Re: [CBQ] Railroad in Albia, IA et al

["Steven Holding" <sholding@sbcglobal.net>]

Normal operation would have seen the Westbound DZ use the normal westbound track down the steep hill.  One nite as I was sitting down in the mid-80's I had a work train dumping ballast on the south hill. The normal eastbound track due to the smoother grade..  No westbound trains and 6 loaded coal trains approaching Halpin.  The work train derailed on the south hill.  So in order to move the traffic I had the second coal load cut his power and we shoved the first up the hill.  He then went back down and that was the way we moved the trains.  One cutoff shove the one ahead.  The last asked what he was to do as this was in the Long Pool era and the crews worked between Galesburg to Creston. I told him to shove the one ahead and the dog-catcher (re-crew) was on the way.  

Steve in SC

On Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 02:01:41 AM EST, Stephen Levine via groups.io <sjl_prodigynet=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:

Did the westbound Denver Zephyr use the bypass?

 

Stephen J. Levine, MD

22491 High Ridge Lane

Tecumseh, OK 74873

Mobile: (405)919-9524

 

From: CBQ@groups.io <CBQ@groups.io> On Behalf Of Douglas Harding
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2023 8:41 AM
To: CBQ@groups.io
Subject: Re: [CBQ] Railroad in Albia, IA et al

 

Jerold attached is a MSTL track diagram of Maxon IA, dated 1898. This connection existed before the 2^nd CBQ line was built. Notice how it comes in to scene east of the MSTL This arrangement was changed when the line between Bridgeport and Albia was abandoned by the CNW in the 80s. Also attached is the Albia section of a MSTL detour map, which shows all the rail lines in and out of Albia along with the direction of the CBQ lines.

 

The “private” rail connection you mentioned was built later, at the request of the new plants at Bridgeport (built in the 80s). They wanted competing rail access after the UP, who purchased the CNW in 1995, put the Marshalltown to Eddyville, ex MSTL, line up for sale. BNSF built the line to Bridgeport. Now a yard is there to serve the plants, with rail service by both UP and BNSF.

 

The Albia CBQ depot was on the north side of Albia, along the original mainline. I believe passenger trains used this line regardless of direction. As I recall the second mainline was built around the south side of Albia to ease the east bound grade when the line was double tracked. Look at the Topo map, dated 1929.

 

Doug Harding

https://www.facebook.com/douglas.harding.3156/

Youtube: Douglas Harding Iowa Central Railroad

 

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