Help With BNSF Railroad Yard

[Anonymous]

Sorry to trouble you guys. I am looking for somewhat accurate diagrams/maps of the BNSF Galesburg, IL rail yard, complete with all the modern structures, sidings, etc. Even rough drafts would be appreciated, or any help in the direction to where I might find this information.

My mapping program is not accurate enough, and the majority of my pics do not give me a good enough idea of the track layout.

I also am going to try asking BNSF too. :)

Thanks.

-Wolverine...

[Anonymous]

my one uncles friend unloads BNSF train parts tractor trailers maybe I can get some pics for you but no promises!

[Anonymous]

Much appreciated! I know, no promises. No problem. Thanks a whole lot though. An ideal idea would be to scan someone's aerial photos of the yard, if they exist. The reason for this quest is to get a good idea of structure and track mapping and placement for an HO layout.

Any help is welcomed to all. I can reciprocate with pics of UP diesel freight trains if needed.

[Anonymous]

Can you get to Galesburg? I think you can get good looks at the yard during Galesburg Railroad Days (in June or July I think?). I've been through Galesburg many times, but never stopped to look around at the BNSF yard. But I though I read there was a street overpass that gives a pretty good view of the yard...

Mark

[therailnut]

I live here in Galesburg, Il I have been trying to get maps of the yard ever since I moved here 4 years ago. There are some spots you can see the yard quite well. The overpass on County 10 is the best place to see the yard. As it crosses south of the diesel pit and north on the classification yard. it is great for taking pictures of locomotives waiting to serviced in the diesel pit. There is the fourth street bridge but you have to park at the end of the block and walk up to the bridge it is at the most northern part of the yard. The only thing I could get for maps were not very detailed.

[Anonymous]

Try www.topozone.com . The maps available show every building, road, Railroad, and even abandoned railroad grades. I use it all the time to find railroad access roads and old railroad grades. The maps are also printable without charge. Great website for locating anything.

[Anonymous]

Hi Mark,

Sorry it's been a few days-I tend to get busy here and there working on PCs. Yes, I get to Galesburg about once or twice a year. Railroad days is June 23rd this year. I am originally from the Galesburg area, having lived in Galva, IL nearly all my life, and a few years in Kewanee, IL. Like you I had never really bothered with the yard. The street overpass I believe you are referring to is known as Thirwell Road. It is a huge 4-lane bridge overpass that crosses the entire yard. It is the IDEAL spot for trainspotting and taking pics.

I heard back from BNSF, and due to 9-11 they are not at liberty to give out any information for any of their rail facilities and yards, including diagrams of such. Due to the circumstances, I understand their position completely. I have found several sites on the net that have good pics of the yard, and I will be adding my own pics when I get up to Galesburg this Summer.

Thanks for adding to my post.

[Anonymous]

Hi Jack,

Maybe see you at Railroad Days this year. hahaha!

Anyhow, thanks for adding to my post. You are correct on both bridges, though I would suspect that 4th street will be very busy on Railroad Days. As I said before, I managed to get some good pics of the yard from a couple of sites on the net. I would like to see your photos, is there a site to where they are posted? Or, could you directly email me? My email is [e-mail] I have decided to re-scale my project of the Galesburg yard to N-scale, since my first attempt at the yard was over 135 feet long in HO scale. That did not include the passenger main bypass, the Eastern main line, nor the Peoria branch line. Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

Brian,

I do not know how to thank you! The site you gave me had enough detail in the map to give me a very good diagram to go by to start my model of the Galesburg yard. I will use that site for all of my diagramming needs from now on. There are two other yards I am trying to obtain-the old Rock Island Line's Silvis, IL and Blue Island, IL railyards. They also had a railyard in Oklahoma that I am trying to get information on. With the site you gave me, I was not only able to map the BNSF yard, see the older tracks, but also see the older RI Line's old railroad grades, just like you said, and map those out too.

The only prob I had was saving the map. I used the SAVE feature in IE and saved the entire website to the hard drive, since I was not able to make an accurate print of the map nor save the pic to the hard drive like I had hoped. The save saved a bunch of tiles that make up the map, so now all I have to do is put it together using photo software. LOL!

On an offnote, I moved to MO in November. I live about 20 miles from Jeff City. Whereabouts are you located? Thanks for all your help.

[edahrenhoerster]

You might also try the BNSF historical society. I am not a member of theirs but I am a member of the Milwaukee Road Historical Assoc and they can provide aerial photos of every inch or the road

[therailnut]

Sorry, I don't have access to post any of my pics online. i usually end checking this forum through an outside source like my local Library. I am probably next month though going to be getting hooked at home so if an when I will try to get pictures up. I will be at railroad days this year I haven't missed one for last five years.

I moved up to galesburg after I went to my first railroad days. I started going to college to get my degree in railroad operation. Witch I had to quit on personal reasons but decide to stay here and enjoy my hobby.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Ed. I will definately look into that. I already am a member of the Rock Island Historical Society...another great road in the area in which I grew up.

[Anonymous]

Hi again Jack. Hey no prob. When you get the pics up is fine with me. Lemme know. I will also be going to RR Days in Galesburg. If you havent already, check out Bill Selleck's Galesburg site... www.billselleck.net He has some good info on Galesburg railroad operation and the history there. Maybe we will run into one another there. Though I doubt it, as big as Galesburg is, but you never know. Maybe on Thirwell Rd bridge. LOL!

PS Any good sites or books to recommend on modern yard operations? To build a good model railroad yard, one would have to understand the whole bigger picture. I am new at railroading, but have collected model trains for years. Another reason for the diagrams and pics, is so I can put a Galesburg hump yard into my Trainz and MSTS PC sim games for my BNSF trains. Thanks again.

[therailnut]

I have seen him on Trainboard.com and I have had several chances to talk with Bill Selleck and have visited his web site. He too wants pictures from Galesburg and any thing new as far as Galesburg goes. As far as books and things go I don't really recall any books for info. I would probably browse the web to see what you come up with. Although I have seen some info in Model Ralroader Magazines.

I always on the railroad bridge at anytime. One of the perks of living in galesburg. LOL!!!!! I always go up there at night during railroad days Can't railfan to much after it gets dark so thats were we all go.