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Update... Wouldn't you know it- last Friday I got a telephone call from management, "You'd better be careful what you Twitter (sic)..," When I asked him what he heard, he replied, "I have my sources." I found this very curious in light of the fact that what he was referring to was my Facebook page.....

Forgot a few more:

HAZ- hazardous
EXC- engine exchange
COA- miscellaneous coal load extra

Hi Ben, I don't get on the board too often these days and just came across this again. :) The symbols would be ENG371, ENG372, etc., with the third digit indicating the number of moves originating that day. Occasionally they'd be letters, as in ENG37C. The first two digits always show the originatin...

5.5/10

Michigan Division was 37.
Other common extras were CIR, HOP, BAL, DET, DIM, OCS, RAI, TES, etc.

In mid-1988, the west end of the Michigan Division was folded into the Chicago Division. (31) and east end into the Toledo (34). This was right before the "super-divisions" of 1/1/89.

In the past few days I've learned that my name, as well as at least the name of one more employee, had been brought up several times in association with postings, privileged information, cab rides, and the like. This will cease immediately. Here's why: To some of you, railroading might be entertainm...

This thread has devolved in a most splendid manner. Michigan is a strange state; truly a peninsula in more ways than one. I've gathered that most of its residents are xenophobic, car-centric, and close-minded. Most... not all.

nssd70m-2 wrote:Is there any possible way I could see them?

Yes- I am borrowing a slide scanner, but not 'til October.

I have a bunch of CR slides from 1993 to 1999 taken both from the train and at the Dearborn station. But no scanner.

You might be surprised to see the demographics of Amtrak ridership- it's not a mode of transportation for those with low incomes, but a viable and sensible option for anyone who is tired of the headaches of traffic, exhorbitant parking fees, and gas prices. Take a look at the cars parked in the lot ...

I looked for photos and couldn't find any either. My experience with Con-Cor is that their paint jobs are usually made-up these days. Most of them are laughable. One out of ten is right. They are probably way wrong like their Conrail stuff.

WOW!! Great news. Talgos are quite nice; ridden them on the Cascades. Fixed consists and all, but so are the Acelas.

I haven't seen a 40 foot boxcar beside ones in MOW service in at least 16 years. There were some rebuilt Golden West Service 40' high cubes, ex-SP, that I'd see on Conrail 1991-1993. Before that, I gotta go back to the neat CNW ex-Rock Island 40' boxcars that would appear on ELPR/ELNP in the late 19...

There is a Conrail waycar further in the yard in Jackson. In fact, I saw two of them a few weeks ago- bay window and transfer.

353 struck vehicle at MP MH 19.7, Hannan Road, west end of Wayne. Multiple fatalities in vehicle.

350 was to terminate at JXN, but change of plans.

Did they actually vote on their feet, or did they buy in to the hype about the "American dream" by the auto companies and endless groups lobbying for their causes? Check out some publications from the 50s and 60s- look at the Big 3's advertisements, the government's schtick, and the sheeple followin...

Seriously, if "tried and true free enterprise capitalism" is the answer, we should put GM and Chrysler out of business right now, since they can't "susbsist" (quoted verbatim) on existing customers. (Myself, I've hoped GM and Chrysler would disappear for decades.) Or- wait- is that somehow "differen...

There were two different "eras" of Conrail assignments on engines. First was a hold-over from PC days. Virtually all GP38s and GP40s were sent to Collinwood, and were so named. These decals were discontinued in the late 70s. The "MCRR" dual control GP38s were assigned to Stanley. Next started in 199...

Ben's synopsis is right on the money except that the Willow Springs to Flint trains (IHCS-CSIH later CSEL) ended in early 1988. Thankfully the CHDJ train was added that spring, part of Conrail's SteelNet service. It ran through early 1991, then only as required until summer 1992 (though it was in th...

Hey Ben,

Just saw this now. I'll email you.

Ben Higdon wrote:I'm a little confused there, are you saying the head end 86' boxes on ELLA were bound for GTW at Battle Creek? I have a question for you if you wouldn't mind contacting me by email (higgy78@yahoo.com)

Thanks!