Milepost 212 Volume 4 Number 2 - October 29, 1999

The Milepost 212 is the official newsletter of North Central Railcars, Ltd.
Scott Janz, Editor in Chief.

Good day folks,

I just want to recap the events we had in the Midwest this past summer, and update what is coming up in the near future.

This past April, Craig Bluschke hosted yet another journey into U.S. Government property at the Badger Army Ammunition Plant in Baraboo, WI. The weather was clear and nice, and 10 or so operators brought their motorcars for a shake down run and tour of the facilities. Yours truly brought his recently acquired 4-man hand pump car of B.& O. heritage. I elected to set on after all the cars, as I doubted I could keep up with the internal combustion engines. Pat Rock's friend Dean helped me on the first attempt to circle the plant's 2 and a half mile loop. I soon realized why the section men soon converted their pump cars to motorcars. The effort to get the car moving is easy, but to keep momentum is the hard part. If you take your hands off the handles, the car will start to slow immediately. And besides, the handle goes down too far in my opinion, easily straining your back. People must have been shorter in the old days. Anyway, we made it around the loop exhausted, and parked the car to ride with Pat on his open ST2K and enjoy the rest of the day. I did get a chance to pose the car on the setoff in front of the tool house for some photos. Thanks to Craig for another nice trip.

On May 22, a large group assembled in Janesville, WI for craig's first Wisconsin and Southern excursion of this year. We had clear track to Monroe, and all day to get there and back. Several depots were still present along the line, including Juda, Brodhead, Orfordville, and the depot at Monroe, although the last one was moved away from the tracks.

We crossed underneath at least one wooden overhead bridge along the way, and over several old brick culverts dating to the line's construction. The famed Juda hill was conquered by all, but in the past, Milwaukee Road frequently double-headed steam here. A leisurely rest was had by all, most filling a line side restaurant, but several brought their own lunches. Al Niewiadomski and myself grilled hot dogs on his vintage military grill.

On the trip back, we stopped at Brodhead, where there is an excellent museum in the deopt, along with a Fairbanks-Morse H10-44 and ribside caboose on display, both Milwaukee Road vintage. Inside the museum was a F-M motorcar on display, too, but of Frisco heritage. The town also boasted a nice pair of classic wig-wag signals at a crossing, one of which is the large style.

The return from there presented a slight dilemma, as a train had come into Janesville from the east, and was blocking our path to our trailers. We set off at a crossing, and several kind folks shuttled drivers to get their trucks. Thanks again to Craig for the opportunity to ride this trackage.

Pat Rock and Mike Paul attended the Camas Prairie Railnet excursion the next weekend in Idaho. Pat had nothing but rave reviews about the trip, so I have planned to attend next year if possible. You can read about the trip in the lastest issue of Setoff.

On June 13th a group of 23 cars gathered at Rhinelander, WI for the Wisconsin Central excursion. Even with some last minute schedule changes due to railroad activity the Wisconsin Central still provided a class act excursion.

On Saturday the 13th, we motored out to Argonne Junction just in time to catch a train of student engineers traveling between White Lake and Pembine. What a sight to see, motorcars parked on the west leg of the wye with two SD-45s heading north on the east leg. After returning to Rhinelander for lunch we headed west to Bradley, passing through Heafford jct, the former Milwuakee Road crossing. A comment was heard Saturday that this track was equal in scenery to the Algoma Central!

On Sunday we were able to make our way all the way down to White Lake where the White Lake Historical Society held a brat and burger fry as a fund raiser for their depot restoration erfforts. The scenery between Crandon and White Lake was fantastic and the welded rail just sang under our wheels as we motored along.

We at North Central Railcars Ltd appreciate the efforts that the Wisconsin Central escorts have put into this and other past excursions. They really are a first class group.

In late June and early July, your editor attended Hank Brown's Loop tour of Canadian roads starting at Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. I highly enjoyed myself on this trip, sometimes not knowing what the schedule might be the next day. Hank taking a dip in the river at the canyon on ACR was quite a site. Tom Swille always made time to get the fishing pole out whenever we stopped by a river or lake. Never did catch anything, though. Thanks to Tom, too for allowing me to get a couple hot meals track side with his grill. The hobo stew was delicious.

Thank to Hank for the excellent trip, and sign me up for another if it is possible. You can read more in the May-June Setoff.

August 21 excursion was postponed/canceled pending further information from the RR. The trip is now planned for November 6, see below for information on the rescheduled trip. November 6, WSOR excursion previously scheduled for August 21 on the Janesville, WI- Fox Lake, IL line. The new schedule and track is now from Middleton, WI to Spring Green, WI and return. Appears to be about 50 miles round trip. Those who were signed up for the Fox Lake excursion have first right to the rescheduled trip, and left over slots will be filled in by those not signed up on the Fox Lake excursion. All those signed up before should have received new paperwork already, and should have sent it in to Craig by now.

Future excursions in our area include the following: Commonwealth Edison branch at Byron, IL on the weekend of October 30-31. Contact Mike Mitzel at 815-264-7979 for more information on this trip. Boone & Scenic Valley RR. Boone, IA. On November 6. Complete with cookout and decoration and pumpkins, too. Call Carl Schneider at 515-967-5181 for more information. The Narcoa board met at Chicago on the weekend of Sept. 17 and 18. I would believe that a full report will be in the next Setoff.

There was much discussion about carrying gas cans aboard motorcars lately, and I think that was discussed at length and resolved without incident. I was unable to attend due to scheduling, but I hope that reason and common sense will prevail in dealing with these issues.

I feel, as editor of this rag, that the spare cans aboard the motorcars are less of an issue than people make it. I run a Fairmont twin gas hog, and the extra two cans I carry are usually required for me to make it to the end of the run.

Even with those cans, I still do run out of gas like on the Markesan branch one time. (Please don't tell Mike Paul!) I feel that I should not have to modify my car to add a hundred gallon tank on it just to comply with the rule some excursion coordinators require that there is no carry-on cans. Most trips are less than what your tank can hold anyway, but some trips are a couple hundred miles in length. I look forward to hearing what is said and done about this issue.

NCRL does not have a restriction on carry-on cans. My opinion does not reflect the opinion of NCRL board of directors.

Tomah cabs come and go. I had recently sold my much beloved Tomah MT19 to a gentleman in Indiana. I realized I do not run it much, and it was taking up valuable rented space in a garage. It probably was the last unmodified car like it in existence. I last took it on the E.& L.S. excursion last year, when I camped outside next to the depot at Ontonagan, MI. Bob Schoneman is picking up a Tomah MT14 out east soon. I was suckered into going with him to go get it. Me and my big mouth. Anyway, his ACR CD7 is almost finished. He had it at the Green Bay museum, and ran good. The car is of the open variety. He even had some ACR decals made up with the bear on them.

Word has it that Mike Paul parted with his UP MT19 car recently. I know he likes the raw power of that ST2K car he now operates. He took that one out to Idaho this spring, and is still smiling about it.

I have for sale the following: S2K without cab, many new parts included. Contact me at 715-435-3182 for more details. I also have my Hy-rail truck for sale, 1986 GMC Sierra 3500, Chicago & Northwestern RR, runs great.

Your editor, Scott Janz

Notes from the Publisher First, one will notice a change in format from the last Milpost. As Scott and I continue to edit and publish we will be refining the format as we go. Second, your publisher has purchased a new motorcar repair facility (read home and shop). Look for my address to change in the near future and hopefully the back shop will be open for business next summer.

Pat Rock