heads for the Port of Illinois. A stop is usually made to service a pig iron facil- ity just west of the Calumet River Bridge around MP 72. Just west of CP 73.8, the train switches a customer just east of Kensington. After this, the train is shoved back on the siding and run around. A setout is usually made in a small yard adjacent to CP 73.8 of cars for the NS. After this is done, the train disappears into the Port. After the Port work is complete, the train is shoved out and onto the main line. They return to Burnham where the Port inbounds are switched to go out the next day in interchange.
Pool Freights: There are four Pool Freight crews including PF 22, 23, 24, and 25. These are the crews that do all of the miscellaneous work, particularly pertains to the coal traffic on the South Shore. Loaded coal trains are received from the CN at Goff, CSX at Miller, CP at BRC’s Commercial Ave. Yard, and NS via Miller Siding located at CP 491 on the former Conrail Chicago Line. The UP trains received at Goff are des- tined for the NIPSCO plant at Michi- gan City. CSX delivers loaded coal and coke trains to the siding at Miller for the South Shore. These trains are ei- ther for Arcelor Mittal at Bailly or for NIPSCO at Bailly. The coke trains are only delivered to Mittal. South Shore just won a bid for hauling loaded coal trains of bituminous coal from British Columbia for Mittal. These trains are interchanged from the Canadian Pacif- ic at BRC’s Commercial Ave Yard to the South Shore. Also, loaded coal trains are left at Miller Siding on the NS at CP 491 which are destined for NIPSCO Michigan City. Power on the Goff trains is most al-
ways Union Pacific power. On the CSX trains, a wide range of CSX power is seen on these trains from the newest of the new GEVOs right on down to SD50s and SD40-2s. The CP trains that are delivered off the BRC are run through using South Shore power. A set of light engines will depart Shops and head to the BRC to pick up the train and bring it to Bailly, or in return, head to Bailly, pick up the empty train, deliver it to the BRC, and return to Shops light power. The NS trains also utilize South Shore power with light power running from Shops to the NS Connection at CP 487, entering the NS, and heading west to Miller Siding at CP 491 to pick up the train. Empties are returned in the same fashion. With the recent change to the AF-18 job, PF crews also go south on the Kingsbury Industrial Lead to service the online industries down to Kings- bury and return. Any miscellaneous work that needs to be done will also be assigned to a PF crew. The could in- clude switching around Michigan City, taking City cars to Bailly or Goff, pick-
42 JANUARY 2013 •
RAILFAN.COM
TOP: A pair of new bi-level electric m.u. cars drifts westbound through the backyards of Ham- mond, crossing Dearborn Street on December 29, 2011. These cars are part of a fleet of 14 built in 2008 similar to those used on Metra Electric. LOU GERARD PHOTO ABOVE: In the shadow of NIPSCO’s Michigan City Generating Station, CSS 2004 switches coal hoppers at Lincoln Av- enue Yard. The cooling tower is often mistaken for a nuclear power plant. JEFF STUPAR PHOTO OPPOSITE: Flying white flags, a worker at Michigan City cleans the windows of a South Shore Line m.u. car. during an April 1988 NRHS tour. STEVE BARRY PHOTO
ing up at Goff and peddling east back to Shops, or any combination of things that need to be done. The best way to get an idea of what a crew is doing is to just simply listen to the radio.
Railfanning the South Shore Given the variety of freight and pas-
senger traffic, there’s a lot of action for the visiting railfan to enjoy. First and foremost, the NICTD Police Depart- ment takes security very seriously. Do not, under any circumstances, trespass on railroad property. There are plenty of fine photos to be had from public places. Let’s work our way east from
Kensington.
Kensington (MP 75.3): From the Metra platform at Kensington, one can get a great view of the newly revamped Kensington
Interlocking which was
completed in 2012. The former Kens- ington Tower is still standing and is great photo prop for northbound trains. This particular location is great for the long days of summer when he sun is in the northern part of the sky, particu- larly in the morning.
Ford City Curve (MP 71.6): The newly installed through-truss bridge at the Ford City Curve in the Hegewisch neighborhood is a sight
to behold. For more information about South Shore Freight, please visit
www.southshorefreight.com
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