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.
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!!!!!
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?
@@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...
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
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
@@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.
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?
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
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
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 !
