Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

[MagnumForce]

Most definitely not

[ABB1501]

When did the Indiana Hi-Rail take over the line from NS/NW? Just curious.

[Macowiec]

IHRC started operations at Defiance in late 1989, in November I believe. I worked as their first agent in the Defiance depot.

I was hired at IHRC for this job in September, but the startup was delayed, and I was shuttled around the IHRC "empire" for a while, working at Connersville, IN and then at Evansville before finally arriving in Defiance.

[jldominique]

I haven't been on the forum for a while, was wondering what trackwork is being done on the NDW. I noticed a lot of work crews on the line east of Defiance and a lot of ties dropped west of Defiance.

[MagnumForce]

They are working on stuff, it varies day to day.

[JStryker722]

That track has gotten more TLC this year alone than it did at all in the 40 years or more before Pioneer took over.

[railcarman]

Crossed the ND&W line yesterday (6/16) at Paulding Cty's CR 143 & CR 133. There were derails in place at both. Derail at CR 143 was also observed on 6/11. Saw beau coup new ties too. Further east, towards Defiance, saw several pieces of track equipment. Could not get a good look to see what type they were, or if they were being used. It was early evening (around 6:30). Track crews may have already quit for the day. Great to see Pioneer's efforts. Weeds seem to have been addressed with Round Up. Anyone know if they plan to add any ballast?

[JoJames]

They received several railcars of ballast via CSX interchange last year. Also there is a hi rail dump setting at Defiance near the pile of ties waiting to be installed.

[jldominique]

That is what I noticed as well, also noticed some ballast was dropped by rd 143 heading east toward Defiance.

[midland sub]

The old hi rail dump truck is short line track work at it's best. Get a local quarry to deliver it somewhere trackside and work it from there.

[JoJames]

Hi rail dump trucks even come in handy on the big railroads.

[jimnorthwood]

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2015/0 ... ounty.html

No customers east of the Napoleon industrial park that I am aware of, so they must have been either retrieving or dropping off storage cars. There were about a dozen tank cars east of the U.S. 24 crossing the last time I drove by there.

[bluestreak81]

Very unfortunate. Prayers to the family of the truck driver and all others recovering. Maybe they need a flashing light on the highway before the crossing signals as an extra warning that a train is blocking the crossing ahead.

[jimnorthwood]

I believe this grade crossing is still classified/marked as an "Exempt Crossing", meaning school buses and trucks hauling hazmat don't need to stop. Despite its designation as a US highway, and a bunch of at grade highway entrances/exits and crossings, US 24 is almost for all intents and purposes, an Interstate highway. With no customers beyond Napoleon on the line east to Liberty Center, and I believe I heard/read that the diamond with I&O near there had been removed anyway, the only reason for ND&W to cross US 24 is to pick up or drop off storage cars. I don't have a sense as to how often they do so.

[MagnumForce]

From the west side of Napoleon all the way to Maumee, 24 is a limited access 70 MPH expressway with no at grade crossings. West of there, there is at grade crossings all the way to the state line and the speed limit is 65.

[DT&Ifan]

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2015/0 ... ounty.html

No customers east of the Napoleon industrial park that I am aware of, so they must have been either retrieving or dropping off storage cars. There were about a dozen tank cars east of the U.S. 24 crossing the last time I drove by there.

The sad fact is the three vehicles closest to the crossing were fully in compliance stopped and safe until the fourth truck failed to stop and rear ended the third causing a chain reaction collision. Inattentive and distracted drivers are the worst part about driving on 'major' roads, the more people you have the greater the chance that someone will make a mistake. Sadly in this case the driver who failed to stop was killed in the resulting accident.

[MagnumForce]

This is true, but no one expects cars to be stopped for a train on a 70 MPH expressway. All it takes is to look away for a second or the cars being out of gear and no brake lights on.

It is inherently quite dangerous.

[MQT1223]

Any updates to report of ANY kind? This thread seems kinds devoid of good news lately.

[jimnorthwood]

I suspect the lack of news IS good news, ie ND&W continues its usual five (maybe six) day per week operation of hauling tomato paste in the high cube box cars (maybe other good stuff to eat in the refrigerator cars?) and plastic pellets to Napoleon; waste oil to and perhaps cement from, Cecil; raw material of whatever type into JM in Defiance, along with any other business they have, ie the tank car transload place that is adjacent to the yard in Defiance?; perhaps the elevator(s) in Jewell or Okolona?; storage of tank cars east of U.S. 24? I've noticed much more interchange traffic in Woodburn, too. They are always doing track work of one type or the other. ND&W is light years ahead of the previous operator of this line, which means not as much to talk about.

[MQT1223]

I suspect the lack of news IS good news, ie ND&W continues its usual five (maybe six) day per week operation of hauling tomato paste in the high cube box cars (maybe other good stuff to eat in the refrigerator cars?) and plastic pellets to Napoleon; waste oil to and perhaps cement from, Cecil; raw material of whatever type into JM in Defiance, along with any other business they have, ie the tank car transload place that is adjacent to the yard in Defiance?; perhaps the elevator(s) in Jewell or Okolona?; storage of tank cars east of U.S. 24? I've noticed much more interchange traffic in Woodburn, too. They are always doing track work of one type or the other. ND&W is light years ahead of the previous operator of this line, which means not as much to talk about.

Hows the track work coming?