A question on ex-Erie track in Indiana

[Anonymous]

Can anyone tell me if there is any ex-Erie-Lackawanna trackage still in use in the state of Indiana? I live in Michigan, and would like to head south to see if anything remains. Also, looking for any information on the old Wabash line from Montpeiler to Chicago. Any info would be of great help. I never understood why that line was abandoned, it was a straight shot from Detroit to Chicago. Probably something that Norfolk Southern wishes they still had. Let me know........... Todd C.

[Anonymous]

The Erie main line still exists from North Judson to Monterrey, about 14 miles. It is the only Indiana trackage still in operation, and is run by a short line operator who brings grain cars from an elevator in Monterrey to a CSX connection at North Judson. The connection is near the Hoosier Valley Rail Museum in North Judson.

A small portion of the Wabash line still exists south and west of South Bend. Another small segment still exists from its western terminus at Clarke Junction to an industry on the east side of Gary. The latter segment is still operated by Norfolk Southern.

The line was abandoned in favor of routing trains over NS's ex-NKP line from Ft. Wayne to Chicago. Since the Conrail merger, NS can also get freight from Detroit to Chicago using the ex-MC line east to Kzoo, then south to Elkhart and then east over the ex-NYC main. There is little need for the Wabash line as it never had a lot of on-line industry anyway.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I should have said WEST to Kzoo and WEST over the ex-NYC main.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info, I have never seen much written about the Wabash line, but wondered if it was ever a "true mainline".

[REDDYK]

A very short stub end track still exists at Rochester, Indiana. It is on the east side of U.S. 31 and serves no apparent function. It seems to connect to the old LEW NKP from the north, does not cross under the highway to a grain terminal/elevator on the west side and seems to serve no industry??? The ERIE main was one of the first major east west mains to Chicago to be abandoned here in Indiana, but a great amount of the old ROW can be seen, including a concrete coaling tower and bridge at Decatur. At least it was still there three years ago.
You hit my hot button, the golden era railroads that no longer exist. Wife says I will drive a hundred miles to see where a railroad USTA BE.

[Anonymous]

The 1/2 mile of track in Decatur is switched by CSX once a week.Arnold Lumber has an old Erie freight building near the bridge and water tank supports.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Gary. I remember seeing that when I was a truck driver, it was strange, seeing double-track mainline railroad on the east side of the overpass, and just a dirt trail to the west. I passed that site in Rochester In. many times on my way to Peru In., but never saw any signs of traffic. This was back around 1995-96.
I know it's a moot point now, but if the double-stack container train had been around in 1976, I bet that Conrail would have kept the old Erie. I understand that that line had very generous clearances owing to the Erie's origins as a 6-foot gauge R.R.

Todd C.