Re: [CBQ] Re: Power Car On East End On Dinky

["Mike Schattl" <mike@schattl.com>]

The best way to go about expanding Metra service is to extend the two passenger stub tracks across the street all the way to the Aurora Station site where they can meet up with the freight main.

 

There used to be tracks along the viaduct at ground level through Aurora....I seen a pic of an Amtrak train pulled by SDP40F's on these tracks on Railpictures or Rrpictruearchives somewhere....

 

Mike Schattl

 

----- Original Message -----

From: STEVEN HOLDING

To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Saturday, March 02, 2013 10:56 PM

Subject: Re: [CBQ] Re: Power Car On East End On Dinky

 

Mike
I use to work with the guy that was doing the planning and he did not even know the physical area he was going to try and run thru.  They wanted to put the third track back and run it all the way to Orchard Road where they have the land but the fill between Montgomery and Aurora is not wide enough.
Most of the shop buildings were all torn down before Metra and the city moved on the project.
Most transit planners do not have a clue on how to do the job right.  You have to know where the people are, Where they want to go and how to move them.  And quit looking at what is there first.
Veteran of the East End for half of my 35 years and rode it to work for at least 10 of those
Steve in SC

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From: Mike Schattl <mike@schattl.com>
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, March 2, 2013 11:31:03 PM
Subject: Re: [CBQ] Re: Power Car On East End On Dinky

 



The incline is now Metra's passenger line to the Aurora Transportation Center (by the roundhouse). Metra & the city of Aurora did a resoration of the shop buildings and they now house a waiting area, shops and a resteraunt & brewery. There is talk of extending the tracks past their endpoint to the Aurora Station site so Metra can expand service to Sugar Grove & Montgomery but this is on hold because of Illinois' budget woes.

 

The connection to the West Chicago Branch is still there but not a full wye.

 

Mike Schattl

 

----- Original Message -----

From: STEVEN HOLDING

To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Saturday, March 02, 2013 10:25 PM

Subject: Re: [CBQ] Re: Power Car On East End On Dinky

 

Bill you went down the incline into the yard and north on to the West Chicago Line and around that way back to wards Eola.
Course today the incline is gone.
Steve in SC

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From: William Barber <clipperw@gmail.com>
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, March 2, 2013 11:14:02 PM
Subject: [CBQ] Re: Power Car On East End On Dinky

 

Charlie,

I believe the modification on the E8s and 9s that your are thinking about was called "maximum field start". As I recall, it put full field voltage on the traction motor field at start to increase the acceleration rate. I don't know whether EMD condoned it or not on passenger locomotives, but the same arrangement was applied in production on switcher model locomotives to improve acceleration in yard moves. 

You mentioned turning a commuter train on a wye. Where is there a wye in Aurora near the old depot? I don't recall one. 

Bill Barber

Gravois Mills, MO 

On Mar 2, 2013, at 9:30 PM, CBQ@yahoogroups.com wrote:

Re: Power Car On East End On Dinky

Sat Mar 2, 2013 11:51 am (PST) . Posted by:

"Charlie Vlk" n_cbqguy

I'm leaving the material below attached so this can be put into previous
message context:

I recall a discussion at one of the annual meets (with the late Bat
Masterson??? ) about the transition on the E7s not being set up as well for
acceleration of the commuter trains. The Q had a modified control wiring
arrangement which gave the units more "spunk" that EMD did not approve of
and I disremember the technical terms. Acceleration from stops is why the
E7s and EA shovelnoses were not employed for commuter service as soon as
enough E8s and E9s were available in the pool to provide coverage. 

Also, I don't think all the E8 and E9s were set up for powering small trains
without a power car...field taps???..... I seem to remember that only
specific units were set up for this service.

Charlie Vlk

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