Covid Consequences
One major and predictable yet unexpected consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic upheavals that ensued was a complete interruption of schedules that could be felt all the way down the line. It simply effected everything, even shortline railroading. The Illinois Railway, a operating predominantly as sand-only on its Ottawa-Eola, IL line, did not escape unscathed. It's usually a night operation, running between Wedron and Eola and back in the overnight hours. But for a period of at least 2 months in the winter of 2021, they ran more daylight runs than night runs.
So when I stopped in downtown Yorkville, IL on a lunch break one February day at the beginning of the cold snap to observe the bald eagles fishing below the damn, I was caught unaware of this when this westbound train came through shortly before 2pm. On point were a couple of borrowed BNSF units, and bringing up the rear were two of their four all-blue HLCX SD40-2's.
Covid Consequences
One major and predictable yet unexpected consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic upheavals that ensued was a complete interruption of schedules that could be felt all the way down the line. It simply effected everything, even shortline railroading. The Illinois Railway, a operating predominantly as sand-only on its Ottawa-Eola, IL line, did not escape unscathed. It's usually a night operation, running between Wedron and Eola and back in the overnight hours. But for a period of at least 2 months in the winter of 2021, they ran more daylight runs than night runs.
So when I stopped in downtown Yorkville, IL on a lunch break one February day at the beginning of the cold snap to observe the bald eagles fishing below the damn, I was caught unaware of this when this westbound train came through shortly before 2pm. On point were a couple of borrowed BNSF units, and bringing up the rear were two of their four all-blue HLCX SD40-2's.