Eastern Railroad Discussion > CSX Monon Abandonment Bedford - New Albany Officially Started

On December 19, 2017, CSXT filed a letter of exemption with the STB to abandon the ex-MONON from MP251.7 (about halfway between Bedford and Mitchell) to MP314.0 (just south of Vernia in northern New Albany). The STB Docket is #AB_55_775_X. In the letter, CSX mentioned that they had consummated the STB's 4/7/2010 decision allowing the line to be removed from service on 5/13/2010. CSX also noted that no trains have operated over this line during the past two years.
On December 29, 2017, Indiana Trail Funds Inc. sent a trail use request letter to the STB basically petitioning that the railroad not be allowed to dispose of anything other than track and signals for a period of 180 days to allow that organization to study the matter and engage in negotiations with CSXT.
On January 4, 2018, CSXT replied to the STB that they did not object to Indiana Trail Funds petition and were willing to negotiate with them.
I believe CSXT will start removing track and signals as soon as abandonment is approved.

This still leaves CSXT with 3.7 line miles (from south of Vernia to the NS ex-K&IT connection) in New Albany which was last used in 2016 to access Pillsbury that closed in that year. What becomes of this track segment will be interesting to watch.

ALLEN

krm152 Wrote:
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> On December 19, 2017, CSXT filed a letter of
> exemption with the STB to abandon the ex-MONON
> from MP251.7 (about halfway between Bedford and
> Mitchell) to MP314.0 (just south of Vernia in
> northern New Albany). The STB Docket is
> #AB_55_775_X. In the letter, CSX mentioned that
> they had consummated the STB's 4/7/2010 decision
> allowing the line to be removed from service on
> 5/13/2010. CSX also noted that no trains have
> operated over this line during the past two
> years.
> On December 29, 2017, Indiana Trail Funds Inc.
> sent a trail use request letter to the STB
> basically petitioning that the railroad not be
> allowed to dispose of anything other than track
> and signals for a period of 180 days to allow that
> organization to study the matter and engage in
> negotiations with CSXT.
> On January 4, 2018, CSXT replied to the STB that
> they did not object to Indiana Trail Funds
> petition and were willing to negotiate with them.
> I believe CSXT will start removing track and
> signals as soon as abandonment is approved.
>
> This still leaves CSXT with about four line miles
> (from south of Vernia to the NS ex-K&IT
> connection) in New Albany which was last used in
> 2016 to access Pillsbury that closed in that year.
> What becomes of this track segment will be
> interesting to watch.
>
> ALLEN


It'll go as soon as the 2 year no traffic is up. There's also a section towards Bedford still left in place.

msullivan1993 Wrote:
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> It'll go as soon as the 2 year no traffic is up.
> There's also a section towards Bedford still left
> in place.

The section left at Bedford makes no sense as it would by isolated.
Will do some further research of this.
ALLEN

Bedford was (at least at one time) interested in keeping rail service for economic development purposes.

They did lobby INRD to leave the ex-MILW track that was inside the city limits (including what was left of the "industrial loop" in town. Don't know if anything came of that.

IIRC, they would need more than four miles to keep an outside connection...would they not have to go to Mitchell and a connection to the CSX Indiana Sub, or is there something closer?

Or perhaps they plan on an isolated touristy operation??

NZ

NebraskaZephyr Wrote:
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> Bedford was (at least at one time) interested in
> keeping rail service for economic development
> purposes.
>
> They did lobby INRD to leave the ex-MILW track
> that was inside the city limits (including what
> was left of the "industrial loop" in town. Don't
> know if anything came of that.
>
> IIRC, they would need more than four miles to keep
> an outside connection...would they not have to go
> to Mitchell and a connection to the CSX Indiana
> Sub, or is there something closer?
>
> Or perhaps they plan on an isolated touristy
> operation??
>
> NZ


Bedford is MP245.8. They propose starting abandonment at MP251.7 this is 5.9 Miles south of Bedford but is 3.6 miles north of the nearest connection at Mitchell. Bottom line is Bedford won't have a rail connection. I guess time will , or maybe it won't, tell what this is about.
Do agree one possibility would be an isolated tourist operation. One operated for about thirty-five years out of Knightstown IN.
ALLEN

ALLEN

I reckon there's not much Monon left is there?