Dave,
Here are the answers to your questions:
1)I think a check of WW Baldwins corporate history of each line
segment, Overtons "Burlington Route" and the recent "Pea Vine" history by "Bud"
Linroth, a BRHS member,retired BNSF Condr and former local chairman of the
Galesburg UTU lodge will show the C& I was from Aurora,Il to the IC
connection at Forreston,IL via Oregon and Mt Morris. The CB&N was from
Futon,IL and Oregon,Il to St Paul. Even into the 1970s there was a track at
Oregon called the CB&N. The operating crews mistakenly referred to the
entire Aurora-Savanna line as the C&I.
2) The Aurora Div BLE agreed to pool w/cs in the mid to late 60s.I think
the exact year is 1967 from my reading of the locals files. I believe we
were the last division to do so.
3) Pool w/cs started in the late 50s or very early 60s.
4) Rip Repetto's collection is most likely in his son in laws posession.
That is Dan Holbrook who is a BRHS member and a current BNSf Yardmaster at
Eola,IL. My experienced guess is Rip used carbon paper under his forms to make
copies.
Rip could tell stories until the cows came home. His memory of details was
amazing,both people and operations. I have included some of those into future
BRHS articles where possible. For example, He is quoted in the MB&E on the
dinkies article which is in the queue for publication. Rip would always share
his knowledge and files if asked. He was a good mentor but could also chew you
out with the best of them. As I learned one day at West Chicago when I almost
cornered the w/c with a box car !
5(Out of order) yes pool waycars moved beyond divisions. That was their
whole reason for existance. On a westbounder from Cicero the w/c could end up in
Denver or St Paul. The savings on the number of waycars,terminal
delays,switching costs,etc were considerable. But then so was hotel,cab
fares,meal allowances,lockers,etc that came with the pool car agreements. On
eastbounders after the BN merger a waycar could come from the coast or
Montant,North Dakota and get downright grungy by the time it arrived at Savanna.
In warm weather we had a cure for all the accumulated newspapers,cigarette
butts,etc. Simply open both dorrs and sweep the car out on the way up Burke
Hill
Leo