Cover photo May 2004 Trains Magazine

[dknelson]

June 28, 2004
After spending the weekend chasing Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 261 around the top half of Illinois (chicago to Galesburg to Quad Cities Friday, Quad Cities to Bureau Jct and back on Sunday, with Galesburg RR Days in between) ... just to resurrect this old posting -- yes the May cover is and was Wyanet IL, which is right alone the old Hennepin canal. I scoped it out when the Milwaukee Road ran yesterday's excursion Quad Cities to Bureau Jct. It is a great location, slightly changed from the 1960s, but with the addition of an electric line that would mar an attempt to recreate the cover photo -- it is now the Iowa Interstate RR. I took my eastbound photos below the highway bridge the cover photo was taken from. Met lots of retired railroaders who live in the area and came out to see the steam locomotive. The stone retaining wall visible in the cover photo was near the location of a bulk oil depot that had a siding. There is a small bit of the old double track remaining under the bridge on a country crossing. One of the retirees told me that at one time RI experimented with German rail -- that was fastened to the ties with bolts, not spikes, in the European manner. I never knew that.
For westbound photos I went to Sheffield IL. The RI depot is intact. Another group of retired railroaders pointed out where the water tank and turntable had been. Highway 6 parallels the track for several miles. As another poster (under "w'ow" points out there was the usual insane caravan of railfans trying to pace, or beat, the train.
Dave Nelson

[jeffhergert]

I just received an e-mail from a RI Tech Society list about this picture. One member taking into account the lay of the land and other details, thinks this was taken at Wyanet, IL about RR mp 128.7. Bureau is 114 something so the train will go by this location.
The location is speculated to be on Wyanet Walnut Road about 3/4 mile south of US 6 and US 34.
Hope this helps, maybe someone else knows more or can correct.

[dknelson]

The cover shot is a Rock Island freight on a double tracked curve. In the background is an interesting stone retaining wall and a small pond or slough.
Does anyone know where this shot was taken? The caption just says "Illinois" which could be a little more helpful. :(
My reason for asking is that this summer the Milw Rd 4-8-4 #261 will be running on former Rock Island rails between the Quad Cities and Bureau Jct. and if this place is west of Bureau this spot could be a good one to catch the steamer. Of course if it is east of Bureau I am SOL. I think the same photographer took a lot of shots of the old CGW near Portage Jct. in which case maybe this too is taken in the north and west portion of Illinois

Dave Nelson