After the safety briefing at the National New York Central Museum in Elkhart, the three convention buses drove the short distance to the Elkhart Yard. Each bus stopped at pre-determined areas where an employee or two boarded and told about each location and its activities. Passengers were then allowed off the bus but had to stay beside it and could not wander around.
Welcome to Elkhart Terminal Norfolk Southern, also known as the Robert Young Rail Yards.
Conrail Elkhart Yard Visitors Guide from the Indiana Railfan Guide website.
The engine terminal in the yard.
The hump yard tower.
The hump yard tower and the all-weather building in which the operator lifts the pin so that the car, or cars, can uncouple.
A yard office.
Canadian National SD75ACC 8308, nee SD75I 5662, built by General Motors Diesel in 1996.
A Norfolk Southern train was rolling through the yard.
This was led by Norfolk Southern SD40-2 3419, nee Conrail 6512, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1979.
Norfolk Southern SD40-2 6197, nee Norfolk and Western 6197, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1980.
Norfolk Southern RPU6 slug, nee Conrail RSD-12 6869 built by American Locomotive Company in 1978. In 2006, it was upgraded from Norfolk Southern MT-6 slug 974, ex. Norfolk Southern 1104, nee Conrail 1107.
The empty continuously-welded train proceeding through the yard on its way to the hump.
Norfolk Southern GP38 5650, ex. Norfolk Southern 2929, exx. Conrail 7881, nee Penn Central 7881, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1971 with a former caboose now a shoving platform.
The continously-welded rail train and the locomotives proceeding up, through and over the hump.
On the rear of a long mixed freight was a set of K+S Potash Canada hoppers which had been cut off from the rest of the train and were sent to the hump to be put in the consist of another train, destination unknown.
KSPX covered hoppers 5119 and 5143. K+S Potash Canada is part of K+S Group, a German-based company and one of the world’s largest salt producers and international potash suppliers. K+S Group extracts and refines mineral raw materials on four continents for customers all over the world. Customer-focused, K+S Group continually meets the growing demand for mineral products from production sites in Europe and North and South America through a worldwide sales network.
KSPX covered hopper 5177, travelling down the hump.
KSPX covered hopper 5121, travelling down the hump.
Two tanks cars make their way down the slope.
Back on the bus before we went to the next location, Lyons Salt Company, LYSX covered hopper 492477 took its turn on the hump.
Norfolk Southern GP38-2 5173, nee Southern 5173, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1976.
Norfolk Southern SD40-2 6139, nee Norfolk and Western 6139, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1978.
Norfolk Southern SD40-2 3385, nee Conrail 6451, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1978.
Norfolk Southern GP38-2 5243, nee Southern 5243, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1979.
An arriving CSX freight train.
CSX ES44AC-H 781, built by General Electric in 2007.
CSX AC44CW 85, built by General Electric in 1995.
The locomotives as seen through the bus window.
Auto-Max automobile cars in the consist of the long freight train which was going to be split up and sent down the hump.
CSXT boxcar 151332 "Big Blue" in the consist of the long freight train which was going to be split up.
John Deere tractors as part of the consist.
The Auto Max tri-level auto cars on the hump.
Some of the John Deere tractors taking their turn.
The three buses exited at the west end of the yard and returned to East Lansing via the tolled Interstate 90 to Interstate 69. Elizabeth and I had dinner at Raising Cane's then returned to the hotel for the night.
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