This was to be an answer to “Was this event on the Monon ? ? ? ? †in the “General Chartroom†along with other data pertaining to operations between Chicago (and South Hammond ) and Indianapolis (and Belt Junction) using the March, 9, 1920 CI&L Employee timetable #40 which was in effect at the dime of the question. With all of the rules instead of tables like the more recent timetables the answer turned to be far longer and more detailed than I expected.. There is more data here than just southward passenger train data in the excerpt from that time table. This data may prompt other questions about the operations at that time. (If you should wish to print this it will be on about four pages.)
I’ve included all of the rules that apply to trains running between Chicago and Indianapolis plus some fragments under the same rule number that applied to the Michigan City Branch and south of Monon. Also at this time (and in the diesel era) locomotives were “Classed†by their number series rather than having alphabetical class designations.
All taken from the applicable Employee Timetable #40 effective 03/30/19:
Distance Dearborn station (MP 0.0) to Indianapolis Union Station (MP B-183.5)
Train running times (southward):
Train # | lv CHI | Stop @ Monon| ar IND |running & (scheduled)
Times |and Speed
First Class Trains
35 00:00 02:52 02:55 06:00 5:58 (6:00) 30.58 MPH
17 Operated only from Monon to Indianapolis.
31 17:30 19:55 19:58 22:30 4:57 (5:00) 36.70 MPH
15 21:10 23:42 23:45 02:25 5:12 (5:15 34.95 MPH
Second Class (lv South Hammond [23.2] ar Belt Junction [180.4] or 152.2 Mi)
91 22:20 01:25 02:00 07:00 8:05 (8:40) 17.56(18.83)
Timetable speed Limits and other “rules†in the timetable pertaining to Chicago - Indianapolis operations:
(Note “MPH†Substituted for spelled out“ Miles Per Hour†in the Timetable words“
No info for C&WI [Chicago to State Line] and for the two railroads farther south of the two crossings south of Biddle street, Indianapolis [CCC&StL and IURy] See also Rule 24))
Rule 1.
No train will leave Monon, Shops, McDoel, or any other terminal station without an order, or Clarence Card form 1226, from the telegraph Operator.
Rule 2.
Extra trains may run ahead of third-class trains.
Rule 3.
Trains entering and passing through passing sidings will do so under control expecting find them obscured by cars.
Rule 5.
Trains and Engines will reduce speed to 3 (Three) MPH Passing over Sibley St Crossing first crossing south of depot Hammond .
Forty (40) MPH around curve at Cedar Lake Depot.
Twenty five (25) MPH over long trestle at Paisley.
Twenty Five (25) MPH around entire curve Rensselaer Depot
Eight (8 ) MPH through City Limits Frankfort .
Thirty (30) MPH first class, twenty (20) MPH other class around first curve south of Nora.
Thirty (30) MPH passing Broad Ripple Station.
Ten (10) MPH crossing 38th Street Boulevard just north of Fair Grounds.
Ten (10) MPH passing over Biddle Street Crossing at Indianapolis, located two squares south of Massachusetts Avenue.
... [and]12 other locations south of Monon
Rule 6.
Engines of 600 class [2-10-2] will not exceed a speed of 25 MPH unless by special rule or special instructions. ... [500, 550 and 600 class engines on Michigan City Branch and other locations south of Lafayette].
Rule 7.
220 Class engines [2-8-0] or heavier must not doublehead over Wabash River Bridge B-109.6 north of Delphi and White River Bridge B-174.3
6 north of Broad Ripple.
Engines of the 400 Class [2-6-4] or heavier will not doublehead over ... and bridge
B-178.9 Fall Creek south of Fair Grounds.
500 and 550 Class [on French Lick Branch]
450 Class [south of Shops]
Rule 9
Southward freight trains will reduce speed to twenty 20 MPH around curves between Pittsburg and Wabash River Bridge north of Delphi.
Northward trains will reduce speed to thirty (30) MPH around the first two curves north of Wabash River Bridge north of Delphi.
All Southward Passenger trains will reduce speed to thirty (30) MPH around the first two curves north of the Wabash River north of Delphi.
Rule 10.
[restrictions for engines south of Shops] ... Engines of the 280 class will reduce speed to eight (
MPH. Engines of the 250, 265, and 400 to 440 class, inclusive will reduce speed to ten (10) MPH and engines of the 220 to 240 class, inclusive will reduce speed to twenty (20) MPH over Bridge B-109.6 Wabash River north of Delphi and Bridge B-174.8 White River north of Broad Ripple. Engines of the 220 Class and heavier will reduce speed to twenty (20) MPH over Bridge B-112.0 Deer Creek south of Delphi and Bridge B-121.5 North Fork Wildcat north of Owasco and Bridge B-178.9 Fall Creek south of Fair Grounds.
All Trains .... [I&L Branch]
No engine heaver .... [B&B Branch]
All engine except .... [Southern Division]
Rule 16
All trains will approach Belt Junction under control and know the crossing semaphore is in proper position and track clear before passing over intersections with Belt Railway.
Rule 17.
When Munster is used as a meeting point the north bound train must remain south of Signal 25.2 which is at the south end of the passing track until the opposing train in the clear.
Rule 19
Yard Limits are designated by limit boards erected for that purpose. All trains exempt regular scheduled passenger trains must be under control in yard limits. A train is under control when it is running at such rate of speed that it can be stopped within the range of vision. IN CASE OF ACCIDENT THE RESPONSIBILITY WILL REST WITH THE APPROACHING TRAIN. Yard engines will protect themselves by sending a flag ahead between the Cincinnati House and the straight track south of Fourth Street bridge, Lafayette.
Rule 20
A flagman will go in advance of all trains heading around the east “Y†and beyond South street at Indianapolis to protect against incoming Panhandle trains. Speed will not exceed five (5) MPH backing around the Jeff “Y†into Union Station Indianapolis.
Rule 20-a
The passing track at Frankfort to which schedule of trains apply under time table and train rules is the old passing track north of the L. E. & W .Crossing. When trains are handled by train orders, such order will designate the new passing track when it is desired to use the new passing track in the movement.
Rule 21.
Trains which should collect pouches from the mail cranes, when running on any other track than their regular track, stop to exchange mail.
Rule 22
Bulletin boards are located at the following places:
Telegraph office South Hammond, Michigan City, Belt Junction, McDoel, Orleans, French Lick. North Y–New Albany, yard clerk's office, Bedford, and Midland .
Rule 23
The following are registering stations for all trains:
South Hammond Wallace Jct. Orleans
Monon McDoel French Lick
Belt Junction Clear Creek West Baden
Union Station (Indianapolis) Harrodsburg Vicksburg
Michigan City Bedford Midland
Shops Dark Hollow North Y — New AlbanyRule 25
Trains using the C. & W.I. between Chicago and South Hammond, I. U. Ry. Between Massachusetts Ave. and Union Station, Indianapolis, K. & I. T. Ry. and L. & N. Ry. Between North Y—New Albany and Union Station Louisville and I. C. Ry. between Switz City and Victoria will be governed by their rules and time table.
Rule 28
The Railroad Commission of Indiana requires all steam railroads operating in the State of Indiana to bring their freight trains and freight cars full stop before passing over an Interurban line in switching movement on any industry switch or spur which may cross an Interurban Railway track unless such crossing is protected by an Interlocker.
Rule 29
Head brakeman will protect railroad crossing at Monon in advance all freight trains of freight engines before passing over crossing in either direction.
Rule 31
Rule 14 N. Book of Rules is changed to read as follows:
On approaching a station or siding for which trains hold orders affecting it the engineman after sounding the station signal will sound two short and one long blasts of the whistle to indicate to trainmen that train order restrictions to be observed at that station will be confirmed to. Conductors on passenger trains will sound communication signal of one long and one short to be answered by the engineman one long and one short blast of the whistle.
In case of the failure of engineman to give proper whistle signal conductor or brakeman must stop train at once.
Failure to give these signals will not relieve the conductor or engineer responsibility.
Rule 32
Rule 93 First Paragraph Book of Rules, is modified as follows:
A train must not arrive at of its regular schedule arriving time, except to permit an inferior train to clear time as provided by rules 86 and 89, Book of Rules.
Rule 33
Rule 19, Book of Rules is modified as follows:
Passenger trains will carry unlighted marker lamps instead of green flags
as day markers. During snow and sleet storms by day the lights in marker lamps should be kept burning to prevent snow and ice from obscuring them.
Rule 34
[Applies to I&L (6thm District) only]
