Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Car 101 and it's predecessor 117?
Here is a lousy shot of the one and only LYNX car no 101. The were not running it while I was here and they have it parked in an area full of construction equipment so this is as good as I could do.
So I was just sitting there staring at the LYNX car and was getting ready to leave and as I looked in front of me I could not believe what I saw. An old trolley car sitting next to the CATS right-of-way. I am going to guess that this is car #117 owned by the Charlotte trolley people and listed as “in storage” on their website. I have worked with a few museums and “in storage” is often a kind way to say “sitting derelict somewhere” it’s expensive to store these big things. But I could be wrong so please some one correct me if I am. Oh this is just North of New Bern St on Griffith Rd.
Here is a lousy shot of the one and only LYNX car no 101. The were not running it while I was here and they have it parked in an area full of construction equipment so this is as good as I could do.
So I was just sitting there staring at the LYNX car and was getting ready to leave and as I looked in front of me I could not believe what I saw. An old trolley car sitting next to the CATS right-of-way. I am going to guess that this is car #117 owned by the Charlotte trolley people and listed as “in storage” on their website. I have worked with a few museums and “in storage” is often a kind way to say “sitting derelict somewhere” it’s expensive to store these big things. But I could be wrong so please some one correct me if I am. Oh this is just North of New Bern St on Griffith Rd.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Some Shots
Here we are looking north at New Bern St. You can see the foundataions of a station platform on the left and right of the tracks. Also on the right hand track you can see one of the sets of wheels they use to tansport new track to where it's needed. the rail in the center is bolted down, and new rail is loaded next to it.
This shot is looking south at New Bern St. The light rail service facility is in nearing completion as are the tracks. You can see several peices of track laying equipment.
Here we are looking north at New Bern St. You can see the foundataions of a station platform on the left and right of the tracks. Also on the right hand track you can see one of the sets of wheels they use to tansport new track to where it's needed. the rail in the center is bolted down, and new rail is loaded next to it.
This shot is looking south at New Bern St. The light rail service facility is in nearing completion as are the tracks. You can see several peices of track laying equipment. Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Updates !
While I don’t mean to post only about Light Rail, it’s really the only rail type thing going on at the moment in Charlotte that I know of. So here I go.
The first of 16 S70 light rail Light Rail vehicle Built by Siemens was delivered to Charlotte June 24th.
The 50 ton car will start testing the rails starting in August. CATS has to log over 1,000 hours before they can start hauling people. Most of the bridges are finished, and South Boulevard is a total mess. The maintenance facility is coming along nicely too.
Up at NCTM the news is a little more mixed. Shay 1925 is most likely sidelined for the foreseeable future due to excessive corrosion in the boiler flues. Chances are that she will get her 1472 day inspection in conjunction with current repairs. This will cost a lot, so the 1925 will be sidelined for a few years unless someone wins the lottery. On the bright side the 604 has received a commitment from the NCTM board of $100,000 a year so that the boiler can be repaired which will cost about $400,000. There is a possibility that money could come faster and the 604 may be back in as short as 3 years, but don’t hold your breath. The ADA car is almost finished and the L3 switcher is beginning it’s cosmetic restoration.
That’s enough facts for now. I want to hear from someone what the latest scoop is on the new intermodal yard that NS is supposed to be putting in out at the airport. Buler…..Buler…..
While I don’t mean to post only about Light Rail, it’s really the only rail type thing going on at the moment in Charlotte that I know of. So here I go.
The first of 16 S70 light rail Light Rail vehicle Built by Siemens was delivered to Charlotte June 24th.
The 50 ton car will start testing the rails starting in August. CATS has to log over 1,000 hours before they can start hauling people. Most of the bridges are finished, and South Boulevard is a total mess. The maintenance facility is coming along nicely too.
Up at NCTM the news is a little more mixed. Shay 1925 is most likely sidelined for the foreseeable future due to excessive corrosion in the boiler flues. Chances are that she will get her 1472 day inspection in conjunction with current repairs. This will cost a lot, so the 1925 will be sidelined for a few years unless someone wins the lottery. On the bright side the 604 has received a commitment from the NCTM board of $100,000 a year so that the boiler can be repaired which will cost about $400,000. There is a possibility that money could come faster and the 604 may be back in as short as 3 years, but don’t hold your breath. The ADA car is almost finished and the L3 switcher is beginning it’s cosmetic restoration.
That’s enough facts for now. I want to hear from someone what the latest scoop is on the new intermodal yard that NS is supposed to be putting in out at the airport. Buler…..Buler…..
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Track and Ties.
I have been planning to post some photos of the latest on the light rail, but have just not had the camera with me when I had time to post, so I will post the pictures later.
The big news is that there is some track down on the light rail project! North of Woodlawn there are a few spots with track and ties. I get a feeling though that they are laying the track this early more to get it out of the way, because it is stored where the need to build a long concrete wall. But none the less it’s cool. Also they have completed all the large girder work over Tyvola, and are putting up the forms to pour the deck.
Also the #85 trolley has been shipped to who knows where west of NC for what are rumored to be repairs to the electrical system.
Southern 6133 has returned to NCTM from a contractor after an extensive rebuild/repair job. The shop that did the repairs also repainted her, but managed to screw up the “SOUTHERN” lettering pretty good. I’m sure the people at NCTM will have that fixed before long.
I have been planning to post some photos of the latest on the light rail, but have just not had the camera with me when I had time to post, so I will post the pictures later.
The big news is that there is some track down on the light rail project! North of Woodlawn there are a few spots with track and ties. I get a feeling though that they are laying the track this early more to get it out of the way, because it is stored where the need to build a long concrete wall. But none the less it’s cool. Also they have completed all the large girder work over Tyvola, and are putting up the forms to pour the deck.
Also the #85 trolley has been shipped to who knows where west of NC for what are rumored to be repairs to the electrical system.
Southern 6133 has returned to NCTM from a contractor after an extensive rebuild/repair job. The shop that did the repairs also repainted her, but managed to screw up the “SOUTHERN” lettering pretty good. I’m sure the people at NCTM will have that fixed before long.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Service facility 1-5-05This here is the new Light rail service facility. I imagine this area is where most of the interest for railfans will be, you can get a pretty clear shot of it from behind a gas station (don’t remember the name) on South boulevard. It is quite a massive structure, employee access will be from S Tryon through the new bus service facility. Now if I can only get them to remove that tree.
Tyvola Construction 1-5-05Here is a not so good shot (would have been better if I was standing on the roof of my car in the middle of the road) of the construction at Tyvola and Old Pineville Mathews Rd. You can’t see it in this picture but in the distance amongst those bridge supports are the first of many large steel beams, those to large cranes will most likely be used for erecting the spans.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Light rail reaches key stage (from the Charlotte Observer)
"By day, trucks will haul in dozens of oversize girders for the first of Charlotte's four light-rail bridges.
By night, crews will hoist the steel and concrete girders into place for the first bridge, spanning busy Tyvola Road.
Starting Wednesday, construction moves to a critical new stage on the light-rail line -- bridges to separate trains from street traffic.
The bridges will carry the trains above Archdale Drive, Tyvola, Woodlawn and Arrowood roads. Each of those roads connect interchanges on Interstate 77 and will lead to major park-and-ride lots along the light-rail line, now under construction next to South Boulevard.
"Seeing the bridges go up will let people see light rail is on its way," said Olaf Kinard, spokesman for the Charlotte Area Transit System.
The first electric-powered train will be delivered for testing in the summer, with passenger service beginning in summer 2007 between uptown and I-485 near Pineville. The 9.6-mile double-track line, its trains, garage, stations and parking lots are expected to cost $427 million.
The four bridges will separate trains from traffic and keep both moving, Kinard said. If the bridges weren't built, railroad crossing arms would come down every four minutes during rush hour to stop cars.
Crews have built bridge piers and retaining walls, and on Wednesday night will begin lifting girders into place for the Tyvola bridge. Tyvola's girders will be installed by Feb. 21, said David Leard, CATS project manager.
Traffic will be disrupted on Tyvola about four times daily as flatbed trucks deliver the girders.
Bridge girders will be installed over Archdale from April 5 through May 5; over Woodlawn, May 10-30; and over Arrowood, July 13-23."
Most intersting part for me is that they will be testing the light rail vehicles this summer, should be some fun photo-ops.
"By day, trucks will haul in dozens of oversize girders for the first of Charlotte's four light-rail bridges.
By night, crews will hoist the steel and concrete girders into place for the first bridge, spanning busy Tyvola Road.
Starting Wednesday, construction moves to a critical new stage on the light-rail line -- bridges to separate trains from street traffic.
The bridges will carry the trains above Archdale Drive, Tyvola, Woodlawn and Arrowood roads. Each of those roads connect interchanges on Interstate 77 and will lead to major park-and-ride lots along the light-rail line, now under construction next to South Boulevard.
"Seeing the bridges go up will let people see light rail is on its way," said Olaf Kinard, spokesman for the Charlotte Area Transit System.
The first electric-powered train will be delivered for testing in the summer, with passenger service beginning in summer 2007 between uptown and I-485 near Pineville. The 9.6-mile double-track line, its trains, garage, stations and parking lots are expected to cost $427 million.
The four bridges will separate trains from traffic and keep both moving, Kinard said. If the bridges weren't built, railroad crossing arms would come down every four minutes during rush hour to stop cars.
Crews have built bridge piers and retaining walls, and on Wednesday night will begin lifting girders into place for the Tyvola bridge. Tyvola's girders will be installed by Feb. 21, said David Leard, CATS project manager.
Traffic will be disrupted on Tyvola about four times daily as flatbed trucks deliver the girders.
Bridge girders will be installed over Archdale from April 5 through May 5; over Woodlawn, May 10-30; and over Arrowood, July 13-23."
Most intersting part for me is that they will be testing the light rail vehicles this summer, should be some fun photo-ops.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Derita at last. 12-30-05Here is the elusive "Quarter Master" local running through the streets of Derita on it's way back to the Charlotte Yard via the AT&O connector. On a personal note today was a good day for this novice railfan, I have been on the lookout for the “Quarter Master” job trying to catch it as it runs through the narrow confines of the old Derita area of Charlotte. I felt very vindicated after catching it here on this clear December day.
Cleared for the diamond 12-30-05Here we have the same train as in the previous post creeping over the hill past the Bank Of America (Panthers) Stadium
Stretched over 77 12-30-05Unknown NS train (I didn’t have my scanner) with UP unit on point here resting just north of the “North Advance” near Charlotte Pipe. This train kind of surprised me because I first saw it cruising through “Charlotte Junction” with no signs of stopping, then when I got to “North Advance” it was at a dead stop blocking Berryhill Rd. While I am by far no professional railroader it seems like one hell of a stop for a train that long going down grade. Comments?
South Charlotte 10-29-05Here we have NS 1647 "parked for lunch" at the farthest north point of the old 'R' line. This unit was working the "CD" local switching the Cargill refinery just south of Arrowood Rd. You can see the CATS light rail project progressing in the background. This alignment is now about 50 feet to the right of where it is in this picture to make way for more construction.
