Hoffman Transportation's veteran SW8, HTCX #2000, shuffles cars around at their transload facility in Channahon, Illinois. Old Glory waves in the background. Smoke from the Canadian wildfires is e... (more)

The BP Whiting Refinery recently had a new contract service take effect and Rail Switching Service (RSSX) was the chosen one. GP15-1 #685, formerly of Missouri Pacific heritage, is seen shuffling ... (more)

I don't think anyone was expecting a lash-up like this out of Galesburg today! KCSM AC4400CW #4555, still in its classic grey ghost scheme, leads a pair of Ferromex locos through Hodgkins, closing... (more)

A vintage SW8 spends its days shuffling cars around the Stepan Company plant in Elwood, Illinois. Labeled as the SCLX 2001, this unit's past is a bit of a mystery, but I'm always open to hearing i... (more)

The south side of Chicago is full of treasures when it comes to trains. On the list of treasures is Maryland Pig Iron of Illinois' veteran Conrail SW8. Still in virtually untouched Conrail big blu... (more)

A treasure in Chicago's south side is Reserve Marine Terminals' former Santa Fe F7A #342L. Now leased by Horizon Rail as a rebuilt CF7, the 70 year old veteran (04/1953) is hard at work bringing a... (more)

Y JOL202 hustles west over Elwood's Jackson Creek with Bluebonnet SD40-2 #1755 looking sharp on the point.

In 2020, newly appointed Watco outfit Elwood, Joliet & Southern (EJ&S) assumed operations of "The Phoenix Line" from Canadian National. One of the various industries served is BL Duke Sc... (more)

Operating on The Bug Line, MSC 49-5601 prepares to deliver 4 empties to the CN. The lone coal car has been sitting in that same location for years now, facing an uncertain future. With the Romeovi... (more)

Q198 heads south across Bridge 198 with a GTW heritage unit leading the way, solo.

On a beautiful evening, Y JOL202 thunders across Hickory Creek in Joliet's east side. A veteran SD40-2, still wearing Santa Fe Bluebonnet paint, leads the way.

#3 is strolling right along through Lyons with 13 recently dumped empties.

GP38-2 #2284, still wearing classic Burlington Northern Cascade green, leads the way up the West Chicago Branch in Batavia.

Paralleling Canal Bank Road, SW1 #3 hauls its train back to the plant in Stickney.

With the morning dump complete, 70 year old CSDX SW1 #3 brings its train out to the main to prepare its run around. The John Deere escavator, which assisted in the dump, waits to head back to its ... (more)