The lonely Z-trains across BNSF's coal route west of Galesburg normally run overnight thru Iowa. Sometimes/most times the eastbound Denver Z will squeak across the east end after day break during ... (more)

Loaded coal train works across southern Iowa on the BNSF Ottumwa Sub. The train is seen here dipping thru a sag east of Batavia, about 15 miles east of Ottumwa. This coal train was loaded at Belle... (more)

The 468 local came out of Burlington to Mount Pleasant to interchange with the Burlington Jct. The local got in the clear of main #1 to let a hopper by, and now is ready to open up head back east ... (more)

Even though symbolled a "B" for a baretable, this stack train is full of containers heading west from Memphis. The train rolls thru the CP at ISU Switch on the BNSF Ottumwa Sub enroute t... (more)

A loaded coal train bound for interchange with the CN in Chicago, IL, gets a roll on them after climbing out of Ottumwa. The train is bound for unloading at Lansing, MI, for the city. The train i... (more)

The new year resets the train counts in the coal train symbols on the BNSF. The 1st loaded train of 2021 for Rush Tower, MO, (RTR"001") for Union Electric is eastbound on the Ottumwa Sub... (more)

An empty hopper works west thru the frozen tundra on the Ottumwa Sub. The train is seen here passing thru the small town of New London about 14 miles west of Burlington. The train is working towar... (more)

An empty hopper works west thru the frozen tundra on the Ottumwa Sub. The train is seen here passing thru the small town of New London about 14 miles west of Burlington. The train is working towar... (more)

The snow is coming down hard as this load pulls down to CP 3811 to wait for the eastbound Amtrak's California Zephyr. CP 3811 is located on the BNSF Ottumwa Sub just east of Afton and 12 miles eas... (more)

After a good size wait for the eastbound Amtrak's California Zephyr, coal train is back on the move behind them at CP 3811, east of Afton. This coal train is only 12 miles east of Creston, the las... (more)

The old Farmers Co-op Association elevator on the northside of Chariton doesn't sound long for the world. Guy at the feedmill next door said the elevator is privately owned now and plans are to t... (more)

Someone at BNSF should be pretty proud they spent some money to get this fancy control point done. Guessing that taxpayers or the utility company (taxpayers again) payed for this setup, sure it wa... (more)

In the modern PTC era, getting foreign power to lead right now was harder to do on the BNSF in spots thru mid-2020. This loaded wind mill train has a lone CN Dash 8 for power. The 6700 foot train ... (more)

While shooting Amtrak at Chillicothe, we overheard this local having alot of issues on the radio while working Cargill Spur at Eddyville. Sounded like they were having problems pulling the grade o... (more)

An empty coal train rumbles across the Des Moines River outside of Ottumwa. The train is working between Galesburg and Creston, the next crew change point. This is the southern Iowa coal route for... (more)