About 8 months ago, I was driving through Orleans, Indiana. CSX’s old Monon line goes through there, and the Indiana Railroad has trackage rights thereover.
As I am driving through, on a beautiful day no less, I come upon an Indiana Railroad train stopped at a semiphone signal. On point is an SD-90. I think, wow, what a picture, an SD-90 and semiphores–apart from the beautiful day and great colors, a pretty symbolic picture. But, I am in a mild hurry, and I figure I will just come back and get it again some time later.
Well, I never got back. Today, I open my Trains magazine to see that the Indiana railroad is discontinuing trains over that portion of the Monon. I should have known better–I have only myself to blame.
Does anyone have any idea if there is a snow ball’s chance in Hati if I could catch another train on this line; are they all gone?
An SD-90 and a semaphore signal in the same location reminds me of something I thought of while reading the “Ditch Lights” thread.
I have a book with a picture taken in the late seventies in Saskatchewan when all CP units by then had these high powered headlights and ditch lights, but wayfreight’s were still using cabooses with kerosene marker lamps. I dearly wish I had a photo of both, say at a meet. Ah well.
Actually my childhood was an interesting combination of the newest railway equipment at the time, and equipment that was as old as my grandparent’s(60+ years). No such thing as a forty year age limit on rolling stock then! The way it was on a branchline.
Gabe, why should you be any different than the rest of us?? We’ve all been in situations similar to yours and did the same thing, to our eternal regret.
I highly doubt it. CSX has quit running trains over this line. Indiana I guess won’t serve LOU. any more. I imagine that they will interchange cars with the L&I at Indy. Just a matter of time before this stretch of track is torn up. Looks like we will have to venture to Lafayette IN in order to see portions of Monon’s old LOU. to Chicago line. L
All the chessie and B&O switchers,the cpls in defiance,the switch track behind the carwash,the derailment in lattys grove.Not alot of pictures but great memories.
Sorry you missed that,the one that got away! About 2 hours ago I ran a ES44ah and an ES44dc past 5 semaphores in Crawfordsville, IN on the MONON (ok,CSX) . Hurry up before they’re gone and I’ll slow down and smoke it up for you too. The little known half-size semaphore at 147.1 behind the model-worthy roof loading power plant is a great shot. Don’t expect them to last too long, they weren’t supposed to make it past summer.
[sigh] I felt that way when the CNW was brought into the fold of the Union Pacific, I cant help butthink of the photos I missed of units in CNW colors especially the GP9s and GP40s we had along with the SD18s and now they are all gone. I had plenty of chances and keep thinking Well I’ll shoot them another day and it slipped past Larry
I regret that I failed to ride the N&W’s branch to West Jefferson, N. C. during the time that I was in college in Bristol. I did see some of the engines used on this train, and occasionally I saw one switching the passenger trains in Bristol.
I didn’t know that there was a semaphore behind power station! I live very close to Crawfordsville, so I will have to check that out sometime! Mile 147.1 ok. I see. We even took the Cardinal to Chicago from Crawfordsville I didn’t see it. Oh well. I wasn’t on the head end. Easily missed I suppose.
The semaphores behind the power plant are a great pair.
Monon…why is the one shorter? Does it have anything to do with visability? I was there this summer and waited in mid afternoon for 30 minutes, no luck, then passed a southbound around Linden. The semaphore hadnt dropped prior to me leaving.
Gabe…let me know if you want to check it out, if it works out I can meet you there. BTW, I might be in Indy next week. Let me know if you want to catch lunch.