Western Railroad Discussion > Looking for a Fog chart

Anybody out there have a current or maybe no so current fog chart of the UP Niles subdiv. that they can send my way? Or does anybody know where I could get one?

Thanks in advance,
5524

Does anyone know what a fog chart is and what it's used for? I've lived in fog country all my life (Bay Area and Central Valley) and have not heard of a fog chart. Please educate me.

A fog chart is used and alot of times made by crews to navigate the tracks they run on in the fog and bad weather, using distinctive objects clearly identifiable and near the tracks, to keep track of where they are on the territory. It is very good for knowing where your signals are, and not blowing through a red signal.

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rattenne Wrote:
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> Does anyone know what a fog chart is and what it's
> used for? I've lived in fog country all my life
> (Bay Area and Central Valley) and have not heard
> of a fog chart. Please educate me.

He is an example of the Coast Sub's fogchart:

http://www.fogchart.com/Down/Beta/COAST.pdf

In the SP days, I would call that a track chart without all the track details. SP put one in the back of its ETT starting in 1980



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/08/11 15:11 by WAF.

Great, thanks for the info.

5524 Wrote:
> He is an example of the Coast Sub's fogchart:
>
> http://www.fogchart.com/Down/Beta/COAST.pdf


These were done by Jerry Freadman, who was an Oregon Division engineer. Originally he just did them for the SP's Oregon Division. Eventually the UP got wind of these and liked them enough that they made him the un-official "Fogchart Manager" and he made them for many areas of the UP. They used to be posted on a public website as he made them for UP the UP moved them into an "employee only" site (I believe) so they're not available to the public. You can check the www.fogchart.com website (I couldn't get it to be clickable) and see what's there. As a note, Jerry has retired so I doubt these will be getting updated any more.

Correction: It looks like they are there on the public site - good luck!



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 12/08/11 15:48 by Railbaron.

Railbaron Wrote:
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> ...These were done by Jerry Freadman, who was an
> Oregon Division engineer. Originally he just did
> them for the SP's Oregon Division. Eventually the
> UP got wind of these and liked them enough that
> they made him the un-official "Fogchart Manager"
> and he made them for many areas of the UP. They
> used to be posted on a public website as he made
> them for UP the UP moved them into an "employee
> only" site (I believe) so they're not available to
> the public. You can check the www.fogchart.com
> website (I couldn't get it to be clickable) and
> see what's there. As a note, Jerry has retired so
> I doubt these will be getting updated any more...

Fogchart says "Charted by Scott Bridgman". UP charted subdivisions listed here- http://www.fogchart.com/FOGCHARTED.htm

mapboy

mapboy Wrote:
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> Fogchart says "Charted by Scott Bridgman". UP
> charted subdivisions listed here-
>
> mapboy


Jerry Freadman is the one who started these and created the first ones. Because he lives in Vancouver, WA, he couldn't visit every subdivision on the UP. Instead he relied on information from people from these areas, plus timetable information, to create many of these charts. While I can't say for sure, since I no longer have contact with Jerry, I would assume "Scott Bridgeman" probably did "chart" the subdivision and then Jerry probably assembled it (or, since the program is basically "open", Mr. Bridgman may indeed have done the entire thing). Regardless, Jerry was the creator of these charts and after some "political correctness" was added the UP had him do as much of the system as he could.

WAF Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In the SP days, I would call that a track chart
> without all the track details. SP put one in the
> back of its ETT starting in 1980

Not the same Wes. A fog map is a listing of crossings, mile posts, signals and signal numbers and common identifiers, usually made by one of the employees at the terminal of the run. We had a fellow in Bakersfield by the name of John Young who made one of the beat fog maps ever made I believe.I think I may still have one around home somewhere, if I can find it I'll post it.


V

SLOCONDR

Railbaron Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jerry Freadman is the one who started these and
> created the first ones. Because he lives in
> Vancouver, WA, he couldn't visit every subdivision
> on the UP. Instead he relied on information from
> people from these areas, plus timetable
> information, to create many of these charts. While
> I can't say for sure, since I no longer have
> contact with Jerry, I would assume "Scott
> Bridgeman" probably did "chart" the subdivision
> and then Jerry probably assembled it (or, since
> the program is basically "open", Mr. Bridgman may
> indeed have done the entire thing). Regardless,
> Jerry was the creator of these charts and after
> some "political correctness" was added the UP had
> him do as much of the system as he could.

I believe Jerry told me that another UPRR employee was handling some of the subdivisions in the Southern Region.

I worked many trips with Jerry on the Brooklyn Sub. I can guarantee that he is the original creator of the ones like those shown...

Other railroads have has similar charts drawn by interested employees. I believe that the SEPTA and NJT areas had DeVaults and that CSX had Bernie Beavers. They were always more interesting than track charts, since they emphasized what operating people wanted/needed to know versus what engineering (track, signal) people wanted to know.

Railbaron Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> mapboy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Fogchart says "Charted by Scott Bridgman". UP
> > charted subdivisions listed here-
> >
> > mapboy
>
>
> Jerry Freadman is the one who started these and
> created the first ones. Because he lives in
> Vancouver, WA, he couldn't visit every subdivision
> on the UP. Instead he relied on information from
> people from these areas, plus timetable
> information, to create many of these charts. While
> I can't say for sure, since I no longer have
> contact with Jerry, I would assume "Scott
> Bridgeman" probably did "chart" the subdivision
> and then Jerry probably assembled it (or, since
> the program is basically "open", Mr. Bridgman may
> indeed have done the entire thing). Regardless,
> Jerry was the creator of these charts and after
> some "political correctness" was added the UP had
> him do as much of the system as he could.

I thought it might be "foggy" memory due to the somewhat similar names. Railbaron and others, thanks for clarifying it!

mapboy

SLOCONDR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> WAF Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > In the SP days, I would call that a track chart
> > without all the track details. SP put one in
> the
> > back of its ETT starting in 1980
>
> Not the same Wes. A fog map is a listing of
> crossings, mile posts, signals and signal numbers
> and common identifiers, usually made by one of the
> employees at the terminal of the run. We had a
> fellow in Bakersfield by the name of John Young
> who made one of the beat fog maps ever made I
> believe.I think I may still have one around home
> somewhere, if I can find it I'll post it.
>
>
> V
>
> SLOCONDR


I made my own personal one for the Coast from LA to San Luis Obispo... both directions and also from La to Bakersfield.. I know from personal experience that this chart came in handy many times.. Both lines are subjected to pea soup fog.. saved my butt a few times . I made copies and passed them out to a few people and saved their butts as well...