The West Burlington Shops was the heart of the BN heavy locomotive repair and rebuild dating back to 1883. The shops were closed in 2004 by BNSF and everything moved to Galesburg and other shops. ... (more)

These 2x2x2 unusual coal trains on the BNSF are a product of where the trains must go. These trains go to the CP at Ottumwa and on the CP they must transverse the 1.8% Rutledge Hill to get out of ... (more)

An empty coal train bound for the PRB rolls easily west thru Chariton in southern Iowa. The train is working west on the BNSF Ottumwa Sub from Galesburg, IL, to the next crew change point at Crest... (more)

An empty coal train bound for the PRB rolls easily west thru Chariton in southern Iowa. The train is working west on the BNSF Ottumwa Sub from Galesburg, IL, to the next crew change point at Crest... (more)

An empty coal train drop down grade out of Albia. the Ottumwa Sub mains are split here due to the grades in this area. The old way would not allow coal trains to take main #1 between Halpin and Ma... (more)

A pair of CLS trains would meet on the westside of Ottumwa on this fine Sunday evening. Here a loaded CLS crosses the Des Moines River about 4 miles west of Ottumwa with a nice clean ACe on the po... (more)

A 25th anniversary unit leads this empty working west from Galesburg to Lincoln and is about 110 miles from the next crew change point at Creston. Here they cross the Des Moines River about 4 mile... (more)

The 25th anniversary unit leads this Chiles, KY, empty working west from Galesburg to Lincoln. The train is about 150 miles from the next crew change point at Creston. We gave chase as the train r... (more)

Hard to believe that 337 was thru here before 7am, but the crew on this 338 would end up stopping to clean the windows off after plowing this mile thru the Beth area. The winds are blowing decent ... (more)

CN daily manifest train 338 worked east on the CN Dubuque Sub with 10,000 tons of Iowa traffic for the east. Here they swing thru Winthrop curves as the weigh bring them down in speed. The train i... (more)

The Cedar River has taken on a new look late January. The CN changed the job to go to 1 crew with no company vehicle. The job now is working without a defined schedule and also times when all the ... (more)

The Cedar River has taken on a new look late January. The CN changed the job to go to 1 crew with no company vehicle. The job now is working without a defined schedule and also times when all the ... (more)

The Cedar River has taken on a new look late January. The CN changed the job to go to 1 crew with no company vehicle. The job now is working without a defined schedule and also times when all the ... (more)

CN came up with an old odd ball leader for an empty Alden, IA, bound grain empty. The CN 5317 stood proud today leading a couple NS units on a nice sunny Saturday. It is amazing how well she looks... (more)

The daily Waterloo to Kirk Yard manifest train rumbles downgrade into the Wapsipinicon River Valley at Independence. The train left Waterloo 18 mile back with a decent pair of CN units. Getting se... (more)