Part 1: Early CSX Changing Times on the West End
The early years of CSX, a railway company in the United States of America, are the focus of these episodes in The Heritage Series. It features scenes of railroading that can never be experienced again.
When the Chessie System and the Seaboard System were combined, the new railroad company had two routes into East St. Louis: the former Louisville & Nashville line from Louisville and the former Baltimore & Ohio line from Cincinnati. For a number of years, through trains were routed over both routes before being shifted onto the former B&O.
There are many different locomotive models that appear, including models that have now all but vanished: GP9s, GP30s, GP35s, U23Bs, U30Cs, SD45s. GP40s, SD40s, GP38s, C40-8s and C40-8Ws also appear. With the footage in this program filmed primarily over a five year period, it is fascinating to watch how the look and makeup of the motive power roster evolved.
Neither of these lines have traffic to St. Louis anymore. The L&N lost its status as a through route, and then was cut off west of Oakawville, Illinois. The remaining 124 miles of the line was later leased to the Evansville Western, which operates it today. The B&O is out of service entirely today, as CSX took over the former Conrail line between Indianapolis and East St. Louis, and shifted all traffic from the old B&O to the former New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroad in 2016.
Credits: Diverging Clear Productions
The early years of CSX, a railway company in the United States of America, are the focus of these episodes in The Heritage Series. It features scenes of railroading that can never be experienced again.
When the Chessie System and the Seaboard System were combined, the new railroad company had two routes into East St. Louis: the former Louisville & Nashville line from Louisville and the former Baltimore & Ohio line from Cincinnati. For a number of years, through trains were routed over both routes before being shifted onto the former B&O.
There are many different locomotive models that appear, including models that have now all but vanished: GP9s, GP30s, GP35s, U23Bs, U30Cs, SD45s. GP40s, SD40s, GP38s, C40-8s and C40-8Ws also appear. With the footage in this program filmed primarily over a five year period, it is fascinating to watch how the look and makeup of the motive power roster evolved.
Neither of these lines have traffic to St. Louis anymore. The L&N lost its status as a through route, and then was cut off west of Oakawville, Illinois. The remaining 124 miles of the line was later leased to the Evansville Western, which operates it today. The B&O is out of service entirely today, as CSX took over the former Conrail line between Indianapolis and East St. Louis, and shifted all traffic from the old B&O to the former New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroad in 2016.
Credits: Diverging Clear Productions