The wife and I were down at the Port 'O Milwaukee driving around this beautiful evening and we saw CPrail switching out the docks with a Milwaukee Road GP 40 in tow. The black patch paint was almost completely wore off so it almost looked like the railroad was back in service! The light was too dim for good pics, but I think I got pics of this one before that I posted on a different Milwaukee thread.
After the docks we drove back towards Miller park. Canal Street has now been extended through the former Milwaukee Shops area just east of the stadium. Kind of sad to think of all the railroading that used to happen in this area, and now the only momento are the two smokestacks from the powerhouses in the shops area. (Kind of like almost everything else with the Milwaukee) Everything else is gone. I also noticed that the signal for the hump yard (I think this was the air line yard) is still standing, even though the hump tracks and the classification yard are long gone. The Air Line itself from Elm Grove into Milwaukee has been abandoned, I am hoping to get a few pics of it before they pull the rails. I am sure it is only a matter of time. Would have been a really depressing evening except that the weather was absolutely gorgeous.
I get the same feelings when I go around the 5th ward areas, around Hampton Avenue, and where the depot used to be. I was so many years ago I would watch the passenger trains cross the Milwaukee river over the bridge that turns. Now I hear that the bridge is to be removed soon.
Progress is always change, but change is not always progress.
I read in the Journal Sentinel a few months ago that the old CNW bridge was going to be kept and made a historic structure. I thought there were also plans to buid skywalks to it and put a cafe on it, at least that’s what they were saying down at MIAD.
Caught it northbound at Four Mile road in Racine county Friday evening; unfortunately it was just minutes after the sun set, and the entire train was in shadow. [:(]
After getting some less-than-spectacular shots of 261 on Wednesday, I got a few sunset shots of Miller Park and Miller Brewing. I realized that there was a train in Miller’s yard, so I stopped and got a few shots – another bandit! SOO 4512, former MILW 362, the last GP38-2 with its original (small) fuel tank! www.fuzzyworld3.com/pictures3/railroad/cp01/fw.html
I have also seen a couple bandit’s around mitchell yard can’t remember the number’s but. I do think was 4512 or something like that and in the bandit colors.
I had the pleasure of waking up to 261’s whistle this morning in Ixonia, WI. That was incredible!!! I was housitting out there this weekend and I saw it go by twice on Sat. and Sun. I never cared much for steam engines, but after seeing 261 cruising at what must have been about 60 (it was pacing cars on Hwy. 16) I am seriously rethinking my whole interest. The passanger car consist looked great as well. It was really neat to see the hiawatha equipment. Almost seemed like the Milw Rd. was alive and well again!