Hey everyone and welcome back for another railfan adventure.
Today, we're heading west to Indianapolis and CSX's Avon Yard.
It's about ten miles west of downtown.
It's just about three-and-a-half miles from end to end, with 66 miles of track.
This is also known as the Big Four Yards in honor of the nickname for the railway that became part of the New York Central.
It allowed the New York Central to consolidate several other yards in the Indianapolis area.
When it was built, this was touted as the most advanced facility in the United States.
The yard had 55 classification tracks when built.
When built, the yard had a capacity of more than 4,400 rail cars.
It could process as many as 3,000 of them a day.
When first built, each track was controlled by a push button panel in the main yard building.
Now, it's all electronically switched.
Originally, the system could sort 160 cars an hour.
Less than a decade after Avon opened, the New York Central would disappear, along with its rival the Pennsylvania Railroad.
The two would try to stay in business by merging into what's known as the Penn Central.
However, three years after that, the Penn Central filed the largest bankruptcy in American history at that time.
Avon would come under the Consolidated Rail Company, Conrail and ultimately CSX.
Ironically, the New York Central preferred to merge with the Chesapeake and Ohio, but that was shot down.
CSX is the consolidation of the Chessie System and the Seaboard System.
This was a great trip.
Indianapolis has a lot to offer when it comes to railfanning.
Plenty of great spots.
And for a Saturday, there was a good bit of action.
As I was exiting the garage, that eastbound train came through.
There's not a great place to view Avon Yard though.
There is a bridge on either end with sidewalks but they both have fences on the sides.
Even then though, you're probably still too far away.
I hope to come back and check out some of the other lines that come through Indianapolis.
I don't know where we'll head next but I do hope you'll join me.
Until then, have a great day!