A Northtown-Kick (KC) drops downgrade into the Des Moines River Valley on the Marceline Sub. The train is about a mile from crossing into Missouri from Iowa, and crossed the last crossing in Iowa ... (more)

The hot Willow Springs to San Bernardino Z-train has clear signals now at West Baring to do some running. This week the Marceline Sub has been a hot mess in the afternoons after a tie gang clears ... (more)

Near MP 369 the Marceline Sub crosses the Grand River on this impressive bridge that was replaced in 2019. Here we have a hot LA to Willow Springs Z-train blazing a trail behind another Z and ahea... (more)

At 5:30pm 8 westbound trains were west of Ft. Madison on the Marceline Sub. 3 of them were Z-trains that needed to be sorted out. The dispatcher also had a tie gang just clearing up at La Plata an... (more)

At 5:30pm 8 westbound trains were west of Ft. Madison on the Marceline Sub. 3 of them were Z-trains that needed to be sorted out. The dispatcher also had a tie gang just clearing up at La Plata an... (more)

The coaling tower at Marceline still stands the test of time, but rumors fly again about it's fate in November. The round cement part was used to hold sand. Cars of sand or coal would be spotted i... (more)

The coaling tower at Marceline still stands the test of time, but rumors fly again about it's fate in November. The round cement part was used to hold sand. Cars of sand or coal would be spotted i... (more)

The Santa Fe built into Marceline around 1887. The name Marceline came at the request of a director of the new railway whose wife had the Spanish name of “Marcelina.” This depot was built in 1... (more)

The Santa Fe built into Marceline around 1887. Marceline, came at the request of a director of the new railway whose wife had the Spanish name of “Marcelina.” This depot was built in 1913, and... (more)

An empty sweet brand train rolls east on the Marceline Sub. The train passes the sleepy town of Baring. The train is bound for Eddyville, IA, on the Ottumwa Sub. The old elevator at Baring has see... (more)

Mother Nature dump about 5-8 inches of snow overnight. The next morning roads were a 1 lane farmer's path in spots, but we made our way out and about. County roads were never plowed in this area o... (more)

Mother Nature put a good cold squeeze on the Midwest. Rain ahead of heavy snow stuck to everything facing east. An eastbound "Kick-Gal" slowly works east on the Marceline Sub. They pass ... (more)

The Southwest Chief blazes across the Marceline Sub nearly on time on this wintery morning. The train begins the slow up for a crossover move at Hurdland. The Chief normally does the station work ... (more)

The snow is about done as this northbound KC bound grain empty rolls thru Tipton Ford. The train is about 40 miles form the next crew change point at Pittsburg. A crazy mid-April snow storm coated... (more)

There have been a few trains on my trips where they were the 1st train we shot in the morning and the last one we shot in the evening. Some of it was due to traveling to and from home, others were... (more)