Forging through the brush on the Wabash Central Railroad with classic Illinois Central GP10 pair

Wabash Central Railroad operates the former NKP cloverleaf line from Bluffton Indiana west to Van Buren and east to Craigville serving a handful of customers. They currently have 2 locomotives, CNUR 8 and CNUR 7. Here they are coming from the only Van Buren shipper Weaver Popcorn with one car. This shipper used to be a steady customer but has since switch primarily to intermodal container. Then the traincrew stops in Warren Indiana to pull a few grain hoppers from Salamonie Grain.

[@israelswearingen8219]

Thank you for sharing this

[@whistleboardproductions]

The lead locomotive and RMEX #6 are currently in Chattanooga, TN.

[@JohnnysTrainVideos]

I love it...

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

Thank you

[@papawnanabubby5005]

I think they're beautiful. As I write this I hear train horn from Bunge here in Decatur. I took pictures of CNUR 8 yesterday (3/2/21) sitting at the crossing of CR 200 N. in Wells Co. not far from Craigville IN.

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

I went down and shot the CF&E in Decatur recently but had no luck getting the wabash central moving.

[@papawnanabubby5005]

@@ScottTaipaleRail I live in Decatur. My grandson and I often watch the trains at Bunge. Sometimes we catch the one delivering to Dolco Packaging in industrial park. Dolco is the only company in industrial park using rail service.

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

What time of the day have you caught them at Dolco? I’ve tried many times to get that move.

[@DivergingClear]

These are actually GP11 rebuilds. The GP11 program began in 1979, refining the previous GP10 rebuild design by incorporating electrical upgrades. A few late GP10 and GP8 rebuilds had the angular Spartan Cab design and air intakes that were standard on the GP11, but these are both former I.C. 8700s. Grew up with all of them!

[@MilePost106]

This is what I love watching!!! Gives me a break from the boring mainline here. Thanks for sharing this video!

[@theidiotwithinternet]

Aaaaaand these locomotives just got into a derailment during a power move. Luckily they look okay, and they’re just a bit scratched up

[@mauwalker]

Reckon this line has had any maintenance since it *was* part of NKP’s Clover Leaf District?

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

Doesn’t look like it gets anything beyond emergency repairs.

[@ickyzachattack]

That train was so exotic to see.

[@Goldarr1900]

Honks the Horn when it’s already crossing. I know it’s going slow, but it’s still a requirement to sound the horn, before you get to a crossing, not during or after.

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

Haha

[@austinmiller3497]

Cool video if they are going to continue to run trains across on these tracks they not only need remove the brush and debris off the tracks the need to replace the old rails and ties with brand-new rails and ties

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

This line doesn’t have the traffic to cover the cost of anything more than basic repairs

[@appleintosh]

With what money?

[@austinmiller3497]

@@appleintosh Maybe the PUC can help them out and where I live there are two crossings in Newark Ohio that are going to become a gated crossing later this year that is the East main Street railroad crossing and the church street railroad crossing but every railroad company is responsible for taking care of their rail lines making sure the rails and ties are replaced every few years and bridges and trestles are repaired and the stations and locomotives need to be well taken care of and if there is any brush and debris on the rails and ties they should remove it immediately if not their trains can derail and cause a lot of damage

[@austinmiller3497]

@@appleintosh And the Ohio Central Railroad company takes very good care of their rails and ties and railroad lines and locomotives I saw a few of their Crews last replacing the rails and ties on the CSX/Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Line That goes from Newark Ohio to Mt Vernon Ohio and I've seen the train Crews up by my house replacing the rails and ties in the train yard and I have seen so many dump trucks up there this year coming down the road right by the train tracks where I live in Newark Ohio over the hill carrying gravel back and forth

[@timberwolfpowler8747]

Unless the engines are on the ground the rails are safe?

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

Pretty much

[@billinindiana1]

I remember in the 60s and70s when this line went to Kokomo, Russiaville, and Frankfort and connected to St. Louis and Kansas City (via Frankfort).

[@hoscaleconstuction]

It's ironic that the OLS Unit is in the lead, but they don't bother to blow the horn for the crossings.

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

Yes unfortunately. Somebody will hit them eventually

[@dcfire2222]

Great job! I am 60, I love trains, but just getting started on the subject. I am a Pioneer stock holder, they are the only publicly traded short line railroad.

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

THank you! Genesee and Wyoming, the shortline holding company also is on the stock market

[@dcfire2222]

Thanks

[@alleymoe]

JUST CHECK WE THE PEOPLE OUT ON MY SITES ! INVENTORISM JUST TYPE IN YOUR SEARCH BAR I THE TRAIN IS WE THE PEOPLE ARE TAKING EVERY SEC. FROM BOTH POINT OF VIEWS FOR WHAT IS BEST FOR WE THE PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ?

[@NorfolkSouthern-xt3xx]

What does this comment have to do with the video?

[@25mfd]

@ 3:14... 5 cars on that siding... okay, it ain't cenex harvest states or ADM with their 100 car grain shuttles but it's still a business moving freight and employing community citizens... sure hope this road turns enough of a profit to rehab the line or at least get a decent enough credit rating to borrow some cash... it is STILL needed

[@charlesgault3777]

If they turn the engines so they are coupled back to back, instead of both facing the same direction, the consist would be more bidirectional. The way their coupled together they both have to run backwards on the return trip.

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

You would think more railroads would do that. They had a third engine the faced west but it got sent off to another line.

[@jessegabbard6274]

@@ScottTaipaleRail the had 2 engines facing west 12 and 6 and now they have 3 engines facing east 7, 8 and 3

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

I don’t believe 6 was there when I first filmed this railroad in 2013. When did 3 show up and what livery is it?

[@jessegabbard6274]

@@ScottTaipaleRail its in marion

[@israelswearingen8219]

Is there ANY chance , that second unit had toilet paper in the bathroom?!?

[@vincentmck2816]

The engineer is not even giving the signal horn alerts!!!

[@doublediamondrailroad5949]

Isn’t it an FRA rules violation to not blow the horn at all crossings?? Doesn’t use the bell either when Switching or going through all the unguarded crossings.

[@threepea1151]

Idk probably doesn’t care ig or it’s a quiet zone

[@israelswearingen8219]

I’m pretty sure he can see for miles around… just watch out for the children of the korn

[@BorisLu]

Nice video!

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

Thank you!

[@tylerl6400]

Great shots!

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

Thank you!

[@railangel6103]

Absolutely Fabulous awesome train I enjoy watching your videos 😊

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

Thank you! This was an long drive to find them but flange marks in the mud led me to them!

[@patrickgallagher1161]

I think you are probably the best railfanning youtuber

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

Thank you!

[@mikeytrains1]

>Operation Lifesaver engine >RAIL LINE ISN’T SAFE AT ALL

[@NorfolkSouthern-xt3xx]

That line needs SERIOUS work,...and you're right,...it's not safe,...even if they only run 10 mph.

[@kofola9145]

@@NorfolkSouthern-xt3xx What is so bad about about it?

[@NorfolkSouthern-xt3xx]

@@kofola9145 Track is in terrible shape,...not safe at all,...surprised they can even run on it!

[@PatKittle]

The Wabash Cannonball.

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

Lol

[@railroadskater2896]

Good close ups towards the end.

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

Thanks

[@aclapp9484]

why are they not sounding horns at crossings? I've noticed this in other videos. they also seem to have a Chase truck?

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

The conductor follows along in a truck. He radios to the engineer when the crossings are clear

[@NS19K]

Sounds like wimping out from blowing the horn.

[@alleymoe]

ALL I CAN TELL YOU WE THE PEOPLE SEARCH ENGINES NEED HELP ! MORE POWER BACK -UP ENGINES ! INVENTORISM BY VJW WE THE PEOPLE INTERNET TRAIN HAS ENDLESS ENGINES TO PULL OR PUSH ANYTHING . I JUST CALLED OUT ALL TRAIN ENGINES NO MATTER FROM WHAT TIME WE RUNNING FULL SPEED AHEAD WE THE PEOPLE INTERNET TIME ! ALL ABOARD !

[@NorfolkSouthern-xt3xx]

Comment has NOTHING to do with this video!

[@P7777-u7r]

I wonder if railroads like this provide newbies with the experience hours to go and work for one of the big railways? How did they get ahold of a Norfolk Southern car?

[@paulmeir6528]

Nice video, but what am I missing? Two engines for this job and I don't see any comments about it.

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

Thank you! The trailing engine wasn't running

[@Chessie1985]

Nice video Scott!

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

Thanks Jeff!

[@Chessie1985]

Your welcome!

[@brakie44820]

EMD's chief locomotive designer Dick Dilworth said he was going to design a locomotive so ugly in appearance that the railroads would not want it near headquarters or on the main line and would keep it in the back country where it could do useful work. Behold two GP10s in the back country doing useful work.I think he would be quite pleased to see the off springs of his GP7/GP9 still in operation 60-70 Years after they was built.

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

They sure aren't the prettiest EMD builds around! Glad they lasted long enough for me to film them though.

[@brakie44820]

I been thinking. Those could be GP11s because they have EMD's Spartan type cabs. IC built 54 GP11s from GP9s and GP18s between 1978-81.. The GP10s retained their original Geep cabs.

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

You're probably right. I'm less familiar with the IC and ICG rebuilds

[@thomasfrench2012]

@@ScottTaipaleRail He is correct in that these are GP11's of the 8700 series, hence the reuse of numbers 7 and 8. But great to see, thanks for uploading.

[@richardgeisel4290]

Look great to me!

[@RumfordBranchProductions]

Is it all the freight on that line covered hoppers? And long time no see. your video are still as good as when when I last saw one of them. Keep up the good work! :)

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

Thank you! For the most part everything here moves in covered hoppers (pellets, corn, fertilizer). Weaver Popcorn gets a few boxcars but that's the only rolling stock variety!

[@jessegabbard6274]

Why no boxcars

[@elvin.castro]

Pioneer Rail Corp should Purchase These guys and Better the railroad

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

It would be hard to sell. Only 5 customers on the line and many less carloads than the ND&W

[@andrewworman1200]

Ya Pioneer wouldn't do good on that anyway

[@richardturk7162]

Train engines look all rusty and dirty don't they ever wash them? The hopper car is all rusty and covered with dirt too I'll bet the never do any maintenance on them so they run them until the fall apart I guess.

[@newcastlerails1416]

Great video!

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

Thank you

[@mm-gl7sz]

Those are GP 11s not 10s. The 10s have a different air filter and rounded cab tops

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

Oh yes you are correct

[@westtennesseerailfan8170]

it is IC

[@gingerrail7368]

Is there any line that there is not weeds grow up on . Do they own any of their line and don't spray for weeds, or r the weeds there so you can't see how bad the tracks r.?

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

This is pretty much how the whole line is . They have a brush cutter but no evidence it gets used. In Warren and Craigville the weeds are kept down but I think the businesses adjacent to the tracks are the ones that spray! The track under the weeds appears to have solid ties and straight rail thought!

[@newcastlerails1416]

NS owns the whole line and leases it to Wabash Central. No they do not spray, but sometimes a Kershaw MOW vehicle comes in and cuts them.

[@alleymoe]

WAIT A SEC. EVERYBODY STOP THAT ! I AM INVENTORISM BY VJW WE THE PEOPLE TOGETHER JUST TRYING TO KEEP IT REAL ARE YOU ? WE WILL BRING BACK ALL OUR FACTORIES AND HISTORY ? THE DEMS. PUTTING UP A LOT OF ROAD BLOCKS AND YOU KNOW IT ? NO MATTER WHAT IN THE END WE THE PEOPLE GOT THIS AND WIN !

[@Trainsbigandsmall]

I do not think this shortline railroad makes much money. Intermodal containers can do a great job of stealing business from a shortline railroad. Goderich and Exeter RR lost some business to CN Intermodal.

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

I think you are correct. Amazing they can turn any sort of profit. The traffic goes to whoever can move freight efficiently and at the lowest cost.

[@25mfd]

the stuff moved here in the vid isn't moved by intermodal containers so there's no threat of losing any business to it