Griffith Indiana Webcam – Watch Trains Cross the Diamond

The Griffith Indiana Webcam looks out over the Canadian National interlocking in Griffith, Lake County, where the former Grand Trunk Western and Elgin, Joliet and Eastern main lines cross. The camera sits at the old Griffith interlocking tower in the Griffith Historical Park. Several tracks curve through the junction in front of it, past a cluster of signals and a street crossing with gates, with houses and a few small businesses on the far side. A red transfer caboose lettered EL T-197 stands in the right foreground. Trains on CN’s South Bend and Matteson subdivisions can turn up at any time of day. A railfan count in 2011 put traffic at around 40 trains a day. The stream is run by Steel Highway Railcams and hosted by the Griffith Historical Society.

About Griffith, Indiana

Griffith grew up around its railroad crossings. Brothers Jay and Elmer Dwiggins platted the town in 1891, it was named for Benjamin Griffith, and it was incorporated in 1904. At its peak, five railroads crossed here: the Michigan Central, the Erie, the Grand Trunk, the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern, and the Chesapeake and Ohio. Broad Street, which runs right past the park, was once described as the busiest railroad crossing in the country, and the Griffith Historical Society says that more than 180 trains came through town each day at one time.

Most of those lines are gone. The New York Central route closed in 1976, the C&O in 1983, the Erie Lackawanna in 1984 and the EJ&E Porter Branch in 1985. Two main lines still cross, and Canadian National owns both: the former Grand Trunk is now the South Bend Subdivision and the former EJ&E is the Matteson Subdivision. A connecting track in the northwest quadrant lets westbound trains swing north onto the old EJ&E toward Kirk Yard in Gary.

The camera’s home is the E.J. and E. Griffith Interlocking Tower, built by the EJ&E in 1924. The three-story brick building is about 7.6 meters (25 feet) long, 4.9 meters (16 feet) wide and 9.1 meters (30 feet) tall. It controlled the junction until it was phased out on December 31, 1999, was moved a short distance into the park in July 2000, and joined the National Register of Historic Places on September 28, 2003. The caboose in the shot started life as EJ&E transfer caboose T-197. It was donated to the museum in 1997 and restored in Erie Lackawanna colors. Griffith covers 20.1 square kilometers (7.8 square miles) at about 190 meters (630 feet) above sea level, and the 2020 census counted 16,528 residents.

Weather and Climate in Griffith, Indiana

Winters in this corner of northwest Indiana are cold. January highs average around 0°C to 1°C (32°F to 34°F), and nights drop to about -8°C (18°F), so snow can cover the ballast and the grass between the tracks for days at a time from December into March. Spring warms up fast. By April, highs reach about 14°C to 17°C (58°F to 62°F), with lows near 4°C (40°F), and the dry grass beside the rails turns green again.

July highs run about 28°C to 29°C (82°F to 85°F), with lows around 18°C (64°F to 66°F). Autumn is mild at first: October highs are about 17°C to 18°C (62°F to 65°F), with lows of 7°C to 9°C (44°F to 47°F), and by early November the trees around the junction turn yellow and red. These figures come from the 1991 to 2020 normals for nearby Valparaiso and a 30-year average for Griffith itself. For today’s conditions, the banner in the top left corner of the Griffith Indiana Webcam shows the current temperature and sky in Griffith.

Things to Do Near Griffith, Indiana

The Griffith Historical Park sits at 201 South Broad Street, on the corner of Avenue A, and was dedicated in May 1995. Besides the tower, it holds the Grand Trunk depot, which a group of residents saved from demolition in the late 1970s and which now houses the society’s Depot Museum. On the grounds are an EJ&E cupola caboose, the T-197 transfer caboose, Pullman troop sleeper 8731, watchman’s shanties and an old Erie Lackawanna concrete phone booth. The outdoor park is open for exploring at any time, and the depot’s open days are posted on the society’s event calendar.

The Erie Lackawanna Trail runs past the park on the old Erie right of way, covering about 28 kilometers (17.6 miles) between Sibley Street in Hammond and Crown Point. Oak Ridge Prairie County Park, also in Griffith, is the regional hub for that trail and the Oak Savannah Trail, and has about 8 kilometers (5 miles) of hiking trails of its own. The Oak Savannah Trail starts at the park’s parking area on South Colfax Street. Hammond’s Amtrak station is about 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) to the north-northwest, and downtown Chicago is about 43 kilometers (27 miles) away.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

More trains and northwest Indiana views on the site:

• Seymour Train Webcam
• Birmingham Train Webcam
• Dyer Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you see on the Griffith Indiana Webcam?

The view takes in several Canadian National tracks curving through the Griffith interlocking, a set of signals, a street crossing with gates and the houses beyond it, with the red EL T-197 caboose in the right foreground. A small inset in the lower right shows a second camera on a line through the woods.

Which railroads cross in Griffith, Indiana?

Two Canadian National lines: the South Bend Subdivision, which is the former Grand Trunk Western, and the Matteson Subdivision, which is the former Elgin, Joliet and Eastern. Connecting tracks link the two. Five railroads once crossed here, but the Michigan Central, Erie and C&O lines were abandoned between 1976 and 1984.

Does the Griffith Indiana Webcam show Kirk Yard?

No. Kirk Yard is in Gary, north of Griffith. The Kirk Yard wye is part of the Griffith interlocking but is out of the camera’s view, although the operator says trains on it can be heard on the stream.

Can you visit Griffith Tower?

Yes. The tower stands in the Griffith Historical Park at 201 South Broad Street, and the outdoor park is open at any time. The Griffith Historical Society posts the depot museum’s open days on its event calendar and arranges tours on request.

What county is Griffith, Indiana in?

Griffith is in Lake County, in the northwest corner of Indiana. It borders the city of Gary to the northeast and is part of the Chicago metropolitan area.

How far is Griffith, Indiana from Chicago?

Griffith is about 43 kilometers (27 miles) south-southeast of the Chicago Loop, on the far side of the Illinois state line.

What is the weather like in Griffith, Indiana?

Griffith has cold winters and warm summers. January highs are around 0°C to 1°C (32°F to 34°F) with nights near -8°C (18°F), while July highs reach about 28°C to 29°C (82°F to 85°F).

What is the population of Griffith, Indiana?

The 2020 census counted 16,528 people in Griffith.

Source: Steel Highway Railcams