News Briefs - July, 2003
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More on stolen train horns...
Dave Eubank sent a note to say that earlier this month, a Kansas City locomotive refurbishing shed lost 30 airhorns off locomotives at a value of $600 each. He says that truckers on the web have talked about stealing them for their rigs. So... maybe they don't always to to railfans after all.
E&LS Bridge Fire...
No one was injured in a fire on the train bridge over the Menominee River in East Kingsford Wednesday (7/23). Two juveniles reported the fire at 3:00 p.m. to a nearby home, who notified 911. A local resident used a fire extinguisher to extinguish the fire before the fire department arrive. Ten railroad ties will need to be replaced. The fire was located in the middle of the bridge, which crosses the Michigan-Wisconsin boundary waterway. The bridge is a popular swimming area for youths. The railroad coes not believe the fire was caused by their trains, and officials believe the fire is suspicious. From Iron Mountain's Daily Journal.
Changes on National Steel trains...
Michael Koprowicz reports that following the recent takeover of National Steel, U.S.S. is making their image on the DC railroad. Badly neglected from paint, old engine #60 has been repainted into USS Great Lakes Works colors. they are nearly identical to the DCRR and the unit was repainted at the DC shops in vibrant blue paint ith a yellow striped pilot and handrails. The unit has white lettering. The current National Steel roster is as follos:
| 46 - SW-9 | 52 | 59 SW1200rs | 63 SW1200 |
| 47 - SW-9 | 53 | 60 SW1200rs | 206 SW8-645 Engine |
| 48 | 54 | 61 SW1200rs | |
| 51 | 55 | 62 SW1200rs |
The railroad will be adopted and operated by USS adorned with the
attractive new blue scheme. It will also be interesting to see how the
railroad is maintained under new ownership. All in all, this is good to
see the RR continue to operate as opposed to bringing in a 3rd party
rental company.
E&LS preps SD40-2's...
The Escanaba & Lake Superior has received two leased SD40-2's which came in to the Escanaba shops this week. They are currently being prepped for use. The units are GATX 7349 and EMD 6306. From Greg Bunce.
More "Drone" units at Rougemere...
CSX "Drone" remote control rebuilds continue to build up at Rougemere Yard in Dearborn, Michigan. Currently, six such locomotives can easily be seen. These include #9302 at the CSX Yardmaster's Building, #9301, 9245, 9244 and 9242 are together along Wyoming Avenue near Salina School, and #9162 is on the Eagle Street overpass. Also, CSX SD40-2, #8889, has been making recent appearances. This is a locomotive acquired from Conrail, originally built for the Erie Lackawana in 1972 as an SD45-2. It still sports large fans, extended range fuel tank and cab-side horns, although it is now classified as a SD40-2 on the CSXT. From Nathan Nietering at the Chessie Chapter.
DT&I Wyandotte freight house for sale...
Shawn O'Day reports that there are for-sale signs up at the old Detroit, Toledo & Ironton freight house in Wyandotte. Currently, there is a HVAC company operating from the building.
GTW Railroad Police no longer...
The Canadian National has
completely taken over the police operations of the Grand Trunk in
Michigan. Special Agents of the former Grand Trunk department now wear
shoulder patches and stars not shields (badges) that identify them as
Canadian National Police. Gone are the familiar MSP style badges and
shoulder patches that identified them as members of the Grand Trunk
Railroad Police Department. In addition to the changes to their
uniforms, marked patrol cars have had the GTPD decals removed and
replaced with door decals that identify the vehicle as being from the
Canadian National. Interesting to note that on the cars assigned to
Michigan the federal eagle appears in the center of the door decal.
From Anthony Rzucidlo.
B.O.L. (Be on the lookout) for horns...
BRIDGEPORT, N.J. - Four locomotive air horns were stolen from an SMS Rail Lines operation at the Pureland Industrial Complex sometime between Friday, June 27 and Monday, June 30, according to Jeff Sutch, president of SMS Services. The horns, mounted on three of the company’s Baldwin switchers and road-switchers, plus an EMD SW9 owned by the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey, were welded on, said Sutch. Considerable damage to the cab interiors was also done during the theft, and the top of the cab of one of the AS616’s was also dented. He estimated the damage to the units, not including the value of the horns, to be about $5000, adding that the thieves probably broke the horns while removing them.
Sutch said the units are inside a facility surrounded by a 10-foot-high
fence. Other locomotives on the property, not in service and stored in
other spots, were not damaged as their horns had been removed and placed
in a secure area. The purloined horns include a Leslie 200, a
Leslie SL3a, a Nathan P-5, and a Nathan M-3. Sutch said the
company will still be open to railfans and urged anyone with information
to contact him at (856) 467-4800.
NYC Jet Powered Budd Car Engineer to speak...
Mr. Donald C. Wetzel, chief pilot of the M-497 Jet Train in 1966, will be making two short presentations about the preparations and the runs. He will have a slide show. The presentations will be held at the Agricultural and Industrial Power Museum, 325 S. Broadway, Butler, Indiana. [Butler is just a few miles south of the Michigan line]. Times: Fri., July 11 at 4:00 pm, and Sat., July 12 at 1:00 pm. Times are never-changing-Indiana-time (Chicago is the same time now; Ohio is one hour later). Please contact me off-line if you have any questions. Craig Berndt cjberndt@yahoo.com
Steam Railroading Institute begins construction...
The Steam Railroading Institute has begun construction of a turntable pit and temporary engine house at the site of the former Ann Arbor Railroad shops at Owosso. The site, normally open to the public for visits to Pere Marquette steam locomotive 1225, is closed to visitors due to construction. Excavation began Thursday, June 26, with the contractor's heavy equipment arriving Tuesday, July 1. The Institute's goal is to complete the turntable and associated trackage, a 120' X 50' shelter for Locomotive 1225, and a visitors' parking lot reached by local streets south of the T&SB Railway main line, by the end of the 2003 construction season. Funds are still being solicited to cover the cost of these improvements.