Driving Trip - August 15, 2009
It
had been a while since I had set out to canvas the great state of Ohio
for trains so I teamed up with my official trip navigator John for a
day of traveling. This time with the aid of the GPS we were sure to not
miss a turn! I'll cut back on my normal verbose details excepting in
areas which warrant the verbiage.
First we
headed south and drove by the new NS Rickenbacker intermodal yard along
the NS (ex-N&W) Columbus District. Hard to believe that this was a
corn field a couple years ago! Things looked fairly empty over there
with only a handful of domestic boxes. This will certainly change once
the economy and the tunnel work is done. As we continued south we paced
a loaded NS coal train south (yes, south) to Ashville. In Ashville we
noted the interurban depot, interurban power plant building, and truss
bridges on the NS mains. Cars were spotted at the grain elevator.
Continuing
south we drove around Circleville (Get it? We drove around...) Yuck
yuck yuck! First we noted that the large grain elevator along NS still
was in business despite its current lack of cars spotted on site.
Following NS' big curve to the southeast we came across the former PRR
RofW. This line runs from Lancaster to Washington Court House, and was
abandoned by Penn Central. To the west the line disappears into a lot
of brush but my recollection is that the track only goes about 1/2 mile
west of here. We then followed the PRR track east to the other end of
the line about 1/2 mile east of the switch off the NS mainline. Though
nothing was spotted at the customer on the end of the line, it
certainly looked like they were still receiving cars of fertilizer. We
then drove around noting the old PRR depot, overpass of the interurban
over the PRR, and a church with a nice pipe organ which I got to hear
last spring.
As we
headed south we then passed a CSX westbound (direction north) coal
train moving at a slow pace on the CSX (ex-C&O) Northern
Subdivision. Its leisurely speed struck me as being odd but I didn't
think too much of it at the time. However as we paralleled the C&O
south it became clear why - an eastbound train was coming and the
westbound was meeting someone at HC Cabin. As we approached Chillicothe
we searched for a road crossing. The C&O Northern Subdivision has
few road crossings in this area so we stopped at the first available
spot which was the road crossing at KN Cabin. Here are a few moody
photos of the location.
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5049.jpg
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5050.jpg
The line goes from double to single track as you move south. After waiting a few minutes we saw this grain train.
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5055.jpg
It was
then time to review the goofy trackage in Chillicothe. We simplified
things and did not go over to where the B&O, C&O, and CH&D
lines crossed and stayed in town. We started out at the station where
the NS Columbus District crossed the B&O Chillicothe Subdivision. A
transfer track exists in the southeast quadrant of the former diamond
location. The B&O abandoned the line in 1987 and rails pulled a
year or so later from the station west to Greenfield. My in-law's
father was the engineer of one of the trains which pulled up the track.
Years ago he showed me a couple photos he took of the process. If I can
get my hands on them I will scan and post. Here are links to photos of
the B&O line when it was still standing in the late 1970s (courtesy
of http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~duplerd/oh/sohio_rr.html):
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~duplerd/oh/Xxy106.jpg
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~duplerd/oh/Xxy107.jpg
An
aside: much has been said about the dismantling of the B&O across
southern Ohio. Many feel that it was one of the biggest mistakes CSX
ever made. It was a high speed, signaled mainline with relatively new
rail on a good portion of it, and had high clearances which could
handle autoracks and TOFC (the COFC "double stack" concept had just
been invented and had not yet widely become the new standard). However
the line was down to a handful of trains a day, and with little online
business it made economic sense at the time to sever the line.
Hindsight
is always 20/20, and it would seem that in today's world, this line
would be an attractive alternative bypassing the nation's largest
railroad parking lot called Chicago. There is some merit to this
argument and I used to subscribe to this 100%, but the Conrail split
changed my opinion of this a bit. If this truly was the case, then the
line now owned by CSX from New York to St. Louis would be stuffed with
double stack trains, but it isn't. Manifest traffic has increased, but
it still is far from being the thriving mainline like the CSX
(ex-B&O) or NS lines across northern Ohio.
Enter a
new factor: westbound container traffic. NS' Heartland Corridor and
CSX's National Gateway projects all are based on the premise that the
trend of increased westbound container traffic from the east coast
ports is going to increase, and that intermodal in general is going to
increase. This is where I think the B&O would have come into play
as some of this traffic ultimately is going to go somewhere other than
Chicago, and the St. Louis gateway route would be a nice alternative.
The jury is still out if this really is the case, however if we see
intermodal train frequencies increase along the CSX Indy Line after the
National Gateway clearance projects are done, then this theory could be
considered validated.
And now, back to the trip.
The
large station in Chillicothe is serviceable shape but is starting to
look ratty. The NS line narrows to single track right before the
station moving north. N&W CPL signals still stand. Here is the
westbound signal.
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5057.jpg
The
B&O main today exists from about 1/4 mile east of the station for a
number of miles east to Red Diamond. It looks like some sort of a bulk
transfer facility exists at the end of the track by the station. A
little further east is a large grain elevator with a number of tracks.
Stacks of new ties were by the rails and some grading had been done so
either the grain elevator is expanding their rail capacity or
rebuilding the tracks. A little south of this location is where we
picked up the B&O (ex-CH&D) main which now extends from the
former Mead Paper plant in Chillicothe to about a mile or so south to
the Scioto River. A connection exists between the B&O and CH&D
mains on the south east side of town. CSX uses this connection to gain
access to the paper plant. The line crosses the NS line at Renick which
is somewhat inaccessible without some considerable hiking on private
property. A B&O signal on the paper plant property guards the
diamond for eastbound movements on the CH&D, but the satellite
image is inconclusive if a signal governs the westbound movements (and
we couldn't see one from the nearest road crossing).
We heard NS 185 west coming so we set up for a shot just south of the station.
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5059.jpg
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5062.jpg
Somehow I managed to get a photo of the signal changing aspects!
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5063.jpg
Next we
drove by the paper plant and found where the CH&D exits the paper
plant property (try saying that five times fast). Just west of the
plant is a small "yard" stuffed with empty log cars and a couple
company use boxcars painted in gray paint, still with a small "MEAD"
stencil on them. Looks like everything has been in here for a while. I
believe the rail around here is jointed 105 lb., 1926 or so vintage
rail, but I did not write the information down.
We
decided to move west so we left town. As we did we drove by the two
B&O cabooses (Or is it cabeese?) near the river valley downtown. I
suggested to John we try to find Mussellman which is where the B&O
and CH&D lines split. The satellite maps made it look like it was a
bike trail. I suggested a certain route but didn't realize that it was
going to throw us way out of route (gee, maybe I should have let my
navigator tell me how to get there, or use the GPS!). So we scrapped
that plan and simply started crossing the B&O here and there. In
20+ years, Mother Nature has done a good job at reclaiming the RofW.
One of the places we crossed the line was at Lyndon. A former
girlfriend's father was born around this area and once wrote to me how
he used to go to the operator's building and listen to the Morse Code
be sent and received. Sadly I no longer have his e-mail detailing these
recollections.
The next
town of note is Greenfield which is where the B&O line picks back
up. It also is where this line used to cross over the DT&I line
which extended from Washington Court House to Waverly, and further
south from there. A fairly long connection track exists between the two
lines due to the grade separation. Here's a photo of where the
connection (on the left) and the DT&I line (on the right) meet.
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5064.jpg
The
DT&I line was Henry Ford's access to the coal fields of Ohio which
he used to support is power plants, which supported his auto factories
in Detroit. Today a mile or so section of the DT&I exists from just
south of the junction between the two railroads, extending north to the
now closed Johnson Controls plant. This was the last customer on this
part of the B&O (and on the DT&I for that matter), and John and
I were five days late in seeing the last train to switch the plant.
Time will tell if everything simply gets railbanked or if Rail America
(who now operates the line) decides to pull stuff up. Here's a photo I
found online of the last run (courtesy of
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/default.aspx):
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1708406
In
Greenfield, depots for the two railroads sit on a hill away from both
mainlines. One now houses a business and the other I believe is a home
for a historical group. We drove down to the B&O main in town and
noted a long deck girder single track bridge over Paint Creek, though
the concrete supports show that it may have been double track at one
time. Here's the view of the RofW just west of the bridge, looking
west. Note the pole line still standing on the left side. The rail here
is welded 115 lb. 1975 vintage rail.
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5066.jpg
Our next
encounter with the line was a few miles west in Leesburg which now
hosts the furthest east customer on the line, Candle Lite (Lancaster
Colony). The plant makes candles which was clearly evident by the
pleasantly fragrant scent outside the building. A few tank cars were
spotted next to the plant. A depot still stands in this town.
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5067.jpg
Moving
further west we stopped in New Vienna. A "New Vienna" sign stands next
to the track. I'm guessing this is a Rail America sign as it looks too
new to be placed by CSX/B&O. A small feed mill stands next to the
tracks which appears to be occupied by a business. The spur track
leading up to the mill has 90 lb., 1909 vintage rail (100 year old
rail!).
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5069.jpg
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5072.jpg
Continuing
west we arrive in Midland City which at one time must have been a busy
place for the B&O. Here the east-west line is met by the Midland
Sub. which extends from Midland City to Columbus. A relatively large
depot sits between the two mains. There also appears to have been a
connection track east of the station allowing trains to wye their
power, but it no longer exists. Like the depot in Chillicothe, it is
starting to get pretty run down. In my "archives" I have a photo of CSX
train R315 coming around the curve with a piggyback trailer as its
first car!
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5073.jpg
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5075.jpg
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5076.jpg
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5079.jpg
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5081.jpg
While
inspecting the station, a gentleman in a truck stopped and said that he
was "a council member" and that they were planning on moving and
restoring the station. He asked me to take photos of the station and
e-mail them to him. Problem: the e-mail address given to me does not
work. So if anyone knows who "tmanian22@aol.com" is please let me know
so I can send the photos to him!
After
contemplating how life was at one time in this sleepy town, we checked
out the small three track yard just west of the station. About 20 cars
were in the yard waiting for their next assignments. West of the yard
is a section of what used to be double track. However, one of the mains
has been relegated to storage. Something John and I were expecting to
see were cars in long term storage, and sure enough we found some. A
very long string (maybe a mile or so long) of 50' SLGG boxcars were
stored on the second main. Need photos of SLGG boxcars? This is the
place to go!
We
continued west to Blanchester which is where the B&O had a line
branch off to the southeast towards Hillsboro. Remnants of this can
barely be seen on the southeast side of town. An old freight house sits
on the west side of the "downtown" with the depot probably sitting
nearby.
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5085.jpg
Today, Rail America has a crew office here and usually lays power up here as well. Here we see a colorful switcher tied up.
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5084.jpg
We
decided it was time for lunch so we made a beeline up Rt. 68 to
Wilmington, paralleling the Rail America (ex-CSX, B&O) Midland
Subdivision for most of the way. During lunch we decided to abandon the
Midland and head north to check out some trackage not seen in a while
for either of us. So we went northwest and arrived in Xenia, a town
which used to have multiple mainlines criss-crossing the town, but
today has none with the last line pulled up in 1984. Each of the former
rail routes is now a bike path and a replica of the old PRR station
which used to sit at the same site now serves as a restroom for bikers,
and a small Xenia railroad history of museum of sorts as well.
Continuing
up Rt. 68 in town, John notes that there used to be street-running
trackage in town. The PRR line north to Springfield used to run on
street trackage for about 1/3 mile in Xenia, just north of the station.
We continued to drive up Rt. 68 and crossed the line again in Yellow
Springs. There used to be Chessie cabooses next to the bike path but
they are no longer there (anyone know what happened to them?).
Eventually
we end up in Springfield and pick up the DT&I on the southeast side
where it comes in from Washington Court House and meets the NS (ex-CR,
CCC&STL) Dayton District. The coal tower on the north end of the
small DT&I yard still stands. The yard also had some intermodal
equipment stored in one of the tracks. Several of the road crossings in
Springfield are being/have been set up as "quiet zone" crossings.
Signal indicators give train crews information as to whether the
crossings are working as intended.
Not
hearing anything coming we follow the wandering trackage through the
park on the north end of town, and head north following the DT&I.
Interesting that the pole line still stands along several stretches of
this line. Thackery is the location of a large grain elevator but there
were no cars on site. A cement footer likely for the station still can
be seen on the east side of the track.
We
reached St. Paris, noting the junction of the DT&I and PRR lines
(and the freight house near the junction). We then headed back east to
Urbana, a town we have visited several times before. We crossed the PRR
on the west side and were simply in awe at the incredible condition the
line is still in. This was the mainline from Columbus to Union City.
The PRR depot has been restored and now is a coffee shop and serves as
the starting point of a bike path. A PRR MofW camp car also sits at
this location. The depot's canopy has been restored and now the station
looks as it did years ago. Very cool!
The PRR
line meets up with the Erie Dayton Branch and goes under the Rail
America (ex-CR, CCC&STL) line. They extend a mile or so north to a
grain elevator. An Erie freight house sits just east of the overpass.
The two remaining lines are connected by a very broad and long
connection track on the southwest side of town. John and I noted the
NYC style signal still standing on the Rail America branch on the west
side, a little north of the overpass with the PRR. Though the wires
have been cut, the signal heads still are aligned with the track.
We then
followed the CCC&STL north. This line is all welded rail, still
looking like it could handle a freight at 40 mph easily. A few miles
north in West Liberty is a grain elevator which is the last active
customer along the line. The elevator is on the old RofW alignment and
sits in a valley, while the main bypasses the small town. Nothing was
spotted at the elevator but showed signs of recent activity.
Continuing
north about five miles outside of Bellefontaine we found more cars in
storage. This time it was all intermodal equipment, mostly TTEX "twin
48" flats still with the hitches up. Again, if you want to document
this type of equipment, this is the place to go! We figured that this
likely was the first set of rail cars to traverse over this line in
years since there are no active rail customers north of West Liberty.
The stored cars end about a mile or so south of the end of the track
near BN Tower where the CSX Indy Line curves through town.
It
sounded as if someone was coming on CSX so we killed time in town.
However, based upon the scanner chatter we realized that whatever was
supposed to be moving wasn't so we followed the Indy Line east to
Ridgeway where we found Q366 accelerating east away from us. No chance
to catch it, we drove through Mt. Victory and settled around MP 107
where we got to see K401 head west.
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5086.jpg
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5090.jpg
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5091.jpg
Finally
we stopped in Marion and saw a couple trains through town, including
this CSX WB with UP power. Both units had Leslie K5LA whistles, first
I've heard UP power with these whistles.
http://www.n8rrb.com/trains/trips/08152009/IMG_5092.jpg
We then
called it quits and drove back to my house. The GPS said we drove 419.3
miles, but with all of our stops it certainly didn't feel like it. I do
believe we would do it again.
Comments, questions welcome.
Tony
Back to Temporary Trains Home index