A loaded ethanol train out of Arthur, IA, digs into the grade on Scales Mound Hill between Galena and Scales Mound. The railroad lifts eastbound out of the Mississippi River Valley for 8 miles on ... (more)

UP 1111 leads a southbound mixed manifest through Momence Illinois over the Kankakee river.

It's been quite a while since a GP60M has led around the Chicagoland area. That changed on July 24th, 2020 as #103 (now classified as a GP60M-3) and SD60M #1407 hustled west across the Kankakee Ri... (more)

YYCCN, UP's transfer from Yard Center to Markham, makes its way south through Harvey with SD70M #2002 in charge. The 2002 is one of two specially painted Olympic units on the UP. The Chicago skyli... (more)

Led by a very grimy SD40, an Illinois Central coal train crosses the Kankakee River. Paul Meyer photo.

WSOR T-001-03 rolls west over the Des Plaines River in Libertyville, IL with the railroad's flared-radiator SD40 in lead adorned with flags.

It's a warm and very humid morning in Central Illinois on this Memorial Day. After leaving the house early to drive south towards Mattoon, I came across the train just south of Mattoon and had to ... (more)

BNSF 1457, a former BN SD60M, crosses over Scott Street in Joliet as it blasts off towards Galesburg.

BNSF 1795, a former BN SD40-2, leads L-CHI105 across the Kankakee River in Lorenzo, IL.

Santa Fe all the way! SD40-2's 1614 and 1786, the leader still sporting ATSF blue/yellow, cross the Des Plaines River as they depart Joliet with the Y JOL201. This job switches industries west of ... (more)

A NS High Hood GP38-2 leading the NS D49 train across the Mackinaw River bridge just West of the town of Congerville, IL on the former NKP. This line sees very seldom traffic.

After picking up a delivery of two cars from the CN, MSC 49-5601 heads for the plant to make its own delivery. Built in 1954, the classic SW900 was looking good on this sunny morning.

B40-8W #552 is seen on the point of L CHI105, heading west across the Kankakee River in Wilmington on a gloomy evening. It looks quite tired in faded Warbonnet paint.

As a piggyback train departs the yard westbound, an eastbound Santa Fe freight led by EMD GP20 No. 3017 crosses West 38th Street overpass into Corwith Yard at Chicago, Illinois, on August 30, 1986... (more)

Sometimes, the best catches are the ones that come unexpectedly. NIRC #3, an SW1200 that was built in 1954 as the Milwaukee Road 2048, leads three cars over the 1919-built St. Charles Airline lift... (more)