The Hagestad Sandhouse Gang

The Hagestad Sandhouse Gang is a railroad-oriented discussion group run by the Transportation Center at Northwestern University. The group meets monthly for 90 minutes to two hours with a speaker and then discussion of the presentation.  The concept is to link active / semi-active rail practioners with students and academics at Northwestern and other schools. We currently have about 300 members and have been in existence for roughly five years.

Upcoming Sandhouse Meetings

February Sandhouse Gang Event


Date/Time:

Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Event:

"Biomass as a Renewable Energy and the Implications for the North American Railroads"

Lee A. Clair
Partner
Norbridge
Location: TBA
Dial-in Information: TBA
Presentation/Flyers:  

Lee Clair is a partner of Norbridge, Inc. and a long-standing member of the Sandhouse Gang.  Lee has been a Sandhouse Gang presenter on numerous occasions, always bringing interesting points of view on new and challenging subjects.  Please join us for Lee's presentation which will certainly stimulate our thinking on the subject of renewable energy sources as they relate to the railroad industry.

Notes on Sandhouse Meetings

Normally the Sandhouse Gang meets at 3:00 p.m. on the Northwestern campus in Evanston. Specific meeting locations are often not determined until shortly before the sessions; for authoritative meeting details, call the Transportation Center (847 491-7287).

Hagestad Sandhouse Gang Steering Committee:

Norman Carlson norman.carlson[at]sbcglobal.net
Roy Gelder rgelder[at]beltrailway.com
Dick Gill richardrgill1[at]sbcglobal.net
Peter Nicholson pnichol6[at]prodigy.net
William Sippel wsippel[at]fletcher-sippel.com
Diana Marek d-marek[at]northwestern.edu

Why "The Sandhouse Gang"?
Locomotives use sand to assist them for traction (steel wheels on steel rails will sometimes slip particularly if the rail is wet). Prior to modern servicing facilities, there was a separate area near the railroad roundhouse where locomotives were "sanded" between trips.  This location was often out of the way and found employees from several different unions in the area - hostlers, engineers, brakemen, oilers, maintenance people, carmen and so on.  But few management people were there.  As such the "Sandhouse" became a "gossip" area of sorts for the exchange of all kinds of facts, stories, and rumors. In fact, a common railroad expression was "give me the sandhouse" on this or that.  Translation: "Give me the low-down."

Doug Hagestad
Since its inception, the Sandhouse Gang had been animated by the efforts of our dear friend Doug Hagestad who passed away on July 26, 2007. The Gang's new name commemorates our debt to him.
Contribute to the Douglas Hagestad Education Fund:
Remembering Doug Hagestad...
Douglas Hagestad Education Fund (.doc)
Donor Response Form (.doc)

Joining the Sandhouse Gang

The Sandhouse Gang is an informal group of current and former participants in the railroad freight industry, that meets on a monthly basis to hear and debate current developments in the industry, particularly matters affecting the Chicago area.

To Subscribe to the Sandhouse Gang mailing list:

E-mail Diana Marek at d-marek@northwestern.edu with your name, email and postal mailing address.

Directions to the Evanston campus, and suggestions for parking.

Other links of interest:

Association of American Railroads (AAR)

American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association

Midwest High Speed Rail Association

Questions?

Contact the TC's Assistant Director, Diana Marek: d-marek@northwestern.edu
(847) 491-2280.