AmtrakGuy365

Railfanning Northwest Indiana: July 2025

The video documents a July 2025 rail‑fanning trip to Northwest Indiana, centered on the imminent demolition of Michigan City’s 100‑foot concrete coaling tower, a landmark that had stood since 1923. Built by Roberts and Schaefer for the Michigan Central (later New York Central), the tower allowed steam locomotives to refuel without pulling into a siding, using a coal dump, bunker and elevator system. After dieselization in the 1950s the structure became a nostalgic marker on the Detroit‑Chicago corridor, now served by Amtrak’s Wolverine, Blue Water and occasional Norfolk Southern freights. Amtrak ultimately deemed the aging tower a safety liability, prompting its September teardown despite preservation attempts. The filmmaker also captures a mix of freight and passenger traffic: Chicago South Shore & South Bend’s AF3 locomotive, an SD70AC masquerading as an Alco, and the electrified South Shore line serving Beverly Shores. Highlights include an original New York Central concrete mile‑post reading “227 miles to Detroit,” the mission‑revival Beverly Shores depot, and an interview with Amtrak conductor Kevin about a heat‑induced delay and a pedestrian incident. The tower’s removal underscores the tension between historic preservation and modern safety standards, while the heat‑driven operational delays illustrate growing climate pressures on Midwestern rail operations. For rail enthusiasts and industry stakeholders, the video serves as both a visual archive of disappearing infrastructure and a reminder of the logistical challenges facing freight and passenger services.