#wabic

[railwayhistorical]

Roadrailer Wedgie

For #NationalWedgeDay we see an eastbound Triple Crown Roadrailer approaching the WABIC interlocking in the heart of Decatur, Illinois. ("WABIC" is named thusly for it’s the spot where the Wabash crossed the Illinois Central.)

Image by Richard Koenig; taken January 5th 2018.

[railwayhistorical]

Yard Job, Decatur

These two locomotives are working the CN yard in Decatur, Illinois. Here we see the units moving a train of empty coal hoppers south over Wabic on the former Illinois Central line. The huge Tate & Lyle and ADM plants in Decatur seem to create their own weather.

In this image are looking down the Norfolk Southern, former Wabash, in an easterly direction. (The CSX (former B&O also comes to this spot from the east.) The lead unit is IC 9607 with GTW 4919 helping out; both are EMD GP38-2 models without dynamic breaking.

Image by Richard Koenig; taken December 31st 2017.

[railwayhistorical]

WABIC Tower—Then and Now

Eighteen months ago I re-visited a spot after over forty years time: WABIC Tower in Decatur, Illinois. The Wabash crossed the Illinois Central here—hence the name of the interlocking.

When I shot here in 1977 or so, the Wabash had been subsumed into the Norfolk and Western and a tower sat next to the diamond. The tower is now long gone, but you will notice that the base for a light pole (or signal) is still standing. The NW is now part of the Norfolk Southern; CSX also gets to this location via the former Baltimore & Ohio line that came through town.

Two images by Richard Koenig; one was taken in the mid- to late-1970s (black and white) and the other on November 27th 2017 (color).

[railwayhistorical]

Illinois Central Charter Line

Here we see the Decatur yard job moving some cars northward over a surviving portion of the charter line. In the first two images it is seen approaching, and then clattering over, the WABIC interlocking with the former Wabash. The third image shows the two four-axle units approaching the yard office, while crossing over Grand Avenue, on the near north side of Decatur. The bridge states that it is still Illinois Central property (ICRR).

Three images by Richard Koenig; taken April 15th 2018.

[railwayhistorical]

The Cowl: An Increasing Rarity

This is a westbound train seen at WABIC interlocking in Decatur, Illinois. The Norfolk Southern train will take the former Wabash line toward Kansas City momentarily.

The second unit, a GE C40-8M, is an increasing rarity: a cowl unit. I believe the two Canadian roads are the only ones to purchase these—they were designed to be helpful when the snowfall is great. Both main locomotive manufacturers offered this design, but no more.

Five images by Richard Koenig; taken March 25th 2018.

[railwayhistorical]

Decatur Junction Railway

This small railroad, operated by Pioneer Lines, a conglomerate, is running on the former Illinois Central charter line in Decatur, Illinois. The northbound train is approaching WABIC interlocking, just east of downtown Decatur. The building to the right-hand side of the frame is the former IC freight house.

One image by Richard Koenig; taken March 26th 2018.

[railwayhistorical]

Eastbound at Wabic

This is an eastbound Norfolks Southern container train coming east through Decatur, Illinois, on the old Wabash line from Kansas City. In the final image we see that the train had clacked over the Illinois Central charter line (now Canadian National) at the WABIC interlocking and that the trailing unit is an EMD SD60E (rebuilt). Lastly, the intriguing A. E. Staley building can be seen in the distance toward the right side of the frame.

Four images by Richard Koenig; taken February 9th 2018.

[railwayhistorical]

Roadrailer Reiteration

Again we see the Triple Crown Roadrailer at the Wabic interlocking at Decatur, Illinois. Three images by Richard Koenig; taken January 5th 2018.