CSX Transportation Historical Society

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CSX - LH&StL Subdivision

Rail Fan Adventure --

This is the former Louisville, Henderson & St. Louis Ry. L&N took it over in 1929. The LH&StL ran between Louisville and Evansville IN. It had trackage rights over the L&N from Henderson KY, across the Ohio River to Evansville IN, and also into Louisville. The “Henderson Route” was locally known as the “Texas” because prior to 1896 it had been known as the Louisville, St. Louis & Texas Ry. L&N acquired 29 steam locos in the transaction – a number of which were purchased from the L&N anyway – but the seven K-8 Pacifics were the most remembered.

Other than looking at maps and employee timetables I had no conception of the LH&StL Subdivision. From the timetable it looked like this line, with its close proximity to the Ohio River, had a lot of industry.

We had stayed the night in Henderson KY, and commenced the next morning exploring the line as far east as time would permit.

1. CSX Louisville Div map (2011). Click here for a larger image.
CSX Louisville Div map (2011).

2. Looking east at the approach to the swing bridge at Spottsville KY. CSX Green River bridge. 10-24-2020.
Looking east at the approach to the swing bridge at Spottsville KY. CSX Green River bridge. 10-24-2020.

3. I was puzzled as to why the track was rusty. CSX Spottsville KY. Green River bridge.
I was puzzled as to why the track was rusty. CSX Spottsville KY. Green River bridge.

4. Viewed from US 60, the Green River swing bridge. CSX Spottsville KY.
Viewed from US 60, the Green River swing bridge. CSX Spottsville KY.

5. Locks on the Green River. A considerable amount of coal is (or was) transported from Western Kentucky mines via the Green River to the Ohio River. Green River Lock 1. Spottsville KY.
Locks on the Green River. A considerable amount of coal is (or was) transported from Western Kentucky mines via the Green River to the Ohio River. Green River Lock 1. Spottsville KY.

6. LH & STL SD - LH - Track diagram - WE Henderson to Mattingly Holdout. The “DB” at MP 132.6 is the swing bridge. Click here for a larger image.
LH & STL SD - LH - Track diagram - WE Henderson to Mattingly Holdout. The “DB” at MP 132.6 is the swing bridge.

7. LH&StL SD - LH - Track Diagram - WE Doyle to Maceo Holdout. Click here for a larger image.
LH&StL SD - LH - Track Diagram - WE Doyle to Maceo Holdout.

8. CSX 2610-4303-6341-2644 are parked and shut down for the weekend. Doyle Yard at Owensboro KY.
CSX 2610-4303-6341-2644 are parked and shut down for the weekend. Doyle Yard at Owensboro KY.

9. CSX GP39-2 4303 is ex-D&H, nee Reading. Doyle KY.
CSX GP39-2 4303 is ex-D&H, nee Reading. Doyle KY.

10. CSX 2644-6341-4303-2610 looking east toward the small yard. Owensboro, KY. CSX Doyle KY.
CSX 2644-6341-4303-2610 looking east toward the small yard. Owensboro, KY. CSX Doyle KY.

11. CSX 4303. This is the second GP39-2 we saw this trip. Doyle KY. The first was 4310 at Casky KY.
CSX 4303. This is the second GP39-2 we saw this trip. Doyle KY. The first was 4310 at Casky KY.

12. Former L&N coal dock at the west end of Doyle Yard. A controlled siding passes under it now.
Former L&N coal dock at the west end of Doyle Yard. A controlled siding passes under it now.

13. CSX Doyle Yard looking east. Doyle KY.
CSX Doyle Yard looking east. Doyle KY.

14. CSX Doyle Yard looking west. CSX 2610. Doyle KY.
CSX Doyle Yard looking west. CSX 2610. Doyle KY.

15. CSX Doyle Yard looking east. Doyle KY.
CSX Doyle Yard looking east. Doyle KY.

16. Ex-L&N depot at Hawesville KY. Looking east.
Ex-L&N depot at Hawesville KY. Looking east.

17. Ex-L&N depot at Hawesville KY. Looking west.
Ex-L&N depot at Hawesville KY. Looking west.

18. Ex-L&N Hawesville KY depot marker.
Ex-L&N Hawesville KY depot marker.

19. According to the raised letters on the trucks this is an ex-C&O caboose. The highway bridges the Ohio River here to Cannelton IN. Hawesville KY.
According to the raised letters on the trucks this is an ex-C&O caboose. The highway bridges the Ohio River here to Cannelton IN. Hawesville KY.

20. LH&StL SD - LH - West - Track Diagram WE Lewisport Siding to Skillman Holdout. Click here for a larger image.
LH&StL SD - LH - West - Track Diagram WE Lewisport Siding to Skillman Holdout.

21. Cannelton lock and dam on the Ohio River. Domtar integrated pulp and paper mill on the Kentucky side. Skillman KY.
Cannelton lock and dam on the Ohio River. Domtar integrated pulp and paper mill on the Kentucky side. Skillman KY.

22. CSX 6142 J752, the Skillman Switcher, works Domtar’s Hawesville mill. This mill produces fine specialty paper. Skillman KY.
CSX 6142 J752, the Skillman Switcher, works Domtar’s Hawesville mill. This mill produces fine specialty paper. Skillman KY.

23. CSX CTC signal at the east end of Skillman siding. Skillman KY.
CSX CTC signal at the east end of Skillman siding. Skillman KY.

24. CSX 6142. Skillman KY.
CSX 6142. Skillman KY.

25. Finished with work for today, CSX 6142 J752 heads west to tie up. Skillman KY.
Finished with work for today, CSX 6142 J752 heads west to tie up. Skillman KY.

26. CSX 6142. Skillman KY.
CSX 6142. Skillman KY.

27. CSX has a small yard office at Skillman KY. CSX 6142.
CSX has a small yard office at Skillman KY. CSX 6142.

28. CSX 6142 is parked and the crew signs off duty. The crew revealed that the through freights were taken off in March or April 2020 and that nothing regularly runs between Owensboro and Henderson (hence the rusted rail at Spottsville). Traffic is shuttled to Louisville via local freights. The conductor normally works a job based at Brandenburg KY. CSX Skillman KY.
CSX 6142 is parked and the crew signs off duty. The crew revealed that the through freights were taken off in March or April 2020 and that nothing regularly runs between Owensboro and Henderson (hence the rusted rail at Spottsville). Traffic is shuttled to Louisville via local freights. The conductor normally works a job based at Brandenburg KY. CSX Skillman KY.

29. LH&StL SD - LH - Track Diagram - West - WE Irvinton Siding to Texas. Click here for a larger image.
LH&StL SD - LH - Track Diagram - West - WE Irvinton Siding to Texas.

We headed the few miles back to Hawesville and and then went north through Indiana to I-64. The trip home through Louisville was uneventful.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young