Last Train on the AC Belt in West Allis, WI

On May 3rd 2024 Union Pacific's "Marsh Job" made a final run on the AC Belt Line in West Allis, WI. They retrieved an ex Santa Fe Hi-Level diner, now owned by Penzeys Spices, from the former Avalon Rail complex.

[@davidpoor8638]

I don't care what anyone says... I am old school, and to see a GP60 doing something it was not designed for, amazes me!! We had a couple of GP60's up here in Vermont and they were very slippery. Traction was not one of their better traits. I come from the days of GP7's GP9's and SW1200's!! Hey, if it works, it works!! Great video!!!!!

[@embeddedgirl]

Question from someone clueless, why is it an unfit engine besides being slippery (I assume this implies not enough tractive effort available). What would be a better choice? I presume having the extra traction from a 6 axel would be the better choice?

[@davidpoor8638]

@@embeddedgirl A lot depends on the rail it is operating on. 110 pound or higher weight rail, with good head profile, will give fairly good traction. On lighter rail or rail without good head profile, it will tend to be slippery. By slippery, I mean that, because of high HP per axle, it will easily spin the wheels. Remember, the old switchers, if 1000 HP, had 250 HP per axle, GP7's had 375HP per axle, a GP9 had 437HP per axle. Generally they could pull a large train, albeit slowly, in yard service or local service. A GP60 has 950HP per axle. So in a nutshell that's what I meant as slippery. The GP60 was originally meant for high speed TOFC service where sustained speed was more desirable than tractive effort. Older GP7's, GP9's and the like were meant as freight units where tractive effort was better than high speed. What it boils down to is how fast do you want to move a train over the road? You want speed or tractive effort... Hope this helps answer some questions...

[@embeddedgirl]

@@davidpoor8638 makes a lot more sense now!

[@Planes_man]

I like the up wing on the gp60

[@NJW_Rails]

The managers were visibly stressed while the crew was definitely confident that the move would go seamlessly.

[@davebnsfnscale4433]

I gather they are no longer rebuilding passenger cars there anymore,used to deliver metal in the two bays next to that end one,poked my head in there a couple of times

[@coolleo149]

Man you were lucky to catch the very last Amtrak El Capitan diner car

[@johntaeowens1248]

Or it probably would've been taken away by another diesel locomotive

[@jeremypronschinske3873]

Allis chalmers was the heart and soul of west allis sad to see the siding go abandoned

[@greenchevy5764]

The El Capitan! Got this one in N Scale. Love the history 😊

[@paulbergen9114]

Fantastic. What a Sad ending to a once thriving industry. With probably half the buildings torn down and many of them repurposed if those bricks could talk about all the stuff that left here by rail from farm tractors to turbines even some equipment Oppenheimer worked with. @5:30 the engine was pointed towards the gate where are the Milwaukee Road track entered the facility. There still are some traces of rail in pavement and the huge sliding doors that went into large industrial Bays and the super sharp curves that were once switched by small steamers as well as unique diesel-powered former Illinois Terminal Electrics and later two brand new EMD SW1s @9:20 to the right the train is passing a daycare center add just out of view to the left was there separate personnel office now a Tavern. West Allis once known as the City of Homes and Industries Thanks for a proper farewell

[@sanddabz5635]

Cool info!

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

Wow what a great video if that is an original Santa Fe high-level car that’s very cool that it’s a dining car because that’s probably very rare

[@BRIANumber7-RCandModels]

A triple truck car too. I've never seen one like that before

[@coolleo149]

Now repainted to Amtrak, where it will be kept somewhere for retirement or scrap

[@NYTrainzchaser]

Thanks!

[@cincycubfan23]

@@coolleo149so…I’ve been a Penzey’s Spices customer on and off for years. They seem like they wouldn’t buy a truly historic car like this just to sell it for scrap. That said I had no clue they owned this and I’m curious as to their vision for it.

[@JonRailVideos2011-1]

Great video and thanks for posting!

[@NYTrainzchaser]

Thanks!

[@sixfifty_sebb]

this is the first time in 9 years that I’ve seen a UP loco pulling a passenger car, last time it was when UP was delivering old Bombardier Bi Level Coaches to our Commuter Rail Caltrain here in the San Francisco Bay Area from Southern California’s Commuter Rail Metrolink

[@Pensyfan19]

Nice footage. Sad to see an interesting rail spur like this go into the history books. Although I do wonder, what does a spice retail company (Penzeys Spices) want to do with an abandoned Amtrak/Santa Fe hi-level? Restaurant use possibly?

[@MrMarshmallow26]

I’m looking for answers myself, someone did say it’ll possibly be turned into a kitchen that would travel around the country. That would be so sick.

[@NYTrainzchaser]

Thanks! No plans for the car have been made known at this time.

[@25mfd]

that was the working territory of the waukesha job... used to be a customer in there called 4400 packaging... long since gone now though

[@sgtdebones]

3-3 high level. Didn't know that existed

[@lashendawest7509]

Great catches awesome capture and nice video of the last marsh job

[@NYTrainzchaser]

Thanks!

[@BadgerlandRailVideos]

Not the last marsh job by far...just the last service on this particular spur.

[@xCharjx]

Great catch on such a rare move!

[@NYTrainzchaser]

Thanks!

[@MarcelosalivaTRENESArg]

My Friend excellent video fantatic capture greeting

[@NYTrainzchaser]

Thanks!

[@dvferyance]

I am surprised this spur line was in service this long. Allis Chalmers closed decades ago.

[@januschreichel7510]

Very nice video 🚂👌👍👋🙋‍♂

[@NYTrainzchaser]

Thanks!

[@rickeyhall4254]

Amtrak phase three, my favorite scheme.

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

I hope that that Santa Fe El Capitan dining car is going to a good home especially if it could be a soul surviving example of its type of car

[@michaellindsey8769]

Lionel need to make these

[@centraliowarailproductions2810]

Nice catches!

[@NYTrainzchaser]

Thanks!

[@centraliowarailproductions2810]

You’re welcome @@NYTrainzchaser!

[@rickeyhall4254]

Nice to see a standard cab in action again. I wish it was a Tunnel Motor.

[@houseoftrainsgarcia9794]

Nice video.

[@NYTrainzchaser]

Thanks!

[@jamesmoldenhauer8797]

I assume that line is going to be abandoned sad to see all this industry no longer being serviced by rail much like the Menomonie belt a few miles east

[@1BigRed]

What about the last customer that used it there. The AB building?

[@ronnyvonallmen6892]

Is this area being Re-Developed?…

[@user-mp2tk3pw6j]

What camera do you use to record this video?

[@NYTrainzchaser]

Sony FDR-AX53.

[@scottn940]

Wasn't this trackage originally Milwaukee Road / SOO Line?

[@NYTrainzchaser]

Originally Chicago and Northwestern.

[@jeffkortsch8276]

I wonder where that diner car is going to end up.

[@MrRailfanner206]

Probably Beech grove

[@MrMarshmallow26]

@@MrRailfanner206 Not likely, this car is not owned by Amtrak, but a spice retail company, Penzeys Spices.

[@xheralt]

I live near where this took place...are they going to pull up the tracks from this spur?

[@NYTrainzchaser]

Eventually yes. They have permission to completely abandon the line.

[@nathanielcoleman5694]

Why are they taking it away? Are they gonna store it somewhere, send it to a scrapyard, etc.?

[@NYTrainzchaser]

UP is abandoning the spur the car was stored on, and the car was being moved to Penzey's Spices in Wauwatosa for display.

[@MrMarshmallow26]

@@NYTrainzchaser Some believed it would be converted into some sort of kitchen that could travel around by rail. Is it really just for display?

[@catekratville-wrinn1285]

​@NYTrainzchaser well done! We're you able to talk to Penzy's directly about this car?

[@TheAustinSubRailfan]

What's going to happen to that old Amtrak diner car if you know?

[@NYTrainzchaser]

It's going to be on display at Penzey's Spices in Wauwatosa, WI.

[@TheAustinSubRailfan]

@@NYTrainzchaser thats good

[@robertmoir5695]

I sort of don t understand

[@johnalder6028]

Interesting to watch that catch. Sad to see that old diner with ghetto art smeared all over it. I suppose new owners will clean it up. Thanx for sharing it.The fourth was clearly with you !

[@PhotoRam405]

The graffiti adds a touch of mingei.