Whats the Deal With That Name Whats Wrong With
Canada Needs Imported Crops
Uh, no we don’t…
The last I heard, the IC name was being dropped, as is the WC name. Both sets of reporting marks will remain in use, as are GTW, DWP, and CV marks.
Lately I’ve seen IC power repainted in full CN red and black livery with IC reporting marks beneath the cab number, similar to GTW and DWP motive power practice. I presume this means the end of the “Deathstar” scheme - pity.
I know while living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa I got real accustomed to seeing the
old MILW and orange & white IC scheme Geeps the Chicago Central operated into town from Manchester and that they had working the old IC and MILW yard there. I also liked the red & white CC&P livery too (looked like the last
M&StL scheme a little bit).
Then, when the IC took-back their east-west main and made the CC&P a
subsidiary, they went with the IC black livery (as I remember they put “CCP”
underneath the hood numbers in small letters). It still made sense for an Iowa
railroad setting.
But when CN stepped-in I started seeing old Grand Trunk Geeps plying the
former IC and MILW yards over by the power plant east of Quaker Oats. That
just didn’t look natural to me, and seeing CN MOW vehicles and property signs
REALLY bugs me when I go there every summer to visit with friends.
Speaking of the Iowa Division, does anyone know how many trains operate over the line on a daily basis, and what they haul (mainly grain hoppers)? As CN was taking over the IC, there was speculation CN would run a GTW autorack train from the Detroit area over the Iowa Divison to Omaha for transfer to UP. However, there were concerns over clearances in the East Dubuque tunnel. Never heard anything further.
John Baie
The following link gives pretty detailed info on carloadings if that’s of any help:
ghighland:
Thanks for the Iowa map info. Very interesting.
J Baie