In a very unusual circumstance, the CN ran 2 test trains across the Dubuque Sub on 5-16. The CN received an FRA geo train from the CP at Dubuque over the weekend, and the CN twice annual geo train... (more)

Some what odd ball helper for an Alliance Z6 is this SD70MAC. The train has just departed Fort Madison after a crew change and skirts the banks of the Mississippi River as they make their way towa... (more)

The city, IDOT, the FRA, and Amtrak all have chipped in restore service the old 111 year old ex-ATSF depot at Fort Madison. The station is now the regular stop for Amtrak's Southwest Chief. Its be... (more)

The area around Fort Madison offers alot of neat things to shoot from the ground and air. The Chillicothe Sub takes off from the BNSF depot and runs along the Mississippi River for a few miles bef... (more)

A Global 4 to City of Industries, CA, hot Z-train crosses over at Ethel around couple slow pokes as they work west on the Marceline Sub. A crazy April snow storm has coated everything, I cant even... (more)

The BNSF Marceline Sub is a subdivision of 2 different topographies. From Fort Madison to Marceline the railroad twist and turns as it goes up and down over numerous valleys and dips thru northern... (more)

The coaling tower at Marceline stood the test of time back in late 2021, but the rumors would come true in November. The coaling tower was leveled and another part of history was taken off the map... (more)

The coaling tower at Marceline stood the test of time back in late 2021, but the rumors would come true in November. The coaling tower was leveled and another part of history was taken off the map... (more)

One of the odd ball trains to transverse the Transcon main is these Eddyville, IA, Cargill sweet bran trains. The train are mainly madeup of retrofitted aluminum coal cars with covers on them. The... (more)

The westbound Willow Springs to San Bernardino Z-train has some room to roam now. The dispatcher has them and the UP G4 Z-train over to main # 2 here at Ethel to round up 2 slower trains before Ma... (more)

April doesn't normally mean snow showers. An unusual wet heavy mid-April snow storm yesterday evening has everything covered in slush and snow this morning. That doesn't stop the endless container... (more)

Pair of old dash 9's are working hard to get back up to speed and pull the grade thru West Ethel. The sand train ahead of them had to slow up for a train in emergency. The snow is falling pretty h... (more)

The Sunset Limit has just crossed the Mississippi River outside of New Orleans. The train is only 35" into their 1995 mile trip from New Orleans to Los Angeles. The Mississippi River bridge, ... (more)

I was glad that the local crew in the yard seen we needed more power at the shops after we showed up. So on this Monday morning they brought over the 3 geeps on the right and parked them. That mad... (more)

Lake Pontchartrain is a brackish estuary located in southeastern Louisiana. It covers an area of 630 square miles with an average depth of 12 to 14 feet. Its roughly 39x24 miles wide and length, a... (more)