From: msjohnso@donald.WichitaKS.NCR.COM (Mark Johnson)
Newsgroups: rec.railroad
Subject: Re: battle of the rails
Date: 21 Dec 92 21:14:59 GMT
Organization: NCR Corporation Wichita, KS

CSS3@psuvm.psu.edu writes:


>   There is a potentially interesting battle shaping up in Indiana for what
>will happen to some track CSX wants to abandon. CSX has indicated it will
>soon file -- it if has not already -- to abandon about 24 miles of track
>between Bloomington and Bedford (former Monon).

According to a recent article in the Bedford, Indiana _Times-Mail_, the 
actual abandonment filing will be made in approximately mid-January. Local
meetings have already started, and notice of the pending filing has been
given to the state transportation department.

>    The line in question is quite scenic, cutting through a number of hills
> and forests. The tracks from Bloomington head south parallel to Clear Creek
> to the junction of the creek and the Lake Monroe area to the juncture with
> Salt Creek. The line then runs alongside Salt Creek into Bedford. It makes
> 15 creek crossing along the way.

The line is actually a relocation of the original 1850's Monon line, which
ran up Salt Creek toward Bloomington. The relocation was done in the early
1900's to reduce the ruling grade northbound out of Bedford from 1.8% to about
1%. It also tapped a number of stone quarries. All these sources of traffic
are now long gone.

>    Between 1975 and 1979, the line was part of the route of the Floridian.
> CSX stopped using it for freight service back in early July. The last
> trains to use the line regularly (R590 and R591 between Chicago and
> Louisville) now travel from Lafayette to Greencastle where CSX earlier this
> year completed work on a connection track to Conrail. From Greencastle, the
> trains go to Terre Haute and then down the ex-C&EI line to Evansville.
> CSX continues to operate between Greencastle and Bloomington as a spur route.
> Between Bedford and Louisville, the CSX line is used by two Soo lines trains
> a day. Soo (ex-Milwaukee) abandoned its track between Bedford and Louisville
> several years ago.

The last  R591 ran on May 30, give or take a day. A fairly large contingent
of local railfans turned out at Bedford, I'm told.
The other change is that the depot at Bedford, which had been continuously
manned, was closed in July.  It existed to provide an operator to handle the
Soo (ex MILW) junction and man the switches. With no through CSX traffic, 
the power switch is left set for the Soo connection. The old MILW depot
still stands about a block away. It is used for storage.

>   I would guess CSX wants to abandon this line due to its rugged terrain and 
> it many grades. Traffic from Chicago south can operate over the much flatter 
> line via Evansville.

Quite correct. Bedford is particularly difficult as it has three strikes.
It sits on top of a hill...approaching from the south, a 1.8% upgrade. 
Approaching from the north, a 1.6% upgrade, give or take a bit. If that
weren't enough, here comes strike 3 - over the top, street running with
an 8 mph speed limit, right down one side of the courthouse square.
The Evansville line has its own set of disadvantages for Chicago-Louisville
traffic: It's over 100 miles longer, and it's prone to flooding in the
Wabash and Ohio River valleys.

> craig sanders
> Penn State University (and ex-Hoosier)

Mark Johnson
(ex-Boilermaker and proud Southern Indiana hillbilly)
-- 
Mark Johnson                          USnail: NCR Peripheral Products Division
E-mail:  Mark.Johnson@WichitaKS.NCR.COM       3718 N. Rock Rd.
Voice: (316) 636-8189 [V+ 654-8189]           Wichita, KS  67226
[Non-business email: 76670.1775@compuserve.com]
Newsgroups: rec.railroad