Illinois' MOST UNIQUE Class III Railroad; The Bloomer Line!

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Merch, anyone? okieprint.com/SPR/shop/home

[@beeble2003]

The longevity of these Geeps is also largely down to how they're used. As you say, shortlines often only run a few days a week. A locomotive that just runs at 10-25mph for a few hours a week is going to last a lot longer than one that's hauling coal through the mountains twelve hours a day.

[@cdavid8139]

True...but in their time they hauled coal thru mountains 12 hours a day

[@beeble2003]

@@cdavid8139 Right, but that time was a long time ago. Since then, they've been very lightly used, so they shouldn't be in much worse mechanical condition than they were 30-40 years ago.

[@markfisher1392]

One of the Bloomer's engineers was (maybe still is) a volunteer at the Monticello Railway Museum. He was my instructor during a "Throttle Time" session, where ordinary folks are able to run a diesel on the museum's tracks for a designated donation. The MRYM also stores cars (mostly tank cars for Tate & Lyle/A.E. Staley/whatever it's called now) at the east end of its "Central Division" (former I.C. trackage between Champaign and Decatur) near White Heath, Illinois.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

very interesting

[@barbequeiguana1457]

P. Jones is the engineers name

[@kens.3729]

Participated in the Monticello Throttle Time 15-20 years ago and Loved it. Climbing up the Ladder on the Side was Fun. Amtrak still Uses Ladders on Old Units. 👍

[@SoCalOCRailfan]

This is a very interesting railroad and video! I really love how they still have that striking Burlington Route paint scheme.

[@gregoryhainsworth2663]

The best paint scheme ever

[@Cris022]

Shortline railroads are just the best, I love them.

[@mikedurhan9941]

These Southern Plains RF videos are so much more interesting than many others. Hard to beat an old four axle Geep. Thank you.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

You’re welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed!

[@berniemarkley]

Another great little short line Class III close to the Bloomer is The Kankakee, Beaverville and Southern (KBS). It runs old New York Central and Milwaukee Road trackages between Kankakee and Lafayette, IN. They are based in Iroquois, IL, their shop, and right at the junction of these two old iconic railroads. They run 6 identical GP38M-2s and are all named with male names. Again, like the Bloomer, they run Ag products with a lot of the corn going to Tate & Lyle in Lafayette and soybeans going to Incobrassa in Gilman. Its about 2 hrs from Peoria and 1 1/2 hrs from Bloomington. I grew up in Iroquois and I lived there until 2016 and lived next to the old NYC tracks in the 50s 60s and 80s. Hope you get a chance to check it out!

[@VernL4]

Yeah, I would love to see that. I used to Live in Oxford, Indiana. The KB&S would typically run town through somewhere around 11:00 AM heading to Lafayette. They would pass back through in a couple of hours.

[@jamesmcnally8705]

I love the Burlington paint jobs

[@kharis7602]

great to see more short line action the Rock has been reborn as a short line, what are your opinions about that?

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Easily one of the coolest thing to happen in recent railroad history. If only more fallen flags could be resurrected like that.

[@Lindenify1010]

Where I live, we used to have a shortline. The ahnapee and western

[@jameshazen1679]

I live in Gibson City. Bloomer line has replaced a number of ties from Gibson City north thru Sibley and on to where line meets other lines

[@peters1127]

Thank you for an excellent video, it's great to see the Burlington Redbird paint scheme live and well in 2023.

[@BeauMinnick]

If you want to catch a couple more unrebuilt GP9s there is one ex C&O GP9 with DBs at an elevator on the south side of Olony Illinois. This just a stub of the old IC line that ran from Peoria Illinois to Evansville Indiana. There is only about a mile or so left of it coming off the B&0 line from Cincinnati to St. Louis. There is also an exL&N torpedo boat GP9 between Mt. Carmel IL and Princeton IN at an elevator on the NS(Southern). Now once you are in Indiana head north on US41/US150 to Shelburn IN and just north of the town on the east side of the highway is and elevator with an unrebuilt ex C&O SD9 with DBs. When not in uses it lives in a shed behind the elevator. On the other side of 41/150 from the SD9 is a railcar rebuild business that has some sort of center cab. I know my locomotives pretty well and I have no idea what this thing is with it's rounded off kind of art deco hoods. If you're interested @Southern_Plains_Railfan I know of an SW1 pre1945 and an NW2 post 1945 are also located.

[@sterlingodeaghaidh5086]

Should come and check out Kansas and Oklahoma and Colorado Pacitic, CP actually has an interesting story to their creation.

[@BountifulPuckaneers]

The Bloomer Line developed my love for trains! I watched it from my grandparents house in Anchor in the late 80s through the 90's. It was such a delight to watch it roll into town. I would just watch and stare the entire time it was moving through town. Thank you for the nostalgia and thank you for sharing!!

[@gamingwithlukeJToH]

Very cool! I love the Burlington Route inspired scheme! The outro looks really cool too, have you used it before?

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you! Nope, this is the first time I've used that outro.

[@kens.3729]

Thanks for Showing us a Successful Class III Railroad in the Neighboring State of Illinois. Employees don’t have to Deal with the Class I Political Nonsense. 🤔👍

[@jessejohnson6435]

More awesome Content you put up. It's always nice to see a new video come out from you. Appreciate all the knowledge and time you put into these videos great railways and really admire the respect you pay these Locomotive crews while observing there awesome days work. Greetings from New Zealand

[@beeble2003]

Nice video! Great to see the replica Burlington paint. 8:25 That track looks like it's in very good condition, so I'd expect the rails would be relatively modern. My guess would be no older than the 1980s. A lot of Class I branch lines were still jointed rail at the time they were being sold to short lines, as they weren't getting enough traffic to justify the expense of welded rail. Sidings might have old rail, but the mainlines probably aren't so old.

[@traintimeboy]

You should do a video on the smallest diesel locomotives you can find, there’s a rolling stock repair company in my town that has the tiniest yellow switcher I’ve ever seen

[@tylerallen6995]

You should check out Indiana Northeastern. They’ve really grown the past 15 years and now work hand in hand with the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society and run steam excursions along with their freight. Lots of vintage power, including twin GP30s, a couple GP9s and a GP7. They recently expanded to 6 axle power with two SD40s and just purchase two ex-UP SD60s that will probably be rebuilt.

[@kens.3729]

Keep the Solid Topics coming because your Content certainly separates you from the rest. Thanks for your Consistent and Strong 💪 Efforts. 🤔👍🙏

[@ScottPalmer-mp1we]

Nice video! I always like seeing old diesels still plying their trade. It is a tribute to the owning railroads that they can keep those machines running year in and year out. Here is an amazing locomotive situation some may find interesting. Five WWII steam locomotives built in 1943-44 are still in regular revenue service in Bosnia Herzegovina hauling coal. The so-named kriegs-locs (War locomotives) were only designed to last for 10 or so years. There is an excellent Mark Felton video on YT covering this subject if anyone cares to watch.

[@trapdriver7006]

I like to see veteran locomotives still in commercial service 👍😃😃🚂🇬🇧

[@ThePrairiesRailfan]

We have a few class 3s in Manitoba, we have the GWWD, which contains vintage locomotives such as the Tonners, ETC, Cando Is another class 3 and a company I actually look forward working for, they have cool power, they bought some of the CN GMD1s here and it’s always nice seeing a couple of cando ducklings working on the reddit/rivers subdivision on CN, yes, they do share lines with CN, anyways good video my friend!

[@johnniebellamy5912]

Need To Come & Check Out The South Kansas & Oklahoma

[@msgproductions3515]

My relatives farm in this area mostly soy beans and corn (which is what they are hauling in those hopper cars).

[@Coloribus2004]

Everyone else seems to forget about the iconic GP7's GP8's, GP9's and GP10's. But not here

[@kennethhanks6712]

Great to see this section of the former Wabash St Louis to Chicago main line still active. If only the "Banner Blue" was still running!

[@jeremycross8598]

Shortline operations are so interesting! Thank you for making this video!

[@Ya_shooter_B]

Love ur videos brotha

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@cjo.5126]

Did you see the Plymouth switcher parked at Alliance Grain? The torpedo boat was parked near it the last time I was working in Gibson.

[@animenut69]

Would be neat to see that geep fixed up and given a fresh nyc paint job

[@BellTexRailfan_2256]

Very Awesome Use of commentary and, a very cool shortline once again a common SPR W!

[@Polaris5664]

Ive seen these locomotives around, but never when running! I go through this town every time I go back and forth to college, so I hope to get lucky someday.

[@SebastianLandrus]

Nice documentary Southern plains, railfan on the Bloomer line, hope to chase the bloomer line someday soon During September From Gibson city, il to Colfax il I won’t ask him any questions though I’ll just make sure to give them the horn signal when as they go by and wave at them

[@F40M07]

Chicago, BLOOMER, and Quincy.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

lol

[@glenfordburrell1076]

Just like the B52s - roughly the same age!

[@josepantoja5033]

This really is a unique railroad.

[@brucejones7389]

thank you for this video...I live close to Gibson City and I really enjoyed this!

[@philliplee980]

Very cool I’m a huge fan of emds

[@rottenroads1982]

Think about all the Railroad lines that have been ripped up Because of PSR. If only those were converted into Short-line Class 2 or Class 3 Railroads. Then there would be more diversity and more options for costumers seeking to ship stuff by rail. Sure there would still be the Big Class 1’s like Union Pacific, BNSF, CSX, Norfolk Southern, CN, and CPKC, but their would be more options for shipping goods via train. Also, imagine removing the L from Bloomer Line. Then you get Boomer Line.

[@cdavid8139]

there were far more abandonments prior to PSR than since PSR. All Class I abandonments are subject to be sold to short line operators. If there is traffic on the line there are many progressive operators willing to buy them and the Class I railroads are usually very willing to sell them to such operators.

[@PostmoderneModelWorks]

Great story.

[@CSXEK]

Also I seen a safetran hybrid bell on one of there crossings

[@KingDenominator]

Very interesting and informative, love learning about shortline railroads.

[@GeorgeWatson-n1y]

Do more videos like this

[@michaelpfister1283]

Thanks for sharing! I love the old jeeps! GP-9 high-nose is my favorite, I run one with a GP-7 on my model RR, which is a small class III local like Bloomers, though with more variety. :-)

[@radarmike6713]

I'm looking into this...but I am almost certain Ontario Northland (based out of North Bay, ON) has one of the GP 9 they use to this days as well. Ontario Northland had also in the past 3 years have totally restored/rebuilt 3 to 5 gp 40s and are using them full time for their freight and hopefully restored passanger service

[@MitchQuinley]

They also have an old sw1200

[@foresakenog125]

Got to see a GP-20D on a CSX mixed Freight rolling through Brundidge, AL but my dumb self didn’t take a photo

[@Timrathmore]

Awesome video and explanation. Great content!

[@KMaN5150]

Probably more of a switchmen in a truck then a conductor

[@zackbobby5550]

They might consider it a switchman role in the crew, but on an FRA regulated railroad, they will need to be a certified conductor in most cases.

[@cdavid8139]

On the lines I've worked that operate this way the individual is a certified conductor

[@erikmcc804]

Merch, this was awesome. first off i love your voice and I always how they would do the stored car's prices and how they are paid wow thanks Merch 🙂'

[@55tmilam]

Excellent video!

[@cdavid8139]

very nice work

[@theromanorder]

please do a video on the porters steam loco the class 48 tank engine the Japanese class d51 nick name hero of the railways. how do gear trains work something on saddle bolier and side tanks (like the big boxes) tank engines one talking about the different types of steam funnles and there uses, a short video on how a Armstrong turn table works why are some trains wagion tops (the stream lining thing to boilers) one on the meaning of flag and lantern colors like green on rear engine means theres another one coming soon, one talking about the vacume and steam breaks on a steam train, or an evaluation of train breaks different train pilots on the front (and on back ive seen some) how dose a lubrecater work (diesel and steam locos) how do emergency brakes work the different types of cut offs/reversers/Johnson bar some are a big lever, some are a big valve wheel, and ive also seen some that are like rods, one exsample is train sim world 3 and im not sure where to find the other reverser

[@GeorgeWatson-n1y]

Good video

[@iatif1995]

**The Bloomer Route**

[@AndreiTupolev]

Seems very labor-intensive. Assuming the employees don't do it just for the love, wage costs must be high in proportion to revenue

[@user-DeLorean-Dude2024]

What should we do with these engines when they DO turn 100?

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

If they’re in good working order, keep using ‘em!

[@michaelsnyder8488]

Have seen this line but not much action every time I've passed thru town.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

Ok Bloomer!

[@unclvinny]

At 7:37, how did the worker get so far ahead of the train to hold traffic?

[@Mnbaco2]

Less go new vid

[@JacobSmith-bn8hb]

Hey could you make a video on the difference between class l ll and lll railroads because I don’t know much of a difference

[@cdavid8139]

Class II railroads have revenue between $20 million to $250 million. Class III roads are less than 20 million

[@JacobSmith-bn8hb]

@@cdavid8139 Thanks

[@ellisjackson3355]

Lol. The people that live near these short lines probably see their operations all the time without trying. And think nothing of it

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

If anything, the slow trains probably annoy them, lol

[@MitchQuinley]

There's a section in Gibson city between Cargill and the ethanol plant where you can get boxed in by trains on either side of the road, just gotta wait it out lol

[@bnsfgevoproductions]

W SPR

[@thetrainloverdk]

What locomotives do the bloomer Line have i now that they have 2 GP10,s and a rebouilt GP9?

[@bub-e2592]

New end screen!?

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

yep!

[@bub-e2592]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan Hello, I'm A big fan!

[@alexander1485]

So does he live in illinois or something?

[@danielferrovias]

That railroad is the FTL of the U.S

[@FellowManofAggieland]

Okay Bloomer!

[@coastalfoamer]

thought it said "boomer" ☠️

[@LONEWLF]

Bloomers 😂

[@Pilski]

It's unique or it's not unique...cannot be 'nost' unique.

[@doubleutubefan5]

drop the L and got got a Boomer railroad. Oh boy...

[@tulsatrash]

Beep.

[@Thedodgerpro]

I’m the 2nd view

[@wrrail]

the bloomer

[@yourfriend5886]

Face reveal?

[@jackspicyeye9006]

bloomer

[@NothernMountainTrainHater]

I HATE this video!