Signal Swan Song:
The West End Of CSX's Indiana Subdivision
Documenting the final days of original Color Position Light signaling over the former Baltimore & Ohio St. Louis Division between Seymour, and Mitchell, Indiana.
CSX's Indiana Subdivision is a part of the former Baltimore & Ohio Railroad's original mainline from Parkersburg, West Virginia to St. Louis, Missouri, and is a shell of its former self in 2024. The segment from Parkersburg to Cincinnati is mostly abandoned or leased to shortline operators, while the Cincinnati to St. Louis section remains mostly intact under CSX. Indiana Subdivision still retains its original B&O-installed Color Position Light signals, or CPLs, for the vast majority of its length. Currently, CSX operates directionally-run eastbound freight trains between Seymour, Indiana, and Cincinnati and road local freight over the west end between Seymour and Mitchell. The west end previously only hosted a small local freight train that serviced multiple industries around Mitchell, but in the summer of 2023, Lehigh Cement upgraded its facility and began producing enough traffic to warrant a shuttle train between Cincinnati and Mitchell multiple times a week. This uptick in traffic has led to the decision to replace the aging signals on this segment of the line, and financial support from Lehigh Cement propelled the project faster, much to the dismay of railroad photographers. As of November 13th, 2024, CSX officially deactivated the CPLs on the west end, replaced by the ubiquitous and unremarkable "Vader" signals.
New Elizabethtown
The first intact signal set west of Seymour was the milepost 91.8 and 91.9 block signals, more commonly known as New Elizabethtown. The 91.8 signal hosted an additional marker that was no longer used. By the end of July 2024, a new replacement mast had been erected behind the 91.8 signal.
Shields
The 94.1 and 94.2 block signals, better known as Shields, were located in the heart of Shieldstown. The 94.1 signal was missing its milepost but still retained its extra marker (albeit obscured by trees) from when it had acted as a distant signal for the east end of Brownstown Siding. This set had a replacement mast erected in early August of 2024.
East End Brownstown
The former east end of Brownstown Siding was a favorite spot for photographers visiting the west end, as it hosted a unique bracket mast on the westernmost signal, which was the only example left on the entire subdivision. The siding there was removed sometime in the mid-2010s, and replacements now stand near the crossing to the east of the CPLs.
West End Brownstown
The former west end of Brownstown was often overlooked by photographers in favor of the much more remarkable signal setup at the opposite end of the siding. This end was situated in the middle of downtown Ewing, Indiana.
Vallonia (East)
The town of Fort Vallonia hosted two sets of signals: one on the east side and one on the west. The east side set, the 100.3 and 100.4, acted as the distant signal for the former west end of Brownstown Siding.
Vallonia (West)
The western set of the Vallonia signals, the 102.8 and 102.9, acted as the distant signal for the east end of Medora Siding and still retained its additional marker on the easternmost signal. This set was a decent way off the beaten path, requiring those wanting to photograph it to sacrifice several other spots in exchange, as well as making a trek down a gravel farm road that eventually turned to dirt, and managing to cross a steep ditch and scramble up an embankment to reach them.
East End Medora
Medora is home to the only passing siding left on the west end, although now it's mostly used for storing cement hoppers until needed rather than meeting trains. The east end of the siding was situated in downtown Medora. These signals were not replaced, but instead two masts were erected in the middle of the siding and labeled as Medora Holdout.
West End Medora
West End Medora was another favorite of photographers due to the sweeping curve and the numerous radio codeline/telegraph poles that spanned the entirety of it. This siding also sported two different "dwarf" type signals guarding each end of the siding track.
Sparksville
The 109.5 and 109.6 block signals, better known as Sparksville, were another favorite set among photographers due to their placement in the middle of an S-curve and the 109.6 signal sporting a unique "cage" around the signal head, of which very few remained in existence. The 109.6 acted as the distant signal for West Medora, hence the extra marker on top.
Fort Ritner
To the east of the town of Fort Ritner, another set of block signals stood: the 111.9 and 112.0. There was nothing too spectacular about these, just a nice angle for eastbounds with the codeline adjacent to the signals.
Big Tunnel
Two block signals guarded either side of the aptly named "Big Tunnel": the 114.7 on the east side and the 114.8 on the west. The signals were often outshined by the actual tunnel, which many photographers deemed the better shot. The 114.7 acted as the distant signal for the east end of the former siding at Tunnelton.
East End Tunnelton
The former east end of the siding at Tunnelton was guarded by two CPL masts and, at one time, a dwarf. The siding was removed around the same time as the one at Brownstown.
West End Tunnelton
West End Tunnelton had a similar setup to East End Medora at one point, with the easternmost mast standing between the main track and the siding. This was one of the more remote signals on the west end, requiring a drive down an access road that ran most of the length of the former siding, and then walking from the second-closest crossing. Photographers who valued the look of their vehicle, and/or did not have 4-wheel drive, should not have attempted to drive to the closest crossing to the signals.
White River
The 120.6 and 120.5 block signals were situated on the west side of the East Fork of the White River. The 120.6 signal hosted an extra marker from its time as the distant signal to West Tunnelton. Curiously, the Rivervale Defect Detector was located there rather than further west.
Rivervale
Easily the most remote signals to get to, the 122.8 and 122.9 block signals, better known as Rivervale, were situated in the woods east of Mitchell and required a hike of a mile or more in length. The 122.9 signal hosted a "G" plate, indicating a track gradient in the signal block.
East End Mitchell
The last CPL signals on the active portion of the west end were at East End Mitchell. These signals guarded the entrance to the siding at Mitchell and the yard. Visible in the background were the large silos of Lehigh Cement's Mitchell facility.
Mitchell Interlocking
Although they weren't the original signals that stood there, the 90s-era Safetran Colorlight signals at Mitchell Interlocking also came down. With the diamond with the now-abandoned Hoosier Subdivision no longer in place, these signals served no purpose and were removed rather than replaced.
West End Mitchell
Despite rarely seeing any movements by them, the CPLs at West Mitchell also fell victim to replacement. From here west, the line has been placed out of service and has not seen a train in years, nor will it likely see regular movement again.
