Working rail roads and their tracks.

[jjeff]

Not being a railroad worker like some of you folks the specialized track maintenance, repair, and clearing equipment has always peaked my interest.

 

[MossRoad]

We have a lot of freight traffic through our town. There's also an inter urban from here to Chicago. That's electric. It's interesting to see them working on the overhead wires. Actually, it's two railroads on the same line. The NICTD (Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District) that runs the electric passenger train, and the South Shore RR that runs freight. The freight used to come over here, but doesn't any longer. No customers. All of their power is diesel. But everyone just calls it all the South Shore. The diesel engines bring all of the maintenance equipment when work needs to be done.

The passenger line is in the process of switching to double deck cars. So now instead of 6 empty train cars several times a day, they only bring 3.

 

[gstrom99]

We have a local micro railroad that does a beautiful Holiday train

Wilmington & Western Railroad - Delaware's Operating Railroad Museum

North Judson Indiana has a good museum, that also has a Santa Train.

Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum - North Judson, Indiana

Are you ready to take a journey back to a bygone era? Then visit the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in northwest Indiana. Situated near the former junction of the Erie, PRR, C&O, and NYC in historic North Judson, HVRM offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience the sights, sounds and...

www.hoosiervalley.org

 

[gstrom99]

We have a lot of freight traffic through our town. There's also an inter urban from here to Chicago. That's electric. It's interesting to see them working on the overhead wires. Actually, it's two railroads on the same line. The NICTD (Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District) that runs the electric passenger train, and the South Shore RR that runs freight.

Is the South Shore still planning on expanding their run south, to the Cedar Lake area?

 

[MossRoad]

Is the South Shore still planning on expanding their run south, to the Cedar Lake area?

I hear they are heading south somewhere from Hammond straight south to Dyer. Parallels the IN/IL border.

 

[MossRoad]

North Judson Indiana has a good museum, that also has a Santa Train.

Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum - North Judson, Indiana

Are you ready to take a journey back to a bygone era? Then visit the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in northwest Indiana. Situated near the former junction of the Erie, PRR, C&O, and NYC in historic North Judson, HVRM offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience the sights, sounds and...

www.hoosiervalley.org

See post 2014 in this thread....

Rail roads and their tracks.

I got lost in that railroadfan.com link for a while... Live in Northern PA...great fun searching the PA state shortline links. Some of the excursion rails...with their 1920's steam locomotives...great stuff!!! Saddened with seeing some of the history on other less fortunate locomotives from...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I have not read all of the posts here, so I apologize if this has been covered.

I saw a cool article the other day about a hobby called railbiking. You buy a kit that clamps onto your bike and it allows you to ride the rails on your bike. Not sure the legalities of doing this on live railways but it looks pretty cool. Would be a neat way to get off the beaten path and see our country.

 

[gstrom99]

I have not read all of the posts here, so I apologize if this has been covered.

I saw a cool article the other day about a hobby called railbiking. You buy a kit that clamps onto your bike and it allows you to ride the rails on your bike. Not sure the legalities of doing this on live railways but it looks pretty cool. Would be a neat way to get off the beaten path and see our country.

View attachment 773896

Looks cool, but I'm sure the RR's wouldn't approve.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Looks cool, but I'm sure the RR's wouldn't approve.

You might be right.
This seems like one of those things I would ask for forgiveness, not permission.

There are also numerous rail lines that are under the jurisdiction of private railway tour companies, like the one mentioned above with the Hiawassee loop. Maybe they would grant permission, not sure.

The article I read was about a retired gentleman who was doing this across Patagonia in Chile and Argentina.

 

[kenmbz]

I have not read all of the posts here, so I apologize if this has been covered.

I saw a cool article the other day about a hobby called railbiking. You buy a kit that clamps onto your bike and it allows you to ride the rails on your bike. Not sure the legalities of doing this on live railways but it looks pretty cool. Would be a neat way to get off the beaten path and see our country.

View attachment 773896

Think that will work fine until you hit the first bump, join or switch.
Then it's a wonderful lever arm?