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Re: CPKC Mexico City - Querétaro Passenger Train (CDMX-QRO)

 by spRocket ¦  Thu Jul 20, 2023 1:53 pm ¦  Forum: Kansas City Southern and Affiliates ¦  Topic: CPKC Mexico City - Querétaro Passenger Train (CDMX-QRO) ¦  Replies: 8 ¦  Views: 1358

Quite a turnaround. Wasn't "no passenger service" one of the conditions that American freight railroads demanded before operating in Mexico? That and the wires coming down, as mentioned above. If anything ends up electrified, it'd probably be on a separate track from the freight line. Doub...

Re: Illinois Amtrak Service

 by spRocket ¦  Sat Jul 01, 2023 5:43 pm ¦  Forum: Amtrak ¦  Topic: Illinois Amtrak Service ¦  Replies: 1610 ¦  Views: 457831

Yes, Mr. Ryan, "Historic Route 66" does have stoplights, but at one time, it had full-service restaurants. I remember one in partricular; Streids ; located on the bypass around Bloomington. I'm just young enough that I didn't get to see any GM&O power in person. I remember the RTG Tur...

Re: Are modern locomotives basically the same between railroads?

 by spRocket ¦  Tue Nov 08, 2022 9:35 pm ¦  Forum: General Class I and II Discussion ¦  Topic: Are modern locomotives basically the same between railroads? ¦  Replies: 6 ¦  Views: 1428

Plenty of foreign power runs on CN's ex-EJ&E route (usually BNSF or UP) as well. Meanwhile, over on the Rock, we get CSX, usually once each way daily in the wee hours, and Iowa Interstate, one or sometimes two trains a day each way, typically with an evening westbound, one or two late night trai...

Re: A good example of when people speak Metra listens

 by spRocket ¦  Tue Nov 08, 2022 7:26 pm ¦  Forum: Chicagoland Commuter & Transit ¦  Topic: A good example of when people speak Metra listens ¦  Replies: 5 ¦  Views: 780

to aid students traveling from LaGrange to Benet Academy in Lisle. If anything, it's indicative of just how failed the Chicago Public Schools have become if people closer to downtown are willing to ride a train 20 minutes each way to get a good Catholic prep school education. Chicago and its school...

Re: Could Ukraine Change to Standard Gauge?

 by spRocket ¦  Mon Oct 03, 2022 9:23 am ¦  Forum: Worldwide Railfan ¦  Topic: Could Ukraine Change to Standard Gauge? ¦  Replies: 20 ¦  Views: 2275

It would be possible, and I think it's a good idea, but it won't be cheap. There is a precedent (Britain's Great Western Railway), but that wasn't the size of Ukraine's network. The USSR, in Stalin's time, decreed a change from 1524 mm (exactly five English feet) to 1520, but that was barely within ...

Re: Rebuilt SD70MACH orders

 by spRocket ¦  Mon Oct 03, 2022 7:47 am ¦  Forum: Chicagoland Commuter & Transit ¦  Topic: Rebuilt SD70MACH orders ¦  Replies: 96 ¦  Views: 26794

I'm guessing the mods were extensive enough that they felt a need to flush out any mechanical or electrical problems. The trucks are also lighter, with one fewer traction motor each [edit: presumed], and I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted to see how that affects operation.

Re: Toledo, Peoria, & Western in Illinois

 by spRocket ¦  Sun Aug 07, 2022 5:41 pm ¦  Forum: Midwestern Railfan ¦  Topic: Toledo, Peoria, & Western in Illinois ¦  Replies: 1 ¦  Views: 2895

That's the former Wabash/N&W/NS line from Chicago going through Forrest. In today's times, it has been cut back far to the north in Manhattan, where the Metra Southwest Service ends. Further south, just before Strawn, the track resumes to connect the Bloomer Line's ex-IC route to Gibson City. NS...

Re: If you could restore a defunct Amtrak route

 by spRocket ¦  Mon Mar 21, 2022 5:58 pm ¦  Forum: Amtrak ¦  Topic: If you could restore a defunct Amtrak route ¦  Replies: 379 ¦  Views: 70415

I'm assuming the James Whitcomb Riley route is gone forever -- are there any other practical possibilities? The tracks from Kankakee, IL to Lafayette, IN are still around, but owned by a short line now (Kankakee, Beaverville, & Southern). It would take a great deal of rehabilitation to make the...

Video: SNCF 1955 speed record runs

 by spRocket ¦  Sat Feb 19, 2022 8:41 pm ¦  Forum: Worldwide Railfan ¦  Topic: Video: SNCF 1955 speed record runs ¦  Replies: 2 ¦  Views: 496

This is the first part of a three-part film of the 1955 speed record runs of 331 km/h using locomotives CC 7107 (first run) and BB 9004 (second). Even with my nearly nonexistent command of French (my second language is Spanish), it was well worth the watching. It amazes me that the record would hold...

Re: Montenegro

 by spRocket ¦  Wed Nov 10, 2021 12:11 pm ¦  Forum: Worldwide Railfan ¦  Topic: Montenegro ¦  Replies: 2 ¦  Views: 485

Cab footage from Bar on the Adriatic to Bijelo Polje near the border with Serbia:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tr1-pikOm4

Re: Metra Locomotive Assignments And Maintenance

 by spRocket ¦  Thu Jul 29, 2021 9:10 am ¦  Forum: Chicagoland Commuter & Transit ¦  Topic: Metra Locomotive Assignments And Maintenance ¦  Replies: 1436 ¦  Views: 373651

I've started seeing #10, a GP23ECO rebuild, on the Rock Island District, presumably for switching/rescue/MoW duties. So far, I've only caught it running light.

Re: L Mileage

 by spRocket ¦  Fri Jun 18, 2021 7:18 pm ¦  Forum: Chicagoland Commuter & Transit ¦  Topic: L Mileage ¦  Replies: 6 ¦  Views: 1370

One thing to watch out for regarding the Chicago street grid and mileage: the first three miles south of Madison Street. The first mile (Roosevelt Rd.) is 1200 South, the second mile (Cermak Rd.) is 2200 south, and the third mile is 31st St., where the 800-to-the-mile rule extends southwards.

Re: Metra issues RFP for F40 battery conversions

 by spRocket ¦  Sat May 22, 2021 12:12 pm ¦  Forum: Chicagoland Commuter & Transit ¦  Topic: Metra issues RFP for F40 battery conversions ¦  Replies: 37 ¦  Views: 5528

I'm wondering if this is something that's intended to be paired with a diesel, so that dynamic braking could be turned into regenerative braking, like the BNSF/Wabtec experimental unit? If it's intended to run solo, how many trips could it run before needing a recharge? Solo, it might be something m...

Re: Taking the Train down State highway One

 by spRocket ¦  Sat Jan 30, 2021 6:42 pm ¦  Forum: Worldwide Railfan ¦  Topic: Taking the Train down State highway One ¦  Replies: 8 ¦  Views: 1062

Michigan City, Indiana, on the NICTD South Shore Line, has a stretch of street running as well. Although the title is a bit hyperbolic, the video itself shows a good selection of action through town.

Re: Mark Twain Zephyr Restoration

 by spRocket ¦  Tue Nov 10, 2020 10:58 am ¦  Forum: General Discussion: Locomotives, Rolling Stock, and Equipment ¦  Topic: Mark Twain Zephyr Restoration ¦  Replies: 2 ¦  Views: 801

Somewhere, I have some pictures I took of the train when it sat parked at the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant in the early 1990s, taken from the fenceline.

Now, even the tracks there are gone, and the area where it was parked is now publically accessible as Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.

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