Iowa 505 sits at Burr Oak yard. When this unit gets a crew, it will be a BISI train bound for Silvis.

Iowa 516 is looking good as it shoves BISW into IHB's Blue Island Yard.

Iowa Interstate's new heritage unit, #516, basks in the afternoon sunlight in Blue Island, waiting to shove the BISW train into IHB's Blue Island Yard.

Eastbound CNW run through grain train Blue Island

Eastbound CSX stack train Blue Island

BNSF 5136 soars Eastbound while heading past the Blue Island Diamond on one of four other rails alongside the diamond on Jan. 14, 2015.

As I was on my way to meet my aunt for lunch I caught a glimpse of what appeared to be one of the few remaining SOO SD60's on the point of a grain train. I quickly turned around and was luckily in... (more)

A string of transfer cabooses mingle with unused cars awaiting disposition after the demise of the Rock Island. Gondolas on the right are loaded with salvaged rail.

When new, Cotton Belt and Southern Pacific SD45T-2's were delivered by the Rock Island from Chicago. It was not uncommon to find the new engines running revenue for the Rock Island alongside Rock... (more)

ex UP 4177, nee MP 3177

ex QNS&L 211. Note the two new SP GP60s trailing.

Led by a CNW six-axle EMD, a CSX empty coal train heads south through Blue Island as it approaches nearby Barr Yard. Tom Golden photo.

A four-pack of Santa Fe EMDs, including a cowl-unit, are seen headed through Blue Island Interlocking as they head toward the IHB's Blue Island Yard. Tom Golden photo.

A Western Maryland Geep leads a recently renumbered C&O Geep on a westbound freight out of Barr Yard. The C&O unit was previously leased to the Chicago, South Shore, and South Bend and sported it... (more)