CSX Illinois Sub Discussion
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2019 2:08 am
At the suggestion of ZachL, I'm bumping this post and this post into their own thread, so we can be able to discuss this line, especially the crossings, without loosing them amongst the Tracks Out of Service thread.
But anyways, onto some new information. Apparently, CSX has just recently pulled the remaining stored cars off of the OOS part of the line, and no more trains are running over that part of it anymore. It's unknown what CSX has plans for it, or if a sale on it is pending (with the stored cars being removed as part of the agreement for the sale), but it has happened, as can be seen in this video below (which shows several of the OOS crossings):
However, with this video I was able to confirm the GS e-bell at the second crossing from the west end of the line does work and is indeed a Type 1, but it does sound like it's a bit sick (though that may just be the quality of the mic). It can be heard at 10:00 in the video.
freebrickproductions wrote:(This was another post that got eaten by the forum earlier today.)
Here's an update to the out of service CSX Illinois Subdivision. Apparently they've started pulling the stored cars off of the line:
Several signalized crossings are shown in the video, though all of them are disconnected so they don't operate. I'll see about following the line on Google Maps and make a post about it later.
And here's a video from a few years ago, showing a few of the crossings that, at the time, still had power:freebrickproductions wrote:Well, I'm finally getting around to making a post looking at all of the crossings (or as many as I can) along the CSX Illinois Sub in southern IL (from East St. Louis to Washington, IN). For the most part, this line seems to have been somewhat modernized, which I can't say I'm surprised about given that it's a line owned by a Class I in IL.
First off, here's a couple more recent videos of the line, showing various crossings, most of which don't have power (and one of these I'll be referencing back to shortly):
So, starting from the eastern end of the line, these first two crossings appear to still be "active" in the sense that they have the lights facing forwards still and have power connected.
The westernmost crossing along the line is a 1990s gateless CSX install without any bells on Black Lane in State Park Place, IL (great name guys). These signals likely replaced the original B&O-era signals:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6454487 ... 312!8i6656
Heading east into Caseyville, we have another signalized crossing that still has power and forwards-facing lights on Long Street. This appears to be an early-2000s CSX install with a rather faded General Signals e-bell. I suspect it's a Type 1, but can't confirm it as according to the above video (the second one), it appears to be dead as I don't hear it at all:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6386074 ... 312!8i6656
However, go one block over to the next crossing at Main Street and it becomes quite apparent that the line is dead, with rotated lights and missing gate arms:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6380166 ... 312!8i6656
Continuing east, it's certainly odd seeing a rather modern CSX install abandoned in place like this, especially since this appears to have been installed around the time the line was closed:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6273959 ... 312!8i6656
What appears to be another early 2000s CSX install here, with some rather modern vader signals standing nearby:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.613902, ... 312!8i6656
Strangely enough, the vader signals weren't there back in 2013, so they were likely installed around the time the line was closed, if not after. What a waste of money, CSX!
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6139364 ... 312!8i6656
Some more relatively modern signals:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5999009 ... 312!8i6656
Here's a crossing with the bells on the sides of the masts:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5930111 ... 312!8i6656
It appears to have originally been bell-less, but the bells were installed between 2009 and 2013, according to street view.
Another crossing with a modern CSX signal and a 1990s CSX signal, with the latter retaining the original WCH mechanical bell!
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5924779 ... 312!8i6656
More early to mid-2000s CSX signals:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5919799 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5919541 ... 312!8i6656
What appear to be some 1980s Safetran cantilevers though with newer mast lights and an e-bell:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.591871, ... 312!8i6656
Some more older B&O (maybe Chessie System) gated signals, with a rusty 1st gen WCH mechanical bell:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.591794, ... 312!8i6656
A pair of older RACO cantilevers with newer lights and what appears to be a WCH mechanical bell:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5917198 ... 312!8i6656
No changes to it by 2018, outside of the expected, it appears:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5920856 ... 312!8i6656
Some older signals, that had been given an LED upgrade by 2013:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5940551 ... 312!8i6656
Another early to mid 2000s install:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5965766 ... 312!8i6656
Now here's another waste of money. Prior to this line being closed, there were a pair of older signals here. However, after it was closed, one of the signals most likely got knocked down so of course CSX had to replace it!
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.60081,- ... 312!8i6656
On the bright side, here's another older crossing that likely still retains the mechanical bell:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.601015, ... 312!8i6656
More older signals, though with newer lights and bells:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6084138 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6083597 ... 312!8i6656
Another gateless crossing, though with newer CSX signals with incandescent lights, double-sided 4 inch bases (a bit unusual, IMHO), and a Safetran Type 3 e-bell (which this line seems to be full of):
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6083264 ... 312!8i6656
Another gateless, bell-less crossing:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6082699 ... 312!8i6656
Some mid to late-2000s CSX signals with a newer e-bell:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6078384 ... 312!8i6656
Some 1980s Safetran signals with an e-bell:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.606913, ... 312!8i6656
Some more gateless, bell-less signals, one of which dates back to the B&O:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6068534 ... 312!8i6656
Some more B&O signals:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6068111 ... 312!8i6656
A 1990s CSX install. Newer video footage shows the gates have been removed, the lights were turned, and the signals were shut-off:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6067912 ... 312!8i6656
Another gateless, bell-less install:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6069107 ... 312!8i6656
Looks like some older signals with a Safetran Type 3 here:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6060385 ... 328!8i1664
Same for this crossing:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6061942 ... 328!8i1664
Can't get any good images close enough, but it appears there's a pair of gateless signals here:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6071168 ... 328!8i1664
More here as well, without a bell, of course:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6072406 ... 312!8i6656
And here, though with a Safetran Type 3 this time around:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6085724 ... 312!8i6656
Another early to mid-2000s install, this time with two e-bells!
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.608863, ... 312!8i6656
Another pair of older signals with a Safetran Type 3:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6088438 ... 312!8i6656
And more gateless signals with a Type 3:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6087317 ... 312!8i6656
Some CSX signals from around 2010, though with the original Type 3 (a bit unusual on CSX installs from around then these days, it seems):
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.603761, ... 312!8i6656
Some more old B&O gated signals with newer lights and gate mechs, but what appears to be a WRRS mechanical bell!
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6089844 ... 312!8i6656
Another mid to late-2000s CSX install, though with the original Type 3 as well:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6134855 ... 312!8i6656
Some gateless signals with a General Signals e-bell and a Safetran mechanical bell!
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6169588 ... 312!8i6656
More gateless B&O signals with no bells:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.619876, ... 328!8i1664
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6215171 ... 328!8i1664
Some more older gated signals here. The cantilever appears to have MI 12x20s on the overhead, while the rest of the lights are Safetran 12x24s (pretty typical for any line in IL, it seems):
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6223257 ... 328!8i1664
Some gated signals, one of which was installed by CSX while the other appears to be from the B&O. All of the equipment on them is from CSX though:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6226096 ... 312!8i6656
Another early to mid-2000s CSX install:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6221371 ... 328!8i1664
More gateless signals without any bells? Well sure!
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6208224 ... 328!8i1664
Another 1990s CSX install, though no word if the WCH mechanical bell is still there:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6157821 ... 328!8i1664
Some more older signals. Of course, I can't say if the mechanical bell is still there or not:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6350619 ... 328!8i1664
After this, the line enters Flora, IL, where it goes back into service, though is justed used by one local freight. Some neat stuff still remains on this part of the line as well, an example of which is posted in the Google Maps Scavenger Hunt thread.
But anyways, onto some new information. Apparently, CSX has just recently pulled the remaining stored cars off of the OOS part of the line, and no more trains are running over that part of it anymore. It's unknown what CSX has plans for it, or if a sale on it is pending (with the stored cars being removed as part of the agreement for the sale), but it has happened, as can be seen in this video below (which shows several of the OOS crossings):
However, with this video I was able to confirm the GS e-bell at the second crossing from the west end of the line does work and is indeed a Type 1, but it does sound like it's a bit sick (though that may just be the quality of the mic). It can be heard at 10:00 in the video.