Eastern Illinois/Western Indiana railfanning help

[fuzzybroken]

My wife and I are planning a trip down to eastern Illinois this weekend, for a little get away and, naturally, some railfanning [swg]. My main targets are the KB&S and TP&W, although I would certainly be open to other railroads in the area, especially any shortline or industrial operation. So I ask for your help...

What kind of operations can I expect, i.e. schedules, trains, switching, etc.?
Where are the main facilities in the area?
What are some can't-miss locations?
Any other points of interest in the area (non-railroad)?

TIA,
-Mark Hintz
www.fuzzyworld3.com

[Anonymous]

Mark,

Being that East-Central IL and West-Central Indiana is where I railroad, where would you like me to start??? To see some TP&W action you can go to Watseka, IL or places east/west of there. Just West of Watseka is Gilman, IL where the CN/IC meets the TP&W. Danville, IL is a major junction of CSX and NS. Danville JCT is not the easiest to get to as there are no roads adjacent to the junction, but you can sit north of there at Voorhees street and see some CSX traffic. Further south is CSX Brewer Yard, which is just off I-74 at the state line. Another HOT spot is Terre Haute, IN, which is about an hours drive south of Danville. Terre Haute is where I spend a LOT of time talking on the radio to my crews and it's where my double main between Indy and St. Louis crosses the CSX main that goes between Chicago and Evansville. Haley interlocking is where the action is at, and the tower is preserved into a museum right along the tracks. There's also Effingham, IL and Champaign, IL where you can catch more CN/IC traffic. But those are more Central,IL.
Sorry I couldn't really help with much shortline stuff, but you can see some switching at the CSX yard in Danville.
As always, remember to stay off RR property and enjoy watching from a safe distance. [:D]

[mudchicken]

Iriquois Junction on KB&S is North of Danville on Hwy 2, South of US-52 near Hooper where the old Milwaukee and CR/PC/Big 4 lines cross at a grade separation in the NE quadrant.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fuzzybroken

. My main targets are the KB&S and TP&W, although I would certainly be open to other railroads in the area, especially any shortline or industrial operation. So I ask for your help...

What kind of operations can I expect, i.e. schedules, trains, switching, etc.?
Where are the main facilities in the area?
What are some can't-miss locations?
Any other points of interest in the area (non-railroad)?

TIA,
-Mark Hintz
www.fuzzyworld3.com

If you drive along US 24 you will see LOTS of TP&W rail and old grain elevators through most of eastern Illinois, but, when I drove it a few years ago, I saw very little action

If you are going to make that drive anyway, you may as well drive a short ways into Indiana and see the all but abandoned BNSF transload facility in Remington Indiana, it's pretty dead, but is a relic from back when people had hi hopes for the line.. This facility is roughly where us 24 and I-65 intersect, so it's not that far into indiana.

The new NS bypass in Lafayette Indiana is supposed to be a fairly busy corridor right along the Wabash river, new Amtrak facilities are in place (I guess anyway, I've never actually been there)

[robscaboose]

Tuscola Illinois is a good location CN & UP have the most action at the diamond with a bit of CSX. Espically between 5 & 8 PM. Sometimes CSX passes through with a caboose, Plus N / S Amtrak.

North of Tuscola is Tolono on Rt 45 NS & CN cross on a Diamond lots of NS action.

Haley Tower in Terre Haute is real good right now. CSX is routing trains through St. Louis - Effingham to Terre Haute, were the engine crew runs their power around to the other end of the train & then heads to Evansville on their way to Atlanta. Trains heading west reverse the route.
Sat is work day at Haley Tower so we will be open for business

Sat & Sunday is Railroad Days at the Monticello Rairoad Museum in Monticello ILL. Just west of Champaign Ill. Take a train ride & tour the place.

Rob

[Anonymous]

Rob,

Oh yeah, you better believe that Terre Haute is hot right now! I've been trying to fit the extra reroute trains into my plans while running my regular trains. In order to run around the trains I need one mainline to park the train, and then the power needs the other main to run to the rear of the train, grab the marker, run to the other end and tag it. Then the power goes back and ties. A lot of the time we have to turn the power on the Con-Mill connection just East of Dwyane Yard. I'll be dispatching through Sunday. 1st shift through Friday, and then I dispatch on second trick this weekend.
And... the best way to tour the CSX mainline between Terre Haute and St. Louis is to follow US 40.

[robscaboose]

Nathan

Haley was sure busy tonight 13 trains in a little over 3 hrs.

I believe on Oct 24th Haley Tower Historical & technical Society is having it's annual picnic, you should stop by & visit

Rob.

[Anonymous]

hmmmm, that would be cool Rob. I have to take a tour of my territory around that time, maybe I can schedule it in.

[robscaboose]

Nate

Glad to have you.

Rob

[gabe]

Sorry I couldn't get this too you earlier. But in my humble opinion, that is one of the best places to rail fan in the country.

Gilman, Tolono, and Tuscola are musts. There is all kinds of short line action around as well. TPW, KBS. If you are willing to go a little east, there is a short line that runs the old Nickle Plate. It is hard to find a train on it, but i find it particularly interesting to rail fan because you can really notice the line's narrow gauge heritage with all of its very sharp turns.

How they ever got a Berkshire over them rails is beyond me.

Hope you enjoyed it.

Gabe

[fuzzybroken]

Thanks to all who replied. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get out of the state this weekend... one of "those things" [banghead]. Nonetheless, I've been itching to get down into this area for quite some time (even before I had the good digital camera) so this will be a trip that's on my priority list for the near future.

Again, thanks!