Sending Cars Over the Hump: CSX's Avon Yard in Action
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- Опубліковано 8 бер 2023
- This is a video from a recent trip to the Indianapolis area.
You'll see crews working CSX's Avon Yard, including sorting cars over the hump.
The yard action starts at the 5:58 mark.
The video starts with two catches in the downtown area.
I hope you enjoy and let me know what you think. - Авто та транспорт
![Temco's Tacoma railroad operations: grain switching on the waterfront [6/14/2021]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/djGzh8q6m14/mqdefault.jpg)
When I was a teenager I learned about the concept of trainspotting for the first time and I thought it was a joke. I literally couldn't believe it, why would anyone like something that sounded so incredibly boring. 15 years later here I am. Wouldn't call myself a genuine trainspotter but I definitely understand now, rock on brother.
"I literally couldn't believe it, why would anyone like something that sounded so incredibly boring"
This sort of tedious hobby attracts people with certain personality disorders. Aspberger's especially, but also OCD and other disorders.
Does seem to be the case for most.
@ratofnihm so does your mom
Fantastic! I swear I could watch your footage all day, especially of the yard. There's something mesmerizing about watching trains get sorted.
I agree completely. It's easy to get mesmerized watching the cars go throughout the yard. I'm really glad to hear you enjoyed the video.
Its like watching the inside of an internet router
😂😂😂
These guys sound breezy and collegial, enjoying their teamwork and doing a darn necessary job for America's transportation network. Wish I could join them. Thanks for the video.
Over the years I'd heard references to how sorting yards worked but I've never seen it in action until now. Amazing!
First time I have ever seen 8 engines connected. Interesting! The layout of the tracks amazes me.
I watch a lot of railfanning videos. This is top notch. Interesting vantage points, nicely narrated and the scanner dialogue supplementing the imagery and action is a great touch.
Thank you very much, Robert. I really do appreciate it.
Very interesting! First time I've watched a hump yard in action. Thanks for posting!
More great drone work! Really like the view of the hump in operation. Appreciate the 4x speed to keep things moving. The zoom works so well that some of the still shots look like they are models.
Thanks as always Terry. I was really happy with how the yard action turned out.
This is great with the radio communications!
I have great respect for the behind the scenes people with a very responsible job! Cheers from Calgary!
As a residence of Indianapolis I have been here and watched these trains many times. Very cool to see in person!!
Thanks for putting this up as always! Great work!
This is amazing. I could watch this all day. I just might load up train sim after this. Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful video!! Imo one of your best yet. Yard operations, especially humps working are my absolute favorite vids. Would love to see more like this!!
Thank you. I was really pleased with how the yard action turned out.
I plan to try this at a few yards.
I'm planning on going back to the Queensgate Yard.
I'm also looking at the NS yard in Chattanooga.
Let me know anywhere else you think would look good.
@@nkyrailfan depends on how far you want to travel. Two hump yards that need video documentation are CSX Radnor yard in Nashville & NS Elkhart yard. I hear Elkhart is HUGE!!
Those are both very good ideas.
I'll have to plan trips to them this spring or summer.
Best classification yard video I've seen. I especially enjoyed watching the worker uncoupling the cars at the top of the hump. And the speeded up footage makes it all that much clearer. Great stuff!
Thanks, Danny. I hope to visit a few other yards in the coming months and put together videos showcasing their operations.
This is great footage. I live very close to the Avon yard. I always hear the rail yard from my house, and at night it actually lulls me to sleep. It's nice to see footage of what all goes on over there. Thanks for posting this!
Thank you very much, I do appreciate it.
I'm very glad you enjoyed it.
I live about 20 miles west of Avon. When my wife and I go shopping there, I like to go near and just listen to all the different sounds from the yard!
Very entertaining and fun to watch. Thanks for posting this.
Hi, I live just south of Indianapolis and It's so awesome that someone visited Indianapolis for trains! I've always been fascinated with trains since I was kid, but only recently got into it. Learning some much stuff from watching different videos on UA-cam. Thanks for sharing!
I'm very glad to hear you enjoyed it. I've been to Indianapolis many times. I even went a few times to Union Station when it was a shopping center. It's a great place to watch trains. I'm sure you've already found his videos, but search Distant Signal. They really got me into this.
This is fascinating and satisfying. Great videos
I have never seen video of a hump yard like this, and it is pretty exciting. Thanks for your great work!
Thank you very much. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it.
Love that 86' high cube CSX Chessis boxcar , them particular cars are extremely RARE, 🤯😵😱😁👌👍👍👍 more please!!
You've got me completely geeking on your videos.
that's really cool footage, makes it clear how much coordination and skill must go into any large classification operations but especially a hump yard
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
The thing I always take away from filming these yards is how easy it is for someone to get hurt if they're not always paying attention.
Beautiful drone footage while building the consists. I bet the yard would love to have that view every day!
This is amazing footage. Great job.
Thank you. I hope to get to a few more hump yards over the spring and summer.
My dad lived a mile north of the Avon yard and I likened the noise of it in the night to so many ships mating.
Awesome video! Thanks for sharing this video with us!
Thank you very much, Johnathan. I do appreciate it.
AWESOME footage of the RR operation from above. Enjoyed watching this cool video and have a wonderful rest of your evening.(Steve)
Thank you. I was really happy with the perspective from the drone.
I enjoyed following along as the cars were sorted throughout the yard.
Have a great evening as well.
@@nkyrailfan Your very welcome and yes it was a very good job and well done.
Just found your channel and love that you upload 4k video.. love watching these on my TV.
I'm glad you're enjoying it.
I should have some really good 4K stuff coming out in the coming months.
My father engineered for CSX and this was one of his jobs after the Cheviot yard closed down.
I learned to operate a train as a teenager and it was really fun 😂 to sit in that seat and make those GE electromotives move cars around.
Dad is 94 and still wishes he could go back to work.
Thanks for sharing.
I know a few of my dad's friends who worked for the railroad and they said they loved it and it was more than a job or even a career, it was a life for them.
I can't imagine what they'd think working for one of the companies now though.
Outstanding video, thanks for sharing. Dave
Thank you. I've got another one from Chicago I'm working on.
I hope to have it out in the next few days.
Awesome 👍 work, keep them videos coming
Glad to hear you enjoyed it, Nick.
Great video. This yard was originally built by the New York Central railroad in 1960. Built under the modernization program of Alfred E. Perlman. It was originally named the Big Four Yard. This part of the New York Central system was the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis railroad or the Big Four.
Thanks for the great information!
I do appreciate it.
Love your vids of HUMP action at the yards. Thumbs up and a sub!
Thanks, Edward.
I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the videos.
good stuff, thanks
Amazing video. I live near by and would enjoy seeing this yard in person.
Thank you, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it.
This would be a live UA-cam feed I'd watch for hours, given the right camera position.
I had no clue they sent intermodal down humps. Fantastic coverage, would love to see you come to Selkirk to cover that massive hump!
Glad to hear you enjoyed the video.
I was also surprised to see the intermodal head over the hump, I just assumed they were always block swapped.
I'd love to hear up to Selkirk, but it's about a ten hour drive for me.
So, I may need some time to figure out how to make it work.
Well, i can tell you I knew they sent car transport railcars down the hump, despite the fact they cars explicitly say "No Hump" I used to work in a railyard offloading those, and every car from Nissan carrying Frontier pickups had been humped, and every one had damaged vehicles in it. One was so bad we had to put a pair of trucks into 4 x 4 and drive them to pull the suckers apart.
That's crazy!
Wow that is a thing of wonder how they keep track of all them switches and how they can change over so quick
I believe everything is computer controlled to where the routing and switching are all taken care of by a computer program.
A good spot to go to is in Palmer Massachusetts at the at the dead end at the abandoned train station but it is now a restaurant and it is where New England Central inner to interchanges with CSX you would absolutely s*** yourself on how many trains come through here daily I would probably say about forty of them a day
Where is this yard anyway this is a very unique yard I would love to go here and videotape this I have a air drone that I'm itching do dry out the last one I had crashed because somebody's RC helicopter crashed into it I don't know how that was possible but when I found the wreckage I found an AC helicopter next to all the wreckage nobody claimed responsibility for it but my air drone was worth a good eight hundred bucks really pisses me off. I'm a lot more cautious but like I said you want a good train spot you have to try Palmer Massachusetts rate at the dead end spa & Palmer where the old train station used to be and the old train station is still there it's still is there but I it's converted to a restaurant now last time I was there. And it's right where New England Central interchanges with CSX
The yard is just west of Indianapolis.
It's a great yard but you will need a drone.
I didn't see many spots you could easily railfan from.
I'll keep that in mind if I'm in the Massachusetts area.
Thanks for the info.
Holky crap, i never thought i would see the day that one of my trains surfaced on the internet. Greetings from the conductor of that 8 engine power move.
That's awesome!
You're the first conductor to comment on a video in which I filmed their train.
Hey! That dispatcher AB sounds pretty awesome! I bet she's the coolest!
Well, this is certainly a first!
I have no doubt dispatcher AB is the coolest!
I should have stuck around longer.
It seemed things were just getting interesting when she took over.
@NKY Railfan always have something going on Sundays! 😅 thanks though, always fun to hear myself and know I don't sound like as big of a dork as I think 😁
😂😂😂
I thought you sounded very professional.
I initially thought you were an engineer when I first heard you.
And if you ever have a crew time for anything heading to Cincinnati through Connersville, I would love to know.
I've been trying to catch something on that line for some time.
I like the speeding up the trains. Love the channel!
You could cover AK Steel in Middletown, CSX has a yard next to AK and NS has a yard a few miles toward town on University Ave serving a paper plant and then down Vannest Rd to the crossing of the Miami River could be a good drone event. I believe I & O has trackage rights on NS.
I grew up there and have not returned for 30 years.
Thank you.
I'm planning on covering Middletown at some point, I'm just not sure of the frequency/schedule for any train activity.
If you have any information, I certainly would appreciate it.
The best rail video I've seen! If possible I would like to see more from the yard. But I would like to understand how they do what they do!
I'm hoping to find a railroader to talk with and have them explain everything going on in the video.
No luck so far but I'm trying.
Great video
man you gotta let me know next time you coming to Avon yard I will definitely be there 👍🏿
I grew up blocks away from the large railyard in Cicero IL and enjoyed the sights and sounds of engines and brakes. If you stood on Laramie Avenue. On the bridge you can see the tracks for miles.
I plan to head up there and capture the rail yards I'm able to.
Let me know any good spots you know of.
I typically just use Google Maps to try and find them.
I was actually there today getting some of the Amtrak facility.
I hope to get that video out this week.
Pretty cool love how movie them 🚗 car from Indiana love it
This is fantastic! I'm 99% sure you captured footage of my friend's then lost golden retriever at :35 in the middle of the left track running eastbound. He is home now. His name is Gunner & he is all over the local news WRTV6. Thank you!
no way! was just wondering about the dog that's good to hear i was worried about it.
@potatothorn Home safely! WRTV6 updated the public early Monday. They were amazing to work with. Gunner the Golden Retriever is home. ♡ Thank you!
Dog seemed to be goin' somewhere with a purpose. Train didn't even faze him.
@@spikespa5208 We're beyond thankful Gunner is home with his family!
@@spikespa5208 Ths car rolled several times. If this is Gunner, he wasn't afraid.❤
Love the new drone and your work. You should try Muncie, Indiana and the diamonds at CP 230 & CP 229 between the CSX Indpls Line and the NS Mid south line plus the Frankfort line going west. Plus on the eastend of town CSX crosses the White River which NS crosses twice cross to the CSX and a 3rd time north of downtown.
I actually have a video I'm working on that finishes up in Muncie.
I followed an NS train along the New Castle District from Cincinnati to Muncie (it got too dark to go further).
Muncie was a great place that I look forward to visiting again.
@NKY Railfan be looking forward to seeing it.
what a crazy job
Good grip using 4X speed! Impressive automation.
That's the Slippery Noodle Inn, the oldest bar in Indiana and a great blues club, the smaller brick building to the left of Union Station in downtown Indy. During WW 2, Union Station in Indianapolis was the busiest passenger station in the US. It was beautiful.
My father shared so many stories of our lovely city. I finally made it back 5 days last week to search for a lost dog. It was heartbreaking to see the degradation and a vastly discarded homeless population along the beautiful river. I grew up in a cabin Dad built along the west fork of White River in Sunshine Gardens. We were blessed to experience Indianapolis before the urban sprawl, multiple recessions, and many once gorgeous buildings left in disrepair post-rioting 2 years ago. I grew up doing all the IN Historical Society treasurehunts and won t-shirts with Dad and my twin. Indianapolis can heal. When I'm rich, I'm cleaning it up myself! I could get rich recycling the cans.
Another great video
Thank you. I appreciate that. I'm hoping to get to a few more yards with humps this year.
Good stuff, for sure.
Wonderful 👍👍
I wanted to do the same thing over Rice Yard in Waycross Ga. Nice video.
Thank you. I hope you make it to Waycross. I would love make it there one day. Danny Harmon really has sold it as a railfan heaven.
Dang March 5th? I missed you by one day. I was sittin out at Avon yard getting pictures on the 6th. What are the odds.
Great footage! at 12:17 our company has a High/Wide Transformer load that is in your video capture. It is a 375,000 transformer that was in transit from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Dearborn, MI. Of course, it is an impact recorder load with two idler box cars and is a manual switch only. We originated on the Florida East Coast line and interchanged to the CSX in Jacksonville, FL. It arrived safely at its' new home in Dearborn at a power plant. We off loaded it on 3/15/23. I spied your footage because your timing was very close to the time it spent in Avon Yard. Sure enough there it was.
I'm glad you noticed it.
What a great story!
Thank you for sharing the trip the transformer took.
I figured they must handle a load like that pretty delicately.
@@nkyrailfan If you would be kind enough to give us permission we may utilize a few seconds of your clip of the unit in a video of the project. Let us know. TY
Yeah, that is no problem.
I grant permission to use the clip as part of a video for the project.
@@nkyrailfan Thank you very much! When we get this project complete and do a video we will get you a copy. Best Regards my friend.
I would love to see you head up to Elkhart Indiana and do a video of the yard there. We just went up there this past week and saw a ton of action in and out of the yard. Tuesday evening a few miles west of the yard the west bounds were coming out of the yard so fast before the last car even passed us we could see the headlights of the next train coming already I think we had 5 in a row like that plus two meets heading east at the same time. All in all saw 55 trains in about 20 hours trackside up there
That is a crazy amount of trains to see!!!
I've actually been planning a trip to Elkhart, I just need to find the time.
It's about a four-hour drive from where I am, so I want to make it worthwhile and have a lot of daylight.
One of the issues is how close it is to the airport.
And it is an airport I must get permission to fly my drone near a few months in advance.
Luckily, there is a section that I can fly my drone without permission, so I think I can make it work.
I'll try and let you know when I make it up there.
Feel free to let me know where you all set up.
awesome😊😊 video new sub thanks for the share.👍👍👍
Thank you very much. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the video.
Here in the Netherlands we have a similar switch yard on a hill. Works in the same way. It's called Kijfhoek.
How CSX was made was when Chessie System & Seaboard Coastline merged together. The C stands for Chessie, the S for Seaboard, & the X is a multiplication symbol meaning with those 2 companies together, they're so much more. Same thing happened with Burlington Northern & Santa Fe which made BNSF.
See some of your still pictures shows the INRD being up there on their daily trips up there. Very nice
My buddy works at the Avon yard. He's also worked at the amtrack yard.
The Duncan tunnel in Edwardsville/Georgetown would be a super cool spot! Especially if there's a way that the drone could get to the lower side of the tunnel that comes out by Corydon Pike! I've always wanted to sneak back there and see it in person but I don't know if I'd get in trouble or not
I actually have a video that includes a stop at the tunnel.
I was there on a cold, rainy day and the train I was following from Louisville stalled on the grade and had to wait for a helper to push it up the hill.
I hope to get that video out in the next few weeks.
I bet you could look around the area if you waited for a train to go by and then followed up to the Corydon Pk entrance.
Interesting system..
it is possible to reduce wagon collisions with this system after cutting
I had two uncle's that worked the C&O yard (CSX) at Russell Kentucky. One was a pin puller on the hump the other a brakeman in the yard. Spent many a day hanging out in my uncle's shanty in the yard.
I bet those were some great days spent at the yard!
@@nkyrailfan yes it was, it was in the late 60s to the early 70s. They still had a few steamers running, got to ride one. I was about 13 then.
wow super cool vid
We’ve spent the night at union station coach cars/ hotel cars there, it’s pretty cool
Whoa! I did not expect them to send the engines down the hump; I figured they’d back up to that closest turnout, then go around to the “downhill” side of the yard (furthest from the camera), then start shunting cars from there (or maybe pull into the engine servicing facility nearby.)
I was surprised to see them continue over the hump too.
I guess it's easier and quicker to just keep going.
super train video bro
And to think I worked nearly two years building UP’s Brazos hump yard. Out of a budget of 550M, 350M was already spent, with much of the yard in place. Then UP decided to axe the whole project. It’s now used for car storage and spare parts for other hump yards.
Wow, glad I found this gem. I wonder if those Gensets are being used or if that's a deadline?🤔
haven't seen any comments about a deadline. So, hopefully, still in service.
@@nkyrailfan The back porches on those SDs look like you could put a barbecue grill and a couple lawn chairs on em.😉
I thought the cars were going down that fast for a second but the auto racks going down that fast would be scary to be near
Cool video and channel just subscribed
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
hated the two humps we had here in nz , the damage was colossal , well gone now , all shunting is now placing , no more slipping , kicking , instant dismissal .
More of this please! Chessie System ❤ "Sleep like a kitten, arrive fresh as a daisy"!
Wow, exceptional video and handling of your drone!!! The quality is superb, if you don't mind me asking what are you using to get this quality? Also love that we can see where you were controlling from the top of the garage ;-)
Thank you very much, I do appreciate it.
I recently purchased the DJI Mavic 3.
It has a wide-angle lens and a telephoto lens (tight field of view).
I am very happy with the quality that comes out of the drone.
That parking garage is a great spot if you don't mind the $10.
I work for CSX at the Louisville yard. U should do a video on that yard one day.
Hey Bobby.
I've actually tried to get the Mapother Yard a couple times but only did so once.
I have to stay back from it because of the airport.
But if you have a recommendation on a window to stop by when it'll be busy, I'd love to head there and check it out.
I haven't been to Obannon Yard but hope to check that out soon too.
@@nkyrailfan Louisville yard is usually busy during the day and with it getting warmer, there should me more activity in the yard itself and Obannon yard is usually busy around 4-ish. That’s the time we work the Ford plant and double the attracts from the ramp to take to Louisville. Actually there’s 2 trains that take auto racks from the ramp to Louisville. The first is at 4pm and the other starts at 830pm and the RCO works the actual Ford industry around the same time. Hope this helps
If you're in Indy again a decent place to film on the southside near where you were is just north of Garfield park. There is an interchange with the Indiana RR, Louisville and Indiana RR and CSX. It's near south east street and Beecher. Most of the trains are in the afternoon
Thanks for the info, Chuck. I do appreciate it.
I'll plan on checking it out the next time in the area.
Have a great day.
The radio chatter audio is better than any narration and miles better than any music.
I love to hear the radio transmissions
Fascinating! How does the railroad keep track of everything?
I believe it's all computer controlled based on RF ID tags on each car.
@@nkyrailfan Remember when it was all done manually? Incredible!
My friend is supervisor of that line headed east out of Avon
Something that I find strange there, besides the Chessie System boxcars at the end, is the Massachusetts Coastal locomotive that is way out of its territory at 12:30.
I felt the same when I saw the engine.
I wonder if it's been sold or something.
It looked to be in good shape.
@@nkyrailfan The Mass Coastal GP59, the BNSF B40-8s, and the UP gensets were all bound for LTEX in Lordstown, OH. I'm fairly local to the area and have seen a lot of stuff about several genset moves going through, and have seen posts about those B40-8s in facebook groups
Thanks for the info. Have you heard if they're destined for anywhere after Lordstown? Or will they be there for an indefinite amount of time?
@ 4:15, that's Gainbridge Fieldhouse where the Indiana Pacers play. And after watching, I had no idea they free flung train cars into their respective trains
Thanks for the name of the fieldhouse.
I saw a few games as a kid visiting family at Market Square Arena in the 90s but haven't been back downtown in several years.
NS 8105 is at winfield, TN rn so its comin to cincinati and set up at winton place
I do switching at my yard with old 1948 locomotive it’s something else
How about ya snowman, this is the bandit...
How do the radios work outside of the yards? Is it a big repeater system or a bunch of different channels?
Unfortunately, I'm not quite sure.
I know I must be within a few miles of a train to hear what signals are being called, so I don't think they use repeaters down the line.
Hopefully, someone will chime in with an answer.
You did not know it but i recognized the big brick clad building from an earlier video from my son who works at rolls royce next door. This was quite an eventful video what with the dog and now this. Tony. Johannesburg south africa.
Thanks for sharing, Tony and greetings from the United States.
That's pretty neat your son works at the Rolls Royce facility.
And luckily, the dog was found and reunited with its owners.
You should try elkhart indiana. We have a large train yard the hump looks as big as the one in this video. There is also a train museum with lots of old engines
I'm working on a plan to make it up there.
I'm hoping to do it within the next few weeks depending on the weather.
I'll try and let you know when I do.
have you covered the nashville rail yard? curious about that one
I have not but it is on the short list of yards to cover.
I hope to get there in the next few weeks.
I could swear that one of the railyard commentators sounds just like C. W. McAll from the old record "Convoy".
Any day with more than (1) SD-40 is a great day!
Dude.. there’s a hotel nearby with an equally good view over this part that I stayed in once.
Vey nice video clip. Although there are a ton of radio communication violations by CSX Radio Rule. Like the UP Gen Set Motors
Thank you.
I'm always curious about some of the things I hear. I try to catch anything I don't think they'd like repeated but that's more jokes and stuff. I'm not familiar with any of the radio violations.
What radio are you using? Love the videos
Thank you, I do appreciate that.
I use a Uniden BC75XLT with Diamond RH77CA antenna.
I'm looking to upgrade because I'm not satisfied with it when I'm along a mainline.
I really have to be close to something to get food reception.
You may be the person to answer a question I've had for YEARS! I live in the Indy area, and there's a roughly 50 ft. section of track they replaced about 5 years ago near my house. The section they took out has been laying next to the active tracks since they took it out. Who would I contact about getting the steel rails?
I'm not really sure.
How often do trains come through on the tracks?
I'd bet the railroad would tell you they're going to pick it up soon, but if it's been there that long, it may have been forgotten.
If the rails are 50 feet long, I'm not sure what you'd be able to do with them other than cut them down and scrap them.
I'm not sure if scrap places will take railroad tracks just because they wouldn't want to incentivize anyone to try and cut them.
I think this is a "you make the call, but don't tell anyone" type situation.
@@nkyrailfan thanks. I appreciate the reply. That's pretty much what everyone I've asked has said. “Just take them!” I own a CNC machine shop and I want to cut the rails up and make stuff out of them.
@@tonywoodside2496 just staring at you, taunting you with project ideas. How I feel about all the trees on my property after getting into woodworking...
The “stadium” looks more like a hangar for a large aircraft; maybe the Goodyear blimp.