I must give credit to S&NYRR.com for Powell station location. I had been by it before and I thought it looked interesting but didn't know the buildings heritage. I must also give credit to Charles whom I met at Barclay Cemetery. Charles was a wealth of information and gladly took time from his volunteer maintenance work to answer my many questions. I've found more at some other locations on public land but I'm hesitant to post some of the photos because of souvenir hunters. I'll post more immovable object pictures in the future. Last year I was squirrel hunting just above Schrader Creek. Late in the day, I looked down the hill towards the creek and, Holly Smokes, I see the bottom flange of a locomotive smoke stack. How did I not notice that for the past hour. I forgot all about being quiet and scrambled down the hill. On closer investigation it turned out to be the upper shouldered portion of a VERY heavy, riveted milk can. I did not have my phone on me so did not get pictures. I'm going back this fall to see if I can determine which dairy it was from and get exact lat & long.. The S&NY RoW crossed the creek in this general area so this could be the wrong side of creek. I'm not sure about it's predecessor Barclay RR. Per Wikipedia BRR began operations in 1854. Barclay RR time table shows a station in this general area. I've seen two different distances given from an existing known point. The milage differs by 0.43 mi. I'm assuming one was rounded figures in a public TT and the other in employe TT with actual milage. I'll need to go back and check. Per Wikipedia S&NY did some grade and curve reductions. S&NY TT that I've seen on line does not list a station here. Could this milk can possibly mark the location of the BRR station or was it just dumped in the woods a long time ago. Looks like I need to break out some history books and search the BCHS museum records. Sorry about the long post!
Here's one for you. Came across this at a yard sale Saturday morning in the Chattanooga area. Didn't buy it since the lady had no idea how it was obtained. I know it's years out of date so may not be an issue but better to be safe than sorry.
I see all kinds of railroad signs at the larger train shows and wonder the same as you BNSF FAN. Considering what the extensive reduction in coal traffic has done to the Corbin Terminal, maybe these signs were removed and replaced with one reading, Will The Last Crewman Out Please Turn Off The Lights.
You have a point there Hardcoaler! I had forgotten that Corbin was downgraded to not much more than a crew change point these days.
I did a chase of the Northgate Local from the international border to Minot (ran out of light 50 miles from home, though). I'm not in Canada, but I could kick a rock there:
Hung in my train room yesterday is this reduced scale replica sign of that which was affixed to the PRR's JACKS Tower at Jacks Narrows, PA. It was made by a fellow in NJ who made customized rail signs at the time. Jack was my late father' name and I gave it to him in 1982 as a Christmas gift. He placed it over the door to his home woodworking shop where it has remained ever since. He passed away some years ago and my mother also, earlier this year. With their house being cleared out for sale, I wanted to save this treasured sign to brighten my train room and lift my spirits.
Ceres Global Ag Corp, Northgate Terminal lies just north of the border from Northgate, ND. To reach it, BNSF crews must process their train and themselves through Customs each trip. While Customs personnel are not included in this view, the eastbound Northgate Local waits for Customs clearance to proceed. A crewman climbs aboard after throwing a switch for the loop at the Ceres facility, preparing to bring the train to Minot. A sign nearby shows switch positioning. The crewman is not bundled up for no reason; a stiff, cold wind is blowing in from the north, while temps hover around 28°F.
CP train 199 blasts through the Des Lacs River valley and kicks up a ground blizzard near Foxholm, ND. CP Portal Sub. The "130 cars" sign refers to 50' carlengths from the last siding, hailing back to the days of caboose crews. Also seen are the whistle post, milepost and crossbucks.
Hemi, ever look for the ICC tags on the crossbuck poles? I have some old Milw ones, and an MRL one I found. They'll look like an aluminum license plate, nailed to the pole. And those fallen lineside telephone poles to the left, bet you can find some old insulators on them!
I have one from the old Tatman Branch, rescued from the weeds after the tracks were pulled up. I should shoot these, as I'll bet the ones along the Portal Sub might have Soo markings. The pole line follows the bulk of the Portal Sub. It's something I aim to include in my compositions.
