At the engine terminal, wood water tank in view

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At the engine terminal, wood water tank in view

Steam Locomotive

Petersburg, a sleepy little town in southwestern Indiana with a population of about 3,000, was the destination of Extra 1962 south pictured on the preceding page. It is a 95-mile run from Terre Haute, a run which is of the hill-and-dale variety for the first 40 miles to WOrthington (with steam, there was a three-mile helper grade northbound from that point), then a fairly level jog along the White River bottoms the rest of the way. From Petersburg, in the midst of a strip-mining area although not itself a mining town, the railroad resumes its cross-country running for 40 miles further south to the C&EI interchange at Evansville. The locomotive terminal and the yard at Petersburg are about a mile apart, with the former located on the north edge of town, and the latter (known as Ashby) in a swampy area out in the country to the south. As indicated by this picture, the steam facilities at Petersburg 'engine house' were modest indeed. Coaling was accomplished with a conveyor, and the only 'house' in the vicinity was a retired coach which served as office (this is still the case). The main track is in the foreground belov, and the south leg of the wye curves out to the right. On the ready track are five H-7s, which were regular power on all drag freights north of Petersburg as well as mine runs south (H-5s usually handled the Ashby yard jobs and no's. 32 and 33, the locals between Terre Haute and Petersburg).

Jeremy Taylor

Jeremy Taylor

2-1/4x3-1/4 neg

12/1953

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2-8-2

507

H-7e

#1998

Alco-Schen

Petersburg, IN