Indiana Harbor (CP 502)

Location

Where else on the planet can you find all of these within a half-mile of each other: a busy rail junction, two rail yards, a marina just off a major body of water, a steel mill and a casino? They're all here at Indiana Harbor in East Chicago, Indiana, one of the most fascinating junction sites anywhere. Arcelor-Mittal (formerly Inland) Steel's huge mill and Resorts casino are both near the junction, and to top it off, everything can be viewed safely from a pedestrian bridge above railroad property. The bridge also offers a fine view of Lake Michigan.

From Chicago, take I-90 (the Dan Ryan Expressway) south to the I-80/I-94 expressway and head east to Inidana Rte. 912. Head north on Rte. 912 about four miles and take the exit that reads: "Pastrick Marina-Jeorse Park." Turn left at the first stoplight (Resorts' hotel and casino will be on your right) and continue to the next stoplight; the road will curve north and then loop around to the south. Proceed all the way south to the end of the pavement and park in the area between the pavement and a chainlink fence. To your left you will see a spiral walkway that winds upward to a pedestrian overpass. Walk up to the overpass and you're there.

Coming from the east on I-80/94, exit at Rte. 912 and follow the above directions.

The Railroads

Norfolk Southern's busy, triple-track Chicago Line (ex-Conrail, ex-NYC) is just below you. Just north of and parallel to NS is a single track line--known as the "lakefront branch" —belonging to Elgin, Joliet & Eastern ("the J" for short) which was acquired by Canadian National in January, 2009. To its north is the huge Arcelor-Mittal steel mill (formerly Inland Steel). The walkway provides an excellent bird's eye view of the plant, its rail yard and its rebuilt switchers that handle traffic within the mill. Most of the switchers are controlled remotely by an operator who serves as both engineer and brakeman.

About 100 yards west of the overpass, the Indiana Harbor Belt's Kankakee Line crosses NS and CN/EJE. To the east the IHB's Lakefront Yard services the mill and also provides an interchange point for CN/EJE. Unfortunately your view of the yards is blocked by the overhead highway you used to get here. At one time this IHB route was known as the "Egyptian Line" since it went south to Cairo, Illinois, and the area known as Little Egypt. Nowadays, it runs only as far south as Schneider, Indiana, where it connects with NS' ex-Conrail, ex-NYC Kankakee Belt line. IHB operates the line from here to a point a couple of miles south of Osborn interlocking in Hammond, where it crosses the NS ex-Nickel Plate main. South of there, it was once a New York Central property but now belongs to NS.

At one time a CSX ex-B&O line passed through here paralleling the Chicago Line just to the south. It eventually crossed NS west of here, and then ran between NS and the J into Chicago. It is abandoned at this point but still exists to the west. CSX uses trackage rights on NS to reach the segment still in use. In the old days B&O passenger trains traversed this line, but now it is just a lightly used industrial branch.

If you enjoy switching activity, this is your place. IHB and NS movements occur fairly often, and there is also activity by the Inland switchers. Naturally, there are plenty of road trains on NS, including all Amtrak trains to and from Detroit, Grand Rapids, Port Huron and the east coast. A few CSX and Canadian Pacific trains exercising trackage rights can also be seen. The CN/EJE line sees occasional traffic, mostly steel related.

For an urban industrial setting in large scale, CP 502 is hard to beat. And for those who believe that smokestack America is a basket case, CP 502 will convince them that it is still very much alive.

Accessibility

A pedestrian walkway formerly provided a great view while being off railroad property, but the steel mill that owns it has recently posted it as off limits. Parking is prohibited on the road leading to the walkway, so drive to end of the paved road and park in the area just beyond the pavement and in front of a chainlink fence that marks the beginning of railroad property. On rare occasions, visitors have been told that they cannot take photos here. This seems to be EPA-related. So in the unlikely event you see black smoke pouring from a smokestack, you might think about leaving your camera in the car.

For more on Norfolk Southern's Chicago Line, see 21st Street, Porter and Willow Creek and Burns Harbor. See also South Side (various).

For more on IHB's Kankakee line, see the descriptions of Calumet, Grasselli, Gibson and Osborn junctions at Northwest Indiana (various). Also, see Pine Junction on this page for more on CN/EJE's branch and the NS main.