110 replies to this topic

[Dave Crevie]

Of all the goofy crap that happens at this extended care facility, one of the other inmates, who is a long time rail fan, found out there was a train guy in room 210. So he payed me a visit this afternoon. He is trying to get together a group of us goofy old codgers to get a lift van to ride up to the station in Elmhurst, to watch 4014 come through, if it is scheduled to run through the Chi-town area. We'll see if I can make it. Hard to keep me away from a steam engine.

Thinking about this idea, I am reminded of the "field trip" from the movie "One Flew Over The Coo-coo's Nest". I think of the idea of half a dozen senile train crazies riding together in a van.

[Phil Hackett]

My sister's former house was at the base of the Keddie Y... she sold it over 2 years ago. It is very private because finding the driveway is difficult and very intimidating to go down.

 

When I first went to the house there was a train about every hour, 24 hours/day because UP was upgrading the Donner Pass to take the taller container trains. The BNSF is the other side of the bridge and both railroads share the track down to the valley. The BNSF trains were very slow and very heavy when crossing the bridge. You could feel the earth moving when the BNSF trains came through and they were s-l-o-w.

 

I would have loved to be there to see Big Boy from another angle (underneath). The westbound UP trains always waved back when we stood on the house deck and waved at them, something about naked hippies romping around the property made them look down at the house. They were surely disappointed to find no naked hippies (or anyone else) when she lived there.

 

This place was special not just because of the trains but because it had a magic feel to it. It was like being 100s of miles away from civilization but within 20 minutes of town (Quincy, California)... or 90 minutes from Reno, Nevada. Many good times were had there and train watching was one of the highlights of those visits.

 

Below is a screen capture showing the house, the deck over Spanish Creek next to the Keddie Y. It's at the lower left in the picture... the house is bigger than it looks.

 

 

 

[Dave Crevie]

Beautiful area. Did you see the Big Boy run over this bridge? I think the E-rating is not high enough. If I was mobile I'd go to see that.

 

Anyway, the latest info from the U. P. shows the route through the Chicago area is finalized.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attached Images

• 
• 
• 

[Phil Hackett]

Dave, no I didn't know that this locomotive was going through the Feather River Canyon. I do not know whether the new owners of the property have gated the driveway to the house. They are friendly towards our family and have invited us to "use the property anytime" but I wouldn't stay there because it would be a little weird and being there might attract unneeded attention.

[Dave Crevie]

If anyone is in the Minniapolis area on this date, it might be worth a lookie-loo.

 

 

 

They are lining up people to help with the off-season maintenance this winter. I sure wish I could join in. Not that many people around who know her as well as I do.

[Dave Crevie]

Well, it was here. And because I'm stuck in bed, I missed it. First run by is just East of West Avenue, then crossing the  plate girder bridge over Salt Creek. (you don't have to watch the diesel footage at the end)

 

 

https://youtu.be/b7K...EAmVMqjWbtaTfGV

 

 

 

This guy has some cujones! On the station platform in downtown Elmhurst; (please excuse the side bar, couldn't get rid of it)

 

 

https://youtu.be/b7K...EAmVMqjWbtaTfGV

[NSwanberg]

https://www.google.c...chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

The Allegheny is at the Henry Ford.

[NSwanberg]

Not that much to see here.

 

Big Boy 4014 Cab Tour!! (with Ed Dickens)

 

[Rob Voska]

[Rob Voska]

[Dave Crevie]

https://www.google.c...chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

The Allegheny is at the Henry Ford.

 

 

Any Allegheny's still running?

 

The film ran over these specs pretty fast. Here they are for comparison

 

 

 

 

So, as I expected, there are some differences between the Allegheny video and the NRHS accepted specs. And there are lots of videos saying the Allegheny is more powerful. In any event, I'd rather see them running.  Which is more powerful is not the top idea in my mind. All you really need is to stand 25 feet from the track as 4014 breezes by at 50 miles per hour.

 

Rob; Thanks for posting the video of 4014 on the East coast leg. Very historical since this is the first time it has been east of Chicago, ever.

 

cBy the way, restoration on the Challenger 4-6-6-4 3985 is going along in Silvis, Illinois. This is where the U. P. is now restoring their engines. There was a work slow-down when the FRA announced that steam powered excusions would no longer be allowed on common carrier trackage. But that seems to have relaxed some lately. Would be nice to see 3985 and 4014 double-heading on a train!

 

The 3985 comes over the UP west line. I was at the Grace Avenue crossing in Lombard, the last scene in the video.

 

https://youtu.be/dSK...bUFZ-IR76ME&t=8