Eyes of Experience
A TC&W track inspector carefully examines an eastbound train as it makes a run at the hill between Morton and Franklin, MN. They're doubling the hill, and this is the first half of their loaded grain train. Once they're at the top of the grade, the inspector will make a trip down the hill in his hi-rail truck before they return to Morton to take the second half up out of the Minnesota River valley. Even at 10 mph, they kick up plenty of dust from this rural crossing. The inspector was confident that with dry rail, some sand, and a veteran engineer at the throttle, they wouldn't have too much trouble making it, but that's not always the case.
I've had the chance to chat with this employee several times, and he's a great guy. He's been working along here since 1980, just after it was spun off by the C&NW. Over those 40 years, he's seen six different owners of the line. It's currently owned by the Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority, which is made up of the 5 counties along the route (Carver, Sibley, Renville, Redwood, and Yellow Medicine). Many of the residents of these counties probably don't know that they own a railroad, much less a successful one, but it has become a public-private partnership success story. This is thanks to the hard work of the Twin Cities & Western employees who operate and maintain the line, as well as the administrator of the line who has worked with commissioners and legislators to get public funding for improvements. When asked about the changes he's seen in 40 years, this employee said the railroad has never been in better shape. "It's like night and day." Based on the experience in his eyes, I'll take his word for it.
Eyes of Experience
A TC&W track inspector carefully examines an eastbound train as it makes a run at the hill between Morton and Franklin, MN. They're doubling the hill, and this is the first half of their loaded grain train. Once they're at the top of the grade, the inspector will make a trip down the hill in his hi-rail truck before they return to Morton to take the second half up out of the Minnesota River valley. Even at 10 mph, they kick up plenty of dust from this rural crossing. The inspector was confident that with dry rail, some sand, and a veteran engineer at the throttle, they wouldn't have too much trouble making it, but that's not always the case.
I've had the chance to chat with this employee several times, and he's a great guy. He's been working along here since 1980, just after it was spun off by the C&NW. Over those 40 years, he's seen six different owners of the line. It's currently owned by the Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority, which is made up of the 5 counties along the route (Carver, Sibley, Renville, Redwood, and Yellow Medicine). Many of the residents of these counties probably don't know that they own a railroad, much less a successful one, but it has become a public-private partnership success story. This is thanks to the hard work of the Twin Cities & Western employees who operate and maintain the line, as well as the administrator of the line who has worked with commissioners and legislators to get public funding for improvements. When asked about the changes he's seen in 40 years, this employee said the railroad has never been in better shape. "It's like night and day." Based on the experience in his eyes, I'll take his word for it.