Evansville Western Railway
Encyclopedia
The Evansville Western Railway is a Class III
common carrier shortline railroad
operating in the Southern Illinois and Indiana
region. It is one of three regional railroad subsidiaries owned and operated by Four Rivers Transportation Inc.
, the parent company of both the Evansville Western and Paducah & Louisville
railroads, purchased 124.5 miles (200.4 km) of mainline track, ties and track equipment between CSX's Howell Yard in Evansville, Indiana
and the end-of-track at Okawville, Illinois
from CSX Transportation
. This line was once part of the Louisville & Nashville's
former Saint Louis Subdivision route that previously terminated in the metro-area of East St. Louis, Illinois
before being embargoed and slightly shortened under CSX ownership during the fall of 1993. CSX Transportation retains title to the real estate comprising the right of way on which the railroad operates, but has leased it to EVWR for an initial period of 20 years.
More than 55,000 to 60,000 carloads per year are shipped on the Evansville Western railway, all of which are currently interchanged with three different Class I railroad
carriers. These are CSX Transportation
at Howell Yard in Evansville
, BNSF Railway
at the Woodlawn, Illinois
junction, and the Union Pacific at Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Construction is underway on a new connection line east of Mt. Vernon, IL that will permit interchange with the Norfolk Southern Railway
, a 4th Class I railroad.
A new 14.6 mi (23.5 km) railroad line, known as the "Savatran Rail Spur", has been completed from Delafield (near McLeansboro
) through Macedonia, Illinois
before terminating with a loading loop north of the Akin Junction on CN's existing Edgewood Cutoff line, thus giving the Evansville Western railroad interchange access to the Canadian National. Construction on this new line commenced during March 2009 and was originally scheduled to conclude by the following December. When the new spur connector was finished in January 2011 it allowed commodities traffic via connection with the CN and it began serving the new Sugar Camp Energy coal mine north of Akin
that was developed by Williamson Energy Development, a subsidiary of West Virginia-based Cline Group, on reserves leased from Natural Resource Partners, L.P.
Additionally, EVWR is constructing an interconnection line approximately 1.8 mi (2.9 km) in length just east of Mt. Vernon, IL
that will enable interchange with the Norfolk Southern (NS)
. The new line (nearly complete) runs north from the EVWR mainline (about 0.25 mi (0.402335 km) east of Liebengood Rd.) and will connect with the NS across from and south of the Mt. Vernon, IL Airport (MVN)
. EVWR is also expanding its siding northwest of Opdyke
to a total length of approximately 3 mi (4.8 km) from Interstate 64
to the new connection. When complete, this will allow direct delivery of unit coal trains
from the Sugar Camp Mine near Akin, IL
to the Gibson Generating Station
in Indiana across the Wabash River
from Mt. Carmel, IL
.
Most of the railroad's revenue freight services come from rail-barge
transfer facilities, merchandise freight from bulk terminals
, unit coal trains
from coal
mines & a riverside coal terminal, and grain
& agriculture products from numerous grain elevator
shippers.
s purchased from other railroads. They are all painted to match its parent company Four Rivers Transportation
's traditional green, white, & black color scheme with the classic diamond herald. In addition to the company-owned roster, the railroad is also leasing a few more units from GATX Corporation
.
Class III railroad
A Class III railroad, as defined by the Surface Transportation Board, is a railroad with an annual operating revenue of less than $20 million . The term only applies to United States railroads, but is sometimes applied to other countries...
common carrier shortline railroad
Shortline railroad
A shortline railroad is a small or mid-sized railroad company that operates over a relatively short distance relative to larger, national railroad networks. The term is used primarily in the USA and Canada...
operating in the Southern Illinois and Indiana
Southern Indiana
Southern Indiana, in the United States, consists of the 33 counties located in the southernmost part of the state. The region's history and geography has led to a blend of Northern and Southern culture distinct from the remainder of Indiana. It is often considered to be part of the Upland South...
region. It is one of three regional railroad subsidiaries owned and operated by Four Rivers Transportation Inc.
Four Rivers Transportation
Four Rivers Transportation, Inc. based in Wilmington, Delaware, is a railroad holding company in the United States. It is jointly-owned by the management of the P&L Railway, as well as CSX Corporation, which the latter holds a majority.-Subsidiaries:...
Overview
Founded in August 2005, the railroad commenced its first operations on January 1, 2006, when Four Rivers TransportationFour Rivers Transportation
Four Rivers Transportation, Inc. based in Wilmington, Delaware, is a railroad holding company in the United States. It is jointly-owned by the management of the P&L Railway, as well as CSX Corporation, which the latter holds a majority.-Subsidiaries:...
, the parent company of both the Evansville Western and Paducah & Louisville
Paducah and Louisville Railway
The Paducah & Louisville Railway is a Class II railroad that operates freight service between Paducah and Louisville, Kentucky.The 270-mile line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August, 1986. The 223-mile main route runs between Paducah and Louisville with a branch line from...
railroads, purchased 124.5 miles (200.4 km) of mainline track, ties and track equipment between CSX's Howell Yard in Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
and the end-of-track at Okawville, Illinois
Okawville, Illinois
Okawville is a village in Washington County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,434 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Okawville is located at...
from CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
. This line was once part of the Louisville & Nashville's
Louisville and Nashville Railroad
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States.Chartered by the state of Kentucky in 1850, the L&N, as it was generally known, grew into one of the great success stories of American business...
former Saint Louis Subdivision route that previously terminated in the metro-area of East St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis is a city located in St. Clair County, Illinois, USA, directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri in the Metro-East region of Southern Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 27,006, less than one-third of its peak of 82,366 in 1950...
before being embargoed and slightly shortened under CSX ownership during the fall of 1993. CSX Transportation retains title to the real estate comprising the right of way on which the railroad operates, but has leased it to EVWR for an initial period of 20 years.
More than 55,000 to 60,000 carloads per year are shipped on the Evansville Western railway, all of which are currently interchanged with three different Class I railroad
Class I railroad
A Class I railroad in the United States and Mexico, or a Class I rail carrier in Canada, is a large freight railroad company, as classified based on operating revenue.Smaller railroads are classified as Class II and Class III...
carriers. These are CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
at Howell Yard in Evansville
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
, BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
at the Woodlawn, Illinois
Woodlawn, Jefferson County, Illinois
Woodlawn is a village in Jefferson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 698 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Mount Vernon Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
junction, and the Union Pacific at Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Construction is underway on a new connection line east of Mt. Vernon, IL that will permit interchange with the Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
, a 4th Class I railroad.
A new 14.6 mi (23.5 km) railroad line, known as the "Savatran Rail Spur", has been completed from Delafield (near McLeansboro
McLeansboro, Illinois
McLeansboro is a city in Hamilton County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,883 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Hamilton County. Located in Southern Illinois, the town was named for Dr. William B. McLean, who donated the land for its founding...
) through Macedonia, Illinois
Macedonia, Illinois
Macedonia is a village in Hamilton and Franklin counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 51 at the 2000 census.The Hamilton County portion of Macedonia is part of the Mount Vernon Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
before terminating with a loading loop north of the Akin Junction on CN's existing Edgewood Cutoff line, thus giving the Evansville Western railroad interchange access to the Canadian National. Construction on this new line commenced during March 2009 and was originally scheduled to conclude by the following December. When the new spur connector was finished in January 2011 it allowed commodities traffic via connection with the CN and it began serving the new Sugar Camp Energy coal mine north of Akin
Akin, Illinois
Akin is an unincorporated community in Franklin County, Illinois, United States. Akin is east of Benton. Akin had a post office, which closed on July 2, 2011. Akin is home to Akin Grade School; the school's Akin Bulldogs were the 1984 State Basketball champions....
that was developed by Williamson Energy Development, a subsidiary of West Virginia-based Cline Group, on reserves leased from Natural Resource Partners, L.P.
Additionally, EVWR is constructing an interconnection line approximately 1.8 mi (2.9 km) in length just east of Mt. Vernon, IL
Mount Vernon, Illinois
Mount Vernon is a city located near the center of Jefferson County, Illinois, in the United States. In the 2010 census, the city's reported population was 15,277 people....
that will enable interchange with the Norfolk Southern (NS)
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
. The new line (nearly complete) runs north from the EVWR mainline (about 0.25 mi (0.402335 km) east of Liebengood Rd.) and will connect with the NS across from and south of the Mt. Vernon, IL Airport (MVN)
Mount Vernon Airport
Mount Vernon Airport is a general aviation airport located three miles east of the central business district of Mount Vernon, a town in Jefferson County, Illinois, USA...
. EVWR is also expanding its siding northwest of Opdyke
Opdyke, Illinois
Opdyke is a census-designated place in the southeastern part of Jefferson County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 254. Opdyke was laid out in 1871, following construction of the St. Louis & Southeastern Railroad...
to a total length of approximately 3 mi (4.8 km) from Interstate 64
Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
to the new connection. When complete, this will allow direct delivery of unit coal trains
Unit train
A unit train, also called a block train, is a railway train in which all the cars making it up are shipped from the same origin to the same destination, without being split up or stored en route...
from the Sugar Camp Mine near Akin, IL
Akin, Illinois
Akin is an unincorporated community in Franklin County, Illinois, United States. Akin is east of Benton. Akin had a post office, which closed on July 2, 2011. Akin is home to Akin Grade School; the school's Akin Bulldogs were the 1984 State Basketball champions....
to the Gibson Generating Station
Gibson Generating Station
The Gibson Generating Station is a coal-burning power plant located at the northern end of northern Montgomery Township, Gibson County, Indiana, United States. It is close to the Wabash River, just opposite Mount Carmel, Illinois...
in Indiana across the Wabash River
Wabash River
The Wabash River is a river in the Midwestern United States that flows southwest from northwest Ohio near Fort Recovery across northern Indiana to southern Illinois, where it forms the Illinois-Indiana border before draining into the Ohio River, of which it is the largest northern tributary...
from Mt. Carmel, IL
Mount Carmel, Illinois
Mount Carmel is a city in and the county seat of Wabash County, Illinois, United States. At the time of the 2000 census, the population was 7,982, while the next largest town in Wabash County is Allendale, population 528. Located at the confluence of the Wabash, Patoka, and White Rivers, Mount...
.
Most of the railroad's revenue freight services come from rail-barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
transfer facilities, merchandise freight from bulk terminals
Bulk cargo
Bulk cargo is commodity cargo that is transported unpackaged in large quantities. This cargo is usually dropped or poured, with a spout or shovel bucket, as a liquid or as a mass of relatively small solids , into a bulk carrier ship's hold, railroad car, or tanker truck/trailer/semi-trailer body...
, unit coal trains
Unit train
A unit train, also called a block train, is a railway train in which all the cars making it up are shipped from the same origin to the same destination, without being split up or stored en route...
from coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
mines & a riverside coal terminal, and grain
GRAIN
GRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems. Our support takes the form of independent research and analysis, networking at local, regional and...
& agriculture products from numerous grain elevator
Grain elevator
A grain elevator is a tower containing a bucket elevator, which scoops up, elevates, and then uses gravity to deposit grain in a silo or other storage facility...
shippers.
Equipment
The Evansville Western Railway's locomotive fleet primarily consists of rebuilt EMD hood unitHood unit
A hood unit, in railroad terminology, is a body style for diesel and electric locomotives. On a hood unit, the body of the locomotive is less than full-width for most of the locomotive's length, with walkways on the outside of the locomotive. In contrast, a cab unit has a full-width carbody for...
s purchased from other railroads. They are all painted to match its parent company Four Rivers Transportation
Four Rivers Transportation
Four Rivers Transportation, Inc. based in Wilmington, Delaware, is a railroad holding company in the United States. It is jointly-owned by the management of the P&L Railway, as well as CSX Corporation, which the latter holds a majority.-Subsidiaries:...
's traditional green, white, & black color scheme with the classic diamond herald. In addition to the company-owned roster, the railroad is also leasing a few more units from GATX Corporation
General American Transportation Corporation
GATX Corporation is an equipment finance company based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1898, GATX's primary activities consist of railcar operating leasing in North America and Europe...
.
Company Power
| Model | Quantity | Acquired | Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| EMD GP38-2 EMD GP38-2 An EMD GP38-2 is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive of the road switcher type built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division. Part of the EMD Dash 2 line, the GP38-2 was an upgraded version of the earlier GP38... |
3 | 2006 | 3833-3835 |
| EMD GP39-2 EMD GP39-2 An EMD GP39-2 is a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between 1974 and 1984. 239 examples of this locomotive were built for American railroads. Part of the EMD Dash 2 line, the GP39-2 was an upgraded GP39... |
2 | 2006 | 3836-3837 |
| EMD GP38 EMD GP38 An EMD GP38 is a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January 1966 and December 1971. Power was provided by an EMD 645 16-cylinder engine which generated .... |
2 | 2007 | 3838-3839 |
| EMD GP40M-2 EMD GP40-2 An EMD GP40-2 is a 4-axle diesel road switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division as part of its Dash 2 line between April 1972 and December 1986. Power was provided by an EMD 645E3 16-cylinder engine which generated 3000 horsepower .- Production :Standard GP40-2 production... |
1 | 2008 | 3840 |
| EMD SD40-2 EMD SD40-2 The EMD SD40-2 is a C-C locomotive produced by EMD from 1972 to 1989.The SD40-2 was first introduced in January 1972 as the mid-range offering in EMD's six-axle "Dash-2" series, competing against the GE U30C and the MLW M630... |
3 | 2006 | 6001-6003 |
| EMD SD60 EMD SD60 The EMD SD60 is a 3,800 horsepower 6-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division. Intended for heavy-duty drag freight or medium-speed freight service, it was introduced in 1984, and production of SD60 variants ran until 1995.- History and development... |
1 | 2006 | 6004 |
Leased Power
| Model | Quantity | Acquired | Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| EMD GP38-2 EMD GP38-2 An EMD GP38-2 is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive of the road switcher type built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division. Part of the EMD Dash 2 line, the GP38-2 was an upgraded version of the earlier GP38... |
3 | 2006 | GMTX General American Transportation Corporation GATX Corporation is an equipment finance company based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1898, GATX's primary activities consist of railcar operating leasing in North America and Europe... 2622, 2651, & 2655 |
External links
- Evansville Western Railway – Official Website
- Railroad Picture Archives – Photographs of the Evansville Western