On yesterday’s news wire, an agreement between CN/IC and NS was discussed. Basically, CN/IC will use NS rails south of Gibson City, Illinois to reach Saint Louis.
(1) Is this going to be the end of the IC line south of Gibson City?
(2) I didn’t realize the IC line south of Gibson City handled that much Saint Louis traffic? I thought CN/IC routed it through Duqoin? I know IC/CN has trackage rights on Gateway Western/KCS south west of Springfield, but I didn’t realize that line saw many, if any, IC trains. The line looks horrible. Anyone know how many IC trains use this route currently?
If this line goes, it will be a sad day indeed for me.
companies always get trackage rights to run frieght the ns has trackage rights south out of centralia,but they still have trains headed south to run, and there is no ic anymore its all cn.
I used to live right along that line between Du Quoin and Saint Louis, in Pinckneyville. Taking that route would be a long way around for southbound CN trains because it runs from a SE to NW direction and is more suitable for northbound trains.
On yesterday’s news wire, an agreement between CN/IC and NS was discussed. Basically, CN/IC will use NS rails south of Gibson City, Illinois to reach Saint Louis.
This agreement seems to involve mainly haulage rights, so NS trains will actually haul CN traffic between Chicago and St. Louis. NS will probably act as haulage agent for CN between those two points, even on CN-owned track north of Gibson City.
(1) Is this going to be the end of the IC line south of Gibson City?
This line handles no Chicago - St. Louis traffic. There are important sources of traffic on this line, whose shipments are routed south of Gibson City - coal coming from Farmersville, aggregates from Lehigh to Illinois Valley Paving at Springfield and Bearsdale (on the Peoria Sub), grain coming from the ADM Grain Co. elevator at Cockrell Station, etc. There is also the Excel Railcar facility at Kenney, plus some smaller agricultural customers.
(2) I didn’t realize the IC line south of Gibson City handled that much Saint Louis traffic?
It doesn’t.
I thought CN/IC routed it through Duqoin?
They will…until the NS deal is approved by the STB.
I know IC/CN has trackage rights on Gateway Western/KCS south west of Springfield, but I didn’t realize that line saw many, if any, IC trains. The line looks horrible. Anyone know how many IC trains use this route currently?
ICG acquired trackage rights on CMNW after that carrier’s 1987 spinoff, so it would appear if CN has haulage/trackage rights south of Springfield, then it is on that route (now UP) and not the KCS. They don’t use it though. Recall that the IC and GWWR briefly ran Markham - Venice intermodal trains in 1996-1997, but interchange took place at Springfield and GWWR crews ha
I was going by the TRAINS Newswire article, which says:
Norfolk Southern and Canadian National today announced they plan to launch a series of haulage-rights agreements to expedite merchandise and coal traffic between the Midwest and Southeast.
I guess we’ll have to wait for the STB filing to get exact details.
As for Farmersville, is this mine still operational? Last I heard it was shut down. I live in Indiana now, and don’t get to my stomping grounds as much as I would like, so I don’t have as much up-to-date information as I would like. But, I could have swore they closed this mine a year orso ago. Did they re-open it? Also, where does this coal go? I thought it was Peoria or something?
Another nearby mine, Crown Two Mine, closed about two years ago. It was served by BNSF until AmerenCILCO’s Duck Creek plant began buying from UP-served Monterey Mine in February 2006 (Incidentally, this mine closed at the end of 2007, though may reopen in mid-2009). The Crown Three Mine at Farmersville closed for a bout a week sometime last year, but todays is very much operational, sending coal trains to ADM co-generating plants at Cedar Rapids (via Peoria and IAIS) and Decatur, plus some other moves the last several years such as to NW Indiana and Metropolis.
Also, I am sure you are largely right on the Gateway Western line. However, although I never have seen an IC train on the UP-owned line, through Auburn, etc., I have a 2001 photo of two IC GP-10s deadheading just southwest of Springfield on the Gateway Western (about a mile east of the mall area). I also caught a short IC TOFC on the Gateway in 1999. I suppose these could have been flukes due to track work or something. Finally, I was in Kinney in 2003, and a IC train came through that was definitely not a local. I figured the
I was going by the TRAINS Newswire article, which says:
Norfolk Southern and Canadian National today announced they plan to launch a series of haulage-rights agreements to expedite merchandise and coal traffic between the Midwest and Southeast.
I guess we’ll have to wait for the STB filing to get exact details.
As for Farmersville, is this mine still operational? Last I heard it was shut down. I live in Indiana now, and don’t get to my stomping grounds as much as I would like, so I don’t have as much up-to-date information as I would like. But, I could have swore they closed this mine a year orso ago. Did they re-open it? Also, where does this coal go? I thought it was Peoria or something?
Another nearby mine, Crown Two Mine, closed about two years ago. It was served by BNSF until AmerenCILCO’s Duck Creek plant began buying from UP-served Monterey Mine in February 2006 (Incidentally, this mine closed at the end of 2007, though may reopen in mid-2009). The Crown Three Mine at Farmersville closed for a bout a week sometime last year, but todays is very much operational, sending coal trains to ADM co-generating plants at Cedar Rapids (via Peoria and IAIS) and Decatur, plus some other moves the last several years such as to NW Indiana and Metropolis.
Also, I am sure you are largely right on the Gateway Western line. However, although I never have seen an IC train on the UP-owned line, through Auburn, etc., I have a 2001 photo of two IC GP-10s deadheading just southwest of Springfield on the Gateway Western (about a mile east of the mall area). I also caught a short IC TOFC on the Gateway in 1999. I suppose these could have been flukes due to track work or something. Finally, I was in Kinney in 2003, and a IC train came through that was definitely not a local. I figured the only place i
The IC will always have a special place in our hearts, all of ours. There’s been a time that one of our favorites has joined the ranks of “fallen flag.” For me it was when BN merged with SF to form the now popular BNSF. I didn’t have time to read all the posts, so whatever happens just be thankfull that there are still trains around period. Sad day for us all[:(].
Anything IC gets my attention, particularly in Illinois.
How is CN currently routing St. Louis traffic? Is it built at Markham for a dedicated St. Louis train via DuQuoin? Or is it set out at DuQuoin on a thru train and picked up? I cannot imagine there being much Chicago - St.Louis traffic per se, but I could see considerable traffic moving from Detroit, East andWestern Canada which could be staged and built at Markham.
At one time there was a Clinton - Kankakee local, not sure about south of Clinton. Is there quite a bit of traffic at Mt. Pulaski which moves from the Clinton line to the Peoria-Decatur line?
It really appears that CN and NS are really going to use the best of both systems between Chicago and St. Louis…does anyone know if that will include CN traffic for Decatur, or will that continue to move exclusively on the CN? I would assume that goes to Mattoon then up to Decatur.
CN currently routes its St. Louis traffic via Duqoin, though I verify that there are any through trains running between Chicago and E. St. Louis any longer. There used to be an E. St. Louis - Centralia Turn called L54691 and coal trains were received from UP for forwarding to Ohio River power plants.
I’m more familiar with the Peoria line; the Decatur - Peoria Turn, L56491, makes regular pickups and setouts at Mt. Pulaski. The Clinton - Cockrell train, L58591, delivers and receives from the Peoria train. Potash and lumber from Canada and steel coils from the Chicago area are set out at Mt. Pulaski for Pekin, Peoria and connections.
Most tonnage which moves over both lines is generated by those coal trains coming out of Farmersville, which go to Decatur and to the IAIS at Peoria. There are also grain trains coming from Tate & Lyle elevators at Heyworth and Wapella bound for Decatur, which are routed via Clinton and Mt. Pulaski. Aggregate from Vulcan Materials’ Lehigh pit is routed down the Gilman Sub. Some is set out at Mt. Pulaski so the Peoria train can haul it to the new Illinois Valley Paving plant at Bearsdale.
CN routes no traffic to StL via the Gilman Sub. It goes via Duquoin. The only traffic south of Gibson City on CN is 2 locals based out of Clinton, and a few coal trains per week from Farmersville mine, mostly bound for ADM at Decatur. There may be an extra grain train once in awhile. The IC trains you speak of on GWWR south of Springfield was I05/I06 intermodal trains that operated that way for a few years.
Fascinating example of how railroads evolve thru time. Obviously that St. Louis line at one time was an important route.
At one time in the 60’s it seemed that IC ran several Chicago - St. Louis freights daily, but that dried up. If I recall, there were considerable autoparts that were received from GTW and others. I had an old Illinois Central employee magazine from my aunt (who’s husband worked for IC) which showed all freight schedules as a line graph (pretty cool). It struck me that the St. Louis freight was handled via DuQuoin, which was confirmed by a family friend (also IC employee). In fact, I believe one of these trains carried the symbol AP-1 (auto parts). Could be wrong on this.
Back in the 90’s ADM and NS had a program of short haul of corn into Decatur. Was that a program that IC (CN) simply was not interested in?
How often does the CN run those coal trains to Decatur?
What about other traffic on the Peoria - Decatur - Mattoon line? Is that mainly the local from Decatur to Peoria and return? Earlier in CN history, they ran a Decatur - Mattoon - Cairo train. Is that still in operation?
My roots go back to the Mattoon - Evansville line, now gone, but not forgotten.
Unless it is another coal train I was watching, the IC runs the coal train up from Farmersville to Springfield and east to Mt. Pulaski on the Gilman line. At Mt. Pulaski, the train transfers to the Peoria - Matoon line and heads southbound to Decatur.
I was under the impression that the Farmersville mine also supplied coal to Peoria which was taken by the IAIS or someone for delivery to a power plant in Iowa? I remember a post a few years back where someone asked, what the heck is a west bound loaded coal train doing in Iowa and had to laugh: Ilinois basin coal 1 - Powder River Basin 873 . . .
Mt. Pulaski is actually a pretty good spot to watch trains as an IC fan. Between the two lines, there is enough action not to get too bored. Also, because both are branch lines, it still seems to have a rustic/bucolic IC flavor to it that I have always enjoyed more than watching trains on the high iron.
There is a bar in Mt. Pulaski, that serves food, with outdoor seating that gives you an ok view of both tracks. I have always wanted to join my Dad for a few beers there and just watch trains for a while. Like everything else, it is one of those things neither of us can really find the time for but should.
I saw the last train on the Springfield - Saint Louis section of the Gilman extension–a GP-8, several steel gondolas and a caboose. That line is a lot like Ed’s Evansville line to me. Gosh, I wish it were still there.
What about other traffic on the Peoria - Decatur - Mattoon line? Is that mainly the local from Decatur to Peoria and return?
L56491 makes a Decatur-East Peoria-Decatur roundtrip daily except Sunday. Since May, these trains have been running heavier than usual due to blocks of ADM gluten feed loads going to BNSF at Peoria. Last I knew, the train had a 10:00am call time at Decatur, but there was talk of this changing back to 4:00am (as it was prior to May 2011).
Earlier in CN history, they ran a Decatur - Mattoon - Cairo train.
They operate daily Memphis to Decatur manifest A431 and Decatur to Memphis A432. The latter arrives Decatur’s Grand Avenue Yard in the early afternoon.
I was under the impression that the Farmersville mine also supplied coal to Peoria which was taken by the IAIS or someone for delivery to a power plant in Iowa?
That ended by the start of 2011. Norfolk Southern now originates coal trains for ADM’s co-generation plant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (routing is still to IAIS at Peoria).