After being overtaken by Amtrak at Lincoln, this loaded coal train charges into the sunrise near the small town of Randall.

With my first spot clouded out, I manged to beat the silver sausage to Randall with a minute to spare...just as the clouds moved away. Another Cascades unit is the consist today, right behind the ... (more)

On a hazy, foggy morning, coke loads wait their turn after leaving St. Paul while a tardy Empire Builder races by on main one heading for Chicago.

After meeting a coal load at Summit, SD, this manifest for Aberdeen pulls away from the siding with a nice five unit consist. Just a little hiking was needed to get to this spot on the I-29 embank... (more)

The daily Northtown-Aberdeen manifest heads west through the big cut in the small town of Big Stone City, SD. The head end of the train is in South Dakota while the rest of it, still around the co... (more)

After waiting for Northstar to clear, this empty coal train finally gets its turn to head west for Willmar.

Only the first three units of the five leading this westbound merchandise train heading for Aberdeen, SD would fit in the frame with this pair of old elevators.

Sometimes you just have all the luck...like today in Hawley when this westbound stack train came into view just as the eastbound coal load was going the other direction.

With a rare visitor in the lead, the Empire Builder heads east out of Hillsboro, ND to get talked over a broken rail near Harwood.

The Empire Builder is just a wee bit behind today (about 10 hours) as this rare Cascades leader brings it into Larimore, ND.

A few years ago, I would have never believed you could find great scenery like this in North Dakota. I stand corrected...as coal empties slow to take the siding at Lyons just after leaving Mandan.

The spring thaw is underway after several days of above freezing temps in central Minnesota. 293 heads west over a small trestle outside of Paynesville, MN.

A pair of GEs make easy work of the westbound 293 as the approach the Hwy 55 overpass near the small town of Watkins, MN. After a meet at Dickinson, this train had clear sailing to Murray.

All three units, two in front and one pushing, were kicking out that trademark EMD sound as they lug their heavy coal train up the hill out of Crystal Springs, ND.

A trio of GEs are close on the tail of coal loads as they swing through the curves in Lake Park, MN on a hazy morning.