Fascinating!

Thanks for the video

I don't know how you'd present it, but It would be cool to see how class ones and short lines go about soliciting new shippers. What are some of the data points that shippers are looking for from Railroads? What are numbers and statistics that peak railroads interests? Do they just cold call every business in a region close to home rails and ask if they'd like to ship by train? What does that conversation sound like?

I grew up on Melvin Ave from 1981-87. And one of the few memories I have from living there is watching the go by through the mail slot of the front door, also waving to the guys in the caboose.

Thank you this was interesting and gave me a good view of how dispatchers keep track of their trains. After watching your video, I was wondering what happens at midnight when a new train sheet for the new day is started. The train sheet is security critical as it the dispatcher must use it to identify all opposing Extras and arrange protection before issuing a clearance to a new Extra. There is exists a similar sheet the "Zugmeldebuch für Zugleitbetrieb" in Germany for the German form of track warrant control. Whenever the dispatcher runs out of space on a page, he or she has to transfer the current status of the railway to the new page before using it. I wondered if there was a similar transfer at midnight between train sheets. After a bit of searching I found out that this is not the case for train sheets. Trains originating after midnight are put on the new day's train sheet while trains still running are continued to be tracked on the old train sheet. This means that during the wee hours of the night, the dispatcher is juggling two of these giant sheets. How did I learn this? One unfortunate rookie dispatcher forgot to check the old train sheet properly when creating the first new Extra of the new day. This happened on the BN in 1984 and let to a fatal cornfield meet. The NSTB wrote a report with an explanation how train sheets were supposed to be handled at midnight. If you want to read the report too, search for "NTSB RAR 85/06"

Interesting information that clearly showed the financial situation of the CNW. It would be interesting to understand how the employees reacted.

Wow does that train sheet from the Valley Sub bring back a ton of memories. Lots of familiar names on there from when I started hanging around the yard at Appleton in the mid 70's. Jerry Reader, Earl Bond, Pat Molitor, JF Schindlholz, and even what looks like Wally Koehn over on the left side of the sheet on WD53. 52 and 53 were the jobs that worked out of Jefferson Jct, I believe. Yes, more often than not, 299 did meet 296 at Appleton. Since both worked there, 299 would basically come up whatever yard track was open and not necessarily the siding. I vividly remember, after getting my first scanner in the late 70's, that as they passed each other in the yard, each train would call out "299" and "296" over the radio to identify themselves. 296 would almost always have to wait a spell for their pickup since Job 03 would be switching out the cars from Job 02, as well as the 1st Appleton and 2nd Appleton switch runs plus whatever other traffic came from Appleton or the Soo Line interchange and make up the pickups for 296 and 299. Thats when I would have a chance to talk to the crew on 296, and more often than not, get invited into the cab by the regular crew while they waited. Wally Koehn, who was on 297 and 290 by the time I was hanging around there, I believe was the last steam qualified engineer and he ran the 1385 when it went through the Valley in 1984. With all of the paper business generated around Appleton and off the Kimberly Sub, I was rather surprised to see that 296 only picked up 8 cars that evening. As for 299 and their "Shannon" work, Shannon's was a food distribution center on the NE side of Appleton and 299 worked it almost every night during the week. When they would leave Appleton, The engineer or fireman (Earl Bond and Tom Conroy for the longest time) would call the operator and ask him to "Call Shannon and have them open the door." Pat Molitor I met while he was working one of the Kimberly Sub Switch runs. He was quite the character. When the Alcos showed up from MN in the early 80's the RS3/11 became the regular switch engine at Appleton. Pat lovingly wrote "Sputnik" on the side of it because it was such an odd looking beast. I am a little curious about the comment of 281/282 running to Adams. I'm not sure that's true. 281 and 282 were old Ashland Div trains that ran from Ashland down to Fond Du Lac, although I do remember seeing an old train sheet or something somewhere from years before (60s or 50s?) where 282 did run from NFDL down to Clyman Jct, where the train then took a LEFT and went to Butler. There were two trains that did run from NFDL to Adams via Clyman Jct, but those were trains 471 and 472 to Altoona or Minneapolis. Those trains used to run (as 71 and 72 I think based on old timetables and such) to Green Bay via Merrillan and Marshfield and Eland, but CNW stopped using that line as a through route in the mid 70's I believe. I remember hearing the FDL operator on my scanner calling 471 and 472 on the radio at times. So many more names from NFDL that I dont see on the train sheet but still remember vividly. Not to mention the old "Antigo guys" I got to know around Appleton at that time, since the Appleton yard jobs, switch runs and the Kaukauna yard job were all old Ashland Division jobs. Excellent video and commentary by both of you. It brought back a ton of memories, and I kind of wish railroading was still like that. I am eligible to retire this year after 31yrs with CNW/UP.

One aspect that maybe you cover in a different KZbin is Force Majeure. What is an example of a force majeure event? Typical force majeure events include natural disasters (fire, storms, floods), governmental or societal actions (war, invasion, civil unrest, labor strikes), and infrastructure failures (transportation, energy). Railroads have used this legal term in more recent years and it does cover a lot.

The Ridge Runner line.

Great explanation of train sheets. I was an engineer for 50 years and had friends in the dispatchers office. Would go visit the ds office and the dispatchers would come ride in the field with myself and others.

Great stuff. A couple of notes based on the video- Cut off is the Jct on the north side of Sheb on the passenger line mp 54. The passing siding though town was also a helper district and the yard crew would get an extra days pay every time a shove was needed. Lastly, there is still a hot box detector at Belgium today.

I have some of the old train sheets from BO Tower in Kalamazoo (Conrail), from the late 1970's into the 1980's. Penn Central did not use Morris code since the NYC days (pre 1960's). My cousin has the train sheet showing the Freedom Train in 1976. Thanks for sharing this!

There's a ton of information on those sheets, IF you know how to read them. It's more interesting after Mr. Ewart helped interpret the information, and I could picture the progress unfolding as he read and spoke about it. Also enjoyed his comments about the ''rail busters'', the big road locomotives. While I am not directly involved in Rwy operations, as a truck driver, I have been to places in many of the towns mentioned in today's episode, so it became even more interesting trying to picture operations happening in those towns some 45 to 50 years ago. Thanks for this episode, and thanks to Rod also, for his time and expertise.

Great job Killer Bee

cool vid... i worked as a switchman for CNW... hired on in sept 1993... i worked the shoreline sub for a bit on that sheboygan coal train... that was a fun assignment but the working hours were beyond *BRUTAL* that assignment always had the big AC six axle units for coal service... also, the overtime was unlimited... the trainmaster never harassed that job about the heavy overtime it got... reason why was the compensation for that job came from a different budget and not from the trainmasters terminal budget... that coal train was always good for $100K/PLUS per year easy

Junction City on the Superior sub still uses its morse code station call; JO. I’m not sure, but EZ further up on the Superior sub, near South Itasca, may be another one. Are there more?

There’s a lot of old school terms still used like “OS”. The day of the old timers passing down that info of what things mean or meant is quickly passing. I had to laugh when he was mentioned that only 4 axle units could do industry work. Same applies today, but worse! That’s what I liked about operating on the CN. They didn’t seem to be afraid to spend money on upgrades to be efficient.

There’s a lot of old school terms still used like “OS”. The day of the old timers passing down that info of what things mean or meant is quickly passing.

Living along the Shoreline Div in Sheboygan, this was interesting.

Wow wow wow!!! Such great memories!! Road the CNW Twin Cities 400 and the Milwaukee Road Hiawatha countless times as a kid! Last time on 400 I was 16. Hiawatha last trip I was 17. So many sites I remember….Milwaukee is my home town…CNW’s Lake Front station, Milwaukee road depot..so many great shots !! After a 4 year stint in USAF I hired out in February 1974 on the CNW locomotive shop at Butler Wis. After a 36 year career I retired from UPRR. So glad I found this channel 👍👍😎

Thanks Bee! Another great nuts and bolts railroad operations video.

Could you tell us the brakemans activities? Hooked up air lines at this point...set brakes on this car etc. on future videos. Thanks

Wow. Amazing. Thanks a lot.

Thanks for this VERY informative video. I have always wanted to run my own Short Line RR, but it wasn't meant to be. With all the changes over the years, I m now glad I didn't. I still am interested in Short Line Railroading, but have lost the desire to run one. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!

Another great video with drawings. Thanks.

Can trains run engineer only anymore?

very informative!!!!

great information

always interesting

I’d like to ask a question but the comments gestapo won’t let me

Awesome materials. Please do videos on Reciprocal Switching Fees and Haulage. Lots of these issues before the STB right now. I actually just found out Haulage over trackage rights isn't a permitted use. 🛤️

A lot of work would have been saved in that last exercise if the freight just stayed on the main for all the moves. I’m sure there are operational rules that outlaw the move or other reasons.

I love these videos, they remind me of the switching problems in MR decades ago. The double saw-by is always fun.

Thank you for another interesting video of potential switching problems< KillerBee! Your solutions to these switching problems turned out to be simple moves that did not take much time to perform. (Posted on 23 December 2024 at 1443 CST.)

These are very interesting videos.

A refresher course is always appreciated

Always a treat KB. Thanks mate! Happy holidays to you and yours. Hope 2025 is a great one for you too!

These three I was aware of. Non the less, I like the way you explain all the moves. Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Wow, what a special video. Some great shots of battling winter in the UP. So sad so much of the railroading has died.

Like those switching puzzles. I think I may have told you that in the past. My HO layout is a switching layout with 16 customers to switch. Most take only 1-2 cars. The largest is a co-op that takes 8 cars. Keeps it interesting.

Just as I thought! Same as a long distance telephone call! The wizards did it!

I remember the FRV owned this line. It was still connected,until WCL cut it off south. FRV ran a night train I remember.

Killer Bee, I dunno how I missed this but fantastic. That’s the first time I think I’ve seen an actual train behind the plow, pretty cool stuff from up Nort! Keep em comin!

Thanks KillerBee! Love your informative videos! Keep em comin!

what type of car is a JBS car?

I would like to see an all animated version of these switching moves. The photos don't help the process.

It’s 2024 Mr. Killer Bee. Fresh meat facility not slaughterhouse. 😂

Great video! Good detail of the switching process. How long did this take?

Nice video. I always wondered how they did there run around in Denmark

As a veteran railroader.. the moves were planned out well. Its always nice to have sluff tracks. Good explanation!