NE Indiana NS Chicago Line PTC project

[LakeATCS]

Okay now that Elkhart is done. It's time to warn you guys about the next project I know of.

The PTC project that started in Cleveland and moved thru Toledo will be getting into Northeast Indiana soon.

Here is what I have personally seen so far.
A new Cantilever part was seen arriving in Kendalville IN

A PILE of new signal parts have been spotted along the ROW in the Bryan Ohio area.

So if you want pictures of the NYC era Conrail modified signals in the stretch. Do it now. From what I hear, they will all be gone by years end.
(There is a good chance the WAS signals at CP 358 may escape however, they were upgraded during the connection project)

[LakeATCS]

New signals are up and bagged at the IN/OH state line between 358 and 352

[justalurker66]

Interrail seems to be doing the work (at least some of it) ... trucks with their logo on it were at signals near Butler on Sunday.

New signals on the ground at Waterloo ... a single mast three headed signal for Track 1 EB was sitting by the signal bridge. A matched pair of single mast signals (two heads in one direction one head in the other direction) were sitting across the tracks from the platform.

New signals lying by the East St crossing in Corunna (current signals are at Bridge St). The signals at East St have a cabinet mounted under one signal.

[TrainWatcher]

Crossing Elkhart-Waterloo off my list tomorrow.

[MaintainerGary]

The equipment for Butler west is being staged in Elkhart Yard right off of Lusher.

[justalurker66]

Crossing Elkhart-Waterloo off my list tomorrow.

May your lens be long and traffic be light. Some of those signals are far off the road but can be captured from public crossings or nearby roads. There are a couple that I couldn't get close to on Sunday (east of Ligonier).

[justalurker66]

A quick trip to Butler and back ...
The westbound Cantilever at CP 379 Kendalville has its upright mast in place. No walkway yet. I didn't see a change to the eastbound.
There is a new signal for trains entering from the Kendalville Terminal Railroad. It is almost at the Chicago line ... not visible until the train rounds the curve. The old (still active) signal is at the north end of the KTR yard - north of a derail.

New signals are installed (not active) at CR 3 west of Corunna. It appears that they will be replacing signals further down the track.

New signals are installed (not active) at CR 300E west of Kendalville. There are also signals on the ground at CR 500E as previously reported.

Both CP 395 and CP 397 in Ligonier have new signals delivered and on the ground. Non-cantilever.

A signal base and cabinet have been delivered for signals at CD 405.26. I believe this is a location just east of the current intermediates at 405.

I did not check every crossing ... but that is what I saw. It looks like there will be several relocations and possibly consolidations of signal blocks.

[Notch 8]

A quick trip to Butler and back ...
I did not check every crossing ... but that is what I saw. It looks like there will be several relocations and possibly consolidations of signal blocks.

Looks to be a good number of relocations.. Instead of having equipment a half mile from the road they're placing equipment next to the road crossing allowing easier access. looks like the signals underneath the overpass at Corunna will be signals to the east and to the west of the current location ? The former Waterlevel Route is losing it's personality ! they say change is constant...

[justalurker66]

Pictures taken Saturday ...

Kendalville Westbound (eastbound not installed)

West Butler Huntington District

[justalurker66]

Over the border into Ohio ...

Bryan West Westbound

Bryan West Eastbound

Bryan East

(I was wondering if the signals in Ohio were completed ... obviously not.)

[justalurker66]

Other observations ...
New signals are up west of Brimfield, east of CR 500 and at CR 300 (as previously reported) - all west of Kendallville. Probably other locations as well (I did not check every potential signal location).
Interrail was on site working at CP 397 ... two uninstalled switch heaters have joined the equipment on the ground ready for installation. I did not check CP 395.

I did not see anything new west of CP 397 (other than signal deliveries that have been previously reported).

[Notch 8]

The equipment for Butler west is being staged in Elkhart Yard right off of Lusher.

Actually everything for Butler/Kendallville was staged in Butler at the diamond and sat there all winter..

[justalurker66]

Many of the signals for the project were drop ship delivered by Interrail to the nearest crossing.
The eastbound approach signals for CP 367 Waterloo were delivered to Waterloo.

[LakeATCS]

Pictures taken Saturday ...

West Butler June 20th.jpg

Hmm, they are messing with West Butler... That is unexpected.

I wonder if it is so trains pick up the PTC before they enter onto the Chicago Line

That means I suspect the equipment at West Blakeslee is being changed too, with all those CPR trains going to and from the Chicago LIne.

[justalurker66]

I noticed about a month ago that there was a new signal base (for mast signal) next to the old (current) signal building at "West Butler" ... which is why I went back to see if more had been done. I was rewarded with a new building, tower and a lot of work underway. It will be interesting to see what the westbound signals will be (cantilever?).

One other thing to note ... the new signals - including intermediates - are getting antennas for PTC. There are several "completed" locations with towers up and others with towers ready to install. These are the central pivot type where the antenna can be lowered to the ground for maintenance.

[justalurker66]

A couple of quick photos from Saturday ...

West Butler (Huntington District)

Intermediates at 405

At the 405 intermediates the track 1 signal is not installed. Interrail was on site working on Saturday. The corn is higher than my car so getting a good view is difficult. The new 405 signals are just east of the old 405 signals ... but not easier to see from off of the rails.

The new 403 intermediates are east of the old signals ... just east of SR 13 in Millersburg.
I did not see the new 401 intermediates (more corn and trees?).
I believe the new 399 intermediates are WEST of the current signals (or have 401 and 399 been combined?).

CP 397 looks good with four new signals.
CP 395 looks good with three new signals. The westbounds are west of the old westbound signals (no longer east of the removed bridge).

I saw several other intermediates east of CP 395 with many of them hard to spot. Most in new locations.

CP 379 Kendaville eastbound cantilever is still on the ground in the yard.
West Butler on the Huntington line is pictured above.

None of the new signals are in use - but there appear to be only a couple left to stand up.

[justalurker66]

I did not see the new 401 intermediates (more corn and trees?).
I believe the new 399 intermediates are WEST of the current signals (or have 401 and 399 been combined?).

Combined near CR 1175 east.

[justalurker66]

No changes noted in Kendallville this past weekend. NS still needs a new Eastbound signal. The rest of the locations on the Chicago line in Indiana seem to have their signals in place. It should be an interesting day when all the signals go active.

[GTW]

Any changes at the westend of Elkhart yard. I hear maybe new signals going in at CP 426. Anything new for CP 421 lately.


Thanks

[rob46580]

Lots going on up to at least cp 437,426 looks to have everything up, 435 unsure now but nothing Saturday, but today saw a pic of new stuff on ground at 437,not been west of there.