ex-Monon and PRR RIP at Munster, IN 2000

As my father and I began our railfanning trip to Indiana and Ohio, we stopped at Munster, Indiana, which was once a very busy location with plenty of history.
0:00-0:38- We are looking north, and then south on the abandoned ROW of the Monon's mainline that heading north to State Line Junction in Hammond.
0:38-0:54 We are then looking south at Arline Junction, where the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Panhandle" mainline once crossed the Monon. Note that the tracks are gone, but the diamond remains! Beginning in February, 1972, Amtrak's FLORIDIAN began using the PRR through here to reach Logansport and Indianapolis. The JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY joined in October, 1973. Both trains were routed off this line in 1974 after the FRA condemned it due to unsafe track conditions. Amtrak service returned in 1975, when the FLORIDAN was rerouted through on the Monon until it was discontinued in Fiscal Year 1979. On October 1,1980, Amtrak service again returned with the HOOSIER STATE taking the PRR Bernice Cutoff to reach the "Panhandle" line. The Panhandle was used for a few miles to this location, where the train used a southwest connecting track to reach the Monon. This connecting track ran where the new strip of gravel is located at 0:48. Does anyone know when Conrail stopped using this line? The tracks did pick up to the east a few miles, and I know they are still in use at Hartsdale.

In 1994, The HOOSIER STATE was rerouted off the Panhandle Line and onto the L&N line through Dolton and down to Thornton Junction, where it swings onto the Grand Trunk Western to reach the Monon at 1:04. Note the diamond sitting off to the side. This location was known as Manyard. Note the abandoned signals still sanding sentinel along the overgrown rails.

The reason for the Monon ROW remaining intact, is because the Indiana suburbs intend on reactivating it for commuter service. Does anyone know when the last CSX train used the Monon through here?

Category:

Science & Technology

[chevelle396guy]

When did this line get abandoned?

[ma7799]

@chevelle396guy

I do not know. I believe Amtrak made their last run over the Monon via the PRR in 1994. I do not know when the Monon was last used north of here.

[kmothersil]

I hope those track are used again some day. If Amtrak survives long enough and something positive is done about LD trains the Floridian may return, but only time will tell.

[howardkevinm]

what is with videos having sound only on one side?

[gda44256]

reminders of trains from the past and now part of railroad history

[trainmandan05]

Ahhh, I love old railways like this, I can almost here those old whistles from the PRR steamers that would have gone through, Thanks for sharing....

[DJMightyRaton]

Where?

[larry84988]

I'm glad someone got video of these locations, I used to walk those areas when I was a kid, I used to live in the neighborhood in that area. Thanks for posting this, it brought back many good memories

[CSXandSpartanfan33]

The signal was green

[SkyhawkACE123]

Thanks for the re-send!