BNSF 616 leads an eastbound grain train by Stronghurst Illinois.

A quintessential Santa Fe signal installation made Stronghurst, IL an enjoyable spot for watching activity along the Transcon. The stately cantilevers, holdovers from the quaint days of signals be... (more)

A Oklahoma City freight train is back on the move after a dogcatch crew jumped on here at Stronghurst. Seems pretty common this weekend recrewing trains east of Lomax. The train is bound for Gales... (more)

You can almost feel the intent of Santa Fe's Transcon, slashing across the country, inexorably pursuing the coast. Same could be said of the 7443 West as it races through Stronghurst, IL on a late... (more)

The Santa Fe that we knew and loved was as yet resplendent in the spring of '97. With its Super Fleet power, impeccable right of way and classic cantilever mounted signals, it was Santa Fe, All th... (more)

You knew whose railroad it was by the type of signal system present, and this scene proclaims Santa Fe all the way. A classic installation with cantilevers and searchlight signals protects the cro... (more)

Santa Fe 855 leads a double stack train past the Stronghurst Depot in September of 1993.

The afternoon sun is shining brightly as a 10,000+ foot stack train slowly makes it's way down the Chillicothe Subdivision just west of the small town of Stronghurst, Illinois

Santa Fe cantilever style signals are still left east of the Cameron Connection in 5 places. GI, Yost, Williamsfield, Toluca, and Verona are still classic cantilever. Regular signal bridges in San... (more)

Stormin’ through Stronghurst
An eastbound Santa Fe freight rolls through Stronghurst, Illinois, on May 31, 1986, led by EMD GP30 No. 2717 painted in “Kodachrome” merger paint.

At every bit of 70 MPH, four ES44DC's highball a westbound Z train through the small town of Stronghurst, 209 miles west of Chicago and 25 miles east of Ft. Madison, IA.

The eastbound Southwest Chief races east towards Chicago, IL, as they past thru the crossovers here at Stronghurst. The train left the last stop at Ft. Madison, IA, on time and will stop at Gales... (more)