Recent Digital Photos
by Mike Condren

This issue covers a trip to WI. The first night we stayed in Springfield, IL. We had supper with friends, eating some Takhomasack from SnS across the street from our motel while we watched the Cardinals fold to the Dodgers in the NLDS.

After church, we drove through downtown Springfield, IL where I shot the Amtrak depot.

We then headed towards the Lincohn Presidential Library and its welcome center, former IC station, also used by the B&O.

The museum has a CB&Q 2-8-2 and caboose on display behind a fence with the bars far enough apart to allow good photos.

Several pieces of passenger equipment are located behind the station/museum. Is this ex-MILW combine the one once used on the Reader Railroad in Arkansas?

This BNSF switcher sat across the tracks from the depot.

While waiting on Amtrak #4, the Southwest Chief, this loaded unit coal train came through Mendota.

This is the former IC freight house.

BNSF B&B shop in Mendota, IL

Amtrak station/museum Mendota, IL.

Amtrak #4, Southwest Chief at Mendota, IL

Continuing on into Rochelle, we find this eastbound stack train at Steamplant Road.

In Rochelle, we spotted this switcher near the new yard office, across from where the CB&Q station once stood.

After arriving at Railfan Park around 2:30PM, the action got off to a fast start. First there was this loaded unit coal train on Track 1 eastbound. Note the headlight reflection on the shiny aluminum coal cars.

While the coal train continued on Track 1, a stack train came out of Global III on Track 2 and ran side by side. The stack train cleared in time for the DPU to be in the clear but caught me off guard, and I missed that shot.

A new feature of the Railfan Park area is this new "Rail Fan Lodging" across the tracks and across the street from the park in a former home next to the former MILW caboose.

The BNSF caught me out of place so only a grab shot.

These signs are "signs of the times" of our litigation society.

Next train was this intermodal train that by-passed Global III on Main 1, note the FedEx and UPS ground trailers on the rear of the train.

Our next train was an empty unit coal train.

About 3:45 this westbound vehicle train appeared .

Shortly thereafter a westbound piggy-back train appeared on the BNSF.

Here we see a green clear signal for Main 1 westbound, also note the new gazebo in the park.

Here we see the approaching general merchandize train down in the depression on the the UP.

Former C&NW station in Rochelle now used by B&B department of UP.

Our last train of the day was a westbound general merchandize with 8 units on the post.

A visit to Wisconsin & Southern Johnson Yard in Madison produced the following units.

Depot Museum Black Earth, WI

This former Illinois Central station is now the Chamber of Commerce for New Glarus, WI.

While sitting along side the CP mainline, I heard a horn on the CN (former WC) and headed for Green Road where I caught this general merchandize train with loaded welded rail cars on the front.

I then headed for the Waukesha station where I found WC 3000 starting up as the freight rolled past.

WC 3000 is seen at the north end of the siding where it is parked when not on duty. The conductor is walking to the switch to align the engine out on the main to then proceed north to the Waukesha yard.

After lunch I returned trackside of the CP main at Duplainville where I shot this intermodal train.

As Amtrak #8 was repidly approaching a northbound CN general merchandize approached the crossing. After the "Empire Builder" passed, the freight proceeded north into the siding to meet a southbound.

Soon after the last covered hopper clears, the southbound appears.

This switcher was parked near the yard office in Rochelle.

This gazebo at Railfan Park at Rochelle, IL is new. Between Oct. 11 and Oct. 18, 2009, the signage was installed.

Our first train was this BNSF eastbound intermodal.

The Railfan Park was a very popular place for families, with few , if any, vacant parking places.

Next was another BNSF stack train which came while I was trying to eat my lunch.

The scanner announced that a westbound had stopped east of town, as seen here in the long lens shot.

Then this stack train passed on Track 1 eastbound.

This bare table train is watched by lots of fans.

Here we see a couple of Iowa Interstate engines sitting on a siding at Bureau, IL.

This is the former Rock Island station that served the mainline, right, and Peoria branch.

The former Santa Fe station and division offices in Chillicothe, IL.

An eastbound BNSF freight is seen with a former BN loco on the point with 2 Santa Fes trailing.

South of downtown Peoria, we discovered this switcher with one covered hopper. It appears to be an ex-IC SW14. It is TZPR, Tazewell & Peoria, names of the two counties (East Peoria/Pekin, latter the county seat; and Peoria), owned by Genesee & Wyoming group.