Train Festival 2009: Update

[BerkshireKid]

The hourly trips go up towards Henderson and return. I believe the plan is 20min out then 20 min back. I'm not totaly sure on that though.

[csxt4617]

They held at Dowagiac for both Amtrak 353 westbound and then 352 eastbound. They did grease the bearings at Dowagiac at that time.

Actually, it was the other way around. 352 went by 4449 first, and met 353 at Glenwood (don't know who held the main), then 353 met 4449 at Dowagiac. I'd planned on chasing it at least to Battle Creek, but my camera decided during the chase was a perfect time to crap out on me and quit working...only moving shots I got of it were at the coaling tower at Michigan City (which I can't even look at, as the camera is dead and I don't have a CF card reader) so I gave up the chase at Dowagiac.

Also, not sure who posted it, but Niles is alot closer than 47 miles to Michigan City by rail. 4449 was sitting at MP 228 just east of the MC Drawbridge, and the west end of Dowagiac siding is CP 180 (48 miles). I think Niles is CP 200/CP 202, or somewhere close to that.

[R.E.A.P.E.R.]

What time did 4449 arrive in Durand?

[CSX_CO]

I 'chased' with 'derecho' from Michigan City to Durand yesterday. Met the engine at Michigan City. Saw Kelly Lynch there, not sure if he ended up shooting or videoing the run, or riding it. We camped out a Niles and got him coming across the St. Joe River Bridge there after an extensive delay. They went in the siding at Dowagiac for 352 to to go east, then they met 353 at Glendale, and 353 met SP 4449 at Dowagiac. Reshot again outside of Lawton. Shot in downtown Battle Creek, then 'derecho' boarded the train and I drove his Jeep to meet him in Durand. The speed on the AMTRAK Michigan Division was limited to 40mph due to the locomotive not being ITCS equiped, or so we heard. This was rather disappointing, as the locomotive wasn't working at all. Every crossing was packed with railfans and members of the general public. Even with the train running several hours behind 'schedule', people remained out even in the rain to see the train. Some dumb activities around the tracks, but thats to be expected with steam.

After Derecho boarded, I started a leisurely drive from BC to Durand. I got on I-69 and stopped just short of Lansing at a rest stop. As I was getting ready to leave, I heard the 4449's whistle in the distance. Even despite my leisurely pace, I didn't figure they were that close going 40 mph. As I crossed over the GTW on I-60 on Lansings SW side, they were right there next to me. They obviously weren't going 40 anymore. I was running parallel to them thru downtown Lansing, then beat them to Morrice (I hope I got that right), MI about 15 miles short of Durand. I waited there with a handful of local citizens to watch it go through. Once on the GTW, they did 60mph and the engine looked darn good doing it. I'm not a steam nut by any stretch of the imagination, but seeing SP 4449 going 60mph with wheels on fire brought a smile to my face.

I went to HS and College around Kalamazoo and Battle Creek. I never thought I'd be seeing SP 4449 going through some of the same locations I used to shoot AMTRAK and CN at. My hat is off to the 4449 and AMTRAK for pulling this entire thing off.

It was a sea of people at Durand. It was nuts.

CN and AMTRAK police were pretty cool considering the amount of people around. As long as you stayed off the ballast, they were letting people stand near the ROW, obviously on company property, and near the engine. Even with multiple warnings of 'please remain off the ballast for your safety' people still disobeyed and crossed the tracks, and pushed the railroad Police. Look, if they say stay off the rocks, they mean stay off the rocks.

Practice Safe CSX

[strugglin]

I finished off an epic weekend of steam chasing with my brother on Sunday. We got to Michigan City early, snapped a bunch of still shots of the 4449, this was actually the first time all weekend we got it to see it stationary. Got to see it leave Michigan City under the coal tower, along with an entire river of foam down Route 12. Decided against following it to Niles and Dowagiac, which proved to be a mistake considering the delays, and jumped on 94 to get ahead of her again at Mattawan. Got it on an overpass there after a few hour wait, then saw it Galesburg, hopped back on 94 to 69 north to great location at a bridge in Bellevue where we caught it on CN going 60 mph! We jetted out going about 90 mph, and caught it again just south of Charlotte. Got ahead of it again just west of Lansing, then got ahead of it again to see it hit the CSX diamond in East Lansing. Finally headed to Durand to watch her pull past the station, but not before witnessing an enitre sea of foam get very nervous as an Empty BN coal train headed southwest on the track closest to the station.

Overall, we could have seen it a few more times had we known of the delays, but what can you do. But, by my calculations, between Mattawan and Durand, a stretch of 122 miles by interstate, we managed to see it 7 times, or about once every 20 miles. Pretty darn good considering it was going between 40 mph and 60 mph that entire stretch with only a quick stop to unload in Battle Creek. Seems like we are getting better at chasing every trip we take, really the key is just to ignore all posted speed limits along the way...

[MDH]

Got to see it leave Michigan City under the coal tower, along with an entire river of foam down Route 12.

That described it pretty well! I got the shot there also but then headed home - had I know of the 40 mph speed restriction I probably would have gone at least to Niles though... Oh well - happy with what I got!

I've never done a "big steam" chase like that but it sure lived up to the reputation of what it'd be like from a foam standpoint!

M

[EJ&ESDM809]

I got 4449 leaving Michigan City yesterday on top of Saturday's footage. Watch the photo thread for photos and videos.

Extensive 4449 coverage will continue since I am attending Train Festival all four days! We also got a break when someone cancelled their hotel room so we are now staying in Durand, two miles from Union Depot.

[RailCanon]

As most people know by now, I took advantage of a golden opportunity to ride the train from Chicago to Durand. I had originally purchased coach tickets, but upgraded to first class before leaving Chicago. Even before we reached Michigan City and added the 4449, I had come to the conclusion that it was money well spent. I spent the first 20 miles or so outside of Michigan City in the vestibule, watching the parade of foam on US-12 and listening to the 4449 get the train moving. I then spent the remainder of the run to Kalamazoo in either the Super Dome (where we were served a great breakfast and lunch, as well as snacks) or in the beautiful skytop lounge Cedar Rapids. It was seriously great seeing every crossing and town along the Michigan Line packed with Spectators. Especially in Kalamazoo, near BO Tower (Who's operator even opened her window to wave to us!) We arrived in Battle Creek to a BIG crowd at the station, which we departed after detraining members from a Chicago Chapter NRHS trip and boarding several more people. We passed through the fuel pad at Emmett St. and then strolled by the Battle Creek yard. After we passed McAlister, Doyle opened the throttle. I noticed we were going faster than we had on Amtrak's line and remarked this to the other guys in the vestibule I was in. At that point, the man next to me tapped me on the shoulder and held up a GPS device displaying the speed. We watched as the numbers climbed from about 50 MPH.....53...54.4....55.6...56.0...56.3............60.1!!!! At this time, I looked out the vestibule and saw the 4449 rounding a curve. CSX_CO hit it right on with his description: those wheels were on fire. I'd never seen anything like that before and it felt seriously amazing!! We held that speed for most of the trip to Durand, only slowing for curves in Charlotte and Lansing. We made a brief stop at the Amtrak station in East Lansing, where my dad, brother and grandpa were waiting, to exchange some crew members before heading on our way again.
All in all this trip was a dream come true for me. While I've watched and ridden a mainline steam locomotive (1225) for a decade now, running at slower speeds on a shortline railroad gets a little tiring after a while. I've always dreamed of riding a REAL, mainline trip through this state. It had everything I was expecting: High speed, coordination with a dispatcher and nothing but green lights for most of the way. However, I never imagined that this would take place on CN.

It's also the first time in a very long time since steam operated on GTW or CN in the US. As far as I can tell, the American Freedom Train's operation from Detroit to Grand Rapids (via Durand and Owosso) and Battle Creek to South Bend in July 1975 was the last occasion.

GTW's reluctance to handle steam dated back to the late 1960s and some disastrous excursions with Bill Benson and Richard Jensen, including one where the 2100 had a bearing seize up on the single-track main between Flint and Port Huron. After that, there was AFT, and the 1225 ventured a few feet on the main line while going thru Durand in 2005 and 2007, but that was it. GTW was very good at allowing diesel-powered excursions until its management was moved from Detroit and folded into the HQ in Montreal in the mid-1990s, but they would never even consider steam.

In fact, the AFT story has an interesting twist: The run through Michigan was handled by Reading T-1 4-8-4 2101 (which ran as AFT 1). How ironic that 34 years later, the other Freedom train engine should visit the same territory.
Also, even though it never ran here before, 4449 looked right at home on the Flint Sub, which played host to the Trunk's 6405 series U-4-b Northerns in the 1940s and 50s.
Before I end this, I'd like to extend a HUGE thank you to BNSF, NS, Amtrak and CN for allowing this move to take place on their rails and to the Friends of the 4449, Friends of the 261 and the Steam Railroading Institute for putting this together and making it work. You guys have worked wonders!!!

[J T]

...and jumped on 94 to get ahead of her again at Mattawan. Got it on an overpass there ...Got ahead of it again just west of Lansing, then got ahead of it again to see it hit the CSX diamond in East Lansing.

Were you the guy wearing the Ohio State jersey?

[GP30M4216]

CSX_CO, I understand what you're saying about not being able to see 4449 at perhaps something close to her highest speed, however, I must point out that a lot of us would not have the chase luck we did had she been going much faster. 40mph was a good speed (not too slow, by any means), though it would have been something to see her go much faster.

Maybe she would have been working a little harder had there been more passenger cars behind her in the consist. While the train she was pulling was by no means short (especially compared to the usual 5-6 car Amtraks which ply the tracks between Kalamazoo and Michigan City), I thought there would be more private varnish in tow.

Either way, it was an awesome experience to see the orange gal underway at speed on a Michigan mainline!

[CSX_CO]

CSX_CO, I understand what you're saying about not being able to see 4449 at perhaps something close to her highest speed, however, I must point out that a lot of us would not have the chase luck we did had she been going much faster. 40mph was a good speed (not too slow, by any means), though it would have been something to see her go much faster.

I wasn't expecting to see her doing 79, but something a bit more 'brisk' than 40. Especially considering how far behind schedule they were. I figured on 8 hrs between Chicago and Durand for the passengers. Not too fast, but not too slow. As it were, it took the train nearly 10 hrs to make the trip to Durand. It was 2100 when they finally were stopped for re-watering at Durand. That's a full 12 hrs after scheduled morning departure, with the trek to Owosso left to accomplish. Obviously, dispatching is out of the hands of the crew, and I can understand the lack of ITCS. At least it was nice to see it moving at 60 mph on the GTW.

Practice Safe CSX

[Dan Cluley]

The hourly trips go up towards Henderson and return. I believe the plan is 20min out then 20 min back. I'm not totaly sure on that though.

Thanks

Also, do we know any details about the Alma trips? Given the 7 hour length, I'm assuming long layover? Any idea what the expected times at Alma are?

----------------

I got the 4449 South of Charlotte, and again in East Lansing. I'm still one of the dinosaurs using film, so no pics yet, but should have video up in a day or two.

[CN_Okemos]

I believe the layover is only 2 hours rougly. Its the track thats the problem

[Gov. Crappo]

the speed made for some awesome shots, and plenty of pre-trip planning. But as most well made plans..
we waited 4 hours in Galesburg. With no accurite info at hand was reluctant to leave.Big thanks to Dave? who showed up and offered what info he had via ham radio. (as it turned out Dave was a former staffer on the original ATF spending 15 months on board). Sat for video at Galesburg ..headed for Belleville for shots sneeking thru BC while she rested...by now figured out how to get twitter on my phone so the chase was..caught up and passed south of I-96 on I-69... easy drive to Bancroft for video but at the last minute my pilot (wifey) desided on Durand which turned out a wise choice as we had good seats west of the diamonds (any shots of the sunset? mine didnt turnout so well) for the arrival and for some great night time video heading to Owosso over the diamonds...

all in all wonderful day with the family and trains...many thanks to everyone that made it happen...and many thanks to all the nice people we met in our travels yesterday

[Railzfan]

Good evening guys...and gals!

I caught up with the 4449 yesterday in Michigan City, here is my favorite photo of her!

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=291249

The sun lasted about long enough for me to take this!

[RailCanon]

Turning back to Owosso for a moment. Another engine arrived today. While 4449 may be the most modern steam locomotive at the festival, it is not the newest...
Welcome to Train Festival 2009, Miss Leviathan.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 64&nseq=29

[MagnumForce]

Actually 765 is far more technologically advanced then 4449. The NKP Berks were the absolute pinnacle of Steam Locomotive Design.

Splitting hairs I know, but accurate none the less.

[PAT.C]

HERE'S SOME INTERESTING READING.
CONCENTRATE ON THE SECTION TITLED "SUPER POWER".

IF YOU ARE CORRECT, EVERYTHING I READ IS WRONG .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lima_Locomotive_Works

PS
HE CHANGED HIS POST AFTER I POSTED THIS.
PPS
Splitting hairs I know, but accurate none the less.
AN ARTICLE A WHILE BACK IN TRAINS MAG GAVE THE OPINION THAT THE NYC NIAGARAS WERE THE ABSOLUTE PINNACLE OF STEAM LOCO DESIGN. HOW ABOUT THE 2-6-6-6 OR THE N&W A.

A FACT WORTH KNOWING---OPINIONS ARE NOT FACT. .

[RailCanon]

I would have to say that the pinnacle of steam locomotive design was the C&O J-3A type Northern. These were the very last commercially built passenger engines in the United States and had ALL of the most modern appliances and refinements available in the industry. Built to run at speeds of 100+ MPH in passenger service, they would have done just as well in freight service. C&O 614 proved this when it did the ACE Coal testing in 1985.
Oh, what do 614, 765, 4449 and 1225 all have in common?
They were all built by the Lima Locomotive Works.
Therefore, the best steam locomotives ever built were constructed in Lima, Ohio. And that is a FACT.

[MagnumForce]

Too me the GS-4's are precluded from the list by the lack of roller bearings on the drivers.

Regardless of what you think Lima was undoubtedly the leader in Steam Locomotive design with Alco a close second, the NYC Niagara's and UP's Big Boy, Challenger, and Northern Trio were no slouches at all . N&W's Roanoke built engines were good but I have a hard time including the J's. Y's, and A's in the same category.

The proposed 4-8-6 that Lima never built would have been absolutely the Pinnacle.