A chunk of granite that was deposited by the same glacier that formed these hills thousands of years ago keeps watch over the passage of an eastbound RCPE freight train near Lake Benton, MN.

I heard this guy go east about 4am from the tent, but didn't know if they would come back or what. While bumming around chasing BNSF trains we heard him get a warrant from Tracy back to Aurora at ... (more)

An RCPE manifest heads west through Lake Benton in the morning under ominous skies.

It's always a treat to see an RCPE train west of Tracy in good light. With a grain shuttle train tied down on the siding at Florence, the RCPE's Mankato, MN to Aurora, SD manifest is continuing we... (more)

After meeting a westbound west of here in Elkton, SD, the daily HUTR is now in Minnesota, and passing the beautiful Buffalo Ridge near Lake Benton.

Bathed in beautiful evening light, a westbound RCPE train makes its way through the hills and curves south of Lake Benton, nearing the South Dakota border.

After spending nearly 36 hours sitting in Tracy, train M-TRHU (manifest from Tracy, MN to Huron, SD) is finally under way. Lake Benton has always been my favorite place in Minnesota, but sinc... (more)

The countdown is on as the newest Genesee & Wyoming property, the Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern, is going to transfer from CP ownership in a couple days. Along the east end of what will be the new ... (more)

Making an appearance in one of my favorite spots in the entire state of Minnesota. In just a few short miles, they'll be out of the Buffalo Ridge, and into the state of South Dakota.

In what was nothing short of a miracle, the Sun stuck around just long enough to shine on this grain empty bound for South Dakota behind a trio of Blue & Golds. Eight loaded coil cars were also a... (more)

As rp.net contributor Jeremiah Rindahl finishes up his shot along the side of the road, this healthy manifest is making good time westbound on its way to South Dakota.

Our timing was perfect as we only had to wait about 20 minutes for this eastbound to appear in Lake Benton. Such a cool spot to catch some classic power on the Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern.

What used to be train 277, is now train 471. Since it has taken a new routing, its times through this area went from pre-dawn to midday. Making for an incredible sight and sound as 4 CP and ex-CP... (more)

With the shake-up at the hands of Hunter Harrison, the 472 train out of Huron, SD remains the only unchanged aspect of railroading out here. Even this may change as this line faces an uncertain f... (more)

Unlike many other times i've shot the 472, this one was a good size one, with more than two units. Here, between Verdi and Lake Benton, they snake their way through the valley at the edge of Buff... (more)