I have heard rumors about BNSF single tracking the ex-CB&Q north of Savanna, IL. If so, how far north is this project going?
Jim
Where did you hear this rumor? [?]
A conversation this weekend with a La Crosse based BNSF employee. He mentioned a flagging position open on the extra board for either Savanna or Proving Ground. This could be just track maintenance, but he indicated that there had been talk about a single track/CTC conversion has been talked about.
Jim
I highly doubt that, I live near Savanna and that CTC double track is the only thing that keeps the Aurora Sub from backing way up. I do know that they did take one main out of service for maintenance.
I thought it WAS single track from Savanna to Galena Junction, where the CN line comes in alongside to go north. That’s what I remember because we rode a special that way last October. Single track on the C&I from Aurora to Galena Junction.
From Savanna to Galena Jct was double track ABS I am not up on all of the changes in the last 15 years, but IIRC the big improvement was the conversion of the IC-BN joint trackage from Portage to East Dubuque(just north of Galena Jct) to 2 main tracks(CTC both directions).
Jim
It shows clearly on Microsoft’s aerial maps single track on that line. In fact, if it ever was double-tracked, all hints are gone (like trestles that are double-track wide).
So now it makes me wonder what “joegreen” is talking about when he says “I live near Savanna and that CTC double track is the only thing that keeps the Aurora Sub from backing way up. I do know that they did take one main out of service for maintenance.”
The Savanna Army Depot (now almost totally vacant) was responsible for a lot of traffic in bygone days. Frankly, I don’t recall seeing the C&I with enough traffic to get “jammed up” and if there are multiple trains, it seems like they’re usually going in the same direction and are moved into sidings only to let a Z-train pass. It is CTC from Savanna to Aurora, and ABS from Savanna to Portage. From Portage to East Dubuque, it is CTC.
My guess is that what’s being remembered is a Milwaukee Road single-track main that ran almost adjacent to the CB&Q on the east side of the Mississippi. IIRC.
I think joegreen was talking about the Savanna-Aurora segment. The Terraserver images show double track north of Savanna. I suspect that there may be trackwork going on and they are operating single track up to Proving Ground with a flagman handling the cross-over at that point.
Jim
All of the ground-level photos I can find show double-track main, so maybe the aerial pics are deceiving and joegreen is correct. But on my version of North American Railroad Map software (they just updated it), clicking on the line between Savanna and Portage says “Number of main tracks: 1” But I seem to remember seeing two sets of rails while driving north to Galena, but you can’t see the tracks once you’re two or three miles north of Savanna.
The software is correct from Portage north, and from Savanna to Aurora.
I also believe about half of the traffic coming down to Savanna from the north is moved to the “Pea Vine Route” – toward Galesburg.
Oh my god!!! I cannot believe what I’m hearing. I go to Savanna about every other week so I should know what is there and what is not. I have the Aurora Subdivision timetable too. From Aurora(MP 38.4) to E. Savanna(Plum River MP 142.36) it’s single track, from E. Savanna(MP 142.36) to Ports(MP 235.6) is CTC double track. Trains recieve warrants before they get to the double track. Most warrants are for CTC CP 1462 to CTC Graf and some to CTC Galena or Ports. I believe it does become single trackage around Galena somewhere but becomes double track again shortly after.
You guys outta take a trip there soon and actually see for yourself what is infact there.
The problem with Terraserver is,it’s way out of date. Most of what you are looking is incorrect data.
This is gonna bother me until we find out. Is it double-track all the way from Savanna to Galena Junction, or not? If not, where does it go from two mains to one? Of course, this stretch of track is one of the least accessible in the state. No grade crossings because no roads cross it because much of it butts against the Mississippi. And the area around the former Savanna Army Depot is still pretty much off limits, right?
Looking at a old BN Timetable it looks like it was double Track from Savanna to Galena, then Single Track the rest of the way to Portage. I highly doubt that they are single tracking the line.
Same with Google Earth. I paid $24 to subscribe for one year [mistake!], and while some urban areas are hi-res and in color, in other more rural areas there is virtually no detail at all.
For no cost, the level of detail in the B&W maps on Microsoft are far superior, but all of these are at least 3-4 years old. too. The Microsoft aerial map shows the humongous UP Global III yard in Rochelle as what it used to be years ago – agricultural land.
Ok. Try this link. http://local.live.com This site is older than durt. But at least you can scroll the images. Allan.
I’ve never been to Galena Jct but since my BNSF timetable says the double track ends for a short distance somewhere near Galena, I would guess it’s Galena Jct…and like I said before it becomes double track again shortly after Galena.
You ought to go to Savanna sometime, there’s quite a few crossings in and north of Savanna that leads to the boat launch areas. Also, route 52 follows the BNSF double track side-by-side for quite awhile northward out of Savanna, I’ve taken plenty of photos while my car was parked on the extra gravle area to the side of the road.
To my knowledge the Savanna Army depot is free to the public(or at least the gates are locked open), not much to see back there anyway except old buildings and trains. I went back there for a few hours to spot some trains and the area was pretty empty asside from a few semi trailers sitting around. To my knowledge the government shut the place down because of some rare wild grass growing on the property. From what I could see the buildings are being used as warehouses thus the reason for the semi trailers sitting around. One thing I found interesting…there’s quite a few old green US Army box cars and flat cars sitting on a track off the BNSF mainline. I didn’t remember seeing a switch off the main to the track these cars were on, prolly why those cars are still there…they’re stuck!
I have been on the Aurora subdivision here is the way it shapes up from Aurora to Steward it is single track CTC, from Steward to Flag Center it 2 main track CTC, From Flag Center to Plum River it is single track CTC, form Plum River to cp 1463 is 2 main track CTC, from cp 1463 to Galena Junction it is dubble track ABS TWC, from galena Junction to Portage it is single track CTC, from Portage to East Dubuque it 2 main track CTC, form East Dubuque to Ports it is duble track ABS TWC, from Ports to Crawford it is single track CTC, from Crawford to Prairie du Chien it is 2 main track CTC with no crossovers at Prairie Du Chien, form Prairie Du Chien to Graf it is double track ABS TWC, form Graf to Grand Crossing it is single track CTC, from Grand Crossing to North Lacrosse it is yard limits ABS. I know the above is a little long but that is right out of my timetable issued on 10-6-2004.
Rodney
I have been on the Aurora subdivision here is the way it shapes up from Aurora to Steward it is single track CTC, from Steward to Flag Center it 2 main track CTC, From Flag Center to Plum River it is single track CTC, form Plum River to cp 1463 is 2 main track CTC, from cp 1463 to Galena Junction it is dubble track ABS TWC, from galena Junction to Portage it is single track CTC, from Portage to East Dubuque it 2 main track CTC, form East Dubuque to Ports it is duble track ABS TWC, from Ports to Crawford it is single track CTC, from Crawford to Prairie du Chien it is 2 main track CTC with no crossovers at Prairie Du Chien, form Prairie Du Chien to Graf it is double track ABS TWC, form Graf to Grand Crossing it is single track CTC, from Grand Crossing to North Lacrosse it is yard limits ABS. I know the above is a little long but that is right out of my timetable issued on 10-6-2004.
Rodney
Thanks Rodney for the info.