Life: On the Death Star
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Caught the five minutes last night where the clouds parted, and the moon was visible.
Explored Sep 28, 2015 #60
2015-09-27 22.54.14
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www.brandonhilder.com/deathstar
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It's business as usual on the former Illinois Central mainline as the L536 approaches the Union Pacific overpass at Kennsington with a pair of black SD70s.
A few hours after I photographed GALCNI parked outside of Earlville, IL, on the BNSF's Mendota Sub sporting two Illinois Central standard cab SD70s still in their as-delivered "Deathstar" paint (see previous image), it was moved up a few miles to the standard holding point outside of Somonauk. It was there after the train tied back down that some knuckle-dragging jackass in the middle of the night stole the horns off of BOTH locomotives! Whoever did it knew what they were doing, as it was sometime that morning that the horns of both 1010 and 1020 were discovered to be missing. Since this train could now no longer legally move, BNSF had to send out a pair of rescue units a couple of days later to drag this train into Eola.
I have never photographed a train going by the old depot at Saginaw.This deathstar led ore load seemed like a good target for the shot here.Here MinnTac loads for Proctor come by the sad looking depot on 01/25/16
Circus Hair | Letituier
Star Gals-Supreme Commander Outfit,Breather Mask and Death Orb (Gacha) | CUREMORE (The Epiphany)
Lulas Curtain by Mr.Vanmoer (Weekend Ruiner)
Nokia 6 Pose | LUXE
A duo of Illinois Central SD70's wait out the night in Mobile, Al, at the very southern stem of the IC mainline to town. They're on the point of CN train A489 and will be called at dawn to take the train to Jackson, MS, and eventually Memphis, TN, on the former IC main. A rare pairing of 70s was a good excuse to get out and take a few photos over a year and a half ago now. Hopefully this scenario will repeat itself again soon...
Just under a year ago, IC power suddenly invaded Michigan on numerous trains. For just over a month it was almost daily, then as soon as it started, they disappeared. Coming north on E251, a pair of the SD70s with a SD40-2 in the middle come north through Fenton past the depot.
While deathstars are cool, they typically come in standard cab form. While the gevo version CN did to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the IPO looks sharp, it is kind of bland compared to the rest, but was still more than worth a chase to Lansing when it came through on Z149. In the distance is the recently decommissioned Eckert power plant that faces an uncertain future.
After barely making it to catch this train a second time, I found a puddle just past the crossing as the train heads into Proctor yard.
Illinois Central SD40-2 6252 in the "deathstar" scheme leads a loaded Iron Ore train south on the Missabe Sub for Proctor. The train is seen here approaching Highway 8 in Culver, MN.
One of the remaining Illinois Central units in the "deathstar" scheme leads an empty iron ore train north on Missabe Sub for Fairlane. The train is seen here approaching Munger Shaw Road in Munger, MN.
After meeting a northbound in the siding at Paxton, train A408 gets back underway for Centralia, IL with a duo of veteran Illinois Central SD70s (1026 -1019). Seen here doing all of track speed as they head south through the small rural township of Thomasboro, IL on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon on the CN Chicago Sub. Only a few miles shy of Champaign, IL, the train would later get a fresh crew for the continuation of the trip to Centralia, IL. Taken: 2-26-22
As I drove round the threshold of runway 30 at Cardiff this morning I had the great good fortune to be able to get a couple of pics of the rising sun filtered through a dense layer of haze.
The haze did prevent any flying today but it was almost worth it for this pic.
The small ribbons of cloud across the Sun made put me in mind of the Death Star.
#55 Pareidolia for 117 pictures in 2017
Canadian National train L572 meanders south toward Flatrock on the former Detroit Toledo & Ironton in Woodhaven, MI. Two former Illinois Central SD70s are regulars on this job and are seen here in the lead.
IC 1035 sits in East Morris IL on the CN River Line waiting for its crew to take it back to CN East Joliet Yard. 12/27/16
A duo of "Deathstars" lead the Gary, IN to Centralia, IL shuttle, A408, south past the former IC depot in Mattoon, IL. Aside from the yellow sills and first few freight cars (and likely a depot rehab), hard to tell if this was from 2020 or the late 1990's.
Without a single CN unit in sight, L515 heads back to Kirk Yard at Flossmoor, Illinois on the six track former Illinois Central mainline, scenes like this can easily be something straight out of before the IC buyout (7/2/22).
The daily southbound ore from the docks in Conneaut to North Bessemer rolls on at track speed, lead by, at the time, a three pack of Deathstars. Here, IC 1028 ducks under the signal bridge near KO road, just north of Greenville, PA.
Once again, I find myself on the IC shooting the daily transfer from CN’s Glenn Yard to Kirk Yard. On a surprising sunny day this December, train L5369129 traverses its way south through one of Chicago’s most busiest and existential junctions of Kensington. An Illinois Central SD70 (1038) leads a couple of CN corporate painted units such as a GEVO, GP40R, and an SD38-2. Seen here in rare form taking main one under the wire while passing the Illinois Central interlocking tower nearing its 100th year guarding the junction for the Illinois Central, Chicago South Shore and South Bend, and now of course Canadian National and Metra. Taken: 12-29-22
Us locals and regulars that know the train well, know how hard it is for them to run main 1 here at Kensington, yes I’m sure it happens all the time when were not around but to be there when it does, opens for new shot opportunities such as this.
M33891-02 blasts up a drift at Holgate while calling out Milepost 255, while notching up the leaders for an unforgettable sound.
A dried out cone flower presented a wonderful opportunity for a B&W image. I'm always impressed by the textures and tones in dead blooms.
A quickly disappearing IC SD70 in the well known "Deathstar" paint, leads train M335 north through Hayes, IL while a storm moves overhead.
IC 1036 leading the CN L536 South through Chicago past the Kensington Tower. This was my first time shooting the popular L536 job w/ the IC deathstars. It was only fitting to shoot it past the also popular Kensington Tower.
After making it out of downtown just shy over an hour, Train L536918 (Glenn Yard - Kirk Yard) heads south through Chicago’s Kensington neighborhood with a pair of IC SD70s and a pair of CN GEVOS. IC painted 1021 does the honors as they’re seen here doing track speed through the busy Kensington junction of Metra and CSS, approaching the Union Pacific Villa Grove overpass on the CN Chicago Sub. Taken: 2-18-23
In the background, you can see the Illinois Central 100+ year old Kensington Tower, as well as the “bowling alley” of Illinois Central signals still active. Kensington is of the few places along the Mainline of Mid - America with active Illinois Central signals.
CN A407 heads North into the evening sun through Chebanse, IL with a quartet of iconic Illinois Central "Deathstar" SD70's up front, defying the existence of CN here 27 years post-merger.
CN 3008, the deathstar heritage pony, powers train 594 as they rumble through Petitcodiac, New Brunswick at Sunset.
May 27, 2023.
Passing through Greenville, Pa. today while working. Saw the lights, parked the truck, and took my lunch break next to the tracks! Love my job!
Although IC deathstars pulling CN ore trains isn't that uncommon on the Missabe Range, it was a welcomed sight on the Marquette Range for it's last week of operation. Empire has stopped loading pellets for Escanaba and the only ore to grace these rails, for now, is the Sault St Marie all-rail vans.
A great looking IC unit leads MinnTac loads for Proctor out of the siding at Coons after a meet with M346.I waited quite a while for this guy to come south,knowing the #6252 was black.Saginaw MN, 01/25/16
The entry ladder and chlorinating control box in the Deathstar overflow tank. Luckily this very rarely gets used though it smelt a bit ripe last night.