Research Question For Bob Wheeler?

[Ron Marquardt]

Uncle Bob, we have been having a discussion about the engine swaps at Hammond, using an RS2 on in to downtown Chicago to avoid turning the power, and we wonder when and for how long it went on.  At some point during this period, they started running the RS2's all the way from Lafayette to Chicago and back without turning them.  Rick doesn't remember the details, but says the delays to change power at Hammond, and the engine numbers arriving and leaving Chicago, would have been shown on the dispatcher's sheets.  Now, since you're our resident expert on dispatcher sheet information,  we though maybe you could do a little work and shed some light on this whole operation.  Thanking you in advance, and please don't take too long because we're all getting old......     / Ron

[Tom Kepshire]

And try and keep it under 40 pages, please.... Just kidding Bob

[Robert Wheeler]

All:

I have found the following info about Locomotives on Trains  #5 & #6 out of Dearborn Station:

Using 59 sheets that have been scanned between January, 1966 and October 5, 1967 (638 days) and from the 136 of a possible 365 sheets from the “1965 drawer”  at WHQ Yesterdays openhouse (03/03/12)I found the following:

On 43 (of 68 possible) sheets from about June, 1965 until before September 08 a single 20 Cass (RS2s) Engine (#23) powered #6 from Shops to Chicago  and #5 back to Shops on most days. On the Southern Division ( Shops - Louisville) 200 (F3s) Class engines were always used. Occasionally two 200 class engines were used on the north end This was apparently on days when one or both trains were heavy on the Northern Division. 

Otherwise until September 23, 1966 two (200 Class) were used presumably back to back. The numbers were different on #6 (in) and #5 (out) indicating that they would not have been turned.
After September 10 until sometime between October 12 and December 26 either 2 -200 Class (F3s) or single 500 Class (C420s) was used. Single 500 Class (#501 or #502) was used. October 1 to October 4 trains  #5 & #6 were annulled. They did not appear on the train sheets thereafter.

The following General Order was issued:

GENERAL ORDER NO. 1717
                                                  Lafayette, Indiana September 27, 1967
TO ALL CONCERNED:
Effective October 1, 1967 the schedules of Trains 5 and 6 on First, Fourth and Fifth Slub-Divisions,  are annulled for the duration of Timetable No. 17.
                                                  Signed R. D. Tigar, Gen. Supt. – Transportation

Also as a footnote on  December 26 engine 501 ran (passenger?) extra Shops to South Hammond with the Purdue Band Special.  (Inroute to the Rose Bowl?). Train sheets between January 1and 23 are not present to show a possible return trip.

[Ron Marquardt]

Very interesting Bob, thank you.  Tim, what was the date you rode #5 and #6 when they changed the power at Hammond?  Did they change it both ways that day?  Bob, maybe when you have a chance someday, you could check that general time period to see if it was a regular move, because it doesn't appear that during the 1965, 1966, 1967 times you did check that the move was being made (unless I missed something).  / Ron