Gritty, Industrial Railroading - CN L525 Switches Decatur, Illinois Industries


Saturday afternoon, April 23, 2022, Canadian National Railway local L525 switched two customers at a small industrial park on Decatur, Illinois' northeast side. GTW 4934 and IC 3117 spotted a load and pulled an empty from Morgan Distributing Inc., and dug out three empties left by Parke Toll Packing & Blending, before shoving down the line.

It was good to see CN running on it own line for a chance. I've seen Decatur Junction Railway (DT) and even the Decatur & Eastern Illinois RR running on a portion of this line. Even better, watching a Class I servicing an industry on a branchline is irresistable!

Research reveals that Morgan Distributing Inc. opened its facility here in 1954, followed by Ring Can Corp. in 1984 and Parke-Toll Packing & Blending in 1996. The last one must have a trackmobile to move cars to and from CN's preferred pickup/setout spot. 

The industrial lead serving these industries diverges from the former Illinois Central Railroad line to White Heath and Champaign. CN owns to Green's Switch. The rest, owned by TopFlight Grain Co., ends at Cisco.

- David P. Jordan




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