Absolutely normal IMHO, I feel I'm doing several things when visiting. 1) Keeping MILW alive in our memories 2) Paying respects to the MILW, it's employees, the towns it affected. 3) Satisfying my own curiosity about how things looked in person. 4) Compiling data for this website, so others can use this data for research, modeling and knowledge. 5) I love Montana and railroads, what better reason is there? :tb-wink: 6) If it is a sickness, you will have plenty of friends in the "ward" with you.:tb-biggrin:
Vendome I can understand. But why grace? Not much to see except some curves in the mainline? Actually, thats Vendome too eh? And how did an Alaska GP49 get way up there? No tracks to put it on.
Grace was a place a bunch of famous shots (Asahel Curtis, and others)have been made by company and other photographers. Cedar Hills road takes you there nearly right to the shot I wanted. I wanted to see Grace as the rock formations are pretty spectacular thru there. BTW, Alaska GP49 is my buddy from Denver. Also a contributor here. He and I are more well known here for our former D&RGW Moffat Route photo trips.
Back to Alberton! Groveland's depot sign (and another of the same behind it), builders plates, among other stuff: A few items of electrification interest: trolley pole top, complete with messenger wire aparatus, hangers, insulators, and other gadgets: Various track tools, a piece of art of a Westinghouse Quill motor, and a photo poster of Silver Creek Trestle in Saltese: I shoulda taken notes--anyone know what this stuff is?
The last photo is more electrification hardware. Specifically looks like several samples of the hardware used to hang the energized trolley wire. The Air Gap sign is also from the electrification indicating, if I remember right, an air insulated open in the circuit. Boxcab will be able to shed much more light on this.
An air gap is just that. Basically trolley from one direction ended, and another began. But the two would parallel each other for a short distance. Seperated (thus insulated) by air. When working on catenary, train orders would be issued on either side, warning of the ongoing work, and warning "DO NOT BRIDGE AIR GAP". Meaning that any electric engine with pantograph up, it's shoe would connect the two parallel trolleys and could electrocute the trolley crew at work. All their trolley system was built in sections, each ending in an air gap. This done so portions could be isolated for repairs, or in case of some damage due to a snow slide, derailment etc. Thus outside of the shut down section, the motors could continue to move trains. Boxcab E50
I have never looked for a pattern in how they were located. That might be interesting. I would need to dig out my copy of the trolley schematics. Then try to match that up with track blueprints. See if it's distances, or any observable factor. There were also changes in these locations as the years went by. The first gap was at the west end of Harlowton. The next shown was #3 at the west end of Valencia. (Meaning #2 was abolished at some past date.) Then right in the middle of Two Dot- Due to a substation feeding either direction. The sites of all would make quite a list.... Boxcab E50
Look in the back of your Noel Holley book. It has schematics listing locations of all the air gaps. BTW, these montana jail cells are roomy.
Yes. It's in Noel's book. However, at a size reduced where it's not teh most easily read. I have an original issued by the Electrification Department. Much easier to see with aging eyes. Huh??? What happened??? Boxcab E50
Did you visit the Deer Lodge Prison? Is it a historic site? I dunno, I usually make a beeline for the interstate once I see E-70.
Here's a little info about the "Wylie Controller": Here's a view of the controller int he extreme right, as well as other RR tools, and brass bearings pieces: Various trinkets in a display case: 21: Some neat MILW calendars:
These are the calendars Nate Molldrem used to make up, and send to all his friends at Christmas. After he retired, he stopped doing any more. The top portion of each is recreated from a real Milw calendar. Mine are safely packed away downstairs. Boxcab E50
I don't have any information on the history of that calendar. Could be west side. Maybe a place or two east. Boxcab E50
More cool calendars--the first one looks like Grace, MT: A train bulletin board, orders hoop, and a conductor mannequin: Various photos and art: Various photos, timetables from most US railroads are in the binder, and a couple museum book copies. The one on top is the Under Milwaukee Wires book, which I definitely want a copy for my library!
I went on an antelope hunt with my dad--the last before I leave the states for a few years. On the way down, it's the quick route. On the way back we'll parallel the MILW from Lavina to Ringling. I hope to bag a shot of Loweth Substation 2. We were in the Gas Hills near Waltman, WY, about 75 miles from Casper. The good news: Two Dot SS1 (foundation): found Martinsdale depot: found (but collapsing) Lennep: found handcar shed, depot sign, and stockyards. No depot. Bruno (?): found several signals, possible siding site Loweth: found substation, bungalow foundations, both ROW line changes, and a couple signals The bad news: I forgot to take a photo of the Casper, WY Fresh Step facility. Yep, cat litter. The cars they ship out have kitty pawprints painted on, and CATX reporting marks. No, that was not MILW related, but I remembered that I wanted the shots as we pulled into Sheridan, 130 some odd miles north!
