Decatur Terminal

[fyrfotog2]

Throwing out my railroad here. I am originally from Central ILL, but have been in Phoenix, Az for about 30 years now. I do not know how to color locomotive drawings, so I can't post that here. I also don't have a home layout which is why I belong to a club, but currently have 3 engines under build. Although fictitious, the locations below are 100% real. Please let me know what you think, did I leave out anything I should include? - Dave

This is written in the present as if the former Illinois Terminal / Pennsy Secondary line from Maroa to Peoria, ILL and the Illinois Central Gulf Clinton / Amboy District from Decatur North to Bloomington still existed.




The Decatur Terminal Railroad is a shortline and switching railroad headquartered in Decatur, Illinois, with its general offices located at 363 South Main Street Floor 1 of the Professional Bldg. The railroad came into existence mainly due to all three of the local class 1 railroads wanted to discontinue local switching duties along with the Norfolk Southern and the Canadian National wanting to spin off trackage to Peoria and Bloomington.

With a small fleet of locomotives consisting of 10 GP9's, the railroad began formal operations on 2 June 1987.

Today's Decatur Terminal makes its living by hauling agricultural products, grain, corn syrup, fertilizer, chemicals, mining and construction vehicles, scrap metal and construction materials. Depending on traffic levels, railcar storage can also be provided.

The largest customers which are located in Decatur are Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Tate & Lyle (AE Staley) and Caterpillar.

 

Operations

The railroad provides all local switching in and around Decatur and also operates over 2 key branch lines. The Peoria District (Trains 200 / 202) which is the 75-mile former Pennsy Secondary (Maroa to Peoria) that was last actively used by the Illinois Terminal (N&W) and the 42-mile Bloomington District (Trains 201 / 203) that was formerly the Illinois Central Gulf's Clinton & Amboy Districts.

The Decatur Terminal interchanges with the Norfolk Southern, Canadian National, CSX and the Decatur Junction in Decatur. In Peoria, interchanges take place with the Tazewell & Peoria, Union Pacific, Toledo Peoria & Western, BNSF and Illinois Midland. In Bloomington, with the Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific.

The DT uses much of the former Decatur area Illinois Terminal trackage with its engine facility and modern locomotive shop located at the former IT Storeroom yard along Faries Parkway adjacent to the ADM car repair facility. It also utilizes the former CN 27th Street yard as its principal classification yard. A 35-acre multi use transload facility was recently opened at the East end of the yard along Brush College Road.

Pioneer RailCorp's Decatur Junction railroad has trackage rights over both the DT and Canadian National through Decatur operating between Assumption and Cisco, Illinois.

The Canadian National excercises trackage rights over the Decatur Terminal for the delivery of coal directly to the ADM East Plant.

 





Locomotive Roster

Because the Decatur Terminal is dedicated to reducing locomotive exhaust emissions, the locomotive roster mainly consists of environmentally friendly locomotives rebuilt to meet or exceed EPA Tier 4 emissions standards.

Two EMD MP21E's are assigned locally in Peoria and Bloomington, an additional two MP21E's are dedicated to Storeroom yard and 27th St yard, while 3 master/slug sets are assigned to road switching in Decatur. Mainline trains powered by a combination of SD60E's and PR43C locomotives.

In times of heavier than normal traffic or when one or more locomotives are down for maintenance, 1 GP9-3C, and a two SD40E's can be used as back up.

[Deleted]

sounds like a plan I have been by the Caterpillar plant outside of Blomoington on I-24 on my trips to Tennesee couldn't wait to get past the Illinois 55mph truck speed limit into Indiana. show some pics of the paint scheme when you get a chance

[emd16645]

Dave,

You asked, so here's my two cents. First off, it's great concept. I'm not overly familiar with Illinois railroading, but the operations seem like its very well developed. The backstory is great too, very reasonable and plausible.

The only aspect you haven't completely sold me on is the modern day roster. How has a short line like this been able to afford all the modern power you listed for the roster? Even the most environmentally friendly short line isn't going to have the resources, unless some other money source steps in. In some states, the state government has stepped in to fund lower emission locomotives (namely California). Has Illinois done this with your road? Did Caterpillar give motive power kickbacks for plant service? Not trying to knock your idea here, just wanted to get you thinking a bit.

[fyrfotog2]

Chris,

you are fine with your comments and I take them as constructive. Guess I better revise this just a bit. I see the point with the motive power. I'll downsize a little and readjust. The motive power has nothing to do with Caterpillar and their prime movers. We just move their newly built construction equipment.

First, the locations are true. Operations, (current day) no way. As stated in the beginning, this was present day IF the 2 former lines were still in place. The rails have been gone for a long time. Honestly, even though I lived there for 13 years growing up, I know more about the IT line than the ICG line. The ILL Term secondary purchased from the PRR, was a very rickety line with lightweight jointed rail and I believe was 10mph all the way from Maroa, ILL where it left the ICG at least up to Morton, ILL and had little to no online business. Motive power for the IT then was GP38-2's and SD39's with some of the SW's or maybe a GP7 thrown in.

The DT, however is different being a profitable RR (is that possible? - I think so) in that more industries have built along the line and being partly owned by the NS (that was not previously mentioned) has their backing and support. Heavier rail has been laid to bring speeds up to better serve customers on the 2 lines. 

Am I on the right track?

As far as paint scheme, if I knew how to "paint" a drawing I would. My first GP9-3C, GP36-3C and the slug are not done yet. But I can post some build pictures soon.

Dave

Oct 7, 2014 21:02:15 GMT -5 emd16645 said:

Dave,

You asked, so here's my two cents. First off, it's great concept. I'm not overly familiar with Illinois railroading, but the operations seem like its very well developed. The backstory is great too, very reasonable and plausible.

The only aspect you haven't completely sold me on is the modern day roster. How has a short line like this been able to afford all the modern power you listed for the roster? Even the most environmentally friendly short line isn't going to have the resources, unless some other money source steps in. In some states, the state government has stepped in to fund lower emission locomotives (namely California). Has Illinois done this with your road? Did Caterpillar give motive power kickbacks for plant service? Not trying to knock your idea here, just wanted to get you thinking a bit.

[Deleted]

Dave okay not to add problems here but if that was former IT rail which was bought out by N&W then became NS proper am I to assume this line your company is being leased from NS as they would outright sell off, lease or abandon it which seems kinda odd that the NS would operate this way.

just more food for thought sorry just curious

[emd16645]

Oct 8, 2014 0:01:32 GMT -5 fyrfotog2 said:

First, the locations are true. Operations, (current day) no way. As stated in the beginning, this was present day IF the 2 former lines were still in place. The rails have been gone for a long time. Honestly, even though I lived there for 13 years growing up, I know more about the IT line than the ICG line. The ILL Term secondary purchased from the PRR, was a very rickety line with lightweight jointed rail and I believe was 10mph all the way from Maroa, ILL where it left the ICG at least up to Morton, ILL and had little to no online business. Motive power for the IT then was GP38-2's and SD39's with some of the SW's or maybe a GP7 thrown in.

The DT, however is different being a profitable RR (is that possible? - I think so) in that more industries have built along the line and being partly owned by the NS (that was not previously mentioned) has their backing and support. Heavier rail has been laid to bring speeds up to better serve customers on the 2 lines. 

Am I on the right track?

Dave,

I believe a shortline like this can definitely be profitable, my question was the degree of profitability. I really think that motive power like rebuilt GP-9s or GP slug sets fit the mold of a successful shortline. I also believe that such a line could have use for six-axle power, I just believe that something along the lines of a SD40-2 would be more likely. Having the backing of a large company like NS could certainly be a source of motive power, but I would expect that if NS were to "lease" power to the DT, I question if it would, be their, new rebuilt units, at least power borrowed for long periods of time. That's not to say that new stuff can't show up from time to time or on a run through job. Consider these thoughts, but don't forget the first rule of model railroading, it's your layout, run it the way you want. You're definitely on the right track here.

Good point, Vince. A couple things to consider. Over the past several years, there has been a trend of large railroads spinning off marginally profitable lines. These lines often are taken up by a short line road who makes them much more profitable by providing better local customer service than the bigger road can handle. There also has been several cases where years later, the big road tries to come in and take a now successful operation for their own. In this case, the story could be that N&W (or NS) spun the line off as not worth operating. After the DT rebuilt the customer base, rather than a hostile takeover, NS made a deal to help fund and modernize the DT in exchange for a higher cut of traffic interchange.

[rogerkujawa]

I put a photo of your locos on the Diesel Detailer Facebook page since I don't have a online photo account.
Taken at the Wabash IC crossing, just where you are going to model.

Roger Kujawa

[Deleted]

Oct 10, 2014 19:54:46 GMT -5 emd16645 said:

 

Good point, Vince. A couple things to consider. Over the past several years, there has been a trend of large railroads spinning off marginally profitable lines. These lines often are taken up by a short line road who makes them much more profitable by providing better local customer service than the bigger road can handle. There also has been several cases where years later, the big road tries to come in and take a now successful operation for their own. In this case, the story could be that N&W (or NS) spun the line off as not worth operating. After the DT rebuilt the customer base, rather than a hostile takeover, NS made a deal to help fund and modernize the DT in exchange for a higher cut of traffic interchange.

just thought I would throw out my 2 centavo's worth and now I see where your headed and it make much more sense thanks

[fyrfotog2]

Unfortunately the person who asked to see the paint scheme is no longer a member. I have revamped the roster, but operations remain the same. With the help of Peter W., here is the colored drawing of my paint scheme.  -David

[emd16645]

Aug 7, 2015 22:45:34 GMT -5 fyrfotog2 said:

Unfortunately the person who asked to see the paint scheme is no longer a member. I have revamped the roster, but operations remain the same. With the help of Peter W., here is the colored drawing of my paint scheme.  -David

Vince is still here, just is operating under a different screen name.

[gevo]

Looking at it from assumption Illinois prospective hehehehehe

That was another member in another life hehehehehe that asked to see your paint scheme

I like the layout of the colors though

[jmlaboda]

Dave okay not to add problems here but if that was former IT rail which was bought out by N&W then became NS proper am I to assume this line your company is being leased from NS as they would outright sell off, lease or abandon it which seems kinda odd that the NS would operate this way.

You must not be familiar with NS's Thoroughbred Shortline program. A lot of the lines that were originally involved are still in use and active concerns, some with their leases extended while others have actually seen their lines transferred, either to the state they are in, to a local government entity or the railroad itself. To read more about the program Click Here

Something to consider about environmentally favorable units is that just because your line deals with Cat heavy construction equipment doesn't mean that your line couldn't have struck a deal with Cat for power plants for rebuilding locomotives as such could be an incentive from the builder to help with switching their operations. Also, a company called Peria Locomotive Works in the past produced some interesting locomotives for shortline service, right there in Illinois. The Tazewell & Peoria, formerly Peria & Pekin Union rosters several rebuilt switchers called SC15-As (called PL1500 by some railfans) as well as two rebuilt (by Republic Locomotive Works of South Carolina) GP35s, all of which have Cat-prime movers and Kato (yes, Kato, from Wisconsin) alternators. To learn more about their roster click the link below which will take you to their page on RR Picture Archives...

rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=PPU