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.
CSX GEVO at Walkerton, IN
KN TOWER 9/2019
I&O Train at XN
XN Junction at South Leipsic, OH 9/2019
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!
LER Crossing in Logansport, IN
8/12/18
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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...
Labels
- TRIMET MAX light rail system (6)
- Union Pacific Railroad (4)
- light rail trains (4)
- portland trimet max light rail system (4)
- Amtrak Cabbage (3)
- Amtrak F40PH (3)
- Indiana (3)
- Norfolk Southern Railroad (3)
- Railroad Crossing Bell (3)
- Siemens Light Rail Vehicles (3)
- Union Pacific Freight Train (3)
- light rail system (3)
- AC4400CW (2)
- Amtrak (2)
- Amtrak Hiawatha (2)
- Amtrak NPCU (2)
- Auto Racks (2)
- B&O Railroad (2)
- BIG FOUR ROUTE (2)
- CSXT (2)
- Classic Metra (2)
- Iowa Interstate Railroad (2)
- New Haven Railroad (2)
- New York New Haven & Hartford Railroad (2)
- Norfolk Southern Corp. (2)
- P42DC (2)
- Railroad Crossing Arms (2)
- Railroad Crossing Gate Arms (2)
- Railroad Interlocking Tower (2)
- Railroad Junction (2)
- Union Pacific Locomotive (2)
- Union Pacific SD70ACE (2)
- baggage car (2)
- #gEp42LOCOMOTIVE (1)
- Alco Locomotive (1)
- Amish Community (1)
- Amtrak Heritage Phase 1 (1)
- Amtrak Station (1)
- Amtrak Superliners (1)
- Amtrak train (1)
- B32-8W (1)
- BNSF Railway (1)
- C&NW RR (1)
- C&O (1)
- CRIP (1)
- CSX (1)
- Canadian National Railway (1)
- Chicago & north Western Railway (1)
- Container Train (1)
- Danbury Railway Museum (1)
- Dee Road Station (1)
- EJ&E Railroad (1)
- EMD GP30 (1)
- EMD locomotives (1)
- ES44AC Locomotive (1)
- Erie Lackawanna (1)
- F40PH locomotive (1)
- Fast Light Rail Trains (1)
- Fort Wayne Line (1)
- GE P40 (1)
- GEVO locomotive (1)
- GEVOS (1)
- GP30 High nose (1)
- GP40-2 Mother Unit (1)
- General Electric locomotive (1)
- Genesis diesel (1)
- Gondola Car (1)
- Grand Trunk Western Railroad (1)
- HO Scale Train Layout (1)
- HO Scale Trains (1)
- IL (1)
- Illinois Term inal Railroad (1)
- Intermodal Train (1)
- KCS (1)
- LRV (1)
- Milwaukee Road commuter cars (1)
- Minooka (1)
- Model Train Layout (1)
- NKP Railroad (1)
- NS SD70M-2 (1)
- North Judson (1)
- O Scale Trains (1)
- Old Railroad Signal (1)
- Old railroad bilevel cars (1)
- Old railroad commuter cars (1)
- Old railroad signal lights (1)
- Oregon (1)
- PRR Railroad (1)
- Pacific Northwest (1)
- Pennsylvania Railroad (1)
- Pennsylvania Railroad position light signal (1)
- Portland (1)
- Position Light SIGNAL (1)
- RTA Bilevel Commuter Cars (1)
- Railroad Crossing Gates (1)
- Railroad Derail (1)
- Railroad Diamond (1)
- Railroad Diamonds (1)
- Railroad Flashing Lights (1)
- Railroad Gates (1)
- Railroad Gondola Car (1)
- Railroad Grade Crossing (1)
- Railroad Junctiom (1)
- Railroad Signal change (1)
- Railway Musuem (1)
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- Stillwell (1)
- Tier 4 GEVO Locomotive (1)
- Train Crossing Gates (1)
- Union Pacific Railroad Company (1)
- Viewliner (1)
- Vintage Cantilevel Railroad Crossing Signal (1)
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- Wabash Railway (1)
- Washington (1)
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- Whiting (1)
- cantilever crossing signal (1)
- ho scale layout (1)
- ho scale model trains (1)
- long distance passenger train (1)
- metra F40C Locomotive (1)
- railroad crossing signage (1)
- railroad switch tower (1)
- railroad tower (1)
- tank cars (1)
- twisted railroad tracks (1)