Towns and Nature: February 2018

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Decatur, IL: Changes in employment

Brett Lucas posted five images with the comment:

Decatur / Macon County, Illinois – is a typical regional trade center in mid-state Illinois. Here are some maps the look at the change in employment between 2005 and 2015 for the Trade-Transportation-Utilities sector, Goods Producing sector, and All Other Services sector. The good production sectors (includes manufacturing) has seen a growth in jobs.

Monday, February 26, 2018

Port Huron, MI: GTW Tunnel Depot

(Satellite)

Mark W Rummel posted
After recently posting about Richert's Restaurant here (located "opposite the Tunnel Depot"), I thought that wonderful building deserved another look. The Grand Trunk Western's Tunnel Depot was empty but still standing when I moved to Port Huron in 1973. Here's a photo of it from that era - it was torn down soon after. It was on Railroad Street east of 24th, obviously the first depot after trains came out of the International Tunnel just east of here. I wish it was still standing:

Mark commented on his posting
Here's a post card photo of Port Huron's Tunnel Depot in the prime train travel era, about 1910, by the wonderful Louis Pesha. This was the center of all transportation back then:

Jeff Barton commented on Mark's posting
1900

Crestline, OH: Big Four and Pennsy Union Stations

(Satellite)

Ron Amore posted
Year unknown Big 4 and PRR meet at the Union Station in Crestline, OH
Art Wallis More like 1880s

Donna Carver commented on Ron's posting
The original Union Station in Crestline. It burned down in 1862 or 1863.

Looking at a 1959 aerial photo, it appears that at least one more building was built as the Union Station. The following photo does show at least a third building.

Ron Amore posted
1978, northbound Conrail on the Big 4 thru Crestline by the old Union Station.
Dennis DeBruler An example of Pennsy's conversion from three horizontal yellow lights to two red snake eyes for absolute stops.

Galion, OH: Burt Tower: Big Four vs. Erie

(Satellite)

Burt Tower was at the junction of the Erie and the south fork of of the Big Four. Originally, it was in the southwest quadrant as shown in this 1891 map. By the time of a 1959 aerial photo, it was in the southeast quadrant. Since the Erie track has been torn up, the junction no longer exists.

Ron Amore posted
1891 Map of Galion, Ohio.Big 4 Roundhouse in the middle, Erie RH to the right.

Ron Amore posted
This is a photo of the Galion Iron Works looking west towards Burt Tower. It appears that this photo was taken before the days of road graders and the gas engine. Burt Tower was responsible for switching the tracks so the trains could either go south to Columbus, Cincinnati or west to Marion, Indianapolis and St. Louis. Burt Tower was between South St/S. Washington St and S.Market St. across the tracks from the North Electric plant
Bill Edrington In this picture, Burt Tower appears to be standing in the southwest quadrant of the crossing of the Big Four's line to Columbus and Cincinnati and the Erie main line. The old Big Four roundhouse is in the background on the north side of the Erie. That also corresponds to the way the tower is shown on the aerial street map which shows both the old Big Four roundhouse and the Erie roundhouse. Does anybody know if the existing tower was moved to the southeast quadrant of the crossing later on, or was a completely new tower built there?Ron Amore Bill I had heard from someone in Galion, that the first tower had burnt down.

Judging from the stair location and the spacing of the windows, this would have been the second, southeast quadrant, tower. The double barb-wire on top of the fence also implies a more modern era. Although there are still signalling pipelines going along the far track.

Ron Amore posted
Burt Tower at the Burt Line and Big 4 diamond in Galion, OH

Update:

Ron Amore posted
Southbound Erie going past the Burt Tower in Galion, OH
Ron Buser Would that be a westbound?
Ron Amore I would say southwest as it went to Marion, OH
Ron Buser Erie timetable directions show as either East or West. Same applies to the Big 4.

Ron Amore posted
Burt Tower in Galion, Ohio
Ron Buser Erie eastbound? Ron Amore Yes Sir

Ron Amore posted
Looking east from S. Market St. in Galion, OH. The Burt Tower and the Galion Iron Works Plant.

Ron Amore posted
Galion, OH Burt Tower with the Galion Iron Works plant in the background.
[This is similar to the first tower photo, but it does have a better image of the iron works.]

Galion, OH: Big Four Reservoirs

Most railroads used wells to supply water for their water towers for the steam locomotives. But the Big Four in Galion evidently used man-made ponds along the Olentangy River.

Ron Amore posted
Reservoir for the Big 4 that was in Galion, Ohio. Circa 1910

Given the info in the caption of the photo, this one was just west of the railroad. It appears it has been filled in and is now used for materials storage.

Satellite

Looking at a 1959 Historic Aerial, there was another pond just east of the railroad and north of the river. It has been filled in and Greenlight Motors is on that land.

Ron Amore posted
1911 Big 4 Reservoir in Galion

There were two more further east on the south side of the river, and they are still wet.

Satellite

I don't know which of the four this is a image of.

Ron Amore posted
Circa 1890's

Galion, OH: Big Four Roundhouses and Coaling Tower

(Satellite before 1918, Satellite after 1918)

The roundhouse near the junction burned down in 1918. According to a 1959 Historic Aerial, they built a new yard northeast of the new engine servicing area. I'm sure the townspeople were glad to see the smoke and noise move away from the middle of the town.

Ron Amore posted
1891 Map of Galion, Ohio.Big 4 Roundhouse in the middle, Erie RH to the right.

Tim Starr posted
In Galion, Ohio were two railroad shops in this 1891 map - the Erie Railroad on the right and the Big Four on the left.

Ron Amore posted
1913 Sanborn Map, shows original location of Big 4 Roundhouse in Galion, OH. Burnt down around 1918 I believe, and rebuilt out off Knorr Rd.

Rick Giles commented on Ron's posting
Mechanical Dept. drawing
Rick Giles Ron Amore If you're interested in other Big Four engine terminals buy the CD from the NYCSHS. It has about 35 of them.

Ron Amore posted
Big 4 / NYC Roundhouse just northeast of Galion, Ohio
Rick Giles Nice view of the yard and the tower. Taken from the coal dock I'm assuming.

Ron Amore posted
NYC Roundhouse area just northeast of Knorr Rd in Galion, OH

Ron Amore posted
NYC Roundhouse area, just northeast off Knorr Rd in Galion, OH

Digitally Zommed to Facebook resolution

Rick Shilling posted
2 NYC Steam Locos at coaling area in yard at Galion. Ohio. #1968 on right.

Ron Amore posted
From an old Galion Inquirer paper

Rick Shilling posted
2 NYC Steam Locos at coaling area in yard at Galion. Ohio. #1968 on right.
Thomas Wentzel shared

Galion, OH: CSX/Big Four Depot

(Satellite; Street View, street side; Street View, track side)

Galion had four spokes. The north, west, and south spokes were Big Four. The east spoke was Erie, and Erie shared the west spoke to Marion, OH with the Big Four. CSX now owns the Big Four spokes and the east spoke has been abandoned.

Ron Amore posted
Big Four Railroad Depot-1906 or 1908 Galion, Ohio

Scott Love posted
Galion's New York Central Depot, pictured here I believe in the 1960's. Thanks to Jack Harpst for pointing out one of the vehicles as a 1964 Ford Falcon. Thankfully this wonderful building still stands. Members of the Galion Model Railroad group have been given an assignment to make a 4X8 layout for the Depot. That model layout will hopefully be displayed and operational in May at a Depot Open House.

Stu Nicholson posted

Big Four Depot at Galion, Ohio. Galion is a small city, but the New York Central Railroad made it a Division Office, hence the upper floors and a long platform and freight house.

The community has invested heavily to restore the depot and that work continues. Currently, CSX train roll past the depot on what is still a busy mainline between Indianapolis and Cleveland.

Ron Amore posted
1958 aerial view of the Big 4 Depot in Galion, Ohio.

I was going to pass up this photo because it looked like just yet another railfan photo of a train. And then I read the comments and took a closer load. It looks like it is full of transformers!

Ron Amore posted
Southbound Conrail thru Galion,OH by the Big 4 Depot. 1980`s or so.
John Penca Road men’s night mare !!!!Thomas Priebe HIGH & WIDE, NO PASSING TRAINS ,SIDINGS WITH CARS !John Penca Generally a grueling 12 hoursBud Ramkey Got a lot of them. But never had a bad trip with one on the B4. Get it at Marion or Galion, make it to Wellington and nose into the siding, let one get by and then run for Rockpit. We had some GREAT dispatchers on third trick that made it all happen for us.Michael Cogdill That's back when they wanted to run trains.Bud Ramkey Shippers even wish Conrail was still alive. A lot of comments have been made after the NS took over. I am sure on the CSX side too.

Ron Amore posted
Big 4 Depot in Galion, OH. 1950's photo.

Ron Amore posted
South bound past the Big 4 Depot in Galion, Ohio

Ron Amore posted
Old postcard of the Big 4 Depot in Galion, OH

Ron Amore posted
Big 4 Depot in Galion, OH

Ron Amore posted
1908 postcard of the Galion, OH Big 4 Depot

Ron Amore posted
1915, the Big 4 Depot in Galion, OH
Brian Carson Wow, that platform was really long then!

Ron Amore posted
Northbound thru Galion, OH past the Big 4 Depot
Dennis Smith I rode these trains when Rock Island RR had them ,Boy they were rough riders.
Charlie Easton Are you sure it wasn't the track and not the train? Using the words "Rock" and "Island" in the same sentence kind of gives that away! Haha
Stuart Pearson Charlie Easton those of us who rode them on the Rock Island called them "Old Shake~Rattle & Roll! It had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with Track Conditions.
Charlie Easton We know they rode rough but so did the Rock.

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Mt. Carmel, IL: (TJ) Tower: NS/Southern vs. Aban/Big Four (Egyptian Line)

(Satellite)

Rails Around Southern Illinois posted
From Chapter One: Mt Carmel: The crossing with the NYC was protected by a tower, appropriately named Mt. Carmel. Train orders were handed up to the NYC crews while the Southern used the semaphore signals for crossing. Southern 3181 leads a westbound past the tower as Penn Central power idles in the background in July 1975. (Rick Schroeder)
Rails Around Southern Illinois is a new 256-page hardcover book filled with over 600 all-color images 1950-1995. Release date May 1, 2023 but you can reserve your autographed copy here: https://michaelckelly.net/?page_id=7467
Michael C Kelly sjared

Darren Reynolds posted six photos with the comment: "Southern Railways 'Mt. Carmel' tower(TJ). Mt. Carmel, Illinois."

Dave Allenson: As for the date, the SOU 3053 was delivered in 11/65 and the NYC 7419 has yet to be renumbered in PC. I would guess it would be the summer of 1966 or 1967.