A westbound BN train is approaching East Dubuque on Main #1. The train is using CCP trackage from Portage to East Dubuque to move across the Aurora Sub. The BN and IC each owned a main line throug... (more)

In 1993, the SP contracted Morrison Knudsen to supply 133 rebuilds in the form of a SD40M-2. MK provided the carbodies for these rebuilds and they were as the following carbody styles.... SD4... (more)

Now that spring has come, CN has gotten a bunch of their SD70's back together again for the Iowa trains in and out of Kirk Yard back in 2023. Here a very small 338 heads out of Dubuque bound for ... (more)

Once the BNSF Merger took over, the railroad scrambled to find power to run trains. It was a railfan's paradise to see some of the kit bash consist the railroad put together. Probably a consist of... (more)

One of the hottest trains on the Aurora Sub is this Chicago to St. Paul afternoon Z-train. This train has been called "Precious" by many dispatchers over the years. Here, high priority ... (more)

One of the hottest trains on the Aurora Sub is this Chicago to St. Paul afternoon Z-train. This train has been called "Precious" by many dispatchers over the years. Here, high priority ... (more)

Life was simple in the 90s. A SD40 was coming to a train near you! Honestly, we got tired of it, but now it looks a lot better than a stupid GE. Im sure someday the GE era will be different. Man, ... (more)

Once the BNSF Merger took over, the railroad scrambled to find power to run trains. It was a railfan's paradise to see some of the kit bash consist the railroad put together. Here the St. Paul pri... (more)

It is amazing how much things change at the railroad. I have been coming to the Aurora Sub since the early 90'swhen I was in my teens. Those days BN/CN/CCP trains rolls thru and an operator at Eas... (more)

The L586 local has pulled thru the dumper on A-track at IEI (now called Logistics Park Dubuque) for headroom. This job does local work on the BNSF Aurora Sub around East Dubuque. Due to the way th... (more)

It is really hard to believe that this was enough power for a freight train along the Aurora Sub. Now days to find any train under 8,000 horse probably not too common, but back in 1997 a measly 4,... (more)

A westbound Eola to Northtown freight is slowing working up main #2 between Murphy and Budd on the BNSF Aurora Sub. The train is following trains ahead. All the high dollar boats at the Frentress ... (more)

I'm not sure if BN started this or it was the BNSF, but a couple days of the week there was a super hot Chicago to St. Paul UPS train that ran. The train was never very big, but ran extra over the... (more)

If I remember right, the MRL got power in position for the IMRL startup. While the final stages were going on some of this power ran off miles on the BNSF. Here an eastbound BNSF freight has just ... (more)

A second section of stack train #7 kicks up snow as they make their way into East Dubuque. The train is about 120 miles from the next crew change point at LaCrosse, WI. This train traditionally op... (more)