Carthage, Knightstown & Shirley Railroad

Can't have signals without railroads, so talk about your favorite locomotives, railroads and any other (non signal) railroad related stuff.

Moderators: freebrickproductions, mlgillson, TommyBNSF, Raco_GS

Post Reply
User avatar
Gametrain54321
Posts: 58
Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2018 10:29 pm
Location: West Central Indiana

Carthage, Knightstown & Shirley Railroad

Post by Gametrain54321 » Sat Jun 01, 2019 9:18 pm

The line was owned the Cleveland, Chicago, Cincinatti and St Louis Railroad, or the Big Four Route, was used to carry freight freight between the cities of Elkhart, IN, and Louisville, KY. This railroad was part of the NYC system. Sometime before CKS was created, the line south of Carthage, IN, just south of Knightstown, IN and the National Road. At the time CKS was formed, the railroad still connected to the lines in Anderson, IN. CKS hauled freight between Carthage and Anderson, along with their tourist service from Shirley, through Knightstown and south to Carthage. CKS moved what little freight they could until 1991, when they decided to abandoned the line between Emporia (south of Anderson) and Knightstown. CSX became of ownership of the trackage and soon ripped it out. Because of this, the CKS was effectively isolated from any other railroads around. From this point on, CKS only ran tourist trains from Knightstown, their headquarters, and Carthage.

Their roster of locomotives and cars included two GE 45-tonners (One in blue, one in black), along with various other orange passenger cars and cabooses.

Unfortunately, in early August of 2013, the CKS announced they were closing for good due to financial trouble by the end of the month. This would be the official end of this really cool, and once thriving railroad.

Here's an in-depth look at the line from what you can see from Google Maps.

The northernmost crossing along the line in Knightstown, along with some sort of old small flatbed: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LW9xAu7xNbzriv759

The headquarters/station in Knightstown, along with their most frequently used passenger cars and cabooses: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.79861,- ... l-28HQ!2e0

The blue GE 45 tonner, just across the street: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3rhgN3t3aDxQeynF6

Crossbuck crossings on resedential streets:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.797215, ... Qmj8UQ!2e0

https://maps.app.goo.gl/5RiH3bojSE2Gg8qT7

Next, we come to what was their only signalized crossing, on US-40/National Road, which has some modern equipment, but recently had it's lights turned to the side, and the power shut off: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jGkaUKGrkY2PfFZS8

Some more resedential crossbuck crossings:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/PE3hyitVbSgY9FHK6

https://maps.app.goo.gl/69bwDeeCYi9UwP3H9

Next we come to where an even older PRR line went over the CKS at County Road 775 W on the west side of town. Also, the crossing here (on the CKS tracks) has a WRRS mechanical bell at it, though it likely hasn't worked for at least a decade or two: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6oUkhGPLt9TZfSF1A

Between Knightstown and Carthage there's about 3.5 miles of track, before eventually coming to a small yard that starts just north of E 2nd Street in Carthage. You can see lots of rolling stock and the old station on satelite view but unfortunately almost the entirety of Carthage has no street view.

The line makes a sharp turn west at Log Street, but before it even gets to the next crossing the tracks are gone.

So that was the Carthage, Knightstown and Shirley Railroad. The line has been filed as abandoned. Neither the towns of Knightstown nor Carthage will ever see a train again. Would've been neat to see the train traveling down the old grassy track and see it go under the old PRR viaduct in Knightstown. It really is too bad it's gone.

Credit for most of the info here (and also check out the video anyway, it shows the train passing by lots of neat points on the line, including both "signalized" crossings, and the viaduct): https://youtu.be/pMe90ckni_Y
User avatar
freebrickproductions
Posts: 8449
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 11:12 am
Location: Huntsville, AL
Contact:

Re: Carthage, Knightstown & Shirley Railroad

Post by freebrickproductions » Sun Jun 02, 2019 1:05 am

Gametrain54321 wrote:
Sat Jun 01, 2019 9:18 pm
Next we come to where an even older PRR line went over the CKS at County Road 775 W on the west side of town. Also, the crossing here (on the CKS tracks) has a WRRS mechanical bell at it, though it likely hasn't worked for at least a decade or two: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6oUkhGPLt9TZfSF1A
Interestingly enough, the relay case is still there, just buried in the trees:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7883308 ... 312!8i6656
They/Them for me, please.

Click here if you want to submit crossing photos to the site!

Avatar by runesprite on Twitter.
User avatar
Gametrain54321
Posts: 58
Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2018 10:29 pm
Location: West Central Indiana

Re: Carthage, Knightstown & Shirley Railroad

Post by Gametrain54321 » Sun Jun 02, 2019 6:51 am

Didn't notice that, nice find. The bell is also missing it's rainshield.
Post Reply