Hi guys, Myself being a huge “J” fan, I’ve had a few questions on whats been happening since CN took over. I havent been able to get out and about lately to see whats been going on. I know alot of the SD’s have been spread throughout CN.
My first question is, What happend to all of the J’s SW’s?
Are they still switching Joliet Yard?
Also I’ve been wondering what were (if any) plans to do with the roundhouse at Joliet yard?
Also, If anyone happens to know if CN is keeping a SD38 on the old JSW switch job out to morris? Everynight and morning I still hear a “J” horn, I’ve been wondering if anything has been going on with the Illinois river line since I live very close to it.
Any info at all on whats been happening on the J would be great.
I’m glad you raised the question. I live near Munger Junction, where the J crosses the old IC line to Iowa. Wonder what the schedules for both are because there seems to be more traffic. I asked on the IC Yahoo site, but no response.
I can tell you the roundhouse is being razed , I was by there the other day and most of it is gone . I did a sw in the yard at joliet as far as the sd38 there was a pair in joliet but what they are doing I don’t know .
Most, if not all, of the J’s switchers were turned over to the Gary Railway, which is the remnant of the EJ&E that CN didn’t want, mostly the Lake Shore line and trackage around US Steel’s Gary Works.
Its a real shame although I did expect them to be gone no doubt about it. I knew CN wouldnt keep them around for long even if they did keep them instead of them going to the gary railway. I really wish i could get out to the Joliet yard to try and get a few last pics of the roundhouse. I hate to see it go although once again, I expected CN would get rid of it. Im trying to find pictures that were from 2007 visit to the Joliet yard. Luck was apon me one day when I was I watching switching action on the west-end of the yard when a EJ&E worker asked me If I’d like to see the roundhouse/fuling rack. What a sight It was to See the roundhouse and turntable still in use… The J’s one and only GP38 was there too. I really did take those days for granted.
Does anybody know what CN plans on doing with the SD38’s?
Would’nt that be somethin’ if they donated one to the Illinois Railway Museum!
Driving past Kirk Yard today on the Indiana Toll Road, it seemed as if thing are changing.
First, there were two CN units near the hump. Second, there was a pretty big cut of cars near the hump which was unusual…there were a couple of lumber center beams, which suggests they are humping at Kirk now for CN.
Finally, the CSX dispatcher this afternoon asked a crew if they were “qualified into Kirk Yard”. It sounds as if Kirk is now open for business.
A few of the 38s have made their way up into WI and MN(assuming you’re referring to the 38 as pertaining to the -2 and -3, not the straight 38s.). 659, 660, 662. 665. 666, 669, and 674 have been as far north as the Twin Ports of Duluth & Superior.