PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
I really enjoyed this photo album of Kalamazoo operations. You picked some good photo locations - and must have been standing in the exact same places I was several times in the pre-and post-GDLK transition era. Great shots!
A few questions and comment based on these photos:
1. Was this THE day when the plywood went up on the BO Tower windows and the Conrail "BO" signs also went back up on the building? If so, kind of cool how your caught that transition throughout the day.
2. How many GATX rental units is Grand Elk operating at this time?
3. It looks like a good sized 105 job coming out of the yard....did you get a car count?
4. I got a photo of CN 5258 at Kilgore in the summer - are SD40-2s the regularly assigned power for the Kalamazoo job nowadays? Does the Kalamazoo job do anything other than work the Kzoo branch and go to Kilgore Jct. to exchange cars? Seems like big power for that work! The rebuilt CN SD40-2s look great though, as does the rebuilt and repainted GTW shoving platform #79054. I wonder where Battle Creek is hiding their GT stencils??
5. I see Cytec has been taken over or renamed and the classic water tower bares the proof. Did you have any trouble getting your photos of 4002 from their driveway? I encountered a very over zealous Barney Fife while shooting 105 working there about 7 years ago and ended up talking wih KPS for a while as a result (in the end all were understanding). I see they must have wyed 4002 at Kilgore for their northward run. The repainted Star Paper Building and lettering looks GREAT. That loaded lumber centerbeams lead me to believe....CN and GDLK interchange via the 105 job?
6. The 102 job - Was this a yard crew bringing in a second section of an Elkhart road train? I am only basing that guess on the large power - the GDLK 4209 looks like an SD45 minus the flared radiators with SD35 style roof vents....interesting. Does GDLK still use a pair of the WSOR SD40s plus the older Geep?
Your photos have motivated me to make the time to visit Kalamazoo sometime soon - I've detoured through there a few times over the past several months, but haven't really spent any length of time in daylight recently and clearly it's worth it!
1. This was a few days after BO was closed and Plywood went up. The Conrail sign was removed and then put back on, which I was surprised to see after it had already been removed.
2. Not familar with Grand Elk engine rentals.
3. No car count but at least 20-25 maybe more.
4. Not familiar with CN Kalamazoo operations other than whats posted here.
5. No encounters with security until after photos taken. As usual, security wanted to know why someone was taken pictures of the plant and of trains. Ended well and professionally no police involvement just an understanding of each other and why there are concerns of taking pictures of a chemical plant. Best thing to do is stay near the road on public property if taking pictures as these are taken from their property which gives them the right to ask why someone is standing in the driveway and taking pictures. Not familiar with CN/ Grand Elk interchange but would make sense at Kilgore.
6. I am wondering the same about 102. 302 returned from Elkhart earlier that day. 102 being an extra from Elkhart would make sense. Not familiar with Grand Elk engines.