My father worked this yard 30+ years when it was first New York Central, then Penn Central, and finally when he was close to retirement it was Conrail. He worked as a switcher, signalman, fireman, conductor, then yard conductor. When I was 12 he took me to the yard where I got to run a switch engine for about 50 yards..WHAT A THRILL! The yard could also be a very dangerous place where some men were hit by box cars coming off the hump, and sandwiched in between cars. My father said he even slipped on the ice a couple of times, and almost landed in front of a moving box car coming off the hump...IT MISSED! WHEW!! I still love trains, and I collect all the trains my father worked on, and those that I have ridden to the Gulf, and out to the west coast!
I live about 2 miles away from this train yard. We hear the cars banging together most every night. When you drive by there is little to see so this video is great to have a visual of the magnitude of the yard. I pass or am passed by many trains on my work commute on my 20 minute drive. Thankfully we have many over/under passes to avoid the wait at crossings!
Worked for NYC and Penn Central during the summer paying for college. Fired and braked on a nightly freight originating in Anderson, Indiana to Elkhart on the Michigan Branch. Long days since our branch was in disrepair and we had to switch cars northbound the first 50 miles and finish switching the second 50 miles on the return southbound trip. Power desk always gave us pretty junky locomotives headed for the scrap yard (Alco's and covered wagons). We operated under train orders in dark territory all the way to Goshen when we turned west to Elkhart under CTC. I remember those days well.
Wow, never realized that this yard was so large. My son't company has seen plans for an engine repair shop here but the plan is on hold for now. I didn't realize that there was so much open space in this yard.
My grandmother had two sisters who lived across the road from this yard! As a kid in the 60's and 70's I would visit my great uncle Ray who had a small auto repair shop and gas pumps on "old us 20". We would sit and the trains pass thru! It was a busy place back then, at least what I remember!!
I rode my bicycle out to visit the hump yard back in the mid 50s. I visited the control tower and got to see the operators desk with all of the lights and buttons. They had a vacuum tube computer that took an entire floor but would not let me see that. I was in grade school at the time and loved machines. The control of the entire hump yard from one location was very interesting.
Loved this video! My father worked from this yard over 40 years retiring in 1975. As a child to my early 20's Dad took me to the yards a few times so I knew some of the inner workings of how the yard worked, and learned about the hump.
That's a fascinating video. Been around Elkhart Yard pretty much my whole life. It was great to see the inner workings and get a birdseye view. Thank you!
I lived in Elkhart back in the late 80s and my Brother in law and I would train watch the yard when it was still Conrail and for a while they had a steamer working in the yard!!
Pretty damn cool following that humped car all the way into the bowl like that! Been to Elkhart off and on over the yrs. Never saw it tho from this view! Thanks!!!
That was kool, following that lone empty all the way down the yard till it hit the tank car. Some one told me years ago, this USED to be the biggest yard in the country. Any one know if that is true?
Nice video. Great that drones finally let railfans see what we've been unable to see for so long. The shot of the center-beam car rolling from the hump all the way to couple to the cut of tank cars on the classification track was interesting.Seems like overall the yard was relatively inactive for the number of cars sitting on classification tracks waiting to be assembled into outbound trains. The kind of inactivity that gives CEO's heartburn, I suspect.
That’s a misconception that rail fans have. They think cars are always moving in a yard. In actuality most aren’t and only a few tracks are being worked at a time. Also, depends on time of day. Shift change things really slow down. When busy, only two humpers and four pullbacks work. Sometimes only one, two or three pullbacks work.
Good question.. I'm assuming it's just how the slopes are designed.. momentum ect.. you can definitely hear em linking up at all different speeds.. I'm sure a fair amount of math was used lol
The use of retarders. They sit on the inside of the rails and will grab the flange of the wheels. You can see them at the 4:18 mark before snd after the crossing in black areas of the track
This was a couple years ago can't remember for sure which drone I had at the time.. It was either the DJI Phantom 3 or my current Mavic Pro.. both were about 1400 when I got them.. but both have come down a bunch in price since it's been a while since they were released and a newer model of each has come out.. I think the mavic pro now is around 800..
My father worked this yard 30+ years when it was first New York Central, then Penn Central, and finally when he was close to retirement it was Conrail. He worked as a switcher, signalman, fireman, conductor, then yard conductor. When I was 12 he took me to the yard where I got to run a switch engine for about 50 yards..WHAT A THRILL! The yard could also be a very dangerous place where some men were hit by box cars coming off the hump, and sandwiched in between cars. My father said he even slipped on the ice a couple of times, and almost landed in front of a moving box car coming off the hump...IT MISSED! WHEW!! I still love trains, and I collect all the trains my father worked on, and those that I have ridden to the Gulf, and out to the west coast!
I live about 2 miles away from this train yard. We hear the cars banging together most every night. When you drive by there is little to see so this video is great to have a visual of the magnitude of the yard. I pass or am passed by many trains on my work commute on my 20 minute drive. Thankfully we have many over/under passes to avoid the wait at crossings!
Worked for NYC and Penn Central during the summer paying for college. Fired and braked on a nightly freight originating in Anderson, Indiana to Elkhart on the Michigan Branch. Long days since our branch was in disrepair and we had to switch cars northbound the first 50 miles and finish switching the second 50 miles on the return southbound trip. Power desk always gave us pretty junky locomotives headed for the scrap yard (Alco's and covered wagons). We operated under train orders in dark territory all the way to Goshen when we turned west to Elkhart under CTC. I remember those days well.
Wow, never realized that this yard was so large. My son't company has seen plans for an engine repair shop here but the plan is on hold for now. I didn't realize that there was so much open space in this yard.
I had no idea it was NS's 2nd largest. I both received and shipped a lot of tank cars through that yard. Thanks 👍 for the video. 😊
My grandmother had two sisters who lived across the road from this yard! As a kid in the 60's and 70's I would visit my great uncle Ray who had a small auto repair shop and gas pumps on "old us 20". We would sit and the trains pass thru! It was a busy place back then, at least what I remember!!
You should of had a restraunt and combo gas station.Eat Here And Get Gas.
I rode my bicycle out to visit the hump yard back in the mid 50s. I visited the control tower and got to see the operators desk with all of the lights and buttons. They had a vacuum tube computer that took an entire floor but would not let me see that. I was in grade school at the time and loved machines. The control of the entire hump yard from one location was very interesting.
I gotta say, I loved watching that centerbeam float all the way down the yard.
I grew up right next to this train yard. This video is amazing. Thanks for sharing.
Loved this video! My father worked from this yard over 40 years retiring in 1975. As a child to my early 20's Dad took me to the yards a few times so I knew some of the inner workings of how the yard worked, and learned about the hump.
I go to Elkhart everyday and I’ve seen the inside from between gaps of cars but never that far in to see the whole thing. Amazing video!!
That's a fascinating video. Been around Elkhart Yard pretty much my whole life. It was great to see the inner workings and get a birdseye view. Thank you!
I lived in Elkhart back in the late 80s
and my Brother in law and I would
train watch the yard when it was
still Conrail and for a while they
had a steamer working in the yard!!
Pretty damn cool following that humped car all the way into the bowl like that! Been to Elkhart off and on over the yrs. Never saw it tho from this view! Thanks!!!
Hcjh mxmvmxmvkymcmsmcmdmcmcmfvmf
Big yard operations are a blast to watch!
Nice video.
I used to work out of this yard in the big blue era.
very nice job with the drone tracking that centerbeam all the way to a nice soft landing with the tank cars. very nice.
That was kool, following that lone empty all the way down the yard till it hit the tank car. Some one told me years ago, this USED to be the biggest yard in the country. Any one know if that is true?
7:35 That moment when you realize that you’re on the wrong track...
Awesome video and awesome story
Hi John just saw this video great job thanks. 🚂🚂🚂
this video John thanks great job.🚂🚂🚂
Worked for Conrail as west end UB knew every inch of that yard
Nice video. Great that drones finally let railfans see what we've been unable to see for so long. The shot of the center-beam car rolling from the hump all the way to couple to the cut of tank cars on the classification track was interesting.Seems like overall the yard was relatively inactive for the number of cars sitting on classification tracks waiting to be assembled into outbound trains. The kind of inactivity that gives CEO's heartburn, I suspect.
That’s a misconception that rail fans have. They think cars are always moving in a yard. In actuality most aren’t and only a few tracks are being worked at a time. Also, depends on time of day. Shift change things really slow down. When busy, only two humpers and four pullbacks work. Sometimes only one, two or three pullbacks work.
Awesome view of the yard
Very nicely done, thank-you so very much, I got to see some new things going on!
james d mehl yhuntynytttt
Great drone video.
This yard is just west of the Amtrak station?
Nice video bro.
Model drone?
Indeed. Gen 1 Mavic Pro
excellent vid
Your package will take 3 to 6 weeks for delivery.
that is a lot of cargo ., How much do you think all those cars cost ?
How do they control the speed of the cars coming off the hump? Great video by the way!
Good question.. I'm assuming it's just how the slopes are designed.. momentum ect.. you can definitely hear em linking up at all different speeds.. I'm sure a fair amount of math was used lol
The use of retarders. They sit on the inside of the rails and will grab the flange of the wheels. You can see them at the 4:18 mark before snd after the crossing in black areas of the track
🌐🌐🌐🌐🌐🌐🌐🌐🌐
How much did that drone you used cost? I want one lol
This was a couple years ago can't remember for sure which drone I had at the time.. It was either the DJI Phantom 3 or my current Mavic Pro.. both were about 1400 when I got them.. but both have come down a bunch in price since it's been a while since they were released and a newer model of each has come out.. I think the mavic pro now is around 800..
i wish you land the drone on top of a switching track the 3 way switches so i could see a real one instead of ho scale !
John
So, did you have to get permission to overfly the Elkhart Yard, also I think there's an airport there to the south?
The airport is a good ways away and planes don't fly near the rail yard
A truly awesome video, but it might be illegal to fly over their property; not sure about that.
Ron Haugen no it is not. unless to close to a airport it's oked. I could fly a piper 180 over the yard at 500 ft and the rail road can't stop you
Thumbs down for no sound. 👎
Awesome video!