Re: [CBQ] Twin City Zephyr speed limits and LaCrosse street running

["jpslhedgpeth via groups.io" <jpslhedgpeth=aol.com@groups.io>]

Dennis's post Just awoke an ancient memory which takes me back to my days on the Lincoln Division as an extra board brakeman.  

Occasionally I would draw a head brakeman vacancy on a freight run that was using one of the "Passenger Diesels"   One night we were on our train and making preparation for departure awaiting the air test and train orders.

I was sitting in the usual seat for the head brakeman on a passenger unit the "stool" in the center of the cab.  The engineer on my right and the fireman on my left.

I was sitting there and while watching the engineer I saw him in the usual standing up crouched over position which engineers do when they are "poking around to see how things in the cab are doing.   I noticed that  he had his knife out and was trying to "jimmy" the rim which holds the glass face of the speedometer and  peering intently into the "crack around the rim.

I leaned over toward the fireman from my center seat and asked  "What's he doing over there" ???   Fireman said.   "He's trying to see   if there's a "tape" in there.   I was "savvy" enough in those days that I knew the whys and wherefores of the speed recorders and the tape rolling.   I don't remember any particular "fast running  on that trip but I did experience a few trips on which the tape may have recorded some violations.

Pete  

-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Popish via groups.io <qchooch=aol.com@groups.io>
To: CBQ@groups.io
Sent: Fri, Dec 10, 2021 11:21 am
Subject: Re: [CBQ] Twin City Zephyr speed limits and LaCrosse street running

Leo:

One of my Dad’s duties as an electrician down at the Zephyr Pit in Chicago from 1947 to 1977 was to change out the recording paper roll on the speed recording machine in each locomotive.The recorder resembled a seismograph recorder with a stylus indicating the locomotive speed on the continuous paper roll. He would often tell me he could tell when the engineer was behind schedule. They knew the more wide open and safe spots that they could make up time through.So much for the speed limit, especially on the Twin Cities route along the river!

Supposedly the E-5’s were built prior to the speed recorders being required and were not retrofitted with them so the E-5’s were reportedly the engineers favorites when they needed to “make up time”.

Dennis Popish 

On Dec 9, 2021, at 9:33 AM, Leo Phillipp via groups.io <qutlx1=aol.com@groups.io> wrote:







Aaron,

I trust you are aware of the well documented fact that for many years a part of the route was the fastest schedule in the country.

The best way to develop a map of speed limits would be to use employee timetables as they show the various speed limits and restrictions at various points. The person doing this would need the timetables from various decades as things changed, especially once the Zephyrs were operating. The applicable timetables are from the Chicago and Aurora div. and from the La Crosse div.

Once the Zephyrs were operating special speed signs dedicated to those trains were posted along the route which allowed Zephyrs higher speeds than other trains.

Here’s just a sampling of what can be found in the timetables from the 1940s and 50s. These are broad statements as there many points where speed was restricted.

 Between Western Ave in Chicago and just east Aurora 75MPH.

Between just west of Aurora and just east of Rochelle,IL 90 MPH

Between a point west of Oregon,IL.  and just east of Savanna,IL 90MPH

In the 1950s Numbers 21 and 23 took one hour 31 minutes between Aurora and Savanna at an average speed of 70.6 MPH which included the station stop at Oregon,IL.

Leo Phillipp

On Dec 8, 2021, at 10:26 PM, aaronmona via groups.io <aaronmona=aol.com@groups.io> wrote:

I'm helping write a Shore Line Historical Society book on the Chicago-Twin Cities passenger corridor. I'm wondering if anyone has a map or other description of the passenger train speed limits on the Twin Zephyr route.

Also looking for info and photos on the La Crosse street running to the old downtown depot.

If any of this is in a Burlington Bulletin back issue, please let me know.
Aaron Isaacs
Minneapolis
aaronmona@aol.com

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