Danville, IL to Schneider, IN

Link: http://arotus.co/0ky

• Quick Info:
• States: Illinois, Indiana   
• Railroads: CR, KBLRR, NYC, PC   

The Danville Secondary

Picture

Point of Interest

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This sign found on the right-of-way indicates that the property is owned by Pennsylvania Lines, LLC, a subsidiary of Norfolk Southern. Photo by Howard E. Espravnik, 2006.

This line was once part of the Kankakee Belt Line, which was the Illinois Division of the New York Central. It acquired the name "Danville Secondary" while the line was under ownership of Conrail. This particular line ran from Gary, IN, south to Danville, IL; however, the line south of Schneider, where the line crossed Norfolk Southern (ex-Penn Central/NYC), down to Danville was abandoned in 1994. (Technically, the line is considered "Out of Service".) The abandoned portion of the line measures 76.2 miles.

Today, signs posted along the right-of-way indicate the track is owned by "Pennsylvania Lines, LLC", a former subsidiary of Norfolk Southern created to take control of its appropriated assets when Conrail was split between NS and CSX. Some grade crossings, though paved over, retain their crossbucks, and some have signs saying "Tracks Out of Service". While most of the tracks had been removed by 2006, there are some small stretches along the way that are still used to serve online industries. These segments are owned by Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway, Kankakee, Bearville & Southern Railroad, and the Bee Line Railroad, and are indicated on the map.

See also Danville to Farmer City.

I always had a soft spot for this line that avoids big towns like a disease. Such as shame to see it so forlorn. That whole area of Indiana south of Lake County is surprisingly bucholic. Great photos!

Matt McClure
Chicago, IL
11/14/2009

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I lived in Kentland, IN from 1981-1988 and took lots of Milwaukee Road and Conrail pictures. Unfortunately, I was a kid and they were all taken with a Kodak 110 camera and I don't have any of the negatives. However, I do have all the pictures. Pictures were taken between Sheff and Schneider IN., with the bulk being in Kentland. I really miss this line and have also as an adult revisted and photographed the entire abandoned line. I still live along it today, which makes it easily accessible. Any questions feel free to ask.

Eric Berg
Lake Village, IN
2/19/2010

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Eric, how about posting those pics, the old vs new??? I'd like to see that, as a kid I can remember heading to Kankakee to visit my parents friends, and seeing a Soo Line caboose cross at Kentland. Later in life I went to work for the "OLD Milwaukee" Soo District at Terre Haute, Indiana, by then it was owned by CP.

Jeremy J. Harris
Avon, IN
4/6/2010

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Almost all of my pictures taken in and around Kentland are posted @ rrpicturearchive.net, where you can either go by town or look at my entire folder. I'm currently in the process of posting my newer photo's (2000-present) of abondoned Danville line pics that I have. Like I said prior, my original photos from the 1980's were mostly taken with a Kodak 110 and are not of the best quality, and I was a youngster.

Eric Berg
Lake Village, IN
5/27/2010

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When was this line routed to Gary? It originally ran to Indiana Harbor. It crossed the Kankakee Belt Line (Zearing, IL to South Bend, IN) at Schneider, but I wasn't aware that it was a part of the belt line.

When I was around 6 years old, I had relatives that lived in Kentland near the tracks, and a coal train or two would usually speed by. I was too young to realize these were the same trains that I watched struggling uphill out of Danville 2 blocks from my house.

Mike Roegner
Danville, IL
5/28/2010

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As far as I know the line from Danville to Schneider is considered "out of service" to the NS RR. They still own the track and rightaway, etc. I wish it would come back but not likely. Really cool photos.

Travis Casteel
kankakee, IL
11/17/2010

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I heard from a NS employee that the line is slated to be REOPENED. Not sure how much of it will(maybe only to kentlands TPW) but NS will use it to haul out ethanol down south from the new waste to fuel plant being built in Schnieder, IN this spring. Any truth to this?

Kris R.
Roselawn, IN
1/16/2011

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I have heard that Norfolk Southern is going to rebuild the Danville Secondary line. I was wondering if there is any truth to this? I remember that line when I was a kid it was a mile or so west of my granparents farm, always could see trains running on the track from their house. I would like to see it come back I hope this is true and they do reopen it.

Sean Brier
Danville, IL
3/3/2011

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Reliable sources are saying that the Danville Line is NOT going to be rebuilt. It wouldn't be "cost effective" to do.

Travis Casteel
Bradley, IL
8/20/2011

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I was a Engineer on Conrail I ran the Danville sec. My Father William D Cutsinger was a operaterat Schnieder and a train disp. on this RR and My grandfather Worly D. Cutsinger worked the tower at Handy

William C. Cutsinger
Land O Lakes , FL
10/27/2011

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I would like to have speeder runs from lake village to kentland. How could we make this happen?

Rich G
Demotte, IN
2/9/2012

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I went railfanning on the NS Lafayette District today, and ran into this line near Johnsonville, IN. The rails have been removed for the crossings but for the most part, they are still there. Pretty neat, but sad as well. This railroad had lots of character.

Justin S
Newtown, IN
3/23/2012

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