An empty ethanol train passes the spacious Sterling Steel Plant along the Rock River. The train is working west towards the next crew change point at Clinton, IA, on the UP Geneva Sub. The Ste... (more)

A Chicago to California stacker skirting the Rock River as they approach Sterling on the UP Geneva Sub. The train is about 30 miles away from the next crew change point in Clinton, IA.

The hogger on NSW 76 is looking back for a signal from the switch crew. This engine was formerly Grand Trunk Western 8376 which NSW acquired as scrap in the 1959-60 timeframe. When the engine was ... (more)

Burlington Northern operated a former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy branch line from Sterling to Earlville, Illinois, known as the 10th Subdivision Branch Line of the Chicago Division. In this view... (more)

A Loram Railgrinder sits in the yard in Sterling.

CNW GP50 5089 leads a UP C30-7 and SD40-2 on an eastbound Falcon Service intermodal train at Sterling, IL. The two year old Geep is one of 50 acquired by the railroad, and the last new 4 axle loco... (more)

The Sterling local returns from Rochelle on a stormy summer evening in Northwestern Illinois. While this was incredibly awesome, I had no time to setup and made a dumb mistake with the camera sett... (more)

Northwestern Steel and Wire #74 was built at Grand Trunk Western 8374 in 1929, was sold to NWS&L in 1960, and is seen here working the mill in 1978. Steam operations ended in December 1980 and the... (more)

Alongside Northwestern Steel & Wire on the CNW main, interchange cars in the background

Here's a hot job, like backing into the gates of hell.

Northwestern Steel job on a workaday job

Northwestern Steel job pokes it's nose out at the plant under the watchful eye of the flagman.

Westbound reefer train rolls along the Rock River.

Westbound stackers along the Rock River

A Z train hauls around the curve paralleling the Rock River with a new GE on the point