THE MEMPHIS BUFF
VOLUME 35, ISSUE 11
NATIONAL RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
NOVEMBER 2008
BNSF's Big New Cranes City of New Orleans Returns To Central Station II Frisco's Sleeper-Buffet-Coach Cars
Memphis Chapter Officers President – David Chase
dchase@memphisredbirds.com
Vice President – Bruce Smedley National Director – Bill Strong
williambstrong@bellsouth.net
Secretary – Oliver Doughtie
doughtio@bellsouth.net
Treasurer – Thomas Doherty
TRDoherty@aol.com
Librarian – Mike Pendergrass Publication Editor – Tom Parker
tscottparker@gmail.com
Last Month’s Meeting We had fifteen attendees at the October meeting. David Chase brought the meeting to order. Carl Lancaster reported that the GM&O Historical Society Convention in Union City was a success, with the society actually making a small profit. Bruce Smedley reminded everyone about the model train exhibit this month at the Pink Palace. Bruce also invited anyone with programs ideas for next year to contact him. Tom Doherty announced that the dues notices for 2009 had been mailed although no one in attendance had yet received theirs. David Chase announced that it was time to furnish the library a schedule for next year. David said that he would bring it up at next month's meeting when hopefully there would be more members in attendance. The Memphis Green Line was also briefly discussed. Our October program was a video of the 2008 NHRA Convention in Texas which was presented by Jerry Michnewicz. The video featured the Trinity Star, the Pine Woods Special, the Dallas Rocket, and the Quanah Zephyr.
This Month's Meeting The November meeting will feature a round table discussion on travel by Amtrak. Everyone is invited to participate with their experiences, both good and bad. Individuals who may have never traveled by Amtrak or have questions about Amtrak are invited to participate in the discussion.
BUFF ONLINE: www.buff.illinoiscentral.net User Name:Member Password: Buff (Capital “M” & “B”) Cover Photo: On October 14, 2008, Canadian National crews were busy relaying the rail which had been removed during the repair of the Central Station sinkhole. Their task was completed in time for Amtrak #58 to roll over the repaired track into Central Station that same evening. Tom Parker Photo
BNSF's Big New Cranes By Tom Parker
One of the large production cranes begins to take shape as Barnhart Crane and Rigging employees piece it together like a gigantic jigsaw puzzle. Legs for a second crane are in the background Tom Parker Photo
On March 23, 2004 The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) announced a $40 million plan to expand its Tennessee Yard, intermodal facility in Memphis. BNSF's new intermodal terminal at Tennessee Yard will feature 5 large cranes which will
span 8 track, three truck lanes and 4 stacks of containers 4 containers high. In addition, 3 smaller auxilary cranes will be used to shuttle containers to and from storage and feed the larger cranes. All eight of the cranes are wide span , high-
Paving is going on in the foreground as the second crane is being assembled in the background.
T Parker Photo
A view of the giant cranes from Lamar Avenue on September 11, 2008
performance Rail Mounted Gantry (RMG) cranes. The BNSF was the first American Intermodal operator to order such cranes from their manufacturer, Konecranes of Hyvincaa, Finland. The cranes are all-electric and will, thus, have a low environmental impact.
Tom Parker Photo
They are also equipped with Regenerative Network Braking units that enable energy, released during lowering the load or during braking, to be fed back to the local grid, instead of being wasted in braking resistors. BNSF is committed to what it calls a "massive overhaul" of crane technology. The company
This picture taken from Shelby Drive on September 27th, show two cranes virtually complete. Pieces for additional crane(s) litter the ground . Carl Lancaster Photo
The two cranes loom over parked trailers in this view from Lamar Ave.
installed four of Konecranes' wide span units at the North Seattle International Gateway (North SIG) Intermodal facility, improving flexibility and increasing capacity for container stacking. Wide span cranes are significantly wider than current stabilizer beam cranes, have the
capability to load containers onto truck chassis or railcars, and can be used to stack containers, all under one crane span. It uses cable-suspended lift spreaders with overhead cabs, which have sophisticated anti-sway systems. In addition to Seattle and Memphis, BNSF is expanding
Tom Parker Photo
this technology across its system, including sites in Los Angeles, and Kansas City, Kan. For more photos and information visit Mike Condren's website at: http://www.cbu.edu/~mcondren/Recent-Trains/TY/TYIntermodal-Terminal.htm
Production cranes have a span of over 280 feet wide that can lift off 8 tracks, 3 truck lanes, and 4 wide/4 high stacks. Adjacent stacking crane stacks 5 wide/5 high with ability to transfer containers between cranes
Amtrak Returns to Central Station By Tom Parker "We appreciate the direct action by Mayor Herenton to cut through the red tape and order the work done to restore direct service to Central Station. With an able assist by City Council Member Myron Lowery, constant encouragement by tourism officials, local rail advocate William Strong and others, our Amtrak train is back on its normal route in Memphis." Ray Lang, Senior Director, Amtrak Government Affairs. Passengers await the arrival of # 59 the morning of October 15th a Central Station
On Tuesday the 14th, Channel 13 news reported that the northbound City of New Orlans would be running through the station that night. After hearing that bit of news. I determined that I would
10/15/08. The "City" in Central Station. Equipment used to relay the track sits in the adjacent track
In an example of why you shouldn't believe everything you read in the newspaper, the Memphis media reported that “Amtrak's City of New Or-
leans train service will return to Memphis Central Station at 6a.m. today.� (Friday,October 17th) One news source got it right.
The sinkhole on August 13th
take a drive down to the station the next morning to catch the first southbound train through the station following the repair of the sinkhole. The saga began on April 21st, when the sinkhole beside the track caused the trains to be reouted around the station. After negotiations between the City of Memphis, Canadian National and Sprint Communications who had a fiber optice cable running through the area), repairs were finally bugun on August 11th , over 3 1/2 months after its discovery. In a little less than two months, the City of Memphis' contractor, Ferrell Paving, completed their work on October 6th. The City released the site to the Canadian National Railroad to relay the track. By the afternoon of October 14th the CN completed relaying the track and that night the northbound City of New Orleans rolled into the station. "I am pleased that parking and rail service has been expediently restored to Central Station, I want to thank the patrons of Amtrak for their patience and especially thank those at the negotiation table for their commitment to getting the problem solved." Dr. Willie W. Herenton, Mayor, Memphis, TN
10/12/08: CN Crews have begun relaying the track
10/14/08: Tamper is at work leveling the relayed track. Note repaired retaining wall.
Bottom: 10/15/08: Southbound City of New Orleans in Central Station. The relayed track is in the foreground.
New Sleeper-Buffet-Coach Cars Placed In Service (Reprinted from February, 1935, Frisco Employees Magazine)
Part of the group which met to christen the new sleeper-coach-buffet car, "Thc Pcnsacola " at Pensacola, Fla. on January 15. Dorothea Kurn, niece of J. M. Kurn, Trustee of Frisco Lines, officially christened thc car and is shown in the accompanying photograph between the two uniformed trainmen, the brakcman and the conductor.
Wide interest in railroad circles has been centered on the two new welded passenger cars, recently built at the Frisco's West Shops under the direct supervision of J. G. Hayes, car foreman The cars are the first in this part of the rcountry to have been built by welding instead of riveting, and are called sleeper-buffetcoach cars, containing six sleeping compartment sections, buffet in center capable
of feeding twelve people, and coach end which will seat thirty people. The two cars have been named "Memphis" and "Pensacola", and were constructed specially for the run, Memphis to Pensacola, Fla., the Frisco's terminus on the gulf. One of the cars arrived in St.Louis the morning of January 5 and was on display at the St. Louis Union Station on January 6, and created no end of interest for
both railway officials and employes and the traveling public. One of the newest features worked out in these cars is the fact that there are no rivets in the sides or roofs, and every piece of steel has been welded t o g e t h e r throughout. This is a complete reversal of the usual car buildi ng practice, that is, of riveting cars together. In this work the Frisco has done considerable pioneering, and as far as it is known. there
is only one other railroad doceiling and fleur-de-lis pattern general traffic manager, and ing this work at the present of green plush on the seats. J. W. Nourse, passenger time, and that road is an east- The carpet is a taupe color traffic manager. Mrs. Willis ern one. Each car is air condi- with flower design, which Campbell, promlnent club tioned throughout, with two makes a very pleasing conwoman of Memphis, Tenn., ofseparate cooling units, one in trast in the coach and sleeping ficially christened the car at each end of the car. The over- compartments. Sash and Memphis, and more than 400 head heat is controlled by doors are of walnut color, interested persons at that thermostats. The air passing which blends with the pastel point inspected it. At Pensathrough ducts and will supply shades in the car. cola, the car was presented to heat for the car in the people, for their use normal weather, but and enjoyment, by when more heat is Samuel Pasco, Frisco required, the floor attorney, and accepted heat may be cut in. by Hon. H. Clay ArmThe cooling and strong, Mayor of the heating devices are City of Pensacola, Fla. controlled on the Dorothea Kurn, niece same panel, by of J. M. Kurn, Trustee switches. The sleeper of Frisco L i n e s, end of each car conformalIy christened the sists of six sections, car at that poin suror one-half a modern rounded by officials of sleeping car, with the city administration convenient wash and presidents and rooms and toilets. members of the various (Left) A view of thc six section sleeping compartment. The main body of clubs at Pensacola, Fla. (Right) The coach end which will seat 30 persons. the sleeping end is (Bottom) A Side vicw of Ihc new sleeper-buffet-coach car, These cars were under a complete unit of railway equipment painted a beautiful construction at the shade of Nile green, Frisco's West Shops at Cars Create Much Interest with trimmings of surf green. Springfield for five and oneWhile Displayed at Memphis, The silk window curtains and half months, and an additionPensacola and St. Louis plush on the seats are or difal welded car will be carried The cars were accorded big ferent shades of green, which in the train with each car, receptions at Memphis, Tenn., are complementary to the which will present to the puband Pensacola, Fla.. as well as general color scheme. The lic the latest in combination at St. Louis, and interest in ceiling is painted a cream colpassenger coach, mall and them was manifested by the or, which gives light reflection. baggage. The new combinacrowds which milled through Lamps are painted in the tionmail baggage cars are now while they were on display at darker shades of green to give under construction and will the three points. The "Memthe proper contrast. The be put in service sometime phis" was brought in Memphcoach end is painted two tones during March. is January 7 by J. R Coulter, of buff and tan, with cream
CABOOSE
Rock Island 18058, which is now restored and on display at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation. Mike Pendergrass photo. Meeting Schedule November 10, 2008 December 8, 2008 Meetings are the 2nd Monday of each month in the White Station Branch Library from 7-9 pm. 5094 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN (in front of Clark Tower)
Contact the Editor Tom Parker 3012 Wood Thrush Drive Memphis, TN 38134 tscottparker@gmail.com
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