#hunterswitch

[railwayhistorical]

Hunter Switch

A northbound train roars up the hill out of Bloomington, Indiana, on the Louisville & Nashville, former Monon. The lead unit is a General Electric U28B built for the L&N in 1966.

The Hoosier Line was known for their semaphore signals, but this location had searchlights as long as I was around.

One image by Richard Koenig; taken in December 1975.

[railwayhistorical]

Hunter Switch

A northbound Amtrak Floridian is seen here on the L&N, former Monon, just north of Bloomington, Indiana. This spot was known as Hunter Switch; the single E8 powering the train was built in 1952 as PRR number 5705. One may note that we're 218 miles from Chicago.

One image by Richard Koenig; taken on June 5th 1977.

[railwayhistorical]

Herald Telephone

Here’s a rural southern Indiana scene, with a southbound Amtrak Floridian on the Louisville & Nashville, former Monon. We’re north of Bloomington, between Elettsville and Hunter on the Hoosier Line.

Two EMD SDP40Fs power the train, utilizing steam generators to heat the legacy equipment. The Herald Telephone was the name of the local newspaper I grew up with.

One image by Richard Koenig; taken November of 1976.

[railwayhistorical]

Another Day on the Monon

Here’s another southbound Amtrak Floridian. This time it’s on the main track and the sun is out a bit more than in my previous post (but taken just a day or two later).

Again, we’re just north of Bloomington, Indiana on the L&N, former Monon, at a place called Hunter Switch.

One image by Richard Koenig; taken in 1976 or 1977.

[railwayhistorical]

Snowy Day at Hunter Switch

Here we see a northbound freight pushing up and over the hill at Hunter. Out of the blowing snow emerges a southbound Amtrak Floridian. This is on the Louisville & Nashville, former Monon.

After these pictures were made, the brakeman would make sure the frozen switch was clear before the train takes the main—then it’s not far down the hill to the center of Bloomington, Indiana, where it will make its station stop.

Five images by Richard Koenig; taken 1976 or 1977.

[railwayhistorical]

Hunter Switch

We’re along the L&N, former Monon, here at Hunter Switch, which is located northwest of Bloomington, Indiana. A northbound Amtrak Floridian is powering over the top of the grade and is headed, eventually, for Chicago.

The single unit today is Amtrak number 402, which is an EMD E9A previously owned by the Baltimore & Ohio (number 38).

Four images by Richard Koenig; taken May 31st 1977.