North Judson in the 1970s

PC North Judson Station Record of Train Movements 6-1972 – courtesy of Bert Zajac
PC North Judson Station Record of Train Movements 2-1974 – courtesy of Bert Zajac
CR North Judson Station Record of Train Movements 8-1976 – courtesy of Bert Zajac

Westbound Manifest Trains

CIC-1 (Cincinnati to Chicago)

I believe this train was established around 1970 (give or take a couple years) as a replacement for longtime PRR train CO-3 which ran from Cincinnati to 59th Street in Chicago.  Former NYC train CC-3 from Cincinnati to Chicago via Lafayette, IN was abolished around the same time, so perhaps the CO-3 symbol was changed to CIC-1 at that time.  Sometime between 1972 and 1974, the destination was changed to IHB’s Gibson Yard.  As a result, the train started using the connection at North Judson to go west on the Kankakee Belt and then turn north at Schneider, IN on NYC’s former Egyptian line to reach Gibson.  This continued into the Conrail era, with CIC-1 eventually becoming train CIIH.

CK-1 (Louisville to Chicago)

This was the former PRR train NS-7 (previously IL-1) between Louisville and either Chicago’s 59th Street or sometimes Logansport where Chicago traffic would be combined with other Panhandle trains to Chicago.  Like CIC-1 above, this was resymbolled sometime around 1970, possibly at the same time as part of a regional train restructuring.

CK-3 (Indianapolis to Chicago)

Besides Chicago traffic, this train carried blocks for Kankakee and the Santa Fe that were set out at Kankakee Siding for westbound Kankakee Belt trains .  In July 1977, this was eliminated and CK-3 became a straight Chicago train.

LC-1 (Logansport to Chicago)?

This train probably ran from Logansport to Chicago.  It is listed in the 1971 schedule as a Logansport to 59th Street train but does not appear in the other Penn Central schedules.  It continued to operate in 1976 despite not being listed in the Conrail schedule.

SLE-4 (East St. Louis to Elkhart)

This train normally ran via the former NYC through Anderson and Marion but was probably detouring through North Judson to facilitate trackwork on its normal route.  While this would be a short term boost for North Judson, this was an ominous development as in a few short years the Panhandle would be abandoned in favor of the ex-NYC.  SLE-4 ran for most or all of Penn Central’s existence and would become Conrail’s SLEL.

Eastbound Manifest Trains

For a full history of the eastbound trains out of Chicago see:
Panhandle Eastbound from Chicago – covers the Pennsylvania Railroad era
Panhandle Eastbound from Chicago Pt. 2 – covers the Penn Central era
Panhandle Eastbound from Chicago Pt. 3 – covers the Conrail era

CIC-2 (Chicago to Cincinnati)

Like CIC-1, this train began roughly around the time that former NYC train SY-2 from Chicago to Cincinnati via Lafayette was abolished.  Unlike CIC-2, which began terminating at Gibson, this train continued to originate at 59th Street into the Conrail era, ultimately becoming train FNCI.

CO-8 (Chicago to Columbus)

This former PRR train used to run from Logansport to Cincinnati into the early Penn Central days.  Sometime between March 1969 and December 1970, the destination of the train was changed to Columbus and it began originating at 59th Street instead of Logansport, replacing NW-82 which been operating between Chicago and Columbus.  In June 1976, shortly after Conrail took over, this train began originating at BRC’s Clearing Yard instead of 59th Street.  This train became BRCO.

CK-2 (Chicago to Louisville)

This train also began sometime between March 1969 and the beginning of 1971, replacing former PRR train NS-8 on the same route.  Initially it originated at 59th street, but sometime between April 1971 and April 1972 began originating at IHB’s Blue Island Yard. 

LD-2 (Chicago or Colehour to Logansport)

This longtime former PRR train was operated since at least the 1920s, though it is often omitted from the Through Train Schedules.  However, it is usually listed as a connection for other trains at Logansport.  For most of its existence, LD-2 handled traffic from Colehour and sometimes 55th Street Yard to Logansport for connection to other trains, keeping it out of the busy 59th Street Yard.

At the beginning of the Penn Central era, the train was originating at Colehour and would set out Indianapolis and Louisville traffic at Hartsdale for NS-8.  The train would be renamed CK-4 and extended to Indianapolis by the start of Conrail.

The December 31, 1968 Penn Central Freight Service map lists this train as LP-2 which is almost certainly a typo.

CK-4 (Colehour to Indianapolis)

This train began sometime between June 1974 and the start up of Conrail.  This train originated at Colehour Yard in Whiting, IN, and replaced Colehour to Logansport train LD-2.  Continuing the operating pattern of LD-2, besides handling cars for Logansport and Indianapolis, it handled blocks for Hartsdale and Cincinnati to be set out at Hartsdale, where the Cincinnati cars would be picked up by CIC-2.  CK-4 also at times worked at North Judson, picking up cars left by KD-6.  This train became CHIN, continuing to originate at Colehour and drop cars at Hartsdale for FNCI, the former CIC-2.

Trains 18 and 19

These were mail trains between Chicago and Cincinnati that survived past the formation of Amtrak.  Eastbound train 18 usually passed North Judson between 1500-1600, with westbound train 19 generally between 1800-1930.  These trains were abolished September 1, 1972.

At the beginning of the month, back to back E7A’s and E8A’s provided the power for these trains with the same set often making repeated turns between Chicago and Cincinnati.  Two sets of power were needed to protect the trains.  Later in the month GP40’s began appearing.  The GP40’s were obviously preferred as leaders over the cab units, as the unit would be turned at each terminal and lead in both directions.

E8A 4034 was a common leader on 19 westbound while E8A 4029 often led eastbound train 18.

A photo of two E7’s leading eastbound train 18 in May 1972 can be seen here.

Amtrak Trains

The Floridian schedule from May 1974 from timetables.org, copyright Amtrak.

Amtrak’s The Floridian, Trains 52 & 53, briefly operated via North Judson on the former PRR.  The trains began using this route January 23, 1972 and lasted until August 1, 1974 when the began using the L&N from Chicago.  (From Classic Trains).

The 1974 tower sheets also show the passing of Amtrak’s Chicago to Washington DC trains, eastbound #50, the George Washington, and westbound #51, the James Whitcomb Riley.  These trains operated via North Judson from 1973-1974, giving the former PRR four Amtrak trains a day for this short time period. (From Wikipedia).

US Steel Coal Trains

US Steel coal train data from Rail Transportation Requirements for Coal Movement in 1980.

After the PC merger, US Steel coal trains carrying ULG (Lynch-Gary) symbols began running through North Judson from their previous NYC route.  These trains were interchanged by the L&N at Cincinnati and delivered to the EJ&E at Hartsdale for delivery to US Steel.  PC and L&N power would run through on these trains.

Photos:
On the PC
On the EJE 
Empty hoppers at North Judson

For more information about Lynch, KY see this Daily Mail article and Appalachian Railroad Modeling’s Lynch trackplan.

Locals LD-5 and LD-6

This local (LD-5 westbound, LD-6 eastbound) worked between Logansport and Crown Point, west of North Judson.  LD-5 arrived at North Judson during the morning and returned heading home as LD-6 during the afternoon.

Kankakee Belt Trains

At the time of the Penn Central merger, the New York Central’s Kankakee Belt was growing in importance as a connection to the Santa Fe at Streator.  In 1967, the NYC and Santa Fe were interchanging a train a day each way at Streator, and by the end of Penn Central’s first year, this would double to two trains each way with further growth to come.

For a time during the Penn Central and Conrail years, North Judson hosted block swaps between Panhandle and Kankakee Belt trains and the tower operators had to play yardmaster as well.  With increased traffic and work events, the Kankakee Belt became a significant player on the North Judson stage.  But this would abruptly end in June 1977 when the Kankakee Belt trains were rerouted from South Bend to Schneider via the south suburbs of Chicago, and the Kankakee Belt through North Judson became silent.

SF-1 (Elkhart to AT&SF at Streator)

This train was the descendant of NYC’s LS-3 from Boston and Elkhart to the Santa Fe.  This train picked up a Santa Fe block from Indianapolis at Kankakee off of train SF-5 (symbol SF-3 in NYC times) on the former Big Four Route from Indianapolis. 

Around November 1974, SF-5 from Indianapolis was eliminated, and Panhandle train CK-3 began carrying the Santa Fe and Kankakee blocks from Indy to set out at North Judson for SF-1 to pick up.  This pattern would continue until the end of the Kankakee Belt trains through North Judson.

The westbound Santa Fe traffic was generally just a block for Argentine Yard in Kansas City to sort, but during 1974-1975, Elkhart experimented with building an additional Santa Fe California block as well, handled by SF-1.  Avon Yard in Indianapolis continued to just build an Argentine block during this time.

SF-3 (Elkhart to AT&SF at Streator)

This train was begun around the start of the Penn Central.  In the first couple years, it also carried a block for Reddick, IL, probably interchange traffic for the Norfolk & Western interchange there, but by around 1971 it was a straight train for the Santa Fe’s Argentine Yard in Kansas City with no work enroute.

KDC-7 (Elkhart to Kankakee)

This was former NYC train K/DC-7 from Elkhart to Kankakee.  In Penn Central and Conrail years, it always carried a block for South Bend from Elkhart as well.

SF-2 (AT&SF at Streator to Elkhart)

This was the former NYC train SFE-2.  Originally a straight train for Elkhart, sometime in 1971 or 1972 the Santa Fe began building Elkhart and Conway (Pittsburgh) blocks for the train.  These cars were set out at Hamlet to connect with Chicago to Conway train PR-2.  Another block of Harrisburg and beyond TrailVans was added to the train in the second half of 1974, also set out at Hamlet for PR-2.  This continued until the end of the trains running through North Judson.

SF-4 (AT&SF at Streator to Elkhart)

A new train began around the start of Penn Central.  It was identical in blocking and operation to SF-2 except it was scheduled to pick up Conway cars in Kankakee to set out in Hamlet.  These cars could have also moved on KK-2 or SF-2, so this pattern might have varied.

KK-2 (Kankakee to Elkhart)

This was former NYC train KK-2 originating from Zearing, IL, the farthest west point on the Kankakee Belt and a CB&Q connection, to Elkhart.  Around or at the beginning of Penn Central, it was shortened to originate at Kankakee.  Carrying blocks for North Judson, Elkhart, and Conway, it picked up Elkhart cars at several places enroute, set out at North Judson, and set out the Conway cars at Hamlet.

For More Information

Many photos of Penn Central (and EL and C&O trains) can be found in the Railroads of North Judson Flickr collection.

Interlocking diagrams and additional photos of the tower are available at North American Interlockings.