From ktjosephson at embarqmail.com  Thu Sep  2 11:45:20 2010
From: ktjosephson at embarqmail.com (Ken and Tracie)
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 08:45:20 -0700
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Anniversary
Message-ID: <96F5F2A1A6C94533B53BC1680BDA9D59@KTJosephson>

Sixty years ago today, some of you lost friends in a tragic accident on the Hales Corner line.
If you wish, please share your thoughts and memories.


From DLeistikow at webtv.net  Thu Sep  2 12:27:12 2010
From: DLeistikow at webtv.net (Don L. Leistikow)
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 11:27:12 -0500
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary
In-Reply-To: "Ken and Tracie" <ktjosephson@embarqmail.com>'s message of Thu, 2 Sep 2010 08:45:20 -0700
Message-ID: <28551-4C7FD060-4603@storefull-3171.bay.webtv.net>

Ken:   Slight correction.... it's Hales Corners..... not Corner.
Interesing idea, though.                                                     

Lou Rugani did a telephone interview over Kenosha's WLIT Radio with me,
yesterday, all about the 1950 Labor Day Accident.  He did not remember
that the anniversary was today, September 2nd.     

I don't know if they have a recording of that conversation, or not.  You
could ask him via the internet.  That interview would be worthy of
posting on your website.        

Incidently, for a number of years now, I've been unable to download your
website.  I get the home page... and nothing more.     

Don



From ktjosephson at embarqmail.com  Thu Sep  2 12:44:07 2010
From: ktjosephson at embarqmail.com (Ken and Tracie)
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 09:44:07 -0700
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary
References: <28551-4C7FD060-4603@storefull-3171.bay.webtv.net>
Message-ID: <462E638B5EB04D25BFBDA45223360D95@KTJosephson>

Typo on my part, Don, i.e., omitting the "s".

I never made the time to revamp the website for slower servers. I will need 
help with that. Plus there is a technical glitch on Earthlink's end, keeping 
me from adding new pages. I have a great article from Rick Murphy and a 
bunch of
Before and After pix, courtesy of Larry Allan.

Problem is, I need to add individual pages for each of the large photo 
files, accessed through the "thumbnails", rather than having all the files 
on each page. Each photo would have its own "page" so the thumbnails load 
quickly and you can see them all as an index.

Somebody sent me a great description of the school one of the Curvesiders 
was passing and I lost that info in an e-mail "crash" before I could save 
it.

I wanted to post strictly text pages for those of you who lived through the 
TM/MRT&S/M&ST eras to share your stories and history.

I still wonder how much longer Jay and Ed could have kept Speedrail going, 
even without any wrecks. Dare I say that perhaps letting the Hales Corner 
line be abandoned and concentrating on Milwaukee-Waukesha service may have 
been the best course?

K.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don L. Leistikow" <DLeistikow at webtv.net>
To: <milwaukee-electric at lists.dementia.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2010 9:27 AM
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary


> Ken:   Slight correction.... it's Hales Corners..... not Corner.
> Interesing idea, though.
>
> Lou Rugani did a telephone interview over Kenosha's WLIT Radio with me,
> yesterday, all about the 1950 Labor Day Accident.  He did not remember
> that the anniversary was today, September 2nd.
>
> I don't know if they have a recording of that conversation, or not.  You
> could ask him via the internet.  That interview would be worthy of
> posting on your website.
>
> Incidently, for a number of years now, I've been unable to download your
> website.  I get the home page... and nothing more.
>
> Don
>
> 



From DLeistikow at webtv.net  Thu Sep  2 17:00:44 2010
From: DLeistikow at webtv.net (Don L. Leistikow)
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 16:00:44 -0500
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary
In-Reply-To: "Ken and Tracie" <ktjosephson@embarqmail.com>'s message of Thu, 2 Sep 2010 09:44:07 -0700
Message-ID: <19995-4C80107C-2516@storefull-3172.bay.webtv.net>

Ken:   Thanks.... and you did the Corner, again.   I do much of that
type of thing and it goes out incorrectly.   That's when I'm in a hurr
otherwise, I proof read my outgoing messaging.  Make your website
improvements, when you can.  Just plan ahead and do frist things, first.                  

As to the Curvesider with a school in the background, sounds like 76th
street, car is ont the bridge and is eastbound.  Many photos taken
there, even back in the 1100 era.   The School would be a part of the
Catholic St. Pius complex, all sat on the west side pf 76th.  Camera
would be shooting NW.   I likely have a Slide of that very same photo.                                      

Had the accident not happened.... the ridership was strong on both
Waukesha and HC lines.  LRT service (MKE-WJ) was indeed a third service
on those tracks.   Jay M and Ed T, had personal differences as to how to
run the Railroad.  Jay wanted to acquire the WJ - HC lines and ET
protested that their income by providing those services for The
Transport Company was stronger than what would be available, if
'they'bought it.  Jay, wanted all of the property at any cost.        

So, it comes to light that KMCL became a subsidary of Northkland
Greyhound. and they owned only the Waukesha line, WJ west.  The service
however, was perfored by The Transport Company.  So..... when the
rear-end collisiion took place at Soldiers Home, The Transport Company's
1143 was legally operated by TMER&T whereas, the 1119 car was oerated by
the NorthLand Greyhound - KMCL enterprise. 

As Jay Maeder had been lobbying to purchase the remaining RTLines, a way
out was apparent to TM and Greyhound.  As Bill Schwerin once told me...
that the combine, mainly The Transport Company, would have done anything
for JM, at any cost, just to exit the entire situation.   JM was too
quick to realize his dream of owning the RTL and he jumped at the chance
to get it.  He could have had all of the rolling stock getting a GOH
before the servcie began.                                          

JM could have had more than a couple pieces of candy, he could have had
the whole bag full.                                   


fwiw.... Don
  



From sbgreig_m1 at yahoo.com  Thu Sep  2 17:16:11 2010
From: sbgreig_m1 at yahoo.com (Scott Greig)
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:16:11 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary
In-Reply-To: <19995-4C80107C-2516@storefull-3172.bay.webtv.net>
Message-ID: <836104.18654.qm@web65502.mail.ac4.yahoo.com>

Indeed Maeder was too eager to have the Rapid Transit...when I read that Maeder had wound up taking on all the liabilities for the Soldiers Home wreck when he bought the company for $100, I marveled at how he could have made such a boneheaded move.? Several years ago, a friend who actually interviewed Maeder several times in the 1950s quoted what he had to say about those terms: "I wanted it...they knew it...and that was the only way they'd sell it to me".
?
During the period of divided ownership of the service...was the passenger equipment all owned by KMCL, or was it divided up with TMER&T?
?
Ironically, I think the acquisition of the Local RT service and HC line from TMER&T not only hurt them financially, but also operationally.? Wasn't it shortly after the service contract for?local and HC service?ended that TMER&T "recalled" a lot of experienced crewmen back from Speedrail?
?
Scott.
--- On Thu, 9/2/10, Don L. Leistikow <DLeistikow at webtv.net> wrote:


From: Don L. Leistikow <DLeistikow at webtv.net>
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary
To: milwaukee-electric at lists.dementia.org
Date: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 4:00 PM


Ken:???Thanks.... and you did the Corner, again.???I do much of that
type of thing and it goes out incorrectly.???That's when I'm in a hurr
otherwise, I proof read my outgoing messaging.? Make your website
improvements, when you can.? Just plan ahead and do frist things, first.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 

As to the Curvesider with a school in the background, sounds like 76th
street, car is ont the bridge and is eastbound.? Many photos taken
there, even back in the 1100 era.???The School would be a part of the
Catholic St. Pius complex, all sat on the west side pf 76th.? Camera
would be shooting NW.???I likely have a Slide of that very same photo.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 

Had the accident not happened.... the ridership was strong on both
Waukesha and HC lines.? LRT service (MKE-WJ) was indeed a third service
on those tracks.???Jay M and Ed T, had personal differences as to how to
run the Railroad.? Jay wanted to acquire the WJ - HC lines and ET
protested that their income by providing those services for The
Transport Company was stronger than what would be available, if
'they'bought it.? Jay, wanted all of the property at any cost.? ? ? ? 

So, it comes to light that KMCL became a subsidary of Northkland
Greyhound. and they owned only the Waukesha line, WJ west.? The service
however, was perfored by The Transport Company.? So..... when the
rear-end collisiion took place at Soldiers Home, The Transport Company's
1143 was legally operated by TMER&T whereas, the 1119 car was oerated by
the NorthLand Greyhound - KMCL enterprise. 

As Jay Maeder had been lobbying to purchase the remaining RTLines, a way
out was apparent to TM and Greyhound.? As Bill Schwerin once told me...
that the combine, mainly The Transport Company, would have done anything
for JM, at any cost, just to exit the entire situation.???JM was too
quick to realize his dream of owning the RTL and he jumped at the chance
to get it.? He could have had all of the rolling stock getting a GOH
before the servcie began.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 

JM could have had more than a couple pieces of candy, he could have had
the whole bag full.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???


fwiw.... Don
? 





From DLeistikow at webtv.net  Thu Sep  2 20:49:13 2010
From: DLeistikow at webtv.net (Don L. Leistikow)
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 19:49:13 -0500
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary
In-Reply-To: Scott Greig <sbgreig_m1@yahoo.com>'s message of Thu, 2 Sep
	2010 14:16:11 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <13925-4C804609-1523@storefull-3173.bay.webtv.net>

Scott and list:   Yes, I forgot the details about that Sale Transaction.
Had JM held out against that 'all or nothing' offer and only 100 bucks
to seal that Sale, I believe that TMER&T would have renegitated their
offer of sale.   A great Poker Game, that was.                                                         

Here is my rocord of Rolling Stock Sales:  

Sold to KMCL for/with M-R-K Line.....        Cars; 1111, 1113, 1118,
1120, 1180-81, 1182-83, 1184-85 and D-23 (exD-21).        

Sale Effective 3:00 am Sunday Oct 15, 1944.                                                        

KMCL  Last Runs:   Racine - Kenosha Segment..... Sept. 13th, 1947....
Cars 1186-87..... lv Kenosha 12:55 am Sept. 14, 1947.... Frank
Hemmingsten,  motorman and Carl Hansen, conductor.     

KMCL Final Run:  Racine - Milwaukee.      Cars 1114, 1190-91.... Run
#2.... Train #131.... lv Milwaukee at 9:15 pm.... ar Racine 10:00 pm....
Run #2.... lv Racine at 10:15 pm.... Quin Valdes, motorman, Emil Nichol,
conductor and (?) trainman.   

Authority:  Len Garver and Jack Gervais,  Live Wires, winter 1998.                            

Don L.



From DLeistikow at webtv.net  Thu Sep  2 21:09:13 2010
From: DLeistikow at webtv.net (Don L. Leistikow)
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 20:09:13 -0500
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary
In-Reply-To: Scott Greig <sbgreig_m1@yahoo.com>'s message of Thu, 2 Sep
	2010 14:16:11 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <13922-4C804AB9-3733@storefull-3173.bay.webtv.net>

Scott and list:   Sold to KMCL  Port Washington Line                                       

Cars;  1139, 1140, 1141, 1186-87, 1196-97, 1198-99, D-3 (former D-23),
M-1, 202, F250, F-251, F-252 + section cars 40,638 and 44,037 comprised
the Rolling Stock transfered.                                                        

Effective;  12:01 am October 15, 1945       

Note:  In both instances, those cars were re-lettered on letterboard
ends from TMER&T to KMCL Inc.                              

The cars that had been re-lettered to The Transport Company from
Milwaukee Electric Lines.,  were re-lettered back to Milwaukee Electric
Lines,, regardless of the ownership initials on letterboard ends. 

A sharp eye will find that the letterboard  elipse 'period' after the
word LINES, was mis-applied in a verttical position, rather than in the
horizontal position.                   

Get out your Magnifying Glass!                 

Don L.     







From sbgreig_m1 at yahoo.com  Thu Sep  2 23:55:36 2010
From: sbgreig_m1 at yahoo.com (Scott Greig)
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 20:55:36 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary
In-Reply-To: <13922-4C804AB9-3733@storefull-3173.bay.webtv.net>
Message-ID: <638036.89937.qm@web65514.mail.ac4.yahoo.com>

This reminds me of something interesting I noticed a while ago.
Years ago, Herb Dannemann (I think) managed to find a list of equipment retirement dates and depreciation values for TM equipment. I got a copy of it from Bob Bruneau at IRM years ago.? For an accountant or historian it was very interesting, as it listed work equipment, streetcars, trucks, everything you could think of...except for the 1100s.? 

Outside of the retirement of the never-completed 1125 in 1938, it didn't list a retirement date of any kind for any of the 1100s.

Very curious.

Scott.

PS - another interesting entry involved the ten South Milwaukee cars when they were sold.? It included two spare traction motors, a large lot of the little foot collector fareboxes and some other things.? The total depreciation value was in the thousands..,and they sold it all to Speedrail for a comparative pittance.


--- On Thu, 9/2/10, Don L. Leistikow <DLeistikow at webtv.net> wrote:

From: Don L. Leistikow <DLeistikow at webtv.net>
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary
To: milwaukee-electric at lists.dementia.org
Cc: emory1522 at wi.rr.com
Date: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 8:09 PM

Scott and list:???Sold to KMCL? Port Washington Line? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???

Cars;? 1139, 1140, 1141, 1186-87, 1196-97, 1198-99, D-3 (former D-23),
M-1, 202, F250, F-251, F-252 + section cars 40,638 and 44,037 comprised
the Rolling Stock transfered.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 

Effective;? 12:01 am October 15, 1945? ? ???

Note:? In both instances, those cars were re-lettered on letterboard
ends from TMER&T to KMCL Inc.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 

The cars that had been re-lettered to The Transport Company from
Milwaukee Electric Lines.,? were re-lettered back to Milwaukee Electric
Lines,, regardless of the ownership initials on letterboard ends. 

A sharp eye will find that the letterboard? elipse 'period' after the
word LINES, was mis-applied in a verttical position, rather than in the
horizontal position.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???

Get out your Magnifying Glass!? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???

Don L.? ???









From DLeistikow at webtv.net  Fri Sep  3 00:21:40 2010
From: DLeistikow at webtv.net (Don L. Leistikow)
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 23:21:40 -0500
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary
In-Reply-To: Scott Greig <sbgreig_m1@yahoo.com>'s message of Thu, 2 Sep
	2010 20:55:36 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <13922-4C8077D4-4007@storefull-3173.bay.webtv.net>

Scott and list:   The reason for the missing numbers of 1100's from the
disposition accounting is that they were sold to KMCL.                                                      

True, I would expect that the Sale Records would disclose that in said
file.  As KMCL was the recipient of the rolling stock, perhaps a search
for those records could be found.  A good place to start, would be in
Racine, the HQ of KMCL.       

Well worth a search.....                             

As for the shoulder strap, mini fare boxes, JM needed them as TMER&T
would not release any of their big fare boxes.  Actually, we (Speedrail)
did use the mini's on the front platform of the Duplexes.  JM did get
Cleveland fare boxes, which were floor mounted in all single cars...
60's and 300's but, only used on the center platforms of the Duplexes,
31-32 to 49-50. 

Don L.    



From sbgreig_m1 at yahoo.com  Fri Sep  3 00:34:56 2010
From: sbgreig_m1 at yahoo.com (Scott Greig)
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 21:34:56 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary
In-Reply-To: <13922-4C8077D4-4007@storefull-3173.bay.webtv.net>
Message-ID: <950590.14726.qm@web65514.mail.ac4.yahoo.com>

It's not clear how things were done at TMER&T's accounting department in 1946, but at CTA (as far back as the 1950s, from the records I spirited home during the move out of the Merchandise Mart) even assets that are sold for continued use have a retirement entry on? the books.? It's a matter of deleting the remaining depreciable value; if they are sold for continued use as opposed to being scrapped, that's noted on the record.
I remember seeing retirement dates for the various preserved 800s and 900s that have been preserved--most of that stuff was retired in one big asset dump as of February 17, 1958.

(Come to think of it, I didn't see any mention of the locomotives and various pieces of work equipment that went to WEPCo either...hmmm....)

--- On Thu, 9/2/10, Don L. Leistikow <DLeistikow at webtv.net> wrote:

From: Don L. Leistikow <DLeistikow at webtv.net>
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary
To: milwaukee-electric at lists.dementia.org
Cc: emory1522 at wi.rr.com
Date: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 11:21 PM

Scott and list:???The reason for the missing numbers of 1100's from the
disposition accounting is that they were sold to KMCL.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 

True, I would expect that the Sale Records would disclose that in said
file.? As KMCL was the recipient of the rolling stock, perhaps a search
for those records could be found.? A good place to start, would be in
Racine, the HQ of KMCL.? ? ???

Well worth a search.....? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???

As for the shoulder strap, mini fare boxes, JM needed them as TMER&T
would not release any of their big fare boxes.? Actually, we (Speedrail)
did use the mini's on the front platform of the Duplexes.? JM did get
Cleveland fare boxes, which were floor mounted in all single cars...
60's and 300's but, only used on the center platforms of the Duplexes,
31-32 to 49-50. 

Don L.? ? 





From DLeistikow at webtv.net  Fri Sep  3 06:12:01 2010
From: DLeistikow at webtv.net (Don L. Leistikow)
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2010 05:12:01 -0500
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary
In-Reply-To: Scott Greig <sbgreig_m1@yahoo.com>'s message of Thu, 2 Sep
	2010 21:34:56 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <13922-4C80C9F1-4214@storefull-3173.bay.webtv.net>

Scott G and list:   Patterns set, were not always kept.                                             

Examining evaluation drawings discloses that subsequent changes were
supposed to carry a dash (-) followed by a consecutive change number, in
example; R.S. #10,274-L-2...  for South Milwaukee Trains 1031 - 1050...
REV. 7-20-42   SG    

Most of the L series drawings did not carry sub numbers after the L
which, designated the drawing size, in this case 8.5" x 11".                                                 

Don L.  




 



From sbgreig_m1 at yahoo.com  Fri Sep  3 07:47:56 2010
From: sbgreig_m1 at yahoo.com (Scott Greig)
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2010 04:47:56 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary
In-Reply-To: <13922-4C80C9F1-4214@storefull-3173.bay.webtv.net>
Message-ID: <903450.59422.qm@web65515.mail.ac4.yahoo.com>

True.? Plus, it occurred to me later that the list was probably copied from individual note cards or form pages in books...and those do have a way of disappearing.
--- On Fri, 9/3/10, Don L. Leistikow <DLeistikow at webtv.net> wrote:

From: Don L. Leistikow <DLeistikow at webtv.net>
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary
To: milwaukee-electric at lists.dementia.org
Date: Friday, September 3, 2010, 5:12 AM

Scott G and list:???Patterns set, were not always kept.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???

Examining evaluation drawings discloses that subsequent changes were
supposed to carry a dash (-) followed by a consecutive change number, in
example; R.S. #10,274-L-2...? for South Milwaukee Trains 1031 - 1050...
REV. 7-20-42???SG? ? 

Most of the L series drawings did not carry sub numbers after the L
which, designated the drawing size, in this case 8.5" x 11".? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???

Don L.? 




 





From ktjosephson at embarqmail.com  Fri Sep  3 10:07:41 2010
From: ktjosephson at embarqmail.com (Ken and Tracie)
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2010 07:07:41 -0700
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary
References: <950590.14726.qm@web65514.mail.ac4.yahoo.com>
Message-ID: <AE1F1DCE80D647F197B82020FF99D357@KTJosephson>

I do not know about Port Washington, but wasn't the Lakeside Belt still 
"TMER&T" until 1963 or so?

K.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Greig" <sbgreig_m1 at yahoo.com>
To: <milwaukee-electric at lists.dementia.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2010 9:34 PM
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary


..................> (Come to think of it, I didn't see any mention of the 
locomotives and various pieces of work equipment that went to WEPCo 
either...hmmm....)



From sbgreig_m1 at yahoo.com  Fri Sep  3 10:47:14 2010
From: sbgreig_m1 at yahoo.com (Scott Greig)
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2010 07:47:14 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary
In-Reply-To: <AE1F1DCE80D647F197B82020FF99D357@KTJosephson>
Message-ID: <87532.55423.qm@web65513.mail.ac4.yahoo.com>

You're right, it was.? Still showed up as such in Official Guides too.
--- On Fri, 9/3/10, Ken and Tracie <ktjosephson at embarqmail.com> wrote:


From: Ken and Tracie <ktjosephson at embarqmail.com>
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary
To: milwaukee-electric at lists.dementia.org
Date: Friday, September 3, 2010, 9:07 AM


I do not know about Port Washington, but wasn't the Lakeside Belt still 
"TMER&T" until 1963 or so?

K.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Greig" <sbgreig_m1 at yahoo.com>
To: <milwaukee-electric at lists.dementia.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2010 9:34 PM
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary


..................> (Come to think of it, I didn't see any mention of the 
locomotives and various pieces of work equipment that went to WEPCo 
either...hmmm....)





From x779 at webtv.net  Fri Sep  3 11:34:33 2010
From: x779 at webtv.net (Louis Rugani)
Date: Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:34:33 GMT
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] KMCL
Message-ID: <SNT113-DS9B12055931F1C59E5523D988D0@phx.gbl>

There's no doubt in my mind that KMCL, especially with modus operandi and its ties to Northland Greyhound, was tied in big-time with National City Lines. It folded right after destroying the interurbans.

=Lou=

~~~~~~~~~~ **-=\/=-** ~~~~~~~~~~

The opposite of bravery is not cowardice, but conformity.       Robert Anthony




From DLeistikow at webtv.net  Fri Sep  3 22:48:25 2010
From: DLeistikow at webtv.net (Don L. Leistikow)
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2010 21:48:25 -0500
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: One Man 600s...Car 611
In-Reply-To: "Ken and Tracie" <ktjosephson@embarqmail.com>'s message of Sun, 22 Aug 2010 09:06:09 -0700
Message-ID: <13922-4C81B379-5470@storefull-3173.bay.webtv.net>

Ken and Group:   I would like to  point out that dating this photo is
relative to minor details.                                                     

In this instnace, the clue is the black numeral on white background, Run
Number plate.  I know that the Rapid Transit car Run Numbers did make
the same change about 1943, so it follows that the City cars made the
same change, at the same time.                                      

Previously, Run Numbers on City Cars, were Silver numbers on a Black
background.  However, Run Numbers on Rapid Transit cars, prior to this
change, were Yellow numerals on a Black background.                                              

In final Route 10, WELLS, many extra cars were employed to serve heavy
crowds going to the Milwaukee County Stadium to see the Brewers Play
Baseball.   Cars in this service originally came from National Station
and carried special Run Numbers.  These  were colored WHITE on a Black
background for ready identification by Supervisors.            


As gametime neared, these were the cars that laid-up on the Stadium spur
that had been built on the former RTL westbound track.  This holding
spur would hold soem 18 cars.  Originally built to the top of the grade,
the track was extended all the way to Hawley Road, ending right behind
the Hawley shelter serving Route 10 cars.       

http://lists.dementia.org/files/milwaukee-electric/tmbw0131.jpg                                  

Don L.



From sunrise at bikethehoan.com  Sat Sep  4 08:49:12 2010
From: sunrise at bikethehoan.com (William Sell)
Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2010 07:49:12 -0500
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Re: Anniversary
In-Reply-To: <96F5F2A1A6C94533B53BC1680BDA9D59@KTJosephson>
References: <96F5F2A1A6C94533B53BC1680BDA9D59@KTJosephson>
Message-ID: <4c824036.6682e50a.237d.7577@mx.google.com>

I wrote this piece for July 2010 ECHO, the quarterly of Historical 
Milwaukee Inc
Bill Sell
=====================
THE TRAIN WRECK TURN
by Bill Sell
I clearly remember the train wreck of September 2, 1950. My mother 
was spared that day. But not my city. The wreckage presaged and 
abetted Milwaukee's turn - sprawl, depopulation, and the neglect of 
public transportation.

I found a personal account of the day, dubbed into archival film 
footage (http://ow.ly/1S9Un). The man's voice is that of a boy who 
was downtown that day and was scheduled to ride the fatal train.

My passion for public transportation is rooted in these memories. I 
remember the Rapid Transit crash; and I remember its glory, a 
13-minute, 16-cent child's trip to downtown.

The "Rapid" took us below the 16th Street viaduct, and we walked up 
steel steps to the #20 bus, which delivered fans to Brewers' games at 
Borchert Field on 8th and Chambers. Less happy was that annual trip 
to the dreaded piano recital at the conservatory. The train dropped 
us a short walk from Uncle Alfred's home near the rosary shrine on 
68th Street; and to Kearney and Trecker's company picnic, with rides, 
in Pleasant Valley, a former parkland now subdivision.

In Hales Corners, after the tragic crash, we made do with sparse bus 
service. I found summer work at Continental Can on Port Washington 
Road north of Capitol Drive but the bus ride was an hour and a half. 
Coming home, I marked time at 43rd and Oklahoma for the last #64. Lee 
Blaesing, the regular driver, liked chatting with his riders. 
Speeding along he flicked his headlights off for me and created a 
moment of wicked fun dashing along the midnight Forest Home Avenue 
that was, unlike today, bereft of traffic. His last run was usually 
without a passenger, he said.

First shift? I hitchhiked, until my brother and I shared a car.

Service to Hales Corners atrophied and, today's limited rush-hour 
freeway flier service is on the ropes, touching the village's northern edge.

I think back how the demise of the "Rapid," hastened by another odd 
accident two days later, gave rise to cheering in our house - 
benighted children, we - triumphantly happy that Mother missed that 
evil train, righteously smug piling blame on "playboy" [we called 
him] owner Jay Maeder, and proud to hear the words "Hales Corners" 
(however unfavorably) in national news. In the village, however, we 
were kept ignorant; the hated (in the 'burbs) Mayor Frank Zeidler was 
looking for a way to salvage the train. His wisdom was buried 
alongside the "Rapid's" right of way underneath freeway concrete.

Just as talk radio and media blogs entertain themselves, and chide 
me, for advocating "choo choo" trains, I remember that I, too, was 
once a ignorant child, stupidly cheering as we lost the big game.

And so history teases me. Could we find in our roots that road not 
taken, a city repopulated and a ride to work for everyone, a city of 
industry and common purpose? Maybe. But history is a stern teacher 
and hard lessons come slowly to children.
===================================



At 10:45 AM 9/2/2010, Ken and Tracie wrote:
>Sixty years ago today, some of you lost friends in a tragic accident 
>on the Hales Corner line.
>If you wish, please share your thoughts and memories.


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   }><((( " >   }><((( " >     }><((( " > }><((( " >       }><((( 
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From x779 at webtv.net  Sat Sep  4 09:40:09 2010
From: x779 at webtv.net (Louis Rugani)
Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2010 13:40:09 GMT
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Richard R. "Dick" Hofer (1941 - 2010) Memorial
Message-ID: <SNT113-DS23FDBEA7D0FE9EE99F617F988E0@phx.gbl>

Anyone have photos of Dick,or anything to add?
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=hofer&GSfn=richard&GSbyrel=in&GSdy=2010&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=58119962&df=all&
=Lou=

~~~~~~~~~~ **-=\/=-** ~~~~~~~~~~

The opposite of bravery is not cowardice, but conformity.       Robert Anthony





From x779 at webtv.net  Tue Sep 14 09:18:06 2010
From: x779 at webtv.net (Louis Rugani)
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:18:06 GMT
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Milwaukee, Kenosha streetcar projects awaiting approval process.
Message-ID: <SNT113-DS21926C425E88529117E61498780@phx.gbl>

Transit projects await state, local approvals 
Commuter rail, express bus projects planned
By Larry Sandler of the Journal Sentinel 

Sept. 12, 2010 

State officials have handed out $20.5 million in federal cash to help create new commuter rail, streetcar and rapid bus lines in southeastern Wisconsin.

But all of those projects will need further approval before any of them move forward.

The transit grants are part of $37.5 million targeted to reducing traffic congestion and air pollution in the 10 eastern Wisconsin counties where air quality has fallen short of federal standards, the state Department of Transportation announced.

Commuter rail: The largest grant, $9 million, went to the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority for the KRM Commuter Link, a $283.5???million rail line that would link Milwaukee to Kenosha, Racine and the southern suburbs with 15 round trips each weekday. The project won a similar $6 million grant last year, plus another $6 million in congressional earmarks, for a total of $21 million in federal funding to date.

But federal transit officials have said approval of a much larger federal grant would not come until funding is assured for the troubled Milwaukee County Transit System. That issue has stalled in Madison, amid disagreement among Gov. Jim Doyle, the Legislature and local officials about how to fund and govern buses and trains.

The Federal Transit Administration is considering whether to let the RTA start preliminary engineering on the KRM while the broader transit funding debate continues. Approving that phase would not commit Washington to awarding the $168 million that RTA Chairman Karl Ostby called critical to the rail line's fate.

Express buses: Another $6.4 million would cover much of the operating costs of a new Milwaukee County "bus rapid transit" line on W. Fond du Lac Ave., W. National Ave. and W. Greenfield Ave.

Last year, Congress divided $91.5 million in long-idle federal transit funds, handing $54.9 million to the city for a modern streetcar line proposed by Mayor Tom Barrett and $36.6 million to the county for buses. County Executive Scott Walker wants to use the money for a rapid bus line that would look and operate somewhat like a rubber-tired version of light rail.

But the County Board has not approved the proposed 12-mile route, which would connect the north side, downtown and State Fair Park. If the board rejects the bus rapid transit concept, the original federal funding still could be used to buy energy-efficient buses.

The rapid bus line also would benefit from an $880,000 grant to help adjust Milwaukee stoplights to turn green for both the express buses and the streetcars.

City officials have started preliminary engineering on the streetcar-like line while seeking additional federal funding to expand it.

Kenosha streetcar: Kenosha won a $4.2 million grant to cover 80% of a $5.25 million expansion of its 2-mile vintage streetcar line.

If the Kenosha Common Council approves, the line would grow by 3.4 miles, to a total of 5.4 miles, Kenosha Transit Director Ron Iwen said. Service also could become more frequent, including morning rush hours and winter weekday service, Iwen said.

================

(Let's all plan on attending the hearings and approval process.)

=Lou=





From x779 at webtv.net  Sat Sep 25 08:50:16 2010
From: x779 at webtv.net (Louis Rugani)
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 2010 12:50:16 GMT
Subject: [milwaukee-electric] Kenosha streetcar-expansion poll! Please vote now:
Message-ID: <SNT113-DS244F83A348298891C1FD0C98630@phx.gbl>

You don't have to register. And thanks in advance.
http://www.kenoshanews.com/pc/
Apologies for any cross-postings ...