Chicago Steel Mill Railroading: Switchers at Riverdale

On September 4th, 2023, I visited Cleveland Cliffs' compact strip steel mill in Riverdale, Illinois. This steel mill is pretty unique, as it receives its molten iron from the blast furnace at Indiana Harbor roughly 15 miles east of here. Norfolk Southern delivers the iron in torpedo cars a few times a day via the Indiana Harbor Belt.
Here's a video of one of these trains on my channel:
• High Hood Survivor: Ch...
On this day, I caught a green SW8 dropping off loaded torpedo cars and picking up empties at the BOF (Basic Oxygen Furnace). I then followed a former Acme Steel SW1 on its journey between the BOF and CSP (Continuous Strip Processing) mill down the line. What's neat about this train is the usage of a ladle car that carries the steel to the processing mill. Riverdale had been a spot I'd been wanting to fly my drone at for a while, so I'm glad I was finally able to get a good look at this steel mill's operations!
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[@tedm5398]

The SW-1 is amazing. It’s remarkable and a tribute to EMD that it still operates! I’m sure the maintenance staff deserve cudos as well.

[@SamLovesTrains]

I agree. Seems like most mills use SW1200s or SW1500s for their power. It’s great to see a couple being kept alive here!

[@christophelecorre7902]

I love yours videos I can't imagine this technology 35 years ago when I'm visiting all those steel mill/industrial areas in particulary Inland with the Ryerson unloading ACME KBCX etc.... Thanks for sharing this it's beautifuly filmed (Chris from France)

[@PaulVanriper-jg1yc]

Big boys with big toys

[@gregglarson6954]

Crazy!

[@hoosierhobbies]

You have really outdone yourself with this one! Following the SW1 is a great testimony to your flying ability! Oscar worthy indeed!

[@WashingtonDistrictRailfan]

This channel rules

[@heybeerdan1820]

The many signs of renewal at this Northern Indiana industrial site--recycled materials, demolition, and more--brings tears of joy to a rust-belter's eyes!

[@RonStanek]

This is in Illinois.

[@jeffvandenberg8422]

I have always wanted to tour one of these steel factories. Love those old switchers. Steel manufacturing has always sparked an interest. Thanks for sharing.

[@SamLovesTrains]

Thank you! I’ve always wanted a tour too, but I think these drone flights will be the closest I’ll ever get. Glad you enjoy!

[@chrisbarr1359]

You could build an entire layout of just a steel plant. A lot of switching among buildings and materials coming in on interchange tracks and then product going out to interchange tracks.

[@vikingofengland]

​@@chrisbarr1359I am planning to build a steel mill micro layout, but in 009 (HOn30 in the US). I have started to build up some stock in readiness. These videos are invaluable.

[@bradleyjanes2949]

Nice drone work😊love that switcher😅thanks for sharing

[@SamLovesTrains]

Thanks! The vintage switchers are always fun to film!

[@sentinel76]

Chiming in from a steelmaking perspective...I was first made aware of this plant when I was browsing the list of Cliff's facilities and noticed that the list of equipment had 2x basic oxygen furnaces and a thin-slab caster, but no blast furnace. I thought that the blast furnace was a simple omission; BOFs can't operate without liquid iron.Then KZbin pointed me at trtr's video about the hot metal trains from Indiana Harbor to here. I've heard of some weird arrangements when several disparate operations are merged into a single company, but that seemed to be one of the wierdest - transporting full torpedo ladles several miles through suburban Chicago. However, the more I looked at Riverdale, and the more I looked at trtr's video, I realised something wasn't making sense, so I searched for the plant layout and stumbled across this video. I thought that what I now know to be the caster and LMF also included the BOFs. I never realised how far away the BOFs were from the caster! Keeping the casting sequence going must be very tricky at times. I assume that the other buildings on the BOF site were the original ingot-casting facility?

[@davidkean1487]

YST in Youngstown would transfer molten iron from Cambpell works to the Brier Hill works via Chessie System, through town .

[@paulbergen9114]

So many great details in this video I had to watch it several times. From the air that plant actually is a lot larger than I envisioned. When I first went to Riverdale in the mid-1970s I was intrigued by the bottle trains when they still had the ex-EJ&E mill gons as spacers lettered for Interlake Steel. Glad to see this operation finally it looks like they've made some investments in the plant. The picture of the carcass of the one SW1 was so vivid from the air and quite the contrast of the cars being moved between buildings. The fresh green unit is quite the contrast to the Grubby scenes but the absolute classic is the SW1 pursuit which was making pretty good time. Would you be kind enough to let us know what railroad they are crossing at the Block signal? Excellent quality and a whole new awakening to the mill

[@SamLovesTrains]

Thank you and I’m glad you enjoyed the video! I believe they’re crossing the NS at that signal. Bottle trains heading to Indiana Harbor cross the mill’s trackage at that diamond.

[@chitownnemesis2182]

I remember that mill growing up. I grew up the next town over, and had a couple friends that worked there and retired from there.... Nice to see it again after all these years.

[@SamLovesTrains]

I’ve always overlooked it. It’s a neat little mill operation!

[@oldrustycars]

This would make the coolest model railroad layout ever.

[@SamLovesTrains]

I agree. I’d love to have a steel mill layout some day.

[@RichardStasiak-v6t]

Acme Steel lives on...sort of.

[@njRRtrainer]

Great job excellent footage - thank you for sharing...

[@unpasaro]

This video is incredible !!! the ending following SW1 is up for an Oscar award . thanks

[@SamLovesTrains]

Thank you! I had fun filming that end scene!

[@unpasaro]

@@SamLovesTrains I think so.... you have been amazing

[@MrEngineeringJohnson]

Love this! Hard to believe, just a few years ago there was no way for the average person to get perspectives like this

[@mediocreman2]

Yeah not unless in a documentary or movie that could afford a helicopter. Now almost anyone can do it.

[@SamLovesTrains]

Thank you! The drone has allowed me to film some awesome places. Factories and mills are by far my favorite!

[@Steven_Williams]

Outstanding video Sam! Lots of memories for me as a kid when this was Acme Steel and BOCT ( now CSXT) was very prominent here. BOCT still exists here but in paper only as a holding corporation.

[@georgejenista9487]

That forlorn little SW1 on the north end by the Little Calumet River bend could stand some re-homing to a deserving preservation group 🙂

[@lexpo181]

Excellent video Sam! I did love it so much! Hope to see more soon ;)

[@SamLovesTrains]

Thank you! More soon

[@tomstarcevich1147]

Cool vid as always 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃👍

[@SamLovesTrains]

Thanks!

[@centraliowarailproductions2810]

Nice catches!

[@SamLovesTrains]

Thank you!

[@centraliowarailproductions2810]

You’re welcome @@SamLovesTrains!

[@andrewpalm2103]

Wow, lots of cool stuff in this one, Sam! It was a bit sad to see the parts donor SW-1, but it's probably being used to keep the working SW-1 going. That tight curve looked as though it was on a model railroad. And that bright green SW (seemingly without any lettering) appeared to be a model plopped right onto the layout from its package. It's very interesting to see the old, run down mills in the twilight of their lives, but it's nice to see a working mill that isn't an operating wreak. Cheers from Wisconsin!

[@SamLovesTrains]

Thank you! This mill is certainly unique with their old SW1s. The parts donor one is still in original Acme Steel paint which is neat. The green SW1200 was very interesting and reminds me of an Illinois Terminal switcher. I wish they would put some lettering or logos on it, but it’s not like many people would ever see them.

[@KohleCoke]

Amazing footage! I love seeing industry operations! Curious whta that blue loco is that was moving the slag ladle, looks like an EMD SW to me but kind of off

[@SamLovesTrains]

Thanks! That was an SW1

[@KohleCoke]

@@SamLovesTrains Wow, I gotta get better at identifying older locos! Great to see those are still chugging along today!

[@SamLovesTrains]

@@KohleCoke I believe they have 2 of ‘em still running at this mill! You could see the other one sitting at the shop building towards the beginning of the video. There’s also an original black Acme Steel SW1 used as a parts donor sitting in one of the yards.

[@KohleCoke]

@@SamLovesTrains That's just amazing! I love seeing older power with a purpose, it's insane that it all still runs perfectly. And for the SWs, industrial switching is perfect!

[@strobx1]

Actually, it's a transfer ladle used to carry molten steel from the BOF to the continuous slab caster.kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXirpHebic-mg80si=A0CpI_iVayvzly8x

[@vikingofengland]

Looking forward to this 💪🏻👍🏻

[@henrylewis1256]

SamLoves Trains This was a Amazing Livestream And My very First time Making,A comment I have seen other video's of yours they are Absolutely Breathtaking Especially the Ones filmed with the Drone The close ups are Fantastic .. I also have a Channel Of FEC Freight Trains And Brightline I am a railfanner in Dania Beach Florida Have a Good evening.👍👍👍👍👍

[@SamLovesTrains]

Thank you for the comment! Glad you enjoy my drone videos! I visited the FEC last year and I loved it. Would love to go back again some day.

[@thomasmackowiak]

Thank you for this marvelous drone footage of the Cleveland Cliffs (originally Acme Steel) steel mill facility in Riverdale, Illinois, Sam! I have been wondering what this steel plant looked like for over 40 years. The first time I saw the Acme Steel Plant was in the late 1970s after I moved to the south suburbs in July 1977. That occasion was my first visit to Dolton Junction in Dolton, Illinois. I saw the Acme Steel Plant from that location first. Over time I have seen it from Halsted Street, 127th Street, South Indiana Avenue, and 130th Street. I have also seen it from the Illinois Central/Metra Electric Commuter tracks while riding to and from Chicago. This video was eye opening. I presume that both switch engines that we see in this video are remote controlled by a single operator. There did not appear to be a person in the cab when you were following the switch engine toward the end of the video. I presume the operator was standing on one of the stair wells and controlling the engine.

[@SamLovesTrains]

Thanks! There’s not many videos of this mill and I’m glad I was able to provide a look inside! I think you’re right about the locomotives being remote controlled.

[@butlerstrailfan886]

Could that green one be ex Illinois Terminal?

[@kevinb9327]

Curious about the loco painted in neon. Can you give me some info?

[@SamLovesTrains]

I don’t know much about it since it doesn’t have any reporting marks, but it might be former Acme Steel, which is the company that used to own the mill.

[@vikingofengland]

What was being carried in that single ladle wagon?

[@marklosiniecki119]

That is steel, moved between the Basic Oxygen Furnace and the Continuous Caster

[@robertszallavarysullivan9570]

A pathetic industrial graveyard on life support. It looks like something in a third world nation........

[@runlikehell4180]

ok then