South Shore Double Track

[tttodisp]

According to the Double Track NWI newsletter of 3/1/24, they are running test trains now. I presume that this means all of the new signals and switches are active?

[Saturnalia]

According to the Double Track NWI newsletter of 3/1/24, they are running test trains now. I presume that this means all of the new signals and switches are active?

Yes.

CTC and grade crossings were first. PTC is ongoing.

Through service is supposed to resume in early April per the last board meeting.

[justalurker66]

Here is a short video of the test from February 25th.

This video was captured on the "Ideal Section" of the historic South Shore Line just west of MP 53. A short double track section of track was built using steel catenary supports to serve as a "ideal" pattern for the rest of the line. The "ideal" was not followed, opting for a mix of steel crossbeams supported by wood poles and separate catenary arms for each track.

The "Ideal Section" became the west end of the Wilson-Wagner double track in 1998 and is now part of the newly built double track section between Gary and Michigan City.

[Dan Cluley]

I don't know if its a problem at my end, but there doesn't seem to be a video in your last post. I think I found it on youtube here?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULBjotb8434

Nice pacing run.

[justalurker66]

Odd ... I see the embedded version, which is the same as the linked video.

[justalurker66]

Station building and parking construction at 11th St is becoming more vertical.

The station block as seen from the south east.

The foundation for the south east corner of the parking structure.

The center walls of the parking structure

[Jochs]

The double track project is complete.
https://wsbt.com/news/local/all-aboard- ... is-indiana

[justalurker66]

Sunday May 26th in Michigan City ... construction is progressing on the new parking structure and station building.

The new station building will be in this part of the building with the facade from the previous building being placed on this side facing the platform.

Looking northwest from the platform at the lower level of the parking structure with the station portion of the building to the left.

This crane will be put to use starting Tuesday through August as pieces of precast concrete are brought in from a nearby staging area and are lifted into place. Construction is scheduled Monday through Friday.

[GP30M4216]

https://hometownnewsnow.com/local-news/744852

Sounds like there are a few growing pains with the new setup, but I appreciate that they are asking for the ridership to contact them with issues and offer suggestions.

Unrelated to operations but on the subject of public perception, WHHHYYYY are they suddenly taking the orange stripes off the single level equipment?! Jochs caught some photos on Facebook recently of single level equipment shorn of side stripes with nothing but logos, and these are not the first photos I’ve seen. Nothing says pride in your product like riding in a rolling stainless refrigerator. No me gusta. The orange and maroon is the South Shore color scheme and this simplification does not aid the brand.

[SD80MAC]

I blame MQT3001!

[Saturnalia]

Unrelated to operations but on the subject of public perception, WHHHYYYY are they suddenly taking the orange stripes off the single level equipment?! Jochs caught some photos on Facebook recently of single level equipment shorn of side stripes with nothing but logos, and these are not the first photos I’ve seen. Nothing says pride in your product like riding in a rolling stainless refrigerator. No me gusta. The orange and maroon is the South Shore color scheme and this simplification does not aid the brand.

The 82/92 cars are losing their stripes as they go through rehab. About 20 are done so far. These rebuilds are a top-to-bottom effort, complete with all-new seating, USB power supplies, LED lighting, etc. The stripes were more of a maintenance headache than anything else.

[justalurker66]

The stripe would interfere with the advertisements ...

I liked the stripes with the narrow borders. The original wide stripes were gaudy in comparison. Each decade seems to have its own style. Perhaps stripes will be back in vogue next decade.