Trains run through the span as they travel above Torrence Ave. and the Norfolk Southern's Chicago District. Unfortunately, there is really no photo angle that can be recommended that doesn’t require trespassing or parking along Torrence Ave. which isn't sug- gested as there is no shoulder. Hammond (MP 68): From State
Line Interlocking (CP 69.2) to Calumet Ave. in Hammond, there are numerous photo opportunities as the tracks twist and wind their way through downtown. The S-curve at Brunswick St. in Ham- mond is a particular favorite. Also, from Calumet Ave, westbounds can be photographed coming off
of the hill
where the tracks are elevated from Calumet Ave to Gary. Miller (MP 55): From the depot at Miller, one can photograph eastbounds passing the small brick station. West- bound can also be photographed com-
ing down the hill from the CSX over- pass. The tracks turn sharply to the right as they come down the hill and cross Lake St.
Ogden Dunes (MP 50.8): The Og- den Dunes station is a great photo loca- tion as the “South Shore Line” depot sign is in the middle of the platform, across the tracks. Trains can be pho- tographed all day long passing the sign which has the South Shore logo and the station's name printed on it. Beverly Shores (MP 39.3): The iconic Beverly Shores depot is a great place to shoot trains passing the depot which is adorned by a neon sign lights up at night with the depot's name. Michigan City (MP 35.2-32.2): At milepost 35.2, the railroad begins the famous street running segment on 10th Street The trains pass down the middle of 10th Street from milepost 35.2 to milepost 34.5, a distance of a little un-
der a mile. At the 10th Street Interlock- ing (CP 34.5), trains jog through a sharp S-curve to move from 10th St to 11th St. At the same time, the cross the Amtrak Michigan Line the runs be- tween Porter, Indiana, and Detroit, Michigan. From the 10th Street Inter- locking east, the trains run down 11th Street to about milepost 33.4. On 11th Street between Franklin and Pine stands the former and current South Shore depots. The former depot is still adorned by a South Shore sign that is worthy of a photo. East of there, at Cedar Street, the tracks encounter a tight S-curve as they drop into a bowl before climbing out up to Oak St. From there the tracks drop down hill to Michigan Blvd. where they exit the street running. At milepost 32.2, the mainline crosses
the South Shore’s
Kingsbury Industrial Lead on a dia- mond adjacent to the Carroll Ave. sta- tion. This is also the location of the rail- road’s shop buildings for both freight and passenger. Photographs can be had from the Carroll Ave platform. Fail Road (MP 21): At about mile-
post 21, Fail Road passes over the South Shore. This is a particularly nice photo with the tracks heading upgrade eastbound. Trains are usually climbing hard tackling Galena Hill making this great location to photograph AF-18 headed east to Olive. Hudson Lake (MP15.1): The area
around the Hudson Lake depot is a great location as the tracks wind their way through town. There are a few re- verse curves and the depot which is lo- cated at N. Chicago Rd. South Bend (MP 3-MP 0): In South Bend, the tracks completely reverse di- rection before entering the new South Bend Airport Depot. At Westmoor St and Sheridan St, the tracks come up alongside Westmoor and run along it to Bendix Drive. The tracks turn sharply north as they cross Bendix Drive and continue north for about two miles next to the road. As the tracks reach the air- port, the turn west, crossing Bendix Drive again and running a mile to the depot at Progress and Commerce Drive.
Insull’s Legacy Survives
Despite Bill Middleton’s proclama- tion to the contrary, the interurban era may not be over in the United States. The South Shore still maintains much of its Insull-era feel, with m.u. cars wandering down a single-track main line, often with wooden poles still lin- ing the right-of-way, serving quaint stations at many locations. The links to the past are there, but the modern stainless steel passenger cars and heavy diesel-powered freight trains remind you that this is, indeed, a 21st century operation, keeping the interur- ban torch lit as it races through the Indiana dunelands.
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