In another thread we are discussing tonnage maps. Looking at the map on rrpicture the CN’s operations in Southern Illinois come to mind.
The map shows 40-60gtm south from Chciago to Edgewood where the line splits with a higher amount of traffic via Centralia. However, the line out of St. Louis to Duquoin shows about 30gtm (probably coal off the UP) which seems to keep going east thru Benton to the Edgewood cutoff. The tonnage on the map increases significantly from 10/20 to 40/60 gtm. I would assume that tonnage is coal moving down to Paducah for transloading onto coal barges. Is that a correct assumption? If so, about how many coal trains per day run on the St. Louis to Paducah line?
Correspondingly, how many trains run on the Edgewood cutoff, other than the coal? What determines if the trains go via Centralia or the cutoff? I grew up near the cutoff and spent zero hours observing it in my youth. ZERO. I dont have a clue about the operations.
The reasons for the odd traffic flows are many, southbound loads are classified at Centralia so they have to take the mainline. There are some coal trains off the St. Louis line that use the Eldorado Sub. to avoid the hills on the south end of the mainline. The heavy northbounds use the Edgewood Cuttoff, since the aren’t classified at Centralia. The grain trains from Decatur to Mound City have to use the mainline. All and all a diffuse traffic pattern.