August 27, 2015
Ray - I, too, rode many Q excursions out of CUS behind both 5632 and
4960 from 1961 when we moved from Ottumwa to Brookfield when Dad became Chicago
Division Superintendent until I joined the Navy in 1965. By the time I was
discharged in 1969, "Menk the Fink" had killed fan trip steam on the Q, Dad had
retired and it was all over with. I used my Q family pass as a
dependent to ride all fan trips and never once had a single question asked
by the conductors or trip sponsors. I should've taken more photographs than
I did with my 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 baby Speed Graphic with both cut and
roll film backs, but my fan trip friend Walter Bala from Riverside was far
deeper into photography that I was, so Walter did most of the picture
taking. We formed Bala-Zadnichek Photos to sell back/white 8x10 prints on
the trips and actually did very well as I recollect. We were competitors to
the late Glenn Monhart of Hinsdale who thought we were rank
"amateurs" when compared to himself. Lots of wonderful memories of being a
teenage rail fan. You were ahead of me in high school. My family bought a house
in Downers Grove in 1963 and I graduated from Downers Grove (North today) HS in
1964. Lastly, in looking back, Chicago Land rail fans of that era were so
"spoiled" that they would actually complain about having the 4960 on the
head-end rather than everyone's favorite of the time 5632. Also, criticism would
be directed at whatever RFE was in the cab if there wasn't enough black smoke
and whistling to satisfy the hard core in the open baggage car behind the
tender. Best Regards - Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope,
AL
In a message dated 8/27/2015 11:03:51 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
CBQ@yahoogroups.com writes:
Louis, I agree with you. Living in Berwyn and just graduated from
high school in 1961, I spent many Sundays watching and photographing 4960 and
5632. I did ride behind 5632 once and regret I never took the opportunity to
take a ride behind 4960. My favorite photo is one I took when it stopped in
Berwyn for an excursion. It is of the fireman's side with no one in the photo.
4960 was not a beautiful engine, nor was it the ugly duckling. It was a
handsome engine, with very distinct details. Too bad that the GCR botched the
engine the way that they did. But on the other hand, at least the old lady is
still running under the same engine number and continues to be refereed to as
an X-CB&Q engine.
We do not have any Q operating steam engines anywhere else.
Could have had 5632 operating today, but that damn Louis W Menk guy
killed steam on the Q in 1963, sold it to Richard Jensen who let it slip
through his figures to the torch.
As for restoring 4960 back to its original appearance, highly
unlikely.
Ray Bedard
San Jose CA
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com From: CBQ@yahoogroups.com Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2015
11:24:42 -0400 Subject: Re: [CBQ] 4960 to run again [1 Attachment]
[Attachment(s) from
LZadnichek@aol.com included below]
August 27, 2015
Rupert - Purist that I am, the "chop shop" treatment of 4960 when rebuilt
by the Grand Canyon Railway should go down in the annals of railroad steam
locomotive preservation as a total abomination. The locomotive's
appearance was ruined under the guise of "improving" it mechanically. I've
attached an image of the 4960 that I so well remember taken at Beardstown, IL,
early in its fan trip career on May 21, 1961. I can only hope that at some
later date 4960 is returned to its original appearance. Best Regards -
Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL
In a message dated 8/27/2015 2:17:41 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
CBQ@yahoogroups.com writes:
Grand Canyon to run steam
excursion as part of ‘Man vs. Machine’ race
WILLIAMS, Arizona – The Grand
Canyon Railway is firing up its former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
2-8-2 for a special excursion next month that coincides with the unique “Man
vs. Machine” bicycle race. On Sept. 26, Grand Canyon No. 4960 will lead the
train from Williams to the Grand Canyon with two coaches and a café car.
There will be no diesel helper. Along the way, the train will stop for at
least one photo run-by. Upon arriving at the south rim of the canyon,
shortly after the regular excursion, the steam run will take part in the
“Man vs. Machine” bike race in which the 1923 Baldwin will take on dozens of
bikers in a 54-mile race. Railroad officials say it has been more than 25
years since the race was held. Round-trip tickets are available for the
train that will depart Williams at 8 a.m. The train will arrive at the south
rim at 11:30 a.m. and return back at 12:30 p.m. The race officially begins
at 1 p.m. Tickets are $75 for adults and $45 for kids. For more information,
go to www.thetrain.com and www.grandcanyonracing.com.
Unfortunately, I am
unable to take the trip!
Rupert Gamlen
Auckland
NZ
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Posted by: LZadnichek@aol.com
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