Hey everyone and welcome back.
This should be a fun trip that starts out at the CSX Queensgate Yard, just west of downtown Cincinnati.
Skip to the trains:
NB by the B&O Warehouse: 6:25
SB over the Ohio River: 15:39
Latonia Turning onto the LCL: 22:10
Walton: 29:43
Worthville: 31:27
La Grange: 36:48
I hadn't railfanned CSX in a while and figured I'd see what was out there.
Well, there wasn't much this day.
I heard several trains heading northbound out of the yard, but nothing southbound into Kentucky.
After leaving the yard, I was checking signals on the CSX line into the yard when I spotted a train making its way north.
I only had time to turn on my drone and start recording from the old Baltimore and Ohio warehouse parking lot.
After the train was gone, I did another round of signal checks.
I went over to Covington and back.
I was about to give up when I saw what I believe is an approach medium, which means proceed approaching the next signal at no faster than medium speed.
I went a little closer to the river and got set up.
A short time later and we had some action.
While it's structurally sound, the C&O Railroad Bridge sure could use a coat of paint.
Next door, the Brent Spence Bridge, which carries I-71 and I-75 is getting a fresh coat.
Maybe CSX will do the same, but I doubt it.
I headed to Latonia and do another signal check.
When I got to the 33rd Street crossing, I was too late and a northbound train was already there.
As the train cleared the crossing what looked like an engine in the distance.
I then saw the crew members climb aboard.
A couple moments later and the switch lined for a diverging move and then the signal improved to a slow clear.
Latonia is a no horn zone, so it's relatively quiet as the train makes its way through town.
The tracks go by the Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati.
www.cincirailmuseum.org/
It's got several great pieces that are worth checking out, but right now, it looks like it's still shut down due to COVID.
Make sure to check the group's Facebook page to see when it opens.
I debated where I should head to next after the train cleared.
There are a few spots I've been to in independence and Walton, but I wanted to go somewhere new.
I decided to head south to a bridge I've driven or ridden under hundreds of times.
The CSX Salem Creek Road Bridge, which goes over I-75.
It was built in 1940 before the interstate.
It's 630 feet long.
This was the first time I've been to this spot.
I will say, it was cooler in my mind.
There wasn't anywhere to pull off that wouldn't hurt someone's yard and the view isn't that great because of the fencing along the girders.
Hopefully, that southbound was waiting for this train to go by and I haven't already missed it.
Well, on to our next stop to find out.
I like taking the backroads on the LCL.
I typically get off at the Glencoe exit on I-71 and then go to the center of town.
There are signals there in both directions here, but you can only easily see the southbound ones at south end Glencoe.
Sure enough, we have a clear signal.
I kept driving to Worthville.
It's a few minutes longer than the interstate, but I like staying on state route 467.
It runs parallel to the tracks for most of the way.
As we continue, I notice many of the signals, are not lit.
I get automatic block signals not being illuminated all the time, but always wondered about control point signals.
I can't imagine it costs much to keep them lit, but it seems to be pretty common on the LCL and CC subs.
The far right track leads to the Carrollton & Worthville Railroad.
It runs for about 15 miles, north and east from here.
I don't know if it's still or ever was true, but the 15 miles of track the Carrollton & Worthville Railroad operates, is claimed to produce more revenue per mile than any other track owned by CSX.
Worthville lies at the bottom of the Kentucky River Valley.
As they climb out of the valley, eastbound trains face a 1.7 percent grade.
While westbound trains deal with a 1.46 percent grade.
The Louisville, Cincinnati & Lexington Railroad established at Worthville a locomotive service facility.
It had a water tank and coal and sand towers.
During the steam locomotive era, helper locomotives were based at Worthville to assist heavy freight trains in the climb out of the Kentucky River Valley.
www.csxthsociety.org/journal/...
Lastly, we head to La Grange to hopefully see some street running.
The Oldham County website says as many as 30 trains come through each day, but I'm sure that's been cut pretty substantially since COVID and as precision scheduled railroading continues to trim and cut.
touroldham.com/trains/
The town has really embraced the railroad and railfans.
It built a train viewing platform.
You can see the northbound signal from it and you have a clear view of the street-running section to the south.
I hope you enjoyed the trip.
Until our next one, have a great day.
8 май 2021
