Here is my report.
I have been going to Galesburg Railroad Days since the 1980s. It is always hot this time of year it seems. One year I remember seeing a temp of 108 in Yates City IL. It was not quite that warm this year but mid to upper 90s, with lots of humidity, was the rule. Such heat is very draining. Since I prefer to drive with windows down rather than use air conditioning, my left arm is burned and my right arm is pale.
All Galesburg was abuzz with rumors that out of town types were seen playing golf in the heat of day on Saturday but I understand upon being detained they were deemed harmless and therefore not institutionalized.
TRAIN SHOW
Always one of the really good train shows but some familiar vendors and display layouts were not there this year. I always look for circa 1974 BN stuff and did not see any. The guy who used to have boxes full of grab bag stuff like timetables and train orders cheap was not there. In fact a number of usual vendors at the swap meet were not there. An old guy (named Brown?) who self published fascinating books of CB&Q train orders and reports and such is I gather deceased. I had heard his son was going to keep the books going but they were not for sale A couple of other former railroaders who would sell stuff were also not there; I think again some have passed away. It was mostly model train stuff and mostly commercial dealers so the prices were not exciting. One dealer mentioned that Horizon/Athearn only wants to deal with brick and mortar hobby shops while these days many dealers are train show dealers who find it hard to get Athearn/MDC
DISPLAYS AT THE DEPOT
Displays were back at the depot (last year there were none, zip zero). GE brought in a BNSF Dash 9 that you could tour as well as major parts for display such as a turbocharger, traction motor and wheel, cylinder, air filters etc. They also had men to answer questions and assist. Thanks GE.
There were no give aways however, unlike the glory ye
Wait a second… do I know the person(s) you’re referring to? [:I]
At least our golf carts had roofs on them for shade, and when you floored the gas pedal you could get a nice, all be it brief, breeze. (That is if you don’t mind a breeze that feels like it’s coming from a hair dryer!)
Nice to see you on Sunday, Dave. I’m glad everyone had a good time. Next year we’ll have to find a way to meet trackside. Our ribs from the Rib Shack made for quite a delicious (yet messy) trackside meal. We’ll definitely be doing that again next year! So if you don’t mind eating out of a styrofoam container and maybe getting a little barbeque sauce on your camera (you can only lick so much off your fingers when you see the headlight coming at you at 65 MPH), you should join us.
Take care,
Erik
…by the way, I have some photos from Galesburg in this week’s Trackside with Erik and Mike Vol. 33 recap. Naturally, I’m saving the best shots for future installments so I can get back in the winner’s circle.
Erik
Ahh Ribs from a Styrofoam container, sounds like Speed Queen here in Milwaukee.
I was happy to get my Long John Silvers fix in Galesburg.
Well yes it was warm in Galesburg and everyplace in between there and Milwaukee.
Rochelle was also very warm. And just before I left a friend of mine (not Dave) got the last water out of the vending machine.
Here are some of my photos from Galesburg to compliment those from Erik.
The return of the display locomotive. It was nice to see some equipment display return.
Here is a cab shot of the locomotive on display.
An NS powered stack train is westbound at East Galesburg, IL
A dirty warbonnet leads an eastbound at East Galesburg, IL
The westbound California Zephyr just east of Cameron, IL
Friends of the 261 cars on the rear of the Cal Zephyr headed west for the NRHS Convention in Portland, OR
BNSF SD70MAC leads westbound at Cameron, IL
The one and only NEW paint scheme BNSF locomtive that we saw all weekend in Galesburg. This one was eastbound at Cameron on the ATSF line.
Saturday morning these guys started painting and stenciling this CB&Q boxcar.
I have a few shots from Galesburg as well- they can be viewed at my Flickr site, http://www.flickr.com/photos/85729295@N00/. They’re certainly not the quality of the ones above and in Bergie’s column, but I enjoyed the action and the up-close view of railroading that the Galesburg Amtrak station gives you. I will definitely be going back there again.
No wonder I did not see Erik on Saturday, he was out baking on the links!!
Stay Safe,
Jim
I was in Peck Park taking photos when blhanel was up taking photos by the Amtrak station. BNSF 118 passed 949 over at peck park. 118’s engineer was mad at me and a few other people for getting too close to the track that 949 was sitting on. I think his temper problem was that the A/C was out although the conductor didn’t seem mad since he waved at me. 949 was a good 50 ft. away any way and he wasn’t goin’ anywhere until 118 was passed.