One day my turn in the C&I pool was called to work at 2:15AM. “Be at the depot at 3:45AM for a cab ride to 14th st coach yard in Chicago. You will work the B-9 car between Chicago and Aurora”. We brought the B-9 train that consisted of the loco,B-9 and a w/c directly to Aurora ahead of the dinky parade. We made the non stop run almost on #5’s time ! At Aurora depot coach yard we ran around the train,tested the air and waited for the arrival of the cars crew.
The reason I remember this day so clearly is that shortly thereafter while acting in my responsibility as Conductor i was drinking a cup of coffee, leaning on the fence rail and watching both the passengers board the dinkies and for the B-9 crew to board the car.
When I felt a presence behind me and turned to find two gentlemen standing there.Both were well dressed in suits and topcoats. There was no introduction but rather an immediate questioning by them as to whether I was the Condr on the B-9,where was the rest of the crew and you better be ready to go. There was a bit of a heated exchange and off they went into the back door of the depot and upstairs to division offices. They later came back and the conversation started again. I asked who they were and was sternly advised by one of them he was the division Sup’t. And I better be ready to go. About that time I pointed out that the B-9 crew was just climbing onto the car with their coffee and doughnuts. I also pointed out that there were 2 dinkies loading that would leave before the B-9 car was allowed onto the mains for testing. They walked off and boarded a dinky.
We worked testing the mains between Aurora and Chicago and ended the day with the B-9 train back in the coach yard at Aurora depot. The next day it worked west or North.
What follows is supposition on my part but I think I’m close to how this Q detector was transported and why.
I believe the car operated on a planned route so that it probably was only transported at the start and end of testing season/weather. Or when it needed to start in a new area. Note the snow on the ground in one of your pictures. The equipment would be tied up at larger terminals so the crew had lodging and there was supplies/fuel for the equipment. I do have a picture from the late 60’s i took of this equipment parked on a side track”behind Aurora tower” as we referred to that area. The photo does not show any other equipment around the detector car. It would be my thought that when it was time for the equipment to make a long move and be loaded onto flat cars that it was done maybe one of 2 ways. Either an old side track was cut and cribbed with ties/bridge material to raise the track up to the level of the flat or a derrick was used to lift the detector equipment. I dont think a burro crane(s) could handle the lift nor would Hulcher side booms be called due to the extreme cost involved. The standard rumor in my work time was just the call to Hulcher was $10k even if you called back and said never mind. Finally i dont think the detector car on a flat car would move in a work train. It likely would have moved in a secondary freight to its next assignment.
I could be wrong but thought I’d share my thoughts as requested.
Leo Phillipp
Ps-no, I never heard another word about my discussion w/the Div. Supt. !
On Nov 2, 2025, at 8:12 PM, Richard Gortowski via groups.io <rgortowski=aol.com@groups.io> wrote:
I've attached two photos from Burlington Bulletin #39 showing detector set 9050 and 9060 loaded on an FM-14 flat car to be hauled in a work train to the next job site. I have the Overland detector cars and I'm starting to build the FM-14 resin flat car for inclusion on my layout. Does anyone have an idea about how these cars were loaded and unloaded? My guess would be that there would be a specially constructed ramp with rails that would be hauled in the supporting baggage cars. If that's correct, I'd be interested to know how they would handle these unwieldy, heavy ramps?
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Rich G.
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