Martin Shaw
Western Thunderer
Nothing from me in the last ten days as I have been on my hols in the deep south of the USA. Whilst primarily a musical tour taking in Memphis, New Orleans, and Nashville, the railroad high spot was a transfer from Memphis to New Orleans on train 59 southbound,"The City of New Orleans", mighty fine it was too. A seven car consist of dreamliner cars hauled by a GE P42DC Genesis series 1 no 168 being the last of that class. Leaving Memphis the train crossed a flat junction before stopping where the conductor announced that he had to alter the switch so the train could run through the yard, why I don't know but the PW was shocking to say the least, and generally the ride was inferior to that we would expect at home. Just after this I saw a sign that stated "Y&MV JUNC" which I have since found out stands for Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad and was the end on junction with the Illinois Central RR which later incorporated it. The whole journey was on the tracks of the IC, which is by the odd vagaries of North American railroads now owned by Canadian National, there were many idle CN locos at various points though I saw one lettered KCS, Kansas City Southern to save looking it up.
Entry into New Orleans involved a reversal on the wye so the whole faced the right way for the next days northbound journey. The consist had two sleeping cars, a dining car, a buffet/observation car, and three coach cars, so breakfast and lunch were partaken in the relevant vehicles and whilst by no means haut cuisine made an inexpensive and delightful improvement on typical British offerings. In southern Tennessee there were at least two plinthed steam locos and other rolling stock "preserved". The rear car had a window and it was obvious that the railroad was built on the principle of a map and a pencil and rule, mile after mile of dead straight track, mostly single with long passing loops. A twenty minute late departure was made up for a right time arrival in New Orleans. A fascinating and eye opening journey.
Musically there were high spots, Sun studios in Memphis where Elvis cut his first record in 1954, RCA studio B in Nashville where everybody recorded post 1957 complete with 3 track valve mixing desk supposedly in working order. The Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium, and loads of other stuff. Certainly a busy ten days but a culmination of a long held ambition. The only sombre moment was the Museum of Civil Rights in Memphis located at the Lorraine Motel where Dr Martin Luther King was killed in 1968. A place to remind one of past wrongs, not yet fully righted. Brilliant holiday, I'll post some pics in due course.
Regards
Martin
Entry into New Orleans involved a reversal on the wye so the whole faced the right way for the next days northbound journey. The consist had two sleeping cars, a dining car, a buffet/observation car, and three coach cars, so breakfast and lunch were partaken in the relevant vehicles and whilst by no means haut cuisine made an inexpensive and delightful improvement on typical British offerings. In southern Tennessee there were at least two plinthed steam locos and other rolling stock "preserved". The rear car had a window and it was obvious that the railroad was built on the principle of a map and a pencil and rule, mile after mile of dead straight track, mostly single with long passing loops. A twenty minute late departure was made up for a right time arrival in New Orleans. A fascinating and eye opening journey.
Musically there were high spots, Sun studios in Memphis where Elvis cut his first record in 1954, RCA studio B in Nashville where everybody recorded post 1957 complete with 3 track valve mixing desk supposedly in working order. The Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium, and loads of other stuff. Certainly a busy ten days but a culmination of a long held ambition. The only sombre moment was the Museum of Civil Rights in Memphis located at the Lorraine Motel where Dr Martin Luther King was killed in 1968. A place to remind one of past wrongs, not yet fully righted. Brilliant holiday, I'll post some pics in due course.
Regards
Martin
