Illinois Central “Death Star” 1026 leads the daily A408 at Centralia, Illinois
Illinois Central “Death Star” 1026 leads the daily A408 (Kirk Yard – Gary, IN – Centralia, IL) as it splits the signals just south of the Illinois Central Gulf crossing at Centralia, Illinois, arriving at its destination on April 27th, 2022.
According to Wikipedia: Centralia is named for the Illinois Central Railroad which was built in 1853. The city was founded at the location where the two original branches of the railroad converged. Centralia was first chartered as a city in 1859. Now Canadian National owns the line.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 140mm, f/4.8, 1/2500, ISO 280.
Ex-Illinois Central Executive E8 Unit 101 southbound at Hanson, Kentucky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision
On April 8th, 2022, CSX Q513 heads south through downtown Hanson, Kentucky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision as ex-Illinois Central Executive E8 Unit 101 runs dead in tow behind the mid train DPU 3282. The E unit was purchased by Aberdeen, Carolina & Western Railway Company (ACWR) and on its way to be delivered at Aberdeen, NC.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @ 10mm, f/3.5, 1/5000, ISO 640.
Canadian National 5261, with Illinois Central Caboose 199060 at Mounds, Illinois
The crew on Canadian National 5261, with Illinois Central Caboose 199060 which has seen much better days, works on a pickup at Mounds, Illinois on the CN Centralia Subdivision during a wet, gloomy evening on December 29th, 2021.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-20mm @ 10mm, f/3.5, 1/200, ISO 1110.
CN A431 heads north through the rain at Villa Ridge, IL
CN A431 heads north on the CN Centralia Subdivision through the falling rain as it rounds the curve at Villa Ridge, IL on a wet, gloomy evening on December 29th, 2021.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 220mm, f/5.3, 1/200, ISO 800.
Canadian National A408 passes through the diamonds on CN Centralia Subdivision at Centralia, Illinois
Canadian National A408 passes through the diamonds on CN Centralia Subdivision at Centralia, Illinois as it pulls south into the yard on December 29th, 2021, with Illinois Central units 1005 and 1022 leading the way.
The Centralia Subdivision formerly belonged to the Illinois Central Railroad and was constructed between 1854-1855. The double trackage was added between 1900-1902 and the line runs between Centralia and Cairo, Illinois.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 110.
Canadian National A408 passes through the diamonds on CN Centralia Subdivision at Centralia, Illinois
Canadian National A408 passes through the diamonds on CN Centralia Subdivision at Centralia, Illinois as it pulls south into the yard on December 29th, 2021, with Illinois Central units 1005 and 1022 leading the way.
The Centralia Subdivision formerly belonged to the Illinois Central Railroad and was constructed between 1854-1855. The double trackage was added between 1900-1902 and the line runs between Centralia and Cairo, Illinois.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/730, ISO 100.
Amtrak 391, the Saluki, passes through the Evansville Western Railway/Canadian National diamond at Ashley, IL
Amtrak 391, the Saluki, passes through the Evansville Western Railway/Canadian National diamond as it heads south on the CN Centralia Subdivision at Ashley, Illinois on December 29th, 2021.
According to Wikipedia: Ashley is a city in Washington County, Illinois, United States, and was named after Colonel L. W. Ashley, a railroad division engineer with the Illinois Central Railroad.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 130.
December 29, 2021 – CN 5261 Local heads south from Mounds, IL on the CN Centralia Subdivision
December 29, 2021 – CN A431 heads north on the CN Centralia Subdivision just north of Cairo, Illinois
Infrared photo of Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad units WAMX 4244 and 4234…
Infrared photo of Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad units WAMX 4244 and 4234 as they lead local 101 on its way to Terre Haute, Indiana as it passes through Carmargo, Illinois on July 21st, 2021.
According to Wikipedia: “The Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad (reporting mark DREI) is an American regional railroad that is a subsidiary of Watco operating in eastern Illinois and western Indiana.
In January 2018, CSX Transportation announced that it was seeking offers to buy the Decatur Subdivision and the Danville Secondary Subdivision as part of a system-wide sale of low-traffic routes, and in July, Watco, via the DREI, was identified as the winning bidder. Following regulatory approval from the Surface Transportation Board, The DREI began operations on September 9, 2018.
The DREI operates two intersecting routes totaling 126.7 miles (203.9 km)the former Decatur Subdivision between Montezuma, Indiana and Decatur, Illinois, and the former Danville Subdivision between Terre Haute, Indiana and Olivet, Illinois. It interchanges traffic with CSX, the Eastern Illinois Railroad, the Norfolk Southern Railway, the Canadian National Railway, and the Union Pacific Railroad. The railroad is headquartered in Decatur, Illinois.”
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, sensor converted to 720nm B&W IR, Fuji 18-55 @33mm, f/7.1, 1/250, ISO 200.
Union Pacific 7814 northbound at Brewerville, Illinois
The crew of Union Pacific 7814 leads a northbound autorack as it crosses the Kaskaskia River on the UP Chester Subdivision at Brewerville, Illinois in Infrared on August 28th, 2021.
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, sensor converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 70-300 @220mm, f/8, 1/500, ISO 200.
Union Pacific 4014 Big Boy on the move!
A Selection of videos from my Union Pacific 4014, Big Boy Chase on August 27th & 28th, 2021 through Arkansas, Missouri & Illinois along the UP Hoxie and Chester Subdivisions.
Decatur & Eastern Railroad eastbound at Tuscola, Illinois
Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad units WAMX 4244 and 4234 lead local 101 on its way to Terre Haute, Indiana as it passes through Tuscola, Illinois.
According to Wikipedia: “The Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad (reporting mark DREI) is an American regional railroad that is a subsidiary of Watco operating in eastern Illinois and western Indiana.
In January 2018, CSX Transportation announced that it was seeking offers to buy the Decatur Subdivision and the Danville Secondary Subdivision as part of a system-wide sale of low-traffic routes, and in July, Watco, via the DREI, was identified as the winning bidder. Following regulatory approval from the Surface Transportation Board, The DREI began operations on September 9, 2018
The DREI operates two intersecting routes totaling 126.7 miles (203.9 km)the former Decatur Subdivision between Montezuma, Indiana and Decatur, Illinois, and the former Danville Subdivision between Terre Haute, Indiana and Olivet, Illinois. It interchanges traffic with CSX, the Eastern Illinois Railroad, the Norfolk Southern Railway, the Canadian National Railway, and the Union Pacific Railroad. The railroad is headquartered in Decatur, Illinois.”
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, sensor converted to 720nm B&W IR, Fuji 18-55 @21mm, f/5, 1/250, ISO 200, July 20, 2021.
Lines heading east on the Decatur & Eastern Railroad at Murdock, Illinois
Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad units WAMX 4244 and 4234 lead local Y101 on its way to Terre Haute, Indiana as it passes through the farming countryside as it heads east at Murdock, Illinois on July 20th, 2021.
According to Wikipedia: “The Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad (reporting mark DREI) is an American regional railroad that is a subsidiary of Watco operating in eastern Illinois and western Indiana.
In January 2018, CSX Transportation announced that it was seeking offers to buy the Decatur Subdivision and the Danville Secondary Subdivision as part of a system-wide sale of low-traffic routes, and in July, Watco, via the DREI, was identified as the winning bidder. Following regulatory approval from the Surface Transportation Board, The DREI began operations on September 9, 2018
The DREI operates two intersecting routes totaling 126.7 miles (203.9 km)the former Decatur Subdivision between Montezuma, Indiana and Decatur, Illinois, and the former Danville Subdivision between Terre Haute, Indiana and Olivet, Illinois. It interchanges traffic with CSX, the Eastern Illinois Railroad, the Norfolk Southern Railway, the Canadian National Railway and the Union Pacific Railroad. The railroad is headquartered in Decatur, Illinois.”
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.
The Progress Rail backyard at Mount Vernon, IL
On July 23, 2021 we find old KORAL Switcher 2111 in the backyard of National Railway Equipment shops in Mount Vernon, Illinois along with a variety of newly rebuilt and old locomotives that are used for spare parts and the like. Switcher 2111 is used to move equipment around. Although its seen better days, it still does its job!
According to Wikipedia: “The Korea Railroad Corporation, branded as KORAIL, is the national railway operator in South Korea. Currently, KORAIL is a public corporation, managed by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation.
KORAIL operates intercity/regional, commuter/metro and freight trains throughout South Korea, and has its headquarters in Daejeon.
Historically, the South Korean railway network was managed by the Railroad Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation before 1963. On 1 September 1963, the bureau became an agency that was known as Korean National Railroad (KNR) in English. In the early 2000s, split and public corporatization of KNR was decided by the South Korean government, and in 2003, KNR adopted the current KORAIL logo in blue to prepare corporatization.
On 1 January 2005, KNR was split into Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), which succeeded railway operation with the KORAIL logo and name, and Korea Rail Network Authority (KR), which succeeded maintaining tracks.”
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 100.
Northbound Union Pacific Freight at Mount Vernon, Illinois
Fellow railfan Cooper Smith and I spent July 23, 2021, trackside chasing trains in Western Kentucky and southern Illinois. As part of the trip we sat at Mt. Vernon, Illinois for about 4 hours waiting on trains to come over the diamonds here and finally we caught a NS over the diamond heading north and for this shot of Union Pacific MSMPB I decided to move to a crossing north of the MOW office as the sun was dropping to the horizon and I thought the light would help make the shot! Both trains showed up within 15 minutes of each other, so it was worth the wait!
The main reason we waited so long was that it meant that we were able to capture 5 different railroads in operation on our trip! We caught Paducah and Louisville Railway, BNSF, CN, NS and Union Pacific, with an Eastern Main Unit dead in tow! While we had to wait a boring 4 hours for the last two roads, it still made for a great day trackside!
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300mm @ 170mm, f/5, 1/800, ISO 320.
Amtrak 393 pulls into the old Illinois Central Depot in downtown Mattoon, Illinois
Amtrak 393 (The Illini) pulls into the old Illinois Central (IC) Depot in downtown Mattoon, Illinois with 4623 leading the Wednesday evening southbound train from Chicago to Carbondale, Illinois bathed in Infrared light on the CN Champaign Subdivision.
According to Wikipedia, The Mattoon station is housed in the former Illinois Central Railroad Depot. The depot was completed in 1918 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. At its height, the building housed a power plant, mail room, luggage room, and restaurant, in addition to the main hall where passengers waited to board trains. As many as ten trains a day departed the depot in the 1950s.
During 2010, a $3 million restoration project, paid for from a mix of private, state, and federal funding, was undertaken, replacing paint, flooring, and other interior fixtures.
The station currently serves as a stop for the Illini, Saluki, and City of New Orleans passenger trains. The tracks themselves, formerly part of the Illinois Central Railroad, are now owned by the Canadian National Railway (CN). Freight trains run by CN pass through frequently.
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Irex 11mm, f/4, 1/250, ISO 400
Illinois rail action of Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad and CN.
In this video we catch Illinois rail action of a Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad local on its way to Terre Haute, Indiana and one of their locals working the yard at Decatur, Illinois along with a CN manifest headed to Chicago from Siegal, Illinois on July 21st, 2021.
AMTRAK 390 heads north across the diamond at Tuscola, IL
AMTRAK Siemens Charger SC-44, IDTX 4617, a morning commuter train, passes over the Decatur & Eastern Illinois, Union Pacific and Canadian National diamond at Tuscola, Illinois, as it leads northbound train 390, The Saluki, to Chicago on July 21st, 2021, on the CN Champaign Subdivision.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.
NS 148 arrives at Decatur, Illinois as it passes the old Wabash Station
Running elephant style, NS 9524, 3630, 1078 and 9598 lead train 148 (Avondale Yard – Kansas City, MO to East Yard – Decatur IL) as it passes the old Wabash Station on July 21st, 2021 on the NS Brooklyn District, as it arrives at Decatur, Illinois and approaches the Wabash/IC Crossover, before entering the yard, finishing its daily run.
According to Wikipedia: The Decatur station, also known as the Wabash Railroad Station and Railway Express Agency, is a historic railway station located at 780 East Cerro Gordo Street in Decatur, Illinois. Built in 1901, the station served trains on the Wabash Railroad, the most economically significant railroad through Decatur. Architect Theodore Link designed the Classical Revival building. Amtrak discontinued service to the station in the 1983, and it has since been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Restored in 2002, it is now houses the Wabash Depot Antique Mall and sits close to the WABIC (Wabash – Illinois Central) railroad crossover. During its peak in 1907 there were 72 daily passenger trains, today, there are none that stop here.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.