Hoosier Southern Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Hoosier Southern Railroad is a short-line railroad owned and operated by the Perry County Port Authority (PCPA) of Perry County, Indiana
.
and Santa Claus
that the Port Authority purchased from Norfolk Southern in 1991. The line had been unused since the mid-1980s and Norfolk Southern was considering abandonment prior to the Port Authority's purchase.
in 1995, the Port Authority undertook construction of a spur to that site. In 1996, an additional 2.4 miles of trackage between Santa Claus
and Lincoln City
was added to the HOS system. This trackage was also purchased from Norfolk Southern.
Combined with the Tell City River Port on the Ohio River
at Tell City, the Hoosier Southern provides multimodal transportation to serve the needs of businesses in both Perry
and Spencer
counties.
Though the Hoosier Southern is no longer part of the Norfolk Southern system, it interchanges with the NS system at Lincoln City
. NS gives HOS customers a direct connection to much of the eastern United States, with lines to such centers of commerce as Kansas City, Missouri
and Louisville, Kentucky
.
Perry County, Indiana
Perry County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 19,338. The county seat is Tell City. It is the hilliest county as well as one of the most forested counties of in Indiana as it features more than of Hoosier National Forest...
.
History
The railroad originally consisted of a 19.8-mile line between the Indiana communities of CanneltonCannelton, Indiana
Cannelton is a city in Troy Township, Perry County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,209 at the 2000 census. Cannelton, which is the smallest incorporated city in the state, was formerly the county seat of Perry County until the seat was relocated to Tell City...
and Santa Claus
Santa Claus, Indiana
Santa Claus is a town in Carter, Clay and Harrison townships, Spencer County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana, between Interstate 64 and the Ohio River. The population was 2,041 at the 2000 census.Santa Claus was established in 1854...
that the Port Authority purchased from Norfolk Southern in 1991. The line had been unused since the mid-1980s and Norfolk Southern was considering abandonment prior to the Port Authority's purchase.
Purpose and services
PCPA's goal in obtaining and putting the Hoosier Southern line back into service was (and is) to attract new industry to Perry County. When Waupaca Foundry announced plans to build a facility just north of Tell CityTell City, Indiana
Tell City is a city in Troy Township, Perry County, Indiana, along the Ohio River, Indiana's southern border. The population was 7,272 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Perry County.-History:...
in 1995, the Port Authority undertook construction of a spur to that site. In 1996, an additional 2.4 miles of trackage between Santa Claus
Santa Claus, Indiana
Santa Claus is a town in Carter, Clay and Harrison townships, Spencer County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana, between Interstate 64 and the Ohio River. The population was 2,041 at the 2000 census.Santa Claus was established in 1854...
and Lincoln City
Lincoln City, Indiana
Lincoln City is an unincorporated community in Carter Township, Spencer County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana. It lies five minutes south of Interstate 64, northeast of Evansville, and approximately twenty miles north of the Ohio River. It was laid out in 1872 on the site...
was added to the HOS system. This trackage was also purchased from Norfolk Southern.
Combined with the Tell City River Port on the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
at Tell City, the Hoosier Southern provides multimodal transportation to serve the needs of businesses in both Perry
Perry County, Indiana
Perry County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 19,338. The county seat is Tell City. It is the hilliest county as well as one of the most forested counties of in Indiana as it features more than of Hoosier National Forest...
and Spencer
Spencer County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,391 people, 7,569 households, and 5,752 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 8,333 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
counties.
Though the Hoosier Southern is no longer part of the Norfolk Southern system, it interchanges with the NS system at Lincoln City
Lincoln City, Indiana
Lincoln City is an unincorporated community in Carter Township, Spencer County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana. It lies five minutes south of Interstate 64, northeast of Evansville, and approximately twenty miles north of the Ohio River. It was laid out in 1872 on the site...
. NS gives HOS customers a direct connection to much of the eastern United States, with lines to such centers of commerce as Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
and Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.
Communities
The Hoosier Southern passes through the following Indiana communities:- CanneltonCannelton, IndianaCannelton is a city in Troy Township, Perry County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,209 at the 2000 census. Cannelton, which is the smallest incorporated city in the state, was formerly the county seat of Perry County until the seat was relocated to Tell City...
- Tell CityTell City, IndianaTell City is a city in Troy Township, Perry County, Indiana, along the Ohio River, Indiana's southern border. The population was 7,272 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Perry County.-History:...
- TroyTroy, IndianaTroy is a town in Troy Township, Perry County, Indiana, along the Ohio River near the mouth of the Anderson River. The population was 392 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Troy is located at ....
- EvanstonEvanston, IndianaEvanston is an unincorporated town in Huff Township, Spencer County, Indiana, USA.The town's population is 715 and its land area is 64.68 km².-Geography:Evanston is located at at an elevation of 413 feet.The nearest city is Tell City, Indiana....
- Buffaloville
- Lincoln CityLincoln City, IndianaLincoln City is an unincorporated community in Carter Township, Spencer County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana. It lies five minutes south of Interstate 64, northeast of Evansville, and approximately twenty miles north of the Ohio River. It was laid out in 1872 on the site...
Sources
- Official website of the Hoosier Southern Railroad, with link to Perry County Port Authority operations
- Bureau of Transportation Statistics: Freight Railroads Operating in Indiana by Class: 2000
- Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors: Railroad List