Western Railroad Discussion > Presidents Island, off the coast of Memphis

"Presidents Island, off the coast of Memphis".....kind of so says Alan

Jim Ammons took us to Presidents Island, Following is some information on the island.

Copied from Memphis Rails web site:
President's Island is an industrial area developed on what was originally an island in the Mississippi River. The island was connected to the Tennessee bank by closing the north end of the channel separating the island from the shore. The connection is known as the "Jack Carley Causeway"

Tracks were constructed across the causeway, and using existent tracks owned by the SLSF (now BNSF). MP and/or IC (now CN) connected President's Island to the aforementioned railroads. Trackage on the island is owned by the Port of Memphis.

When President's Island was developed in the late 1940's, switching on the Island was rotated between the IC ( now CN), MP and SLSF (now BNSF), with each road performing the switching four months at a time. By the 1960's it was decided that the four month rotation caused too much confusion and an annual rotation was instituted. Later the three railroads agreed for the Illinois Central (now CN) to perform all the switching, with the other two carriers compensating the IC (now CN) Channel Avenue, connecting the two yards and extending the length of the island is the main line. The track running between Channel and Harbor Avenues is known as the "Back Lead". Inbound transfer cuts are generally yarded in the "Old Yard" and outbound transfer cuts are built on the "Back Lead".

There are over 100 businesses on the island.



Also, the crane that is in photo 10 and 11 a Barnhart Crane and Rigging call it, Ichabod Crane after the character in the story of Sleepy Hollow. Ichabod Crane is a super heavy lift crane with the capacity to lift 1250 tons at a time.



We met up with Jim Ammons at Kentucky Street Saturday morning and I got one shot of the Amtrak before we went on to Presidents Island. Hope you enjoy!





photo 1) An Amtrack I caught (crossing the diamond) while at Kentucky Ave.

photo 2) CN 9630 working in front of Blueknight Energy.

photo 3) CN 9630 working in the yard as a tanker truck passes.



nancyg



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/14 19:15 by nancyg.

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photo 4) CN 9630 dropped off a cut of cars.

photo 5) The conductor lines the switch up so the CN 9630 can reverse back into the yard.

photo 6) RSSX 1 a SW 1200 switcher moves a cut of cars in the yard.





nancyg

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photo 7) RSSX 1 sets cars off as it pulls ahead.

photo 8) It has now moved over three tracks RSSX 1 pulls out and away.

photo 9) RSSX557 is parked on the siding, not working today. There are a total four engines on the island

working for Cargill.





nancyg

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photo 10) A telephoto view of the yard and the RSSX 557, a rail switching service, Genset engine with

the big crane (Ichabod) in the background.

photo 11) Ichabod crane information above.

photo 12) A profile view of RSSX 557.





nancyg

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photo 14) Catch up with CN 9630 as it brings a cut of cars toward us.

photo 15) A panned out shot of the CN 9630 working the yard.

photo 16) CN 9630 backs a cut of cars in a roster shot view.





nancyg

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photo 17) CN 9630 reverses far enough to put a reflective glow on a couple of tank cars.

photo 18) Lastly the RSSX 1 on the track tied down for the day. It is a Saturday afternoon

and we are heading out.



Our next stop is Guthrie, Kentucky. Thanks for looking and sharing my photos.



Any comments and corrections are appreciated as we spent only a few hours with Jim Ammons.



Again, thank you Jim for showing us around, hope to see you next year.



Nancy



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/14 19:54 by nancyg.

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nancyg Wrote:
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> Our next stop is Guthrie, Tennessee.

Actually, it's Guthrie, KY. ( Just north of Tennessee line)

GP30Frank Wrote:
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> nancyg Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > Our next stop is Guthrie, Tennessee.
>
> Actually, it's Guthrie, KY. ( Just north of
> Tennessee line)


I have to quit traveling, I get so screwed up.
After so many states, train yards, etc. Have to get a better system.

Thank you for straightening me out, I really appreciate it.

Nancy

Thanks for the industrial tour, Nancy! Very cool sequence. Now that's a crane!

RSSX has 3 locomotives working the Cargill plant. CN has 1 locomotive working the other industries,

gmojim

gmojim Wrote:
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> RSSX has 3 locomotives working the Cargill plant.
> CN has 1 locomotive working the other industries,
>
> gmojim

Jim, I can't take her anywhere...:o)
alan

Illinois Central, now CN, always had the big majority of the business to and from the island, so BNSF and UP gave up their switching duties. When IC took over full time, they placed welded rail all over the island , even in most yard tracks. Major improvement as each railroad did MW when they worked the island and the tracks were in poor condition. Let the other guy do it.

gmojim



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/14 20:18 by gmojim.

agrafton Wrote:
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> gmojim Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > RSSX has 3 locomotives working the Cargill
> plant.
> > CN has 1 locomotive working the other
> industries,
> >
> > gmojim
>
> Jim, I can't take her anywhere...:o)
> alan

Jim, Alan gave me the information. Next time I will take notes
and he can take the photos.

Nancy

agrafton Wrote:
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> >
> Jim, I can't take her anywhere...:o)
> alan

Quit complaining, she is doing a good job and she looks better than you,

gmojim

Wow. That is a lot of knowledge about the area. Never seen a crane that large. Thanks for showing this.
Brian Stevens

Really nice series Nancy, thank for sharing.

Kent in Carmel Valley

Nancy, one of your better post's IMHO. That crane is awesome. I enjoyed your pictures of the work in the yards. And you had some sun to work with : ) You seem to have an eye for headlight reflections off the RR cars.
John

Nice series, that island is a good traffic source. Do they still get coal by rail to the power plant on the island?

mapboy

Is that an easily-accessible public road that these shots were taken from? I've been to Memphis exactly once in my life, but would gladly go again for access to this many neat freight cars, as long as I didn't have to pass any "private" signs.

Carl Shaver
Lombard, IL

CShaveRR Wrote:
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> Is that an easily-accessible public road that
> these shots were taken from? I've been to Memphis
> exactly once in my life, but would gladly go again
> for access to this many neat freight cars, as long
> as I didn't have to pass any "private" signs.


It is in Southwest Memphis and there are no private signs. Hopefully someone comes on with directions.
There are close to a 100 business there. Check out the Intermodal Yard if you go back.
We are from Ohio and go through on our way home from FL.

Nancy