Hoosier State Rail Series: Hick Tower And Drawbridges, East Chicago, IN. 9-22-09

Hick Tower is located at CP503 along the Norfolk Southern Chicago Line. Hick controls the drawbridges as well as interlocking in the area and remains to be one of the few operating towers along the NS system. There are five draw bridges, but the only ones still in operation are the NS and EJ&E/CN one. The old EJ&E Lake Front Subdivision is slightly used so the bridge remains up most of the time. The other three bridges belonged to the B&O and are now abandoned, sitting in a raised position for years now. The lines leading to the bridges have long been removed. Local indiana Harbor industries such as the Arcelor Mittal Mill and BP Amoco surround the junction. The Indiana Harbor and Lake Michigan are a few steps North.

Today was my first time at Hick. I got a tour of the tower which will be in the following video.

4:12PM-
Looking East towards CP502, Amtrak Wolverine 353 slowly approaches Hick.
NPCU #90215
P42DC #33

4:43PM-
A short NS manifest rolls in going West.
NS C40-8W #8361
NS C40-9W #9159

4:47PM-
A long container intermodal with a four-pack of power crosses the aging PRR drawbridge on it's way East.
NS C40-9W #9933
NS C40-9W #9644
NS SD70M-2 #2754
NS C40-9W #9901

4:57PM-
Here's a few rare shots from the tower itself. I stand on the staircase to shoot Amtrak Blue Water 364 crossing the bridge.
P42DC #34
P42DC #27

5:05PM-
Second train to come while I was up in the tower was a CP trackage rights manifest.
CP AC4400CW #9658
CP AC4400CW #8561

5:18PM-
Another trackage rights manifest follows, this time in the form of CSX. I really liked the way this shot turned out!
CSXT AC4400CW #374
CSXT SD40-2 #8444

5:34PM-
I'm back at ground level after spending some time in the tower as an NS Z-train slows as it gets ready to switch over to the IHB.
NS C40-9W #8935
NS SD70M-2 #2681

6:02PM-
Awesome NS power leads a container intermodal West.
NS SD70 #2502
NS SD70M-2 #2747

6:06PM-
Amtrak Pere Marquette 370 runs Push Pull East.
P42DC #75
NPCU #90221

6:13PM-
This IHB NW2 leads some empty INLX coil cars into the yard, across the NS and CN.

6:28PM-
The last Eastbound Wolverine Train of the evening, number 354, heads East across the bridge.
P42DC #127
NPCU #90218

6:34PM-
This empty coke train took the connector over to the NS and heads back East to be loaded.
CSXT C40-8W #7801

6:49PM-
Another train consisting of foriegn power heads in taking form of UP SD70Ms. A sweet NS high hood trails.
UP SD70M #3997
UP SD70M #4332
NS GP38-2 #5227

6:58PM-
While other railroads have their "good" power in storage, NS continues to run it. Classic power leads a manifest East across the bridge.
NS C40-9 #8844
NS SD60 #6608
NS GP38-2 #5512

7:08PM-
This NS manifest headed West slows to a stop at Hick most likely waiting for traffic to clear ahead. For the third time tonight, a Geep trails on a consist.
NS ES40DC #7652
NS GP60 #7147

7:14PM-
The manifest has been on the move for a while now when an Eastbound Z-train meets it.
NS C40-9W #9898
NS C40-9W #9048

(c) 9th Street Productions.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• NS
• EJ&E
• CN
• IHB
• B&O
• PRR
• CR
• Hick
• CP503
• CP502
• Arcelor
• Mittal
• Steel
• Mill
• East
• Chicago
• Indiana
• Harbor
• Lake
• Michigan
• Whiting
• Hammond
• Gary
• Pine
• Train
• Railroad
• Intermodal
• Container
• Manifest
• Unit
• Transfer
• Local
• Throughbred
• Railfan
• Foamer

[TommyBNSF]

wow very interesting place, have to check it out sometime, or just come with you.

[BoxcarFrank]

Just let me know ;)

[DL2045]

any word on what they are going to do with the abandoned bridges?

[BoxcarFrank]

They arn't bothering anything so they will be left like this forever. All the track leading up to the bridges is long gone.

[properfit]

Superb video. Thanks for posting this. Hick Tower is literally two miles from the neighborhood in East Chicago where I grew up. The sound of those trains will always be with me.

For those who asked, the drawbridges span the Indiana Harbor Ship Canal.

[phorneker]

Nice catch on the CSX trains. I hear these trains going through Michigan City on the Grand Rapids line.

[m25hop]

really enjoyed this vid, thanks

[gameover340]

nice video

[BrunsAce]

Indiana Harbor Canal..from what I can tell..

[Aaron200707]

I guess they don't call this area the "Rust Belt" for nothing. I believe this is just before you get to Chicago Union Station. Correct me if I'm wrong.