RTA V.S. Norfolk southern race

[jettrainfan]

This is clip of me and my sis riding the RTA when some NS light power comes flying at about 50 M.P.H! So i got my camera and filmed it! the finish line was rockport yard's entrance and the two were neck and neck, but only one could win... find out in the video and let me know what you think!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vVtTW-Tp4Y

[pcctrolleyII]

Very nice video i like it.

[jonathan]

Couldn't help myself.  I watched it.  Enjoyed the race and seeing the UP loco with the HCLX markings.

Regards,

Jonathan

[J3a-614]

Cool video and ride.

If this is Cleveland, I've ridden that line myself. 

Terminal Tower is neat, although it suffered from poor timing (it was built by the Nickel Plate in the 20s, opened just in time for the Depression, and was a major factor in the NKP's receivership or bankruptcy at the time).  Would have loved to have visited the place in the classic days with steam and all those electric locomotives handling the trains in the tower zone itself, not to mention the streetcar system!

It would be equally neat to see it become an intercity station again, with the new proposals for high speed rail floating around, including some  in Ohio.  Yes, I know there are criticisms of a proposal out now, among other things claiming an average speed of only 39 mph, but it's my understanding that is for an operation with little or no track improvement, which is intended to be worked out later.  As it is, it is surprising just how slow driving is on an Interstate highway when you also account for the time getting to and from approach and exit ramps; include that local travel, and your Interstate doesn't look too good either.

Not visible in your clip, but very visible if watching this in person, would be what you could see while watching the trucks, with visibly working springs, journal boxes, and equalizers.  One of the most fascinating things to see in railroading my opinion.

Thanks.   

[pipefitter]

That's a neat clip Jet When I lived in Maryland, I enjoyed the occasional "race" between Washington DC METRO trains and CSX freights on the line between DC's Union Station and Silver Spring. There the Red line runs two tracks in the middle of the CSX/B&O Metropolitan Branch with CSX tracks on either side. Sometimes we'd get into a real good pace running side by side, but then the durn METRO would have to stop at a station

Robert

[jettrainfan]

Glad everyone liked it!

J3a-614, indeed its Cleveland, i remember from about a year ago (will be 2 in march) where at the midwest preservation tour they talked about how the Cleveland terminal was #1 for a few days till the stock markets crashed and the fame practically went down the drain. As for it returning to its former glory, I'd love to see that, trackage is no problem, about 20-40% of the old tracks not being used are still left and have been used as storage, a little prepping and you got 3-4 extra lines open for Amtrak or another passenger company! Yea the highways are bad (but the drivers are worse! ) so who knows, its still possible.

[ABC]

I've seen that very UP loco before HLCX 5974. Does the NS line go on the overpass by little Italy? I know I see RTA going over it all the time. I just don't remember if NS uses it.

[jettrainfan]

I think it does, from a little Google map search, it looked like the branch line that passes through rockport to enter the chicago line but im not sure. So im guessing Norfolk southern owns it

[J3a-614]

Well, Jet, glad you enjoyed your ride on the Cleveland line.

A regret I have is that I never got out to the eastern end of the system.  This was the Shaker Heights line, and I understand that outside of the modern equipment from Italy, it feels like you are back in the 1920s.

A good book to read, if you haven't already done so, is the late John Rehor's "The Nickel Plate Story," published at about the time the NKP disappeared into the Norfolk & Western, and reprinted a number of times since by Kalmbach.  It has a lot of details on the construction of the Terminal Tower, including a lot of the corporate and financial shenanigans going on then, plenty of construction photos, and the best history of the Wheeling & Lake Erie I've seen.  I believe there has also been a more recent book on the terminal, with an emphasis on its electric operations, but I've never seen the book, and don't recall its title or author, although I think it was published by TLC.

Any other book recommendations on this for a young railfan here?

[Michigan Railfan]

This is replying to J3A's question about good books for young railfanners. The book "Railroads: A History in Photographs" is a good choice. On the cover, it has 2 what look to be high hood gp9's. One in the "Black Widow" Southern Pacific, and the other unidentifiable. In the upper right hand corner it says "the 500 series" and is by Steve Barry, and published by Crestline in 2002.  I reccommend it because it gives ALOT of information on locomotives (steam,diesel, and electric), railway maintenance, and trains themselves. The book has engine profiles on all 3 types of engines listed, and includes the builder, tractive effort, weight, wheel arrangement, length, max. axleload, and the year built. Also, they have a paragraph or two that tells you miscillaneous info including how many were built, their predescessors, and much more info. Locomotives include the GP38-2, F40PH, SD40-2, AEM-7, many F series engines, some U Boats, the Big Boy, Class A 4-8-4, and many, many more. It also includes ALOT of pictures, and each loco profile includes a very detailed drawing of it in a random roadname. I'm not sure if this book is still in print, but if you see it at a store, I strongly reccommend getting it.

[RBMN #425 Fan]

nce video. kind of remindes me of what (almost) happened to me