I believe he told me there was still a manned ex-MILW tower in the Chicago area. That might have changed by now.
I also miss Kodachrome. Shot a fair amount of K64. I miss the MILW and other now gone companies. The Class 1 companies of today just do not hold the same type of interest. Thankfully we have enough smaller companies remaining.
Agreed BoxcabE50. I miss the entire scene of 40' cars, jointed rail, manned interlocking towers, cabooses, weedy branchlines to everywhere, depots, non-generic lineside signals, varied old diesels, pole lines and railroad operated passenger trains. I'm reluctant to admit it, but I can't tell a GE from an EMD these days.
They are hard to tell apart unless you look for specific details. Worse than that, there are no more Alcos! I miss the burbling idle of the RS18s at the local station (the RR employees weren't too fussy about a 12 year old hanging around, as long as I didn't get in the way), and their throaty roar when the hogger gooses the throttle to start his train. Those were the days.
We didn't have Baldwins up here. My neck of the woods was Alco country, and once in a while an EMD went through (I once did see one of CP's two GP30s - I was so excited! ... I was a kid, after all...). Though I would have enjoyed hearing the deep thrashing of a Baldwin at full throttle.
I guess it is kind of like visiting with a friend who is very old and feeble. You never know if it will be the last time. However you are always happy to see them.
Saw these in Loveland today. Great Western by Keith posted Jul 28, 2015 at 10:15 PM HBR Widecab by Keith posted Jul 28, 2015 at 10:25 PM Came across this train, at Highland, on the way home with my folks Power by Keith posted Jul 28, 2015 at 10:15 PM Got lucky this time! Had camera with me!! Best I could get. Pole in the way this side. House/trees in the way from the other side! Foreign Power by Keith posted Jul 28, 2015 at 10:15 PM
I think that's probably the only time I've ever seen units from three builders mu'd together. The D&H had so much to offer the fan. Caught No. 5010 five years later in Taylor, PA in July 1985.