America's Worst Maintained Railroad Tracks: A Day on the Napoleon Defiance and Western, 1/2/2020

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America's Worst Maintained Railroad Tracks: A Day on the Napoleon Defiance and Western, 1/2/2020

Рет қаралды 31,494

Күн бұрын

Filmed: 1/2/2020
The Napoleon Defiance and Western Railroad (subsidiary of Pioneer Railcorp, ie Patriot Rail) is a Class 3 short line operating over the ex-Wabash 5th District between Woodburn, IN and Napoleon, OH. The Wabash 5th District has gone through many different owners, including Wabash, N&W, NS, Indiana Hi-Rail, Maumee and Western, and now the ND&W, which is what it is today. The 5th District is built over mostly swamp land in Northeast Ohio. Due to this, the rails tended to sink into the soft ground. None of the major railroads listed above used this line for more than a branch line, so no major repairs had been done to it since the mid 1970s. By the time the tracks had been handed over to the Maumee and Western Railroad, they were in a dire state of disrepair, and were even dubbed "The World's Worst Maintained Railroad", and neither the IHRC or MAW had the funds to do any big maintenance projects on them.
The railroad was acquired by Pioneer Rail December 28th of 2012. Pioneer described the rails as in "dire need of repair" and had plans to completely build the track bed from the ground up. That, of course, was not all going to be done in a matter of weeks. While the railroad was undergoing major maintenance projects since it was bought by Pioneer, money was still tight, and portions of the railroad were not repaired as quick as the railroad had hoped. The first area of the railroad to receive major upgrades was the yard in Defiance, which left a large chunk of the main line still in disrepair.
Two days into the New Year, and I decided to go explore the "World's Worst Maintained Railroad" myself for the very first time. I had received word that the ND&W would be interchanging with NS and then getting as far east as they could on the main line before tying up for the day. Shortly after 10 AM, a crew arrived on scene, and my day began. The railroad indeed lived up to its nickname. In many spots it was truly amazing how none of the cars derailed. Never in my life had I seen such wavy track. The train creeped along, going no more than 2-3 MPH in almost every spot east of Woodburn. I could actually walk faster than the train! Today's train utilized PREX 3054, an ex-ATSF GP20u. This was also the very first engine was was moved to the property in 2013.
Since my visit in early 2020, the railroad received a $4.1 billion COVID grant, which in turn basically got huge maintenance projects off the ground, especially in the portion of the railroad featured in this video. Since then, the entire track bed between Woodburn and Defiance, including the Cincinnati Northern spur down to Lafarge south of Cecil, OH, has been completely relayed, 2nd hand rail has been put into place, and new ties and spikes have been put in. Track speed on the line is still slow, but has been upgraded to at least 10 MPH in most spots. The east end of the railroad has also received major upgrades, and the railroad continues to improve track conditions daily. It is a complete opposite of its former self.
In 2022, Pioneer Railcorp was acquired by Patriot Rail. The ND&W continues to live on under the PREX brand, but it will be interesting in the coming future if these GP20us continue to live on, or if they are replaced by dark blue GP38-2s.
While it is awesome the railroad has undergone some much needed upgrades, I'm quite happy I was able to document this portion of the railroad when it was in desperate need of repair. It truly was a sight to see!
Any unauthorized use or reproduction of the video clips presented in this video is strictly prohibited and WILL be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Enjoy!

Пікірлер: 58

@averageguy7136 10 ай бұрын

Maintenance of Way (MOW) is the single biggest operating expense for class 1 railroads. Its not a surprise that Class 3 shortlines struggle to afford to keep their tracks in good condition. The shortlines are already barely profitable as it is and if they need to rehab the trackage, they go broke.

@alanmcwilliams4264 10 ай бұрын

incredible, can't believe that this train managed to stay on these tracks

@southsidetom 10 ай бұрын

That crew getting paid by the minute and not the mile. "Hey buddy! We'll get there when we get there and absolutely no sooner."

@KenanTurkiye 3 ай бұрын

That's interesting. I ❤ trains, trams, take a ride, I have a folder on ''transportation'' (folder 2, in playlists) you will love them too :)

@user-jp7rk1uf2n 10 ай бұрын

Those guys in the locomotive must have nerves of steel and patience of a saint.

@cdavid8139 15 күн бұрын

having run trains over this type of track on and off for decades I will go with patience. But I would replace nerves of steel with simple boredom.

@StormySkyRailProductions Жыл бұрын

Highball. Yeah right. Wow you aren't kidding lots of rockin and rollin track there. Nice video and capture. Enjoyed watching and have a wonderful rest of your day.(Steve)

@jcbaily5559 10 ай бұрын

I am amazed that the train stayed on the tracks!

@connie9 10 ай бұрын

Wow! Those tracks are worse than ELS in WI. I guess they have to go so slow as to be able to stay on the tracks. You could keep pace with that train on a bicycle.

@ohwell2790 10 ай бұрын

When working for Southern Pacific out of Taylor Yard in Los Angeles the average speed of a freight train was 12 mph, that was in 1975-1982 we spent so much time in sidings because most of the rail was single track. Got layed off when SP merged with Santa Fe and could not even hold the extra board and got rid of the caboose and rear brakeman. They bought out my seniority to get me off of railroad unemployment. That was the best job I ever had being a brakeman/switchman. Only had 3 years and would have been vested in the retirement system, that hurt.

@Hopen111YT 9 ай бұрын

Rip

@marka5478 10 ай бұрын

Since this video has been made, extensive track work has been done. I suggest that you viewrs of this and other outdated videos of this line should avail themselves to the videos made about this line's rehabilitation.

@LowLevelNC 10 ай бұрын

Did you bother reading the description? The date of filming is clearly noted. And, in the detailed description, recent track improvements are noted.

@devonalomar9012 10 ай бұрын

"Viewers" Poor maintenance leads to poor spelling?

@peterp1158 10 ай бұрын

26:25 Does the crew have to take dramamine before traversing this section of rail?

@nrobinson8713 10 ай бұрын

Questions. Are those tracks still being used in that condition? Are all those grain storage elevators being used? Thanks. Nice video.

@devonalomar9012 10 ай бұрын

The answers you are looking for are in the video description.

@ELOfanatic Ай бұрын

From all I've heard, the owners are working on rehabilitation of trackage.

@JCG-049 4 ай бұрын

The bridge at 19:29 definitely doesn’t look like it can hold a train

@jeffreymontgomery4091 9 ай бұрын

Wow, them tracks reminded me of a roller coaster!!!

@paulbergen9114 Жыл бұрын

Very nice view at the NS interchange and the broadside with the small bridge over the ditch. Which is slower the ND&W or USPS snail mail? Nicely done!

@johnspencer7291 9 ай бұрын

there have been massive improvements to this line,there are just a few spots that are still in bad shape,the defiance yard has about a dozen or so flatcars on a siding with new ties (sleepers) the last remaining segments will be repaired starting spring 2024

@gusshadleythelunaticfromar7125 10 ай бұрын

Is This For Real? I Will Travel From West Virginia To Come See This. I Better Pack A Lunch Cause This Looks To Be A Real "High Speed" Operation. This Is Too Cool To Be Real.

@philnewcomers9170 10 ай бұрын

ive seen this sort of alinement before just shows what you can get away with ttfn&ty

@F59PH 3 ай бұрын

Why do shortline railroads have the best sounding train bells and horns?

@jameshamilton3946 Жыл бұрын

Nice video! What time does that railroad go On duty?

@janchristensen7993 9 ай бұрын

How is that even possible. Wow

@jayharmon4584 Жыл бұрын

Are they dragging hand brakes?

@organbuilder272 10 ай бұрын

It is difficult to understand why anyone would dare to use such trackage. I don't understand how an engine or loaded cars can follow such serpentine tracks as those. Is there no maintenance? Can't anyone kneel down along the track and sight-line it? The FRA is so touchy about engines, what about the tracks? This is unbelievable. I saw bad tracks in Cumberland but this is ridiculous.

@johnhoffman2818 10 ай бұрын

I don’t think you can call this “maintained”. More like used. I furnished a small railroad bridge on this line a few years ago. Seems the owner of the silos was kind of forced into buying this short line to keep the silos open for the farmers in the area. I think the cars at one point derail and rerail themselves at times.

@cdavid8139 4 күн бұрын

The owner of the 'silos' did not buy the line.

@tomarmstrong1281 10 ай бұрын

I cannot believe that was filmed in America.

@philnewcomers9170 10 ай бұрын

the Telllyfunken make it look worse than it is it would be interesting to see a derail ment and remeadial action ttfn&ty

@thetruth7633 10 ай бұрын

US defense budget : 800.000.000.000 Dollar US railroad maintenance budget : 0.08 Dollar / mile

@organbuilder272 10 ай бұрын

While you are telling the truth, which you are not. The railroads are privately owned. The government does not pay for the maintenance, rolling stock, engines or employees. The rail roads are taxed like crazy while truckers are subsidized. The defense budget has nothing to do with railroads. And - while you are at it, the government (FRA) beurocracy costs the railroads a pretty penny.

@fiddlyphuk6414 10 ай бұрын

Without that military we would be in the same boat as the Ukraine. We should spend less on funding NATO and make other NATO nations pay their fair share, like a previous president wanted to do.

@fiddlyphuk6414 10 ай бұрын

@@organbuilder272 Stinking government almost killed the railroads before the Staggers act.

@thomasklimchuk441 10 ай бұрын

No doubt the crew had an operating bulletin stating in no case exceed X mph between mile and mile such and such Be on the look out for misaligned track and broken rails

@cdavid8139 15 күн бұрын

Pretty much the entire line at that point in time

@jmcfarlandjr 10 ай бұрын

What was the speed limit for that bad track?

@user-jp7rk1uf2n 10 ай бұрын

Inches per hour.

@johnphillips1858 10 ай бұрын

Obviously no federal regulations that would require safe tracks. How incredibley stupid.

@walterwright7896 10 ай бұрын

Really, they had gotten their moneys worth out of these tracks. Also tracks have ratings I think passenger train can have up to 2 bad in 10 ties . While freight trains can have 8 bad in 10 ties .

@robertjones6971 10 ай бұрын

I fell asleep after the 1st 6 minutes. Didn't see any bad tracks. Only the same 2 engines going back and forth. 🙄😒😴😴😴😴😴

@roxsanakourov.4513 10 ай бұрын

It is a real wonder that everything stayed on the rails, that track really looked like a 3rd world train from India or Bangladesh, that track was badly twisted and not well secured to the wooden ties.