The Flickr Chicagoindianasouthern Image Generatr

The Conrail local job is running around their train at Kentland, Indiana on June 2nd, 1985. They will be heading back to Danville with CR B23-7 #1997, 4 cars and Conrail bay-window caboose #21255. View is looking south on Conrails Danville secondary towards the TP&W crossing. The NYC station platform is on the left by the switch. Station had been gone for over 10 years.

About 3/4 of a mile north of Ade, Indiana is Chizum Ditch Bridge, located at MP IH 54.39. This bridge is of the plate girder type. This view is looking north with the elevator at Ade seen straight ahead in the gap in the trees. This is accessible by a farmers private crossing. Taken March 20th, 2013.

The northbound main remained here after abandonment. The southbound main had been removed in the late 1950's after the Egyptian service was discontinued.

NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD
Chizum Ditch Bridge
Ade, rural Newton County, Indiana
MP IH 54.39
March 20th, 2013
Status-Abandoned

NYC Osborn "RN" tower located at the crossing of Indiana Harbors (NYC) Egyptian Line and the NYC&StL's Fort Wayne line just south of Gibsons main office. Valuation Department Information:

Owner: Indiana Harbor Railroad owns and operates under the New York Central RR at its sole expense.

Division or Branch: Danville
Valuation Section: 251-a
State: Indiana
Nearest Station: Osborn
Year Built: 1903
By: Standard Ry. Signal Co.
Name and Use: Interlocking Tower
Mile: IH 5
Description: Two-story frame building, shingle roofing. Concrete foundation under flue built by carrier in 1913. Steam heating. Windows were damaged upon adding and had to be replaced. Furniture and fixtures added were 1 Ball clock, 2 chairs, 1 operator's oak desk (2 drawers), 1 pine locker set of 3 and 1 oak glazed manipulation chart.

Dimensions: 12' X 32' 4"

Indiana Harbor RR Crossing the New York Chicago & St. Louis RR
Location: Osborn, Indiana
Call Sign: "RN"
In Service: December 28th, 1905
Operated By: IH RR
Maintained By: IH RR
MACHINE:
20 levers for signals
11 levers for 13 F.P.Locks & xing bars
5 levers for 5 switches
4 levers for 4 derails
20 working levers
20 spares
40 lever-frame

(These numbers are before the NYC&StL was double tracked through here)


This photo shows the south and west sides of the tower with the NYC (IH RR) running behind the tower and the NYC&StL in the foreground. View is looking straight east. Photo was taken October 16th, 1919 by the New York Central.


IH RR (New York Central) Osborn Tower
October 16th, 1919
Photo by the NYC
Used with permission from the Allen County Historical Society of Lima, Ohio
Some rights reserved. The associated text and photograph may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from Eric Berg (text) and the Allen County Historical Society (photograph).

I have received from the Allen County Historical Society of Lima, Ohio, information and photos from a large number of buildings along New York Centrals Danville Division between Osborn, Indiana (MP IH 4.4) and Danville, Illinois (MP IH 107.4).

So this is Building #22, the Track Car & Tool House at the north end of Danville, Illinois between MP IH 107 & 108. View is taken from the tracks and looking N/W.

This was located on the north end of Wyton Interlocking near the north end of the Pekin Division of the P&E wye.

New York Central Track Car & Tool House
MP IH 107 - 108
September 22nd, 1917
Photo by the NYC
Used with permission from the Allen County Historical Society of Lima, Ohio
Some rights reserved. The associated text and photograph may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from Eric Berg (text) and the Allen County Historical Society (photograph).

I have received from the Allen County Historical Society of Lima, Ohio, all the information on all the buildings at Handy, Indiana on New York Centrals Egyptian Line, located at the crossing of the Nickel Plate (LE&W) Peoria Division. I will go from north to south through the interlocking.

So this is Building #8, the Signal Maintainer Tool House and Oil Pit, located in the S/W quadrant of the diamond.
This building was built in 1916 by the NYC RR.

This photo is looking N/N/W from the NYC tracks. Tower is seen in the distance.


New York Central Handy Signal Maintainer Tool House & Oil Pit
MP IH 80.40
September 29th, 1917
Photo by the NYC
Used with permission from the Allen County Historical Society of Lima, Ohio
Some rights reserved. The associated text and photograph may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from Eric Berg (text) and the Allen County Historical Society (photograph).

I have received from the Allen County Historical Society of Lima, Ohio, all the information on all the buildings at Handy, Indiana on New York Centrals Egyptian Line, located at the crossing of the Nickel Plate (LE&W) Peoria Division. I will go from north to south through the interlocking.

So this is Building's #6 & 7, the water closet and the oil & coal house. These 2 buildings were built in 1907 by the NYC RR.

This photo is looking N/E from the NYC tracks. Tower is seen at right.


New York Central Handy Water Closet and Coal & Oil House
MP IH 80.40
September 29th, 1917
Photo by the NYC
Used with permission from the Allen County Historical Society of Lima, Ohio
Some rights reserved. The associated text and photograph may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from Eric Berg (text) and the Allen County Historical Society (photograph).

I have received from the Allen County Historical Society of Lima, Ohio, all the information on all the buildings at Handy, Indiana on New York Centrals Egyptian Line, located at the crossing of the Nickel Plate (LE&W) Peoria Division. I will go from north to south through the interlocking.

So this is Building #4, the shared NYC/LE&W Freight House, located in the S/E quadrant of the diamond.
This building was built in 1907 by the LE&W RR with each company owning one-half interest. Building measures 20' 4" X 30' 4". Platforms measure:
(LE&W side) 90' 9", (NYC side) 59' 6' (front of bldg facing tower) 25' x 19"3". Building and platforms sit on 12' piles 8' above the grade. There were 3 windows and 2 doors.

This photo is looking W/N/W from the back of the building towards the diamond on the other side.


New York Central/Lake Erie & Western Handy Freight House
MP IH 80.40
September 29th, 1917
Photo by the NYC
Used with permission from the Allen County Historical Society of Lima, Ohio
Some rights reserved. The associated text and photograph may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from Eric Berg (text) and the Allen County Historical Society (photograph).

I have received from the Allen County Historical Society of Lima, Ohio, all the information on all the buildings at Handy, Indiana on New York Centrals Egyptian Line, located at the crossing of the Nickel Plate (LE&W) Peoria Division. I will go from north to south through the interlocking.

So this is Building #2, the small passenger/freight station, located between the diamond and the road crossing just across the LE&W tracks from the tower. This building was built in 1906 by the IHRR. Building measures 16' 4' X 32' 4". Interior fixtures included an oak ticket case, a table with 2 oak chairs, an 8' clock, 3 brass wall lamps, a copying press, a 4-drawer oak desk, a stove and consisted of 3 rooms--a baggage room, a ticket office and a waiting room. It had 2 doors on the east side of the building and 6 windows. It had 9-foot ceilings inside. NYC was 100% owner. This view is looking N/W. One thing that I love about this photo is the kerosene lamp on the end of the building. Oh, to see this at night.

The well behind the station was 60' deep and had a 4'X4' deck with 2' planks. It was put in by the NYC in December of 1913 and is listed as building #3. Inventory included:
1--1 1/4" Hand pump
60' of 1 1/4" Galvanized Iron Pipe
40' of 7/16" Well Rods

The platform was 5' X 65' and went from the road crossing, in front of the depot (bldg. 2), across the LE&W tracks, in front of the tower (bldg. 5), by the oil and coal house (bldg. 6) and ended at the "water closet" (outhouse, bldg. 7), which had both men's and women's doors.

New York Central Handy Passenger/Freight Station
MP IH 80.40
September 29th, 1917
Photo by the NYC
Used with permission from the Allen County Historical Society of Lima, Ohio
Some rights reserved. The associated text and photograph may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from Eric Berg (text) and the Allen County Historical Society (photograph).

I have received from the Allen County Historical Society of Lima, Ohio, all the information on all the buildings at Handy, Indiana on New York Centrals Egyptian Line, located at the crossing of the Nickel Plate (LE&W) Peoria Division. I will go from north to south through the interlocking.

So this is Building #1, a Hand Car and tool House, located at the base of the Southbound home signal. This building was built in 1906 by Wyatt & Donovan Contractor at Allison, Indiana (MP IH 99.65) and moved from there by the NYC and placed as above sometime later. Building measures 12' 8" X 15' 8" and had 2-11 foot long 55-pound rails as a car runway from the building to the tracks with cedar and oak ties. Inside included a stove.

In the photograph, along with the hand car and tool house we see a signal maintainer up on the southbound home signal, possibly making adjustments, cleaning, etc. to the signal head. His can of kerosene can be seen laying in the tracks. This view is looking N/N/W.

New York Central Handy Hand Car & Tool House & Southbound Home Signal
MP IH 80.28
September 29th, 1917
Photo by the NYC
Used with permission from the Allen County Historical Society of Lima, Ohio.
Some rights reserved. The associated text and photograph may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from Eric Berg (text) and the Allen County Historical Society (photograph).

Southbound Soo Line train #204 accelerates through Kentland, Indiana on July 9th, 1987 at 11:20 am. Train had the following in its consist:

SD40-2's Soo 765-767-Milw 157
64 cars (22 hoppers [Milw-Soo-WISX], mixed freight and 1 trailer)
Soo Line cupola caboose #14

Running on a clear signal today. Train is coming by the location of the former NYC passenger depot; platform can be seen at left.

Soo Line SD40-2's #765 & 767 were built by EMD in March and November of 1973.

Milw SD40-2 #158 was built by EMD in July of 1972.

Milw hopper #120051 up front. Car is an open top self-clearing car, having fixed sides and ends and bottom consisting of three or more divided hoppers with doors hinged crosswise of car and dumping between rails.

Southbound Soo Line train #204
CR Danville secondary
(nee-NYC Egyptian line)
MP IH 61.75
Kentland, Newton County, Indiana
July 9th, 1987, 11;20 am

Westbound Norfolk Southern train 31KB315 comes across the UP Villa Grove sub diamonds at CP MJ in Momence, Illinois on April 15th, 2016 at 3 pm with NS 9436-CofG 8101-NS 9249 and 90 cars. Train is on the former New York Central 3-I line and is heading for the BNSF at Streator, Illinois.

NS C44-9W #9436 was built by GE.

Looking north at CI&L's "DK" (St. John, Indiana) tower in the late 1920's. A southbound NYC train is either sitting at the signal or approaching the diamonds. "DK" tower was located at MP IH 14.45 on NYC's Egyptian Line and was 33.8 miles from Chicago. I don't know when the tower was removed, but It’s shown as an open tower in NYC’s Illinois Division employee timetable from April 28, 1963, but an automatic interlocking in the April 25th 1965 employee timetable. So Sometime between those dates.

The Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville (Monon) crossed here. There was a facing point crossover on the NYC, which was double-tracked. Tower sat in the N/E quadrant and was operated and maintained by CI&L men at the cost of the Indiana Harbor (later CI&S, later NYC). If the NYC had a depot at St. John, I don't know where it was nor do I have a photo of it. The Monon had a depot just south of here on the east side of their mainline.

The tower was put in service on December 27th, 1905 and contained a 28 lever frame interlocking machine which consisted of:
11 levers for 7 mechanical and 4 power signals
5 levers for 8 facing point locks
1 lever for 2 switches
5 levers for 6 derails
6 spares
Levers out for the train pictured would be 19-13-20.


Southbound NYC Train
"DK" Tower
St. John, Indiana
NYC Egyptian Line, MP IH 14.45
Circa 1920's
Photographer unknown.

So after spending the last 40 years looking for a shot of this tower in service, I finally was led by Barry Lennon to these 2 taken by the New York Central in 1917. I also received a bunch of information on them, which I am going to write out below. Much thanks to the Allen County Historical Society of Lima, Ohio, specifically Charles Bates and Morgan Miller for their help in this matter. Here is the info I now have on this tower.....

Valuation Department Information

Owner: Indiana Harbor Railroad (CI&S, New York Central owns 100% per contract No. 541 with Lake Erie & Western dated June 1905)

Division or Branch: Danville
Valuation Section: 250
State: Indiana
Nearest Station: Handy
Year Built: 1906
By: Federal Railway Signal Co.
Contractor: Charles Hansel Consulting Engineer
Name and Use: Interlocking Tower
Mile:81
Description: Two story frame slateroof, hip construction. Diagonal sheathing, siding-drop and shingles. Machine floor doubled. First floor is oak. No gutters or downspouts, interior ceiled with pins. I-beams for leadout platform not included in contract.

Dimensions: 15' x 27'

Plan File No.: Union Switch and Signal Co. Plan No. C-4067

I.H. R.R. Contract No. 545 of April 28th, 1905: Final voucher No. 1723 of May 1906. Contractor was paid an extra $128.00 on account of concrete foundation was carried deeper than contract. Expenditure Ledger Oct. 1914-page 176. Putting in new cement foundation for new heater. 5 sacks of cement, 18 sacks of sand.

Indiana Harbor RR Crossing the Lake Erie & Western RR
Location: Handy, Indiana
Call Sign: "DY"
In Service: December 30th, 1905
Operated By: NYC
Maintained By: NYC
MACHINE:
17 levers for 13 Mechanical & 4 power signals
9 levers for 13 F.P.Locks
5 levers for 5 crossovers
8 levers for 8 derails
39 working levers
9 spaces
48 lever-frame

This photo shows the S/W corner of the tower, opposite the crossing. The small freight house can be seen to the right of the stairs.

New York Central Handy Tower
September 28th, 1917
Photo by the NYC
Used with permission from the Allen County Historical Society of Lima, Ohio
Some rights reserved. The associated text and photograph may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from Eric Berg (text) and the Allen County Historical Society (photograph).

So after spending the last 40 years looking for a shot of this tower in service, I finally was led by Barry Lennon to these 2 taken by the New York Central in 1917. I also received a bunch of information on them, which I am going to write out below. Much thanks to the Allen County Historical Society of Lima, Ohio, specifically Charles Bates and Morgan Miller for their help in this matter. Here is the info I now have on this tower.....

Valuation Department Information

Owner: Indiana Harbor Railroad (CI&S, New York Central owns 100% per contract No. 541 with Lake Erie & Western dated June 1905)

Division or Branch: Danville
Valuation Section: 250
State: Indiana
Nearest Station: Handy
Year Built: 1906
By: Federal Railway Signal Co.
Contractor: Charles Hansel Consulting Engineer
Name and Use: Interlocking Tower
Mile:81
Description: Two story frame slateroof, hip construction. Diagonal sheathing, siding-drop and shingles. Machine floor doubled. First floor is oak. No gutters or downspouts, interior ceiled with pins. I-beams for leadout platform not included in contract.

Dimensions: 15' x 27'

Plan File No.: Union Switch and Signal Co. Plan No. C-4067

I.H. R.R. Contract No. 545 of April 28th, 1905: Final voucher No. 1723 of May 1906. Contractor was paid an extra $128.00 on account of concrete foundation was carried deeper than contract. Expenditure Ledger Oct. 1914-page 176. Putting in new cement foundation for new heater. 5 sacks of cement, 18 sacks of sand.

Indiana Harbor RR Crossing the Lake Erie & Western RR
Location: Handy, Indiana
Call Sign: "DY"
In Service: December 30th, 1905
Operated By: NYC
Maintained By: NYC
MACHINE:
17 levers for 13 Mechanical & 4 power signals
9 levers for 13 F.P.Locks
5 levers for 5 crossovers
8 levers for 8 derails
39 working levers
9 spaces
48 lever-frame


This photo shows the east side of Handy tower with the double-tracked NYC in the foreground, looking west down the LE&W Peoria division towards Illinois. The train order signal is for the LE&W and I don't believe Handy was a train order office for the NYC here. Photo was taken from the platform of the union freight house between the 2 roads. Passengers may have been able to transfer here, I don't know for sure. Freight goods could have been offloaded and sent from one railroad to the other.

New York Central Handy Tower
September 29th, 1917
Photo by the NYC
Used with permission from the Allen County Historical Society of Lima, Ohio
Some rights reserved. The associated text and photograph may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from Eric Berg (text) and the Allen County Historical Society (photograph).

Actually taken the day after, southbound Soo Line train #204 is seen pulling through Kentland, Indiana on Conrails Danville secondary at MP IH 61.8 on December 26th, 1986 at 11:45 am with Milw 22-Soo 773-Milw 137, 79 cars and Soo Line caboose #67. Photos are taken from the foundation of New York Centrals former depot location. Train was a mix of empty coal buckets, Milw boxcars, tanks, grain hoppers and there were 9 TOFC cars on the rear.

More snow was on the way and temps were in the 20's.

Milw SD40-2 #22 was built by EMD in July of 1973.

Soo Line SD40-2 #773 was built by EMD in November of 1973.

Milw SD40-2 #137 was built by EMD as Milw #3007 in July of 1972.

Merry Christmas to all my friends at Flickr!!!

Actually taken the day after, southbound Soo Line train #204 is seen pulling through Kentland, Indiana on Conrails Danville secondary at MP IH 61.8 on December 26th, 1986 at 11:45 am with Milw 22-Soo 773-Milw 137, 79 cars and Soo Line caboose #67. Photos are taken from the foundation of New York Centrals former depot location. Train was a mix of empty coal buckets, Milw boxcars, tanks, grain hoppers and there were 9 TOFC cars on the rear.

More snow was on the way and temps were in the 20's.

Milw SD40-2 #22 was built by EMD in July of 1973.

Soo Line SD40-2 #773 was built by EMD in November of 1973.

Milw SD40-2 #137 was built by EMD as Milw #3007 in July of 1972.

Merry Christmas to all my friends at Flickr!!!

Actually taken the day after, southbound Soo Line train #204 is seen pulling through Kentland, Indiana on Conrails Danville secondary at MP IH 61.8 on December 26th, 1986 at 11:45 am with Milw 22-Soo 773-Milw 137, 79 cars and Soo Line caboose #67. Photos are taken from the foundation of New York Centrals former depot location. Train was a mix of empty coal buckets, Milw boxcars, tanks, grain hoppers and there were 9 TOFC cars on the rear.

More snow was on the way and temps were in the 20's.

Milw SD40-2 #22 was built by EMD in July of 1973.

Soo Line SD40-2 #773 was built by EMD in November of 1973.

Milw SD40-2 #137 was built by EMD as Milw #3007 in July of 1972.

Merry Christmas to all my friends at Flickr!!!

Phil Boldman took this while hi-railing southward on PC's Danville secondary on July 26th, 1974. This view is looking south on the former NYC Egyptian Line at MP IH 9.70 just south of the Grand Trunk Western diamonds and the Main Street crossing near Hays Interlocking at Highland, Indiana. The bridge in the distance crosses the PRR's Panhandle line, the MC's Joliet branch and the EJ&E at Hartsdale.

Another shot from the Phil Boldman collection is this view looking S/W on the Chicago, Indiana & Southern (later NYC Egyptian line) at Sheff, Indiana, circa 1914. There was in fact a town here. There were company houses, a hotel, a post office, at least one restaurant and a lot of railroad facilities. This photo was taken by Thomas Boldman and was actually only to show the new watering facilities that he helped set up. There are 1 or 2 Boldmans in this photo, possibly Wilmer and one other possibly Frank.

The double track seen here that ran from Morocco, Indiana to Sheff would end approx. a half mile beyond this view. In later years, it would end at the tower and this track would be used for headroom for trains switching in the yard.

CI&S RR, Sheff, Indiana
Circa 1914
Looking S/W at new watering facility
Thomas Boldman photo, Phil Boldman collection

NYC (CI&S) caboose #28683 sits in Kankakee, Illinois circa 1925. The men standing in front are l to r: Russell Emigh, Jack Smith & Harry Drazzy. I believe Jack Smith (center) was the agent there. This was taken at the west yards along NYC's 3-I line. I would say this is looking N/N/W near the mainline. The date could be earlier than this as I don't know how long NYC had CI&S lettered cabooses, but that's what the description on the photo said.