Monon Railroad In South Hammond, Indiana - Part 1

[AlexMonreal7]

i used to play on that bridge lol

[HoosierLine]

Should of read down.....you answered part of my question 7 months ago...

[HoosierLine]

I have some questions...I model Monon in N scale and am expanding my layout to include the Kankakee River and Monon yard in Hammond, Ind. This interstate in your video (I 80/94) was this present during the time when the Monon merged into the L&N and is it also know as The Borman Express Way?

[upcarknocker]

@HoosierLine Yes, the Borman Expressway was there during and after the L&N Monon merger.

[howardkevinm]

is that a branch line or something because the Carindal uses much of the Monon line from Indianapolis to Chicago

[upcarknocker]

@howardkevinm This is the main line from State Line to Maynard Jct/Air Line Jct. which is all abandoned. The Cardinal no longer attains Indianapolis via The former Monon Route. The Monon - Indianapolis line has been abandoned for quite some time.

[20ROUSH06]

How do I get to this sight?

[RegionRatForever]

@upcarknocker Nice video. I walked this bridge myself about two years returning from Schoop's on Ridge Road to my dad's home in Hammond.

I believe this video is (mostly, anyway) in Munster, the town just south of Hammond. If one is in between the river and the expressway, one is in Munster.

And, yes, the switching yard was a pain for those of us who lived nearby. I can't tell you how many times we had to wait 15, even 30 minutes to cross, all the while 200 yards from home!

[RegionRatForever]

I see now the acknowledgement of Munster in your subtitle.

This unfortunately was never part of the South Shore. I fantasize now about extending the South Shore on this line. It might be the bestt hope for Hammond. One could foresee a nice development taking shape at 173rd Street. The still-attractive homes nearby would then become much more desirable.

@HoosierLine The expressway was definitely there going back to at least the mid-60s. My guess at the construction date would be late 1950s.

[CSXandSpartanfan33]

Did most of this ever be part of the south shore line

[Featureman]

Thanks for the memories. I lived in Hammond from the late 1930s until the early 1950s. My family rode the Monon several times to Kentucky and back. The Calumet River was not far away from where I lived on Calumet Avenue. It is always sad to see the old constructions dying away, like the Calumet Theater and that great railroad. Very historical images.

[HoosierLine]

When was the expressway built? Was this here during the very early 70's before the merger with L&N?

[9005067]

I really enjoyed the documentation of this Monon abandoned railline



[Woodbutcher681]

GREAT VIDEO!

I lived in one of those houses just east of the trestle until 1964 and this was part of our playground. Back then the Monon Yard was in full operation including the roundhouse. I remember seeing passenger trains and circus trains crossing the bridge. We used to cross the bridge (on the now missing walkway) into Munster to steal carrots from the farm fields that were there. I can remember times in the Summer that the river was even lower than it was the day you filmed it,

Thanks

[mkmcclure]

This is great. good video and narration. I'd love to go next time!

[fivestarfood]

Nostalgic for me since I've spent plenty of time around that bridge as a youth. Further down that line into Munster it was common to find all sorts of switches,light towers,batteries,& different glass and porcelain electrical insulators. There's still plenty of spikes laying on the ground wherever the tracks have been removed.

[storrs19]

I believe 173rd street bisected the yard and thus was a problem as automobile traffic increased. The south end of South Hammond was at 23.9 and there was a pair of intermediate semaphores at 24.6 / 24.7 This is incredible footage. Like they just abandoned the tracks and run like hell.

[Landaux]

What year did these tracks go out of service? When did the last train pull out.

[intercityrailpal]

I'm really sorry you missed the Monon, The Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville. I didn't. The first time I heard of the Monon. There was a article in a railroad magazine about them dropping the last passenger train! I was in class in high school. As soon as I could I saved up the money hopped on the Erie-Lackawanna to Huntington, Ind then hopped on the Wabash Cannonball to Lafayette, Ind. Then the Monon to Louisville. A very nice trip. The next time it was Chicago all the way to Louisville.

[intercityrailpal]

@intercityrailpal I still have my pictures. Later I moved to the midwest and worked for The C&NW. I do hope you have the many books and the Monon movie. It's really cool with music too. Many Monon songs! You work for the Pacific Railroad of the Union Army? (Union Pacific) Well I used too also.

[pkey1971]

Great video! Thanks

[pwalpar]

Very interesting presentation and you did very well narrating the video. Ryan heres a tip to make the copyright sign. alt0169

Hold the alt key hit 0169 with the number keys on the right side of the keyboard.

© © © Good video 5*

[upcarknocker]

Thanks for the tip Walter ©........

[AviationMetalSmith]

Great video! I'm the third viewer, and I'm waiting for part two.

[upcarknocker]

Glad you liked it. thanks for watching.