I'm going to assume the reason why there weren't any hobos in any of the empty boxcars is because they figured they would get to wherever they were going faster if they got out and walked.

This video taught me that in addition to watching gleaming new trains speeding by at 300kph, and the mechanical ballet of old steam engines chugging past, I also enjoy watching well-worn trains creeping by at 2mph hoping every second they don't derail or tip over ...

@theshootingstars5192

2 жыл бұрын

What’s the point of having seriously beat up Trains travel on beat up and rusty tracks

@frencusmcguire8547

Жыл бұрын

@@theshootingstars5192 more money into politician's pockets, thats the only point

@user-oo9vu9ee8p

11 ай бұрын

@@theshootingstars5192 the economic benifits

Operation Lifesaver: Look, Listen and don't stay on the tracks for more than half an hour, or this thing might sneak up on you.

@firefaiting Subscribe and you'll get more videos of this line right on your KZread homepage! Thanks for watching!

A good question to ponder is how does this particular railroad keep engineers on the payroll? One trip down this line would be all I could take.

@dangeary2134

Жыл бұрын

Before the Milwaukee Road went defunct, I rode with the crew as a late teen. It’s a love for the rails, no less. The ride was rough, no doubt. However, most of the time was spent on the ground operating switches, uncoupling cars, or connecting air lines. There was not a lot of time running the mainline. I actually felt sorry for the Way Freight guys, They were on that rough track for a lot more hours!

@jaysmith1408

8 ай бұрын

A day’s pay to go across town? Sign me up. It’s a very lovely twenty minute drive otherwise.

Lots of comments taking potshots at the condition of the rail and roadbed. Fair enough. The physical plant certainly needs attention. But what folks forget is that if it weren't for this shortline filling in for a reluctant class 1, the customers on this line would go out of business. And we are finding out just how many stranded rail customers there are after all of the mergers over the years. Kudos to the shortlines that continue to provide service to the low volume/ "single car" customers.

8:10 Look out, kitty cat! I mean, you have time of course, no rush.

2:07 There's no way that's part of their line. The rails aren't melting into spaghetti.

I agree with a few railfans here. I'd love to see more videos like this instead of brand new locomotives on a maiden run doing 70 mph. Some day I'll luck out and catch a B36-7 / GP9 struggling up a 2.5% grade with all the great effects that go with it! Seen it once before, but didn't think about recording them. B36-7 running LHF and the geep facing forward, a crew for each locomotive. It sounded beautiful.

wonderful film even though the state of repairs are badly needed - thanks 4 posting my friend

Loved the video Jason especially the Tressel Bridge. Thought the tracks by your house were bad this seems much worse.

The grain elevators and food warehouses served by the line. The difference between rail rates and truck rates is huge. As long as the products arrive, what does the customer care that the last few miles were taken at a low speed?

Engaging video, very well done and thoroughly enjoyed!

I'm surprised that those uneven rails don't cause the whole train to tip over

DelayInBlock, big thank you for the in-depth description. That's a different kind of railroading there. Wow. ...it would be smoother if they ran on temporary panel track instead.

Kitty Cat purposefully walking down the track: "Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave, you are filming in an unauthorized area, and it is not safe for you to remain here."

Shot fantastically! love this!

I've seen worse. But great video! I love to see old rarely used tracks like this.

Nice video! Sure would love to see this short line. Also glad to seee an old IC gal still working too!

1:47 We give you the world most extreme lawn mower. Blade not included.

Neat video, the MAW is a great railroad I just hope they get their track in better shape! Nice video like I said I love seeing video's of this railroad

I have to admire the patience of the engineers to crawl along the rails like that. Reminds me of some of the old TP&W track around Bushnell and Good Hope, IL.

Conrail was an incredible success story. It certainly did not fail. Amtrak is taxpayer funded, as are most passenger railroads throughout the world. I definitely do not use the word lucky to describe the incredible work performed by individuals in our industry. In North America we move incredible tonnage over long distances and we have done so profitably for decades. In most cases these railroads are privately owned and not taxpayer funded.

@jaysmith1408

8 ай бұрын

The breakup of Conrail was a bloody disaster however. If the nation had the eastern railroads in their sole control, a major hurdle in continued passenger service would not exist. A key route that went through my old town (and two state capitals) was removed in the breakup. Many state’s entire systems are in shambles post Conrail.

Great video, loved the close ups and side views of the EMD. That cat must be used to getting his paws massaged by the vibrations in the rails.

@DelayInBlock ooh please make more vids of this kind of railroads, i love them. it's just amazing to see those trains still running on the bad track.

@MrSuperCargile Thanks man! And thank you for your help! I really appreciate it!

Every day that engineer takes the longest trip of his life

@metraF40PH163 Thank you for the clarification.

How are they in operation?

Enjoyed the video! What companies are customers on this line....where do all of the boxcars go?

That black diesel @ 2:15 has remains of the "Operation Lifesaver" logo on it... I guess this line really needs OP Lifesaver; nobody would want to wait for their trains to pass the crossing!! :)

The odds of a truck driver dying on the interstate are much higher than the odds one of these crewmen is injured in a 10mph accident. Do you propose removing all trucks from the highway?

I've only seen bits and pieces of this line in person....and even then it was years ago. However, from what I did see you are right. I doubt there's a stretch on the entire line I would take at more than 10mph. I wish them well. Hope they can make a go of it in the long run.

It may be really bad but, it's a railroad and I'd still love to work on it.

I think that could have been the slowest train i have ever seen! Fantastic footage!

Looks like it is due for a track replacement.... Like 10 years ago...

@hifijohn

7 жыл бұрын

more like 30 years ago!!!

@erikmcc804

7 жыл бұрын

do I hear ,,50 years ago

What an eye opener!

It runs daily during the work week Mon-Fri between Defiance and Napoleon, OH.

WHOAH!!! Those tracks are all buckled, never seen anything like that before

@jfybby2 Yes, I believe so. I have only fanned this line twice, so I'm not 100% familiar with it myself. For the most part, it parallels US 24 out of Defiance.

This is not a railroad. This is a shitroad

You've heard of the Leaning Tower of Pisa? This is the Leaning Locomotive of Ohio!

The cat was probably going faster than the train. What the hell is keeping that locomotive on the tracks.

The crews who operate the trains should be given a medal for the safe operation of the trains and the owners fined heavily until the run is repaired!!!!!!

8:35 you had a buddy!

Actually, they’re a 55-mile shortline with 4 locomotives. They keep one in Woodburn (usually, or Cecil) and another up in Napoleon. I can’t believe you uploaded 22 minutes of video to KZread, that had to take forever, especially considering this is pretty good definition!

@becauseisaidso15 well said. Instead of criticizing the operators of this line for running on bad track, you congratulate them for attempting to save a low density line. Not many people understand that part of this business. Most think a few men in a corporate office somewhere are making big bucks by cutting back on maintenance. When in reality, as you point out, they are trying to increase business and salvage rail service to small communities.

The Southern Pacific had the same problems on the Stratford Branch here in Central California. Their theory was at the time: "Don't fix it til it derails" their delayed maintenance program. By comparison the Santa Fe when they had branch lines and divisional main lines, used to keep them up to class one mainline standards. They did so until the lines were sold in 1992 and sadly those tracks were the first pulled out by the SJVR. keeping SP's old junky lines instead, Mike in Fresno, Ca

Guys, this IS the reality of shortline railroading in America. Most of them are old branch lines bought from Class I's and II's that were on the block to be abandoned. Most shortlines have track very similar to this. Those cars make a couple hundred bucks each for the railroad. Out of that you have to pay crews for train ops, engine maint., car maint., track maint., signal maint., office staff, plus fuel costs and a host of other expenses. Not a lot left in that pie for rebuilding track.

Great video I can't beleave how bad the rail is.

This isn't just a US vs UK issue. It's principally the UK and Western Europe vs the rest of the world issue. Europe and the UK in general has driven most of the freight hauled to the highways. In the Americas low speed branchlines are far, far more common and are used for short distant movements of freight. Saves the environment and wear/tear on the highways.

@jaysmith1408

8 ай бұрын

I drove truck in the Midwest, actually surrounding this area, and I always questioned why I’d be doing a run, when it could very easily be run by train. Honestly would love to be replaced by rail service. There is no need for dozens of trucks to be running between two points served by the same rail line.

The "shortline" takes the cars from the customers on the branchline and turns it over to the large "Class I" railroads for a long distant haul. For example, grain moved over this line moves to NS where they in turn take the product hundreds of miles to the feed mills in the SouthEast. Therefore hundreds of trucks are taken off the road.

The Operation Lifesaver logo was painted on the locomotive by the Illinois Central locomotive before it was purchased by the Maumee and Western. They never got around to painting their engines, except for "MAW" painted under the side windows on most of them.

Great video! Keep shooting this train and I'm sure sooner or later you'll catch a derailment as it happens! We used to have a stretch of freight track in my town, Wakefield MA, that would've given this a run for its money. About one 6 car freight train per week would slowly (5-10 mph) cautiously pick its way down the track. It was always a sight to see..there were frequent derailments, but as it looks like is the case with this, the cost of rerailing a boxcar is cheaper than laying new track!

In the US, CN and MX when a line is no longer profitable it can be sold by the "big" railroads to local communities or operators who try to save it and win traffic back. For lines like this one where the traffic is low rated ag products there just isn't much to work with. They can be hard or impossible to save. Fortunately derailments are at very low speed and "usually" not that expensive to rerail. I hope they can succeed..

There's something intriguing about this video. Didn't think I'd make it all the way through. "Too boring", I thought. But after a while it became a quest, a chivalrus enterprise to see if the thing would get home okay. Breathed a sigh of relief, too.

I couldn't help see the ironic humor at about 10:47 where it shows the sign on the front of the engine, "Always Be Careful".

If I ever am in the area, I will make it a point to get out and shoot. Some photos from this line have already made their way to a few of the railfan boards, they are becoming quite a celebrity in the railroad community

Unbelievable!!! That is awesome, I bet those guys are expert re-railers. :)

The Geep isn't struggling to pull its consist; just going slowly due to the bad track condition, as you pointed out!

@jaysmith1408

8 ай бұрын

It could be run with a Plymouth (if they could find one)

17:07 The speed sensor on the second axle journal-box has no cable. Not that they really need it.

@fotaugrafee Does "the guy" own this line...or is it still under lease through the Thoroughbred program?

if this is the track next to US24 (anthony-wayne trail)? in the past i have seen freight cars just lined up for miles with openings at intersections, not being used. believe they were car carriers. is this the same track? if so, will have to check it out on my way home to MI from MO!

Well said.

There's a thing under the video called a. "Description." Now, this is just a wild guess, but I think that may be a good place to find your answer.

Where the HELL!!!! are the wooden railroad ties?!?!!!! This should be illegal ! Major violation of safety Total negligence! 🤬🤯🤬😡

Love this video!! It allows you to really soak up the scenery!! Love those storm clouds!!

This is a great example of motivated people. The tracks aren't good. They don't have the best cars. Engines are old. BUT they are still in business because they are ready for the hard work! In the future, if they tear out the tracks and put in new ones. I would love to see them fly! P.S. Great video! Keep up the good work!

On the trains, what logo is that? I've seen pictures with that similar logo in train archive books. The latest one that i saw was from 1980

That cat was moving faster than the train lol. Cool video tho!

The sad part about most of this line is that the roadbed just sucks up ballast. There are a lot of these lines out east that boast of a hastily built roadbed that just can't take continued pounding.

i think the train is trying to tell you "GET AWAY FROM THERE WHO KNOWS WHEN THIS THING IS GOING TO FALL OVER"

You should see it by the canning plant, one side of the track sags in many places and one of the Sleeper boards is SNAPPED IN HALF!

I'm watching, and feeling seasick.

not as bad as a story i heard. They placed some cars on a spur and left them they were on the track. Wgen an engine returned to move them off, the cars were on the ground. Standing still derailments!

How do they even operate trains in such a horrible condition? I wonder how many derailments there have been.

this must bee the nearest thing to a off-road track that a train will ever see....

I was a conductor on this railroad for a short time the yard was located at this time in Defiance Ohio we had a runaway engine take off on us it was chased down and stopped I will never for get it and yes the tracks were in terrible shape.

Ten years later and I'll bet their not any better

Wow. Amazing solution. I'm sure the operators never thought of that.

Would make a good location for " Mythbusters " crew to do a show. How about placing a couple of wired up Buster Dummies inside of 2 Hyrailers and doing a heads on at 25 MPH?

This is just what eastern railroads in the late 60s and early 70s were like

Quitting your job after a week. That would be good as you would never make a real railroader. This does not show how fast our infrastructure is crumbling at all. Most of the rail system in the US is incredibly efficient, profitable and hauls massive tonnage. This is just a branchline with little traffic that some people are trying to save.

That's actually in pretty decent shape for a branch line. There is far worse out there still in service.

It's in operation because no one else will provide much needed and vital transportation services to the regions that this short line railroad serves. You have to admire a company stepping up and providing a service like that. That track looks worse than it does, but that doesn't discount the fact that it definitely needs some TLC.

I agree with about everything you said. (Except for the fast money with no investment part. Low density short line railroads absolutely DO NOT make fast money). And I definitely would hesitate locating a factory or rail dependent business on that particular branch. On the other hand keep in mind the reason that line is in that shape is neglect by a "big company". The small company is trying to salvage it.

Great job, now we all know that you fail to read video descriptions.

UPDATE: In 2017 MAW would sell the ex Illinois Central Unit to RMEX in Connersville, IN but it's classic Black Deathstar Scheme was beginning to rust and turn to Brown it still remains in Connersville as of Today.

@DelayInBlockProductions

8 ай бұрын

Morning

08;51 LOL @ the cat!

FRA Excepted Track (which is the kind you see in this video) only needs to have a certain amount of new rail-ties & plates put in every so often as the FRA deems necessary. So it's nothing special. Rail maintenance is expensive, especially for a short-line. They have to pinch pennies. Not to mention seen it's FRA Excepted Track, and they can only transport up to 5 hazardous material cars at a time.

The cat at 8:16 on the video, was that maybe from the Chessie railroad?

You are absolutly right, I prefer a company that invests something to satisfy their costumers and believe me in this world are more small companies that have a better reputation than this here!!!!

In the UK the line would have been abandoned decades ago. The freight would be roaring up and down your roadways polluting the air and adding to congestion. In North America we give entrepreneaurs the opportunity to try and save the lines. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't

This track needs a lot more than a tamper. It needs trainloads of ballast. And the roadbed beneath the track is basically "soft". Once you start dumping ballast and begin tamping, you can literally "tamp" your way to China. Throughout the world many early railroads were hastily built and no one envisioned 280,000 pound cars back in the 1800's. The same can be said for the North American highway system with heavy trucks. Now many lines don't have the basic roadbed needed for heavy cars.

"You know," said Arthur with a slight cough, "if this is Southend, there's something very odd about it ..." "You mean the way the sea stays steady and the buildings keep washing up and down?" said Ford. "Yes I thought that was odd too."

8:10-I never believed that tracks get that warped and trains still drive on them, but slowly. I'd probably get seasick riding in one of those 'rocking' trains. Those tracks aren't maintained, period!

It's overgrown and not replaced as the cars moving over this line are too few to fund the weedspray and track repairs necessary to improve the line.

You gotta wonder, why would a hazardous cargo rail car derail if the railroad it was operating on doesn't carry hazardous cargo in the first place?

@fotaugrafee Thanks. I haven't railroaded out east in a while. Jim McClellan who was a big advocate of the Thoroughbred Programs just released a book. I normally don't read railroad books, but might make an exception in this case.

Clarification: Those rails can be bent to the side as well if they are bent at the same angle allowing the train to stay on the tracks like a mini curve if you will.