Nostalgia & History > Grand Trunk Tuesday - Maple Leaf at Battle Creek April, 1970

Ken Lanovich photo
No info on slide
Appears to be the eastbound Maple Leaf at Battle Creek.
Slide process date April, 1970

So much to say, So much to see, So much is gone.
When railroads were friendly places.

To put things in perspective, those guys standing in the foul of the westbound main,
without PPE, have brought the Maple Leaf 176 miles in 3 hours and 35 minutes, by way of Hayford,
Ashburn, Blue Island, Harvey, Thornton Jct,, Wellsboro and South Bend interlockings.
Today's Amtrak morning train, the Wolverine, takes 2 hours and 53 minutes for 160 miles.

No 4000 hp, 110 mph, cab signaled, ITCS, PTC, radio equipped locomotives on the Maple Leaf. 
No welded rail or CTC either.
Just two long hood forward geeps with 83 mph gearing. And checked baggage.

We have come a long way in 50 years.  I am trying to figure out just which way we have gone.
 



Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 01/15/19 20:01 by Englewood.

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What locomotive is on display in the park on the left in the photo?

Gerry Gaugl
Ottawa ON

moonliter Wrote:
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> What locomotive is on display in the park on the
> left in the photo?
>
> Gerry Gaugl
> Ottawa ON

I think it was Grand Trunk Western 4-8-4 No. 6325, which was operational on Ohio Central until 2005 but was taken out of service due to hot driving axle bearing. Currently getting minor repairs - wonder if it will run again?
http://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=136



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/16/19 05:15 by JPB.

So much interesting stuff in this great photo.  The steam engine on the left,
the interlocking tower way in the back, the crew consulting, the depot
(I had no idea how huge Battle Creek's was),  the baggage cart, and
close to a million hoses on the front of GTW  4915.

Any idea what the black and silver pole at right front is for?

Seventyfive Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So much interesting stuff in this great photo.
>  The steam engine on the left,
> the interlocking tower way in the back, the crew
> consulting, the depot
> (I had no idea how huge Battle Creek's was),  the
> baggage cart, and
> close to a million hoses on the front of
> GTW  4915.
>
> Any idea what the black and silver pole at right
> front is for?

The tower is for McCamly Sreet crossing protection. There was a similar one for Washington Ave. by the Lansing depot. The pole is part of the refueling apparatus. It looks like the second Geep is getting fuel and water.

JPB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> moonliter Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > What locomotive is on display in the park on
> the
> > left in the photo?
> >
> > Gerry Gaugl
> > Ottawa ON
>
> I think it was Grand Trunk Western 4-8-4 No. 6325,
> which was operational on Ohio Central until 2005
> but was taken out of service due to hot driving
> axle bearing. Currently getting minor repairs -
> wonder if it will run again?
> http://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.com/index.php?opti
> on=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=136

Yes it was the 6325.

Seventyfive Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So much interesting stuff in this great photo.
>  The steam engine on the left,
> the interlocking tower way in the back, the crew
> consulting, the depot
> (I had no idea how huge Battle Creek's was),  

There was a train dispatcher's office in the depot.
There was an imposing door entered from the waiting room with, as I recall, the chief dispatcher's name on it .
To imposing for a 15 year old to enter.