During the 1970s' This was a common saying. Tracks were being abandoned right and left, some because of traffic flow change and some because of loss of traffic. This is about a railroad that lost out because of both.

This last train was on the CCC&StL Springfield Division from Indianapolis IN. to Springfield, OH. The CCC&StL purchased the 139 mile railroad in 1890. It had been a part of the Peoria & Eastern railroad until 1890 which had begun operation in 1882. 

 
In the 1944 ETT there were two through freight trains each way every day and a local each way six days a week. A passenger train each way 222, 223 six days a week. The power that was used at this time was, H-6 USRA 2-8-2, H-7 2-8-2 and some H-10 2-8-2, and for the rail fans A-1 2-8-4 but I don't know to what extent the 2-8-4 was used.

It was a local road meaning that there was much industrial switching on the line. A small amount of track is left, some on the east side of Indianapolis and some at New Castle, IN. but is not in service. I was given these train orders by the engineer, Bill Maines, who was the last engineer on this track. I would say that the 49.6 mile post in the order is between Arcanum, OH and Savona, OH. The  switch list instructs that there will be no cars left at the points listed on the bottom of the switch list.

Today it seems so easy to have stopped the many years of history with just one small piece of paper and a few words.  

Maurice Lewman

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Maurice worked the Michigan Division from 1947-1981. He then worked on the Bee Line from 1981-1992. From 1947 until august 1950, he worked on the section at Shirley and Markleville. In 1950 he started firing on steam and then on through the diesels. Maurice said, "I had the pleasure of working with C. C. Staley and Ron Buser many times."