Stack Trains on the Fort Wayne Line

In modern railroading double-stack trains have become very common to see. During an afternoon at Berea, for instance, you will see more double-stack trains than all other types combined. This is not always the case. Certain rail lines are devoid of this type of train.

One major route in our area is the former Pennsylvania Railroad west of Alliance. In the late Conrail into the first few years after the Norfolk Southern takeover, double-stack trains routinely used this route. After about 2002 NS rerouted these trains off this line.

This past weekend stack trains returned to the former Pennsy. Ironically, it was another double-stack train that derailed leaving Ft. Wayne, Indiana, which necessitated not one but two stack trains, 20T and 20A, to be rerouted between Ft Wayne and Alliance.

Here’s my take on 20T at Crestline Ohio on Aug. 19.

Article and Photographs by Todd Dillon

Tags: Conrail, Norfolk Southern, NS Fort Wayne Line, NS stack trains, Pennsylvania Railroad, Todd Dillon photography