Dawn to Dusk in Ottawa, Ohio (08-16-08)

Give us a run down of what you saw, post pictures if you'd like...any info is welcome.
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PSK at CH45.2
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Dawn to Dusk in Ottawa, Ohio (08-16-08)

Unread post by PSK at CH45.2 »

0728: With the morning sun starting to shine, CSXT 8050 brings Q339 south across Fourth Street past the depot.
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0831: CSXT 5011 and Q242 northbound past one of downtown Ottawa's neat old brick buildings.
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1000: CSXT 8075 brings Q50015 north past a quadruple set of grain bins as they approach Main Street.
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1058: CSXT 4561 leads coal empties south across Third Street on a sunny Saturday morning in middle America.
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1248: Northbound CSXT 7392 crosses the Blanchard River at the head end of K82011.
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1353: CSXT 8123 and southbound Q23115 crossing Third Street.
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1451: CSXT 172 and Q51616 crossing Main Street as they pass the Ottawa Feed & Grain elevator on their way north.
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1507: IORY 4072 leads mixed freight north at Third Street.
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1543: CSXT 305 crosses Third Street at the head end of Q228.
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1719: CSXT 7651 rounds the curve at Fourth Street with southbound Q50116.
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1922: NYSW 4054 leads this Indiana & Ohio freight train south in the early evening sunlight.
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2008: CSXT 8752 leads Q34016 north in the evening shadows as the setting sun lights the steeple and city hall tower.
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Pete (PSK at CH45.2)
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~Z~
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Unread post by ~Z~ »

Very nice location it looks like to go. Any reason you were in Ottawa other than to railfan? Did you head up to Leipsic(just north of there) at all to catch CSX and NS east/west traffic?
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AARR
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Unread post by AARR »

PSK at CH45.2, di you happen to check out the Ottawa Loop :?: I've heard IORY has a couple customers on this former DT&I track that connects to CSX north and south of Ottawa.

Anyone know if the glass plant on the south end of the Ottawa Loop is still in business :?:
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Rick M
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Unread post by Rick M »

Great report and I can see why you like this location. The backdrop of a grain elevator is always a plus. Wonderful pictuers and nice catch of the Susquehanna engine.
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PSK at CH45.2
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Unread post by PSK at CH45.2 »

railroadfan: Any reason you were in Ottawa other than to railfan? Did you head up to Leipsic(just north of there) at all to catch CSX and NS east/west traffic?
Went there just to railfan Zack. Didn't go to Leipsic this trip, but it's on my list for the future.
Don Simon: PSK at CH45.2, did you happen to check out the Ottawa Loop?
Didn't check out the loop other than to look it up and down when I crossed it coming into to town in the morning and leaving in the evening. It does look like there may be a few interesting shots there from what I could see.
Rick M: Great report and I can see why you like this location. The backdrop of a grain elevator is always a plus. Wonderful pictuers and nice catch of the Susquehanna engine.
Thanks Rick. This is my third trip to Ottawa.
Pete (PSK at CH45.2)
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MSchwiebert
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Unread post by MSchwiebert »

Nice pics as always! A little bit of historical info about the depot. The long gone Findlay Ft. Wayne & Western crossed the (now) CSX just to the north of the Depot - which is why the north end of the structure has the bay window section on it.

As for the Ottawa loop, Usage on it is way down compared to years past. CSX used to use it on a somewhat frequent basis for meets. From what I've been told the I&O jacked up the usage 'fee' and CSX reacted by eliminating their use of it wherever possible. You'll also note that the I&O power is the same on both trains. Through trains are a thing of the past now on the I&O, instead they operate a Lima to Delta (and return) turn over this stretch. A far cry from the operation that the DT&I (and even GT's half hearted effort for that matter) had....
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I WENT THRU OTTAWA WITH MATT AND DR AFTER THE FLOODS LAST YR.
IT WAS LIKE DRIVING THRU A FUNERAL.
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Unread post by AARR »

I read IORY has some local business on the Ottawa Loop. Perhaps a plastic plant? Is the glass plant still in operation?
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MSchwiebert
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Unread post by MSchwiebert »

It's been a few years since I've been over on that side of town, but from what I remember the alfalfa mill would occassionaly load out a car or two of alfalfa pellets. For years the big employer in town was Phillips which made TV picture tubes. Between the decline/dissapearance of the US TV assembly industry and the shift to flat screens that market dissappeared and the plant closed 5 years ago or so. There is a subcontractor that does fab work for the Lima Tank plant in at least part of the plant now, but I don't think they get anything in by rail. Other than that, I can't think of anyone over there that would get get rail service from the I&O.
Don Simon wrote:I read IORY has some local business on the Ottawa Loop. Perhaps a plastic plant? Is the glass plant still in operation?
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Unread post by AARR »

Thanks MSchwiebert. Disappointing to hear. I had read there was a Johnson Control plastics plant somewhere on the loop but those places come and go so it may not be there anymore. :(
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BOHICA
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Unread post by BOHICA »

Superb photos PSK. I enjoyed how you were able to display older buildings in the town. You don't see that too often anymore.
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MSchwiebert
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Unread post by MSchwiebert »

checked with a friend of mine who lives in Columbus Grove (next town south) and he said that the alfalfa mill will occasionaly send out some loaded covered hoppers and there is also a company that will once in a while get some coil cars of steel but thats it. Neither of us could ever recall there being a Johnson Controls facility in town though. However there is a company in Leipsic & Ottawa that does work with plastics. The company name is Patrick Plastics and they do get pellets into Leipsic sometimes (they're located in the old Libby's canning plant) from the I&O.(their building in Ottawa is on the B&O just to the north of the depot in the pictures above). Among other things, the company makes plastic display items for coin and baseball card collectors.
I had mentioned in an earlier post about Phillips - they only assembled the picture tubes there, they were "formed" somewhere else. Even during DT&I days that was an infrequent rail customer (back then there would be an occasional load of finshed tubes outbound).
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Unread post by AARR »

Thanks, MSchwiebert. I have a map that shows a large industry with multiple tracks at the south end of the Ottawa Loop on the DT&I portion. I assumed it was a glass plant but apprently I was incorrect.
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MSchwiebert
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Unread post by MSchwiebert »

The biggest 'industry' on the south end of loop was the Sugarbeet plant - but it closed back in the late 1970's-early 1980's. I'd suspect that they had some trackage for cars when they were running.
Don Simon wrote:Thanks, MSchwiebert. I have a map that shows a large industry with multiple tracks at the south end of the Ottawa Loop on the DT&I portion. I assumed it was a glass plant but apprently I was incorrect.
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Unread post by AARR »

The biggest 'industry' on the south end of loop was the Sugarbeet plant - but it closed back in the late 1970's-early 1980's. I'd suspect that they had some trackage for cars when they were running.
Thanks, MSchwiebert. I'll bet that was it.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
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Unread post by CG Tower »

Hi all:

New to this group and wanted to jump on this thread...

Mike was spot on with the date, the plant stood empty for years after and eventually was torn down, however, part of the building is now used as a tomato canning factory.

Enjoyed your photo essay of Ottawa. However, you missed the best parts! The CPL signals south of town. :-)

Eric at CG Tower
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PSK at CH45.2
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Unread post by PSK at CH45.2 »

CG Tower: Enjoyed your photo essay of Ottawa. However, you missed the best parts! The CPL signals south of town.
Thanks CG. I drove down SR 65 to Columbus Grove in between K820 and Q231, and made some mental notes for a future trip...including the CPL's in between. :wink:
Pete (PSK at CH45.2)
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Unread post by CG Tower »

Here is South Ottawa, Ohio.

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Unread post by sd70accsxt700 »

Hellow CG Tower, nice to have you aboard, read your posts on TO all the time, glad to have you here.
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Unread post by CG Tower »

Thanks! This seems to be a very informative bulletin board. Hope I can add a little "southern" insight to everyone!

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