Working rail roads and their tracks.
- Thread starter ArlyA
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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.
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
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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...
gstrom99
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Is the South Shore still planning on expanding their run south, to the Cedar Lake area?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.
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I hear they are heading south somewhere from Hammond straight south to Dyer. Parallels the IN/IL border.
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See post 2014 in this thread....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
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
Veteran Member
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.
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
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Looks cool, but I'm sure the RR's wouldn't approve.
HawkinsHollow
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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.
HawkinsHollow
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Not sure I understand your comment.
gstrom99
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HawkinsHollow
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Yeah, that could be interesting.
kenmbz
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The arm that goes to the second track would be torqued if the drag on either side was greater.
Forget about switches, the Arm or the bike would twist change the direction of mass quickly.
Forget about switches, the Arm or the bike would twist change the direction of mass quickly.
dodge man
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We have a pretty busy rail running through our nearby town, Macomb Illinois. At a couple different times I lived within a couple of blocks, never really bothered me. I moved to the area in 1984 and I’ve never lived in this area where I couldn’t hear the train whistles. We live about 4 miles from the tracks now. At night if I’m not asleep and the windows are open I can hear the engines digging in as they speed up leaving town and hear the whistle at the crossings. I like the sounds for some reason.
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cqaigy2
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It might seem kinda weird, but at night, when going to sleep, i also like the sound of engine going under load. Not sure why, but also a distance train whistle does the same.
OP
ArlyA
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My first RR job was in a tiny little town with a double main line passing through with a full train every 20 minutes or so. We lived about 4 or 5 blocks away from them and you could smell the coal dust emanating from the trains, not to mention hear the power heads rumbling. Memories from my distant past.
BoylermanCT
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We have these pedal cars in RI and NY on tracks dedicated to this operation.
www.railexplorers.net
Experience the magic of the railroad like never before
Ride the rails on pedal-powered rail bikes in one of our spectacular locations, a unique, family-friendly experience.
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The only regular steam train I ever remember was in a local cement company gravel pit (Kuert Concrete for those locals interested). The pit was about a mile long and they had a large dragline and a payloader that would fill the train cars and the steam engine would pull them up to the plant. At night, we'd drive by the plant and you could see the orange glowing fire under the steam engine while it sat in the engine shed, especially in winter with a blanket of snow. It would have made a good Christmas card. I was born in 1961, and I'm guessing they stopped using it by 1970. They had a little Plymouth diesel locomotive that took over. The pit is now mined out and road bound, so no room for expansion. The cement plant is still there.My first RR job was in a tiny little town with a double main line passing through with a full train every 20 minutes or so. We lived about 4 or 5 blocks away from them and you could smell the coal dust emanating from the trains, not to mention hear the power heads rumbling. Memories from my distant past.
The steam engine was sold to a machine tool shop in Mishawaka, IN and sat in front of their business on Jefferson east of town for many years. They painted it bright yellow with the company logo. Last I heard, I believe it may be in some park in Ohio. I used to have pictures of it.
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HA! Found this info on some train site....
Vulcan c/n 3313 built 11/22 for Sturm & Dillard at Columbus, Ohio as their number 100. Sold to South Bend Sand & Gravel in South Bend, Indiana in 1946. Later displayed at Machinery & Supply Company in Swanson Heights, Indiana circa 1970-77.
Now it sits in Grand Pacific Junction Victorian shopping district, SW of Cleveland.
Vulcan c/n 3313 built 11/22 for Sturm & Dillard at Columbus, Ohio as their number 100. Sold to South Bend Sand & Gravel in South Bend, Indiana in 1946. Later displayed at Machinery & Supply Company in Swanson Heights, Indiana circa 1970-77.
Now it sits in Grand Pacific Junction Victorian shopping district, SW of Cleveland.
