How Far Do You Think To The Next Gas Station?

Day 10 : 30th September 1996

“There‘s no way they‘re going to let us just wander round their works!”

Monday dawned bright and clear. With new enthusiasm (and a full tank) our road trip now started to become tour more than endurance. On the way North we had noted a few points of interest for the return journey.

We set off for the first of these, “The Experimental Aircraft Association Museum” at Oshkosh. For those not in the know, the title of this museum actually refers to it’s founders method of licensing old war birds for flight rather than arduous test flying and it’s well worth a visit. This was actually more for Smurf, our resident air born registration recorder but in truth there’s a lot to see and it was certainly worth the diversion.

Shame Hertz don’t have one of these on their books. What a time saver.

Back out onto the long highway our next port of call was to be North Fonde du Laq and for one reason. This was Wisconsin Central’s home town and site of their main works. After bumbling round town for a bit we found ourselves in the works parking lot and surveyed the situation. A few locos were visible but it was immediately obvious that there was a lot more to this site than we could see. The lack of fences was tempting. NO! very impolite and un-British, we could always ask to go round. Smurf was doubtful “There‘s no way they‘re going to let us just wander round their works!”

I have to admit, I was sceptical but thought it worth a try. I soon found myself stumbling into a stores attached to the car shop and explained our situation. Surprisingly, a very helpful chap escorted me to what was apparently the “head man’s” office where I pleaded our case (long way from England etc). What came next was a shock.

“How many of you?”

“Three”

“Yeah, shouldn’t be a problem, but you all need to come to the office and sign the release papers first!”

The news was greeted with glee back at the car, where cameras and paraphernalia were grabbed before signing the papers. Then the safety talk.

“Watch out for trains!”
“OK”

“If you’re going in a building take a helmet and set of safety glasses out the cabinet outside and put them on first!”
“Right”

“Remember to put them back in the same cabinet”
“And”

“Oh, let us know when you’re leaving the site”
“Er, yes, thank you very much indeed!”

Needless to say, with perfect weather, much film was expended around the roundhouse, yards and along the scrap lines before back tracking to the office for another big thank you and returning to the car pleased with our luck.

ACR SD40 6002 at WC's Shops.

A super power set of ex Santa Fe SD45s wait their next road turn.

Sad remains of C&NW GP9 846 out to grass.

From here it was all or nothing now back to Chicago. We set off to an almost immediate grinding halt at something we hadn’t encountered before; A FOUR WAY STOP! i.e. a crossroads with a stop sign on each arm, fine, unless four of you arrive at the same time. We soon discovered that English politeness doesn’t take account of such arrangements and were quickly on our way again.

Our target for tonight was the town of Elgin, primarily because it was at the end of the Metra line worked the F40C fleet and would put us onto them first thing the next morning. As it happened, such was our increased confidence in driving and navigating, we made excellent time to Elgin and arrived late evening. So a quick trip to Hannover Park and back caned a couple in before finding a motel and a bar to complete the evening.

Please use your "back" button to return a Page