Triple Headed Steam!

Don C. · **Posted:** Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:33 pm

The Grand Canyon tripleheader featured the 18, 4960 and 3751.

The Saturday trip was not tripleheaded in order to turn 261 properly to go home. It actually turned it improperly. The Muscatine/Fruitland trips turned the QJ improperly for the Monday freight train. What to do.....? Sunday night, after the return of the Fruitland trips with the QJs, the three locomotives were coupled together.......261 facing west and the two QJs facing east. They moved from under the Centennial Bridge and over to the IAIS yard in Rock Island. After clearing onto the IAIS, the reversed direction with 261 now leading and headed over the Government Bridge. They moved to the old "Golden State" connection track and down to the West Davenport yard on the IC&E. At this location. they reversed direction again and with the QJ's leading the way, operated up the west leg of the wye at West Bridge Junction (Crescent Bridge) and out onto the westernmost spans of the bridge. BNSF did not want the 261 on the moveable span of the bridge so this roundabout routing was the only one that could be used. 261 lead the parade around the east leg of the wye, the QJs lead briefly back to W. Davenport yard and 261 lead through Davenport and back over the Government Bridge. Once back to the IAIS yard, the trio reversed and pulled down the trackage to the old DRI&NW yard under the Centennial Bridge.

There will be a quiz later on...........

Don C.

johnacraft · **Joined:** Thu Aug 26, 2004 2:53 pm **Posts:** 660

Don C. wrote:

They moved from under the Centennial Bridge and over to the IAIS yard in Rock Island. After clearing onto the IAIS, the reversed direction with 261 now leading and headed over the Government Bridge. They moved to the old "Golden State" connection track and down to the West Davenport yard on the IC&E. At this location. they reversed direction again and with the QJ's leading the way, operated up the west leg of the wye at West Bridge Junction (Crescent Bridge) and out onto the westernmost spans of the bridge. BNSF did not want the 261 on the moveable span of the bridge so this roundabout routing was the only one that could be used. 261 lead the parade around the east leg of the wye, the QJs lead briefly back to W. Davenport yard and 261 lead through Davenport and back over the Government Bridge. Once back to the IAIS yard, the trio reversed and pulled down the trackage to the old DRI&NW yard under the Centennial Bridge.

Don C.

Don, admit it. Y'all got lost, and like typical guys, refused to admit it or ask for directions.

JAC

Don C. · **Posted:** Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:20 pm

John,
It was quite a chore all weekend to remember what order the train was in and where we were going. I rode 6988's cab to the wye and I rode the top of the tender tank on the return. It was surreal with the three big locomotives coupled together. At least all of the engineers were on the same side on this tripleheader!

Don C.

Steam · **Posted:** Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:24 am

There was a steam triple-header operated at Clark's White Mountain Central RR in Lincoln, NH this past weekend during Railfan Day events there.

The WMC Climax, Heisler and ex-EB&L 2-4-2T ran a full train to the end of the line and back. Quite a sight (as well as sound) treat!

Warren · **Posted:** Thu Sep 21, 2006 10:38 pm

Found these videos while perusing through youtube of the tripleheader trip

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=steam+triple+header&search=Search