CSX Illinois Subdivision Update

Anything pertaining to railfanning in Illinois.
Sparks1
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2013 3:27 pm
Location: Illinois

CSX Illinois Subdivision Update

Unread post by Sparks1 »

Signal crews were refilling batteries and making other repairs on some of the crossing signals (at least east of St. Louis) on CSX's Illinois Subdivision. It looks like IDOT is going to force CSX to get the crossing signals working on the line if the railroad intends to use a good portion of the track to store freight cars. Given that storage rates for freight cars are anywhere from $3-$12 per car per day, it doesn't take an accountant to figure that it is good business sense to spend some money to get the signals to work to facilitate long term car storage.

A few notes:

Yes, a lot of rail rust isn't going to help activate and deactivate the signals but IDOT has jurisdiction over the road crossings. Rumor has it that IDOT and the City of Belleville are still a little irate that after spending millions of dollars to build an overpass and a new fire station to ease congestion due to the several trains per day on the old B&O that CSX suspended service on the trackage.

The diamonds are out at Shattac and Odin so storage will be east and west of those towns.

Given the new maintenance on the line, it looks like it will be used as a parking lot for several months or maybe a few years.

Still hope CSX will use the line again as a mainline or sell it to a shortline or regional. However, after being out of service for 2 years now, any use is better than the rails coming up.

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