I Hear the Train a Comin'

Edge of the Burlington Northern Yard, Casper Wyoming

 

Industrial History: BNSF coal train derailment north of Pueblo, CO, ki...

Industrial History: BNSF coal train derailment north of Pueblo, CO, ki...: ( Satellite ) I quit documenting derailments because they are too frequent. But this one is special for two reasons: it had a fatality (truc...

Lex Anteinternet: Sunday, October 17, 1943. The Burma Railway completed.

Lex Anteinternet: Sunday, October 17, 1943. The Burma Railway comple...: 

Sunday, October 17, 1943. The Burma Railway completed.

The German surface raider Michel was torpedoed and sunk off of Japan by the USS Tarpon.  On the same day the German's lost the U-540, U-631 and U-841 in the Atlantic.

The Burma Railway, constructed with Asian slave labor and Allied POWs, was completed.

Tamils working on the bridge.

The railway may be best remembered today due to the fairly inaccurate movie, The Bridge On the River Kwai, which is nonetheless a great movie.

POW illustration of the construction of Bridge 227 across the Kwai.

A second concrete bridge replaced the original wooden bridge shortly after its construction. It was destroyed by the RAF in February 1945.  Shortly after the war, most of the original railway was dismantled and only the original 81 miles remains in use.

Chicago began running its subway for the first time.

Towns and Nature: Chugwater, WY: Lost/CB&Q Depot and Three Wood Grai...

Towns and Nature: Chugwater, WY: Lost/CB&Q Depot and Three Wood Grai...: ( Satellite ) Michael Pannel commented on his share of his post Here is the original depot and order board before demolition by train in 195...

Kingston's Hanley Spur: Locomotives of the Hanley Spur

Kingston's Hanley Spur: Locomotives of the Hanley Spur: I've endeavoured to compile a list of locomotives that served CN and CP's waterfront trackage, based on photos I've seen. These...

Towns and Nature: Lapeer, MI: Amtrak/GTW Depot and 3 Preserved Cabooses

Towns and Nature: Lapeer, MI: Amtrak/GTW Depot and 3 Preserved Cabooses: ( Satellite ) For once, Amtrak uses the cute little depot that was already in the town. Street View , Jun 2022 Street View , Jun 2022 Charli...

Towns and Nature: Laramie, WY: UP Depot, Roundhouse and Water Tower

Towns and Nature: Laramie, WY: UP Depot, Roundhouse and Water Tower: Depot: ( Satellite , 436 photos) Roundhouses: ( Satellite , the roundhouses were south and southeast of the preserved smokestack) Rick Shill...

Lex Anteinternet: September 27, 1923. Disaster at Cole Creek.

Lex Anteinternet: September 27, 1923. Disaster at Cole Creek.: 

September 27, 1923. Disaster at Cole Creek.

Today In Wyoming's History: September 27: 1923  Thirty railroad passengers were killed when a CB&Q train wrecked at the Cole Creek Bridge, which had been washed out due to a flood, in Natrona County.  Attribution:  Wyoming State Historical Society.

It was a horrific event.

Flooding had taken out the railroad bridge over Cole Creek near Casper Wyoming, which was unknown to the railroad.   The night train to Denver approached the bridge on a blind curve, and the headlights detected its absence too late to stop the train.  Half of the people on the train were killed.

It's the worst disaster in Wyoming's railroad history.

Friday, September 28, 1923. The terrible news.

The news of the prior day was in the paper, much of it horrific locally.

Saturday, September 29, 1923. Mandates and Floods.

The British Mandate for Palestine went into effect, as did the French Mandate for Syria and Lebanon.

With this, the British Empire, and I'd guess French Empire reached their maximum territorial extents.

The grim news kept coming in on the recent Cole Creek disaster.

Apparently the floods occured almost everywhere in Wyoming, and into Nebraska.

Towns and Nature: Mandan, ND: NP Roundhouse

Towns and Nature: Mandan, ND: NP Roundhouse: ( Satellite ) Rick Shilling posted c1940's Northern Pacific Railway Roundhouse, Turntable, Shops and Yard, Mandan, North Dakota. Nancy H...

Lex Anteinternet: Monday, August 30, 1943. The Lackawanna Limited wreck

Lex Anteinternet: Monday, August 30, 1943. Hornets: 

The Lackawanna Limited wreck occurred when a Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad passenger train, the New York-Buffalo Lackawanna Limited collided with a freight train. Twenty-seven people were killed in the collision, and about twice that number injured, many from steam that poured into the railroad cars.

Blog Mirror: One Of Only 2 Known Rare Union Pacific Buses Coming To Cheyenne

 

One Of Only 2 Known Rare Union Pacific Buses Coming To Cheyenne

Towns and Nature: Ishpeming, MI: C&NW Depot

Towns and Nature: Ishpeming, MI: C&NW Depot: Depot: ( Satellite , Hematte Drive is over the footprint.) Roundhouse: ( Satellite , all traces of it are gone.) Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum: (...

Towns and Nature: Gillette, WY: 1907 CB&Q Roundhouse and Water Tower

Towns and Nature: Gillette, WY: 1907 CB&Q Roundhouse and Water Tower: ( Satellite , the roundhouse was removed by 1970. There are no obvious remnants.) Note the water tower on the left. The building with the de...

Blog Mirror: C&NW: Chicago & North Western Overview

 

C&NW: Chicago & North Western Overview

Rail Features. Thyra Thompson Building, Casper Wyoming.

The State of Wyoming recently completed the construction of a massive new state office building, the Thyra Thompson Building, in Casper.  All of the state's administrative bodies, except for the district and circuit courts, are housed there.

The building does house, however, the Chancery Court for the entire state, a new court that's only recently been established.

The building is built right over what had been the Great Northwest rail yard in Casper, which was still an active, although not too active, rail yard into my teens.  I can't really recall when they abandoned the line, but it was abandoned.

In putting the building in, and extending the Platte River Parkway through it, the State did a nice job of incorporating some rail features so that there's a memory of what the location had been.

They also put in some historical plaques, which are nice. The curved arch at this location, moreover, is the location of the old turntable.  It was a small one, which I hate to admit that I crossed over when I was a teenager, a dangerous thing to do.

 

Painted Bricks: Train mural, Casper Wyoming

Painted Bricks: Train mural, Casper Wyoming: 

Train mural, Casper Wyoming

This train mural is on the Platte River Parkway that runs through downtown Casper along a rails to trails easement.   The building is the 321 Art Works building, formerly an industrial warehouse.

Lex Anteinternet: Sunday, July 15, 2023. Harding drives a golden spike.

Lex Anteinternet: Sunday, July 15, 2023. Harding drives a golden sp...: 

Sunday, July 15, 2023. Harding drives a golden spike.

Harding drove in a golden spike on the Alaska Railroad at Nenana, a town near Fairbanks.

Harding was really putting in the miles, and saw a great deal of Alaska during his trip, at a point in time at which it was fairly difficult to do so.

The most dangerous major airline in the world, Aeroflot, saw its birth when its predecessor, Dobrolet, began operations with a flight from Moscow to Nizhny.

Egypt banned its citizens from making the Hajj in reaction to the King of Hejaz barring an Egyptian medical mission which was part of it.  The latter was done as an assertion of sovereignty by the Kingdom, which was not long to remain.

Lex Anteinternet: Monday, July 2, 1923: Harding at the controls.

Lex Anteinternet: Monday, July 2, 1923: Officers behind bars, Frenc...: 

Monday, July 2, 1923: Officers behind bars, French seize Krupp factory

President Harding, continuing his Voyage of Understanding, was allowed to take the controls of a locomotive, fulfilling a boyhood ambition.  It was an early electric locomotive.

U.S. President Harding in the cab of a Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad ("Milwaukee Road") boxcab electric locomotive, July 2, 1923. 

The trip took Harding to Spokane, where he addressed a crowd on public lands.  In his address, acknowledging the growing conservation movement that had received a large boost during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, he argued that use of public resources from public lands, rather than locking them up, preserved them.  He also more or less correctly anticipated the size of the US population in 2023.

Lex Anteinternet: Manual Jobs that have disappeared. Railroad Crossing Watchman.

Lex Anteinternet: Manual Jobs that have disappeared. Railroad Cross...: 

Manual Jobs that have disappeared. Railroad Crossing Watchman.

This is the Out Our Way cartoon from April 21, 1923, courtesy of Reddit's 100 Years Ago sub.

The thing that surprises me here is that it never occurred to me that there were human manned railroad crossings, but as this photo shows, they existed into the 1940s at least:

Railroad crossing, Beaumont, Texas, May 1943.

Indeed, in looking it up, it seems like the modern type of crossing with the lowering arms came about in the 1950s.  An earlier automatic type called a "wig wag" was patented in 1909, but it must not have had universal use.

By Richamos - I took the picture with my own camera, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6347827

This brings up a number of interesting things, including that signals just weren't what they now are.  This likely explains why railroad crossing accidents were seemingly so common, such as this one, which was discussed in the Casper Daily Tribune about an April 20, 1923 accident.

But another matter, while the world is seemingly getting safer, there's less of a role for humans in it.

We've discussed this before, but automation is eliminating jobs, and has been, for a century.  Crossing guard attendants probably filled that job for a number of reasons, but one of the reasons likely was that some of the occupants of that position simply were suited for a job with pretty much no skills whatsoever, and were fine with a long day to themselves.  Where are they now?  Some of them are unemployed and unemployable.

And with the arrival of AI, this will rapidly expand into the white collar and professional world. We're making a world we literally can't live in.

Railhead: The not so great train robbery.

Railhead: The not so great train robbery.: CN police, RCMP investigating Monday train robbery in Brocklehurst Mar 28, 2023 | 1:36 PM KAMLOOPS — Kamloops RCMP are assisting CN Rail pol...

So, two days later, what do we now know?

Not much more, perhaps showing the difference in media access in Canada vs. the US.

The RCMP is asking for help. but the details so far have been very limited.  It was an armed robbery, conducted by a man who felt in a white sedan, and who was wearing a hoodie.

That's it.

It's also the first train robbery in British Columbia since 1906.  That train was robbed near Kamloops as well, by Bill Miner the Gentleman Bandit.

 We know that Miner didn't do this one, as he died in 1913 at age 65 from gastritis due to drinking brackish water.

The not so great train robbery.

CN police, RCMP investigating Monday train robbery in Brocklehurst

Mar 28, 2023 | 1:36 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops RCMP are assisting CN Rail police as they investigate a train robbery.

Spokesperson Cpl. Crystal Evelyn says RCMP were called just after 7:00 a.m. Monday (March 27). The incident took place at the junction of Tranquille Road and Ord Road in Brocklehurst.

It’s not known what was taken.

CFJC Today.

It’s not known what was taken.

Eh? 

Lex Anteinternet: The 2023 Wyoming Legislative Session. Length of Trains

Lex Anteinternet: The 2023 Wyoming Legislative Session. End of the f...: HB 204 would regulate the length of trains.

 HOUSE BILL NO. HB0204

Allowable train lengths.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Chestek, Berger and Newsome and Senator(s) Gierau and Rothfuss

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to public utilities; requiring trains to be not more than a specified length; providing operational requirements; providing a civil penalty; providing definitions; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.  W.S. 37‑9‑1401 and 37‑9‑1402 are created to read:

ARTICLE 14

RAILROAD TRAINS

37‑9‑1401.  Definitions.

(a)  As used in this article:

(i)  "Branch line" means a secondary railroad track that branches off from a main line;

(ii)  "Director" means the director of the department of transportation;

(iii)  "Mainline" means a class I railroad as documented in current timetables filed by the class I railroad with the federal railroad administration under 49 C.F.R. 217.7 when the railroad has five million (5,000,000) or more gross tons of railroad traffic transported annually;

(iv)  "Railroad" means any form of non‑highway ground transportation that runs on rails or electromagnetic guideways;

(v)  "Train" means one or more locomotives, coupled with or without cars, that require an air brake test in accordance with 49 C.F.R. part 232 or part 238;

(vi)  "Siding" or "passing track"  means a sidetrack with switches at both ends.

37‑9‑1402.  Train length; penalties.

(a)  In addition to other administrative or criminal remedies authorized by law, the director, after notice and opportunity for hearing, shall assess a civil penalty against a railroad company, corporation or employer as provided in this section.

(b)  No railroad company operating in the state of Wyoming shall run or permit to be run any train that exceeds eight thousand five hundred (8,500) feet in length or exceeds the length of the shortest passing track or siding on which it travels on any mainline or branch line, or that routinely or repeatedly blocks any intersection for periods exceeding ten (10) minutes at one (1) time.

(c)  Except as provided in subsection (d) any railroad company who willfully violates subsection (b) of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00) per foot nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per foot of the amount of a train exceeding the limitation set forth in subsection (a) of this section.

(d)  Any railroad company who commits a grossly negligent violation or who has a pattern of repeated violations of subsection (b) of this section which violation caused an imminent threat of death or injury to another person or that caused death or injury to another person shall be subject to a one (1) time fine not to exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00).

(e)  In determining the amount of any civil penalty under this section the director shall consider:

(i)  The nature, circumstances, extent and gravity of the violation;

(ii)  The degree of culpability, history of violations, ability to pay and any effect on the violator's ability to continue to do business;

(iii)  Any other matters that justice requires.

(f)  At the request of the director, the attorney general may initiate a civil action to collect any civil penalty imposed pursuant to this section. The attorney general may bring a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction. A civil action under this section shall be commenced within three (3) years of the date of the violation or within three (3) years of the latest violation if a repeated offense is alleged.

(g)  Any civil penalty received under this section shall be deposited in the state highway fund.

Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2023.

Santa Fe Railway Station, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

 Above is a really bad photograph of the 1934 vintage Santa Fe Railway station in Oklahoma City.

The art deco station served the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway from its construction and then came to serve Amtrak later on.  Amtrak service was discontinued in 1979, but it was resumed in 1998. The station also serves the Oklahoma City Streetcar service.

Saturday, January 20, 1923. Canadian Northern Railway merged into Canadian National Railway.

Lex Anteinternet: Saturday, January 20, 1923. Children singing, rai...:   

The Canadian Northern Railway and the Canadian Government Railways merged into the Canadian National Railway.  The merger of the CNR and the CGR was forced by the government due to the financial failure of the CNR, although at one time the railroad had steamships as well as trains.

The CNN is one of the world's great railways, spanning all of Canada and the Eastern United States.

You'll note that the creation of this system is either an application of the American System of economics, albeit in Canada, or of Socialism. At one time the nationalization of railroads was not the controvery it would be now.

Lex Anteinternet: Subsidiarity Economics. The times more or less locally, Part XI. The Waiting for a Train Edition

Lex Anteinternet: Subsidiarity Economics. The times more or less loc...:  

December 2, 2022

The bill without the sick leave was signed into law.

Lex Anteinternet: Subsidiarity Economics. The times more or less loc...

Lex Anteinternet: Subsidiarity Economics. The times more or less loc...:December 1, cont:

Statement from President Joe Biden on Congressional Action to Avert a Rail Shutdown

On Tuesday, I met with Congressional leaders from both parties and told them that Congress needed to move quickly to avert a rail shutdown and economic catastrophe for our nation. Now, I want to thank Congressional leadership who supported the bill and the overwhelming majority of Senators and Representatives in both parties who voted to avert a rail shutdown. Congress’ decisive action ensures that we will avoid the impending, devastating economic consequences for workers, families, and communities across the country. Communities will maintain access to clean drinking water. Farmers and ranchers will continue to be able to bring food to market and feed their livestock. And hundreds of thousands of Americans in a number of industries will keep their jobs. I will sign the bill into law as soon as Congress sends it to my desk.

Working together, we have spared this country a Christmas catastrophe in our grocery stores, in our workplaces, and in our communities.

I know that many in Congress shared my reluctance to override the union ratification procedures. But in this case, the consequences of a shutdown were just too great for working families all across the country. And, the agreement will raise workers’ wages by 24%, increase health care benefits, and preserve two person crews.

I have long been a supporter of paid sick leave for workers in all industries – not just the rail industry – and my fight for that critical benefit continues.

This week’s bipartisan action pulls our economy back from the brink of a devastating shutdown that would have hurt millions of families and union workers in countless industries. Our economy is growing and inflation is moderating, and this rail agreement will continue our progress to build an economy from the bottom up and middle out.

Lex Anteinternet: Subsidiarity Economics. The times more or less locally, Part XI. The Waiting for a Train Edition

Lex Anteinternet: Subsidiarity Economics. The times more or less loc...: 

Subsidiarity Economics. The times more or less locally, Part XI. The Waiting for a Train Edition

December 1, 2022

The House of Representatives voted to impose the results of negotiations between railroad companies and unions that were reached last September, but rejected subsequently by the four of the twelve unions that were involved.

An agreement had been reached which featured a 24% pay increase, but it omitted an increase in paid sick leave.  Existing sick leave is apparently very limited, one or two days, and the railroads did not budge on this.

For this reason, the House passed a separate bill that also increased the paid sick leave to seven days.  So two bills go on to the Senate.  It's clear at least one will pass, it'll be interesting to see if they both do.

Last Prior Edition:

Subsidiarity Economics. The times more or less locally, Part X. The Camp Stove Edition.

Billings Montana Railyard

These photos depict, from a distance, the Billings Montana Railyard.  The vintage station is visible in the photo above, on the far left, and the following photo goes from that point, to the right.

Billings is served by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

Closer photograph of the station.

 

Kingston's Hanley Spur: Modelling Tannery Effluent

Kingston's Hanley Spur: Modelling Tannery Effluent:   Throughout the 1960's, there were persistent complaints and calls for action to alleviate the smells and effluent emerging from the Da...

Impressive.