Recent Digital Photos
by Mike Condren

54 Years of Railroad Photography 1960-2014

Mike's Main Railroad Web Site

May 30, 2014

As we were loading for the trip to Memphis, a couple from the neighborhood were looking up into a tree where a young hawk was testing its wings.

On our way to supper with friends at the Dixie on Poplar, we were stopped by an empty unit coal train at the Perkins/Southern crossing of the NS in Memphis. The picture of the DPU was taken out the window of our car through the Theatre Memphis parking lot.

May 31, 2014

The entrance to the parking lot at Central Station has this relatively new sign.

They thought that the apartments at Kentucky Street would be hard to get renters because of noise, these next to the busy Broadway crossing at CN Jct will be near impossible to rent with the heavy traffic on these busy tracks banging across the diamond(s).

Here is an example of the traffic and noise created by a long freight train slamming across the diamonds at CN Jct. I do not think that there are enough railfans in Memphis with funding to afford these apartments.

With the signal in the left corner red, son Matt and grandson Shawn head down the platform to prepare to board the "City of New Orleans" for their trip home.

The "City of New Orleans" is seen coming around the curve as the baggage cart moves down the platform with a heavy load of luggage.

Matt is then seen having his reservation scanned by the conductor before boarding the last car of the train.

The locomotive continues to be fueled as passengers load on to the train.

Fueling finished, the passengers continue to load.

The sun finally breaks through the clouds.

The conductor gives the "Hi-ball" and the "City of New Orleans" train departs for the city of New Orleans.

Attention is then directed to the last car where grandson Shawn has his face pressed against the window on the lower level.

On my return to OK, this train was at the east end of the UP yard in Van Buren.

June 7, 2014

The Presbytery of Eastern Oklahoma was having their spring Meeting in McAlester. I dropped pastor Jan and our church's delagate off at First Presbyterian Church and headed track side. I discovered this GP30 across the UP/former MKT line from the former station site.

The A-OK has reactivated the former RI line from Howe, OK to McAlester and serves customers on the former RI from Shawnee to Oklahoma City. I have shot locos at Howe and McAlester but not at the home office of Wilburton, about 30 miles east of McAlester. On my way to Wilburton, I passed through the former RI served town of Harthorne. As I passed the local Sonic Drive-In, headquartered in the former RI town of Shawnee, I spotted this scene. I turned around and went back to get this image.

I got this shot of the corporate headquarters in Wilburton.

This A-OK SW1 was spotted across from the headquarters.

This SW8 was parked down the track to the west of the headquarters.

These 2 B23-S7s and a caboose were parked further west.

This former ATSF caboose was also parked in the yard.

This A-OK caboose was buried in the yard at the west end of the 2 B23-S7s.

On my drive back to McAlester, I discovered this ballast car in Hartshorne.

I also spotted this A-OK freight house/station.

These former A-OK B23-7s were parked on the west end of the fright house track in Hartshorne.

On June 7, 2014, in McAlester I discovered this UP loaded unit grain train parked at the south end of the yard.

The DPU was found in North McAlester near the yard office.

While in North McAlester, I photographed this recreated Conoco service station.

The loaded unit grain train is seen starting to move south.

The DPU then appears.

I headed down US69B to fill up with gasoline. On my return I took this shot of a recreated Texaco staion.

The next UP train was a loaded unit coal train.

The DPU is then seen working hard up grade.

This UP track inspection vehicle was parked across the tracks from the yard office in North McAlester.

I then visited the A-OK station area, just west of the crossing with the UP (former MKT).

To the left of the A-OK tracks is where the RI/MKT station once sat.

In 1964 I was on a westbound passenger train which stopped here for lunch.

A vehicle train is seen leaving the yard office at North McAlester.

The next train was a loaded unit coal train seen arriving at the yard office in North McAlester.

The scanner announced that a northbound was approaching the interlocking and that the loaded unit coal train could not depart before the northbound got into the clear. The northbound is seen south of the interlocking, the former RI crossing is hid by the Carl Albert Street overpass.
and then taking the passing track.

The DPUs stopped almost under the Washington Street overpass.

June 10, 2014

On my way to the National Convention of the National Railway Historical Society in Springdale, AR, I spot this Spreey rail defect detector truck at the south end of the yard at Watts, OK waiting for permission to enter the main line.

Upon arriving at the A&M station in Springdale, I spot the morning train from its trip over the Bentonville Branch repositioning its cars in light rain.

Just north of the A&M Springdale station was this former REA delivery van.

I caught the photo freight just south of Greenland.

I next caught it at Woolsey.

June 11, 2014

On my way to the NRHS convention in Springdale, AR, I caught this KCS trains leaving the south end of the Watts, OK yard led by 2 BNSF units.

When I got to the A&M shop area in Springdale, I discovered this remote controlled trackmobile.

I also discovered the power from a grain train off the BNSF.

This A&M C424 has a portable DPU setup hung on the rear hand rail, the silver boxes. The pole supports the antenna for the DPU.

This S6 and C420 were parked in front of the new back shop.

A&M #32 was found switching the yard north of town.

J P Bell's photo display of trains in movies as seen from the 3rd floor of the Holiday Inn convention hotel.

The A&M train from Van Buren is seen returning near the George's Feed Mill.

The train is finally near the station.

The passenger train gets into the clear for the southbound switcher sitting just north of Emma St.

The passenger train then backs out on to the mainline.

The passenger train power then started switching the order of the cars for the train on the next day.

This is the view of the registration tables for the convention in the attrium of the Holiday Inn.

June 12, 2014

When I got to the station in Springdale, they were putting the train together.

The first coach was the "Biloxi Blues".

The last 3 cars are all streamlined cars.

The train is about ready to start loading the passengers.

The 3 SD70ACes were all just north of Emma St.

The first class passengers are seen lined up to board the last 3 cars.

The coach class passengers are seen lined up to board the first 3 cars.

The street is into a couple of apartment house complexes near the US71 underpass with the A&M.

US71 underpass

The A&M passenger to the Ft Smith Trolley Museum is seen crossing US71.

I then headed to Fayette Junction, hoping to shoot the train again there. After waiting several minutes, I assumed that I had missed the train so I headed to Winslow. I visited the museum in the City Hall. Some nice displays.

In the museum I found this painting by John Bell, a long time dear friend. It is of Burns Gable, a spot at the top of Gaylor Mtn. One of my most prized possessions is the painting that John did of an area of my HO layout which he had never seen. The painting was done from a B&W photo. It was a wedding gift to me and my wife and hangs where I can see it from my recliner next to my computer desk.

After several minutes, I decided to head to Van Buren in case I had missed the train. Again I was about to give up and get some lunch. I drove along its path with windows down. At Blakemore field, I heard a horn and positioned myself to get my photos.

June 13, 2014

Upon getting to the A&M shop area, I caught 2 of the SD70ACes heading north for the train to Monett.

I then shot the Amtrak display train which was part of the NRHS convention.

Former F40PH locomotive 406, now serves as a power sourse for the exhibit cars.

My last photos from the NRHS Convention were of this south bound passenger train for Van Buren at Fayette Junction.

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