Step onto the captivating world of Hotrail Productions, where the magic of lights, camera, and trains combines to create an unforgettable experience. I travel all over the country photographing railroad history in the making. My footage dates back to 1995. Whether it's a thrilling action sequence or a heartwarming romantic scene, the railway has long been a favorite setting for filmmakers and TV producers.
PLYMOUTH, INDIANA 8/18
GE Builder's Plate On CSX C44-9W
Friday, December 20, 2024
Thursday, August 1, 2024
Monday, July 29, 2024
Walkerton Tower
KN Tower is located in Walkerton, Indiana along U.S. 6, 20 miles southwest of South Bend.
It is where CSX's (Ex-B&O) Garrett Sub crosses the Elkhart & Western's, (ex-NKP), IMC line. Until 1983, Conrail's, (Ex-NYC), "Kankakee Belt Line" also crossed both routes. It is unclear when KN tower was removed from service, but CSX was still stationing crews inside it as late as 1998.
This video walk-through was filmed in August, 1998. Note the ice machine still in use at the front door. Only the CSX and IMC now cross.
This is how the tower looked in July, 2012.
Now it sits neglected and weed-grown, with trees beginning to grown along the foundation. Every time this photographer visits this location, there appear to be a few bricks missing.This video was taken on September 6, 2013.
This is how KN Tower looked in June, 2014.
On June 5, 2019, an eastbound CN tank train blasts past the tower!
This was August 30, 2022. Note how high the tree is!
This is May 23, 2023.
September 23, 2023
It is obvious that KN Tower was built to last, but the elements have taken their toll over the years. Railroad signal towers in general are a thing of the past. Every time I visit this location, more bricks are missing or more glass is missing from the windows. Like any of piece of railroad history, KN Tower is on borrowed time. Snap your photos and video while you can!
Cortland, Illinois 7/25/19
Cortland, Illinois 7/25/19
PRR PL SIGNAL 9/22
PLYMOUTH, IN
Abandoned Indiana 104 Grade Crossing
Kankakee, IN
Local CSX Power at Wellsboro, IN
8/11/18
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This view looks north on the Chesapeake & Ohio branch line with the GTW diamonds in the foreground, and the B&O diamonds in the back...
Anykit Dual Lens Endoscope Camera, Type-C Borescope
Whiting Junction 1982 V.S. 2018
Whiting Junction 1982 V.S. 2018
G&W SD18 at Reynolds, IN
8/12/18
Labels
- #gEp42LOCOMOTIVE
- AC4400CW
- Alco Locomotive
- Amish Community
- Amtrak
- Amtrak Cabbage
- Amtrak F40PH
- Amtrak Heritage Phase 1
- Amtrak Hiawatha
- Amtrak NPCU
- Amtrak Station
- Amtrak Superliners
- Amtrak train
- Auto Racks
- B&O Railroad
- B32-8W
- baggage car
- BIG FOUR ROUTE
- BNSF Railway
- C&NW RR
- C&O
- Canadian National Railway
- cantilever crossing signal
- Chicago & north Western Railway
- Classic Metra
- Container Train
- CRIP
- CSX
- CSXT
- Danbury Railway Museum
- Dee Road Station
- EJ&E Railroad
- EMD GP30
- EMD locomotives
- Erie Lackawanna
- ES44AC Locomotive
- F40PH locomotive
- Fast Light Rail Trains
- Fort Wayne Line
- GE P40
- General Electric locomotive
- Genesis diesel
- GEVO locomotive
- GEVOS
- Gondola Car
- GP30 High nose
- GP40-2 Mother Unit
- Grand Trunk Western Railroad
- ho scale layout
- ho scale model trains
- HO Scale Train Layout
- HO Scale Trains
- IL
- Illinois Term inal Railroad
- Indiana
- Intermodal Train
- Iowa Interstate Railroad
- KCS
- light rail system
- light rail trains
- long distance passenger train
- LRV
- metra F40C Locomotive
- Milwaukee Road commuter cars
- Minooka
- Model Train Layout
- New Haven Railroad
- New York New Haven & Hartford Railroad
- NKP Railroad
- Norfolk Southern Corp.
- Norfolk Southern Railroad
- North Judson
- NS SD70M-2
- O Scale Trains
- Old railroad bilevel cars
- Old railroad commuter cars
- Old Railroad Signal
- Old railroad signal lights
- Oregon
- P42DC
- Pacific Northwest
- Pennsylvania Railroad
- Pennsylvania Railroad position light signal
- Portland
- portland trimet max light rail system
- Position Light SIGNAL
- PRR Railroad
- Railroad Crossing Arms
- Railroad Crossing Bell
- Railroad Crossing Gate Arms
- Railroad Crossing Gates
- railroad crossing signage
- Railroad Derail
- Railroad Diamond
- Railroad Diamonds
- Railroad Flashing Lights
- Railroad Gates
- Railroad Gondola Car
- Railroad Grade Crossing
- Railroad Interlocking Tower
- Railroad Junctiom
- Railroad Junction
- Railroad Signal change
- railroad switch tower
- railroad tower
- Railway Musuem
- Road Slug
- Rock Island Railroad
- RTA Bilevel Commuter Cars
- Seattle
- Ship Containers
- Shortline Railroad
- Siemens Light Rail Vehicles
- South Shore Railroad
- Southern Railway
- Standard Cab Locomotive
- Stillwell
- STREET-RUNNING
- tank cars
- Tier 4 GEVO Locomotive
- Train Crossing Gates
- TRIMET MAX light rail system
- twisted railroad tracks
- Union Pacific Freight Train
- Union Pacific Locomotive
- Union Pacific Railroad
- Union Pacific Railroad Company
- Union Pacific SD70ACE
- Viewliner
- Vintage Cantilevel Railroad Crossing Signal
- Wabash Railroad
- Wabash Railway
- Washington
- Washington State
- Well Cars
- Whiting