An empty coal train out of Dunfermline, IL, for Central Illinois Light, rolls west in the fading sunlight in southern Iowa. The train is working west towards the next crew change location at Crest... (more)

The Des Moines River west of Ottumwa is high and has alot of back waters in this area. This is the DP units on an Ottumwa bound loaded coal train that is setup 2x1x2. This train will turn the corn... (more)

Normally the only pair of Z-trains across the Ottumwa Sub run at night. For some reason this eastbound Z-train got delayed on its trip out of Denver, so today's the trip across the Ottumwa Sub wil... (more)

An eastbound coal train sneaks thru the high water in downtown Burlington. The Mississippi River crested on June 2nd at 24.48 feet. The crest was the 3rd highest crest on record with the record of... (more)

An eastbound coal train sneaks thru the high water in downtown Burlington. The Mississippi River crested on June 2nd at 24.48 feet. The crest was the 3rd highest crest on record with the record of... (more)

A local resident is enjoying the warm evening doing alittle carp bow fishing along the Des Moines River west of Ottumwa. Last time we were here, we were able to drive to the bridge on this road, b... (more)

At Chariton we caught this eastbound Lincoln, NE, to Galesburg, IL, manifest train. A 30 mph permanent slow order protects the tight s-curves thru town. The CB&Q had 2 old branchlines that broke o... (more)

The snow really came down this Thursday morning but unfortunately the railroad had to stop for 2 hours while the dispatcher setup a path for Amtrak's eastbound California Zephyr. The BNSF has put ... (more)

A lone DP unit is shoving hard on the back of this Gateway, IA, loaded coal as they creep up the .6% grade thru town. The local post office was just opening up and their 1st task was to clear the ... (more)

A loaded sand train from Crawford, WI, to Speer, WY, works west on the Ottumwa Sub towards the next crew change at Creston, IA. This 2x1 Dp-ed train is just west of the small town of Lucas in sou... (more)

Westbound Eola, IL, to Fort Collins, CO, loaded sand train passes the small town of Lucas in southern Iowa. This town sits at the bottom of Whitebreast Hill west of Chariton at MP 343 on the Ottum... (more)

Took a 2 day vacation from work and headed out with my kids. We traveled to southern Iowa and the Ottumwa Sub for maybe the last snow storm of the season? At MP At 343 on the Ottumwa Sub is the sm... (more)

The eastbound California Zephyr races east now on main #2 east of Afton. The train ran main #1 out of Creston to get around 2 coal trains waiting at CP 3811. The dispatcher pretty much shut down t... (more)

Person went to the BNSF in the late 90's, pretty good change MAC's were going to leading the coal trains. Here a real shiny Grinstein MAC leads another as this loaded coal train works over the Ott... (more)