One of the things I like to do in Open Rails, is go back and resurrect activities and routes from several years ago. Bob Edwards developed and published the "Troop Train 1967 EB" activity in 2015 for Bob Wirth's Needles sub. Once I started I realized that Mr. Edwards had created a multipart activity that span several of Mr. Wirth's routes for the ATSF. So I created a "mini-routed" dubbed ATSF and loaded the Needles sub into it. Added the activity and then proceeded to find/fix all the equipment needed to run the routes. The "readme's" indicated that Bob Edwards had included updated wag's for the equipment, however they were not included in the activity zip. So modifications of the consists, along with some occasional substitutions fixed all the consists and we were ready. A Description of the activity...."Troop Train 1967 EB. Another fast paced run across the Mojave Desert on Bob Wirth's Needles Sub. Leaving Barstow "light" you will go a few miles to the extensive Marine Corps Depot and pick up a Top Secret load of M-26 tanks specially configured for desert warfare. Set in May of 1967, when Israel was surrounded by Arab armies, your train may help stop a Middle East war." So here's a short video of the activity in Actions!! Thanks to Bob Edwards, and Bob Wirth. (Having downloaded all of Mr. Wirth's Routes, I'll have to work on the next segment). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wLAKGgeYFE
-
-
Troop Train 1967 EB Part 2
After a crew change in Needles, the Troop train is on the Seligman Sub, headed to Winslow. Description: Take a load of Marine tanks from Needles, CA to Winslow, AZ. Bob Wirth's Seligman Sub with one 50 mile steep grade and a second at 38 miles just as bad.
-
Troop train now in Ft. Wingate, NM. It looks like the troops have all had a good night sleep and some hot food for breakfast. A bit unusual for the Army to be taking care of the Marines, but then there are not any Marine post out here in New Mexico. Time to check your engines, and get this train moving. You should make it to Belen within a couple of hours. There will be another crew change there. In addition to that, the Marine Brigade Commander, Colonel Jason Walker, looked over the tanks last evening. It's his command that the train does not exceed 70 MPH as possible even though track speeds may be higher. This was affirmed by the Santa Fe Head Office. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-Eg7MYV60AComment
-
After the requisite crew change in Belen, the troop train continues it's eastward journey on the Clovis Sub. In 1967, the train would be routed to Fort Worth, TX, where the Texas Pacific Railroad would have taken over for delivery to Sheveport, LA. The Illinois Central would have taken the train to Meridian, MS where it would be turned over to the Southern Railroad. Southern would have taken the train to either Moorehead City or Camp Lejeune, NC depending upon where the ship would pick up the Marines Armor Brigade. it's been fun and I've now got 4 of Bob Wirth's ATSF's routes installed. till next time.
Amtrak115 .... Out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tVEIzYGjfYComment
Comment