#colorpositionlight

[railwayhistorical]

Southbound Slingshot

This train, called a Slingshot by the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad, is southbound in Pontiac, Illinois. The idea was to run several, small TOFC trains each day between Chicago and St. Louis on the former Alton. Every time I saw it the train was mostly empty. The locomotive is ex-GM&O 619, an EMD GP35.

One image by Richard Koenig; taken mid- to late-1970s.

[railwayhistorical]

In the Capital City

This post will conclude the series focusing on one train, powered by F-units, on the former Chicago & Alton, later GM&O/ICG.

We begin at Ridgely Yard, Springfield, Illinois, where our train is approaching a signal bridge adorned with a color position light for each main track. The second image has the train crossing over North Ninth Street, while the third shows it south of downtown Springfield at Iles Tower. You may be able to see in that last image that the engineer is leaning out of the window, arm extended, so he can pick up train orders on the fly.

Three images by Richard Koenig; taken November 21st 1976.

[railwayhistorical]

Just North of Lincoln

Continuing a series of images focusing on one train, powered by F-units, on the former Chicago & Alton, later GM&O/ICG.

At this stage, the train is taking to a siding for a northbound job. Interestingly enough, the power for this train are three Red Bird SD40s, consecutively numbered no less: 913, 914, and 915 (the last renumbered to ICG 6064). This is an example of GM&O power staying close to home after the merger.

Kruger Elevator can be seen in the background of the first image while the siding is known as Athol. The first image shows the color position light pretty well—note a dwarf version on the ground, which governs the siding.

Two images by Richard Koenig; taken November 21st 1976.

[railwayhistorical]

The Queen City

Here are a couple of images made in the Queen City: Cincinnati. The first image shows a northbound train departing the north end of Queensgate Yard near Mill Creek Road and Spring Grove Avenue (by my reckoning). I’m not sure where the second image was made, but we might assume the engine facility in the same yard. Those are Alco switchers with stacks capped sitting next to a GP30 in the fairly new (and colorful) Chessie System paint scheme.

Two images by Richard Koenig; taken February 19th 1977.

[railwayhistorical]

Color Position Light, Post One

We’re on the former Baltimore & Ohio in southern Indiana (originally the Ohio & Mississippi). Here are some of the railroad’s distinctive color position signals still standing—though I think their time is limited. The location is Shields, 94.2 miles from Cincinnati.

Two images by Richard Koenig; taken September 27th 2021.

[railwayhistorical]

Big Tunnel

Following up on my posts of the color position lights, here is Big Tunnel itself. It’s not clear why this bore is so wide, but it may be due to the fact that this railroad was originally broad gauge—six feet as opposed to standard of today, four feet eight and a half inches.

Two images by Richard Koenig; taken September 27th 2021.

[railwayhistorical]

Color Position Light, Post Two

We’re on the former Baltimore & Ohio in southern Indiana (originally the Ohio & Mississippi). Here are some of the railroad’s distinctive color position signals still standing—though I think their time is limited. The location is Brownstown, 97.8 miles from Cincinnati.

Two images by Richard Koenig; taken September 27th 2021.

[railwayhistorical]

Westbound, Part One

Here’s a westbound on the Baltimore & Ohio in southern Indiana. This line, originally a broad-gauge line called the Ohio & Mississippi, was completed between Cincinnati and St. Louis in 1857. The images were made on either end of Mitchell, Indiana.

Two images by Richard Koenig; taken in the mid- to late-1970s.