Greetings to All,
Certainly a day to remember at North Judson. I arrived and got to work sharpening
my lawnmower blades. Went over to the used brick pile and loaded 50 bricks in the
van for around the house. I heard the diesel returning from La Crosse with the
train, but did not hear the 765 whistle. Sure enough the diesel was pulling only the
last 5 passenger cars. It soon headed back north. People were leaving in droves,
vendors were packing up. I knew something was up, but decided to head down town
to eat. In the Wooden Nickel a horrific storm hit with very heavy rain and wind. Power
flickered a few times, but did not go out. Returning to HVRM, it was a ghost depot,
everyone was gone.
I had approached the depot and stopped to ask what was going on. Joe Kingsbury said
the train had derailed in La Crosse at IN 8 crossing. As the NKP 765 was coming into
town, the rails spread in the gauge. Andy Roscoe said that the engine derailed, but
was on the paved highway and went back on the track, but the next 5 cars were not
so lucky. EJ&E transfer caboose, NKP open air car, LIRR 2937, MKT open air car, and
the first Mid America coach had all gone off the rails. Two big truck wreckers were called
from Hamlet to help in the rerailing. I arrived to see 3 cars back on the rails and
2 to go yet, but should be easy as they sat on the paved highway crossing.
The C&I track crew was called to jack hammer the pavement where the rails spread.
A new steel bar was installed to pull the rail back in guage. Most likely rotten ties,
loose tie plates caused the problem.
As I left, NKP 765 was taking water from a La Crosse water hydrant. Electrical power
was out in La Crosse as a result of the storm, power poles on US 421 had snapped
and blocking the road north of town. John Schultz was called to cut power to the signal
gates that were most likely operating off of battery power.
Richard had repaired the hopper on the elevator earlier in the day.
NKP 356 RPO may still be moved from MRM, I heard that it may cost more now.
The wreckers cost 500 dollar an hour, a bargain vs Hulcher who wanted 10,000 just
to start the clock ticking.
No idea if NKP 765 will run on Monday. The owner of the Mid America car was on
location inspecting his cars. Felix Powell was also on site, directing his crew in fixing
the railroad. Many others helping were Cory, Dave, John, Les, Jason, Andy, Bob and the
NKP 765 crew. Many onlookers prevailed on the sidelines, getting entertainment
outside, with no power in the houses, it will be a long night in La Crosse till things
are normal again. It may be a long night in North Judson also.
Tom
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