It's easy to forget that the L&N and Southern, despite their "Southerness" both had fairly busy lines to St. Louis. I'm interested in learning more about the L&N Evansville Division as it was in the 40s and 50s. If anyone has information on the types of engines and traffic that were common on the line, it would be greatly appreciated.
This will help you get starterd! A C&P from the fol;lowing linked site @ https://www.american-rails.com/nashville.html
FTL :"...The railroad's growth at this time witnessed a flurry of activity in all different directions. According to the book, "Limiteds, Locals, And Expresses In Indiana, 1838-1971" by author Craig Sanders, the L&N acquired its extension to St. Louis when it took over two separate components of the St. Louis & Southeastern; in 1879 it purchased the road's Kentucky and Tennessee Divisions between Nashville and Henderson, Kentucky; then a year later, on May 1, 1880, added the Illinois and Indiana Divisions between Henderson/Evansville and St. Louis. The segment from Evansville/Henderson and Nashville had been built by the Evansville, Henderson & Nashville, established in 1866 and opened in April of 1871. It was the vision of Evansville business leaders who wanted a direct rail artery to Southern markets. Following the EH&N's completion it was acquired by the StL&SE in 1872. The latter was chartered in 1869 to build from East St. Louis to Evansville, opening in late 1871..."
Based on this website here, there were several coal mines on the division. How important was coal traffic on the line?
ncandstl576 Based on this website here, there were several coal mines on the division. How important was coal traffic on the line?
AS to the 'coal mines' on the Evansville line. They could psooibly supply coal graded for uses from locomotive fuel, to fel for production of metals to power plant fuel. Generally, railroad loco fuel was from the cheapest (read $$$$$) grade available.
Out here in Kansas, coal was mined mostly in smaller pockets, and was graded generally 'poor' , so it was good for the railroads to burn in locomotives.
I am not sure about the quality of coal found in that area of Illinois or indiana,or Kentucky.
In the Pittsburg, Ks. area, of Southeastern Kansas; the Weir-Pittsburg Coal fields were cris-crossed by several railroads; The MKT, Santa Fe, KCS, were some of the more recognizable ones.
I have no information on the freight handled on the line, but here is info on passenger trains on the Evansville - St. Louis line.
In 1946, L&N ran five passenger trains each way on the line:
80/81 - The Georgian
51-52 - coach only St. Louis to Nashville. Day trains with lots of stops
53 - 54 overnight between St. Louis and Nashville with sleepers, combined with Dixie Flyer south of Evansville...handled multiple stops in Illinois.
55-56 - Dixie Flyer between St. Louis and Nashville
92 - 93 - Dixie Limited - sleepers to New Orleans and Montgomery with coaches to New Orleans.
By 1960, the passenger traffic was down to one train each way daily:
Train 54-93 combined The Hummingbird/The Georgian with cars to New Orleans and Atlanta with the train split in Evansville. Cars for New Orleans were added to teh Chicago - New Orleans train with Atlanta cars added to the CHicago - Atlanta train. Both New Orleans and Atlanta trains were a single train from Chicago to Evansville and split into two trains with cars added from St. Louis.
Evansville in 1960 at 9pm would have been an interesting spot to have watched the action.
Ed
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