Well now I am a little upset.

The Blue Circus Train went past Chesterton today and I missed it!!

One reason I joined the heritage units site was because you can get an e-mail of a sighting of any of their listed trains within 25 miles of a nominated point.

So I put down Chesterton and I did inf fact get an e-mail:



Now notice my subtle arrows pointing to the "Spotted time" and then the time I got the e-mail And of course the fact that the spotting was actually AT Chesterton, on the very web cam I use!!

Then just to add insult to injury 20 minites later I got another e-mail to say that it had been spotted 20 minutes ago 9 miles away in La Porte, heading east, heading AWAY from Chesterton!!

I think the system needs a bit of work.

As an occasional poster to that site myself, I can tell you that when you post something, you can adjust the time in your report. So it could be that the time in the report is accurate, but the report was not made until later, therefore you didn't get the notice until after the report was made.

MH may be the person who reported it at La Porte. He posted some pictures of it there.

---

David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

I have asked to conduct the CNW bilevels Saturday night, but I haven't heard back yet.

I heard back. I will indeed be the conductor. Easy job, just open and close the doors. Not sure if I'm doing anything during the day. On Sunday, I plan to go out just to foam. I "could" be available for service, though. The main thing I want on Sunday is to get a cab ride on South Shore 803, the Little Joe (the other Russian engine).

---

David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

So yesterday was a busy day for oddities at Chicago

Firstly the 29 had a fairly rare P32, well interesting enough to be featured on Heritage Units!!



513 Which I believe is in the Phase IV paint.

Then a long and odd looking train reversed down the wye, this is on the forward direction



Well another P32 and 512 to be exact!!, shows the different paint schemes quite well, but it was what was behind that was also interesting



Firstly a totally anonymous Amtrak California superliner coach. Then after two ordinary coaches



10404, which is now a "buffer car", apparently used when ferrying low and high level coaches to and from Beech Grove.

Perhaps a clues as to where this has come from??

Then a Heritage sleeper no less!



10021 Pacific Cape, last I can find is that after it was retired it was then used by the Amtrak's Office of Inspector General and renamed "Pacific Patrol"

That probably is out of date as it has reverted to it's original name.

Then my favourite



10031 Dome Lounge "Ocean View" which apparently is Amtrak's only dome! Which is a pity because I think it looks good in the Amtrak colours.

Then there were 3 ordinary baggage cars.



Odd train! I have been reliably informed that, as suspected it was from Beech Grove, and as usual arrived on the Cardinal, however as it was so long they separated the two and turned them individually, as they had #62 on the front.

P42 #62 has just be repaired after and "incident" in November last year.

However not sure why old baggage cars are coming FROM Beech Grove. I had expected with the new ones arriving the old ones would be retiring.


I was wondering what next when this came into view



Nothing too odd about that you might think, however look again and notice the diaphragm is too low down.

It is the first time I have see a "nude" transition sleeper. Used on long distance trains to connect to the low level diaphragm of a baggage car, so the crew have access.

Guess what was propelling this consist?



Well well, not one, not two, but 3 P32's. 517 making the trio.

Wonder what I will see today.

---

So yesterday was a busy day for oddities at Chicago

Firstly the 29 had a fairly rare P32, well interesting enough to be featured on Heritage Units!!



513 Which I believe is in the Phase IV paint.

That is correct.

Then a long and odd looking train reversed down the wye, this is on the forward direction



Well another P32 and 512 to be exact!!, shows the different paint schemes quite well,

That's phase V.

but it was what was behind that was also interesting



Firstly a totally anonymous Amtrak California superliner coach. Then after two ordinary coaches



10404, which is now a "buffer car", apparently used when ferrying low and high level coaches to and from Beech Grove.

Which simply means it doesn't have a diaphragm on at least one end, so that they don't have to worry about it interfering with a Superliner's diaphragm (IPH has at least once been charged for the full price of a new diaphragm, plus installation, after one of their cars damaged it; IPH said if they had to pay for it, they wanted the old one to see if they could repair it and use on one of their cars; I never heard how that came out).

Perhaps a clues as to where this has come from??

Then a Heritage sleeper no less!



10021 Pacific Cape, last I can find is that after it was retired it was then used by the Amtrak's Office of Inspector General and renamed "Pacific Patrol"

That probably is out of date as it has reverted to it's original name.

That hangs out in the Chicago yard a lot. I don't know if the IG actually uses it much, or at all, or why it would be going to Beech Grove and back.

Then my favourite



10031 Dome Lounge "Ocean View" which apparently is Amtrak's only dome! Which is a pity because I think it looks good in the Amtrak colours.

It is indeed the only dome they have left. It's a sister to IPH's Prairie View. It was in phase IV for quite a while, but they backdated it to phase III last year, I think. (Wish they hadn't painted the dome roof black, though.) I've ridden in it a few times, including behind MILW 261 in 1998 (I was a car host, and not in that car, so I could only stay for a few minutes).

Then there were 3 ordinary baggage cars.

All converted from Heritage Fleet coaches.

Odd train! I have been reliably informed that, as suspected it was from Beech Grove, and as usual arrived on the Cardinal, however as it was so long they separated the two and turned them individually, as they had #62 on the front.

P42 #62 has just be repaired after and "incident" in November last year.

However not sure why old baggage cars are coming FROM Beech Grove. I had expected with the new ones arriving the old ones would be retiring.

Same here. Maybe they're being moved to a scrapper.

I was wondering what next when this came into view



Nothing too odd about that you might think, however look again and notice the diaphragm is too low down.

It is the first time I have see a "nude" transition sleeper. Used on long distance trains to connect to the low level diaphragm of a baggage car, so the crew have access.

Go in that door, turn left, up a few steps, right, up a few more, right again, up a few more, and you're in the crew dorm section. Public sleeping space begins at the regular stairway in the middle of the car.

Guess what was propelling this consist?



Well well, not one, not two, but 3 P32's. 517 making the trio.

Wonder what I will see today.

And you got a UP coal train going up the Air Line, too. I'm not sure, but my guess would be it was going to Michigan City, IN, via the South Shore at Kensington Junction. If not, it's going south on CN, perhaps to Memphis or someplace like that.

---

David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Weekend at the museum.

Saturday, arrived about my normal time, 9:30ish. Did NOT sign in in the book like I normally would. After changing shoes and visiting the necessary, drove over to my usual parking spot of late at the east end of Barn 3. Found the crew caller there getting something from his own car. He asked if I could take 3142, since the person he had assigned to it turned out not to be qualified. I agreed, but said I wouldn't be in any hurry to get out, since I had a night job. He said that was fine. Just then, the switch crew told the dispatcher they wanted to take the silver cars (four stainless steel cars that look nice together) and park them on the Car Line next to Barn 9, for an hour or so. Great, even less incentive for me to get 3142 out.

I wandered over to the depot for water (there wasn't any) and then to the office to get the handles for 3142. Instead of signing in, I took my sign-in sheet for this month with me and went down to 3142 at the east end of Barn 7. Opened it up and inspected it, but didn't sign in until I put the pole up at 11:00. Before that, back to the necessary again (the necessary was necessary more than usual). Had to ask Track Department to move the tie crane off of my track (they were changing out ties under switches, which is a good thing). Lost the pole coming out of the barn (surprising, but it has happened before). Lost it again at the 73/74 switch (every time this year). To the Tail Track and reverse onto the Car Line, then normal rotation to Springfield Ave., pulling up behind 4391, which had already been waiting for half an hour for the silver cars to be moved out of the way. I joined 4391's crew for some chit chat about our predicament for another half hour or so. Meanwhile, the crew caller was also the conductor of the Zephyr, so he and his engineer were inside Barn 9 starting up 9911A and the Zephyr's HEP generators, doing a brake test on it, then cutting away and coming over to pick up the silver train to add in front of the Zephyr. Then of course, they had trouble with the brake test on the silver cars, but finally got them working and pulled down to back into the barn and get the Zephyr. At this point, all three of us (4391 is a two-man car) needed to visit the necessary again, and grab some lunch. The dispatcher allowed us to move up to Barn Nine North for that purpose.

But wait! The sitting isn't over yet. First, they had trouble coupling the silver cars to the Zephyr. Then, when that train finally pulled out to the main, 1630 was ready to come out. That also involves blocking the Car Line for a few minutes. Then we were finally cleared to start rotation.

Meanwhile, BN-1 had taken the coach train out for a mainline run, just so something would be moving. 1630 had to wait on the West Wye for it to come back. Once the train unloaded, the dispatcher cleverly had BN-1 back the train out west and cut off, then head back to the yard, and 1630 ran down and coupled onto it there. Also, a three-car CA&E train and a two-car North Shore train had come out and were working on the main.

Okay, I already had a three-hour break in the middle of writing this. Now it's time to go home, so I will continue the story there.

---

David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

So where was I? Oh yeah, the necessary.

We finally started running around in circles some time after noon. (Meaning I might as well have waited until noon to sign in and bring the car out of the barn.) Ran for a couple hours and had to visit the necessary again (unusual amount, especially since I wasn't drinking much). Dispatcher said to park it in the west wye to get out of the way. Another guy helped me with it, changing the poles and guarding the car while I was gone. Later in the day, he took it for a couple laps while I visited the necessary again. At some point, 141 had also come out of Barn 4 west and started circling too.

[edit]
Forgot to mention: I lost my pole no less than EIGHT TIMES over the course of the day. That's a lot.
[/edit]

[edit 2]
Make that NINE times.
[/edit 2]

Along toward 5:00 or so, 4391 went to bed. I asked if I could too, but one of the mainline trains was just returning and the dispatcher wanted me to see if I got any passengers for one more lap. Yup. Meanwhile, Track Department wanted to bring a track speeder out and run around the Car Line. I ran my lap and pulled forward so 141 could unload behind me at Depot Street and back into the barn. But I couldn't go to bed yet because the Zephyr was blocking Car Line Junction. The North Shore and CA&E had gone to bed, as had the six-car L train I forgot to mention earlier. 1630 had cut off on Station Track 2 and brought the engine around to the West Wye so they could keep an eye on it during dinner, so the Zephyr had to unload on Track One. Then the switch crew came back on duty and pulled the silver cars off the Zephyr and added them to the coach train, but also removed other cars from it and took them to Barn 3.

Finally, I got to the Tail Track (Track Department reset the switch for me) and changed the poles. But I couldn't go back to track 74 because other Track guys had parked a machine on it again. They were agreeable to moving it, but debated for a couple minutes where to put it. Finally got into the barn (where I stopped a tad short of where I should, but not bad enough to do anything about). Closed it up in good, if not record, time. Put the handles away, visited the necessary to wash my hands, and finally got my dinner. They bring in someone to barbecue chicken and pork chops for this event. It's good.

Took my time eating, hit the necessary again, and wandered out to my evening train, the bilevels. Found my trainman and his girlfriend there. Managed to climb on board, which surprised me. I didn't think I could do that high a step off the ground. Waited. And waited. And waited. Listening to the radio, switch crew still at it. They finally finished and I called out to my engineer. He said he was on his way. Meanwhile, trainman had shown me how to cut out the doors so they would open manually, and between doing that repeatedly and using the buttons to open and close them repeatedly, they stopped working. When engineer showed up, first he turned on the air conditioning, then started working on the doors. He finally decided there probably just wasn't enough air in the train to work them. Kept nagging me to keep the interior doors closed to save the AC, even though it was rapidly getting colder outside than in. I installed new light bulbs in the cab car vestibule while he fiddled with the doors. He tried to set up the air from the cab car, but he had to go to the engine to do it before the doors finally worked. Then he had to call over the head of the Diesel Department because he had an alarm in BN-3*. He poked at it with test leads for a while and finally got it working, and we called the dispatcher to say we were ready. Then of course there were switches to handle to get out of the South Yard Connector (where it was parked) and into the West Wye so the train would be pointed the right way (it's a bidirectional train with cabs at both ends, but we like to run it with the cab car leading east). I restored the first switch and got on while trainman did the second switch. Then he couldn't get it to lock again. Finally, I asked the dispatcher for permission to leave it unlocked. Granted. We pulled west, engineer changed ends, we went into Track 1 and loaded.

Once more to the necessary and we headed out. I alternated between looking out the front door (the railroad looks different at night) and resting my aching feet. We got back and the dispatcher wanted to send us right out again. Whoa! I'm out of time here. It's now past 10:40pm. Recall that I signed in at 11:00am. We are under FRA regulations for Hours of Service. Problem was, conductors with time left were getting to be in very short supply. After discussion, we determined that the bilevel train really only needs a body to open and close the doors, and the engineer is really in charge. We made the trainman the new "conductor" (I think he's rules qualified, but he's not qualified as a tailhose conductor, but there's no tailhose to do on the bilevels). The dispatcher told him he could do it, but he could not give the engineer orders. I got my stuff off the train and signed out at 10:45, with 15 minutes left to work. As much as I would've liked to take a ride on the coach train (a very cool experience last year), I was too tired. I went home.

*Why do we use BN-3 on North Western cars? Because the HEP engine's radiator in C&NW 411 froze a couple winters ago and leaks like a sieve. BN-3's HEP works just fine. The bilevels are going to be used for Happy Holiday Railway this December (instead of the L train). Diesel guy says he will keep BN-3 inside the heated shop, at 70F, so nothing will happen to it. (Back in the day, the railroads just kept them running all night and all weekend so they wouldn't freeze. We can't afford that much fuel (or antifreeze). Nowadays, Metra's engines have heaters to keep them warm when they are plugged into HEP shore power in the yards.)

---

David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Sunday: slept late, dressed in a normal shirt instead of museum uniform.

Y'know what? This story will be better told with pictures, and I don't have access to them at the moment. So I'll recommence boring you to tears tomorrow night.

---

David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Opponents Call For More Transparency On The Dallas-To-Houston Bullet Train

The proposed bullet train between Dallas and Houston survived multiple hits in the Texas Legislature earlier this year. Now, the private company building the train is chugging forward with plans to be up and running by 2021. However, opponents are still working to kill the project.

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I just read the email now. Apparently, yesterday's 6 had 657 and today's will have 658. I see it's an hour and a half late out of Osceola, IA.

---

David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Sunday: slept late, dressed in a normal shirt instead of museum uniform.

Y'know what? This story will be better told with pictures, and I don't have access to them at the moment. So I'll recommence boring you to tears tomorrow night.

I haven't uploaded (or even looked at) my pictures yet, but here are someone else's great shots from Saturday. One of them has me in it.

And here is a beautiful video shot from a drone out at Seeman Road. There are a lot of other videos on Youtube, too.

---

David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Across the USA by Train for Just $213

Turns out, you don’t need a car to see America.

Traveling coast-to-coast across the United States by train is one of the world’s greatest travel experiences. Amazingly, it’s also one of the world’s greatest travel bargains — the 3,400-mile trip can cost as little as $213.

The American railroads are reminiscent of a bygone era. These were the trains that tamed the Wild West, fueled the Gold Rush, and served as the backbone of the Industrial Revolution. At its peak, it was the most luxurious mode of transportation that money could buy. Alas, the golden age of American railroads came to an end. Automobiles arrived and the airplane industry took off. Soon, many railroad companies had to cut losses and ceased their passenger services.

NOTE: There are also some great photos in this article!

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I haven't uploaded (or even looked at) my pictures yet, but here are someone else's great shots from Saturday. One of them has me in it.

And here is a beautiful video shot from a drone out at Seeman Road. There are a lot of other videos on Youtube, too.

What impressed me was the amount of equipment you have there actually working, it must cost a bit to keep it all going!!


I have had a couple of days away visiting my dad, and been totally without the internet!!

So I am now getting my fix of the cams again!

Just before I went I did manage to catch the arrival of ACS64 #657



However #658 came whilst I was away.

Today Amtrak 49 is just getting later and later currently over 4 hours, so whilst waiting I have seen a couple of interesting loco's passing Chesterton.

First was NS8098 C40-9W Conrail Heritage unit.



Then a very interesting consist

After a tatty NS lead loco and a slightly better BNSF one came this



The white marking says PRLX or Progress rail 8122 an SD60M. Progress rail seem to be an off shoot of Caterpillar and EMD.

This was followed by



NS 5301 Which seems to have been an eco test unit at one time, note the large white notice on the front. It hasn't been re classed and is still a GP38-2

Then NS 8502 (also with the notice)



Which if you look up says it is a C36-7, which this is not, a little further digging reveals this was originally NS 8311 and is now a C40-8.5W rebuilt and renumbered.

And finally



NS 4704 was GP 50 7020 now a GP33ECO, it say the conversion was only completed this month also on the NS roster it says

"Units 4700-4704 funded with federal and state grants and will be assigned to use in the Chicago, IL area."

So looks like it was a delivery from Altoona works to Chicago.

Nice train :-)

---

I haven't uploaded (or even looked at) my pictures yet, but here are someone else's great shots from Saturday. One of them has me in it.

And here is a beautiful video shot from a drone out at Seeman Road. There are a lot of other videos on Youtube, too.

What impressed me was the amount of equipment you have there actually working, it must cost a bit to keep it all going!!

Yes, it does! And it's all donations and gate receipts, too. No government funding. (Maybe the occasional grant for a specific restoration project.)

Today Amtrak 49 is just getting later and later currently over 4 hours, so whilst waiting I have seen a couple of interesting loco's passing Chesterton.

First was NS8098 C40-9W Conrail Heritage unit.

Ah yes, I heard that was coming today. I thought about going into the city to see it, but I forgot. I need to shoot it out in the open; I've only seen it inside Union Station, which is both dark and confining.

I understand there were three PVs on 6 today and will be three more tomorrow, all gathering for the AAPRCO convention trip on Sunday. Also, I believe 156 was coming in on either 29 or 49, either today or tomorrow. (I'm too sleepy to go back to Facebook and check. I'm sure heritageunits will say.)

---

David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

I haven't uploaded (or even looked at) my pictures yet, but here are someone else's great shots from Saturday. One of them has me in it.

And here is a beautiful video shot from a drone out at Seeman Road. There are a lot of other videos on Youtube, too.

What impressed me was the amount of equipment you have there actually working, it must cost a bit to keep it all going!!

Yes, it does! And it's all donations and gate receipts, too. No government funding. (Maybe the occasional grant for a specific restoration project.)

Today Amtrak 49 is just getting later and later currently over 4 hours, so whilst waiting I have seen a couple of interesting loco's passing Chesterton.

First was NS8098 C40-9W Conrail Heritage unit.

Ah yes, I heard that was coming today. I thought about going into the city to see it, but I forgot. I need to shoot it out in the open; I've only seen it inside Union Station, which is both dark and confining.

I understand there were three PVs on 6 today and will be three more tomorrow, all gathering for the AAPRCO convention trip on Sunday. Also, I believe 156 was coming in on either 29 or 49, either today or tomorrow. (I'm too sleepy to go back to Facebook and check. I'm sure heritage units will say.)

Hopefully CSX and NS don't have a Conrail unit like this, in the same number, it would be KAOS! LOL!

---

The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

I haven't uploaded (or even looked at) my pictures yet, but here are someone else's great shots from Saturday. One of them has me in it.

And here is a beautiful video shot from a drone out at Seeman Road. There are a lot of other videos on Youtube, too.

What impressed me was the amount of equipment you have there actually working, it must cost a bit to keep it all going!!

Yes, it does! And it's all donations and gate receipts, too. No government funding. (Maybe the occasional grant for a specific restoration project.)

Today Amtrak 49 is just getting later and later currently over 4 hours, so whilst waiting I have seen a couple of interesting loco's passing Chesterton.

First was NS8098 C40-9W Conrail Heritage unit.

Ah yes, I heard that was coming today. I thought about going into the city to see it, but I forgot. I need to shoot it out in the open; I've only seen it inside Union Station, which is both dark and confining.

I understand there were three PVs on 6 today and will be three more tomorrow, all gathering for the AAPRCO convention trip on Sunday. Also, I believe 156 was coming in on either 29 or 49, either today or tomorrow. (I'm too sleepy to go back to Facebook and check. I'm sure heritage units will say.)

Hopefully CSX and NS don't have a Conrail unit like this, in the same number, it would be KAOS! LOL!

That is NS's Conrail heritage unit.

Two or more railroads can have the same numbers on their locomotives. The reporting mark is what distinguishes one from another. The above is officially NS8098.

Actually, there's a good story there. When the deal was made for Conrail to be split between NS and CSX, CR started changing the reporting marks on all its equipment to its main predecessors, NYC and PRR; CR still owned both marks. Then, on the day the split was effective, all the NYC cars and engines became CSX property and all the PRRs became NS property. Each of them then changed all the marks again to their own (although there are probably a lot of cars out there still carrying the old marks).

---

David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Speaking of Conrail, CR 4601 has finally made it to Harrisburg.




It is en route to Altoona for cosmetic restoration to CR, then to Union, IL where I hope we will put it inside a barn.

---

David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Certainly seems like 4601 need a bit of TLC :-)

Well after having nearly finished this post yesterday complete with pictures and info and for no good reason closing my browser!! This will possibly be a bit shorter!! And created in Word so I don’t lose it again!

Well I recently complained about Heritage Units sending me an e-mail about a sighting at Chesterton long after the event, well yesterday it was a reversal of roles. I got an e-mail to tell me Amtrak 156 was 0 miles from Chesterton, which I of course knew as it was my spot they were e-mailing me about!!


So the parade of Private Varnish continues.The Lake Shore Ltd (29) on Thursday had these two



The Milwaukee Road – “Wisconsin” and one other I was unable to identify.

The California Zephyr (6) did indeed bring three PV’s



The Canadian National - Burrard



The Central Pacific – Promontory Point



And another I could not identify.

Then yesterday the 49 brought two more.



That was the best shot I could get because unusually they were removed from the consist before it was turned on the wye.

Then yesterday the 6 brought two more.



The Pacific Sands



And the fittingly named American Railway Explorer – Kansas

Finally not to be left out the Southwest Chief (4) also brought one.



Which again I could not identify.

The reason for all this PV activity is American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners or AAPRCO for short is holding its 2015 convention.

Early tomorrow a large number of PV’s will set off on the convention train hauled by two or more Amtrak locos from Chicago, they will travel to Cincinnati, Louisville and finally to St Louis.

The whole train will return to Chicago on Monday the 5th October and if the route stays as planned it should pass the Chicago camera. That would be a sight!!

---

2105, hmm, that's going to be a while.

Nice pics Bernie.

---

The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

2105, hmm, that's going to be a while.

Nice pics Bernie.

Ooops!!

Thanks, dogey finger work corrected.

I will add this as I have just witnessed it. There has been some discussion as to the length of freight trains in the US and Canada and I think this just about sums it up.



NS 5648 (rebuilt GP38-2) and NS 3067 (ex Conrail CR3399 GP40-2) haul what must be the er.. shortest freight I have seen!! Not often there are more locos than wagons!!

Also something only related to trains because it is on camera.

Every Saturday Chesterton hold some sort of market, and the place fills up with cars everywhere, I noticed a couple of weeks ago this nice old truck turns up, today I remembered to get a screen shot.



Finally I lost this pic yesterday having saved it in the wrong place, but an old friend dropped by the Chicago cam yesterday.



Yep CNW 8646 this time not with 8701 but UP 4009

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