Seattle, 21:30 Wed 1 Dec 1999

[Robert E. Rathke]

I just returned home on Metra from a day in downtown Chicago.  I live
near Metra's North Central line to the Wisconsin border which roughly
parallels their North line to Kenosha.  Kenosha is close to I-94 which
runs between Chicago and Milwaukee.  Amtrak has six roundtrips a day
between Chicago and Milwaukee, but Sturdevant (Racine) is their closest
station to Kenosha.  I have Metra timetables, and am familiar with the
area - I'd be glad to answer anyone's questions about Kenosha.

Speaking of new rail and paving - I was in Dallas two weeks ago, and went
over to the McKinney Avenue trolley line, only to find that their cars
were all locked up in the barn.  McKinney Avenue is being repaved (and a
brick surface will be added, I believe) around the 1950's-era rail (some
of which may be new).  On the outer end of the line, one side of McKinney
Avenue is closed for rebuilding, while one-way automobile traffic is
maintained on the other side of the street.

Bob 12/2
                                       -------------------------------

The 21st Century starts on January 1, 2001.  Just a reminder.

On Thu, 02 Dec 1999 09:46:41 EST "John Swindler" <j_swindler at hotmail.com>
writes:
>Also not particularly on topic, but perhaps of interest:
>
>When was the last time you saw new streetcar tracks being laid in 
>concrete 
>for PCC operation?
>
>For me, perhaps it was Fifth Ave. in vicinity of Craig to Highland in 
>the 
>early 1960s, or Second Ave. heading outbound towards Bates St.
>
>That is, until last Sunday.  I saw it, took photos of it, but still 
>don't 
>believe it.  But in Kenosha, Wis., track is all in place, except for 
>two 
>switches at carbarn, for proposed PCC operated line from METRA station 
>to 
>lakefront.  One way length is only about a mile through former 
>industrial 
>site.  One street crossing remains to be paved on eastbound track 
>which is 
>laid in median - concrete ties with clips, gravel to base of rail, and 
>dirt 
>to railhead.  There is a passing track near the waterfront.  Westbound 
>track 
>is two blocks north along side of road except for 4-5 blocks vicinity 
>of 
>METRA station where rail is laid in curb lane in concrete.
>
>Brick shell of carbarn/transit center is complete with two service 
>tracks 
>with pits.  Still requires doors, windows, and interior finishings.
>
>No wire has been strung, and cars are not on site.  According to 
>nycsubway 
>website, cars will be five ex-Toronto PCCs that underwent second 
>rebuilding 
>in early 1990s.  Reported capital costs for entire scheme is only $4 
>million.
>
>For travelers, Kenosha is near East Troy and Illinois Railway museums. 
> 
>Also, METRA commuter rail has $ 5 weekend pass available, although 
>Kenosha 
>service is infrequent, but looks like afternoon visit is possible.  
>Schedule 
>information is available at METRA website, and you may also enjoy some 
>of 
>the rider comments in their monthly newsletter, "On The Bilevel".
>
>Again, not particularly on topic, but perhaps of interest.
>
>John S.
>
>
>
>>From: "Donald Galt" <galtfd at att.net>
>>Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>>To: trolley at railspot.com
>>CC: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>>Subject: Seattle, 21:30 Wed 1 Dec 1999
>>Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1999 21:53:15 -0800
>>
>>Not particularly on topic, but perhaps of interest:
>>
>>The waterfront streetcar was closed this afternoon for a planned 
>protest
>>march.
>>
>>Trolleybuses ran on Third Avenue today until about 4:00 PM or so, 
>when the
>>street was cut off by protesters.
>>
>>The overhead most commonly seen on TV is on Pine Street, out of 
>service
>>this week.
>>
>>The curfew is on again, and ALL downtown service was cut off at 7:00,
>>including the tunnel. According to the alert, through north-south 
>routes
>>tonight pass through the city without stopping; trolley routes 2, 10, 
>12, 
>>43
>>turn back at 9th Avenue & Madison on the east, 3/4 at Aloha Street 
>(Seattle
>>Center East) and 1, 2, 13 at Thomas Street (S.C. West); 3/4, 14, 36 
>run
>>from 5th & Jackson; 7 runs straight through as if it were 9. All this 
>
>>assumes
>>that Broadway is passable.
>>
>>I've heard something secondhand about a bonfire up on Capitol Hill, 
>but
>>nothing is on the TV news for another hour (prime time, y'know!)
>>
>>The biggest show at the 7 PM curfew hour was a group that had engaged 
>in
>>a sit-in at 3d and Pine (therefore stopping the trolleys - at least I 
>THINK 
>>it
>>was this group, though the news was a little confused) which chanted
>>mantra, then announced that it would disperse voluntarily. For a 
>while it
>>looked a little dicey as the cops appeared to be threatening as the 
>hour
>>approached, but in the end the group marched en masse north on 4th
>>Avenue to Denny and out of the curfew area. Whatever you might have
>>thought of them, it was a very Seattle conclusion.
>>
>>There were some other late-afternoon confrontations, mostly with 
>well-fed
>>young folk who didn't appear to have any real agenda save a gripe 
>with the
>>police. Pending further evidence to the contrary, I'd venture the 
>hope that 
>>the
>>real troublemakers stayed away tonight.
>>
>>Don
>
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