September 2012 Memphis Buff

THE MEMPHIS BUFF

VOLUME 39, ISSUE 9

NATIONAL RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum Rescuer of Railroad Relics A Railroad Vacation (Part 2)

September 2012

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Memphis Chapter Officers President – Walter Lang

walterhlang@yahoo.com

Vice President – Bruce Smedley Director – Bill Strong Secretary/Treasurer – Thomas Doherty Program Co-chairman – Carl Lancaster Program Co-chairman – Don Weis Yahoo Group Co-ordinater – Terry Redeker Newsletter Editor – Tom Parker

williambstrong@bellsouth.net TRDoherty@aol.com DBWeis@aol.com tkredeker@hotmail.com tscottparker@gmail.co

August Meeting Last months meeting was held at Dino's; the program was conducted by Terry Redeker. The business meeting was short as we discussed the October trip and reminded everyone that the September meeting will be held at the Germantown library on the 13th at 7 P.M. Terry's program was on video he'd taken while chasing trains (and avoiding rattlesnakes) in Southern California and Arizona.

Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum Notes • Bill Strong and Terry Foshee added to Board of Directors of MRTM. • Partnership announced with the Cotton Museum. Permanent display “Memphis Crossroads” planned.

• Installation of ATCS Monitor for Memphis on track, October completion date.

The Kentucky Street CTC board is rolled into its new home – the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum

By Tom Parker

Rousseau midtown, covered with a blue tarpaulin. In spite of the covering, the elements were taking their toll, rusting unpainted parts and water that had made its way into critical parts freezing and causing damage.

A museum serves a number of purposes. Entertainment and education are probably the first two that come to mind, but equally important is the preservation of artifacts that bring history to life.

The Rousseau family has kindly loaned the locomotive to the MRTM. Cosmetically restored, it now sits proudly, safe and warm, in the front window of the museum and is one of the museum's favorite displays.

Memphis Railroad and Trolley Museum – Rescuer of Railroad Relics

The MRTM has been able to accumulate a number of railroad artifacts in the first year of existence. The first and probably the most popular is the live steam IC 2499 locomotive.

IC 2499 on display at the museum A second acquisition is the Kentucky Street CTC board.

IC 2499's home before the MRTM. The live steam locomotive was stored in the backyard of the Rousseau home in midtown Memphis, covered with a tarpaulin.

Following the death of Jean Rousseau in 2009, IC 2499 sat in the backyard of the

Central to the history of railroads in Memphis are the Mississippi River Bridges and the arrangement of tracks that cut across the city known as “Broadway”. For years, an operator in a shanty at Kentucky Street controlled this traffic.

When control was moved to centralized locations. The CTC board that had been in the shanty was aquired by the now defunct Memphis Transportation Museum. When the MTM went under, somehow the CTC board found its way to a garage of the Ledbetter Foods on President's Island, where it shared space with old office records and broken down equipment.

Kentucky Street CTC board being loaded at Ledbetter Foods, 3/ 9/12 The Kentucky Street CTC board is displayed alongside one of the signals that it once controlled. (The signal is another rescued relic.) Above the board is a flat panel monitor displaying the dispatcher's screen of ATCS monitor, a computer program that shows real time train movements utilizing radio signals transmitted by trackside signal equipment. Soon, the display will match the CTC board's track layout and will show actual movements of trains through Arkansas, over the bridges and down Broadway.

CTC Board display at the museum.

Signal on left was once controlled by the CTC board. Display above CTC shows real time train movements.

A Railroad Vacation (Part 2) Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge

By Tom Doherty When we last saw our intrepid travelers they were spending the night in Flagstaff; we’ll join them there as they continue with the second leg of the triple crown of their railroad vacation.

Having driven this route about 12 years ago I made sure the car was gassed up prior to leaving Flagstaff.

After breakfast we headed north on US-89 toward Page, AZ. The Flagstaff area is called the tall pines country and you can see why as you leave the populated areas. However the further north you go, the less you see trees until it’s all red dirt and rock and mainly cattle ranching. You are also on Navajo Reservation land and will remain so until nearly Cortez, CO. A little bit south of Page US-160 intersects with US-89. A right turn and you’re heading ENE across northeastern Arizona. This is truly desolate land. A few miles after you start up US-160 is Tuba City. I remember this as a general store with gas pumps. As we entered Tuba City it was very clear that it had grown! It now has chain motels, fast food stops, and the ever present (at least in AZ) Indian Casino. It did provide a nice break to get something cold to drink and stretch your legs. As we continued eastward on US-160 it rapidly returned to open barren land. This is the stretch of highway where you look forward to road signs just to have something (anything) to break the boredom.

However about an hour up the road is a town (I don’t remember this being there) called Kayenta. It too has the fast food, casinos, etc. and another good rest room stop. We did see several Navajo Nation police patrols, so if you do have car trouble there will be assistance.

If you look at the map of US-160 in this area you’ll notice it crosses northwestern New Mexico for about 2 to 3 miles before going into Colorado. This is the famous four corners area; the only place in the U.S. where four states meet at a common point. Access to the area is in the New Mexico quadrant. If you desire to stop and see it you’ll have to keep a watchful eye because the passage across NM is so short there isn’t even a welcome to NM sign. If there was, by the time you read it you would be in Colorado. The four corners marker is on Reservation property so there is a fee to

enter the area. It is a circular concrete marker with two crossed lines to mark the states boundaries. You can stand on top and get your picture taken standing in four states at the same time. There are stands with Native American handicrafts for sale. We elected not to stop this time.

As we neared Cortez the radio station kept talking about the Webber Canyon fire. When we did this trip in June it seemed like the entire state of Colorado was on fire. We assumed it was in the area as they kept reporting county roads that were closed. As we entered Cortez we drove due east and had about 50 miles to go to Durango. About half way to Durango and a halfmile south of US-160 was the Webber canyon fire (see photo). Luck was with the folks living there as the fire was found early and the firefighting services were able to knock it down in a couple of days. After about a seven hour drive we rolled into Durango.

Durango is a city of about 17,000 people so there are plenty of hotels/motels in the area. In the old part of the city (near the train station) are two Victorian hotels; the General Palmer and the Strater. Both provide parking which can be a problem in this part of town.

We stayed at the Strater. It is a four story, refurbished hotel that has Victorian furniture in each room. The architectural details were amazing with fret work designs and beautiful stained glass windows. Don't expect luxurious bathrooms, they didn't have them then.

The bathrooms were adequate and small. You can walk to everything in the historic area of town from the hotel.

The next day (Sunday) was planned to relax and sight see. We had talked about going to Mesa Verdi National Park but the Webber canyon fire had it closed. We looked around town and my wife helped the local economy. It also gave me time to get some good shots around the yard and of the returning trains. Part of the round house has been turned into a museum and is open free of charge while the station is open (all day).

All the cars are named and this one is called the Cinco Animas. It offers two elegantly appointed seating areas. You may choose to relax in built-in Pullman berth seating, or enjoy the views out the rear from the Observation Parlor Room. I rode this car the last time on the train and sat in the Pullman section; this time we sat in the Observation Parlor Room. Of the two I prefer the Pullman section as the seats seemed more comfortable.

Durango Station Monday was train riding day. After a great breakfast buffet, we checked out of the hotel. I asked if I could leave my car in the parking lot and retrieve it after the train ride. This was fine with them so it worked out perfectly. If you are not staying close by the railroad does have a parking lot off of College St at $9 a day. As I’ve ridden this before and wrote an article about in in 2008 I don’t plan to talk much about the ride but will discuss the switching activities at each end of the line.

The D&S NG does offer the option of taking the train one way and the bus the other; I opted for the train in both directions. The only change I noted along the route was the through truss bridge about half-way up the line. It’s still there but a new timber bent bridge has been built upstream from it and the trackage now goes over the new bridge. The most I can say about the ride is, I rode it before, looked forward to riding it again this time, and will do it again in the future! It’s a good ride and if you enjoy riding trains you should do it also. My wife, who generally reads, didn't even pull out a book because she was so impressed with the spectacular scenery.

On train trips I generally opt for the last car. This is an extra premium fare car however it has a rear platform and magnificent views of the train and scenery.

Cinco Animas Interior The fire danger was so high that a trainman rode the rear platform to watch for any cinder fires. When one was spotted he would notify the chase car (a maintenance right of way scooter) about a half mile behind the train and they would put it out. As most of the trackage is through the San Juan National Forrest, the Forrest Service would most likely shut down operations without such precautions. The chase crew was kept busy with firefighting chores during the run in both directions. During the tourist season there are three trains a day: departures at 8:30; 9:15; and 9:45.

Let’s start at Silverton; as you approach town the main splits and becomes two mains into town. South of town is a large wye used to turn the entire train. It also will hold one train when all three have arrived.

load. Once clear of the wye the second train pulls onto the main and holds. Once the wye is clear the third train does its’ backup, turn and hold maneuvers on the wye. With the main clear the second train backs into position to pick up its’ load. At this point train 1 is on the second main, train 2 is on the main and train 3 is on the wye. At 2 p.m. train 1 gives two toots of the whistle and heads back to Durango. Train 3 now moves into position on the second main. By 3:15 all three trains are making their way down track toward Durango.

En Route to Silverton Between the wye and town is the depot. The trains no longer stop here, but it is open as a museum. The first train to arrive pulls up to the end of track by downtown and lets its’ passengers off. The train, once unloaded, will backup onto the wye and hold for other traffic.

About this time the second train is arriving and will pull up to the end of track in town. After the second train passes the wye the first train will pull onto the main then backup on the second main into town. It is now in place to become the first departure back to Durango. The second train will now use the wye to turn and hold. Here comes the third train to the end of the line, on the main, to discharge its’ passenger

A little before 6 p.m. the curtain goes up on act two of the dance of the trains this time taking place in Durango. To get a feel for what is about to happen, look at the photo of the Durango depot and yard complex. It has a teardrop shape as the main comes in by the depot around the yard complex and exits as a parallel and second main for about three blocks into town. In the center of the teardrop is the roundhouse and the turn table. It is interesting that the grade crossings in the old part of town are not signaled. The two crossings prior to College St (just outside the yard) are crossed using train whistle signals only. As the train nears College St a flagman will go out from the yard and flag the crossing to stop traffic as the trains enter and/or exit the yard.

When you arrive in the morning the three trains are spotted on the main and two sidings in their order of departure. The dance of the trains is how they do this.

Back at the train a 44 ton disel is now on the point and will move the train out onto the parallel main. While train 2 does the same dance, train 1 switches to the main and backs into the first siding by the depot.

Train 2 will then go through the same routine and end up on the second siding. Once train 3 arrives it will go through the dance and be placed on the third siding.

They’re all in postion and correct order for tomorrows' runs. At that time the entire show begins anew.

While the passengers are getting off the train, saying their goodbyes, getting last minute photos, and giving the car attendant a gratuity, the car inspectors are walking along side the train inspecting brakes and journal boxes,etc. and making notes on anything needing repair. If a car cannot be repaired in place it will be cut out and replaced. Once this is done the train will pull around the teardrop to the backside and stop. At this point the steam engine will be cut off and backed over the ash pit to drop its ash load. While this is going on you can quick go through the round house museum, out the back door and you’ll fine yourself in a viewing area next to the turn table. Just in time for the steam engine to be backed on and be turned for it’s slot in roundhouse.

Returning to Durango After our return to Durango it was time to head for Chama, NM and the Cumbres and Taltec. We told the lady at the B&B in Chama that we would be late in arriving and she advised us to get something to eat leaving Durango as the couple of restaurants in Chama would be closed by the time we arrived. There are many great restaurants to choose from in Durango but having eaten a big lunch in Silverton we coose the McDonalds next to the depot. After the meal we were ready to embark on the 2 1/2 hour drive to Chama.

We’ll leave you here and resume our journey next month on the road to Chama.

CABOOSE

“Cinco Animas” observation car, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango, Colorado Meeting Schedule September 13, 2012 October 9, 2012 November 13, 2012 December 6, 2012 September – December meetings will be held at the Germantown Public Library 7-9 pm.

1925 Exeter Road Germantown, TN 38138

Contact the Editor Tom Parker 3012 Wood Thrush Drive Memphis, TN 38134 tscottparker@gmail.com