If the proposed Amtrak route Chicago-Rockford had gotten the green light, both Olson Road and Seeman Road would have had to have crossing gates and lights installed. On the IRM campus, "human crossing gates" with ropes are already used on both the Steam Lead/Depot Street crossing and the Trolley Loop/Central Avenue crossing during Thomas days.
I agree, I have wondered that myself driving up to the museum. The museum crossing alone probably doesn't need them, but at the speeds that the UP auto trains come flying through there, you would think they would have installed at least some flashers at that crossing by now.
If you come out to the museum, you will see many crossing displays of various types. They are not installed for the purpose of public safety, but because IRM is a railway museum and the gates, wig-wags other signals are vintage displays of railroad history. As an additional benefit, public safety is served.
I'd rather spend my money on a British Airways ticket and visit the premier vintage railroad museum in England, of which I am a life-time member. The Isle of Wight Steam railway. Those people can restore the most rusted engine back into operating condition. They have a web page where they show you all their projects.
I just got my copy of the new Rail & Wire and it is great! The layout and photography is superior to the last few
issues. The article on the #1024 is some
thing else with the night time photos!
Ted Miles, 2016 IRM Member
With opening day less than a month away, how soon will the stored hoppers have to be removed from IRM rails in order for the Track Department to have enough time to perform their seasonal inspection of the main line for regular service?
Just got back from visiting Bailey Yards in North Platte, NE., the world's largest classification yard. They (the Union Pacific RR) say the average train these days runs about 138 cars in length. Above, in the blog there is a statement that we are storing "more than three MT Hopper trains for one customer." Now, at the UP's average of 138 per train, that would work out to 414 cars. I doubt seriously if we have enough track free to hold an additional 414 cars, so could someone, please, give us an exact count of the number of cars we have been storing over the winter?
Hello Russ MY question to you is WHY do you want to know? That's an internal management decision to release that info. If you are really interested on the amount come out on a beautiful day and count them all!! BTW some hoppers will be leaving soon. Roger
I'll tell you why I want to know. Because YOU made the statement, and I quote, " We are now storing on our railroad more than three MT hopper trains for one customer."
How many cars do you consider each train of empty hopper cars to be? 50, 100, UPs estimate of 138, or some other number? As I stated in my post, 138 per train seemed a little large and I didn't think we could store 414 cars. I'm simply looking for some clarification, thats all. Clear?