short line

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Does anyone have any info on the Eastern Illinois R/R?

2

Sketchy business contact info at this website:

http://www.manta.com/c/mm4w03k/eastern-illinois-railroad-company

A little mor info hwere on history (nee: Nickle Plate RR) and motive power"

http://www.illinirail.com/eirc/

3

I know a little bit on the EIR, maybe I can help you some.

Inch53

4

Some pictures located here, including an engine not listed on the illinirail.com website
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locolist.aspx?id=EIRC

5

fixed the link

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locolist.aspx?id=EIRC

6

There are a lot of things I find interesting about this line. Most notably, I think Metcaff–the line’s northern terminus–is a pretty cool place to rail fan. Don’t get me wrong, it does not see a lot of trains. CSX is lucky to run 4 trains a day there (it would seem, although it might be more than that), and EIRC probably goes there less than once a week. Nonetheless, the place has a wonderfully quaint and bucollc feel to it. Standing at the norther part of the line and thinking about what once was produces a special feel to me (I kind of feel the same way about Newton, IL for reasons that Ed understands).

Neoga–the southern terminus of the line–is probably a better place to watch the line, as the IC has more trains than CSX, and power seems to be on hand for the EIRC more often at Neoga.

The only other thing of note is there is an incredibly sharp turn that evidences the line’s short line heritage near Oakland. I very much remember looking at that curve and doubting that the line was used for high-speed passenger service in the 1960s.

I find the whole Nickle Platte line from Frankfort, Ind. to Madison, Il to be a huge loss for flat-land-locked rail fans like myself. I rail fanned the route in about 1994 shortly before it was pulled. It seems like that line had more bridges, trussels, sharp grades, and sharp curves than one would ever dream possible for pool-table flat Illinois. It was almost as thought the engineers went out of their way to find grades and a reason not to build the line straight. Yet, I am told–I am too young to remember–that the line used to be one of the pinacles of Nickel Platte’s high speed no-excuses railroading–what I would have given to see a Berk going about her business on one of those high trussels.

What I would give to go back in time and rail fan that line again about circa 1987. But, I suppose, I could say that for many things.

Hope this helps.

Gabe

7

This line is a surviving remnant of the Clover Leaf, with all of the less-than-ideal engineering that comes with a one-time narrow-gauge line. It’s not too surprising that N&W was anxious to get rid of it, especially with a parallel ex-Wabash route that was much better engineered.

8

Agreed, but that would not be the case if they were both tourist railroads. Having grown up on the Wabash, I can attest to the fact that I have seen pool tables that were less flat and arrows that were less straight than the Wabash line. It amazes me that the Nickel Plate was able to provide the Wabash any competition.

Gabe

9

Gabe, have you ever seen/ read John A. Rehor’s circa 1965 book published by Kalmbach, The Nickel Plate Road ? It seems like a kind of ‘time machine’ for that portion of the line to me. Not being from there and only vaguely familiar with it, I wonder if his treatment/ no. of pages for that division of the NKP system was perhaps a little bit greater/ out-of-proportion to the rest of it.

  • Paul North.
10

PDN:

The book, IMHO, is kinda fractured and disjointed/discombobulated/skips around (and then that whole page got dropped out of it to boot) Rehor lives on the west end of the NKP.

(I never expected to find about Cincinnati’s Deer Creek tunnels in that book - out of place?)

I recognize most folks are into the shiny toys, but the railroad that the shiny toys run on is not covered well enough. Still, Rehor has covered the NKP…Sadly nothing even begins to cover the competing Big Four (CCC&StL) and most NYC books forget the railroad got west of the metes and bounds states.

MUD

11

Gabe, Metcalf and the whole 56 mile long line is a hold out from the past it seems for signals n such. Here some pics from up at Metcalf.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/50947/ppuser/4309

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/50946/ppuser/4309

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/50945/ppuser/4309

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/50944/ppuser/4309

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/50942/ppuser/4309

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphot

12

Thanks for the reply. I often take RT45 back north when I,ve been to my hometown in Southern Illinois and often see some of their power setting near Onarga. Retired 3 years ago from the BNSF. John

13

I enjoyed the pic,s and will save them, thanks again John