Double heading train no. 416

NG503056

Double heading train no. 416

Steam Passenger Train

A tandem of 4-6-4s, with J-1 no. 5391 in the van and J-3 no. 5439, trailing, drift easily up the ascent from the river with the nine cars of no. 416. Obviously this consist warrants no such aggregate of speed and horsepower. The explanation for the doubleheader lies in the manner in which no's. 414 and 419, the Indianapolis-Chicago locals, were operated during the last few years of their existence in the timecard. The westbound train ran daily, but the eastbound did not run on Sundays. To balance the power, the engine which would otherwise have remained as surplus at Kankakee on Sunday was regularly doubleheaded to Indianapolis on no. 416. When the train above stopped in Union Station, the 5391 was cut off and taken to Shelby Street and the 5439 was left to preside over the balance of the run to Cincinnati. This scene is, incidentally, the reverse of the preceding one, with the camera facing downgrade toward the river. The PRR mains, paralleling the NYC here, are bracketed in the background by a pair of the position-light signals which are the hallmarks of that system. The taller building, part of the Kingan plant, is next to the river. Kingan, one of the principal industries in Indianapolis, not only provides a considerable amount of high-class business to stimulate the railroads, but also emits a large quantity of low-class odor to irritate the citizenry.

Jeremy Taylor

Jeremy Taylor

2-1/4x3-1/4 neg

Summer, 1954

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446

J-1d, J-3a

#5391, #5439

Alco-Schen

Kentucky Ave., Indianapolis, IN

See NG503056a