Some of us get a real charge out of those Milwaukee Road pictures, one of my two hometown roads (the other being the CGW). This S-12 is one of the two I used to watch (the other being #910) from the pedestrian bridge on the left (we used to call it the "overhead bridge") switch cars. This picture was taken about 10 years later in about 1972 - 1974 from when I was watching and shows a bit more wear and tear. All gone, now. Doug
Simply 'Grande! Short passenger train behind a PA-1 with the ex-C&O dome is either Royal Gorge or Yampa Valley Mail. The odd dome didn't serve the Yampa Valley Mail until the end. Says Colorado, 1964; the mountains are pretty far from the tracks, so it seems this isn't Salida. The larger yard doesn't indicate Steamboat Springs (Yampa Valley Mail). I cannot see the depot, but I wonder if this is Colorado Springs. If so, this is the Royal Gorge.
Found at Danbury, CT on 11/19/1988 was a former New Haven EMD FL-9, one of 60 built between 1956 and 1960. They were designed to operate as a diesel or as an electric via a third rail, so as to be more easily deployed across New Haven lines. Note that the front truck has two axles and the rear three, a B-A1A arrangement. Note also the Hancock air whistle. A number were rebuilt in the '80s and '90s, including the 2006 (originally New Haven 2026 I think) which is now preserved at the Danbury Railway Museum.
From 03/11/1990 on the south end of the Rathole at Evensville TN, NS C30-7 8027. Deep in the Rathole at Nemo TN a few days later, radio controlled mid-train helpers dig in. SOU/NS used home-built radio control cars as seen ahead of the second unit.
CP used remote control cars, too. I guess they used a dedicated car because all the required equipment wouldn't fit in the locomotive carbody. What all is installed?
Its kinda funny isnt it? I mean we used to take videos with a camera the size of a suitcase, with a tape that was huge. Now our camera can be smaller than a pack of cigarettes, with a memory card the size of your thumbnail. Just think what it will be in another 40-50 years huh?
CP did have specialized "Robot Cars" made from extensively modified and de-engined EMD F booster units. At least we aren't covering our heads anymore with a black cloth and using some kind of explosive as a flashbulb... In another 50 years? Phones - and their cameras - will grow to the size of actual dinner plates and have no less than a dozen lenses integrated into the case. I just hope I can still buy a dumb flip phone by then... on my 111th birthday...
Yep, back in the day the radio control equipment (Locontrol in SOU's case) was larger, but one of the primary benefits was cost savings in not having to equip individual locomotives. A railroad could insert the radio control car in the consist, attach whatever locomotives were at hand and go.
A gaggle of GE's comes off the Saugus Line at Palmdale Jct. B39-8's and B30-7's "Bring Good Things to Life" to the high iron in Palmdale CA.
Ah, those Baldwin turbo switchers. It's been almost 60 years since I last heard one (the two I mentioned above) revving up in the Milwaukee yard and I still can hear exactly what they sounded like. I would fall asleep listening to them. Doug
I can totally relate to that. My thing was with MLW RS18 road switchers sitting there on a slow idle. When I hear one of those nowadays - a rare event - I get this pleasantly warm feeling inside, like a good hot cocoa spiked with maple syrup and a drop of diesel fuel... Well, maybe not the diesel fuel... Once those sounds get into you, be it Baldwin or Alco or anything else, it's like a lullaby.
