View allAll Photos Tagged doubletracking
Train 505 waits for 608 to clear the bottleneck switch at the far East end of the Double-Track mainline near 11th Street Station. Car #1 is looking sharp (compared to #13) on the rear of 505 while waiting near the Lafayette Street grade crossing before proceeding East. This is CP 33.3 on the South Shore Line in Michigan City Indiana.
April 3, 2024
This railroad has been a dream of mine to see since the first time I learned about its existence decades ago. The Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad is considered the last interurban railroad in America and it's right of way clearly belies that fact despite modernization over the years.
For me the big draw has always the nearly two miles of street running through downtown Michigan City. The railroad snakes down 11th street for 1.1 miles then jogs across Amtrak's Michigan Line (ex NYC new Michigan Central) Ybefore another 0.6 miles or so of street running down 10th street before regaining a private right of way for a fast race west thru the Indiana dune country.
Like much of the midwest Michigan City has a good variety of rail action though nowhere near what it once was. In addition to the CSSB and Amtrak (which sees a tiny bit of NS action) CSXT's main to Grand Rapids (ex Pere Marquette) that also hosts a pair of Amtrak trains, cuts through the city. In days of old the Monon and Nickel Plate also came to town though the Monon is long gone and the NKP has been cut and a good portion of it is now a branch operated by the CSSB.
Anyway, a bit of history of the famed South Shore:
The South Shore began in 1901 as the Chicago and Indiana Air Line Railway, a streetcar route between East Chicago and Indiana Harbor. Reorganized as the Chicago, Lake Shore and South Bend Railway in 1904, by 1908 its route had reached South Bend, Indiana via Michigan City, Indiana. The company leased the Kensington and Eastern Railroad, an Illinois Central Railroad subsidiary, to gain access to Chicago. Passenger service between South Bend and Chicago began in 1909. The Lake Shore added freight service in 1916.
Samuel Insull, the Chicago utility magnate, acquired the bankrupt Lake Shore in 1925 and reorganized it as the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad, which it remains today. The railroad experienced two more bankruptcies, in 1933 and 1938. Despite having become unprofitsble again in the post WWII period, in 1967 the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) purchased the road to gain direct access to then new Bethlehem Steel plant at Burns Harbor (which still today as an Arcelor Mittal plant is still the CSSB's largest customer). Under C&O ownership electric freight operations ended and the famed 800s (Little Joes in Milwaukee Road parlance) were retired. In 1981 10 GP38-2s were bought new and they have been stalwarts ever since.
In 1977 the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) began subsidizing the passenger operations on the South Shore Line and in 1984 the Venango River Corporation (VRC) purchased the South Shore from the Chessie Sysem. Venango declared bankruptcy in 1989 due largely to problems with its much larger Chicago Missouri and Western property. In 1990 the Anacostia and Pacific Company stepped in and purchased the South Shore, while at the same time NICTD purchased the passenger assets. The two operations are entirely separate businesses but closely integrated, and NICTD continues to use the familiar South Shore branding for its passenger operations.
To learn more check out these great articles from TRAINS:
cs.trains.com/ctr/b/mileposts/archive/2019/01/10/putting-...
www.anacostia.com/sites/www.anacostia.com/files/assets/Tr...
But these iconic scenes aren't going to be around for long. A massive nearly half billion dollar project to double track the line all the way to Michigan City in order to shave 30 or more minutes off transit times and allow greater train frequencies is supposed to start construction soon (though the Covid-19 situation may push back the dates). This will lamentably lead to the end of street running and the removal of nearly all the homes and structures on the south side of 11 th street. To learn more check out the project web site and the detailed PPT presentation on the project: www.doubletrack-nwi.com/images/DT_PRS_DTVirtualOpenHouse_...
But change is the only constant in life, and the CSSB has been modernizing and rebuilding since the Insull era. In fact in 1956 the long section of street running in East Chicago was bypassed and in 1970 the street running into downtown South Bend was abandoned...so I suppose this is just a continuation of what has come before.
Anyway, I do think this will not be my only visit before this trackage disappears because there just isn't quite anything like it.
As for this shot, here is eastbound NICTD train 503 with a consist of Nippon-Sharyo built electric multiple unit cars. Lead #48 is a double ended car built in 1992 though the oldest of the type date from 1982 and were the cars that replaced the old Pullman and Standard Steel cars dating from the 1920s.
The train is about to stop at Michigan City 11th Street station near MP 33.9. The historic station with its ornate facade was built in 1927 and closed to passengers in 1987. It has been vacant since with trains stopping at a bus stop style shelter adjacent to it. It was sold to the city in 2007 and has an uncertain future with the coming changes.
Michigan, City Indiana
Saturday August 15, 2020
@ Miner's trail head
(high clearance required for a few miles of doubletrack, 4WD for the mud along the way)
This railroad has been a dream of mine to see since the first time I learned about its existence decades ago. The Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad is considered the last interurban railroad in America and it's right of way clearly belies that fact despite modernization over the years.
For me the big draw has always the nearly two miles of street running through downtown Michigan City. The railroad snakes down 11th street for 1.1 miles then jogs across Amtrak's Michigan Line (ex NYC new Michigan Central) before another 0.6 miles or so of street running down 10th street before regaining a private right of way for a fast race west thru the Indiana dune country.
Like much of the midwest Michigan City has a good variety of rail action though nowhere near what it once was. In addition to the CSSB and Amtrak (which sees a tiny bit of NS action) CSXT's main to Grand Rapids (ex Pere Marquette) that also hosts a pair of Amtrak trains, cuts through the city. In days of old the Monon and Nickel Plate also came to town though the Monon is long gone and the NKP has been cut and a good portion of it is now a branch operated by the CSSB.
Anyway, a bit of history of the famed South Shore:
The South Shore began in 1901 as the Chicago and Indiana Air Line Railway, a streetcar route between East Chicago and Indiana Harbor. Reorganized as the Chicago, Lake Shore and South Bend Railway in 1904, by 1908 its route had reached South Bend, Indiana via Michigan City, Indiana. The company leased the Kensington and Eastern Railroad, an Illinois Central Railroad subsidiary, to gain access to Chicago. Passenger service between South Bend and Chicago began in 1909. The Lake Shore added freight service in 1916.
Samuel Insull, the Chicago utility magnate, acquired the bankrupt Lake Shore in 1925 and reorganized it as the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad, which it remains today. The railroad experienced two more bankruptcies, in 1933 and 1938. Despite having become unprofitsble again in the post WWII period, in 1967 the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) purchased the road to gain direct access to then new Bethlehem Steel plant at Burns Harbor (which still today as an Arcelor Mittal plant is still the CSSB's largest customer). Under C&O ownership electric freight operations ended and the famed 800s (Little Joes in Milwaukee Road parlance) were retired. In 1981 10 GP38-2s were bought new and they have been stalwarts ever since.
In 1977 the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) began subsidizing the passenger operations on the South Shore Line and in 1984 the Venango River Corporation (VRC) purchased the South Shore from the Chessie Sysem. Venango declared bankruptcy in 1989 due largely to problems with its much larger Chicago Missouri and Western property. In 1990 the Anacostia and Pacific Company stepped in and purchased the South Shore, while at the same time NICTD purchased the passenger assets. The two operations are entirely separate businesses but closely integrated, and NICTD continues to use the familiar South Shore branding for its passenger operations.
To learn more check out these great articles from TRAINS:
cs.trains.com/ctr/b/mileposts/archive/2019/01/10/putting-...
www.anacostia.com/sites/www.anacostia.com/files/assets/Tr...
But these iconic scenes aren't going to be around for long. A massive nearly half billion dollar project to double track the line all the way to Michigan City in order to shave 30 or more minutes off transit times and allow greater train frequencies is supposed to start construction soon (though the Covid-19 situation may push back the dates). This will lamentably lead to the end of street running and the removal of nearly all the homes and structures on the south side of 11 th street. To learn more check out the project web site and the detailed PPT presentation on the project: www.doubletrack-nwi.com/images/DT_PRS_DTVirtualOpenHouse_...
But change is the only constant in life, and the CSSB has been modernizing and rebuilding since the Insull era. In fact in 1956 the long section of street running in East Chicago was bypassed and in 1970 the street running into downtown South Bend was abandoned...so I suppose this is just a continuation of what has come before.
Anyway, I do think this will not be my only visit before this trackage disappears because there just isn't quite anything like it.
As for this shot, here are three South Shore Freight units (GP38-2s 2005, 2007, 2008 from that 10 unit 1981 order) headed light engine back to the Caroll Ave. shops. This going away view looks east down 11th Street at the Ohio Ave. intersection, MP 34.35.
Michigan, City Indiana
Saturday August 15, 2020
About 3/4 of a mile north of Ade, Indiana is Chizum Ditch Bridge, located at MP IH 54.39. This bridge is of the plate girder type. View is looking north with Ade behind me. This is accessible by a farmers private crossing. Taken March 20th, 2013.
NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD
Chizum Ditch Bridge
Ade, rural Newton County, Indiana
MP IH 54.39
March 20th, 2013
Status-Abandoned
This railroad has been a dream of mine to see since the first time I learned about its existence decades ago. The Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad is considered the last interurban railroad in America and it's right of way clearly belies that fact despite modernization over the years.
For me the big draw has always the nearly two miles of street running through downtown Michigan City. The railroad snakes down 11th street for 1.1 miles then jogs across Amtrak's Michigan Line (ex NYC new Michigan Central) before another 0.6 miles or so of street running down 10th street before regaining a private right of way for a fast race west thru the Indiana dune country.
Like much of the midwest Michigan City has a good variety of rail action though nowhere near what it once was. In addition to the CSSB and Amtrak (which sees a tiny bit of NS action) CSXT's main to Grand Rapids (ex Pere Marquette) that also hosts a pair of Amtrak trains, cuts through the city. In days of old the Monon and Nickel Plate also came to town though the Monon is long gone and the NKP has been cut and a good portion of it is now a branch operated by the CSSB.
Anyway, a bit of history of the famed South Shore:
The South Shore began in 1901 as the Chicago and Indiana Air Line Railway, a streetcar route between East Chicago and Indiana Harbor. Reorganized as the Chicago, Lake Shore and South Bend Railway in 1904, by 1908 its route had reached South Bend, Indiana via Michigan City, Indiana. The company leased the Kensington and Eastern Railroad, an Illinois Central Railroad subsidiary, to gain access to Chicago. Passenger service between South Bend and Chicago began in 1909. The Lake Shore added freight service in 1916.
Samuel Insull, the Chicago utility magnate, acquired the bankrupt Lake Shore in 1925 and reorganized it as the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad, which it remains today. The railroad experienced two more bankruptcies, in 1933 and 1938. Despite having become unprofitsble again in the post WWII period, in 1967 the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) purchased the road to gain direct access to then new Bethlehem Steel plant at Burns Harbor (which still today as an Arcelor Mittal plant is still the CSSB's largest customer). Under C&O ownership electric freight operations ended and the famed 800s (Little Joes in Milwaukee Road parlance) were retired. In 1981 10 GP38-2s were bought new and they have been stalwarts ever since.
In 1977 the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) began subsidizing the passenger operations on the South Shore Line and in 1984 the Venango River Corporation (VRC) purchased the South Shore from the Chessie Sysem. Venango declared bankruptcy in 1989 due largely to problems with its much larger Chicago Missouri and Western property. In 1990 the Anacostia and Pacific Company stepped in and purchased the South Shore, while at the same time NICTD purchased the passenger assets. The two operations are entirely separate businesses but closely integrated, and NICTD continues to use the familiar South Shore branding for its passenger operations.
To learn more check out these great articles from TRAINS:
cs.trains.com/ctr/b/mileposts/archive/2019/01/10/putting-...
www.anacostia.com/sites/www.anacostia.com/files/assets/Tr...
But these iconic scenes aren't going to be around for long. A massive nearly half billion dollar project to double track the line all the way to Michigan City in order to shave 30 or more minutes off transit times and allow greater train frequencies is supposed to start construction soon (though the Covid-19 situation may push back the dates). This will lamentably lead to the end of street running and the removal of nearly all the homes and structures on the south side of 11 th street. To learn more check out the project web site and the detailed PPT presentation on the project: www.doubletrack-nwi.com/images/DT_PRS_DTVirtualOpenHouse_...
But change is the only constant in life, and the CSSB has been modernizing and rebuilding since the Insull era. In fact in 1956 the long section of street running in East Chicago was bypassed and in 1970 the street running into downtown South Bend was abandoned...so I suppose this is just a continuation of what has come before.
Anyway, I do think this will not be my only visit before this trackage disappears because there just isn't quite anything like it.
As for this shot, here are three South Shore Freight units (GP38-2s 2005, 2007, 2008 from that 10 unit 1981 order) headed light engine back to the Caroll Ave. shops. This view looks west as they curl on to 11th Street after having crossed Amtrak at CP34.5 the 10th Street Interlocking diamond.
Michigan, City Indiana
Saturday August 15, 2020
Back when I called Fountain City home it was unusual to see an eastbound using track one. It either meant there was a long-range overtake happening between Trevino and Winona Jct. or an eastbounder was avoiding an Alma coal train that was arriving or departing from Dairyland Power. Now with full CTC installed it's not that unusual at all with both tracks signalled in both directions and power crossovers at the dispatchers disposal.
The single-ended house track is seen in the foreground and in the distance is a large crane at the Army Corp of Engineers boat yard. September 20, 2020.
Things were pretty quiet on the mainline as I made my way through Fond du Lac. I kept going south to see if anything was happening around Valley. It was not a huge surprise to find the U724 ore loads waiting at the bottom of the hill for a helper set to tie onto the rear.
Sure, I got plenty of shots of this train that morning but lacking anything better to I parked on Lost Arrow Road and waited. The sun beat down for about an hour with only an occasional diversion in the form of historic planes passing over on the way to EAA AirVenture. Of course, once U724 started pulling and approached the curve a solitary cloud appeared from nowhere and made a bee-line for the sun. CN 3835 gains a little speed on the double track as it starts up Byron Hill. July 20, 2024.
Coming down the hill into Hudson is a favorite spot of mine since it retains a remnant of the double track that once graced long stretches of the Adams line. Featuring the hill can be tricky. This is the only overpass and like the rest of the hill is dominated by a tree tunnel. Having slightly filtered sun and snow on the ground went a long ways toward mitigating the shadows yet brightening up the scene. January 20, 2025.
BR Standard 9F No. 92178 (92212) passes through Swithland sidings on the up main hauling a rake of windcutters at the Great Central railway. The locomotive was renumbered for a Timeline events photo charter.
Q116's single SD70M-2 has it lights dimmed as it rolls east to meet a west-bound freight at the end of the doubletrack in Potterville.
This railroad has been a dream of mine to see since the first time I learned about its existence decades ago. The Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad is considered the last interurban railroad in America and it's right of way clearly belies that fact despite modernization over the years.
For me the big draw has always the nearly two miles of street running through downtown Michigan City. The railroad snakes down 11th street for 1.1 miles then jogs across Amtrak's Michigan Line (ex NYC new Michigan Central) before another 0.6 miles or so of street running down 10th street before regaining a private right of way for a fast race west thru the Indiana dune country.
Like much of the midwest Michigan City has a good variety of rail action though nowhere near what it once was. In addition to the CSSB and Amtrak (which sees a tiny bit of NS action) CSXT's main to Grand Rapids (ex Pere Marquette) that also hosts a pair of Amtrak trains, cuts through the city. In days of old the Monon and Nickel Plate also came to town though the Monon is long gone and the NKP has been cut and a good portion of it is now a branch operated by the CSSB.
Anyway, a bit of history of the famed South Shore:
The South Shore began in 1901 as the Chicago and Indiana Air Line Railway, a streetcar route between East Chicago and Indiana Harbor. Reorganized as the Chicago, Lake Shore and South Bend Railway in 1904, by 1908 its route had reached South Bend, Indiana via Michigan City, Indiana. The company leased the Kensington and Eastern Railroad, an Illinois Central Railroad subsidiary, to gain access to Chicago. Passenger service between South Bend and Chicago began in 1909. The Lake Shore added freight service in 1916.
Samuel Insull, the Chicago utility magnate, acquired the bankrupt Lake Shore in 1925 and reorganized it as the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad, which it remains today. The railroad experienced two more bankruptcies, in 1933 and 1938. Despite having become unprofitsble again in the post WWII period, in 1967 the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) purchased the road to gain direct access to then new Bethlehem Steel plant at Burns Harbor (which still today as an Arcelor Mittal plant is still the CSSB's largest customer). Under C&O ownership electric freight operations ended and the famed 800s (Little Joes in Milwaukee Road parlance) were retired. In 1981 10 GP38-2s were bought new and they have been stalwarts ever since.
In 1977 the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) began subsidizing the passenger operations on the South Shore Line and in 1984 the Venango River Corporation (VRC) purchased the South Shore from the Chessie Sysem. Venango declared bankruptcy in 1989 due largely to problems with its much larger Chicago Missouri and Western property. In 1990 the Anacostia and Pacific Company stepped in and purchased the South Shore, while at the same time NICTD purchased the passenger assets. The two operations are entirely separate businesses but closely integrated, and NICTD continues to use the familiar South Shore branding for its passenger operations.
To learn more check out these great articles from TRAINS:
cs.trains.com/ctr/b/mileposts/archive/2019/01/10/putting-...
www.anacostia.com/sites/www.anacostia.com/files/assets/Tr...
But these iconic scenes aren't going to be around for long. A massive nearly half billion dollar project to double track the line all the way to Michigan City in order to shave 30 or more minutes off transit times and allow greater train frequencies is supposed to start construction soon (though the Covid-19 situation may push back the dates). This will lamentably lead to the end of street running and the removal of nearly all the homes and structures on the south side of 11 th street. To learn more check out the project web site and the detailed PPT presentation on the project: www.doubletrack-nwi.com/images/DT_PRS_DTVirtualOpenHouse_...
But change is the only constant in life, and the CSSB has been modernizing and rebuilding since the Insull era. In fact in 1956 the long section of street running in East Chicago was bypassed and in 1970 the street running into downtown South Bend was abandoned...so I suppose this is just a continuation of what has come before.
Anyway, I do think this will not be my only visit before this trackage disappears because there just isn't quite anything like it.
As for this shot, here are three South Shore Freight units (GP38-2s 2007, 2008, 2005 from that 10 unit 1981 order) headed light engine back to the Caroll Ave. shops. This view looks west at the intersection of 11th Avenue and Franklin Street at MP 33.94 in the heart of downtown just east of the NICTD commuter rail stop.
Michigan City, Indiana
Saturday August 15, 2020
BNSF eastbound exits Abo Canyon in September 2001. This was one of the few remaining sections of single track and a major bottleneck on the transcon until the doubletracking project was completed about 10 years later.
200109.1-22 ef
What's a trip to Rochelle without a stop by the west end of Global Three for the standard shot of the remotes? It would be nice to see them on the mainline again but this will have to do, hey they're clean and pointed in the right direction. August 11, 2018.
While the main goal was to shoot the freight in the street I must admit I really do like shooting be electric mu trains too.
The Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad is considered the last interurban railroad in America and it's right of way clearly belies that fact despite modernization over the years.
For me the big draw has always the nearly two miles of street running through downtown Michigan City. The railroad snakes down 11th street for 1.1 miles then jogs across Amtrak's Michigan Line (ex NYC new Michigan Central) before another 0.6 miles or so of street running down 10th street before regaining a private right of way for a fast race west thru the Indiana dune country.
Like much of the midwest Michigan City has a good variety of rail action though nowhere near what it once was. In addition to the CSSB and Amtrak (which sees a tiny bit of NS action) CSXT's main to Grand Rapids (ex Pere Marquette) that also hosts a pair of Amtrak trains, cuts through the city. In days of old the Monon and Nickel Plate also came to town though the Monon is long gone and the NKP has been cut and a good portion of it is now a branch operated by the CSSB.
Anyway, a bit of history of the famed South Shore:
The South Shore began in 1901 as the Chicago and Indiana Air Line Railway, a streetcar route between East Chicago and Indiana Harbor. Reorganized as the Chicago, Lake Shore and South Bend Railway in 1904, by 1908 its route had reached South Bend, Indiana via Michigan City, Indiana. The company leased the Kensington and Eastern Railroad, an Illinois Central Railroad subsidiary, to gain access to Chicago. Passenger service between South Bend and Chicago began in 1909. The Lake Shore added freight service in 1916.
Samuel Insull, the Chicago utility magnate, acquired the bankrupt Lake Shore in 1925 and reorganized it as the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad, which it remains today. The railroad experienced two more bankruptcies, in 1933 and 1938. Despite having become unprofitsble again in the post WWII period, in 1967 the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) purchased the road to gain direct access to then new Bethlehem Steel plant at Burns Harbor (which still today as an Arcelor Mittal plant is still the CSSB's largest customer). Under C&O ownership electric freight operations ended and the famed 800s (Little Joes in Milwaukee Road parlance) were retired. In 1981 10 GP38-2s were bought new and they have been stalwarts ever since.
In 1977 the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) began subsidizing the passenger operations on the South Shore Line and in 1984 the Venango River Corporation (VRC) purchased the South Shore from the Chessie Sysem. Venango declared bankruptcy in 1989 due largely to problems with its much larger Chicago Missouri and Western property. In 1990 the Anacostia and Pacific Company stepped in and purchased the South Shore, while at the same time NICTD purchased the passenger assets. The two operations are entirely separate businesses but closely integrated, and NICTD continues to use the familiar South Shore branding for its passenger operations.
To learn more check out these great articles from TRAINS:
cs.trains.com/ctr/b/mileposts/archive/2019/01/10/putting-...
www.anacostia.com/sites/www.anacostia.com/files/assets/Tr...
But these iconic scenes aren't going to be around for long. A massive nearly half billion dollar project to double track the line all the way to Michigan City in order to shave 30 or more minutes off transit times and allow greater train frequencies is supposed to start construction soon (though the Covid-19 situation may push back the dates). This will lamentably lead to the end of street running and the removal of nearly all the homes and structures on the south side of 11 th street. To learn more check out the project web site and the detailed PPT presentation on the project: www.doubletrack-nwi.com/images/DT_PRS_DTVirtualOpenHouse_...
But change is the only constant in life, and the CSSB has been modernizing and rebuilding since the Insull era. In fact in 1956 the long section of street running in East Chicago was bypassed and in 1970 the street running into downtown South Bend was abandoned...so I suppose this is just a continuation of what has come before.
Anyway, I do think this will not be my only visit before this trackage disappears because there just isn't quite anything like it.
As for this shot, here is wesbound NICTD train 606 with a consist of Nippon-Sharyo built electric multiple unit cars. Trailing #10 is a double ended car built in 1982 and was one of the cars that replaced the old Pullman and Standard Steel cars dating from the 1920s.
The train is departing the Michigan City 11th Street station near MP 33.9. The historic station with its ornate facade was built in 1927 and closed to passengers in 1987. It has been vacant since with trains stopping at a bus stop style shelter adjacent to it. It was sold to the city in 2007 and has an uncertain future with the coming changes.
Michigan, City Indiana
Sunday August 16, 2020
Crawling up to the crossing, IC 1031 gains an extra splash of color on the nose, courtesy of the block signals at Church Road. Not only was it a lovely summer evening but Byron Hill is a great place for the last chase of the day. It's easy to get ahead of the train without driving another 50 miles and the blue hour action can be recorded without motion blur, if you're so inclined. July 20, 2024.
A Milwaukee Road 2-6-2 class K1-as 'Prairie' locomotive leads a train onto the Sandsoft River bridge in the early 1950s.
The models belong to Ted Richardson. The freight cars are resin craftsman kits; the locomotive started as an unassembled kit he bought secondhand from his friend and fellow club member George Thelen for $20. Using a photo of the prototype, Roger Ackert assembled and detailed the model to match the prototype as it looked in the 1950s (Ted models the Illinois Central's Freeport Division in the 1950s and needed a Milwaukee Road steam engine for interchange traffic). Ted painted and weathered the locomotive model and was able to show his finished work to George Thelen a few days before George passed away in 2013. George had a smile when he saw what had happened to the pile of pieces he had bought on eBay.
Photo by NAPM member Mark Mathu. This image is a composite of 5 photos shot at different focus distances, then combined into a single fully focused image using Helicon Focus software. Visit the HO scale club on-line at www.napmltd.org.
Articulated motorcar 385 (Düwag GT6) on TCC route T at the stop Pasteur. Collection Rail Asia / photographer unknown.
This was a strange catch, westbound coal loads on the St. Croix Sub. Coal trains are scarce on this line, when you do see them they are going to Alma loaded or returning empty. IIRC there was major track work on the Marshall Sub causing some Detroit Edison trains bound for the MERC dock in Superior to take the long way around across southern Iowa to Illinois then north via La Crosse and the Twin Cities. It was an unusual sight here west of Maiden Rock, even more so passing my house in Fountain City. September 11, 1999.
The sun has set and the day is about done as we return for another frame from last summer's midwest adventure.
This railroad has been a dream of mine to see since the first time I learned about its existence decades ago. The Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad is considered the last interurban railroad in America and it's right of way clearly belies that fact despite modernization over the years.
For me the big draw has always the nearly two miles of street running through downtown Michigan City. The railroad snakes down 11th street for 1.1 miles then jogs across Amtrak's Michigan Line (ex NYC new Michigan Central) before another 0.6 miles or so of street running down 10th street before regaining a private right of way for a fast race west thru the Indiana dune country.
Like much of the midwest Michigan City has a good variety of rail action though nowhere near what it once was. In addition to the CSSB and Amtrak (which sees a tiny bit of NS action) CSXT's main to Grand Rapids (ex Pere Marquette) that also hosts a pair of Amtrak trains, cuts through the city. In days of old the Monon and Nickel Plate also came to town though the Monon is long gone and the NKP has been cut and a good portion of it is now a branch operated by the CSSB.
Anyway, a bit of history of the famed South Shore:
The South Shore began in 1901 as the Chicago and Indiana Air Line Railway, a streetcar route between East Chicago and Indiana Harbor. Reorganized as the Chicago, Lake Shore and South Bend Railway in 1904, by 1908 its route had reached South Bend, Indiana via Michigan City, Indiana. The company leased the Kensington and Eastern Railroad, an Illinois Central Railroad subsidiary, to gain access to Chicago. Passenger service between South Bend and Chicago began in 1909. The Lake Shore added freight service in 1916.
Samuel Insull, the Chicago utility magnate, acquired the bankrupt Lake Shore in 1925 and reorganized it as the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad, which it remains today. The railroad experienced two more bankruptcies, in 1933 and 1938. Despite having become unprofitsble again in the post WWII period, in 1967 the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) purchased the road to gain direct access to then new Bethlehem Steel plant at Burns Harbor (which still today as an Arcelor Mittal plant is still the CSSB's largest customer). Under C&O ownership electric freight operations ended and the famed 800s (Little Joes in Milwaukee Road parlance) were retired. In 1981 10 GP38-2s were bought new and they have been stalwarts ever since.
In 1977 the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) began subsidizing the passenger operations on the South Shore Line and in 1984 the Venango River Corporation (VRC) purchased the South Shore from the Chessie Sysem. Venango declared bankruptcy in 1989 due largely to problems with its much larger Chicago Missouri and Western property. In 1990 the Anacostia and Pacific Company stepped in and purchased the South Shore, while at the same time NICTD purchased the passenger assets. The two operations are entirely separate businesses but closely integrated, and NICTD continues to use the familiar South Shore branding for its passenger operations.
To learn more check out these great articles from TRAINS:
cs.trains.com/ctr/b/mileposts/archive/2019/01/10/putting-...
www.anacostia.com/sites/www.anacostia.com/files/assets/Tr...
But these iconic scenes aren't going to be around for long. A massive nearly half billion dollar project to double track the line all the way to Michigan City in order to shave 30 or more minutes off transit times and allow greater train frequencies is supposed to start construction soon (though the Covid-19 situation may push back the dates). This will lamentably lead to the end of street running and the removal of nearly all the homes and structures on the south side of 11 th street. To learn more check out the project web site and the detailed PPT presentation on the project: www.doubletrack-nwi.com/images/DT_PRS_DTVirtualOpenHouse_...
But change is the only constant in life, and the CSSB has been modernizing and rebuilding since the Insull era. In fact in 1956 the long section of street running in East Chicago was bypassed and in 1970 the street running into downtown South Bend was abandoned...so I suppose this is just a continuation of what has come before.
Anyway, I do think this will not be my only visit before this trackage disappears because there just isn't quite anything like it.
As for this shot, here are three South Shore Freight units (GP38-2s 2005, 2007, 2008 from that 10 unit 1981 order) headed light engine back to the Caroll Ave. shops. This going away view looks east down 11th Street at the Maple Ave. intersection, MP 33.5 about one block from the east end of the street running segment that can be seen ahead. Note the railroad speed sign affixed to the telephone pole at right intermingling with the standard street signs.
Michigan, City Indiana
Saturday August 15, 2020
The train rides, visiting, and a closed highway all conspired to delay our return to the river near Prairie du Chien. The sun was sinking quickly toward the Iowa bluffs when we set up at Lock and Dam 9, Lynxville. Thankfully BNSF provided one train after a short wait. An eastbound would have actually been better but it was nice to see an EMD on the point of this V train. May 27, 2023.
While the main goal was to shoot the freight in the street I must admit I really do like shooting be electric mu trains too.
The Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad is considered the last interurban railroad in America and it's right of way clearly belies that fact despite modernization over the years.
For me the big draw has always the nearly two miles of street running through downtown Michigan City. The railroad snakes down 11th street for 1.1 miles then jogs across Amtrak's Michigan Line (ex NYC new Michigan Central) Ybefore another 0.6 miles or so of street running down 10th street before regaining a private right of way for a fast race west thru the Indiana dune country.
Like much of the midwest Michigan City has a good variety of rail action though nowhere near what it once was. In addition to the CSSB and Amtrak (which sees a tiny bit of NS action) CSXT's main to Grand Rapids (ex Pere Marquette) that also hosts a pair of Amtrak trains, cuts through the city. In days of old the Monon and Nickel Plate also came to town though the Monon is long gone and the NKP has been cut and a good portion of it is now a branch operated by the CSSB.
Anyway, a bit of history of the famed South Shore:
The South Shore began in 1901 as the Chicago and Indiana Air Line Railway, a streetcar route between East Chicago and Indiana Harbor. Reorganized as the Chicago, Lake Shore and South Bend Railway in 1904, by 1908 its route had reached South Bend, Indiana via Michigan City, Indiana. The company leased the Kensington and Eastern Railroad, an Illinois Central Railroad subsidiary, to gain access to Chicago. Passenger service between South Bend and Chicago began in 1909. The Lake Shore added freight service in 1916.
Samuel Insull, the Chicago utility magnate, acquired the bankrupt Lake Shore in 1925 and reorganized it as the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad, which it remains today. The railroad experienced two more bankruptcies, in 1933 and 1938. Despite having become unprofitsble again in the post WWII period, in 1967 the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) purchased the road to gain direct access to then new Bethlehem Steel plant at Burns Harbor (which still today as an Arcelor Mittal plant is still the CSSB's largest customer). Under C&O ownership electric freight operations ended and the famed 800s (Little Joes in Milwaukee Road parlance) were retired. In 1981 10 GP38-2s were bought new and they have been stalwarts ever since.
In 1977 the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) began subsidizing the passenger operations on the South Shore Line and in 1984 the Venango River Corporation (VRC) purchased the South Shore from the Chessie Sysem. Venango declared bankruptcy in 1989 due largely to problems with its much larger Chicago Missouri and Western property. In 1990 the Anacostia and Pacific Company stepped in and purchased the South Shore, while at the same time NICTD purchased the passenger assets. The two operations are entirely separate businesses but closely integrated, and NICTD continues to use the familiar South Shore branding for its passenger operations.
To learn more check out these great articles from TRAINS:
cs.trains.com/ctr/b/mileposts/archive/2019/01/10/putting-...
www.anacostia.com/sites/www.anacostia.com/files/assets/Tr...
But these iconic scenes aren't going to be around for long. A massive nearly half billion dollar project to double track the line all the way to Michigan City in order to shave 30 or more minutes off transit times and allow greater train frequencies is supposed to start construction soon (though the Covid-19 situation may push back the dates). This will lamentably lead to the end of street running and the removal of nearly all the homes and structures on the south side of 11 th street. To learn more check out the project web site and the detailed PPT presentation on the project: www.doubletrack-nwi.com/images/DT_PRS_DTVirtualOpenHouse_...
But change is the only constant in life, and the CSSB has been modernizing and rebuilding since the Insull era. In fact in 1956 the long section of street running in East Chicago was bypassed and in 1970 the street running into downtown South Bend was abandoned...so I suppose this is just a continuation of what has come before.
Anyway, I do think this will not be my only visit before this trackage disappears because there just isn't quite anything like it.
As for this shot, here is wesbound NICTD train 606 with a consist of Nippon-Sharyo built electric multiple unit cars. Trailing #10 is a double ended car built in 1982 and was one of the cars that replaced the old Pullman and Standard Steel cars dating from the 1920s.
The train is departing the Michigan City 11th Street station near MP 33.9. The historic station with its ornate facade was built in 1927 and closed to passengers in 1987. It has been vacant since with trains stopping at a bus stop style shelter adjacent to it. It was sold to the city in 2007 and has an uncertain future with the coming changes.
Michigan, City Indiana
Sunday August 16, 2020
Back when the BNSF-bonnets were new enough to really look nice. These days I'd rather have something orange that is fresh than the sadly deteriorated warbonnets. Fountain City, WI, July 9, 2002.
Wednesday, 28 December 2016
The 0729hrs Great Western Railways "The Devon Express" service from Ealing Broadway to Paignton departs its scheduled stop at Dawlish. 43xxx+43053 providing the power.
© Finbarr O'Neill
Wednesday, 28 December 2016
The 0704hrs Great Western Railway service from Ealing Broadway to Penzance via Westbury passes through Dawlish Warren - 43036+43140 providing the power.
© Finbarr O'Neill
Another train of tailings heads up the hill from Silver Bay to the dumpsite behind an SD18 and two SD28s. The trailing unit, 1233, would be destroyed in a collision two years later. October 10, 1998.
Racing the end of the day can be a losing battle this time of year. A logjam of trains has let loose in the minutes after sunset around Alma. This eastbound manifest was held up at Mears (west end of the Chippewa River bridge single track) for two westbounds to pass. Now the sky glows across the river as BNSF 3956 heads downstream at track speed. October 22, 2016.
Despite having another 6,000 horsepower pushing on the rear, A446 is laboring hard up Byron Hill, the combination of EMD and GE power up front making a glorious racket. July 20, 2024.
Wednesday, 28 December 2016
43144 Building A Greater West + 43190 leads the 0645hrs Great Western Railway service from Penzance to Ealing Broadway (via Westbury) along the seawall near Dawlish Warren.
© Finbarr O'Neill
Norfolk Southern (former Southern Railway) out of service CTC main line track view along the route between Asheville, NC & Spartanburg, SC, via Saluda, North Carolina, October 2002. Just ahead by the block signal the CTC system takes effect on this line where the line goes into a double track operation. This location is south of Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Just after sunset, UP's Pocatello, Idaho, to North Platte, Nebraska mixed freight drops downgrade into Buford with UP 6810, 8332, 6576, 6378, & 7063 on the point. A beautiful evening on Sherman Hill.
MPCNP 31
UP 8578, CSXT 3130, UP 2602, & KCS 4587 lead a 199 car West Colton, California to North Platte, Nebraska mixed freight out of Cheyenne as dawn approaches on a cold Wyoming morning.
MWCNP 13
It's startling to see what congestion has done to the St. Croix Sub. It used to be a pretty fluid stretch of track, these days not so much. After scooping a loaded grain train with a tired DASH9 on the point we caught this oil train coming through Nelson. The rest of the day would be spent shooting the CP River and Waseca Subs. Returning home after dark dead trains were stacked like cordwood on the BNSF in every possible spot. Help is on the way in the form of CTC and crossover installations, we'll see next year how much of a difference it makes. March 21, 2015.
Art is riding on GP9 #302 on train #438 as he meets train #245 with the 299 on the point. This shot was taken on the double track between Glendale Yard and Grand Ave in Milwaukee, probably not the best neighborhood, so his vantage point is much safer that being a railfan on the overpass. This line is now single track and is used by the WSOR. The 299 is pulling hard and is leaning nicely into the curve. Date is 4-8-77 Art Anderson photo - My collection
After the conclusion of the AAPRCO's 2015 convention in San Antonio, the PV's that converged in San Antonio had to head home. Here, eight of them tag along on the rear of the Sunset Limited as it rolls through Sugar Land southwest of Houston. AMTK 145 had pulled the private cars to San Antonio for the convention and was tacked onto the head end of train #2 there this morning.
AMT2 22 (EB Sunset Limited)
AMTK P42DC #145
AMTK P42DC #181
AMTK P42DC #60
Sugar Land, TX
April 24th, 2015
I was walking back to the office and came across this scene in downtown Minneapolis. The middle unit of this stadium-bound LRT train left the rails and stopped fouling both tracks. The lead unit has been uncoupled and moved clear of 2nd Ave. If there's any good news here, it's that often trains pass each other at this location moving 20-30mph, Thankfully the south track was empty when this happened. November 30, 2017.
Canadian Pacific grain train hits the doubletrack Santa Fe diamond as it heads west on the Indiana Harbor Belt.
The second section of Santa Fe's San Francisco Chief rounds a curve at allowable track speed near the Waxdale oil field in 1965. The F7 A-B-B-A power leads a variety of head-end equipment including a mail container flatcar, and hi-level cars reassigned from the El Capitan pool. The SF Chief also carried sleepers on its journey — dropping some off and picking up others along the way — providing service to cities in Texas as well as to travelers between Chicago and California's Bay Area.
Mike Sosalla's locomotives and club-owned passenger equipment.
Photo by Mark Mathu.
Visit the HO scale club on-line at www.napmltd.com.