Carrier Mills, IL: Big Four (Egyptian) Coal Train and Mine

Bart Hileman posted
Photo of the Day. 1981, Carrier Mills Illinois, Conrail coal train on the Cairo Line

You may have noticed that I don't normally use "oh look, another train" photos. But the comments on this train going through Carrier Mills, IL, were interesting.

Jeff Jackson Who was the original owner of this line and when was it pulled up? It's a trail now.

Bart Hileman Originally laid down by the Cairo & Vincennes railroad right after the civil war. It went to the Big Four railroad after that, then to the New York Central / Penn Central / Conrail. Conrail sold it to Norfolk Southern in the early 1980's. The line was pulled out in the early 90's and later made into the Tunnel Hill Trail.

Alex Wood All part of the once vast NYC network in Illinois. You had that line that came down out of Vincennes and crossed at St. Francisville, then connecting to the line running from Cairo up to Gary which interchanged with the Indy to St. Louis mainline at Paris and the Kankakee line up at Schneider. Most all of this is gone now.

Rager Kujawa posted
Coal mine Carrier Mills, Illinois 1939 OLD PHOTO

Dennis DeBruler commented on Roger's post

Dennis DeBruler commented on Roger's post
This map excerpt includes all three mines. Note that the green "blob" near the bottom was a strip mine.

Dennis DeBruler commented on Roger's post
We can clearly see that strip mine on this 1938 photo. The map shows that 3270 was north of the center of the strip mine. But I finally concluded that the map was wrong and that 3270 was east of the strip mine.

Dennis DeBruler commented on Roger's post
Here is the mine at photo resolution.

Dennis DeBruler commented on Roger's post
The mine was built too recently to make on the topo map.
1939 Harrisburg Quad @ 62,500