News And Photos From Our American CRO Contributors.
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Steven Rathke Norfolk Southern Engineer Over the past 23 years, I must say the Railroad Gods have smiled upon me. I have been very fortunate to be a part of some unique projects, thereby running some very special moves. Although I receive the usual amount of ribbing from my coworkers, I consider it an honor to be selected for these trains and operate them proudly. Last summer, I was asked to be the engineer on an Operation Lifesaver Special. Being an OL presenter for 12 years, this was personally special for me. So far, I have struck three vehicles and one pedestrian behind the throttle over the course of my career. Sadly, the decisions these people made at the crossing costs three of them their lives. After experiencing my second fatality, I joined OL with the hope of educating the public and reducing these tragedies. Norfolk Southern is a very active sponsor of Operation Lifesaver. Several locomotives wear special OL paint schemes and are updated when the units get repainted. Normally, it is one these engines that leads these trains. For last years' move, NS allowed the #911 to be on the point. This unit is painted in a very unique scheme, honoring the work and dedication of first responders. It is also numbered to remind the public how EMT, police, and fire may be reached.
On August 6th, 2015, I boarded the #911 eager to run the four car "Pocket Streamliner" from Cleveland to Alliance, Ohio. After the trap doors were closed and and an air test completed, we backed out of Rockport yard towards the mainline. The dispatcher said we were waiting for an eastbound auto rack train to clear up before it was our turn. I took advantage of this brief delay and shot the picture above for posterity. During the trip, I was amazed by the number of small town volunteer fire departments that had brought a fire engine track side to watch our train pass by. It was touching to see men and women in uniform posing for a picture next to their equipment, hoping to get our engine in the photo. That got me thinking. This engine would be an ideal candidate for Toledo National Train Day. As a member of the Planning Committee, my responsibility is to bring in equipment that would be interesting for the public to view. Previous years' highlight locomotives have included the NS "GoRail", NS NYC Heritage, W&LE, Ann Arbor, and the Great Lakes Central engines. Last December, I made the initial request for the #911 with the motive power department. In late February, I received an email granting my wish. Norfolk Southern is graciously allowing the #911 unit to take a break from mainline service and will be on display for Toledo's 2016 National Train Day celebration.
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CSXT GP40WH-2 9969 (The only one on the CSX Roster), was shot by Thomas H Parker III at Manchester, GA on February 7, 2016.
Tommy also clicked CSXT 366 sporting the "Chessie System" nose Heritage decal
at Savannah, GA on February 22, 2016.
Mike Garza shot these good looking geeps of the regional Dakota and Iowa Railroad (DAIR 2501, and 2502), were each sent for work and full paint at National Railway in Dixmoor, IL last year. The results were impressive and NRE are now completing DAIR 2513, with photos coming next month in CRO.
NS 4000, one of the two (DC to AC) AC44C6M rebuilds at Chatanooga, TN taken by Mike Ray the last week of February 2016.
Noah Chappell shot the CSX OCS with lead F40PHR (CSX 9992) wearing the newest CSX paint scheme at Cullman, AL on Aug 11th 2015.
DLCX GP9 1319 and LSLX 1712 which is a Lone Star Locomotive Leasing GP9, Built by EMD as FEC 672 02-57 Builder #23134. They were shot in early March at CN Kirk Yard. (MS).
On March 5th, 2016 Kim Kafura shot train CN A447 with it: LSLX GP9 1712 (Lone Star Locomotive Leasing) enroute to Fond du Lac, WI on March 6th. It was built in 1957 for the Florida East Coast (FEC) as unit 672.
Dennis Weber found CSX C40-8 7578 leading a BNSF eastbound train in LaCrosse, Wisconsin back in March 2001.
A yard crew has boarded this BNSF Vancouver grain load at 11th Street and they are headed for the port. BNSF ES44AC 5817 is leading, with SD70ACE 8416 trailing and the DPU was BNSF C44-9W 4922.
George Manley caught Train 531 with Amtrak California F59's 2005-2013 leading four cars March 8th, 2016. About every other week, the "Capitols" sport a doubleheader and sometimes even the San Joaquins too.
On March 8th, Amtrak Train 36 with Amtk45 and Amtk121 expediting nine cars right on time through Rodeo, California.
At the same location same day, along came the Eastbound "Snow Ball Special", with two Amtrak Heritage units (Amtk 145 and Amtk 822), leading 14 cars and only running about 45 minutes late on this day.
On March 8th, George Manly caught UPEB 7796-4417-5251 leading the KOADU doublestack with DPU's 4934-7156 bringing up the rear. This double stack has been seen often running with the DPU's cut in about 28 platforms from the tail end.
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UPWB 2612-2607, a pair of brand new GE ET44AH's on the business end of train MRVSJ. This pair have wandered off the Eugene-West Colton (Los Angeles) power pool. |
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Mike Garza photographed CITX SD40-36058, which was completed and release at NRE Dixmoor, IL in late February.
CSX train X 115 was shot by Mike at Blue Island, IL February 19th, 2016.
The NS bottle train is carefully being moved with NS GP38-3 5807 at Riverdale, IL February 18th. This unit was rebuilt from former SOU GP50 7029.
Nice looking repainted NS SD40-2 3558 was on IHB trackage at Blue Island's on early February.
Indiana Harbor Belt Transfer (IHB GA11) is seen at Riverdale, IL with good looking repainted NS C40-9W 9598 hauling autoracks on February 20th.
BNSF train V-LPC-BLU is at Blue Island. These were taken on Feb.17th.
The latest Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad SD40-2 (SWP 3504) Was completed at NRE in Dixmoor, IL in late-February.
Brand new Union Pacific SD70AH locomotives completed at the EMD / Bombardier plant in Mexico, are shown factory fresh March 9th. Hugo Garcia submitted his shot of UP SD70AH 8997 and siblings being set off by Mexico Valley Terminal Railroad (FTVM) C30-7 #11015 for interchange. The new EMD's were picked up by KCSM, and were delivered up to the USA border crossing two days later. Union Pacific ordered the heavier EMD SD70AH locomotive model because heavier provides increased pulling ability. Modern freight locomotives produce enough torque in their electric motors to spin their wheels without moving unless they are heavy. The lighter EMD SD70ACe locomotives have a reputation for being a bit slippery, especially in wet trackage. The heavy SD70AH version does not have that problem, and the slight increase in fuel consumption for the the extra weight units is not really negligible, or a cost factor.
The power for the Chicago Ft. Wayne & Eastern railroad, which is one of the Genesee and Wyoming railroads, were shot at the Indiana Harbor Belt (IHB) Blue Island Riverdale Yard. They have operated out of there since the shortlines inception. Different units showed up from time to time and on this day, February 11th, 2016 Mike Garza shot Missouri and Northern Arkansas MNAR 3898 and former CP SD40-2 5597.
The UP made a move to WYE a new rebuilt Trans-Global Solutions (ECONO RAIL GROUP) ECRX MP15DC1546 (Ex-UP/MP) were clicked at Riverdale, IL on February 11th.
IHB train GA-11 with the BNSF 8043 is leading a train for the BNSF at Cicero Illinois, at Dolton IL.
CSXT train Q 161 with CSX 3319 leading at Blue Island on February 6th.
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An American Locomotive builder's photo of their new ALCO RS27 demonstrator #640-1 at Schenectady, New York taken around 1959. This late-era "Road Switcher" model wasn't very popular, barely selling a combined 20 units to the C&NW, PRR, SOO, and Green Bay & Western (UP acquired two of the demonstrators but soon sold them to MLW for resale). Too bad too, because looks-wise she was lovely!
Some examples of Chicago & North Western Railroad's rich Alco History!
C&NW 6702 (Alco C628) on July 28, 1979. (Photographer: D. Schmidt Charles Lahickey collection).
C&NW 4244 (Alco RS-32) at Dodge Center, MN on February 16, 1980. (Photograph by G. Powell from Charles Lahickey collection ).
C&NW 4251 (RS-11) at Tracy, MN in November 1977. (Photographer: G.A. LaPray from Charles Lahickey collection.
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C&NW 4247 (RS-32) at Waseca, MN on February 16, 1980. (Photographer: G. Powell Charles Lahickey collection). |
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Bill Grandin's Memories:
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Detroit Toledo and Ironton GP40-2 6413 sits on one of the CN diesel facilty tracks in Toronto, ON, on March 26th, 1986. |
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Wearing fresh Chessie System paint, C&O Slug 142T was shot in Russell, KY on October 24th, 1985. |
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On April 16th, 1986, brand new UP SD60 6071 was shot at C&EI / UP yard in Dolton, IL. |
Brand new NS SD60 6628 was shot in CN Toronto yard on April 23rd, 1986. |
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