Calumet Rails, Part 2

The Calumet Region is the name given to the geographic areas drained by the Grande Calumet River and the Little Calumet River of northeastern Illinois and northwestern Indiana. In this region, many Chicago-destined rail lines that come from the east make a turn along with the southern edge of Lake Michigan. Several north-south lines radiating from the city cross these lines, making for a good deal of rail intersections within a very compact area. Add in all the heavy industry along the lakeshore and one can see why to this day there’s such a proliferation of rail traffic in this geographical region. In volume two of our two part series we will examine rail operations of the region, within the state of Indiana. Locations include Indiana Harbor, Calumet Tower, Grasselli and Gibson. Canadian National Operations on the east end of their Matteson Subdivision are also featured at spots like Ivanhoe and Griffith and we’ll close the show with a look at some moves west of Gary in the vicinity of Tolleston.