Kellogg's Seminary Pt. 1
The city of Galesburg, Illinois has been dominated by the railroads for almost all of its existence. So much so in fact that the annual city-wide festival is known as Railroad Days. First, it was the Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy (Burlington Route, later, Burlington Northern), and then the Santa Fe (among other smaller, less successful railroads). Those two railroads merged to become today's BNSF Railway. With as much rail traffic that Galesburg saw over the years, and as many grade crossings as it had, train horns could be heard from all points in the city and at all times of the day. And traffic backups were the norm.
Somewhat surprisingly, it took until the 2010's for Galesburg to finally start construction a series of grade separations at the busiest crossings. The first was an overpass over the former Santa Fe main (today's BNSF Chillicothe Sub) on Main Street. Second was an overpass also over the Chilli Sub that connected Seminary Street to Kellogg Street. The third and so far last was an underpass on Main Street that went under the former Burlington Northern main (today's BNSF Mendota Sub). And with the completion of this underpass, the whole town could finally be declared a Quiet Zone.
When these grade separations were completed, it was only natural that they would draw railfans during the Railroad Days festivities for new photo opportunities. Ever since the Seminary Street bridge (formally known as the Bickerdyke Bridge) opened circa 2015, I have had a desire to photograph a train from it. That opportunity finally happened during the final day of Railroad Days 2023. Here we see an eastbound BNSF intermodal train on the Chilli Sub. In this view looking west-southwest, you can see 5 street crossings over Cedar Creek. Only two of these are open today, N. Prairie Street (foreground crossing) and N. Broad Street (background crossing).
Kellogg's Seminary Pt. 1
The city of Galesburg, Illinois has been dominated by the railroads for almost all of its existence. So much so in fact that the annual city-wide festival is known as Railroad Days. First, it was the Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy (Burlington Route, later, Burlington Northern), and then the Santa Fe (among other smaller, less successful railroads). Those two railroads merged to become today's BNSF Railway. With as much rail traffic that Galesburg saw over the years, and as many grade crossings as it had, train horns could be heard from all points in the city and at all times of the day. And traffic backups were the norm.
Somewhat surprisingly, it took until the 2010's for Galesburg to finally start construction a series of grade separations at the busiest crossings. The first was an overpass over the former Santa Fe main (today's BNSF Chillicothe Sub) on Main Street. Second was an overpass also over the Chilli Sub that connected Seminary Street to Kellogg Street. The third and so far last was an underpass on Main Street that went under the former Burlington Northern main (today's BNSF Mendota Sub). And with the completion of this underpass, the whole town could finally be declared a Quiet Zone.
When these grade separations were completed, it was only natural that they would draw railfans during the Railroad Days festivities for new photo opportunities. Ever since the Seminary Street bridge (formally known as the Bickerdyke Bridge) opened circa 2015, I have had a desire to photograph a train from it. That opportunity finally happened during the final day of Railroad Days 2023. Here we see an eastbound BNSF intermodal train on the Chilli Sub. In this view looking west-southwest, you can see 5 street crossings over Cedar Creek. Only two of these are open today, N. Prairie Street (foreground crossing) and N. Broad Street (background crossing).