TMER&L Locomotive L-9
Switching west of Young Street
Date:
Locomotive L-9 is the line's primary freight motor. Overhauled in the early 1990's and painted in the East Troy Electric Railroad colors of red and silver, it sees almost constant use.
In this photo, it is removing flats stored on the Burlington Co-op unloading ramp spur for easy road vehicle access.
To the left is the unloading ramp, at the south end of Young Street in the East Troy Industrial Park. Ahead of the locomotive is the old spur leading to the original Trent Tube plant, now gone. It was demolished in 1997. The track was removed back to about 400' west of the switch ahead of L-9 at that time.
In this photo, it is removing flats stored on the Burlington Co-op unloading ramp spur for easy road vehicle access.
To the left is the unloading ramp, at the south end of Young Street in the East Troy Industrial Park. Ahead of the locomotive is the old spur leading to the original Trent Tube plant, now gone. It was demolished in 1997. The track was removed back to about 400' west of the switch ahead of L-9 at that time.
l-9 Ballast Train
Line Ballast Train
Date:
Photo by Scott Patrick
TMER&L L-9, with volunteer engineer Jack Marlowe at the controls, works a ballast train during the winter of '96-'97 during the track reconstruction project. Two of the Volkmann Railroad Builders trackmen prepare to operate the hopper's drop doors.
Freezing conditions made this procedure difficult. Ballast dampened by earlier rains and snows froze solid in the cars, making the dumping difficult.
L-9 handled all fifty cars of ballast distributed over the mainline during the project, with L-8 occasionally assisting in the yards. The performance of the 1944 Cold Springs Shops-built steeplecab came as a pleasant surprise; it was able to handle more loads up the hill past Phantom Woods than was expected.
Equipment visible on the locomotive in the foreground includes the brake cylinder, hanging below the frame rail; the handbrake wheel, on the outside of the frame; and the trolley disconnect pole. Each of the spurs on the line is electrically isolated by knife switches on the poles for safety. The freight and work motors carry these poles to operate the various disconnects.
TMER&L L-9, with volunteer engineer Jack Marlowe at the controls, works a ballast train during the winter of '96-'97 during the track reconstruction project. Two of the Volkmann Railroad Builders trackmen prepare to operate the hopper's drop doors.
Freezing conditions made this procedure difficult. Ballast dampened by earlier rains and snows froze solid in the cars, making the dumping difficult.
L-9 handled all fifty cars of ballast distributed over the mainline during the project, with L-8 occasionally assisting in the yards. The performance of the 1944 Cold Springs Shops-built steeplecab came as a pleasant surprise; it was able to handle more loads up the hill past Phantom Woods than was expected.
Equipment visible on the locomotive in the foreground includes the brake cylinder, hanging below the frame rail; the handbrake wheel, on the outside of the frame; and the trolley disconnect pole. Each of the spurs on the line is electrically isolated by knife switches on the poles for safety. The freight and work motors carry these poles to operate the various disconnects.
L-9 Remotored
Date:
Volunteer shopmen Terry Haas, Tom Matola, and Paul Averdung guide a rebuilt motor into the #2 truck of the TMER&L locomotive L-9 during the restoration project (1989-91) that returned the unit to freight service.
The motor is suspended from the crane of Work Motor L-6, another ex-TM piece: the truck is spotted on Track 0, while L-6 is on Track One in the East Troy Yard. The truck was then rolled back under the jacked-up locomotive.
L-9 has handled all of the railroad's freight operations from then on.
The motor is suspended from the crane of Work Motor L-6, another ex-TM piece: the truck is spotted on Track 0, while L-6 is on Track One in the East Troy Yard. The truck was then rolled back under the jacked-up locomotive.
L-9 has handled all of the railroad's freight operations from then on.