Time Machine To Railroads Past

Track or business train. Perhaps CN has records of when there were movements on that line…

Thats too bad, and even worse that I didn’t realize it. I still would have loved to see that building though, a darn shame that it was torn down to build a sports arena…

People often mention New York and Chicago, but I’d want to go to Denver in the mid to late 30s and explore Colorado by train. Everything from the Class I’s to tea-kettle narrow gauge steam.

MP173,

I found your response very interesting. One of my more particular hobbies regarding railroads is studying branch lines of major railroads and estimating the feasibility of their survival as a short line. 90% of the lines I do this with are IC lines that have either been abandon, spun off, or should have been abandon or spun off.

The Matoon - Evansville line is of great interest to me. Every time I see pictures of the line there are always some very long freights on the line (I know this doesn’t mean anything). You sound like you know a lot about the line. Can you tell me what the traffic was like on the line–was there typically a local each way every day or was there more traffic than that? Did it have any coal traffic? Were there any unit grain trains? What was the average number of trains per day?

What year was it when you thought you saw the passenger train? Do you remember what units were on front, was it the brown and orange paint scheme?

Alas, I assume the line wasn’t too viable or the Indiana Railway would have taken a closer look at it. I have to admit though, when I trace the line just South of Newton and see where it trailed the highway, I just feel as though it would be a neat line ot see a train on.

Thanks,

Gabe

I think it’s almost impossible to pick one thing… But I think Griffith, IN in the 50’s might be interesting. You certainly would have a wide selection of railroads and equipment.

Dave
Los Angeles, CA
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