Effective 12:01 AM (CST) December 5, 1999, Timetable Number 4 is in effect for Norfolk Southern's Illinois Division. The new timetable supersedes Timetable Number 3, which had been in effect since July 30, 1995. The new timetable is indeed a big one at 180 pages (vs. 108 pages for #3) and contains some very significant changes. Probably the most noteworthy is the renaming of control points (or ends of sidings) on many of the Districts. The intent was to eliminate those control points where the reference to the "west end of" and the "east end of" always posed the potential for misunderstanding or confusion. Case in point: try your hand at writing a track time form 23A from the West end of West Point to the East end of West Point and repeat it back to the dispatcher without getting your tongue twisted. It could, and was done for many years, however, "Flint" and "West Point," respectively, is going to be much clearer with far less potential for misunderstanding and generally a whole lot easier. Because of these changes, signs have been placed at those places where the names have changed. Also, in many instances, the new names honor both living and deceased employees/officers of the Illinois Division (or predecessor "Decatur Division" or the Wabash), while others represent nearby communities or geographical land marks. Example: the former North End of Osman on the Bloomington District is now called "Goembel" (pronounced GIM-bull) in memory of former Bloomington District Track Supervisor Phillip Goembel who died suddenly this past summer of a heart attack. While I know many, there are some I don't know. I will attempt to compile a list of who these people are/were (many are retired and very much alive). Those names in parenthesis (e.g., East Danes) denote the FORMER name. Characters in brackets, e.g., [SC, YL, R] are special references listed in the timetable with an explanation of such characters below. Any comments within brackets utilizing asterisks, e.g., [SC, YL, R, *crew change point*] are personal comments that I have added as additional information and/or for clarity and are not actually contained on the "Stations" page of the timetable. EXPLANATION OF CHARACTERS: C = Controlled Interlocking CS = Controlled Siding J = Junction (interlocked) j = Junction (non-interlocked) r = Radio base station, wayside R = Radio base station, monitored continuously SC = Standard Clock SS = Signaled Siding X = Railroad crossing at grade YL = Yard Limit Y = Wye So, without further ado, here's how the Lafayette District page now looks: NORFOLK SOUTHERN ILLINOIS DIVISION Western Region Timetable Number 4 In Effect At 12:01 AM Sunday, December 5, 1999 Central Standard Time _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D202.5 Peru [SC, YL, R, *crew change point*] D204.5 West Peru [YL, *end double track from Peru and east*] D212.6 Sycamore (East Danes) [SS, *12,800' siding to "Danes"*] D215.1 Danes (West Danes) [SS] D217.6 18th Street [*new name -- no explanation of purpose*] D218.5 Logansport [C, j, X (WSRY)] D221.9 Penn (East Clymers) [SS, *12,400' siding to "Clymers"*] D224.3 Clymers (West Clymers) [R, SS, X (WSRY)] D232.2 Rockfield (East Rockfield) [SS, *8,375" siding to "Yuill"*] D233.9 Yuill (West Rockfield) [SS, *pronounced "Yule"*] D241.4 Delphi (East Colburn) [SS -- 12,700' siding to "Colburn"] D244.0 Colburn (West Colburn) [SS] D250.0 Buck Creek [*controlled signals east and westbound -- no siding*] D253.1 East Yard [SC, YL, R, r, Y, *begin double track to Lafayette Jct.*] D257.2 Lafayette Jct. [C, YL, X (NS), *end double track*] D257.7 Demun (West Demun) [J, *connection to Frankfort Br.*] D263.8 West Point (East West Point) [SS -- 12,575' siding to "Flint"] D266.4 Flint (West West Point) [SS] D274.2 Riverside (East Attica) [SS, *11,707' siding to "Attica"*] D276.6 Attica (West Attica) [SS] D280.5 Williamsport [R] D288.2 Marshfield [SS, *14,890' siding to "Johnsonville"*] D291.2 Johnsonville [SS] D296.2 Eldan [YL, *begin double track to "Ryan"*] D300.4 Danville Jct. [C, YL, *CSXT (former C&EI) crossing*] D300.8 CSXT Crossing (CR Crossing) [YL] D303.8 Tilton [SC, R, r, Y] D305.7 Ross Lane [YL, *controlled double x-overs*) D313.3 Ryan (West Ryan) [*end double track*] D319.7 Vance (East Homer) [CS -- *6,375' siding to "Homer"*] D321.1 Homer (West Homer) [CS] D326.7 UP Connection [J, *new connection to UP*] D328.8 Sidney D332.2 Philo [R] D336.4 Martin (East Tolono) [CS, *16,100' siding to "Dawn"*] D338.0 Tolono [CS, SS, X, J, (IC), *controlled by IC Dispatcher in Chicago*] D339.7 Dawn (West Tolono) [SS] D344.1 Rumple (East Sloan) [SS, *12,500' siding to "Sloan"*] D346.7 Sloan (West Sloan) [SS] D353.3 Wiggins (East Bement) [*begin double track to "Brush"*] D355.4 Bement [J, R, *Jct. with Bloomington Dist.*] D357.5 Veech [*controlled double x-overs*] D370.6 Sangamon [YL, *controlled signals -- no siding*] D372.9 Brush [SC, J, *end double track and east throat to Decatur yard*] D373.2 Lukey [*new name -- no explanation of purpose*] D374.0 Burwell [*new name -- no explanation of purpose*] D375.6 Decatur [Wabic -- C, YL, R, r, X, (IC), *controlled by NS dispatcher*] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If time permits this evening, I want to e-mail the Frankfort Branch and Bloomington District to the Illiana list members as well. If anyone has any specific requests, please send me an e-mail either onlist or offlist as you deem appropriate. Jim Sinclair ------------------------------------------------------ This is the Illiana Railroad Discussion List. For more info visit http://www.railcenter.com/illiana ------------------------------------------------------
