Family and Fostoria

Friday, June 12... M and I would be starting back toward Chicago, but first the B-family would be hosting a brunch in our honor in Massillon.

Me with my four cousins

The next generation. M (second from left) with 10 of my aunt & uncle's 11 grandkids. (K, who had joined us for the Indians game, was at day camp and was absent for this photo).

We had a great time visiting with my dad's sister and her family... we were long overdue for a visit and we'll try not to take so long before returning for our next one. Thanks, y'all!

The sun came out as we drove west along CSX's former Baltimore & Ohio main line that afternoon, and we made several stops for photos of trains in nice light. The most interesting spot was the town of Fostoria, which features the junctions of three busy rail lines. By some counts, over 150 trains a day pass through the town. Trains rolled through one after another while we were there.

A CSX switch job works on the former B&O line at Fostoria.

Plenty of company: at least a dozen other fans were on hand for Friday night at Fostoria.

Along the NS former Nickel Plate line in Fostoria.

NS westbound Roadrailers on the NKP.

Fostoria station sign and CSX stacks.

NKP lettering on railway overpass.

The other side of the bridge - B&O logo.

We spent the night in Kendallville, Indiana, and would continue toward Chicago on Saturday.

Stay tuned for the next report...

WSC

np: M watching Simpsons dvd's - Season 11

Hoosiers for a day

Tuesday, June 9: After spending the night in Danville, IL, we crossed into Indiana and headed south toward Terre Haute and Sullivan. The western part of Indiana has a large number of covered bridges, and we began our day with photos of the Newport Covered Bridge southeast of Danville.

My first photo ever in the Hoosier state: Newport Covered Bridge

"action shot" - Newport Covered Bridge

We had our sights set on the Indiana Rail Road near Sullivan, hoping to catch some of the railroad's new SD9043MACs in coal train service. We were partially successful; we caught some INRD trains, but the only coal train we saw had UP power... and the only SD9043MAC we saw was dead at the Hiawatha shops in Jasonville. But it's always interesting to explore a new area, and we had no shortage of trains... we found CSX's former C&EI line (sold to the L&N in 1969) south of Terre Haute to be extremely busy.


One of many: this southbound CSX grain shuttle rolling through Sullivan, Indiana was one of a couple dozen CSX trains we saw or heard of on Tuesday. This was the only SD50 we caught in the lead, though...

Not long after the CSX grain shuttle passed, INRD 42 led an eastbound freight through Sullivan...

We had lunch in Terre Haute at a newly opened White Castle (man, is THAT place over-rated), caught several CSX trains, and checked out Haley Tower (on the property of the local railroad museum) before heading back south.

Haley Tower - old railroad interlocking tower in Terre Haute.

Later, we caught this INRD northbound heading up the Hiawatha line (former MILW line sold to INRD by the CP a couple years ago) at Lewis.

Pay dirt, sort of... INRD 9008 at the Hiawatha shops in Jasonville. This would be the only SD9043MAC we'd see during our trip.

We'd be heading to Evansville to tie up for the night. But first, we took time to poke around Jasonville a little more...

M took aim at our rental car on this World War II anti-aircraft gun display in Jasonville.

INRD caboose display - Jasonville, IN.

Coming next: a long drive from southern Indiana to northeastern Ohio.

WSC

np: Asylum Street Spankers - "If I had possession over judgment day"