Tomorrow morning at 7am, I am to meet the Progressive Rail Engineer and Conductor at their Caterpillar siding where I will ride with them for at least part of the day during their daily operations. Our power will be a Progressive Rail SW1500, #2347 We will travel to the north end of the line and I think we will also meet up with CP Rail power at the CP interchange. I will have my video camera as well as a tablet to document prototypical operations. The PRG Engineer that I will be riding with has been modeling N scale for many many years. I should be able to get a lot of great ideas with his help. Model Railroader had an article on PRG in their June 2002 issue. It's a great writeup - take a look at it if you have access to that issue. Progressive Rail websites: http://www.progressiverail.com/ http://www.geocities.com/danpatchline/ More to come after I finish documenting this experience [ 23. May 2003, 21:17: Message edited by: jasonboche ]
Jason- Will be interested in the trip photo documentary...! BTW- Do you know of a really descriptive system map anywhere on the 'Net? I followed the links posted. But unless I missed a page, didn't see anything but general area stuff. Boxcab E50 [ 23. May 2003, 16:46: Message edited by: BoxcabE50 ]
Back in late 1988, I was given the opportunity to ride the Kiamichi Railroad's Madill Turn from Hugo, OK to Madill, OK and back. This was for research on my article on that railroad, and I got to hang out with a couple of good ol' boy ex-Frisco types. Got a lot of shots, called signals for the engineer at Madill (we were on the BN main at the time), and cussed out the *%&#@ who almost got hit by our train in Durant, OK. Enjoy yourself, take plenty of pics, and please give us a report when you get back to a computer.
Here's the first video I've turned into an .MPG - switching loads and empties at a cement plant over a crossing. http://www.boche.net/trains/progressive_rail_5-23-03/1.mpg (3.5MB)
Pulling out early in the morning. We leave the caboose behind Conductor Mike talks with customers at the plastics industry. The customers let Mike know what cars are empty and which loads need to be moved around. Looking out towards the front while switching the centerflow hoppers at the plastics industry Coupling... We're hooked up to a cut of centerflow hoppers
All of the world's greatest Engineers (and their passengers) need pastries in the morning A look at a wall of controls in the SW1500. This bank of switches is located on the wall of the cab which separates the cab and the engine compartment We're now at another industry, about to pick up a few centerbeam cars
In this picture, we're performing a "run-around" using the Oxboro siding Conductor Mike prepares the knuckle and centers the shank as we prepare to couple to a flat car destined for Yuma, AZ. The load: two older model trucks with attached crane equipment
Here's a good shot of the caboose just outside of the Zigler CAT plant Another shot.. Conductor Mike prepares to throw a switch. In this picture you can see the flat car load with the two crane equipped trucks bound for Yuma, AZ A few more caboose shots Allright, enough time has been spent inspecting the caboose. It's time to get back on board the SW1500 and head for the CP Rail interchange where we will meet up with a Candy Apple Red SOO and a CP Rail GEEP
Mr. Bosche, Your shots were very vivid, and the descriptions through. I felt I was right along with you. You must of had a great trip.
Please see the following URL for the remaining pictures and movies that I am posting: http://forum.atlasrr.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=23236
