Greetings to all,
Just an absolute beautiful day that resulted in good weather versus the horrid wet, wild, windy
mood that existed all week long. Friday was the worst with wind whipping up 20 foot waves
on Lake Michigan with power outages everywhere in northwest Indiana. But the next 7 days
are good warm temps in the 70's.
Arriving at a late hour of 9:30am, much activity was already started. The Main Street
crossing was already under attack.....demolition is more the way things were going. Prior to my
arrival, the air compressor running the air ratchet tools had removed most of the big bolts
holding the planks down to the ties. Cory manning the backhoe was busy pulling up the crossing
planks in a manner allowing the payloader and Bob Cat with the forks tips to get under the
planks and take them to a pile across the road, stacking the planks in a neat pile. John L running
the payloader, Bing R using his skid loader, Joe K, Dave C, Mark K, busy clearing the ties of
debris and stones. Both the C&I main and siding were clear of planks by 11:30am. Time for
lunch.
Meanwhile the train crew was getting things ready for the crowds that were to ride the
1:30pm train to La Crosse and Wade Tower with the Monon Historical group. The train
was spotted at the depot loading platform by 12:30pm. Many riders were boarding early
to get a good seat in the LIRR coach or the open air car. The chair lift car got a good work-out
today with a couple of wheel chairs and others who could not climb steps into the cars.
The train left close to 1:30pm but a couple of last minute items had to be taken care of,
getting a radio to the rear end, whose radio battery went dead at the last minute.
By 1:00pm, I had got my tools together, electric cord plugged in to the new outlet on the
east end of the kitchen car, manlift started, with some help from Joe K working the choke
and it started. Moved the manlift into position on the south side of the PC, soon to be PRR
boxcar for some grinding and priming. I got a good section of the side done before the
return of the train from La Crosse.
The crossing crew had the town street dept cutting a nice cut across Main street for a much
neater cut-in with the paving crew coming Tuesday of next week. Cleanup of the old asphalt
lasted the greater portion of the afternoon. All is ready for next week. Any bets on if someone
might try going over the tracks before Sunday morning. One of the track circuit wires was
broken and the crossing lights will flash till repaired, so that may help prevent an accidental
crossing.
The train returned from La Crosse at 4:34pm, everyone exited quickly and departed shortly
after, the train crew quickly locked all the cars, and put the train back on the caboose
track. Everyone was gone by 5pm.
Next week, most likely at 8am, board meeting, 3 trains running, and on the 15th, work
will commence on the Arlington street crossing, as only 1 train will be running that day.
Enjoy the fall weather this coming week, see you next Saturday.
Tom Travis
Just an absolute beautiful day that resulted in good weather versus the horrid wet, wild, windy
mood that existed all week long. Friday was the worst with wind whipping up 20 foot waves
on Lake Michigan with power outages everywhere in northwest Indiana. But the next 7 days
are good warm temps in the 70's.
Arriving at a late hour of 9:30am, much activity was already started. The Main Street
crossing was already under attack.....demolition is more the way things were going. Prior to my
arrival, the air compressor running the air ratchet tools had removed most of the big bolts
holding the planks down to the ties. Cory manning the backhoe was busy pulling up the crossing
planks in a manner allowing the payloader and Bob Cat with the forks tips to get under the
planks and take them to a pile across the road, stacking the planks in a neat pile. John L running
the payloader, Bing R using his skid loader, Joe K, Dave C, Mark K, busy clearing the ties of
debris and stones. Both the C&I main and siding were clear of planks by 11:30am. Time for
lunch.
Meanwhile the train crew was getting things ready for the crowds that were to ride the
1:30pm train to La Crosse and Wade Tower with the Monon Historical group. The train
was spotted at the depot loading platform by 12:30pm. Many riders were boarding early
to get a good seat in the LIRR coach or the open air car. The chair lift car got a good work-out
today with a couple of wheel chairs and others who could not climb steps into the cars.
The train left close to 1:30pm but a couple of last minute items had to be taken care of,
getting a radio to the rear end, whose radio battery went dead at the last minute.
By 1:00pm, I had got my tools together, electric cord plugged in to the new outlet on the
east end of the kitchen car, manlift started, with some help from Joe K working the choke
and it started. Moved the manlift into position on the south side of the PC, soon to be PRR
boxcar for some grinding and priming. I got a good section of the side done before the
return of the train from La Crosse.
The crossing crew had the town street dept cutting a nice cut across Main street for a much
neater cut-in with the paving crew coming Tuesday of next week. Cleanup of the old asphalt
lasted the greater portion of the afternoon. All is ready for next week. Any bets on if someone
might try going over the tracks before Sunday morning. One of the track circuit wires was
broken and the crossing lights will flash till repaired, so that may help prevent an accidental
crossing.
The train returned from La Crosse at 4:34pm, everyone exited quickly and departed shortly
after, the train crew quickly locked all the cars, and put the train back on the caboose
track. Everyone was gone by 5pm.
Next week, most likely at 8am, board meeting, 3 trains running, and on the 15th, work
will commence on the Arlington street crossing, as only 1 train will be running that day.
Enjoy the fall weather this coming week, see you next Saturday.
Tom Travis
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