Hammond Ownership Questions

[Tim T Swan]

Thanks, Bob, for posting that 1943 track diagram of State Line Jct.  A PRR drawing!  Wonder why, given no PRR trackage is involved.

[Bob Lalich]

Tim, the SL&IC track, labeled SC&S on the drawing, which extended from State Line Tower to Clarke Jct was owned by the PRR. The PRR also had trackage rights on IHB's former East Chicago Belt. Consequently, PRR trains were regular visitors at SL.

[Tim T Swan]

Thanks  for the clarification, Bob!

[Tim T Swan]

Eric wonders when that Monon industrial trackage along the north bank of the Grand Calumet River saw its last movement.  I can’t answer his question completely, but I’ve located a Monon tracing dated December 1942 that indicates it was still Monon RoW as of that date.  It is a tracing of a C&WI print showing the “Layout of Tracks in the Vicinity of State Line Interlocker” with the first track north of the interlocking tower clearly labeled “CI&L Industry Track”.

I haven't been able to attach the scan of the drawing.  Apparently it's too large a file for the MononBoard system to handle.  So anybody wanting a copy, contact me at tpswan@charter.net and I'll send you one--hopefully.

[Tim T Swan]

Mike Aufderheide has found a way to reduce that December 1942 State Line drawing's size without reducing its clarity or readability one bit.  It is attached.  Thanks, Mike!

The drawing clearly labels the first track north of the interlocking tower as "CI&L Industry Track" plus shows it leading off C&WI trackage in Illinois.

Don't be fooled by the drawing's unusual orientation.  Take note of the direction arrow in its upper right corner.

[Robert Wheeler]

Rather than start a new thread I am adding this comment here about NORTH ARROWS since they are mentioned about the CI&L Drawing in the comment below.

I learned so long ago that I have forgotten when. It was possibly in school before even starting to work.

ALLWAYS check the north arrow on DRAWINGS, or VALPLANS (not necessarily maps).

The drawings are oriented so that there is maximum information on the drawing. Also the company may have a standard way of orienting the drawings. State Highway drawings and many railroad VALPLANS have the southerly or easterly direction, but not necessarily due south or east on the LEFT end of the drawing. This makes the stationing or MPs read from left to right.

I followed this practice in making the schematics on the Tour GUIDE Books. In fact there were two north arrows one Compass North and the other Railroad North as they nearly always differed.

[Bob Lalich]

Thanks for posting the drawing Tim and Mike! I have not seen that one before.