CN extra south

NG501057

CN extra south

Steam Freight Train

This weary-looking H-6 equipped with blade pilot was called out of Van Wert some ten hours previous as Extra 6321 south on the Cincinnati Northern. It emerged from the CN's wilderness of manual blocks signals and wavering iron onto the main line at Carlisle Junction, six miles above Middletown. It is shown here easing to a stop on the westbound main adjacent to East yard at Middletown, preparatory to setting out about ten of its 50 cars. The CN meanders for 203.9 miles south from Jackson, Mich., to Carlisle Junction, through a rural area primarily concerned with livestock and such crops as corn and soybeans. The largest town on line is Van Wert (population: 10,000 plus), the operating headquarters and the midpoint, mileage wise. After Van Wert, the CN serves only three towns with populations of over 3,000 (these are Greenville, Bryan, and Celina, in the descending order of their size). From the home terminal at Van Wert, CN crews in through freight service run 102 miles north to Jackson and 125 miles south to Sharon, 23 of the latter miles being made on the main line south of Carlisle Junction. One crew in each direction can usually handle the business, but extras such as the one below are operated sporadically. Switch runs are operated south out of Jackson to Hudson, north and south out of Van Wert to Hudson and Ansonia, and south out of Ansonia to Middletown. The CN, or "Mackinaw" as it is alternatively called, serves several cement plants enroute and garners quite a bit of local agricultural produce, but most of its business travels through between the Cincinnati gateway and Jackson.

Jeremy Taylor

Jeremy Taylor

2-1/4x3-1/4 neg

Apr-53

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329

H-6a

#6321

Middletown, OH

See NG501057a