Index
1. "A tale of three Bridges - New Jersey"
2. "A rail journey pt. 2"
3. "N.E. Pennsylvania pt. 3"
4. "Minot, North Dakota GN-BN-BNSF pt. 4 Post 1"
5. "Minot, North Dakota GN-BN-BNSF pt. 4 Post 2"
6. "Great Northern's Class R's compared to SP MC-1's"
7. "Great Northern's Class O's compared to PRR's L-1's"
8. "The Whyte Classification System"
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After 3 weeks of posting something different, I thought I'd write the back story of my layout.
On September 18, 1889, James J. Hill changes the name of the Minneapolis & St. Cloud Railway (a railroad which existed primarily on paper, but which held very extensive land grants throughout the Midwest and Pacific Northwest), to the Great Northern Railway.
In 1903 the GN purchases the D&RGW for 5.7 Million and builds from Havre, Mt. to Ogden, Utah. Allowing the GN to reach Los Angeles via trackage rights, with the UP on the line from Ogden to La. No other changes are made.
1964, The Great Northern restores four steam locomotives for preservation. A 2-6-2, 2-8-2, 4-8-4 & a 2-8-8-2 .
65 years later, late in Dec 1968 after the merger of the Pennsylvania Railroad & the New York Central Railroad. In a hostile take over, the Great Northern buys the Penn Central Railroad and reinstates the name & Reporting mark for the PRR. The NYC is cut from the merger, and allowed to die, but GN takes the line to Boston, Massachusetts.
On paper only, the reporting mark is now GNRP. All equip. is repainted to their former colors, road numbers & markings.
On the 1st of Jan 1969 a General order is issued by the parent company. 69-1.1 stating that all power units will carry the Big Sky Blue side boards, of the parent company. All other markings are to remain, and be maintained. Becoming the worlds largest class I railway. No other changes occur in 1969. All other railroads remain the same.
In 1980 Amtrak is formed (in name only, to operate passenger service) to remove stress on freight crews. All named trains remain under their original names, and paint colors. All Passenger cars remain the property of the railroads. High standards are maintained by the railroads. Prompting the companies to order new passenger cars.
69-1.1-A Identifying power Units of the GNRP.
1. Parent Co. Units - Big Sky Blue sideboard with 1970's Herald only.
2. D&RGW Units. - First third of side board (1). Second third Black D&RGW Herald. Last third Tuscan red & PRR Herald.
3. PRR Units - First third of side board (1). Second third Black D&RGW Herald. Last third Tuscan red & PRR Herald.
For #'s 2 & 3 Only, A gold border will be placed around the herald only.
Five years later, the FRA and the DOT mandates that PTC (positive Train Control) must be put into place and fully operational by the end of 1989. The GNRP is the first to comply with the mandate, and ahead of the deadline. PTC goes fully operational by July of 1988 on the GNRP. Both Safety and all traffic increases. So much so, that all rolling stock gets replaced.
2000 The FRA mandates that all passenger traffic be seperated from freight lines on dedicated rails, by a 15 mile distance, except in urban areas. Where they must be no closer than 1 mile. The GNRP works out a quick solution, by quad-tracking all of their trackage. Allowing for 4 trains to run in each direction. Completing it's track work in 2014. Six years ahead of schedule.
April 2015 The FRA mandates that all crews are only allowed to work 6 hours, and have a required rest period of 18 hours.
Feb 2016 awaiting delivery of 1,800 new ES44AH's & ES44DC's for the GNRP. 300 units for each line.
As of 13 Feb 2016 GNRP is divided into 13 divisions grouped into 3 regions.
Region Division State/Provinces Headquartered Subdivisions
North Montana Montana, North Dakota,
Wyoming Billings, Mt. Big Sandy, Broadview, Casper,
Choteau, Circle, Cody, Colstrip,
Dickinson, Fairfield, Forsyth,
Ft. Benton, Glasgow, Great Falls,
Grenora, Helena,Hettinger,
Hi Line, Kootenai River, Laurel,
Lewistown, Milk River, Mobridge,
Niobe, Sarpy Line, Sweet Grass,
Valier.
North Twin Cities Iowa, Manitoba, Minneapolis, MN Aberdeen, Allouez, Appleton,
Minnesota, Nebraska, Brainerd, Browns Valley, Canton,
North Dakota, South Casco, Clifford Line, Corson,
Dakota, Wisconsin Devils Lake, Drayton, Grand
Forks, Hanley Falls,Hannah, Hib-
Tac, Hillsboro, Hinckley, Hunter,
Jamestown, KO, Lakes, Madison,
Marshall, Mayville, Midway,
Mitchell, Monticello, Moorehead,
Morris, Noyes, P Line, Prosper,
Rolla, Staples, St. Paul, Warwick,
Watertown, Wayzata, Westhope,
Zap Line.
Note:
Northern [Twin Cities] Transcon subs From East to West
Chicago sub
Chicago, IL to Aurora, IL
Aurora sub
Aurora, IL to La Crosse, WI
La Crosse sub
La Crosse, WI to St. Croix Jct.
Joint CP-GNRP sub
St. Croix Jct. to St. Paul, MN
Midway/St. Paul sub
St. Paul, MN to Minneapolis, MN*
Staples sub
Minneapolis, MN to Dilworth, MN
KO sub
Dilworth, MN to Minot, ND**
Glasgow sub
Minot, ND to Glasgow, MT
Milk River sub
Glasgow, MT to Havre, MT***
Hi Line sub
Havre, MT to Whitefish, MT
Kootenai River sub
Whitefish, MT to Sandpoint, ID
Spokane sub
Sandpoint, ID to Spokane, WA****
* Major classification yard (Northtown) & repair facility
** Major classification yard (Gavin) & repair facility
*** repair facility
****Major classification yard & Build & repair shops (Hillyard)
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Direct Seattle Route:
Spokane sub
Spokane, Wa
Columbia River sub
Spokane, Wa to Wenatchee, WA
Scenic sub
Wenatchee, Wa to Seattle, WA #
# Major classification yard (Interbay)
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Portland-Seattle Route:
Spokane sub
Spokane, WA
Lakeside sub
Spokane, WA to Pasco, WA
Fallbridge sub
Pasco, Wa to Portland, OR
Seattle sub
Vancouver, Wa to Seattle
Future topics perhaps, Division listings,Yards & Facilities??
Charlie
