#wabashriver

First Job—Palestine, Illinois

Here are some images taken in a small Illinois town near the Wabash River. I had recently graduated high school and figured I’d work a year before going to college. (Something they’d call a “gap year” nowadays.) My job was third-trick operator with the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad, which was later chopped up with most of it being folded into the Canadian National Railway.

This series has a depressed air about it, and I suppose that’s accurate—I was lonely and would often head back to my hometown of Bloomington, Indiana, on my weekends to visit friends and stay over at my parents’ house. I usually drove my second-hand car, but hitched a ride on a freight there and back at least once.

While most of these images show the small town itself, I can explain a few of them. The second image shows the yard office, former freight station, in which I worked. The fourth is a self-portrait in the shabby, furnished apartment in which I lived, right downtown in a 19th century building, part of the business district. And the final shot is the desk at which I worked within the yard office—the date on the calendar is December 12th 1978.

Peru, Indiana—Before & After

The top image shows us a westbound C&O train on the Wabash River Bridge at Peru, Indiana. It looks like there are two rail enthusiasts are on the bridge—they are most likely anticipating the eastbound Chessie Steam Special transfer move due right around that time. Image by Richard Koenig; taken August 7th 1977.

Peru, Indiana, Part Two

Passing through north-central Indiana, I came upon a town named Peru. Three railroads once crossed paths here, but only one remains: the former Wabash, now part of the Norfolk Southern.

The Chesapeake and Ohio once came up from the southeast, crossed the Wabash River on the south side of town, and then swung to the northwest to head toward Chicago.

Peru, Indiana, Part Three

Passing through north-central Indiana, I came upon a town named Peru. Three railroads once crossed paths here, but only one remains: the former Wabash Railroad, now part of the Norfolk Southern.

The New York, Chicago, and St. Louis—or Nickle Plate Road—once traversed the town from north to south. This is where this railroad crossed the Wabash River, to the west of where the C&O did.

Over the Wabash River

I believe this westbound C&O train is on the Wabash River Bridge at Peru, Indiana. It looks like there are two rail enthusiasts are on the bridge—they are most likely anticipating the eastbound Chessie Steam Special transfer move due right around that time, which explains the third picture here.

Riverton, Indiana

A northbound Illinois Central Gulf train crosses over the Wabash River Bridge at Riverton, Indiana. This was Illinois Central’s branch line to Indianapolis. The lead unit is Illinois Central number 9500, an EMD GP38AC. The date on the bridge says it was built 1910 and is still in service today for the Indiana Rail Road.