located on the south side of town off the Tay­ it is the primary route from Fort Worth to Mexico lor Highway. Turning left off the highway you'll through San Antonio and Laredo. There are unit reach 24th Street overpass, a perfect place to photo­ grain trains, unit gravel trains, at least two different graph trains on the Galveston main line. You can unit coal trains, piggyback trains and mixed park at either the west or east approach to the over­ freights. pass; it is four lanes and is lightly traveled. The Another item to put on your list of things to see north fuel pad [4] is just to the south of the overpass, in Temple is well-preserved Santa Fe 4-6-2 No. and trains can be photographed with either a 50mm 3423, on display at the Railroad Museum at the in­ or short telephoto lens. South of the passenger sta- tersection of Avenue H and 31st Street [7] .

PACIFIC RAILNews • 49 With crew members on speed is 10 mph. The leisurely stroll above the Hum­ the lookout for vehicular SOO's Street Switcher boldt Park and Bucktown neighborhoods may con­ traffic, Soo Line Milwau­ sume nearly a half hour to reach Clybourn Junction kee bandit MP15 1533 In the last two Chicago City Scenes, a pair of locales [1] (numbers in brackets refer to map locations) works job 1506 on May were featured where numerous trains could be ob­ where C&NW's busy commuter lines cross. This is 1, 1990. The train-a sin­ served. This time around, we will follow one particu­ where the first delays are encountered. The C&NW gle corn syrup tanker lar train that will take you on an interesting tour of operator at CY tower must consider Job 1506's -is crossing Clybourn Chicago's near north side. This train has to contend length before letting the train across: An open Avenue. In just minutes, with parked cars, large earthrnovers and other vehic­ swing bridge across the Chicago River [2]. a quarter­ the street-running train ular traffic, as its route takes to the streets and back mile east of the plant, allows only enough room for will arrive at its destina­ tion, Peerless Confec­ alleys. All these factors combine to make Soo Line's one MP15AC and about six cars. If it can fit , 1506 is tioners at the north end Job 1506- better known to locals as the Kingsbury allowed across, passes over Elston Avenue and then of Soo's C&E line on Switcher-an uncommon inner city switch run which stops short of the swing bridge approach. A spur at Chicago's near north patrols the ex-Milwaukee Road city trackage in and this point [3] serves a lumber storage facility which side. Mike Abalos around Goose Island just north of downtown. is switched twice a week. A switch just west of the The Kingsbury Line, named for the street with Elston Avenue overpass [4] leads to a small, little­ which the track shares right-of-way, was part of used yard accessing a metals processing plant and Milwaukee Road's C&E line from Union Station to requires a backup move to reach. This spur is Evanston, which hosted suburban trains until the switched only occasionally and usually after the late 1910s. The north end of this route became part lumber yard is worked. Both Soo and C&NW have of CTA's north-south elevated, which was shared switching rights into the metals plant and at times it with the North Shore. A freight connection was is possible to see Job 1506 and one of C&NW's maintained between the CTA-CNS&M and the Mil­ North Avenue Yard jobs get in each other's way waukee at Buena Yard, just south of CTA's Wilson while switching the plant. Avenue shops. Freight interchange traffic dried up When the as-needed switching around Clybourn in the early 1970s and the north end had been cut Junction is completed, the often-frustrating process back to its current terminus at Lakewood and Di­ of proceeding from the drawbridge to C&E Junction versey. The line is now reached via the Blooming­ begins. Sometimes, a half hour may pass before the dale line which strikes eastward from Tower A5 , swing bridge is lined and locked into position. After where a connection is made with the mains to crossing the Chicago River, 1506 passes behind the Union Station, Bensenville and Milwaukee. large A. Finkl and Sons Metal Recycling plant [5] . A We'll focus on the eastern portion of the Bloom­ short passing siding is located here, and this is ingdale line from the C&NW crossing at Clybourn where 1506 runs around its train as it prepares for Junction to C&E Junction, and the C&E line north to its trip up the C&E line to switch Peerless Confec­ Diversey Avenue. Switch job 1506 operates Monday­ tions at the line's north end. Usually, no more than Friday and is generally ordered at Bensenville at two cars, consisting of a corn syrup tanker and/or 7:30 a.ill. When the last ofthe eastbound commuter­ an Airslide hopper of flour or sugar, make the trip train rush passes, the train- usually one MP15AC up the C&E. With the train assembled, 1506 pulls and up to 15 cars-will start its trek toward Tower down to C&E Junction [6] where the train encoun­ A5. Occasionally, the nearly vacant Galewood Yard ters vehicles large and small and loses its assumed may be worked en route. The pace slows to a crawl right-of-way to non-rail traffic. Complicating mat­ when the Bloomingdale trackage is reached; top ters is a scrap metal recycling center located on the

50 • NOVEMBER 1990 Soo's Street Switcher Belmont t t To Milwaukee To Evanston o Q 3 (]) :> 1N Diversey

oen c J t--=.._-=---r-----" o =+ Altgeld

Fullerton ;v Q -Soo Trackage () • .... Abandoned 5· (]) Webster -Other Trackage -Roads

o --+------~~------~~--~~~~----+------~~l~ 6' 3 ci" . Bloomingdale -+-To Tower A-5 "-'

I ~ ~,;/). Wabansia (96 3g *3 ~o ~ ---+------~-~N-o~rth~--~r------+-~~~~~---~~"'~'-

Map by Erik Coleman and Tom Danneman west side of Kingsbury Avenue; trucks being load­ Goose Island, or on the south end of the C&E line ed with metal usually park on the tracks and the near Kingsbury and Ohio. This segment will be cov­ train crew must wait for vehicles to clear before it ered in a future installment. can open the junction switch. After shoving past the switch, 1506 rolls through the upscale Clybourn Tracking the 1506 and Lakeview neighborhoods where each street crossing must be protected by a crew member. Af­ Keeping pace with the 1506 job is relatively ter crossing Cortland, the train passes the Deering easy, even when you consider driving through line switch [7J and runs northeast on the C&E. The Chicago's near north side. North Avenue parallels Deering line once served an industrial area near Di­ the Bloomingdale line and can be used to jump versey, but the line now only goes as far as McLean ahead of the train between shots. There are many and Belden and is seldom served. Next, the C&E opportunities to photograph the train on the elevat­ line cuts through a strip mall parking lot and then ed right-of-way along Bloomingdale Avenue. The crosses Clybourn Avenue, heading down a back al­ better shots are a half block south of the tracks, as ley situated between Wayne and Lakewood streets the train crosses over broad thoroughfares at Hum­ [8J. The route is surrounded on both sides by park­ boldt Boulevard and Western Avenue. ing for the pricey Lakeview condominiums. As the Clybourn and Lakeview communities are At Fullerton, the train passes the Lake Shore older, established neighborhoods, the streets here Athletic Club [9]. which is often a source of delays. are narrow, and traffic congestion is the norm. Park­ Delivery vans or cars often block the track and find­ ing on the side streets on either side of the tracks ing the owners can be impossible. On some trips, between Clybourn and Diversey can be at a premi­ Chicago police escort the train along with a tow um, and double parking is prohibited. If you stay on truck to help it through the area. Lakewood, you can pull off to the side and clear rail At Wrightwood the tracks return to the streets and vehicular traffic, and photograph 1506 rolling as it becomes part of Lakewood Avenue. Passing through the neighborhood. through the quiet middle-class section of Lakeview, Though the train departs Bensenville every the train reaches its destination, Peerless Confec­ weekday (except holidays), the run up the C&E to tions [10]. Once switching is complete, the train re­ the candy plant occurs twice a week, generally on traces its route through Lakeview back to C&E Tuesdays and Thursdays. On the other days, the in­ Junction. Generally, the crew will stop for lunch on dustries south of C&E Junction are served. Radio the return trip, and after lunch, the crew resumes communication is limited to conversations with the its switching chores further down the C&E. This C&NW operator at CY tower, usually on 161.43. Be­ usually involves backing down the Bloomingdale tween Tower A5 and Bensenville, 160.77 is used. line to pick up the rest of its train, with cars des­ Special thanks to Erik Coleman and Mark Llanuza tined for industries on the Division Street line on for their assistance in the preparation of this article.

PACIFIC RAILNews • 51 ABOVE: The eastbound Southern Pa ­ cific RXCHT slides past the Old Union Depot Tower in the West Bottoms of Kansas City on Sept. 17, 1990. This Ev­ ergreen stack train, originating at the ICTF terminal in Long Beach, uses Burlington Northern trackage to reach Chicago. Tom Danneman LEFT: An eastbound Burlington Northern doublest<;lck train charges through Naperville, III., on July 23, 1990, pow­ ered by a pair of LMX B39-8s. Several BN trains, including Nos. 8, 10, 12 and 18 eastbound and 1,3, 7, 9 and 13 westbound, haul stack traffic be­ tween ports in the Pacific North­ west-Seattle, Tacoma and Port­ land-and Chicago. Mel Finzer RIGHT: Coiling through a series of curves between Union Junction and Crooks, Ore., the TAKLD "K-Line" dou­ blestack train climbs the Telocaset Hill grade on Aug. 4, 1990. Four GEs-one C30-7 and three Dash 8s -lead the 120-car (24 stack sets) train on its eastbound trip from Taco­ ma. Blair Kooistra

____-+ __ t_~ __~_~-~ I S-E-E-IN--G--D-O--U-B-L-E------­ OF RAILROADING

52 . NOVEMBER 1990

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PACIFIC RAnNEWS reserves the right to edit all copy NEW CAJON PASS RAIL MAP! 18 pages of fact-filled movements at Union Station area with 844 and and refuse any listings. Ads cannot be acknowl­ info on the Cajon Pass area. Your one source of in­ 1522. Night photo session. and more. VHS , 2hrs, edged, nor can proof copies be sent. Closing date: fo when visiting this unique rail pass. Detailed 525.95, ppd. Other convention and contemporary 20th of 3rd month before issue date. Count all maps plus detailed driving instructions to all points railroad tapes available. Listing, LSSAE. Paul Spieth, numbers, name and address. Home/office street of interest. 58.50 + S1 .50 S&H (CA res . add 63/ 0% Great Central Productions, PO Box 484 Centralia, address and telephone number must accompany sales tax. Sam Pottinger's Steel Rails West, P.O. Box IL 62801-0484. 324 ad order, even if not included in copy. RATES: 20e 59117 Norwalk, CA 90652-0117. 324-325 a word/$5 minimum. Payment in advance. 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OWNER: Interurban Press. a Californi a Corporation. P.O. Box 6444. Glendale, CA 9t 225. George M. Sebree 111 . James W. Walker Jr .. Charles Dille/sen, George Krambles. WANTED : Railroad books, paper collections, ency­ Mike Clayton. Dick Stephenson. Thomas N. Jacobson. Bill Kluver and Robel'll. Schneider. 8. KN OWN BONDHOLDERS, MORTGAGEES AND OTHER PROPERTY HOLDERS clopedias, rule books, operating manuals, pocket OWNING OR HOLDING 1 PERCENT OR MORE OF TOTAL BONOS, MORTGAGES OR calendars, lanterns, china and railroadiana. Steve OTHER SECURITIES: N/A. Botan. 19822 Lexington, Huntington Beach, CA 9. N/A. 10. EXTENT AND NATURE OF CIRCULATION 92646. (714) 962-1126 320-325 Average No. Actual No. Copies Copies Ea. Issue Of Single Issue Pub· CHINESE STE AM SPECTACULAR ... Boone & Scenic During Preceding lished Near! to Filing Valley Railroad, Boone, Iowa. See JS #8419 in full 12 Months Date A, Total no. of copies (net press run) 10,492 11 ,800 operation, "The Iowan" cross 156 foot high trestle, B. Paid circulation The Real Thing and another bridge across the Des MOines river, 1. Sales through dealers & carriers, From original artwork. By original mfg. switching action at fraser and the Boone depot. street vendors & counter sales 4.642 4,7 18 2. Mail subscription 4.248 4.916 By original all-hand process Come with us through the Des MOines River Valley, C. Total paid circulation 8.890 9.634 experience the beautiful sound of the first Chinese D. Free distribution by mail, carrier or other All glass with can and lighting steam locomotive imported to the U.S. 60 min, means, samples, complimentary & other free copies 771 1,276 Send SSAE for price list quality color, Hi Fi stereo sound, VHS, 524.00, orders E. Total distribution (sum of C and D) 9,660 10,910 515-277-7218 , Visa / Mastercard/Check/M.O . .. F. Copies not dis tr ibuted Add 53.00 S/ H per order, over two orders postpaid 1. Office use, left·over, un-accounted. spoil aft er printing 346 357 USA, Iowa residents add 4% sales tax . . Credit 2. Returns from news agents 485 533 card orders receive a S3 .00 rebate coupon to­ G. Total (sum of E, Fl and F2-should wards your next order. Chu-Chu Video Produc­ equal net press run shown in A) 10.492 11 ,800 I certify thaI the statements made by me above are corr ect and complete . 2490 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107 tions, PO Box 762 Des Moines, Iowa 50303. 324 James W. Walker Jr" V.P. '---- - (818) 796-7791 ----' Announcing Volume Two • A Centennial Look

Orange County. California, is today one of the best-known urban centers in the Uni ted States, home to amusement parks, beaches, business centers, and vast real estate development. JU St two generations ago, however, it was predominantl y agricu ltural, with a relatively small population-and plenty of railtoad action. The first volume detailed rhe pioneering railroads: SP, South­ ern California Railway (AT&SF) , and the Santa Ana & Newpon, plus the Pacific Electric, from horsecars to Red Cars. Now. in Vo lume 2, authors Stephen E. Donaldson and Willi am A. Myers bring the Story up to the present day; along the way , we harken back to the days of the orange groves, sugar beet and celery fields , and even oil fields-all the time depending on rail­ roads, economic lifeline of the county. Also covered are the entry of the Union Pacific to Orange County, plus the decline and resurgence of passenger trains-and fre ight operations right up to the present. 144 pages, 95 B&W and 3 1 color illustrations, roSters and tables, bibliog­ raphy, index and appendices for both vo lu mes. 8'hxll " hardbound with co lor dust jacket painting by Patrick Karn ahan. ISBN 0-87046-094-3. Tran s-Anglo 294 (Ready October) ... (add $2 p/h) ...... 34.95

Volume One also available . TAB 288,31. 95 (add $2 p/h), Write for free catalog. See your dealer first. Californians add sales tax . at the Railroads of Orange County, California 54 • NOVEMBER 1990 Railroads supply locomotives ... OMI suppJles modelsl

CANADIAN NATIONAL "Dash 8-40CM " OMI #5353 4,000 husky horsepower powers these giants. CNR class " EF-640a" numbers 2400-2429 have all been delivered and are operating on the East end of the system.

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Prototype photo by H. Arnt Gerritsen

Model delivery is scheduled for December 1990. 24-inch minumum operating radius. Beautifully handcrafted in brass by Ajin Precision of Korea in HO scale. Suggested retail (unpainted) $523.00 each. Our new wide bodies offer you all the differences built into these handsome Canadian prototypes.