Instead of running their usual freight train from Paris to Decatur, the nightly 201 job was tasked with running ethanol empties back to ADM in Decatur. This same power set ran the last empties in,... (more)

It’s Central Illinois’ second, but most measurable snowfall of the season and the railroad keeps running as usual. Several hours since the last train has passed, another northbound freight bre... (more)

A little after midnight on a warmer-than-normal and foggy November evening, the DREI 201 crew is seen navigating an eastbound grain train towards the CSX interchange at Hillsdale. Usually on a roa... (more)

At the end of a cloudy and rainy day, the sun peeks out for the last hour or so. With the lighting being better than what I bargained for, the race was on between the train showing up soon or the ... (more)

After completing their setout at Villa Grove on a cold, rainy evening, UP train MASPR climbs upgrade through Block on their way towards Chicago. Leading the way is one of only 4 remaining SP-paint... (more)

NS decided to run an “extra tonnage” move in the early afternoon out of Decatur and the power was supposed to be a pair of aging SD40-2s. How cool is that? A pair of SD40-2s racing out on the ... (more)

A few nights after an “every other year” snowstorm, DREI’s westbound road freight hones in their dynamic braking as they drop down and across the Embarras River in Camargo.

Oakland empties traverse the twists and turns of the Charleston Subdivision on the south side of Charleston. Ruining the pure WSOR consist is the leader, WAMX 4134, the DREI’s lone “true” SD... (more)

A matching trio of WSOR-painted units lead a northbound train empty over the Embarras River and towards Oakland. This train was received from the CN at Neoga and will be loaded at ADM Oakland befo... (more)

Fall colors are starting to show face along the Charleston Sub and one of the curves just south of the Embarras River is no exception. Here we see WAMX 3870, two other lookalikes, and an SD40-2 lu... (more)

Upon my arrival into Gibson City this morning, I happen to see the crossing lights flashing…there goes 7549 northbound for what I had assumed another cut for the ethanol plant to the west of tow... (more)

Behind a trio of EMD workhorses, the first half of a CN corn train bustles south on its return trip to Gibson City. These 58 cars came from the Cullom and Charlotte elevators on the northeast end ... (more)

Behind a trio of EMD workhorses, the first half of a CN corn train bustles south on its return trip to Gibson City. These 58 cars came from the Cullom and Charlotte elevators on the northeast end ... (more)

All is silent in rural Oakland, IL as the aurora dances overhead. Sitting below is a loaded DREI grain train behind a 5-pack of EMD locomotives. This train came up from Neoga a day prior and was l... (more)

The aurora dances overhead as a DREI grain train sits north of Oakland, tied down till morning.