One of my uncles in Chicago worked for the MR. Only job he ever had. Worked his way up to dispatcher. He retired around the time the line went bankrupt. He really loved his job. It was hard for him to deal with the railroad’s demise. For me, the end of the C&NW was a sad time. Grew up about four blocks from their northwest line in Chicago. Fell asleep every night during the summer listening to the sounds of the long freight trains passing through the night.
I feel privileged to have ridden the Milwaukee Road from Chicago to Marion Iowa in the summer of 1970. A couple years later the tracks were removed from the Mississippi River to Marion.
Just imagine how much more accessibility Montanans would have to passenger rail, or freight rail if the Miluakee never cut the Pacific Extension. I’d love to rebuild it IRL.
I witnessed the last train to run in Washington State out of the Tacoma yard and up the UP tracks through the Kent Valley. It was a rag tag combination of locomotives struggling to pull a short train north, probably to the exchange tracks in Auburn, or even possibly the exchange track which was the eastern most track at Stacy Street Yard in Seattle. My dad worked at the GN HQ in Seattle in the freight management and tariff auditing office at the 4th and Union Western Head Quarters of the Great Northern. He always said that the MLW had little chance of success as the ICC had placed them right down the middle of the NP and GN mainlines, giving them little access to spur and shortline routes to pick freight. Some very interesting history here. Great video and well told story. Brings back a lot of memories.
The locomotive at 2:19 is preserved. An Alco C-424 number 605. She resides currently at the Austin Steam Train Association in Cedar Park, Texas and IS FOR SALE RIGHT NOW!!! They're asking $40,000 for her and she'd DEFINITELY be worth it.
Just horrible managment. The Ml.Road. Actually all of railroading. Sad. I heard if they had kept electric ,by the time gas crisis started they would have paid all their debt. But Nooooo.
@@64BBernardYes-- and let's not forget the fact, that they took 10 years to decide the UP--- CRI&P merger, after which the UP said NO and walked away.
@@64BBernard and keep in mind that the ICC ran the MLW right down the middle of the NP and GN which gave them little opportunity to gather business on spurs and shortline connections to the NP and GN.
Electric equipment costs more than off the shelf diesel equivalents. Long payback on investment. No one can wait today for that. Substations had only enough power for 1 little Joe which was sufficient in 1908.
Always love the Milwaukee Road. Such a shame they were so mismanaged.
Sure makes one wonder, how things would have been different if Milwaukee Road had made it.
One of my uncles in Chicago worked for the MR. Only job he ever had. Worked his way up to dispatcher. He retired around the time the line went bankrupt. He really loved his job. It was hard for him to deal with the railroad’s demise. For me, the end of the C&NW was a sad time. Grew up about four blocks from their northwest line in Chicago. Fell asleep every night during the summer listening to the sounds of the long freight trains passing through the night.
I feel privileged to have ridden the Milwaukee Road from Chicago to Marion Iowa in the summer of 1970. A couple years later the tracks were removed from the Mississippi River to Marion.
love the milwaukee road, erie lawawanna, rock island soo line
Just imagine how much more accessibility Montanans would have to passenger rail, or freight rail if the Miluakee never cut the Pacific Extension. I’d love to rebuild it IRL.
I really enjoy watching these video sections every weekend.
If you have any other Frisco footage that isn't available yet I love to see it.
I witnessed the last train to run in Washington State out of the Tacoma yard and up the UP tracks through the Kent Valley. It was a rag tag combination of locomotives struggling to pull a short train north, probably to the exchange tracks in Auburn, or even possibly the exchange track which was the eastern most track at Stacy Street Yard in Seattle. My dad worked at the GN HQ in Seattle in the freight management and tariff auditing office at the 4th and Union Western Head Quarters of the Great Northern. He always said that the MLW had little chance of success as the ICC had placed them right down the middle of the NP and GN mainlines, giving them little access to spur and shortline routes to pick freight. Some very interesting history here. Great video and well told story. Brings back a lot of memories.
I love Your videos, thanks from Germany
they must have when their tons of extension cords there, that small yellow homemade switcher love it
y
The locomotive at 2:19 is preserved. An Alco C-424 number 605. She resides currently at the Austin Steam Train Association in Cedar Park, Texas and IS FOR SALE RIGHT NOW!!! They're asking $40,000 for her and she'd DEFINITELY be worth it.
someone on Milw was affectionate towards the steeplecabs. they wrote "SUPER HOG" on the side of her. 19:40
Thanks!
If I Was Younger And Had Money I'd Buy One Of those Old Buildings And Turn It Into My Home 🏡 😊
Competition Is Very Hard 😊
I believe the Pacific extension was shut down in March, 1980, not 1977. That was on the news networks at the time.
A twenty minute video and eight commercials never waich again
The Milwaukee Road ripped out there electric wire because they wanted to sell off the copper contenr of their wires. They were that desperate.
Just horrible managment. The Ml.Road.
Actually all of railroading. Sad. I heard if they had kept electric ,by the time gas crisis started they would have paid all their debt. But Nooooo.
Don't forget the ICC, too. It took the Staggers Act of 1980 to turn the railroad industry around.
@@64BBernardYes-- and let's not forget the fact, that they took 10 years to decide the UP--- CRI&P merger, after which the UP said NO and walked away.
@@64BBernard and keep in mind that the ICC ran the MLW right down the middle of the NP and GN which gave them little opportunity to gather business on spurs and shortline connections to the NP and GN.
Electric equipment costs more than off the shelf diesel equivalents. Long payback on investment. No one can wait today for that. Substations had only enough power for 1 little Joe which was sufficient in 1908.
Is conrail in this