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)

UP 7234 leads a Global 2 to Los Angeles intermodal train just east of Mechanicsville, IA. This was taken one day after UP had axed ATC cab signals on the former C&NW mainline across Iowa and Illin... (more)

Since it was cloudy and a white countryside, I made the best to shoot some stuff on the northside of the UP main thru Iowa. Westbound auto train off the IHB at Gibson in Chicago rolls west on the ... (more)

CNW 5054 leads a Falcon past a waiting coal train near Mechanicsville, IA in June of 1989.

Just west of Mechanicsville, the conductor of 4007 West climbs off his lead locomotive to give a coal empty a roll-by. The coal train can be seen approaching on Main One in the distance.

Just before sunset, with scotchlite lit up by the low sun, a coal empty runs around a westbound manifest holding on Main Two just shy of the crossovers at West Mechanicsville.

An eastbound intermodal led by 4628 passes (on the left, a la former CNW practice) a westbound stacker behind sister SD70M 4315. All busy railroads should be paralleled by a convenient road, as i... (more)

A pace shot as I drive along Rte. 30.

Rounding the curve east of Mechanicsville.

"Cows for the Katy!" UP 1988 with UP 1982 second out herd up an "MPRCB" train past the New Liberty auction barn at Mechanicsville, Iowa.

CNW 8701 leads the KG1LT near Mechanicsville, IA at 70MPH. Photo was taken out the window of the car as I paced the train.