I started on the Aurora Div of the BN on 1/20/73. The C&I and mainline
crews received a fist full of slow orders when they reported for work. Mud was
pumping from joints all along the lines. Branch lines were,of course,even
worse.Bob Harding and other high seniority operating employees could not express
their disbelieve strongly enough. I have an opinion as to why this
situation existed but will keep them to myself.
This situation hadn't occured overnight.
Bottom line the Q physical plant had been maintained to run
Zephyrs at 90-100 MPH plus(the Z90 signs were still in place for
curves) and 50 and 70 ton frt cars in short trains at 50-60 MPH with a
wink and a nod beyond that. I dont recall the exact year of the first
PBR unit coal train on the C&I but I'll say '75 for the sake of
discussion. These trains and the ore trains,even limited to
40MPH, beat the living hell out of what was left of 90-110 LB rail on
steel mill slag ballast. The slow orders got even more numerous and then it was
clear mgmt changed course.
Over a number of years rail was upgraded,granite ballast laid,new
ties by the hundreds of thousands inserted. We had a railroad we could run
on and be proud of as long as we didnt want to go over 60MPH.
Put in the simplest sentance I can,in my opinion, the Q had
been maintained for a high speed,short train operation and times had
changed to running long slow freight trains with maximum tonnages.
The first day in 1979 I reported to the "White House" on Jackson Blvd
in Chicago my boss told me straight out. The trains we run are rolling
warehouses. It's not when you get it there. It's just get it there. The old days
are gone.
Not looking to start a debate,just hoping to shed a little light .
Leo Phillipp