With motors at full throttle, Q581 slugs its way up the grade into downtown Kennesaw, Georgia. The manifest was a nice late afternoon surprise on the way home.

September 2017

Retro liveried 071 Class 073 approaches Killarney with the 'Emerald Isle Explorer' from Cobh.

073 was painted in Retro 1987 IR livery to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Irishrail, 1987-2017

CSX caboose 16471 (ex-L&N 6471) brings up the rear of the southbound "Day" Lynch Turn at Blackmont, Kentucky on the L&N Cumberland Valley Subdivision. Main 1 has been recently ballasted, but still needs a visit from the tamper.

Unknown to me until checking in at the Loyall yard office, there had been a derailment on the Clinchfield, and between regular runs like this and some detour moves, the north end of the CV was hopping with trains.

(Scanned from Kodachrome 64 slide.)

A pair of U-30Cs bracket two cab-less units, a GP30 and a GP9 on the head end of a westbound freight I had been following since Grand Island. The units are working hard to keep its schedule into North Platte a few miles ahead.

De beide oude perrons van het oude station van Tamdhu tonen duidelijk aan dat het station dubbelsporig was. In de verte nog een van de voormalige gebouwen.

The distance between the platforms make it clear that the station was in the past doubletrack.

CN recently announced several capital improvement projects, one of which was double tracking almost 11 miles of the Edson Sub between Spruce Grove and Carvel AB.Currently, the double track ends just beyond the signals in this image, and in the future the train on the right will theoretically be able to keep on rolling while meeting opposing traffic.

Just another nutty '90s BNSF lashup. I wasn't fortunate enough to catch one of the SDF40-2s leading a train before the lack of ditch lights kept them off the point but they showed up trailing on the St. Croix Sub occasionally before their retirement. The leader has had the headlight dropped but otherwise just soldiers on as part of a decades long run on the mainline. September 11, 1999.

Great Central Railway, Loughborough

The warbonnets were still looking pretty good back in 2000 as this pair hustles westbound through Fountain City, WI. March 18, 2000.

Seeing these helpers was one of the main goals of this trip. I had spotted this small pond of rainwater at Byron and couldn't pass up a beauty shot as they started back down the hill after getting U724 up the grade. The B&LE tunnel motors are awful neat but assigned very specifically, not straying far Byron Hill nor the Minnesota Iron Range. July 20, 2024.

I'm not a fan of leaser power, but, provide a matched pair with a "real" paintscheme and I could be pursuaded now and then. The leader is an ex-CP unit (5505) along with another SD bearing a Penn Central pedigree (6254) speeding west out of Winona Jct. while the DPU of a waiting eastbounder can be seen in the distance.

May 3, 2006.

The offical groundbreaking special train for the South Shore doubletrack project stands on 11th St. in Michigan City. The former Michigan City depot was to the left of the train. The ceremony with Indiana Governor Holcomb also consisted of a spike driving in the small section of track in the middle of the photo.

GP38-2 511 lugs 920 northbound at Palm Bay, about to knock down one of just a few searchlights left on the FEC. At the time of writing, Bayard, Palm Bay, Bougard, Port Sewall, and Camp Murphy are still standing. This won't be the case much longer as doubletracking for Brightline fills in the last sections of single track that the searchlights guard.

A BNSF coal empty is on its way back to the mines as it rolls through the Idaho mountains on a gloomy Fall day.

Racing ahead to one last spot I where got my final shots of this bonus final South Shore Freight of the trip. This little 7 car AF1 freight crew is headed east for Carroll Ave. behind GP38-2s 2004 and 2007 both bought new by the South Shore in 1981 during the Chessie ownership era.

Taken half mile east of this shot: flic.kr/p/2mc7abj but still in the middle of 11th Street, we see them climbing up the grade from the Cedar St. curve here at the 11th and York Street intersection near MP 33.6 on the South Shore mainline.

Alas scenes like this are on borrowed time which was my impetus for returning so soon. If you want these iconic shots you better come quick because a massive nearly half billion dollar project to double track the line all the way to Michigan City in order to shave 30 or more minutes off transit times and allow greater train frequencies is supposed to start construction soon. This will lamentably lead to the end of street running and the removal of nearly all the homes and structures on the south side of 11th street and the straightening of this curve. In fact, many more than last year were already bought up and either already demolished or boarded up with big no trespassing project signs on them. And of course the downtown midstreet passenger stop on 11th street has already closed so the line already felt different than 11 months prior. To learn more check out the project web site and the detailed PPT presentation on the project: www.doubletrack-nwi.com/images/DT_PRS_DTVirtualOpenHouse_...

But change is the only constant in life, and the CSSB has been modernizing and rebuilding since the Insull era. In fact in 1956 the long section of street running in East Chicago was bypassed and in 1970 the street running into downtown South Bend was abandoned...so I suppose this is just a continuation of what has come before.

Michigan City, Indiana

Tuesday July 6, 2021

Evidently this was an opportunity shot taken on my way into work. Tough light angle but I couldn't pass it up. SD40-2s were still very common on the mainline but I had a soft spot for these fresh rebuilds, they sure didn't stick around for long. This was before the St. Croix Sub was redone into double track, bi-directional CTC. Back then it was fairly unusual to see eastbounds running down track 1 against the signals (49 mph max). Usually when a train was run wrong main it was to allow a Z train to pass it between Trevino and Winona Jct. as though the wrong main was a 30 mile long siding. February 7, 2002.

Southern Shorthaul Railroad's empty coal eventually arrived, and is seen decelerating across the Bargo River viaduct, between Tahmoor's township and the colliery.

Led by the only two members of the BRM class in their distinctive CRL livery, and a pair of preserved C Class. The BRM class were constructed at Bendigo Workshops in Victoria.

Just as soon as the 5023 passed and ducked under the coaling tower this V train came racing up on main 2. I was in the process of repositioning myself and was caught short. At first I was frustrated that I couldn't pull in more of the coaling tower but I rather like this version, particularly the brick warehouse (Nehring Electrical Works). August 10, 2024.

MRL local 841 departs Livingston, MT for Bozeman and Manhattan, passing the west end of the doubletrack as it starts up the pass. March 2019.

One more from the dip back into the year 2000 archives. Back home in Fountain City the snow is gone and the sun is shining. Mornings like this called for a walk with the camera to nab eastbounds in good light as they swept through town.

March 11, 2000.

Train 109 waits to let Train 20 slide by after meeting at the location where double-track returns to single-track East of 11th St. Station. This is CP 33.3 on the South Shore Line in Michigan City Indiana.

October 30, 2023

Another view from Park Jct. Once I had a truck at school for my 3rd and 4th years this became a favorite hang out of mine. I could drive there in a few minutes and spend some hours doing homework in the truck and pausing to nab a photo of each train that rolled down the St. Paul Sub. A pair of ex-GN SD9s run "nose to nose" on a transfer back to Northtown from St. Paul. March 10, 1994.

With 27 loads behind them, the slug set assigned to power CSX A718-22 is working hard as the train accelerates up the hill past the 417.0C milepost outside of Wyvern Yard. Although this 3.4 mile stretch is rifle shot straight, it is up hill northbound.

66428 heads 4D47 1307 Inverness to Mossend intermodal across a short stone viaduct beside the village of Luncarty on the former CR Strathmore doubletrack section of the current Highland mainline.

6th October 2018

An unidentified class47 heads away from Shrewsbury and approaches Bayston Hill with a load of steel coil circa 1982.

Part of the Tom Derrington Collection taken by Jerry Turner

Ref: img112 WM

Intermodal was the name of the game this morning, as it often is on the St. Croix Sub. Without any intel I was happy to nab another eastbound near Diamond Bluff, WI. October 15, 2022.

As the shadow of "railfan rock" steadily stretched toward the tracks the wait got a little tense. As if on cue the tailings shuttle drifts downhill through the peak color at the end of the day.

October 9, 1998.

Before they went on to a second career on CN the old Oakways were regulars on the BNSF all-rail ore trains. Three '60s bring an empty up the St. Croix Sub at Alma, WI. January 15, 2000.

LMS 8F No. 48624 heads through Kinchley lane at the Great central railway hauling a local service to Rothley.

2025 Updated Moduverse+ design.

649 parts (32 x 32 Level Crossing Module)

313 parts (32x35 Ramp Module)

Very high setting render from Stud.io with custom decals done in the PartDesigner tool.

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Free building instruction: www.snakebyte.dk/lego/instructions/moduverse/moduverse_le...

Almost done with painting, enjoyed this reward:) Jernhesten!

I have upgraded my tires to MAXXIS Ardent (front) and Minion (back) 29x2.4. The Bontrager Line XR3 29x2.4 tires was okay, but a bit slippery in mud and dirt. So I feel a bit excited to try out the new pair:-) OF150 28th of July 2018, follow that. A race over the Finnmark moor, I take the easy trip this year, next is OF300...

Amtrak F40PH 203 heads up train 170 'Mayflower' from Washington DC to Boston. This is an eastbound Northeast Corridor train whose passengers have a nice view of Long Island Sound near Niantic, Connecticut. This route between New Haven and Boston, along with Amtrak's New Haven-Springfield, MA line, were the last routes where F40PH locomotives were used in regular service. And the line is doubletrack and under wires now.

BR Cravens DMU - Class 105 - at Beccles station in 1980, with a service to Ipswich. The latticework of the overbridge is reflected in the front cab windows..

Almost all of the goods yard track has gone, but the loading guage is still there, surrounded by grass and bushes, and the disused engine shed - with green doors - can still be seen in the distance..

The line through here later became single-track, and the old 'up' platform - where the DMU is - was disused, and became overgrown.

In 2012 a passing loop was laid, and the old platform and trackbed was refurbished - with the usual 'bus shelter' accommodation.

The last Class 105 was withdrawn from BR service in 1988, and today (2017) only one two-car unit and a trailer have survived into preservation.

Original slide - photographer unknown

See where this photo was taken

It was more than 23 years ago that I moved to the Upper Mississippi River Valley for a new job. The landscape and the railroading helped seal the deal. I would buy my first house along the river, eventually change jobs, eventually live elsewhere, but had kept the house where I could see the BNSF St. Croix Sub out the front windows. This day would be bittersweet as within the hour I would be closing on the sale of that house and my place along the river would be no more. I had a myriad of reasons to hang on to the old place but also the reasons to sell were piling up, it was time. Thankfully I still have family connections in this direction and don't live too far away. I'm looking forward to my future trips being for pleasure and not strictly work sessions.

The raw weather seemed appropriate for this day of farewell. I've made the drive hundreds of times but it never gets old. Skirting Lake Pepin I caught sight of an eastbound train a couple miles behind me on the other side of Maiden Rock. A brief pause here at Pepin allowed the BNSF 5926 to overtake me before we both continued down river. Even without a place to hang my hat along the river it retains a piece of my heart.

November 10, 2020.

One of my fave places

The sun hovers momentarily over a large bend in the Mississippi River at Ferryville, WI. It's hard to beat an evening along the river even when the BNSF is between trains. August 18, 2024.

Great Central Railway, Loughborough

UP 6352 (ex-SP 329) brings up the rear of a huge North Platte to Portland mixed freight as it passes through the classic signals protecting the entrance to the yard at Cheyenne.

MNPPD 01

A Dayton, OH bound 20-car freight behind a single GP-9 pounds across the DT&I diamond at South Charleston, OH. The heritage of the former Pennsylvania line is evident from the keystone whistle board to the left of the engine. Today (2022) the double-tracked PC line west of the diamond is gone and the eastern segment stubs out after about a mile where it serves grain elevators to the east. The DT&I line is still in place.

Prior to UP double-tracking the Sunset Route west of Houston, Heacker in southwest Houston was the end of 2MT for several years. Here, shortly before the completion of the second main line to Missouri City, UP 8627 waits for traffic ahead at the end of Track 1.

Westbound Manifest

UP SD70ACe #8627

UP C45ACCTE #7?54

UP C45ACCTE #????

Houston, TX

February 16th, 2013

With a fresh crew aboard, UP's West Colton to North Platte mixed freight departs Cheyenne at sunset.

MWCNP 29

It's now 6:17am and the sun still hasn't quite risen as UP 6669 & 5655 lead the GSMFY6 28 en route from Milford, Utah to Central City, Nebraska up Archer Hill.

Headed back towards Fort Pierce, 511 leads train 920 past the searchlights and depot at Palm Bay South. The doubletrack in the far foreground spells the end for the signals here.

In the parlance of GSP I would have to give this one "the shot of the day" nod. In what turns out to be a pun in this context, I was winging it old school with no scanner or ATCS in use, and lucked into this stack train flying west. The mainline remains a great place and a big part of it for me is the evening intermodal train ripping west toward the setting sun and eventually, the coast. Going back to the Falcons of old, the wind off these trains is still a thrill. August 11, 2018.

Super Sprinter 158959 which looks like it has just been repainted into GWR 'Green' looks stunning as it departs Malvern Link on 11-1-19

The working is the on-time

1O98 1048 Great Malvern to Brighton Great Western Railway service

Sadly by the time it reached Worcester Foregate Street it was 6 minutes late but thankfully by the time it reached Brighton it was only 1 minute down on the booked time.

The Malvern hills yet again form the backdrop, what had been a beautiful start to the day was already heading towards thick cloud which arrived before the HST which arrived late some 15 minutes later

Waiting on a westbound train just outside of Battle Creek a few weeks ago, I wondered what I was hearing in the distance with a rather sickly-sounding K3L horn. Then, this thing pops into view! A battle-weary GP38-2W leading 2 boxcars of track inspection instruments along with their accompanying support coach. I think this was the first time I ever saw a GP38-2W, since they seem to largely stick to Canada.

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At 4135 hp, UP's C41-8W's had a little more giddy-up than the average Dash 8. Though by the mid-2010's their fate was the same as any other. And while most Dash 8's were in storage or being sold, a handful still ran the system. Here, a pair of more powerful Dash 8's bring the Eagle Lake Local westward on the Glidden Sub as it makes its way out of greater Houston. At the time UP was double-tracking the Sunset Route west of Houston, as evidenced by the rail and ties to the right of the train.

LHT43 29 (Local- Houston to Eagle Lake, TX)

UP C41-8W #9438​

UP C41-8W #9433

Stafford, TX

May 29th, 2015

I was digging through a lot of early 2000s slides recently, BNSF wasn't the subject of the search but it was a pretty interesting time on the RR. The old 7300 rebuilds are among the pre-ETTS power that kept popping up. I began to wonder if I had any shots of one that has since achieved a certain level of notoriety. The E&LS has a pretty dedicated cadre of fans these days who record nearly every move the shortline makes. ELS 503 still wears BNSF colors and gets a lot of attention. I looked up its first number on BNSF, 7303, and watched for that number amongst the slides. I was happy to find a shot of 7303 on the point of a train headed down the St. Croix Sub in 2004.

It turns out I like this shot enough that I've already posted it to my Photostream here, 14 years ago to this day! I normally don't repost the same shot but this rabbit hole proved too irresistible so here is a new (better) scan of BNSF 7303 approaching East Winona, WI. Back when I first posted this it hadn't gone to the E&LS yet (via Independent Locomotive Service), the shot itself was 7 years old at that time. It's baffling how the years accelerate with age but I guess that's why I take pictures. In time it would be renumbered out of the way of newer power to 6964 on BNSF. By the end of 2011 it would leave the roster.

ILS renumbered this unit to 1338 and it ran for quite a while on E&LS with the leaser marks until E&LS purchased it:

www.flickr.com/photos/view2share/32681966120

Finally, after E&LS purchased it, it was renumbered into their SD40-2 number series as ELS 503:

www.flickr.com/photos/view2share/51637319780

With the steady contraction of the E&LS in 2025 it almost exclusively works the route between Channing, MI and Green Bay, WI.

April 28, 2004.