Headlights illuminate the overpass over I-72 just west of Springfield that used to carry the now abandoned CNW SI Line over the highway. Despite being in decent shape and hosting several trains at reasonable speeds, the Nelson, IL to Madison, IL line suffered a quick fate after the Union Pacific merger in 1995 and the subsequent one with Southern Pacific in 1996 giving them the former GM&O line. The acquisition of the SPCSL gave the UP a trio of nearly parallel routes between Chicago and St. Louis when including the former C&EI through Villa Grove further east.
The UP retained the line north of Cantrall, IL, known as Barr on the railroad. It is at that point that the former C&IM, now Illinois & Midland line to Springfield ties into the SI Line. The UP has a connection from the SPCSL to the I&M at Springfield, so trains now run the former GM&O between Granite City and Springfield where they hop on the I&M to Barr.
In 1998 UP received the STB's approval to abandon the Madison Sub. between Madison and Barr in favor of this routing, the last trains running over this stretch in November 1998.
Not
just heritage schemes, not just commemorative schemes - this album is devoted to some of the world's most interesting paint schemes, past or present.
