After providing switching services to the grain elevator in Homer, NS 8721 heads hammerhead forward east back to Tilton Yard.

Even at night, Villa Grove is a busy place. The only thing at rest is the yard switcher. On the far track, a westbound is getting quickly re-crewed, while an eastbound drops off some engines for t... (more)

NS 6741 leads its train westbound over the triple intersection of the ex-Wabash (now NS), ex-Milwaukee (now KB&S), and a local road.

Chinese red, high nose, torpedo tubes, class lights...what year is it again? A Bloomer Line GP10 slowly moves grain hoppers over the scale track along IL-47. Any excess grain in the cars is remove... (more)

A pair of standard cab SD60s lead a westbound manifest through the town of Tuscola and the interesting triple intersection of the UP, CSX, and CN/IC.

Still awaiting a crew, the Seymour Sec. Switcher sits near Country Fair Drive at twilight. Thanks to Brennan and Wesley for manning the spotlight for this shot!

A look inside the cab of the infamous MILW 261. Thanks to Joe LeMay, who watched my stuff and loaned me his bike so that I might go see 261 before our Metra train left.

Trapped like a...front-end loader?

A crossbuck on the Pana Sub stands tall against a beautiful evening sky, which goes from orange to yellow to blue to purple.

Thank God for America, yard switchers, and homemade cable releases. The Villa Grove yard switcher finished up its duties and tied up just in time for the grand finale of Villa Grove's firew... (more)

The Villa Grove yard switcher lays over for the night (left) whilst an eastbound freight sits awaiting a new crew, though it appeared as if they were in no hurry to recrew on this holiday. Taken l... (more)

A westbound grain train stops for only a few minutes to change crews between the Villa Grove and Pana Subs. In the background, twilight has ended and the remaining light in the sky balances out ju... (more)

The southbound Illini with an unusual but increasingly common consist of all Horizon cars instead of the usual mix pounds the diamond at Tuscola. Red filter applied in post processing.

After stopping for a quick bite to eat in town, all 4 SD40-2's all work hard to get the train back up to speed. On another note, if you're in the Kirkland area and need sealcoating, try calling th... (more)

Beating the clouds at their own game, this shot turned out far better than it would have with sun. Under threatening skies, the southbound Saluki makes its way into Rantoul next to some MOW... (more)