Griffith, Indiana RR Junction w/CN

We are back in Griffith, Indiana for the first time in 11 years. This junction was once one of the most complex in the world-FIVE railroads once intersected here! The EL-C&O joint line came in from the southeast and crossed the EJ&E and GTW mains. An NYC branch from Joliet paralleled the "J" and crossed everything as well. The "J" also had a branch to Porter, which headed straight east.

The Porter branch was abandoned in 1985, and the EL was taken up in 1981, although a spur track remained to the north, which has since been severed. The C&O remains to the southeast to serve American Chemical. The NYC was closed on Conrail day, and torn up in 1978.

Here a westbound CN freight swings off the GTW main and enters the EJ&E via the southeast connector. Compare this video to the one I shot in 2000. Note the addition of the electronic bells on the poles, as well as the tower being relocated.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Griffith
• Indiana
• junction
• crossing
• diamonds
• museum
• park
• EJ&E
• GTW
• Grand
• Trunk
• Western
• Elgin
• Joliet
• Eastern
• NYC
• EL
• Erie
• Lackawanna
• C&O
• tower
• Chicago
• train
• freight
• Canadian
• National
• CN

[KFCJones]

About how many trains/day go through this area? Worth the trip?

[ma7799]

@KFCJones There are around 40 trains a day, but they are spread out. Traffic is moderate, but it is worth going there on a Sunday when the museum is open. The lady that runs the place, Shirley, is very nice.

[gregrocks66]

So much has changed, the whole what used to be the J line is now a quiet zone