Gary, IN Question

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NSSD70ACe
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Gary, IN Question

Unread post by NSSD70ACe »

Hello all,

I'm going down to Indiana tomorrow and I might be close enough to Gary to justify checking it out. Now, there is a large yard near I-90 that appears to be former EJE. There is a road on the south end of the yard that appears to be a public road just off of Buchanan that is right next to the tracks. Has anyone been here before? Will there be any trouble with local police or criminals?

Thanks,

-NS
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the contents of the above post are my opinion and mine alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.

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justalurker66
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Re: Gary, IN Question

Unread post by justalurker66 »

I have been there ... and so has Google Street View. The "City" line runs close to the edge of the road which leads back to a few businesses. The next two tracks north are CSX's ... then the NS Chicago Line. Curtis East on the CSX and CP 497 on the NS connect the two lines together. North of NS is the yard you are asking about - Kirk Yard at the end of the CN line.

I have not spent any more time there than it took to take a couple of pictures and leave.

The next road down (Clark Rd) is a better one for railfanning. That is the famous "Pine Jct" location at the west end of the CN yard and the east end of the NS Pine Yard. Do not trespass and you might be able to enjoy that location - although watch out for potholes and heavy trucks.

NSSD70ACe
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Re: Gary, IN Question

Unread post by NSSD70ACe »

Thanks for the info. I elected to go to Willow Creek instead for the Barr and Garrett subs but it was a complete bust. Spent an hour there after NS traffic died down and listened to the sounds of the Chicago Line a few miles away while everything at the diamond stayed red.

Perhaps another trip.

Thanks again.

-NS
:roll:

the contents of the above post are my opinion and mine alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.

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justalurker66
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Re: Gary, IN Question

Unread post by justalurker66 »

Here are a couple of shots I took last year on that road south of Kirk Yard ...

When there is a train on the "City Line" is right on the edge of the road.
CN City Track near Kirk Yard
CN City Track near Kirk Yard
NS CP 497 which connects to CSX's Curtis East is along the road. These are the signals on the connection track.
NS CP 497/CSX Curtis East Connection Signals
NS CP 497/CSX Curtis East Connection Signals
It is worth a drive by but I wouldn't spend much time there.

dave989
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Re: Gary, IN Question

Unread post by dave989 »

Went to Pine Jct. yesterday early in the morning. Pine Jct. "ROCKS"!! Got there
at 7 a.m. Twenty min. went by and saw nothing but trucks on Clark Rd., then saw
22 trains in the next hour and a half. Saw everyone on the menu including the Harbor.
Just stay south of the B&O and don't stray onto railway property.

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MQT1223
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Re: Gary, IN Question

Unread post by MQT1223 »

Don't go under the EJ&E bridge either at Pine. Its usually flooded and will attract unwanted attention since that area is monitored.

Stay near the road at Pine Jct and you'll be fine.

Some idiot went on the EJ&E bridge a few years ago and since then CN has been hostile towards railfans there.
1223 OUT! President and Founder of the Buck Creek Central, the Rolling River Route! (2012-2017) President and Founder of the Lamberton Valley Railroad, The Tin Plate Road! Proudly railfanning with Asperger's since 1996. :)

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justalurker66
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Re: Gary, IN Question

Unread post by justalurker66 »

The biggest risk with going under the EJ&E bridge on Clark Rd is risking damage to your vehicle. The roads on the north side are a bit confusing and I would not recommend trying to park, but it is a road to somewhere. (The west end of the road is at the casino.)

The first time I went under the bridge I followed a similar sized vehicle (Clark Rd was blocked by a stopped train and it was time to go home). I have been under the bridge several times since, daytime and evening. But not being able to see the road (and potholes) is scary. A lot more scary that "being monitored".

ON the bridge (or any other railroad property) is always a bad idea.

I would not mind seeing the drainage fixed on Clark Rd under the EJ&E ... for the sake of the people who need to use that portion of Clark Rd to get to work. But it does serve as a nice "moat".

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MQT1223
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Re: Gary, IN Question

Unread post by MQT1223 »

justalurker66 wrote:The biggest risk with going under the EJ&E bridge on Clark Rd is risking damage to your vehicle. The roads on the north side are a bit confusing and I would not recommend trying to park, but it is a road to somewhere. (The west end of the road is at the casino.)

The first time I went under the bridge I followed a similar sized vehicle (Clark Rd was blocked by a stopped train and it was time to go home). I have been under the bridge several times since, daytime and evening. But not being able to see the road (and potholes) is scary. A lot more scary that "being monitored".

ON the bridge (or any other railroad property) is always a bad idea.

I would not mind seeing the drainage fixed on Clark Rd under the EJ&E ... for the sake of the people who need to use that portion of Clark Rd to get to work. But it does serve as a nice "moat".
I didn't go past the no trespassing sign just before he bridge, but I think in my CR-V I'd be fine.

Framed a BCOL barn under that bridge two weeks ago.
1223 OUT! President and Founder of the Buck Creek Central, the Rolling River Route! (2012-2017) President and Founder of the Lamberton Valley Railroad, The Tin Plate Road! Proudly railfanning with Asperger's since 1996. :)

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justalurker66
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Re: Gary, IN Question

Unread post by justalurker66 »

MQT1223 wrote:I didn't go past the no trespassing sign just before he bridge, but I think in my CR-V I'd be fine.
There is no "No Trespassing" sign for Clark Rd under the bridge (unless they put it up in the past few weeks). There is a restricted road sign for the over the top route for oversized vehicles (read the sign carefully). And other passages under the EJ&E have No Trespassing signs, but none are for Clark Rd.
ClarkRd-EJ&E.jpg
Note the "Restricted Roadway" is "Only trucks over 15'-1" conducting business on USS or E.J. & E. property."
With a bridge clearance of 15'-1" that sign refers to the road to the right, not Clark Rd under the bridge.
(BTW: Google Street View has a 2013 picture of that bridge with a 13'-1" clearance and less of a water hazard.)

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Saturnalia
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Re: Gary, IN Question

Unread post by Saturnalia »

justalurker66 wrote: BTW: Google Street View has a 2013 picture of that bridge with a 13'-1" clearance and less of a water hazard.
I'll take "we can fix this by lowering the road, without considering drainage" for $1000 please :lol:
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MQT1223
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Re: Gary, IN Question

Unread post by MQT1223 »

Saturnalia wrote:
justalurker66 wrote: BTW: Google Street View has a 2013 picture of that bridge with a 13'-1" clearance and less of a water hazard.
I'll take "we can fix this by lowering the road, without considering drainage" for $1000 please :lol:
That is seriously no joke how deep that water is. I don't know if drains are present, but if they are they aren't working.

When me, jwyrick, rsninoms, and tsninoms were there a few months back that water was at LEAST 3 feet deep.

If you have never been down the road to Pine Jct its not in the greatest of shape being that Gary takes care of it. They are actually repaving the main road by the airport that leads to Clark Rd, but its only for a few miles.

Michigan roads got nothing on the state of the roads in Gary.
1223 OUT! President and Founder of the Buck Creek Central, the Rolling River Route! (2012-2017) President and Founder of the Lamberton Valley Railroad, The Tin Plate Road! Proudly railfanning with Asperger's since 1996. :)

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justalurker66
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Re: Gary, IN Question

Unread post by justalurker66 »

Images like this certainly encourage people to stay on their side of the moat. As noted, I would not have attempted the crossing if I had not been following a similar sized vehicle.
ClarkRd-splash.jpg

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MQT1223
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Re: Gary, IN Question

Unread post by MQT1223 »

justalurker66 wrote:Images like this certainly encourage people to stay on their side of the moat. As noted, I would not have attempted the crossing if I had not been following a similar sized vehicle.
ClarkRd-splash.jpg
First time I was down there in June the truck was pushing water with the bumper.
1223 OUT! President and Founder of the Buck Creek Central, the Rolling River Route! (2012-2017) President and Founder of the Lamberton Valley Railroad, The Tin Plate Road! Proudly railfanning with Asperger's since 1996. :)

A No.1
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Re: Gary, IN Question

Unread post by A No.1 »

Clark road rule of thumb. If you can see the curb on the edges under the bridge your ok. If you dont see the curbe. Its to deep to drive.
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