Russ,
IIRC, GM was one of the sponsors and there was some sort of event
staged at La Grange involving the locomotive. In addition, it came in
from the west a week or so ahead of the train's arrival from the east
behind the Reading T1. The 4449, of course, had just been restored to
service after some 20 years in the pOrtland, OR park. The 4449 group
wanted a secure location to stored the locomotive during the short
wait. The collision in Nebraska, obviously wasn't planned, but the
lay over time offer a good opportunity to make repairs. When it
originally came from the west to take over the AFT, it was running
light with only it's support cars with it. The train and the Reading
locomotive were still out east. I have color slides that I took of
4449 with the AFT train on it's initial westbound run, taken at a
point between West Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills.
I don't recall whether the train came through Chicago more than once,
but it may have.
Bill Barber
On Sep 26, 2007, at 6:57 PM, CBQ@yahoogroups.com wrote:
> Re: 1976 American Freedom Train on the CB&Q
>
> Posted by: "Russ Strodtz" borneo@19main.com thevlbg
>
> Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:59 am (PST)
>
> Charlie,
>
> I do recall there was a great deal of to-do involved in
> getting the 4449 to EMD and back again. I do not recall
> where it came from but the train was not with it. For
> that matter I have no idea why EMD wanted it.
>
> During the mid 50's the CB&Q timetable had specified that
> steam locomotives could not operate around the curve on
> the North Wye track at LaGrange/Congress Park. That may
> have been just for spite as the IHB no longer had any
> steam power. While the NYC,MC,or Big4 may have run some
> trains into Blue Island with steam these would not have
> gone to the "Q".
>
> Whatever the case the 4449 did use that track without
> incident.
>
> Russ
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CBQ/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CBQ/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:CBQ-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:CBQ-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
CBQ-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
|