Head end traffic

[JohnD]

I'm trying to find information on head end traffic on ICs passenger
trains (i.e. the types of cars used). I've found information about
head end traffic on passenger trains in general but nothing specific
to IC. All the photos I can find show bagage cars and RPOs in the IC
livery, but I can't find any images of REA refers or anything non
"chocolate and orange". Any info on this subject would be greatly
appreciated.

John

[Tom]

I remember that train number 8, the Creole, would handle strawberrys
between Louisiana (Hammond, I think) and Chicago. They were in REA
reefers. Number 8 would set them out at East Junction and a switch
engine would take them to the ice plant at Johnston Yard for re-icing,
then would run them back to Central Station to be put on the outbound
train. This would have been in the 1960's.

Tom Parker

[JohnD]

Thanks Tom.

 

Just as a side note:  my family and I will be taking the "City" from New Orleans to Memphis on the 16th and back again on the 18th.  It'll be our first trip by train (There's not much passenger service in the south).  My four year old son is very excited (as am I).

 

Cheers,

John

On Jan 2, 2008 7:14 PM, Tom <TScott...@gmail.com> wrote:

I remember that train number 8, the Creole, would handle strawberrys
between Louisiana (Hammond, I think) and Chicago. They were in REA
reefers. Number 8 would set them out at East Junction and a switch
engine would take them to the ice plant at Johnston Yard for re-icing,
then would run them back to Central Station to be put on the outbound
train. This would have been in the 1960's.

Tom Parker

On Jan 2, 2:41pm, JohnD <HeadP...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm trying to find information on head end traffic on ICs passenger

> trains (i.e . the types of cars used). I've found information about

[Tom Parker]

Numbers 8 and 25 were locals and you were liable to see almost any kind of cars on them. The Illinois Central had some Pullman green baggage cars and while I can't swear to it, they most probably were found on trains like 8 and 25, or 15 & 16 between Memphis and St. Louis and sometimes on trains 3 and 4. Carloads of bulk mail as well as express was interchanged between railroads and were handled on trains like 8,25,15 and 16, so you would see cars of various ownership on these trains. I used to ride #25 from Fulton to Memphis when I was going to school at UT Martin, and I remember is consisted of two coaches at the most with the rest of the train consisting of mail and express, probably a half dozen or so.

 

Tom

[Snbr...@aol.com]

I too rode No. 8 and No. 25 in the mid-60s between Champaign and Chicago when I was an undergraduate at the Univ. of Illinois and my girlfriend, now my wife, lived in Chicago.  I remember a wide variety of head end cars, lots of storage mail and express cars of all kinds, including green baggage-mail-express boxcars, on both trains, but especially on No. 25 with two old but modernized heavyweight coaches on the rear end for the few hardy riders (especially on No. 25, last southbound train of the day leaving Central Station, Chicago around midnight.  Not a popular choice, except for a college student who wanted the last possible weekend moments with his girlfriend!).  Lots of extended stops for head end work at small towns like Gilman, Paxton and Rantoul.

Steve Brannon


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