Ventured down close to the IA/MN border for a bowling tournament this weekend, and on the way to the lanes yesterday, I managed to spot a grain train, with two DM&E units, and an orange CP Rail unit sandwhiched in between. Kind of cool, as I don't get down that far too often.
Well, unfortunately, things end on a sour not this weekend, as the Missabe Range says goodbye to DM&IR 210.
Good thing I got pics of it a few weeks ago.
Mechanical Department "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."
The Missabe Road: Safety First
Same here, though I got my shots last November, as well as some video. Wish I could have heard it thundering up Proctor Hill, though.
Well, atleast I got a pic of her too...but still sad to see her go.
Alright Noah, I'm startign to get some town names for my ICE trip this summer. I have a few, but it's a good distance from River Junction to Savanna...
La CresentRenoBrownsvilleAlbinLansing...Bellevue...Savanna/Sabula
I also have no idea on what spots are good Savanna east.
Do you have any recomendations to fill in the "..."s. How about some spots East of Savanna, I know you've been saying there are some good shots that way.
My Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/JR7582 My Flickr Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wcfan/
Jordan, I have seen some good photos in towns near Davis Junction. I've seen many photos added from the town of Leaf River. I'm not too sure where exactly Leaf River is located, but I love the photos that I've seen from it. Here is a example. It can't be too far from Rochelle because you can see that nuke plant from parts of Rochelle. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=243532&nseq=5
Another location I like is IL 72 in Davis Jct, I'm not sure if you saw this bridge when you were around here last summer, but it is a very well known shot for the ICE. Here is a example of that location with a UP detour. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=189148&nseq=15
Sabula's bridge over the Mississippi looks like another good angle judging by the photos I've seen and of course, the street running and the bluff in Bellevue both are excellent locations. The line that goes south of Sabula hugs the Mississippi pretty much all the way to Davenport and there are many good photo opportunities. I know when I was chasing the Holiday Train there were dozens of angles I would've loved to shoot in daylight. Then in Davenport is a SD40-2 fan's dream, Nahant Yard.
It's too bad to hear of the 210's demise. At least I shot the 210 several times on T-birds the last time I was up nort'
I really should come up with a word document railfan guide to Railfanning the Mississippi River between Prarie Du Chien and Savanna. I've already done one for La Crosse about, but I never got around to writing any more. I'm going to UW Platteville for college next fall, so I've made a point of learning all I can about the railroads in southern Wisconsin/Iowa/Northern Illinois, as I plan to do a lot of shooting around the area.
The River between La Crescent and Savanna offers a number of neat shots. I'll start our tour with the ICE between La Crescent, MN and Marquette, IA. From La Crescent south, the road follows the tracks pretty much all the way to Lansing, IA.This is benificial in that one can simply drive along the tracks ahead of the train, stop until you find a shot, and then get back ahead of the train for another shot. Afternoon is best for this because the road is on the west side of the tracks and there are only a few spots to cross over to the east side, but there are still a number of morning shots. It's hard to describe all the shots avalible in a short space. My suggestion is to look at places like railpictures.net and rrpicturearchives, and find shots you like. Then look up the area on a map and/or areial photos and see if you can find out where it is. If you do find a specific photo but can't find it on the map, let me know as I might be able to help identify a place and give directions. Here are a few of my favorite shots.
South side of La Crescent (afternoon shot):
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/WSOR_3807/ICEspecial/IMG_4705.jpg
Just south of La Crescent there is a nice bridge. Good afternoon shot, or with a long lens you can still get a decent morning shot if you are at the right angle:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/WSOR_3807/ICEspecial/IMG_4714.jpg
From here to New Albin there are a number of shots to be had just from the side of the road. Reno Bottoms (Reno, MN) is a decent shot, and it's where the state line is. New Albin has a couple of shots, one south of town that I've yet to get but that I really like (afternoon):
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=268827&nseq=3
There's a small depot (more like a MoW shack really) in town as well. Just south of town, the track turn more east-west for a short ways. If you're making a morning chase (Such as I was here) it allows for shots from the other side of the train. There is a nice bridge shot just after the tracks turn, as well as a nice shot with the wide open river valley (the second can be seen in the chase I linked to above).
The next important place is only another mile or two south; Kains. Kains is really just a railroad location, but it's the only siding on the sub between Lansing and Marquette. If a train gets a warrant to Kains, there is a good chance they may be meeting somebody there. However, if a train gets a warrant to Marquette, then you know they probably have clear sailing and no meet. The north end of the siding can be viewed from along the road, but it's harder to see the south end.
Lansing is the next neat location. It's one of two places on the ICE with a nice stretch of street running directly in town:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/WSOR_3807/ICEspecial/IMG_4833.jpg
Just south of town the tracks again swing east/west, so a good morning shot can be had as the train works through an S curve. Two shots from this place can be seen in the chase I linked to several paragraphs ago.
Just south of town the tracks begin to leave the road neat the power plant, and it's hard to see the train again until Harpers Ferry, IA. There's a decent shot in town here. I haven't chased between Harpers Ferry and Marquette in a while, but I recall that the road is only near the tracks part of the time, and they don't start directly following the tracks again until near Marquette (which is just across the river from Prairie Du Chien). There's a nice bridge that's an afternoon shot just north of Marquette a short ways.
Like I mentioned to you at the Mad City show, I'm not entirely sure of the schedule on this line any more, but I think both trains are early morning trains now. As an aside as well, the BNSF on the other side of the River (from La Crosse to Prairie Du Chien), has many decent morning photos and a few nice afternoon photos along it as well. I usually go to the area planning to shoot the BNSF, and then if I hear a train get a warrant on the ICE one can always cut over the River at La Crosse, Lansing, or PDC and find the ICE train.
The ICE has a major yard at Marquette, and it is a division point for most crews I believe. The line west heads to Mason City. I haven't managed to chase a train west yet, so I can't tell you much about the line other than that there are a number of nice shots along it. I have chased one day between Marquette and Dubuque. It was a while ago, so I don't remember too many details, but I do remember that it was hardly worth the time. The tracks don't follow the road nearly as well, so it becomes a case of getting a shot or two (maybe three) and then driving 10-20 miles to catch the train again. It can be done, but it's a much harder chase. If I remember correctly there are sidings at Turkey River and Eckards (just north of Dubuque), but I could be remembering wrong. It's been almost three years since I chased this stretch and it was only once.
Again, as an aside, the BNSF on the other side of the river is the same way in that the roads don't parallel the tracks for long stretches south of Prairie Du Chien. However, you do have more trains. There are several nice shots to be had near Prairie, and Cassville provides enough nice shots you can almost just spend the day there.
The ICE has a small yard in Dubuque, and so does the CN/IC. The CN has two trains a day through this area, one east and one west, plus the very occasional extra. There's also a switcher that goes over the river to pick up cars from the BNSF occasionally. There are several nice shots on all three railroads, and the swing bridge and tunnel on the East Dubque, Illinois side make neat shots if you find a CN train at the right time of day.
Heading south on the ICE, the road leaves the tracks until you get to Bellevue. At Bellevue though are several nice shots. There is an area of street running here that is neat, and provides several angles. Also from a park on the bluff above town, one can get a really nice overview shot of the town, dam, and street running. While I've done shots from in town the bluff shot is one I've yet to nail, but I'll get it at some point...
I haven't chased again between Bellevue and Savanna, so I can't tell you much about this area either other than that there are a few shots I've seen along it. On the Iowa side of the river from Savanna is Sabula, which is where the line from Illinois joins the lines from Nahant (Quad Cities) and from Dubuque. The river bridge shot is nice for a westbound train (in the afternoon if it's sunny), but it's a shot I've never done yet. There is a small ICE yard adjacent to the BNSF yard in Savanna, Illinois that locals often work out of, and there's a diamond with the BNSF literally just on the west end of the yard at Savanna. This shot was taken literally on top of the diamond on a pedestrial bridge over the tracks, looking east at the BNSF yard:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/WSOR_3807/IMG_2462med.jpg
The line across Northern Illinois does offer many nice shots. Just east of Savanna is Red Barn Hill. I've never actually shot a train here, but while it's slightly off the beaten path there are a couple of nice shots. The next major town, and where the road gets closer to the tracks, is Mount Carroll. There's a big sweeping cure in town for westbounds:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/WSOR_3807/ICEmarch08IL/IMG_6539med.jpg
...and just east of town there are several nice bridge and "over the fields" shots. Next town is Lanark, IL. There is also a siding here that is sometimes used for meets. There are a few nice shots in town for both east and westbounds, and some neat old Milwaukee Road artifacts. Westbound shot example:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/WSOR_3807/ICEmarch08IL/IMG_6532med.jpg
Between Lanark and Forreston, if you stay on the back roads, you can stay in sight of the tracks most of the way. There are a couple of good shots, including an interesting barn shot near where 26 crosses the tracks west of Forreston (on W Harper road) Due north of Forreston (on highway 30 I think) the remnants of the old IC crossing of the Milwaukee (ICE) can been seen in the form of bridge abutments on either side of a westbound:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/WSOR_3807/ICEmarch08IL/IMG_6514med.jpg
There's also a good morning eastbound shot from this same crossing of a train coming down the hill.
The next very small town is Adeline. This is also the location of a siding where trains often make meets of sometimes make a pick up. Between Adeline and Leaf River the tracks are right along the road, and there are a number of nice shots for both east and west trains. Between Leaf River and Byron you are often close enough to see the tracks if I remember right, and there are a few more shot simply taken from the side of the road that are pretty good. From Bryon until you near Davis Junction the tracks don't exactly follow the road, but there are a few shots. And of course you know about DJ, including the overpass west of town and the diamond in town. Next siding to the east is Genoa, and then you reach the double track and the end of track warrant control at Pingree Grove. You are never far from the tracks in this area (though sometimes it is just out of sight), so a simply drive along the tracks will find most of the good shots. Again, check some of the more well known railroad website for specific good shots.
As far as operations on the Northern Illinois line, they have been cut back significantly as of late. The CP has changed over to number symbols so I no longer know the new symbols. But with the old MHUCC/MCCHU moving to the "big main" through Wisconsin and the former MCCNA/MNACC running at night, as of right now the only daylight trains are tehnically locals. There is a morning local out of Savanna usually on duty between 0630 and 0730. They make a turn to DJ. If they leave in the morning, make it to DJ around mid day and then make a run back westbound in the afternoon they could be the train to chase. There is a local that works then from DJ into Bensenville, but I'm not sure of it's schedule. And of course, one always has to remember there could be ethanol extras out there that can run any time.
Hopefully that gives you a good place to start! There really is so much more information to tell, but that's the basics of the situation on the ICE. Any more specifics you want, feel free to ask..
Noah
The best chance for a IC&E train on the line through Davis Junction is a train that runs from Bensenville to Savanna, which has been spotted in the afternoon or evening hours. It used to run all the way to Marquette but CP cut it back to Savanna for some reason. There are also occasional ethanol trains that run down the IC&E I think the busiest portion of the IC&E is from Savanna to Nahant, which runs via Clinton, Bettendorf and Davenport, all located right next to the Mississippi.
Acutally Robby, my intel and field reports I've seen indicate there is no longer a run directly from Savanna to Bensenville. The former MBEMC/MMCBE (Bensenville to Mason City and vice versa) was cut back to a MSVMC and MMCSV (Mason City to Savanna. Of course it's got a numerical symbol now, which I don't know yet), so it no longer runs through Northern Illinois. It's called in the very late evening from Savanna to head west. The main thing you'll find on the Chicago sub during the day are the locals that run as turns as I mentioned above that have replaced the run from Savanna in to Bensenville.
On a normal day the stretches from Savanna to Nahant and Savanna to Marquette are about the same as far as level of traffic. If you include extras though, I'd say the busiest portion of the east end of the ICE is usually going to be the stretch from Savanna to Marquette. You'll get the MMCSV and counterpart, the MSPKC (whatever it's new symbol is) and counterpart, plus if you're lucky an extra ethanol train or (if you're extemely lucky) the occasional feeder grain train from Iowa headed for Kansas City. The ethanol trains don't run from Nahant to Savanna as they turn and head for Chicago at Savanna, so that's the tipping point that makes the other segment busier.
Thanks much for the info Noah! I'll have to start looking at RRPA more, but I have found some good shots that I like. You really should save you info on a word document! I'm sure someone other than me will ask the same thing! Again, thank you very much for so much the info, that is a lot to type!
One more thing, do you mind posting your photobucket account. I know you use to have it in your sig, but I have lost the link. I enjoy looking at your photos (Not that I want to purposely copy any of your shots, but you photos give me motivation to head to places. For example; I don't know if I wouldn't of went up to the Missabe if I hadn't of seen your photos.)
Well, it's been a rather exciting start to the week as far as railfanning goes. First up, caught some notable cars and motive power on the local.
First, three CN boxcars
A BC Boxcar
And EMDX GP38-2 787 and 792
And of course, some video.
Here, the train is just getting going
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73HMi8r2gmg
A little farther down the line, with the train approaching track speed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIv49fHjh6U
Stay tuned, as I made my up to the Missabe Range yesterday, and believe me, I saw a ton of stuff, and scored an incredible consist of Maroon before the day was finished.
I had a pretty good day today, with EJ&E, GTW, WC, IAIS and IHB all making appearances at some point. I'll have photos and vids up soon.
I managed to wrangle a trip to Barbers (the CSX/Pan Am interchange point just north of Worcester, MA, on the line between Worcester and Ayer) today on the way home from somewhere to see if I could catch an NS detour train.
See, Guilford derailed 23 loaded coal cars accordion style (literally sideways blocking the entire mainline) in the middle of nowhere in Templeton, MA. So they're detouring trains on their line between Ayer, MA, and Barbers (Worcester), MA. Then the trains head west on CSX to the Albany area through Worcester and Springfield. Two NS intermodels were diverted, plus NS locos combined several held westbounds together and hauled a 1.5 mile train down the Ayer-Worcester line, which usually gets only 2 trains a day; AYSE and SEAY (Q427 and Q426, respectivly, on CSX between Barbers and Selkirk, NY.
But alas, nothing was there... Too bad, I really would have liked to catch some NS power; an extremely rare opportunity on that line. Oh well...
Well, Tuesday marked the first trip to the Missabe Range of the new year, as the wife had some business to attend to up in Duluth, so we took the long way through the Iron Range. I have to say, though, that seeing the abandoned tracks and deadlined container cars from Grand Rapids to a bit south of Hibbing doesn't exactly get the railfan spirit going too well.
Anyway, getting past that, pulling into Iron Junction, right away there's a headlight in the distance. It's IC 6260 and another, repainted unit leading a Mixed Rail Freight(possibly the Keenan Roadswitch)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjdeF_wUiYs
Afterward, we ventured over to Forbes, where we catch an Empty T Bird, led by repainted DM&IR 405. IC 6253 is trailing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRpts0bM3rg
After that passed, other than a B&LE switching cars in Keenan, not much happening. Eventually, we headed down to Hermantown to take care of what needed taking care of, and after taking a wrong turn, we make it to Proctor. As it would turn out, the wrong turn would be the best thing that could have happened as we approach the bridge overlooking Proctor Yard.
I walk out onto the bridge, and see a distance light. There's something coming out of the yard.
Upon further inspection, I discover that the lead engine is indeed DM&IR 403, the last remaining SD40-3 still in Maroon paint. What a catch! As the train makes ground, I'm in for more that just 403.
That's right, 403 and 308, the last remaining SDM in Maroon paint, on the same train! Of course, I took one of my favorite videos with the train emerging from underneath the bridge.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgd5zdqo80I
I then proceed to Adolph for more pictures. First up, the 403
And then 308
Next, a couple of shots of 403 really smoking it up as she pulls into Adolph
After this, we raced to the crossing to get set up for some video. This was a bit of a squeeze, so to speak, but I got the video, and was happy with how it turned out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8X_8s3rTLg
Afterward, we shot over to nearby Munger, for some more pictures.
Wow! That's one amazing catch right there!
Well on Sunday I'm helping a friend finish up the filming of his latest production. We are going to be over at the Canadian Railway Museum in Delson, to finish shooting the intros for each section.
Maybe we'll head out and catch a few trains afterwards, all depends how long it will take to shoot all 6 parts. It should be fun as usual, and bonus is I get to handle Sean's $45 000 Betacam. It's great to use, so much better than anything else I'll ever use, but it sure makes me nervous knowing I am holding something so expensive...
Alex
Jordan, I type relatively fast, so it doesn't take me too long to type up something like that. At one point I actually considered making a section of my wesbite that would be full of that sort of information for all of the areas I railfan (Southern Wisconsin, Eastern Iowa, Northern Illinois). Problem is that I would then want to keep it properly updated so it's accurate, and with the way things change on the railroad fairly frequently, that could be quite the chore. But, perhaps if I get bored this summer...
Photobucket account is here:
http://s126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/WSOR_3807/
I think it's open so anyone should be able to view it. I just use it as a "dumping ground" when I want to post photos quickly, so it's not organized the best. I don't post the link very often because my primary website for visitors is Badger Rails. I really need to get an ICE album up on Badger Rails finally though...
Nice catch on the two maroon unit consist!
Alex, a 45000 dollar camera? Yike! I think I'd be afraid to even touch it...