I'm in Gay Paris' (Illinois that is)

[jkubajakiii]

 It's been a long time since I last signed on folks, but I'm glad to be back. I moved to a Big 4 (a New York Central subsity) crossroads town of Paris, Illinois. This is the first time I've been at this particular part of the state! A lot has happened over the years, but sadly, not for the better as far a railroad activity is concerned.

 The CSX now runs through this town but the old mainline east to Terra Haute, IN has seen better days. The line west is now gone like the Cairo line! There are still remants of these line in town to give you an idea on what it was like 50-60 years ago. The Pennsy's Panhandle line that goes through here is gone too. A short segment is now in use to move the southbound lane of Illinois Highway #1 from Central to Main Street. That short stretch of road is called Vandalia Way. Why?

[nanaimo73]

PRR's lines west of Indianapolis were called the Vandalia Railroad from 1905 until 1916. Before that, the St. Louis, Vandalia and Terre Haute connected St. Louis and Terre Haute, but I don't know if that included the line through Paris up to Peoria.

Have you seen CSX running on the line north from Paris that crosses the ex B&O in Chrisman ?

[jkubajakiii]

 I have been up that way before, but for other reasons. I know about the crossing, however I'm sure there isn't very much activity there. If the CSX kept the ex-B&O line to Springfield open, they could use it as a St. Louis bypass, since it would conect with the Gateway Western at Springfield. Too bad that isn't the case.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

One of the roads that was later absorbed by PRR was known colloquially as the Vandalia Road.

[BigRusty]

I was General Manager of the Bastian-Blessing Paris Operating Division in the last 1960s headquartered in Chicago. I visited Paris almost weekly for several years. I flew a Mooney into the farmer's air strip just south of town.

I photographed a turntable pit which I believe was on the Terre Haute to Springfield line. You might try to look for it, if it hasn't been filled in.

If you haven't had the great steaks at the Illiana on the road to Terre Haute, treat yourself.

[jkubajakiii]

 Big News. A train derailed here yesterday morning around 3 am. It was loaded with pipes for a project in Medcalf. It is believed that because the ground was saturated from the rain and melting snow that there was soft spot that sank so low, that 9 cars jumped the tracks. Part of downtown was blocked for most the the day.

[arkansasrailfan]

That's nothing. In Misosuri and Arkansas, there is flooding in the eastern parts of the states, and washouts have knocked the BNSF and UP flat on their backs. Trains are backing up or there are no trains. Amtrak runs the Texas Eagle now Dallas-Texarkana and St. Louis-Chicago

They were 6 hours late today, the flooding has made an impact that huge.

[jkubajakiii]

 Old news I forgot to add on. That train that derailed here in Paris? Believe it or not, it derailed again at Medcalf, directly the next DAY!  Could you believe That?

[arkansasrailfan]

Reminds me of VIA 911, which kept derailing, so it was fixed and renumber 921!

There was a Colorado Midland engine that kept derailing and wrecking until it ws in a bad derailment and it was scrapped(correct me)

[Anonymous]

Can you tell me what railroads use to come through Paris, Illinois?

I am aware of NYC and Illinois Central. Can you tell me others that came through in the last

50 years or so?

Kangaroo46

 

 

 

 

[jkubajakiii]

 Truth be told, the Illinois Central isn't Paris's second railroad. It was the Pennsy. That's all.