midland7
C&IM 70 SD38-2 Manito RS Powerton, IL 2-12-91
On February 12, 1991 the C&IM's Manito Road switcher with SD38-2s 70-75-73 are pulling an empty BN coal train from the Powerton Generating station located just south of Pekin. The BN train is symboled 14-DD-017, or the 14th train-West Decker Mine, Montana- Powerton Generating station. There is an SW1200 (23) in the consist because the Manito job is moving it from the engine shed to the south end of the Powerton B yard. The Manito Road switcher began operations in September 1990 to handle the dwindling coal traffic on the C&IM in 1991 and 1992. Manito was a small town located about 7 miles south of Powerton yard. The C&IM believed the new road switcher could cover the Powerton and Havana coal train assignments rather than station three SDs at Powerton, and operate a crew from Springfield with three SDs to handle the Havana coal trains and other miscellaneous business. During the short duration of the Manito RS, the Midland did run an Extra North from Shops about 2 to 3 days a week relaying freight and repaired bad order coal hoppers to Union siding which were interchanged with the Manito RS. The operation lasted a little over a year and by mid-November 1991 the Manito job was abolished and the road switcher was relocated to Powerton where most of the work was anyway. This was at a time when the C&IM was really down on its knees due to a lack of coal traffic. I chased the Manito RS three different times and I am sure glad I did. Not only is the equipment in this photograph long gone, but so is the obscure operations of the C&IM trying to desperately stay afloat after becoming an independent common carrier some four years after the sale of the railroad by Commonwealth Edison. Photo by Ryan Crawford
C&IM 70 SD38-2 Manito RS Powerton, IL 2-12-91
On February 12, 1991 the C&IM's Manito Road switcher with SD38-2s 70-75-73 are pulling an empty BN coal train from the Powerton Generating station located just south of Pekin. The BN train is symboled 14-DD-017, or the 14th train-West Decker Mine, Montana- Powerton Generating station. There is an SW1200 (23) in the consist because the Manito job is moving it from the engine shed to the south end of the Powerton B yard. The Manito Road switcher began operations in September 1990 to handle the dwindling coal traffic on the C&IM in 1991 and 1992. Manito was a small town located about 7 miles south of Powerton yard. The C&IM believed the new road switcher could cover the Powerton and Havana coal train assignments rather than station three SDs at Powerton, and operate a crew from Springfield with three SDs to handle the Havana coal trains and other miscellaneous business. During the short duration of the Manito RS, the Midland did run an Extra North from Shops about 2 to 3 days a week relaying freight and repaired bad order coal hoppers to Union siding which were interchanged with the Manito RS. The operation lasted a little over a year and by mid-November 1991 the Manito job was abolished and the road switcher was relocated to Powerton where most of the work was anyway. This was at a time when the C&IM was really down on its knees due to a lack of coal traffic. I chased the Manito RS three different times and I am sure glad I did. Not only is the equipment in this photograph long gone, but so is the obscure operations of the C&IM trying to desperately stay afloat after becoming an independent common carrier some four years after the sale of the railroad by Commonwealth Edison. Photo by Ryan Crawford