Working rail roads and their tracks.

[RobS]

I just saw them crossing Jackson Blvd. this evening about 6:30PM with a string of hopper cars. It's a good thing their power is a couple old Geeps that are fairly light, though I'm sure those hoppers are loaded to the limit. I have always expected to see those on the ground sometime, given the state of the roadbed and ties.
I understand how they are allowed to deteriorate over the years, I'm sure bringing that relatively short amount of track up the snuff would cost millions of dollars, way more than the revenue it generates.
The Pumpkin Vine line ran through my grandfather's farm northeast of Goshen. I still remember the local that would trundle through every morning and afternoon after dropping and picking loads and empties in Middlebury and Shipshewana. At least they converted it to the Pumpkin Vine Trail years ago. Somewhere, I still have a couple of spikes and tie plates I scavenged when they tore up the tracks. All but about a mile or so between Goshen and Shipshewana was able to be retained in the trail.
It's sad to see these short lines fall into decay and be abandoned.

Hey, I ride the PumpkinVine fairly often, live in Goshen. You must be close?

There has been talk of using the Elkhart and Western line as a rail trail, even with the existing rail line intact. Not too common but would be a nice connector between Elkhart and South Bend/Mishawaka.

 

[RobS]

I just saw them crossing Jackson Blvd. this evening about 6:30PM with a string of hopper cars. It's a good thing their power is a couple old Geeps that are fairly light, though I'm sure those hoppers are loaded to the limit. I have always expected to see those on the ground sometime, given the state of the roadbed and ties.
I understand how they are allowed to deteriorate over the years, I'm sure bringing that relatively short amount of track up the snuff would cost millions of dollars, way more than the revenue it generates.
The Pumpkin Vine line ran through my grandfather's farm northeast of Goshen. I still remember the local that would trundle through every morning and afternoon after dropping and picking loads and empties in Middlebury and Shipshewana. At least they converted it to the Pumpkin Vine Trail years ago. Somewhere, I still have a couple of spikes and tie plates I scavenged when they tore up the tracks. All but about a mile or so between Goshen and Shipshewana was able to be retained in the trail.
It's sad to see these short lines fall into decay and be abandoned.

Hey, I ride the PumpkinVine fairly often, live in Goshen. You must be close?

There has been talk of using the Elkhart and Western line as a rail trail, even with the existing rail line intact. Not too common but would be a nice connector between Elkhart and South Bend/Mishawaka.

 

[MossRoad]

We walked a bit of it about a month or so ago. Parked on Crescent by Bridge St. and walked to CR28 and back. We'll probably pick up sections of it more next year.

 

[JethroB]

A few years ago I was sitting in a Popeyes having lunch. The restaurant is adjacent to a CSX line. The local switch/yard engine stops behind Popeyes, the engineer hops out and trots inside and gets carry out, then runs back to the engine and drives off. Funny sight.

 

[ovrszd]

A few years ago I was sitting in a Popeyes having lunch. The restaurant is adjacent to a CSX line. The local switch/yard engine stops behind Popeyes, the engineer hops out and trots inside and gets carry out, then runs back to the engine and drives off. Funny sight.

40 years ago when the line was still running thru the little town I lived near, with only one train, they would stop the train, crew get off and walk a block to the local Cafe and eat lunch.

 

[JethroB]

Yes a major expansion for the company. The cost of the loop siding was about $4 million IIRC, mostly due to grading to get it completely level. Finding a suitable site took a while. Criteria included: be near the middle of our service area, reasonably flat 100+ acres for sale, and be on one of CSX or Norfolk Southern main lines.
I have never seen steel ties before. I apologize for the poor quality and photo size.
View attachment 677209View attachment 677206View attachment 677207View attachment 677208

Update: the mill received its first 90 car corn train recently. Mill personnel were trained to operate the CSX engines (3) for the maximum 15 hour unloading process. It only takes one or two workers to unload the cars as the engines are remote controlled.

 

[ovrszd]

Update: the mill received its first 90 car corn train recently. Mill personnel were trained to operate the CSX engines (3) for the maximum 15 hour unloading process. It only takes one or two workers to unload the cars as the engines are remote controlled.

Wow!!!! Let's do the math. How many bushels of corn would a car hold? Or pounds?

According to Google: Each car will hold around 3,500 to 3,800 bushels.

So, using 3,650 bushels per car, 90 cars hold 328,500 bushels. The Mill accepts that in 15 hours or less. That's 21,900 bushels per hour.

I'm assuming the Mill is not just accepting it, it's processing it? Maybe not?

Even if it's just accepting it, the pit and leg is moving a lot of grain in a short time. 365 bushels per minute. 6 bushels per second. That's impressive in itself.

 

[JethroB]

Wow!!!! Let's do the math. How many bushels of corn would a car hold? Or pounds?

According to Google: Each car will hold around 3,500 to 3,800 bushels.

So, using 3,650 bushels per car, 90 cars hold 328,500 bushels. The Mill accepts that in 15 hours or less. That's 21,900 bushels per hour.

I'm assuming the Mill is not just accepting it, it's processing it? Maybe not?

Even if it's just accepting it, the pit and leg is moving a lot of grain in a short time. 365 bushels per minute. 6 bushels per second. That's impressive in itself.

Thats about right. Standard hopper car capacity is 200,000 lbs. Jumbo cars 218,000. Corn = 56 lbs/bushel. The mill has corn storage capacity of 1 million bushels which is currently about a 5 week supply. It makes only chicken feed. (Similar to a Tyson or Perdue operation). Amazingly it only takes 3-4 people to run the entire mill. I really want to drive that train!

 

[ovrszd]

So when the train is unloading it's simply being moved into storage? Not necessarily processed at that time? But still, that's a massive leg to move that much grain that fast. Thanks for posting this information. Really intrigues me!!!

 

[JethroB]

So when the train is unloading it's simply being moved into storage? Not necessarily processed at that time? But still, that's a massive leg to move that much grain that fast. Thanks for posting this information. Really intrigues me!!!

Yes storage. Its ideal to keep a buffer stock on hand in case of supply or transportation disruptions. And for when prices are low. Those 10 million chickens on the farms gotta eat, no excuses.