Diamond bei St. Joe, IN

Next stop after Butler, IN on my Sunday, June 24, 2007 "diamond tour" is St. Joe in Indiana. The weather is hot, humid and overcast. The diamond is about one mile westwards of the town. As the direct road was closed - No trespassing - I had to drive over country roads to this location. On my map this road was still open! From the north NS tracks are coming from Butler leading southwards. The double track east-west line is owned by CSX.

I am parking the car at the small turning place close to the tracks. It is are quiet remote location. Only the repeating noise from gun shooting from the neighbouring home is a bit scary for a foreigner...

There is light in the northern distance at 1.30 pm!

Norfolk Southern 9130 (Dash9-40CW) and one C44W in Conrail livery leading a merchandise train southwards.

A coul unit train is pulled eastwards by BNSF 8831, a SD70MAC and BN 9703, another SD70MAC. In the background a mixed freight coming from the north rumbles westwards.

A closer view to the diamond.

Northwards.

From the west this coke car unit train is moved by CSX 46 (AC4400CW) and one SD50.   

Several coke cars have burn marks like this one. It seems coke is still very hot when loaded - sometimes too hot.

This Intermodal is the next train coming from the east. Engines are CSX 5320 (ES44DC) and CSX 5475 (ES44DC).

The engineer is greeting! A mixed freight with one good ol' SD 40-2 (CSX 8451) at the pilot and her assistant SD50 numbered CSX 8523.

At about 4 pm I am leaving the place at the diamond. Just as I am crossing the track with the car I hear the sound of train horns (yeah, it's music!)! A coal unit train with Union Pacific Motive Power: two C44AC numbered 6694 and 6560.