Monon Shutting Down

SteveM76 Oct 4, 2007

  1. SteveM76

    SteveM76 TrainBoard Member

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    Well, the official word is out that the old Monon between Louisville, KY and Mitchell, IN will be shut down next week:tb-frown:. I really like this run because we still use semaphores and run on DTC with ABS signals which is extremely unusual. It is also a good challenge coming south with the always heavy perishable trains and has nice scenery in Southern Indiana. If you are familiar with this line get your photos while you can. I'm going to try to line myself up on the board so that I can make the last run.
     
  2. FriscoCharlie

    FriscoCharlie Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    We hope to see photos. Sorry to hear of the line being shut down though.

    Charlie
     
  3. conductorjonz

    conductorjonz TrainBoard Member

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    Why are the shutting it down? Lack of traffic? Economics? Are they going to sell or lease it as they seem to do with other "low density" lines?

    Thanks!

    Greg
     
  4. SteveM76

    SteveM76 TrainBoard Member

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    It is a low density line but it hosts one of the most profitable trains that comes through Louisville (Q687). Right now Indiana Railroad has trackage rights so it will probably be leased to them. Theives keep stealing the solid copper code line which makes all those semaphores display stop or restricted proceed. The track is in horrible shape and is now down to 25mph. That has caused just about every train to be recrewed and a LOT of overtime has been paid out.
     
  5. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thieves.... :eh-mad::eh-mad::eh-mad: Instances such as noted here, have spun way out of control.

    Boxcab E50
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 5, 2007
  6. MRL

    MRL TrainBoard Member

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    Thieves suck!!!
    That's sad to see/hear that another line is hitting the dust and maybe dismanteled.
    How old is the rail and maybe the weight? possible date nails? pics? :tb-biggrin:

    :tb-cool:
     
  7. SteveM76

    SteveM76 TrainBoard Member

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    It is still jointed rail in most places. It is so cool to see huge modern locos swaying down the track. I've looked in Fogg siding and to my astonishment the rails are dated 1913!!! If it does become dismantled I'd like to have the roadmaster save a chunk with the date on it. I've been told that all the semaphores are already spoken for. CSX tried to do this before but it just clogged Evansville's Howell Yard so bad that they reopened the line. One interesting thing to see is how we turn our entire trains at Mitchell. It is a result of mergers and we head north on the old Monon, turn and head west on the old B&O at Mitchell. The B&O line runs from Cincinnati to East St. Louis and they cross on a diamond right in the middle of town in Mitchell. There is a connection track from the north-south Monon and the east-west B&O that we pull north of and back the whole train through until it is in the east-west siding.
     
  8. SteveM76

    SteveM76 TrainBoard Member

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    And with the value of copper increasing I'm sure it will only get worse.
     
  9. mikado

    mikado TrainBoard Member

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    That would also take the ex B & O to mitchill out of service too. The only trains I know on it are the runs to Louisville.
     
  10. MRL

    MRL TrainBoard Member

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    Wow definately get a hunk of rail with the date and weight!!!
     
  11. SteveM76

    SteveM76 TrainBoard Member

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    I'm going to try to get several chunks so that I can give some out to anyone interested. I'm thinking that it will not be dismantled though because like I said before the Indiana Railroad still runs on it every day. It is definately one of my favorite runs because it is very peaceful and it is just too cool to hear the clickety clack on the old jointed rail. When I first hired on with CSX the old "stop when light is out" crossing signals were still around. They were unique to the Monon and the locals liked and understood them. A light would stay lit until a train was coming. I can't remember the name but these are modeled on a very nice N scale layout.
     
  12. alxmoss0609

    alxmoss0609 TrainBoard Member

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    Hey Steve!

    You know your my best friend right...LOL.
     
  13. BuddyBurton

    BuddyBurton TrainBoard Supporter

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    Were they wig-wags??
     
  14. MRL

    MRL TrainBoard Member

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    This seems backwards to what I was thinking. I guessed the light would come on when a train was a comin.

    There's still some whole pieces of track from the "Beet Line" around here. CB&Q.
    I have walked some of it, maybe a quarter mile. At the "beginning of it where the factory lead ends there are big piles of tie plated rails and ties. I haven't went through it all. I am looking for maps though.
     
  15. SteveM76

    SteveM76 TrainBoard Member

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    They weren't wig wags but had a single green light above the crossbucks and a sign below saying, "Stop When Light Is Out." Yeah, it does seem kind of backwards but locals liked them. I guess one would just need to know exactly where the crossings were on a dark foggy night!!!
     
  16. mikado

    mikado TrainBoard Member

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    The light was tied into the signal system. Whenever the block signal went to red the crossing light went out. It was really a pretty foolproof system, if the bulb burned out it still gave the same meaning.
     
  17. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    It does seem like a good idea. I wonder of any other RR company, which might have used this concept?

    Boxcab E50
     
  18. SteveM76

    SteveM76 TrainBoard Member

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    I think it was unique to the Monon in Indiana only. Like Mikado said, it was foolproof just like their signal system.
     
  19. Old Reliable

    Old Reliable TrainBoard Member

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    If anyone has anymore information on this I would love to hear it. The city of New Albany is very interested in this news.
     
  20. SteveM76

    SteveM76 TrainBoard Member

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    I ran the last "Q" train through New Albany today. There will still be a local that will run to Mitchell to set off cars and bring them back to Louisville. There is work being done to Fogg siding. They are finally replacing the jointed rail with the welded rail that has been sitting there for 8 years!!! A lot of work is being done on the line now so I'm willing to bet the shut down is only temporary. I'm hoping it is anyway. I just can't understand why people build houses right next to the tracks and then complain about trains:tb-err:.
     

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