Tuesday, July 10, 2018

West Chicago, IL: CB&Q Depot

(Satellite)

See also 2015.

West Chicago used to be called Turner Junction. It is where the Aurora Branch, the first segment of the CB&Q, joined the C&NW to access to Chicago.
 
Andy Zukowski posted
Aurora Branch Railroad Depot, Turner Junction, West Chicago. 1955
Joel Kirchner: For those that might not know, this station still exists and was moved twice. It was originally located between the CNW and CBQ tracks at Wood St. It was then moved to a park on Main St. near Wilson St. It was relocated once again to make way for city offices. It now resides between parking lots off Tuner Ct. behind the West Chicago library.
 
Street View, Nov 2018
 
Andy Zukowski posted
Abandoned Train Depot Turner Junction in West Chicago Illinois taken in the early 1970s.

Mark Llanuza posted
Its the year 1976 I'm in west Chicago IL on the CB&Q [BN] on the oldest sections of the railroad in Illinois the line Aurora to West Chicago .The crews have dropped there caboose off next to the CB&Q station while they pick up cars on the CNW interchange track .when the BN merger with the Santa Fe and the U.P and the CNW merger went through in 1995 the interchange with railroads stopped and by 1997 the rails were removed .The train station dating back to the late 1800's was saved and is a museum today in West Chicago IL .I went back yesterday 2018 and lined everything back up again where i photographed it back in 1976 forty two years ago.They have made a few changes like adding a sidewalk and fixed the street .The CNW to the far left side is still there today.
Brandon McShane This was a favored route for high and wide shipments, back when the railroads were required by law to connect with each other.

Satellite plus Paint
Street View
Update: another part of the route that was abandoned. Mark mentions that the track was removed in 1997.
Mark Llanuza posted
Its the year 1989 southbound Burlington Northern fright train leaving West Chicago IL on the BN's Aurora to West Chicago branch line .One of the oldest lines in Illinois .He has just crossed the EJ&E and heading back to Aurora after more switching at General Mills plant .The signal next to the to the train is for the EJ&E Jct behind the frt .I went back today 2018 to line everything back up again .the house on the left and the line poles are still there but the track was all removed by 1997.
Dennis DeBruler street view: https://www.google.com/.../data=!3m6!1e1!3m4...
Dennis DeBruler satellite: https://www.google.com/.../@41.8816389,-88.../data=!3m1!1e3


Jack Steen commented on a post
CB&Q West Chicago - November 1961. Rick Burn Photo...
Dave Hammer: Jack Steen so left is UP, right would be BNSF, and behind possibly the J?
Christopher Pitzen: Dave Hammer correct
[The connection with the UP/C&NW was pulled in 1996.]
Harold J. Krewer: Before BNSF and UP taking over C&NW, this was the official interchange point between the two roads as it avoided intermediate switch charges.
Once both roads were merged into larger systems, all interchange was moved to be handled via the BRC. The connection came out as it involved a diamond over the EJ&E and was part of JB interlocking.
Edward Moran: Back in appx 1990, we stored our containers at Global 2. We had to move 20 cntrs to Butte, MT. I told our rail routing guys we could route them CNW / West Chicago/ BN. They looked at me with a puzzled look and probably said to themselves “Damn foamer.” Sure enough, that is how we routed them.


Fort Wayne, IN: Old Gas House (Gasometer)

(3D Satellite)

I thought I already wrote a posting on the old gas house. But I can't find it, and I want to save this photo. So I write this posting.
Yelp from Posting
The gasometer was evidently around the north side of the current parking lot in the "point" between the river and road. The building in the right background is what exists today. You can see the little "box" on top of the roof in both the photo and a 3D satellite image.

Tommy Lee Fitzwater posted
Year?
Ft. Wayne Gas Plant
This was the North end of a pipeline whose South end was in Montpelier, Blackford County, where the Fort Wayne Natural Gas Co. had 100 gas wells. But by 1905, pressure in the field had diminished to the point that the field ceased to operate.
The Company got the contract to supply the city and lay mains in 1889. Gas had been discovered in Indiana in 1885 at Eaton, in Northern Delaware County. An historical marker stands at that site.
This is likely the second set of buildings on this site, whose original construction was an acetylene plant built in the 1850's by Alfred Hattersley.

Tommy Lee Fitzwater posted two photos with the comment:
The manufactured gas plant, or MGP, operated from 1851 until 1948, producing “town gas” by heating coal, coke, and/or oil in a closed vessel. The gas was captured and cleaned of impurities before being stored in large round structures known as gas holders. Town gas was distributed first for lighting streets, homes and businesses, and then for heating and cooking.
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Tommy Lee Fitzwater posted
Tommy Lee Fitzwater posted












Altoona, PA: 1944 NS/Pennsy Middle Grade (MG) Tower and 1854 Horseshoe Curve

(Satellite, Bing's image was worse)

I was shocked when I saw the date of 2018. NS is cutting it rather close for the Dec 31, 2018 deadline of having PTC installed. The comments did indicate that the new signalling equipment was nearby to be installed.
Jack Stoner posted
WWII era MG tower is nestled against the mountainside as the morning silence is disrupted by a heavy NS Intermodal in extreme dynamic grinding down #1 at MP243.5 Pittsburgh Line. Number 2 track is governed under Rule 261 and it is apparent the Dispatcher has aligned a route for another eastbound to be by shortly on 2 track shortly - a busy mountain railroad. May 7, 2018
Craig Stepler Wow, May! Look how bare the trees are. Late spring!

Jack Stoner posted
"Meet on the Mountain" - Amtrak's Pennsylvanian glides down #2 track as westbound empty coal hoppers, with lights dimmed climbs #3 by MG tower. May 5, 2020
Roger Riblett shared

William Addeo posted
Heading West by MG tower on SD40-2 6394 built for Conrail in 1977(Same year as me). But the truth is it's shortly after the takeover and now the number is 3349. At least it's still Conrail Blue. On an empty Strawberry Ridge hopper shuttle. No helpers. Two other 40-2. One blue, one black. Just west of the Horse Shoe Curve on the amazing mountain railroad that John Edgar Thomson and the Pennsylvania Railroad built.
Christopher Shannon: Bring back the 4th track!
William Addeo posted
Former Pennsylvania Railroad MG Tower (Mid Grade) in 2001.  The all brick tower was built 1943/44, part of a WW2 capacity improvement project along with another crossover on the East Slope of the mountain not far West of Horse Shoe Curve.  Was a favorite of mine to get to see.  
 We're on former Conrail SD40-2 6394, built for Conrail in 1977, but now NS 3349. Pulling empty hoppers up the mountain with two other former Conrail SD40-2 and no helpers.  With Conrail stopping using MG in 1994, the brick structure has survived.  With rumors of it being torn down in 2020, not sure if it still stands.
Tim Shanahan shared
 
Worldwide Railfan Productions posted
Norfolk Southern 11V passes MG Tower
A Norfolk Southern manifest train passes the dilapidated MG tower west of Altoona, PA. MG tower was built in 1944 by the Pennsylvania Railroad to control the movement of trains on the East Slope of the Allegheny Mountains.
 Location: Altoona, PA
 By: Brandon Fiume 
 Taken on: February 24, 2024
Brian Rizzo: That building USED to be in good condition until PSR came and they removed the roofs so they didn’t have to pay taxes.
Bob Krug: MG for "Mid-Grade"; i.e. about halfway up to Gallitzin.
Hunter Krug: Has asbestos..nobody was interested when they were taking bids to destroy it

Darren Reynolds posted five images with the comment: "PRR "MG" tower (mid grade) Pennsylvania."
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A westbound rattles the windows of "MG" tower
September 1964
Photo By: Unknown

2
A westbound with the helpers on the rear.
Passing "MG" tower. June 1979
Photo By: Geoffrey Hubbs
Tim Shanahan shared a Kajal Chauhan post.

3
"MG" tower was west of famous horseshoe curve..
Photo By: Eric powell

4
Eastern view at "MG" tower
Photo By: Chip Syme
ALL images from North American interlocking States A to Z and Canada

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Michael Froio Photography posted
A clear headed write up about the impending demolition of the PRR’s MG tower on the east slope of the Allegheny range. While the sentiment is genuine for the many who call to save such a monument to the railroad, it’s completely unreasonable to think this building could be saved for so many reasons. I’ve has many great memories hiking up to MG over 25 years, especially with my Pop!
 https://www.altoonamirror.com/.../not-for-long-mg-tower.../ 

Misael Guzman posted
As snow comes to the Heartland this Easter Sunday, I thought I'd go back to an April day in '93 when rain turned to snow overnight and yielded a heavy, wet snow in central Pennsylvania. At MG, hal... 
Railroad: Conrail
Locomotive: GE C39-8 (Dash 8-39C)
Location: Altoona, Pennsylvania, USA
Locomotive #: CR 6020
Train ID: Unknown
Photo Date: April 22, 1993

Jackson-Township historical preservation posted
This unique event happened at 10:40 at night on October 21, 1954. A momentary burst of lights unequalled in the annals of photography turns night into day for this history making picture marking the centennial of the world famous Horseshoe Curve of the Pennsylvania Railroad near Altoona, an engineering marvel to this day and the 75th anniversary of the incandescent lamp. The photograph was snapped through the collaboration of the railroad and Sylvania Electric Products Inc. Six thousand photo flash bulbs were mounted around the Curve on the wooded slopes above it, in the valley below it and even under the surface of the Altoona Reservoir, which the tracks encircle. Their simultaneous flash bathed the 2,000,000 square foot area in more light than the combined output of 15 million 60 watt household lamps. In the foreground is The Trail Blazer en route to Chicago from New York. Across the valley a freight train is moving toward Altoona. The diesel locomotive of another freight is moving on the Curve in the right foreground. The 6000 flash lamps were connected by 31 miles of wire to 3 huge generators and a central control point. The flash was synchronized with camera shutters atop a specially built 154 foot tower by telephone lines and a loudspeaker system. The brief flash was the climax of months of planning and preparation for what Sylvania officials said is a photo flash picture unprecedented in magnitude of area and illumination. Although roads were closed to private cars to avoid traffic hazards, special buses from Altoona brought throngs of amateur photographers and others to the scene.
Jim Scott: I went to work at the Sylvania Photoflash plant in Montoursville, PA in 1972. They were still talking about the "Sylvania Big Shot" at Horseshoe Curve. There were framed photos of this in the office. In my time, 1600 people were making 3mm flash bulbs every day and in 1989, when electronic flash took over (and eventually a built-in flash in everyone's smart phone), the plant closed.

Jackson-Township historical preservation posted
Aerial view of the "World Famous" Horseshoe Curve near Altoona in 1959. This photo also shows the water supply for the City of Altoona.

Craig Hensley Photography posted
On my first visit to Horseshoe Curve, I couldn’t have asked for a better morning. The sunrise was perfect, and it shot the most spectacular golden light into the curve.
Altoona, PA - October 2023
Craig Hensley Photography shared

Lisa P. Joyner posted
Have You Ever Seen the Legendary Horseshoe Curve in Altoona, PA?
Tucked into the Allegheny Mountains just outside Altoona, the Horseshoe Curve is one of Pennsylvania’s most jaw-dropping feats of engineering—and a must-see for train lovers, history buffs, and anyone who appreciates a true American marvel. Built between 1851 and 1854, this massive curved track allowed the Pennsylvania Railroad to conquer the mountains without dangerous climbs, helping fuel westward expansion and industrial growth. Today, it’s still active and just as impressive—you can watch freight and Amtrak trains make the tight bend, sometimes seeing both the front and back of the train at once!
With lush greenery in summer, brilliant foliage in fall, and snow-covered beauty in winter, the view is pure Pennsylvania. Have you ever visited the Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark

Ed Daniels posted
Possibly the first known photograph of the iconic Horseshoe Curve, taken around 1854, captures a groundbreaking moment in American railroad history. Constructed by the Pennsylvania Railroad, this engineering marvel was designed to overcome the steep grades of the Allegheny Mountains, dramatically improving travel and freight transport across Pennsylvania. Before the curve’s completion, trains had to rely on the complex Allegheny Portage Railroad system, which used inclined planes and cable mechanisms that slowed down traffic and limited efficiency. The Horseshoe Curve’s sweeping, gradual bend allowed locomotives to ascend the mountainous terrain more smoothly and reliably, marking a major advancement in railroad engineering. Over the years, the curve has been continuously used by several rail companies, including the Pennsylvania Railroad, Penn Central, Conrail, and today, Norfolk Southern. Its durability and ongoing function are a testament to the skill and vision of its original builders. The curve remains a beloved historic landmark and a popular destination for train enthusiasts and historians who appreciate its vital role in shaping America’s industrial growth and transportation legacy.
Frank Yourick: The Curve was designed by an engineer named Edgar J. Thomson. Does anyone recognize the name?
Michael Tonry: Frank Yourick Carnegie named his new steel mill in Braddock after Edgar Thomson, president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, after receiving a contract to supply steel rails to them, if I understood correctly.
Frank Yourick: Michael Tonry 💯
Ted Gregory shared


Friday, July 6, 2018

Woodland, IL: Woodland Junction: C&EI vs. C&EI

(Satellite)
This is where the C&EI forked into the branches that CSX/L&N and UP/SP/MoPac bought.
C&EI posted
Woodland Junction just south of Watseka, IL. The train is southbound on the double track Evansville line. The line diverting to the left is the southern Illinois line. The photo may have been taken by John W. Barriger on an inspection trip.
[I was confused by the direction until I realized that this photo was taken from a rear observation car.]
Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Historical Society the far left was a siding, near left is the Villa Grove line built in 1904 and the two right are is the double track to Clinton, IN. This became single track when the C&EI completed CTC from Clinton to Woodland Junction in the early 1960's.
David Harding The C&EI was single track (not counting sidings) down each leg of the split from Woodland Jct.southwest to Findley Jct. where the line split at a y with the right leg going to Pana, Il. (where the C&EI ened) with the C&EI using NYC trackage rights to St. Louis and the left leg going down to Thebes, Il. The line going south to Evansville, In. from Woodland Jct. was single track the whole way. If I'm wrong someone please correct.
[Note that this is correct post 1960s.]

Larry Graham Salem line has a rather Interesting history. Was started by John Walsh, the guy who built the Southern Indiana Railway. The portion from St. Elmo south. Had some rail down and grading when the 1905 banking panic stopped the work. Was also working on an extension to Indianapolis as well from Blackhawk on the SIR main. Actually a combination of the bank panic and bank regulators hitting all three of his banks on the same day. His stocks were blackballed on Wall Street prior to all of this. Standard Oil keeps popping up as the culprit. Although the C&EI didn't exactly have a good relationship with him either. Started after the Frisco took over C&EI. Refused Walsh's interchange at Terre Haute. Which began the Chicago Southern project. But, sorry to digress from Woodland lol  I'm something of a Walsh junky.
David Forbes Wasn’t the original southern Illinois line going to the Wabash that ended at Altamont, but when the deal fell through the C&EI snatched it up?

Bill Molony posted
Chicago & Eastern Illinois EMD F3A's, taking a northbound passenger train across the Toledo, Peoria & Western diamonds at Watseka in February of 1951. 
The first two cars are former WWII Pullman troop sleeping cars.
Dennis DeBruler I had to look twice, but I see the tower on the right. These old photos are good for grain elevator history as well.
Robert Gibson Jr. According to the January 28, 1951 C&EI timetable this would be the northbound train #10 The Dixie Flagler. The Flagler was due didn't stop at Watseka and was due in Chicago's Dearborn station at 6:45 PM.
John Menges This was right after steam operations ended I'm guessing. I think I read somewhere where C&EI retired steam in 1951.

Sunday, July 1, 2018

Nashville, TN: 1954 CSX/L&N Radnor Yard and Roundhouse

(Satellite)

3D Satellite

CSX Transportation preparing to re-open hump at Radnor Yard in Nashville

 
CSX Locos posted
GP40-2 at the roundhouse ,  Nashville  Tn   Jan 2025

Mike Ray posted
Service center at Nashville  Tn    June  2025
Randall James: Former L&N Radnor yards & Roundhouse & 100' turntable, downtown can be seen in the background on the top left.

CSX Corp from Trains
"The hump was idled in July 2017 as part of the broad operational changes made by then-CEO E. Hunter Harrison, who converted eight of CSX’s 12 hump yards to flat-switching facilities last year....In 2016, Radnor was CSX’s third-busiest hump – behind only Waycross, Ga., and Selkirk, N.Y. — as it classified an average of 1,477 cars per day. That’s within the range that Harrison said was sufficient volume to justify the operating costs and capital expense of a hump yard....Radnor will be the second reversal of a hump closure at CSX. The hump was idled at Avon Yard outside Indianapolis in early August, then reopened by the end of the month as CSX experienced widespread congestion and service problems due to the rapid rollout of Harrison’s Precision Scheduled Railroading operating model." [Trains]

Cerita Sakura posted
CSX Radnor Yard
Nashville is a key hub in the CSX system, routing sixty trains per day through the Nashville Area toward five key cities: Atlanta, Birmingham, Chicago, Louisville, and Memphis. Forty of these trains simply pass through; the rest are “hubbed” in a classification yard.
Radnor Yard, four miles south of downtown Nashville on the east side of the L&N main line south, was opened by the L&N in 1954, and can hold 7,905 cars. There are 13 receiving tracks and a 56-track classification yard, classifying 1,700 to 2,100 cars per day in 1998. The site covers 517 acres. 
CSX closed the hump-portion of its in 2017 as part of an operational shift led by then-CEO Hunter Harrison. Eight of CSX’s 12 hump yards were converted to flat-switching facilities before his death in December. CSX struggled to adapt its Nashville operations to Harrison’s flat-switching model. In 2018 the Radnor Yard hump was re-opened as flat-switching could not effectively handle the volume of traffic through the yard. Classification (hump) yards are a backbone of railroad operations. Individual carload traffic accounts for 60% to 70% of total rail traffic (excluding intermodal).
Hump yards are massive facilities where trains are broken down and cars are sorted by pushing them over a hill. Gravity sending them down different to tracks by destination. Flat-switch yards move train cars using locomotive power, not gravity
Viral Media posted a plagiarism of this info including the description.
Viral Media posted again with their own description and credit for the diagram.
CSX Radnor Yard
Radnor Yard, four miles south of downtown Nashville on the east side of the L&N main line south, was opened by the L&N in 1954, and can hold 7,905 cars. There are 13 receiving tracks and a 56-track classification yard, classifying 1,700 to 2,100 cars per day in 1998. 
Radnor Yard is MP194 (South End) and MP188 (North End) 
A yard - Inbound Trains - 13 Tracks
B Yard- Hump Yard - 56 Tracks
C Yard - Outbound Trains - 26 Tracks
D Yard - Local Yard - 7 Tracks 
Nashville is a key hub in the CSX system, routing sixty trains per day through the Nashville Area toward five key cities: Atlanta, Birmingham, Chicago, Louisville, and Memphis. Forty of these trains simply pass through; the rest are “hubbed” in a classification yard.
Diagram ©️Railroad Journal 2023

CSX to reopen shuttered Nashville yard, 
(I made the mistake of testing my copy of the link, and I exceeded a limit of 3 for 30 days.)
Read this article beyond the obvious reopening of Radnor Yard.
Nashville seemed surprised that CSX wasn't immediately receptive to the idea of shutting down the core of their network operations and turning three of their main lines into commuter rail transit routes.
Maxwell Crosby That’s CSX for you.
Ted Gregory Agreed Maxwell.
I know they tried to close down a yard in Toledo (Stanley?) on at least two occasions and had to reopen it.

Mike Ray posted two photos with the comment: "CSX photos from the Radnor shop , Nashville Tn    June 2024."
Patrick Cross: I spy ol’ crispy.
Philip Vieck: Patrick Cross what’s the story behind it
Patrick Cross: Philip Vieck fuel tank ruptured after derailing.
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Doug Klink posted
Just saw this South of Nashville.  Looks like the roundhouse is still in use.
John Sobaszko: L&N. Radnor Yard.
Michael Sanders: Still very much in use... Radnor Yard is the largest "hump yard" east of the Mississippi River. Radnor Lake, nearby, was created by the L&N railroad in order to assure there was plenty of water available for their locomotives.
Skipper L Swartout: Michael Sanders I thought Selkirk Yard was the largest in the east.
Michael Sanders: Skipper, acreage wise you're correct. Capacity of cars though... Radnor can hold about 7900, while Selkirk is about 3500. I'm still out of date though on the hump yard status, as I was unaware that Radnor went to flat yard switching in 2017...

Cerita Sakura posted
CSX Railroad Hub
Nashville is a key hub in the CSX system, routing sixty trains per day through the Nashville Area toward five key cities: Atlanta, Birmingham, Chicago, Louisville, and Memphis. Forty of these trains simply pass through; the rest are “hubbed” in a classification yard.
Radnor Yard, four miles south of downtown Nashville on the east side of the L&N main line south, was opened by the L&N in 1954, and can hold 7,905 cars. There are 13 receiving tracks and a 56-track classification yard, classifying 1,700 to 2,100 cars per day in 1998. The site covers 517 acres. 
CSX closed the hump-portion of its in 2017 as part of an operational shift led by then-CEO Hunter Harrison. Eight of CSX’s 12 hump yards were converted to flat-switching facilities before his death in December. CSX struggled to adapt its Nashville operations to Harrison’s flat-switching model. In 2018 the Radnor Yard hump was re-opened as flat-switching could not effectively handle the volume of traffic through the yard. Classification (hump) yards are a backbone of railroad operations. Individual carload traffic accounts for 60% to 70% of total rail traffic (excluding intermodal).
Hump yards are massive facilities where trains are broken down and cars are sorted by pushing them over a hill. Gravity sending them down different to tracks by destination. Flat-switch yards move train cars using locomotive power, not gravity.
Louisville & Nashville Railroad Historical Society shared
Edit: here's a link to the original content:
Patrick Carroll: Stolen content. Belongs to the Railroad Journal/Robert Bender.

Comments on Cerita's post

Comments on Cerita's post

Cerita Sakura posted
CSX Nashville Hump Yard
Nashville is a key hub in the CSX system, routing sixty trains per day through the Nashville Area toward five key cities: Atlanta, Birmingham, Chicago, Louisville, and Memphis. Forty of these trains simply pass through; the rest are “hubbed” in a classification yard.
Radnor Yard, four miles south of downtown Nashville on the east side of the L&N main line south, was opened by the L&N in 1954, and can hold 7,905 cars. There are 13 receiving tracks and a 56-track classification yard, classifying 1,700 to 2,100 cars per day in 1998. The site covers 517 acres. 
CSX closed the hump-portion of its in 2017 as part of an operational shift led by then-CEO Hunter Harrison. Eight of CSX’s 12 hump yards were converted to flat-switching facilities before his death in December. CSX struggled to adapt its Nashville operations to Harrison's flat-switching model. In 2018 the Radnor Yard hump was re-opened as flat-switching could not effectively handle the volume of traffic through the yard. Classification (hump) yards are a backbone of railroad operations. Individual carload traffic accounts for 60% to 70% of total rail traffic (excluding intermodal).
Hump yards are massive facilities where trains are broken down and cars are sorted by pushing them over a hill. Gravity sending them down different to tracks by destination. Flat-switch yards move train cars using locomotive power, not gravity.
The yard uses Trainyard Tech, LLC CLASSMASTER™ hump yard process control system at CSX’s 56-classification-track Radnor Yard. The companies’ software is the first to apply standard industrial automation technology to the railway industry.
[I hate repeating all of his "boilerplate" description, but he did add some new information at the end.]

William Walker posted three photos with the comment: "What 2 hours at CSX Radnor Yard can get you if the mainlines are dry."
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Viral Media posted three photos with the comment:
CSX Radnor Yard
Nashville is a key hub in the CSX system, routing sixty trains per day through the Nashville Area toward five key cities: Atlanta, Birmingham, Chicago, Louisville, and Memphis. Forty of these trains simply pass through; the rest are “hubbed” in a classification yard.
Radnor Yard, four miles south of downtown Nashville on the east side of the L&N main line south, was opened by the L&N in 1954, and can hold 7,905 cars. There are 13 receiving tracks and a 56-track classification yard, classifying 1,700 to 2,100 cars per day in 1998. The site covers 517 acres. 
CSX closed the hump-portion of its in 2017 as part of an operational shift led by then-CEO Hunter Harrison. Eight of CSX’s 12 hump yards were converted to flat-switching facilities before his death in December. CSX struggled to adapt its Nashville operations to Harrison’s flat-switching model. In 2018 the Radnor Yard hump was re-opened as flat-switching could not effectively handle the volume of traffic through the yard. Classification (hump) yards are a backbone of railroad operations. Individual carload traffic accounts for 60% to 70% of total rail traffic (excluding intermodal).
Hump yards are massive facilities where trains are broken down and cars are sorted by pushing them over a hill. Gravity sending them down different to tracks by destination. Flat-switch yards move train cars using locomotive power, not gravity.
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Viral Media posted three photos with the comment:
Hump Yard “Pin Puller”
CSX Radnor Yard “Pin Puller” who is not only “cutting” cars so they can roll down the hump, but also is an RCO operator (remote control) that is controlling the engine pushing the cars up the hump. A Pin Puller Scoreboard Display is at the end of the hump walkway that directs the Pin Puller on where to uncouple the cars.
Assuming no hazardous material issues, the pin puller at the hump crest will probably allow only one (and in some cases two) loads to uncouple at a time.  Multiple empties coupled together and destined for the same classification track would be allowed to remain coupled together as they roll down the hill and through the retarders.  The number of “multiple empties coupled together,” depends on how the hump was designed and what the retarder technology is capable of handling.  The maximum number is somewhere between three and five empty cars.
Cars are being “cut” so they can roll down the hump and be directed by computer and sorted by destination in the classification yard. A radio tag on each car identifies it to the computer, which knows the cars destination, and weight. The system even tracks wind speed, and applies braking by squeezing the wheels in a “retarder” that regulates the car speed. This creates the sweeping [probably screeching] sound. The cars can’t exceed 4 mph to prevent damage when the cars roll into the line of other freight cars on the classification tracks. It works sort of like a post office sorting mail. Each classification track represents a destination. After the cars are sorted, they become outbound trains and continue on their journey.
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Viral Media posted
“B” Tower
This tower overlooks the retarder complex at CSX Radnor yard that controls the speed of freight cars rolling down the hump. Car speed is trimmed by main, intermediate, and group retarders to meet the 4 mph maximum coupling speed permitted at this yard.
Hump yards are massive rail facilities where trains are broken down and cars are sorted by pushing them over a hill. Gravity sending them down different to tracks by destination.
Radnor Yard, four miles south of downtown Nashville on the east side of the L&N main line south, was opened by the L&N in 1954, and can hold 7,905 cars. There are 13 receiving tracks and a 56-track classification yard, classifying 1,700 to 2,100 cars per day in 1998. The site covers 517 acres.