Nostalgia & History > Around & In Chicago In '79

An e/b train on the Belt Railway of Chicago had interesting Conrail power, McCook, Illinois, 3/12/79. There's more at:

https://gjptrains.wordpress.com/category/home/

Gerry

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can-opener alcos!

How often did CR Alco's get to Chicago in 1979? I would guess this was a rare occurrence by that time.

In viewing the photos provided in the link (which are worth your time to view if you like Chicago area action), there were two separate C&NW trains with B&O GP40's. I didn't recall the C&NW leasing or having a pool with B&O at that time but must be wrong. Can someone explain what they were doing on the CNW in 1979?

Thanks.

And an old GP7 too boot.

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com

dan Wrote:
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> can-opener alcos!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/18 14:33 by wabash2800.

Milwaukee Wrote:
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> In viewing the photos provided in the link (which
> are worth your time to view if you like Chicago
> area action), there were two separate C&NW trains
> with B&O GP40's. I didn't recall the C&NW
> leasing or having a pool with B&O at that time but
> must be wrong. Can someone explain what they were
> doing on the CNW in 1979?
>
> Thanks.

As I recall, the winter of 78-79 was very bad and both the CNW and MILW were leasing
power owing to a lot of their power being bad ordered. As I recall, the MILW leased
more than the CNW, but I believe the latter did lease some B&O GP40's.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

Nick is right about that winter. I remember one Sunday morning it was -19F with a 35 mph wind. The wind chill factor was -65F. Gerry

Nice stuff Gerry. One minor nitpick, those are not BRC tracks in McCook. They are B&OCT owned and leased by the Indiana Harbor Belt.

Thanks for the correction, Kevin. That's three railroads in one picture. Gerry