Hello, Ralph -
After NSW got their diesels, the Grand Trunk Western 0-8-0s were "given" to the
Illinois Railway Museum. Some were scrapped at Sterling and the rest were
shoved down to the end of the C&NW's Galt Lead down by the intersection of old
Rt. 2 and Highway 30. Your memory is OK.
Over the years the locomotives were parceled out this way and that for display.
My wife and I drove by there the end of March and it looked like everything
was gone. (The last time I was down in there with the Sterling switcher -
probably in the late '80s - there were good sized trees growing up thru the
cabs. Ya' had to have a chainsaw if you wanted to pull one of those engines
out of there). PAW
----- Original Message -----
From: Ralph W. Brown, Jr.
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 1:04 PM
Subject: Re: [CBQ] More Rock Falls Stuff.
My mother's side of the family is from Rock Falls. I remeber on one of our
vists my grandfather, father, and I ventured out into a field not far from the
highway just outside Rock Falls on the west side. In the field was a row of out
of service steam locomotives. This was in the mid to late 1980s and I was in
grade school. I don't remember the names on the locomotives. I wish I could
recall more about them. I want to say it was near the intersection of US 30 and
IL 2. My memory is leaning towards them being NSW locomotives. Could they have
been from another railroad? Old Q locomotives waiting for final disposition?
Anyone else remember?
R.W. Brown, Jr.
Galesburg, IL
----- Original Message -----
From: Karl L Rethwisch
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2009 7:38 PM
Subject: [CBQ] More Rock Falls Stuff.
The feed mill in RF would occasionally receive carloads of grain and ship
carloads of various feed mixes but I wouldn't consider it a major shipper as
far as total carloads were concerned. I remember the terrific aroma of roasting
grain, especially early in the morning and, especially, if I had not had a BIG
breakfast.
Illinois Forge was pretty much a truckload shipper and receiver. We handled
large amounts of scrap back over the river to be delivered to NSW via C&NW
crews.
A lot of Q steam went up in flames at the hands of NSW torch men. Look on pg.
75 of Ron Ziel's great book "The Twilight of Steam Locomotives". There's a
photo essay of the demise of Q 2-10-4, 6316. Q, NYC, GTW, C&NW and many other
roads were represented at NSW.
The Rock Falls Wayfreight (RFWF) brought in many loads of scrap and locally
consumed merchandise but I never noticed coal loads. The RFWF hauled a lot of
loads of Parish Alford products such as concrete reinforcing mats (re-bar) and
fencing materials. Carloads of coiled rod (1/4" - 3/8") came from NSW and all
the scrap produced by PA went directly back to NSW, much of it in the 100 ton,
6 axle Virginian coal gons.
An occasional piggy-back would show up and, almost without fail, be
"backwards" to the ramp. The car, obviously, would have to be turned. This was
accomplished using the RF turntable, an AIR powered turntable. After charging
the car to 140 psi. and coupling its air hose to the hose on the table's air
motor and, with luck, you'd get the car turned.
Leo might know - - - did any cars picked up enroute between Earlville and RF
ever make their way into 94's consist? Also, Leo, Gabby might not enjoy a
discussion of "wing shooting", ya think?
One other marginal local business was Goodyear Tire. A few cars a week were
spotted between big brick buildings close to the river and close to Eureka
Coach Builders (herse's) on 1st. St.
I have also switched RB&W but, again, not a huge rail shipper.
The "yard" in Sterling was a joke. Four tracks with a street X'ing. every
five car lengths or so. It took 94 longer to double his train together than it
took ta get ta Denrock.
Well gotta give my "brain" a rest. Enjoy,
Karl
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