#chicago&easternillinois

[railwayhistorical]

Surprise on the C&EI

This was an interesting sight: a northbound (TOFC) train with Southern Railway power on the former Chicago & Eastern Illinois (Mopac by this time). We're in central Illinois, not far from Tuscola.

Perhaps this run-through arrangement was a way for the Southern to make it to Chicago—they really should have snapped up the Monon prior to the L&N getting that road in 1971.

That lead unit, as SD35, was built for the Central of Georgia in 1966. It's interesting to note that the Southern purchased all their locomotives with high-short-hoods and tended to run long-hood forward, but not always. I always loved this idiosyncrasy with the Southern Railway as well as the Norfolk & Western.

Two image by Richard Koenig; taken November 20th 1976.

[railwayhistorical]

The MoPac at Tuscola

To follow up on the previous two posts—another couple of train movements in Tuscola, Illinois, taken the same day.

Here we see both southbound and northbound trains, taken some time apart. The trains are on the former C&EI and are approaching the crossing with the Illinois Central and the B&O at TY Tower. The Union Pacific would get this line just five years later.

Two images by Richard Koenig; taken September 24th 1977.

[railwayhistorical]

Tuscola Trio

These three images were made in Tuscola, Illinois. This is where the Illinois Central, the Missouri Pacific (former C&EI), and the B&O all converged on a single spot to form a triple crossing.

First, an Illinois Central local, with 8010 on point, moves southward by the ancient tower (controlled by the IC, the oldest road here). Next we see a Chicago-bound MoPac train with 3214 leading the way. And lastly we have B&O GP30 6963 on the point of a westbound freight rattling over the complicated diamond.

All three of these images were made in a relatively short time on September 25th 1976. Photographs by Richard Koenig.

[railwayhistorical]

TY Tower

Here’s a northbound freight on the Illinois Central main line. We’re in Tuscola and the photographer is looking westward on the B&O while the sunlight of late fall reveals every detail of TY tower. In addition to the IC and B&O, the Chicago & Eastern Illinois (C&EI) crosses at the same spot, in a diagonal fashion.

One image by Richard Koenig; taken November 20th 1976.

[railwayhistorical]

Southbound at TY

A southbound freight on the Illinois Central mainline rolls through Tuscola, Illinois. The IC crossed both the B&O and MoPac (C&EI) at this spot; the tower is just behind the photographer.

One image by Richard Koenig; taken September 24th 1977.

[railwayhistorical]

Ohio & Mississippi (3 of 3)

The Baltimore & Ohio is one of the oldest railroads in the country; in southern Indiana, it was formerly a broad-gauge line called the Ohio & Mississippi (Cincinnati to St. Louis).

Some of the distinctive color position lights are still in operation to this day, but going fast.

This shot, of a westbound job, was taken in Vincennes, Indiana; the B&O crossed both the Big Four and the C&EI at this spot.

One image by Richard Koenig; taken March 7th 1976.