[WARC] Help needed with Steam Train SP Daylight 4449 Oct 10/11

Mon Sep 7 03:11:06 GMT 2009

Hi All,
It is now official - our help has been requested for SP 4449's 
appearance in Winona Oct 10 and 11.

For those of you new to the list:  for several years now, steam 
locomotive Milw #261 has pulled fall color trips from St. Paul, 
stopping in Winona, and then going on to La Crescent.  Some 
passengers get off and are replaced by local passengers.  The first 
group explore Winona and then get back on for the return trip.  The 
combined Winona Hams and Railfans have done a great job providing 
crowd control and security here in Winona.  In exchange for our help, 
we can ride the trip to La Crescent if we wish.

This year there are likely to be many more people around, due to the 
unusual engine.

The operation this year is nearly the same as previous years, with 
one major exception:  #261 is down for scheduled maintenance, but The 
Friends of the #261 is in a contract renewal dispute with the 
locomotive's owner, the National Railway Museum in Green Bay, 
WI.  Work is halted until this is resolved.  Instead, SP Daylight 
#4449 will be pulling these trips.  4449 normally lives in Washington 
State, but came east for a Steamfest in MI in July, and has hung 
around Mpls to pull our trips.  4449 is currently painted in its 
original bright orange scheme, but it actually passed through Winona 
in 1976 with the American Freedom Train.  It was painted Red, White, 
and Blue for that trip.

All help will be appreciated!

Now to the details:

Schedule:  the train is supposed to leave Mpls Junction at 8:30 AM 
each day.  It will be here between 11:45 and 12:00, then proceed to 
La Crescent where it is turned and watered.  It will arrive in Winona 
at 2:15, and leave at 2:30.  Its scheduled to arrive back in Mpls at 
6:00.  Adherence to schedule is of course subject to many things, 
including Amtrak's punctuality.  Several times the steam train has 
actually arrived in Winona (from both directions) early.  If its 
early, it usually stays here until the scheduled departure time.  If 
late, it exchanges passengers as quickly as possible and the leaves.

If tickets are still available for the La Crescent trip, they can be 
purchased from Judy Sandberg, who will be on-board the train, she 
will also have will-call tickets.  She will be located near the 
middle of the train, on the platform.  I'll try to let you know 
before the train arrives if there are any tickets available.

There is a possibility that the train will be long enough that it 
won't fit on the platform.  In this case there will be a "double 
spot" - that is, the train will stop, exchange some passengers, then 
move a short distance for the rest.  Details probably won't be 
decided until the last minute, but I'll try to let you know what's going on.

Our biggest tasks are to keep the main line clear when the train 
arrives, and also answer people's questions.  The worst crowd control 
problem is always when the train returns from LaCrescent - passengers 
re-boarding in Winona want a picture of the engine, but the sun angle 
is best from the far side of the track.  I'm hoping to organize a 
photo line, but I don't have the details together yet.

SAFETY FIRST: Always expect a train on any track at any time in 
either direction.  However, the only track likely to have movement 
while we are there is the mainline.  That's the second track from the 
parking lot.  If a freight train passes through, it will be going 30 
MPH and can have stuff like steel bands hanging off.  We need to keep 
everyone as far back as possible.  At least a couple feet behind the 
wood planking of the first track.  4449 will be moving slower, but 
steam engines, especially this one, breath smoke, fire, steam, and 
hot oil.  One clue that a westbound train is approaching is the block 
signal near Huff St.  It will only light up when a train is in the block.

SAFETY FIRST: The #261 has an impeccable safety record.  One injury 
could bring the whole operation to a screeching halt, forever.  We 
don't want to have the honor of doing that!  Be aware of your 
surroundings at all times.  Always expect a train on any track at any 
time in either direction!  Members of the public don't understand 
this.  You have to protect them as well.

Hams please bring a 2m handheld.  We will use 146.490.  Everyone can 
listen to the CP on 160.770  and/or 146.490 if they have a scanner.

We will try to intermix hams and non-hams, so that we can pass 
messages quickly.

I would like everyone to wear a bright orange safety vest this 
year.  Please bring your own if you have it.  Otherwise, I have a 
limited number to lend out.

We need to have sufficient people both days, so I need to know who is 
doing what each day.  Please don't change your plans without asking me.

Details of bathroom availability and the photo line are still being worked out.

We are needed at two times each day:  11:00AM until approx. 12:05, 
and 1:30 until approx. 3:30.  Please find me at the starting time for 
a quick job briefing.

If you can help, please send me the following information:
-Your name
-Call sign if you are a Ham.
-If you are a Ham, do you have a 2m handheld you can bring?
-Your cell phone # if you have one
-Your email address
-Which day(s) can you help
-Do you want to ride the train to LaCrescent.   Which day to you 
prefer (apparently Sunday is not selling as fast as Sat, so may not 
be as crowded).
-Do you have your own vest?

If you have friends that are Hams or railfans and are responsible, 
they are welcome to help as well.

Thanks to Steve Donahue for helping me set this up!  He reports that 
the 4449's firebox is much hotter than 261's and, like 261, they 
usually let out a sideways burst of steam from both cylinders as they 
first start to move.  We need to keep the public out of these areas.

Please contact me with any questions.
My info: cell phone is 507-452-5805, and my callsign in WB0NIU.

Erik

Hello Winona #261 security group,
The fall trips are now scheduled for Oct 10 and 11.  Please keep the 
date open, I think we will need a larger group of security people 
than usual, as this engine is likely to draw a big crowd.  I'll let 
you know when our involvement is official.

Erik

=======================================

This is quite preliminary, and I don't know anything official, but my 
guess is our services will be needed again this year.  Should be 
pretty neat if it happens!

Check out the links in the message below.
Erik

"After Train Festival, no. 4449 will return to Minneapolis, where it 
will lay over until until fall, when the Friends of the 261 will 
feature it on their usual public excursions. No. 4449 will then 
return to Portand to fulfill its duty on "Holiday Express" trips. "

>Apparently, in addition to appearing at train festival 2009, SP 
>Daylight 4449 will be used on excursions this fall from the Twin 
>Cities.  It will be a stand in for the 261 on the fall color excursions.
>
>Go to www.steamcentral.com and click on "SP 4449 Rides Again" on the 
>right hand side to see the article.
>
>I am really looking forward to seeing this beautiful locomotive.
>
> >
> > http://www.sp4449.com/trainfest.html
> >
>
>
>
>
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