LMX B39-8 8503, Rugby Jct, WI
A pair of GE B39s lead a BN stack train into the hole at Rugby Jct, WI back in February of 1992 on the Wisconsin Central. What's a BN IM train, behind two lease units no less, doing on the WC? I actually had a hand in getting this train there, as a matter of fact. This was shot at 1315 on a Saturday. The day before, the Soo Line was running a test train, a coal train with 120 loads for over 15000 tons. Back then in 1992, our coal trains weren't that long or heavy, so this was something new. Today, 120 loads for a coal train is just a big yawn. But back then, it was something to hold your breath about, and the results proved it. The train was #862 eastbound and was doing OK until it came down the hill to Hoffman St on the BN, where it promptly derailed a bunch, blocking all the mains on the BN. In case you were wondering, no, that's NOT the part I had a hand in. So, traffic wasn't going anywhere via normal routes. That night, things were still AFU when I came in to work 3rd trick Minnesota desk. I was handed four BN stack train detours to dispatch. They came off the BN at University and came on the Soo Line at Cardigan Jct, using WC pilots. I had all four on my shift, running them to Withrow, where they gained Wisconsin Central rails. It certainly wasn't any big deal to dispatch them. It was all CTC and I had no opposing traffic against them. But it was kind of neat to see two of them near my home the next day. The one pictured here is headed in for a meet with WC 45, who was still not in the picture yet. Well, at least I didn't delay anybody....(a miracle.....)
LMX B39-8 8503, Rugby Jct, WI
A pair of GE B39s lead a BN stack train into the hole at Rugby Jct, WI back in February of 1992 on the Wisconsin Central. What's a BN IM train, behind two lease units no less, doing on the WC? I actually had a hand in getting this train there, as a matter of fact. This was shot at 1315 on a Saturday. The day before, the Soo Line was running a test train, a coal train with 120 loads for over 15000 tons. Back then in 1992, our coal trains weren't that long or heavy, so this was something new. Today, 120 loads for a coal train is just a big yawn. But back then, it was something to hold your breath about, and the results proved it. The train was #862 eastbound and was doing OK until it came down the hill to Hoffman St on the BN, where it promptly derailed a bunch, blocking all the mains on the BN. In case you were wondering, no, that's NOT the part I had a hand in. So, traffic wasn't going anywhere via normal routes. That night, things were still AFU when I came in to work 3rd trick Minnesota desk. I was handed four BN stack train detours to dispatch. They came off the BN at University and came on the Soo Line at Cardigan Jct, using WC pilots. I had all four on my shift, running them to Withrow, where they gained Wisconsin Central rails. It certainly wasn't any big deal to dispatch them. It was all CTC and I had no opposing traffic against them. But it was kind of neat to see two of them near my home the next day. The one pictured here is headed in for a meet with WC 45, who was still not in the picture yet. Well, at least I didn't delay anybody....(a miracle.....)