out of the current crop of railroads, who’s your favorite(s) and why.
mine’s the KCS, they are my hometown railroad, my grandpa and uncle worked for 'em, and I like that they are a (fairly)small, scrappy independant that occaisionaly makes a little noise, (like their part ownership of TFM). I have a lot of fond memories as a kid watching their trains, and I still like to watch 'em when I get back home.
my favorite would have to be UNION PACIFIC!!! why? beacause they are not afraid to try something new. they always always have the biggest and newest locos around. and they have a good sense of history ( their steam program and bringing back the wings) they just cant be beat. too bad i live in BNSF country now. all their consists look the same, with the same engines all the time. the UP paint job, albeit kinda plain, is excellent.
Union Pacific “We Will Devour”
The KCS is a great little road. Quietly hauling tonnage out of Port Arthur for years, it is now back-hauling tonnage to Mexico;all the while paying dividends and providing the base capital for mutual funds that are today big. My dad ran trains into KC and i saw some KCS transfer activity and 1 or 2 passenger runs in KCUS. My fave is the old SF out of loyalty and familiarity but i do admire a good operation when i see it.
The WC. I grew up three houses down from the tracks when they were still running steam and passenger trains as the Soo Line. At that time it was a double track mainline, since reduced to single track and now going back to double track with the introduction of commuter service. This has always been my favorite railroad and I still keep abreast of their doings. Have been to the yard in Fond Du Lac a number of times.
I agree with the WC. I grew up in Fond du Lac about three blocks from the WC (Lettered SOO, but technically the original WC)main during the late steam/early diesel period. When I was fairly young I spent a lot of time at the old Depot in Fond du lac. When I got old enough to bike to North Fond du Lac, my buddy and I spent a lot of time in and around the yards. I have lived in Montana for over 20 years and was never really a fan of BN, but since the BNSF combination, things have gotten pretty interesting here and I would have to rate BNSF as a close second. Ron.
I&M Rail Link. A QCA feature, plus the drama of their fight with the Big Muddy !
Sure didn’t expect to find a WC fan in Montana. If you are from Fond Du Lac I’m sure you are familiar with the Soo steam engine on static display in the park by the lake. Did you notice that it has the original WC symbol under the cab window? They also have an E Unit and several passenger cars on display in Ladysmith, Wi. painted in the original brown and gold color scheme. Thy put this in about four or five years ago.
I guess I’m a big fan of the Dakota,Minnesota & Eastern. I 've seen them grow since 1986 to a really well established regional railroad. I know the proposed powder river extension has really given them alot of opposition from the NIMBY crowd but I think they’ve really turned around the line from Rapid City,SD to Winona, MN which the CNW was letting go to waste.
My favorite Railroad is the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern(Reading & Northern). They’ve taken a lot of rail lines that Conrail was destroying and abdanoning, and made them into a thriving, growing empire. Every class 1 could learn from this line, they go out of their way to serve the customers,(not just talk about it) have done much to improve the infrastsructure, they are friendly to Railfans(the owner is one!!)and have great paint schemes on their equipment schemes. The passenger excursions are first rate, I highly recommend them. In a part of the country where freight railroads has had the toughest time surviving. It’s nice to see a railroad that is growing and expanding.
Thanks,
James
The WC is a great road. Enjoyed eyeballing the yards in Escanaba, MI and Oconto. Also passed that Soo steam engine you mentioned. Personally, I’m a fan of the Chicago & NorthWestern / UP. As a Metra rail commuter, I get a kick out of writing a check for tickets to the UP (used to be the C&NW.)
Doug (Crystal Lake, IL)
UNION PACIFIC is my favorite railroad. Why, DD40AX,Eunits,steamers,return of the the wings and the SD70Ms. Plus they run 60 to 80 trains a day thru my back yard.
The Grandmother of my best boyhood friend lived in one of two houses right across from the Soo loco in Lakeside Park. I don’t know if the houses are still there. We were able to watch the loco being moved into place while sitting on her front porch. It was interesting to watch the temporary track laid and the loco gradually moved into position. I haven’t been back to Fond du Lac for about 8 years, but at that time a local group was trying to restore the loco to operation. Haven’t heard anything further on it, so I assume the effort failed. I believe the loco is numbered 2719 which makes it a WC loco. Similar SOO owned locos were I believe numbered in the 700 series. Ron
I used to write those checks, but not anymore! Now I just watch the trains.
The houses are gone, the temporary track is gone and the CN&W tracks are gone. Effort to restore engine to operating status failed last I heard.
I have two: Uncle Pete and Big New Santa Fe. MRL a close second.
Wisconsin & Southern. They still run the e-9 units on the circus train, excursions periodically, and have made viable several old
Milwaukee Road lines. Also, they have a good
paint scheme (when they re-paint their units),
and still use the Janesville, Wi roundhouse
as an engine facility
I agree, the Reading and Northern is my favorite railroad existing today. Its amazing how they grew from a 13 mile branchline into the 150+ mile operation that they are today. Neat paint scheme on their hoppers, domestic and international.
On a sad note, they announced last week that they are discontinuing most of the excursions after this year due to the high cost of liability insurance.
My favorite Railroad of all time is I&M Rail Link short for IMRL. And coming in a close second is Canadian Pacific. Could be because i live right by the Metra Train Tracks Which IMRL has trackage rights on and Canadian Pacific has a Yard two miles away.
Got my engine #s mixed up. 2719 I believe is the loco that HAS been restored to operation in Northern Wisconsin. The park engine in Fond du Lac I think is either 2714 or 2716. So far I have been unable to find some old snapshots of the engine to check the correct number. Ron.