A train of empty coal hoppers snakes its way through the scrap metal yards in north St. Louis.
The train is on the Terminal Railroad Association "Merchants Sub", and is just about to take the turnout to the BNSF Hannibal Sub. The TRRA Merchants Sub actually acts as a connection between two parts of the BNSF Hannibal Sub. Trains continuing on the Merchants Sub will cross the Merchants Bridge over the Mississippi River into Illinois.
In the far background, the cable-stayed Stan Musial Veterans' Memorial Bridge takes I-70 across the Mississippi River into Illinois. In the near background, just behind the scrap metal yards, one can see the old Illinois Terminal bridge which used to take interurban trains into downtown St. Louis after crossing the McKinley Bridge into Missouri from Illinois.
The track in the foreground belongs to the Norfolk Southern and is ex-Wabash. This track runs south from Luther Yard in north St. Louis and connects to the TRRA here. The area to the right of this track, including where the old ties are piled and semi-trailers now sit, used to be a yard. This track is now pretty much out of service; Norfolk Southern trains only go from Luther Yard to Illinois via the TRRA Merchants Bridge across the Mississippi River.
NOTE: this shot was NOT taken with a drone, nor was it taken from the roof of a building. I will let others who are familiar with this area noodle out where the photographer was located to get this shot!
