When I visit the Racine area, I always spend a while at the Sturtevant Depot in the afternoon to see the activity. I saw a penciled note of the Kenosha detector frequency on the wall some time ago and finally bought a scanner. Now the note is gone. Does anyone know the frequency? Seeing the name “Bob from Racine” reminded me of my need.
Dave from Grand Forks
Try 160.770 (Channel 44). I’m assuming that the detector is on the same route that you’re watching. It would broadcast on the same frequency that the crews and dispatchers use for whichever line it’s on.
There are two detectors that are relevant at Sturtevant. Just beyond visibility to the south is Sommers which also has a height detector to keep double stacks out of the Milwaukee Depot.
To the north by several miles is Oakwood Road which at one time was a depot and water stop on the old Milwaukee Rd. Between those two and the signals you have a pretty decent notion of what is coming
Dave Nelson
Thanks for this information. I sometimes stop by the depot at Sturtevant while on my way up into Wisconsin but have never been able to use my scanner, until now! Thanks again.
Yes the detectors are on 160.770 However the detector south of Sturtevant that warned of high loads is no longer in use. That was just because they were working on a road bridge just west of the Milwaukee Depot.
Keith
Thanks for the information! If you ever see North Dakota plates in the depot parking area it probably is me. Stop and check.
Dave
I believe the high-car part of the detector is still in use, due to the restrictions going through the Milwaukee Depot. The railroad may have used lower height limits while work was being done on the highway bridge, because I have not heard the detector warn of high cars for quite a while. However, westward trains almost always call the dispatcher after passing the Somers detector advising that they do or do not have high cars in their train.
The only reason I am aware of this is that I live in Somers, although I do not listen to the scanner all the time.
Good thread guys, I was based in Racine for Arthur Andersen 3 summers ago and would hang out at the Sturtevant depot nightly, watching Amtrak and CP action. What a great spot!!! I even met an old-timer Notre Dame alum there one night, he had graduated 50 years before me.
JAJ
Chicago, IL
The height measuring part of the Somers detector has been retired. 6th street viaduct in Milw has been torn down, & one low steel beam in Menomonee Drawbridge just east of the Amtrak depot has been shifted higher. Trains may still remind the C&M dispatcher about high loads, but they should be able to go either route now in Milwaukee.
Sturtevant is a really neat station, but may be in peril, depending on whether a new depot is built one mile north of the old one. All the non railfans seem to want one built, but the costs are far higher then funds available so far. if new depot was to be built, old depot probably would be torn down.
Really would hate to see this as I started my RR career at Sturtevant back in 1974. Stop out there fairly often to watch trains, say hi if you see me. Bob from Racine
There is always talk of preserving the depot there but time is running out – it is looking very fragile.
Dave Nelson
Recently there has been talk of building a new station just to the north of were the old one is.
One mile north? Where? In the cornfield?
North, near a new industrial park. The problem issues relate to parking and how the public is supposed to cross the tracks.
The old hotel near the depot is being renoated - it would be quite a historic district if they did the hotel and the depot, since the little railroad museum is already there across the street.
Dave Nelson
Almost everytime we’ve been at the station lately they have been working on the Klinkert House. It is a neat looking building.
They don’t want passengers to cross over the rails at the new station, so they wanted to put in a tunnel or a pedestrian bridge, but both are very costly.