Track Warrants

"The Electronic Internet Newsletter of Western Railroading"
P.O. Box 720301
San Jose, CA 95172
USA

Issue No. 25
August 14, 1996


Steve Sloan
Send news, correspondence and images to: stevesln@aimnet.com
(Alternative for photos for web posting: stevesln@aol.com)


ATSF 7448 taking the siding at Bealville, CA on Dec. 30, 1989. (By Steve Sloan.)

EDITORIAL


HAPPY BIRTHDAY KID(S)
Today my middle son Jeff turns 18. Jeff is also a railfan who has gone with me on many trips. For several years, when he was younger, Jeff was one of the kids who pulled the names out of the bowl for door prizes at Winterail. He was an active child and was given the nickname "Bart Simpson" by a group of railfans.

August 3rd was the birthday of the man who saved me from Flimsies and Flimsies from me, Charlie Baden. Were it not for Charles I am sure the newsletter would have faded into obscurity. August 15 is another railfan celebrity birthday. Have a happy birthday Don Jewell...until that time DJ.
Steve Sloan

AMTRAK


FLEXILINER SCHEDULE
Aug05
On display at San Jose CA 8-9:30 a.m., San Carlos 10:10-10:30 a.m., San Francisco 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., San Carlos 2:10- 2:30 p.m., San Jose 3:15-4:15 p.m. Dp. San Jose 4:30 p.m., ar. Oakland 6:30 p.m.
Aug06
Maintenance day at Oakland.
Aug07
Press conference at Oakland Jack London Station 8-8:50 a.m., dp. Jack London 8:50 a.m., Martinez 10 a.m., Suisun-Fairfield 10:25 a.m., Davis 10:50 a.m., Sacramento 11:30 a.m., Roseville 11:55 a.m., Colfax 12:55 p.m., Truckee 3 p.m., ar Reno NV 4 p.m.
Aug08
Dp. Reno 9:55 a.m., running 10 minutes ahead of Amtrak #5 (or at least #5's schedule) to Oakland Jack London.
Aug09
On display at Watsonville 4-7 p.m and it'll spend the night there.
Aug10
Dp. Watsonville 8 a.m., Aptos Village 9 a.m., Capitola 9:40, ar Santa Cruz 10:20. One 3-car set will be on display at the Boardwalk from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The other 3-car set dp. Santa Cruz 11:15 a.m.(?), Ar. Wilder Ranch (on Davenport Branch) 12:15 p.m., reverse, return to Santa Cruz 1:30, pass Capitola 2:30, ar. Aptos Village 3:10, reverse, dp. Aptos 3:20, Capitola 3:50, ar Santa Cruz 4:30. Then both trainsets coupled together leave Santa Cruz 5:30 p.m., Capitola 6:00, Aptos Village 6:40, ar Watsonville 7:50 p.m. It'll then deadhead to Oakland.
Aug11
Public displays on San Joaquin route; overnight in Bakersfield
Aug12
Public displays on San Joaquin route, possible side trip to Sacramento, deadhead to Oakland.
Aug13-18
Data needed.
Aug19-20
Deadhead Oakland CA to Salt Lake City UT on rear of Amtrak #6.
Aug20
Public/VIP display at Salt Lake City Amtrak station 2-7 p.m.
Aug21
Deadhead Salt Lake City UT to Grand Jct. CO on rear of Amtrak #36.
Aug21
"Western Slope" VIP reception at Grand Jct. 4-8 p.m.
Aug22
Deadhead Grand Jct. to Denver CO on rear of Amtrak #6.
Aug23
"Front Range, Colorado" VIP reception at Denver 3-6 p.m.
Aug24-25
Deadhead Denver CO to Chicago IL on rear of Amtrak #6.
Aug26
"Midwest States/Amtrak/Metra VIP inspection" at Chicago 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Aug27-28
Deadhead Chicago IL to Washington DC on rear of Amtrak #50.
Aug29-Sep02
Northeast Corridor.
Sep03
Washington DC to Charlotte NC.
For people with access to an Amtrak computer terminal, the PNR is 210308.
Bill Farmer
(Please note, this was posted on the TW News Page on Aug 05)

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PROPOSED AMTRAK CHANGES
Amtrak August 7 proposed major changes in its route structure, to take effect November 10, subject to approval of the freight railroads and a final vote of the Amtrak Board of Directors on September 11 or 25. If approved, the following changes will take place.

Cuts:

Additions:
Bill Farmer
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FLEXLINER REPORT
Aug06---On August 5, 1996, the FLEXLINER ran on its published schedule on the Caltrain Line, running from San Jose to San Francisco, arriving back in sunny San Jose at about 15:00. On display on track 4 in San Jose, a terrible spot for afternoon photographs account the platform sheds. Only a handful of people were there to look through the trainset. It was to depart at 1630 but stayed in town an extra 90 minutes account waiting for a late Amtrak #725 to arrive (WHY??!?) It then followed #728 into Oakland, running on its blocks, passing Agnew depot in Santa Clara at about 18:05.
MATT VUREK, BANGERS WITH NIKONS
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FLEXLINER DID NOT RUN ON THE MONTEREY BRANCH!!!
Instead, the 6 car train made turns from Salinas to King City and Watsonville Junction, on Sunday August 4, 1996. At about 2:30pm at Spreckels Jct, the 6 car train whizzed by westbound after having made a turn to King City. (Its single note horns belong on the "Barney" TV show and its paint job looks like a candy wrapper.) It then arrived at the depot, did a demonstration of the "on the fly split" (them yankees would call it "break in two") and then 3 cars went into a spur for display while the other 3 cars made a turn to Watsonville Junction and back. The front "toilet seat" grommet is inflatable upon mid-train uncoupling at speed. A sunny Salinas put on a "Rail Festival" on short notice and had good crowds with displays from the Central Coast Chapter-NRHS and various transit organizations. Flexliner Posters were on sale as well as special buttons. Also on display was a MST CNG-powered coach and a privately owned 1903 Packard! (a one cylinder jobby). The Wesbound SP WCKFM (SSW 9714 and 2 other units, one a Conrail GE!) was run through the yard around the train at about 4:30pm. The Flexliner, running as Amtrak 7003 west departed at about 5pm with all 6 cars, met the eastbound WSWCM at Castroville (DRGW 53?? and 2 other units in the fog) and stopped at Watsonville to let off passengers. It then continued on west to San Jose, ahead of the SP Hollister Local (SP 7614), a very long CIBAT (SP 8077, 2 SW1500's and 2 more units) and Amtrak #14.
MATT VUREK, RICH & DEBORAH CANINO, UZI MAZELTOV, BAGELS WITH NIKONS

BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE


BNSF TIDBITS:
Aug12---BNSF's derailment rate for the first half of 1996 was at a record low of 0.63 incidents per billion gross ton miles, according to a report issued recently by BNSF's Technical Research and Development group. That figure reflects the 221 derailments occurring through July that exceeded the $6,300 threshold for Federal Railroad Administration reportability. By comparison, the derailment rate for 1995 was 0.77 per billion gross ton miles. The 1994 rate was 0.73 per billion gross ton miles.

Aug08---BNSF trackage in the vicinity of Winslow and Nickerson, Neb., was restored to service earlier today after maintenance of way crews repaired damage caused by high water resulting from storms that swept through the area Sunday night and Monday. Crews used more than 60 carloads of ballast and riprap to complete the repairs.

Train service over the line, which links Omaha, Neb., and Sioux City, Iowa, had been rerouted via Galesburg and via Union Pacific Railroad's line between Sioux City and Council Bluffs, Iowa, across the Missouri River from Omaha. A plan is in place to minimize congestion-related delays as traffic begins moving over the line again.

Aug07---BNSF and Illinois Central launch new service to Mobile BNSF and Illinois Central Railroad have signed an agreement creating a new intermodal service between Memphis and Mobile. The service, scheduled to begin August 26, calls for intermodal units to and from Mobile to be interchanged between the carriers in Memphis. The traffic will use the Illinois Central's intermodal facility in Mobile. Aug06---Increased efficiency is one of the biggest benefits expected from the new terminal office in Hobson Yard, Lincoln, Neb., but the updated surroundings also will be a plus for employees transferring from the time-weary yard office it replaces.

The Intermodal business unit is taking advantage of synergies created by the BNSF merger to consolidate traffic and improve service. Starting this week, St. Louis traffic will be consolidated at the former BN St. Louis hub facility. Service will be improved by up to one day in most markets for outbound traffic.
all via James Czarnecki
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BNSF VS MONTANA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
BNSF filed a complaint with U.S. District Judge Charles Lovell on Friday, seeking a declaratory judgment and injunction against the PSC under the 1995 federal law that eliminated the Interstate Commerce Commission.

The railroad is trying to stop the PSC from having jurisdiction over the railroad's maintenance, closure, consolidation centralization of railroad shipping facilities and station agencies in Montana. The railroad also asked the court to declare that federal law preempts the state law. In addition, BNSF asks that the PSC be ordered not to take any action to stop the closing of the last nine railroad agencies in Eureka, Froid, Glendive, Great Falls, Havre, Kalispell, Shelby, Sweetgrass and Whitefish.
via Dave Bono

CENTRAL OREGON & PACIFIC RR


A MOTORCAR INSPECTION TOUR
Over Labor Day weekend August 31-September 2,at the inviation of CORP, Motorcar Operators West will operate a motorcar inspection tour of their trackage from Grants Pass north through Cow Creek Canyon to Roseburg (and return).This will be the first such organized motorcar trip on this trackage, but follows similar successful trips on CORP's Coos bay line in July 1995, and a super-successful trip over Sisikiyou Summit (Weed-Medford) in April 1996 (60 motorcars).
Denny Anspach

FILLMORE AND WESTERN RAILWAY


SOLD TO DAVID WILKINSON
Aug04---Steve, It was announced today at an employee meeting that the Fillmore and Western Railway/ ShortLine Enterprises (The Movie Train People) is being sold to David Wilkinson of Santa Paula Ca. He is to take over in the next couple of weeks. There will be an offical announcement in a few days. I will send you more when it is ready.
John Gartman

ILLINOIS CENTRAL


MEGA GOATS
Aug12---I saw 4 SD-70's all in the yard today in Jackson, Ms. SWITCHING. They were not on the road, not pulling coal, just switching very short links of cars. They were in pairs with 1014, 1013, in one pair and I could not make out the number on the other two.
Tom Joiner

NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC RAILROAD


STATUS OF THE NEW NWP UNITS
Aug10---Here is the status of the new NWP units as of 8/10/96: Don Jewell
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FISHY OPERATION
On Saturday August 10th, Motorcar Operators West is providing transportation in a variety of track motorcars to divers from the California Department of Fish & Game to perform a fish count in the Eel River Canyon between South Fork and Dos Rios. One group will begin in Willits and head north, while another will begin at South Fork and move south. All will meet at Fort Seward to spend the night (camping). Both groups will then reverse directions and cover areas skipped on Saturday. This is the second such annual cooperative event between the railroad and the motorcar group in behalf of the State agency.
Denny Anspach

UNION PACIFIC


LIVING NEXT TO THE UP
One of the nice things about living next to the UP mainline is that you get to see many amazing and wonderful pieces of rolling stock, the down side is that you never have a camara with you.

Last night 8/12 at 7:40pm an eastbound UP train passed my place (about MP 154). The train consisted of two units and about a mile of empty TTX flats. A dirty CNW Dash 8 was on the point, but the thing that caught my attention was the trailing unit. Brand, shiny new 8039 EMD SD90MAC (I think) really huge, wierd bulging radiators. Had a "We Will Deliver" motto on the hood. I looked a lot like the GE AC6000 that I saw go by last month.

With the merger scheduled for implementation in 30 days I expect the motive power to get even more interesting.
Leo Hoyt

MAIL BAG


SUBJECT: RE: TW #24
In reference to the mention of the Russian locomotives in Houston in the last Track Warrants, I flew over them in my helicopter this morning and they are still there! They have been moved down to a different piece of track from where they have been sitting for the past few years, but they ARE still there. All of them are red except for one blue one.

They are located on the east side of Houston along the Ship Channel and on the property of the old U.S. Steel plant. If anyone wants exact directions on how to get to them, they may contact me directly at: chopper@iamerica.net.

Thanks again for the TW!
Bill Waldrop
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RE: F's ON NWP
Re: Tom Krumell's comments on the NWP SD7 in Roseville, and the "NWP F-units in Willits in 1967". I don't believe that the NWP ever had assigned or leased F-units, and the F-units seen in Willits in 1967 may well have been an extraordinary event that was operated at about that time: the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society's (Pacific Coast Chapter) trip from Novato (as I recall) to Willits and return using a full train of lightweight cars, including a lovely fully staffed diner/coffee shop car. The train used an A-B-A set, replete with roof-top ice-breakers. During the layover in Willits, everyone on board took a trip to Fort Bragg on the "Super Skunk" (and return), and the SP train was turned on the Willits wye (truncated former Sherwood branch). An NWP SD7 helper was put on at Redwood Valley to help pull this heavy train over the summit. If memory serves, the comments at that time were "this (the F's) was a 'first' for the NWP".
Denny Anspach
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COTTON BELT LOGO
Re: Tom Krummell's question of the Cotton Belt Logo. In Don Hofsommers' book on the history of the Southern Pacific from 1901-present (published by Texas A&M University press), he states that the logo design is from a cam used in a cotton gin. I didn't check his sources in his footnotes, but given his stature in the railroad history community, I tend to trust his facts...
Richard Pace
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STAMPEDE PASS TUNNEL
To give a historical perspective ... have you seen
http://www.tpl.lib.wa.us/nwr/people/bennett.htm
Mark Annand
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120 KODACHROME 64 PROFESSIONAL
Thanks for another edition of Track Warrants. I always enjoy it.

Regarding K64 in the 120 version......You mentioned a while back that Kodak had quietly discontinued this film. They sure did.

I like shooting that film in my Pentax 6x7. I have one roll left. Yesterday I called three of the largest Chicago camera stores. I phoned Calumet (the main store), Central and Helix. None of the above had any 120 K64 left in stock!

Lastly, I called Calumet's sattelite store in Chicago. They had eleven rolls left. I bought them all.

What I'm getting at here is....If you want to continue using this film, you had better stock up. Is this stuff difficult to find on the west coast?

I must admit, I do like some of the newer E-6 films. However, I still enjoy Kodachrome. Seems like it's the beginning of the end.
Gary R. Clark

(I have been buying all the 120 Kodachrome I can find. That isn't much! I have 17 rolls! I want more... --Steve)
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THANKS FOR THE TRACK WARRANTS.
You are doing great. Are you still interested in donations?...
LaRoMo
(Yes)

TAKING STOCK



The Rail Stock Report, Compiled by Jim Czarnecki, is now available at:
http://www.primenet.com/~jimc/

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This document was last updated August 15, 1996.

Steve Sloan, Sloan Family Webmaster
stevesln@aimnet.com
TRACK WARRANTS
P.O. Box 720301
San Jose, CA 95172
USA