Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

UP is currently in the process of salvaging the "Bondurant Industrial Lead"... Signals have been removed throughout the countryside on the line but no "TRACKS OUT OF SERVICE" signs have been placed yet. Within the city of Bondurant...
2nd St. NE signals have been removed... one piece of rail next to crossing also removed. Salvage equipment was parked just South of the crossing by the Co-op, most likely ready to get back to work on this portion of the line again on Monday
Main St. Both signals still in place. In fact, the gate was re-attached again.
Grant St. The signal with the gate light on the top of the mast has had its gate removed, and the gate motor has been rotated 90-degrees. The bell signal is still intact, however the gate is not fully upright, but only at around 60-degrees or so. Not sure if this was from wind, vandalism, or another factor.
I was not able to get to the bell-only crossing to see if the bell is still in place or not, however from Interstate 35, I was able to verify visually that the signals have been removed from both of these crossings: NE 54th and NE 29th.

SirKrunch wrote:however from Interstate 35, I was able to verify visually that the signals have been removed from both of these crossings: NE 54th and NE 29th.

I'm sure you meant Interstate 80, not 35. So I guess this means the Bondurant lead has been abandoned.

Do you know if there are tanks cars still parked just East of the US 65 overpass? I noticed there had been a string of tank cars there the last few time I was there. I think they may have been there for a few years. Also, did you see a yard goat by the Co-op? There had been one the last couple times I was there. I haven't been in that area since March and I don't see myself getting out that way anytime soon.

Oops, I did mean 80... my bad.
Yes, there are clunker cars still parked out toward the end of track... those have been out there a number of years. Also, you are correct... The elevator's motive power is still parked on the tracks next to the elevator as well. I really don't have any idea when the last time was that anyone fired it up.

According to the AmesRailFans Yahoo group, the switch engine is going to the Boone & Scenic Valley railroad. It will be shipped by truck over to the spine line, and will make its way to Boone from there. As for the rail cars, those were sold to the business that uses them and are no longer active cars. They are used for storage and shuffled back and forth for loading and unloading by the trackmobile there.

Another part of the old Chicago Great Western bites the dust. The only remaining active piece of the old KC main that I'm aware of is between Waterloo and Oelwein, IA.

1934 Map
1955 Map

Actually, this small segment off the spine to under 235 will remain in place, as this place was the only active shipper currently on the line.