Friday, June 7, 2024, 7:30 PM CDT: Railfan Routes Railcars via Rondout to Resolve Receiver's Remorse presented by Bill Edwards

In this presentation we will hear about the presenter's project in 1993 to fix rail transit times from steel mills in Northwest Indiana to his facility in Minneapolis.

Minnesota Commercial Alco RS27 #316 leads three covered coil cars away from Viking Materials in Minneapolis.  Photo by Robert Ball.

This involved using the railfan's knowledge of the EJ&E/Soo (MILW) interchange at Rondout, buying a Trackmobile, and creating a 1,000 foot long private railroad.

We will hear why a customer said, "I hope you don't want us to use more rail shipments" and why a railroader said "I hope you don't grow your business with us!", see why a Soo Line crew was paid to watch football games on Sunday afternoons, look at some Rondout history and operations, learn about A.O. Smith cars to Milwaukee, and, finally, create a switching railroad using two derails and a Trackmobile!

Trackmobile at Burns Harbor, Indiana.  Photo by Bill Edwards.

Locations visited include Rondout and Bensenville, Illinois; BRC-Clearing and Commercial Avenue Yards; IHB-Gibson and Blue Island Yards; Detroit; Minneapolis and St. Paul; Lakefront Yard in East Chicago, Indiana; and, of course, Glendale Yard in Milwaukee.  We learn about frame manufacturing at A.O. Smith, steel processing plants in the Twin Cities, and what happens when a railfan becomes a rail customer!

 Milwaukee Road freight with A-B-B-A F-7s runs wrong main eastbound at Rondout with automotive frames on the head end.  Photo by Gerard Putz

If you are able, please attend in person at our regular meeting venue in Fox Point; doors open before 7:00 pm for social time. Those who cannot attend in person are encouraged to download the latest version of Zoom software to their computers (or tablets, or smartphones) to attend virtually. Advance registration is required to access this event remotely. Information on how to connect will be posted here a few days prior to the meeting. Contact membership (at-sign) nrhswis (dot) org with any questions.