Railroading in Decatur, IL

[gradyo54]

The Decatur area is alive with trains!! 70 to 80 in 24 hours.  This is the ""Automotive Artery" of NS. The IC/CN crosses the NS near the old Wabash depot north of Eldorado st. east of downtown. Lots of action at ADM and Tate & Lyle, "the old A.E. Staley Co". N. and East of 22nd. st. overpass, Also Caterpillar has loads going out of Decatur on a regular basis. Near Millikin there is a Jct. of the trains of NS going to St. Louis and KC. 25 miles east is Bement IL. the cutoff point for the Chicago bound trains, and 7 miles north of there is My home Monticello IL. Home to the Monticello Railroad Museum, http://www.mrym.org/ CSX runs a couple of trains a day one each way in and out of Decatur, they are near the NS, IC/CN crossing. Maybe we will see you there soon! Greg

[gabe]

All I can say is that Decatur is an awesome place to watch trains.  IC/CN, CSX, NS (2 lines), Decatur Junction (2 lines).  Like most places, it once was even much better than it currently is.  There is a road overpass that goes over the Staley yard near downtown.  I recommend it.

Gabe

[bgreen58]

My son just started college at Millikin University in Decatur, IL this fall and he can view NS moves from his dorm building.  Today he mentioned that a UP unit and several flat cars of military equipment were moving through the area.  Are there any web sites or forums that one can research to learn more about the rail scene in Decatur?