Alcos still roam on the Lake State but for how much longer? Nobody knows but for now I am pleased to catch my good old buddy #1280 leaded a train out of Alpena in the late evening.

Alco Centuries can still be found in northern Michigan in 2008. Here C-425 NO. 1280 trundles down the center of Alpena's Tenth Street.

I found these flowers about 4 minutes before the train arrived. After a mad dash to clear out pesky weeds my efforts were rewarded with a shot of the 1179 pulling past the flowers on a beautiful s... (more)

Spill your guts! LSRC 698 awaits the torch as some of her internal parts lay beside her.

The Lake State Railway does its best to keep trucks off of the road.

This rebuilt GP35 basks in the morning sun. Railroad permitted the addition of a switchlight to complement the scene.

It's only a matter of time before the job is finished and the 698 will be gone forever. Part of the long hood of a fallen comrade already sits near it. Photo taken with permission.

Train 325 ties up on the wye until the Northbound road freight arrives. Photo taken with permission.

Train 326 pulls South at 3rd Street just before the clouds roll in to darken up the scene.

LSRC 371 sits just shy of the Long Lake Ave. road crossing.

LSRC M420W 3500 is about to cross Johnson Street and enter the yard limits after a long journey up from Bay City.

LSRC M420W 3500 leads train 326 South at the Werth Road crossing.

The brush is thick on the North end of the yard...

LSRC train 326 sneaks its way out of the Alpena area. It is seen here crossing the busy Washington Ave. (M-32) with GP40M-2 1171 and C425M-ac 181 as the power.

Freshly repainted M420 3571 is in charge of a short southbound train out of Alpena.