Semaphore blades and code poles...these classic railroad mechanisms align the right-of-way of the Raton and Glorieta subdivisions in New Mexico where Amtrak's Southwest Chief traverses the ... (more)

After stepping off the Southwest Chief in La Junta, I find myself pacing the train along the Raton Subdivision on U.S. Route 350. The Chief is running at its maximum track speed of ... (more)

Twice per day, the magnetic flagman manufactured by Griswold wigs and wags back and forth for the passing of Amtrak's Southwest Chief. This grade crossing signal is the last of its kind al... (more)

The Empire Builder arrives into St. Cloud for a crew change nine hours late with a surprise (to me) leader. With a quick crew change here in St. Cloud, the train gained an hour by arriving... (more)

Noyes is busy place on a Monday afternoon! The crew of the Grand Forks - Noyes train cut off the front two locomotives and are in the process of tying them down while their train is on the main. ... (more)

CP 299 passes over the Bradley Coulee bridge as it eases closer to the U.S. - Canada border crossing. The train will change crews and get scanned at the border before it continues to Winnipeg.

A westbound manifest cruises through Lake Elmo after a lengthy wait at Hudson, Wisconsin.

The Northern Plains Thief River Falls Turn travels west through Radium as it nears Warren along the former Soo Line's Wheat Line. After Warren the train will head straight west into the Red River... (more)

The Minnesota Northern Warroad Local plows through a big drift the day after fresh snowfall on its way to St. Hilaire for some routine switching at the southern end of the Warroad Subdivision.

The Warroad Local cruises back to Crookston via Erskine after making the connection off of the Canadian Pacific Detroit Lakes Subdivision and onto the BNSF Grand Forks Subdivision. The MNN crew c... (more)

It's golden hour as the Minnesota Northern Warroad Local creeps down towards Saint Hilaire from Dakota Junction to finish the day switching the agriculture industries in town.

A couple of former locomotives of the Belt Railway of Chicago fleet meet in an unusual way currently under the Independent Locomotive Service flag. ILSX 917, formerly BRC 523, is seen from the ch... (more)

The Independent Locomotive Service shop has quite the assortment of EMD power from switch, four-axle, and six-axle units. ILSX 1386 and 1387 are "back home" from time in Texas and Illin... (more)

After ditching a locomotive at Midway, the Empire Builder speeds along a straight section of the River Subdivision towards Red Wing with 145 out front.

It's white out conditions closing schools, businesses, and causing no travel advisories, but the railroad still rolls on through the winter storms. This CP train prepares to leave with a loaded g... (more)