In a message dated 5/30/03 2:21:36pm, misterkozy@yahoo.com writes:
> The Great Northern ran a unit train of Potash beginning in
>1968.This train originated at Northgate,ND,where the potash was
>trucked down from Saskatchewan,Canada,and was delivered to the CB&Q
>at the Twin Cities for delivery to a fertilizer plant in Mendota,Ill.
>This train consisted of IMCX covered hoppers and the power was a mix
>of the GN 307A,B,C-309A,B,C and 311A,B,C-317A,B,C F7's in 6 unit
>sets.
>** I don't believe the power ran thru on the CB&Q and don't know
>what they used.** [emphasis mine-pk]
>The GN ran the train every third day.
In a message dated 6/1/03 10:40:41 am, ark@bwsys.net writes:
>I seem to remember something about this in one of the first BN annuals
>about
>this train. Maybe this will job someones memory who has all the BN annuals.
Listees:
My memory is jogged, but it doesn't add much to the discussion. On page 39
of the 1971 BN Motive Power Annual (Motive Power Services, Denver, 1971) is an
article on "BN's Other Unit Train" which says in toto:
"In addition to the many unit coal trains, BN also operates a unit potash
movement between Northgate, North Dakota, on the U.S.-Canadian boundary, and
Mendota, Illinois. The potash, used as fertilizer, is trucked from an
International Minerals & Chemical Co. mine at Esterhazy, Saskatchewan across
the border
to Northgate, where it is loaded in covered hoppers for the run to Mendota.
Inaugurated by Great Northern and Burlington on November 15, 1968, one run is
made every four days, and the 1,000 miles are covered in 35 hours. With a
10,000-ton minimum per train, the trains average 115 cars and handle roughly
70,000
tons of potash per month."
The three accompanying photos show former GN and NP F units and a Geep 9 at
Minot ND in 1971, a Geep 9 and F45s near Minot, also in 1971, and a BN box car
converted to an "air car" to keep air up in the back half of the train. A BN
map on page 30 shows the route from Northgate through Minot, Fargo, Mpls/St.
Paul and Savanna to Galesburg thence to Mendota.
No mention or indication of run-through power.
Bill
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