NICTD South Shore Line's LAST DAY of Street Running, Michigan City, Indiana, February 27, 2022

[@MrCateagle]

Sad to see those maroon and orange cars. I have great memories of them from the late 1950's and early 1960's. Loved the video, though.

[@RollsignGallery]

Thanks for watching! It was a surprise to find those! The only thing I can assume by how they're stored is that there is an attempt to preserve them. Hopefully someday they'll return to the line in some heritage train role for special events.

[@Phantom1963]

Excellent video.... thanks 😊

[@RollsignGallery]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@DESUDESU24]

I only recently discovered that SSL exists as a great way to head towards visiting my folks while avoiding the traffic disaster that is I-94 and wanted to experience this once, but it seems I'm too late. I can understand the reasoning though. Despite tradition, having a separate level grade and a second set of trackage is not only safer but allows for more trains. It's like the bridge that used to be by Hinsdale Hospital, despite being one of the last single-lane bridges in the country in regular service, it's right near a large active hospital, and the needs for emergency vehicles to easily and safely get to the hospital did outweigh tradition, sad as it may be.

[@briank10101]

I remember the stretch limos scraping in the middle when going over the old bridge.

[@geralddeering2248]

We witnessed the south shore going down the street like our parents seen the trolley going down the street..

[@AbbyWilliams-u1p]

Where were the pictures at the beginning taken???

[@Brian_rock_railfan]

great yet also sad video 👍😢

[@RollsignGallery]

No need to be sad. Sure the mixed traffic on street will be a thing of the past, but the trains will still run through town on those streets, just grade separated from the road.

[@tedlawrence4189]

I was around on last day of street running in downtown South Bend. I think that it may have been in 1970. I always enjoyed going thru downtown M.C. on my trip from S.B. to Randolph St. Station. Those old orange cars were awesome! My first ride in was back in '54.

[@MIkeCoffey5117]

Are those pantographs mounted on the diesel engines?

[@RollsignGallery]

I checked the photos I took. Three of the four diesel engines appear to have some sort of platform looking thing over the cab, but there are not any pantograph fixtures present.

[@davidkoehler136]

no

[@shakytripodproductions8951]

That's the mounting for the PTC antennas

[@albertcarello619]

Mike Coffee:No. The passenger trains are straight electrics. The overhead wires are 1,500 volts DC CURRENT.The diesels don't have pantagraphs. What you're seeing on the diesels are overhead cab shields.

[@albertcarello619]

Mike Coffee: In the future we might possibly see my although it's speculation are dual mode locomotives or hybrid diesels that is can switch between diesel and the overhead wires with pantographs for freight trains. Electric while on the mainline under wires( 1,500 volts DC Current) and switch to diesel when off wires like unpowered industrial sidings. In New Jersey there are such locomotives that switch between diesel and overhead wires ( I believe there the wires are 11,000 Volts AC 25 hertz power) that are used on passenger trains going into New York City( Grand Central Terminal).

[@johnarnehansen9574]

Why not use thermoelectric power plants for railroad electrification?..

[@markvogel5872]

Wait they don't run in the street anymore?

[@RollsignGallery]

Once complete they will still run down 11th and 10th street, but on their own grade separated right of way, not right in the road pavement.

[@markvogel5872]

@@RollsignGallery Oh cool! I love this line and am glad they are doing work to improve it!

[@RollsignGallery]

@@markvogel5872 - From what I understand, they're twinning the track too with the upgrade, so they'll be able to run more frequent service without the need to worry about opposing trains through Michigan City.

[@TheTntExpert29]

@@RollsignGallery Will you film the trains running by on the new trackage once they finish it?

[@RollsignGallery]

@@TheTntExpert29 My hope is to be there on the official repoening day.

[@allanegleston4931]

thanks for documenting this moment in time . forever lost . but new improvments .

[@BrennenSeibert-bg3qc]

I don't want them they better be putting them train cars in a museum or otherwise I'll be mad

[@RollsignGallery]

They'll be reentering service once the reconstruction is complete, and from what I heard, more frequent service.

[@BrennenSeibert-bg3qc]

@@RollsignGallery oh so they're just repairing the track it from my understanding but they're going to keep the street train running right they're not going to scrap it

[@RollsignGallery]

@@BrennenSeibert-bg3qc They're doing a grade separation from the drivable road, and twinning the track so eastbound and westbound trains don't have to wait to pass one another. That's what I read about it.

[@BrennenSeibert-bg3qc]

the passenger trains are still going to run right

[@RollsignGallery]

@@BrennenSeibert-bg3qc Yes once the reconstruction is complete.

[@hartmutlorentzen9659]

Why this great nation has no conscience of tradition?

[@RollsignGallery]

As it pertains to this rail line, what do you mean by that?

[@zainaboone410]

Heavy duty tram

[@PRG902]

Bells on them sound like cnw

[@davidkoehler136]

sad

[@activelow9297]

Bleak..