Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad (NICTD)

Michigan City Carroll St (Shops) Station and Yard

The Michigan City Yard is used for overnight storage and maintainance of all electric trains, as well as the diesel locomotive shops and the operations center for the South Shore freight operation. A passenger stop exists at the small shelter.

Shown to the left is car 9 leading a South Bend to Chicago train.

Entering Shops from the west is the end of C.T.C. The branch to the south leads to the South Shore Freight line (former NS) to Kingsbury.
Westbound C.T.C. begins as trains leave for Chicago.

Entering Shops from the east is the end of automatic block signals. Signals to the east are being upgraded to C.T.C. in 2009.
The main line through the yard takes a shift to the south just after entering the yard. Derails and blue signal protection is used to protect yard tracks used for storing cars overnight. The platform between storage tracks is for the use of employees.

Eastbound toward South Bend the line passes under a CSX line. Beyond the bridge is a turnoff that leads to a small yard that no longer connects to the CSX Line. The CSX line is also used for Amtrak service to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

One plan for ending street running through Michigan City suggests using this CSX line for a reroute around the south side of Michigan City. Such use would require trains to leave the yard Eastbound and change directions to start the trip to Chicago. South Bend originating trains would have to change directions twice.

1998 Flashback

A view from 1998 shows a car being stored on a siding with an RTA purchased car at the platform.


The 1998 view to the West from a bridge over the yard.


The 1998 view to the Northeast showing the electric shops and feeder lines.


The 1998 view to the East showing the cleaning shop and storage lanes. In 2009 the second track from the right is used as the through track from South Bend. The next four tracks are used for car storage, with the building to the left serving as a car wash. The track furthest to the right remains a freight siding.


The Eastport electric substation is located just to the west of Roeske Rd as part of the Shops complex.
(There are actually three substations east of Eastport. Photo from 1998.)

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