EJ&E petitions to abandon signals - an early sign of decline?

[Philip H]

From Today's Federal Register:

Applicant: Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Company, Mr. Thomas W.
Hilliard, Senior Manager S&C Construction, 17641 South Ashland Avenue,
Homewood, Illinois 60430.
    EJ&E seeks approval of the proposed discontinuance of an automatic
block signal (ABS) system and a traffic control signal (TCS) system on
the Lakefront Subdivision in Gary, IN. The discontinuance consists of
the removal of the ABS from Milepost (MP) 9.8 (approach to Michigan
Avenue) to MP 11.1 (Stockton 1); the removal of the TCS from MP 11.1
(Stockton 1) to MP 12.2 (Kirk Yard Junction), including removal of the
Stockton 1 control point; and the removal of the TCS on the Stockton
Lead at MP 12.2 to Kirk Yard Junction and Clark Road Lead at MP 11.9.
    The reason given for the proposed changes is that, due to the lack
of traffic on the Lakefront Line, the cost of maintenance on the signal
systems is no longer feasible.

More at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-05-25/html/2012-12785.htm

[asarge]

That's all the industrail trackage along rhe lakefront. I don't knoiw if that's CN territory or operated by the Gary Street Railway.

[wazzou]

Probably copper thieves in that area.  Definitely not someplace to be after sundown.