This summer, I had the privilege to witness UP 4014, Union Pacific's restored "Big Boy" 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive, ply the rails of the UP mainline once again, this time leading the "... (more)

A matching trio of WSOR-painted units lead a northbound train empty over the Embarras River and towards Oakland. This train was received from the CN at Neoga and will be loaded at ADM Oakland befo... (more)

The CN ran their executive train out to Waterloo on March 28th. Along for the ride was a group from the IANR team seeing the sites. The train made awesome time as it traveled from Markham to Water... (more)

UP 4014 goes over I-294 at Thornton, IL. This bridge really puts into perspective just how large the Big Boy is compared to everything else. Additionally, the bridge still wears C&EI lettering ... (more)

Local boaters have anchored near UP’s Lake Shelbyville bridge, anticipating the Big Boy’s arrival. Soon enough, the 1940s-built steamer crosses overhead as it makes its way towards its next wh... (more)

After an unscheduled service stop in town, UP Big Boy 4014 crosses the Kankakee River in Momence on a perfect afternoon.

A CSX crew working on the diamonds takes a brief break to allow an Iowa Interstate train, crossing the Calumet Sag Channel on the Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal (also known as the Indiana Harbo... (more)

Shortly after departing the station stop at Fox River Grove, train #661 is crossing the Fox River with the CNW heritage F59PHI leading the way.

Alton & Southern 2005 and 2004 begin to pull a manifest train west out of the Gateway yard in East St. Louis.

An extraboard freight trundles down the Charleston Subdivision, enroute to Charleston with cars for all three rail-served customers in town.

An eclectic power lashup leads a loaded coal bucket west across the Illinois River.

An Alliance, TX, to Willow Spring, IL, Z-train (kind of) drops downgrade into Dahinda and over the Spoon River on the BNSF Chillicothe Sub. The train is roughly 165 miles from Chicago.

A monster North Platte to Proviso freight finally has their turn as they march off the remaining miles to their destination. The train crosses the Fox River in Geneva. This interesting structure w... (more)

A loaded coal train bound for Newton, IL, crosses the Illinois River at Beardstown. The train is working westbound (south) on the Beardstown line towards Centralia. There, the train will be interc... (more)

On a sunny afternoon along the Mississippi River, the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis' train 101 crosses the Merchants Bridge. The railroad's sharp pair of SD60I's provide the power on ... (more)