I don't think a Lawn Mower can cut this . . .

That actually looks better than the Maumee & Western/Napoleon, Defiance & Western. 2:59 mark looks horrendous.

 
That actually looks better than the Maumee & Western/Napoleon, Defiance & Western. 2:59 mark looks horrendous.

1. I was wondering what ND&W stood for.
2. If you get motion sickness, you'll probably be barfing within five minutes of the train departing town.
 
On the Maumee video I said that looks like the Pan Am Railways. I still stand by my statement there. They had a couple of branch lines that got so bad before they closed them that trees were growing up between the rails. On one particular line, a tree trunk poked the fuel tank on a GP40-2. The company's mainline wasn't much better until they formed the partnership with NS. The West End was down to under 20 mph in many places and trains would outlaw and never make it to their destination on time. It took a couple of years of rehabilitation and $140 million, or close to that amount, to bring the line up to at least 20 mph.

John
 
Around 1:50, the engineer looked back at his train. I think he was wondering if it had derailed. Is this railroad so cheap that they can't buy a weed-whacker and attach it to the locomotive? Do locomotives moving on this type of track remind you of off-road trucks?
 
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1. I was wondering what ND&W stood for.
2. If you get motion sickness, you'll probably be barfing within five minutes of the train departing town.

LOL I have a strong stomach. ;) It actually looks kind of fun, until it jumps and derails, of course.
 
Around 1:50, the engineer looked back at his train. I think he was wondering if it had derailed. Is this railroad so cheap that they can't buy a weed-whacker and attach it to the locomotive? Do locomotives moving on this type of track remind you of off-road trucks?
Can you think about what you just said? attach a weed-whacker to the locomotive.... Taking down the weeds 3 inches at a time! Plus have you ever seen the fuel tank on a weed-whacker? It would last less than 20 minutes of the journey running at full speed... Plus it's 2-cycle... and.. Oh never mind. :)

Seriously though, as I understood it at the time, it was basically one customer at a remote section of the line that they only fed once in a great while, honestly hardly even worth keeping the line open, but they did, and probably at a spectacular loss of money. And obviously not time-sensitive shipments. Hardly worth putting effort into the line until you know it's going to remain viable. I think they acquired some more customers and that finally spurred them to making repairs.
 
Seriously. How does this even pass any basic DOT regulations? Isn't this a lawsuit just waiting to happen from railroad employees or the public.

I was thinking the same!

I've seen other branch lines like this while out severe storm chasing in the Midwest. Some of them appeared as grades with no track on them until we crossed them. As we'd drive along, I the noticed covered hoppers and a couple of boxcars here and there, and sometimes an old Baldwin switcher sitting on a siding. Apparently the line is used as needed, which is probably once or twice a year to load out grain.

John
 
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