Algiers, Winslow and Western Railway

Algiers, Winslow and Western Railway

AWW Engine no. 206, an EMD SD9 locomotive in Cottage Grove, Indiana.
Overview
Headquarters	Oakland City, Indiana
Reporting mark	AWW
Locale	Southern Indiana
Dates of operation	1926–2007
Successor	Norfolk Southern
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Length	19 miles (31 km)

The Algiers, Winslow and Western Railway( reporting mark AWW) ^[1] was a Class III short-line railroad that served the surface mining operations in Pike County, Indiana. It operated approximately 19 miles of track which reached from the coal mines west of Cato south to those at Enos Corner, and ran close to the Norfolk Southern Railway and Indiana Southern Railroad. It was acquired in March 2007 by Norfolk Southern, but still operating under the original company's name.

The railroad's name comes from the Pike County towns of Algiers (now virtually extinct) and Winslow.

History

Former AWW #4 in service on the Indiana Railway Museum.

Southern Railway, the predecessor of Norfolk Southern, sought to purchase AWW in 1974, but the move was denied by the Interstate Commerce Commission which limited Southern to acquiring only 50% of the railroad. Ownership of the remaining 50% passed among various coal interests over the next 30 years, finally falling to Horizon Natural Resources.

In October 2004, Horizon went through bankruptcy and sold its interest in the railroad (along with two mines along the AWW) to Lexington Coal Company; Lexington sold it to Indiana Land and Mineral Company in September 2005, who in turn transferred it to American Metals and Coal International (AMCI) in January 2006. Norfolk Southern won approval from the Surface Transportation Board to acquire AMCI's share in AWW in March 2007, completing its takeover of the railroad.

Since late 2004, the AWW has carried no coal and only a little other traffic, mainly from a nearby industrial tie plant. Railroad workers have been laid off and are called in only as needed, but plans to reopen two of the local mines may increase traffic on the line.

Roster

Unit	Builder	Model	Serial no.	Disposition	Notes
1	ALCO	S-4	79818	Donated to Indiana Railway Museum
2	ALCO	S-4	79819	-
3	ALCO	RS-1	73760	Donated to Lake Superior Railroad Museum
4	ALCO	RS-1	75217	Donated to Indiana Railway Museum	[2]
5	ALCO	RS-1	75218	-
6	ALCO	Slug	79564	-
57	-	0-6-0	-	Scrapped
203	EMD	SD9	20446	Scrapped in March 2020
204	EMD	SD9	20447	Scrapped in March 2020
205	EMD	SD9	20448	Sold to Indiana Eastern Railroad; donated to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum	[3]
206	EMD	SD9	20449	Sold to Indiana Eastern Railroad
9552	ALCO	2-8-2	55653	Scrapped

References

1. The Official Railway Equipment Register. Vol. 104. Railway Equipment and Publication Company. 1989. pp. XV.
2. "ENGINE #4". French Lick Scenic Railway. 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2025-03-30.
3. "SD9 Locomotive Joins TVRM's Collection". Tennessee Valley Railroad. Retrieved 2025-03-03.

External links

• STB Finance Docket No. 34839 (NS acquisition of AWW)
• Federal Register, February 21, 2007 (NS acquisition of AWW)

38°26′17.0″N87°12′51.3″W / 38.438056°N 87.214250°W / 38.438056; -87.214250