The Sad State of the CSX EK Subdivision | Railroad Archaeology

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  • Опубліковано 7 чер 2024
  • The 117-mile-long EK Subdivision allowed the Louisville & Nashville Railroad to access rich coal fields in eastern Kentucky, where it competed with the Chesapeake & Ohio. CSX connected the two railroads at Deane in 1980, shifting most outgoing coal trains to Ashland. By the early 2000s, daily traffic on the EK Sub decreased to an average of 4.
    Through the 2010s, the EK experienced further declines in coal traffic due to EPA restrictions on mining and burning and a shift to natural gas. By 2015, trains operated as needed to a single mine in Typo. Traffic patterns were adjusted the following year so trains serving the mine would run via Ashland.
    The last scheduled coal train over the EK ran in October 2016. From then until 2020, the EK’s sidings were used for car storage. The sidings were removed just before a 2022 catastrophic flood rendered much of the infrastructure unusable.
    This aerial footage shows the EK Subdivision as it appears in fall 2023.
    Sidings removed (length in feet):
    • Evelyn: 10,000
    • Heidelberg: 6,900
    • Beattyville: 10,000
    • Athol: 8,600
    • Jackson: 8,000
    • Copeland: 10,000
    Total: 53,500 feet (10.2 miles)
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 311

  • @Dieselnut216
    @Dieselnut216 18 днів тому +27

    I cannot believe how this sub has gone down hill. This area of the country is constantly shit on and forgotten by all politicians of all parties. It’s extremely sad to see the decline since the coal industry vanished. Not for the product itself, but rather the many families that have suffered and lost members to drugs.
    I’ve taken many trains to Ravenna from the CC sub. There was once a lady that was paid by CSX to be on call for us in the middle of the night to cook food at a restaurant, where no food available after 10pm usually. Getting called on a train to Ravenna was one of the better calls to get, unless you were needing to be back home for something.

  • @KibuFox
    @KibuFox 19 днів тому +111

    The reason the rails are cut the way they are, is this entire line is 'rail banked'. Rail banking is a process where a railroad can stop needing to pay taxes on a rail line, without actually totally abandoning the line. As part of the agreements to rail bank a line, though, the railroad must cut the line in several places, to ensure that no trains can operate over it. It varies exactly how they're told to do this, but it works out that for every 10 miles or so, they have to cut the rails and move them out of alignment. This doesn't just stop trains, but also rail speeders and urban explorers.
    In case you're curious, the reason a line typically gets 'rail banked' is because the railroad believes that there may be a future use for it, but they can't justify the operating costs at that moment. This can be because the line provides a good redundancy to another line, or a potential industry that is being developed, or some other potential use.

    • @DelayInBlockProductions
      @DelayInBlockProductions  19 днів тому +18

      Yes, I am familiar with railbanking. However, nothing has been filed with the STB so this was done illegally.

    • @newpylong
      @newpylong 18 днів тому +7

      ​@@DelayInBlockProductions Wrong. Common practice to sever a line when taken out of service, far before any STB application.

    • @Terraceview
      @Terraceview 18 днів тому +15

      @@newpylong What does it matter? All it shows is a nation in decline who cares about the jargon.

    • @gimmeallthebingbong
      @gimmeallthebingbong 18 днів тому +6

      @@Terraceviewa nation in decline? LOL we need new high speed train lines, but that is all.

    • @pennsylvaniarailroad1223
      @pennsylvaniarailroad1223 18 днів тому +4

      @@DelayInBlockProductions The only reason I can think of them not filing and not abandoning it, is Kentucky Steam that way she not be totally isolated and has somewhere to run if they donate the sub to them they be the longest tourist line second to Jim Thorp's mainline in the U.S which is crazy to think about.

  • @YJRail
    @YJRail 19 днів тому +39

    That drone shot over the washout zone looks very much like the pictures of Saluda Grade. If the Kentucky Steam Heritage corporation is able to restore at least a fraction of this for excursion service it could be a blessing in disguise.

    • @davidconner1726
      @davidconner1726 19 днів тому +1

      Went through Saluda last week. So sad to see that line idled. Soon to be a rail trail I'm told.

    • @thatairplaneguy
      @thatairplaneguy 18 днів тому +1

      That is their plan eventually but they have to finish their yard, museum and event venue to bring in money to restore some of the line IF CSX will let them. Only time will tell once their steam engines are restored.

  • @WITSimulations
    @WITSimulations 19 днів тому +20

    As someone who lives in Hazard, its been tough seeing the decline of the EK. Thankfully to Typo, Yellow Creek and Leatherwood we still can see daily trains near the Hazard Area. I didnt know the damage eas to that extent on the old main. Its honestly devastating. Maybe one day we will hear the roar of 2716 along Elkatoah hill. Who knows. Great job on this video. Cant wait to see more.

  • @broadwayltd1
    @broadwayltd1 18 днів тому +37

    If the government is so concerned about people burning fossil fuels in their motors then why don’t they promote railroads over trucking? It’s a known fact shipping by train is more efficient. Instead of building charging stations they should be building railroads.

    • @JackReacheround
      @JackReacheround 18 днів тому +4

      They'd have to nationalize the railroads. It'd be far more expensive dealing with the companies that own the lines when with roads they're all public and cost nothing to use, and any company with trucks can use them at anytime without permission.. the same thing can't be said for tracks.

    • @es-bv8fb
      @es-bv8fb 16 днів тому +2

      Car culture and regionalism (unwelcoming locals) are the biggest reasons that a 438% more efficient mode of transportation can never get the ball rolling in my experience living as a boondocker.

    • @trains2057
      @trains2057 15 днів тому

      How in any way is your reply relevant.You fascists love austitically spouting about government superiority even when inappropriate.

    • @worfsonofmogh1154
      @worfsonofmogh1154 13 днів тому +2

      The government always oppose utilizing the railroads in favour of trucking until it's time to screw railworkers. Then suddenly, they loooove the railroads! Green energy is hilarious to me. Wildmills are built out of steel and fibreglass. Solar panels are a boon for lithium, silicon and silver extraction industries. (Throw in some kickbacks to DEI and ESG consultants and green finance and there you have it.) AI learn to code types are basically creating super energy intensive data centres everywhere and nobody says anything about it. Most of the emissions are related to import export of containers on ocean liners anyway.

    • @dominic5386
      @dominic5386 9 днів тому +1

      To be fair, this line seems to be for coal mining

  • @JasonBDeaton
    @JasonBDeaton 18 днів тому +11

    Thank you for posting this video. I grew up in Hazard(Wabaco) and my dad spent all 40 years of his railroad career as an enginner on the EK Sub. He hired on the L&N in 1960 in Hazard and retired in 2000 with CSX. He worked mine runs in Hazard loading trains and ran trains out of Ravenna to Hazard loading unit trains along the way. The Kragen Turn was his description of "Hell on Earth" lol...He wouldve loved to seen this video. Oh and Chavies is pronounced Chav-ease...lol..Thank you for the memories.

  • @Steve51983
    @Steve51983 19 днів тому +16

    I'm always amazed at how quick mother nature can reclaim an area.

  • @cadenmcmexican7999
    @cadenmcmexican7999 19 днів тому +24

    I love this new style of video Drayton! Very laid back and informative, I feel like I’m just sitting on a pouch with you talking about trains lol. This video is awesome it’s one of my new favorites from you

    • @JoshuaEhlen
      @JoshuaEhlen 16 днів тому +1

      Drayton from Scale Trains? No wonder the voice sounds so familiar! (Obviously I’m new here lol)

  • @TrainsRKool1999
    @TrainsRKool1999 18 днів тому +4

    Now, I live in Virginia, Kentucky is within throwing distance from my home. Seeing all the flooding and the aftermath broke my heart, because I love Kentucky. Seeing the EK sub in such a state of disrepair is devastating. Sending love from Big Stone Gap VA to my Kentucky neighbors ❤️

  • @RailFanMikeProductions
    @RailFanMikeProductions 3 дні тому +1

    Wonderful documentation on the unfortunate state of the EK Sub, seriously I thoroughly enjoyed this man. Watching this while aboard Amtrak 80 this afternoon was a treat. I really hope the Kentucky Steam eventually does get the line. So much history and lives were effected by the railroad being there, jobs and communities built on the backs of the Railroad. We can only hope it leads to that but for now at least you’re drawing attention to it. Crazy imagery post the big floods in the area as well. Take a bow sir!

  • @bluegrassman3040
    @bluegrassman3040 14 днів тому +1

    CSX has two branch lines on the other side of the state in Madisonville. One is the Morganfield branch that runs west to Clay, KY(Dotiki mine) and the other is the MH&E that runs east to Moorman, KY to the remains of the O&N branch. Dotiki mine shut down in 2019, and was the end of coal trains running passed the lead to Warrior coal. Nothing runs over the MH&E as far as I know since TVA paradise stopped receiving coal by rail and CSX sends the one train to Drakesboro via P&L to Central City to access the O&N. Madisonville was also the top billing point on the ICG railroad. Today, the coal operations with CSX and P&L are nothing but a shell of what it once was…

  • @railfan5254
    @railfan5254 18 днів тому +7

    Please do the CSX IL and Indiana Subs next. Very similar situation but with less storm damage to the line.

  • @coolbeansinc.427
    @coolbeansinc.427 День тому +1

    So excited to see this video here. I've been driving past the yard in irvine/ravenna for several years now. I've seen the severed track and always been curious about what CSX was up to with their operation. Excited to watch and learn!

  • @boylesterminalshops6841
    @boylesterminalshops6841 15 днів тому +5

    Your comment about Jacksonville having no idea what type of shape it’s in most likely is true. They had no idea the hump in Birmingham had been flattened at their own order. A call was received one day to start the hump back up in late 2017, and it was met with laughter and “what hump? there is no hump anymore.”

  • @CMOTrains783
    @CMOTrains783 18 днів тому +5

    31:00 really shows how fast things can deteriorate with lack of maintenance, you'd think it's been unused for decades with that amount of decay

  • @alberta45562
    @alberta45562 18 днів тому +2

    Loved this video, would be great to see similar abandoned lines in the usa. I am from the UKs coal country (Yorkshire) and there are so many similarities between what is happening in Kentucky now and Yorkshire from 1990 to 2015. It's hard to comprehend the infrastructure that disappears.

  • @barrymiller8075
    @barrymiller8075 19 днів тому +6

    Hiya Drayton, that was a very informative video. One of the best I have seen in a long time. Lots of great information and history. You did good.

  • @GeorgeJansen
    @GeorgeJansen 2 дні тому +1

    Thank you for the history lesson. I love it. You're right, the abandoned tracks...there is something spiritual about it ❤❤❤❤

  • @TheJRScratchy
    @TheJRScratchy 18 днів тому +5

    Great video, crazy to see how quickly things can fall from grace. The EK sub provided a lot of inspiration for my "Coal Country" route on Trainz simulator

  • @TouchoftheBrushModelWeathering
    @TouchoftheBrushModelWeathering 19 днів тому +7

    Such a sad line back in the 2010s when I visited. It'll have some cool stuff running on it and beautiful scenery, though.

  • @jfreelan1964
    @jfreelan1964 18 днів тому +1

    At 32min. you show a washout with a square concrete culvert. The culvert was put in by the railroad sometime in the past so they could eliminate a trestle (length unknown) that had to be maintained. The concrete forms were placed in-between bents of the trestle, after the concrete cured, the forms were removed and fill dirt put in and then the track was ballasted. The video shows one of legs of a bent still not deteriorated. I figured this out from a washout here in Fayetteville, NC., after major flooding washed out Cross Creek just north of the station. Loving this video of yours. Thanks a bunch.

  • @nc4tn
    @nc4tn 18 днів тому +4

    Great vid. I suppose those of us who were on the Clinchfield should feel fortunate that we still run a few trains.

  • @thomasmackowiak
    @thomasmackowiak 18 днів тому +2

    Thank you for this informative video on the current shape of the CSX EK Subdivision in eastern Kentucky, Drayton! I liked the way you worked in the videos from prior visits to this area and the CSX "training" VHS tape from the late 1990s. It is amazing to see the damage that ragging water can do to a railroad bed. I look forward to seeing additional videos that you produce on abandoned segments of railroads.

  • @maestromecanico597
    @maestromecanico597 17 днів тому +1

    Thank you very much for this look. The switcher at about 22:50 bears the markings of Electric Fuels Corporation. EFC was a subsidiary of Progress Rail which itself was a subsidiary of Florida Progress. Another subsidiary of Florida Progress was Florida Power Corporation. EFC owned the mines and the rapid discharge hopper cars that brought coal from the mines to the coal plants at Crystal River (Red Level), Florida (where I worked in the 90s). Nice to see what the other end of the trip looked like.

  • @FortWorthMobileMechanic
    @FortWorthMobileMechanic 19 днів тому +6

    Great video can't wait to see the new videos on abandoned lines. Mainly if you go in deep on the Saluda grade again.

  • @jacksonsdrones
    @jacksonsdrones 16 днів тому +3

    Great Production as Always Man! My grandparents are in Hyden, Ky which is about 30 minutes from Hazard. When ever we go to Hazard, we always pass a coal mine entering the town. They have railcars parked down by the tipple, but I don't know if it's still in use or not. Thank You for making this video because I've always wondered about this line. Wish I could have railfanned some of it before it was gone.

  • @xero925
    @xero925 18 днів тому +4

    CSX closed a major intermodal yard here in Portsmouth VA. It makes no sense why they did this. CSX was cutting all it's locomotives and it's cutting its routes a d yards. Wow!

  • @scotabot7826
    @scotabot7826 12 днів тому +1

    This document was so well put together, I can't wait to watch it again! You're very talented Drayton!! Thank You for all of your efforts!!

  • @skerbs7755
    @skerbs7755 18 днів тому +3

    Thank you for this video. By the time I moved to central KY, I missed most of this action. Thank you again!

    • @DelayInBlockProductions
      @DelayInBlockProductions  18 днів тому +1

      Thanks for watching. Kentucky is one of my favorite places in the world. It’s too bad trains on the EK are no longer a thing.

  • @donaldfaris4798
    @donaldfaris4798 19 днів тому +2

    Drayton all the years I have been a subscriber to your channel you have up your game awesome job on this and great work on your research

  • @ocsrc
    @ocsrc 19 днів тому +18

    Not just the signals power, but every signal uses the two-way satellite Internet and it is transmitting continuously.
    Those are 150 dollars a month per dish.
    So, I don't know why they would not have shut down the satellite dishes and power

    • @anb7408
      @anb7408 19 днів тому +4

      I learned over 20 years ago, never to apply logic to this railroad! They continually try to outstupid NS on idiotic things they’ve done.

    • @ocsrc
      @ocsrc 19 днів тому

      @@anb7408 This line, while not used and probably not looked at on the computer display, this line and all control points and signals are being displayed on the computer.
      So the signals and track occupancy and all the data is being constantly transmitted to the satellite and displays on the dispatcher display.
      And the bungalows all have cellular backups and phone lines for data backup and for the alarms on the doors. So they are paying two phone bills and a cellular account for each bungalow in addition to the power and the satellite, and every crossing is powered, and the transformers and regulators and rectifiers are running.
      Truly stupid.
      But I am guessing the FRA requires that all this be active unless they abandon the line officially.

    • @Mudpaws
      @Mudpaws 19 днів тому +2

      yet we cant afford a pay raise

    • @ocsrc
      @ocsrc 18 днів тому +1

      @@Mudpaws clearly poor management of the company.
      The COO, CFO, CEO and all the VPs should be thinking about this.

    • @railfanningpoints2.045
      @railfanningpoints2.045 18 днів тому

      Spirit Of Shareholder Value.

  • @1traintracker
    @1traintracker 18 днів тому +2

    Thank you for making this excellent documentary of the EK subdivision. Very well done!

  • @stardust-rv7mr
    @stardust-rv7mr 18 днів тому +3

    Great job of bring a bit of history back to us!

  • @hirisk761
    @hirisk761 16 днів тому +2

    this was a tremendous video! railroad archeology is now an itch i didn't i had till now! there are thousands on miles of disused trackage just waiting to be explored!

  • @O-PAC
    @O-PAC 18 днів тому +2

    Great video Drayton. Seeing the condition of this line reminds me of Tennessee Pass and Saluda Grade. Two other phenomenal railroads that were silenced by economics. I’m hoping there will be resurgence in all of these lines but only time will tell.

  • @Thunderbolt_1000_Siren
    @Thunderbolt_1000_Siren 13 днів тому +3

    6:09 wonder if that detector still works

  • @NorthernOhioRailroadAction
    @NorthernOhioRailroadAction 19 днів тому +3

    Another fantastic video keep up the great work!

  • @erikmcc804
    @erikmcc804 19 днів тому +6

    Wow Drayton and DIB this sad and amazing. Thank you for info on this line. If you could do on CSX B&O St Louis line. This once was a profitable line seen about 7 to trains daily but when CSX took over Conrails st Louis line they "quote" moth balled it so very sad. Thanks again I enjoyed it. Btw CSX won't sale it either and many rr want to buy this line.😢

  • @jec9126
    @jec9126 18 днів тому +3

    Very interesting and sad at the same time. Looking forward to more of this type of video

  • @cadenmcmexican7999
    @cadenmcmexican7999 19 днів тому +3

    Yes!! More Kentucky action, and on a line that’s not well documented. Awesome video Drayton!!

  • @jeffreymcfadden9403
    @jeffreymcfadden9403 19 днів тому +2

    We spent time on the EK going back to the late 1970s.
    Mostly LN grey too.
    I never thought the EK would turn out like this.
    Sad.

  • @chriswallace3020
    @chriswallace3020 13 днів тому +2

    Thanks for sharing this incredible video. Nice editing and commentary. One thing to remember though is that coal is finished and unless the state can come up with a real reason for industry to move there, the line is finished. No AMTRAK line, no tourist line and no freight line. The sad truth is that this line will never be sustainable for future use...CSX will eventually retrieve its rail assets and abandon it.

  • @railfanjk8964
    @railfanjk8964 18 днів тому +3

    Nice video & very sad to see a line like this almost abandoned

  • @trackandtrail6874
    @trackandtrail6874 19 днів тому +2

    This is so very interesting
    What an absolute shame
    Excellent presentation Drayton!

  • @adrianhalcomb4086
    @adrianhalcomb4086 14 днів тому +2

    I worked the ek in the early 2000’s. Sad to see it go

  • @tylergentry4065
    @tylergentry4065 16 днів тому +2

    I’m from Eastern Kentucky and live very close to Roxanna on The Rockhouse and it’s been idled for a while. It’s truly sad what has happened to this area but I would love to see this route come to Train Simulator in the near future. I think it would preform well with EK from Winchester to Hazard. In Hazard, there was a loadout where reverse moves by caboose from the yard to the mine. The loadout is called Bluegrass. Nice video and keep up the good work!! 😎

    • @DelayInBlockProductions
      @DelayInBlockProductions  16 днів тому +1

      You're going to love our next video. We actually got to film a train being loaded at Bluegrass back in 2016.

    • @tylergentry4065
      @tylergentry4065 16 днів тому

      @@DelayInBlockProductions My eyes and ears will be open!!

  • @railbaron9
    @railbaron9 19 днів тому +4

    The abandoned mine site reminds of the steel mills in Youngstown, Ohio. They were idled and you came back in 1 or2 yrs. and its all gone

  • @JustinDale333
    @JustinDale333 15 днів тому +2

    Love these types of videos and commentating!

  • @quintinthemississippirailfan
    @quintinthemississippirailfan 18 днів тому +4

    Excellent video Drayton

  • @andyward8062
    @andyward8062 18 днів тому +2

    Great footage ! ! ! Thanx for the history lesson.

  • @jacksonhaskellmaine
    @jacksonhaskellmaine 18 днів тому +2

    Awesome production, DIB!

  • @matthewfawbush7731
    @matthewfawbush7731 18 днів тому +2

    Great Video Bro
    So sad to see the EK sub in horrible condition sat abandoned 8 years
    Me and James know all the coal mining routes from Coeburn VA to the Kentucky region to Pennington Gap, VA
    We travel all across the coal mining region in southwest Virginia and Eastern Kentucky in the Appalachian Mountains in the Tri-Cities Region to see coal trains hauling from the mines of coal in the fields of coal country in the region my Dad James works at Komatsu in duffield VA on highway 23 near speers ferry in Gate City VA and they Made miners by hand and delivered the miners to the counties of Southwest Virginia, Eastern Kentucky to drill out of coal in the mines
    In the Appalachians
    Bro, nice shot of Barwick Tunnel to see the water inside the tunnel it was so sad to see the tunnel empty of the line washed away by the flood of the line
    So sad to see the EK sub line sat abandoned
    My birthday was yesterday Drayton
    I really enjoyed the story of the EK sub
    Hope you had a awesome day Bro
    Matthew says hi to you from Gate City VA 👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻

  • @jerrysinclair3771
    @jerrysinclair3771 18 днів тому +1

    Drayton, thank you for your informative video. I felt your pain and disappointment. We never know what the future holds. Looking forward to your next historical RR archeology.

  • @jimmygarlon750
    @jimmygarlon750 19 днів тому +2

    Impressive video, thanks for sharing.

  • @RFMCabooseNP1713
    @RFMCabooseNP1713 19 днів тому +2

    Great video. Sad times.

  • @traintalkproductions5934
    @traintalkproductions5934 17 днів тому +2

    The concrete ties intrigue me just as much as the online signals. They spent all that time and money upgrading the tracks on an already lightly used main, only for the line to fall into abandonment soon after.

  • @user-fc6pg9kr2y
    @user-fc6pg9kr2y 19 днів тому +4

    It's incredible how CSX has forgotten most of their lines. Some are not as bad as this but still. Incredible.

    • @newpylong
      @newpylong 18 днів тому

      Most of their lines? What does that even mean? If a line has zero revenue potential it is disposed of.

    • @user-fc6pg9kr2y
      @user-fc6pg9kr2y 18 днів тому +1

      @@newpylong Three words PSR. They (CSX) implemented PSR to save money by cutting many trains of the books. For instance the CSX A/S lines in Florida they had many trains running every day. Now maybe 3 or 4 run (per line excluding Amtrak trains). To say that CSX has forgotten may be an overstatement but sure seems like they did. Most of the trains were cut because there was no money to be made which I can see is your claim but it sure seems like they forgot most of their lines.

    • @newpylong
      @newpylong 18 днів тому

      @@user-fc6pg9kr2yAs much PSR is the devil it had nothing to do with the bottom of Kentucky coal falling out. Lucky the Hunter Harrison protege has been kicked to the curb and while PSR isn't going anywhere and much damage already done, they have begun to unwind some of it and actually are running a decent railroad again.

  • @heyeveryoneimcool
    @heyeveryoneimcool 18 днів тому +2

    The signaling being left operational might just be a way to scare off trespassers/scrap metal thieves that aren't in the know about the actual state of the tracks.

  • @austint918
    @austint918 12 днів тому +2

    It’s a long shot but maybe you could do a sister episode to this discussing the near abandonment of the TTI short line from Paris to Maysville. With the decline of coal from eastern Kentucky it more or less killed TTI too and would be interesting to hear someone discuss in detail what has happened since.

    • @DelayInBlockProductions
      @DelayInBlockProductions  12 днів тому

      TTI would be a great addition to the series!

    • @RailPreserver2K
      @RailPreserver2K 11 днів тому

      I know it was the nail in the coffin for there u boats, idk what happened to them post closure.

  • @NW-gi1cp
    @NW-gi1cp 18 днів тому +2

    That poor switcher 🥺

  • @SIDETRACKEDCHANNEL
    @SIDETRACKEDCHANNEL 18 днів тому +2

    Very much enjoyed this Exploration.

  • @kawasakiz76
    @kawasakiz76 18 днів тому +2

    Great video Drayton!

  • @RFRyan
    @RFRyan 17 днів тому +2

    I heard you talk about the CSX Illinois Subdivision briefly. I have an unofficial update on it. This part is official, but all the sidings along the line between Flora and Rose Lake have been completely removed. Unofficially, I heard from someone that he thinks CSX will hire contractors to tear up the unused part of the line. The only used part on the Illinois side runs from Vincennes, Indiana, to Flora, Illinois for a Consolidated Grain & Barge elevator in Olney, and a Cargill plant in Flora. As far as I know, the only siding on that line being used is a small one outside of Olney for grain cars not being loaded. All of the signals on the abandoned section of the line are still lit, so I’m not sure if CSX has future plans for the line, but all of the diamond interlockings in that section, of which there are 3, and all within 15 miles of one another, would be incredibly costly to replace, and would be a massive inconvenience to the 3 railroads that it crosses. There are cars stored near Caseyville, but that is west of the first cut rail on the sub. But as far as I know, the CSX Illinois Sub doesn’t have much of a future left. There are a few grain elevators, in the towns of Trenton and Breese along the line, where CSX could profit a lot from according to my dad. He hauls his grain to both of those places often and can vouch that a lot of grain goes in and out of those elevators. There is also an asphalt plant in Lebanon, but I’m not sure what they could do with that. The point is, there is a lot of wasted opportunity on the Illinois sub, but I also understand that it would be unbelievably expensive to get that line into operating condition. There hasn’t been a revenue train on that line since 2015, and the storage trains that removed all of the cars from the line ran in 2019. So to redo the line would be 10s of millions of dollars at least. The CSX Illinois Sub is a very sad story, I must say. Me and a few buddies believe the main reason CSX never sold the line, since they have the St Louis Line Sub from Indianapolis, was because they wanted to control the railroad market in Cincinnati, as I’m pretty sure even UP offered to buy the line from CSX. That’s about all I know about it at this point though.

    • @bluegrassman3040
      @bluegrassman3040 16 днів тому +1

      From what I understand, St. Louis is not the preferred western gateway for CSX because the TRRA charges exorbitant fees to handle cars on their rails. The L&N line from Evansville, IN to StL was cut west of Oakawville, IL in the early 90s. Evansville Western operates the rest of it.

    • @RFRyan
      @RFRyan 16 днів тому +1

      I live in Okawville. CSX cut the line because it contained too many bridges.

    • @bluegrassman3040
      @bluegrassman3040 16 днів тому

      @@RFRyan I’m sure that had some to do with it. Also to note, by the time CSX came about, they ended up with multiple routes to StL. Off subject slightly, I live next to the Henderson Sub in Robards, KY.

  • @wildcatindustries8030
    @wildcatindustries8030 11 днів тому +1

    Believe me if your looking for some interesting coal country sight seeing, go across the line into SW VA. We still have daily moves on most of not all of our active tracks, and the deactivated sections are pretty interesting to see, including a lot of old N&W infrastructure

  • @ChadsRailfanExperience
    @ChadsRailfanExperience 12 днів тому +1

    I remember driving around down there in the early 2ks, sleeping in the car somewhere on the EBV and catching a train load at Kite. Then coming up through Hazard where the Long John Silvers had beer on tap! Still plenty of trains down there at that time

  • @RailsofMichigan
    @RailsofMichigan 9 днів тому +1

    I really do pray and hope Drayton that there will be a future for this line should maybe the coal traffic come back or if CSX graciously donates some of the Line to Kentucky Steam for future rail excursions I hope that does happen. Only time will tell. But I'm going to keep praying and hoping that this line has a future.

  • @seanschabeg7877
    @seanschabeg7877 18 днів тому +1

    wow, it's sad to see a rail line like this almost becoming completely abandon but it does makes sense due to the decrease of coal production this region and in itself is also sad because coal is king in this part of the us and people that live in eastern Kentucky and west Virginia working in the mines is basically their lively hood.

  • @louisvillenashvillerailroa5269
    @louisvillenashvillerailroa5269 12 днів тому +1

    It's very sad how much of L&N (and other roads) have disappeared in recent years as coal has been on a very long decline, stuff like the Lebanon branch and EK are two big lines I think of just off the top of my head however just being able to walk the lines and even see the signals still stand lit is very chilling and just a reminder of how strong these lines use to be but couldn't survive the fate of time.

  • @halfwayfarmsandoutdoors3550
    @halfwayfarmsandoutdoors3550 18 днів тому +2

    How about a video on the old railway that ended at webbville, KY? Rails are gone but maybe you could document the history of it and maybe some pics.

  • @ronniewatkins
    @ronniewatkins 18 днів тому +2

    Awesome video!

  • @RailNut2
    @RailNut2 19 днів тому +2

    Fantastic Video!

  • @thatairplaneguy
    @thatairplaneguy 18 днів тому +4

    I live near Irvine in Berea. I remember how busy this line was when I was a kid. Probably a dozen trains a day. Since the Obama era war on our jobs the line has hardly any traffic. Maybe two trains a week through Berea and Richmond so the EK has virtually no chance of reanimation if the traffic on the subdivision through Madison county is so light.

  • @robertalcock1523
    @robertalcock1523 17 днів тому +2

    Fantastic video, I hope be able to reactivate some of this trackage!!

  • @blazinjay85
    @blazinjay85 18 днів тому +2

    Cool video. You should do one like this about the Tennessee Pass line in Colorado.

  • @evangaines2303
    @evangaines2303 19 днів тому +3

    It's really sad to see this Rail line in such a state. Maybe CSX should either abandoned the line or sell it to a Regional or Short Line, who could continue to run trains on the line.

    • @JohnGeorgeBauerBuis
      @JohnGeorgeBauerBuis 12 днів тому

      I could see them leasing it for the right price also, as they already control the connections at both ends anyway.

  • @LyfovRyan51
    @LyfovRyan51 18 днів тому +4

    I'm watching in New Zealand. It just guts me to see lines "mothballed". We've got our fair share here too.
    Railcart businesses makes use of some of them.

    • @ChrisJones-gx7fc
      @ChrisJones-gx7fc 18 днів тому

      I spent a college semester in Dunedin and would return to New Zealand in a heartbeat if/when given the chance. Absolutely beautiful country and nice people. I got to ride a few trains while touring around the country on motorcoaches, including the Taieri Gorge Railway and TranzAlpine, as well as bike the entire Otago Central Rail Trail.

    • @cassiebottorff1280
      @cassiebottorff1280 17 днів тому

      I live in the town featured at the beginning of the video, but last year I got to travel your beautiful country and loved it. I went from Auckland to Milford Sound and back again, and rode the Coastal Pacific on my way back north. Gorgeous country 💜

  • @user-vh1uc6in7b
    @user-vh1uc6in7b 19 днів тому +2

    Wow Drayton in CSX train tracks on the brick we're helping the CSX train tracks Eastern Kentucky in 2014 CSX map and turned on the red green and blue lines your map is 2016 this is so amazing how L&N is CSX Railroad line that was so amazing drone action Daryton.

  • @John-wd5om
    @John-wd5om 10 днів тому

    This video is absolutely amazing and also extremely sad😊

  • @luvthetux
    @luvthetux 19 днів тому +1

    Do you ever get down to middlesboro, KY? The yard used to be owned by Norfolk Southern, but now RJ Corman. Trains still run every now and then, but not many. My husband, his dad, brother, and uncles worked for Bell County Coal west of Middlesboro. It's closed now too. The office building burned not long ago. It stands still, but probably barely. Best of both worlds then, I love trains and my husband coal mining.

  • @CSXfan618
    @CSXfan618 7 днів тому

    This portion of the former L&N has gone downhill. In 2016 this traffic started to decline and CSX closed facilities in coal country putting many railroaders out of a job.

  • @mikehowey4869
    @mikehowey4869 18 днів тому +2

    Sad to see what was an important rail line in such horrible shape.😞

  • @Jet_Electro
    @Jet_Electro 16 днів тому

    Have you looked into the Sandy Valley & Elkhorn division? There isn’t much of it left. I wonder how active the remnants of it are now. The last time I drove past Shelby yard it looked empty.

  • @dlav7531
    @dlav7531 18 днів тому +2

    Impressive video, thank you for documenting this. What drone do you use to fly in close proximity to trees and the power lines without colliding with them? I document railroads in Tennessee with similar terrain with a drone but have to keep an eye on my drone to avoid collisions.

  • @Greatdome99
    @Greatdome99 18 днів тому +3

    Excellent report. As for China burning coal, keep in mind that coal processing at the mine releases heavy metals and other toxins that leach into the soil and groundwater.
    Most of the coal exported to China comes from the Canadian Rockies (CP's Sparwood sub) and Wyoming's Powder River Basin, not Kentucky.

  • @GeorgeJansen
    @GeorgeJansen 2 дні тому

    Emporia VA, along Davis street, nw tracks (abandoned) crosses the csx (just north of bus us 58). Would love any history you can record about it.

  • @matthewhicks4277
    @matthewhicks4277 19 днів тому +3

    Well. I was gonna say It'd be cool if RJ Corman could take over the EK Sub, along with the Rockhouse and E&BV Sub, but the more I watched this video the more I said, yeah that's no gonna happen. Poor EK looks like the W Line over Saluda.

  • @Traveler_007
    @Traveler_007 13 днів тому

    I hate going to Ravenna Yard from Patio Yard, rusty rail speed all the way haha. You can tell that the life was sucked out of that town when CSX officially stopped going there mostly. Just glorified storage for cars now.

  • @Railfan_Tim1070
    @Railfan_Tim1070 9 днів тому

    Fantastic Film 🎥

  • @jordant7935
    @jordant7935 19 днів тому +2

    Is the plan for Kentucky Steam to eventually acquire some of the EK?

  • @michaelcolucci5734
    @michaelcolucci5734 18 днів тому +2

    If the whole subdivision was in good shape and is still in good shape for trains to go by if the flood never happened I think CSX would definitely be open to selling or donating the sub to Kentucky Steam for excursions because they are not using the line anymore!

  • @rogerrichardson5291
    @rogerrichardson5291 19 днів тому +4

    Great job Drayton. I knew it was bad but no idea how bad. Crazy that CSX has not given this up to some other investor. Why? I think you are right, Jacksonville has no idea. Breaks my heart to see the beautiful railroad I used to run on in such a sad state.

    • @DelayInBlockProductions
      @DelayInBlockProductions  19 днів тому

      Thank you for watching and supporting the channel, Roger. I am so grateful you are involved with the museum at Kentucky Steam. As a railroader on this line, you know all about its history and how it was operated up til the end.

  • @Drockthe3rd
    @Drockthe3rd 18 днів тому

    In the flyover of the KSHCO site, there are 4 circus train house cars and a baggage car behind the SW1500. When were these acquired or stored at Ravenna?

    • @rogerrichardson1090
      @rogerrichardson1090 18 днів тому +2

      The circus cars have been there since the flood of 2022. They are privately owned and are on CSX trackage. The baggage car belongs to KHSCO and is used for train rides on their property. It's been there 4 or 5 years and had seating inside.

  • @Alex-io5el
    @Alex-io5el 18 днів тому

    You got LUCKY with that drone @32:51.

    • @DelayInBlockProductions
      @DelayInBlockProductions  18 днів тому +1

      I know 😳

    • @creggf4685
      @creggf4685 11 днів тому

      Great video..depressing to see what is happening. Yeah..saw that small wire flash by and thought "that was close".

  • @Kmaster2007
    @Kmaster2007 14 днів тому

    The B&O’s Indiana and Illinois Subdivisions are still in place and could MAYBE be used as a backup, the only issue is that the Illinois Sub has been cut in multiple places. All the diamonds with other railroads across Illinois have been removed (such as the ones with the IC main, etc.)

  • @arthurschipper8906
    @arthurschipper8906 16 днів тому +1

    One of my drills in bt was from hazard ky

  • @sp847256
    @sp847256 19 днів тому +3

    This was great do more.

  • @alexschmollinger6576
    @alexschmollinger6576 18 днів тому

    What Kind of Drone Do you have???

  • @ferraritoybox
    @ferraritoybox 18 днів тому

    Thx good job

  • @NWFProductions
    @NWFProductions 19 днів тому +3

    Absolutely fascinating, interesting, and somewhat confusing.

  • @ASPEST2017
    @ASPEST2017 14 днів тому

    Could you do a video on the NS meadville branch