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 and partly under Watco’s Decatur and Eastern Illinois railroad. The Indiana Subdivision still retains its original B&O-installed Color Position Light signals, or CPLs, over the vast majority of its length. Currently, CSX operates directionally-run eastbound freight trains between Seymour, Indiana to 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 their 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 is the milepost 91.8 and 91.9 block signals, more commonly known as New Elizabethtown. The 91.8 signal hosts an additional marker that is no longer used. As of the end of July 2024, a new replacement mast was erected behind the 91.8 signal.
Shields
The 94.1 and 94.2 block signals, better known as Shields, are located in the heart of Shieldstown. The 94.1 signal is missing its milepost but still retains its extra marker (albeit obscured by trees) from when it 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 is/was a favorite spot for photographers visiting the west end, as it hosts a unique bracket mast on the westernmost signal, which is the only example left on the entire subdivision. The siding here was removed sometime in the mid-2010's, and replacements are standing 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 is situated in the middle of downtown Ewing, Indiana.
Vallonia (East)
The town of Fort Vallonia hosts two sets of signals; one on the east side, and one on the west. The east side set, the 100.3 and 100.4, acts 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, acts as the distant signal for the east end of Medora siding and still retains its additional marker on the easternmost signal. This set is a decent ways off the beaten path, with those wanting to photograph it having to sacrifice several other spots in exchange, then make a trek down a gravel farm road which eventually turns to dirt, and manage to cross a steep ditch and scramble up an embankment in order to get to 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 is situated in downtown Medora.
West End Medora
West End Medora is another favorite of photographers due to the sweeping curve and the numerous radio codeline/telegraph poles that span the entirety of it. This siding also sports 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, are 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, which there are very few of left in existence. The 109.6 acts 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 stand; the 111.9 and 112.0. Nothing too spectacular about these, just a nice angle for eastbounds with the codeline adjacent to the signals.
Big Tunnel
Two block signals guard either side of the aptly named "Big Tunnel"; the 114.7 on the east side, and the 114.8 on the west. The signals are often outshined by the actual tunnel here, which many photographers deem the better shot. The 114.7 acts 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 is 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 is one of the more remote signals on the west end, requiring a drive down an access road that runs most of the length of the former siding, and then walking from the second-closest crossing. Photographers who value the look of their vehicle, and/or do not have 4-wheel drive, should not attempt to drive to the closest crossing to the signals.
White River
The 120.6 and 120.5 block signals are situated on the west side of the East Fork of the White River. The 120.6 signal hosts an extra marker from its time as the distant signal to West Tunnelton. Curiously, the Rivervale Defect Detector is located here 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, are situated in the woods east of Mitchell and require a hike that's a mile or more in length. The 122.9 signal host's a "G" plate, indicating a gradient in the signal block.
East End Mitchell
The last CPL signals on the active portion of the west end are at East End Mitchell. These signals guard the entrance to the siding at Mitchell, and the yard. Visible in the background is the large silos of Lehigh Cement's Mitchell facility.
Mitchell Interlocking
Although they aren't the original signals that stood here, the 90s-era Safetran Colorlight signals at Mitchell Interlocking are also coming down. With the diamond with the now-abandoned Hoosier Subdivision no longer in place, these signals serve no purpose and will be removed rather than replaced.
West End Mitchell
Despite rarely seeing any movements by them, the CPLs at West Mitchell are also falling 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.
