Out-of-Service CSX Mainline with Intact Infrastructure

The CSX Illinois Subdivision runs 159 miles from Washington, IN, to East St. Louis, IL. For most of its existence, it was a crucial link for both freight and long-distance passenger service on the B&O system, hosting named trains such as the National Limited, and was the first line operated by an east coast railroad to reach the Mississippi River.
Continuing as a busy through-route under CSX, despite most on-line customers being lost to truck business, the Illinois Sub became endangered when CSX inherited the parallel Conrail St. Louis Line from its former competitor in 1999. Traffic was gradually redirected to this alternative routing over the ensuing years, until 2015, when the final four trains remaining were taken off.
Rail was cut at Caseyville and Flora, IL, officially ending service over a 90 mile portion of the line (with local service to several industries remaining on the eastern end). The rails at Caseyville were reconnected just two years later, in 2017, to allow for the line to be used for car storage, but in the end, only a couple of trains were run, and in 2019, all stored cars were removed and the rails cut once again.
In 2021-2022, most sidings were removed and scrapped, leaving only the main track with its still active signals, now also severed at the diamonds at Shattuc and Odin. While the future is uncertain for the route, the remaining infrastructure continues to await a train that may never come again.

[@JAVELIN73]

Thanks for the great video. Many of us were hoping that Union Pacific or KCS would buy this line all the way from St. Louis to Cincinnati or get running rights from CSX. The Indiana portion of this route is active with mixed freight and or autorack trains coming up from Louisville and then turning East to run to Cincinnati. Also, there is a local that runs from Seymour going West to service industries out that way. Still hoping that CSX will bring the complete St. Louis-Cincinnati through-route back "on line".

[@Sparky-js5xz]

I live on that B&O line you mentioned. I haven’t been able to see many trains run on it myself, but they do still run it.
They run mixed freight occasionally, and the local train in Mitchell runs the Leehigh concrete plant constantly. That industry is really strong and big enough to keep CSX’s focus. But other than that, it’s a decently quiet track line.
It used to be a very high end mainline running from Ohio to St. Louis, crossing over the MONON and connecting the Milwaukee Road & Pennsy line in Seymour. But, that time is long gone.
I wish I could’ve seen it, man. 🙁

[@RFRyan]

Finally someone made a video on this. As a guy from that area, I love to learn more about this line.

[@peoriavideosltd6822]

Interesting to see those new signals they installed (in the late 90s or early 2000s if I remember right) for all the new coal trains that were supposed to come from the UP, but as far as I know that never materialized. Prior to that the line had classic B&O color position light signals. Another interesting tidbit was that back in the 80s, there were abundant rumors that CSX would abandon this line in favor of keeping the ex-L&N line a few miles further south; instead the opposite happened and it was the ex-L&N that got the axe instead (in the early 90s). Surprisingly they have hung onto this one as long as they have.

[@BlackMan614]

Those signals look like PTC which is even more of an investment. Maybe they know something??

[@povertyspec9651]

I was a student at Vincennes University in the late 80's. One day my roommate came in with his clothes totally soiled and ruined. He said he had to jump off the railroad bridge over the Wabash River when a train suddenly showed up, LOL. It was this line and back then it was fairly busy.

[@tomt9543]

I watched a video several weeks ago about a CSX line in the Kentucky coal fields that has been long out of service, but in relatively good condition. Just like the line in this video, the signals were all still lit, although it’s been years since a train has passed and the rails blocked at each end of the line! I can’t believe the bean counters have permitted this, given the utility bills they get for each signal location!

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

The line was the EK,,,Eastern Kentucky Division.
East out of Winchester.

[@stevethompson6371]

Who remembers the Benzene unit trains heading to Cincinnati? Who remembers auto racks full of Chrysler Minivans and LaBarons headed to the east coast from St. Louis Assembly? Who remembers when the ex- Monon was rebuilt from Mitchell Indiana to Louisville so they could get rid of the ex-L+N line farther south. This new western u.s. originated traffic delivered from the UP taught me company names like JR Simplot. (French Fries) The Indiana Sub between Mitchell In. and Washington In. was the MOST scenic section across the entire line. When CSX abandoned the line across southern Ohio was incredibly short sighted as well. And now the Monon is a walking path from Bedford In. all the way to Louisville. UGH, THANKS CSX

[@erikmcc804]

Wow thank you bring this to light. Oh I hated when CSX out of service this once ran over 25 trains a day
.😢 Thanks again 😊 and I heard there was several rr wanted to by this line but they said no 😮

[@armandoperez7967]

I wouldn’t mind if Regional Rail buys the entire line from Cincinnati to St. Louis, then merge it with the Cincinnati Eastern Railroad, restore the east end of the CCET and the west end of the ex B&O then run the entire line as the Cincinnati Western Railroad.

[@nzardoin]

I recently when hiking this route! It’s beautiful

[@kens.3729]

Love the shuttered Ramon’s Eldorado Mexican Restaurant and the Dairy Haven near the Tracks that were Cut. 🤔🙏

[@gregrowe1168]

I live near this line as well. It would take some work to get it ready for trains again.

[@MattTheUPRailfan2006]

On the UP Lake Charles Sub, which is ABS(Automatic Block Signal Territory), has a old MP track that splits off to a old industry that stopped operations in the Mid 2000's in Oakdale, Louisiana...oh and it had a little abandoned switcher in the trees until they finally cut the ties in 2023 and removed the switcher...😢

[@itsfredestai8542]

Man I remember when this line was still active. I went to OTHS and that track sat right behind the campus and heard trains go by all the time. Sucks these tracks are out of service though

[@TrainsOfSouthernIllinois]

I grew up in O'Fallon and also went to OTHS. It was living near this line that sparked my love of trains.

[@cncndr5244]

The problem with this line being out of service for so long will be the attraction of copper thieves trying to find ways of busting open relay cabinets to get relays and batteries to scrap, just look at Tennessee Pass.

[@SOU6900]

That plus all the ones that want to get their hands on railway signals.

[@SignalMan9292]

@@SOU6900 To be honest CSX would replace all the equipment anyway if the line was ever reactivated.

[@CalebNomar]

If the rail is out of service and the rails discounted at both ends why keep the signals on 2:37?

[@Sugarmountaincondo]

Looks like a good place to take a speeder ride 😛

[@HighIronProductions]

@@Sugarmountaincondo that thought certainly came to mind when filming this!

[@pancudowny]

Think I'm seeing the formation of another Prairie Path here.

[@thatairplaneguy]

Very sad. Much the same of the line in Ravenna Kentucky. Rails are cut and both ends that used to see heavy traffic are all but completely abandoned. All it sees now is KSHC playing around. One day before long they’ll have C&O 2716 running but from where to where is up in the air unless CSX will give the abandonment to KSH

[@jonburch4989]

I'm sure being CSX they'll pull it from Mitchell west eventually a la Monon line

[@pruitt3507]

@ 2:15 what is that on the ties?

[@train_chicken6143]

There are lines in Kentucky that are losing traffic or are already like that line

[@rmactvc]

Would be nice to see a map of where it goes?

[@bluegrassman3040]

Google earth would work.

[@rmactvc]

@@bluegrassman3040 it would if I knew where it started and ended.

[@bluegrassman3040]

@@rmactvc I’ve probably traced it somewhere before on Google Earth. Maybe I can look when I have the time and reply back.

[@bluegrassman3040]

@@rmactvc I believe it’s the line that runs east/west through Vincennes, IN.

[@rmactvc]

@@bluegrassman3040 cool, thanks!

[@randombird-e8i]

I wonder why they haven't turned off all the railway signals

[@boylesterminalshops6841]

The layout itself looks great, but the era discrepancies in the trains and vehicles sticks out like a sore thumb.

[@WesleyEast-RRfan]

Do trains run between Vincennes and flora

[@HighIronProductions]

@@WesleyEast-RRfan yes, I believe so

[@StanBailey_50]

There is an L364 based out of Alice Yard (Vincennes) that serves customers between Flora and Washington through the week. About once a week, give or take, a grain shuttle will come up from Evansville, turn west at Vincennes, and go to Olney to get loaded.

[@WesleyEast-RRfan]

@@StanBailey_50 thanks for the info 👍

[@jeffreysheridan5205]

This will be kept for car storage, but won't see service again.

[@HighIronProductions]

@@jeffreysheridan5205 they decided to stop using it for car storage in 2019, since the crossings were already disabled and posed a safety issue for anything running on the line.

[@SignalMan9292]

Another Bad idea for CSX. It’s a second main track guys to the Saint Louis line. Why did they need to close this?

[@AbelG8781]

Must not be a bad idea if CSX is doing well without it

[@SignalMan9292]

@@AbelG8781 if PSR gets abolished then they will have to reopen it

[@AbelG8781]

@@SignalMan9292 will believe it when I see it

[@bluegrassman3040]

CSX ended up with multiple routes to StL in the 1980s I believe. StL is not their preferred gateway to the west.

[@TrainsOfSouthernIllinois]

It became redundant and surplus once CSX acquired the roughly parallel former Conrail line just to the north of here. Traffic was slowly dried up on this line, and eventually shifted entirely to the former Conrail route. Combine that with no online customers from St. Louis to Flora and this is the result unfortunately.

[@paulwalter2590]

Awfully well maintained track for a line that is out of service 😢

[@tinindian9543]

Lots of wasted money there.

[@NickLange-h3s]

It's a waste not using the csx line it's been closed nearly a decade please reopen it

[@tux_the_astronaut]

1:38 this crossing signals look very new. Its weird seeing them already abandoned