Eastern Railroad Discussion > Corn, EMD's and Sun on the Louisville & Indiana (LIRC)

Back at the end of July, I made another trip North to Hoosier land to  shoot the Louisville & Indiana (LIRC) with a couple of friends.   The CJ Turn (Columbus to Jeffersonville local) was called around daylight that day, and pklenty of work to do as it plodded along South. There would be a ballast train out working as well, plus a few CSX Northbounds to run later in the day. 

Our First Encounter with the CJ was just North of Edinburgh at the huge Kokomo Grain facilty. The train would pic up a pair of engines and  fill out on a cut of grain loads for the NS at Louisville. After that stop was made, they also made a large pickup at the yard at Columbus (Indiana) before departing with 5 Geeps and decent sized train.  This was my second trip to the LIRC this year, and it was nice to have some SUN for a change.  With all of the work currently underway to upgrade the line (a former PRR property), the look and feel is bound to change by the end of the year. 

Here are a few samples, and feel free to check out the entire set at this link  >>>>>  http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/lirc15

07/25/15

#1 LIRC 2004 looks sharp in the retro PRR style paint that the company is using now, as it switches at Kokomo Grain near Edinburgh, Indiana

#2 "Ghost" A ribbon of 100lb jointed rail runs arrow straight through the corn and soybean fields of Indiana, carrying away the countless tons and hopes of last years harvest as a new crop grows. A headlight in the distance moves through the shimmering heat of another 95 degree day, the faint outline and color of a RR paint scheme once familiar to all who rode and shipped via the PRR on this little remarked mainline,yet the year is 2015..its just a modern day ghost of the Pennsy...a nod to the standard RR of the world. . The LIRC "CJ" turn, just South of Edinburgh, Indiana

#3  Corn, Soybeans and EMD's as the CJ passes through the farmland South of Jonesville, Indiana

E.M. Bell , KD4JSL
Salvisa, KY
Jreb.org NS group

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#4  The LIRC "CJ" Turn ambles across the White River bridge in Columbus, Indiana  . A sharp eye will note the PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD still visible on the side of the bridge, still proclaiming to all that care to look that this line was once part of the Standard RR of the World. While a 5 pack of EMD's makes a nice sight,I am thinking a PRR K4 with a passenger train wold have been even better!

#5 The CJ comes by the cement plant at speed with sand flying from all 5 engines

#6 A sign of things to come.  CSX is paying for the upgrades to the track and communications on the LIRC to make it more viable as a "shortcut" from Louisville to Cincinnati and Indianapolis. This was a new antenna mast in place near the Kokomo Grain facilty. 

E.M. Bell , KD4JSL
Salvisa, KY
Jreb.org NS group

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Nice images, I really like #5.

Really like image #2 showing the "fish plated" rail...the heat distortion adds to it as well.
 

As always beautiful stuff EM!
Dan

Posted from iPhone

Well done sir.  Well done.

Wonderful shots.

KG

Nice photos. #5 sure shows what a great paint scheme they have.
Brian Stevens

Nicely done, Mr. Bell!  Nicely done.

 

Bob Callahan
Monticello, IN

Another fine post Mr. Bell.
John

Nice!
Gonut
 

What a great series of pictures!

NICE pics!! Thanks.....

Great shots! No. 4 is my favorite, due to the faded advertisement on the bridge. In Photo 5, is that the cement plant at Speed? Does this train run on somewhat of a predictable schedule? === === = === JLH

There is no real schedule per-say...more like a pattern.  CSX seems to run North out of Louisville  starting in the late afternoon, and can run several trains overnight.  The LIRC seems to run the most early morning and through the afternoon. Both times I have shot the CJ this year, they have went on duty at Columbus around 0630, but that is not always the case. 

There are NO passing sidings of any length to make meets except at Scottsburg, so if CSX is running, there probably wont be any LIRC traffic. 

E.M. Bell , KD4JSL
Salvisa, KY
Jreb.org NS group