[CBQ] Re: Q Physical Plant in PRB, was BN GP 20s

["Winton" <wyhog@yahoo.com>]

Glenn, I agree with you. The track and maintenance on the Long Branch was 
probably quite acceptable for what was ran on it BC (Before Coal). The main 
problem I saw in the 1974-1979 era was the ballast. It was mostly scoria(sp?) 
which is essentially clay baked by ancient underground coal seam fires. A lot 
of it came from ballast pits along the western part of the line. It was pink 
and red and gave the CB&Q's Long Branch roadbed that red color. But it was very 
soft compared to other rock and it almost instantly crumbled to powder under 
the weight of unit coal trains and grain trains. Then it fouled whatever 
ballast remained and you got a lot of red mud pumping from the ties.
I worked numerous work trains during that period where we towed the sled under 
the track to plow out all of that red crap prior to spreading new granite 
ballast.

Wyhog



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