Chasing the Indiana and Ohio tunnelmotors plus some CSX runs

[alittlevanwerty]

Well this is going to be 2 trip reports under one thread just to make it easier. I'll start with Tuesdays chase! We got to Lima about 11am to catch the I&O LSL run. This is a chase I would have rather saved for the summer but the days of vintage paint are numbered on this railroad. The crew was assembling the train at the Sugar St yard when we arrived so we had time to investigate what else was moving. We saw CSX at the CF&E yard picking up the interchange but wasn't ready to pull out of the yard. On the south end of town by the NS yard we spotted a CSX geep returning from Joint Systems Manufacturing with 2 freshly rebuilt M1A1 Abrams tanks. We also heard RJ Corman on the scanner but drove north to Flanders Ave to catch both the tanks and the CSX interchange.

The LSL got their track warrant before we got to film the tanks. Off to the south side of Lima where the engineer usually throttles up the locomotive. These are my favorite locomotives working the I&O, 4071 SD40T-1 and 9500 SD45T-2. We contined the chase south to Uniopolis.

IORY LSL 4071 SD40T-2 CEFX 9400 SD45T-2 by alittlevanwerty, on Flickr
I would have prefered to film on the other side but then we would not have made it to St Johns in time. Next stop Jackson Center where it seems the conductor got some run time in.

IORY LSL 4071 SD40T-2 CEFX 9400 SD45T-2 by alittlevanwerty, on Flickr
We got back ahead at Quincy where they breezed right over the CSX Indyline. We had to wait almost a half an hour at St Paris before they caught up with us. Having never folowed this line south of Quincy and never been to Springfield at all this was all planning spost as we go. My faforite location was Thackery though. I wish I had more time to plan out our shots there but I am still pleased with how they turned out.

IORY LSL 4071 SD40T-2 CEFX 9400 SD45T-2 by alittlevanwerty, on Flickr
For the last shot in Springfield we followed Midland's advice and went to Snyder Park.

After fueling and recharging our batteries we followed the track through Springfield till we found the train. They were almost ready to head back north with the cars they exchanged with the run from the south. Power on that was 4070/4082/4083. Setting the Springfield Art Museum in the GPS we go back to the tracks and what I thought was an awesome spot. I believe the engineer was surprised to see me there across the river! Heading north we set up in Thackery again.

IORY LSL 4071 SD40T-2 CEFX 9400 SD45T-2 by alittlevanwerty, on Flickr

CEFX 9400 SD45T-2 by alittlevanwerty, on Flickr
The trestle on Trestle Rd may work better in brighter light but work with what you have. The final spot before we broke off the chase was crossing the CSX Indyline though this time filming on the north side.

Monday was a nasty wet day but I got off work early Sunday night so I was well resty and went off to find some action. First catch was a solo locomotive pulling 127 cars.

On to Lima and then to Fostoria. Chasing the Q106 wasn't so fun in the wind and I only got off one picture before the card was full.

Was some good trains but the CSX local snuck out AND back in.

Fostoria hit a slow spot so I drove west to North Baltimore.

 

[papio]

Good stuff! In the first video, what were the loads on those 89' flats? There sure were a bunch of them on that train.

 

[alittlevanwerty]

Good stuff! In the first video, what were the loads on those 89' flats? There sure were a bunch of them on that train.

Thanks! They are loaded with stick rail fresh from the mill. SDI ( Steel Dynamics) has a mill in Indiana along the CF&E. They produce beams and rail, both stick and welded. This is the biggest block I've seen in one train but we see lots of rail come through! Rail trains too if I'm lucky enough to catch one!
Or 3 so far...