CSX Queensgate Yard

    Located along the Mill Creek west of downtown Cincinnati, Queensgate Yard is one of the largest rail classification facilities in North America.   With a length of approximately five miles and over 70 miles of track, Queensgate is one of the most productive hump yards on the CSX system.  Constructed at a cost of over 71 million dollars with the purpose of consolidating several small yards in the area, the yard was dedicated on October 20, 1981.

    Classification is handled by a gravity fed hump under the control of a fully automated Process Control computer system.  This system consists of a primary computer and a "hot" standby so that a failure of the primary system will automatically cause the standby to immediately assume control.  The system uses an arrangement of field sensing devices to measure car speed and calculate their roll-ability.  Based on these calculations, the system automatically controls retarder pressures to enable cars to roll at a safe couple speed.  It also operates automatic hump switches to properly classify cars and contains the logic for the proper operation of other non-interlocking power-operated hump switches.

    A second system at Queensgate, the Management Information System (MIS), is located in the Terminal Services Center.  Major functions of this system include preparation of hump lists from consists, maintenance of car inventories for the terminal, generation of car records, classification of cars, preparation and transmission of outbound consists, creation of yard and industrial work orders, and distribution of messages.  This system communicates with the Process Control system described above to maximize productivity in the terminal.

    The general sequence of events for processing cars through Queensgate Yard is as follows:

• Inbound trains will arrive on one or more receiving tracks as assigned by the hump yardmaster.  Customer Service will receive a closeout report as to where the train was yarded.  The MIS system will verify the standing order of the yarded train using car identification scanners and video cameras.  These sites are located throughout Cincinnati Terminal.

• Inbound trains are inspected by the car department who perform light repairs and ensure that the cars are safe for movement and their shipments are secure.

• When mechanical inspection and clerical work is complete, a hump list is prepared by either the yardmaster or Customer Service and passed from MIS to the Process Control system.  Trains will be humped according to the priority established by the hump yardmaster.

• Outbound trains are assembled by moving classified blocks of cars from the classification tracks (Bowl Yard) and placed in one of thirteen departure tracks in standing order.

• Assembled trains receive an outbound inspection by the car department and brake test prior to departure.  Meanwhile, the yardmaster will send an outbound closeout to Customer Service and the proper paperwork needed to move the train issued to the train crew.

• The train then departs the yard with joint approval of the yardmaster and train dispatcher.

    Other facilities at Queensgate include a locomotive shop, car shop, CSX Intermodal terminal, and CSX TransFlo terminal.  Regional engineering departments are also headquartered at the terminal.

    Aerial photos of Queensgate, courtesy of Larry Stulz (http://www.stulzphoto.com)

The following photos taken on CSX property WITH PERMISSION!

	Pulling a cut of rehump cars out of the Bowl Yard viewed from the 5th floor of the Hump Tower.
	The hump job trims the Bowl Yard a bit.
	Trimming the Bowl Yard
	Trimming the Bowl Yard among the new sub retarders.
	Climbing the crest and passing the Hump Tower.
	Q211 exits the hump underpass as it begins its journey to Corbin and points south.
	Q228 waits for a signal at the north end of the Bypass Main at RH West.
	Q505 with a new SD70AE prepares to depart the Bowl Yard for Louisville.
	Working the crest of the hump in frigid January temperatures at sunrise.
	Q143 departs Queensgate.
	Q361 waits at RH West for a signal to proceed west to Indianapolis.
	A lot going on here!  The CSX office car special with some exotic trim engines viewed from Hopple St.
	Power being moved to a train under the Western Hills Viaduct at sunrise.
	Q313 arrives at the south end of the yard.
	J783's power south of the Western Hills Viaduct.
	EMD SD70M-2 demonstrators testing on CSX in September, 2005.
	The hump crest viewed from the Tower at night.
	Cars roll through the master retarder on a warm summer night.
	The hump tower trainmaster (foreground) and train director (background) hard at work on 3rd trick.
	A restricting signal at the north end of the yard lights the way for an arriving train.

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