Decatur Junction Railway Changes

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jrgerber
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Decatur Junction Railway Changes

Unread post by jrgerber »

Pioneer Railcorp has operated the two segments under lease for many years now after Indiana Hi Rail fell apart. According to STB filings the line from Decatur to Cisco with one grain elevator Top Flight will be operated by Omnitrax. Not sure whether Pioneer will operate the other line which is Decatur to Assumption or thereabouts.

Sparks1
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Location: Illinois

Re: Decatur Junction Railway Changes

Unread post by Sparks1 »

Pioneer plans to continue operating the southern line from Decatur to Assumption. They have changed operations in that the locomotives are now usually stored just south of Elwin at the old Illinois Valley Paving plant instead of Assumption. They used to keep 4 engines in the area but with the change in elevator ownership at Cisco and Omnitrax taking over, I think they will keep only 2-3 engines. Of course, most of the business are the elevators in Assumption and Moweaqua. There is a 1% grade from Walker Creek to Macon so 16-18 loads per GP-16/GP-9 is about maximum. Come autumn, they occasionally need 3 locomotives to pull the grade.

By the way, I think the track from Elwin to Assumption is owned by the elevators and Pioneer is merely the operator/leasee. Pioneer is also storing a bunch of freight cars in the passing siding south of Moweaqua (Radford) and at Elwin. This track is one of the last remaining segment of IC's former Clinton District. Pioneer still runs the Vandalia Railroad further south but it is a much smaller operation but still in existence.

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