I have worked too hard, and need a day just to go let my brain chill out. I have never been to Evansville, IN. So, I am going to follow the Indiana Southern Railroad from Indianapolis to Evansville.
The question becomes: I am unfamiliar with the L and N, completely. Yet, the new short line spin off from CSX of the old L and N route interests me. So, on Wednesday, I am going to rail fan this line.
(1) Is there a stretch of road that parallels it (sorry for the misspelling, I am also using wine to destress)
(2) Is there anyhing of interest you can tell me about this line.
(3) Is there a particularly good spot to watch trains on this line?
I love watching rail lines cheat death, and just a car or two sitting in a siding can make my day for this line.
If it is not worth it, let me know and I will make the riverboat wish I would rather watch trains than play poker.
Coming through last Saturday, I picked up a 2005-2006 Indiana Highway map at the rest stop near Batesville. Rail lines are shown and there are not too many ID errors.
ISRR and Indiana 67 are close to south of Switz City, then drops down a bit and then is close to Indiana 57 on into Eville.
About the only thing I know about the line is that the shortline Algers, Winslow & Western connected at Oakland City. The AWW served my former employer Old Ben Coal Company’s Mines 1 & 2. I am not sure about the railroad, but Old Ben no longer exists and I am quite sure that the mines were closed. They were surface mines and the depth of the overburden became too great for economical recovery of the relatively thin coal seams.If any of the other surface mines in the area are still in operation, you may be able to see an operating monster dragline from public roads in the area.
I wish I could help. I’m near Terre Haute, and don’t know squat about the E-ville area. If your trek brings you through here, lemme know and I’ll try to help out.
I did something like that a little over a year ago with a SJVR branch. I looked at maps and aerial, or satellite, photographs, and UP’s SJVR customer list (since removed from the internet) to determine the route and find things that may have been interesting. You might see if you can follow the rail using the below links. http://maps.google.com/ http://www.terraserver.microsoft.com/
However, sorry for the misque, but I am familiar with rail fanning the ISRR. What I was asking help for is the ex-CSX line, ex-L&N line running west out of Evansville.
Who runs that line now? Is there much traffic? Where is the western terminus? I know it makes it to Mt. Vernon Illinois, but I can’t tell if it goes farther west. Is there a good place to watch action on this line?
It does go west beyond Mount Vernon, but not as far as St. Louis. I don’t know what keeps the Evansville Western running (coal?). It crosses the CN (IC) at Ashley; that would probably be your best bet for seeing anything (sorry, I don’t get that far south).