Locomotive Ride Along: The Illinois Central Mainline

Chase the train here: • Video
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The Grenada Railroad is a Class III shortline operated by Iowa Pacific. Ride along on an all-day excursion on the former IC mainline from Horn Lake to Batesville, MS.
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Copyright 2015. Any illegal reproduction of this video and its content is strictly prohibited. Full legal action will take place if necessary if reproduced or licensed without expressed written permission from Delay In Block Productions.
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Thanks,
-DIB

[@chadjamison2146]

The engine is a very sharp one. They used to do a polar express ride in Batesville MS every Christmas with this unit. Derailed once and every one freaked.

[@milfordweeks9994]

Add to this they failed on the Amtrak line here in IN. Hoosier State Train fiasco, the Christmas train derailment, at least one other derailment. SO they shut down ALL passenger operations and now only run freight, such as the shortline Lucas Oil Railroad.

[@wheeltapper1]

guess I've been playing Trainz for too long, I kept trying to zoom out and look around.

[@iamphoenix7942]

Lol

[@bricksquad9552]

MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY

[@wallaceramon5122]

not sure if you guys cares but if you are stoned like me atm you can watch all of the latest movies on InstaFlixxer. Have been streaming with my gf lately :)

[@vincentgordon7934]

@Wallace Ramon Definitely, been using InstaFlixxer for months myself =)

[@paullindberg9230]

Id say this trains speed is right at 50 for the most part. Nice job on the paint scheme;Looks to be orange over maroon!

[@paullindberg9230]

Back in those years "riveting" Ironwork They had a Driver &a bucker to cinch th rivet when it was hot. Thats where the phrase "Get it while its hot"!, got its start

[@milepost4846]

At least I got to ride the Amtrak version of the City of New Orleans along this route in 1994 before it went to the Yazoo Line. But neat video.

[@pcdoctor2003]

The straightest line I ever did see !!

[@dougobrien4877]

This train looks to be traveling at only 20-25 mph. I’m sure track conditions dictate that. Jointed rail needs a lot of maintenance to keep it in top shape.

[@tonywaldon7801]

When the city of Miami left Birmingham at terminal station northbound it had about a 25 to 30 mph restriction, it wasn't until it cleared the diamonds at the Alabama power company at tuxedo junction that it picked up speed, in the winter the train was long taking the snowbirds to Florida, often having 3 E-8 locomotives A-B-A baggage car Domitory, Pullman cars, diner, coaches cm33 cm34 cm35 cm36 cm37 and rear observation car ( bamboo Grove)

[@ronaldsummons6100]

this is a great view. thanks

[@diegopacheco3314]

The first time the horn went off it scared me

[@ThePponu]

several deer crossing from left to right after 20:20 Thanks for sharing

[@bruceb3786]

From 1954 to 1960, as soon as school was out in June, my Mom and us 4 kids (me being the oldest) would take the City of New Orleans from Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans at 7 am, to Grenada, MS, arriving at 12:15 pm. Our Grandparents met us at the terminal in Grenada, and took us to "the Farm", where we spent glorious summers. As a kid, I did not even think about what the engines were .... I just liked riding the train, with the wheels clattering over the rail joints, and the cars swaying back and forth on the tracks, and the muted sound of the horn way up ahead. In later years, I thought the units were F7s back-to-back, or an "A" unit and "B" unit. I am not sure about what engines pulled us for the 300 mile trip. The tracks essentially followed Hwy. 51 northward, thru Manchac, stopping in Hammond, McComb, Brookhaven, Hazelhurst, and Jackson. Jackson was always about a 20 minute stop, while cars were added (can still remember the "bump" as these were coupled). Then onward to Canton, Durant and Winona. At Winona, "Are we almost there, Mom?" The reply was "When we pass Duck Hill, we'll be almost there". Duck Hill was 10 miles past Winona, then 10 more miles to Grenada. So at 12:15, "Hey Grandmother !!!! Hello Granddaddy !!" .... The Porter would set a stool beside the car, for you to step off the train, and would set your bags on the pavement beside the car. Then the train went on towards Chicago (I was told). At Summer's end, we always returned to New Orleans via car, since the Sunset Limited, the southbound train from Chicago, passed thru Grenada at night. The song "City of New Orleans" reminds me of this, but it went well beyond "500 miles when the day is done". And the "City" went northbound, while the "Sunset Limited" went southbound. Oh well, everything can't be perfect I guess ......

[@bruceb3786]

Oops, "Panama Limited" southbound, "Sunset Limited" went east/west.

[@bruceb3786]

oops again, and now I see the "City" and the "Panama Limited" both, actually ran both ways ........

[@hakeemsd70m]

Beautiful locomotive ride along. Mississippi has such beautiful landscape.

[@wfdc-lz3bd]

Great video, really conveys the atmosphere of the line cutting through swampy terrain

[@JJosephS1]

You should have showed us a trackside view of the locomotive: I bet she's a beauty. I would have loved to see the rest of the train. I thoroughly enjoyed the engineer's view--awesome!

[@milfordweeks9994]

Sadly no longer exists. After a derail a few years ago the Grenada Railway died, along with the "Christmas Train", and the "Amtrak" line run by the same company. It still has a couple of freight lines running, but as a passenger service provider this company called it quits. Luckily they died pre COVID or it would have been worse for them. And this "Mainline" is now also a basically DEAD line now that CN/IC has moved ALL traffic over to the Yazoo Sub.

[@fredthompson7947]

Nice . All thru the Marshlands.

[@Bigbro28]

An excellent video. I usually watch the European and Japanese cab rides so this was a pleasant change. 🐨🇦🇺

[@rwesley9930]

Wonderful quality! Thanks for going the extra mile for it!!

[@robertgift]

Wonderful view! Love these views best.

[@JapaneseCityPopCat]

Such a great horn on this wonderful ol' gal. Great video too! :) Keep up the good work you guys.

[@sardu55]

Great stuff, my favorite was the modified 'center of mass' run from the last minute or so at the destination. Love the IC color scheme, selling Florida to the Midwest.

[@PGHammer21A]

Ilinois and Indiana - which are the homebase to the IC - are described in one word - flat. (I've been to both states - and especially . It is also why both states are infamous grain-growing states - ideal for growing grains - not just corn, but wheat, barley and other grains as well along the Interstate 70/80/90 corridors shared with the IC - for that same reason - look merely along the ROW of the IC.

[@Bruno.Trains]

wonderful video, Outstanding footage and sound !!

[@shreddder999]

3:40 Boy, the engineer sure is impatient!

[@bricksquad9552]

Love those old school locos.

[@Kriszta060]

Very good video. Great job.

[@paullindberg9230]

I guess they have a slow order on the elevated "Coldwater"part

[@JerryWilliams-lf3hh]

No advertisements on my youtube, i have ad-blocker on!

[@j.d.hutchens3561]

That Coldwater bridge i would be thinking we going for swim. Lol

[@richardhesse4494]

When I was in Egypt, the plane had cameras in the belly and nose. The view was great. The plane never went high, it followed the Nile at a low altitude and you could see how the land turned to desert as the distance from the Nile increased. Beat all the classes where they talked about the Nile was a gift to Egypt. s me. Shortly after returning to the states thinsg went South in Egypt. One of the disadvantages of travel is that you get. attached to the people. I am feeling that now with the Ukraine. Man's inhumanity does not surprise me; it saddens me!

[@boweandrew3]

The Granada sub used to be signaled with ABS and ATS equipment which allowed 90 to 100 mph running this line is now only good for 40 mph and uses Track Warrent Control I think your videos are always great

[@ThrottleJockey96]

The line is only good for 40mph? Do you work there?

[@bigtruknut]

Andrew Bowe

[@TrainsofMississippi]

Andrew Bowe It's actually only good for about 25mph and some areas it's excepted track with speeds slower than that. At least under Grenada Railway, their trains go that fast.

[@geosutube]

The Panama Limited I took in July of 1960 made it from New Orleans to Chicago in about 16 hours. We left NOUPT at 4 thirty pm on the button. Mom and Dad and my little brother Steve were there to see me off. I asked one of my fellow passengers how fast the train ran. He said it hit 95-100 on some stretches of track in the middle of the night. It was a smooth-running and good-eating train. I got to Chicago in time to catch the bus to U. S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois just in time for mustering to barracks and lining up for evening chow. What a life. That was then. This is now. Sad passing of the Main Line of Mid-America.

[@milfordweeks9994]

@@ThrottleJockey96 Its a DEAD line. CN/IC abandoned it for the Yazoo Sub. The Grenada Railway no longer exists as its parent company no longer runs passenger rail. Due to a derail that cost them hugely, they dropped this line, the "Christmas Special" as well as an "Amtrak" line here in IN. They still run a couple of freight lines but they are out of the passenger rail business. The deteriation of the line is why the IC abandoned it when the CN bought them out.

[@vettebecker1]

Loved it, thanks for sharing!!

[@chasl5674]

Does the IllInois Central Mainline have a membership and allow a member to take the Throttle with and qualified instructor aboard to run the Diesel Engine? A membership would be excellent way to generate income for any maintenance for IllInois Central Mainline around certain times of the year. Now, that’s a dream come true for any person who loves trains…

[@keithross4511]

Where was this taken at? As a kid I remember seeing the iC “Land of Corn” passenger train in Waterloo, Iowa. IC had a big shop facility in Waterloo. Finally was merged into CN.

[@kopfjaeger308]

I was trying to follow the path of the train on Google Earth, and it took me some time to realize that despite saying "Grenada" everywhere, this train doesn't go anywhere near Grenada. It starts in Horn Lake and runs South to Batesville.

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

UndeterminedCoolAviationName My cameras died before the train could make it to Grenada.

[@kopfjaeger308]

I'm enjoying them none the less. Living out my childhood fantasies of being an engineer, haha.

[@rodneydaub3812]

18:12 why are all these signals turned outward away from the track?

[@tonywaldon7801]

Watching this reminds me of the city of Miami we would ride the city from Birmingham Alabama to Chicago it left Birmingham at 3:20 am and got Chicago around 5 or 6 in the evening

[@atomicpunk701]

That is one strait railroad.

[@philliplee980]

awesome video.

[@quintinthemississippirailfan]

Fantastic video Drayton!

[@tigo8341]

You should put a camera down by the wheels, facing forward. And one in front near the coupling.

[@SynchroScore]

Well, the wind noise might be an issue, but at least this way nobody can complain about not blowing the horn for crossings, right? Funny thing is that I believe this was the original route of the Panama Limited and City of New Orleans, but was switched to the western route. And once again, you see something special on Google Maps, this time in Batesville: www.google.com/maps/@34.346337,-89.922226,112m/data=!3m1!1e3

[@railfan1956]

Boy the line needs a good brush cutting. That pretty E-8 paint job will be all scratched up if the limbs are not cut back.

[@jcalohio]

Rode this route on the IC when I was young. Especially remember riding on the Louisiane.

[@ShawnAdamsStormpaw]

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[@ShawnAdamsStormpaw]

O Ungvg

[@ShawnAdamsStormpaw]

Uu

[@ShawnAdamsStormpaw]

Yof hhkhimhhlk hj he

[@kamala2111]

So neat thx

[@nctmihai]

very good movie! thanks! There is a drone, in the left side, at 1.28.05? and an other, at 1.29.10... nice.

[@mikakantola7613]

more capride film :-) i loved

[@alexchenkos6250]

Best Watching with 2x speed

[@hakeemsd70m]

Alex Chenkos Cool, thanks

[@Cheshyre.]

Great video! Love where the camera is placed on the train, really makes it so enjoyable, just a shame about that wind noise.

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Agreed. We had permission to put another camera in the actual cab, but there were issues with the SD card - so no wind-ridden audio for us.

[@Cheshyre.]

Ah man. Still, it's a pretty fun ride. I watch another you-tuber (50 ducks in a hot tub) and he had a video where he made his own wind screen, if I can find it, I'll pass it along. It was cheap, easy to do and boy did it work.

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

+Kim B That would be great!

[@tigo8341]

A foam windscreen is like $3.00 in any audio/music store. Why build your own, that's dumb.

[@brennenseibert6708]

@@DelayInBlockProductions did this locomotive pull the city of new Orleans

[@richardparker3924]

Great video! I live just about 300 yards or so from this line at Courtland MS and was wondering if there is any footage from Batesville to Grenada.

[@CTTrains193]

What loco number was this?

[@johnwhitehead3229]

I think some brush cutting is in order on this route.

[@c.s.jackson7214]

As of this writing they are working on it.

[@CrazyKaboose]

Does this short line use all of the mainline or is some of it abandoned

[@marvinblankinchip2535]

It looks like the trees the cab is going to hit the trees.

[@Kriszta060]

47:10 Coldwater Bridge

[@ACLTony]

Wow! Likely meets safety standards, yet it looks scary!

[@mikemadden4084]

love the video, thank you! what's up with the 5 mph speed on the Coldwater bridge?

[@southernbiscuits1275]

This was so enjoyable! I had no idea it was as popular as it is to photograph trains. There were some photogrpahers that chased the train on its route. But, the Coldwater Bridge. How are trains allowed to go over that thing? It is literally falling apart! Thanks so much for the video!!

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Thanks for checking out the video!

[@richarddonaldson286]

Me too

[@nanilee3841]

Nothing is more mind numbing than a fixed view of trees and a straight line of track. Would it have been against some policy to show the consist and some activity in the cab?

[@randyjames9217]

I can't believe there isn't any guard rails on the tellahatchie bridge !!!!, yikes !!!!!

[@JT_8283]

Well really what is a guard rail really going to do lol

[@paullindberg9230]

I wonder why they dont call it the"Missippi Mainline"!

[@brandon-fl]

Very cool. Thanks? I didn't catch what the power was. E6?

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

E8

[@thomaschamberlain3315]

Very nice video. great sound and camera placement. what were the start and end points of this ride?

[@trevorg6655]

Great video! Thanks! One question: I can understand no signals on this track, but why no speed restrictions posted? Given the state of the track, the loco needs to go about 5 mph in many places. Do they just assume the engineer is completely familiar with all aspects of the track?

[@a-lineaficionado1000]

For an engineer to take a train, they are required to be familiar with the track they run on. They have to have a photographic memory of the line they run on to be qualified. They can’t run anywhere they’d like due to federal law.

[@mikebutler3263]

Great ride, I'm worn out though.

[@HILLERYYARD]

whoowee nerve racking to go over the coldwater bridge on slow orders... i couldnt imagine having to cross that on a daily basis..

[@flmedic1]

Was that a washed out section of the track bed underneath the track @ 1:59:09? It sure doesn't look like there was any bridge there to me.

[@ThrottleJockey96]

Definitely a bridge.

[@geosutube]

So, just to guess from this and other photos, the engineer sat on the right of the cab, and the engine ran on the left, like in England. There is somewhere a list (in some old Trains magazine of mine) a list of right- and left-running trains in the US. Any help, anyone? (The Sunset Limited took me to boot camp in 1960.)

[@alexcutionman4569]

Ok thanks

[@SImrobert2001]

So, I asked this in the other video, but why are they going to slow over that ridge?

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Maintenance issues. That bridge was only rated for 35MPH even back in the Illinois Central days. Cheaply made and poorly maintained.

[@variousvideos7204]

Do some more csx or NS videos

[@muhammadchalidafin5644]

Wooow guys look!

[@abraham65061]

*laughing in my French TGV at 200mph* 🚄🚄🚄

[@LouisianaRailProductions]

How'd you get to do that?

[@DanaMackstormdog94]

I don't see a F7 or F9 in the roster for the Grenada Railroad. What was the unit this was filmed from? Thanks.

[@billmorris2613]

I believe these are Illinois Central Engines. This is on the IC mainline from New Orleans to Chicago. I’m not sure which way they are heading as I did not watch but about 10 minutes then skipped my way to the end in about two minutes.

[@johndoh5398]

Thes vids would be great in vr mode

[@bulgingbattery2050]

Vintage diesel locomotive?

[@Robbi496]

For some reason I thought this line was abandoned, not simply downgraded?

[@jimcolleran1804]

What are the terminal points of this video?

[@randyjames9217]

Batesville & Grenada Mississippi

[@muhammadchalidafin5644]

This Locomotive's nose Like A dolphin Ahahah are this is EMD F7?

[@voidjavelin23]

You almost got it there Its a e8

[@muhammadchalidafin5644]

Looks like EMD F7 or Fp9

[@cedarvalleyrail8419]

4:00 I can’t hear the horn, can you move the camera closer next time?

[@zacharyalt9808]

Why did the train slow down so much at Coldwater Bridge?

[@zacharyalt9808]

And why is the bridge covered in gravel? Don't you not use gravel on train bridges these days?

[@SynchroScore]

@@zacharyalt9808 Ballasted deck bridge, generally smoother running than directly-attached rails.

[@kurtwarner4585]

Wow!!! Those bridges need replacement. Crawling at 1 mph over them...not good.

[@davidbentley4417]

They are all wooden except for the star landing and highway 51 crossings

[@mikemadden4084]

what is the top speed of this line?

[@IC9612]

Mike Madden 40 now it was 20-10 mph

[@TrainsofNortheastWisconsin]

Are these 4 or 6 axle units?

[@randyjames9217]

6 axle e8 units

[@kaylatroyer6177]

what is the model of this locomotive?

[@voidjavelin23]

Just streamlined e units

[@alexcutionman4569]

what's the locomotive?

[@msfowler33]

Alexander Firlik E-8

[@FarmOut56]

Is this the road Casey Jones wrecked on?

[@TrainsofMississippi]

Brian Putnam Yes, but he wrecked further south of Batesville in Vaughan, MS, on a section of track that hasn't been active since 2011.

[@ThrottleJockey96]

Zac Blanton That's funny you say that, considering I've been running trains through Vaughan since last April...

[@TrainsofMississippi]

Are you with Iowa Pacific? The line south of Elliott was embargoed because of a supposed bad bridge back in 2011, but you probably know all that. What's the low down on the track south of Grenada to Canton?

[@JMANWiSS]

Why were the signals turned?

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

This line used to be signaled, but the line has been down graded.

[@jmciuri]

+Delay In Block Productions Thank you. Your channel is one of the best channels in the world dedicated to railways. You are a great videographer. I always enjoy your interesting histories and your description of railway operations. Your channel is the best way to get in touch with US railways.

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

+jmciuri Where are you from, friend? Thanks for watching.

[@jmciuri]

+Delay In Block Productions I'am from Barcelona, Spain. Thanks for sharing your videos.

[@alexcutionman4569]

what's the locomotive

[@Crusader1815]

The fact that the striping on the nose of this locomotive is slightly asymmetrical is driving me insane. Why couldn't they have done a better job painting it?

[@muhammadchalidafin5644]

That is EMD F7 Locomotive's Nose

[@angeltoxicity454]

Since it's such a straight line why is it going so slow?

[@joltinjack]

Yes, and why does the train slow down to around 10 mi/hr on a straight track, which looks like it's in good condition? You can tell that it's in good condition in that the camera is mounted to the train, and it's not wobbling.

[@davidbentley4417]

All of the bridges are wooden and at least 30 years old they are in pretty bad shape

[@876statestreet]

Now isn't this the same line on which Casey Jones was killed?

[@rokfersonrotineque5396]

maybe if you put your cam INSIDE the loco?

[@littleblitz8239]

If this is the Illinois central line, why does the video start in Mississippi?

[@TrainsofNortheastWisconsin]

Patrick B illinois central went as far south as mississippi

[@littleblitz8239]

Well blow the whistle and chug down the track, I didn't know that. I figured it just ran in Illinois. Thanks for that info.

[@jcalohio]

Trains of Northeast Wisconsin , The Illinois Central went into Louisiana.

[@darrin1959]

Nice video

[@TheBlueScarecrow]

4k would have been alotamorebetter.

[@muhammadchalidafin5644]

Or Maybe this is NS haeritage with Fat Locomotive?

[@heyeveryoneimcool]

1:29:07 Drone almost eats it.

[@variousvideos7204]

Or both

[@60trainhunter]

close call at 1:13:13