Recent Digital Photos
by Mike Condren

52 Years of Railroad Photography 1960-2012

Mike's Main Railroad Web Site

July 19, 2012
Amtrak from St. Louis, MO to Chicago

The northbound "Texas Eagle" is seen arriving on time.

A BNSF empty welded rail train is seen passing the St. Louis Amtrak station with the "Texas Eagle" parked at Paltform A.

A BNSF unit coal train is seen passing us and the Amtrak station as the "Texas Eagle" begins pushing back to couple us onto the rear.

One of the Kansas City trains is seen passing tower which controlled all movements at St. Louis Union Station as seen from the vestibule end of the Cimarron River.

This Amtrak train is seen sitting in the yard west of the station as seen from the vestibule end of the Cimarron River, now part of the "Tesas Eagle".

The Cimarron River is seen on the reat of the "Texas Eagle" in the station. On eht next track is an annuled Chicago train. All trains to Chicago except the Eagle are annuled due to track work on the normal route. The Eagle detours over the C&EI, adding 1.5 hr minimum to the length of the trip.

and then Tony Marchiando, Jim McKeel, Andy Marchiando, and Rick Strung.

We are finally on our way climbing the hill toward "Gratiot Tower" and the MacArthur Bridge over the Mississippi River.

We are now approaching the MacArthur Bridge. When built, the upper level was for highway traffic.

Here we see two landmarks of St. Louis, the new Busch Stadium and a White Castle restaurant.

The elevated tracks along the river front and the tunnel for the line near the Arch.

View of the Mississippi River and river front.

This view of downtown St. Louis is from just off the MacArthur Bridge.

Looking back, we see the bridge we had just crossed.

Here we see the Poplar Street Bridge during the morning rush hour showing downtown in the background. Such a view would not be complete without the Steak 'n Shake billboard. I fell in love with SnS in St. Louis as a grad student at Rolla.

Here is another view of downtown.

These view shows the Eads and Veterans Bridges. The second one also shows the Edward Jones Dome.

Here we are passing over the tracks of Metrolink after it came off the Eads Bridge.

This is the Union Electric plant near the McKinley Bridge in Venice, IL next to where the GM&O roundhouse once stood.

Here is the former Illinois Terminal Railroad bridge. The IT went insde the trusses and the vehicle traffic used the outside lanes of this toll bridge.

We met this KCS intermodal train in Granite City, IL.

These are the parallel tracks between Granite City and Lenox Tower in Mitchell, IL.

These view of the Lenox Tower area show (1) the piers of the former IT overpass, (2) the tower, (3) the connecting track to the Alton & Southern with a train and the former GM&O tracks heading off to the right, and (4) the signals east of the tower on the former C&EI.

We met this southbound freight south of Arthur, IL

We spotted 3 Amish buggies as we approached and passed through Arthur, IL.

We crossed the CN-IC line from Chicago to Memphis at Tuscola, IL.

This unit was switching the south end of the yard at Dolton, IL.

These units were in the engine terminal at Dolton.

This CSX intermodal was sitting at the north end of the yard at Dolton.

Leaving Dolton Yard.

Flying over the CN-IC electric

This NS pulls up on an adjacent track after we stop for a light UP engine movement, nothing new on the "Unlimited Parking".

This is the junction of the lines leading to Union Station.

We soon met this outbound Metra train.

Next we met the southbound Amtrak #21

We now see our train heading into Chicago.

This contract engine is seem switching an intermodal yard south of downtown Chicago.

We passed U S Cellular Fielf, home of the Chicago White Sox, on our approach to 21st Street

We passed this NS intermodal before getting a stop signal at 21st St where it caught up with us while we both waited for another "Unlimited Parking" light engine.

This is the lift bridge over the Chicago River south of Union Station and is used by most passenger trains from the station as well as freight going to and from the BNSF "triple track line" to the west.

Here is the Amtrak engine termonal at the 18th St. viaduct over the tracks.

We see this west bound Metra heading around the north leg of the wye on its way to the triple track and points west.

More of the Amtrak engine service area with the St. Charles' Air Line overpass crossing over all those tracks.

Next is the Metra engine terminal on the other side of the tracks.

We then pass a Metra heading into Union Station.

Then we pass yet another Metra train moving into Union Station in preparation for the envening rush hour.

Thr Cimarron River is now seen inside Union Station Chicago, still attached to the "Texas Eagle".

As we back into the Amtrak coach yard, an outbound Metra is seen heading out to the suburbs.

Then we see another Metra heading into the station from their yard.

Our train was inspected inside the Amtrak Inspection House.

As we head to supper, Amtrak is switching private cars onto the track where our car will spend the night.

As we walked to the Roosevelt Road El station, this Chicago Water Taxi was heading north on the Chicago River.

As we passed over the lead to LaSalle Street Station, this in-bound Metra is approaching Roosevelt Road.

When we get to track level at the El station, we get this view of the Shedd Aquarium.

We did not have to wait for this Orange train to take us around the loop to our stop for supper. We met a train at the turn at the north end of the loop.

This hand held exposure was taken at 1/50 at ISO 1600. It was taken from just outside of our private car in the Amtrak coach yard.

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