9 / 18 rail

[Sinifar]

Well you didn't say no, so I'll post out another set from Sunday -- A few of the Dupy gang were out, and you will see one of them - our Fearless Leader -- Ron who own the web site we post on. (membership only- sorry) There was a problem and Ron and Keith went over to shoot the engine change, I don't have the photos yet -- so in some kind of order was yesterday's shoot ...





8 eastbound, with Ron in the frame ...



199 racks and stacks heading for St. Paul...



C260 southbound



AND it's trailer ---


This is 299 and this is where the day got interesting. We thought that he was coming up the sub-continental divide a bit slow, but until he called the dispatcher we were not sure what was going on. Low water alarm on the trailing unit -- the conductor went back, on a rolling train to check the engine room and found no leaks, so where was the water going? The diesel doctor thought it might be a blown head gasket on one or more cylinders and they shut it down mid hill climb. That left one SD70 to pull the whole thing. As the consist came by Dupy we could smell very hot electrics as the thing was straining, Ron thinks in the 6th notch to get the train to Pewaukee. That is the only passing section long enough for this train.



351 was coming from Portage, light with two locos -- and had holed up at Nashotah for 7 to pass. Yup the clock is now running. Dispatch held 7 at Milwaukee to complete this one. They pulled the lead off 351, and patched it to 299, then shoved the original SD70 back on the lead, then the trailer from 351 ran like MAD to clear the Dupy crossover ahead of 7 ... 10 miles from Nashotah to Pewaukee ....

While they were discussing this whole thing 260 came by ..



Since the main line was blocked with the 351 / 299 mess the CN got one thru ahead of Amtrash ..

C470 Coal drag



The other half of 351 running ahead of Amtrash - to clear the Dupy cross over ..



7 a bit late but after crossing over from Main 1 to Main 2 was rolling ...



You notice int he background that parked train on Main 1 - that is 299 and it sat there until 7 passed and they got air up and everything ready to roll ...

C119 on the CN -- stacks



AND now it was time for dinner, and I headed home ...

Hope you enjoyed the train chase, and when Ron gets the photos up of the engine swap 351 / 299 I'll post those ...

Enjoy

Sinifar

[GWiens2001]

Love these pictorial trips down to the railways. Thank you.

Gordon

[Sinifar]

Glad you like them, I can keep on from my weekly rail shoots. Usually the gang is out afternoons around here, mornings are the pits, but the traffic picks up about 12:30 -- so Saturday and usually Sunday the gang is over at Marjean tracking the ATCS and following rail radio. One of these days I need to either find my old shot of the car set up or make a new one.

Duplainville USA, where the two Canadians meet. Old Milwaukee Road / Soo Line junction. If you are looking for it on a map, try Waukesha and then go north about 6 miles to where you see the "tracks" on the map, then follow the "tracks" north from Waukesha and where they meet is Duplainville. Quad Graphics has a super large plant here (printing) and tons of industry is in the area.

If you come to the area, call me first and see if I am going out, there might be some room in the Focus for you on the passenger side, if you don't mind a computer in your face.....this one here I am working on is out in the car then, and on a "desk" sitting in front of the car radio - the rail radio sits on the driver's side clipped to the vent, so when the window is open you can hear it outside the car. We have 110 volt power on board to run the puter and power the rail radio, so no batteries needed.

If you bring a camera, make sure the thing is charged the night before, and if you have a spare battery and SD card it will help, one never knows how long these things can go on. Usually from noon until dark lately, or the trains are off the dispatchers sheet. You would hate to have a road trip spoiled by faulty equipment, or sudden failures.

AS far as where we would be going, Dupy! of course, and all over the short area around here, with a possible trip to Butler / Sussex to catch something on the UP Adams Division.

IT has been extremely slow, and busy at times. We are out in all four seasons, yup - freezing in the dead of winter, you get some of the best shots in the middle of absolute zero! Look at the "process" photos and you will see the first tracery of fall color just starting in the tree tops.

One never knows what is coming - it could be "red junk" on the CP or some foreign power -- we see a lot of CS and IC around here with BNSF tossed in and the odd KCS and UP not on the home road. Blue birds are common as leased units and one sees them from time to time.

Just a hobby, something to do besides sit down here and work the trade!

Sinifar