What a great film ❗❗👍👍we had 9 r.r In MSP in1949...I would go out of my way to study,walk, enjoy branch lines around stpaul,mostly we had many sidings in the cities,every 3 blocks,serving business,really had fun watching your 1971 film and thank👍
This is an incredible documentation of classic midwestern branchline railroading; the video work is amazing for 1971! Thank you for bringing the 'good ol days' back to life!
As I watch these videos, I pause at the towns and switch over to Google Maps and Google Street View to see what's left. In most locations the right of way is nearly gone - turned into a road, a farm field, or built over. Sometimes I have to consult the historic aerial website to even find where the track went through a town because the former right of way is completely unrecognizable and the industries served are gone!
Did the same and experienced the same. Amazing how even small towns can change in a 50 years span. Sometimes, there is just a hint of where industries where, like a lone concrete bulk oil tank support, or a run down corrugated steel clad feed and seed warehouse with loading doors 3' feet above ground level.
@@MP-oh5eoYes, towns I rode through on train excursions back in the 1960s and '70s have changed so much since then. Most larger towns had at least one, two, or even more rail customers with sidings. Now it's just a single main track going through town. The buildings in some places might still be there but the sidings are long gone and rail side loading doors sealed up. I like researching where smaller industries and spurs were once located along the tracks, looking for structural remains as you mentioned.
Grew up along the tracks. In Barnes City we called the train "The Doodle bug" I can barely remember when they included a passenger coach with the train.
Fantastic footage. I actually learned some things. I grew up along the ‘Southwestern’ line in Northwest Illinois. I assumed that was the only MILW line through Ottumwa enroute to Kansas City. I also lived in Springville, IA for a time. I had no idea the branch off the main was anything more than a line through Springville and Stone City. Thanks for posting this.
sunk in the mud . worse than an old industrial track thats been unused for about ten years . I like looking at the old Mopars you guy's drove back then . 1969 Plymouth Fury at 4:40 .
We had a branch line just about like this where I grew up in South Carolina back in the late 60's. It was a branch line that ran from Rockingham, NC to Bennettsville, SC. But the interesting part was the line from Rockingham to Gibson, SC was owned by the Rockingham Railroad, but the Gibson SC to Bennettsville SC was owned by the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad which didn't want to operate it, so they did a lease with the Rockingham RR to work the line to Bennettsville since SCL didn't want to. Since the Rockingham had no locomotive or caboose, they leased both from the SCL, so most people thought it was the SCL, but actually it was the Rockingham. Yes, the tracks were weedy like this, and the roadbed was laid out in a mainly sandy right of way, since that area was known as the sandhills. And believe it or not, the usual motive power was a SW8 just like the Rock Island used in this film! Sadly, the line has been gone since the early 70's, but what memories...
Just like a lot of the Milwaukee Roads little branch lines. the small jointed rail , were fine back in those days when cars and locomotives were lighter . Car's got bigger and heavier locomotives as well . this branch would've had to be completely rebuilt with heavier duty bridges , bigger rail ect. ect. Not cost effective for a Broke Railroad .
What a great film ❗❗👍👍we had 9 r.r
In MSP in1949...I would go out of my way to study,walk, enjoy branch lines around stpaul,mostly we had many sidings in the cities,every 3 blocks,serving business,really had fun watching your 1971 film and thank👍
This is an incredible documentation of classic midwestern branchline railroading; the video work is amazing for 1971! Thank you for bringing the 'good ol days' back to life!
As I watch these videos, I pause at the towns and switch over to Google Maps and Google Street View to see what's left. In most locations the right of way is nearly gone - turned into a road, a farm field, or built over. Sometimes I have to consult the historic aerial website to even find where the track went through a town because the former right of way is completely unrecognizable and the industries served are gone!
Did the same and experienced the same. Amazing how even small towns can change in a 50 years span. Sometimes, there is just a hint of where industries where, like a lone concrete bulk oil tank support, or a run down corrugated steel clad feed and seed warehouse with loading doors 3' feet above ground level.
@@MP-oh5eoYes, towns I rode through on train excursions back in the 1960s and '70s have changed so much since then. Most larger towns had at least one, two, or even more rail customers with sidings. Now it's just a single main track going through town. The buildings in some places might still be there but the sidings are long gone and rail side loading doors sealed up. I like researching where smaller industries and spurs were once located along the tracks, looking for structural remains as you mentioned.
Grew up along the tracks. In Barnes City we called the train "The Doodle bug" I can barely remember when they included a passenger coach with the train.
Fantastic footage. I actually learned some things. I grew up along the ‘Southwestern’ line in Northwest Illinois. I assumed that was the only MILW line through Ottumwa enroute to Kansas City. I also lived in Springville, IA for a time. I had no idea the branch off the main was anything more than a line through Springville and Stone City. Thanks for posting this.
Incredible
sunk in the mud . worse than an old industrial track thats been unused for about ten years . I like looking at the old Mopars you guy's drove back then . 1969 Plymouth Fury at 4:40 .
We had a branch line just about like this where I grew up in South Carolina back in the late 60's. It was a branch line that ran from Rockingham, NC to Bennettsville, SC. But the interesting part was the line from Rockingham to Gibson, SC was owned by the Rockingham Railroad, but the Gibson SC to Bennettsville SC was owned by the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad which didn't want to operate it, so they did a lease with the Rockingham RR to work the line to Bennettsville since SCL didn't want to. Since the Rockingham had no locomotive or caboose, they leased both from the SCL, so most people thought it was the SCL, but actually it was the Rockingham.
Yes, the tracks were weedy like this, and the roadbed was laid out in a mainly sandy right of way, since that area was known as the sandhills. And believe it or not, the usual motive power was a SW8 just like the Rock Island used in this film! Sadly, the line has been gone since the early 70's, but what memories...
The Rockingham was gone way before my time but all the photos I've seen of it are fascinating
Holy Crap those guys were moving!
LOL They sped up the Camera it's 10 mph or slower
@@bradhardy2629 Nope...i work for the railroad, that guy is doing at least 15-20 depending on location.
What is the story with the speeder following the train?
I think that's probably the track inspector. By following the train he knows where it is at all times!
@@andybrown1539 Thought that might be the case, but thought could be something else too.
Just like a lot of the Milwaukee Roads little branch lines. the small jointed rail , were fine back in those days when cars and locomotives were lighter . Car's got bigger and heavier locomotives as well . this branch would've had to be completely rebuilt with heavier duty bridges , bigger rail ect. ect. Not cost effective for a Broke Railroad .