Working the Line
Let’s follow along with the
crew of Iowa Interstate
Train DMSW-12, locally
known as the “Tramp”, as
they work the Grimes Line
and see how they interact
with the locks along the
way. Today’s lineup calls for
the train to work Beisser
Lumber in Grimes, Iowa at
the north end of the line.
Since Beisser is a facing-
point spur, the crew will
have to runaround their
train at Urbandale to place
the cars in the proper
position. Arriving at the
17
17: Make sure the shim wire is installed
perpendicular to the roadbed to prevent it from
binding. Placing the roofing nails on the sides
instead of the ends allows for more flexible
movement of the shim.
18
18: James used cabinet
cam locks to press
the shim and wire up
against the sub-roadbed.
He preferred the cam
locks because their
flush mounting kept his
fascia clean and clear, as
compared to padlocks.
