[CBQ] Louis' mystery photo location Identified

["Bryan Howell" <CBQ+owner@groups.io>]

It took only one quick look by our local noted Historian and Author Mike Bartels to ID the location of the  56 DZ at a "previously" unknown location.

 

DRUM ROLL PLEASE:    The train is standing heading in a generally westward direction on the WEST LEG OF THE WYE AT ASHLAND, NEBRASKA.  It's an afternoon shot as we can see the sunlight reflecting on the nose of the 9915.

 

For those of you "LINES EAST GUYS" who don't have a clue where Ashland NE is, I'll do the best I can to "clue you in"

 

Ashland is about 25 miles east of Lincoln on the Chicago-Denver mainline.  At Ashland said mainline divides into three routes.

 

One line runs north from Ashland to Sioux City...Another line runs basically northeast through Gretna and Ralston through South Omaha to Omaha.  A third line is a continuation of the Denver Chicago main and runs pretty much straight east from Ashland -Louisville-Orieopolis-Platsmouth-P Junc-Red Oak etc.

 

The west leg of the wye where the train stands connects the Sioux City line with the eastbound main track through Ashland to Lincoln and beyond.

 

The east leg connects the Sioux City line to either the line NE to Omaha or the "Freight Line heading for Oreopolis.

 

If you look carefully to the small space right at the point where the black nose stripes turn around the nose on the fireman's side you will see the overhead girder structure of a signal bridge.  The signals on this bridge cover the connections from the wye track to both mains and IIRC there is also a siding in there somewhere.  

 

This location today is an ideal spot for those of the "railfan persuasion"...Too many of these miscreants have journeyed into the heart of the wye from the south side and hence the ever vigilant BNSF has fenced and padlocked and posted threatening signs to prevent said "trespassers" from entry.

 

If any of you guys have the recently published book  "THE BURLINGTON ROUTE IN FOCUS" by Jim Reisdorff and Mike Bartels turn to page 92..You have a view looking generally east from just east of the Ashland Depot.  You will see a signal bridge off in the distance.  That's the bridge you see right over the nose of he 9915.  The west leg of the wye cuts in right before the small building to the left of the tracks..  The 9915 would be standing in view just about even with that tall pole before the wires cross the wye track and the train just north of there beyond the brush.  In fact that "very pole" may be the one right next to where MLZ is standing.

 

 

I'm not sure that the connections and trackage is exactly the same in the photo as it is now, but there are now and always have been several tracks in that area to facilitate movements from just about anyplace to anyplace.  IIRC at that time those signals were operated by the Operator at the Ashland Depot.  

 

Hope this helps in completing your photo file Louis.

 

Pete

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