CONRAIL TRIBUTE: TIMELINE, IMAGES, AND VIGNETTES • � �

HOT SPOT - PORTER JUNCTION (Indiana) One of the best action junctions we've seen. The Conrail Chicago Line, the Conrail Porter Branch, the CSX/CP line to Michigan, and the Amtrak (ex-Michigan Central) line thTu Michigan converge. We capture the daylight action of 60 trains in several locations in Porter and Chesterton from Conrail, CSX, CP Rail, and Amtrak. Lots of run through power from other roads arc on the Conrail trains. MVP# 610 ..... 75 Min ...... $ 29.00 available ill Ocrober

CONRAIL - Vol. 1 - Chicago to Elkhart Locations include Chicago inside the Belt Railway of Chicago, Whiting, Gary, Ogden Dunes, Burns Harbor, Otis, Pinola, LaPorte, South Bend, and Elkhart. Lots of motive power and train variety including Conrail, CSX, CP Rail, UP, SP, NS, GTW, and South Shore freights! MVP# 620 ..... 90 Min ...... $ 29.00 available in Ocrober

NORFOLK SOUTHERN - Vol. 1 - Chicago to Fort Wayne Covers the ex-Nickel Plate line from Chicago to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Locations include the East End of the Belt Railway of Chicago, State Line crossing, Hammond, Van Loon, Hobart, Spriggsboro, GTW crossings, Valparaiso, Fort Wayne, and other locations in between. See Triple Crown Road Railers, stacks, manifests, locals. transfers, a ribbon rail train, and more. Lots of new wiele-cab Dash 9-40CWs. MVP#71 0 ..... 80 Min ...... $29.00 available in October

UNION PACIFIC Geneva Sub Vol. 3 In 1997 Chicago & North Western color is still present on UP's high traffic route out of Chicago. Lots of new locations shot in 1997 including Malta, Creston (lL), Meredith, Elburn, Sterling, Glen Ellyn and more. See new trains and a variety of power with SP, CNW, and UP. MVP# 473 ..... 70 Min...... $29.00 available in October

THE BELT RAILWAY OF CHICAGO (BRC) NEW! East End Series for 1997

The BRC East End - 1997 Chicago is THE HUB of railroading and the Belt's Clearing Yard is the center of action. See the busiest junction in Chicago with arrivals, departures, and operations at several locations inside the East End including Hayford, Pulaski, Cicero, and the east yards. See mainline ttains, transfers, and jobs from Conrail, NS, SP, BNSF, CP Rail, CSX, UP, CN, GTW, and the Belt's own jobs. Over 50 trains and incredible variety of new as well as classic power including ALCO C-424s and 1st generation EMDs. Includes a visit to the new dispatching center in Bedford Park. MVP# 510 ...... 90 Min ...... $29.00 available in OctOber

Motive Power on the BRC - 1997 The Belt has the widest variety of well maintained classic power - GP7s, GP9s, SW9s, SW1200s, SW1500s, MP15s, GP-38-2s, TR 2&4 cow-calf lash-ups, ALCO C-424s, S-6, and more. We show the majority of the roster including all classes, operating and in the engine terminal. See actual repairs inside the diesel house including replacement of traction motors. Ourside fueling and lubricating. In addition to the BRC roster, we show lots of road power in and out of the engine terminal from SP, CNW, UP, CN, NS, GE Super 7s, and more. See and hear (in the cab) all throt­ tle notches of an ALCO C-424 and EMD SW-1200. Extensive views inside and outside of the diesel house. . MVP# 530 ...... 80 Min .. . .. $29.00 available in OctOber

A Day with BRC #525 This is real railroading! See coverage of the working day of a Belt Railway Co. of Chicago industrial switch job with an SW1200 and its crew. We had one camera in the cab AND one camera on the ground following the acrion - flat switching, kicking cars, mainline running, and the action of passing trains and operations along the way. MVP# 525 ..... 90 Min ...... $ 29.00 available in OctOber

-Other videos of SP, BNSF, UP, C&NW, BRC, WC -Quality color shot & mastered on professional format equipment -Live stereo -Narration Add $5 S/H per order. III residents add 6.75% sales tax. VHS only. Send check or money order to: for r call write o Midwest Video Productions al free cat Og p.o. Box 6533, Aurora, It 60598 To order by Me or Visa, call toll free 800-528-4176 e I November 1997 Issue 408

FEATURES 28 Conrail: 21 Years of History Conrail's brief history is documented fwm scraggly beginnings to a questionable future. Michael W. Blaszak 34 Bye-Bye, Big Blue? Is this the last good-bye for Conrail and its employees? Steve Smedley

Bye-Bye, Big Blue? Gary R. Schermerhorn DEPARTMENTS Conrail Remembered Steve Smedley. The Southern Tier Brian Solomon The Conrail We Would Like to Forget Howard Ande 4 Editorial Early Morning on the River Line Joe Greenstein • Big Four Yard 8 Letters Mike Danneman • A Tiny Corner of Conrail Howard Ande Expediter Conrail from a Distance Ben Bachman • YAOP-17 Tackles the Bridge 8 From the Cab Joe Greenstein • Conrail's Pittsburgh Division Alex Mayes 12 Regionals Changes on the Boston & Albany Brian Solomon· Conrail's GP40s 18 Mike Danneman • Substantial Tom Hoover· Ted Rose Plays the Blues 18 Burlington Northern & Santa Fe

Joe Greenstein • Mingo Junction George S. Pitarys • Horseshoe Curve 22 Amtrak

Mike Danneman • River Line Allure Howard Ande • Not Always the Case 24 Canadian National George S. Pitarys· Young Conrail Michael W. Blaszak 28 Conrail 83 Illinois Central 84 Kansas City Southern 58 87 Norfolk Southern 88 VIA Rail Canada Images: Conrail 70 Canadian Pacific Railway A gallery of spectacular Conrail photos graces these pages. 71 CSX Transportation Contributing Photographers 72 Union Pacific Peter Ruesch 74 Commuter/Transit 78 The Last Word 80 RAILNEWS Classifieds 82 RAILNEWS Advertising Index

ABOVE: A Conrail S035 waits at Bkhart, Indiana, in 1976. LEFT: A Conrail train glides through Romney, Indiana.

covm: Slouched in thought, this engineer may be pon­ dering his own and Conrail's fate. Mark Oanneman photo

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Rising from the ashes of seven bankrupt northwestern railroads, Conrail developed into a Submit all photos, articles, and editorial corre­ rich and successful railroad. With this issue, we pay tribute to Big Blue. Mike Danneman photo spondence to: RAILNEWS P.O. Box 379, Waukesha, WI 53187-0379 t's hard to believe that 50 years ago off, Art Director and Managing Editor there were roughly 140 Class I rail­ To m Danneman gathered vignettes and Submissions sent via UPS, Federal Express, or I roads. It's even harder to believe that photography from some of Conrail's similar courier must be addressed to: the impending loss of Conrail will leave many admirers. The result is a portrait 223 Wisconsin Avenue, Waukesha, WI 53186 the United States with just eight Class Is: of a great railroad, drawn wi th elo­ Phone: (414) 542-4900 Union Pacific, Burlington Northern & quence, honest affection, and care. I Fax: (414) 542-7595 Santa Fe, CSX, Norfolk Southern, Illinois think you will agree that Tom 's diligent Centra l, Kansas City work on this issue paid Advertising Sales: (800) 4 I 0-0444 Southern, Canadian Pacif- off handsomely. E-mail: ic, and Canadian National. It's a fine effort on [email protected] We 're not much for the part of all involved. [email protected] nostalgia around here. We It's even harder This issue will be my like trains, lots of them, last, and I am glad to be Magazine Subscription Service: and preferably in good to believe that leaving on such a high Address all correspondence regarding subscrip­ light. But the loss of more note. ['m leaving this tions (including new orders, renewals, and re­ than 100 sizable railroads the impending magazine to pursue oth­ placement copies) to: is a disturbing thought for er interests. RAILNEWS those who treasure the loss of Conrail Almost seven years P.O. Box 17108 character of a railroad ago, when I hired on, our more than its bottom line. will leave the offi ces were above a North Hollywood, CA 91615-7108 Given today's business cli­ neighborhood bar, and I For all subscription problems and mate, it's important to U.S. with just was editor of PASSENGER inquiries, call toll-free in the step back and reflect on TRAIN JOURNAL. Since U.S., Canada, and Mexico: what has been lost, or put eight Class Is then, much has changed­ into perspective a threat­ mostly for the better. But (800) 210-2211 ened operation. one constant has been outside the U.S., Canada, and Mexico In 1995, this magazine, the steadfast support of (818) 793-3400 then known as PACIFIC contributors and readers. Please allow at least four weeks for address change. RAILNEWS, started a tradition of special I t has been a pleasure to work with you Please allow 3-4 weeks for replacemenl copies. issues marking the passage of major rail­ and for you, but now I must say good­ roads. In less than two years, PRN bid bye. it's time to turn in my keys and farewell to Chicago & North Western; pack up my stuff. I'll keep my camera Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe; Burling­ handy though-l might see a train on ton Northern; and Southern Pacific. my way home. Pcntrex is a trademark of Pentrex Inc. And now its Conrail's turn. To give © 1997 Penlrex, Inc. All rights reserved. Big Blue what could be its final send- Carl Swanson Reproduction in whole or in parI withollt permission is prohibited.

4-November 1997 GREEN FROG PRODUCTIONS New Books (continued) Penn Central (2 tape set) ...... FOUR WAYS WEST PUBLICATIONS DPA-LTA ENTERPRISES 839.50 Rio Grande Ody'ssey (2 tape set) . 856.95 1995 SP Motive Power Annual.... . 834.95 1998 Edition Locomotive Rosters (due Nov) . 819.50 Rock Island Railroad...... FOUR WAYS WEST PUBLICATIONS . 531.95 Fort Worth & Denver Color Pictorial...... $35.95 Santa Fe Odyssey - Vols 1 & 2 (2 tape sets), ea 849.95 Great Northern Pictorials - Vols 1 to 4, each. $35.95 1996 BNSF Annual ...... $34.50 Santa Fe Odyssey - Vol 3 (2 tape set) ...... 540.50 Gulf Mobile and Ohio Color Pictorial ...... $35.95 PA - Alco's Glamour Girl (due Oct) ...... $35.95 Union Pacific Super Railroad - Vols 1 & 2, each. 531.00 GREAT NORTHERN PA CIFIC PUBLICATIONS Northern Pacific Color Pictorials - Vols 1 & 2, ea S35.95 Union Pacific Super Railroad - Vol 3 ...... 814 50 SP's Coloriul Shasta Route..... 535.95 1996 BNSF Annual ...... $37.95 Union Pacific Super Railroad - Vol 4 (OSL) ... . $23.50 KALMBACH PUBLISHING COMPANY McMILLAN PUBLICATIONS, INC. Union Pac. Odyssey-Vols 1 & 2 (2 tape sets), ea $49.95 High Green to Marceline (Santa Fe)...... 549.50 Wisconsin Central: Railroad Success Story . 835.95 GREG SCHOLL VIDEO PRODUCTIONS Wheat lines and Super Freights (Santa Fe) .. $64.95 Pullman Paint & Lettering Notebook...... $19.95 America By Rail- The Heartland. . . . 519.95 Special: both High Green & Wheat Lines. $100.00 MORNING SUN BOOKS America By Rail - The West Coast. . . 819.95 OMNI PUBLICATIONS C&NW In Color - Vol 1 $35.50 America By Rail - Winter Wonderland. . . . 519.95 Coast line Depots - Valley Division (Santa Fe) .. $39.50 CB&Q In Color - Vol 2 ...... $35.50 Cab Ride over Kicking Horse Pass (CP) . . .. 823.95 MORNING SUN BOOKS Erie Lackawanna in Color - Vol 4 . 835.50 Canadian National's Yellowhead Pass. . $23.95 Boston & Maine In Color...... 535.50 Pennsy Steam Years - Vol 2 ...... _ .._ .. 835.50 Canadian Pacific's Kicking Horse Pass ...... 823.95 Chicago Great Western...... 535.50 Pennsylvania Trolleys - Vol 1 .. . . 835.50 Chicago & North Western Mainline West (2 tapes) 845.95 D&H Color Guide to Frt and Pass Equip. . 535.50 The lionel Inspiration (due Oct) . 537.50 HIGHBALL PRODUCTIONS Fairbanks-Morse Locomotives...... $35.50 PENTREX Conrail's Chicago line-Vol 3: Buffalo to Berea. $27.50 Nickel Plate Color Photography - Vol 3 $35.50 Walt Disney's Railroad Story (due Sept) . $49.50 Conrail's River line...... 527 .95 Noriolk & Western - Vol 1: 1945-1964. $35.50 THE RAILROAD PRESS East Broad Top Fall Spectacular 1996 . $23.50 Soo line In Color. $35.50 CF7 Locomotives: From Cleburne to Everywhere $20.50 Highball Along the Columbia (2 tape set) ...... 839 .50 Under Milwaukee Wires...... $35.50 WHITE RIVER PRODUCTIONS Highball Across the Mojave (BNSF) ...... 823.50 STEAM POWERED VIDEO RAILROAD ATLASES Route of the Rockets (Rock Island) . 840.50 Highball Down the Yazoo (illinois Central) . . 523.50 Arizona $16.95 WITHERS PUBLISHING and NewHighball Mexico Over. Rich Mountain (KCS). . . 819.50 California and Nevada. 516.95 Diesels of the Southern Rwy 1939-1982 (Sept). 843.50 Highball Over Tehachapi...... 819.95 Colorado and Utah...... _. 516.95 Train Master. $22.95 KCS and Kudzu (KCS easVwest line) . 823.50 Great Lakes East. 516.95 New Videos New England Central. 823.95 Great Lakes West. $16.95 Sherman Hill (UP) ...... 527.50 North East U. S. A. $16.95 BIG E PRODUCTIONS Stacks & Semaphores (SP in New Mexico) . 823.50 WITHERS PUBLISHING BC Rail's North End. 825.95 The West End - CSX's Mountain Division. 523.95 Diesels of the Chicago & North Western . 543.50 Wisconsin Central 1997 . 831.95 Union Pacific's Salt Lake Route. 827.50 GE's Dash 8 - C Series. 822.95 BROKEN KNUCKLE VIDEO Winter on Tennessee Pass.. (SP/UP) .. 828.50 EMD's SD60 Series. $22.50 Palmer Rail Action - Vols 1 and 2, each. 822.50 Wisconsin Central. 828.50 Union Pacific Switchers and Slugs. $18.50 C VISION PRODUCTIONS ICON VIDEO PRODUCTIONS BNSF Crossin the Cornbelt (Marshall Sub) . $23.95 Donner Pass - Granite Series Vol 1 ...... 512.95 Railfan Timetables g CHARLES SMILEY PRESENTS Farewell Southern Pacific (Scenes from CAl . 817 95 ALTAMONT PRESS Southern Pacific By the Bay ... 823.95 Feather River Canyon - Granite Series Vol 2 . 812.95 California Region #8 (CA)...... S13.00 CLEAR BLOCK PRODUCTIONS Shasta Route - Granite Series Vol 3 . $12.95 Intermountain Region #2 (WY, MT & S. 10) .. 811.00 Kansas City Southern - Vols 1 & 2 calt Southern Pacific's Coast Line ...... 817.95 Pacific NW Region #4 (WA, OR & N. 10). .. $12.00 Vignettes of the Lehigh Valley, Vols 1 & 2 . calt Western Pacific Feather River Canyon. 522.95 Rocky Mountain Region #4 (CO, UT & NV). $12.00 GOODHEART PRODUCTIONS JMJ PRODUCTIONS Southwest Region #3 (NM, AZ. and W. TX). $12.00 1522 Mountain of the Ozarks ...... 523.95 Vintage Rails - Vols 1 to 7, each.. 531.95 Great Steam Safari South Africa Revisited. 523.95 MIDWEST VIDEO PRODUCTIONS Videos GREEN FROG PRODUCTIONS BNSF Chillicothe Sub - Vols 1 and 2, each. $19.00 BIG E PRODUCTIONS CSX - Vol 7 Jacksonville to Plant City, Fla. 523.50 Inside the Belt Railway of Chicago. 519.00 A Last Look at the Cotton Belt.. 529.95 The Best of Passenger Trains - East. 523.50 River Crossings. 519.00 GREG SCHOLL VIDEO PRODUCTIONS BNSF Around Curtis Hill, OK. 829.95 Tower Junctions (Chicago area) . 519.00 BNSF South of La Crosse, WI ...... S25.95 American By Rail - Route of the Southwest Chief 819.95 UP/C&NW Geneva Sub - Vols 1 and 2, each. 523.95 The Show Along US 30 (two tapes) (UP) . $45.95 First Train to Toltec (C&TS '97) ...... $23.95 UP/C&NW Milwaukee Sub 1996 .. 523.95 Wisconsin Central - 1996 . $27.95 Rocky Mountain Snow Plow (C& TS '97) .. . $23.95 Wisconsin Central Limited 1996 . 823.95 C VISION PRODUCTIONS Tennessee Pass & The Royal Gorge Route. 823.95 PLETS EXPRESS HERRON RAIL VIDEOS 538.95 C&NWs "Cowboy lines" ...... _ . $23.95 BN's Mississippi River Route. calt C&NW From the Cab...... , . .. , .. . $17.95 Nickel Plate - Vol 1 ...... C&NW in Northwest Wisconsin. .... 538.95 The Funnel (BN and MRL at Sandpoint, 10) . call Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern . 531.95 Wyoming Coal Trains...... , , ... _ , .. $23.95 CHARLES SMILEY PRESENTS HIGHBALL PRODUCTIONS Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific...... , , . 531.95 Cajon Pass Tour. $23.95 Winter on Kicking Horse Pass (CP Rail). 823.50 Salute to the Soo Line. . .. , .. , ... 838.50 Santa Fe Desert Tour. $23.95 Winter on Montana Rail link . $27.50 The Trains of Winter. 831.95 519.95 ICON VIDEO PRODUCTIONS Today's Vintage Twin Ports...... 831.95 Southern Pacific - The Missing Years .. RAIL INNOVATIONS Southern Pacific Sunset Salute.... . 523.95 Yesterday's Santa Fe (1960s/1970s) (due Oct). $22.95 MARK VIDEO Tehachapi - The Tour...... 823.95 1 Algoma Central Railway ..... 523.95 call Tennessee Pass ...... 523.95 614 Return of a Thoroughbred...... Algoma Central Railway Tour Trains.. 815.95 G. TRAIN VIDEO PRODUCTIONS (GTVP) Memories of the Erie-Lackawanna - Vols 1, 2 & 3 call Branchlines in Transition (Ontario).. 517.95 PENTREX CP Shuswap Sub (Revelstoke to Kamloops) . 525.95 CP Rail'S Big Alcos. 818.95 $25.95 Burlington Northern's Funnel. 816.95 Tracks of the Black Bear (Algoma Central). S23.95 CN-CP Thompson and Fraser Canyons.. RAILWAY PRODUCTIONS UP-BNSF Columbia River Gorge. $25.95 Classic Chicago Railroading. 815.50 BNSF Minot, NO to Belton, MT . 825.95 Santa Fe Vintage Diesels. 522 50 BNSF Stevens Pass. . 523.95 REVELATION AUDIO-VISUALS UP LaGrande, OR to Nampa, 10 525.95 Steam Over Tennessee Pass...... $22.50 GOODHEART PRODUCTIONS Sunrise/Sunet - A Day at Gibbon Jct. 515.50 Erie Lackawanna Legacy (2 tape set). S36.95 Mexican Trilogy: No. 261 - New River Adventures. 523.95 Today's Illinois Central, Vols 1 & 2, each. 822.50 No. 261 - Rebuilding a 4-8-4 ... 831.95 Special: both IC tapes. 543 .50 Hundred Year Dream - The Chihuahua Pacific 823.95 No. 261 - Winter Spectacular. $23.95 Tower 55 (Fort Worth, Texas) ..... 515.50 8easide Alco-Southern Pacific of Mexico. 523.95 4, 4960 - Steam Star of the Grand Canyon Railway $23.75 Tracks Ahead, Vols 1 to each. $18.50 Desert FT-Sonora Baja California Railway. $23.95 GREEN FROG PRODUCTIONS Union Pacific's Marysville Sub, Vols 1 & 2, ea.. 522.50 Special: all three Mexican tapes. S59.00 . Chica90 Odyssey - Vols 1 & 2 (2 tape sets), ea 859.95 Special: both Marysvilte Sub tapes .... . 843.50 TRAINS MAGAZINE Conrail - The West Slope ...... $31.50 PLETS EXPRESS On Location - Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. 522.95 Conrail - Middle Division...... $31.50 Chicago Central - The Last Days. $31.95 On Location- Appalachian Conquest. 822.95 TRAINS MAGAZINE Conrait - Pittsburgh to Crestline. 831.50 On Location - BN's Chicago Racetrack. 522.95 CSX - Vols 1 to 6, each. $31.00 On Location - CSX in the Allegheny Mountains .. 822.95 On Location - Cajon Pass. 822.95 Erie Lackawanna (2 tape set) . $56.95 Today's EMD Diesels...... $15.50 On Location - Cascade Crossing. ... . 522.95 Florida East Coast ...... 835.50 SUNDAY RIVER PRODUCTIONS On Location - Conrail's Chicago Gateway. 522.95 Illinois Central (2 tape set) . $59.95 Otto Perry's Rio Grande Articulateds - Vols 1 & 2 call On Location - Heart of the Wisconsin Central. 822.95 VALHALLA VIDEO PRODUCTIONS e V s � & 2 (2 tape sets),each. 854.95 On Location - Horseshoe Curve. 822.95 ���e?$ra�� 1nd ,,('b & 823.95 UP Steam Across the Rockies (Tenn Pass trip). $18.95 On Location - Rails Around the Bay Area 822.95 Norfolk Southern - Atlanta to Chattanooga. $31.00 On Location - Tehachapi ...... 522.95 Postage & Handling United States: $4_00 per order (no charge for orders over $1 00.00) Canadian and International: $5.00 for first item; $2.00 for each additional McMILLAN PUBLICATIONS, INC. 500 Video and Book Titles U,S, and Canadian • MasterCard 9968 West 70th Place in Stock_ Write or call Credit Card Holders • Visa (303) 456·4564 for Free List! 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trackside Critical Encounters Despite the small size of the Boston & Thank you for the article "Critical Encoun­ Maine, we have two retired employees groups ters" in the August RAILNEWS. As an light rail who meet monthly from April to November operator for Tr i-Met in Portland, Oregon, I (the weather is too "iffy" to hold meetings can attest to the everyday occurrence of close during the other months). The one to which I and critical encounters. Many of my fellow belong meets at a restaurant in a Boston sub­ operators make the statement that we are in urb for lunch and a program of some kind; it the business of saving lives; yet, most people is called The Old Railroad Wheels. The other don' t realize it. I recently transfer red from group is less formal-it has no name-and the bus division, and I was amazed at the meets at the former depot in orthampton scant regard people show for fast-moving for a buffet and conversation. That group in­ trains. I have had more close calls in my cludes the oldest B&M retiree; he recently short time in rail than I had driving a bus. celebrated 101. The trauma of a close call can be just as dev­ astating as a hit because the "what ir s" can Donald S. Robinson replay in your mind. North Billerica, Massachusetts

John H. Frey Kansas City Southern Portland, Oregon I thoroughly enjoyed Paul Walters' and Carl Norfolk Southern Conductor Ca�ey Graves' interesting article on the "Kansas Train Delayers Thomason, 19, of Birmingham, Alabama, City Southernin the Quachitas" in the July is­ says, "RAILNEWS really saves the day when Being a retired railroader, I always enjoy sue of RAILNEWS. we hav� to wait for other trains to clear." Doug Riddell's articles because he frequently Of particular interest was the "mother of tells of events that remind me of my experi­ all meets" section, which was a masterpiece. I ences. In "A Weekend with the Blokes" in had to read this segment about tlu' ee times be­ the August issue, he has kind words for train fore I figured out what went on in the one- to dispatchers, for which I thank him, as that two-hour period at the siding. I made several was the job that I held for 30 years on the copies of this and sent them to friends. Boston & Maine. The mother of all meets story brings to Even before I went to work I was familiar mind the following: While I was district sales with the term "train delayer," and sometimes it representative for the Baltimore & Ohio at was impossible to avoid giving that impression Memphis, Tennessee, during the early 1960s, I to the crews. The problem was that they knew witnessed similar situations with 200-car (or only where their train was, while the dispatch­ more) trains on the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio, pri­ er knew the location of every train in their ter­ or to that railroad's merger with Illinois Cen­ ritory and had to direct the movements of all tral. A train would not leave a terminal until at of them. After the arrival of radio, it was easy least 200 cars were accumulated, for the same to explain to a crew why you were doing some­ reasons as stated in the KCS article. Tr ainmas­ thing that, to them, seemed to be causing an ters would monitor the trains for "trouble" unnecessary delay. I always got along well with (which occurred frequently) by following on the men on the trains, although I used to joke adjacent highways. that "I get paid for telling engineers and con­ The gross ton miles per freight train hours ductors where to go; and sometimes I really ratio was the criteria for "efficiency," but that feel like doing it!" Incidentally, at one period, was a misnomer. 18 of the 23 train dispatchers on our roster were active railfans, model railroaders, Kenneth F. Roloson or-like myself-both. Englewood, Florida

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S.November 1997 BEST SELLING FINALLY THE NEW ROSTERS FOR AND UP INCLUDED ANNUAL BNSF LOCOMOTIVE BOOK ALL THE OTHER MAJORS + RENTAL UNITS ALL ORDERS GUARANTEED THE MOST RECENT AVAILABLE· AUGUST 1997 NEARLY STILL DELIVERY FOR CHRISTMAS IF ALL THE MAJOR SYSTEMS + NEW ORDERS 1997·98·99 THE MOST ACCURATE· USED BY THE MAJOR SYSTEMS ONLY RECEIVED BY DECEMBER 15 1997 $1 95 900 WITH $25,000 ANNUAL RESEARCH INVESTED 9 BY FIRST ClASS MAIL P NEW ROSTERS ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS + THEIR RENTAL UNITS PLUS $3 /H 1998 ��IJ�F�� LOCOMOTIVE ROSTERS ::v?s

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AMERICA EWS OF NORTH RS & � ROSTERS ROSTE MO TIVE C OTIVE LOCO TION OM THIRD EDI lO

TIV ES LOCO MO D ELE DIESELA N DER ED E�:��D O R WN ED O p O 31, 197 3 DECEMBER

ROAD 1-'\ LAG RA'l SD90MAC LlE"" F STER BOOK /f·A 2 75 RO 0HP-1997 INCLUDED 1 MOST 600 �� SYSTEMS & I H ALL R PHOTO W T NES SHORTLI L $10. D-GM lEM Q:lKAGOMI WAUlli.. CE EM & E f!illl PRI J SLAND QJtICH & Q:li.SSI � I &;C!£JL ill/'UI�TON PACK Mt-l!'!.C!:\J.Cl' GO� R & RIO"GRANDE�sIElli RE & LLE & NASHY!l.l1 + $3 P H JJiIf,WA HlJDSQi:!� VALL'2I !.Q\)ISVI ANlib WIG / ERIE_LACKAW EX&. I � -!(ANSAS-l MlSSOUR p6[:]fK LL - t&5SOURI L BlJRGH & LAKE mS A N PiTIS FREE BOOK OFFER OLK & WES1ERN PENN CE :oAAOCOAS 1..!lli1 t:lQRf B � OCKETS ANCISillO more P == UI.-S SAN fR AC!ill:+ many SUBSCRIBE TO BOTH EDITIONS AND NEXT YEARS illP '1iIS1ERN P 4" X ;- R _ND 63/ 1998 1999 \.� WrS1ERN MAYlA PREPAY ORDER BEFORE DECEMBER AND RECEIVE A COpy OF 31 1997 FORMAT THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY LOCOMOTIVE EDITION SHOWN ABOVE. DON'T BE LOCOMOTIVE ID BLiNDSIDED BY OUT-DATED DATA 1973 2 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION IS P/H. THERE ARE MANY ROSTERS BOOKS - BUT NONE SO ACCURATE $39.90 + $3 AND UP-TO-DATE AS OUR BOOKS. - SOME OF THE OTHERS ARE MORE THAN 5 YEARS AND THOUSANDS OF LOCOMOTIVES OUT-OF-DATE THE BOOK FRIENDS GIVE TO FRIENDS FOR CHRISTMAS! r------�------, DPA·LTA ENTERPRISES INC. (TEL.: (514) 428·0336 RN ' FABULOUS BARGAIN FOR ENTRY LEVEL RAILFANS! PO BOX 3000 CHAMPLAIN NY 12919-3000 WHILE THEY LAST! Please ship immediately the following order - check or Money Order enclosed. 02 year subscription 1998, 1999 Editions + Free 1973 Edition $42.90 HURRY! 01998 Edition $22.95 01973 Edition $13.00 01996-97 Edition Special $13.00 A FEW 1996-97 EDITIONS OF LOCOMOTIVE ROSTERS Name TeL: ( WERE PRINTED WITH A MINOR FLAW ON THE COVER BUT APART FROM THIS ARE 100% THE SAME IN EVERY RESPECT Address ______PO Box ___ Apt __ OFFER VOID DEC 31 1997 OR SELLOUTI , , CityfTown State/Prov Zip $10 + $3 , ______P/H L ______--, � BREAKING NEWS /lpedile,.

ments within the next six months. No financial penalties were an­ nounced, but the FRA said that its investigation is continuing. And well it might. Early on the morning of September 22, UP added one more derailment to its growing roster. Seven cars de­ railed near Sunland, New Mexico. One home was evacua ted as a precaution; fortunately, the mot­ ley cargo was non-hazardous.

Mike Blaszak and Katie Norton

Strike Looms: Amtrak vs. BMWE

After more than two years of ne­ gotiations, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWE) and Amtrak have failed to reach a new labor pact. President Clinton established a Presidential Emergency board on August 21 to recommend a solu­ tion to end the dispute. In July, recommendations by Ken Atzgerald an arbitrator were rejected by the union, which led to a 30-day cool­ A catastrophic Union Pacific head-on cOllision occurred in Fort Worth, Te xas, on August 22, 1997. Its cause ing off period; and the President's may have been negligence by both the crew and dispatchers; the incident spawned criticism from the FRA. action led to a further 60-day de­ lay before either party could act through a union strike, an Amtrak Disastrous Wreck Spurs crews and dispatchers. FRA Ad­ our labor unions, have already lock-out, or both. FRA Review ministrator Jolene Molitoris told started to review and correct." During August, Congress was the Associated Press on August 28 Union Pacific announced the on hiatus for its district work pe­ that fa tigued, overworked employ­ following actions: creation of a riod and summer vacation, and On August 20, an unattended con­ ees are the root cause of UP's safe­ President's Safety Hotline to re­ did not meet until September 2, sist of four locomotives in the sid­ ty problems: "You have people ceive anonymous calls about safe­ at which time it took up Amtrak 's ing at lona, Texas, somehow rolled who are working seven days a ty concerns-Davis will review pending $2.3 billion, two-year onto the main and eastward to­ week, 12-plus hours a day with no each call within 24 hours, then re­ legislative program. ward Centennial Yard. The units time off. When you ar e that tired it spond appropriately; evaluation of Brotherhood General Chair­ collided with departing Union Pa­ makes top performance and safety all existing training programs, in- man Jed Dodd said, "This emer­ cific train MFWEP-20. Tw o people gency board has been established died in the accident. Fire erupted over the objections of the BM WE." as leaking diesel fuel ignited; some Dodd pointed out that Section 60 area firefighters rushed to the The FHA investigation raised some 1 0 of the Railway Labor Act states scene and brought the blaze under that after the board is created, its control at about 2: 30 a.m. valid issues... , said Union Pacific report has to be presented to the Reacting to this third fa tal President within 30 days, and 30 wreck in as many months, the Fed­ President Jerry Davis days after that, "no change, except eral Railroad Administration sent by agreement of the parties, shall 80 inspectors to conduct a 14-day be made by the carrier or the em­ intensive review of UP operations. ployees in the conditions out or On September 10, the FRA re­ assurance impossible. And that cluding those for dispatchers, which the dispute arose." Dodd as­ leased its findings. Its report cited schedule isn't just for a week or so, train and locomotive employees, serted, "We are disappointed that UP for failure to follow applicable it's constant." and field managers; monitoring of the Clinton Administration has in­ drug testing rules for employees, Reacting to the FRA's find­ train crew performance and rules tervened in this dispute and be­ defects in 57 percent of locomo­ ings, Union Pacific President Jer­ compliance; and formation of a lieve that he has overstepped his tives inspected, harassment and in­ ry Davis told UP employees, group to study job fa tigue. authority under the Railway Labor timidation of employees reporting "The Federal Railroad Adminis­ The railroad plans to hire Act by effectively coming to the defects and injuries, conflicting or­ tration's investigation raised 1,500 new workers by year's end aid of Amtrak management and ders from dispatchers, and exces­ some valid issues that we, in to help ease the heavy workload putting our right to strike on hold. sive work hours for both train partnership with the FRA and and pledged to produce improve- It is bad policy in general when a-November 1997 • • FA CT FOL DER • • • • • Conrail Facts • • • Conrail operates one of the • largest freight railroads in • the northeastern quarter of • • the United States, serving • 12 states, the District of • • Columbia, and Quebec. • Created through an act of • Congress in 1973, Conrail • • began operation on April 1, • 1976. • • • Revenue: $3.7 billion':' • • • Volume: 4 million carloads, • trailers, and containers" • • • Route Miles: 11,000 • • • Employees: 23,51 0':' • Dan Munson • Freight Carried: automotive; • coal, coke, and iron ore; Burlington Northern Santa Fe has unveiled yet another new paint scheme on DASH 9s 739 and 740. While & food and grain; forest and it is not known if this scheme will replace any other liveries, Chairman Rob Krebs appears happy with the : • manufactured products; in­ results. At least one other new DASH 9-No. 745-is wearing this scheme sans lettering and logos. • • termodal; metals; petro­ • chemicals; and minerals workers in a democratic country proximately 2,300 workers who In mid-September, the emer- • • have their only ability to defend maintain the tracks, bridges, gency board handed down its rec- • Equipment Owned/Leased: themselves against the arbitrary buildings, and other structures on ommendation , stating that Am- • 2,000 locomotives, 53,000 conduct of management restricted Amtrak-owned rights-oF-way. trak should extend to its BMWE • freight cars by government intervention." "The President's action recognizes employees the same wages and • Dodd added that the union the critical role Amtrak's pas en­ benefits currently paid BMWE • • Corporate Headquarters: would present its issues before ger rail operations play in the na­ members working for Class I • the emergency board and "hope tion's transportation network and freight railroads. The recommend- • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that their recommendations will economy, and will keep Amtrak ed settlement, if extended to all • fa cilitate a settlement. Whether and numerous commuter-agency employees, would cost Amtrak • Division Headquarters: Al­ we strike or not will not depend trains running," said Thomas M. over $250 million. bany, New York; Dearborn, upon the recommendations of Downs, Amtrak's chairman, presi­ "Amtrak simply cannot sign a : • Michigan; Indianapolis, Indi­ this emergency board but will de­ dent, and chief executive officer. contract it cannot pay for," said • pend upon whether or not we are Downs noted that the princi­ Downs. • ana; Philadelphia, Pennsylva­ able to negotiate a just and equi­ pal disputes between Amtrak and One of Amtrak's biggest con- • nia; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania table agreement with Amtrak the union "involve wages, bene­ cerns is that it already has to bor- • • management that our members fits, and work rules. The BMWE row money to meet daily expenses. • Service Area: Connecticut, need and deserve." insists on receiving the same con­ Amtrak will approach • Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, If BMWE members walk, oth­ tract terms provided to its mem­ Congress, as well as the Office of • er unions would most likely join bers by the freight railroads. Am­ Management and Budget for ad- • Maryland, Massachusetts, them. In the past, workers of trak's financial condition does not vice on how to fund as much as • Michigan, New Jersey, New one union seldom crossed anoth­ allow the com pany to afford the $25 million in 1998 should York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, er's picket line. terms agreed to by the freight Congress adopt the emergency •: West Virginia, District of Amtrak management wel­ companies, which showed profits board's recommendation, and • Columbia, Quebec comed the formation of a Presi­ of $4 billion last year. The incre­ more than $125 million should • dential Emergency Board to avert mental cost of the freight agree­ the recommendation be extended • a crippling strike. A railroad ments would exceed $220 million to the entire work force. • Information provided by • Conrail spokesman in Wa shington said if applied to all of Amtrak's union Given the disparity of the • that the BMWE represents ap- labor over a five-year period." union, the state of Amtrak's fi- • ':' refers to 1995 information

RailNews·9 BREAKING NEWS /lpedite,.

Island Freight Down Under

Mention Tasmania and cartoon fans think of a whirl ing devil. Wisconsin Central thought in­ stead of Ta srail (TAS), the exclu­ sive freight rail operator for the island state of Ta smania, Com­ monwealth of Australia. [n August, Wisconsin Central Tra n s porta tion Corpora tion (WCTC) announced thal a con­ sortium composed of its Wiscon­ sin Central International Inc. sub­ sidiary; Tranz Rail Holdings Lim­ ited; Berkshire Partners; and Fay, Richwhite & Co. Ltd. had agreed to purchase TAS stock from the Australian government for ap­ proximately $16.5 million. Over the next four years, the group will spend nearly $15 million more for capital expenditures. A key objective for the com­ monwealth is privatization of its entire rail system-it plans to reach this goal by the end of 1998. Tasrail appears to be a healthy investment. As part of John A. Hopkins the Australian ational rail net­ work, the railroad produced $16 On August 7, 1997, a Conrail coal train was crossing the ancient Rockville Bridge in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, million in revenues for its fiscal when part of the bridge collapsed, causing four loaded hoppers to drop into the Susquehanna River. year ending on June 30. Using in­ ternally generated funds and bor­ rowings under existing credit fa­ nances, and the importance of The day the verdict was hand­ Tbe award handed down was cilities, WCTC will inve t ap­ maintaining day-to-day operation ed down, CSXT President and a jury verdict. According to Illi­ proximately $5 million in the of the nationwide passenger carri­ CEO Alvin R. Carpenter said, nois Central's Ann Thoma, "It is project. Corporation Chairman, er, Amtrak will approach "CSX handled the leaking car in still too early to comment on President, and CEO Edward A. Congress and urge it to prepare to complete accordance with very what counter actions Illinois Burkhardt stated in an August 27 take action to avoid disruptions stringent federal safety standards. Central might take." press release, "We are very that could cripple Amtrak opera­ ...There are excellent grounds The case now goes to a post­ pleased to be associated with tions across the county should the for appeal and we will promptly trial hearing where a judge will TAS. The physical condition of union strike. move forward in tbat regard." make the final decision: asserting, the railroad and the attitude and work ethic of its management Leo King and Brent Haight and employees are impressive. We see this as a solid rail system Damage Awarded: CSX to with good growth potential." Eight-thousand people claim to have Australia is the fourth interna­ Pay 82.5 billion tional affiliation for Wisconsin suffered mentally and/or physically Central Transportation Corp. The On September 8, punitive damage company, through its affiliations, was awarded for a 1987 rail car as a result of the explosion has links to Canada, New Zealand, fire involving a hazardous and Great Britain as well. petroleum byproduct, Butadiene. Residents from nearly 200 city Katie Norton blocks were evacuated from their homes after the chemical leaked Illinois Central Railroad was refusing, or adjusting the jury's Norfolk Southern's Very from a faulty gasket and ignited. ordered by the jury to pay $125 verdict. Eight thousand people claim to million. In a September 9 press When asked when a decision Big Stink have suffered mentally and/or release, Vice President and Gen­ could be handed down, Thoma physically as a result of the explo­ eral Counsel Ronald A. Lane replied, "We are dealing with the Norfolk Southern's latest legal sion. A judge ordered five compa­ echoed CSX. "We are disappoint­ judicial system here. Who knows woes are creating a stink. The nies to pay portions of the $3.4 bil­ ed with the verdict and intend to how long it could take?" United Transportation Union , lion judgment with CSX assigned vigorously pursue all avenues of representing 5,000 train crew the largest share, $2.5 billion. legal review." Brent Haight members on Norfolk Southern, is

10-November 1997 suing the railroad over a practice A study conducted during the union calls "disgusting and summer showed that the railroad barbaric." The union claims that could reduce its fleet from 50 lo­ none o[ NS's locomotives are comotives to about 30 with these equipped with toilets. Instead, new units. The 4,000 h.p. employees are given plastic bags SD70MACs will reduce the num­ to line a bucket. ber of locomotives it takes to Norfolk Southern says that pull a typical coal or gravel train the railroad's practices are with­ from five to two. in all state and federal guide­ In a September press release lines. In fact, as the union was Sheffield declared, "The acquisi­ preparing to file suit, the rail­ tion of the new locomotives will road presented the UTU with pa­ have far-reaching impacts on the perwork stating that the Broth­ Alaska Railroad. For example, the erhood of Locomotive Engineers facilities we use to maintain our supported the dry-hopper-and­ fleet are nearly 50 years old, ex­ bag operation. pensive to heat and maintain, and The suit filed against the rail­ will require significant capital in­ road says, "The use of such a con­ vestments within the next few tainer during train operations re­ years. The new locomotive fleet David Palmer sults at times in the contents be­ will be smaller and requires less ing spilled ...causing unsafe and maintenance, so we wi ll now be On August 28, 1997, SEPTA unveiled a new station plaUorm and shelter unsanitary conditions ....The in a position to seriously consider in Newark, Delaware. The station was built lor SEPTA's extension 01 its aforesaid practice is unsanitary, building new maintenance shops." R2 Wilmington Line, which opened lor regular service on September 2. unhealthy, and unsafe." The railroad's current fleet The union claims that all major has units dating back as far as railroads have chemical or flush 1951, and even the newer loco­ this investment clearly demon­ up of union and management em­ toilets used for long haul service. motives use what is, essentially, strates that commitment." ployees, will ensure the experiences In a press release, United fifty-year-old technology, accord­ The railroad has appointed a and ideas of all employees are tak­ Transportation Union President ing to Sheffield. task fo rce to coordinate the en into consideration. Charles L. Little stated, "We in­ "We're in this for the long­ changes that will be made over the tend to pursue this litigation un­ haul," asserted Sheffield. "And next few years. This group, made Brent Haight til the Norfolk Southern ends this barbaric and inhuman prac­ tice .... ! am sure that the Brother­ 105 hood of Locomotive Engineers will reconsider their position to Stock Index better protect the health and • Closing Price August 21, 1997 safety of its members." Lawrence Mann, the attorney • Closing Price September 21, 1997 who filed the suit, said that action *Indicates a 3-lor-l Stock Split was taken after discussions with - == the railroad concerning the prac­ tice did not resolve the issue. c=� As of press time, no further in­ - formation was available.

Brent Haight Big MACs for Alaska

The last American frontier is keep­ ing up with technology. In Septem­ ber, the board of directors for the Alaska Railroad approved the pur­ chase of eight new SD70MAC lo­ comotives. The $1.9 million Elec­ tro-Motive Division locomotives will begin arriving in 1999 and will be used to phase out older power over a five-year span. According to Alaska Rail­ road's Chief Executive Officer Bill Sheffield, the new power will help lower the annual $7 million operating cost.

RaiiNews·ll COMMENTARY

From the Cab ...With Doug Riddell

rival, the Atlantic Coast Line. Hearing the stories told by Rob, John, Whit, and others will be as close as I will ever come to being a "real" Seaboard man. As far as these men were concerned, the letters SCL may as For Whit well have been a four-letter word. To them, the ini­ tials stood for "Still Coast Line." While Richmond had hosted the headquarters of the Seaboard Air Line, in postmerger times it became a Coast Line city. As soon as all necessary connections could be made to the South, virtually all freight train arrived at the jointly operated ACLIRichmond, Freder­ icksburg & Potomac Acca Yard via the doubletrack ACL main line (or West Route, as it was christened). When the new five-mile connection between the old SAL at Burgess and the newly expanded ACL yard at Collier was completed, SCL abandoned SAL's down­ town Petersburg station on Commerce Street in favor of ACL's depot in suburban Ettrick, still used today by Amtrak. This done, almost all of the former SAL trackage in the Richmond area was abandoned and taken up. The road's Hermitage Yard and Shops were razed, and later the Chesapeake & Ohio interchange facility and local industrial hub at Brown Street. (Adding insult to injury, the Greyhound bus station re­ located to the site once occupied by the turntable pit.) With the exception of a token freight agency and pas­ senger services department, all administrative person­ nel were transferred to Jacksonville, and the practically new Broad Street headquarters building was sold.

Doug Riddell OWING TO ITS HEAVY CONCENTRATION of industry, the last bastion of the former Seaboard Air Line railroad lives Even eight years aner the merger creating Seaboard Coast Line, Seaboard Air Line ca­ on today, thriving even into the modern CSX era: the booses wore their Through the Heart medallions and stayed mostly on former SAL Lines. East Route, or Bellwood Subdivision. The Bellwood Sub, and its 12-mile extension to Hopewell, sees numer­ ous local freights, road switchers, and unit coal trains. t all seemed so natural, so right-but it wasn't. As Since it serves as the link to the fOimer C&O's east-west I had done many times for many years, I was sit­ main line, it not only hosts former Chessie coal and I ting to the left of Rob Ya ncey, one of my favorite grain traffic, but Amtrak passenger trains en route to I [Whit] was engineers. Only this time we were not mesmerized by the Virginia tidewater. Main Street Station itself is to be the Pyle Gyrolite on an Amtrak SDP40F, as it scribed renovated and re-opened in 1998 as the centerpiece of a anything, he figure-eights in a North Carolina night. Nor were we regional multimodal transportation hub. I on the point of Amtrak's Silver Meteor-or "Metel/' Ty pically, when you think of the Seaboard, scenes as the old-time Seaboard Air Line railroaders called of lightweight, diesel powered streamliners speeding was a Sea­ the dazzling Florida-bound train. through the Everglades come to mind. But the SAL Meeting Rob again after more than a decade was more than trainloads of winter-weary northerners should have been cause for celebration; but while we seeking respite in sunny Florida: Even SAL's mainline board Air were glad to see each other, our mood was somber. freight trains employed lash-ups of mint green, red­ Our conversation didn't center around Elvin stokers, striped E7s to rocket hotshot piggyback trains of Line Railroad or the days when Rob fired sturdy Q3 Mikes 16 TOFC vans, emblazoned "Rar'n To Go, Razorback!" hours a day for his good friend John Cutchin on the While those images may have been the ones highlight­ PM-Bellwood switcher. In fact, we said very little as ed in the railroad's print advertising, it was the south conductor. we sat side-by-side, and what was said was whis­ Georgia locals, the Bone Valley shjfters, and the Bell­ pered for we were sitting in the chapel of Woody's wood switchers that paid the bills. It was the Henry That's how he Funeral Home, bidding fa rewell to Henry Whitmore, Whitmores, the Jesse Rideouts, the "Lightning" a former conductor and one of the last of the Old Ellingtons, and the "Pappy" Joe Folkes who manned wanted to be Guard-the loyal and devoted railroaders who re­ and conducted those locals. garded as sacred the Seaboard Air Line emblem Henry Allen Whitmore was the product of a "Through the heart of the South." Seaboard Air Line Railroad family from North Caroli­ remembered na. His father had been employed in the engineering I WASN'T ON THE ROSTER WI-lEN slope-nosed SAL E4s department. I knew Whit as one of the very best local roared out of Richmond's Main Street Station with freight conductors, and during the rare moments the Orange Blossom Special and hammered over when his assigned caboose and the two brakemen he Southern Railway's West Point, Virginia, line at the supervised on the PM-Bellwood switcher were not in world-famous triple crossing. My pedigree only traces motion, Whit would tell me about the days when he back to the Seaboard Coast Line, the product of the wore a passenger conductor's uniform on SAL's pri­ 1967 amalgamation between SAL and its once-bitter mary and secondary trains.

12. November 1997 "I still have my Orange Blossom Special drift along until-using his own judgment-the again-that night, or any other when we arm band," he mentioned one night as we flagman had sufficient time to close up the worked together until the day he retired." awaited the shipping foreman's okay to pull switch and catch up on the caboose. 20 cars, filled with $15 million worth of "[ lined the switch, locked it, ran for the I DISCOVERED ON MY FIRST night of working the Phillip Morris products, from the world's cab, and pulled myself up just as the train be­ PM-Bellwood switcher with Henry that he largest cigarette manufacturing facility in gan picking up speed," Henry said, grinning lived just four blocks from my parents, and [ South Richmond. Birmingham-bound train slyly. "After downing a cup of ice water, I was even more amazed to learn that his o. 289 was waiting outside the plant gates, headed for the cupola steps, but stopped dead daughter was the same Ann Whitmore from blocking road crossings, waiting for us to tack in my tracks when I heard very loud snoring my art classes at Henrico High School. Of on 15 loads of cigarettes for expedited move­ coming from the old man's side of the cupola. course, at first it was difficult to picture this ment to the West Coast. We were to take the The old curmudgeon, who had kept jumping crusty old railroad veteran as the father of the remaining five cars to Acca, where RF&P on me every time I nodded off while we stood beautiful young graduating senior listed in the would sprint the cartons of Marl boros to in the siding, was evidently lulled into a deep 1965 TOTEM POLE as the "best-dressed, cutest, northeastel11 markets. sleep the instant we started moving." and friendliest" student in the class. "I had to know where the train was, every Henry made up his mind to teach him a "Every time I looked at you, [ remarked minute it was moving," Whit continued. "It lesson. that I had seen your face somewhere else," seemed like there were open train order offices "I slipped out the rear door of the caboose, Ann said, following the brief graveside service every 10 miles between Richmond and Mon­ crawled up onto the roof, and crept up to the for Henry. roe, I orth Carolina (on the line to Birming­ side of the cupola where the old man slept, "It's been right here in the same spot for ham), and between Richmond and Columbia, sawing logs in perfect rhythm with the clicki­ 47 years," ... I joked as Ann placed her hand South Carolina (on the passenger line to Flori­ ty-clack of the jointed rails, and leaned on the over my mouth. da). You had to have the door open to observe arm rest," Whit grinned. "I grabbed his arm "Shhh," she smiled. "Everyone will know the semaphore, and you had to be ready to forcefully, squeezed it tightly, and let out with how old we are. What threw me off was that hoop up orders, because if you missed them, a curdling yell, which scared the old man so Seaboard Air Line lapel pin you're wearing." you had to stop and go back to get them." badly that he came up out of the seat, bumped Reaching into my pocket, I fumbled for his head on the roof, lost his footing, and fell another pin. "I found the SAL pin at the last MISSED ORDERS DELAYED TRAINS, and could down into the floor of the cab. I scurried minute, just before I was leaving the house. I have lethal consequences, as was the case on around to my side of the cupola, hopped into started to wear this one," I said softly, as if June 14, 1942, when the Silver Meteor missed the seat, and shined my lantern down at him Henry were listening, and produced one its orders at Kittrell, North Carolina, and and-staring at him in total innocence-asked reading "SCL." stopped to retrieve them. The Meteor had just if he was okay. " "My god," Ann laughed as we both looked passed freight train No. 89, the fron Master, The old conductor, rubbing his head, to see if the casket were shaking. "You know which was in the siding at Gill. By the time looked up at his young flagman, and admitted he's turning over in there right now at the very o. 89's engineer pulled out of the siding, he that he didn't know what had happened. thought that you would have worn that one. I figured the high-flying streamliner was "I replied that I only knew that he ap­ wish you could have been at the funeral home halfway to Raleigh, and opened up the throttle peared to have gone fa st asleep, suddenly last night [when the fa mily received friends]. of his Q3 Mike. Rounding the long, elevated started yelling, stood up, and fe ll down. I told Daddy was laid out in his uniform with all the curve just north of Kittrell, the freight engi­ him I supposed he was having a bad dream, or brass buttons and his hat. If he was anything, neer was horrified to see the marker lights and something, and that I was glad the trainmaster he was a Seaboard Air Line Railroad conduc­ illuminated drumhead of the Meteor's obser­ wasn't around. He might have gotten into big tor. That's how he wanted to be remembered, vation car, gleaming on the track ahead. He trouble, I mockingly reminded him," Whit and you know, you didn't argue with Daddy." immediately put the brakes into emergency, chuckled. "The old man crawled back into his Ann was right. Whit was especially patticu­ but it was too late. Eight passengers-most of seat, said no more, but kept giving me this lar about his caboose. He was one of the last them soldiers-were scalded to death when strange, suspicious stare the rest of the night. conductors to keep up his assigned cab-em­ the fron Master's locomotive plowed into the Needless to say, neither of us nodded off phasis on keep up-because while SCL assigned rear of the standing train. "You didn't dare go to sleep, no matter how tired you were," Whit admonished me, noticing that-at 3 a.m.-I was yawning. "We worked 16-hour days back then. Most crews would show off duty at 15 hours and 59 min­ utes so that they could work the next day after only eight hours rest under the [prevailing] Federal Hours of Service Law. If you worked the full 16 hours, you had to have 10 hours rest, so you couldn't work the next day, and lost a day's pay." It was at this point that Henry's penchant for chicanery and practical jokes surfaced. "We were stuck in a siding for the longest In this exciting video you'll see plenty of exciting Wisconsin & Southern railroading from all across scenic time on a third-class local. Everyone had rights southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Operating mainly on former Milwaukee road trackage the WSOR over us. I was a young buck, and it appeared action includes: yards, local & mainline freights. Wisconsin & Southern's exquisite E9's are seen on a tourist that we were going to spend the whole 16- passenger train out of Madison and also powering the famous circus train out of Baraboo, Wisconsin. As hour day stuck in this lonely pass track. To­ an added feature you'll also see connecting railroads of the BN, WC, SOO/CP, C&NW, Metra and even a ward the middle of the night, I started to nod Whitcomb Center Cab at the coal transloading facility at Prairie Du Chien.

off. The old codger I was flagging for stomped 90 Minutes • Beautiful Color with Live Audio & Narration on the cupola floor, startling me, and shouted 'Better keep them eyes open boy. The train­ SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER! master will fire you for sleeping on the job!'" "_�/u Reg. 38.95 Whit said the old man did the same thing a Vnvr $3495 Expires 12131197 few more times that night before they heard the WI Residents Add 5% Sales Tax PLUS SHIPPING & HANDLING: USA S4 / Canada S5 whistle blow twice and the brakes began to re­ lease. Before radios were widely employed, a PLETS EXPRESS good engineer knew just about how far he had (715) 833-8899 to move to clear the siding, and would then """!IfI'I!!!'lI�

RaiiNews·13 cabs on road switcher and local freight assign­ Restaurant in Beaverdam, Virginia, next to the "Be that as it may," Corky responded, tow­ ments every 90 days, for some conductors it was C&O Piedmont Subdivision main line, just ering over his conductor by more than a foot, just a fOllllality. For Henry Whitmore, it was his west of its junction with the RF&P at Doswell. "that makes it an assigned restroom, as fa r as God-given right. He kept his cab just like a My son Ryan and I happened upon it one I'm concerned, and I'll use it if J have to." room in his home: hunting posters, bric-a-brac, evening and noticed the ACL and SCL railroad With that, Johnny Delaney stepped in and even a suit of clothes in the closet. Since the memorabilia and posters on the walls. Soon, J said, "Well, I guess it's time to go back to PM-Bellwood switcher originated at Acca Ya rd, was surprisingly reunited with Bubba. Since work." It remained cold outside that night, but it was kept in the cab track, where it was wa­ they were so closely associated, the conversa­ inside Whit's assigned caboose, there was no tered and supplied daily. [n later years, howevet; tion turned to Whit. Even though Johnson was lack of heat, believe me. when the job terminated at Bellwood, Whit a former ACL man, he and Whit had hit it off "I call Whit at least twice a year-always at would show up early on the days when his as­ immediately, and remained fast friends. Cer­ Christmas," Henry johnson told me, setting signed cab was to be exchanged for a new one, tainly, they were two of the hardest-working down a piece of homemade peach cobbler on and he would spend hours getting it just right. men ever to swing a lantern. Henry Johnson the red-and-white checkered table cloth in Usually the local trainmaster saw to it that Hen­ was the original perpetual motion machine­ front of me. "But he's not doing well at all. I ry was given a cab that had been recently out­ walking up and down the switching lead, jump­ don't get into Richmond very much any more shopped and freshly painted. ing up on the side of a box cat; or tying a hand to visit. You ought to stop by and see him." I arrived at Bellwood one night, however, to brake. Thin, musculat; and always laughing, It was in the early spring this yeat; just tlu'ee find Henry outraged. His assigned cab, con­ Henry johnson complemented Henry Whit­ months before Whit died, that 1 puJJed up in taining all of his personal belongings, had been more-railroading's "odd couple." front of his modest brick house. A wooden ac­ swapped out a day sooner than expected. ot Everyone on the trainman's extra board cess ramp leading up to the front door warned only was its replacement a battered, rusting, dodged anything at Bellwood because being me not to expect the same feisty fighter I re­ old, dirty M-5 class caboose, evidently drawn sent there meant that you were going to work membered. He clutched a railing as he walked from the through freight pool, but worse than for 12 hours without let up, come hell or high slowly and deliberately, step by step, into his liv­ that, the letters Atlantic Coast Line screamed water. Worse still, the old heads had their rou­ ing room, where, aided by his wife of 55 years out from its faded flanks. Livid, Whitmore was tine down to a science. A new man just got in and a day nurse, he eased himself into a chair. on the phone to the trainmaster in a matter of their way and usually caused aggravation for moments, and our first move that night was a the whole crew, especially at night on the PM­ WH I LE MANY OTHER ASPECTS of his appearance straight run to Acca, where his old cab was be­ Bellwood switcher. The only thing worse than had changed, Henry's smile remained. Though ing held. Its contents were transferred to yet having one extra board man on the crew was his recollections of working with me on the another, more suitable caboose, and we went having two, which happened on the very rare PM-Bellwood switcher were blurred among back to Bellwood to complete our work. occasions when Henry Whitmore or Henry the thousands of other episodes of his 40 plus And work you did when you caught the PM­ Johnson marked off. years of service, he was obviously delighted to Bellwood switcher with Henry Whitmore and have a visitor from the railroad. his long-time flagnlan, Henry "Bubba" Johnson. ONE SNOWY NIGHT DU R ING my fi rst year on the "You know," Whit reminded me, "1 retired (Johnson called everyone else "Bubba," so, iron­ railroad, I was called to be the nagman. Since he as the conductor of that ...I can never re­ ically, that became his own railroad moniker.) was junior to me, Corky Price, Sr. (now a fellow member the name of that passenger train." Now retired, Johnson runs the Crossing Gate Amtrak engineer), was our brakeman. Whit "The Auto-Train," I prompted. knew that it was going to be a long night. Sens­ "Yes," he nodded, "the Auto-Train." ing the tension, Engineer johnny Delaney and How well 1 remembered. I had entered en­ Fireman Mel Ward stayed on the locomotive gine service in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, when we arrived at Bellwood and began switch­ while Whit held the conductor's position on ing out the cars in our train that would be spot­ Nos. 3 and 4. The late Red Hunnicutt rode the ted at nearby industries such as Reynolds Met­ locomotive as the head brakeman, but, as a re­ als, Dupont, and Phillip Morris. Since the yard sult of Whit's retirement one morning, suc­ at Bellwood (like most of the north end of the ceeded him as conductor when the southbound HIH Seaboard Air Line Railroad) was in a series of Auto-Train departed Richmond that same curves on a steep grade, Whit spent most of his evening. Red was riding in the body of the time worrying that we would let a car roLl away train his first night as captain when they struck down the hill toward the main line. a tractor trailer loaded with Merit cigarettes at Typically, Whit brewed fresh coffee on the a crossing in Emporia, Virginia. The lead truck caboose stove and called us all in for a break of the red, white, and purple U36B derailed from the wintry weather. He had just poured but miraculously straddled the double spans of five cups when he noticed that one of us was the Meherrin River bridge, sliding to a stop be­ missing. just then, there was a flushing sound, hind the Greensville County Jail. and Corky appeared from behind the door of Fireman Andy LeGrande (now a CSX exec­ the small privy at the rear of the cab. Whit­ utive) received an eyeful of glass splinters, and more went ballistic. new Head Brakeman Aubry Durrette was also "Did you use the bathroom on my cab?" he injured. Nearing retirement, but in excellent yelled, standing up and spilling the waybills physical condition, Engineer Raymond Weaver and switch lists that had been neatly arranged grabbed a handful of torpedoes, a red flag, on his Masonite lap board. fusees, and a lantern, and ran nearly five miles "Sure. Why?" asked Price. ahead to Trego to flag any northbound trains. "NO ONE uses the bathroom on my cab. Luckily, there were no other injuries among All-new version of SIGNAL's popular DISPATCHER This is my assigned cab, not some pool cab!" the train's passengers and crew. SOFTWARESIMULATOR. Be the dispatcher on the busy rail cor­ ridor between Washington, DC and Philadelphia. You must control he shouted. "I don't care where you go, as Climbing down from the first car of the a mix of fast Amtrak passenger trains and slow freights on the 110 mile territory (300 track miles, hundreds of switches and signals long as it's not on my caboose!" Auto-Tr ain, brand-new Conductor Red Hunni­ and 27 major interlockings). Through use of enhanced Windows' controls and graphics. set and "fleet" signals. throw switches. and cutt hurried to the locomotive to determine plan routes to keep trains on schedule. Developed from actual trac�. how seriously its occupants were hurt. plans and train schedules by eTC professionals, TRAIN DIS­ PATCHER is realistic, interesting, educational and fun. For Win­ "There were cigarettes everywhere," Red dows 3.1 or Windows 95. Train Dispatcher (Windows, 3.5" Disk) ...... $39.95 said. "My feet never touched the ground-I Shipping & Handling (US) ...... $ 4.00 Shipping & Handling (non US) ...... $ 6.00 RAILFANS! walked all the way to the engine on a carpet of PA residents add 7% sales tax Watch for the 1998 locomotive tobacco. And you know what? With every step SIGNAL Computer Consultants I took, I had to laugh, because [ thought, 'That 2 !'x�� 21 rosters COMING SOON! To ll ��e �� �mgINittsbur� ���893 damn Henry Whitmore, he's done it again. If I E·mail signal @ usaor.net DPA-LTA Enterprises Inc. Web Page httpJ/www.usaor. neVsignal PO Box 3000 didn't know better, I'd swear that this was just MastercardNisaiDiscover accepted Champlain, NY 12919-3000 another one of his practical jokes.'" RanNcws

14-November 1997 NEW TITLES SF·Gateway to the American West. Vl, 107·121 44.25 I Soo Line 1975'92, 242·RR002 ...•...... •...24.95 20th Century lmlled, 128·103 ...... 19.25 American Narrow Gauge, 107·126 ...... 33.85 --- NEW BOOKS -__ Sao Line in Color, 106·183, ...... , ...... 34.95 Soulhern Pacillcln Oregon (PFM), 120·017" , •. ,38.95 Amer. RR'O FrequencIes, 14th Ed., 131·01079 ...13.95 B&O Passenger Service, Vl&2, 128·133 , ....", .. EA 21.95 Sthrn Rw'y Syst. Pict·Wash·Allanta, 121·023 ....34.95 Amellcan Shortline Railway Guide, 131·01073... 17.50 Black Gold & Black DIamonds, 138·102 ...... " ..,38,95 Full ...Color -5Silk ScreenedHla I Fruit 01 the... Loom5* · 8EST! * SP 1995 Motive Power Annual, 121·021 .. "",•.. ,34.25 BNSF 1996 Annual,175·'" GNP .•....•....••....•.....35.95 Appalach Coal Mines & RROs Inc), 128·114 ..•. 12.95 SP&S Cabooses, 175·110 ...... ", ...., ...... 23.95 ADULT: S-XUS9.50.XXUSlO.25.XXXUSll.00 KIDS: SB.OO • Kjd'son� Argent Lumber·Last of Swamprals lPFMl, 12G-015 29.25 BNSF 1996 Moll .. P'wr AnnuaHWW, 121·029 •• 32.95 SP's 4300 4·8·2·s( Revised), 195·102 ...... 44.75 Amtrak "Genesis" 800 Frisco 1522 SF 12804· Yellow/Blue BHSF &MRL loco Directory1997, 175·113 ...... 20.95 i Engine 2008 • an 2020 S ash 9 AT&SF Color Guide Fr'l/Pass.Equip, 106·152 ••.35.95 ��'�����cil s �lf F q ,��I�l 4 ATSF Coast Una Depots, Valley Div, V2, 102·11238.95 8 ston & Albany. Vl.164·102...... 38.95 SP's Coast line ,'95·101 ...... ,.,',•...... " .50,50 �ra&��;����� mS 130 0 SP's Shasta Route, 121·028 ...... 34.95 illinOis Cenlral·Ps il00 Boston & Albany, V2, 164'IVI & V2 74.95) ...... ••.38.95 B&O Color Gde FrtJPa" Eq 106·164 ...... •••...35.95 C&NW Rw'y Photo Archive 1973'96, 242·RROO3..... 24.95 SP in the Bay Area. 131·01070 ...... 15.00 2016 L&N'Old Reliable"F Unil 16601 8&0 Sand Palch· Clashof Tilans, 132·100...... 39.75 SP IntheWest·PT2, "1·5" Corridor, 191·109 ..... 33.95 2018 C&NW In Color, 106·188 •...••...... •...... 34.95 9297 LVDiesell;7B@S�naIBr. SP Dash 9, 18106 B&O VI & V2, lEA), 110 •....•...... •...•..•..33.50 SP DleselizaUon, 120·010.,." , •.. , ...... ,." , •.. ,32.50 7 Mil Rd·D.sel ! Cab. 12021 SPOayl�h114449 C&O F"lghIC"s, Hop/Gons,VI, 168·118 ••....••22.95 Beauty 01 Railroad Brid9es, 107·122 ...•...... •.33.85 Spokane, Portland & Seattle, 120·023PFM ...... 58.95 8601 MR "Oome" #104 "Steam" wlGhostEng'r1006 CB&Q In Color, V2, 106·186 ..••....•...... •...•...... ••.34.95 8e�shlre&7XTrPe, 120�09 ...... 30.50 • Stampede & Steven'sPasses·Guide, 175'112 ... ,20,95 Nickel Plate Road'329 "Tlain" 1002 Cabins Crummies & Hacks, V5, 140-121 .. " ...... 19.95 1003 NPRI'Iy"Steam;328 • �Tlainlown' 123 BN: Coal Country Tracks/de Guide, 175·106..••• 21.75 Tacoma By Trolly. 120·022...... 29.50 6A BNSF 1994 & 1995 Annuals, 121 ...... EA 33.95 CF7 Locos: From CJeburne/lverywhere. 247·1 ,•• '9,75 flSOash9w/Horsei8764 • Trish Trolley 12013 Tehachapi (Schmollingerl. 115·103.. , ...... , 35.95 Chessie 0407617 & Classic Diesels of the South, 128'129 ., ...... "".. ,21.95 d • 0 Boston MaIne In Color, 106·181 ...... 34.95 ClassIc Freight Cars. V10. Work Trains. 140·120 .... EA22. ConraiIC40-8W;6107 ��62��8:n;����3 Un�J���e�t� ��11951 British Columbia Railway.204·101 .••...... •..56.95 95 T T. California Reg. IB, 105·WCA8 ...... * *12.50 e • Passenger Train 1008 k • 5;:�� ��jeSrai����; 9 ReadingF/902@SignaJBr. 671 Burlington NorthernInto the90's, 121·013 •.....34.95 T T. lnler Mln Re9 12, 105·102 ...... * *10.75 r\3i·:OO';·::::::::::::::::!: � ' • Danny Dieseli2004 n w.;��Wisconsmto�:: Central 16656 Burlington Route, VI (FWW), 121·010 ...... 34.95 �:��:I�:o:� ��I��a%�': : c · . 4 . .DarIaDieseli2005 ��:,�: "����r· 652 • Wil!ieWarbonnet 2011 Diesels of So. Rwy 1939·82. 119·114 ...... 45,50 �: �::.� By the EL, 140·118 .....••.....••...•.•...••...... 29.50 ��: � ���'. :', ������M4 NE'W: :��:�� Elk River SHAY • Samantha Steam Eng. 2006 IV. MO Big 4 SHAY Oomellners, ...••....•...... • .... 33.95 131·01076 . •• FECFUnrt'502 • Sebastian Steam En .2007 Caboo", olth.B&O RR'O IHubler), 215·101 ....37.95 T T. SW Re9.13, 105·101 .....•....•...... * *11.75 C&O Coal and Color, 168·114 ...... 30.95 a k C&O Olesel locomotives, 168·102 ...... 26.75 �:��a�;u��;�,��:�2������'. .� �.�:�.��,:::::::::::�::�� I�T::-h-:.::t ' -" .= Ch7"lc-ag-o=Ra-p =l d=Tr-an-. s=-y-s.-, 1-47"'B-'-131-..-:43 .75=-' All Tees listed below are 20% off list prices! C&O Dining Car Recipe Book, 168·1G4...... 16.95 i e They Felled the Redwoods, 237·102 "" ...... 24.95 Kids-List $10.00 SALE PRICE $ 8.00 ** ���� �: �I�:t�::: �:���� ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::i�:;� ' . Adu)t S-XL-List 5t2.00 SALE PRICE $ 9.50 ** C&O In the Coal Fields, 16B·1I2 ...... •....•....•.19.50 S . Thunder In the Mountains. 237·101." ...... 24 95 C&O Steamllners, 2ndto Hone, 168·101 ...... 24.95 Milwaukee RO In U's Hometown, 131 01080 ...... 14.75 Adult XXL-List St3.00 SALE PRICE $10.25 * * . . Union Pacific Swilchers. 119·119 .... ",.. ,',•.. ".18,00 Cabooses of the MIssouri Pac. RR'D, 239·101 ...55.50 MRllOth Annlv, Rall Fan Guide,175 114,.. ", ...... 20.95 Adult XXXL-List 5t4.00 SALE PRICE $11.00 ** . U·80ats· McDonnell, 115·105 ." .. " •.. " ...... 38.95 . 128 134 ... Cascade DivIsIon· BH/MIL Road, 191·101 ...... 27.95 N&W Dleselslast Conquest...... 12.95 UP ·The Salt Lake Route, 115·117 ...... 46.95 Chasing Trains· B. RIchardson, 146·129 ...... 40.50 N&W In the Appalachians, 131.01083...... ,'4,75 ALLOW 3-4 WEEKS DELIVERY ON TEES HG Pictorial, loco of OARGW, Vol XI, 130.113 ." ....28.40 U,S. Military Railway Serv,. 115·102 ...... 24.75 Chicago Great Western In Col.,106·1n ...... 34.95 s 0 Send $1 .50 with SASE for wearables catalog showing Chicago, SI. Paul, Mlnn & OmahaRR'd,242·RROOI .. 24.95 NKP Road Pass Serv.·P,War Yn., 128·135 ""., .. , •.21.95 :� �:�:��J�:�!�!������131 · : a s :01069::::::�:�� designs available. Refundable-free with order! Chili Une& Sanla Fe·City Diff., 148·105...... 35.75 ' · Wrecks, Accidents & Collisions, 112·101 ...... 27.95 CI'ssFrt, Cars, V9(lnsul. bOI& reel.), 140·119 .... 19,50 �!�AI���:1��: :r����l����!��,::::;;;�:P�bP�i�'��::� C·Liners·FM line 1 Consol Locos,119-116 ...... 16.75 Pennsy Power·Staufer. 142·110 ...... ,.43,95 --- VIDEOS --- 0 Pennsy Sream Years, V2, 106·187 ...... 34,95 . TRIUMPH I Clrfullook at Coorail'sS040's & S040·2's, 157·120 .. 14.95 4S01-Three Decades of Excursions, 129 53134 ..30.95 ALTOONA TO PtTCAtRN PRR HISTORY Colo, & So,·Southern Div. (FWW),121-020 ...... 34.95 n e 0t k ' 4960 Star of rand Cy'n Rwy. 167'126 ...... ,23.50 ��:::��:�t�: ��!���,�e� ,;:;�6O.:�:����;04::�::� St'm G From 1846-1996 • 488 Pages ' 688 Maps Colorado Midland RWY,l4fj-I34, ...... "." ....••.. ,.41.25 e · Illustrations & Photographs Places 108·111 . 30.50 ' Conrail Commodities, 172·101 ...... , .... ,." ,36.75 RG·Secret No OneKnew, ...... :���:t�� p�::����:� �����:t�POKEY:::::::��:;� 3 · · Lisl S6S.00-0URS $50.95 .. Slock/ 132·105 Contemporary 01esel Spotters Guide, 131·01068.,.15,50 Bi h a Viewllner, 211·105 ...... 23.50 CRM Annual '96·West. Rail Hist., 108·22 ...... 30,95 :��I�:�h:�o��;1��i:i66:iii4::::::::::::::::::::::�:::� BNSF'srt 01 Stevens Pass, 216104 ...... ,23,75 Santa Fe Diesels, 1935·65 n Color. 236.103 ...... 45.95 · Diesel Locos·The First SO Years, 131·01054 ..... 20,75 I West. V2, n r u 1998 TRAIN CALENDARS , ...... 43.25 Santa Fe Gateway/American 107·129 ., ... 44,25 ��� t��=::�::��n��;���!��:��:�:;,·2ij::::�;:�� Diesels of theChicago & NW, 119·110 .. WE ALWAYS RUN OUT! • ORDER NOW! Santa Fe FrsightIn Color, Gons, V2, 236·102 ...... 48,95 . DinnerisServed,'07·128 ...... 29.50 Conrail Middle Dlvision'AII .. HR'SBG, 129 53126 28.75 131-68100 Trains 159·525X Images of Railroading·Ted Rose Steam Pass. Directory, 1997'8,13 1082 .... , •• 0.95 HI CR's Ch'go .Buffal Berea, V3, 184.121 ..27.25 131 68102 Golden Years of Railroading 159·5330 Santa Fe Raihoad-S10.50EA. DonnerPass·Slgnor, 107·131 " .... " .. ," , •.. " ..,,41.95 ' L1ne oto - Texas & Pacific Color Pictorial, 121·031 ...... 34.95 X Hlca Jct.. .1 ...... 131·68096 Model Railroading 159·5411 Southern Pacific -S10.50 EA. Durango·Always A RR'd Town, 148·106 ...... 35.95 Triumph I, PRR Altoonato PUcarn, 132·105 ...... SO.95 CS & NS atA . 246 29.95 131-68099 Classic Toy Trains 159·5829 Those Magnilicent Trains·OIT X V1.V6. 1290 ...... EA28.75 EMO S060,119·115 •...... ••....•.•.....•...••....•..24.95 CS .. .. . 159·4334 Colorado Nallow Gauge 159·4040 American Slreet Cars Wall Olsney RR'O story, 109·8926 •...••...•••...••36.95 . Erie Lackawanna, V 1·4, 106 ...... EA 34.95 Escanaba & lakeSuperior, 134 116 ...... •...••.31.50 159·461X Howard Foggs Trains 159·5284 Red CarsNeliow Cars West. MO Diesel Locomotives, 128·132 ... " ...... 18.50 Feather River Cyn·UP, 109·B925" .." , ... " ... 36.75" ... Wis. Cenl. Ltd 1987·96Photo Archi , 242·RR .,24,95 Feather River Cyn E·9's. 100·FRE9 ...... 15.95 159-5179 Pennsylvania Railroad -510.50 EA. -.e OO4 Garden RaIlway Dreamin', Vl.5, 225 ...... EA 21.95 ftWorth& Denver Color Pict, 121·025•.. ,... " •.. 34.95 Yellowstone Branch of Union Pacific, 249·100...... 17.95 . List $14.95: Our Price 9.95, 2/8.95EA, 3+/8.50 EA GE's OASH B-40C.CW/CM (WIlhers), 119·106••..• 18.50 Grand Canyon.Weekend of Steam,225·YV29 .....17 .95 Ghost Trains & Depots ofGeorgia, 207·101 ...... 52.95 --- NEW VIDEOS --- Geared TripleHeader, 225·VV22 ... " .... "."... ",21.95 GN FrelghlEqulp, BK1&2, 121 ..•...•..•...... EA35.95 b I 6IS FREE with $'100°0 ORDER "I al Bell, . . . 9.95 A L Look Cotton 246 2 ...... •...... 2 �:�h�;�I;��:I�:��;:: �;:.:;;�:.��. .. ��.:::::;� '1998 Calendar-Your Choice GN Color Plclorlal VJ.V4IEA), 121....•....•...... 34.95 h t Great Northern Rwy1945'70, 242·GN001 ...... 24.95 Highball Over Silver Zone, 184·117 .•"" ...... 27 .25 From those listed above. You must request your freeca lendar by name :�':r��:'b��:;�.O�:����;:��.:.���:�.:::::::::::::::: ��:�� C . Gulf, Mobile & Ohio ColorP lct., 121·027 ...... 34,95 I r and slocklt when you lpaceyour order BC RallsNorth End, 246·12 ..•...... 25.95 :�::�:�::;��R�:::, : ::: : Heart olth. PA RRd, 131·01071 .•.•...•...••...••.. 14.50 I 1�:l�;���:��:�AR4 : ::;� n 9 V · 3 00·MILWI , ...... 14.95 S/H $1.00 EA on Free Calendars illInois Cntrl Streamliners 1936·46, 128·120...... 17 .95 0����:f��!����S����4�.!:.��.��,�.:::::::::::�:�� Milwaukee Road, l lEAl, l In Search 01 Steam Donkeys, 223·1D2HC •. " .... ,,46,95 ::�� 0 BN's Mississippi River foute, 134·117 ",..... , ..•• , ..,37.95 :�:t�:I�����oo:RAiN·,.Eii::�:��:::::��.��.'.��� : Glrr Insull-Chlcago Interurbans·ln Color, 106·167 ....35.95 ..�! �� CHRISTMAS FOR YOUR SWEETHEART CC&P·The lastDays. 134·119"...... " "."."..... ,,31,SO .Atlanta Hanooga, 129.53124 ...... 28.75 .•••....••...•.....•...••23.75 NS to Cha • L&N 'Old Rellabl.", 128·126 Cheyenne st'm Tr'n·lnc'l CAbRide. 225·W34 .. 15.95 CHESSIE KI TTY AFGAN • 4' X SOFT & COZY Manhattan Gateway, 131·01057...... 32,95 .. N'ti Parks/West by Train (2 videos), 193·GH077 ..24.95 Chessie Kitties sleeping in center with emblems6' in each corner. h r g V ...... 54.95 & Milwaukee Road 1850'1960, 242·MROOI ...... 24,95 ! NYC Odyssey, l·2 (EA) (2lape set),129·000 n �����'l� ����:t;!', ���';. ;N���::.���::::::::::::::!�: � n r T e 3 List $49.95 - While supplies last: 26%OFF Mil. Rd, I Col., Under Wires, 106·171 ...... 35,25 Conrail & UP Around SI. Elmo , IL., 246·12 ." , ... , ...29.95 �� :�: �:I�,�rd ::�3',���� ,��.�:::::::::�::EAz : $36,95 MIL Rd In Col" Vl&2, 106·157 ...... •....•.36.25 L t� , e � ;� e C ThisSpecial is a topSale qual endsity whekeepsaken supply that is you exhausted! can Use. Mlnn, &St. Louis In Color, 106-175 ...... 36.75 0 0 3 for 131·A ..... "".... "...... " ..." .... , ••EA21 .50 ;:��n� �,�:!, ��4.�9�.��:.��,��.�.::::::�A� SHE WIL L LOVE IT! OROER NOW! Missouri Pacific DIesel Power, 166-101 ...... 44.50 �� ��;�� 41" 131·B...... ••.....•.....••...••... ••EA21 .00 Montana Rail Link·Main St. olS. Mont. 191·110 ... 26.95 t Raillannln9 S. Cal. inthe 50's, 100·S0CAUIS.... 28.75 Monl, Marls Pass: 8NMilepaSS/BNSF Gde,175·1 0919.75 �:;::,���!��c���;��::·i84:125·:::::::::::::::::::�:;� Grand Canyon Railway, 193·GH307 ...... •.•...•••...••.IB.95 �r,�::���:!�:���; : : : :: My Western Pacific, 245 ...... SIt 23.95Hit 35.95 Mld·Amerlca at Mid·Century, 211·124..... , .... ",.... 23.50 :� 19 ::::::: :::::::: :::: �:;: N&W In Color, VI, 106·179 ...... 34.95 Salute to the SOD line. 134·115 ...... 37.95 Melrollnk Commuter Train System. 107·125 ...... 13.95 Santa Fe Vintage Oiesels, 100·FFS01 ... " .... ,,,.. 15.25 ��l: ��;:r!��;:k��'��::;;·1:1 ·i3::::::::::::::::::::��:�; s S 2 Nickle PlateRO Official Photo, VI. 128·127 .....,20.50 On Lac. Sandpatch ThruAlleghaneys, 131·15035V ,,22,50 �:::� � ��:��:�:�� · : New Haven Power. 142·108 , ... ",•. ",•. ",.. " •. ,,58.00 Gan :���� i29:53131 :::: :::�::�� N.J. Transit. 103·1G4 ...... ,23,95 PassTr'ns of the 60's, vI·3, 129·00(SET), .•.. , •• 39,75 Steam· Power Sawmill. 248.1." ...... ,., ...... 27.95 100·CHAD ...... 15 .75 Norfolk Southern Diesel Locomotives, 128·123 .15.95 Steam Orlven Man, ...... The Funnel.BNlMRL, 124.140 ...." .... " .. "" ...... CAU Steam Over Tennesse Pass,100 ,SOTP " ." ...... ,,23,75 Today's Vintage Twin Ports, 134.118 .. , ...... ,.,31,50 Northwests Own Rwy'SP&S, V2, 145·102 GRANOE ..67.50 Sunrise!Sunset·UP's Gibbon's Jct.. 100·MVSGJ .. ".. 15,25 TRAINMEN'S TOTE BAGS NP Color Plclorlal, Vl·2IFWWJ, 121·000.•...... EA 34.95 Tower 55. 100·T55 ...... 14,75 e l3 7 Made for Railroaders. These are neatfor those quick one or V ...... EA NYC Dlesallocomotlves, 128·118 ...... 22.95 ' !:::� Tracks Ahead. l-4, 100 ...... 17.95 ��I:�::°rt��� ��'Eng',�'::.t::::::::::::::::::::: n two day trips. Timetable size side & end pockets. Great buy! NYC in the Hudson Valley, 131·01061 ...... 14.95 O Rarhole. 246·7...... 29.95 NYC later PWr 1910·1968. 142·109 ...... 54.95 TraIns of the �:::: :�::�:� C�a��:�m& ��:�;;:r!�;·26:Nvii4ii:!!:�� Most Road Names-Call 12·,18·, Multi·Pockets ...532.95 NYC Light Weight Pass. Cars. 128·131 ...... 23.25 �;��:��EWEST�:�::� UP 844-Back on the Tracks. 225·VV28 ...... 17.95 NY Ontario & WesternDiesel Age. 111-112 ...... 21.75 ��'�t::�per �!����·c�:e:,129·53140 '4.25 5 Pennsylvania Trolieysin Color, Vl, 106·185 .....34.95 UP Su RR'O, VS, ,.," ,.," , •. " ..... ",.. , �� ��;��R�D�g!�:: ����b�I�·e�V��::.5313;��·.�� COLLECTADLES ** Piggyback & Containers, 107·104...... 35.00 r UP·Super Railroad. Vl·2, 129·0."".""""".EA 28.25 Engineer Hats -Adu)VChild: ...... 5.00 �!��:�:;:���M���K���.::::::::::::::��:�� Railroad Hals Adjustable · Most Roads ...... 5.00 President Travels by Train. 128·124 ...... 31.50 ::��:�:� · i d 3 8ucWes (Brnss, Pewter Silver Finish) . . . Wisconsin Central 1997, 246·13 ...... 31.95 ����;:� �� �:� V��::1 ;;:�: ; ' ! : Bett & ...... 5.98 I 8.95 PTC Ralls, 157·122..••....••....•.....•....•...... • 1B.95 e :e;� ·29:0 ::�.�. :: � Cloisonne Pins (Deluxe) Small Large ...... Winter on the MRL.184·MRlW ...... " .... " ....." .. ,28.75 & ...... 2.00 13.00 ' White ukon Route, 154.101 ...... 23.95 Pull. Std.Llb·Selected Hvywt, Cars. 144·131 , •.36,75 Pass & Y Cloth Palches. Mosl RRd Names ...... 2.00 ·4.98 Pullman St'd Library. V7·16 (EA), 144·000 ...... 30.95 Wisconsin Central. 184·114 ...., ...... , ..•27.95 Rock Island Color Pic. V1.2 (FWW),121 (EA) .... 34.95 COllee Mugs · LogoslTrain Picture, Most Roads ...... 5.00 Railroad Atlas, Vl·Y6. 169·000 ...... EA 17,25 World's Fastest Trains. 193·GH055 ...... 16.95 Rte ollhe Eagles.MP Streamline Era, 166.102 .., ,35,75 Many Other Assorted Items! Railroad Radio. 232·101 ...... 16.50 Railroads of the Ohio Valley. 172'102" ... ",... ,,16.75 Santa Fe 1940·71, Vl·V4, 106·000...... EA 35,95 ALLEN KELLER VIDEOS Santa Fe in the Mountains, 131·01060 ...... 14.75 Vol (each), 099.0"." ..",,,,, .. ,,... ,, ...... ,30,95 Red Elochlcs IPFM), 120·020 ...... •...... •31.50 ab n 1·27 RGS Siory, VJ.V5IEA), 146.flOO...... 53.50 0 Supply on Hand! ��,9::����: ;�;�r'��:0�!�i·isi:·i,·;·2;·:Oj)j·::�::�� AllItems Are Limited 10 TRACK BULLETIN RailNews· Regionals SUBMISSIONS: Articles, news items, and pho­ tographs are welcome and should be sent to our Wis­ consin editorial office. RAILNEWS does not assume re­ sponsibility for the safe return of material. Payment is ester and Stephens streets. The department made upon publication. CO&P had issued a final standing order to do so, and Railroad Columnists Champion Mill Spur the city of Roseburg was about to give its opinion when the owners of the Champion AMTRAK-Leo King Mill site asked the city to wait while they work P.O. Box 379, Waukesha, WI 53187 It's been five years since Southern Pacific pro­ on a deal that could include selling the spur. E-mail: Train [email protected] vided regular rail service to the 3/4-mile Cham­ (Amtrak West) Dick Stephenson pion Mill Spur in Roseburg, Oregon. ow, the 72 19 Summitrose St., Tujunga, CA 91042- 1942 new regional railroad Central Oregon & Pacific Dan Sheets BNSF (AT&SF)-Michael W. Blaszak wants to abandon this trackage. The railroad has 211 South Leitch Ave., La Grange, IL 60525 not made any revenue on the spur since pur­ GENESEE & WYOMING E-mail: mblaszak@i nteraccess.com chasing the Siskiyou and Coos Bay lines from SP BNSF (BN)-Karl Rasmussen in 1994 and spends $10,000 a year maintaining Dark Concerns 11449 Goldenrod St. NVV, Coon Rapids, MN 55448 grade crossings and signals on Winchester and CANADIAN PACIFIC-Karl Rasmussen Stephens streets, where the spur crosses and With several recent major wrecks across the 11449 Goldenrod St. NW,Coon Rapids, MN 55448 heads to the Roseburg mill site. United States occurring in dark territory, em­ CANADIAN NATIONAL-Mike Cleary In a letter dated July 9, 1997, the owners of ployee unions are growing concerned about 565 Mariner Way, Wo odbury, MN 55129 the Champion Mill site, CO&P and Rifle multi-train operations taking place on trackage CENTRAL OREGON & PACIFIC-Daniel J. Sheets Range Road Corporation, wrote to the city of without signals. This uneasiness may keep Buf­ 220 I Brittany 01:, Eugene, OR 97405 Roseburg suggesting that someone might be falo & Pittsburgh from retiring more of its sig­ E-mail: [email protected] interested in the spur for shipping "large quan­ nal system between Ashford Junction and COMMUTER/TRANSIT-Julian Wo linsky tities of product out of the Roseburg areas to Punxsutawney. Also, with talks in progress P.O. Box 379, Waukesha, WI 53187 the north." Central Oregon & Pacific states it with Canadian National about running CN CONRAIL-George Fletcher would have to spend $36,000 for track im­ trains to Pittsburgh if the Conrail break-up is 16 Edlie Ave., No. 2, East Norwalk, CT 06855 provements, including replacing 550 ties, re­ approved, signals may be necessary. E-mail: [email protected] pairing street grade crossings, and resurfacing Because Allegheny & Eastern has seen an CSX TRANSPORTATION-Mark Sublette rails. The railroad has already petitioned the increase in traffic in recent months, the War­ 2119 Reynolds St., Falls Church, VA 22043- 1 609 Oregon Department of Transportation to close ren, Pennsylvania-Erie, Pennsylvania, turn, GENESEE & WYOMING-Mike Zollitsch all grade crossings, including those at Winch- now runs six days per week rather than three. 37 TaftAve., Lancastel; NY 14086 The Grays Harbor lines in Washington E-mail: [email protected] State bid on by Genesee & Wyoming were ILLINOIS CENTRAL-Erik Coleman Twonew all-color hardcover books fo r November 1, 19971 awarded to another railroad. In the meantime, 2728 HeIitage Dr. , Champaign, IL 6182 1-2378 Portland & Western continues to iron out In {o/I!!. E-mail: [email protected] fI...!:-���=:: ROAD start-up problems with the recently acquired KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN-Michael Hasbargen Astoria Line. Radio communications between 1718 King Eider Drive, West Lafayette, I 147906 the two P&W sections are utilizing transmit­ MODERN POWER-Sean Graham-White ters on Rainier Hill and repeaters on Bald 1816 S. KeniJwOlih Ave., Berwyn, IL 60402- 1613 Peak, together with a base station at St. He­ E-mail: [email protected] lens. Future communjcations between Albany MONTANA RAIL LINK-David A. Franz and the A-Line will be through newly received P. O. Box 379, Waukesha, WI 53 187 Vo lume 3: Wisconsin & Michigan Association of American Railroad frequencies. MIDWEST REGIONALS­ by F. (CC&P and IAIS) Dave Kroeger William Stauss Mike Zollitsch 5720 Johnson Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 An all-color vintage look back at stearn and diesel operations in the two states. (All others) Andrew S. elson I&M RAIL LINK 341 S. Main, Pearl City, IL 61062 In Color PACIFIC ELECTRIC NORFOLK SOUTHERN-Chris To th Summer Summary P. O. Box 301, Spencer, OH 44275 E-mail: [email protected] On July 29, J&M Rail Link began an intelmodal SHORT LINES EAST-Ken Berg train from the Twin Cities to Kansas City. Trains P. O. Box 379, Waukesha, WI 53187 98 and 99 handle service between Canada and SHORT UNES WEST-W a)Ole Monger Mexico, and cover the distance in 27 hours. 1409 Tillman St., Suisun City, CA 94585 Various maintenance projects took place E-mail: [email protected] this summer: installation of ties west of Davis Junction, Illinois, on the Second Sub; and new SHORT LINES MIDWEST-Bob Thompson Vo lume 1 by P. Allen Copeland ballast between Ottumwa, Iowa, and Chilli­ Route 6, Box 7070, Paris, TX 75462 An all-color look at this Southern cothe, Missouri, on the First Sub. New ties FORMER SP/SSW-Brian Jennison California electric fre ight carrier and its were being dumped in Ottumwa's yard. P. O. Box 3519, Reno, N 89505 "Big Red Cars". On August 16, I&M began dispatching from FORMER SP (D&RGW)-Richard C. Farewell Order IOdar at the Missoula, where parent road MRL is dispatched. 9729 W. 76th Ave., Arvada, CO 80005 spec -al pre-publiclilum pnct uf UNION PACIFIC-Michael W. Blaszak Traffic systemwide was slim so problems duting Each @$40 + $3.50 postage, $5 fo reign. the cutover could be ironed out. Radio frequen­ 21 1 South Leitch Ave., La Grange, IL 60525 Include street address for UPS delivery. E-mail: [email protected] cies have not changed: 161.370 is used for most NJ residents add $2.40 tax. of the railroad, except 161.085 from Savanna, VIA RAIL CANADA-Steve Bradley After 1111/97, price is $49.95 each. P.O. Box 225, Schomberg, ONT., Canada LOG I TO Illinois, to Pingree Grove; and 160.770 north E-mail: [email protected] MondDgSun Boob,Ine. and west of Mason City, Iowa, and on the First �, Sub west of Nahant to Kansas City. WISCONSIN CENTRAL-Mike Abalos 'PheuantLane 3425 W. 79th St., Chicago, IL 60652 SeotehPlaiDs, NJ fYTfYT6 IIOOK8� DIC. Dave Kroeger lS·November 1997 MONTANA RAIL LINK west of Missoula after refurbishing. This for­ mer NP car has IMRL stenciled on the left end Homestake Pass of its upper letterboard. Burlington Northern & Santa Fe's bridge traffic across MRL for the An agreement could be announced soon as to first five months of 1997 was up by 2,955 All color books (48 pages each) whether Montana Rail Link will buy or lease cars, or 1.63 percent. NEW ! the Homestake Pass line from Burlington orthern & Santa Fe. Another company, LB& Dave Franz Scenic Railroad Corp., had made an offer to BNSF to buy the 25 miles between Whitehall and Butte to operate tourist trains. Neil Smart, WHEELING & LAKE ERIE LB&N's owner, was told that MRL was negoti­ Operations ating to acquire the line. As of press time, no announcement had been made, nor had any im­ While the new route for Norfolk Southern provement been made to the line to put it back stack trains 2271228 over Wheeling & Lake in service. It was last used in the early 1980s by Erie was shorter than the previous NS route, Amtrak and Burlington Northern. Montana Rail these trains were prone to numerous daily de­ Link currently uses the first 12 miles west of lays. Norfolk Southern had expected the trains Whitehall on its Fifth Subdivision to the siding to operate between Bellevue, Ohio, and Hager­ of Spire Rock for access to a ballast pit. Both stown, Maryland, in an average of 16 hours, .A e. /�f. /.I.'..I..A" The Chicago North Western MRL and BNSF ballast trains use this pit dur­ but the actual average was 22 hours per trip. by Gerard Bernet ...... SI9.95 ing the spring to fall trackwork season. Because of poor on-time performance, trains SO photos show the CNW in the last 30 years in this Montana Rail Link continues to paint its were routed back to the original NS route (De­ brief look at the railroad. The book contains both recently acquired SD45s at both CEECO in troi t -Ft. Wayne-Ci nci nna ti -Knoxvi Ile-Bristol­ action and roster shots. Ta coma and LRC in Livingston. Three of the Roanoke-Norfolk) . .A e.I..f./.tHI .Ai,Conrail's SD-40 and SD40-2's by Gerard Bernet...... SI9.95 SD45s are former Springfield Terminal and Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel announced a 66 views of both action and roster shots. Complete have been put into service as "trail only" units tentative agreement to end the 4,500-person roster and mechanical specs. are done in chart fo rm. until they have their high short noses chopped. strike that had lasted 10 months. The strike Previously painted blue units are having their had been a major blow to W&LE, dropping PTC Rails ... by Kramer & James...... S21.95 old Flying W and cab lettering painted over traffic levels nearly 150 carloads per day. 104 pages with over 200 black & white photos and and restenciled. This program is about 40 per­ Wheeling & Lake Erie started moving the illustrations giving an in depth look at Philadelphia's cent complete. 340/341 ore trains again in August, and it was trolleys before SEPTA Former orthern Pacific plow BN 972542, expected that traffic to various plants would borrowed for last winter's heavy snowfall, has returnto previous levels by late September. The Hard Coal Carriers: been returned to BNSF at Spokane. Dome car Vol. I - "First Generation Geeps" 104 has been released from Rainglow Services Chris R. loth by Gerard Bemet...... SI9 .95 SO page with I I color and 119 B&W photosof GP7, 9 & IS's of EL, Erie, DLW, CNJ, LV and RDG. Vol. 2 - "Camelback Twilight" by Gerard Bernet...... SI9.95 96 page 130 B& W photos on Jersey Central passenger camel backs.

Change At Ozone Park...... SI8 .95 by Herbert George SO pages with 12color and 112 B&W photos on L1RR Far Rockaway & Rockaway Beach Branches. Pennsy K-4's Remembered ...... S 6.95 by Frederick Kramer Electric Trains To Reading Terminal...... SI7.95 by Wes Coates (almost gone) The Handsomest Trains In The World ...... SI5.95 By Greenberg & Kramer (LV Psgr trains) The Morristown & Erie Railway...... S 8.95 by Bob Pennisi Lehigh Valley Railroad Passenger Cars...... SI3.95 by Mickey & Warfel 26 Miles To Jersey City ...... S 8.95 by Pete Komelski (CNJ stations) Railroad Stations Of New England Today V-I Boston & Maine ..... M. Beauregard ...... S 7.95 by Mark Beauregard Rock-A-Bye- Baby.... T. Taber...... S 11.95

The No rtheast Railroad Scene Series Vol. 2 Lehigh & Hudson River...... S 4.00 Vol. 5 The Jersey Central...... S 6.00 PHOTOGRAPHS...... S 2.50 each Our catalog lists over 5,500 diffe rent steam, diesel, electric & trolley photos printed on 8xl0 paper. Catalog also lists books & videos of other publishers and misc. railroadiana...... SI.00 (free w/order) ORDERING INFO: Orders under S25.00 add S2.00 P&H. NJ residents add 6% sales tax. Foriegn orders add 10% for shipping (minimum S4.00) aloow up to 4 weeks fo r delivery. Dealer inquiries invited.

Dept. 205 P.O. Box 114 Flanders, NJ 07S36

RaiiNews-17 TRACK BULL ETIN Burlington Northern I Santa Fe

ing August, and another 32 were expected to arrive in September. Units through 767 were reported on the property at press time. As the ranks of 700 class units in service on the for­ mer Santa Fe grew, older Santa Fe units mi­ gra ted north to the power-short fo rmer Burlington Northern lines, tuming up in force around the Tw in Cities in late August. Accord­ ing to BNSF records, the total number of units General Electric will deliver under the current order has increased from 170 to 172. Since this new power would overtax the GE side of the Argentine Shops, the railroad and the builder decided to add maintenance capaci­ ty. On August 27, BNSF announced that GE would maintain the 700 class at Barstow under contract, using BNSF employees. The railroad will begin a $4 million expansion or the exist­ ing shop building after January I, 1998, sched­ uled for completion by August. The expansion will increase the shop's capacity by about 25 percent, allowing it to maintain a fleet of 900 units. Fifty new employees will be hired by BNSF at Barstow beginning in December; they will undergo training as mechanics, electri­ Randy Woods cians, and sheet metal workers until the shop expansion is completed. A trio of BNSF-Iettered locomotives rolls through the tunnel at Bealville, California, on May 8, Locomotive repainting into the BNSF paint 1997. Locomotive repainting into the BNSF paint schemes virtually halted during summer. schemes practically halted during summer be­ cause the railroad remained hort of power. It does not appear BNSF will repaint and reletter LOCOMOTIVES del'; it's largel; too. Third, and most surprising, all 103 of the 500 and 800 c1as units budgeted the round B SF nose herald is replaced by the fo r 1997. The only Warbonnet repaint in recent Pumpkin Warbonnet yellow-and-black BNSF variant of the Santa Fe months was GP60B 342, rebuilt after the "cigar band" seen on recent 700 class units. Fi­ February 1, 1996, Cajon Pass wreck and now Internal tinkering with the orange-and-green nally, the trucks and underframe are once again the only unit of its class with BNSF lettering. Heritage Burlington orthern & Santa Fe loco­ painted silver. Santa Fe GP35 2851 and GP39-2 3404 were motive paint scheme culminated in an experi­ After No. 740 received approval, Mid­ repainted orange and green in August and mental paint job applied to DASH 9-44CW America Car was authorized to paint No. 739 renumbered B SF 2551 and 2773, respectively. 740 (see Expediter). That locomotive rolled in Pumpkin Warbonnet to team up with No. out of Mid-America Car's paint booth in 740 on a director's special. No. 739 was Kansas City on September 6 wearing a bright scheduled for release from MAC's paint booth OPERATIONS new version with three major changes. First, on September 12 and movement to Spokane Merger-Related Density Shifts the orange band on the hood now extends with No. 740 on September 13. down near the walkway, set off from the green Meanwhile, General Electric continued to On August 21, BNSF restructured its Chicago­ by three broad yellow stripes. Second, the deliver DASH 9-44CWs in the red-and-silver orthel11 California intermodal service by drop­ B SF lettering on the hood has changed from BNSF Warbonnet paint at the rate of about ping Willow Springs-Richmond Q WSPRICt as green to yellow with a thin black pinstripe bor- one per day. Thirty-three entered service dur- a daily train. Willow Springs-Stockton train Q

la-November 1997 WSPST09 (former Santa Fe 189) departs Wil­ H TULPTR4. Pasco, Wa shington-Houston On September 11, BNSF said it had rerout­ low Springs two hours earlier at 2:50 a.m., and train H PASHOU now runs to Galveston as ed central Wyoming traffic assembled at Grey­ new Willow Springs-Barstow train 0 WSP­ the H PASGAT. bull, Wyoming, for Midwestern and Eastern BAR9 departs in 0 WSPST09's old time slot at Veteran Santa Fe watchers know the rail­ destinations via Laurel, Montana, These car­ 4:30 a.m., fillingat Kansas City andClovis, New road never stops fi ddling with Denver manifest loads previously used the ancestral Burlington Mexico. During its first two weeks, 0 WSP­ train service. Effective September 9, Barstow­ Route via Lincoln, Nebraska, but moving BAR9 had 20-30 loads out of Kansas City. After Denver train H BARDEN began telminating at them north to Laurel instead and placing them UPS settled its strike, train 0 WSPRIC9 re­ Albuquerque as the H BARABO. Denver traffic in the Galesburg and Kansas City trains re­ sumed running regularly on Thursdays, Fridays, moves to La Junta on Albuquerque-Kansas City duces switching and saves about a day. and Saturdays, and often other days as well. train M ABOKCK. Corresponding changes Eastbound, Stockton-Barstow train Z were made in the westbound schedule, except TRAFFIC STOBAR 1 was abolished effective August 21, that the westbound train from Albuquerque with Z NBYWSP8 and Z NBYWSP9 (the old runs only as far as Winslow, Arizona, as the M The Reluctant Granger 991) picking up the UPS slack on weekends. ABOWIN. Through service on the Boise City The busiest days of the week for UPS at Sub (La Junta-Amarillo trains M AMALAJ/M Grain producers in the Upper Midwest expect­ North Bay are Mondays and Tuesdays, and LAJAMA) was extended to Denver as the M ed an excellent 1997 fall harvest, the second­ train Z RlCCHI 1 opera tes from Richmond to AMADEN/M DENAMA. largest evel; on the heels of an 11 percent in- Chicago on those days. On September 6, train P MEMRICI began operating between Memphis and Richmond to carry intermodal business and Nissan vehicle traffic. It replaces Memphis-Clovis P MEM­ CL01, and connection 0 CLORIC now runs on Tu esdays and Wednesdays only. The Federal Railroad Adminish·ation's inten­ sive review of Union Pacific's operations in late August and early September bogged down BNSF service. Interchange at common points 1998 slowed to a crawl, and trains using UP trackage rights were fortunate to go that fast. Despite that, traffic gains from the trackage rights ob­ tained through the UP/Southern Pacific merger were running at an alU1Ualized $160 million in August, well on the way to BNSF's goal of $250 miUion by year-end. Traffic on the Inside Gate­ way trains, H BARKLFlIH KLFBAR1, has in­ creased to the point that the former has no room for the blocks it used to carry for points 1998 between Barstow and Stockton; these began ':-::r . . moving on train M BARSTO 1 September 6. � On the other side of the ledger, Barstow­ " ' iI<,::'• . Silsbee, Texas, manifest train H BARSSB 1 was rerouted to the Port Terminal Railroad Associ­ '�":--'� . ..' �u" ••�...�� • �.. '�-I �•' "�""I . , , • ation in Houston on September 7 and re­ : ! I I named H BARPTR 1. The rerouted train re­ placed Te mple-Houston train H TPLHOU1. Te mple now makes up BNSF's New Orleans 1998 1998 --- manifest train (H TPLNWOl); Houston cars ' . connect via the H HOUSSB 1 at Silsbee. Other South Texas changes on September 7 shifted Houston manifest traffic onto the for­ mer B -Rock Island Joint Texas Division. Two �.:��.: .��. .- . new trains operate from Teague to Houston in CSJrlran�.MillQnEublLCQ.tsportaUonlons _ an effort to speed traffic to UP destinations. conrm�fJ:l<"o�"I'le'=n-:'-d a::::,,--:- �l:�." Train M TEAHOU 1 xxA departs Te ague on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays $12.95 Single Copy Price for UP's Settegast Yard, while train M TEA­ HOUl xxB originates on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Shipping and Handling: U.S. Customers $4.00 per order and Saturdays at Teague for the former SP En­ Canadian and foreign: $4.00 for first calendar; $2.00 for each additional glewood Yard. New train M ALTTEA departs Alliance Yard daily with southbound cars to Special Offer: order additional calendars and save! feed these trains at Te ague. Buy two for $23.95; three for $34.95; four or more $1 1 .50 each Meanwhile, BNSF is shifting classification Note: Offer valid for any mix of calendars only if ordered of north-south boxcar traffic from the former at one time and shipped to a single address BN North Yard in Fort Worth to the former Santa Fe Alliance Yard. Denver-North Yard 14 x 14 train M DENFTW was replaced September 9 Each calendar opens to 22 inches and features color photos with train M DENALT, which will have noth­ �HMQ.�: ing but Teague cars when it leaves Amarillo. U.S. and Canadian • MasterCard McMILLAN PUBLICAT IONS, INC. Tra in M FTWD EN was replaced with M ALT­ Credit Card Holders ·Visa 9968 West 70th Place DEN earlier this year. Order To ll Free • Discover Arvada, Colorado 80004-1622 Kansas City-Houston train H KCKHOU 1-800-344- 1 1 06 Information: 303-456-4564 now terminates at Te mple as the H KCKT­ • American Express 24-hour Fax 303-456-2049 PL. Tra in H TULHOU4 (Tulsa to Houston) Email: [email protected] was extended to the PTRA and resymboled Colorado residents add 7-112% tax

RaiiNews·19 September 1. The new short line (reporting crease in the winter wheat crop harvested this Coal trains between York Canyon, New marks SCXY) has trackage rights over spring on the Southern Plains. Farmers' timing Mexico, and Box, Texas, now operate via the BNSF's Hinckley Sub (the Duluth-Twin couldn't be better, since world wheat stocks are former BN between Trinidad, Colorado, and down to a 20-year low (about four weeks' sup­ Amarillo instead of the capacity-restricted Cities main line) between Hinckley and Mo­ ply) because of poor crops in other nations. Boise City Sub, which now has the frequent ra Junction linking the two branches. Mean­ This means wheat harvested this fall will sell HL&P movements. while, Railamerica short line Minnesota for a good price and move to market quickly. Sun Country, an outside broker based in Northern has petitioned the Surface Trans­ Whether that's good news for BNSF depends Yakima, Washington, has won a contract to portation Board to abandon two former BN on how you look at it. The railroad has the op­ manage BNSF's perishable freight traffic. All lines in Minnesota, 10.14 miles from Red portunity to move more grain than expected at car ordering, billing, and switching must be Lake Falls to Strata and 20.6 miles from healthy rates, but BNSF is struggling to handle arranged through Sun Country by noon or the Redland Junction to Fertile. the business it already has. Chairman Rob Krebs car sits another day. told securities analysts during summer that SHORT ITEMS BNSF isn't going to gear up for a large increase LINE SALES in grain shipments by leasing many more loco­ RoadRailers Roll motives and cars and hiring crews. The compa­ Puget Sound & Pacific Sale ny is wary about reporting gangbuster fo urth­ The first rWl of train Q KCKSAG 1 on August quarter earnings because it can't count on im­ The identity of the new owner of BNSF's 18 wasn't perfect, but it did introduce regular proving that record in 1998, and Krebs' top pri­ branch lines west of Centralia, Washington, RoadRailer service to BNSF after more than a ority is predictable year-to-year earnings growth has been revealed: Puget Sound & Pacific, a decade of tests. Norfolk Southem delivered the justifying a continually rising stock price. In­ division of David Parkinson's Arizona & Cali­ train, which originates in St. Louis, to Argentine stead, Krebs projects a fourth-quarter grain rev­ fornia. The following trackage, 79 miles in all, Yard late behind NS SD40-2 6082 and UP enue increase of just 4.5 percent. was conveyed to PS&P that day on terms that SD60M 6107 with about 25 Triple Crown On Septem bel' 11, BNSF sa id it had ar­ weren't disclosed: the Harbor Line Sub, from RoadRailers. On BNSF, the train ran with ranged to lease 21 more locomotives, 11 from west of Centralia to Hoquiam, and the Bangor GP60M 156 and 15 RoadRailers. Scheduled to Helm and 10 from Livingston Rebuild Centel� Sub from Elma to Shelton. The new railroad leave Argentine at 2:30 a.m., it didn't pull till increasing its supply to 139 units for the fall also will operate the U.S. Navy-owned track­ 11:35 a.m. On the way south, the train detoured peak season. Models and numbers of the Helm age from Shelton to the naval bases at Bremer­ via Mulvane, Kansas, to avoid a work train on and LRC units were not announced. ton and Bangor. Elma will be operating head­ the Douglass Sub. Howevel� when it reached Empty coal trains returning to Wyoming quarters for PS&P, which commenced service that point, it got stuck behind a stalled vehicle from Houston Light & Power's Smithers Lake, on August 30. Parkinson expects the new rail­ train with a trio of BN units, one of which was Texas, generating station began operating on road to handle approximately 8,000 carloads on fire. On top of that, the Ark City Sub has a the former Santa Fe all the way to Pueblo, annually, including forest products, feed 25 mph speed restliction between Mulvane and Colorado, during August. On September 6, grains, fertilizers, aluminum, scrap metal, and Winfield because of worn-out rail. Fortunately loaded trains southbound from Caballo Mine "special components" for the navy. According BNSF padded the schedule between Argentine began using this route too. The trains utilize to Parkinson, "The new line fits perfectly with and Ark City; rwming time is six hours but the former BN trackage north of Denver, the Joint our growth strategy of focusing on short and RoadRailer is allotted nine and a half hours. On Line between Denver and Pueblo, and former regional railroad lines in the West. The growth August 28, Wabash National, manufacturer of Santa Fe lines between Pueblo and Smithers potential of the line, particularly in the Grays the RoadRailer, announced Triple Crown had Lake via La Junta, Amarillo, and Temple. The Harbor area, is very positive." ordered 730 new RoadRailers to support the rerouting reduces train traffic in the congested St. Croix Valley Railroad is the name of new Dallas-Fort Worth service. Fort Worth area, where BN insisted on inter­ the new Railamerica short line that assumed Capacity expansion on the Portland main changing the trains for years. Normal symbols control of BNSF's 34.7-mile Amber Sub be­ line continued during summer. On September for these trains are C CAMSLP for the loads tween Hinckley and North Branch, Minneso­ 1, BNSF opened a second main track between and E SLPCAM for the empties. ta, along with the II-mile Mora Spur, the east end of Pasco Yard and new control point Cat on the Lakeside Subdivision. This closely followed opening of a new 8100 ft. sid­ ing at Essig, just west of Ritzville, Washing­ ton, Eventually this will be tied into the Paha siding. By September 15, BNSF expected to open Keystone siding between To kio and Sprague, Washington.

PAYING RESPECT Fallen in the Line of Duty

About midnight on August 23, several people were observed at the California Street grade crossing throwing rocks at a train. Jimmy Mur­ ray, a 20-year-old private security guard sup­ plied to BNSF by Stockton Security Patrol, quickly arrived on the scene and handcuffed one of the perpetrators. As Murray was placing the individual in his pickup truck, two others B.C's tag says it all - "Beautiful British Columbia". We chased the trains of BC Rail from North pulled guns and opened fire. Murray died in Va ncouver to Prince George, catching them in most of the famous locations - including the hospital hours later. The Stockton Police Britannia, Squamish, Cheakamus, Tisdall, Birken, Seton, Lillooet, Po lley, Fountain, Department has one suspect in custody. As of Glenfraser, Pa villion, Kelly Lake and lots more. See the red, white and blue GE's (and a green press time, no other information was available. Alco) of BC Rail in the magnificent scenery of British Columbia. Ta ped in August, 1997. Th anks to John Bergman, David R. Bu.sse, 5.95 plus Two hours, $3 $3.00 S&H Mike Cleary, Robert C. Del Grosso, Craig Dou.glas, David H. Gaines, Jayhawlc, Wes HIGHB.ALL PRODUCTIONS M/C & Visa Leatherock, Bill Maltby, Rich Wa llace, and PO Box 90046 To ll Free USA & Canada 1 -800-345-6985 Stan Wilson. Tu cson AZ. 85752-0046 1-5 20-498-1677 Fax 1-520-498-1572 Michael W. Blaszak and Karl Rasmussen

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David F. Peck

Amtrak No. 1 leads a modey assortment of cars through Edmonds, Washington, as the Edmonds/ Hosted by Bill Warrick Kingston Ferry departs in the background. This train is the Great American Station Whisdestop To ur. With commentary by George Hilton, George Krambles OREGON FAST TRACKS Transportation will also receive teclmical assis­ tance for track, structure, and signal improve­ Phil Weibler Speed Bucks ments on the Portland to Eugene segment of the Historical Highlights of the Pacific Northwest designated high-speed ground Granger Railroads with lots Over $5.2 million in Federal Railroad Adminis­ transportation corridor. Equipment and track tration funding is headed for Oregon's high­ layout will be upgraded at the Union Station of rare film fo otage! speed rail program. The state's Department of tower in Portland-the only remaining staffed 56 minutes Mostly color Item War- 003 just $39. 951 More videos by Bill Warrick: Item War-DOl D's FL9 dua -mo oco e, RR's of the Northwest and the BN subject of many articles, finally has its Item War-002 own book which tells the story from the C&NW Left Hand RR days of demonstration through the New Each also just $39.95 Haven, Penn Central, Conrail, Amtrak, Add $4.00 p&h for 1, $1 for each add'i tape. Metro North, Conn DOT and beyond. FL resident add 7"10 tax. PA res add 6.5"10tax Many surprise photos including FL9s in Phone orders (Visa, Me): the movies and a "ringer" that Hollywood 1 (800) 783-3886 almost got away with. The book con­ ns 120 pages with over 200 color Mail checks or Money Orders to photos, proposed NH paint drawings, rosters, charts, FL9 curiosities and dia­ grams. Available in hard and softbound editions. Order this fine book today! Include $5.00 S&H for domestic $10.00 foreign. Massachusetts residents add sales tax. Send check or M.O. to the address below. New England Rails Publishing Co.-P.O. Box 403·Granby, MA 01033·0403 2016 N. Village Ave. Tampa, FL 33612

22-November 1997 interlocking tower in the Pacific Northwest and Jacksonville, Lake City, Madison, Ta llahassee, on the Union Pacific-which controls the south­ Chipley, Crestview, and Pensacola. ern approaches to the station. Other projects Its eastbound counterpart arrives in Orlan­ Amtrak will expand and upgrade Trving Siding in Eu­ do at 2:45 p.m. and dwell time in New Orleans gene, pennitting simultaneous freight and pas­ has been cut to one hour instead of three. senger movements through Eugene Yard; up­ Trains operate three times each week over Ridership grade East Portland track and signals to increase the 2,803-mile journey. track speeds from the current 20 mph to 40 Update mph at the west end and to 70 mph on the east WEB SITES SPROUTING portion; and improve the signaling system be­ August 1997 % vs. (ween Portland and Vancouvet; Washington, al­ Said the Spider to the Fly 8/96 U lowing fa ster passenger and freight (1·ains. NORTHEAST CORRIDOR BUSINESS NIT Metroliners ...... 140,8 12 -5.7 The corridor is a rail passenger (Tavel market Tn addition to Amtrak's main web site at Ethan Allen Express ...... 3, 939 NI A extending from Eugene to Portland, and on http://www.amtrak.com. there are four others: Verm onter ...... 9,545 +4.5 through Seattle to Vancouvet; British Columbia. Intercity unit in Chicago at http://www.am­ NortheastDirect ...... 505,72 1 -1.8 trakintercity.com/; Amtrak West at http:// Clockers ...... 130,896 +8.4 PLANT CHANGES HANDS www.amtrakwest.com/; North Carolina at Keystone Service ...... 60,605 +63.9 http://www. bytrain.org/; and Amtrak Express Empire Corridor ...... 1 05,598 +9.2 Roll Those Cars at http://www.amtrakexpress.com/. Adirondack ...... 14,399 +5.9 Special Tra ins ...... 3, 400 +226.9 To tal NEe: 974,7 15 +3.5 GEC Alsthom has taken over the railway man­ CRESCENT COACH ufacturing assets located at facilities in Hor­ INTERCITY BUSINESS UNIT ...... 22,966 nell, New Yo rk, previously owned by the And It's Not a Pumpkin Silver Star ...... -38.4 ...... 22,904 -35.1 American Passenger Rail Car Co. (Amerail). Silver Meteor ...... Three Rivers ...... 1 4,208 -46.6 About 170 people work there. Three produc­ The Crescent, a daily train operating be­ Cardinal ...... 9,735 +7.8 tion areas are used for building passenger tween New York and New Orleans, has added Chicago-SI. Louis ...... 25 ,986 +.3 cars, propulsion equipment, electrical compo­ a Virginia Railway Express coach for service Hiawatha Corridor ...... 32,664 +5.2 nents, and rail bogies and also refurbishing to and from Virginia stations. It carries the Chicago-Pontiac ...... 39,922 +3.4 railroad cars. GEC plans to modernize the VRE coach from Washington, D.C., to Illini ...... 7,996 +12.6 plant and manufacture signaling systems. Danville, Virginia. Illinois Zephyr...... 7,493 +4.3 The company is also part of the FOX con­ Spokesman Marc Magliari, in Chicago, Empire Builder ...... 44,469 +25.3 Capitol Limited ...... 20,805 +.6 sortium selected to develop a high-speed rail said fares for local Crescen t travel are lower . Ca lifornia Zephyr ...... 40,403 -17.3 system in Florida and is supplying high-speed than non-local travel "because of differing South Illest Chief...... 29,478 +1 1.3 rolling stock for Amtrak's Boston- ew York­ amenity levels." City oI Neill Orleans ...... 1 8,694 +3.9 Wa shington line consortium with Bombardier. Th anks to Earl KC/I·per. Texas Eagle ...... 7,763 -1 7.4 Bombardier Transit Corp. is expanding its Sunset Limited ...... 13,28 1 .9 Plattsburgh, ew York, state-of-the-art rail car Leo King International...... 14,308 +8. 1 manufacturing plant, spending $18 million to Lake Shore Limited ...... 36,7 19 -. 1 "more than double the capacity of the plant, Silver Palm ...... 21 ,245 N/A Crescent ...... 24,848 -1 1.7 from 63,000 to 133,000 square feet. Construc­ . TWO NEW PUBLICATIONS Kansas City-SI. Louis ...... 17, 139 +. 1 tion should be completed by February 1998." Pennsylvanian ...... 12,806 -33.5 Expansion will enable the two-year old facility FROM THE ACL & SAL HS Auto Tr ain ...... 28,387 +3.5 to accommodate two sizable orders: 680 R- 142 Gull Coast Limited ...... NIA IA rapid transit vehicles for the Metropolitan Pere Marquelle ...... 6, 769 -7.9 Transportation Authority/ lew York City Tran­ Ca rolinian ...... 22, 598 -2.2 sit, and high-speed rail Ametican Flyer trainsets Piedmont ...... 5 ,67 1 +58.0 for Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. Plant employ­ Special trains ...... I ,006 +1 1.8 Total Intercity: 549,453 -3.7 ment is expected to grow to more than 600. ADDENDUM TO OUR 1996 BOOK WESTERN BUSINESS UNIT By Theodore Shrady and Arthur M. Waldrop NEW P42s ARRIVE Coast Starlight ...... 60,4 19 +2 1.5 Forty pages of all-new material and photos San Diegans ...... 227,43 1 +9.7 Men of the Color Them Gray • Blossom Pacific Northwest Corridor .. .4 1,914 +1 1.7 Color section (including maroon/gray car scheme) • Ca pitols ...... 61, 018 -6.1 • New car disposition data New steam, diesel, and electric action photos San /oaquins ...... 93, I 05 +18.1 Amtrak locomotives 105 and 106 are on the • Efforts toward streamlining Special trains ...... NI A IA property and in revenue use. They were to be Expanded Diesel Electric Tour Train section To tal Western Unit: 483,887 +10.1 References and index detail-painted at the Altoona Paint Shop, with •

six expected to be in service by November. SYSTEM TOTAL...... 2,008,055 +2.9 The units have metal flake or sparkle silver­ City Key gray paint below the stripes. The darker gray ATLA LINE AND on the roof is brought forward down the front SEABOARD AIR LINE BFD Bakersfield NPN Newport News of the nose to the meeting of the stripes in BOS Boston NOL New Orleans ALL COLOR 1998 CALENDAR COL Carbondale OKj Oakland front. A logo decal, "Northeast Direct," is seen Enjoy 15 images of CHI Chicago POX Portland at the lower front of both sides, with three­ the ACl and SAL CLT Charlotte PGH Pittsburgh inch letters above the front truck. (plus SCl) at their CIN Cincinnati PHL Philadelphia colorful best, all on DET Detroit QCY Quincy a large inch 9x1 2 GRR Grand Rapids RSV Roseville SUNSET'S NEW STOP format! Includes HAR Harrisburg SAN San Diego major dates in ACl It Ends with a Mouse I-lOS Houston SBA Santa Barbara and SAL t IND Indianapolis SEA Seattle Amtrak's Sunset Limited now continues to Or­ JAX jacksonville SjC San jose Kansas City SLO S.L. Obispo lando, Florida, with Disney World as its destina­ KCY LAX Los Angeles STL St. Louis ACL & SAL Historical Society tion and final stop. The fonner end of the line MIA Miami TaL To ledo Product Sales was Sanford, where the Auto Tr ain ties up. The MKE Milwaukee TPA Tampa Sunset will continue to call there. The train P. O. Box 325, Valrico, FL 33595-0325 MOE Mobile TWO To ronto leaves Orlando for Los Angeles at 6:50 p.m. and Ask about our IIIflJlY other products/or historiaJls aJld MTR Montreal WAS Washington stops at Winter Park, Sanford, DeLand, Palatka, modelers

RaiiNews·23 TRACK BULLETIN Canadian National

In Saskatchewan, two segments covering 279 miles of northwestern trackage are for sale. The first runs from Warman Junction, 17 miles north of Saskatoon, to a point just north of Prince Albert. The second runs north from Speers Junction, 30 miles east of North BattJe­ ford, to Meadow Lake. The lines serve the agri­ cultural and forest product industries and car­ ried 16,580 carloads of traffic in 1996. Since the Canada Transportation Act was passed in July 1996, CN has sold or aban­ doned 910 miles of trackage. The company is on target to meet its goal of rationalizing 6,000 miles of track by the year 2000.

QUARTERLY REPORT Strength in Numbers

Canadian National's second-quarter net in­ come was $217 million, a 74 percent increase over last year's net income of $125 million. Operating income for the quarter was $2 16 million, a rise of 39 percent over the same pe­ riod last year. The railroad's operating ratio in Steve D. Young the quarter declined to 80.8 percent compared to 84.8 percent last year. On August 2, 1997, Canadian National train 412 rolls through Lasha, British Columbia. The train is Five business segments posted revenue ushered by an SDGOF/SD50F combo-both equipped with "Draper taper" full-width cowl bodies. gains including grain and grain products (up 36 percent); intermodal (20 percent); forest products (9 percent); coal, sulfut; and fertiliz­ PRO MERGER Thunder Bay saw a 38 percent increase, up from ers (7 percent); and industrial products (2 per­ 28,789 cars to 39,973 cars. In spite of these re­ cent). Automotive revenue was flat. eN Is a Believer sults, 1996-97 shipments were under the five­ year annual average of 152,009 cars. OMNITRAX INC. An agreement has been reached with CSX ad­ The 1997-98 crop year got off to a slow start dressing Canadian National's concerns over thanks to congestion at Vancouver and Prince Trackage Transferred the proposed division of Conrail by CSX and Rupert and a lack of orders at Thunder Bay. By Norfolk Southern. The agreement will im­ late August, the situation on the west coast had Northern Manitoba trackage between The Pas prove CN's and CSX's ability to recoup market improved, but business at Thunder Bay re­ and Churchill was officially transferred to share from trucks and maintain market-com­ mained slow. It was anticipated that sales at OmniTRAX Inc. on August 20. The new oper­ petitive alternatives for rail shipments between Thunder Bay would pick up during September. ation will be known as Hudson Bay Railway. Canada and the northeastern United States. OmniTRAX has been actively working with The accord has three key elements: a mech­ TRACKAGE FOR SALE shippers and local community development anism allowing CN and CSX to quote through groups to secure new business for the railway. rates for new business moving between certain 6,000 Miles of Track by 2000 An agreement in principle has been points on each other's network; provisions in reached to transfer two southwestern Ontario Buffalo, New York, permitting CN and CSX to Canadian National announced that shortline lines to RaiLink Ltd. of Edmonton. RailLink compete for new business; and operating ar­ railway operators will be invited to bid on 580 will operate CN's Hagersville Subdivision, ex­ rangements in Chicago, cutting transit times miles of secondary trackage in Quebec, tending 56 miles between Brantford and Nan­ for CSX intermodal trains by allowing them to Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick. Sales are ticoke, and CN's Northern and Northwestern operate over segments of CN track. expected to close by the end of this year. approximately four-mile spur line in northern As a result of this agreement, CN now sup­ The Quebec and New Brunswick sales in­ Hamilton, Ontario. Together, the two lines ports the proposed acquisition of Conrail by volve the 301 -mile line linking Mont-Joli, Que­ handle about 35,000 carloads annually. CSX and Norfolk Southern. bec, and Moncton, New Brunswick. The line handles 35,000 carloads of traffic annually and MOTIVE POWER CAR LOADINGS serves major shippers in the mining, pulp, and paper industries. It is also used by VIA Rail for Double, Quick Delivery 1996-1997 Grain Stats passenger service between Montreal and the Maritimes. In the Atlantic Provinces, CN oper­ The order for new C44-9Ws has been dou­ Grain car deliveries to major ports were 14 per­ ates two parallel lines, the Moncton to Mont-loti bled. The first 40, to be numbered 2523-2562, cent higher for the 1996-97 crop year (August 1 line, also known as the Intercolonial Railway, were to be delivered in fourth quarter 1997. to July 31). Canadian National delivered and the National Transcontinental Railway, run­ The next 40, presumably to be numbered 145,525 cars to the ports of Vancouvel; Prince ning across southern New Brunswick. The NTR 2563-2602, will be delivered in first quarter Rupert, and Thunder Bay. Deliveries to Vancou­ line provides a shorter and faster route between 1998. All will be assigned to Winnipeg fo r sys­ ver totaled 53,877 carloads, down 5 percent. Monh'eal and Halifax, Nova Scotia, and will be temwide service. The cars will have the same Prince Rupert was up 20 percent with 50,486. maintained as part of CN's core network. unique style of cab as the first order.

24-November 1997 The next order of SD75Is, units 5731- 5765, wasn't to start arriving until fourth Itailf a n... quarter 1997, but in early August, the first cana'-la tnzas completed units were spotted outside the ergh l:iS GMD plant in London, Ontario. As with the GREETING CARD COLLECTION previous order, some are being painted at Lon­ Featuring fo ur ("""'���__ don while others are being shipped in primer mountain TRADITIONAL to AMF in Montreal for painting. scenes of ERA Canadian THIS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS trains in the SEASON 8580 Million Dollars Worth Rocky Mountain fo othills In addition to 75 locomotives to be delivered ENVELOPES in 1997 and another 40 in 1998, several other of Alberta INCLUDED major projects are included in CN's $560 mil­ FROM THE VIA DOME lion dollar 1997 capital and strategic improve­ GLEN BROSINSKY COLLECTION OF Only ments program. PHOTOGRAPHS $12.95 / box The locomotive fleet will increase through plus $4.75 S&H Box includes 16 Christmas Ali laxes included with mailorder only. commitments to lease a minimum of 85 high­ Greeting Cards of 4 scelles Overseas delivery add $10.00 lor shipping ai r mail. quality locomotives during winter. Most will likely be C40-8Ws from Conrail and LMS Leas­ LAST SEASON'S CARDS STILL AVAILABLE! ing that have seen service on CN. In addition, 50 7 X S·I/2-INCH SIZE 16 CARDS WITH ENVELOPES FULL COLOUR locomotives will be rebuilt to current standards and a 50 locomotive reserve fleet will be created 1950'S ERA to deal with traffic surges. It is not known which locomotives will be rebuilt. Canadian National's 2 most recent road locomotive rebuilding program Featuring Canadian involved 29 SD40s being rebuilt and renum­ train scenes fromartwork CNR bered into the 6000-6028 series. produced by Steel Ribbons, "EXTRA" Other projects include installation of addi­ tional intermediate signals in the Edmonton­ Rob Arsenault, artist. CPR "CANADIAN" Vancouver corridor to expand line capacity and $12.95 / box All taxes included with mail order only. Overseas delivery add $10.00for shipping air mail. additional power switches to improve traffic Only plus $4.75 S&H flows between Winnipeg and Edmonton; hiring additional train crews in Western Canada; im­ MODERN ERA proved traffic management at key switching yards; installation of 31 new wayside train de­ 4 fect detectors; $2 million to establish the GE Featuring Canadian train locomotive reliability center at Symington Yard scenes photographed in the in Winnipeg; and $9.4 million for equipment upgrades and facility improvements in CN's na­ heart of Canadian tional Customer Support Center in Winnipeg. snow country.

All taxes included SHORT ITEMS with mail order only_ $12.95 / box Overseas delivery add Only $10.00 for shipping air mail. New, Returned Acquisitions plus $4.75 S&H VIA RAIL YOUR ORDER MUST ARRIVE BEFORE NOVEMBER 15 Canadian National has acquired 300 new 73- TO GUARANTEE PRE·SEASON DELIVERY foot, center beam lumber cars manufactured in Hamilton, Ontario, by National Steel Car for NorRail of Buffalo, Minnesota. Under a $22 Itailfan... ORDER FORM million leasing arrangement with NorRail, CN Cana'-la VISA I MASTERCARD FAX ORDERS ACCEPTED will use the cars to support growing business (204) 669-9821 in finished lumber products. lZl [_I With grain shipments slacking off at the end of the 1996-97 crop year, the 58 locomo­ Visa/MC # ______tives that CN had on lease from Conrail were Signature ______Expiry ____ returned at the end of July. Among them OUTSIDE CANADA SEND PAYMENT IN U.S. FUNDS. IF I LE were 15 C39-8s, 20 C40-8Ws, 11 SD40-2s, PRICES INCLUDE TAX APPL CAB WITH MAIL ORDER ONLY. PAYM ENT MUST ACCOMPANY ORDER · SORRY NO COD·S. and 12 SD45-2s. PA YABLE TO: NORTH KILDONAN PUBLICAT IONS, 28006 - 1453 HENDERSON HWY., The railroad still rosters 15 "original" A·1- WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA R2G 4E9 PH. (204) 668-0168 FAX (204) 669·9821 A trucked GMD 1 s. While the remainder of the r------,

GMD I fleet was converted to B-B trucks, Name ______these 15 were kept as is because of axle-load Address ______City __ restrictions on several prairie-grain gathering lines. With many of these branch lines now Prov/State P. C. lZip sold or abandoned, these units have started to OTY. ITEM PRICE S&H TOTAL wander. As of late August, they were distribut­ o 1 CHRISTMAS CARD COLLECTION · Traditional Era NEW $12.95 $4.75 $17.70 ed to the Regina, Saskatchewan area (seven units); Winnipeg (four units); Thunder Bay o 1 CHRISTMAS CARD COLLECTION . 1950's Era $12.95 $4.75 $17.70 (three units); and Edmonton (one unit). o 1 CHRISTMAS CARD COLLECTION · Modern Era $12.95 $4.75 $17.70 Th anks to lames Brock, Canadian Nation­ o 3 SAVE OVER 20% WHEN YOU ORDER 3 BOXES $29.95 $6.75 $36.70 al, and Bryce Lee. MIX & MATCH OR ALL THE SAME · INDICATE SELECTION ABOVE

Mike Cleary

RaiiNews·25 TRACK BULLETIN Conrail

MOTIVE POWER quered one of the Erie's toughest grades and One week later, on August 9, the Lehigh come through unscathed. Line experienced its second derailment in recent Making the Grade months when train SEAL (Selkirk, New York­ UNUSUAL OCCURRENCES Allentown, Pennsylvania) derailed 31 cars at In August, train BUSE (the Buffalo-Selkirk m.p. 28 in South Plainfield after the air dumped train operating via the Tier and Oak Island) Rockville Wreck while at speed. The crew was not injured. ran with a pair of SD80MACs, 4114 and 4103, proving their mettle on the demanding On August 20, a section of the historic OPERA TIONS Susquehanna Hill. The train, performing local Rockville Bridge near Harrisburg, Pennsylva­ work en route, made its way from Buffalo ear­ nia, collapsed as unit coal train UJR-594 de­ Jersey Dirt Trains ly on August 20. It left Binghamton with a to­ railed, sending five loaded hoppers into the Conrail and the Belvidere & Delaware Rail­ tal train weight of 8411 tons. Near the New Susquehanna River. The stone arch structure York/Pennsylvania state line, west of Starruc­ received damage to a ISO-foot section on its way are cooperating on movement of 6,400 ca Viaduct, before the worst part of the grade, south side, near the signal bridge about carloads of dirt between a quarry in Carpen­ BUSE was already down to 18 mph and drop­ halfway across the span. The collapse oc­ tersville, New Jersey, and the site of a former ping. After the train crossed Starrucca, and curred as the train was negotiating the "0" General Motors Hyatt bearing fa cility in was deep into the hill, it slowed to 2.1 mph. Track (the yard lead into Enola). The incident Clark. A new golf course is planned for the Fearing the train would never make the sum­ also severed several pipe and cable lines carry­ factory site, so contaminated soil must be mit without burning up the locomotives, the ing electric/telephone lines, water, and diesel moved out and fresh dirt and stone brought crew stopped and conferred with the dispatch­ fuel. After inspection of the bridge, Track 2 in. Belvidere & Delaware, which operates er and Selkirk diesel shop for instruction and (the northernmost track) re-opened to traffic. part of the former PRR Bel-Del Line, will were told to put the units into Run-8, leave Track 1 required several pieces of panel track move the new soil and rock from an on-line them there, and see what happened. Before and shoring up with new ballast. It was ex­ quarry to Hudson Ya rd in Phillipsburg, long, the train was moving again, with the dis­ pected to be back in service on August 22. At where Conrail will pick the traffic up for patcher checking in frequently. The first time press time, the "0" Track remained out of ser­ movement across the Lehigh Line to the he called, the crew reported 1.5 mph, then 4 vice while repairs were being made. A track Clark site Trains began August 20, and oper­ mph, then 8 mph. When the units crested the inspection just hours before found a dip in the ate six days a week. hill at Gulf Summit, the train was back up to a "0" Track at the point of the collapse, but the healthy 11 mph. The two MACs had con- track was not taken out of service. SHORT ITEMS Summer was not kind to Conrail wreck­ wise. On July 31, a disintegrated wheel bearing Tower ClOSings, Labor News GfTA GREATNIGHT'S REST caused a freight car on train PRPI (Proviso Pullman House Inn WHILE VlSmNG THE PORTOLA Yard/UP-Pittsburgh) to derail into the path of a Tw o more towers on the Conrail system 256 Commercial St. RAILROAD MUSEUM AND THE Portola, CA 96122 FEATHERRWE« CANYON. westbound train on the Fort Wayne Line at closed this summer. Trent tower in West Tren­ Salem, Ohio. Between the two trains, a total of ton, New Jersey, on July 21, and Toledo's The Inn offers a relaxing, casual, and informal boarding-house atmosphere, four locomotives and 49 cars derailed, with fire Alexis tower on August 3. Trent tower con­ with hometown hospitality and service. breaking out and destroying some of the equip­ trolled access between Conrail's Trenton Line (916) 832-0107 ment. There were no reports of serious injury. and the SEPTA line from West Trenton to A must for all Western rail enthusiasts! Railroad Theme. Philadelphia, now controlled by SEPTA's op­ erator at WIND (Wayne Junction Tower); Conrail trains get Form Ds from the SEPTA dispatcher to enter the territory. Alexis tower controlled the CSX-Conrail-Ann Arbor junc­ tion on Conrail's Detroit Line. On July 28, Conrail carmen ratified a new collective bargaining agreement between the railroad and the two unions representing the carmen. The Transport Workers Union of America (with 1,525 Conrail carmen on its rolls) and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen (which represents 125 of the workers) settled all of the outstanding issues on wages, bene­ Farewell Conrail fits, and work rules. Among the terms of the pact were a 14 percent wage increase over a Our classic video libral"y includes three of Conrail's predecessor roads: The Boston five-year period and improved health benefits. & Albany, the Pennsy and the New Haven! Please visit our WEBSITE fo r descrip­ The Federal Railroad Administration is pro­ tions, an image from each tape, and a selection of live action clips. These videos are viding $280,700 to the State of New York for a $29.95 each or all three fo r $64.95. Images in this ad are taken from the tapes, too! project to demonstrate and test a new crossing So please, take a look as we celebrate our 10th anniversary. Add $4.00 fo r shipping gate system designed to improve safety at pri­ and handling. CT residents must include 6% sales tax. Thanks, Steve & Phil vate crossings. The test site is on the New York City/Albany Empire CorridOl; which is owned by Conrail north of Poughkeepsie. Thanks to Sam Botts, Conrail Te chnical Society, Pj. Gratz, Andy Kirk, fohn Krat­ tingel; David Patch, and Carl Perelman.

George Fletcher

2S-November 1997

Announcing ConRail. A better YJ3Y torun a railrOad. 1957 o B&O, which owns 45 percent of Read- o ing, refuses to help. oSeptember: New York Central and o December: PC closes year with im­ Pennsylvania begin exploratory merger 0 proved results, losing $275 mi llion, re- discussions. ducing its operating ratio from 92. 1 per- oNov. I: Public announcement of merger o cent to 88.3 percent, and holding $25 RIGHT: An Erie Lackawanna talks. million of loan guarantee in reserve. • F7 is scrapped at McCook, Illinois, in 19n. At one 1959 o 1972 time, federal regulators oJanuary: ]\T YC breaks f merger negotia- : o[ oFeb. 15: Fending off union statements tions, concerned that PRR would dominate had hoped EL would serve : that PC should be nationalized, its four the merged company. Latet; ]\TYC decides 0 trustees argue the railroad could be reor­ as a competitor to Conrail. to expand acquiring Baltim & Ohio. by ore ganized if cut back from 20,000 miles to 0 These hopes were dashed : 1 1,000, if 9,800 operating employees were when R went into bank­ o terminated, and if passenger losses were 1960 eliminated. Management attempts to im­ ruptcy and joined the Con­ oChesapeake & Ohio wins proxy fight plement three-person freight train crews to with NYC for control of 8&0. Interstate rail system. BROW: This save money but makes no progress. Commerce Commission approves C&O 0 oApril I: Jersey Central discontinues all former R SD45 readily of B&O in 1962; C&O assumes : control operations in Pennsylvania to retreat to wears the Conrail initial. control Feb. 4, 1963. o core system. LV takes over stranded CNJ • customers. oApril 18: Lehigh & Hudson River files 1961 for reorganization under Section 77, cit­ oOctober: Its B&O plan thwarted, NYC : ing debts of $8 1 5,000 and cash on hand re-opens merger talks with PRR, leading : of $83,000. to merger agreement. 0 0 June: Hurricane Agnes and consequent o nooding devastate eastern railroads. PC o main line between Harrisburg and 1966 Philadelphia is severed, and several olCC approves PC merger, but requires : bridges are lost. Estimated damage is PC to include New Haven. 0 $2 1.7 million. Agnes losses and contin­ ued innation reverse PC's fortunes. oJune 26: Citing Agnes-caused washouts 0 1967 o between Elmira and I-Iornell, N.Y., which oMarch 22: Central Railroad of New Jer- : would sever the railroad for three weeks, sey files for reorganization under Section 0 Erie Lackawanna files for reorganization 77 of the Bankruptcy Act. under Section 77.

1968 1973 oJan. 15: Supreme Court upholds ICC o Jan. 2: PC trustees tell reorganization decision. court the railroad can't be reorganized o o Feb. 1: PC merger becomes effective. o as a profitable entity without $600-800 oDec. 31: PC acquires New Haven. o million in government funds for track and equipment. Steve Smedley Steve Smedley oMarch: Bankruptcy Court Judge John 1969 Fullam rules PC can't be required to o opC railroad operations are consistently 0 keep operating beyond Oct. I without unprofitable, forcing management to sell unconstitutionally eroding creditors' nOIll'ail assets and borrow large sums to 0 rights; he estimates post-bankruptcy op­ finance deficits. 0 erations have reduced the value of the o company by $500 million. Separately, LV asks Fullam for permission to cease

1970 o all operations; L&HR and Reading soon oJune 21: PC files for reorganization un- 0 follow suit. der Section 77 after last-ditch efforts fail : oJuly: With Fullam's permission, PC files to secure federal loan guarantees. The reorganization plan with ICC. Separately, oad railr was unable to pay about $200 0 B&O sells its majority interest in Reading million in long-term loans that were : to three private investors. coming due. 0 oAug. 13: Federal Railroad Administra- oJune 24: Lehigh Valley, independently op- tion loans PC $16.4 million to cover erated subsidiary of PC, files for reOl'gani- Agnes-related losses, allowing the carrier zation under Section 77 after losing $5.2 0 to continue operating into 1974. million in 1969. LV could notrepay a $1.5 : oOct. 16: Ann Arbor becomes the seventh million government loan due Aug. 15. 0 eastern railroad to file for reorganization o December: After losing $325.7 million 0 under Section 77 following 10 years of during 1970, PC is required by Congres- 0 losses. (Boston & Maine, not mentioned sional strike settlement to increase pay of above, is the seventh bankrupt.) AA is affected workers by 13.5 percent, further eventually purchased by the State of 0 increasing deficits. 0 Michigan, but Conrail operates it 1976-77. Steve Smedley 1971 1974 oJanuary: Congress approves $125 mil­ oJan. 2: Regional Rail Reorganization Act ABOVE: Conrail GP30 21n lion in loan guarantees to railroads; PC (3R Act) is signed by President Nixon. pounds through Blue Is­ immediately obtains $100 million in Federal government is forced to enact this guarantees, avoiding a Jan. 28 shutdown law to prevent Judge Fullam from shut­ land, Illinois, in Jury lsn. for lack of cash. ting PC down. The act establishes Consol­ During Conrail's ear­ oMay I: PC discontinues intercity passen­ idated Rail Corporation (Conrail) as "a fi­ LEfT: ger operations with advent of Amtrak, nancially self-sustaining rail service sys­ ly days, its meager corpo­ but continues to operate commuter trains tem" for the northeastern United States; rate image was a crude in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, mandates Philadelphia as its headquar­ "CR" painted on equip­ Washington, Detroit, and Chicago areas. ters; and creates U.S. Railway Association oNov. 23: Reading files for reorganization (USRA) to develop a plan for merging the ment. Later, Conrail blue under Section 77 because of income banla'upt eastern railroads into Conrail at became its herald. shortfalls caused by railroad and long­ estimated expense of $500 million, and shoreman strikes and the recession; thereafter managing fe deral investment in Steve Smedley 30-November 1997 Conrail. PC gets $85 million to keep run- 0 oMay 20: Collinwood Shop (Cleveland) ning until Conrail takes over. repaints first locomotive in Conrail blue oFeb. 1: B&M trustees decide to keep : and white, GP40 3091. their railroad out of Conrail and altempt 0 oSummer: Track work on Conrail main

an income-based reorganization. • lines begins to reverse years of deferred oApril 3: PC trustees report to Judge Ful- 0 maintenance. Meanwhile, poor reliability lam thm track is rapidly deteriorating be- of locomotives inherited from bankrupts cause of lack of maintenance funds, with 0 forces Conrail to lease locomotives from

8,475 miles under slow orders. PC expe- 0 many sources. rienced over 20 derailments a day in Jan- oDec. 31: Conrail installs 4 million new 0 uary, costing $2.3 million. 0 ties and 700 miles of rail during 1976. oMay 2: Bankruptcy courts rule that PC, For 1977, Conrail budgets $640 million Reading, Jersey Central, and LV cannot for track maintenance, including 5 mil­ 0 achieve income-based reorganizMion, mak- 0 lion new ties and 1,04 1 miles of rail. ing them eligible for inclusion in Conrail. oMay 26: Three-judge federal panel rules : 3R Act unconstitutional because it allows 0 1977 creditors' interest in bankrupt railroads : oJan. 30: Worst winter weather in years to erode without compensation. 0 shuts down all Conrail operations in Buf­

oDecember: PC cat'loadings drop to low- 0 falo for four days and increases operating est level since merger because of reces- 0 costs systemwide.

sion. Losing $1 million per day, PC re- 0 oApril: Conrail orders first new locomo­ quires another $30 million in 3R Act : tives: 154 units from Electro-Motive Di- grants to stay in business. 0 vision and 37 from General Electric. oDec. 16: Supreme Court overrules May First new units on Conrail roster are four 26 decision, finding 3R Act constitutional. 0 GE U36Bs diverted from Auto-Train Corporation in 1976. oJune 30: Conrail reports a first-year loss 1975 of $665.6 million to ICC. o Dec. 31: USRA invests last of $1 bil­ oJan. 10: Bankruptcy Court finds EL in- 0 capable of reorganizing as a profitable lion appropriated for Conrail deben­ 0 business. Trustees request EL's inclusion tures, also holds $152.3 million in pre­ fen'ed stock. Conrail reports $63 1 mil­ in Conrail, frustrating USRA plans to 0 lion annual loss to ICC ($367 million maintain that railroad's independence as : a Conrail competitor. under generally accepted accounting oFeb. 26: USRA releases Preliminary principles (GAAP), which permit capi­ 0 System Plan for Conrail, which offers a 0 talization and depreciation of mainte­ nance of way investment). 15,000-mile system. Up to 6,200 miles 0 of the bankrupts' route systems would be abandoned or sold. Competition would be preserved by extending Chessie Sys- : 1978 tem and Norfolk & Western into the oJune 26: Conrail President Richard D. Spence resigns under pressure from US- New York area. 0 oJuly 26: After public review and com- RA because of continued high losses. : arguments ment, USRA releases Final System Plan 0 Responding to Conrail that for Conrail, calling for abandonment or its upgrading funding is inadequate,

sale of 5,100 route miles. Amtrak would 0 Congress provides an additional $1.2 obtain PC's Northeast Corridor passenger billion in financing. Ultimately, total fed­ LEFT: It's July 1978, and : lines. Chessie would obtain 2, 185 miles 0 eral investment in Conrail exceeds $7 Conrail is just three of EL and Reading lines east of Cleveland b i llion as litigation with estates of 0 months old as this 8040, to provide competition. bankrupt railroads increases acquisition oNovember: Final System Plan accepted 0 costs far above initial estimates. still in full Penn Central by Congress. : 0 Nov. 1: United Transportation Union dress, leads a local at • agrees to reduce train crew size frol11 four persons to three on Conrail trains less Bellwood, Illinois. BELOW: 1976 than 70 cars long. A pair of husky Alcos oFeb. 5: Railroad Revitalization and Reg­ o Dec. 31: For the year, Conrail installs powers an empty ore ulatory Reform Act (4R Act) is signed by o 4.6 million new ties and 1,056 miles of President Ford. It provides $2. 1 billion in rail. Net loss reported to ICC is $68 1 mil­ train at Girard, Ohio, in lion ($385 million under GAAP). federal funding for Conrail's acquisition 0

April 1978. and upgrading of Final System Plan lines 0 Steve Smedley and $1.75 billion for Amtrak to upgrade 0 the Northeast Corridor, along with limit- : 1979 ed regulatory and tax reform. ·,uly: Conrail reports second-quarter

oFeb. 11: Chessie System and Southern 0 profit of $29.4 million under GAAP. Cal­

Railway (which wanted to acquire PC's 0 culated under ICC accounting formula, Jine up the Delmarva Peninsula) drop 0 though, this equates to a $7 1 million loss.

planned acquisitions from the bankrupt 0 Separately, Conrail begins levying a sur­ carriers after failing to achieve labor : charge on traffic to and from the South, agreements with unions representi ng · arguing that its division of joint rates on

workers on these Jines. 0 such movements is inadequate. oMarch 5: USRA grants Delaware & 0 oAug. 2: Conrail claims it could complete

Hudson 700 miles of trackage rights 0 rehabilitation with its present federal over Conrail to Buffa lo, Newark, : fu nding and earn $1.3 billion in the years Philadelphia, and Washington to provide 1980- 1 984 if Congress enacts further

a competitive alternative in wake of 0 regulatory reform. Conrail's lobbying for Chessie and Southern withdrawal. 0 reduced regulation is a major impetus for

oApril 1: Conrail acquires its 17,000-mile 0 the Staggers Act. system (14,300 miles of core and 2,700 : oDec. 31: Annual loss reported to ICC de­ miles of subsidized lines) from bankrupts 0 clines to $488 million ($178 million un­ PC, EL, LV, Reading, Jersey Central, and der GAAP). $372 million in track upgrad­ L&I-1R, and commences operations. Am- 0 ing expense pays for 3.6 million new ties trak later acquires Northeast Corridor and 1,054 miles of rail during the year. 0 from Pc. Lines not included in these pur- : Since start-up, Conrail has drawn down chases become short lines or are aban- 0 $2.66 billion in federal funds and spent cloned. Predecessor railroad employees $2.36 billion on upgrading track, locomo­ with five years' seniority get right-to-life- 0 tives, and cars, essentially completing the

time employment. 0 planned rehabilitation of the property. George S. Pllarys RailNews-31 oApril:1980 Conrail acquires Raritan River 0 Railroad, a New Jersey shortline subsidiary. : oMay: Conrail furloughs 1,750 employees 0 and stores 650 locomotives as recession 0 reduces freight traffic 14 percent. "��r"�P'?TI���ii!���Il��1 oOctober 15: Staggers Act becomes ef­ I� fective, providing Conrail with most of 0 the regulatory relief it sought. oDec. 31: Annual loss reported to ICC 0 widens to $406 million ($244 million on 0

GAAP basis) because of recession and re- 0 suiting drop in freight traffic.

1981 oJan. I: L. Stanley Crane, former chair- 0 man of Southern Railway, becomes chair- : man and CEO of Conrail, succeeding Ed- 0 ward G. Jordan, a non-railroader. oApril: Conrail decides to remove 45

miles of fourth main track on the former 0 Pennsylvania Broad Way main line be­ Mike Hoppe tween Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, part of 0 Crane's plan to retire over 1,300 miles of ABOVE: A westbound TV unnecessary mUltiple track. oFall: Congress passes Northeast Rail Ser- : 1983Conrail transfers commuter oper­ train crosses the Beaver 0 oJan. I: vice Act, which paves way toward sale of : ations in New York, Philadelphia, and River bridge in Beaver Conrail as a unit to private investors if the 0 Washington areas (along with over Falls, Pennsylvania, on railroad is adjudged profitable by June : 11,000 employees) to public agencies in 1983. NERSA streamlines abandonment - accordance with NERSA. April 28, 1997. RIGHT: A procedures for unneeded rail lines and income increases to $313 0 -Dec. 31: Net depot window in Elkhart, mandates that Amtrak or commuter agen- - million. cies assume full responsibility for com- - Indiana, frames an ap­ muter service by Jan. 1, 1983. Job protec- : proaching Conrail train tion payments are capped and state full- - on a bleak September crew laws are invalidated, permitting Con- _ -May1984 14: Stanley Crane says Conrail rail to reduce employment in earnest. : management opposes takeover by either day in 1993. Unions eventually agree to 12 percent - CSX or NS, arguing that Conrail should wage deferral, applied to purchases of : remain independent. Conrail stock. Simultaneously, tax legisla- 0 oJune 1: USRA determines Conrail is tion allows railroads to report results in ac- _ profitable, qualifying it for sale as a unit. Steve SmedlBY cOl'dance with GAAP, as Conrail preferred. : June 18: Federal government receives o Dec. 31: Conrail reports first annual net 0 bids for purchase of Conrail from unions, income, 539 million. _ CSX, NS, and II others. - oSeptember: Department of Transporta- - tion reduces eligible Conrail bidders to - CONRAIL ROUTES three: NS, Alleghany Corp., and an in­ oWinter:1982 Conrail officially retires invest- : _ AMTRAK NORTHEAST CORRIDOR _ vestor group headed by j. W. Marriott. ment in freight catenary after storing all : 0 Dec. 31: Net income rises to 5500 million. (CONRAIL TRACKAGE RIGHTS) of its electric locomotives during 1981. - Conrail is consistently profitable thereafter. Freight trains operating on Amtrak and : NORFOLK SOUTHERN ROUTES commuter lines are pulled by diesels. oMarch: ICC authorizes 117 Conrail : - CSX ROUTES abandonments totaling 982 miles. For- - 019 Jan.85 I: Conrail resumes paying union mer J\T YC Southern 1I1inois coal line (127 _ employees at industry rates, reducing its - OTHER RAILROADS (NOT ALL SHOWN) miles) is sold to Southern Railway. : profits. -April: Conrail agrees with New York - opeb. 8: DOT Secretary Elizabeth Dole State to retain through freight u'ain service : approves NS's $1.2 billion bid for Con­ on Southern Tier Line (former Erie main - rail, subject to Congressional review.

line) and grant New York, Susquehanna & _ -Feb. 28: CSX Chairman Hays Watkins Conrail at its Western trackage rights from Passaic Junc- : tells Senate that, if NS's bid is confirmed, tion, N.J.-Binghamton, N.Y., to reach 0 CSX would sell or abandon B&O. Stanley D&H and provide competitive service to 0 Crane continues opposition to NS takeover Last Hour? New Yo rk City area. NYS&W also buys and backs public offering of stock under

164 miles of up-For-abandonment Conrail _ the slogan "Let Conrail Be Conrail." branches north of Binghamton. : oApril 30: Canada Southern Railway and oMay I: Providence & Worcester buys 0 Detroit River TUlmel Co. (Detroit-Niagara 104 miles of Conrail branches in Rhode : Falls, ant., through Canada, 237 miles) Island for $75,000. 0 sold to Canadian National and CP Rail for

oJune I: Boston & Maine purchases 166 _ $25.2 million. Conrail operated only locals miles of Conrail branches in Connecticut - and (briefly) Amtrak trains on the line.

and Massachusetts (North Adams, 0 Mass.-Canaan, Conn., trackage was con- : veyed April I). 1986 oJune 15: Bay Colony Railroad purchases 0 oFeb. 4: Senate approves sale of Conrail 95 miles of Conrail trackage in eastern 0 to 'S. Massachusetts. - 0 April 29: House Energy and Commerce o June: Conrail employment drops to : Committee Chairman Rep. John Dingell 60,000 from 96,000 at start-up and 0 (D-Michigan) says he is opposed to the

87,500 in 1979. _ sale. Since Dingell's committee must oAugust: Conrail reduces system to - clear enabling legislation, this kills NS

15,000 miles through NERSA abandon- 0 bid and clears path for public offering of ments and line sales. Recession and 0 stock, as Crane desired. shrinkage permit railroad to store 1,329 oOct. 21: Congress passes Conrail Priva- tization Act, providing for sale of federal of its 3,825 locomotives. 0 oDec. 31: Net income grows to $174 0 government's 85 percent stake in Conrail million. to the public.

32-November 1997 oDec. 31: Conrail system stands at 13,700 : oMay 1: Conrail assumes operation of miles, operated with 2,500 locomotives. Monongahela.

1987 o 1994 LEFT: A shadow from its oMarch 26: Federal government sells its : oln stages during the year, NS purchases Conrail stock (85 percent of total, the long-lost past is glimpsed 0 Conrail's former PRR main line between rest is held in an employee stock trust as : Gary and Fort Wayne, Ind. on the worn side of a compensation for wage deferrals). Offer- oWinter: Conrail acquires Pittsburgh & ing price is $28 per share, hopper car at East Peo­ raising $1.65 0 Lake Erie's 50 percent interest in Pitts­ ria, Illinois, in January billion for the federal government. : burgh, Chartiers & Youghioheny, becoming o its sole owner and assuming operations. 1997. BELOW: C40-8Ws oMarch 12: Indianapolis-Louisville line, 8183 and 8280 cross the 1989 o 115 miles, sold to Louisville & Indiana oJuly 31: Conrail establishes Shareholder Railroad. ancient stone spans of a Rights Plan and distributes purchase oJuly 1: Company changes name to Con- bridge in Ouncannon, rights to stockholders to make hostile 0 rail, Inc. Pennsylvania, on April takeovers more difficult. No outsider can : oNov. 30: SD60M 5595 is completed at 29, 1995. obtain more than a 20 percent ownership Juniata Shops in Altoona, the first of 45 Steve Smedley to be built (from EMD kits) by Conrail.

o 1995 : oJuly 21: Finger Lakes Railway takes over o 71 miles of Conrail branches in namesake region of upstate New York. o oSept. 7: Conrail commences stack train operations between Philadelphia and : Chicago after completing three-year pro­ o ject to improve clearances on former PRR.

o 1996 o oMarch 13: Conrail accepts bids from o RailTex and Providence & Worcester to o sell all remaining ew England trackage except Boston-Albany main line. o oMay: EMD completes order for 28 SD80MACs, which turn out to be Con- o o rail's last new locomotives. o oJuly 3: Surface Transportation Board, in : approving Union Pacific's acquisition of o Southern Pacific, declines Conrail's pro­ posal to purchase SP's eastern lines. interest without a stockholder vote to 0 change the charter. 0 oSept. 9: Conrail sells former Peoria & o Eastern between Urbana and Blooming­ : ton, III., 50 miles, to s. 1990 oOct. 15: CSX announces agreement to acquire Conrail in a friendly merger, pay­ oNovember: Conrail agrees to acquire 0 at billion CSX's 67 percent interest in 162-mile ing cash and stock valued $8.4 (or $92.50 per share). Monongahela Railway for $40 million 0 and become its sole owner. : oOct. 23: NS responds with offer to buy $100 each in cash, oDec. 15: Reading, Blue Mountain & : all Conrail shares for a total of $9. 1 billion. Northern commences operations of 124 0 a miles of former Reading branches north : oNov. 8: After failing to negotiate deal with CSX to acquire Conrail jointly, NS of Reading as Conrail begins large-scale 0 10 per Con- branch line sales, eventually reducing its : raises its all-cash offer to $1 route system to 1 1,000 miles. 0 rail share. 0 adds preferred oDec. 31: Number of employees drops oDec. 1 9: CSX convertible below 28,000. stock valued at $16 per share to its offer. o 0 Dec. 20: NS raises its offer to $1 15 per o Conrail share. 1991

oDec. 31: 81-mile line between Shelbyville, 0 Indiana, and Cincinnati sold to Central 1 997 oJan. 17: Conrail stockholders reject Railroad of Indiana, which also gets 76 0 0 miles of trackage rights to Indianapolis. CSX-Ied proposal to change charter al-

o lowing CSX takeover. : oApril 8: CSX and NS reach agreement 1992 0 in principle on division and joint acquisi- at $1 15 per share. oApril 11: Indiana Southern acquires 162 0 tion of Conrail miles of Conrail lines between Indianapo- oJune 2: Green Acquisition Corp., jointly lis and Evansville, Indiana. 0 owned by CSX and NS, buys all Conrail oApril 17: Columbus & Ohio River buys : shares, subject to STB approval. 159 miles of former PRR SI. Louis main 0 0 June 23: CSX and NS file application divide, and oper­ line between Columbus and Gould 0 for authority to acquire, (Steubenville), Ohio. 0 ate Conrail; STB to complete proceedings

oDec. 30: Danbury Term inal purchases 0 by June 8, 1998. 175 miles of Connecticut trackage for : oJuly 24: STB accepts CSX and NS's $10.2 operation by its parent, Housatonic 0 billion application. Oral arguments will be

Railroad. 0 held on April 9, 1998, followed by an open o voting conference and ruling on April 14.

0 oAug. 21: U.S. Secretary of Tra nsporta­ 1993 : tion Rodney E. Slater announces FRA oApril: Conrail joins Norfolk Southern in 0 will investigate safety issues, competitive creating Triple Crown Service Company impact, and financial and operational via-

MAP BYDEAN SAUVDLAAND TOM DANNfMAN to provide RoadRailer service throughout bility of proposed acquisition. submitting

the East and South. 0 findings to STB in February 1998. �

RailNews·33 Bye-Bye, Big Blue?

railroads whose character and independence etched a mark on the land, people, and towns they touched. Like that of its fallen western kin, the liquidation of Conrail as an entity would engender a sense of loss, stories to tell, and memories to share. The Big Blue's followers and fans will be hard­ pressed to imagine any other colored set of road pow­ er pulling tonnage across the old Pennsy in the Al­ leghenies, the old Boston & Albany through the Berk­ srures, the fast-running former New York Central Wa­ ter Level Route, or the Emmer West Shore River Line in the sce nic Hudson River Valley. 1n these famed Conrail hallows, the image of blue-and-white diesels by the late 1980s seemed permanent, if not eternal. But history has taught us that no industry-railroad or other-remains indomitable against a harsh eco­ nomic reality. I've maintained a love/hate relationship with Con­ rail through the years. Having the good fortune to live next door to both the Boston Line (B&A) and River Line (one of the most scenic lines on the Big Blue map), I could neither ignore nor avoid Conrail. It wasn't an early favorite, but over time I grew much more fond of the Big Blue. When some of my older friends broke out the slide trays of the not-so-good- 01' days' bleak (Worms in Love) Penn Central, it helped fortify my growing appreciation of Conrail's bright image. There seems 110 paint scheme better than Conr ail's blue and white contrasted against a fresh sunlit snowfall or a raging mountain of fiery fall foliage. On the other hand, nothing seems quite as stale as Conrail blue on a hazy July day or layered with late-winter road grime. Conrail's motive power, even after the onslaught of the more homogeneous wide nose C40-8Ws and SD60Is (adorned with the rolling billboard Conrail Quality slogan), is as interesting and diverse as any Class I road. For the railfan, young or old alike, Conrail's busy traffic patterns create an air of de­ pendability in the fickle northeastern railroad envi­ ronment where trains can be as elusive and difficult to capture in good light as a blue-sky weekend of solid sunshine in March. Three seasons of such dependability are caught in the accompanying shots. TV6 bursts thr ough Canaan State Line Tu nnels on the Boston & Albany Line on June 12, 1996 (left). In East Chatham, New Yo rk, loco­ motives 4112 and 4103 shepherd 80 cars through snow, sunlight, and shadow past milepost 170 on March 9, 1997 (opposite page, top). On October 26, 1996, this southbound leaves Fort Montgomery Tu nnel behind as it runs through Bear Mountain region on the Text and here is an old saying "What goes up must come River Line (opposite page, bottom). down." Well, there is little doubt that Conrail, in But beyond the viewfinder, motordrives, and dra­ Photography T its 20-plus-year reign over the Northeast, has matic scenic moments and blue paint, there is much by Gary R. seen plenty of ups and downs and lived to tell the more to Conrail. Schermerhorn tale-at least it has so far. Conrail, like any other railroad, is about people­ Less than a year ago, I would not have believed people such as you and I who manage to maintain a that the Northeast's largest freight railroad might re­ sense of humor and bit of pride in their jobs in spite quire an epilogue. But change is constant in all things, of the punishments of Mother Nature and hard-line and lately that appears to be especially true for North downsizing that by the early 1990s strained employ­ America's railroads. In the 21st century railroad map, ee ranks and drastically altered the road's physical Conrail may join the ranks of such fabled roads as plant and size. Most would agree, however, that the Chicago & North Western and Southern Pacific, pruning of Conrail's main line, branches, and staff

34-November 1997 helped make it a leaner, aggressive, multimillion dollar success s tory by the mid- 1 990s-a far cry from the chaotic, bankrupt, red ink-stained Conrail of the mid-197 0s. Conrail has never been a stranger to strife and struggle. Yet, somehow, it has always come through­ an in dependent survivor in a time of dismemberment and ghosts. It is the railroad I grew up with, cursed s at when a train didn't show for a waiting hot , laughed with during a short cab visit with a friendly crew, and fin ally cherish ed. Are t h e se its sunset days? Will the takeover by CSX and NOIfolk South­ ern be approved? Through both good days or bad days, Conr ail has maintained an un deniable, indelible presence. Whether our blood runs blue or not, we would fin d it difficult to forget a railroad that TOse so valiantly from from the ashes of seven others. If it goes, it will be missed. Bye-bye, Big Blue? Gary Schermerhorn lives in New Yo rk State; this is his first RAILNEWS byline. J"

RaiiNews-35 Conrail Remembered

Text and uring the last two weeks of the Erie Lackawan­ na's existence, I spent as much high-risk time as Photography by D possible riding in the passenger seat of railfan Steve Smedley Mark Llanuza's old Chevy, in search of EL trains around Griffith, Indiana. We had both heard horror stories about the EL's future, and I recall having a difficult time fathoming how the government would be able to turn seven fail­ ing railroads into one. Shortly after Conrail's birth, in May 1976, my fa­ ther, Al Smedley, came home from a downtown Chicago public relations firm with a huge Conrail poster. Pictured was a grinning engineer, in denim jacket and hat, with his thumb raised proudly in the air. Since this was the first railroad advertisement I had ever seen, r immediately hung it on my wall. applying large, sloppy swatches of any color paint on Shooting Conrail action soon became trips to the hand-perhaps to unify the corporate image. Belt-my most common hunting ground-bordered But to me, these locomotives looked like entries in by the Santa Fe crossing at McCook to the south, and Saturday night's demolition derby. With mismatched following the line north all the way to Bensenville. I lash-ups of power belching smoke, oil, sparks, and used 25th Street as the preferred chase route. On a sometimes flames, it was obvious that Conrail's mo­ June 1976 chase, I caught Reading C-430 leading a tive power was sick. set of power back into Proviso Yard (above right). I would often come home, proudly wearing a shirt Places such as La Grange, CP Hill, and Norpaul spattered with oil from these slowly dying diesels, and became common afternoon camping spots for any­ hear my mother tell me that passenger train trips be­ thing the new road could throw at us. hind steam were even worse on clothing. Lash-ups of multi-colored units were a joy at first, On several occasions, a set of three Lehigh Val­ but then someone at Conrail had the bright idea of ley, Reading, and Penn Central six-axle Alco C-628s

3S-November 1997 and C-630s would venture up in the quantity of oil-belching and down the Belt, although I GP30s, C-630s, and E8s that never caught them actually would meet their final fate at moving a train. Peilet Brothers at La Grange, just The last time I witnessed the across from the Belt tracks where old fonner Erie Lackawanna E­ they spent their final years. units, which usually pulled freight Conrail's 78-mile Pekin Sec­ in pre-merger three-to-five unit ondary, a ghost of the former lash-ups, was during a transfer Peoria & Eastern line, was sold around Bensenville. In a wild in 1996 to Norfolk Southern. ride, Chevy pilot Llanuza tried his The line is dOlmant, except for a best to make dental impressions central portion rehabbed to serve of my teeth in the dashboard, as the Anderson's, a huge grain we madly zigzagged through a complex west of Champaign. residential area of Franklin Park I did make a final portrait of trying to ca tch the train. my friends, Engineer R.G. Just when we were driven to Hanciaux (at right) and Con­ madness by all the bastardized ductor Mike Whitton-with classic paint schemes, Conrail Conrail PEH I-as they waited threw in a little leased power for a track warrant during the fi­ and kept us interested. nal week of operations (left). Now Canadian National and I traveled through LeRoy on Louisville & Nashville Alcos July 5, 1997, and crossed the were on line, along with Bangor tracks in several places, hoping & Aroostook, Chicago & North Western, and assort­ to find freshly cut clay in the f1 angeways and ed other leased Geeps. Imagine how excited I was crushed weeds on the rail head s, but all I saw was when an Indiana Harbor Belt engineel� running with a rust and an occasional spent firework. set of CN Alcos for powel; offered "to smoke 'em up" For me, Conrail's fireworks show was in the late while he pumped up the brakes on a cut of transfer 1970s in suburban Chicago. Could it have really been cars at Norpaul Ya rd. 21 years ago that my dad brought that poster home? I became friendly with IHB Conductor Hedge A retired railroader and an eastbound wait for a de­ Hendrix, who would actually stop the train and make parture signal (below). Now, Big Blue is waiting too. a railfan pickup for a short-in-mileage but long-in-du­ A photojournalist, Steve Smedley wrote the RAIL­ ration delivery into C&NW's Proviso yards. NEWS article on Knox Station Bed & Rails that was I re ally became hooked on Conrail Blue when I published in the October issue. :£' caught a former Reading GP30, along with a blue SD35, on a transfer at Blue Island's Broadway crossing. Then, several months later, on the old Panhandle line at Riverdale, I photographed a Conrail RS-3 that had been re-engined with an Electro-Motive Division prime mover, and dubbed the DeWitt Geep, which T instantly re-named the Dimwit Geep (opposite page, top). The conductor even wore a Pennsy hat. Still loyal to his former employer, he grumbled about Conrail, as he swept switches clean of snow and switched a steel plant near the Chessie's Barr Yard at Riverdale. More recently, my Conrail experience had been fol­ lowing, slowly, the Saturday morning Conrail road train PEHI (Peoria-Hillary), trundling down the weed-choked line between Bloomington and Hillary yards at Danville, Illinois. A shadow of its former self, the line suffered two serious line-closing derailments in November 1982, near Danvers. Conrail had quickly arranged trackage rights with then-owner Norfolk & Western on the former Nickel Plate line between Dean (South Bloomington), and East PeOl;a. Most of the line west of Bloomington was abandoned shortly afterwards. In a final irony, some of the last pathetic 10 mph trains I photographed on the line between Danville and Bloomington were pulled by Conrail Quality six­ axle, wide-nose cabs, the most modern ofsuper power. What a contrast to what r thought of 21 years ago as Conrail's impossible start! There was little quality then

RaiiNews·37 The Southern Tier

Text and nwanted, neglected, and archaic, Conrail's 1980s, when Conrail was routing a decent amount of Southern Tier Route has hung in the balance Photography by traffic. The line, particularly west of Corning, ap­ U for more than 20 years. Since April Fool's Day peared as a traditional, unfettered main line from an Brian Solomon 1976, the former Erie Railroad line between northern earlier generation-yet it carried modern trains. Its New Jersey and Buffa lo has been just a secondary Con­ directional doubletrack line was still largely jointed rail route. It essentially duplicates the former New rail, protected by Union Switch & Signal upper­ York Central Water Level Route, and while the NYC quadrant semaphores in a conventional automatic provides a virtually gradeless line connecting the prin­ block arrangement. Here, on April 16, 1989, Conrail cipal industrial centers between the New York City BUOl (Buffalo, New York to Oak island, New Jer­ area and Buffalo, the old Erie crosses two significant sey) crawls along track No. 2, passing the US&S grades-Gulf Summit and Attica Hill-and meanders semaphores at Arkport, New York. A multiple-tier through some of the most remote terrain in the North­ telegraph line, with rustic, canted poles, ran parallel east. Under Erie Lackawanna (Conrail's predecessor on to the tracks-just as it had for decades-and the the Southern Tiel; formed in 1960 from the Erie and line was still dispatched locally from the old Erie de­ the Delaware, LackawaJma & We stern), the route had pot in Howell. Did I mention that scenery along the been relatively busy. However, the EL's three largest line is stunning? customers have long since stopped shipping, and Con­ Gradually, time caught up with the Southern Tier. rail overhead traffic has ebbed and flowed. Through Conrail modernized much of the plant: laying single traffic is essentially a train or two each way every day. track, replacing semaphores with modern color-light New York State has mandated that Conrail keep the signals, and consolidating dispatching facilities with line to Buffalo open, but most of old Erie west of Hor­ those of the Water Level Route at Selkirk, New nell, New Yo rk, to Chicago has been decimated. York. Conrail traffic is now just one through train a Despite this, the old Erie was one of my favorite day (although west of Binghamton, coal traffic and parts of Conrail because it retained a fa scinating Canadian Pacific trackage rights add a few trains). character rarely found in modern railroading. The Howevel; with a new owner, perhaps the old Erie Water Level Route is a pretty sterile railroad-while could tlourish again. it performs well, its modern, streamlined plant is not A f;'ee-lance writer and photographer, Brian very intriguing. I knew the Southern Tier in the late Solomon is the fa nner editor of PA CIFIC RAILNEWS. "b

3S-November 1997 The Conrail We Would Like to Forget

pon its inception in 1976, Conrail inherited com­ I have very few photos of the FL9s from this ear­ Text and muter operations from Penn Central and an as­ ly era of Conrail, probably because this scruffy im­ Photography by U sortment of equipment including FL9 locomo­ age is typical. Photographing these bedraggled trains tives and tired coaches of various lineage. In New Yo rk against the beautiful scenery along the Hudson was Howard Ande State, Conrail operated commuter trains with the for­ not inspiring. But, in hindsight, I wish I'd taken mer New Haven Railroad FL9s on the Hudson Line to more photos anyway. Poughkeepsie and on the Harlem Line to Brewster. As Then along came Metro-North's snappy red, most freight railJ"Oads don't want anything to do with blue, and gray paint scheme and-following quick­ passenger railroading, Conrail must have breathed a ly-new Bombardier coaches that were a welcome sigh of relief when, in July 1981, the Northeast Rail change, making most of us forget how the com­ Service Act ordered ConraiJ to divest its commuter op­ muter services looked under Conrail's control. erations by December 31, 1982. Metro-North Com­ Metro-North gave us an added bonus by later re­ muter Railroad was established by the New Yo rk State painting a select group of FL9s into the McGinnis­ Metropolitan TranspOliation Authority and began oper­ era New Haven colors. I often thought it was ironic ations on New Year's Day 1983. that the New York Central shunned the FL9 model The deplorable appearance of the Conrail FL9 lo­ (which was only purchased by New Haven) for in comotives is clearly visible in this weekday north­ the 1980s and 1990s, New Haven-liveried locomo­ bound rush-hour commuter run at Roa Hook, New tives would run up and down the former NYC along York, just north of Peekskill along the Hudson River, the Hudson. on July 2, 1982. The train looks as archaic as the five Conrail certainly suffered teething problems in the cross-armed code line running along the riverbank. early years-the commuter trains were just one of More than six years after the April 1, 1976, start-up many. What a contrast those Conrail FL9s were to the of Conrail, the lead locomotive still shows traces of dynamic new look of the SD80MACs! the Penn Central Worms in Love logo. Faded paint As his excellent photos attest, Howard Ande is a and rust cover the unit. professional photographer. �

RaiiNews·39 Early Morning on the River Line

Text and /J.0ut an hour north of New Yo rk City, the Ap­ long freight train-were slapping back and Forth Photography by palachian Trail dips down to cross the Hudson, across the valley. marking the beginning of a IS-mile stretch of Through the trees, four Conrail units appeared, inch­ Joe Greenstein river known as the Hudson Highlands. With its ing north along the base of Stonn King Mountain with steep, tree-covered hills and jagged outcroppings. it a string of autoracks in tow. The train, f would later dis­ is one of the loveliest areas in the East -often com­ cover, was ML-403 to Columbus, Ohio, with set outs at pared to Germany's Rhine Vall ey. Here, we can even Selkirk, Buffalo, and Cleveland. It was carrying Ford find the American equivalent of European castles­ and GM autos from Metuchen and Linden, New Jersey. the imposing ramparts of the West Point Military A major reconstruction project a few years back Academy or the early 19th century hillside mansion had upgraded the River Line for high cars and double called Boscobel. And, as with the Rhine, railroads stacks, thus transforming it into one of the busiest trace both shores. freight routes in the region. Even before merger talks On the east bank, busy double track carries Metro­ surfaced, it had become commonplace to see Conrail North's Hudson Division, Conrail's Albany Division, units joined in exotic link-ups with run-through mo­ and Amtrak's Empire Corridor. Across the way, Con­ tive power-not just Norfolk Southern and CSX, but rail's River Line connects the Greater New Yo rk area even Union Pacific and Santa Fe. Who could possibly with the giant Selkirk Yard, south of Albany. have imagined then that the twists of fate might soon I had come to the Highlands town of Cold Spring cast Conrail in the role of fallen flag? to photo graph the morning procession of Amtrak But on this glorious fall morning in 1996, ren­ trains. At 7:1S, the first rays of sunlight heralded a dered in shades of yellow ochre, Indian red, and Con­ crystal-clear autumn day. I was trackside, waiting, rail blue, we catch a fleeting glimpse of the northeast­ when I heard the low throb of turbocharged diesels em rail giant in its vigorous prime. from the other side of the river. Soon the rumble and Joe Greenstein is a photographer and writer; his rattle and clatter-the accumulated sounds of a mile- most recent byline dealt with New Jersey Tr ansit. df'

40.November 1997 Big Four Ya rd

he Conrail lines from Indianapolis stretched out Such was the case on a hot, humid August 22, Text and into the Indiana c011lfields like spider legs. Over 1992. Looking west through the sticky air reveals not Photography by T the years, some of the lines became less impor­ one but two headlights burning through the haze. tant, and some were abandoned. But the line from Several minutes latel� two trains glide into Big Four Mike Danneman Cleveland to St. Louis remains an important westem Yard simultaneously like two 727s landing at O'Hare. connection for the blue rolling machine called Conrail. A second show is presented on the afternoon of July Big Four Yard is at Avon, on the west side of Indi­ 20, 1993, when a couple of trains with big blue units anapolis. Its name comes from New York Central pre­ point toward the sun-sorted cars at the west end of decessor Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis, the yard. The 6865 west heads out onto the main line known as the Big Four. For Conrail trains heading to first, with 6825 and train following shortly. and from St. Louis, the yard is the pause that refresh­ If the lines from Cleveland to St. Louis are taken es, a hub for activity in the Indianapolis area. over by CSX, Avon will surely stay active. But it will Midwestern scenery makes dramatic photography be more difficult to reach back in history and call this challenging. But Conrail knows how to put 011 a show yard Big Four. on a sunny summer afternoon. Sometimes it seems A noted rail artist, Mike Danneman now lives in downright busy. Colorado. �

RaiiNews·41 A Tiny Corner of Conrail

Text and ention Conrail, and what I usually think of is pull out a cut of hoppers loaded with ballast-sized big-time mainline railroading with trains being Photography by stone. The locomotives are approaching busy Route M pulled by the latest wide-nose diesels from 68 while a crew member looks over his shoulder for Howard Ande Electro-Motive Division and General Electric. Con­ traffic as he flags this grade crossing that is protect­ rail's management evidently had the same vision as it ed only by a cross buck. tried to rid itself of as many branch lines as could be This job regularly used three or fo ur of the B238 sold or spun off to short lines or regional carriers. to handle the heavy stone train on the undulating While many Conrail locals work the industries along line south to Cedar Hill Yard near New Haven. A the main lines, a Conrail local working an obscure unique feature on many of the Conrail B23-7s is the branch isn't as common as it once was. pilots' modified snowplow design. As is the case While my wife and I still lived in Connecticut, I with Conrail No. 1967 shown here, the pilots are worked for a government-run social service agency notched on the ends to accommodate running in that held monthly meetings in Wallingford or Mid­ territory where third rail exists for commuter trains, dletown. These meetings were conveniently over by such as down the Hudson River into New York City midday, and one of the rewards of sitting through from Croton Harmon. the bureaucratic updates was seeing if the Connecti­ It has been nearly seven years since tbis photo was cut Central short line was working in Middletown, taken, and things certainly have changed in this little or if Conrail was at Reeds Gap on the old New corner of Conrail. An expanded Providence & Haven Railroad Airline. After the meeting on Wo rcester and newly formed New England Central November 16, 1990, I was in luck and caught Con­ (taking over Central Vermont) are now the dominant rail local WA NH-26 (Albany Division working from freight railroads. Several other short lines have New Haven) going about its business at Reeds Gap, sprung up in the Constitution State, but on this blus­ near Wallingford, at the large Tilcon stone quarry. tery November afternoon in 1990, it is Conrail Several B23-7s are entering the spur to the quarry to putting on the show. "b

42-November 1997 Conrail from a Distance

ost of us in the early baby-boom generation Reagan revolution. You can say it was many things, Text and have had a difficult time accepting that but it happened. We could even tell it was happening Photography by M American railroading really tumed itself out here in the Northwest. We read about it, of around in the J 990s. It's not as if we didn't want to course, but more importantly, we began to see it. Ben Bachman believe it could happen. Of course we did. But the Conrail units started showing up on hot Burlington last 40 or 50 years had been such a dispiliting, dreary Northern intermodal trains, such as this eastbound spiral of downsizing, merger, and abandonment that gliding by at Winton, Virginia. Photographers winced heavy skepticism became inevitable. We needed at first. Even if one of these blue intruders weren't something big, something really huge, before ac­ caked with grime or belching smoke, or had half its knowledging that a new era had truly begun. doors flapping in the wind, it didn't look right in the And that something turned out to be Conrail. magnificent scenery of the West. It was like a New Who would have guessed? The Northeast was the York cab driver in a Marlboro ad. last place anyone expected a new railroad to succeed. But the big blue diesels kept coming-getting It was the rust belt-a sad, defeated region of pad­ cleaner and newer, and at some point-l think it locked steel mills and decaying, crime-ridden cities. was probably two or three years ago-they started Local train-watchers tried to take all this in to become good things. If a train had Conrail pow­ sh'ide-after all, rust, weeds, and peeling paint were er, you knew it was important. If a Conrail unit nothing new there-but outsiders recoiled. What if were on the point, so much the better. Talk about the Penn Central disease were contagious? Could it your incredible about-faces! Shortly afterward, infect even a Union Pacific or a Santa Fe? Could it Conrail stock went through the roof as Norfolk bring the whole works down? Southern and CSX started their unprecedented bid­ We ll, it didn't. Even as the Rock Island and the ding war, and pretty much everyone became a be­ Milwaukee Road wheezed off toward oblivion, Con­ liever. Conrail's future is uncertain, but what an ex­ rail rose from the ashes of Penn Central and began to citing ride it's been ! gather strength. You can say it was the huge infusion Ben Bachman is a free-lance writer who con­ of federal money. You can say it was a result of the tributes frequently to RAILNEWS. :::Ii'

RaiiNews-43 YAOP-17 Tackles the Bridge

Text and y comparison to some of Conrail's hot-shot in­ suming freight pays little heed as it struggles to main­ termodals, YA OP-17 is not what you 'd call a tain its composure on the 1.2 percent ruling grade. Photography by B thing of beauty. Weekday mornings find it There's no hurry. Even at a modest 10 mph, the four Joe Greenstein creeping out of Oak Point Yard in the Bronx on an B23-7 locomotives and 18 loads will reach the eight-mile jaunt to Fresh Pond, Queens, where it in­ bridge's main span soon enough. terchanges with New York & Atlantic. Hauling pa­ Gustav Lindenthal's majestic structure was built per, chemicals, building materials, foodstuff, and to join the New Haven Railroad in the Northeast other general merchandise, it's usuaJJy back at Oak with the sprawling Pennsylvania System to the south Point by mid-afternoon. and west. When it first opened in 1912, it was the Indeed, there's little that's special about this gritty largest steel arch bridge in the world-an honor it local run, save for one fact-YA OP-17 crosses the has long sirlce relinquished. But it still remains a vital magnificent Hell Gate Bridge. And on a sparkling May link in Amtrak's Washington-to-Boston Northeast morning, with trees in fresh new leaf and not a hint of Corridor. The bridge now has three operating tracks. fog on the rivel� I can't think of a finer place to be. Two are electrified for Amtrak. The third belongs to No sooner does the train leave the yard than it Conrail and, at least for the moment, sees but one must begin its reluctant, two-mile ascent of the train per day. Ours. bridge. First, it crosses the Bronx Kill to Randall's Is­ Back at the Hell Gate's main span, YA OP- 17 has land. A few minutes later, the tracks curve sharply finally crested the grade. One-hundred thirty-five feet left, supported by a series of graceful concrete piers. below are the swirling waters of the East River. Off to Now the climb begins in earnest. Oftentimes on this the south is the Triborough Bridge and Manhattan's stretch, YA OP- 17 will be overtaken by one of Am­ spectacular skyline. Now we even have a chance to trak's high-speed trains from Boston or Springfield, admire the view. After all, it's a fine spring day, the Massachusetts, cruising through with a blast of its birds are singing, the diesels humming-and the trip whistle and a cloud of dust in its wake. But the unas- from here all is all downhill. "b:

44-November 1997 Conrail's Pittsburgh Division

onrail's former Pennsylvania Railroad main be­ sionally spotted, most were in Penn Central black Text and o i until the late tween Altoona and Pittsburgh in western Penn­ (C nra l rostered 1 12 1970s). Photography by C sylvania has been one of my favorite places to First-generation EMD E8s were also used on Am­ visit since my first trip in fall 1976. As it winds its way trak's two trains operatingon the Pittsburgh Division, Alex Mayes through the Allegheny Mountains, this heavily con­ the Broadway Limited and the National Limited. The structed, well-engineered, formerly four-track main Broadway usually had four E8s, with a mixture of travels through some of the most scenic and inaccessi­ both A and B units, the National one A and one B ble areas in the eastern United States. Its route passes unit. Unfortunately, the National was discontinued through numerous tunnels and deep cuts, over high during the major round of Amtrak cutbacks in 1979. fills and stone arch bridges built in the 1850s, and As the years went by, the older diesels were replaced around many sharp curves, providing seemingly end­ with new locomotives and the paint schemes covered less photo opportunities. In addition to the spectacular by Conrail blue. Conrail freights began appearing with scenery, Conrail runs about 60 freights a day over this solid sets of clean blue diesels, considerably improving line. To add even more interest to train-watching and the railroad's image. On a crisp, icicle-cold January day photography, the 39 miles between Altoona and John­ in 1994, such a set guides train CAPI (Camden-Pitts­ stown is a helper distlict-there is a set of diesels on burgh) past the MG Tower west of Horseshoe Curve. the rear end of freights as well as on the lead. Conrail today looks as smart as any other Class I, During Conrail's first few years, colorful diesels with numerous new locomotives in its fleet, including from the predecessor railroads, including the Erie many wide-nose microprocessor-equipped units and 31 Lackawanna, Reading, and Lehigh Valley, were fre­ state-of-the-art EMD SD80MACs. If Norfolk Southern's quently seen both leading and bringing up the rear of influence does take hold, we will continue seeing a top­ the constant parade of freights. Older model diesels notch Class I railroad operating over the Pittsburgh Di­ were also fairly common, with an interesting mix of vision-but we will miss thecolor of Conrail blue. Alco Centuries, Electro-Motive Division F7s, and Alex Mayes is a safety manager with the U.S. first-generation General Electrics frequently lashed­ Department of Commerce; this is his fi rst RAILNnvs up together. Although a few colorful F7s were occa- byline. ::ff'

RaiiNews • 45 Changes on the Boston & Albany

Text and t was a warm Tuesday evening in August, and a ceived merger collapsed , and in 1976 Penn Central group had gathered at the west end of West Spring­ These Photography by became Conrail. drastic changes in corporate I field Yard. This was a routine meeting-we had ownership brough t a change of paint equipment, dif­ Brian Solomon been meeting here on Tuesday evenings in summer ferent signatures on employee paychecks , and alter­ for years. All I expected that night was to see the reg­ ations in business philosophy. But it was the small ular parade of trains, talk with friends, and take a few changes along the railroad ri ght-of-way that gradual­ photographs. However, shortly after sunset, an omi­ ly altered the line's appearance. nous black cloud of smoke became visible above the During summer 1986, B&A's operation and physi­ yard to the east. Soon, the East End train dispatch­ cal appearance were dramatically altered, more so er-then located at the Springfield, Massachusetts than by either the Penn-Central or Conrail consolida­ Station-told a westbound train to stop east of mile­ tions. Among these changes was its conversion from post 98 because of a fire adjacent to the tracks. That traditional, directional double-track to a modern, was a bad sign . While there were several old brick state-of-the-art single-track operation. Dispatcher­ buildings along the right-of-way, the most likely vic­ controlled turnouts were installed, tracks were lifted, tim was the stately old Boston & Albany freight and wayside block signals gave way to cab signals. house--one of the last reminders of B&A in the age When I arrived at the freight house, I found a con­ of Conrail. Rather than idly wonder about the source flagration in progress. Apparently some vagrants liv­ of the smoke, I decided to investigate. ing in the building had inadvertently started the blaze. Boston & Albany was formed in 1867 as a union The Springfield Fire Department quickly brought the between the Boston & Worcester and Western Rail­ fire under control, and Conrail soon resumed opera­ road of Massachusetts. In the 130 years since, the tions-but the old landmark stood no more. I felt as if old B&A has undergone a great many changes­ I had witnessed a significant moment in history. Al­ some gradual, some sudden. New York Central though coincident, this fire was symbolic of the leased B&A in 1900, and in 1968 New York Central greater change to my favorite railroad. Indeed, it was and Pennsylvania became Penn Central. That ill-con- never the same. �

4S-November 1997 Conrail's GP40s

f you did any Conrail-watching in the 1980s to early eventually added 123 GP40-2s to the former Read­ Text and 1990s, chances are good that on any given day, you ing's fi ve. At 400 units strong, the GP40 family Photography by I saw trains rushing past powered by Electro -Motive's seemed almost too common. Here, one of its sib­ GP40s. They were entrusted with Big Blue's hottest lings, flanked by fall foliage, passes through Tunnel­ Mike Danneman trains, the TVs . The GP40 (and GP40-2) was Con­ hill, Pennsylvania. rail's motive power backbone for these trains until But by the time Conrail was 10 years old, almost new power such as B40-8s and Comfort cab-equipped 200 of the early GP40s were gone. Through the late C-boats (so prevalent today) bumped them from their 1980s and early 1990s, the remainder of the fleet high-profile domain. But the young Conrail made toiled on, hauling everything from fast freights and plenty of space for the GP40 on its roster. TVs to American President Lines stack trains. How­ One GP40 even took center stage. Former New ever, time was catching up with these tired travelers. York Ce ntral GP40 3091 rolled out of Collinwood, Just as the new GP40s sent old Alcos and Fs to the Ohio, paint shop in May 1976, as the first locomotive scrapper, today's new locomotives are benching the decked out in the new blue Conrail image. GP40. But though it may not have the same class as Because Conrail had a huge amalgamation of pre­ an Alco or F-unit, the GP40 certainly stands as a decessor units, standardization was needed. GP40 benchmark in Conrail motive power. If Conrail is in­ fit into the plan perfectly. Thus, on merger day, Big deed split into history, don't take the remaining Blue rostered 272 GP40s from New York Central GP40s for granted. Something commonplace and dis­ and Penn Central. Carrying on the tradition, Conrail regarded may become something rare and valued. -di'

RaiiNews·47 Substantial

Text and he main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad looked rail's improvements of the main line from Pittsburgh as if it were built to last at least 1,000 years. to Harrisburg may have streamlined operations and Photography by T This was Big Time. Serious. Substantial. increased vertical clearances, but significant features Tom Hoover The Broadway had four main tracks and the vast of PRR's reign have been removed, replaced, or infrastructure necessary to support the Standard Rail­ changed. Will Conrail's icons suffer the same fate? road of the World. In September 1991, B23-7 1945 leads a loaded My family is from Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, on coal train up the west slope at South Fork, Pennsylva­ the PRR main line. Growing up, I saw signal towers, nia. But for removal of one ma'in track, the appear­ position light signal bridges, and stone-arch bridges ance and operation of this part of Conrail was much as symbols of PRR's powerful crossing of the Alleghe­ like the old PRR. ny Mountains in central Pennsylvania. Today, those To m Hoover's outstanding photo of a CSX reminders of PRR's stronghold have diminished. Con- AC4400CW graced the first cover ofRAILNEW S. '1b

48-November 1997 Ted Rose Plays the Blues

Ted Rose MO Better Blues watercolor 14" x 20"

ost of Ted Rose's work depicts the sweep the trees beyond. They are rendered with an absolute Text by and grandeur of the West, but his 1996 foray economy, yet every detail seems firmly locked in Joe Greestein, M to the East Coast resulted in this painting place-a fascinating form of visual alchemy. of Conrail at Cresson, Pennsylvania. Here we see In a clever play on words, Rose appropriated the ti­ Painting by eastern railroading at its most robust. MO Tower tle for his painting from a recent fi lm by Spike Lee, Ted Rose stands beside the former Pennsylvania Railroad which tells the story of a young jazz musician. Spike main line, about halfway between Harrisburg, Penn­ Lee lives in my hometown of Brooklyn, New York, sylvania, and Pittsburgh. Fifty to 60 trains pass and makes movies about East Coast inner-city life that through here each day, and Cresson marks the end are edgy and restless and oftentimes confrontational. of the helper district for the grueling ascent of the Ted Rose lives worlds away, in the foothills of the Alleghenies. Number 6366 is an SD40-2 assigned to rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Santa Fe, Altoona helper service. Down the line we see two New Mexico. In fact, it's hard to imagine two artists westbound coal drags, most likely hauling empties who would seem to have less in common, save for tal­ back to the mines along the old Monongahela. In­ ent and creativity. cluded in the 10 miles of mountain railroading they And yet, Rose paints wi th a just so bravura that of­ have just crossed are the legendary Horseshoe ten reminds me of a saxophone blues riff, laid down Curve and the 2,1 OO-foot-high crest of the Allegheny with such ease and eloquence tha t one loses all sense grade at Gallitzin. ofeffort or strain. No clinkers here! That railroads should inspire art makes perfect In an ironic postscript, Rose's MO Better Blues sense, since both involve epic struggles and the poetry turns out to be a swan song of sorts. MO Tower had of adventure. Those artists who use watercolor well already been decommissioned by the time of his visit, have learnedto paint by implication, reducing compli­ but then came the news that Conrail too might soon cated details to the simplest and most fluid of ges­ be part of history. How fortunate that both have been tures. Look carefully at the front truck of 6366, or at preserved through the artistry of Ted Rose. ::!f'

RaiiNews-49 Mingo Junction

Text and t is fairly common to read about the hot spots on a Alcos were much more common in 1978, so my given railroad, and occasionally some keen observ­ journey that April was a fairly extravagant, self-indul­ Photography by I er's eye will fall upon an interesting backwater. gent trip. But the Mingo concentration, including 12 of George S. Pitarys Some places that were the place to be are now rele­ the 16 C-430s built (10 former New York Central and gated to that backwater status. Such is the case with two fOlmer Reading), a model I had never seen, was all Mingo Junction, Ohio. the incentive I needed. The trip was a smashing success. o At its inception, Conrail inherited pr b abl y the I got shots of all 12 C-430s; three are pictured here, most diverse fleet of locomotives ever assembled by a along with a Flisco U25B, but alas, the "bigs" eluded fi rst railroad. One of its steps in becoming the suc­ me. Later in the trip, I fow1d scads at Conway. There cessful-and like it or no t, it is successful -homoge­ were about three to four ore tTains per day, and the best of o such neous Big Bl ue t day was to ship power as the I managed was one with a Conrail SD45, a Reading C- Alcos loca­ Lehigh Va lley and Reading to a cen tral 630, a Penn Cel1tral U36C, and a Conrail C-636, which, d tion, an that location was Mingo Junction. I must admit, was quite a disappointment! Located on the Ohio River near Steubenville on Today, of course, the AJcos are long gone, and per­ Conrail's River line, Mingo Junction became home haps Conrail will meet the same fate. Business is down for Conrail's A1co fleet, primarily because of the in the Mingo area today as well, primarily because of area's heavy industry. Even in Pennsy days, the big an ongoing strike at Wheeling-Pittsburgh steel. Centuries were housed there, proving their efficien­ But for a four-year span in the early life of Con­ cy on the slower heavy ore trains and stone flux rail, a trip to Mingo Junction was like the trip to Mec­ trains needed by Wheeling-Pittsburgh and Weirton ca, a pilgrimage that all good Alcophiles should have steel companies. The big six-axle units handled the tried to make. Those that did found fulfiLlment along ore and unit coal trains to and from Mingo, while the smoky banks of the Ohio. paiTS of C-430s dispersed the cars to the appropri­ George S. Pitarys is a train operations manager ate industry. fo r Guilfo rd Rail Systems. "b

50-November 1997 Horseshoe Curve

or almost 150 years, trains have rounded the fa­ Rescue came in 1976 with the creation of Conrail. Text and mous curve west of Altoona, Pennsylvania, and Getting healthy for the new railroad took some time Photography by F most have been the tonnage of the Pennsylvania and some trimming: Removal of track two through Railroad. It was The Standard Railroad of the World the curve hurt aesthetically, but the remaining three Mike Danneman that shined the graceful iron wrapped over the fills be­ tracks still bustled with activity. low Kittanning Point. Hard-working steam locomo­ Colorful blue Conrail made sure Horseshoe Curve tives with Belpaire boilers thundered uphill and rolled was still a train-watcher's paradise. Sights such as a downgrade past the trim little park centered in the TV h'ain chugging east up the hill with three big Gen­ middle of the curve. All the newcomer diesels the eral Electrics up front, a coal train in fu ll dynamic builders could produce and the Pennsy could buy had screaming around the curve, flanges squealing against a chance to do battle with the grueling mountain. the force of gravity, or helpers quietly drifting down­ Fleets of passenger trains stormed over the hill, con­ grade back to Altoona to get ready for another shove necting eastern seaboard cities with Chicago and St. west proved that the show was still good. And this Louis to the west. Pennsy advertising proclaimed that shot illustrates how paradise looks when color, light, a train was "always in sight" on Horseshoe Curve. and shadow interplay as this eastbound coal train But even the Pennsy couldn't resist all change, and holds tight around the curve. the financial challenges of the 1960s led to the merg­ If Conrail disappears, the power on the trains will er with New York Central. The trains rounding the go from blue to black once again for Norfolk South­ curve were now dressed in Penn Central's somber ern wi ll make sure the rails to the Allegheny summit black, but at least this portion of the railroad was remain busy. Over the years the players have changed, strategically important enough to stay busy. But PC but the show has not: railroading versus a mountain, continued sliding and eventually needed bailing out. and your seat in the park is waiting. �

RaiiNews-51 River Line Allure

Text and onrail's River Line is a vital artery in the big car­ geon still ply the river depths, and stately swans and rier's system that runs from Selkirk, New York, other waterfowl cruise the Hudson's coves and along Photography by C near Albany, south to the ports of northern New the riverbank. The constant shifting of nature's ele­ Howard Ande Jersey. The River Line from Highland, New York, to ments and light sets a dramatic stage that can drasti­ Haverstraw is a twisting sinew of steel marking the cally change even over the course of a day. With such west bank of the Hudson River with degree upon de­ components, dramatic portraits of railroading along gree of curvature. Though traditionally the line can be the Hudson are possible. miserly with its trains, it offers the patient visitor an Complementing the natural beauty are structures enticing combination of railroading and spectacular such as the graceful Bear Mt. Bridge, which canies US settings. Each season of the year has its own appeal. highways 6 and 202 across the liver at its namesake. It Winter landscapes in the valley can be almost offers an excellent vantage point for photography but monochromatic, offering a neutral background for the acts as the main prop in this photo. It is afternoon on often colorful Conrail trains. Spring and summer can April 18, 1993, as Conrail train MTSE (Metuchen, be lush and green, and the fall foliage can be as beauti­ New Jersey, to Selkirk) heads north, with Amtrak No. ful as anywhere in the Northeast. 287 utilizing Turbo equipment visible on the east bank. Abundant wildlife abounds along the riverbanks I now live in Chicago and have easy access to the despite the pollution the HIJdson has endured for a vast railroading scene in northern Illinois. Yet, the century or so. The river is now much cleaner than it Hudson Valley is one of the places in the Northeast has been . Bald eagles winter on lona Island in Bear that I truly miss. With locations such as this, I think Mt. State Park; white-tailed deer are everywhere; stur- you can understand why. �

52-November 1997 Not Always the Case

/t.rackside observer today, as he or she watches a At times, Conrail had to run the units back to their Text and origin points, such as Port Jervis, New York, in light pair of SD80MACs glide effortlessly up a Photography by grade, might easily forget that such grace was locomotive moves-sometimes from as far west as not always the case with Conrail. At its inception, Marion, Ohio. As absurd as it may seem, that draco­ George S. Pitarys Conrail inherited an incredibly disparate locomotive nian meas ure gave Conrail the breathing space it fleet from six bankrupt railroads. It is not difficult to needed to turn the corner. imagine the years of neglect that had accrued on that Today, of course, Conrail does not engage in such most vital asset of any railroad. convolutions. Its locomotives are comparatively new Conrail found itself in the unenviable position of and well-maintained and the envy of many roads. In pulling units off storage and dead lines to replace fact, Conrail has a locomotive-leasing subsidiary so that units that were dead on line. Despite existing on the it may reap the benefits from those who find themselves governrnent dole, the railroad had so many needs to in a plight not unfamiliar to career-Conrail employees. fill that it could not even address one in its entirety. Should Conrail be absorbed by the Norfolk South­ As a result of tlUs perpetual power shortage, some ern and CSX systems, the delicately established pow­ strange arrangements became necessary to keep er cycles would be upset, and shortages would no freight moving. An agreement was reached with the doubt occur, but such a new beginning would surely New Jersey Department of Transportation in which be easier than the first. Conrail would take possession of the department's So as that trackside observer watches the cutting fleet of unique U34CHs after Friday commuter runs edge of a.c. locomotive technology breeze up some and put them in Conrail's weekend freight pool. Of hill, he or she might do well to think back to those course, Conrail had to guarantee the locomotives' re­ light moves of U3 4CHs, and remember what it took turn by a specified hour for Monday mornings' com­ to get to this point -and that it has not always been muter rush schedule. so with Conrail. :::IE'

RaiiNews·53 Yo ung Conrail

Text and n 1975 Mel Brooks released his parody Yo ung lected "Young Conrail" as the subject of his next cin­ Frankenstein, a black-and-white send-up of that ematic farce. Pieced together from a Reading here Photography by I hoariest of horror flicks. The following year, the and a Penn Central there, its parts didn't quite fi t. Michael W. federal government unleashed the Consolidated Rail Here, a grimy mishmash makes its way through Cole­ Blaszak Corporation, its remake of the Penn Central mon­ hOllr Ya rd on September 4, 1976 (above). strosity. If Brooks liked railroads, he could have se- Young Conrail was much like Dr. Frankenstein's legendary monster. I had long since given Penn Cen­ tral up for dead. My memories were filled with the shabby PC passenger trains shuffling unpredictably in and out of Union Station during the late 1960s. 1 re­ member walking along a rusted-out New York Cen­ tral sleeping car on train 28, which still wore a faded version of the classic two-tone gray paint. [ could even poke a finger right through the rust! In the post-Amtrak era, PC's freight service, such as it was, became an object of ridicule. Rails disappeared in the weeds, spikes worked their way out of rotting ties, and angle bars chattered every time a train hap­ pened by. Reporters discovered PC didn't know where all its locomotives were, and the theft of its boxcars by a downstate lllinois short line made the 10 o'clock news. Then on April 1, 1976, came Conrail, or "ConRail" as it was spelled then. The govenm1ent was going to spend billions of dollars to revive Penn Central. But none of that happened on Day One. Instead, the gov­ ernment shut down the west end of the Erie Lack­ awanna, a railroad much revered among Chicago fans. The Erie's maroon-and-gray locomotives were as

54-November 1997 classy as PC's black units were repulsive; EL ran E­ a train at Colehour Ya rd. Banging by the dilapidated and F-units in profusion; and EL's doubletrack main coaches of PC's commuter service at the Valparaiso sta­ line across Indiana boasted as many semaphore sig­ tion. I was lucky when I saw one in the lead-PC had nals, crossing guard shacks, and active stations as any far more units than the other bankrupts that made up railfan could want. 1 was not happy. Young Conrail-but there was usually one in every con­ Conrail was not deterred by such sentimentality. It sist, and as long as I came back with a sighting, the trip immedia te ly grafted EL's bright and semi-modern loco­ was a success. motive fleet onto PC's. Within a few days, maroon-and­ Fall passed into winter-the worst winter Chicago gray units were appearing on frei ght trains all over had seen in a decade. As the snow piled up and the town. A few days later, stillmore exotic locomotives be­ temperature went down , Young Conrail's multicol­ gan popping up : Reading green-and-yellow GP35s; ored locomotives froze up and died. Out went the call Lehigh Valley C-628s; even Jersey Central uni ts weming for reinforcements. (take your pick) olive green, dark blue, or red and Spring fo llowed, and Yo ung Conrail was growing white. r caught a rare shot of CN} SD40 307 1 taking a up. In one sen se, the appearance of the railroad's mo­ ride on the turntable at 59th Street in Chicago (oppo­ tive power became mo re grotesque, as the names and site page, bottom). Yet, even these surgical additions heralds of former owners were painted out and re­ weren't enough to sate Conrail's mo nstrous appetite for placed with crude CR lettering. Those black PC units locomotives, and the carrier began leasing power b'om looked awful , but the PC stencil was more attractive every imaginable source. The track was as bad as ever, than a grimy locomotive identified with just a white but th ose tTains were getting bizarre-and interesting. CR and number. Meanwhile, new locomotives in Con­ Fresh out of law school, I had other things to wor­ rail's blue-and-white colors arrived in ever-increasing ry about that summer, such as passing the bar exam. numbers, displacing most of the railroad's inh erited Saturdays, though, often found me behind the wheel oddities. The early eqoation-bad track, fascinating of a 1967 Oldsmobile, drawn to those places I had of­ equipment = Conrail-so clearly pictured by this de­ ten ignored during the dark PC era-59th Street railed Reading 94064 no longer held sway (below). Ya rd, Blue Island, Colehour Yard, Ga ry. Young Con­ Young Conrail matured into Conrail, and the com­ rail's locomotive fleet had been pieced together from edy was over. Conrail was every bit a serious corpo­ the rosters of the dead bankrupts, and the results rate citizen, providing reliable service over recon­ were often miraculous to behold. structed track, making money, and returning to the Imagine rolling up the ramp behind the 59th private sector as one of America's seven major rail­ Street roundhouse in Chicago on a warm summer roads. No one laughed at it anymore. evening. The ready tracks are filled with units of ev­ One day in the distant future it would become the ery color and description, and the railroad tolerates object of a pitched struggle between two still bigger fans here as long as they don't get in the way of railroads-but that's another movie. switching. A fellow in a blue hardhat is fiddling under UP columnist Michael W Blaszak's most recent the hood of blue Jersey Central SD40 3061, its nose RAlLNEWS byline fo cused on BNSF's locomotive poking out of the roundhouse door. Leased Burling­ renumberings. J' ton Northern NW2 529 is toting EL GP35 2570 down to the yard. Here's one of EL's SDP45s, the 3665, coupled to leased GP9 1506. As far as Conrail is con­ cerned, this is a Precision N a­ tional unit, but what the eye sees is the blue-and-yellow paint of fa r-off Florida East Coast, the lo­ comotive's previous owner. You can't get much further away from FEC within the continen tal United States than Washington S tat e, but a couple of tracks away is a unit that lived most of its life there: form er Spokane, Portland & Seattle RS-3 405 8, also leased. Just a dream? No, it happened on June 26, 1976. It became my obsession to photograph non-PC units at PC landmarks as the weeks passed. Crossing the Chicago & Eastern lIIinois at Dolton. Rolling over the Calumet River drawbridge with the Chicago Skyway as a back­ drop. Passing Hohman Avenue Tower in Hammond. Backing onto

RaiiNews-55 m a 9 e s

Brian Solomon

Conrail's early image suffered awkward growing pains, but its later appearance was crisp and clean. A Conrail inspection train, led by classy E-unit No. 4020, arrives at South Station in Boston in November 1987.

Michael L. Gardner

Brian Solomon

50-November 1997 Con r a

ABOVE: On October 16, 1993, fall foliage explodes like fireworks on these New England hills as train NESE-ushered by a Conrail Quality DASH 8-rolls past milepost 130.6 on the Boston Line at Middlefield, Massachusetts. LEFT: A low-sun angle illuminates the rounded nose of B23-7 No. 1937 on May 24, 1997.

RailNews-57 mage s

BELOW: In April 1978, an eastbound Conrail train rolls off the Pan­ handle line at Mingo Junction, Ohio. This train is shepherded by classic examples of General Electric and Alco motive power­ including a four-axle U25B and a six-axle C-628.

George S. pnarys

Howard Ande

Brian Solomon

58-November 1997 c o n r a

ABOVE: The Kingston, New York, local is framed in stone at West Point, New Yo rk, on November 11, 1994. The lead locomotive-an EMD GP3 8-2-is equipped with a yellow-edged plow notched for close-clearance running in third-rail commuter territory. LEFT: An abandoned hump tower stands sentinel over the remains of Cedar Hill Yard on December 7, 1992. Once upon a time, Cedar Hill was New Hoven's largest yard.

RaiiNews·59 mag e s

Brian Solomon

ABOVE: Hopper cars clog Conrail's Ashtabula, Ohio, ore dock tracks on October 23, 1994. A pair of Conrail-blue LMS (General , Electric-leased locomotives) DASH 8s leads a cut of ore cars. BELOW: Conrail 6720, a glossy Electro-Motive SD60, has train IHEL well in hand as it rolls west of Otis, Indiana, on May 10, 1997. Conrail re­ paints are adorned with the Conrail Quality paint scheme and most are also outfilled with pulsating ditch lights.

Gary R. Schermerhorn

David S. Lehlbach

SO-November 1997 c o n a

ABOVE: A TV train heats up a cold day on Conrail's River Line. The train is southbound at Alsen, New York, on January 4, 1996. LEFT: Conrail office car No. 9 is receiving a little TLC at Philadelphia

for a March 3, 1997, safety trip. Huil Ncws

David Palmer

RaiiNews-61 ing our very popular Hot Series, Pentrex takes you on a to many of the greatest railfan on the western half of the Conrail . Featured locations in the states Indiana, and Illinois include: • Alliance • Crestline • CI.!W4!�/and Drawbridge • Berea Galion • Marion • Toledo • Elkhart • South Bend • Hammond • Muncie • Haute • St. Elmo • Effingham Blue puts on an impressive show with its fleet of newer power, ng SD60s and C40-8s. All trains are identified by their indicating departure cities destinations. Run-through loco­ from other railroads and trains ,.""I·u·linn to CSX, Norfolk Southern, Pacific, Illinois Central, and Trunk are seen at many of the I"In,rutti"lnt junctions visited in our tour. miss the action at these favor­ spots - add Conrail Hot Spots to your collection today! Stereo. Hours #HSWEST $39.95

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CP Five • Bear Mountain • Selkirk • State Line Tunnel • Palmer, MA • Syracuse • Lyons . Tifft Street at >i'� Buffalo • Binghamton, NY • CP Potter • CP Burn • CP Belt • Rockville Bridge • Horse Shoe Curve area • ; Conpit JCT • Rochester Tower See what special characteristics make each spot so P.O. Box 9491 1, exciting to watch - it's two full hours of railroading action! Pasadena, CA 91 109-49 1 1 Two Hours #HOTSPOT CALL OR WRITE FOR FREE CA TA LOG $39.95 TRACK BULLETIN Illinois Central

POWDER RIVER BASIN containers are shipped to all points on IC's sys­ adding trains CRGE/GECR (Conrail/Effing­ tem, including interchanges at Chicago and ex­ ham to Geismar, Louisiana) and removing IC Interested in Access? ports at the Port of New Orleans. It is an agree­ trains CRME/MECR (Conrail to Memphis). ment that might have been overlooked by other Conrail run-through power has become more Is Illinois Central serious about investing in a Class I carriers-for them, the traffic is just not common on these trains. proposed rail line into the Powder River Basin significant enough to invest resources and man­ Trains MEFE/FEME (Memphis to Fergu­ in Wyoming? According to IC's Chief Execu­ power. But IC was a willing partner when De­ son, Mississippi) have been abolished. Traffic tive Officer E. Hunter Harrison, the railroad is catur Junction approached, and would continue blocks have been moved in either examining the project and financial prospectus to be for any future small opportunities. MEGE/GEME (Memphis to Geismar) and/or developed by Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern. lANA/NAJA (Jackson to Natchez) manifests. However, no one would comment specifically TIE REPLACEMENT about what further steps may be taken. CHEMICAL COMPETITION Serious or not, the two lines don't connect. Track Work Continues The closest they can get is Albert Lea, Min­ Geismar No Longer Exclusive nesota. Both railroads serve that town, but A major tie replacement proj ect continued from opposite directions-the tracks are at southward along the Yazoo District. Tie gangs Kansas City Southern plans to build a spur off least four miles apart. (lIlinois Central's line reached Greenwood by August. A mainte­ its main line to serve plants in Geismar, operates as the Cedar River Railroad, acquired nance window from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. was in ef­ Louisiana, an area served exclusively by IC. as part of the Chicago Central purchase last fect daily, severely limiting train movements. But IC is optimistic, saying that the competi­ year. ) Analysts are keeping a wait-and-see atti­ Dispatchers have been routing through trains tion will actually spur plant growth, and lost tude, unsure of whether this is a viable oppor­ down the little-used paralleling Grenada Dis­ traffic will not seriously hurt Ie. tunity for both DM&E and Ie. trict to ease congestion and maintain service. This project was to continue well into autumn. MOTIVE POWER TRAFFIC AGREEMENT S070 Rumor Put to Rest A Little Intermodal Traffic ALPHABET SOUP August symbol changes Rumors that IC has ordered more SD70s The latest intermodal marketing agreement that have died. No current order has been placed IC has undertaken involves shortline carrier New train symbols were added, while others with Electro-Motive. This, however, does not Decatur Junction Railway, which operates a col­ have been eliminated. Trains CPNO/NOCP eliminate the possibility that IC may order lection of fragments from old IC lines, includ­ (Champaign, New Orleans) has been replaced more locomotives soon. Power remains tight ing the charter line between Decatur, Illinois, with CPJA/JACP (Champaign, Jackson). All around the system as lease units continue to and Assumption, and part of the old Decatur manifest traffic in and out of New Orleans is flourish systemwide. District to Cisco, Illinois. The accord involves handled on the "intermodal" trains (1-0 \11- Thanks to Danny Johnson, Mark S. Lam­ the single-line rate haulage of intelmodal con­ 02/1-03/1-04) to Jackson or Memphis. bert, Mike Palmieri, and Jon Roma. tainers containing parts for grain silos and units New Burlington Northern & Santa Fe and from Grain Systems Inc. near Assumption. The ConraiI ha u lage tra ffic has necessi ta ted Erik Coleman

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RaiiNews-S3 TRACK BULL ETIN Kansas City Southern

FERROVARIA MEXICANA the last decade. A substantial portion is ex­ All FNM equipment was divided propor­ pected to be intermodal traffic. lntermodal tionately among the different concessions. TFM Reveals Future Plans ramps are currently operational at Monterrey TFM's allocation was 6,573 rail cars and 37 1 and Pan taco. These facilities will be expand� locomotives. The locomotives are in good con­ Although Tr ansportacion Ferrollaria Mexi­ ed and improved within the first year, and dition, with an average age of just over 13 cana officially assumed control of Mexico's construction of a third ramp is planned for years. TFM plans to purchase or lease a small Northeast Railway June 24, few hard facts Aguascalientes in 1998. Six other locations number of locomotives within the first year and were available until August 25 when joint-ven­ have been identified as potential sites for in­ will add another 25 in 1998. All TFM locomo­ ture partner Kansas City Southern Industries termodal facilities-Nuevo Laredo, San Luis tives are to be upgraded to Federal Railroad revealed its ambitious plans. Potosi, Queretaro, Mexico City, and Ta mpi­ Administration standards resulting in possible The Northeast Railway passes through co/Alt amira. Private ramps are located at appearances across the border. High-density Mexican states representing approximately 69 Queretaro and Encantada. trackage is in excellent condition, equivalent to percent of the total population-nearly 95.8 TFM corporate headquarters-executive, ac­ U.S. FRA Class 4 or 5 standards. Seventy-five million inhabitants in 1996-accounting for counting, and marketing-will continue to be percent of the main line is continuously welded 70 percent of its gross domestic product. based in Mexico City. Monterrey will host its rail; 71 percent is 115-lb rail, and 72 percent is Although railroads account for one-third operations center, including customer service, supported by concrete crossties. While trackage of U.S. freight traffic, Mexican lines carry on­ transportation, mechanical/engineering, and will not require extensive improvements, TFM ly 10 to 13 percent of U.S./Mexico freight. revenue accounting departments. Employees plans to upgrade marginal trackage and add Market share has declined in the last decade were selected by background and ability. Less new sidings to increase capacity. by 50 percent because of deterioration in the than 20 percent of the new management staff Security has been the most challenging as­ quality of service. Consequently, many ship­ was selected from the former FNE (Ferrocarril pect of Mexican rail transportation. TFM has pers turned to alternative transportation, pri­ Noreste), but the majority of the operating staff created a Police and Special Services Depart­ marily trucking. However, because Mexico are experienced F E employees. TFM will con­ ment responsible for ensuring the safety of lacks a comprehensive interstate highway sys­ tinue to outsource locomotive and rail car cargo, equipment, and employees. FNM em­ tem, service is extremely slow and expensive. maintenance to private contractors established ployed 90 unarmed and untrained guards for Within the first five years of operation, TFM two years ago during privatization of the Mexi­ Northeast Railway duty. In contrast, TFM em­ intends to recapture the market share lost in can railway system maintenance shops. ploys over 660 security professionals armed

=�=C�"'�Ar.t1l Plets Expreslills�R�R!-iiiI�iII!iiii"'''' ��...... Videos are on Sale �� for a Limited Time! THETRAINS ALGOMA COUNTRY located in scenic IN NORTHWESTWISCONSIN MlSSABE RAILS A contemporary system wide look at OF C&fIW A regional look at the Ontario, Canada this video features freight and tourist famous ore hauler, Duluth Missabe & Iron Range RR, Chicago & Northwestem. Great action: Altoona west trains of the Algoma Central plus the CP Rail and WC to Hudson, east to Adams & north to Superior. 20 located in Northeastern Minnesota. 2 Hours. different diesel models & cab ride. 2 Hours. Regular 47.95 ...... SALE 39.95 at Sault Ste. Marie. 98 Minutes...... SALE 39.95 ORE ROUTE A System wide look at the Michigan taconite operations on the Chicago & Northern Western RR. Mines & tac plant, ore trains, Escanaba ore port, and ship loading. 96 Minutes.

R . I 38 95 SALE 31 95 SALUTETO THE SIMI UNE A look at the All of our tapes Include a handy location map. & across Wisconsin along the Mississippi River Minneapolis & SI. Paul, MN to Portal, ND. IS models Videos are in color with live audio & narration of Soo Diesel power, from GPTs to SD60MS. 2 Hrs. 47.95 .: ...... SALE 40.95 OAKOTA MINNESOTA&EASTfRNThe DM&E isa regional NORTHLAND BAl.DWlNS AND THE E&LS Train action on RR that travels from Winona, MN to Rapid City, SD. the Escanaba & Lake Superior RR located in timber See great action as DM&E travels the towns & wheat & paper regions of Upper Michigan & N. Wisconsin. fields. Cab ride on DM&E SDIO #555. 101 Mins. Rare diesel incl. Baldwin & EMD. 90 Mins. 38.95 ...... SALE 31 .95

TDOArs VINTAGE TWIN PORTS 1996 Vintage steam & diesel action from Duluth-Superior region. NSSR, D&NM 2-8-2 #14, sao 2-8-2 #1 003, sao FP7 Fairbanks Morse & more! 120 Mins. Shipping & Handling 38.95 ...... SALE 31.95 USA $4 Canada $5 CHICAGO CENTRAL THE LASTDAYS Shot just before & locations in and around Minneapolis and SI. Paul, soon after reacquisition of CC&P by Illinois Central. MN. Shot in 1993, it includes IS different railroads $1 Each Additonal Tape lashups of CC&P Geep's. Yard, local& mainline including some steam action. 2 Hours. across Iowa & Illinois. 90 Mins. Regular 47.95 ...... SALE 39.95 THREE Ship Free

ALCOS IN THECORN BRT located in Illinois & Indiana, this video features Alcotrain action on the Indiana Hi­ Rail & the Kankakee Beaverville & Southern. See . PLETS EXPRESSaE: Alco models RSI I, C425, C420 and aS4. I Mins. (715) 833-8899 PO Box 217 _ WI 54720

84 -November 1997 with weapons and radios or cell phones; staff will grow to 900 by second quarter 1998. Ini­ tial deployment of security forces includes four officers per train, officers at all crew change and stopping points, and officers at predetermined problem areas. The former FNM directional crossing win­ dows at Laredo will soon be history. Current practice divides a day into four six-hour direc­ tional windows-two for northbound traffic and two for southbound traffic-for car inter­ change across the International Bridge. This system will be eliminated to allow traffic to move across the border on a first-come, first­ serve basis with no restriction on direction. TFM was also granted trackage rights for the life of the 50-year concession on certain segments of other lines in the Mexican rail system to ensure competition among rail ser­ vice providers. All three concessions carved out of the for­ mer FNM will converge at Mexico City. The hub terminal will be the Va lle de Mexico Te r­ minal Railroad consisting of approximately 600 miles of mainline track and nearly as many branch lines, connecting track, and in­ Howard Ande dustrial spur miles. This line will continue handling local switching and interchange for On May 31, 1997, a joint Kansas City Southern, Gateway Western, and Texas Mexican promotional all connecting roads, even after privatization is train passes East St. Louis, Illinois. Locomotivesfrom all three railroads escort thiscolorful consist. complete. TFM received a 25 percent stake in this line with its Line 1 concession. The re­ maining two concessions will each receive a 52-week high of just over $50 by early Novem­ Since the begitming of 1997, assets managed by 25 percent share, with the remainder reserved ber fueling speculation that investors were fi­ KCSI affiliates Janus Capital and Berger Associ­ for a fu ture commuter passenger operation. nally coming around as predicted. In Decem­ ates have grown from $49.9 billion to $69.7 bil­ ber 1996, KCSI and TMM officials confidently lion. In 1995, mutual funds conttibuted 58 per­ PUBLIC DEBATE defended its startling $1.4 billion winning bid cent of KCSI operating income, but by 1996, and dropped yet another bombshell with its that figure rose to 69 percent. Company rail op­ Wylie Split over Intermodal Hub Gateway vVestern acquisition announcement. erations have not elicited much enthusiasm in However, KCSI stock remained flat. Then by recent years, but if KCS is successful in Mexico, Wy lie, Texas, residents are divided over KCS's late January, it plunged to just under $45 per "it will be one of the few railroads that will be plans to develop a new 550-acre intermodal share when KCSl's ability to finance its new able to show real sales growth in the future," re­ complex at the east edge of town. Critics citing Mexican venture appeared clouded. By April, marks Douglas Rockel, an analyst for Furman noise, congestion, dirt, and increased potential share price had recovered to the $50 range, Selz. Since the Mexican operation is not expect­ for hazardous material spills as a basis for their and pessimism soon turned to optimism. With ed to conh'ibute until 1999, most analysts are opposition are detetmined to force a vote if the its financing issues resolved, KCSI stock began not yet factoring it into their forecasts. Company Wylie City Council doesn't agree with them. its surprising upward climb. The $60 mark was CEO Landon Rowland regards the three-for-one Wy lie just happens to be located at a stTategic surpassed in June, and the $70 level was split as an indication that KCSI is optimistic junction point on an expanding intermodal and achieved soon after KCSI announced a three­ about the company's value increasing. freight corridor. Kansas City Southern's nearby for-one stock split and a 20 percent annual div­ Dallas Junction facility is near-capacity now, and idend bonus. In earl y August, KCSI stock PROGRESS CONTINUES a move to a larger facility is absolutely essential briefly topped the $80 level. to minimize service disruption. Several residents Why? Many would like to believe that the Kansas City Plans Transit Hub concede that even if the plan is rejected and a railway and its recent activities have spurred this new site is selected, the huck and train traffic sudden growth, but it's KCSl's financial asset Kansas City Southern Industries officials and will remain, and the city stands to lose a nice ad­ management division and the stock market's Kansas City community leaders are exuberant dition to the tax base. huge rally in general that are largely responsible. about plans to transfOlm a portion of the 1200-

THREE FOR ONE KCSI Stock Rides the Wave Colorado Railroad Museum The Railroad Book Source Several months ago, rail industry analysts were captivated by the historic events leading up to the two western mega-mergers: the Burlington CALL US FIRST! 800-365-6263 orthernlSanta Fe union and Union Pacific's ingestion of Southern Pacific. Much of Wall Members receive discounts! Best Selection of Biggest & Best RR Call for information, and charge to Street watched in disbelief as the feisty KCS Book Catalog $2.00 tangled with the super systems, but a few in­ Railroad Books your credit card, today! We stock over 1000 titles (refundable with first purchase) dustry rebels insisted that KCSI stock was un­ dervalued. Less than one year ago, KCSI com­ from throughout the mon stock was valued at just under $40 per country, hundreds of share. In June 1996, KCSI announced it would videos, calendars, and bid, with new partner TMM, on the prized gifts available. Colorado Railroad Museum Northeast Railroad concession offered in the P. O. Box 10, Golden, CO 80402-001 0 Mexican government's railroad privatization ef­ FA ST PERSONAL 800-365-6263 / 303-279-4591 / fax 303-279-4229 fort. The company's stock slowly rose to a new SER VICE!

RaiiNews-G5 acre city-owned Richards-Gebaur Memorial Air­ potential truck-to-rail savings of about 25 per­ port south of the city into a massive 300-acre cent and a border crossing time reduction from VIDEO mid-continent intermodal transportation hub. five to seven days for trucks to 24 to 48 hours CELEBRATE EMO'S 75TH, TO Kansas City appears to be perfectly poised to by train. If all goes well, the district plans to HERE'S ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR take full advantage of the new 1-35 "free h'ade lease the line to an operator "such as the Texas VIDEOS AT A GREAT PRICE. superhighway" linking Canada and Mexico and Mexican Railroad" within two years. hopes to become the first inland freight gateway to Mexico. According to Kansas City Mayor Pro SHORT ITEMS BIRTH OF A Tem George Blackwood, "This could be the LOCOMOTIVE biggest economic development in Kansas City's New Rail Line in Lousiana history. Kansas City could be the hub of distri­ See the entire production process bution from the Pacific Rim to everything east The Surface Transportation Board issued a of a GM F59PH locomotive . and north." Kansas City Southern offers a short­ Draft Environmental Impact Statement on July er rail route from Kansas City to a deep-water 16 finding that KCS's application to construct Visit GM's design centre, see the Pacific port than existing routes via Long Beach, and operate a new nine-mile rail line through a building of components, frame and Los Angeles, or San Francisco. The city must re­ sparsely populated area of Ascension Parish, actual assembly of the locomotive. quest approval from the FAA to close the airport Louisiana, will not significantly impact the en­ Yo u'll witness painting, testing, the to permit development, which may require re­ vironment on or adjacent to the construction official roll-out, then head out with funding millions of dollars in federal grants. The site. The proposed new Geismar Branch will CN crews for the locomotive's project received a huge boost on July 22 when connect three major Illinois Central-served first two days in revenue service. the U.S. Senate approved a $500,000 grant to chemical facilities-BASF, Shell Chemical, and study the plan on behalf of a Greater Kansas Borden Chemical-with the main line just 38 minutes City Chamber of Commerce request. north of Sorrento, Louisiana. After public comments are considered by the STB, a Final $15.95 plus $4.00 shipping PRESERVATION Environmental Impact Statement will follow. CON Orders 7% GST Ont. Res. 8% PST Kansas City Southern was recently award­ VISA - Order To ll-Free 1-800-613-3792 Texas Group to Restore Rail Line? ed 100 percent of the Gulf States Utilities coal business because of its long-standing relation­ There's a tiny group working to restore traffic ship and its commitment to customer service. Rail Innovations to an abandoned rail corridor in southeastern Gulf States initiated construction of an alter­ Texas, and the communities affected are actual­ native connection from its generating station P. O. Box 225, ly ecstatic about it. This flies directly in the face near Mossville, Louisiana, to SP, attempting to Schomberg, Ontario, LOG 1 TO of contemporary logic, so this tale is an interest­ improve its bargaining power in future con­ ing twist. In 1993, SP forced rapid abandon­ tract negotiations. Union Pacific eventually EMAIL: cdnrail @idirect.com ment of a 62-mile segment of trackage cOlmect­ won control of the SP line and could now offer WEB SITE: ing Wharton and Victoria, Texas, by imposing a a single-line haul to the plant. Although, the http://web.idirect.com/-cdnrail $500 per car surcharge. Understandably upset, build-out was completed last fall, KCS/ Wharton and Jackson counties filed suit, result­ Burlington Northern & Santa Fe continued to ing in the creation of the Gulf Coast Rural Rail handle all inbound coal. In May, Gulf States Transportation District in July 1994. The newly put 50 percent of the business up for bid. formed district was granted a federal injunction Th anks to To m Holley, Bill Ertman, barring SP from breaking up the rail corridor, Nathan Bailey, Tracy Bullard, Charles Pitch­ then it in1mediately filed a condemnation suit er, Michael Ellis, Pat McCarthy, Dan that is still pending. So, this little group, recog­ Schroedel; Dan Munson, Chris Guss, Andy nizing its obvious NAFTA potential, has invest­ Smith, To mcat Kelly, Larry Davis, Maury ed $15,000 in cold, hard cash and engaged the Gibson, Larry Gibbs, Matthew Latham, Mike services of RuralSearch Inc., happens to be Engelke, Myron Malone, Michael Blazsak, working with the Texas Mexican Railroad Danny johnson, Rich Wa llace, jim McClure, searching for alternative routes between Hous­ Randy Wheeler, Lee Shell, Gerald Hook, Don ton and its east-west line connecting Corpus Wa llworth, PI Gratz, Lowell McManus, jack Christi and Laredo. RuralSearch estimates that Austerman, Mike Murray, Te d Ferkenhoff, rehabilitation of the line will cost up to $60 mil­ Carl Codney, David Colvin, Michael Palmieri, lion. It also acknowledged that this is its first David Bael; KANSAS CITY STAR, DALLAS MOIIN­ restoration project where tracks have already ING NEWS, the KCSHS, and the KCS Railway. been pulled up. Shippers are apparently very in­ terested in the study, admitting that there is a Michael Hasbargen

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SS-November 1997 TRACK BULLETIN Norfolk Southern

SUSQUEHANNA throughout several high-density markets in Kansas City. Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Texas and the Midwest. To accommodate the will operate dedicated RoadRailer trains be­ Merger expansion, Triple Crown Services invested $13 tween Kansas City and Saginaw, Texas. million for 400 additional intermodal RoadRail­ Thanks toMason Coope/; Dale A. DeVene, On August 11, Delaware Otsego Corporation er trailers and related equipment. To move the fr. , Steve Gerbracht, To mmy Henderson, fohn (DOCP), the parent company of New York new traffic, NS has extended the operating P /(rattinger, Ray Saunders, Rich Wa llace, Susquehanna & Western Railway, announced routes of trains 248, 255, and 259. The westem Steve Wi lch, and Paul Wi lson. that a bidding group had made an offer to ac­ terminal for these trains has been changed from quire all of its outstanding stock at $19 per Voltz, Missouri, to BNSF's Argentine Yard at Chris loth share. The bidding group included Norfolk Southern, CSX, and DOCP Chief Executive Of­ ficer Walter Rich. On August 18, DOCr announced that it ACTION VIDEOS INCLUDING "FALLEN FLAGS" had agreed to an acquisition by a new company WITH LOTS OF PREMERGER COLOR! that will be formed by Rich. The merger agree­ ment calls for DOCr shareholders to receive $22 per share for each common share, totaling ,., Ell BNSF � approximately $55 million. The transaction has •• a Santa Fe Chillicothe Sub '96 BNSF - Burlington Lines Vol. 2 been structured as a tender offer followed by a On this high-traffic route from Chicago to LA, 90% of all BN Chicago to Sav anna. busy Northline to Minnesota & short-form merger and was expected to close motive power is still in Santa Fe paint. Seattle. See bridge repairs during '96 floods. Over 60 in September. Headquarters of the new compa­ Volume 1 covers Corwith, Me Cook/Indiana Harbor Belt trains, mostly BN some CN. See Cicero to Eola & AUrora JCT. Ar90 diamonds. Willow Springs, Burr Ridge, to Savanna, inci. scenic Rock River crossing in Oregon ny will remain in Cooperstown, New York, and Lemont canal crossing, Kankakee River crossing, Joliet IL. Mississippi River Palisades overlook, Rochelle & Rich wi ll continue as president and CEO. In diamonds, Streator, Ancona, Toluca, Chillicothe. more. See new C44-9Ws in new G N inspired paint addition, Rich will be entitled to choose a ma­ MVP# 361 ..... 80 Min ...... $ 24.00 scheme on the road and in Cicero, plus SD60M #9297. MVP # 262 ..... 90 Min...... $29.00 jority of the board. Norfolk Southern and CSX Volume 2 covers scenic Houlihan's Curve & Edelstein will provide the majority of the financing for Hill. Spoon River crossing, Galesburg (BN crossing), Southern Pacific Central Corridor 1996 - Cameron (BN crossing &new BN interchange), FI. Madi­ Over 50 SP trains. Locations include Glenwood Canyon the acquisition, including a portion of Rich's son crew change point, Miss. River crossing. area of Colorado, SP Chicago to SI. Louis Route, SPs on share under a loan agreement. MVP# 362 ..... 90 Min ...... $ 24.00 ATSF at Edelstein Hill & Mississippi River crossing. plus In a press release following the announce­ SPs on BNSF, EJ&E. SOO, IHB. IC and WC in Illinois UNION PACIFIC GENEVA SUB ' 96- VO L_ 2 and Wisconsin. SP locals with bay window cabooses. ment, Rich said, "This is a very exciting trans­ Chicago & North Western color dominates UP's high Wide variety of power & scenery. A good look at the traffic route out of Chicago. Power ranges from GP7s to action. This merger is the culmination of a complex Chicago area SP operations. long journey DOCP has taken from its found­ new SD90MACs plus the UP #844 steam train on both 161 ..... 90 volumes. Many classic locations all shot in 1996. Mostly MVP# Min ...... $ 24.00 ing some 30 years ago. The merger will pro­ mainline trains with lots of C&NW and some switching. SOO/CP Rail Vol. 1 - SOO color is still present on Volume 2 covers La Fox overlook, Maple Park, DeKalb & vide strong value to our shareholders and as­ CP Rail. Locations: Franklin Park, Bensenville, Bryn old coaling towers. Rochelle diamond crossing with Mawr, Deval diamonds, Des Plaines River, Techny, Clin­ sist the company as it continues to adjust to BNSF, Nelson & old coaling towers, Clinton 5th Street ton (IA), Belt Railway of Chicago. Hastings (MN). Min­ the changing railroad map in the Northeast." interlocking, Mississippi River crossing. Over 50 trains. neapolis & more. With the acquisition, NYSW routes will MVP# 462 ..... 80 Min ...... $29.00 MVP# 961 ..... 90 Min ...... $ 24.00 provide additional access to New York and New Jersey for both CSX and NS. At the same Wisconsin Central 1996 - An action packed look at WCs busiest time, the deal prevents a possible takeover by corridor from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin to Chicago. Over 40 trains in locations either Canadian National or Canadian Pacific, including Franklin Park Tower B-12. Schiller Park. Deval Tower and dia­ SPECIAL both of which have expressed concerns about monds. Argo, Wheeling. Antioch and Lake Villa in Illinois plus Slinger. Theresa. Byron Hill. & Fond du Lac in Wisconsin. An INSIDE look at the COMBO access to the northeastern states in wake of Shops complex in N. Fond du Lac including the tower. roundhouse, turntable, the NS and CSX deal to acquire Conrail. car shops, & diesel service. See vintage SW's & GP's PRICING!

MVP# 861 ...... 90 Min ...... $29.00 TWO TAPES . $ 45.00 MOTIVE POWER UP MILWAUKEE SUB '96 ...... North Western color is still present on this UP route from Chicago (Proviso) to Milwaukee. Variety of power (incl. new SD90MACs). mainline trains and Modifications THREE TAPES . 67.00 ...... $ locals. Des Plaines River. Deval tower/d iamonds, Butler & more. UP #844 steam train in action in two locations. Many classic & scenic locations shot in 1996. 1996 Olympic Torch train in three locations. General Electric is performing piston crown FOUR TA PES ...... $ 89.00 MVP# 463 ...... 90 Min . modifications to the entire NS fleet of DASH 9- .... . $29.00 are being VOLU�E I 40C and DASH 9-40CW units. Units RIVER CROSSINGS - You must mention shipped to GE at the rate of seven every other First we look at several river crossings on the Mississippi including St. Louis, FI. Madison, Clinton. Hastings. SI. Croix crossing at Prescott and the Rock this AD code to get day and are being completed at a rate of three River in Oregon, IL We continue with crossings of the Spoon River, Kanka­ to five per day. As of August 10, 120 units had kee River, Des Plaines River, Colorado River and some interesting canals the special pricing: been com pleted. and creeks. Over 50 trains are shown from UP, CNW, SP. BN, ATSF. CN. sao We've taken the best from twenty of our 1995/1996 tapes. See turning RN 11 bridges, lift bridges, trusses, decks and trestles. Offer expires 12131 /97. INTERMODAL NEWS MVP# 31 ...... 60 Min ...... $24.00

Expanded RoadRailer Service - Other videos of SP, BNSF, UP, C&NW, BRC - Quality color shot & mastered on profes­ sional fo nnat equipment - Live Ste.·eo - Narration - Maps - Our tapes serve as good railfan Triple Crown Services has expanded its Road­ location guides. Add $5.00 S/H per order in USA. ILL buyers add 6.75% tax. VHS only. Railer service area to include Dallas/Fort Worth Send check or money OI-der to: P. O. Box 6533 Aurora, IL 60598 through an agreement with Burlington North­ Write or call fo r free catalog. To order by Me or Visa, call toll free: 800-528-4176 ern & Santa Fe. This is the first Triple Crown agreement with a western railroad and creates Midwest Video Productions opportunities for the company to move freight

RailNews-G7 1998 TRACK BU L LETIN CONRAIL CALENDAR VIA Rail Canada

CANADIAN DERAILS tionalization. VIA crews also say that CN dis­ patchers often keep the Ca nadian waiting for Accident Claims Two long periods in sidings for multiple meets.

On September 3, VIA's eastbound Ca nadian STATION NEWS derailed at speed east of the western Saskatchewan community of Biggar. Two loco­ Edmonton Opening Soon motives and 13 of the 19 cars derailed. Two people died, and 50 of the train's 200 passen· VIA's new Edmonton station will be ready gers were injured. sooner than expected. Christmas has been an· nounced as the moving date to the new loca­ RIDERSHIP INCREASES tion at the junction of the Ye llowhead High­ way and 121 Street. Located adjacent to the Marketing Pays Off main line, the station will eliminate the long back-up moves to the current downtown site. Summer 1997 continued to show good results The new station will offer seating for 140 peo­ for VIA. Marketing of VIA's remote service ple, be fully wheelchair accessible, and have trains to tourists is continuing to pay off, and access for transit as well as a large parking lot. ridership on the popular long-haul Canadian In Quebec, the Levis Station will remain and Ocean remains fairly steady. open for another three months until alternate The Chaleur continues to experience signif­ arrangements can be made. On August 10, icant increases. Passenger miles have climbed To ronto's classic Union Station celebrated its 15.7 percent, revenue is up 9.7 percent, and 70th birthday. Easily Canada's busiest station, ridership has increased 18 percent over 1996. the facility handles 546 departures and 554 ar­ Also in the Maritimes, Canadian National rivals per week. In order of activity, the station has offered a 30 I-mile rail line between Monc­ is used by GO Transit, VIA, VIAl Amtrak, and ton and Mont Joli, Quebec, for sale. Originally Ontario Northland/CN. Add to these figures the Intercolonial Railway, the line is used by the deadhead moves to and from the VIA and VIA's Ocean. The train should not be affected, GO Transit maintenance facilities, and you as the line is for sale, not abandonment, and end up with some very impressive figures. r------, VIA already has deals with shortline operators. Since 1992, VIA, along with C and Canadian Pacific, has been actively supporting Bib Overalls ON-TIME PERFORMANCE the Officer on the Train program. Officers re­ A Railroad Tradition cently rode a VIA locomotive on a round trip by Round House Brand® Bibs are VIA Struggles to Improve between Windsor and Chatham, Ontario. On bar-tacked and triple stitched on Extra that short trip, the officers witnessed 12 inci· We ar fa bric for the On-time performance is still a problem for dents of trespassing, kids playing chicken, and toughest of customers. VIA. On its corridor services, VIA has a target drivers racing trains. At a local media gather· Quality workmanship of 90 percent, but has attained an OTP of only ing shortly afterward, Operation Lifesaver oFfi­ guarantees long lasting 83 percent. Therefore, the carrier has discon· cials highlighted the need to further educate wear. 100% cotton, tinued holding trains for connections. The only people about the danger of trespassing and ig­ controlled shrinkage. exceptions will be the last trains of the day de­ noring railway crossing signals. parting Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Lon­ Two Colors don; train 57 holding at Montreal for as much OTHER PASSENGER NEWS Biue/White Striped or as 30 minutes for the Ocean; and train 84 Solid Blue Denim. holding at London for 10 minutes for train 70. Rocky Mountain Railtours The prestigious Canadian is still dogged Waist Sizes: 32,34,36 with a 58 percent on-time record. Even with Rocky Mountain Railtours will operate a win­ 38,40,42 its schedule lengthened by more than two ter service for the first time. A trial run with Leg Sizes: 30,32,34 hours, the train is seldom on time. Problems two tour groups is scheduled for December 20 arise when it arrives in Toronto well after its and 21. The company will then decide whether $28.95 scheduled evening arrival time. Passengers are to make them permanent. add 3.75 for shipping not pleased to find the transit system shut Canadian rails played host to the luxurious More sizes available Send N arne, address down for the night and taxis scarce. Its operat­ American Orient Exp ress for two round trips be· send $2.00 for Striped or Blue denim, ing crews point a finger at CN, saying the host tween Vancouver and Montreal during August catalog (Free with & waist/ leg size to order) Phone railroad lacks a commitment to keep No . I and September. Using three leased VIA F40PHs, Orders · Call Us and 2 on time, has poor scheduling of work the 15-car consist used CN lines from Vancou­ blocks, and has undergone excessive track ra- ver through Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Rolling Stock Co. Rainey River, Thunder Bay, Hornepayne, Dept. RW l Belleville, Brockville, and Ottawa to Montreal. P.O. Box 740- 007 RAIL INVESTMENT SERVICE The same routing was used for the return trips, and the train was operated by C I crews at Arvada, CO 80006 For free research reports on investment opportunities in the Rail Sector. please call K. Eric Crook toll free: freight train speeds. While operating on C lines, the [Tains were dubbed Nos. 7 and 8. 303-424-3766 === 1-800-456-5794=== or write K. Eric Crook, Assist.ant Vice President Thanks to VIA and Bill Miller. will �. We ship your order anywhere in the USA. MERRILL LYNCH Satisfaction Guaranteed. 877 East Main Street Steve Bradley Riverhead, NY 11901 L. ______..I

SS-November 1997 Ron 's Books P. O. BOX 714RN HARRISON, NY 10528 YOUR ONE STOP BOOK AND VIDEO SHOP (914)967-7541 11AM 10PM EST; FAX (914)967-7492 24HR to Discount Prices & Never a Shipping Charge within the U.S. *** Join Us for 4 Outstanding Shows *** RON'S VIDEOS - ALL VIDEOS ARE VHS ONLY! "WHATS NEW?" Nov 1 &2-Gaithersburg, MD RRdiana Show Charles Smiley Presents B&O Pass. Service V1 (1 945-71) Nat. Ltd. 22.50 Nov 9-Model RR & RRdiana Show at Staples Cajon Pass Tour (UP, SP) ...... 25.75 B&O Pass. Service V2 (1 945-71) Cap. Ltd. 24.25 High School, Westport, CT Chatsworth ans Santa Susana ...... 22.00 Nov 16-Model RR Show Greenwich, CT Civic Ctr BNSF 1996 Motive Power Annual ...... 40.50 Santa Fe Desert To ur ...... 25.75 Nov 23-Model RR Show Cheshire, CT High School BNSF & MRL Loco Directory 1997 ...... 23.50 Southern Pacific, The MiSSing Years ....22.00 Burl. Nort. & Santa Fe RR in 1996 (Dorin) 44.00 Alabama Railroads ...... 36.00 Southern Pacific Scrapbook ...... 25.75 cabinsCrummies & HacksV5 Northern N. Arner30.50 American Railroad Freight Cars SIC (White) .45.00 Southern Pacific Sunset...... 25.75 American Railroad Passenger Cars 2 Vofs .54.00 CB&Q in Color Vol 2 ...... 40.00 Tehachapi The To ur (SP, SF) ...... 25.75 American Streamliners Pre-War Years ...... 40.50 Chicago& Northwestern in Color V1 1941 -53 . 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' 36.00 British Rys Loco's & Coaching Stock 1997 20.00 Confessions of a Train Watcher-4 Decades 36.00 Public Service Trolley in NJ (Hardcover) ..56.50 Building the New Rapid Transit of NYC 1915 .1 6.25 Denver Northwestern & Pacific ...... 36.00 Pullman Heavyweight Cars ...... 45.00 the EL - Third Ave and its EL at Mid Century . 35.00 By Denver & Salt Lake ...... 36.00 Pull. Std. LibV7,8,9,10,11 ,12,13,14,150r16 ea. 36.00 Cabooses of the Missouri Pacific Lines ...67.50 Frisco Power (Collias) ...... 63.00 Railroads of the Adirondacks (Kudish) .. .49.50 CF 7 Locos: from Cleburne to Everywhere .22.50 Furniture & Automobile Boxcars (Santa V3 . AO.OO Railroad Atlas of North America- NE; CA&NV; Chesapeake & Ohio Coal & Color ...... 36.00 Fe) The Heart of the Reading RR: Reading, Pa. 23.50 CO&UT; AZ&NM; WI&IL; MI,IN,OH each 21 .00 Chesapeake & Ohio in the Coal Fields ....20.75 High Iron to North Platt ...... 18 .00 Railroads of the Ohio Valley V1 .21 .50. 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Register - 1953 Reprint .49.50 Trains of Cuba: Steam, Deisel & Electric (Wo10 .16.00 Authentic Train Sounds - Steam ...... 22.00 Ogden Rails ...... 22.50 Trainmaster ...... 27.00 Authentic Train Sounds - Diesel ...... 19 .00 Omaha Road (Chicago, Minn., StPaul & Omaha) 54.00 Twelve Historical NYC Street & Transit Maps .27.00 Back Eas l CDs) ...... 24.00 PA: Alco's Glamour Girl - Color ...... 45.00 Union Pacific Switchers & Slugs ...... 22.50 Way Out est (2 CDs) ...... 24.00 Pacific Electric Vol1 ...... 40.00 Upstate Oddyssey- Lehigh Val RR in W.NY 27.00 V Pennsy Power (Back in Print) ...... 45.00 UP Steam Big Boy Portraits HlC 35.00 ..SIC 25.25 Union Pacific RR Painting Guide 1903-30 SIC .25.00 Lake Terminal Railroad ...... 31 .50 Pennsy Steam Years Vol 2 ...... 40.00 Union Pacific Ty pe V2 (Kratville) 76.00 Last Steam Railroad in America (Link) ...45.00 PRR Color History ...... 18 .00 Union Pacific Power V1 or V2 ...... ea 27.00 Legacy of the Carolina & Northwestern Ry 45.00 PRR Triumph 1 Altoona to Pitcairn ...... 58.50 Union Pacific Modeler V1 or V2 ...... ea 19.00 Light Rail Europe ...... 20.00 Pullman Paint & Lettering Notebook .....22.50 Union Pacific Cheyenne West Part 1 ...... 34.00 Locomotive Facilities/Engine Te rminals .....SlC 26.50 Railway Prototype Cyclopedia Vol1 ...... 19 .00 Wisconsin Central ...... 45.00 Logging Railroads of Alabama ...... 54.00 Route of the Rockets ...... 49.50 Winston Salem ...... 22.50 Logging to the Salt Chuck ...... 41 .50 Southern Pacific Oregon Division ...... 54.00 Yellowstone Branch of the UP RR ...... 18 .00 Logging Railroads in Skagit County .....54.00 Steam Locomotives of the NYC ...... 45.00 Louisville & Nashville - Old Reliable .....27.00 Sunset on the Sandy River ...... 24.00 RON'S COLLECTOR'S CORNER Manhattan Gateway ...... 40.50 Trains Across the Continent(NA. 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Send $2.00 for latest list of books and videos. List no charge with purchase. All orders must be paid in U.S. funds. NY residents please add correct sales tax. Print your name, . address and �hone number. Credit card users add card number and expiration date. allow 4 weeks for delivery. Fordelivery outside of USA please add $4.00 per bookor tape. Makechecks payable to Rons Books. On� InqUines which Include a SASE will be answered. Prices subject to change. WE BUY COLLECTIONS TRACK BU LLETIN

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We align our radios for optimum performance in the RR band. WRITE OR CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION NEWS ITEMS tracts, with expansion of intermodal markets to enhance container traffic between Vancou­ Capital Expenditures, Operations ver and in the U.S. Midwest and Northeast. SDUTHWEST The company filed suit against the city of The prospect of continued profitability encour­ Minneapolis in late August to proceed with ELECTRDNICS aged Canadian Pacific to invest more than $500 construction of its proposed h'ansloading facili­ million in capital expenditures in 1997, with ty at Shoreham Ya rd. The railroad was buoyed more than $290 million dedicated to track and by the recent federal court decision in Georgia, structure. The balance will be used to purchase granting NS authority to proceed with plans to the next 80 AC4400CWs and improve COl-pO­ construct a new intermodal terminal in subur­ rate information system technology. Remarkably, ban Atlanta without local consent. the program will be funded totally from operat­ Meanwhile, upgrading of former Milwaukee ing capital and proceeds from recent line sales, Short Line trackage in St. Paul was completed even though the company plans to repurchase in early September, improving movement of up to 18 million shares of common stock over Amtrak, Minnesota Commercial, and Tw in the next year (only 1.7 million shares were ac­ Cities & Western operations. In another track­ quired during the preceding 12 months). The related project, a private contractor salvaged 1997 capital program increased CP's three-year rail from the western half of the former Soo conmlitment to infrastructure to $1.3 biLlion. Brooten Line (west of Genola, Minnesota). Canadian Pacific has taken additional steps The spin-off of the Sudbury to Sault Ste. to broaden its transportation operations Marie secondary line to the Huron Central has around the world by opening an office in Bei­ lent some CP power to the short line. Buffalo & Classic Tra ction Videos Reissued! jing, thus becoming the first foreign railway to Pittsburgh GP9s 208 and 209, as well as HATX Our highly acclaimed coverage of the have a permanent commercial presence in the SD45s 916, 920, and 922 are assigned to the in Sacramento Northern 1940. People's Republic of China. The new office ex­ can'iet; with five CP RS-J8s expected to be sold. Remastered with new sound track. 50 Min Color from 16rnm. $ 39.95 pands CP's influence in the Pacific Rim, join­ Because of reduced intermodal loadings on ing existing offices in Japan and Korea. the weekends, CP stopped running train 422 All time great P ac ifi c E l e c t ric Vo lume 1,70 min. Full Sound Efx. $ 39.95 Following the projected decrease in operat­ out of Minneapolis on Saturdays and Sundays, Also: We stern Pacific-12 0 Min - $ 49.95 ing revenues resulting from the proposed with all traffic handled on No. 500. Counter­ Motherlode Shortline - Sierra RR break-up of Conrail between CSX and Norfolk part 423 still operates on a daily basis. 20 min. $ 19.95 Southern, CP fi led a response with the Surface California North Coast Logging Transportation Board in August seeking relief - 70 Min. - $ 39.95 MOTIVE POWER Railroads for its Delaware & Hudson subsidiary in the Catenary Video Productions 800-343-5540 201-652-1973 Northeast. Canadian Pacific is seeking recipro­ New Color Scheme Phone: - FAX 22-D cal switching rights in northern New Jersey Hollywood Ave. Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey 07423 and the Port of New York as well as South Jer­ The first of the new AC4400CWs construct­ VISA & Mastercard Accepted sey/Philadelphia, Buffalo/Niagara Frontier, ed this fall are emerging in a new Tuscan­ Dealer Inquiries Invited and the Baltimore terminal areas. It also seeks and-gray color scheme, featuring the tradi­ to eliminate certain restrictions on its trackage tional CP shield. rights over current Conrail lines and wants General Electric has modified locomotives

New Book__ _ trackage rights from Albany to New York/ 9575/9576 from the first order to evaluate a ��SI�c;;.. _ Long Island on the east side of the Hudson new creep control for better handling of coal River and to New Jersey on the west. trains while flood loading. Canadian Pacific is ___ ���S Engineering projects under way in the Mil­ very pleased with the a.c. technology and may BY ROBERT W. RICHARDSON waukee area will be augmented by other pro­ place an order for 100-200 more GEs in 1998. Founder of the Renowned Colorado Railroad Museum jects, providing additional siding capacity be­ The railroad continues to lease a variety of tween Chicago and St. Paul. The company ex­ locomotives from different sources, with a to­ pects to develop more bulk commodity con- tal of 264 units on line as of mid-August. As units are returned to their owners for repairs or long-term deals with other carriers, CP has S 1/64 Scale received replacement units such as HATX 400-series GP40s, HLCX 4400-series GP40- Over 500 cataloged locomotives & 2s, and MKCX 4300-series GP40s. freight cars. (Too many for magazine ads) As of September 8, MLW units on CP's Scale and Flyer AC Flyer compatible items. roster totaled 78, with five RS- 1 8s and a trio

Bob Richardson's Lifetime Adventures of Chasing Trains Color catalog & S information Web Site: of C-424s listed as unserviceable. Graphically Presented In a Monumental Railroad Pictorial I Canadian Pacific has announced plans to A 432-Page Illustrated Chronicle www.americanmodels.com convert Locotrol II receiver-equipped SD40- FEATU RING 426 HISTORIC PHOTOS ! 2s 6055-6080 back to lead power. Five con­ World's Largest 3116 = I' Manufacturer Bob's Unique Journeys as a Railfan Photographer of versions were completed by mid-August. Standard- and Narrow-Gauge Rai/roads in the U.S.A., As Seen on Nalionwide TV Canada, Mexico, Central America and overseas Are Canadian Pacific has acquired more sec­ Beautifully Presented in this Deluxe Volume! Send $1 for information ond-hand boxcars for paper service, numbered

IN AMERlCAN MODELS in the Soo 17000-series. Only . .. $5500 POSTPAID THE U.S.A. 10087 COLONIAL IND. DR. Th anks to Paul Bergen, Mike Cleary, S1.1NDANCE PUBLICATIONS !ttL D SOUTH LYON, Ml 48 178 Glenn Lee, and Peter Phillips. 250 Broadway • Denver, Colorado 80203 8/0·437-6800 8/0·437·9454 Q MASTERCARD 1 VISA - 303/777-2880 Fax FREE BROCHURE ! [email protected] Karl Rasmussen

70-November 1997 TRA CK BULLETIN eSK Tr ansportation

ADDRESSING CONCERNS that its trains will attain the 96 percent on­ Citizens of Perrysburg, Ohio, southwest of time performance or better existing before the Toledo, are voicing complaints over increased Virginia Railway Express July 8 accident, "We will work with them to­ CSX freight traffic through their community, wards their success," he said. "There is an un­ but CSX has informed town leaders that the Virginia legislators have asked to meet with derstanding that CSX will work with VRE to­ traffic will continue. New automotive busi­ CSX officials to address problems experienced ward showing its riders it will be as good of a ness from the Detroit area has necessitated by Virginia Railway Express in the wake of the service, if not better, post-accident." heavier use of the former B&O line that in re­ July 8 freight derailment in Arlington, Vir­ New high-speed crossover switches and re­ cent years only hosted two or three local ginia. Officials for VRE report a steep decline vised signaling will improve traffic flow in Ar­ trains a week. in ridership during August and warned that lington. Power-operated switches to the trun­ the commuter agency faces a "death spiral" cated Rosslyn branch and the industrial spur A TOP PRIORITY unless CSX makes a commitment to see that near Crystal City have been taken out of ser­ the trains run on time. vice, and the old Richmond, Fredericksburg & Amtrak On lime Railway officials blame CSX for its han­ Potomac signal bridge has been replaced by dling of the derailment and subsequent repair modernized mast signals at RO interlocking at Keeping Amtrak on time is also a CSX prior­ work, stating that the railroad disregarded m.p. C.F.P. IIO. !. ity, according to the company's midweek re­ commuter service needs, causing cancella­ port to employees on August 20. To quote tions and delays. Morning riders hip was SHORT ITEMS Dick Young, assistant vice-president-passen­ down 32 percent in July from the same peri­ ger services: "Passengers arrive on time, Am­ od last year with revenue more than ACCident, Demolition, and Dismay trak customer satisfaction improves, and $100,000 below normal. CSX earns incentive bonuses for good per­ For several days after the accident, VRE Though the superstructure remained sound, a formance. CSX can receive up to $16 million provided free-ride coupons to patrons but portion of Conrail's Rockville Bridge near annually in incentive payments. These pay­ then had to reduce frequency after CSX cur­ Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was damaged Au­ ments represent the only opportunity for tailed service through the wreck site just south gust 19 when a freight derailment sent five CSX to earn money over and above incre­ of the Long Bridge over the Potomac River. CSX coal hoppers into the Susquehanna Riv­ mental cost reimbursements. Our first prior­ CSX ran full-page ads in regional newspapers er. The accident also broke a fuel pipeline on ity is ensuring the safety of Amtrak trains on in late August apologizing for the disruptions the bridge. our system. That's followed by seeing that and stated its commitment to the commuter A contractor demolished the unused those trains remain on schedule. When our agency's success. However, VRE officials, rid­ Viaduct Junction interlocking tower at Cum­ Amtrak performance is poor, we're leaving ers, and state officials remained skeptical as berland, Maryland, on July 24, and the same money on the table." additional delays continued on the Fredericks­ operator razed ON Tower in Washington, Thanks to Ray Saunders, Richard Sublette, burg line even after the Arlington County re­ D.C., on August 2. ON once controlled access Lawrence Phillips, Bill Kerr, Andrew Kirk, Allen pair was finished because of track work in to Baltimore & Ohio's Eckington Yard and to Brougham, TI'IE WA SHINGTON Pas'!; THE PRINCE Stafford County. Washington Te rminal trackage north of Union WILLIAM !OUIINAL, and THE TOLEDO BLADE. CSX spokesman Rob Gould stated that Station, but was closed in September 1992 af­ VRE is an important customer and believes ter Eckington was pulled up. Mark Sublette

ST. LOUIS IN THE SEVENTIES Volume One High, action-packed drama from a private collect ion featuring all St. Louis railroads, with special empha­ sis on two of the regions most well known-the FRISCO and the MOPAC! LIVE, ORIGINAL, unedited sound and action in such hot spots as Kirkwood, Valley Park, Missouri, and Bixby Jet., Illinois, tell the story about this fas­ cinating time in modern day rail­ roading, in the United States!

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RailNews-71 GATEWAY CITY STEAM TRACK BULLETIN Live, on location sound with limited narration featuring exclusive footage of the 1976 Freedom Train through the St. Louis Gateway; The Southern Union Pacific 4501 St. Louis Steam Excursion 1977; and including crew interviews and passenger perspective, and the TRAFFIC and vice versa, had been ratified by the unions Chessie System No. 614 Safety Special and went into effect September 16. The railroad 1978 through St. Louis. Gulf Coast Meltdown Continues is still negotiating similar agreements to cover

One hour and ten minutes - $34.95 S&H included. operations in East Texas and in Arkansas. "We ORDER NOW! Despite UP's efforts, service problems contin­ hope to see those come to implementation in the Send check or money order to: ued plaguing rail-dependent shippers in Texas, fourth quartet; " King concluded. IN THE CAB PRODUCTIONS, INC. Louisiana, and Arkansas during August. Cus­ According to UP Executive Vice President­ #12 Chapel Hill Drive, St. Louis, MO 63131-1315 tomers reported that transit times within the Marketing and Sales Jim Shattuck, UP's recovery (314) 205-1273 region had doubled, or worse, and it was plans should begin boosting service by incre­ Dealer Inquiries Welcome nearly impossible to get empties spotted or ments; however, he noted it was difficult to pin­ loads picked up promptly. point a date for full recovery. When asked by a Railroad management, including UP Chair­ customer what it could do to help Union Pacific man Dick Davidson, and representatives of 300 improve, Shattuck offered two suggestions: bill MOBILE GAIN shippers attended an August 29 meeting orga­ cars on the weekends and "don't cry wolf" Said nized by the National Industrial Transportation Shattuck, "We have examples when customers League to hear the railroad's plans to break the said, 'Help!' but then didn't use the equipment TuANned toTENN Railroad BandA gridlock. "We're hiring hundreds of people or unload cars for two or three days." Th e one you've heard about! down here to beef up our manpowet;" Davidson The railroad did try to deliver for its cus­ Increased range • told the customers, adding that the company is tomers by using management crews to operate • 5/8 wave, 3db gain

• Tuned for optimum Sensitivity, accelerating labor agreements and working on trains. On August 15, the United Transportation 160-161 Mhz. combining the UP and Southern Pacific comput­ Union called a strike to protest this practice. Magnetic mount • er systems. Brad King, UP vice president-trans­ "Whenever there wasn't any union crew mem­ portation, said UP is hiring 300 new employees ber available because of rest (rules), then we in Houston and another 100 throughout Texas, would operate trains with management crews," Specify:��:P�:G scanner type $62 along with acquiring 327 new locomotives said spokesman Mark Davis. A federal judge in @ �W��;ilr;;;:;;;��a;�� through January 1998. King said the new "hub Houston entered a temporary restraining order and spoke" labor agreement for the Houston barring the strike for 10 days and directed UP R area, allowing UP employees to work SP jobs and the unions to negotiate a compromise. Box 38881 , Germantown, TN 38183 Our Rail Desk is On Tr ack Fo r Yo u

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n.November 1997 OPERATIONS Cutover Continues

September 8 marked the second phase of the cutover of north-south SP lines between Chicago and Texas to UP management. Effec­ tive that date north-south intermodal ship­ ments were accepted only at UP ramps in the fo llowing cities: Chicago (Yard Center); St. Louis (Dupo, Illinois); Memphis (Melrose); Dallas (Mesquite, Texas); Houston (Settegast Yard); Laredo; and San Antonio. Memphis­ Dallas intermodal traffic uses the Cotton Belt terminal in Memphis. Westbound loads are deramped at Mesquite, while eastbounds are loaded at SP's Miller Yard south of Dallas. During August, UP began running through trains between North Platte and the Minneapolis area on the former Chicago & 10rth Western. Trains MVP P and MNPVP operate via Council Bluffs to and from Valley Pa rk, Minnesota, replacing trains MVPCB and MCBVP. However, service initially was slower than planned. As of August 22, no less than five MVPCB trains occupied the old Eric Blasko Omaha Road between California Junction, Iowa, and St. James, Minnesota. An eastbound Union Pacific freight is in familiar SP territory as it pounds upgrade near Emigrant Last year's grouping of same-model loco­ Gap, California. Guiding the train is an SD90MAC with a remote-controlled SD90MAC on the rear. motives in 12,000 h.p. consists was successful enough to warrant expansion. Plans are to ex­ pand the current pool of 150 12,000 h.p. sets SP yardmasters were members of the Trans­ stalled the transaction, MC announced Au­ for use west of North Platte and create a pool portation Communications Union. Most UP gust 7. "Because of the importance of re-acti­ of 9,000 h.p. sets for use east and south of yardmasters were represented by the United vation of the line," the buyer continued, North Platte. The two pools will cover major Transportation Union , and a small number "Missouri Central plans to continue efforts to terminals, such as North Platte, North Little were unrepresented managers. finance the project with funding sources who Rock, Houston, West Colton, and Chicago, Casper, Wyoming, officials vowed to fight have already expressed interest and who may and are expected to protect about 80 percent UP's planned abandonment of 18 miles of for­ have a greater understanding of the value of of all auto and manifest trains. mer C&f\1VV trackage between Pearson and the short line railroad operation." Meanwhile, The two "true" SD90MACs, UP 8200- Natrona County Airport several miles west of UP said it would extend MC's deadline for 8201, are accumulating 7,000 hours of testing Casper. They say the abandonment could cost buying this property at least 90 days. prior to entering revenue service. The current 35 jobs at small companies now served by the Th anks to Blair Kooistra, Nathan Bailey, plan calls for delivery of eight true line. One sticking point is the industrial yard Joel G. Kirchne/� Brian Jennison, Loren C. SD90MACs to UP by year-end. at the Natrona County Airport. Local officials Johnson, Chris Palmieri, Bill Farmer, Kyle say it was constructed using public financing, Brehm, and Joe McMillan. SHORT ITEMS and the proposed abandonment would leave it isolated. The city has already rejected one UP Michael W. Blaszak Changes Here and There offer to "trade" six miles of track valued at $2 1 3,400 in return for a release from UP's At the former Cotton Belt-Texas & Pacific commitment to pay $500,000 for another, crossing in Big Sandy, Texas, UP is making shorter stretch of track in the yard. Rights to W9RLD TRAIN TRAVtL! several changes. The old diamond will come serve Black Hills Bentonite, one of UP's ... is our specialty. The Society of International Railway out after the Cotton Belt line from the south is Casper-area customers, were recently given to Tr.wclers offers carefu lly cfilfted rail itineraries. $49.95 annuai mcmbership includes trip discounts, newsletter connected with the Texas & Pacific main west Burlington Northern & Santa Fe. l a 1 of there by installation of a switch. A connec­ The decision of Kansas City Power & mo ?;il� l'� � �3gg�_t�i: n,��Louisvill e, KY 40205. Money­ tion from the T&P main to the Cotton Belt Light not to finance Missouri Central Rail­ back guarantee. Visa, MC, main from the north is already in place. road's acquisition of UP's former Rock Island check. Call (800) lRT-4881. Yardmasters and some supervisors of yard route between St. Louis and Kansas City operations have voted to be represented by the Union Pacific Union Yardmasters Council. About 540 UP and SP yardmasters will be rep­ 2474 Huntington Drive resented. 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RaiiNews·73 TRACK BULL ETIN Commuter/Transit

MEMPHIS Trolley Extension

The Main Street Trolley in Memphis has set a new ridership record even as the two-mile line is preparing for significant expansion. There were 555,597 boardings during the fiscal year ending June 30, an increase of 6.85 percent. Te st runs on the Riverfront Loop extension were scheduled to begin in mid-September with revenue service expected to follow by the end of the month. All four former Melbourne W2 streetcars purchased from, and restored by, GOMACO are now on the property, bring­ ing the number of W2s owned by the system to eight. The local transit authority hopes to purchase three similar cars from the New Or­ leans RiverFront line that are to be replaced by replicas of the 1923 Perley-Thomas streetcars used on the St. Charles route. MEXICO CITY Richard P. Barnes, Jr. Commuter Rail Plan Two westbound Metrolink trains-No. 109 and No. l11-are combined as they glide through Oxnard, California, on July 30, 1997. Each train is piloted by an F59. Privatization of the 186-mile Valley of Mexico telminal railroad in Mexico City is expected to be the starting point for establishment of a new BOSTON overly optimistic. In a letter to interim CEO commuter rail network to serve the region Linda Bohlinger, the MTA's financial assump­ around the congested capital. In addition to New Signals for the Green Line tions were described as questionable at best, scheduling freight train movement in the valley, and the agency was again ordered to produce "a the new owners will design and operate a priori­ The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Au­ recovery plan that is financially and technically ty passenger service. The bidding process is thority is spending $13.1 million to replace responsible." As an incentive to getting it right scheduled to begin by the end of 1997; bidders the Green Line signal system in the Central the third time, the PTA said no more federal will be judged on their plan for regional rail. In­ Subway between the Boylston Street station funds will be forthcoming for the proposed Red cluded in the deal will be the Buenavista passen­ and all four portals and on the Riverside Line Line extension to East Los Angeles. Construc­ ger station, which is also served by two Metro from the tunnel portal to the Brookline Village tion was to start this year. This, with lower than lines and numerous bus routes. It's been esti­ station. Union Switch & Signal will design, expected sales tax revenues, will almost certain­ mated that a six-line commuter network would furnish, install, and test the traditional way­ ly delay completion of the Ea t L.A., Pasadena, have the capacity to carry 400,000 daily riders. side system. The subway's old signal system and Mid-City rail lines for at least three years. The new operator will have to deal with was washed out in 1996 when a torrential Rejection of the recovery program prompt­ the railroad's more than 400 grade crossings. rainstorm flooded the tunnels. ed Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan to de­ Many will have to be closed or bridged so that clare that he's given up on building a subway passenger trains can maintain reasonably high CHICAGO across the San Fernando Valley. He said the speeds. However, this cost, along with im­ PTA's concerns made it clear to him that the proved signaling, would still be much less than Make Way for Magnetic FareCards MTA will not have the resources to start con­ adding to the ru bber-ti red Metro, totaling struction on the Valley Red Line extension in nearly 110 miles. Chicago Transit Authority ticket agents have 2007 as promised. He and other elected offi­ been replaced by vending machines that dis­ cials declared that other u'ansportation alterna­ MIAMI pense magnetically coded farecards. The tives for the valley's 1.2 million residents must switch began August 18 on the Green and Or­ be investigated. There are proposals for run­ Tri-Rail Cutback ange lines; the other five rapid transit routes ning either Metrolink trains or buses on the converted in September. Ticket agents were re­ former Southern Pacific Chandler Boulevard Low ridership and lack of fu nding forced assigned as "customer assistants," patrolling line, under which the Red Line would have south Florida's Tri-Rail to eliminate two week­ the stations giving directions, offering help, been built. The latter calls for converting the day and four Saturday trains. Meanwhile, a and providing security. ROW into a high-speed super busway using signal replacement project is continuing at the double-articulated coaches that have the capac­ southern end of the line. The upgraded system LOS ANGELES ity of light rail cars. should significantly reduce delays caused by There still may be hope for an east-west rail power outages and signal fa ilures. Trouble and More Trouble line across the Valley. Valley Express Transit, a consortium of private firms, has proposed MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL The Federal Transportation Authority notified building a privately funded rail line in the medi­ the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation an of the Ventura Freeway. The group's propos­ LRT Planned Authority that the second version of its so­ al would cost $1.1 billion and operate trains ev­ called rail recovery program was unacceptable. ery four minutes during rush hour at speeds of The 1998 federal transportation bill may well Federal officials described the document as up to 60 mph. No technology was specified. determine whether the Tw in Cities will get a

74 -November 1997 light rail system. "If we get a lesser amount of NEW YORK crowding and be an economic stimulus for money, everybody will agree to do a busway," downtown. There's even a proposal to contin­ Hennepin County Administrator Jeff Spartz Subway Improvements Continue ue the line under the East River to Brooklyn told the Mil NEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE. "If we and a connection with the Long Island Rail get a greater amount of money, I think every­ New York City is planning to seek bids for Road, making possible a one-seat ride from body wi ll go with light rail transit." After 500 new 'B' Division cars. As with the 1,080 the counties north of the city to Long Island. nearly 20 years of planning and often intense units ordered earlier this year for the 'A' Divi­ Meanwhile, two other commuter rail stud­ debate, local officials have finally decided on sion, they will be coupled into five-car sets ies are moving ahead. The MTA wants to use a route; it would follow Hiawatha Avenue be­ and contain advanced technology features in­ the vacant second level of the 63rd Street tun­ tween downtown Minneapolis, the airport, cluding microprocessor-conrrolkd air com­ nel between Queens and Manhattan to bring and the Mall of America in nearby Blooming­ pressor, brake, ventilation, and communica­ LJRR trains into Grand Central, at an estimat­ ton. Whichever technology is chosen, it would tions systems; a.c. propulsion motors; and au­ ed cost of $2. 1 billion. The Port Authority of be called a transitway and consist of two lanes tomatic station announcements. New York and New Jersey is continuing to in­ adjacent to Hiawatha but segregated from A number of other major projects will open vestigate a tunnel connection between Grand other traffic. for bidding by year's end, including construc­ Central and Penn Station, linking the Metro­ tion of a new three-story, 150,000 sq. ft. con­ North Commuter Railroad with the Long Is­ trol center for the ' A' Division in Manhattan land Rail Road and New Jersey Transit. NEW JERSEY TRANSIT and the fi rst phase of a massive overhaul of High-Tech Signaling the Times Square station complex. PORTLAND ew Jersey Transit has signed a $16.6 mil­ Cars Enter Service, Streetcars Return lion contract with Union Switch & Signal NEW YORK Company for a new high-tech signaling sys­ Commuter Rail Wish List The half-mile MAX extension to 18th and tem. The first two phases will be completed Salmon streets opened on August 31. A spe­ and reviewed by the NJT board of directors New York Transit Authority plans to hire a cial service operated August 31 with nine who must then approve starting the third consultant to conduct a feasibility study into trains, each consisting of one Ty pe 1 (high­ phase, which will cost an additional $25.7 extending some of its commuter rail lines into floor) car and one Type 2 (low-floor) car pro­ million. The Advanced Speed Enforcement lower Manhattan. The study, being promoted viding the normal Sunday headway of 15 min­ System incorporates US&S's MicroCab sys­ by Gov. George Pataki, is expected to take utes. The following day Tri-Met inaugurated tem and intermittent cab signaling, a tech­ about 42 months and cost up to $10 million. what was informally called a demonstration nology developed by AT Signal Systems, a Opponents say the present system of having service with the new Siemens SD600s: three Swedish company owned by US&S's parent, suburbanites switch to the subway at Penn single cars on a 3D-minute headway between Ansaldo Signal .V. of Holland. The system Station and Grand Central works just fine, Gateway station and the new terminal at 18th will replace earlier-generation cab signaling and spending money on new main line tunnels Street. All other trains, consisting only of Ty pe equipment also provided by Union Switch & would be a waste. But supporters believe that 1 s, reversed as before at SW 11th Avenue. Signal Company. a one-stop ride would ease subway over- This pattern was scheduled to continue until

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RaiiNews·75 sometime in early October when, if enough of muter rail service. But instead of being the pri­ N E W TITLE the low-floor cars had been accepted from the mary focus, it will be just one element in the manufacturer (there have been numerous search for new ridership. "We're going for the teething problems during the break-in period), biggest bang for our buck," said Caltrain all trains would include at least one Ty pe 2 spokeswoman Rita Haskin. "The downtown and be extended to 18th and Salmon. extension has been thrown in the ring with Traditional streetcars may soon be return­ other projects ...it's no longer the only an­ ing to Portland. The city council agreed to swer." The board's vote came two months after match $5 million in federal funds with $1 mil­ San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown announced lion in local money for final engineering on a his staunch opposition to the $656 million ter­ 2.2-mile, L-shaped trolley line connecting the minal plan. The county board of supervisors northwest section of the city with Portland then voted against it, all but killing the propos­ State University. A number of major traffic al. Now the $5.2 million study, which by mid­ generators would be served, and there would summer was already 90 percent complete, will be convenient transfer to MAX. The project be finished. Among other options to be inves­ has been dubbed the Central City Streetcar, tigated are electrification of the entire 77-mile and supporters hope to have it ready to open line to increase train speeds, additional trains, on July 4, 2000. Construction and rolling and more convenient interchange with Muni's stock will cost an estimated $42 million. rail and bus system. The board also adopted an $88 million capital budget for the next fis­ SAN FRANCISCO cal year, the largest in the agency's history. Diesel Locomotives by Ron Flanary, Charles B. Castnel; mul New Muni LRVs Force Track Repair SEATTLE Lee Gordon 160 It appears that the Municipal Railway will Rail Transit Plans Progress Pages, Hardbound · Fully illustrated with have to perform major ROW refurbishment to B&IV and color photos and maps quiet its new Breda LRVs. Engineers and con­ This book contains the complete StOIJI of L&!\i's Work on the voter-approved rail transit system sultants have made numerous modifications to for the Seattle area got into high gear during diesels from the first switcher in 1939, down to the 78,000 lb. cars, whose excessive noise and summer. Paul Bay, director of the Regional modern times. The text is supplemented with a vibration angered residents on the J-Church Transit Authority's Light Rail Department, pre­ detailed roster with dispositions, diagrams, mlUlY line. Additional changes could cost $40 mil­ sented the board of directors with an action official L&N photographs, as weil as those from plan for the next 18 months that included com­ numerous other outstanding photographers. lion to $60 million with no guaranteed suc­ cess. Thus, the focu is now on rail and switch pletion of a draft environmental impact state­ Great background information about the L&N is replacement, a program that would cost up to ment for the Northgate-to-SeaTac and Tacoma given, as weil as its motive power policies and $15 million and take several years. Part of the LRT segments, design and construction seg­ assignments in the early steam-diesel transition ment packaging, and preliminary engineering years up to the late 1970s. Also included is a his­ problem stems from weight: The Italian-de­ signed Bredas are 10,000 Ibs heavier than the and a final EIS for both light rail segments by torical sketch on each builder and each model of Boeing LRVs making up the bulk of Muni's summer 1999. The RTA has also submitted an locomotives throughout the period. This book is fleet. The main difficulty appears to be the ag­ official request to the Federal Transit Adminis­ ideal fo r both diesel fans and L&N enthusiasts. ing infrastructure requiring major track im­ tration for authorization to proceed with pre­ provements on the K, L, and N lines (some liminary engineering. The 2.5-mile first seg­ Only + $4 j, $26.95 sm work has already been completed on part of ment, scheduled to begin operation by 200 I, SP ecial Price of + Sill $21.95 $4 the M line). The N-Judah Line suffers from the will connect the Tacoma Dome station with November 199 7 additional problem of soil compression and a downtown Tacoma's university and theater dis­ Other New Titles shrinking water table that may require installa­ tricts. The Northgate-SeaTac section of the sep­ Baltimore & Obio Passenger Service, tion of a concrete trackway cushioned with arate central light rail system is set to open in 1945-1971, Vo l. 2 rubber pads Or a raised ROW in the center of early 2005, and the full line from the Universi­ Route of the Capitol Limited the street. The cost could range from ty of Washington to the City of SeaTac should 120 Pages, Hardbound · 150 B&IV and color photos. $600,000 to $5 million per block. be completed by the end of 2006. Meanwhile, Only $26.95 + $4 Sill The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has Commuter Rail Department Director Paul Prepublication P";ce $21.95 + $4 sm voted to give Muni $13.8 million to buy 59 Price is completing the environmental studies Nickel Plate Road Passenger Service, more Breda cars, enough to retire the Boeings. process for the Ta coma-to-Seattle portion of ThePostwar Ye m's If the agency can get an additional $30 million the system; establishing partnerships with the 128 Pages, Hardbound · Over 250 B&IV and colol'Ph% s from the state Transportation Commission, it state Department of Transportation, Amtrak, Only $26.95 + $4 Sill will start negotiating the order with Breda. Mu­ and the affected railroads; and beginning to Prepublicatioll Price $21.95 + $4 sm ni officials told the board that seeking open buy vehicles and equipment. New Yo rk Central and bids could cost an exh'a $60 million and add The RTA board has also adopted a new The Tm ills of the Flt tm'e several years to the acquisition process. name for the regional transit system-Sound 112 l'ages, Hardbound . Fully illus/I'a/ed B&IV and color The Municipal Railway has sold six more Transit. This play on words refers not only to of the trouble-prone Boeing LRVs for $2,800, Puget Sound, the agency's western boundary, Only $25.95 + $4 Sill Prepublication Price $20.95 + $4 sm leaving 105 still on the property. As of August but to the board's hopes for the future of the Classic Diesels of tbe South 14, Muni had taken advanced possession of 31 new rail and express bus services being fi­ 128 Pag",,� Hardbound · 150 BIIV Photos and Color Covers Breda LRVs, three of which have been re­ nanced and developed by the RTA. LRT will served for testing the long-delayed Advanced be called Link, commuter rail will be known Only $26.95 + $4 Sill Prepublication Price $21.95 + $4 Sill Train Control (signal) System. as Sounder; and the 20 new long-distance bus Prepublication prices good through routes will be called Regional Express. Almost November 30, 1997. Write for complete list. SAN FRANCISCO 100 names suggested by staff, the public, and a marketing and communication consultant M.L'\imum of $7 SIB forany order. Caltrain Seeks to Increase Ridership Virginia residents add 4.;% ta", team were tested throughout the community. $8.00 Foreign orders add extra postage. Plans for a downtown Caltrain terminal have Send for the complete list of fine qUality railroad TORONTO been kept alive-but just barely. The Peninsula books available from TLC. Corridor Joint Powers Board has voted to in­ Another Streetcar Extension TLC Publishing, Department RN clude the new station and an extension from 1387 Winding Creek Lane the current terminal at Fourth and Townsend The To ronto Transit Commission has allocat­ streets as part of a study on improving com- ed $109,500 for engineering and design of a Ly nchburg, K424503-9 711

76. November 1997 proposed streetcar extension linking the Spad­ Mining of the final set of tunnels for the ina line along Queen's Quay to the Bathurst planned 103-mile Metro system is under way. route. The half-mile extension will cost an es­ These will extend the southern end of the timated $9.5 million but has widespread sup­ Green Line, approximately 6,000 ft. from the port. "Connecting these streetcar lines at such existing terminal at the Anacostia station, to a a low cost is compelling," said TTC Vice five-station southern segment now under con­ Chairman Howard Moscoe. "This is an impor­ struction. At their deepest point, the tunnels tant missing link in our streetcar system." The will be 79 ft. below ground. line is scheduled to open in fall 1999 and is expected to be carrying 6.6 million passengers AND FINALLY annually by 20 1 1. Train Saves Life VRE When does getting hit by a train become prov­ Keeping Track of Its Trains idential? When, in the case of a Sacramento, New "BC Rail's North End" California, attorney, it saves your life. On July This tape covers operations on BC Rail lines north of A satellite-based Global Positioning System 30, Mary Dignan failed to look both ways Prince George leading to the mighty Peace River Coun­ try. Much has changed here in recent years. The six-axle will be installed by Virginia Railway Express in while crossing light rail tracks after a train ALCOs are gone, but the remaining four-axle ALCOs 14 of its locomotives and on 19 station plat­ passed and was struck by another LRV going make the North End their home.This tape shows trains on the Dawson Creek and Fort Nelson lines. and then 24 forms under a $1 million contract with Orbital the opposite direction. The impact sent her hours of action on the Chetwynd Sub north of Prince Sciences Corp. The company's OrbTrac 100 spinning to the pavement and knocked her un­ George. BC Rail's busiest line, all shot in July 1997. The electrics and trains into Prince George from the south are system includes vehicle tracking, digital cellu­ conscious. She was taken to the hospital also shown. 60 min. $25.95 lar communications, and a schedule adherence where she underwent a precautionary MRI to New "Wisconsin Central 1997" determination software package. Once Orb­ determine whether she had suffered brain This new tape on the WC concentrates on operations north of Stevens Point and on changes since our last look Trac is fully implemented in mid-1998, each damage. It turnedout she was not seriously in­ at the WC in 1995. This tape shows trains around Neenah, train will compute and record its position once jured by the LRV, but the MRI found a small on the Bradley sub across northern Wisconsin; the new every second and report to VRE's operations trackage around Escanaba, including the are line; the for­ tumor in her brain which, had it been left un­ mer GB&W line to East Winona, on the busy and con­ center at one- to five-minute intervals, deter­ treated, could have proved fatal. Doctors said gested Minneapolis and Superior subs. It concludes with mining on-time performance and enhancing Dignan's prognosis for a long life is now excel­ 24 hours of action around Junction City, a real WC hot spot, all shot in May 1997. 2 hrs., 23 mfn. $31 .95 emergency response capabilities. lent because the tumor was discovered at a very early stage. See the Latest Changes in New England WASHINGTON, D.C. Th anks to Dave Busse, Leo King, Steve The Tra ins of Northern New England 1997 Morgan, Philip We bb, and Va n Wilkins. This video shows what became of the B&M, MEC, CV, Rut­ Metro Progress land, and much more. All of the larger railroads in Vermont. New Hampshire, and Maine - New England Central; Guil· Julian Wolinsky ford's Springfield Te rminal, which operates the former MEC The final segment of the Red Line, from and B&M: Iron Road's Bangor & Aroostook and Canadian American; Vermont Railway: St. Lawrence & Atlantic; and Wheaton to the new Glenmont station in Green Mountain are covered in this video, including 24 hrs. Montgomery County, Maryland, is scheduled of action at many places, in early 1997. 160 min. $35.95 to open July 25, according to the Washington Two Spectacular New Conrail Tapes Metropolitan Area Transit Authority board. Conrail and GTW at South Bend, IN. This will be Metro's 76th station and will ex­ At South Bend, Indiana, Conrail's Chicago Line crosses tend the system by about 1.8 miles. Total cost the Grand Trunk Western main line. Conrail's Chicago Line is its busiest. The semi-autonomous GTW is slowly is approximately $250 million, 62.5 percent becoming part of the CN. Nearly 100 trains roll through the of which will come from federal funding. new track alignment at South Bend in 24 hrs. This tape shows all of the incredible action for 24 hrs. at South Bend Ridership at the Glenmont Station is expect­ in May 1997. Two tape set. 3 hrs, 45 min. $45.95 ed to reach 7,200 weekday boardings by the CR and UP Around St. Elmo, IL. year 20 10. St. Elmo in southern tllinois is where CR's St. Louis Line crosses UP's Chicago to Texas line. Run-through trains are interchanged there also. This video shows all the trains at St. Elmo for 24 hrs. in May of 1997. 92 min. $29.95 See Norfolk Southern's Busy Rathole New Book- Available Now! New 'The Tra in of the Rathole" Norfofk Southern's Rathole between Danville and Oak­ Moffa t! dale, Kentucky, is one of the best-known and storied lines Rio Grande-Southern Pacific-Union Pacific in the U.S . This fine is a funnef for trains between the Midwest and South and is NS's second busiest line. We West of Denver, Colorado caught all the trains on the Rathole for 24 hrs. around Burnside and the huge cuts on Greenwood Hill in Aprif By Gregory Monroe 1997. 119 min. $29.95 is a collection of impressive pot Moffa t! Cartersville. Georgia. miles north of Atlanta. is where BfW photos taken along the former the CSX lines from Nashville and Cincinnati to Atlanta join D&RGW Moffat Line over the last together. This single-track funnel is one of CSX's busiest lines and one of the most congested in the U.S. This tape twenty years. Anecdotes and stories shows 24 hrs. of CSX action around Cartersville in 1996. about Monroe's experiences photo 112 minutes. graphing the Moffat are included. rosse, WI" This tape shows 24 hours of fast-paced action on the for· mer CB&O, now BNSF speedway along the Mississippi 8 112 x 11 Hardbound Also available: River, south of La Crosse. Wisconsin, in September 1996. Nearly 40 trains a day. including CN overhead rights trains. 128 Pages, 200 BfW photos Western Maryland, Santa Fe, Southern. and a couple of BNSF trains behind C44-9Ws. in the new Write for Brochure. orange-and-green paint scheme, keep the rails along the Mississippi highly polished. 70 min. $25.95 *$41.95* • Wrap yourself up while you enjoy a book or video . • Hang it on a wall to add atmosphere to your favorite room. Colo- Residents add sales tax $3.10 • Use it as a throw on a bed or chair . BIG "E" Productions Dealer Terms are available • Take it on your next picnic or railfan excursion. • Keep one in your car. P.o. Box 75 Greenland, NH 03840 Fox Publications $29.95 plus $5.00 SkH. PA residents add 6% sales tax 800-832-1228 24 hours a day �" Checks payable to: � Visa, Mastercard, Discover Card, check, or P.O. Box 740655 Dept. R� INNOVATIVE RAIL WORKS M.D. Add $4 for shipping and handling plus $1 for each additional tape. All tapes shipped ARVADA, CO 80006-0655 211, Carlisle, Pennsylvania 1701 3-021 1 po Box by priority mail. VHS only.

RaiiNews-77 COMMEN TARY

The Last Word • • • With Ed Ripley

served repeatedly in this column, the Conrail split-up is unusual among merger proceedings in that it would increase rail competition in major markets Oiling the Squeak while allowing the surviving companies to reduce unit costs. For that reason, it's nearly impossible to find an industry pundit who doesn't think the trans­ action will clear regulatory hurdles easily. CSX and Norfolk Southern, though, seem to agree with the STB that no one is entitled to more than two competitive alternatives. On August J J, they took action to foreclose a third alternative­ Delaware Otsego Corporation, owner of the ew York, Susquehanna & Western Railway-in the New York City market. Teaming with DO President Wa i­ ter Rich, CSX and NS offered to take the publicly held railroad holding company private. While Rich would end up owning 80 percent of the company, the participation of both CSX and NS as J 0 percent in­ vestors signals that the Susquehanna's days as a mav­ erick transcontinental carrier are drawing to a close. Delaware Otsego has accomplished much since its ] 966 start as a two-mile Catskills tourist line op­ erating between the New York counties that form its name. In J 97 J, the company migrated to a J 6-mile former Delaware & Hudson branch that it operated as the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley, establishing headquarters in that upstate New York town. Acqui­ sition of other branches fo llowed as DO shifted its emphasis from passenger excursions (dropped after Mike Hoppe 1975) to freight. Then opportunity beckoned.

Susquehanna, owned partially by NS and CSX, is unlikely to cause any postConraii rumblings. THE NEW YORK , SUSQUEHANNA & WESTERN, even more so than Penn Central, was an example of bro­ ken-down northeastern railroading. The "Susie-O" he railroad industry has a time-honored strate­ "Suskie," or "Squeak" (take your pick), was the gy for dealing with competition: buy it. After smallest of the region's anthracite carriers when the T the Nickel Plate was completed along New Erie, in a classic buy-the-competition move, took con­ uying po­ York Central's Lake Shore main line in J 883, the trol in 1898. What Erie didn't foresee was the col­ Vanderbilts acquired the upstart road. The New lapse of the anthracite market. That, combined with Haven bought everything on rails in southern New the depression during the J 930s, landed NYS&W in Btential com­ England at innated prices, one important cause of its bankruptcy. The Squeak emerged from Erie's owner­ subsequent demise. In later years, 1988 to be exact, ship in 1940 after abandoning its way out of the fal­ petition is a Union Pacific took out its change purse to purchase tering Pennsylvania coal fields, investing instead in an the Katy and rid itself of what had been an aggressive entertaining variety of equipment to be used for com­ and pesky rival for grain traffic. muter service. However, that expired in 1966. railroad's nat­ Sure, each of these combinations and many more The Susquehanna of the 1970s was a wondrous like them resulted in economies of scale and more ef­ thing-wondrous that it still survived. The track was ural response ficient operations as inferior routes were downgrad­ so deteriorated that, if the engineering department ed or abandoned. But they also reduced competition laid on one more slow order, trains would only be al­ for shippers' business. Long ago, the federal govern­ lowed to run backwards. Indeed, the west end of the to perceived ment assigned the Interstate Commerce Commission railroad, from Butler (0 Sparta Junction, was shut the role of merger cop, giving it the power to disap­ down. Garbage crowded the right of way as the lo­ competitive prove combinations when loss of competition ex­ cals used the railroad as their town dump. Every ceeded operating savings. Thus failed Santa Fe's ef­ structure on the property appeared boarded up, beat fort to eliminate its ancestral adversary Southern Pa­ up, shot up. Trains? Once a week, maybe, a GP J 8 threats cific during the 1980s. would venture up the line from Little Ferry, plowing As the number of major railroads declined to less aside the weeds and junk to pick up or set out an oc­ than a dozen, the ICC was transformed into the Sur­ casional car to a benighted customer. face Transportation Board. The STB retains just a Just as Conrail was buying the neighboring Penn few of the ICC's functions, one of which is the merg­ Central out of bankruptcy in J 976, the Squeak was er cop. Over time, the STB relaxed its standard for fa lling in again. Three years later, frustrated creditors retaining competition to the point that as long as a were screaming for abandonment and liquidation of' shipper or community ha two rail competitors, the woebegone line. Delaware Otsego, though, had a there's no reason to give it any more. different idea. It plunked down $5 million to buy the Which brings us to the biggest question before railroad, taking it over in September J 980. the STB at this time, the proposed division of Conrail All along DO had said it would consider re-open­ between CSX and Norfolk Southern. As we've ob- ing NYS&W's west end if revenues justified the cost.

7a-November 1997 Soon two events tipped the scales toward reac­ While NS and CSX declined to comment ment of the redundant Tennessee Pass line tivation. First was Conrail's cutback of its route on their reasons for participating in Rich's puts an exclamation point on UP's strategy. system in the wake of the Northeast Rail Ser­ buyout, history has taught us not to be sur­ I n past years, there were too many rail­ vice Act of 1981. This made two former Lack­ prised. Buying potential competition, as we roads and too much track for any one or two awanna branches between Binghamton, Utica, said, is a railroad's natural response to per­ carriers to dominate their market by buying and a point near Syracuse, New York, available ceived competitive threats. And the big rail­ the competition. With tens of thousands of for purchase. Delaware Otsego bought them in roads' contributions toward this $34 million miles of track abandoned over the past 40 1982, along with trackage rights over Conrail's deal, $3.4 million each, are cheap insurance years, and all but a handful of Class I rail­ former Erie line to link them to the Sq ueak. against hostile action by the YS&W, either roads disappearing into today's giants, that's Now DO controlled over 500 route miles, vast­ in the Conrail split-up proceeding before the no longer true. We 're not arguing that all this ly overshadowing its humble origins. STB or thereafter. track should have been retained, since that Second was the advent of the doublestack would have been inefficient, but additional container car. Railroads serving the ew York THE PUBLIC POLICY IMPLICAT IONS OF TI-IIS Strat­ carriers operating on the present route system area, because of their age, had been built to egy, though, should be examined. Throughout would help keep the giants honest from a accommodate railroad equipment of the mid- the 1990s, we've lost secondary main lines pricing perspective. 19th century, which was far shorter than the that could have been transformed into new It's fair to conclude that CSX and NS aim 22-foot clearance needed for the tallest competitors. Consider: North Western's Cow­ to accomplish in the East what UP and BNSF stacked containers. Except the Erie. Initially boy Line could have become a third route in­ have done in the West: limit competitive al­ constructed as a six-foot broad gauge system, to the Wyoming coal fields, but C&NW and ternatives to two carriers. Given the strato­ the former Erie boasted generous clearances its future parent UP did everything they spheric price the railroads are paying for and could accommodate stacks with little could to kill the railroad and replace it with a Conrail's assets, CSX and NS have good (if added cost. nature trail. Farther north, Burlington North­ selfish) reasons to prevent a renegade The Susquehanna also had under-used ern acquired the former Milwaukee main Susquehanna-CP or CN combine from desta­ property at its Little Ferry, New Jersey yard across South Dakota, preventing Montana bilizing the potential post-merger rate struc­ that could be converted to an intermodal ter­ Rail Link from expanding east to the Tw in ture. There's not much affected shippers can minal. Sea-Land was interested, and in August Cities. Conrail fought a nasty, though losing, do about the DO deal. Since neither S nor 1985, YS&W teamed up with Delaware & battle to sever the Erie main line in north­ CSX will acquire control, it doesn't need to Hudson and Chessie System to provide twice­ west Pennsylvania and preclude its revival as be approved by the STB. But it may be good weekly stack train service for that ocean carri­ a New York-Chicago through route. Union public policy to rethink the two-is-enough er between Little Ferry and the West Coast. Pacific chose to vie with a single competitor rule for railroad competition and do some­ True stacks, that is, not the "filleted" trains of across the West by granting Burlington thing to encour age the continued indepen­ well cars with top containers removed that Northern & Santa Fe extensive trackage dence of lines such as the Susquehanna. By Conrail initially offered over the clearance-re­ rights in the Southern Pacific merger, rather oiling the Squeak, CSX and NS may be do­ stricted former ew York Central line. than parceling out duplicative track among ing more than they should to keep their cus­ several recipients. The expected abandon- tomers from making any noise. Rail 'ews BRAND-NEW STACK TRAINS ON AN OBSCURE New Jersey short line pulled by immaculate Alco lo­ comotives? Enthusiasts couldn't hide their glee, and the tale got even better in 1986 when NYS&W re-opened its rebuilt west end and a stretch of the old Lehigh & Hudson Riv­ "ELMIRA, NY • UNION er linking it with the Erie route. Though the STATION: THE QUEEN OF THE Alcos were soon displaced by secondhand SOUTHERN TIER" Burlington Northern EMDs, the stacks rolled byRichard Pedersen on, providing shippers with a competitive al­ ternative to Conrail, as well as endless enter­ Item ..-629 - 18 X 24 - $65.00 tainment for enthusiasts. Only a costly misad­ Add $4.95 S&H venture as designated operator of the D&H, which went bankrupt in J 988, marred the Susquehanna's operation of America's most celebrated container train line. Later, DO di­ versified out of the Northeast by buying con­ trol of the To ledo, Peoria & Western. PRR HORSE SHOE CURVE Conrail was smart enough not to squash WITH SEVEN STEAM ENGINES by Tony the modest competition provided by NYS&W, How. though it easily could have after clearances on Item ;t63 1-A 16 20 - $35.00 the former NYC were improved to accommo­ x date double stacks. When it's obvious to ev­ Item ..-63 1-8 11 x 14 - $30.00 eryone you have a practical monopoly in your Item #63 1-C 8 x 10 - $25.00 biggest market, a conspicuous though nearly impotent rival is Exhibit A of the proof you Add $4.95 S&H need to discourage regulators and politicians from tampering with the franchise. Norfolk Southern and CSX, though, appar­ ently don't see it that way. They'd prefer, judg­ ing from their actions, to co-opt the modest Susquehanna alternative by buying chunks of JELSMAGRAP HICS it, or enlarging its stake in CSX's case (CSX 1 ..800 ..49 4 ..35 13 already owns 6 percent of DO). Ownership by [.)j the big guys makes it unlikely YS&W will 2238 Winding Creek Lane • Jacksonville, FL 32246,4136 hook up with Canadian ational or expand its International Orders 904,221,3513 �. ' relationship with D&H, now owned by Cana­ Visit our website - http://www.jelsma.com dian Pacific, to provide the shipping public � • with a third New York alternative, should OVER 600 PRINTS AVAILABLE CALL FOR YOUR FREE CATALOG America's leading distributors of Qua/it), Railroad Art Since Conrail be divided between CSX and NS. 1985

RailNews-79 FOR SALE: Sterling Vicking II 300 h.p., 6 cyl. gas en· EXCHANGE gine with 550V DC generator circa 1920. Pulled from Classifieds Boston & Albany gas·electric railcar approx. 1946 and used to run trolley cars in Maine. eeds overhaul to run, have many spare parts, very rare. Contact Charley, VPE, SAME LOW PRICE: 4De a word/S ID per issue mini· Co. Inc., 244 Pleasant St., P.O. Box 1037, Berlin, MA mum. Payment in advance. II N reserves the right to ed· 01503. (508) 838·2484; fax (508) 838·2 146. it all copy and refuse any listings. Ads cannot be ac· knowledged, nor can proof copies be sent. Closing date: THE WESTERN RAtLROADER 1951 through 1984, 386 is· two months before issue date. Count all numbers, sues, only 10 missing, excellent condition, S250 o.b.o.; name, and address. Home/office street address and also bound vols. 21·22 (1958·59), S25 ea. Peter Hahn, UNION PACIFICR POWE telephone number must accompany order. Mail to: (702) 825·1 948. Historical Roster of Diesel, Classifieds, Pentrex Publishing, P. O. Box 379, Waukesha, WI 53187. STOCK CERTIFICATES, BONDS: 40·page list for Tu rbine and Electric Locomotives two stamps. 50 different, S25. 15 different railroads, $26. Clinton Hollins, Box 112, Dept. RD, Springfield, TRAINS OF SWITZERLAND MAY 3D·JUNE 14, 1998. VA 22 1 50·0 1 12. Volume 2: Six Axle Hi-Tech Discover the best of Switzerland via rail. Extended stays CHINA: Diesels 1986 - 1996 in Appenzell, Locarno, Montreux, and Basel. Spectacu· Tour Mainline Working Steam North American lar scenery, rides on mountain railways, lake steamers, style! 2·8·2s, 2· 1 0·2s, etc. Fully escorted; meals, train post buses. First·class Swiss rail pass included, fine ho· tickets, guides, great photo opportunities, airfare. We'll tels, fellow rail enthusiasts, includes air travel on make an effort to work with you, your schedule, wallet! SWISSAIR. Tra in tours for 17 years. We know the rails. Dec. 8· 16, Jan. 12·20. From $1,940. Information: K. Boyd Travelers Inc., 550 Frontage Road, Northfield, I L Patterson, 95 North Broadway, White Plains, NY 10603. 60093. (847) 446· 1850. Request a detailed brochure. (914) 428·0723, fax (914) 428·0723. E·mail: nycen· [email protected] 1998 FULL·COLOR New England Railroading Calen· dar features 12 (8" x 10") prints of regional activity @ SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RAIL GUIDES including S8 postpaid, also full·color frameable calendar prints Cajon Pass, Te hachapi. Also RR t·shirts, hats, photos, our choice 12/$2.50. Domestic orders only. Mystic Val· videos, books, timetables, etc. Visit our web site @ ley Railway Society, P. O. Box 365486, Hyde Park, MA www.samssteelrailswest.com. or send LSASE (0 P. O. 02 1 36·5486. Allow 2-4 weeks delivery. Box 59 1 17, Norwalk, CA 90652.

NEW ROCKY MOUNTAIN TIMETA BLE! Version 4 is FOR SALE: Standard·gauge wooden railway coach with fully revised, including all short lines plus B 'SF and inlaid mahogany interior. A truly unique piece of Ameri· UP/SP mergers. Including new merger rosters. Just cana. Ideal for tourist railway, a period motif, or resi· SI6.50. Timetables: CALIFOR IA SI7.50; PAC IFIC dence. Needs work, loving care, and a new home. For NORTHWEST (OR/WA ) $16.50; SOUTHWEST more information, contact Steam Associates, 190 Broad· (AZ/NM) $14.50; I TERMOUNTA IN (ID/MT/WY) way, North Attleborough, MA 02760. Tel/fax (508) by $15.50. Maps: ROSEVI LLE $5; WEST COLTON S5; 695·0998. both $8.50. Altamont Press, P. O. Box 754·P, Modesto, EXCURSION: San Diego Trolley, new Mission Valley Dick Winegar CA 95353·0754. Web page: http://aitamontpress.com Line, and East Line. Shop Tour. ovember 15, 1997. WORKtNG FOR THE CHESStE SYSTEM (railroad). Inside LSASE. Sponsor: San Diego Electric Railway Associa·

• Unit by unit roster of the newest UP story by retired AVP. 268·page hardbound. $14.75 to tion. Box 89068, Attention: RPS, San Diego, CA 921 38· Locomotives. Includes C&NW Vandalia, Box 8392, Huntington, WV 25705. 9068. Phone/fax: (619) 696·6724 (Jim). merged Locomotives.

• Unit by unit history including renumbering, rebuilding and disposition. everybody £gves Chessie!

• Complete UP roster for: Most items have special sale prices. April, 1996 The Chesapeake & Ollio Historical Society has a complete line of Chessie and C&O related merchandise. • Current C&NW renumbering The 1998 Chessie Calendar will feature • Spotting features - body panels, fa ns and pilots. Chessie and the Children; 11 great scenes from 1936-1958 showing Chessie and pages with even more photos. • 224 her favorite young people. This is one of the most nos­ Only $29.95 talgic calendars yet! Only Plus $4.00 shipping/handling $8.95 plus $3.00 Sill Order from: Other Chessie items include afghans, prints, carnival Willamette Falls Publications glass, porcelain figurines, dining car china, glassware, coffee mugs, 11831 S.W. 3rd metal signs and much more. Beaverton, Oregon 97005 Get a catalogue by calling 1-800-453-COHS Still available: Volume 1: Diesel Cabs $29.95 or by faxing/writing the address below. Plus $4.00 shipping/handling

ORDER FROM: C&O HISTORICAL SOCIElY, INC. DEPARTMENT RN P. O. Box 79 CUFfON FORGE, VIRGINIA 24422 Visa or Mastercard Orders Only Call 1·800-453·COHS (9am·5pm, Mon·Frj)

or Fa.x Credit Card Orders Anytime to (540) 863·9159 • Virginia Resident� Add 4.5% State Sales T:u; Foreign Orders Postage Extra Maximum Shipping and Handling for Single Order is $7.00 aO-November 1997 The late 1960's and early 1970's was a dom of the 60's while posing beside arriving depressing period for railroad enthusiasts. The trains. In addition to chasing the San sleek, streamlined passenger train was disap­ Francisco Chief, Virgil a professional historian pearing and the F7, America's most lovable was granted access to the Richmond round­ diesel engine which 20 years earlier buried the house. With his camera running, he captured steam engine, was itself becoming an endan­ the movement of engines about the facility and gered species. even rode the table as the "hostler helper" worked the controls. Unfortunately, during this In 1967 Virgil Staff observed the changes era the Alco PA locomotives were being and invested in a high quality, 16mm motion phased out. Determined to capture them, Virgil picture film camera. Using the same shot the engines pulling a Pacific Locomotive Kodachrome motion picture film used by tele­ Association excursion on what may have been vision news reporters and journalists in their final assignment. Vietnam, he and his wife LaVada set out across the Santa Fe to record the conclusion Nearly 30 years after being filmed, these of this historic period. priceless images are now available on video tape. Using advanced computer technology, In 1970 with LaVada operating a sound Icon Video Productions is able to release recorder and Virgil running the motion picture these films, complete with a new synchronized camera, the couple ventured across New sound track added from the original Santa Fe Mexico and Te xas, the only region of the sound recordings at an unbelievably low price. Santa Fe still running cab locomotives. Baking in the hot summer sun, they crossed the 40 Min, color #YSFR $24.95 desert in search of the remaining "Blue Bonnets."

Meanwhile back home in the San Francisco Order To ll-Free Bay Area, Virgil's favo rite Santa Fe passenger train, the San Francisco Chief was ending its 800-350-31 82 career. Religiously, Virgil chased the train with the aid of his wife who operated the sound Order online: http://trainorders.com recorder. On other days Virgil brought out his models who in their bikinis showed the free- Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Check or Money Order accepted. Shipping is $3 per order. California add 7.25% sales tax ($1 .81 ).

All videos are recorded in VHS hi-fi, NTSC (USA play­ back). Outside USA and Canada add $6 for the first tape, $4 each additional. Fax (805)241 -8868

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82-November 1997 cEE� DIESELS OF THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY by Paul K. Withers with Warren L. Calloway & J. Harlen Wilson When it was first published in 1987, Southern:A Motive Power Picforia1 1968- 1982 quickly sold out and became an eagerly sought­ after book by Southern Railway fans and modelers alike. Now, after 10 years and collecting photos from the southeast's premier railroad photographers, Withers Publishing presents a massive photographic study that covers all of Southern's diesels - from the carrier's first road freight diesel, the FT, and its classic slant-nose passenger diesels, to its final locomotive purchase, GE's B30-7 A 1 s. Southern and its subsidiaries operated a wide variety of makes and models - Alco DL-1 09s and PAs; Baldwin switchers; Fairbanks-Morse switchers and Train Masters; General Electric 44-, 45-, and 70-ton units; and EMD GP39Xs and GP40Xs - all are covered with a variety of roster and action photographs.

This heavily illustrated 360-page 8.5" x 11"vertical-format hardbound book includes more than 1 ,000 photographs. The cover features a specially commissioned painting by noted railroad artist Mike Pearsall. Includes a complete roster listing modifications, retirement dates, dispositions, and specifications for each locomotive operated by Southern and its subsidiaries. Price: $65.00 plus $5.00 s&h.

Train Master At the time of its introduction in 1953, the Fa irbanks-Morse Tra in Master was the most powerful single-engine road-switcher unit available to the railroad industry. Train Master

Marketed by FM as "the most useful locomotive ever built," the TM hauled Southern Pacific commuters up and down the San Francisco peninsula, moved coal on the Virginian Railway from West Virginia mines to Atlantic Oceanports, and pushed trains over the Appalachian mountains on the Pennsy. The 2,400-horsepower H24-66 lived up to its billing, but on a much smaller scale than that for which itsdesigners had hoped - 127 Train Masters were built for eight U.S. and two Canadian customers. 112 pages with 24 in color, 250+ crisp color and black·and-white photos, 8.5" x 11" vertical format on 80# heavyweight stock, four-color cover, perfect bound, price $29.95 plus $3.50 p&h

EM D's SD60 Series - Steppingstone to the 21st Century An in-depth look at the locomotive model that was the predecessor to today's SDBOMACs and SD90MA Cs.

Powered by an all-new 71 O-series power plant, the SD60 series helped EMD regain the momentum needed to compete in today's locomotivetechnology race. From the first SD60 built in 1984 to the final unit assembled in 1995, see many of the 1,096 SD60s in action, roster, and detailed views in this highly illustrated volume.164 pages, 250+ color and black­ and-white photos, 8.5" x 11" verticalformat on 80# heavyweight stock, four-color cover, 12 HO-scale drawings, perfect bound, price $29.95 plus $3.50 p&h.

GE's Dash 8 - C Series: The Diesel Era's Third Generation With this model, GE became the country's number-one locomotive builder.

In November 1 987, General Electric assembled the first locomotive of what many consider to be the third generation of America's diesel era. Painted and lettered for its owner, Union Pacific, the 391 ,OOO-pound giant introduced the latest in computer technology, coupled to a 4,OOO-horsepower, 16-cylinder prime mover. This highly illustrated volume covers all the six-axle Dash 8 owners (U.S. and Canadian) in action, roster, and detailed views. 120 pages, 250+ color and black-and-white photos, 8.5" x 11" vertical format on 80# heavy­ C-Liners weight stock, four-color cover, perfect bound, retail $24.95 plus $3.50 p&h

T(1lrbclnb·Aforse·s CoruoUdation Une qf!.oc:omotiues

C-Liners - FM's Consolidation Line of Locomotives We offer a salute to each of the seven U.S. and Canadian railroads that operated these distinctive streamlined units.

Between 1950 and 1·955, Fairbanks , Morse & Co. and Canadian Locomotive Co., under license from FM, built a series of locomotive models powered by 8-, 10-, and 12-cyllnder

vers ions of its famed opposed-piston diesel engine. Riding on B-B and B-AI A wheel arrangements, 165 C-Liners were built before market demand shiftedfrom cab units to road switchers. FM's P-12-42 model is also covered. 80 pages, 250+ co lor and black-and­ white photos, 8.5' x II' vertical format on 80# heavyweight stock, fo ur-color cover, perfect bound, price $22.95 plus $3.50 p&h. A NEW CANADIAN TRAIN ADVENTU RE

VIA RAIL:M PRESENTS CANADA'S BEST·KEPT SCENIC SECRET

Climb onboard the Skeena'·and prepare for a journey of the senses.

Travelling on a NEW daylight schedule, the Skeena retraces ancient native trading routes between Jasper, in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, and Prince Rupert on the Pacific Coast. Discover a land of natural beauty during the two day journey, stop overnight in Prince George, and then continue to wind your way through Canada's most dramatic mountain passes and pristine river valleys.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR TRAVEL AGENT OR FAX VIA AT: 1-800-304-4842

Whenever you are surfing the INTERNET be sure to visit VIA's World Wide Web site at: http.! Iwww.viarail.ca