Circus Trains?

On the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade that I just watched it reminded me of old Circus Trains. I'm sure things are quite routy in real cirus trains when the animals go crazy or get excited.In the movie some robbers went up along the train with horses and jumped on. What would the engineer do if someone did that in real life?Also are Circus Trains even used anymore these days?Adam-------------------------------Wishing you and your relatives, family, and friends to have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Be the safest most customer focused and successful transportation company in the world13-Time Consecutive Winner of the Harriman Award
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Circus Trains? [View All], I_totally_love_trains, 04:10 PM, Nov-13-02, (0) RE: Circus Trains?, troub, Nov-13-02, 04:32 PM, (1) RE: Circus Trains?, CSX_CW60AC_GregMarck, Nov-13-02, 05:32 PM, (3) RE: Circus Trains?, troub, Nov-13-02, 09:19 PM, (4) RE: Circus Trains?, CSX_CW60AC_GregMarck, Nov-13-02, 09:27 PM, (5) RE: Circus Trains?, pacmancreator, Nov-13-02, 04:34 PM, (2) RE: Circus Trains?, ge44tonner, Nov-13-02, 09:56 PM, (6) RE: Circus Trains?, csxt602, Nov-14-02, 00:46 AM, (9) RE: Circus Trains?, ge44tonner, Nov-13-02, 10:12 PM, (7) Bet you didnt know bout that movie..., riograndedude, Nov-13-02, 10:26 PM, (8) RE: Bet you didnt know bout that movie..., akajim, Nov-14-02, 09:48 AM, (10) RE: Circus Trains?, troub, Nov-14-02, 09:49 AM, (11) RE: Circus Trains?, I_totally_love_trains, Nov-14-02, 10:31 AM, (12) RE: Circus Trains?, troub, Nov-14-02, 12:34 PM, (13) RE: Circus Trains?, CRSD40, Nov-14-02, 02:19 PM, (14) RE: Circus Trains?, railnut, Nov-14-02, 05:00 PM, (15) RE: Circus Trains?, CRSD40, Nov-14-02, 05:30 PM, (16) St. Louis Photos %2811%2F14%2F02%2C 7%3A20am%29, troub, Nov-14-02, 06:17 PM, (17) RE: St. Louis Photos %2811%2F14%2F02%2C 7%3A20am%29, darkfyre, Nov-14-02, 09:35 PM, (19) RE: St. Louis Photos %2811%2F14%2F02%2C 7%3A20am%29, ge44tonner, Nov-15-02, 11:31 PM, (24) RE: Circus Train Photos, ge44tonner, Nov-16-02, 00:01 AM, (25) RE: St. Louis Photos %2811%2F14%2F02%2C 7%3A20am%29, Lone_Gunman_SG, Nov-16-02, 06:32 PM, (34) RE: Circus Trains?, K36487, Nov-14-02, 09:28 PM, (18) RE: Circus Trains?, chuckzeiler, Nov-15-02, 04:29 PM, (20) RE: Circus Trains?, I_totally_love_trains, Nov-15-02, 05:17 PM, (21) RE: Circus Trains?, ge44tonner, Nov-15-02, 08:27 PM, (22) RE: Circus Trains?, CRSD40, Nov-15-02, 11:22 PM, (23) RE: Circus Trains?, chuckzeiler, Nov-16-02, 08:55 AM, (26) RE: Circus Trains?, I_totally_love_trains, Nov-16-02, 10:41 AM, (27) RE: Circus Trains?, CSX_CW60AC_GregMarck, Nov-16-02, 11:01 AM, (28) RE: Circus Trains?, chuckzeiler, Nov-16-02, 11:37 AM, (29) RE: Circus Trains?, I_totally_love_trains, Nov-16-02, 01:22 PM, (30) RE: Circus Trains?, chuckzeiler, Nov-16-02, 01:58 PM, (31) RE: Circus Trains?, I_totally_love_trains, Nov-16-02, 05:22 PM, (32) RE: Circus Trains?, ge44tonner, Nov-16-02, 06:25 PM, (33) RE: Circus Trains?, I_totally_love_trains, Nov-16-02, 07:37 PM, (35) RE: Circus Trains?, dvdhoven, Nov-17-02, 02:11 AM, (36) RE: Circus Trains?, ge44tonner, Nov-17-02, 01:32 PM, (37) RE: Circus Trains?, dvdhoven, Nov-18-02, 12:19 PM, (38)

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Hey, funny you bring this up. The Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey etc. are here in St. Louis this week. They have a long train parked at the yard downtown. It's pretty cool. I haven't yet seen any cars that look like they transport animals, it mostly looks like a reeeeeally long passenger train, with some trailer flats on the end. I'm hoping to get some pictures if they don't move it before tomorrow morning (I don't know if it'll be there until after this weekend when the shows are, or if they'll move it once they get it unloaded).

troub
MSTS: Illinois Central
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>>It's pretty cool. I haven't yet seen any cars that look like they transport animals. A while back the same train was down here in Cincy. I belive that some of the passenger cars do carry animals. If you look closely at some of the cars you can see traces of hay and smell the odor. But then again, they spoted the train on a 'branch'(what I think used to be the pennys connection to Union Terminal and the C&0, B&O, and L&N. Although I'm not quite sure. But the line did at one time traverse the whole Cincy waterfront.) which allowed me a close look. I wouldnt recommened going into a yard, especially since after 9/11.Greg
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Yeah, I'm not going into the yard. . .there are several spots from just off of major roads that parallel the tracks, though, and other roads leading to businesses that get pretty close, too (for example, there's a UPS center where you go to pick up your packages if you miss them at your door that is just off the tracks). Also, there are pedestrian overpasses and commuter train stations in the area as well.I haven't yet seen the locomotives pulling the train. . . Do you know if they have their own, or do the railroads sort of switch off duties depending on where the train is?

troub
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um, the last time I remember them coming to Cincy I think there were 2 SD40(-2)s. We did get lucky however and the powerdesk assigned a WC SDish unit to the train, but I know the power switches as it changes roads, and they dispatch it like a frieght.Greg
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first of all, I have no official data, so i am not sure.I'd assume that if someone came up and robbed a train, the engineer or whoever would radio a police station or something.As for using circus trains, i'm not too sure they do. all i know is from CIRQUE DU SOLEIL they don't use trains for much. I think nowadays, most circuses use trucks and semi's to do all the dirty work and the performers (like me, someday ) all travel by bus or their own personal cars.hope i helped-Creating Pac-Man comics for the humorless people out therethe search for the perfect route continues!

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Circus trains, Huh? Until this past year, the Ringling Brothers, Banum and Baily Circus showed up here in my home town, always the last weekend in August. Valley Center, KS, population about 4000. I wonder if this is the smallest city on the annual tour. It's just about the high point of the year for the local population. I have a batch of photos, when I get some time i'll scan them in to the computer.

The Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Baily Circus is the last one I know of which travels by train. They actually have two trains, one called the 'blue' train (cars are painted silver with blue trim) and the 'red' train (cars are painted silver with red trim). Both trains are based in Florida (Sarasota?), and travel about nine months per year. Either train consists of:
a. about twenty flat cars, loaded with trucks, wagons and equipment
b. about four animal cars, which look like smooth-side streamlined baggage cars, with some extra air vents cut into the sides
c. about ten living cars, which look like smooth-side streamlined sleeping cars.The motive power is supplied by the hauling railroad. Upon arriving at the destination city, the train is spotted with the flat cars at an unloading point where automobiles can drive up to the rails. Here in Valley Center, that means the grade crossing at Main Street. The animal cars are spotted on a side track, at a location where electrical power and water hoses are available. The animal cars have side ramps, which fold out from the side doors. The living cars are also spotted on a side track with electrical power and water, but separated from the animal cars. I understand that the animals are noisy at night and sometimes there are unpleasant odors.

Portable ramps are set up at the ends of the flat cars, and the vehicles are driven off and organized into a convoy. The animals are also unloaded, with dangerous animals like bears, tigers and lions placed in cage trailers. Elephants and horses are allowed to walk under direction of a trainer. The whole parade then gets underway and moves, about two miles on city streets, to the local arena for performances. Until maybe ten years ago, the 'Royal American Shows' also traveled by rail. They showed up each September for the Kansas State Fair. Royal American specialized in Carnivals, and had a lot of amusement rides, concession booths, and sideshow attractions. The train was about forty flat cars and ten living cars. They did not put on scheduled performances, nor did they have any animals, so it was not really a traditional 'Circus'. I believe that when Royal American ceased to use the rails, and instead used trucks, at least some of the rail equipment was donated to museums.I believe there is a Museum named 'Circus World' in Baraboo, Wisconsin. They have a large collection of both ornate Circus wagons and Circus railroad cars. Each summer, they load up the wagons and organize a reproduction 'Circus train' which travels to local cities for exhibition. They prefer to have a steam locomotive haul the train, and usually borrow one from an area train museum. Dan

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>The Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Baily Circus is the last one
>I know of which travels by train.And don't forget the James E. Strates Shows/Carnival, which still travels by train. Like the RBBX trains, the Strates train is comprised of Strates cars and pulled by power supplied from whatever railroad the train is on at the time.Here's the link to the Strates train on their site. They are based out of Orlando, FL.: http://www.strates.com/train.htmChris Denbow - Baltimore, MD
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I have a bit of experience with 'Train Robbers' on Horseback. I am a member of a Train Museum which organizes a 'caboose trip' each year. The local Chamber of Commerce likes to organize some events to entertain the passengers, and several years ago it was to be 'train robbers'. The train consisted of eight cabooses pulled by a GP9. As it approached town at about 20 mph, local actors, wearing western costumes and on horseback, were supposed to ride alongside one of the cabooses, fire blank ammunition from their pistols and stage a robbery. A fake money box was placed on one of the cabooses as loot. As it turns out, the horses were apprehensive of approaching alongside a moving train, and the riders could not get close enough to board until the train was down to less than 5 mph. Then, the robbers boarded the wrong car, the one where I was on duty as conductor, and were unable to find the money box. I substituted a box of donuts for the loot box. As the robbers departed, firing the guns in the air, and the engineer blew the whistle, the horses bolted and the robbers had to walk on foot to make their get-away. After that, we refered to the robbers as the 'Hole in the Donut' gang. The following year, the 'Robbers' changed tactics. A barricade was constructed from tree limbs across the track to stop the train for boarding.If anybody wants to ride next year, the event is organized by the "Railroad Museum of Oklahoma' at Enid, and rides to O'Keene OK, usually the first weekend in May.
Dan

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LAST EDITED ON Nov-13-02 AT 10:27 PM (EST)

Here's a little secret about the circus train in Indiana Jones, Point A! It's not in Utah, its more like Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado. Point B! It's not even standard Guage!!!!!! The scean was filmed on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic railroad with the 484 on the front I believe which should be back after its tragic wreck in 1999, it was probley the most missed locomotive in America.Photos here at http://users3.ev1.net/~ddye/484deral.htm
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So when are you great skinners gonna do the Ringling Bros. train ??? Ron K of Rockford

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LAST EDITED ON Nov-14-02 AT 09:51 AM (EST)

This site provides great pictures and some neat information on the RBBX train:
http://www.wsorrailroad.com/ringling01/ringling01a.htmlBy the way, I went out this morning and took a few pictures of it where it sits now in St. Louis on my way to work. I might try to get a few more on my way home or at lunch. I'll upload a few here tonight.

troub
MSTS: Illinois Central
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The Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus can't come here anymore because when we had it here someone got attacked by a lion and that was the end of it here.Just curious, is there any circus trains made for MSTS?IF you go into a train yard without permission will you not get in trouble as long as your careful?Adam-------------------------------Wishing you and your relatives, family, and friends to have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Be the safest most customer focused and successful transportation company in the world13-Time Consecutive Winner of the Harriman Award
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>IF you go into a train yard without permission will you not
>get in trouble as long as your careful? Oh no, you'll definitely get in trouble. If you're trespassing, it doesn't matter how careful you are. You'll at least get yelled at and kicked out, if not arrested. Some people say they've been invited in by a nice employee by standing around nearby (not IN), but I don't know--other people have said they've almost been arrested for being anywhere near the area.

troub
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LAST EDITED ON Nov-14-02 AT 02:19 PM (EST)

You'd have much better luck getting into a shortline's yard than a Class 1's yard. Must will let your roam through their yards if you will sign a waiver before hand. The James E. Strates train is the only Circus company that still moves all of their equipment by train. The RB&B move some by train and some by truck. The James E. Strates train derailed once while coming through my town but fortuantly only a couple of flat cars derailed, leaving the people riding the train safe.

-----------------------------

Kyle Norek, Milepost 76 on the NS Buffalo Line
MSN Messenger: crsd40@hotmail.com

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LAST EDITED ON Nov-14-02 AT 05:01 PM (EST)

Remindes me of back in the 60's when the Strates Train broke a knuckle in Attleboro, Mass. The engineer, who's name was Flynn, was repremanded and got a few unscheduled days off for that one. There was a multitude of people at the Mansfield station waiting for the train to come through who were incredibly disappointed. The Strates train had been laid over in Brockton for the Brockton Fair. The train was delivered by a pair of New Haven U-boats and we switched it out with an RS-1.... The good ole days!
>The James E. Strates train derailed once
>while coming through my town but fortuantly only a couple of
>flat cars derailed, leaving the people riding the train
>safe.

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NS never did say what caused this derailment. Here's a picture of it (scanned from a newspaper):

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Kyle Norek, Milepost 76 on the NS Buffalo Line
MSN Messenger: crsd40@hotmail.com

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I took these this morning.

troub
MSTS: Illinois Central
IC Route Update information coming soon. . .

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LAST EDITED ON Nov-14-02 AT 09:36 PM (EST)

Hmm..Those look like heavyweight coaches..? At least to me, they do..----EDIT: And I think that if the engineer, conductor, and/or fireman saw it, the train would come to an emergency stop...


...Runnin' on Soda...

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Here's some more photos of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Baily Circus train. These photos were taken in Valley Center, Kansas in August 1996 and August 1997.

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Here's some more photos of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Baily Circus train. These photos were taken in Valley Center, Kansas in August 1996 and August 1997.

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looks like the Ese cars to me (meaning streamlined heavyweights)TRY now seeking volunteers, private message me for more info

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LAST EDITED ON Nov-14-02 AT 09:29 PM (EST)

Just for some backround info, the circus train scene was filmed on the CTSRR with no. 484. Pretty cool...eh? EDIT: Riograndedude already said this, I just noticed. Ooops!JohnFuture Cumbres & Toltec or Durango & Silverton engineer! (I'm only 13)

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When I was 16, me and a couple of friends jumped in my car and drove up to Madison, Wisconsin to see our old friend, 4960. The locomotive had just been "retired" from fan trip service on the Chicago Burlington & Quincy (upon the death of the president of the CB&Q, Harry Murphy). We had ridden behind her many times on Chicago area fan trips. She had been donated to the Circus Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Her first duty upon arrival in Baraboo was to pull the Schlitz Brewing Company Circus Train on June 30, 1966.We spent the evening before the train trip watching her simmer through the night, in the company of a couple of C&NW geeps in Madison.
Morning shot of one of the wagons.
Then, we were off for the run from Madison to Milwaukee. This is the Wisconsin River at Merrimac.
Running ahead of the Circus Train was this C&NW patrol car, at Dousman
This is Cottage Grove, coming and going.
Schlitz Brewing Co. #46, "Baraboo"
Lake Mills.
Dousman. At this point, I ran out of film.
Tomorrow, if I can keep this computer running (scanner is failing), I'll post the C&NW Executive F's pulling the Circus Train to Chicago a few years later.

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What's a waiver?On ChuckZeiler's first photo of the cirus train steam loco is there a light beam coming out of the smokestack? What do they do with all of them wagons? Sorry, I don't know much about circuses. Looks like it. (I always thought them fancy neat cars on the flatcars in the photos were actually the rail cars.I told my Uncle about the St. Louis Circus Train, he might go see it since he lives in Springfield, MO.Are them flatcars sort of deepwells?What's the car behind the tender on Zeiler's photos?Is that car behind the car behind the tender a boxcar?Why do the people on a cirus train tend to ride at the rear?What are circus trains usually pulled by (type of loco/s)?
Thanks for all the replies and any future answers!Adam-------------------------------Wishing you and your relatives, family, and friends to have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Be the safest most customer focused and successful transportation company in the world13-Time Consecutive Winner of the Harriman Award
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Hello Adam.
To answer some of your questions:
1. A Waiver is a legal document, in this case probably a piece of paper you are asked to sign, and saying that you are 'waiving', i.e. agreeing to give away, any right to a lawsuit against the railroad if you get injured while on the property.
2. The picture of 4960 shows what looks like a second tender behind the usual tender on the locomotive. The extra tender is called a 'water car', and carries extra water for the steam locomotive.
3. The car that looks like a boxcar appears to be an animal car, sort of like a large livestock car. The sides are constructed of wooden slats with air openings for ventilation.
4. The flatcars are constructed with heavy steel beams along the sides; the ends are flat so that the circus can lay down little ramps and drive the wagons from one car to the next during unloading.
Dan

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Very intresting shots Chuck. Thanks for posting them.

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Kyle Norek, Milepost 76 on the NS Buffalo Line
MSN Messenger: crsd40@hotmail.com

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LAST EDITED ON Nov-16-02 AT 09:24 AM (EST)

To add to ge44tonner's explanations, the "light" coming out of the stack on the first photo of 4960 is actually steam. This photo is a time exposure, and for those unfamiliar with the "old timer's" way of shooting photos at night, here's the technique:The camera is set up on a tripod. The shutter is locked open, exposing the film. Then you run around exposing the subject with light from whatever light source you have handy, in this case, automobile headlights. So what you see above the stack is white steam from the blower being blown up to create a draft the firebox, across time, in this case, maybe a couple of minutes. This creates a blurry white image on the film.The second tender is just as ge44tonner said. On the CB&Q they were called Auxiliary Tenders, on a couple of other railroads (the MP for one, I believe) they were called Water Bottles. A few other RR's called them Canteen Tanks. Their purpose was to allow a steam locomotive to travel greater distances between water stops. By this date, most water towers had been removed, so it was almost a necessity to have one of these.The "boxcar" behind the locomotive is (my best guess here) a former stockcar for transporting circus animals. It appears to be used here as a tool car, transporting support equipment and crew for 4960. At this date, steam locomotive service facilities are all gone, so any specialized maintenence equipment necessary for the locomotive would have to be brought with, along with the personnel necessary to preform that maintenance. I base this "guess" upon examination of other slides (which, unfortunately, I cannot share with you because the scanner died) that show people hanging out of the side doors, enjoying the ride.Here are a couple of photos of the Circus Train coming to Chicago May 25, 1982. The C&NW brought out their Executive F's for the duty. I have some shots of these circus wagons being pulled down Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, but cannot share them with you until I get the scanner repaired. I was lucky to get these scanned. Note that Trailer-Train flatcars have replaced the vintage circus flatcars, my guess as a safety measure.

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So there's actually a water tank inside of a steam loco besides the extra car behind the loco?Does the person in charge of the water car have to run a hose up from the water car to the loco to cool it off?What are all of the round caps on the top of some steam loco boilers?On my train calendar on the steam loco it looks like the bell has to be rung by hand from the walkway. Are some like this?3rd picture, last list of chuckzeilers lots of gazers to that train. What the heck happened to the other track though?Adam-------------------------------Wishing you and your relatives, family, and friends to have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Be the safest most customer focused and successful transportation company in the world13-Time Consecutive Winner of the Harriman Award
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>So there's actually a water tank inside of a steam loco
>besides the extra car behind the loco? No. The regular tender stores the water.
>Does the person in charge of the water car have to run a
>hose up from the water car to the loco to cool it off? Nope. I believe the water car and the tender are connected by hoses, so the fireman controls it.
>On my train calendar on the steam loco it looks like the
>bell has to be rung by hand from the walkway. Are some like
>this? No, there should be a cable/rope/string that connects the bell to a handle in the cab.Greg
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Adam, as Greg said, the tenders are connected together with hoses to supply the locomotive with water, which is a fuel component, to produce steam.One of the domes on the locomotive is the steam dome, the other dome (the larger, front dome) is the sand dome, which dispenses sand to the driving wheels for additional traction. As the fire heats the water, which is pumped from the tender(s) to the boiler, the water turns into steam which, being a gas, is lighter than water, so it rises to the top of the boiler. The highest point on the boiler is the steam dome, and usually this is where the throttle valve is located. When the engineer pulls the throttle lever back, it opens a valve in the steam dome (red line, below), which allows the steam (blue line, below) to pass through a pipe (called the "dry pipe") to the cylinders. This pushes against the piston, which in turn pushes the main rod, turning the drivers.Regarding the other track in photo 3, this is the result of changing times, and railroad tracks are expensive to maintain. At one time, this was an important set of tracks in the Chicago area, leading to the produce section on the west side of the Loop. Ice cooled reefers (insulated boxcars, basically) would be spotted here for unloading of fresh fruit and vegetables, and local businesses and distributors would pick up their shipments with trucks. Most fruit and vegetables are distributed by grocery store chains today, so there is no longer a need for a lot of tracks, so to save money, all but one of the tracks have been removed.The unloading tracks were called "team tracks" because when they were built, the businesses and distributors would pick up their shipments with teams of horses and wagons.

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LAST EDITED ON Nov-16-02 AT 01:30 PM (EST)

neat, thanksSo they just tear out all the ground underneath the tracks and leave a big hole and simply don't just remove the tracks?Couldn't that steam burn you if it came back into the cab when it's released?Adam-------------------------------Wishing you and your relatives, family, and friends to have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Be the safest most customer focused and successful transportation company in the world13-Time Consecutive Winner of the Harriman Award
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Since it's their property, the railroad can do whatever they can get away with (the cheapest way), as long as they comply with the local zoning regulations. If they removed the rails at the crossings, they would have to re-pave the street at that location. They may have done that later, but at this point, the rails and ties were removed, but left in at the crossings to permit automobile traffic to cross the tracks.Yes, the steam would burn you (and maybe kill you) if it escaped in the cab. That is one of the many dangers you face as a steam locomotive engineer or fireman. I'm reminded of a story told to me by an engineer of my acquaintance: the turbo-generator became stuck on his assigned locomotive, and it became his duty (as the fireman) to climb up on top of the boiler and get it working. As he went about the task of repairing the generator, the pop (safety) valve let go, and blew him right off the top of the boiler. He spent a few months in the hospital, recovering from scalding (from the steam) and broken bones.

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LAST EDITED ON Nov-16-02 AT 05:25 PM (EST)

Ouch!It looks like they blew rails out at places in your picture! Couldn't they just patch in the spaces where the rails were in the road crossings if they ripped them out?how do you get down to the clamps on the rails in a crossing?So I see from your picture the cirus wagons are taken off of the flatcars and they have a parade, correct?does anyone use them kind of animal hauling cars anymore?are live stock cars today reinforced with steel bars inside so the animals can't break through the sides of the cars?Adam-------------------------------Wishing you and your relatives, family, and friends to have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Be the safest most customer focused and successful transportation company in the world13-Time Consecutive Winner of the Harriman Award
Currently my favorite U.S.A. Freight Transportation RailRoad
Hoping to be a future Norfolk Southern Freight Train Conductor and then a engineer
Norfolk Southern's Freight Transportation RailRoad Official Website -- http://www.nscorp.com

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LAST EDITED ON Nov-16-02 AT 06:31 PM (EST)

Hello, Adam.
To answer some moe questions,
1. Sometimes the railroad leave the rails in place when removing old tracks. It's less work than tearing out the pavement and patching it.
2. If it is necessary to do repairs on track within a grade crossing, the pavement has to be removed to reach the rails, joint bars, spikes or ties. For this reason, many grade crossings have the pavement around the rails be some kind of removable surface. Something like wooden planks, or blocks of rubber, or blocks of concrete cast into steel frames. If the crossing is paved with asphalt, the paving has to be broken out to do repairs and then replaced later.
3. Yes, after unloading the circus wagons from the train, they are paraded through city streets to the location where the circus performs.
4. I don't know if any circus still uses the boxcar-style animal cars. The Ringling Brothers Barnum and Baily Circus still uses animal cars, but they are a different style which look like baggage cars. See message #24 above for some photos. The first photo shows a car used to transport elephants, and the fourth photo shows a car used to transport lions and tigers. In message #25, the second photo shows some cars used to transport horses.
Dan

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On that previous picture where they removed the tracks in between the crossings it looks like they dropped bombs thereAdam-------------------------------Wishing you and your relatives, family, and friends to have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Be the safest most customer focused and successful transportation company in the world13-Time Consecutive Winner of the Harriman Award
Currently my favorite U.S.A. Freight Transportation RailRoad
Hoping to be a future Norfolk Southern Freight Train Conductor and then a engineer
Norfolk Southern's Freight Transportation RailRoad Official Website -- http://www.nscorp.com

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>On that previous picture where they removed the tracks in
>between the crossings it looks like they dropped bombs there
>
>Adam Bombs? Then you never have seen real pics of a bombed railroad! That's looking totally different.They only removed the ballast. That's all.
There can be several reasons to remove it. Most likely reason is reusing after cleaning it up. That's removing sand, mud, plants and other stuff that isn't stone.
Other reason is that ballast can be polluted by oil spilled from locomotives and that the government requires that it must be removed. Dick van den Hoven

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Hi Dick.
Actually, there can be a number of environmental reasons to remove old railroad tracks. Besides the issue of spilled locomotive oil, the ballast is usually contaminated by years of weed spray chemicals, and the wooden crossties are impregnated with a preservative such as creosote. The disposal of old wood which contains preservatives is becoming a significant legal liability issue here in the states.
Dan

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Hi Dan,Thanks for clearing me up. Not only in the States it is an legal liability issue, here in the Netherlands and most of the European countries too.Dick van den Hoven

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