1928 CN/IC Edgewood Cutoff

Illinois Central Railroad Scrapbook posted
In late 1922 rumors began swirling the Illinois Central Railroad was planning to build a "cut off" line through southern Illinois and western Kentucky. This new line would divert some rail traffic away from Cairo, where the Ohio River bridge was not only taxed to its capacity (it was not uncommon for 50 trains a day to run across the single track bridge) but also was in constant need of repairs and upgrades to support heavier cars and locomotives.

The rumors were put to rest on Christmas Day, 1922, when IC President Charles Markham sent a telegram to the Commercial-Appeal newspaper in Memphis, confirming that the IC would build a 169 mile line between Fulton, KY, and Edgewood, IL. This new line would cross the Ohio River at Metroplis, IL, on the Paducah & Illinois Railroad bridge (the IC had bought a one-third interest in the P&I in mid-1922). The new line would be 22 miles shorter than the old line between Fulton and Edgewood, have fewer curves and hills, and was estimated to cost $25 million to build.

Construction could not begin until IC's plans were approved by the Interstate Commerce Commission. After two rounds of hearings the ICC gave its approval in March, 1924. IC also faced legal challenges from several towns along the old line that would be bypassed, but all of those legal challenges were eventually pushed aside. The Kentucky portion of the cutoff opened on April 4, 1927, and the Illinois segment opened on May 7, 1928.

Building the cutoff required a considerable amount of heavy machinery to move to excavate and haul mountains of dirt, rock, and debris. But as this photo illustrates, there was also plenty of work for more primitive tools, such as teams of MULES, seen here digging a drainage ditch next to the tracks. Although the MULES were decidedly low tech, they got the job done. MULE teams were also frequently used by contractors building the "new" Paducah shops, which opened in 1927.

Photographer, date, and location unknown. Cliff Downey collection.
Illinois Central Railroad Scrapbook When the Edgewood Cutoff was built, there were no grade crossings. However, over the years several were added.
[Comments discuss the possible economic impact this cutoff had on Cairo and Evansville.]

Randy James posted
Phil Gosney Photo
The IC was extremely short of freight locomotives in 1969. Here is Train 50 a Memphis to Markham, IL fast overnight Intermodal train, also known as the "Fastback", seen at Johnston Yard in June, 1969. The unusual power was an E-8 and three F units from the Rio Grande. The latter units were being leased for the interim period from EMD Corporation. While the E units were fast handling a passenger train, they did not have a very long duration in freight service. After several months, and many blown traction motors, this train was replaced by new GP-40 locomotives. Also this train was routed via "the Passenger Main" via Central Station through Memphis and also ran via Cairo and Centralia, IL north to Chicago.

Richard Koenig posted
Edgewood Cutoff
One image by Richard Koenig
March 26th 1976
Adam Auxier That would have to be Tunnel 3, tunnel 1 is curved and tunnel 2 is too long.
Erik Coleman This is definitly Tunnel #3, looking south at a northbound. Here's a more contemporary shot from the other side (south portal): https://flic.kr/p/dt99Qr
Erik Coleman The first shot is certainly the Edgewood Cutoff, and that is Tunnel #3, about Mile 104 just east of the Kerley Cemetery, not far from Simpson, Illinois. Judging by the long tangent and the backlighting, this is looking south at a northbound coming through the north portal. I tried to drop a pin where the photographer probably is: https://goo.gl/maps/6eXMU9bfWn42

I had to find a map that was new enough to include the cutoff and old enough to include the original route up the middle of the state. And a map that had an appropriate scale to show the whole cutoff on a webpage. This 1928 IDOT map met my requirements. The original route uses the IC bridge at Cairo whereas the cutoff uses the bridge that it shared with CB&Q and NC&StL.

1928 IDOT Map