Track Warrants

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Issue No. 35
October 30, 1996

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EDITORIAL

RED MARKERS

This is the last issue of the current trilogy. This brings us pretty much up to date, news wise. The mail list is pretty current to. The web versions will soon be posted. I have several of the new addresses that are bouncing. If you have been on the list, and been cut, and then resubscribed more than a time or two, I would contact your internet service provider or your network administrator. You have a lousy connection.

I did get a couple of enthusiastic responses to the Railnet Day '97 idea. If I get a few more, perhaps we can get the wheels turning.

I have been dealing with some difficult issues in the non-trains "real world", but I am trying to keep the newsletter on track.

IS TRACK WARRANTS FREE?

No, it's not free...to make. By the time you consider the ISP account, the web space, etc. it's about $40-$50 a month. It is being put together on a 486 33/SX at home and if I upgrade that to do more on-line stuff the cost could go up a lot. Especially if I buy new software.

I have considered having paid-only subscriptions for E-mail delivery and delivering content for free on the web and may in fact do that in the future. However, for now it is free, but contributions are encouraged. I have received a few questions about how people may make contributions. My address is on each issue.

PHOTOS

I am open to receiving photo contributions as well. Photos can be mailed to me or sent as an attached file via E-mail. I have had some problems dealing with some PC created JPEG's on my a Mac I have access to that has Photo Shop. If you could send the images in both JPEG and GIF format that would be appreciated.

WEB VERSIONS

Web versions of the newsletters seem to be typically following at least a day, maybe three, behind E-mail versions. This is likely to continue. People who choose to get their TRACK WARRANTS on the web need to know that.
Steve

BNSF

UNITS AT VMV

Oct29--Recently ATSF GP35u 2942 and an ATSF GP7u were spotted leaving VMV wearing fresh paint...the usual yellow and blue warbonnet with Santa Fe lettering. No evidence of BNSF lettering was present.

Other notables at VMV: IC GP10's are being refurbished, repainted and renumbered in the 8400 series with sublettering under the cab bearing the initials C.C.P. (these are former Chicago Central units)

Several KCS SD40's are being repainted in the gray scheme, UP (ex-Guilford) GP39-2's are still being repainted and many have been used in shake-down runs on the IC.

Also, ATSF GP60M's are being repainted at a rate of about 1 per week... most recently 157 arrived on BN train #445 wearing only primer. Thus far, no GP60B's have been in. Nor have any 'Northern Lines' repaints been spotted.
Chad Cowan

BNSF Today

STB APPROVES ACQUISITION OF WASHINGTON CENTRAL

Oct29--The Surface Transportation Board on Friday announced it has approved, subject to certain environmental and employee-protective conditions, the application of a subsidiary of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation to acquire the Washington Central Railroad.

BNSF announced last April its intent to acquire the short line railroad, which operates two rail segments: a 151-mile main line route between Kennewick and Cle Elum, Wash., and several connecting branch lines; and an 85-mile segment from Connell to Moses Lake, Wash., with connecting branch lines. Upon closing of the transaction, Washington Central will merge into a wholly-owned subsidiary of BNSF, and the Connell-to-Moses Lake rail lines will be leased back to a newly-formed short line railroad.

The acquisition of Washington Central's Kennewick-to-Cle Elum line enables BNSF to reestablish BN's former Stampede Pass route to and from the ports of Seattle and Tacoma and the Puget Sound area. By reopening Stampede Pass, BNSF will add a third route linking central Washington with the Pacific Coast, which should enable BNSF to relieve capacity constraints on both the Cascade and Columbia River routes. BNSF Today is published each weekday (except holidays) for all BNSF people. via James Czarnecki

"NEW" UP (UP-SP a.k.a. The Borg)

"UP CLASSIC" (UP-WP-MP-CNW)

ACROSS THE EX-NORTH WESTERN EAST IOWA SUB

Oct29--Chased a grain train across the ex-North Western East Iowa sub behind a zito yellow SD40-2 6812, and zito SD45 6564!!!!! Hot Dang! Just like the old days. Every train I saw on the East Iowa was led by a North Western unit. Praise the Lord!

EML's BL20-2 122 was sitting at the Marshalltown shops in the company of CNW GP40 5520. That's answers our question: What the hell happened to the BLs?

Three wrecked SP units at the BN's Galwsburg shops, a GP60, an SD40T-2, and a D8-40B. Looked like they'd been sideswiped. Then again, they looked like normal Espee crap. Galesburg is still a good place to see SD9s.
D. Scott Chatfield

SP (SP-DRGW of Old, presently being assimilated)

JOINT LINE

Oct26-- Saw my first all UP power train heading south on the Joint Line through Littleton. I was too far away to make any identifications.

DRGW GP-30s 3015 and 3006(?) still make the local on the joint line. I am curious if those are the last DRGW 30s. That's the only ones I have seen out here lately. Saw at least three heading south earlier this year (May?) with at least one very heavily repainted (graffiti). May have been heading off of the property.
Marv Van De Weert - Littleton, CO

COAST LINE

Oct28--This morning saw my first UP on the Coast Line. It was UP switcher #1009 on the SR 87 overcross, returning to the SJ yard after dropping off some loads at a nearby cement plant. It looked like a newer unit or fresh out of the paint shop. Dale McGill

TRIP AND SIGHTING REPORTS

Oct15-- THURSDAY OCTOBER 10 - Caliente and tunnel 2 area

SATURDAY OCTOBER 12 - CALIENTE AND TUNNEL 2 AREA  (No work window!!)

TIME    RR   DIR  SYMBOL        CONSIST

810a    SP   E   1-RVWCM-K-10   9809, 9804, 8251 
                                h/8588, 8576, 8579, 8580
830a    SP   W   1-WCBNM-11     9820, 9819, 8307
835a    SF   E   1-981-11       5014, 4026, 5113, BN 8004
840a    SF   W   1-799-10       5813, 5150, 618, 7425
915a    SF   W   9-199-10       902, 904, 911, 4017
940a    SP   E   1-CIPTT-11     7422, 8311 (both mega-filthy) ROADRAILER
950a    SF   E   S-RICH1-11     843, 602, 851  h/891, MRL 304 !!! 
                                (SD45-2)
10a     SF   E   unknown        5186, 5089, 5827, 5840
1115a   SP   W   1-WCEUM-11     9824, 9818, 8651
12n     SF   E   M-RIBA2-11     5032, 2256, BN 5583, 5013, 6418
1p      SP   W   1-LACFX-12     9766, 8263, CNW 8032, 7460 
                                (no CF trailers!)
125p    SP   E   1-EUWCQ-10     8324, 8330, 8318, 8250, 8307
                                above with h/ 8582, 8584, 8583, 8589
150p    SF   E   H-MOSR1-12     944, 907, 635  h/5172, BN 4061, 5852,
                                838
155p    SF   E   8-991-12       683, 106, 37, 102, 5818
210p    SF   E   9-991-12       860, 912, 205, 895
220p    SF   E   Q-RIAL1-11     939, 600, 629,  h/5150, 5813
250p    SP   W   Ballast        8665 (tied up on spur west of 
                                Caliente)
405p    SP   E   1-BKDOU-12     8656, 8679, 8653, 8663 h/8594, 8659,
                                8677, 8599
5p      SF   E   C-BAWK1-12     UP 6167, SP 243, UP 6312, ATSF 5071
                                above with h/BNSF 8275, 5078, 5102, 
                                5863
545p    SP   W   Yard Job       DRGW 3120 
                                (white numbers on cab!) switching
                                Gumarra Winery in Edison

SUNDAY OCTOBER 13               (No work window!!)

Walong (Caliente fogged in!!)

TIME    RR   DIR  SYMBOL        CONSIST

820a    SF   E   1-981-12       202, 893, 1574, 5141
9a      SP   E   1-CPLBC-10     337, 285, 277  h/8594, 8659, 8637, 
                                8599
920a    SP   E   1-EUDOQ-K-11   8239, EMD 7011, 8272, 8261  h/8580

Cable (Walong now fogged in!!)

TIME    RR   DIR  SYMBOL        CONSIST

1125a   SF   E    light power   5253, 5988, 5150, 5813, 6910, 5825, 
                                5977
1130a   SF   E    9-991-13      849, 904, 4017, 911

Monolith (Cable now clouded over!!) with 30 mph wind gusts

TIME    RR   DIR  SYMBOL        CONSIST

1210p   SP   W   1-WCEUM-12     9805, EMD 7005, 8257
1220p   SF   W   Q-WSRI3-10     BN 5503, 842, 529, 577
1230p   SF   W   9-199-11       149, 346, 120, 151
115p    SF   W   9-799-11       MKM 5356, LMX 8534, 5510 (SF b unit), 
                                BN 7862
130p    SP   E   1-RVWCM-11     EMD 7002, EMD 7018, 8678
150p    SF   W   Q-WSST9-11     227, 243, 807
220p    SF   W   Q-ALRI1-11     653, 5211, 6366, 805

Caliente - Tunnel 2 area (fog finally gone!!)

TIME    RR   DIR  SYMBOL        CONSIST

315p    SP   E   1-EUWCM-K-11   8314, 8271, 8287
345p    SP   E   1-BKDOU-13     8643, 8622, 8640, 8628  
                                h/8590, 8577, 8589, 8583
(the 799, Q-WSST, and Q-ALRI were all photographed again here at 350p, 5p and 515p respectively)
535p    SP   E   1-PTPCX2-12    9750, SSW 9299, UP 3711, SSW 9663
540p    SP   E   1-PTLAF-12     SSW 9694, SSW 9699, SSW 9659, 8580

MONDAY OCTOBER 14 - CALIENTE

TIME    RR   DIR  SYMBOL        CONSIST
0740    SF   W   H-BARI4-13     5085, 5822, 5142, 5808  
                                h/ 5184, 5847 
935a    SP   W   1-WCEUM-13     EMD 7019, EMD 7011, 8239 
***** WORK WINDOW  930a until ??? *****

THE DRIVE HOME UP ROUTE 99 NORTHBOUND

1020a   SP   E   1-UPLAT8-13    UP 6278, UP 3297 (Kern Jct.)
                                6278 had brass placard for System structures 1990
1p      SP   E   1-EUDOQ-K-12  9823, 9815 (Goshen Jct)

CONCLUSION:

All in all, a fantastic trip. Kodak getting rich. Motel space over Columbus Day weekend in Bakersfield is getting harder to procure account NASCAR and other events now being scheduled for this particular weekend. News media reports NASCAR officials having trouble finding hotel rooms.

No hassles from the FIVE-O or RR PD, although SP PO was seen Thursday afternoon cruising on main drag in Caliente along with Kern County sheriff's car.
MATT VUREK

LETTERS

RAILNET DAY '97

Oct20--Excellent idea!! I'd love to participate!
George Jenista

RAILNET DAY 97

Oct19--I think your Railnet Day 97 is a good idea and I would like to participate.

Please let me know how I can help!
JOHN TOLMACHOFF

ANY VIDEOS?

Oct27--I write you from Hungary (Central Europe). Could you suggest me some places on the Internet, where I could find some avi, mpeg or any other type of videos about the biggest steam loks in the US?
Zoltan Bekefi, zbekefi@kgazd.bme.hu

OLD LANTERN

Oct21--Perhaps you can help me. My sister is going to sell an old rr lantern. It is about 18" tall with four colored lenses (I think green and red) and contains four little kerosene lamps. She thinks it was attached to something at one time. Anyway, she is selling it and needs to know how much it is worth. Some bozo antique dealer offered her $250 but I told her to wait.
GEORGE WILLIAM GAGNON III GEORGEWILLIAMGAGNON3RD@worldnet.att.net

ISSUE 31 IN PART READ:

CN
JIM BROCK ASSESMENT
The following was posted to CNet (the e-mail group of the CN Lines SIG) by Jim Brock:

Oct19--I have had the opportunity to read the entire Rail Sciences Inc. report on the Yates wreck. I found it to be well written and easy to follow. (Brock says,) The conclusions of the report on the cause of the accident are as follows:

And what pray tell was the "Yates Wreck?"

Let's all stop assuming that everyone is as familiar with same lingo and current events as the person submitting the news piece. (Bill Shippen please take note too!)
Ken Rattenne

TRACK WARRANTS, like FLIMSIES (same idea different medium), was created with the hope of getting information out in as timely a manner as possible. In order to do so, slick production (and sometimes tight editing) is forgone for the sake of timely production.

Information is presented in a pretty raw form. FLIMSIES evolved into a column format but TRACK WARRANTS has stuck pretty much to the original no columns format FLIMSIES once had. Information is pretty much presented as-is. Although I am careful to try to attribute to sources and try to edit out things that may be libelous or vulgar (as much as possible) you need to always "consider the source" when reading this journal. It is left to the slick magazines to do the polishing. Sometimes people contribute information off the internet that is a second or third response to a string somebody else started. Rather than hold it for further investigation, or delete it, I often run it pretty much as is...I know this can be confusing, I am sorry if it sometimes is.

Steve

CR/CSX MERGER!?

Oct18--Check out this site. This took me by surprise, but considering our country's Merger Mania I guess it shouldn't.
http://www.cec.wustl.edu/~mjs6/brnrhs.html
Ken Rattenne

A STUPID QUESTION?

Oct15-- Maybe this is a stupid question, but was there a TW#29? Neither myself or Ian Pyatt( itpyatt@ns.sympatico.ca) recall getting it.

Also, when you say you're looking for financial support, how could one send something?
Thanks;
Bruce Hollett

Perhaps their subscriptions came in during a period between mailing list updates. Or perhaps issue #29 took the wrong off-ramp off of the information super-highway getting to you. Back issues are all available on-line!

Donations are encouraged! My mailing address is on the newsletter, (see editorial.)
Thanks
Steve

PACIFIC LIMITED GROUP

Oct07--PS Information on the upcoming and any future Pacific Limited Group sponsored excursions can be seen at the new "official" web site.
The address is:
http://www.wavenet.com/~dhanley/plg.html
Dennis Hanley

COMING (CAME) FROM THE NETHERLANDS

Oct06--This is an E-mail from across the Atlantic. Having stumbled on your "Track warrants" I wonder if it is possible for you to give me some information about photographing railroad around the Bay/San Jose/San Francisco-Area.

But let me introduce myself first.

My name is Ernst van Gulden, 33 years of age and I am coming from The Netherlands. This will be my first visit to "The States" and I want to make the maximum out of it. Spending the time from 13th-20th October in San Francisco I have no driving license so the spots (do you know some good ones near stations/stops) must be close to public transport from/to San Francisco/Oakland. Since this is my first visit a wide variety of stock has my advantage (Amtrak, UP/SP, Caltrain and .....).

Please mail me back if this is possible for you.
Awaiting your reply,
greetings from Haarlem, The Netherlands
Ernst van Gulden
E-Mail; gulden@pi.net

AN EXCELLENT SOURCE OF INFORMATION

Oct01--dear Steve please sign me up. I have used some of your information in my monthly newsletter. I am the editor of the Conrail Historical Society newsletter. I find your publication an excellent source of information. I have put you on my list and will make sure that you get a copy of our monthly newsletter each and every month. As an individual that puts together a newsletter I know just how long and tough each and every month is when you have to put it together. It sure makes the month go by very fast. Once again, thank you in advance and i hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
John Cerreta-
editor Conrail Historical Society newsletter

THE STUFF LEGENDS ARE MADE FROM

Sep23--Thanks for your Track Warrants web site, it is a great service. The local fans and modellers think that I am "legend" with all the up to date info that I pass on to them, but the truth is that this accolade should go to you, your efforts compiling and the people who contribute.

Sign me up so I know when the next issue has been released.
Thanks and Best Wishes
Ian Erbacher

Hmmm-does that make me the man who created the legend?
Steve

FREE DD>Sep29--Uhmmm is this free?? If so then

SIGN ME UP now!!!!!!!!!!!:)
Tommy Batts

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TAKING STOCK

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

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To subscribe send an E-mail to stevesln@aimnet.com and say, "sign me up."

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This document was last updated October 31, 1996.

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