January

Volume 46 #1
January 2015
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Wheel work completed on Mid-Continent's CNW locomotive
Trains Newswire Dec 26 2014
NORTH FREEDOM, Wis. – Wheel work for Chicago & North Western 4-6-0 No. 1385 has been completed at the Strasburg Rail Road shop in Strasburg, Pa. Steve
Sandberg, who is serving as project consultant for the locomotive’s owner, the Mid-Continent Railway Museum, told Trains News Wire the work included new
tires and crank pins. The project included installing new tires and truing/turning the tire seats. The museum is able return the engine to original specifications,
since the museum and the project members have original documentation, blue prints, and measurements. The goal among the team members working on the
engine is to have it operating in 2016, but that depends on keeping a tight project schedule and continued success in fund raising at a pace faster than the
restoration work expends those funds. Because of the inherent uncertainty in fund raising and the chance for unforeseen delays, the museum does not have
an official estimated completion date.
Contents
Meeting Notice
Officer Contact Directory
Editors Column
Library Open House
Minutes of last meeting
NRHS report
Minnesota Zephyr Units report
Amtrak Empire Builder Schedule
California Railfan Trip (Part 3)
Northpole Express report
Seattle Area Landslides
BNSF Big Lake track expansion
Optimism on Railroad coal Deliveries article
Wilmar Bypass
P1
P2
P2
P2,3
P3
P3
P3
P4
P4,5,6
P7
P7
P7
P7,8
P8
Extra news,photos
P9-13
Page 1
Meeting Notice
Next business meeting will be held January 17, 2015
6:30 pm, at Roseville Lutheran Church at 1215 Roselawn
Avenue, midway between Lexington and Hamline Avenues in
Roseville. See map on page 2.
Program after the meeting –
Greg Smith Slide Show from his personal Collection.
There will be a pre-meeting get-together Jan 17, 2014 at the
Keys Cafe and Bakery at the northeast corner of Lexington and
Larpenteur starting about 4:45 pm. PLEASE CALL Bob
Clarkson at 651-636-2323 and leave a message with your name
and the number of persons coming with you.
Reminder: Dues for 2015 are Due!
Northstar News January 2015
Northstar Chapter Officers (please note changes from last year)
Richard Tubbesing
President
Tubbesing261@yahoo.com
763-757-1304
Dan Meyer
Vice President
dan@meyer-family.net
763-784-8835
H Martin Swan
Past President
hmartinswan@msn.com
612-961-1684
Jim McLean
National Director
genrrserv@aol.com
612-747-8541
Treasurer
Russ Isbrandt
rmisbrandt@comcast.net
651-426-1156
Secretary
Dave Norman
nevad11@hotmail.com
612-729-2428
Trustee
Gary Rumler
nlcdrumler@gmail.com
651-385-8752
Staff
Program Chairman
John Goodman
Jhgoodman2001@yahoo.com 612-839-0905
Newsletter Editor
Committee: Richard
Tubbesing261@yahoo.com
763-757-1304
Tubbesing, Dawn
dawn@dholmberg.com
763-784-8835
Holmberg
Newsletter Distribution
Richard Tubbesing
Tubbesing261@yahoo.com
763-757-1304
Calendar Committee
John Goodman
Jhgoodman2001@yahoo.com 612-839-0905
Dawn Holmberg
dawn@dholmberg.com
763-784-8835
Trip Director
Chapter
Librarian/Historian
Web Master
Chapter Mailbox
Library Data Base
Administrator
John Goodman
John Cartwright
Jhgoodman2001@yahoo.com 612-839-0905
stationman86@yahoo.com
651-481-8479
Dan Meyer
Northstar Chapter NRHS
Russ Isbrandt
dan@meyer-family.net
PO Box 120832
rmisbrandt@comcast.net
Meeting Site
Editor’s Column
From the east or west take MN 36 to Lexington Avenue. Drive south
on Lexington Avenue to Roselawn Avenue and turn right. The large
lighted parking lot is on your right as you travel west on Roselawn.
Use the lower entrance to the church and turn left through the
commons area. We’ll be in room 40, The Diamond Room.
From the Editor:
763-784-8835
St Paul MN 55112
651-426-1156
Happy New Year. John Goodman is now on the NRHS Board of
Directors, and will be working on the NRHS convention for 2016. John
has done a very commendable job working on past NRHS conventions
which were very successful. We wish John continued success in his
work with the NRHS Board of Directors.
President Note: As new President, I am honored to be President for the
next two years. I look forward to working with our very competent
BOD members and to serve our organization and its membership. My
proverbial ‘door’ will always be open to suggestions to make our
organization better, and better serve our membership. I prefer any
communication to be my e-mail address (see below) or at our
meetings. Please feel free to converse with me or any of our BOD
members with any suggestions you may have.
Regards, Richard Tubbesing
Reminder
Again, I will repeat…Al Weber President of the NRHS, has many
hurdles to overcome. His job is very difficult based on the financial
situation of the NRHS. Current members of the NRHS should have
received a membership renewal notice. . Please consider renewing your
NRHS membership. Also, our Library will be open before our next
business meeting! See Below. We also have a few 2015 Calendars still
available. If you haven’t purchased one, please do.
Page 2
Northstar News January 2015
.
LIBRARY OPEN HOUSE
..
There should be plenty of live action on the BNSF St. Paul Sub. There will be an
open house at Northstar Chapter NRHS Library 2:00 to 4:00 pm Saturday January
17th 2014. We now have additional seating in our viewing room. (Thanks to
furniture we acquired from the old Midway Amtrak station.) The library is at 2010
East Hennepin Avenue, the Central Research Building Room 226. From the west
take I-35W north to the Hennepin Ave exit and drive east just past Stinson Blvd.
From the east take I-35W South / MN 36 West to Stinson Blvd. Turn left on Stinson
to Hennepin Ave just under the railroad overpass, turn left. From either direction
take the first driveway to enter the parking lot. Selected railroad DVD’s will be
shown. You will be free to access and peruse any of our 1,300 Railroad Books and
our collection of Timetables. At 4:30pm we will adjourn to Keys Restaurant at
Lexington and Larpenteur. Drive straight east on Hennepin / Larpenteur to
Lexington. Please join us.
Minutes of the October 18, 2014 Membership Meeting of the Northstar Chapter NRHS
Chapter president H. Martin Swan called the meeting to order to order at 6:37 p.m. in the Roseville Lutheran Church with 19 members and guests
present. Those present were asked to introduce themselves. The minutes of the October 18th membership meeting were not ready when the
November 2014 issue of Northstar News went to press, but they will appear in a future issue, so we can vote to approve them at a meeting early
next year.. Election of 2015 chapter officers - there were no nominations from the floor for any of the offices. There was a motion to approve the
proposed slate of officers. The motion was seconded and carried. There was an important message from John Goodman. As he is now a member
of the BOD of the National NRHS, he can no longer be a member of the Northstar Chapter BOD. Therefore the office that he held on the chapter's
board as national representative is now vacant. Jim Maclean was appointed to hold this office until December 31st. This was approved by those
members of the chapter's board present at the meeting. John reported on some of the developments relating to the NRHS at the national level.
John also noted that we need more people to sign up for the chapter's Holiday Party in early December. Treasurer Russ Isbrandt gave his report.
He also reported on finances of the calendar. Joe Stark gave a reort on sales, including those at several recent flea market events. John
Cartrwright reported on the chapter library. We have been continuing to view movies from the Cordes Collection. We have had some of them
scanned into DVDs and hope to do more in the future. Cheer Committee - Marty said that he would send a card to Dawn Holmberg, who is
recovering from eye surgery. We got another donation from the family of Doug Johnson. We will invite them to attend our Holiday Party. There
was no other business. Marty gave a brief address. He thanked those who had served on the chapter board. There was a round of applause for
Marty. A motion to adjourn the meeting was made, seconded, and carried at 6:55 p.m. There was a brief break. There was a message from John
Goodman about procedures for paying 2015 dues to the national NRHS. The program was Members; Night. We are particularly looking for images
that could be used on the 2016 chapter calendar. Respectfully submitted, Dave Norman, Secretary.
NRHS Report by Board Member John Goodman
.
The Winter NRHS Board of Directors meeting will be held January 10th and 11 th at Roanoke VA. A report will be in the next newsletter.
National NRHS 2015 Dues can now be paid by electronic methods. You may pay via electronic or PayPal methods. Dues continue to be $50.00
for the year. Please go to NRHS.com, then in the upper right hand corner please click on memberships. If you have any questions or
doubts...please e-mail me at jhgoodman2001@yahoo.com , or you may phone me at 612-839-0905 (cell) and I would be happy to discuss this
situation with you. Thank You. John H. Goodman, District 6 NRHS Director.
'Minnesota Zephyr' F units Now Gone.
By Steve Glischinski | December 15, 2014. Trains Newswire
HOYT LAKES, Minn. In Minnesota this month, followers of Electro-Motive F units can rejoice that two of the classic cab units will be
preserved, while mourning the loss of three former LTV Steel/Erie Mining Co. F9 B units. The three B units, Nos. 4223, 4224, and 4225, were
scrapped earlier this month at the former Erie Mining plant site in Hoyt Lakes. According to Erie Mining historian and long-time employee Doug
Buell, their prime movers, generators, and most of their trucks were shipped out of the plant by flatbed truck, while any remaining scrap from the
units is being cut up and will be shipped off for recycling. The units were last used in 2008 by Cliffs Erie Mining, which purchased the assets of
LTV Steel Mining in 2002.Erie Mining Co. purchased 11 F9s, five A units and six B units, to haul taconite pellets from its mine and plant at
Hoyt Lakes over a 72-mile private railroad to its ore dock on the North Shore of Lake Superior at Taconite Harbor. Operations began in 1957,
and the fleet of F9s remained intact even after LTV Steel acquired Erie Mining in 1986. Four F9s, two A units and two B units, were destroyed
in a runaway derailment at Taconite Harbor in January 1997. LTV shuttered the taconite plant in 2001.There followed two revivals of the
railroad. In 2004 Cliffs Erie hired a contractor to claim leftover chips and pellets from the mine due to the high iron prices, and used the Fs to
move them to Taconite Harbor. In 2008, No. 4210 and the three B units were used to haul cars of pellet remains and fines from Taconite Harbor
to Hoyt Lakes where it was shipped out by rail. The units had been stored at Hoyt Lakes ever since. F9A Nos. 4210 and 4214 remain intact at
Hoyt Lakes, while former F9A No. 4211 and F9B 4222 have been preserved by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth. The news is
happier in southern Minnesota, where two former Minnesota Zephyr F7s will begin their journey from Stillwater to Alamosa, Colo. Nos. 787 and
788 have been sold to Heritage Rail Leasing, a subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings. Crews will begin loading the locomotives onto flatbed trucks
Monday. They will be trucked to Progressive Rail's facility at Randolph and loaded onto flatcars. They will then be moved to Northfield and
Page 3
Northstar News January 2015
interchanged to Union Pacific for the trip to Alamosa. Iowa Pacific has no current plans for the locomotives, so they will be stored after their
arrival in Colorado. The two Minnesota Zephyr units are No. 787, built in 1953 as Spokane, Portland & Seattle No. 804, later Burlington
Northern Nos. 9756 and 716, and No. 788, ex-Chicago & Northern Western No. 4082A, then No. 410, built in 1949. The units were last used in
December 2008 when the dinner train made its last run. Its six-mile route has since been converted to a trail.
Amtrak Empire Builder Resuming regular Schedule From John Goodman
CHICAGO – Amtrak will resume operating the Empire Builder (Trains 7/27 & 8/28) on its regular schedule and route in both directions,
effective with the departures of Jan. 12, 2015. The return of the previous timetables from Seattle and Portland will offer more attractive arrival
and departure times for the balance of the winter recreation season in the Flathead Valley of Montana, near Glacier National Park. Additionally,
Leavenworth and Spokane, Wash., and Sandpoint, Idaho, passengers will again enjoy same-day round trips to Portland or Seattle.
Three additional hours eastbound and 90 minutes westbound were added to the schedules in April west of St. Paul, Minn. This was done to
accommodate $1 billion in BNSF construction projects to add capacity and to help improve service for all traffic on its route. Amtrak and BNSF
continue to work cooperatively on the operational and maintenance issues that affect Amtrak trains on this line. BNSF is committed to work to
improve the performance of the Empire Builder going forward. "Local community and business leaders depend on the Empire Builder and see
Amtrak service as an important public transportation link," said DJ Stadtler, Amtrak Executive Vice President/Chief Operations Officer. "We
will work closely with BNSF to fulfill a commitment to Amtrak passengers and our communities to operate this train on schedules our customers
expect." "BNSF has a long history of hosting passenger service on our freight network. The investments we are continuing to make will help
improve reliability for all our customers, including Amtrak," said DJ Mitchell, AVP Passenger Operations, BNSF Railway. Also effective with
the schedule restoration, the Empire Builder will resume operating on its normal route in both directions in North Dakota. Amtrak will then
discontinue the use of chartered buses to cover missed station stops in Grand Forks, Devils Lake and Rugby, N.D., which has been routine since
May. Amtrak President & CEO Joe Boardman visited North Dakota earlier this year to engage community leaders and stressed the importance of
reliable service. Current on-time performance data are available on Amtrak.com, including responsibility for each element of delay. This
information is also presented to passengers when booking travel on the website and is available elsewhere from Amtrak.
California Trip (Via Amtrak) May-June 2014 (Article By R Tubbesing. Pictures by R Tubbesing, Roger Libra)
Continued from December Newsletter(Part three):
June 01, 2014
This was an unplanned day. Since our train didn’t leave LAUPT until 10:00 pm, we had the whole day to explore. We decided to go back to the summit at Cajon
pass which we liked before. We drove up I15 to the Junction with Highway 138. We missed the turn off (I wasn’t a good navigator here!) and had to go north on
I15, to turn around and found that the freeway was backed up for at least a couple of miles. After creeping up the hill, we finally saw what was causing the
delay-a motor home had overturned on the northbound lane causing traffic to be condensed from three lanes to one lane. Alas, we snuck onto the shoulder and
got to the next exit and turned around to head back to Highway 138 and the head east to the summit again. After stopping at McDonalds for an ice cream cone
and beverage we headed east. We got to the summit just as a BNSF WB auto-rack was approaching to head downhill. A UP WB manifest train was sitting at the
summit of the Palmdale Cutoff waiting to head downhill too. Then a BNSF WB Stack came by. Soon after, a BNSF WB manifest which changed from track 3 to
track 2 under the signal bridge went through. Then the UP WB 3–unit manifest started down the hill on the Palmdale Cutoff. Whew! four trains in about an hour.
Then we decided to head east on Highway 138 toward Victorville and to another well-known location called Lugo. We followed a dirt road near the tracks along
the highway a good location near a signal bridge and a nice S-curve in both directions. It wasn’t too long, and we got a BNSF EB stack at speed snake along the
track and past us. Then a BNSF WB stack went by, followed by another EB Stack and while filming that, along comes a UP High-railer by on the near track. He
gave us a friendly wave! Then we headed east and then north into Victorville trying to follow the tracks and scout for a good photo location. As we followed the
tracks, I think we missed about 2 or 3 BNSF stack trains that went by before we could find any location to set up, or check the signals. After a stop for a snack in
Victorville, we found where the famous Route 66 was and followed the tracks all the way to Barstow. As we left Victorville, we passed a huge cement plant, and
another BNSF train passed before we could find a good location to set up. Along the way, we stopped at some road crossings to check signals, and they were
dark. We passed another BNSF train as we got near Barstow. This is the location of a vast BNSF yard and the junction of the line to Mohave and the Tehachapi
Loop. We went through town to a bridge over the tracks to the Amtrak Depot, which is the former AT&SF depot. We found a nice museum there with many exSanta Fe units and equipment on display. After browsing around, we could see south to the departure yard and there appeared to be an auto-rack ready to head
east. We waited but it was still being refueled and waiting for a crew. It was late in the afternoon and we decided to head back to LA. We again followed the
tracks, and encountered a short BNSF manifest heading west, which we followed and got some pacing shots of it. We then headed down the road to get a runby
at a rural road crossing. It was time to head to LA, since we were about 2 hours from downtown LA. We got to LA about 8:45pm, after a gas up and meal at
West Covina CA just off I10. We dropped off out rental car and proceeded to the new Metropolitan Lounge to wait for a boarding call to Amtrak Train #2/22 the
Sunset/Texas Eagle. We left right on time, after getting to our economy bedrooms-the last car on the train (nice for looking out the back window!) and retired for
the night.
BNSF WB Stack at the Summit
Page 4
BNSF EB Stack at Lugo
Northstar News January 2015
AT&SF F45 at Barstow Depot Museum
June 02, 2014
We got up early in the morning and before breakfast, found that we were entering Maricopa, AZ, which is Amtrak’s station for Phoenix passengers. It is
interesting landscape of the high desert that we passed with occasional mountains in the distance. After breakfast, we headed through Arizona to Tucson were we
had a nice break to stretch our legs, and saw a nicely restored depot with an SP steam engine on display. We got some video by some of the UP yard facilities as
we left and continued onto New Mexico. We stopped at Lordsburg, NM which was just an open spot near the tracks in front of the main downtown storefronts.
Just room for a few parking spots and that is it! We headed to our next stop in El Paso, TX, but about 20 miles west in New Mexico, we stopped to refuel at the
new $418 million UP Santa Teresa yard. (See August 2014 Trains Magazine news story about this.) We watched two intermodal trains depart to the east as we
were refueled and then a manifest departed as we got underway toward El Paso. As we departed, we passed the manifest and headed close to the Mexico border
and into El Paso. There was another nicely restored depot. We departed El Paso, and took some video as we headed east along some UP yards and facilities
(passing the Heritage MP unit in by the fuel racks) and headed east. We had dinner in the diner, then went back to our rooms and retired for the night as the West
Texas landscape went by.
SP Steam engine Tucson AZ depot
Sunset Ltd near El Paso TX
El Paso Station
June 03, 2014
At above 5am, we arrived in San Antonio, about an hour late. This is where the Texas Eagle and Sunset Ltd parts of the train are split, one going to New Orleans
and the other to Chicago. After sitting while this switching was made, our Texas Eagle consist was about seven cars, with the Diner and Sightseeing Lounge part
of the consist. Our sleeper car was now the 2nd car in the consist. I think we departed about 8am and headed north to Fort Worth. At about mid-morning we went
through Austin, the capitol of Texas across the Colorado River as the rain drops started falling, the first rain we encountered on our trip. Heading north, we
passed by a station stop at Cleburne, home to a BNSF yard (shops famous in Santa Fe days for converting F-units to GP like CF-7 locomotives back in the 1970s
I believe) then headed north to Fort Worth where we arrived in the mid-afternoon. The train station is a new multi-transportation center just north of the old Santa
Fe depot and freight house. We departed and went to the Station’s Enterprise rental car to get our car, (Great Service here) and then proceeded to the Country Inn
and Suites north of Downtown but with a view of the UP mainline north of Ft Worth. After settling in we watched a couple of UP freights go by and then went
to a Mexican restaurant next to the hotel for a good meal. Returning to the Hotel we retired for the evening…. After I had my evening cigar!.
Cleburne TX Shops
Crossing Colorado River Austin TX
Pullman car and troop car Temple TX
June 04, 2014
Since this Wednesday, both the Grapevine Railway in Fort Worth, and the Texas State Railroad in Perris, TX were closed, as they only operate on weekends. We
decided to head north along a UP branch line and BNSF main line northwest to see if we could find some rail action. We headed north along Business #287
which generally follows the BNSF main to Wichita Falls, TX. After passing through Saginaw, we passed the many facilities of Trinity Rail Car-plants in which
there were tank car parts waiting for assembly of the tank cars, now booming with the massive increase of oil production in this country. All we saw were some
MOW crews working and some grade crossing construction, so we didn’t encounter any trains. Then we decided to find the BNSF HQ north of Fort Worth and
went to their visitor center. They have a nice museum, consisting of artifacts and artwork of the BNSF predecessor roads. Outside, there are four Budd stainless
steel business cars that were once used as business cars, now encased in concrete and used by BNSF for Board and other staff meeting, thus we could not go
inside. After spending some time at the visitor center, we headed back to the Fort Worth station to turn in our car, and board the Heartland Flyer to Oklahoma
City. The train consisted of three Superliner coaches (the center car had a Snack bar on the lower level, much like on the sightseer Lounge cars) with an Amtrak
P42 at each end. The train left about 5:30pm and arrived at Oklahoma City about 9:30pm on time. We checked into our downtown hotel, the Colcord, for the
night.
Page 5
Northstar News January 2015
Heartland Flyer in Oklahoma City
Crossing the Washita River near Ardmore OK
Crossing the Red River into Texas
June 05, 2014
After having breakfast at the hotel, we took the shuttle to the Oklahoma Station, where the tracks are above the old station which is a former Santa Fe Station.
We boarded the train to return to Fort Worth and departed a little late after the 8:25 am departure. Heading south, on the BNSF mainline, went through Purcell,
Pauls Valley and Ardmore, OK and along the scenic area along the Washita River and near the Chickasaw National Recreation area north of Ardmore OK. Then
we crossed the Red River of the South, the border with Texas and a brief stop at Gainesville, Texas. We got into Fort Worth close to 1pm, just a little late. Then
we waited for the Texas Eagle to arrive from San Antonio, scheduled to arrive 2pm. After checking, it was late. (Problems with the equipment). After spending
some time in the station, we watched a number of ‘Trinity Express’ commuter trains to Dallas arrive and depart. At about 5pm, the Texas Eagle arrived and
stopped south of the station. It sat there as Amtrak People swarmed around the train to attend to mechanical problems, I presume. The northbound Heartland
Flyer pulled into the station and departed on time. Then the Texas Eagle came into the station. We boarded at about 5:45pm (3 ½ hours late) and found our
sleeper, the 2nd car in the train. No air conditioning in the Economy Bedroom half of the car. It was unbearably hot in the car, however the Bedroom section of
the train was cool! After we parked our luggage, the car attendant herded us to the diner where it was nice and cool, and we waited for dinner. The train has to
make two backup moves to get on the BNSF main, then backups past the UP/BNSF junction at Tower 55 before heading east off the wye to Dallas. I think
Amtrak is considering using the Trinity Express (ex: Rock Island) line between Fort Worth and Dallas to eliminate the time consuming backup moves.
After dinner and sitting in the lounge car for a while, we headed back to our still very warm sleeper. The crew had opened the doors to the Crew car ahead and
some of the cooler air made its way back to our car. After spending a lot of time in the lounge car, I headed back to our sleeper at about 12:30am and found that it
was quite a bit cooler, at least you could lie down and try and get some sleep for the night.
BNSF WB Stack Sitting at Saginaw TX
BNSF Office Car at BNSF HQ
Trinity Express Commuter
Trains at Fort Worth Station
June 06, 2014 The last day!
We woke up early and headed to the diner for breakfast. We were still behind schedule as we headed close to St Louis by mid-morning. We headed into St Louis
with views of the mighty Mississippi and got into St Louis Station, now a transportation hub. After a lengthy stop, we headed out of St Louis, past the St Louis
Arch and along to river to a bridge over it to East St Louis, where we past some of the TRRA power moving cars from their East St Louis yard. Then it was on to
Chicago. We had a descent lunch and knowing we were 3 – 4 hours late, we had to make changes to our evening flight out of Midway airport from 6:15 to
9:15pm. Once we got to Chicago, with Roger’s ankles and my knees, we got a Red Cap to take us to the cab stand in front of the depot. We tried one way out of
the station, but it was blocked by construction, then tried another way, but it was also blocked. We headed back to the main station, stopped at the escalator to the
front entrance, the Red Cap took all four of our bags up the escalator (in one trip!) and to the front of the depot, placed us at the head of the line to catch a cap.
What a performance, and What Service… needless to say he got a substantial tip for his effort! We got a cab (The fare was not much more to Midway that the
Shuttle service they have to Downtown) and got to the airport in plenty of time to catch our flight to MSP. Had a good flight and my sister Carol picked us up at
the airport and got home about 11:30 pm. A Great but long trip! R Tubbesing
Leaving St Louis on the Texas Eagle
St Louis Transportation Hub
Page 6
Northstar News January 2015
Crossing the Mississippi River, St Louis
North Pole Express at St Paul Union Depot Dec 6,7 Dec 12,13,14 2014
with Steam Locomotive #261 –
A Great Success (8000 Passengers!) , (Sellout Runs!)
See the Video from KARE 11 “All aboard the North Pole Express! | Video | kare11.com” See link below:
http://www.kare11.com/video/3940533606001/1/All-aboard-the-North-Pole-Express
No holiday for landslides: Amtrak service suspended again in Pacific Northwest
Trains Newswire: December 26, 2014
SEATTLE – A landslide has caused a suspension of Amtrak and commuter-train service between Seattle and Everett, Wash., following a Dec. 24
landslide on BNSF Railway. The tracks, which are used by Amtrak Cascades and Empire Builder trains and Northline Sounder commuter trains,
are expected to reopen today, Dec. 26. Amtrak is providing alternate transportation between Seattle and Everett.
Northline Sounder service between Everett and Seattle remains canceled today. Sound Transit will provide special buses with direct service
to/from Northline Sounder stations in addition to local bus service. If there are no additional blocking events, service will resume for the special
Sounder trains for the Seattle Seahawks football game on Dec. 28.
The frequent slides have meant delays for freight, Amtrak, and Sounder commuter trains dozens of times over the last few years. When a
landslide occurs, BNSF imposes a 48-hour moratorium on passenger trains, although freight service resumes as soon as the slide is cleared.
Railway expansion could shut down businesses in Big Lake, Minn.
On Wednesday, December 24, 2014 7:02 AM, Rick Krenske <Rick@usjet.net> wrote
In relation to the double track project between Big Lake and Becker next year. "BIG LAKE, Minn. (KMSP) A push to expand a railway from Big Lake to Becker could spell trouble for some businesses. In order to expand, Burlington Northern Santa Fe would need
additional land near the tracks – but some of that land is already owned. Tootsie's Tavern is one of the most popular watering holes in Big Lake, but Gerry
McKernan said his bar could be forced to call "last call" if the railroad tracks behind it expand. "This is ridiculous," McKernan said. "They'll put me out of
business in a month for what they are offering." BNSF wants to go from one track to two for a 10-mile stretch between Big Lake and Becker to help ease
congestion on the rail lines. Even though the rail bed used to hold two tracks years ago, new regulations require them to be farther apart – so BNSF wants an
extra 25 feet of right of way, which would affect more than a dozen nearby homes and businesses. "Everyone in this area completely understands BNSF need to
get rail traffic moving effectively," Joel Scharf, interim Big Lake city administrator said. "I think everyone understands it but I think they are concerned with how
quickly it came about and the impact it will have on local businesses." With how quickly it came about and the impact it will have on local businesses, the
railroad company sent letters to the city and property owners offering anywhere from $2,000 to $2,500 for their land. But city leaders say moving the water and
sewer lines under the tracks would cost about 2 million dollars, which is about half their total budget and roughly what they pay for police and fire each year.
"The amounts that were initially proposed really aren't a drop in the bucket to the value the property actually bears" McKernan said. McKernan said giving the
railroad an extra 25 feet would cost him up to 40 parking spaces, and with the bar already squeezed between the railroad and Highway 10 his business would
definitely feel the pinch. "Alright pay me," McKernan said. "I can't lose that much parking lot, I'd lose all my business the first weekend."
Utilities, railroads guardedly optimistic about coal deliveries. From Rick Krenske
Friday, December 19, 2014 9:53 AM Article by: JIM SPENCER, Star Tribune:
They worry that if weather turns harsh this winter, the rail system could be overtaxed. WASHINGTON Representatives of the power and rail industries
expressed guarded optimism Thursday about coal deliveries needed to generate electricity for Minnesota this winter. Speaking to the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC), officials from BNSF Railway, Minnesota Power and the Midcontinent Independent Systems Operator agreed that stockpiles of coal, which
had been critically low at many electricity generating plants, have grown recently. But they warned that unexpected bad weather or unanticipated shipping
problems on the state's overcrowded rail system could change that. "We've got a stockpile that gets us into the coldest months of the winter," Dave McMillan,
Minnesota Power's vice president of external affairs, told the Star Tribune after his FERC testimony. "But we need assurances that it doesn't start dropping when
Feb. 1 gets here." McMillan had described to the FERC board how his utility got down to a four-day supply of coal at one point in the past year and had to use
trucks to carry in emergency supplies. McMillan also told the board that recent coal delivery problems forced Minnesota Power to take the 'unprecedented step'
of shuttering four production facilities. He said the utility is looking for a government-monitored coal delivery recovery plan from BNSF, a plan the railroad has
resisted. "Lack of a recovery plan does not give us confidence that the supply will continue," McMillan explained to the FERC board. Todd Ramey, representing
Midcontinent Systems, the nonprofit that operates the electrical grid in Minnesota and the rest of the Upper Midwest, told the board that delayed coal deliveries
have not yet left utilities unable to supply customers with electricity. But Ramey said coal delivery problems sometimes forced consumers to pay more for the
power they used. The cost of electricity was up 9 percent in the fall of 2014 compared to fall of 2013, he noted. Current coal deliveries in Minnesota and other
states have been sufficient in recent weeks to help build up reserves, Ramey told the Star Tribune. At current delivery rates, it would take 'an extended period of
severe weather like a polar vortex' to run stockpiles to zero and threaten transmission of electricity to customers. Still, the issue is far from resolved. Coal
shortages have forced roughly a third of the utilities with whom Midcontinent works to adopt conservation measures in the past six months, Ramey said. Even as
he described investments in track improvements and a weather forecast that makes BNSF feel 'more prepared this year than last,' Stevan Bobb, the railroad's chief
marketing officer, made a point of apologizing publicly to McMillan and other customers for delivery problems. Those problems were brought on by sharp
spikes in shipments of crude oil from the Bakken Fields in North Dakota, bumper crops of grain in the U.S. and Canada and increases in transport of
manufactured goods as the country's manufacturing sector recovers from the Great Recession. BNSF has "not met expectations across all the markets we serve,"
Bobb said. By the end of 2014, Bobb said, BNSF will fall about 5 percent short of the 286 million tons of coal its utility customers expected the railroad to ship.
But he noted a 'trend' of improving stockpiles. FERC commissioner Tony Clark asked Bobb whether trains hauling Bakken crude get priority on BNSF's limited
track space because they bring in more revenue, an allegation frequently voiced by frustrated farmers who can't get their products to market. Bobb said train
movements were determined by 'volume.' "Our transportation team, which makes the daily decision about which trains to move, doesn't have visibility into the
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Northstar News January 2015
rates or economics," he explained. One sticking point in the coal delivery system appears to be the definition of a critical shortage that could get special attention
from the railroad. BNSF picked 20 days as the threshold for critically low coal supplies that cause the railroad to 'focus attention,' Bobb said. McMillan and
Ramey told the Star Tribune that virtually all utilities consider a dip below a 30-day reserve a sign of significant trouble. Anything below 20 days usually leads to
conservation measures or production slow downs. "We would like a coal supply never to fall below 30 days," McMillan said. "Maybe in this day and age that's
not possible." Jim Spencer 202-383-6123
Historical RR Timetables available (Repeat from last month)
.
The Northstar Railroad Historical Society now has their collection of historical RR employee and public timetables available in digital (.pdf)
format. Thanks to John Gaertner for all his work in scanning these in. We have a 21 page index of timetables available on our website. We can
also send you the index via E-mail. For a nominal fee (All proceeds go to the chapter!) of $15 we will create an initial DVD of timetables of
your choice. Each additional DVD will be $5. Place your order and selections (or for a copy of the index) via email to
rtubbesing261@yahoo.com and remit your check to Northstar Chapter NRHS PO Box 120832 St Paul MN 55112.
Milw. Rd. timetable Sept 1949
CB&Q timetable Nov 1942
Subject: Metro News - Wilmar BNSF Bypass
Provided by Rick Krenske
Sat, Jan 3, 2015 12:59:23 PM
Group reapplies for grant to build Willmar railroad bypass.
By David Little on Dec 29, 2014.
WILLMAR * BNSF Railway, along with local governmental partners, will try again to obtain a federal grant to help build the proposed $50
million railroad bypass, also known as a wye, west of Willmar to possibly divert up to a third of the trains in and out of the city's rail yard. In
their first attempt in 2014, the partners did not receive any funding under the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery
program when the grants were announced in September, so they'll be submitting another application in 2015. The partners, Willmar City
Council, Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners, Minnesota Department of Transportation and Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar
Economic Development Commission, have approved another memorandum of understanding to financially assist in supporting the wye
project. Bruce Peterson, director of city planning and development services, said the partners continued their discussion regarding the
proposed wye project after the first grant application did not receive funding and they agreed it was worth pursuing again. "We realize that
this is something that's going to take a while to get done and if we can get the funding in 2015, if we're successful this next year, we should be
able to complete it by 2017," Peterson said. "And if not, we'll have to come back for a different memorandum of understanding if we're going
to try it again." Peterson said he believes BNSF is considering revising its level of participation and allow the governmental partners to reduce
their share. "There was some response from the federal grant agency that perhaps we're asking for a little too much money and they wanted
the railroad to contribute more. That will all be analyzed when we do our next application," he said. Peterson said BNSF's consultant has
already done the engineering for the project. "The nice thing about this project is a great deal of it has been engineered. So if it did get
approved for funding, it's got the ability to turn around very quickly and go to bid," he said. The proposed 2.5-mile, north-south wye would
connect BNSF's Morris subdivision track, which goes to the northwest to Fargo-Moorhead, and the Marshall subdivision track, which goes
southwest to Sioux Falls, S.D. The wye would run parallel along the east side of County Road 55 and would include a spur into the Willmar
Industrial Park. Associated with the project is construction of motor vehicle overpasses at the intersection of state Highway 40 and County
Road 55, and at County Road 55 and U.S. Highway 12. Officials have said the wye would reduce congestion in the rail system and help
efficiently move oil, coal and ag commodities. At the present time, trains entering Willmar from either the Morris or Marshall subdivisions
must disconnect and move the engines to the front of the train before continuing either northwest or southwest. The wye would allow trains to
bypass Willmar without entering the yard and reconfiguring the trains. Peterson said grants will be announced in the late summer of 2015. In
theory, he said, the grants go to areas to help them recover from the recession. "We aren't in a real good position to require money for that
purpose because we did not suffer that badly from the recession," he said. "But we do qualify because we do have a major carrier through this
area and because of all the changes economically west of here in the Bakken (oil field in North Dakota). That's the driving force behind this.
Every train car that hauls oil is one less that's hauling coal or ag products."
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Northstar News January 2015
CP Holiday Train Visits St Paul Dec 12 2014
.
All Photos by Dawn Holmberg
Holiday Train at St Paul Union Depot
Metro News - Como Area Rail Upgrade
provided by Rick Krenske
Sent: Fri, Jan 2, 2015 1:33:11 PM
Como residents open to $25 million rail upgrade.Article by: EMMA NELSON , Star Tribune Updated: January 1, 2015.
St. Paul neighborhood residents say they would support bridge project, amid concerns about a possible oil train derailment. The pieces of art
hung on Ron Okenfuss' living room walls are almost always straight. He credits the trains. After more than 10 years living near the tracks, he's
gotten in the habit of constantly straightening pictures shaken by the daily rumbling. The increasing presence of trains influences day-to-day
life in this St. Paul neighborhood, where houses lining dead-end streets on Lake Como's southern end come within feet of the tracks.
"You always have to think in the back of your head, OK, what if there's a derailment and something weird happens", Okenfuss said.
Derailment worries have escalated as residents have found themselves on a route frequented by North Dakota oil trains. The neighborhood
was included in a recent Minnesota Department of Transportation study evaluating the risks associated with potential oil train explosions and
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Northstar News January 2015
.
fires. With those risks in mind, residents say they'd support the $25 million bridge the study suggests as a safety precaution, despite concerns
about the effect of such a project on the neighborhood's character.
Therese and Richard Kelly have lived in the neighborhood since 1975 and remember when residents' biggest concern was pollution from the
trains. They also remember accidents, including a derailment, though those trains weren't carrying flammable Bakken crude oil. "Now, with
fire potential, it's really raised a red flag in the neighborhood," Therese Kelly said. Oil trains often stop on their way through the area, she said,
spending anywhere from five minutes to half an hour waiting for track to open up. It can make it tough to get out of the neighborhood,
something she said has become more worrisome now, considering that a derailment could trigger a major evacuation.
The MnDOT study comes a year after Casselton, N.D., a town 24 miles west of Fargo, was evacuated after an oil train derailment caused
explosions and a fire. In the event of such an incident here, the surrounding half-mile radius would be evacuated. That radius measured from
the Como Avenue crossing, an area with rows of old houses and three nearby schools, is the most densely populated of 100 sites included in
the study. The bridge suggested in the MnDOT report would separate rail and street traffic. Lawmakers have raised concerns about the
project's price tag and potential impact on the neighborhood's environment and livability. Therese Kelly said she'd support the bridge, though
she'd want the railroad company to carry the cost. "I feel that it would be an asset to the neighborhood," she said. Okenfuss agreed, though he
said he's not too worried about an accident.Ultimately, he said, the Como neighborhood's assets ? namely, the nearby park. and lake, outweigh
any liabilities the railway line might bring. It's an old neighborhood, and the trains have always been part of it. "It's not like you bought your
house and then had a surprise rail line behind you," he said. Emma Nelson * 952-746-3287.
SNOW TRAIN North Freedom WI
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Northstar News January 2015
.
From John Goodman, Article by Jerry Ratliff
.
Good example of possible public and private partnership- extending double track for Northstar- possibility!
BNSF to replace second main track on Staples Sub
December 29, 2014
RELATED TOPICS: CLASS 1 FREIGHT RAILROADS | BNSF | INFRASTRUCTURE
MINNEAPOLIS – BNSF Railway has not announced its capital improvement projects for 2015, but one item on the
improvement agenda is relaying 10 miles of second main track on its northern transcontinental Staples Subdivision main
line between Big Lake and Becker. The second main was torn out as a cost saving measure in the 1980s, and created a
bottleneck almost from the time it was removed. With dramatic traffic increases in the last several years, BNSF is
moving ahead with plans to relay the second main.
The railroad has already approached businesses in Big Lake about purchasing land, KMSP-TV reports. Even though the
line used to be double track, BNSF wants to widen the centers between the two tracks, which would affect more than a
dozen homes and businesses in Big Lake.
In the 1990s, when Northstar commuter rail service was first being planned, the service would have extended from
Minneapolis to St. Cloud and included putting the second main track back in. But a change in funding formulas resulted
in the commuter line’s western terminal being cut back to Big Lake. There have been discussions about extending
Northstar to St. Cloud in the future, but with no firm plans or funding in place for expansion, BNSF is undertaking the
double track project on its own.
The Big Lake-Becker segment is one of two single-track portions of the Staples Subdivision. The other extends 28 miles
from Little Falls to Philbrook, just east of Staples, which is under CTC control with several sidings.
The majority of the current Staples Sub was once part of the Northern Pacific’s main line. The portion from Northtown
Yard in Minneapolis to St. Cloud was joint Great Northern/Northern Pacific track with one main owned by GN and the
other by NP, with NP handling maintenance of the line. Jerry Ratliff
Colfax Railroad Museum (Wisconsin) receives its first steam engine
.
Posted: Dec 30, 2014 6:09 PM CST By Jesse Yang
Colfax (WQOW) - With thousands and thousands of miles logged and weathered to perfection, a piece of history is now resting its wheels for all
to enjoy. Delivered on four wheels from Annandale, Minnesota, the old steam engine came to a halt Tuesday for its final destination at the
Colfax Railroad Museum. Herbert Sakalaucks, the chairman of the Colfax Railroad Museum, says, "There are not a lot of steam locomotives
available anymore. Most of them are already in parks or museums. This museum is dedicated to preserve it and to show people what the day-today experiences were on the road, whether you worked on it, rode on it, or shipped on it."
With four locomotives and 15 rail cars on deck, the museum plans to further showcase how iron horses have changed over time. Lois
Sakalaucks, from Eau Claire, says, "It is a process that is done with love and understanding and trying to keep the traditions of the railroads in the
forefront."
Herbert says, "This engine is one of the few prairie designs left in existence. We wanted it in the museum so we could have an example of a
steam-type locomotive here. We already have a diesel and two small, narrow-gauge locomotives here too." Getting the train to town was no
cheap ticket, a cost of about $20,000. Herbert says, "We're trying to raise about $40,000 and we've already raised $10,000 there." But, it's a cost
that staff say is worth the price to give future generations a glance at American history. Herbert says, "They are able to go into the equipment.
They can go into the cabooses, see how the crews rode, and see what the experience was like. They can get into the cabs of locomotives. They
can see how the engines and the motors of the locomotive actually worked." Lois says, "Children just are very interesting. They are so nthusiastic
about learning something about the trains." The 1911 steam engine was purchased from a Minnesota resident who passed away
in 2013. The Colfax Railroad Museum is raising funds to renovate and have it on display, hopefully by May. Also on its to-do list: repairing the
roof and renovating the interior of a house that served as a train depot back in the late 1800s. The roof of that house was partially destroyed
during a tornado in June.
Subject: Metro News - Pulling Up Tracks In Stillwater
Sent: Wed, Dec 31, 2014 4:46:48 PM Thanks to Bob Helwig for this article
from Rick Krenske
Less than two weeks ago on December 22nd, the locomotives of the Minnesota Zephyr were loaded up on trucks to begin their permenant
departure from Stillwater. The Minnesota Zephyr was operated as a popular dinner train from 1985-2008 until raising costs and diminishing
interest caused it's owner and operator to lose $1.6 million in the last two years of the attraction's run. Until last week, the train sat, unused and
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Northstar News January 2015
for all practical purposes abandoned, across the street from the Warden's House Museum. It's removal marks the end of another chapter of
Stillwater's story. But this isn't the first time a piece of iconic railroad history has disappeared from Stillwater.
Pulling Up Tracks
by Brent Peterson
There have been many buildings that have come and gone in Stillwater either by fire, flood or by just being torn down. Some don’t bring many
memories back, some bring a few, but no other building brings back the flood of memories than the old Stillwater Union Depot.
It was the Stillwater and St. Paul Railroad that constructed an 18-mile railroad track from White Bear Lake to Stillwater. The track reached the
north part of Stillwater on December 29, 1870 (144 years and a day ago) and that was when Stillwater was connected with the rest of the world.
Within the next 15 years, Stillwater was the end of the line for four branch lines of three different railroads. This made for much passenger
confusion, so a petition was passed around by Stillwater residents for the creation of a “Union Station.”
The transfer company, which linked the railroads together, took on the depot project. The head of the transfer company was Dwight M. Sabin, a
Stillwater resident and U.S. Senator.
The transfer company was in “receivership” or what today we would call chapter 11, but the company went ahead with the construction of the
new depot in July 1887. Chicago architects Edward Burling and Francis Whitehouse were contracted to design the building and local contractor
L.W. Eldred was hired to build it.
The building opened to the public on February 7, 1888 to a great charity ball. The headline in the Stillwater Gazette read, “For Sweet Charity’s
Sake” and continued with “The opening of the Union Station a Brilliant Success.”
The exterior of the building was done in the Gothic Revival style with stone arches, gables and at the northwest corner, a 75-foot clock tower.
The building was built with “drab colored cut stone, furnished by Henry Furst & Co. of Chicago.” Each stone was numbered and fit in the
place for which it was designed in a “snug” manner. The foundation walls were constructed with Stillwater stone furnished by C. Colgren.
The roof was made of slate with tin and copper rain spouts. All the pine timbers used in the construction were purchased from Hersey & Bean
lumber company and from John G. Nelson. F.H. Lemon, of Stillwater, did the painting and decorating of the building.
Inside the building there were oak, maple and pine floors, along with beautiful stained glass windows and terra cotta fireplace mantles. It had 20
functioning rooms on two floors that were ornately decorated with tongue and grooved wainscoting and bevel edged mirrors. The depot was
equipped with electricity, but it also included gas lighting.
The total cost of the depot was $45,000 and Sam Hadley was the proprietor of the “cozy little barbershop” and Dan Harkins was in charge of the
baggage room while George Hill oversaw the “check room.”
Three transfer companies operated the depot at one time or another, all failing. James J. Hill’s Northern Pacific Railroad purchased the final
transfer company in 1902. Northern Pacific stopped passenger service from the depot in 1927, but kept a ticket office there until 1954.
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Northstar News January 2015
In 1903, just after Hill purchased the transfer company, a new ticket agent started at the depot. Joseph Carroll, later known to most of Stillwater
as “Papa” Joe Carroll would work and live at the depot for more than five decades. The depot went through many changes of occupants during
its life. Morey Crotto operated the lunch counter starting in 1932. The ladies waiting room was converted into the bus depot in 1946. By 1952,
the bus depot closed and the place was used by the St. Croix Valley Arts group until 1955.
Russell Gilbert took over ownership of the depot in 1955 where he began his business called United Fabricators and Electronics [UFE]. He sold
the depot to Hooley’s in 1959 when his new building on South Greeley Street was completed (which, of course, WCHS purchased and is the
process of converting into the new Washington County Heritage Center).
Hooley’s torn down the old depot in April 1960 to make way for a new and modern supermarket.
It has been more than 50 years since the Union Station was hauled away from the skyline of Stillwater’s downtown. It is probably the most felt
and grieved building that was lost in Stillwater, but not the only one. As Stillwater prepares itself for another transformation with the
construction of the new St. Croix River Crossing, let us not lose sight of what once was and vow to not to lose anymore than we already have.
Railfan Events (Thanks to Rick Krenske, Joe Stark)
Woodbury Flea Market by the Newport
Model Railroad Club
Saturday Jan 17 2015
9:30AM – 2:00PM
All Aboard Night Trains
Twin City Model RR Club
www.tcmrm.org
18th annual Model Railroad Show & Sale
Every Saturday night 6-9pm
from November 29th 2014
through February 28 2015
Great Tri-State Rail Sale
www.4000foundation.com
Jan 31 2015 9-3pm
Great Minnesota Train Expo
www.gmte.net
April 25-26 2015
9-5 PM
4th Annual Model Railroad Train Show
Southern Valley Railway
Email: RochPlain@yahoo.com
Aug 15,16 2015
Jan 17,18 2015 9-5 PM
Woodbury High school
2665 Woodlane Dr
Woddbury MN 55125
Bandana Square
1021 Bandana Blvd E Suite 222
St Paul MN
$5 admission
Stevens Point Holiday Inn
Convention Center Hotel
1001 Amber Ave
Stevens Point WI 54482
La Crosse Center
2nd & Pearl Streets
La Crosse WI
Eagan Civic Center Arena
3870 Pilot Knob Rd
Eagan MN
P.E.M High School Gym
500 West Broadway
Plainview MN
$3 $2 kids ages 11-16
$10 Children under 4 Free
$5 Children under 12 free
$5, Children under 8 free
$5 Children under 12 free
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Northstar News
1515 Creek Meadow Dr NW
Coon Rapids MN 55433 3768
Address Correction Requested
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Northstar News January 2015