Category Archives: Railroad General Discussions

In Railroad General Discussions, we discuss anything related to railroading, any time frame, any railroad.

CSX-Chessie-SBD-CRR-L&N-SCL-ACL, CSX-Chessie-SBD-CRR-L&N-SCL-ACL

DESHLER, OHIO RAILROAD HOT SPOT

 

Deshler, Ohio Railroad Railfan Hot Spot CSX © Copyright 2022 1-West Productions™/PJ
Deshler, Ohio Railroad Railfan Hot Spot CSX © Copyright 2022 1-West Productions™/PJ

Deshler, Ohio Railroad Hot Spot

Another great spot for train action is Deshler, OH. This famous railroad hot spot has been a favorite for railfans for decades. Located in downtown Deshler, OH, presently CSX‘s Toledo, Garrett, and Willard Subdivisions come together there, all lines being ex-B&O. Also the ex-depot and tower still stands, although not sure forhow long. One of the better locations to film and take photos is at the railroad park, located on the south side of the CSX Garrett/Willard Subdivision tracks, near W. Mulberry St.  As of 2022, all of the ex-B&O target signals have been replaced with the newer style. 

 

CSX TOLEDO SUBDIVISION

CSX‘s Toledo Sub, is part of CSX’s Division. Once the B&O, it goes from Toledo to Cincinnati, OH (at Hamilton it is shared by NS, in order for NS to continue on their New Castle District, and turns into CSX’s Sub. into Cinci.). CSX as of 2019 runs mostly locals and auto racks on this line.

CSX SB Deshler, OH © Copyright 2022 1-West Productions™/PJ

 

CSX Railroad SB Deshler, OH CSX Toledo Subdiv. © Copyright 2022 1-West Productions™/PJ

 

CSX WILLARD SUBDIVISION

CSX‘s Willard Sub. goes from Willard to Deshler, OH. This is part of the ex-B&O that runs between Baltimore, MD and Chicago, IL. This line has more traffic, with coal, coke, TOFC, stack, mix, and auto rack trains. At Deshler, it crosses their Toledo Sub., where it then turns into CSX‘s Garrett Sub. on the west side of the diamond.

 

CSX GARRETT SUBDIVISION

CSX‘s Garrett Sub. starts on at the west side of the Toledo Sub. Diamond, and goes to Garrett, IN, where it turns into CSX’s Sub., and to Chicago, IL.

 

Our videos show great CSX footage in Deshler, OH.  Take a look at our Deshler, OH Railroad Videos, with a lot of great vintage to modern action at this location:

–DESHLER, OHIO DIAMOND ACTION WITH CSX (2000)™, Vol.1 (1-West Productions™)
–Keith’s Trains Series™ Railroad DVD Title #95 CSX JUNCTION DESHLER, OH 2006/2007 (1-West Productions™)
-Keith’s Trains Series™ Railroad DVD Title #142 VARIOUS FREIGHTS IN NORTHWEST OHIO, IN, & IL (1-West Productions™)
-Keith’s Trains Series™ Railroad DVD Title #148 VARIOUS RAILROADS OF OHIO & INDIANA VOL. 3 (1-West Productions™)
-Keith’s Trains Series™ Railroad DVD Title #171 VARIOUS RAILROADS OF OHIO & INDIANA 2005 VOL. 13 (1-West Productions™)
-Other CSX Videos can be found here.

 

This blog is a work in progress- more information to be added later.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

© Copyright 2019-2022 1-West Productions™/PJ.

NYC, Penn Central, Penn Central, Railroad History

PENN CENTRAL NORWALK BRANCH

PENN CENTRAL NORWALK BRANCH (CONRAIL/PENN CENTRAL (PC)/NEW YORK CENTRAL (NYC)/LAKE SHORE & MICHIGAN SOUTHERN (LS&MS) (Millbury-Elyria, OH)

In this article, we are covering the ex-New York Central/Penn Central (& Conrail) Norwalk Branch, part of PC’s Columbus Division, that ran from Millbury, through Genoa, Fremont, Clyde, Bellevue, Monroeville, Norwalk, Collins, Oberlin, to Elyria, OH.

The line connected to the NYC/PC Toledo Division (ex-LS&MS/Water Level Route) at Millbury and Elyria, OH, and ran east/west, about 25 miles south of the Lake Erie shoreline.  Today a lot of the original ROW was preserved and made into a public trail.  The trail currently (as of 2022) extends from Genoa to Collins.  Hopefully the rest of the original ROW gets preserved to Elyria and Millbury.  The trail follows most of the ROW through Fremont, and Clyde (the trail jogs a bit due to Whirlpool).

At Clyde, between Amanda/Spring and Vine Streets was a small yard that consisted of about 3 or so tracks.  It was still in tack in the early 1980s, then torn out about mid to late ’80s or so.  There also were some siding tracks (possibly continuation of the tracks from amanda/Spring Street), downtown Clyde near Maple, Main, and Church Streets, that served factories near that area and the depot west of Main Street.  Just west of Maple Street there was a freight house and connection track that curved a bit NE, and connected the Norwalk Branch to the ex-NYC/PC Sandusky Branch (that ran north/south), for interchanging cars.  A NYC/PC local crew and power (usually a GP9 or 7) came out of Toledo- Airline Yard, to service businesses along the Norwalk Branch, especially in Fremont, Clyde, and Bellevue.  There was a signal near the crossing of the Sanduky Branch, near Maple Street.  One of the signals (most likely from the sandusky Branch side just east of Maple Street at that crossing was restored and placed east of Main Street on the trail (it now looks much shorter in height, and the original had 2 red lights- no green!).

In Bellevue, the trail temporarily branches off and follows Rt. 20, due to NS still owning the ROW just east of CR 177 (west of Bellevue), on east into Bellevue.  Just west of Kilbourne St. in Bellevue, NS has a siding track on the ex-ROW, and the MR&NKP Museum has tracks that was part of the Purina-Sunrise Mill from there to SW St.  Between Kilbourne and SW St. was and still is the original team/freight tracks for NYC/PC Bellevue Yard, near the Depot and Freight House.  The small yard consisted of 3 tracks that also crossed York St. (now closed by the museum).  It also originally had a short spur track that curved south and ended just south of the original concrete Purina Checkered silos (spur was removed by the museum a few years ago, and a new building added just south of the yard in the middle of the original alley road).  The Freight House still stands, with some modifications through the years, and the Depot was torn down by NYC in the 1960s or so.  There was a signal near the brick apron walkway on the south side of the yard-in front of the depot.  Most of this line was dark territory with no signals, except for crossovers.

From SW St. to Monroe St. there is no trail on the ROW, but from Monroe St. east past Bauer Raod, east of Bellevue, NS/W&LE have tracks on the orginal ROW.  At that point near Bauer/Prairie Road, the trail starts again along the tracks, and eventually back onto the original ROW, going east into Monroeville and on.   The Sandusky County Park District have a lot of credit getting a lot of the trail through Sandusky County, with a lot of help from R. Jordan.

The Norwalk branch line was originally built by the LS&MS, because the construction halted of their orignal first line near the Lake Erie shoreline.  Later they continued the lakeshore line, and eventually the NYC downgraded the Norwalk Branch, moving most of the east/west traffic to the  more north line.  As years went by, the NYC and PC neglected most maintanence on the line, so speed limits were eventually made down to 25-20 MPH in some areas, to prevent derailments.

The NYC took over the LS&MS, and NYC named it the Norwalk Branch, Columbus Division, and later the PC (came about with the merging of the NYC, PRR, and NH in 1968) used the same names of the line.  When Conrail came into existence in 1976, the line was abandonded.  There are stories where PC took a lot of the joint bars off the line prematurely, to get it ready to be taken up.  The PC then  had to run a few trains during these track conditions- they either put the bars back in or ran the trains without them.

The NORWALK BRANCH is described in more detail as follows by Mile Pole (MP)/Control Point (CP):

Lake Region, Toledo Division, Norwalk Branch
(from 4/28/1968 TT No. 1 Penn Central)

Elyria Jct. to Millbury Jct.:
MP (from Buffalo, PA, WB from Elyria to Millbury, OH)
207.9 Elyria Jct. (Interlocking)
Stop sign at B&O Wye
Elyria to Oberlin Yard Limit between point of switch 600 ft E of MP 208 & 1034 ft W of MP 217
215.9 Oberlin
220.5 Kipton
225.8 Wakeman
230.5 Collins
237.1 Norwalk (Yard E & W siding tracks 40 car lengths
Norwalk Yard Limit 900 ft W of MP 236 & 1900 ft W of MP 239
241.6 Monroeville (Interlocking; N&W & B&O Crossing)
249.0 Bellevue (Interlocking; N&W Crossing)
249.1 Bellevue (Yard, E & W siding tracks 46 car lengths)
Bellevue Yard Limit between 2175 ft E of MP 249 & 2250 ft E of MP 252
256.5 Clyde (PC Sandusky Br. Crossing, Yard, E & W siding tracks 55 car lengths)
Target Signal (Vertical-Proceed) at Clyde- operated by trainmen
Clyde Yard Limit between 2600 ft E of MP 257 & 1640 ft W of MP 258
264.9 Fremont (N&W Crossing, Yard, E & W siding tracks 52 car lengths, Train Register at Scale Box)
Target Signal (Vertical-Proceed) at Fremont, operated by trainmen
Fremont Yard Limit between 1930 ft W of MP 265 & 400 ft E of MP 268
272.0 Lindsey
277.2 Elmore (Yard, E & W siding tracks 36 car lengths)
282.0 Genoa (Yard, E & W siding tracks 48 car lengths)
Yard Limit Genoa to Millbury Jct. between 171 ft W of MP 281 Norwalk Br. & point of switch in Tol. Div. Main 1146 ft E of MP 281
286.8 Millbury Jct. (Interlocking; Yard, E & W siding tracks 26 car lengths)

2nd Class Freight Trains:
#645 WB M, W, F, leave Elyria Jct. 9:30 AM, leave Norwalk 11:30 AM, arrive Bellevue 1:30 PM
#649 WB T, Th, Sa, leave Bellevue 7:30 AM, arrive Fremont 8:01 AM
#647 WB daily-no Sun, leave Fremont 1:30 PM, arrive Millbury Jct. 3 PM
#646 EB T, Th, Sa, leave Fremont 8:30 AM, leave Bellevue 9:30 AM, leave Norwalk 11:30 AM, arrive Elyria Jct. 1:30 PM
#648 EB daily-no Sun leave Millbury Jct. 9:50 AM, arrive Fremont 12:30 PM
Extra Trains: no train orders needed between Elyria & Oberlin, Fremont & Clyde, Genoa & Millbury Jct.
All Trains: cleared on single track, no Clearance Form A needed at Elyria Jct.- for Norwalk Br. trains, at Bellevue-WB 2nd class trains, Fremont- 2nd class trains, Millbury Jct.- Norwalk Br. trains. All trains must stop at all non-interlocked RR crossings.

Max. speed allowed: 30 MPH on full Norwalk Br. all trains- also 10 MPH max at Whittlesey, Foster, Milan ave- Norwalk; Monroe St. W of station 10 MPH & between home signals 20 MPH-Monroeville; between home singnals 20 MPH & E yard limit board 15 MPH-Bellevue; Main St. Rt. 101 10 MPH- Clyde; Groghan & Garrison St., Birchard ave. 10 MPH- Fremont.

315,000 pounds max. load limit capy. between elyria Jct. & Millbury Jct.

Dispatcher in charge of Norwalk Branch- Toledo
Radio at Toledo/Toledo Div., in cabin cars and locomotives, channel 2- ex-NYC channel, radios have 2 channels (other channel- 1 for ex-PRR lines)

Siding Information: (per PC 4/69 TT)

Trains taking sidings would take first switch except at:

Norwalk– WB, second switch on north side, east of station;  EB, crossover west of station.
Bellevue– WB, crossover;  EB second switch
Clyde– EB crossover west of station
Fremont– EB, crossover

Per a PC 4/28/68 timetable, they labeled the line from Elyria Jct. to Millbury Jct., OH as WB.  Most of the line was “dark territory”- a term used by railroads to mean the line had no working lighted signals in most areas of the line, except before and at railroad line crossings.  Passenger trains were removed from the line, the line was downgraded by NYC and PC, and most freights were rerouted to other NYC/PC lines- such as NYC’s/PC’s NE, Lake, and Toledo Divisions of their Buffalo, NY to Chicago, IL Main Line, including their Western Region.  All signals were removed decades ago, along with the rails, ties, and telephone poles.

Starting at Elyria, OH, the line began there, connected to NYC’s/PC’s Water Level-Lake/Toledo Division, and continued WB to Millbury Jct., where it connected back to the NYC’s/PC’s same Water Level route.

Photos of the original ROW recently:

At Clyde:

(Vine St., facing EB, a few of the NYC/PC Clyde Yard tracks went through here, with the Main to the far right, and the interchange track to the far left, that went to NYC’s/PC’ Sandusky Branch also in Clyde, next to ex-Clyde frieght house.  Freight house is the brick building to the far left.   The crossover of the 2 branches was behind this later-added gazebo, near Maple St.:)

Photo of PC Norwalk Branch Clyde, OH ©Copyright 2020 1-West Productions™/PJ WB--

 

(Maple St., facing north, but Norwalk Branch went W/E- left to right- this is where both the NYC/PC Sandusky and Norwalk Branches crossed.  NYC/PC Sandusky Branch pretty much followed where or to the left of the crosswalk stripes.  The original tall wood plank- with 2 lights-type semaphore signal was also at this location where the small triangle of dirt is- the signal was moved to the far right of Main St. near the police/fire house. The original depot that served both lines was also in this location to the right.  The brick walk and station platform roof there today at the far right not in the photo, was put in the 1990s or so, and is not original.  2020:)

Photo of PC Norwalk Branch Clyde, OH ©Copyright 2020 1-West Productions™/PJ EB---

 

(Ex-NYC/PC Clyde Freight House, now Moose, facing NW, south side of building, in foreground is where the Norwalk Branch and interchange track to the Sandusky Branch use to be.  Before this parking lot was there, you could still see the lower graded wide area where the Norwalk Branch Clyde Yard tracks use to be.  2020:)

Photo of PC Norwalk Branch Clyde, OH ©Copyright 2020 1-West Productions™/PJ Freight House

 

(Woodland Ave. facing EB, now trail, 2020:)

Photo of PC Norwalk Branch Clyde, OH ©Copyright 2020 1-West Productions™/PJ

 

(Spring St. facing WB, 2020:)

Photo of PC Norwalk Branch Clyde, OH ©Copyright 2020 1-West Productions™/PJ WB

 

(East end of NYC/PC Clyde Yard facing WB- had about 3 or so tracks, plus the main was on the far left,  George St., 2020:)

Photo of PC Norwalk Branch Clyde, OH ©Copyright 2020 1-West Productions™/PJ WB-

 

(West end of NYC/PC of same Clyde Yard, facing EB, near Amanda St., 2020:)

 

Photo of PC Norwalk Branch Clyde, OH ©Copyright 2020 1-West Productions™/PJ EB-

 

At Bellevue:

(CR 302, west of Bellevue, OH, or Klines technically, facing WB.  Norwalk Branch ROW was where the NS’s stone drive is.  To the right is the ex-W&LE 1st Dist./NKP Toledo Div./N&W Toledo Dist./now NS Toledo Dist., 2021.:)

Photo of PC Norwalk Branch Bellevue, OH ©Copyright 2020 1-West Productions™/PJ

 

(Klines- west of Bellevue, CR 302, facing EB, ROW was where NS’s stone drive is:)

Photo of PC Norwalk Branch Bellevue, OH ©Copyright 2020 1-West Productions™/PJ EB

 

(York St.- behind us- Bellevue, facing EB.  SW St. is in the background.  Main track in to the right, then both Bellevue Yard tracks to the left- the far left track was extended by the museum in the 1980s.  These tracks were rebuilt a few years ago with new ties, plates, and possibly newer rail.  Some of the rail and plates may be original.  The ballast in this picture is not original and was added during the rebuild.  The majority of the original roadbed underneath the rails that was left was old coal slag and dark dirt, between the rail sets and ties, with the dirt being level with the ties and below grade compared to the brick apron to the left.  The older slag/dirt roadbed was that way since the last time NYC rebuilt the roadbed in the 1940s or 1950s.  Later in the 1990s the museum added some limestone ballast in between the rails overtop of the ties.  The brick apron is original, and where the garden dirt mound is where the original NYC Bellevue Depot stood, which was torn down by NYC in the 1960s.   Also an orginal semaphore signal use to be in front of the depot.  The NYC and PC locals always rested here with a caboose and locomotive.  See this site and look for the transfer cab at Bellevue, OH on the page taken by H. Ameling- it shows a photo of this yard facing north, just west of SW St. near the depot area in the background of this photo.:)

Photo of PC Norwalk Branch Bellevue, OH ©Copyright 2020 1-West Productions™/PJ EB-

 

At Norwalk (MP 237.1):

Photo of PC Norwalk Branch, Norwalk, OH, 3-2022-© COPYRIGHT 2022-1-WESTPRODUCTIONS™-PJ, facing EB, Newton St.

PC Locals

PC had at least one local that came out of NYC’s/PC’s Toledo Airline Yard, and serviced at least Fremont, Clyde, and Bellevue, with interchanges between NYC/PC Locals from their Sandusky Branch at Clyde.  At Clyde they serviced lumber yards, grain mills, possibly Whirlpool, and other businesses.  Locals also serviced Norwalk, Monroeville, and other towns on the line.  Most units for the locals were GP7 or GP9 units.  (More info to follow in more detail from Tom, an ex-NYC/PC employees who worked these locals out of Fremont, Clyde, etc. during the 1960s and 1970s, and who’s father also worked these locals.)

(We will continue to add to this article with more information and photos.)

 

© Copyright 2022 1-West Productions™/P.Jordan.  References:  E. Durnwald (ex-N&W/NS Tower Operator/Clerk), A Sampling of Penn Central by Jerry Taylor- IN Univ. 1973, 2000).

 

CSX-Chessie-SBD-CRR-L&N-SCL-ACL, NS, Railroad General Discussions

RAILROAD GROUP FORUMS (from 1-West productions™)

We now have our own Railroad Group Forums, where members can join for free, and get updated info on current Railroad information. See present and past train information, including photos, and more. Members are allowed to post and contribute any railroad-related information.

Our Railroad Groups/Forums can be found at the following links (please submit a request to join, in order to participate, and to see the posts of great information shared in our Groups on Facebook):

Photo of sunset near NS's Toledo District in OH-1-West Productions' NS Toledo District railfanning Forum (FB), with photo by & © Copyrighted 2021,1-West Productions/PJ.

Railroad Discussions Group (1-West Productions™ Group) (This is one of our first and original discussions Group that includes anything railroad-related, from modern to vintage.)

NS Sandusky District (Railfanning) (In this other Group of ours, we discuss anything related today and from the past to NS’s Sandusky District line.)

NS Fostoria District Railfanning (Here we discuss anything related to NS’s Fostoria Dist. from past to present.)

NS Toledo District (Railfanning) (Also join this Group to see all about NS’s Toledo Dist. from today and the past.)

NS Chicago Line (Railfanning) (NS’s great ex-LS&MS/NYC/PC/CR line discussions from the past and present.)

CSX Willard Subdivision (Railfanning) (CSX fans and the like will enjoy discussions about this CSX line from the past to present.)

Penn Central Railroad Discussions Group (1-West Productions™ Group) (PC fans will appreciate this Group, with history, photos, modeling info, and more.)

We appreciate your interest and support, and for spreading the word. As more members join, more discussions will appear. We will also contribute as we can.

Photo of CSX’s Willard Subdiv. in Fostoria, OH-1-West Productions’ CSX Willard Subdivision Railfanning Forum (FB), with photo by & © Copyrighted 2021,1-West Productions/PJ.

This blog is introducing and basically the same as our RAILROAD GROUPS / FORUMS Page, with the same information and links.

©2021 1-West Productions™

Railroad General Discussions, Today's Railroad News

GENERAL RAILROAD NEWS

Photo of 1-West Productions™ Train Collage

This Blog reports on today’s American Railroads, with news, updates, and more. Check back for updates as we add them.

 

12/2022:  Railroad Strike Prevented:  US’s railroads had been negotiating terms and contracts with their employees and the unions for 2022.  Congress kept a strike from moving ahead as of 12/2022, with increased wages only.  Due to rail workers lack of time off and safety concerns, the unions and part of Congress  wanted to also include more extended sick days for railroad workers.  However, only 1 paid day off was added and passed by the rest of Congress, in order to get the measure passed to avoid a shut down.  Even though the measure didn’t pass with the extended paid sick days, the White House is pushing for legislation for more sick days for all workers in the US.     

CP and KCS Merger Update/NS OH Derailment-Amtrak Reroutes/NS & CSX Business & Profits Up:

(11/2021)  CP & KCS have finished their aquisition, but still have to go through the STB to finalize the actual merger of both railroads.  An answer is expected by early next year.   NS had a tank train hauling wax derail, that took out both NS mains in Sandusky, OH on their Chicago Line, 10/2022, causing NS and Amtrak to reroute trains (Amtrak rerouted about 4 trains onto NS’s Toledo District, south of Sandusky).  NS & CSX business and profits are up.

CP and KCS Talk Merger:

(5/2021) Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern have agreed to a merger, that will bring CP from Canada to Mexico, with CP purchasing KCS for $25 billion. CN has made a counteroffer of $33 billion. The winning Railroad that ends up purchasing the KCS still needs approval by the STB by next year. It was only a matter of time when another railroad would take over the KCS, because of its southern connections. KCS runs from IL through Mexico and Panama/Central America (by the Panama Canal Railway, partly owned by KCS). Maybe a bidding war is coming from other railroads now noticing the connection possibilites KCS has. Time will tell.

Update: CP out as purchaser of KCS- CN now has the top bid, and UP is getting involved as well.

9/2021: CP back in talks with KCS, CN is now out per the STB. Whether you like CN or CP, the truth of the matter is the Canadian big 2 railroads do things differently, compared to the US roads. Canadians have a lot of edge due to the fact they actually make their customers a priority (and show it through actions), they have a different type of coal they mine that is in demand with outside countries, they have two true transcontinental routes, they haul more agricultural products, and better rates at their main east and west coast container ports (which results in more rail, truck, and ship traffic at those ports). Now Canada wants access to Mexico (including Panama through KCS’s Panama Canal Railway), to expand their edge, politics aside. They definately have the future in their vision. If US roads want an edge, they need to catch up and follow what the Canadian roads are practicing.

Check back!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© Copyright 2021, 2022 1-West Productions™/PJ. Duplication, modification, public transmitting prohibited.

 

Featured Products, NS, NS, Railroad Audio Product Reviews

New RAILROAD AUDIO CD TITLES

Photo of 1-West Productions™ Railroad Audio CDs

We’ve added more RAILROAD AUDIO CD Titles to our Product Line. The Series is called NORFOLK SOUTHERN-N&W 1980s AUDIO ™, Volumes 1 – 12. All CDs contain vintage NS in operation, starting in Winter of 1986.

Listen to older EMD units: SD45s, SD40-2s, SD40s, GP30s, GP35s, GP40s, GP38s, GP38-2s, SD9s, GP9s, etc.; GEs: C30-9s, U33Bs, etc., & 1 S-switcher ALCO (TLE&W). Run-through freights, switching, locals, & more were recorded near the Bellevue, Clyde, & Flat Rock, OH areas, with 1 recording near NE Grand Rapids, OH of the TLE&W.

Volumes 1-4 were recorded in Mono, & the volumes after were recorded in Hi-Fidelity/Stereo/Panning Stereo. Minutes of each Volume vary from 18 minutes to over an hour.

Photo of NORFOLK SOUTHERN-N&W 1980s, VOL. 1 AUDIO ™, from 1-West Productions ™ Front Cover
Example of 1 of our RAILROAD AUDIO CDs now available for purchase.

We also have a few new MODERN RAILROAD AUDIO CDs also available.

Photo of Audio CD Front Cover of RAILROAD SCANNER RADIO-CSX-CHESSIE, 1987/88 AUDIO, VOL. 4™ from & © Copyright 2020 1-West Productions ™
Example of 1 of our RAILROAD SCANNER RADIO AUDIO ™ Products.

Additional Audio CDs that we now carry include RAILROAD SCANNER RADIO AUDIO, with vintage 1980s Conrail, NS-N&W, & CSX-Chessie. Listen to dispatchers, crews, shops, trains, & more. We will have modern railroad scanner radio audio available as well. Keep checking back.

Videos are great, but also so are AUDIO CDs, where you can listen & use your imagination for imaging- a totally different experience.

Each Volume has a description of each Audio Track on the back cover, with photos of actual trains that were recorded at the time.

Enjoy!





© 2020 1-West Productions™/PJ Duplication Prohibited.

NS, NS, Railroad General Discussions

Norfolk Southern’s New Castle District

NS’s New Castle District is part of NS’s Lake Division. It became part of NS’s major system per the N&W and Southern Railway (SR/SOU) merger in 1982. Part of the line from New Castle, IN to Ft. Wayne, IN was part of the Lake Erie & Western (LE&W), then Nickel Plate (NKP-NYCStL), and Norfolk & Western (N&W- 1964-1982). Another section of this line was originally the Pennsylvania Railroad’s (PRR) Buckeye Division, known as the Richmond Branch. Per the PRR, New York Central (NYC), and New Haven Railroad (NYNH&H) 1968 Penn Central (PC) merger, the line became the PC’s Richmond Branch and Cincinnati Division (Cinci. to Logansport-Van, IN). By 1976, at the start of Conrail, N&W bought the line between Cinci., OH to New Castle, IN. NS-N&W through-freights on the line didn’t happen until after 1978. A lot of the line was rebuilt in the early ’80s.

Photo of SB NS on NS New Castle Dist., Muncie, IN ©1988, 2019 1-WP/PJ
SB NS Triple Crown on NS Lake Div.-New Castle Dist. (ex-LE&W/NKP/N&W), crossing CR Indianapolis Line (ex-NYC/PC/”Bee Line”), Muncie, IN 1988, from Norfolk Southern Early Years (1988-89), Vol.1 ™, from 1-West Productions™. (Photo © 1988, 2019 1-WP/PJ, by K. Lehman.)

NS upgraded the line, and is used for locals, and different types of freights. We have many examples of NS action on this line in our Keith’s Trains Series™ and 1-West Productions™ Featured Series™

In the late 1980s and through the 1990s, NS had various Steam Train Excursion Specials on the line (NS trains 061, 062, etc.), with steam power NKP 587 & 765, N&W J-611, and SOU 4501. We have footage of these trains running on the New Castle District during those eras.

Below is a list of mile markers and town along the way (from an early ’80s NS/N&W timetable), starting from Cinci. (Claire), OH, to Ft. Wayne, IN (Westward-or technically NW direction):

Mile Post: Station:

Photo of NS SB Triple Crown through Hamilton, OH on NS New Castle Dist. (ex-PRR/PC section), 1989.© 1989,2019 1-WP/PJ
NS SB Triple Crown through Hamilton, OH, on NS New Castle Dist. (ex-PRR/PC section, with trackage rights on CSX-ex-B&O Toledo Dist. between west & east sections of NS New Castle Dist.), 1989, from our Norfolk Southern Early Years (1988-89), Vol. 1™, from 1-West Productions™. (Photo © 1989, 2019 1-WP/PJ, by K. Lehman.)

(More to be added later)

© Copyright 2019, 2020 1-West Productions™/P.Jordan Duplication, public transmitting prohibited.

Conrail, Conrail, CSX-Chessie-SBD-CRR-L&N-SCL-ACL, NS, NYC, Penn Central, Railroad General Discussions, Railroad History

Berea, Ohio Interlocking- Conrail, Penn Central, New York Central- now Norfolk Southern & CSX

Berea, Ohio Interlocking, or BE Tower- has always been a busy spot for railroad traffic.  Originally part of the Lake Shore Michigan Southern (LS&MS), Big Four, and Cleveland Union Terminal (CUT), then to New York Central (NYC), and Penn Central (PC- 1968), Conrail (CR- 1976), then to Norfolk Southern (NS) and CSX (1998-99).

To this day BE Tower is still a busy place.  The tower is no longer used today, but still stands.  The original CUT/NYC Depot still stands as well, across the Short Line track along Railroad St.  This place is a great spot for railfanning.

The lines running through BE are now NS’s Dearborn Division-Chicago Line (west of Cleveland, OH- ex-LS&MS/NYC Water Level/PC Buffalo-Chicago Line-Lake/Toledo Div./Conrail Dearborn Div.-Chicago Line), and CSX’s Chicago Line (east of Cleveland, OH), Short Line (NYC/PC/CUT Branch- Cleveland Short Line Branch/Conrail Short Line) and Indianapolis Line (PC Columbus-St. Louis Line, Columbus Div./CR Indianapolis Div. and Line).  The W&LE regional railroad also runs a few trains through here.   All of the lines actually run at a SW to NE direction at BE Tower, then west and east, and north and south.

The Chicago Line (NS side) runs west to Toledo, OH and Chicago, IL, and the east side (CSX) runs to Buffalo, and Albany, NY.  The Short Line starts at BE Tower, and runs to Short, Parma, orig. to the Flats, White, Collinwood Yard, then to Alliance, and Pittsburgh, PA.  The Indianapolis Line runs south to Galion, OH where it branches off to Columbus, OH, and splits west to Marion, OH, Indianapolis, IN,  and St. Louis, MO.

Below is a map of BE Interlocking duinrg Conrail days:

Photo of Berea, OH Interlocking Map by 1-West Productions™/PJ

(map by 1-West Productions™/P. Jordan)

One can see many freight types of stack, TOFC, auto rack, coal, locals, and more.  Also Amtrak runs trains 29, 30, 48, 49.  Most if not all of the original NYC/PC/CR signals have been taken down and updated to modern signals by NS & CSX.  CSX also double-tracked the ex-CR Short Line after the Conrail split between NS in 1998-99.  Over 100 trains a day pass through BE, with NS having the most traffic. Railroad scanner frequencies in use today are:  NS- 161.070, 160.980, 160.350 MHz, and CSX-160.800, 160.485, 160.860 MHz.

Our new video BEREA, OHIO INTERLOCKING WITH CONRAIL & AMTRAK, 1996™, shows BE during Conrail in 1996.  At that time BE tower was still in use, and many freights, including Amtrak, were filmed on all the lines at this location.  This video, originally filmed by Keith Lehman, was orignally our Keith’s Trains Series™ #50 title, which was remastered and updated to our new title. 

 

© 2018 1-West Productions™/PJ

 

 

Filmography

Filmographers

Filmographers (1-West Productions™)

 

Here we discuss various filmographers who filmed various Railroad Video DVDs and Audio CDs, that we own and have available for purchase on our 1-West Productions™ website.

Keith Lehman
Keith is originally from the East-Central IN area, surrounded by many railroad lines where he grew up.  He watched the PRR, N&W, and Penn Central, then later filmed Conrail, NS, and CSX.  He worked as a paper salesman, then became a conductor for CSX in the early 2000s.  He has filmed trains since the mid-late 1980s.  Very knowledgeable about railroad history, Keith has surrounded himself with railroading most of his life.  He has filmed in CO, OH, IN, TN, PA, NY, FL, GA, MO, Canada, and more.   He retired from railroading and selling his videos, but we now own his works and have them available for purchase.  Catch his filmography in our Keith’s Trains Series™ of videos #1 – #210.

R. Kuhn
Mr. Kuhn has filmed trains for many years.  From West-Central OH,    he has traveled to many places to film, and has a lot of knowledge about railroads.  He has filmed major railroads to shortlines, in locations of OH, IN, WS, IL, etc.  He has filmed railroads such as CR, N&W, NS, CSX, ICG, WC, CC, IHB, CN, CP, BN, BNSF, ATSF, steam, and many more.  We purchased his works to add to our available collection from the 1990s-mid 2000s.  You can purchase his works in our Keith’s Trains Series™ Railroad Videos.

R. Jordan
The late Mr. Jordan was originally from Bellevue, OH, and was surrounded by trains most of his life.  He had uncles, cousins (who worked at NKP’s roundhouse in Bellevue Yard for example), friends, and neighbors, who also worked for the NKP.   He also worked for the NKP and N&W from 1962-1966, as a Mechanical Engineer, first located at NKP’s Cleveland Terminal office in Tower City-Cleveland, OH, then was transferred to their Bellevue Terminal.  While with the NKP, he was in charge of many projects, including the installation of ramps for loading semi trailers.  These ramps were placed at sidings near Whirlpool in Clyde, using old NKP flat cars without the truck wheels assemblies.  At the NKP Bellevue Terminal (then N&W Bellevue Terminal after the NKP-N&W 1964 merger), he was involved with survey work and other projects, then later for N&W’s New Yard expansion project, starting in 1965.  There he, along with another surveryor, surveyed the areas for the new hump, bowl yard, new towers, the locomotive pit, car shops, New Yard, B Yard, dormitory/cafeteria, the water tower placement, etc.   In 1966, the N&W wanted to transfer him to VA, but he instead worked for Whirlpool, where he  was involved with expansion projects at the Clyde, OH plant.

He was also one of the very earliest members of the Bellevue Mad River Society (formed around 1971-72) and later Museum (formed in 1975).  He and his parents knew Gene Leonard for many years prior (Gene was Bellevue’s local pharmacy store owner), who was the original person with the idea of starting a railroad museum in Bellevue in the late 1960s, after Gene started the Bellevue Heritage Museum.   Gene spoke with Mr. Jordan and Tom Lowrey about forming a railroad museum before the Society was officially formed.  Mr. Jordan was also a private railcar owner and part business owner (Golden Age Rail Equip., with B. Feuhring and M. Meecham- business now defunct).  He and his father photographed trains in the 1950s.  He later filmed some trains in the 1960s, starting with 8mm, to Super 8mm, then to video tape in the 1980s (by then mostly N&W, NS, and steam excursions).  He was a “walking encyclopedia” of railroads during his lifetime.  See his filmography in our Norfolk Southern 1980s and 1990s videos in our 1-West Productions™ Featured Series railroad videos.

P. Jordan
Mr. Jordan began photographing and filming trains in the 1980s, with R. Jordan.  He filmed mostly N&W and NS, then later to other railroads.  Today he films in various areas, mostly in OH.  He also edits  and prepares video for our line of products.  He studies, researches, and archives railroad history to help add to his meticulous filmography techniques of railroads.  Most of his filmograpahy can be seen in our 1-West Productions™ Featured Series.  He has also recorded railroad sounds to tape and digital from the 1980s to today.  He mostly uses panning stereo effects to help make the recordings as real as possible.  Recording audio is another way for preserving railroad action.

More Videographers will be added in the future to our catalog of Railroad Videos and Audio Projects and Products.

Railroad history from different eras are saved in time through filmographers and audio recorders.  They help preserve railroad history for us railfans, historians, modelers, and anyone interested in railroads.  As time goes on, things change, and those changes can be time-lined and preserved through film, video, and audio.  Search for your railroad video and audio needs on our website.  You may find exactly what you are looking for, or find a new interest to add to or to start your collection today.

 

 

 

 

 

Article © Copyright 2018 1-WP/PJ
Filmography

Filmography

Filmography of Trains

 

Most filmography works vary from professionalism to amateur.  However, a lot is by personal preference and opinion.   Some people like train videos because of the scenery, paint schemes on equipment, types of equipment, historical basis, certain railroads, locations,  or just the action.  Some like new material, some vintage.  Some may like real professional material, however they may be ok with not as professional, due to the rare content.

There are some guidelines when taking video or trains.  Some follow these guidelines, some not.  All in the preference of the videographer/filmographer.

-Make sure there is enough light to see the subject- be on the correct side of the train if at all possible, according to where the sun is, if there is sunlight.  Some cameras so better than others in lower-lit conditions or overcast.

-A tripod is always good, but some can hold the camera with little to no movement.

-No talking during the filming, unless narrating, or important information is needed.  Again some like this, some not.

– Panning is good, but some keep the camera still, or edit the different shots of the video.

-Proper editing helps clean up the shots, however some people like it in raw format.

-Zooming is good.

-Captions help tell the viewer about the scenes.

-Transitions help keep things smooth.

-Proper credits also inform the viewer about the people involved with the work.

-Music or not?

Again, these are guidelines.  Some people love captions, some not.  Some love wide angle shots, some like mostly zooms.  The main thing is do your best, and hopefully it contains common ground for most everyone.

 

 

 

© 2017 PJ/1-WP™
Railroad News

CSX Railroad Latest News

What has CSX been up to recently and this past year?  We’ll discuss in this blog CSX’s Latest News.

Photo of CSX Locomotive, Richomnd, IN from 1-West Productions™

(Image of CSX at Richmond, IN 1990s)

9/2023:

CSX New Heritage Units:

CSX has been painting up their own version of Heritage units.  So far Chessie, Conrail, and others.  They are looking pretty sharp!

1/2021:

CSX Pan Am Southern Acquisition:

CSX sales were up about 21% this past quarter, and they continue with discussions to purchase Pan Am Railway.  The US Government wants CSX to allow Amtrak access to and from MA, by way of Pan Am.  Check back to our blog for more updates.

2/2021- Update 7/2021:
CSX Pan Am Southern Acquisition:

CSX & NS have worked out a deal to split Pan Am Southern, in order for both railroads to get another route into Boston, MA.   CSX stock still up.  Update:  As of 6/2021, STB rejected CSX’s plan to purchase Pan Am Southern, with Amtrak also protesting the take over- due to their concern of the aquisition negatively affecting Amtrak’s passenger service in the area.

12/2020:
CSX Pan Am Southern Acquisition:

CSX announced they will be moving to purchase Pan Am Southern, in order to get another route into Boston, MA.  NS had invested money into PAS, but declined to merge with them.  Time will tell what will come of this.

8/2020:
CSX Plans Ahead:

CSX continues to downgrade their Willard, OH Yard, and focus more on larger and more efficient yards.  One of those yards is North Baltimore Yard in OH.  They’re presently expanding and building more warehouses at that location, to expand business, after a hiatus for a few years.  CSX is still using mid-train helpers mainly on their stack trains, on their Willard Subdivision.  Recently, their traffic has been up a bit.  The economy and its woes will only tell if this will keep up.

5/2020:
Oil for CSX:

CSX has outbid NS with contracts for oil trains.  CSX will now gain all of NS’s oil trains.  NS will still be delivering ethanol however.  The oil market downfalls may be NS’s reason.

2/2020:
New for CSX in 2020:

CSX is planning to possibly sell off their portion of their Ft. Wayne Line/ Ft. Wayne Secondary Subdiv.  CSX owns the line from Crestline, OH to Ft. Wayne, IN, NS owns the line from Crestline through Pittsburgh, & CF&E leases the track on the CSX side.  This was the ex-PRR Ft. Wayne Line, later PC Ft. Wayne Division (Pittsburgh to Chicago Main Line), & CR Pittsburgh Division-Ft. Wayne Line.

Will CSX follow what NS is doing?  NS has been retiring and selling off a lot of their locomotives, and plan to possibly retire some trackage to cut costs. Usually NS waits to see what CSX does before they do the same.  In the meantime, CSX has been combining trains as before to cut back on crews.  CSX is also planning to expand their North Baltimore, OH facility, while working with BNSF.  It has seen better days, but they are trying it again, with expansion work- builing new large warehouses near the facility.  This is all part of the railroads putting more focus on intermodal service on their systems, since business has been down recently.

5/2019:
CSX Moving Along:

CSX has been updating rail lines, selling off lines that make less of a profit, moving all of their dispatchers once again to Jacksonville, FL (they did this before and had porr results- maybe it’s different this time around?), returning leased units, storing other locomotives and using less on trains to cut back on costs.  The are moving forward to a more profitable railroad such as NS.

6/2018:
CSX Stock Up:

As of June, CSX‘s stock has been going up. Looks like they are getting things back in order, implementing Harrison’s tactics.

3/2018:
CSX Back on Track:

After the passing of CSX’s CEO Harrison, Foote became CEO.  Things seem to be looking up with their shippers, and service is getting back to normal.  Could Harrison’s plans be working out?  The current board announced they are planning to contiunue with most of Harrison’s vision and ideas for the company.

12/2017:
CSX’s Harrison Passes:

CSX’s Hunter Harrison who was appointed earlier this year to help get CSX out of their troubles was first out on sick leave, then shortly after passed away this month.  Jim Foote was placed as acting CEO as a result.  CSX stocks have dropped after the passing of Harrison.  Meanwhile, NS’s stock has continued to increase.  Will the present changes continue with the passing of Harrison?  Most of the people on the board are ex-CN officers.  Time will tell onto 2018.

10/2017:
CSX Troubles:

CSX congestion problems across the system has come about due to changes made by CSX’s new leader Harrison.  Hump yards have been closed, lay offs, & other things have been put into effect this year to help cut operating costs.  As of 10/2017, things seem to be slowly getting better for shippers.

CSX Plant:

CSX has been investing more in their operating plant, rebuilding track, updating facilities, etc.

© Copyright 2017-2020 1-West Productions™/PJ.  Duplication Prohibited.