Sending Cars Over the Hump: CSX's Avon Yard in Action 

"I literally couldn't believe it, why would anyone like something that sounded so incredibly boring" This sort of tedious hobby attracts people with certain personality disorders. Aspberger's especially, but also OCD and other disorders.

Does seem to be the case for most.

​@ratofnihm so does your mom

I agree completely. It's easy to get mesmerized watching the cars go throughout the yard. I'm really glad to hear you enjoyed the video.

Its like watching the inside of an internet router

😂😂😂

Thanks as always Terry. I was really happy with how the yard action turned out.

Thank you very much, Robert. I really do appreciate it.

Thank you very much, I really do appreciate it.

Thanks for sharing. I know a few of my dad's friends who worked for the railroad and they said they loved it and it was more than a job or even a career, it was a life for them. I can't imagine what they'd think working for one of the companies now though.

Thanks, Danny. I hope to visit a few other yards in the coming months and put together videos showcasing their operations.

I believe everything is computer controlled to where the routing and switching are all taken care of by a computer program.

A good spot to go to is in Palmer Massachusetts at the at the dead end at the abandoned train station but it is now a restaurant and it is where New England Central inner to interchanges with CSX you would absolutely s*** yourself on how many trains come through here daily I would probably say about forty of them a day

Where is this yard anyway this is a very unique yard I would love to go here and videotape this I have a air drone that I'm itching do dry out the last one I had crashed because somebody's RC helicopter crashed into it I don't know how that was possible but when I found the wreckage I found an AC helicopter next to all the wreckage nobody claimed responsibility for it but my air drone was worth a good eight hundred bucks really pisses me off. I'm a lot more cautious but like I said you want a good train spot you have to try Palmer Massachusetts rate at the dead end spa & Palmer where the old train station used to be and the old train station is still there it's still is there but I it's converted to a restaurant now last time I was there. And it's right where New England Central interchanges with CSX

The yard is just west of Indianapolis. It's a great yard but you will need a drone. I didn't see many spots you could easily railfan from.

I'll keep that in mind if I'm in the Massachusetts area. Thanks for the info.

Thank you very much. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it.

Thank you. I was really pleased with how the yard action turned out. I plan to try this at a few yards. I'm planning on going back to the Queensgate Yard. I'm also looking at the NS yard in Chattanooga. Let me know anywhere else you think would look good.

@@nkyrailfan depends on how far you want to travel. Two hump yards that need video documentation are CSX Radnor yard in Nashville & NS Elkhart yard. I hear Elkhart is HUGE!!

Those are both very good ideas. I'll have to plan trips to them this spring or summer.

I'm very glad to hear you enjoyed it. I've been to Indianapolis many times. I even went a few times to Union Station when it was a shopping center. It's a great place to watch trains. I'm sure you've already found his videos, but search Distant Signal. They really got me into this.

Thank you very much, I do appreciate it. I'm very glad you enjoyed it.

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it. The thing I always take away from filming these yards is how easy it is for someone to get hurt if they're not always paying attention.

Thank you very much, Johnathan. I do appreciate it.

Thanks for the great information! I do appreciate it.

Thank you. I hope to get to a few more hump yards over the spring and summer.

Thank you. I've got another one from Chicago I'm working on. I hope to have it out in the next few days.

Well, this is certainly a first! I have no doubt dispatcher AB is the coolest! I should have stuck around longer. It seemed things were just getting interesting when she took over.

​@NKY Railfan always have something going on Sundays! 😅 thanks though, always fun to hear myself and know I don't sound like as big of a dork as I think 😁

😂😂😂 I thought you sounded very professional. I initially thought you were an engineer when I first heard you. And if you ever have a crew time for anything heading to Cincinnati through Connersville, I would love to know. I've been trying to catch something on that line for some time.

I'm glad you're enjoying it. I should have some really good 4K stuff coming out in the coming months.

Thank you. I was really happy with the perspective from the drone. I enjoyed following along as the cars were sorted throughout the yard. Have a great evening as well.

@@nkyrailfan Your very welcome and yes it was a very good job and well done.

Glad to hear you enjoyed it, Nick.

Thanks, Edward. I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the videos.

Thank you, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it.

Thank you. I appreciate that. I'm hoping to get to a few more yards with humps this year.

I plan to head up there and capture the rail yards I'm able to. Let me know any good spots you know of. I typically just use Google Maps to try and find them. I was actually there today getting some of the Amtrak facility. I hope to get that video out this week.

Glad to hear you enjoyed the video. I was also surprised to see the intermodal head over the hump, I just assumed they were always block swapped. I'd love to hear up to Selkirk, but it's about a ten hour drive for me. So, I may need some time to figure out how to make it work.

Well, i can tell you I knew they sent car transport railcars down the hump, despite the fact they cars explicitly say "No Hump" I used to work in a railyard offloading those, and every car from Nissan carrying Frontier pickups had been humped, and every one had damaged vehicles in it. One was so bad we had to put a pair of trucks into 4 x 4 and drive them to pull the suckers apart.

That's crazy!

My father shared so many stories of our lovely city. I finally made it back 5 days last week to search for a lost dog. It was heartbreaking to see the degradation and a vastly discarded homeless population along the beautiful river. I grew up in a cabin Dad built along the west fork of White River in Sunshine Gardens. We were blessed to experience Indianapolis before the urban sprawl, multiple recessions, and many once gorgeous buildings left in disrepair post-rioting 2 years ago. I grew up doing all the IN Historical Society treasurehunts and won t-shirts with Dad and my twin. Indianapolis can heal. When I'm rich, I'm cleaning it up myself! I could get rich recycling the cans.

That's awesome! You're the first conductor to comment on a video in which I filmed their train.

I'm hoping to find a railroader to talk with and have them explain everything going on in the video. No luck so far but I'm trying.

Thank you. I'm planning on covering Middletown at some point, I'm just not sure of the frequency/schedule for any train activity. If you have any information, I certainly would appreciate it.

Thank you. I hope you make it to Waycross. I would love make it there one day. Danny Harmon really has sold it as a railfan heaven.

no way! was just wondering about the dog that's good to hear i was worried about it.

@potatothorn Home safely! WRTV6 updated the public early Monday. They were amazing to work with. Gunner the Golden Retriever is home. ♡ Thank you!

Dog seemed to be goin' somewhere with a purpose. Train didn't even faze him.

@@spikespa5208 We're beyond thankful Gunner is home with his family!

​@@spikespa5208 Ths car rolled several times. If this is Gunner, he wasn't afraid.❤

I actually have a video that includes a stop at the tunnel. I was there on a cold, rainy day and the train I was following from Louisville stalled on the grade and had to wait for a helper to push it up the hill. I hope to get that video out in the next few weeks. I bet you could look around the area if you waited for a train to go by and then followed up to the Corydon Pk entrance.

I've had a few folks reach out about Galesburg. I'd love to head there , but the city airport restricts drone flight above 100 feet for nearly the entire yard. I'm not sure what I could get only being able to fly that high. Most of my footage is in the 200-300 ft. range. I'll see if I can make it work if there are some nearby spots to view the yard without trespassing.

Thank you very much. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the video.

That is a crazy amount of trains to see!!! I've actually been planning a trip to Elkhart, I just need to find the time. It's about a four-hour drive from where I am, so I want to make it worthwhile and have a lot of daylight. One of the issues is how close it is to the airport. And it is an airport I must get permission to fly my drone near a few months in advance. Luckily, there is a section that I can fly my drone without permission, so I think I can make it work. I'll try and let you know when I make it up there. Feel free to let me know where you all set up.

I was surprised to see them continue over the hump too. I guess it's easier and quicker to just keep going.

I actually have a video I'm working on that finishes up in Muncie. I followed an NS train along the New Castle District from Cincinnati to Muncie (it got too dark to go further). Muncie was a great place that I look forward to visiting again.

@NKY Railfan be looking forward to seeing it.

I bet those were some great days spent at the yard!

@@nkyrailfan yes it was, it was in the late 60s to the early 70s. They still had a few steamers running, got to ride one. I was about 13 then.

Thanks for the name of the fieldhouse. I saw a few games as a kid visiting family at Market Square Arena in the 90s but haven't been back downtown in several years.

Thank you very much, I do appreciate it. I recently purchased the DJI Mavic 3. It has a wide-angle lens and a telephoto lens (tight field of view). I am very happy with the quality that comes out of the drone. That parking garage is a great spot if you don't mind the $10.

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I felt the same when I saw the engine. I wonder if it's been sold or something. It looked to be in good shape.

@@nkyrailfan The Mass Coastal GP59, the BNSF B40-8s, and the UP gensets were all bound for LTEX in Lordstown, OH. I'm fairly local to the area and have seen a lot of stuff about several genset moves going through, and have seen posts about those B40-8s in facebook groups

Thanks for the info. Have you heard if they're destined for anywhere after Lordstown? Or will they be there for an indefinite amount of time?

haven't seen any comments about a deadline. So, hopefully, still in service.

@@nkyrailfan The back porches on those SDs look like you could put a barbecue grill and a couple lawn chairs on em.😉

I'm glad you noticed it. What a great story! Thank you for sharing the trip the transformer took. I figured they must handle a load like that pretty delicately.

@@nkyrailfan If you would be kind enough to give us permission we may utilize a few seconds of your clip of the unit in a video of the project. Let us know. TY

Yeah, that is no problem. I grant permission to use the clip as part of a video for the project.

@@nkyrailfan Thank you very much! When we get this project complete and do a video we will get you a copy. Best Regards my friend.

I believe it's all computer controlled based on RF ID tags on each car.

@@nkyrailfan Remember when it was all done manually? Incredible!

Thanks for the info, Chuck. I do appreciate it. I'll plan on checking it out the next time in the area. Have a great day.

Thank you very much. I'm hoping to get to a few more yards and catch the hump in action.

Thank you, I do appreciate that. I use a Uniden BC75XLT with Diamond RH77CA antenna. I'm looking to upgrade because I'm not satisfied with it when I'm along a mainline. I really have to be close to something to get food reception.

I'm working on a plan to make it up there. I'm hoping to do it within the next few weeks depending on the weather. I'll try and let you know when I do.

I'm hoping to make it Elkhart in the coming weeks. I really enjoyed Fostoria and Marion the few times I've been

Hey Bobby. I've actually tried to get the Mapother Yard a couple times but only did so once. I have to stay back from it because of the airport. But if you have a recommendation on a window to stop by when it'll be busy, I'd love to head there and check it out. I haven't been to Obannon Yard but hope to check that out soon too.

@@nkyrailfan Louisville yard is usually busy during the day and with it getting warmer, there should me more activity in the yard itself and Obannon yard is usually busy around 4-ish. That’s the time we work the Ford plant and double the attracts from the ramp to take to Louisville. Actually there’s 2 trains that take auto racks from the ramp to Louisville. The first is at 4pm and the other starts at 830pm and the RCO works the actual Ford industry around the same time. Hope this helps

Wow! I had no clue that was being considered. This is one of the company's busiest yards.