Nostalgia & History > Corunna, Indiana Then and Now

With the demolition of the Corunna, Indiana, Highway 327 pony truss bridge coming up soon I and a friend moseyed up there today and took some photos.

I didn't have my old photos handy for reference at the time so unfortunately I didn't get the same vantage points but you "get the picture". I also used what lighting and trains were available.

Photo 1 was taken by the late Herb Harnish, August 2, 1954 looking west off the bridge of this New York Central eastbound passenger or mail and express train. I understand about a mile to the West were the Corunna track pans. Note the very elderly combination station and semaphore signal. (The semaphores were replaced in the late 50's.) The spout for the feed elevator is almost inconspicuous off to the left.

Photo 2 is an eastbound CP train taken today in the same direction but with a slightly different vantage point. Of course, today this is Norfolk Southern's Chicago District and the train is headed for Detroit via the new transfer track at Butler, Indiana to the East. You can see where the depot was located off to the left.

Photo 3 is a more mundane westbound NS view with the bridge in question. I'm standing about where the feed elevator was located.

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Photo 4 is the Corunna combination depot during the Penn Central era in May 1972 taken by me at age 12. I regret the tree blocking the bay window, but I guess I didn't know any better.

Photo 5 is the Corunna feed elevator taken the same day. It was located on the same side of the tracks as the depot but just a little closer to the bridge.

Both structures were torched by an arsonist (probably not long after these photos were taken).

Photo 6 is another photo I took the same day of a westbound from the east side of the bridge with two Penn Central SD-40's? and a Southern Pacific GE (or does that read Cotton Belt?)

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Is it just me, or is that a really TALL semaphore mast in picture No. 1? Why would it be so tall, maybe related to the bridge the photographer must be on? --- --- - --- JLH

Incidentally, I don't know how they pronounce it in California or if it is spelled the same but the locals in Indiana pronounce it Kaw-row-nah with the accent on the middle sylable.

Yes, it was a taller than average mast perhaps as to not blend in with the bridge background but the vantage point from the bridge does distort it a bit. (Remember seamphores weren't lit up during the day.) Making a semaphore signal mast higher was also done on curves too for better visibility. I do, however, recall the double signal masts for the later color lights on this line being high in general. And here they were higher than the bridge too.


highgreengraphics Wrote:
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> Is it just me, or is that a really TALL semaphore
> mast in picture No. 1? Why would it be so tall,
> maybe related to the bridge the photographer must
> be on? --- --- - --- JLH

When the bridge is replaced I'll miss it. I mean, really miss
it! In my younger days I spent a few nights there with some
fellow railfans, under the bridge. We'd be protected from
rain and snow as an un-ending parade of CR TV-trains rolled
past at track speed.

Corunna locals must've wondered about the extra horn blowing
and trains flashing their headlights, this was because we'd
toast each train with our cans of beer! Conductors also waved
their lanterns at times. I'm sure in that pre-PC (not the
railroad), pre-zero tolerance world the CR crews got a laugh
seeing us there, but I'd never do this now, even if I was
a younger railfan again.

Lots of good information but I don't believe the NS name for this piece of track is the Chicago District. Actually, I've never heard a "district"-esque name for it. But doesn't Chicago District refer to the ex-NKP between Fort Wayne and Chicago?

Patch did I get it wrong? <G> Let me know what's correct and I'll correct it.

I think in NYC and PC days it was the Toledo Division wasn't it? Yes, I know it was not the NKP.


toledopatch Wrote:
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> Lots of good information but I don't believe the
> NS name for this piece of track is the Chicago
> District. Actually, I've never heard a
> "district"-esque name for it. But doesn't Chicago
> District refer to the ex-NKP between Fort Wayne
> and Chicago?

With its rounded blade, wouldn't that extremely tall semaphore signal be an order board?

So is there any plans to preserve the bridge? Those types of bridges are
becoming more and more rare :(

I always refer to that stretch of track as the Chicago line. The NS Chicago District IS the ex NKP west of Ft. Wayne. The old Conrail Chicago line west of Toledo is still dispatched from Dearborn by the Toledo West desk.
NEtower

We ate super at Yoder's in Hicksville, Ohio
yesterday.Then went over to the road 75 bridge
over CSX near Indo.Saw six trains in half hour.
Four vehicles over the bridge.Very pleasant.

Mark

in Fort Wayne