The entirety of a southbound manifest is visible as it swings around the big curve just south of Ruthton, MN, and enters one of my favorite areas of the state to watch trains: the Buffalo Ridge.

The climb to Florence from Marshall is nearly complete for this southbound manifest as it crosses a creek north of town.

I came to this location the first time over a year ago to wait on a northbound, but the light ran out before the train came. After running a couple of errands in Marshall, I saw on ATCS that anot... (more)

A pair of EMDs, including a former ATSF snoot-nosed SD40-2, are seen working in the yard at Willmar. The Dash 9s continue to sit on the sidelines.

A train from Delhi slowly rolls through North Redwood, MN. The small stone monument along the tracks beneath the tree marks where the Minneapolis & St Louis Railway depot once stood. A young man... (more)

The day has finally arrived! No, not Election Day...the day I got a decent shot of the RRVW 406 leading a train! They've finished their work in Danube and head to Ruebel with 406 as their sole p... (more)

The sun sets on the South Dakota landscape as an SD60M waits to depart with the Willmar to Aberdeen local. With newer GEs ruling most of BNSF's mainlines, it's always a treat to watch and listen ... (more)

Three SD40-2s lead the JY local from Jamestown, ND through downtown Moorhead, MN. In just a moment they'll cross the diamonds at Moorhead Jct before arriving at Dilworth Yard.

I encountered the Willmar to Aberdeen local near Holloway, MN around midday as they sat waiting for some maintenance equipment to clear. It appeared that the clouds would clear by late afternoon,... (more)

Yes, it's cliche, but I wanted at least one picture of the 261 with my family in it. I don't know if any of my children will hold on to an interest in trains as passionately as I have, but for no... (more)

I managed one shot without anyone else in it of the 261's time in Glencoe, MN. I enjoy seeing steam locomotives, but honestly chasing excursions is not my favorite part of the hobby. Still, mome... (more)

Two Caterpillar powered locomotives run westbound past a soybean field waiting to be harvested near Buffalo Lake, MN.

Agriculture still drives the economy of west central Minnesota. The Twin Cities & Western is a vital part of it, too. As a farmer tills a field west of Sacred Heart, the TC&W's West End job head... (more)

The TC&W's West End job is about to duck under the MN 23 overpass east of Granite Falls, passing a combine that's ready for the harvest.

The depot in Montevideo has been nicely restored as part of the city's Milwaukee Road Heritage Center. The Twin CIties & Western's West End job departs town on its way to Milan.