A new Swoosh gets out of the way of a loaded coal train just in time as to not ruin my shot. Not that you can tell from up here, but this was a H3+H1+H2 lashup.
4949 and an SD60M, plus an NS Dash 9 pull hard on a stacker out of Cicero Yard.
Here's a once-in-a-lifetime shot. METX 197 had brake problems and pulled off into the Downers Grove siding #2, then the crew fixed it. I've never seen Metra pull into this siding before. Here, 403... (more)
The Barfbonnet, BNSF's experimental scheme combining the Warbonnet curve and BN Executive colors, leads a loaded coal train through the Grove. Some of the paint seems to be burnt off, thus destroy... (more)
I get to ride in style back to Downers Grove, with a classic F40 pulling my train.
M-BRCGAL leaves Cicero...*cough cough* with 7 engines, no duplicates; 5 paint schemes, 36 powered axles, and only 6 cabs. The middle locomotive is a tiny GP9B, one of only 3.
One of the most beautiful locomotives and trainset ever to roam the rails waits on the mainline as our caboose train leaves the station. DDA40X 6930 with the coach train and Fairbanks-Morse MILW 7... (more)
9048 throttles up, passing Old Glory and the nice foliage (surprisingly not dead with this drought) at the Hinsdale Metra station.
Gah! Where's the fans?! :)
The SW Chief, with a Dash 8 and a Horizon car in tow approaches its Naperville stop.
An ATSF and MRL duo pass through a 10MPH speed restriction due to recent pouring of ballast, after ties were replaced. Notice also that the ATSF SD40-2 has received reflective yellow stickers to m... (more)
A BN GP30 and Bluebonnet GP7 on the point - sweet!
A pair of CSX locos, the second a straight SD40 in plain yellow-and-gray scheme, lead over a 100 shiny new coal hoppers west.
145 and 154 pull the CZ west past a patch of flowers.
Freshly picked H3 pumpkin ripe and ready to go!