Toledo Branch Ramblings
Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 9:11 am
My wife had an all day meeting in Marion, Ohio, so CG Tower 2.0 and I dropped her off at her appointed time and we traveled toward Ridgeway and the southern end of the the Toledo Branch.
With CSX running a new train, Q233, and a relatively consistent departure time of 7:00 am (ish) southbound at Toledo, we figured a good shot of this new train would be a nice opportunity then return back to Marion and AC Tower. Well, the best laid plans were interrupted by more trains then planned.
Discussion with the dispatcher reveals a grain train picking up at Kenton and will return south later that morning. In addition, a heads up from MDH and a signal maintainer asking for time near Ridgeway to find that Q132 was getting near. We head to CP78, the north end of the siding at Ridgeway. Granted, its a northbound and somewhat back lit, but I like it.
Photos 1 and 2: Q132 heads north at CP78, the north end of the siding at Ridgeway.
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_q132_cp78h.jpg)
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_q132_cp78v.jpg)
Unfortunately, our plans for Q233 were thwarted. The dispatcher informs the Q132 that they will meet Q233 at Galatea and that Q233's power is dead (actually, the dispatcher said the engine broke). But fear not auto parts, the Kenton local power heads off northward to aid the Q233.
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_h717_kentonb.jpg)
Grabbing an early lunch, we head back south toward Ridgeway to get the south bound grain train, but hear of an eastbound sitting at CP120.
We take a detour to east of Mt. Victory to get the eastbound throttling out onto the single main.
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_cp120_v.jpg)
The grain train G858, calls to get permission to leave from Kenton. We set back up at CP78 to await his arrival.
The Emergency Tool chest at CP78.
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_cp78_emergency.jpg)
Finally, the G858 arrives...
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_g858_cp78b.jpg)
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_g858_cp78c.jpg)
The action shifts a bit to the Indianapolis Line.
Q123 arrives at Ridgeway and swings south with G858 waiting in the background.
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_q123_cp124_1.jpg)
Q123 enters the siding to meet northbound local H708. Thought back lit, we shoot the H708 with a healthy train, part of which will be handed off to the Kenton Local
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_2302_cp80.jpg)
After a long afternoon, Q233 arrives with the Kenton local power leading the crippled power set. The four engines nearly outnumbering the number of cars. The Kenton local power will cut off and return to Kenton with the cars dropped by H708 and the Q233 will turn its power to head to Avon.
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_q233_cp78.jpg)
Thanks for looking,
Eric
With CSX running a new train, Q233, and a relatively consistent departure time of 7:00 am (ish) southbound at Toledo, we figured a good shot of this new train would be a nice opportunity then return back to Marion and AC Tower. Well, the best laid plans were interrupted by more trains then planned.
Discussion with the dispatcher reveals a grain train picking up at Kenton and will return south later that morning. In addition, a heads up from MDH and a signal maintainer asking for time near Ridgeway to find that Q132 was getting near. We head to CP78, the north end of the siding at Ridgeway. Granted, its a northbound and somewhat back lit, but I like it.
Photos 1 and 2: Q132 heads north at CP78, the north end of the siding at Ridgeway.
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_q132_cp78h.jpg)
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_q132_cp78v.jpg)
Unfortunately, our plans for Q233 were thwarted. The dispatcher informs the Q132 that they will meet Q233 at Galatea and that Q233's power is dead (actually, the dispatcher said the engine broke). But fear not auto parts, the Kenton local power heads off northward to aid the Q233.
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_h717_kentonb.jpg)
Grabbing an early lunch, we head back south toward Ridgeway to get the south bound grain train, but hear of an eastbound sitting at CP120.
We take a detour to east of Mt. Victory to get the eastbound throttling out onto the single main.
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_cp120_v.jpg)
The grain train G858, calls to get permission to leave from Kenton. We set back up at CP78 to await his arrival.
The Emergency Tool chest at CP78.
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_cp78_emergency.jpg)
Finally, the G858 arrives...
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_g858_cp78b.jpg)
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_g858_cp78c.jpg)
The action shifts a bit to the Indianapolis Line.
Q123 arrives at Ridgeway and swings south with G858 waiting in the background.
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_q123_cp124_1.jpg)
Q123 enters the siding to meet northbound local H708. Thought back lit, we shoot the H708 with a healthy train, part of which will be handed off to the Kenton Local
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_2302_cp80.jpg)
After a long afternoon, Q233 arrives with the Kenton local power leading the crippled power set. The four engines nearly outnumbering the number of cars. The Kenton local power will cut off and return to Kenton with the cars dropped by H708 and the Q233 will turn its power to head to Avon.
![Image](http://cgtower.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C59234%5Ccsxt_q233_cp78.jpg)
Thanks for looking,
Eric