CSX tracks were closed through Martinsville IL due to flooding from the North Fork of the Embarras river, after 9.1 inches of rain fell in a short time. Along with the RR most county roads were closed and some had major damage. I-70, old US-40 [Cumberland road] New Us-40 was also closed in two counties. Two counties Clark and Crawford declared a state of emergency and Cumberland county was declared a disaster due to flooding of the Embarras river.
I posted mostly links of the pics from yesterday [for those with dialup] that are not RR related; keep in mind these were taken when the water levels were already dropping.
We headed back down to US-40 then and there was a coal drag headed west, waiting at Cline Orchard crossing waiting for clearance and he was still there waiting this morning
Various other lines are being affected by flooding too. The IC&E east of Mason City, BNSF south of LaCrosse, and I think that I heard the UP Central Corridor too.
Great shots of the St. Louis Line. I was on vacation up in Chicago on Friday and Saturday. I came back to work Sunday morning with our CSX lines shut down west of Greencastle, IN. The washout at MP 102 was just one of two on the St. Louis Line. The other was just west of Greencastle, IN where 1,000ft of the double track was washed away. Also, the CE&D sub had a washout around Clinton, IN so, we definitely had some issues. On Sunday we were running every ballast train we had towards the washouts hoping to get a track open ASAP.
I know we were sending several reroutes towards Cincinnati via the old B&O and up to Sidney Jct in Ohio, where we have to run around trains and then send them south. Hopefully, things will be better when I come in to work tonight.
MP 102 must be open again; I just saw an inter-mobil come thru headed east slow about dawn and then a mixed freight headed west awhile later. So, I’m guessing Greencastle is open too now. There was a couple ballast trains outback yesterday, so I knew repairs were progressing here.
Wiley,
I hadn’t heard about the Greencastle washout. I did know about the one in Clinton, but didn’t have much info on it The Terre Haute [tv] news did say the old C&EI was shut down due to flooding on Otter creek, in N Terre Haute for awhile [which got some friends n family there].
I was told they turned some of the E bounds south at St Elmo, to Salem [B&O], then east thru Vincennes IN, trying to clear some backup. UP’s PRB coal drags for the Newton IL power plant, are going on the CN/IC at Effingham.
CrazyDelmar,
I hadn’t heard about Camargo either, hope they get it back up n going too before long. Was that one on the Embarras or the creek that runs thru there. While I’m thinking of it, how much traffic is there on that line? Also, I know right where Newman is without a map.
I had asked on a related thread but since I saw this reply I’m guessing that the ICE mainline between River Junction (La Crescent) and Samoa/Sabula Jct. took some hits as well if the BNSF across the Mississippi River was affected. You KNOW it’s bad when the UP’s “Overland Route” mainline takes some flooding hits. I’m thinking that one stretch in western Iowa around Woodbine is back in service now or should be soon but there’s likely to be some problems around Cedar Rapids with the Cedar River. Also wondering if the CN is having problems with the Cedar River at Cedar Falls (just west of Waterloo)? Jeez, what a mess.
As a kid, I used to do alot of fishing and running around the “Ambraw” River. Great memories.
The B&O Seymour line sees traffic from Cincy to Louisville that makes a hard left at Seymour. Not much from Seymour west for awhile. I am not sure if CSX runs St. Louis trains frm Louisville up to Mitchell or not, seems to be conflicting info. There is some coal trains east of Vincennes.
From St. Louis to Vincennes there is some regular trains, probably 5-10 daily, most turn south at Vincennes on the old Chicago and Eastern Illinois.
That line seemingly has been had one foot in the grave for 20 years. CSX wants to get rid of it, but then they dont. UP used to run some coal trains on it in Illinois, but the last time down home I didnt see any. A year ago there was considerable work being done, including plans to lay welded rail between Mitchell and Seymour, I talked with a MOW foreman and there was probably 30+ workers, but by this year the plans had changed for new traffic.
During the 70’s that was solid 60mph track. Solid.
The little use of the old B&O main from Mitchell to Cincy. A direct shot, but CSX likes to route things the long, long way around.
Second, why Conrail chose the old NYC line from Indy to STL instead of the Pennsy line (now abandoned). The Pennsy line was shorter and higher (would have made this thread unnecessary). Does CSX make all decisions this hard and then decide in favor of stupidity?
I don’t know enough about the Mitchell-Cincy line anymore to help you there.
On the Indy - St Louis route, CR used the NYC tracks from Indy to Terre Haute, because it was in the best shape of the two and faster than the PRR route there.
But they did use the PRR route Terre Haute - St Louis tracks [Vandalia line] and abandoned the NYC route, because it was longer and there wasn’t enough business to keep it open.
I have gotten tired of wondering what CSX does anymore, To me I think they are trying to run the railroad in the ground. I know that Snider Inc. want to build a intermodal facilty in Seville, OH. on the CL&W Sub, but CSX didn’t want to spend the money for clearence on the line, another thing is why don’t they put #2 main back in between Warwick, (Clinton) OH. and Akron, OH., plus do some clearence projects on the New Castle Sub. so they can run double stacks. there are a few others but I just don’t want to get into it right now. As for the Indiana Sub. I can’t fined any trains using it between Washington, IN. and Lawrenceburg, IN. on the Bull Sheet.
Update on repairs, me and the Granddaughter talked to one of the crewmen on the ballast train yesterday and found out repairs are going ok here and the line should open today or tomorrow. They had to start over at Greencastle, when the rain Monday night washed it out again.