One of the ostensible reasons as to why Amtrak gave up the Valparaiso locals was that a major part of the ex-PRR main in the Calumet region had been abandoned, I believe that it was the part from Whiting to Indiana Harbor. The absence of that line doesn’t affect CFE since they pick up the IHB east of Indiana Harbor but it still would cause problems for passenger routings.
Running service to Cedar Lake and Lowell on the Monon would require re-installation of track from downtown Hammond to State Line, plus installation of catenary, so I don’t see anything happening in the foreseeable future unless NICTD buys P32’s with pantographs instead of third-rail shoes.
Two Little Joes have been preserved. 803 is at Union,IL. 802 used to by at the B&O museum,but was sold to another museum,I don,t know which one.
I saw 802 and 803 in service on the South Shore,and the 801 in storage.This engine was scrapped.
Paul,
I believe NICTD already owns the old Monon track from Hmmond to Maynard. I know the project is on a lot of radar screens. With the population around here growing as it is, it will be only a matter of time.
The creation of an enlarged Northwest Indiana regional transit authority , which is in the works, will pu***his along.
Your notion of P32s with pans has been discussed for some time as a matter of fact. Even the use of dual powered MUs. has been brought up.
Mitch;
I’ve been away from my old neighborhood for quite a few years. While using the old Monon line sounds like a good idea, what routing is proposed to get from Hammond to Chicago since using the old Monon right-of-way would require re-laying a lot of track, including new diamonds across the IHB and former B&O?
Clark Street Junction is a topic unto itself. CSX installed the turnouts to restore it then tore them out. They are laying there to be reinstalled at some point. Very confusing. I guess there was concern about possibloy someone causing a derailment there. Don’t know why else you put them in then take them out.
Paul,
That’s one of the big bug-a-boos in the situation. You’re right on concerning crossing NS and Conrail in downtown Hammond. The thinking is to make a junction and run up to a point around State Line to join the SSL main. I’ve not seen any firm plans on that .
For everyone else out there in Trains land the SSL folks always referred to the Joes as “Big 800s.” Little Joe was a term more favored on the Milwaukee Road. Sometimes when the Milwaukee needed parts to repair their units, and were out of stock, they would do a trade with the South Shore if the latter happened to have the parts. That’s why some of the old orange cars had “Hiawatha” upholstry on their seats.
As late as 1985 the South Shore mechanical department received a request from the Paulista Railway of Brazil, who had the balance of the GE locomotive order, for spare parts.
The routing I had heard about would have the new service beginning at Kensington and using the old Michigan Central alignment at least part of the way, and that it would be using new trackags south of the IHB main line by the time it got to Hammond. I seem to remember that it would mean that the MC bridge over the Calumet River would be restored to use.
I’m sure the IHB wouldn’t appreciate a commuter schedule disrupting things around Gibson if the Valpo service were to use the CFE east of Tolleston.
I also suspect that any expansion of service will, at least initially, be diesel powered.
Hard to believe it has been nearly 10 years since we had this discussion.
No South Shore to Valpo yet and probably will not be. However, the old depot area sees 4 coach busses daily to downtown Chicago. Pretty good service from what I hear.