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MSchwiebert wrote:Those photos are 5+ years old.

ABB1501 wrote:Not sure if this is relevant, but I found this on the PUCO website. It has pictures of covered hoppers at the elevator.
http://gradecrossings.puco.ohio.gov/ite ... ALL&f9=MSO

I know. I should have said" when they were still receiving grain cars." Sorry

Is there still activity in Liberty Center with the unloading of stone? Or was that a temporary project?

The 8-10 stored cars that were east of the 6/24 crossing are back there when I drove by today. Also quite a few pieces of track equipment on the line east of Cecil.

MSchwiebert wrote:The 8-10 stored cars that were east of the 6/24 crossing are back there when I drove by today. Also quite a few pieces of track equipment on the line east of Cecil.

That equipment has been there most of the summer repairing the section between Cecil and Defiance. So they put the diamond in to deliver a few carloads of stone? Ken

h2466 wrote:

MSchwiebert wrote:The 8-10 stored cars that were east of the 6/24 crossing are back there when I drove by today. Also quite a few pieces of track equipment on the line east of Cecil.

That equipment has been there most of the summer repairing the section between Cecil and Defiance. So they put the diamond in to deliver a few carloads of stone? Ken

Yep ! Sad thing is it's the track that could use some stone.. There are gaps in the rail that the palm of a Man would fit into at the splices, Pioneer has put up No Trespassing signs on the south side of the track east of 108..

What locomotives are currently on the property and are there any more on the way?

jrgerber wrote:What locomotives are currently on the property and are there any more on the way?

List off the top of my head, anyone is free to add or correct anything I missed:

GP16s
PREX 1601
PREX 1603
PREX 1606

GP20s
PREX 3054

GP9s
PREX (Gettysburg) 105

I'm not sure if PREX 107 (NW2R) is still around, last I heard it was headed for the scrap heap. I do not know of any other locomotives on the way.

G

Thanks.

PREX 107 is an NW5??? or NW2? If it's a 5, i would hope it's not going to scrap as only 13 were made and maybe 3 or so exist....

AlcoGuy wrote:PREX 107 is an NW5??? or NW2? If it's a 5, i would hope it's not going to scrap as only 13 were made and maybe 3 or so exist....

It's an NW2, my apologies. It is, however, from one of the earliest orders of NW2s, built in March 1939. Rebuilt by Burlington Northern in April 1975 as an NW2R, respectively.

G

heartlandguy wrote:

AlcoGuy wrote:PREX 107 is an NW5??? or NW2? If it's a 5, i would hope it's not going to scrap as only 13 were made and maybe 3 or so exist....

It's an NW2, my apologies. It is, however, from one of the earliest orders of NW2s, built in March 1939. Rebuilt by Burlington Northern in April 1975 as an NW2R, respectively.

G

Wow 1939, didn't think NW2's were made that early. Hopefully it won't get cut up and end up in preservation somewhere. That's beyond vintage, its ancient for a diesel.

SW1's and NW2's both were in production prior to WW2. However, production on both was halted for the war years as the War Production Board directed EMD to concentrate on road diesels (FT's) leaving switcher production to Alco & Baldwin. The 567 diesel prime movers were also used by a variety of Navy vessels (landing craft if I remember right) which was another reason why they were asked to curtail switcher builds.

Well its about what two years under Pioneer's control so how is the line doing these days?

Track is still in rough shape but certain sections have been leveled and ballast has been dumped in areas. A lot of crossing protection has been replaced also. Unless they get a major federal grant they have a long upward battle on their hands to get the whole line in good shape. They are trying though.

matt76 wrote:Track is still in rough shape but certain sections have been leveled and ballast has been dumped in areas. A lot of crossing protection has been replaced also. Unless they get a major federal grant they have a long upward battle on their hands to get the whole line in good shape. They are trying though.

Give them the benefit of the doubt that THEY ARE TRYING. Last time anyone paid attention to the condition of this line the trains were still following "The Flag".

This has been mentioned before but it's a very very long thread so the information is buried. ND&W's track can survive rated for 10-15mph. Upgrading it to 25mph or more isn't necessary for their operation. As long as they aren't derailing frequently the track is ok.

Good to see the ND&W in Napoleon today switching boxes at Cloverleaf. A much more professional looking operation than the MAW.

Just because tracks look good to our eyes doesn't mean much. The one big change to the I&O since G&W took over is the latest head of MOW is big into running a regulator and tamper. More so the regulator with a skim layer of fresh stone laid first. The regulator just dresses up the stone so it looks pretty. Just as many broken and rotten ties as before but it looks pretty.

Conrail used to hide a lot of defects with a pile of ballast. Just truck it in dump it over the bad ties so it looks like your doing work and the FRA man can't see the rotten busted ties. Trust me we have more then a few of these spots on SMRS that they have fixed over the years.

Google Earth satellite images were updated recently. You can now see the activity back in October of the hoppers at Liberty Center and the reinstallation of the diamond. The hoppers were loaded on the eastern side of 109 as earlier described (without crossing signs or signals installed at 109). There was even a locomotive parked on the western side of 109. Does anyone know if this activity has continued since October?