IHB and EJ&E Lakefront Yards

(Satellite)

Scott Griffith posted
Shoving back from the Lake front
Dennis DeBruler I believe this photo is facing westish from here. The outer B&OCT mainline is in the foreground, the train is on the original B&O passenger line and the tracks on the right are the NS/Conrail/PC/NYC/LSMS tracks.

This is a nice example of a caboose being recycled as a CSX shoving platform.

Excerpt from B&OCT Map

While researching where this picture was taken, I found a map showing two Lake Front Yards --- EJ&E closest to the lake, and IHB next to the EJ&E yard. Looking at a satellite image, there is still a yard in this vicinity, but it has been cut back to make room for a casino. The SPV Map implies the current yard is used by EJ&E.


2006 Flickr looking across the yard towards Buffington Harbor.  Street View   The silos and smokestacks in the background are a cement plant.

2015 Flickr of IHB Yard

Update:

Arturo Gross posted
All of NS's ex UP SD90s have either been rebuilt as SD70ACUs, or are in process now. So here's a lookback at former UP SD9043AC, now NS 7296, parked at E. Chicago, Indiana Harbor with an empty gondola train for the South Chicago & Indiana Harbor.
Dennis DeBruler I like the cuts of coil and bottle cars. I presume that is a steel mill in the background. Would you be more specific as to the location? I can't find a bridge with a side ramp on a satellite image.Arturo Gross That overpass in the background is the ramp to the East Chicago (IN) Marina and the Ameristar Casino, off of Cline Avenue. 7296 is on the Norfolk Southern ex NYC mainline and the yard in the background is IHB's Lakefront Yard which primarily serves the ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor works steel mill (which is out of sight to the left and behind).
Dennis DeBruler Thanks for also providing the name of IHB's yard. So the background is Carmeuse Lime & Stone, not a steel company.https://www.google.com/.../data=!3m6!1e1!3m4...

Joseph Kelly Thompson Flickr 2019 Photo

MTSX 115 @ East Chicago, Indiana

MTSX 115 works steel slabs east towards the Lakefront Yard in East Chicago, Indiana.

Nick Hart posted

BLE SD40T-3 910 and GTW GP9R 4623 are in charge of CN train R980, the Lakefront local that runs from Kirk Yard to South Chicago. Skirting Lake Michigan, the train is slowly making its way past IHB's Lakefront Yard in East Chicago, IN.

CN Lakefront Subdivision
02-28-18
Dennis DeBruler Did you have "car trouble" on the ramp to Aldis Street? https://www.google.com/.../data=!3m6!1e1!3m4...

Viral Media posted

Lakefront Yard

Looking west toward Indiana Harbor:

NS Chicago Line ( left) the CN Lakefront line, the IHB yard (12 tracks), and the CN (EJ&E) yard (4 tracks) is next to the lake.

The Indiana Harbor Belt Lakefront Yard is near the Ameristar Casino in East Chicago, Indiana. The yard is the northern terminus of the IHB Kankakee Line after it crosses the NS Chicago Line at CP502. The former Elgin, Joliet and Eastern (now CN) also has small yard directly adjacent to the lake, that connect to the CN Buffington yard to the east, then to Kirk Yard.

Although NS is tenant is of IHB, but only IHB and CN crews operate on the lake front. The IHB is an independent railroad which is jointly owned by Conrail Shared Assets Operations (51%) and Canadian Pacific Railway (49%).

Pat Coughlin: I had a temp job with the IHB there. When Lake Michigan freezes over, US Steel shipped it by rail. I worked 11-7 as a car knocker. The mill used gas jets to melt any ice as each hopper got flipped to empty. When they pushed the cars back to the yard, we walked the train twice. Once to replace burnt air hoses, then attach air pressure and walk again to replace leakers. The job helped get me through Purdue Calumet.

Viral Media posted two photos with the comment:

IHB Lakefront Yard

Carmeuse Lime & Stone can be seen in the back, next to Buffington Harbor.  This is next the site of the former Lehigh Portland Cement Co.

Although NS is tenant is of IHB, only IHB and CN crews operate on the lake front. NS has a contract to supply and maintain three locomotives per an old Conrail agreement. The 12-track IHB Lakefront Yard is near the Ameristar Casino in East Chicago, Indiana. Lake Michigan is on the left, hence “Lakefront”. An aerial of Buffington Harbor follows.

Clyde B Putchaven: There at one time was a coal fired power plant at this location also.

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Art Gross Flickr photo of an IHB train looking east from the pedestrian bridge that is headed to the yard. (some comments on the scene)

Art Gross Flickr photo with lots of steel action --- bottle cars, uncovered coil cars with coils, gondolas with steel scrap, and CSX & NS locomotvies. (source)