Train Chase: US 190 Louisiana ....The Sequel

Lately I've been drawn to big roads. I have 4 choices, none of which are that good. Interstate 10, no chance. Interstate 49, only in an emergency. New US 90, oh, please, no. New US 190, OK, but in limited servings. That is where I'd head on this Fourth of July. Today would not rank in my Top Thirty of 4ths, but it was better than the other 32. Hope yours was fun. Now on to mine.

This was today's ride. I am less drawn to big picture riding than I was, maybe last week. This week I feel like I want to stay close and see what I can do with a smaller canvas. Today was the 4th of July and I felt that I needed to participate. At first I thought about visiting 20 little towns and seeing what they were doing to celebrate the birth of our country. Then I decided to check out the local camp scene and see how many people were doing the 4th up in those places. Bayou Courtableau in the Port Barre area is the home of many camps of all types. Down the road is Three Mile Lake, I think the name is. It's a bit up scale. On the opposite side of US 190 is another camp location. It's not as upscale. It is also on Old US 190 which I wanted to follow last time but didn't. I've done it before when more of it was accessible. I know it is disappearing into the swamp and I felt it was time for a visit. Below are my meanderings between all my wanted to do's.



I'm easily distracted and then all my in route planning goes to hell fast.
I saw it lurking in the bushes as I came to the intersection of 741
and US190.



Yep here we go again. If there's one to chase, I'll chase it.



Especially if it is led by a G710 CBAE (Cajun Built Accordion Engine).



These engines compress when at idle. There is no reason for
a big old bulky motor when at rest, so they shrink.
I thought to myself, what is it doing sitting on these double
rails? I answered that it is probably waiting for another train
to come by. Years of dealing with railroads have taught me
much. This kind of knowledge comes with experience. Don't
expect to just know it. Absorbing and assimilating this stuff
takes time and conviction. You probably should consult an
expert before proceeding.

I looked down the tracks and nothing was coming. I'd go
find it. Since the Accordion Engine was was facing east, I
figured that the approaching train was coming from that
direction. The only other possibilities were that the Accordion
Engine was broken and needed help, or a real fast one was
going to pass it by. I know you didn't think of that and it's
OK. Like I said, it takes field experience to ascertain all this
visual input.



Approaching the Courtableau area, I ducked in at the Bayou
Gerimond crossing. My spirits rose as I saw the street sign
was decorated.



There's the bayou. There's US 190. There's the rail bridge.
The more you can fit into a photo the better. Don't forget the
gravel and gas line warning post.



Across the road was the very old Bayou Darbonne wooden
bridge. It was once broken when a semi tried to cross it.



I left Bayou G. and went down to the Bayou Courtableau Rd.
The Levee Landing has cut back. "Tuesday" is X'd out, so is
something before "till". It's the economy. "It's all Bush's fault".



The Bayou Courtableau rail bridge came into sight. It is
really a pretty bridge. I've been thinking of a similar
construction.



Maybe this?



Damn close, wouldn't you say?



I know you were hoping I'd jump up on the rails and take
a shot. I'm constantly thinking of you and try to anticipate
your needs.




And the other way:



A boat passed. He yelled something at me.



I ignore all that and it's easy, I'm about deaf. Look at the
design. It is clean, functional and meaningful. Oh, an epiphany,
like the US 101 bridge, it is contrasting as you have the wild
beauty of Nature as a background for Man's achievement .
Nature is wild and unkempt. Man attempts to be structured
and precise. See where that's gotten us.



Down the road is the Courtableau Drainage Structure.
What a lovely name.



When I look at the control structure, I can't help but flash on this.
They are so similar.



It works like this. The map gets bigger if you click it.
The Courtableau comes in from the upper left. It flowed
south to where you see the two horizontal red lines and
continued in the channel to the right. You could get on a
steamboat in New Orleans and travel to Washington, La.
where the Courtableau is born. You could do that in the
early 1800's. This place is old. Now the Corps has blocked
the Courtableau and rerouted its flow down a canal and a
spillway. Now all you can get is lost.



These are some of the camps along the diversion canal.



This is up river from the structure. It is not the original
Courtableau so I should say, "up canal". See the line across
the water. It is to prevent certain people from going over
the spillway. That's to the left. It was not functional today.



Who'd want to?



Heading back to 190, here she came, the train from the east
I knew, from experience, was coming. I am good. My strength
originates from my ability to focus.



















Beaming with delight, I gave the swamp a charitable shot.



Back to 741 I raced. I'm getting all excited all over again.



The Accordion Engine had expanded and was heading out
going east. In fact, she had really really gotten long.



And picking up speed fast. I had to move.



I raced back to Bayou G. A boat floated by.



I took a picture of my bike.



Whish, she flew by.



These shots are priceless.



I shot through Krotz Springs, practically jumping the
Atchafalaya River and careened down La.975 toward
Sherburne and the Atchafalya rail bridge which is over
100 years old. You've seen my pictures of this bridge before.
But, not like this.

First, Virgil, those J pieces were all about. What they were
all about for, I have no idea. Maybe my daughter wants one?



I think they are ugly, not like a spike or rail plate which are
both beautiful. I saw the Accordion Engine and train coming.
I took up my position, one leg over the rail. I looked for any
possible problem I might have when I decided to flee, which
was my plan.





















Was he blowing his horn at me?



I jumped and got these shots falling down the fill.






Panting from the rush, I retired to Old US 190, looked down
it's forbidden path and shrugged.



I always take a picture of the KS bridges. Ever notice that?



They are such neat bridges. They remind me of serpentine reptiles.





What do you think? Uh, huh, you see it now don't you?

I didn't mean to come by here, but it was on the way to
Old US 90 that I was going to visit to its fullest this time.



I was now in the historic zone. I thought about the wide
bridges Mark had mentioned.



I stopped and looked up the bayou at the new bridge.
It reminded me of nothing.



The old bridge was collapsing.



This is the Black Lagoon. A monster lives in it.



The weight limits on the bridge are delusional.



This levee was not there when Old US 190 was just US 190.



I mounted the levee, and shot left toward the tracks.
And, parked.



My hope was for better shots. I envisioned swamp off to
both side. Oh, well, I'd had my moment and it was good.
This is looking west.



This is looking east. Hey, you see that spur?



One last look at the road sign before some idiot shoots it with
his shotgun.



On the next stretch I saw some painted lines. What do you
think of that, Mark. {Mark is my 190 specialist. Actually, it's
his dad that knows stuff. Sorry Mark, I had to be honest}



The white thing is a bird.



Swamp, nick nick.






I was back at Courtableau, but on Old US 90 that doesn't
have a bridge anymore. So I went under New 190 and then
back east. Check the map.



I wandered around 3 mile Lake on the upscale side. People
were riding around on Kawasaki Mules. I became afraid and
headed home. Passing through Arnaudville I saluted Old Glory
and all of those that made my frivolous afternoon possible.
That salute continues and will be renewed daily.

Train Chase: Yellow Choo Choos

I'd finished a long drawn out repair on my main motorcycle.
It needed a test ride to make sure that the repair might last.

Mark had offered me a replacement battery for my original six year old.
The 65 mile round trip to Prairie Rhonde would be perfect. It is slightly
northwest of Opelousas. That was it. I brought the camera simply
because I know I can't go anywhere without wanting to bring home a
memory. I suppose I'm a hoarder. It's a symptom of something, I've
heard, but never investigated. Don't tell me.

The repaired bike was flying like a sewing machine on amphetamines.
I couldn't keep it off 80 and I hadn't gotten into top gear so I passed up
Nap Rd, my cut across between La.182 and La.357. Shish, I was in down-
town Opelousas, snarled in traffic. I like Opelousas. It kinda reminds me
of Jefferson Davis Parkway near the Fairgrounds in New Orleans. At
least my kids know what I'm talking about.

Up ahead I saw a train crossing North Union St, aka La182. Fine, I'd
veer west on Grolee and then inch closer to the tracks to check it out.
Most of the Union Pacific trains fly through town. This sucker was
creeping. Was it ill? Lately, I've been overly concerned that trains might be sick.
I don't know what it is? I get his deep compassionate feeling and worry.

I was able to beat it to the next crossing. It looked like a UP
setup, but something was wrong. Had it been defrocked?



Where I had expected it to be, it wasn't I figured it was
headed to Eunice on the main UP line. No, it had turned up
the old Texas and Pacific rails headed toward Ville Platte.
I have never seen a train on those rails, ever. I've seen
engines at the carbon black plant and the tank car plant,
but never an assembled train. What was strange was that
the engines had two different markings and neither of which
were AKDN (Acadian RR based in Opelousas and owner of
these rails.)



And it was creeping. I saw no green smoke and it wasn't
making bad noises. I immediately thought that maybe the
condition of the rails only allowed for that speed. Then I
thought that there were no automatic crossing guards on
this city stretch and that it was just too dangerous, being
summer and all the kids going crazy, for a train to go very
fast. And again I was concerned with its health.



There's your high tech crossing.



The two yellow choochoos were headed to a little yard.
They already had a bunch of tank cars and seemed to be
looking for more.












I shot down Statesmen St. and turned north on 3043. I'd
head to the crossing that I know well. How well? Very.
It is where the train shop is. When I got there, her lights
were shining my way. It was an "Oh boy" moment.
Would yesterday repeat itself?



I thought I was having anticipation vision. That's where
you want something to move and imagine it doing so, but
it isn't. Like downloading with a dial up connection.



I shot the other way from the crossing toward the train shop,
a virtual Easter egg basket of old diesels. My choochoos
would come this way if they ever got going.



The bell started ringing and the lights flashed. Had my
parade begun?



Seemed so.









I ran the block back to the bike. The engineer had waved
to me and I was giddy.









It stopped.
I figured it had to get some more cars. I got on the bike and
raced out to Mark's house to see if he wanted to "chase" the train
to VP. He had kicked back already and doesn't chase trains kicked
back. Train chasing is an aggressive sport and you have to be on your toes.
He is a professional and understands that which is why he is still
at the top of his game and not under some damn ol' train.

I re raced back to the highway crossing after checking a back road
crossing behind Mark's place where I saw no train.

I returned to the highway crossing.

My engines had backed up pretty far. Almost as far as they had been.
Off in the distance a fast freight flew into Opleousas on the
UP line. I became jealous. I was stuck with this plug while
just over there it was all going on. My youth was like that.
To be more exact ........



I rode back to Statesmen St. I could see, I thought, the
train at the front of these cars, the ones it had passed by earlier.



I envisioned a light house.




I thought of the two engines.






I opened a bar.




And I woke up. Most of my dream had real locations in it.
Checking out the map above will be a guide to the reality of
of some of it.

I say, since it was 5pm, the train had been "tied down"
for the night. (I got to use that phrase again and it came out
a lot smoother.) Maybe I'll head back early and escort it out
to VP? If it leaves at 11:00, we'll have a date.

Chaising Trains: Following the Louisiana Delta

The Louisiana Delta is a local short line railroad. Here, I'm going to use it as a tour guide since I'm very poor at organization. Below is from the railroad's website. We'll be visiting the 7 locations and looking around much as I tried to do in the "Seeking the SP" write. Unfortunately that project went dead in Morgan City. Not even my 2 readers were following along. Only out of an urge to peck am I doing this. Let's get started.

LDRR operates seven disconnected lines in southern Louisiana. The lines total over 100

miles and branch off the UP/BNSF joint track at points between Lafayette and Raceland, LA.

The branch lines are as follows:

1) Breaux Bridge Package
(includes Breaux Bridge Branch,
Lafayette Commercial, Elks and Powerhouse Spurs

2) Midland Branch – New Iberia to Abbeville with Pesspon and Salt Mine Spurs

3) MOP line – serves two sugar mills in New Iberia

4) ARA Spur – serves Acadiana Regional Airport facility in New Iberia

5) Cypremort Branch – Baldwin to Cypremort,

6) Bayou Sale Branch – Bayou Sale to North Bend

7) Lockport Branch – Raceland to Jay.

LDRR has a transload facility at Schriever.

In addition, LDRR has trackage rights on UP/BNSF main line between Raceland and Lake

Charles.

Traffic includes carbon black, salt, rice, sugar, molasses, oilfield chemicals and

supplies, pipe, fertilizer, and bauxite ore.