Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

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wanick
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by wanick »

I was in Liberty Center Sunday and have some pics. Just have to get them out of the camera. Also engine 1606 was sitting in front of elevator. Got pics of the tracks in various spots from Liberty Center to Defiance. Unit 1601 was in Napoleon. And unit 3054 and 105 were in Defiance. Saw a lot of Anderson hopper cars sitting around also along the line.
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wanick
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by wanick »

Here is some more pics of the tracks
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bluestreak81
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by bluestreak81 »

wanick, thank you for posting your photos. It'll be sad to see service end on this end of the line soon. Thanks again for posting.

jimnorthwood
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by jimnorthwood »

Agreed, thank you for sharing your LC pics.

JoJames
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by JoJames »

Mayor of Liberty Center is stating in tonight's Napoleon paper. This engine and three vehicles will be the last train to town. Rails will be removed through the crossings but not between them.

bluestreak81
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by bluestreak81 »

The article further states that the remainder of the line will remain in place for potential use if a manufacturer inquires about utilizing a side rail. Leaving those tracks in place allows the rail company and a manufacturer to negotiate that possibility.

The railway will look into bagging the stop and yield signs in the village prior to the rail removal.

http://m.northwestsignal.net/news/artic ... l?mode=jqm

Waddy
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by Waddy »

I'm surprised the grain elevator doesn't ship by rail. Is it not that busy?

JoJames
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by JoJames »

Waddy wrote:I'm surprised the grain elevator doesn't ship by rail. Is it not that busy?
Grain elevator handles a substatinial amount of grain. Elevator is owned by Gerald Grain and they also own the Hamler Ohio location among others. Hamler is on the CSX Chicago line and is set up to load 90 car unit trains. Grain is trucked from Liberty Center to save on freight cost. Gerald Grain is also planning to construct a 90 car loadout on the NS Chicago line east of Wauseon.

MSchwiebert
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by MSchwiebert »

Was out in the Liberty Center area today and the southbound approach signal on the I&O has been turned away from the track, so it's safe to assume that the diamond is back out and somewhere west of the US 6/24 bypass the line has been severed.

jrgerber
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by jrgerber »

Back in the old days what was the interchange traffic (if any) between the Wabash and the old DTI at Liberty Center?

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railohio
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by railohio »

Zero.
"I shot the freight train / But I did not shoot the fantrip"

JoJames
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by JoJames »

Wabash & DT&I had some interchange traffic at Napoleon. Never was a connection at Liberty Center.

bluestreak81
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by bluestreak81 »

Does anyone know what year the tracks were originally laid to Liberty Center? Just curious if it has been 100 years or more.

JoJames
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by JoJames »

bluestreak81 wrote:Does anyone know what year the tracks were originally laid to Liberty Center? Just curious if it has been 100 years or more.
Not real sure on the year. It has been at least 100 years. The former B&O line that crosses the former Wabash line at Defiance came in the 1880's time frame and the Wabash was there before that.

bdconrail29
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by bdconrail29 »

bluestreak81 wrote:Does anyone know what year the tracks were originally laid to Liberty Center? Just curious if it has been 100 years or more.
1855
Brett

bluestreak81
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by bluestreak81 »

Wow. 161 years ago. They definitely have surved their purpose. What's the likelihood of any of the original 1855 tracks still there?

jrgerber
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by jrgerber »

What streets in Napoleon were the interchange tracks between DT&I and the Wabash near? I assume there was a diamond where the tracks crossed?

JoJames
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by JoJames »

jrgerber wrote:What streets in Napoleon were the interchange tracks between DT&I and the Wabash near? I assume there was a diamond where the tracks crossed?
Union street off Oakwood Avenue

jrgerber
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by jrgerber »

Thanks.

jimnorthwood
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Re: Napoleon, Defiance and Western: The Definitive Thread

Unread post by jimnorthwood »

https://www.stb.dot.gov/filings/all.nsf ... 241275.pdf

Above is a link to the Discontinuance of Service Exemption filed with the STB by the ND&W for the track between Liberty Center and Napoleon. The document makes note that the transload operator, the sole shipper on this stretch of track, will be relocated to Napoleon. ND&W has been talking about building a transload site in Napoleon, so this makes sense. According to the document this track generated 13 carloads of what are called "brick bats" in 2016, six carloads in 2015, and no carloads in 2014 or 2013. This filing is related to the project to remove the U.S. 24 grade crossing, as well as six others, from Napoleon to LC, but to leave the rail intact elsewhere. The filing of a Discontinuance of Service Exemption as opposed to an Abandonment Exemption means it would be easier to resume service on the line of necessary, although without a commitment from a new, very major customer that is unlikely to happen.

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