One of the hottest trains on the Aurora Sub is this Chicago to St. Paul afternoon Z-train. This train has been called "Precious" by many dispatchers over the years. Here, high priority ... (more)

One of the hottest trains on the Aurora Sub is this Chicago to St. Paul afternoon Z-train. This train has been called "Precious" by many dispatchers over the years. Here, high priority ... (more)

Life was simple in the 90s. A SD40 was coming to a train near you! Honestly, we got tired of it, but now it looks a lot better than a stupid GE. Im sure someday the GE era will be different. Man, ... (more)

Once the BNSF Merger took over, the railroad scrambled to find power to run trains. It was a railfan's paradise to see some of the kit bash consist the railroad put together. Here the St. Paul pri... (more)

It is amazing how much things change at the railroad. I have been coming to the Aurora Sub since the early 90'swhen I was in my teens. Those days BN/CN/CCP trains rolls thru and an operator at Eas... (more)

The L586 local has pulled thru the dumper on A-track at IEI (now called Logistics Park Dubuque) for headroom. This job does local work on the BNSF Aurora Sub around East Dubuque. Due to the way th... (more)

It is really hard to believe that this was enough power for a freight train along the Aurora Sub. Now days to find any train under 8,000 horse probably not too common, but back in 1997 a measly 4,... (more)

A westbound Eola to Northtown freight is slowing working up main #2 between Murphy and Budd on the BNSF Aurora Sub. The train is following trains ahead. All the high dollar boats at the Frentress ... (more)

I'm not sure if BN started this or it was the BNSF, but a couple days of the week there was a super hot Chicago to St. Paul UPS train that ran. The train was never very big, but ran extra over the... (more)

If I remember right, the MRL got power in position for the IMRL startup. While the final stages were going on some of this power ran off miles on the BNSF. Here an eastbound BNSF freight has just ... (more)

A second section of stack train #7 kicks up snow as they make their way into East Dubuque. The train is about 120 miles from the next crew change point at LaCrosse, WI. This train traditionally op... (more)

In a snow storm, BNSF train #2 fights the elements as they departed East Dubuque bound for Chicago. The train is couple miles south of East Dubuque on the Aurora Sub between LaCrosse, WI and Auror... (more)

Snowy Day in March the BNSF has a stack train heads off east towards Chicago. The train has just departed East Dubuque with the standard power for back in 1997, pair of SD40's. They look good exce... (more)

Westbound Chicago to Dayton Bluffs autos begin to slow up for the 25 mph permanent thru East Dubuque. Train is seen here couple miles south of East Dubuque at MP 182 on the BNSF Aurora Sub.

The MRL kept power roaming on the BNSF early 1998 with the startup of IMRL to keep it in position for the startup. Here a pair of flares power this autorack train towards Chicago as it passes theu... (more)