I&M 31 North pulls out of the "A" Yard at Shops with a short train headed to Powerton. The 31's orange paint stands in vivid contrast to the gray sky and white snow.

The 31 enjoys a last few minutes of slumber before its next call to duty for the 08:00 Shops Roadswitcher.

Study in EMD Styling: The 31 and 60 sit side-by-side at Shops Yard. Although the RS1325 is quite diminutive compared to the SD18, the cabs and noses of the two locomotives are virtually id... (more)

Fast Fords: NS #145 speeds west thru Springfield with yet another trainload of auto parts for Ford Motor Company's Kansas City Assembly plant.

The Human Factor: Although it was sad to see the tower go, what I really miss are the people that brought the place to life. Here I&M foreman Jim Bottoms and UP operator Bob Phillips pose ... (more)

Operator Mike Myers surveys a rare scene as Amtrak #302 passes Ridgely Tower on the former C&IM mainline. During June 2008 Amtrak and Union Pacific detoured trains thru Springfield over the Illin... (more)

Undefiled SP SD40M-2 8681 leads UP train MBNAS south at Sand Hill Road. This locomotive was rebuilt from N&W SD45 1753 by MK in November 1994.

Amtrak #301 heads south down the NS Pass at Iles. The north crossover at Iles is out of service, forcing all UP traffic off the UP Main until it is repaired.

With the transition to the low-sun season, this nice morning view at Iles Interlocker is now back in play. Here 33J heads west with all 4 motors running elephant-style. BNSF SD70ACe 9218 adds a ... (more)

Amtrak #21 glides thru Ridgely interlocking as both the train and tower are bathed in sweet evening light.

NS D37 heads east at the I&M behind a B32-8 back in 2008.

Nightfall on the C&IM
A lineup of Chicago and Illinois Midland power rests at the railroad’s shops at Springfield, Illinois, on the evening of January 26, 1985. All-EMD, left to right... (more)

#278 makes a rare daylight appearance in Springfield as it passes thru the interlocker at Hazel Dell.

The simplified paint scheme is not as nice as the earlier one but this unit looks well maintained and that's always pleasing.

An abandoned privy leans precariously as a westbound freight crosses ICG at Iles tower, just out of frame on the right.