1960's at Hammond

[Tom Kepshire]

RS power on the point making a stop at the Hammond/Erie depot. The RS unit was added at South Hammond to save turning costs in Chicago.

[Heath Matthias]

Was a F3 then added at South Hammond?  Just curious.

[Tom Kepshire]

The way I understand things yes. To save turning costs, the RS was coupled on to Train 6 for the run to Chicago. It would also head train #5 on its trip south and swap our motive power for an F3 at South Hammond. Perhaps other can add, but that is my understanding.

[Tim T Swan]

Yes, that's correct.  Here's a photo I took at South Hammond from in 1964 showing that engine change in action.

[Ron Marquardt]

The engine swap at South Hammond was something I'd never heard about before.  After the RS2's were rebuilt into the 50 class, I do remember them running on the north end all the way from Shops to Chicago and back.  I have a problem believing they would routinely tie up two units just to save turning costs.  It doesn't make any sense.  Was this done before or after they went on the late schedule?  / Ron

[Tim T Swan]

Don't know what you mean by "the late schedule" Ron, but I took this shot in February 1964.  And from what I've understood, the turning costs charged by the C&WI were substantial.  They had to hostle the locomotive all the back way down to 51st Street, turn it there, then return it to Dearborn.

[Pete Pedigo]

Well I have to ask.  How much was a normal "turning cost" ?   I mean, how much could it cost to go to all of this trouble, or was it the time delay if everything did not happen asap ?    Guys talk about these costs like they were rediculously high. 

[Tim T Swan]

Have no idea.  But if the Monon tied up two locomotives this way, they must have been "substantial".

[Ron Marquardt]

Tim, the late schedule was when #5 started leaving Chicago at 5:30 in the evening.  / Ron

[Tim T Swan]

In 1964 I was able to take #5 from Dearborn to Lafayette, then #6 back to Dearborn, all on the same day, even time in between even to take a taxi over to Shops for a quick look-around.  As I recall, the two Thoroughbreds then were scheduled to meet somewhere around Romney or thereabouts.  So this must have been before that.

[Ron Marquardt]

That's right.  That would be the old early schedule that had a 15 hour layover for the crew in Louisville.  If I remember correctly, the meet was at Manchester.  / Ron

[James W Smith]

I remember that schedule Ron -- my then youthful self could stand on the platform at Crawfordsville, watch #6 pull out and whistle, and almost immediately would hear #5 reply.  Must have been some engineer to engineer "how-dy".  Within minutes #5 would be standing at station in C'ville.  Some of the timetables from that time period put the meet in Linden; have seen that one happen, too.

[Joe Crnkovich]

Didn't the Monon change the schedule in October '64, so that they only needed one set of equipment?

[Ron Marquardt]

That was probably part of it Joe.  On the late schedule, because the crews weren't off duty four hours or more, they didn't have to furnish lodging either.  At Louisville we'd curl up in a coach and get a little nap. 

I think the third part of the equation was to lower the ridership to emphasize the expenses of running the train, and be able to get it pulled off sooner.  / Ron