These are notes I am writing to help me learn our industrial history. They are my best understanding, but that does not mean they are a correct understanding.
(I forgot to work around Google's August bug in their new version of software that double spaces everything. That is why this post has more white space than normal.)
This town is at the northwest end of the former C&O route that CKIN now operates. Looking at a satellite image, it appears the siding can handle about 3000' of hoppers. The video below confirms that they take just half of a unit train from LaCrosse to Malden. Both halves are put together in LaCrosse before delivering the train to NS/NKP in Thomaston, IN, or to CSX/B&O in Wellsboro, IN.
I noticed that when I accessed the satellite image that they had a locomotive parked at the elevator. A street view also caught it. I presume this locomotive is owned by the Co-op.
The photo below is a reminder that fertilizer loads coming in can be as important as grain loads going out. In a satellite image, this lot was practically empty. In the video below, these tank trailers were parked on the east side of the complex.
Street View When I used this photo with a comment on a post concerning the importance of fertilizer traffic to the co-op and railroad, Brett Ellis replied: "they have added a unit train fertilizer terminal also. Liquid and dry bulk storage hub."
In the background is the third engine I found in town when the street view car visited. That engine is coupled to an empty flat car. I wonder what kind of equipment was delivered.
Last week I used a vacation day to go follow the Chesapeake and Indiana around. I found that they had a grain train being loaded at Malden Indiana at the Co-Alliance grain elevator. This is located on the west end of the CKIN's Malden branch, part of the former C&O of Indiana. The elevator uses an ex ATSF GP7u still showing the unpatched BNSF 1653 to load the trains, at a rate of 3-4 cars an hour. The 1653 was built for the ATSF in 1956 as a GP9. I attempted to collect appropriate audio but the hum of the grain machinery drowned out most of the sounds of the locomotive and cars.
Once the CKIN crew came on duty I went east to La Crosse to film CKIN 814 trundle to Malden. 814 was built as a SD9 for the DMIR in 1959 before being rebuilt as a SD-M. This also gave me an opportunity to try out my new device, the DJI Osmo Pocket. This is a handheld gimbal that shoots 4K seems ideal to film close up pan shots. Upon arriving at Malden the Co-Al crew still had 2 cars to load. 814 was tied on and ready to air test when 1653 shoved the last cut of cars onto the train. CKIN 814 pulled the loaded cars long hood forward back to La Crosse this was half the train. Also the abandoned structure is Wade Tower. At this location the Monon heading north to Michigan City crossed the C&O.
At La Crosse in the Chesapeake and Indiana's yard CKIN 818 / CKIN 5093 were tied down with the other half of the train, already loaded. 818 also was built as an SD9 for the DMIR in 1959, the 5093 was built for the Southern Railway in 1973 and retains its original number. The crew tied down the 814 and moved over to this power set giving me the opportunity to film 2 locomotive startups. The crew would reverse to the other set and do their air test. About 20 minutes after sunset the 818 came notching by taking the full train to interchange with Norfolk Southern at Thomaston Indiana.
Yes. There is a video out that features this engine and the CKIN. I'll see if I can find it and post a link here. Found it quicker than I thought I would, here it is, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT9hTGWYNwU
Update: Scott Taipale normally does trains in Northeast Indiana and Ohio. I had noticed that he came a ways on his vacation day to get this video. A photo of the Wellsboro elevator was taken by a railfan from the Joliet area. The comments on his post indicate why we are seeing some CKIN activity recently. Specifically, the company has been sold and railfans are worried that the new owners will upgrade the locomotives and these liveries will disappear.
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