Hi Mark, here it goes...

Married for ten years, two sons, full time railroader (18+ years), full time railroad geek. Don't tell my co-workers...

I've recently developed an interest in the Monon due to our earshot-distance from NICTD's Monon Corridor project. When we became new Hoosier residents in 2014 I began to research the area's railroad history; what once was is truly impressive! Too much has been lost to the wrecking ball and I always tell my children to take photographs because no matter how mundane things may seem now, because someone will find them fascinating in 50 years.

I've been a model railroader from a very early age, currently working in HO scale, and I always thought Lance Mindheim's Monon layout was very well done. We actually have a piece of furniture that was built by the Metz Company of Hammond and I just told my wife that, ironically, they were a Monon customer! I'm drawing up plans for a double-deck layout featuring the Monon, but I'll post about that on the HO board.

Professionally, I've been an Amtrak Locomotive engineer for over 15 years, 18+ total years that began in 2007 at the Wisconsin & Southern, where I first earned my engineer's license. I've held a regular assignment since 2017 between Chicago and St. Louis, but I have not worked anything between CHI and IND on the former Monon. When Iowa Pacific had the Hoosier State, I did consider getting qualified over there just to run old school EMDs...

Other interests include finance, trading (equities and options, not great at futures), history, woodworking, etc.

Thanks!

Excellent pictures - thank you for sharing!

When we bought our first home in 2014, I had no clue as to the railroad history that existed just a few steps away from our front door, nor did I have any clue that commuter service would be brought to us. I've been documenting the construction since the beginning in a very amateur sort of way.


South Hammond yard


South view at 173rd


Little Calumet river bridge prior to removal


drone view of the South Hammond area




original Monon bridge piers, eventually replaced w/ concrete structure




North view at Conkey Street


looking south from 165th from trail bridge


"South Hammond" platform at 173rd and Lyman


Southbound at 173rd, towards Munster & Dyer

https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzypLt

Welp, it looks like my membership issue was sorted out and I received my first two copies of THL plus the 2025 calendar. The magazine is very impressive and the articles are very interesting!

Thank you to all who got the issue straightened out.

Dave (joined oct '24)