CSX Transportation Historical Society

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Southern IN and IL - CN, NS, and Squaw Creek Southern

Rail Fan Adventure --

On the way out and back to see the UP “Big Boy” I diverted off the long drive on I-64 to reacquaint with places I had shot decades ago.

1. NS crews report here at Yankeetown IN to work the Keyser Aluminum Newburgh plant (in the background). This plant is formerly Alcoa. NS 5828. Warrick IN. 08-26-2021.
NS crews report here at Yankeetown IN to work the Keyser Aluminum Newburgh plant (in the background). This plant is formerly Alcoa. NS 5828. Warrick IN. 08-26-2021.

2. Southern kept a high-nose GP38 here back in the day. NS 5828. Warrick IN.
Southern kept a high-nose GP38 here back in the day. NS 5828. Warrick IN.

3. NS 5828 “GP38-3” is former Southern Ry. GP50 7022 built in 1980. NS rebuilt it in 2007. Warrick IN. View 2.
NS 5828 “GP38-3” is former Southern Ry. GP50 7022 built in 1980. NS rebuilt it in 2007. Warrick IN. View 2.

4. NS Evansville Branch.
NS Evansville Branch.

5. NS Yankeetown Branch.
NS Yankeetown Branch.

6. Exploring the area northwest of Boonville on New Harmony Rd., I found Squaw Creek Southern’s terminal. This is located on the site of Vigo Coal Operations Company’s equipment shop and load-out. The Liberty Mine coal operation appears inactive, as there was no one around. Respondek Railroad (RRC) is the parent of Squaw Creek Southern. They formerly hauled coal down to the Alcoa aluminum plant as the Squaw Creek Coal “Allegators” did years ago from that strip mine which was just to the west. I think Squaw Creek Southern now does contract switching at the plant. SDP35 11 was formerly Yankeetown Dock Corp., exx-SCL, nee-SAL. Seaboard used her on passenger trains. RRC 11 near Boonville IN.
Exploring the area northwest of Boonville on New Harmony Rd., I found Squaw Creek Southern’s terminal. This is located on the site of Vigo Coal Operations Company’s equipment shop and load-out. The Liberty Mine coal operation appears inactive, as there was no one around. Respondek Railroad (RRC) is the parent of Squaw Creek Southern. They formerly hauled coal down to the Alcoa aluminum plant as the Squaw Creek Coal “Allegators” did years ago from that strip mine which was just to the west. I think Squaw Creek Southern now does contract switching at the plant. SDP35 11 was formerly Yankeetown Dock Corp., exx-SCL, nee-SAL. Seaboard used her on passenger trains. RRC 11 near Boonville IN.

7. RRC 5690, 1001, and 5838 near Boonville, IN. 08-26-2021.
RRC 5690, 1001, and 5838 near Boonville, IN. 08-26-2021.

8. RRC 6617 SD40-2 is ex-Soo. Near Boonville IN.
RRC 6617 SD40-2 is ex-Soo. Near Boonville IN.

9. RRC 5828 SD40-2 is ex-IORY, nee-CP. Near Boonville IN.
RRC 5828 SD40-2 is ex-IORY, nee-CP. Near Boonville IN.

10. RRC 5690 SD40-2 is ex-Soo. Near Boonville IN.
RRC 5690 SD40-2 is ex-Soo. Near Boonville IN.

11. RRC 1001 GP7 came from Peabody Coal. “IT” on the rear flank may be Illinois Terminal. They had a similar paint scheme. Near Boonville IN.
RRC 1001 GP7 came from Peabody Coal. “IT” on the rear flank may be Illinois Terminal. They had a similar paint scheme. Near Boonville IN.

12. Boonville IN, 1:24,000 quad, 2016, USGS. Click here for a larger map image.
Boonville IN, 1:24,000 quad, 2016, USGS.
The junction at New Harmony Rd. is NS (former Yankeetown Dock or Peabody) and the Squaw Creek Mine spur (now Respondek). The Liberty site is beside the Washing Reservoir at upper right. The track going on west toward the old Squaw Creek mine appears from Google to be used for car storage.

13. NS Lynnville Branch looking south from Turpin Hill Rd. This was formerly Peabody or Yankeetown Dock track. It is going through a swamp.
NS Lynnville Branch looking south from Turpin Hill Rd. This was formerly Peabody or Yankeetown Dock track. It is going through a swamp.

14. Looking north on NS Lynnville Branch from Turpin Hill Rd.
Looking north on NS Lynnville Branch from Turpin Hill Rd.

15. Peabody Coal Co. Wild Boar Mine near Lynnville IN. This is formerly the Lynnville Mine.
Peabody Coal Co. Wild Boar Mine near Lynnville IN. This is formerly the Lynnville Mine.

16. Turpin Hill road crossing is at the bottom. Wild Boar load-out is at the top left. Some of the old stripping can be seen from I-64. NYC served the Tecumseh Mine, but that track is gone. Indiana Southern may come into Wild Boar from under I-64. Peabody had an eclectic mix of H-16-44s, RS3s, GP7s, and SW1s that switched the plant and mines. Lynnville IN, 1:24,000 quad, 2019, USGS.
Turpin Hill road crossing is at the bottom. Wild Boar load-out is at the top left. Some of the old stripping can be seen from I-64. NYC served the Tecumseh Mine, but that track is gone. Indiana Southern may come into Wild Boar from under I-64. Peabody had an eclectic mix of H-16-44s, RS3s, GP7s, and SW1s that switched the plant and mines. Lynnville IN, 1:24,000 quad, 2019, USGS.

17. Forging on west before it got dark, I bounced off I-64 to check out CN’s Bluford yard. At South Bluford the signals were not favorable for any action soon. This is looking south with I-64 in the distance. CN Bluford IL.
Forging on west before it got dark, I bounced off I-64 to check out CN’s Bluford yard. At South Bluford the signals were not favorable for any action soon. This is looking south with I-64 in the distance. CN Bluford IL.

18. IC once had a yard and engine terminal here, as it was the crew change on the Edgewood Cutoff (Bluford District) between Champaign IL, and Fulton KY. KCS 4043-CN 2920 are parked with a TVA empty coal train waiting for a crew to go to a nearby mine. Bluford IL.
IC once had a yard and engine terminal here, as it was the crew change on the Edgewood Cutoff (Bluford District) between Champaign IL, and Fulton KY. KCS 4043-CN 2920 are parked with a TVA empty coal train waiting for a crew to go to a nearby mine. Bluford IL.

19. Although CN was trying to merge with KCS, I didn’t think the merger had happened this fast! CN Bluford IL. KCS 4043-CN 2920.
Although CN was trying to merge with KCS, I didn’t think the merger had happened this fast! CN Bluford IL. KCS 4043-CN 2920.

20. KCS 4043 is a SD70ACe. Bluford IL.
KCS 4043 is a SD70ACe. Bluford IL.

21. CN Bluford IL. KCS 4043.
CN Bluford IL. KCS 4043.

22. CN 2920 is a GE ES44AC. Bluford IL.
CN 2920 is a GE ES44AC. Bluford IL.

23. Looking north on the Bluford District. It is hard to see, but Norfolk Southern’s Louisville to St. Louis line crosses the former IC at the north end of the yard. CN Bluford IL. KCS 4043-CN 2920.
Looking north on the Bluford District. It is hard to see, but Norfolk Southern’s Louisville to St. Louis line crosses the former IC at the north end of the yard. CN Bluford IL. KCS 4043-CN 2920.

24. Coal and steam once powered the IC roundhouse and machine shop at Bluford. CN Bluford IL. 2920 ES44AC.
Coal and steam once powered the IC roundhouse and machine shop at Bluford. CN Bluford IL. 2920 ES44AC.

25. Remains of the engine terminal. CN Bluford IL. IC roundhouse remains.
Remains of the engine terminal. CN Bluford IL. IC roundhouse remains.

26. On my way home on Sunday, 08-29-2021, I paused at South Bluford to stretch my legs. Although the signals didn’t promise anything when I walked up the track, this south bound CN freight behind BNSF 5096 slipped up and startled me! Beware that the situation can change quickly! S Bluford IL.
On my way home on Sunday, 08-29-2021, I paused at South Bluford to stretch my legs. Although the signals didn’t promise anything when I walked up the track, this south bound CN freight behind BNSF 5096 slipped up and startled me! Beware that the situation can change quickly! S Bluford IL.

27. BNSF DPU 4660 in the middle. S Bluford IL.
BNSF DPU 4660 in the middle. S Bluford IL.

28. BNSF 4660 DPU. S Bluford IL.
BNSF 4660 DPU. S Bluford IL.

29. Bluford IL, 1:24,000 quad, 1973, USGS. The area to the right of the map is Markham City. Undoubtedly it was named after IC president Charles H. Markham under whose leadership construction of the Edgewood Cutoff began in 1925. Click here for a larger map image.
Bluford IL, 1:24,000 quad, 1973, USGS. The area to the right of the map is Markham City. Undoubtedly it was named after IC president Charles H. Markham under whose leadership construction of the Edgewood Cutoff began in 1925.

30. Bluford IL, 1:24,000 quad, 2018, USGS. Click here for a larger map image.
Bluford IL, 1:24,000 quad, 2018, USGS.

31. IC employee timetable, St Louis Div 1939.
IC employee timetable, St Louis Div 1939.

32. IC employee timetable Bluford Dist 1995.
IC employee timetable Bluford Dist 1995.

I headed on east into Indiana where I stayed the night. All for now.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young