El Loco

Following locomotives around the world…

An anonymous tipster has led us to believe that the UP 1982, the MoPac Heritage SD70ACe, is currently on the point of the M-ASIH, departing the Alton & Southern yard in E. St. Louis as we type. We would like to extend a heads-up to all of those in Chicago-land area, as this train goes to the Indiana Harbor Belt at Dolton Jct.

As always, if you have a tip, send it to us at maintwo (at) gmail.com

Getting the Shot

A daily feature from us at Main Two is “Getting the Shot”, some of the best photography pulled from the Flickr group “Richard Steinheimer: The Art of Trains“. Enjoy.

Today’s entry is from Flickr user “akagoldfish“, one which he calls ‘maze’.

We really enjoyed the tones in this photo, and the overall feel of the freight yard. Nicely done, Sam.

More Nonsense from the Kellar Branch

Those who haven’t kept up with the ongoing saga in the town of Peoria, IL over the city-owned, former Rock Island, rail line known as the Kellar Branch, have really been missing out on some major entertainment. We alluded to this yesterday, and we won’t sum up the whole ordeal here, yet, but even more excitement has gone down today. For more information, we instruct you to follow this link, to C.J. Summer’s “The Peoria Chronicle” blog…enjoy.

Getting the Shot

A daily feature from us at Main Two is “Getting the Shot”, some of the best photography pulled from the Flickr group “Richard Steinheimer: The Art of Trains“. Enjoy.

Today’s image, from Flickr user Chris&AmyCate, is entitled Brooklyn, NY-22nd Ave/Bay Parkway – 6/28/06.

Chris says he had to climb a fence to get this one. And as long as he wasn’t robbing any graves, it was totally worth it.

Code Line

What the rail blogs are writing today:

A new decision was passed down from the STB today in regards to the un-ending Kellar Branch saga in Peoria, IL. [David P. Jordan's Transportation Blog]

El Loco

Following locomotives around the world…

UP1988 – The Katy Heritage SD70ACe was reported to be on the point of the westbound A-GBPX heading for Phoenix, AZ. The train is currently in Kansas, heads up west.

UP1995, CNW8646 – This pair has been working between Proviso yard in suburban Chicago to the yard in Belvidere, IL with the auto train. As of today, they are still on this run.

CNW8701 – The other remaining C&NW unit is on the M-PRDM heading for Des Moines, IA today. Unknown if it’s leading.

UP1996 – The SP Heritage SD70ACe was last spotted on Tehachapi Loop.

Spotted something cool? Want to update our report, or add to it? That’d be much appreciated: maintwo@gmail.com

End of the Rails for the ArtTrain?

It’s been reported that this season is the last for the rolling art exhibit known as the ArtTrain. Bringing art to small towns across the country for over 30 years, the ArtTrain is made up of restored passenger cars and a caboose that have been rearranged inside to display art, much like a rolling museum. Every season, they’ve changed the theme, and this season, Native American art, is currently on it’s last stop in Norman, OK. The down fall of the ArtTrain has always been that it’s relied on the host carriers to transport them to their next destination, and you can imagine that a non profit passenger train doesn’t garner the highest priority for movement. However, in our experience with the train, they have a rider who lives in the caboose to work with the railroad personnel to get the train over the road. It will be a shame to see this go to truck, it just won’t be the same.

Stop, Look, and…Yikes.

This video is a few weeks old by now, but still slightly disturbing. Good thing no one was hurt, but, seriously, truckers, maybe think about getting those eyes examined.

Santa Rides the CN

Here’s the schedule for this weekend’s upcoming CN/IC Santa Train in NorthEastCentral Illinois, after this “more”.

Rain in the Northwest? Now, I’ve Seen Everything…

This time, the rain is coming down in buckets, along with hurricane force winds. Seattle reported that it received it’s second highest daily rain total ever, which must be quite a lot. Anyway, all this wet stuff is having quite an effect on the railroads in the area this week.

Sound Transit’s Sounder train from Everett to Seattle was shut down Monday morning because of slides along the route.

The Sounder train uses the BNSF tracks to reach Everett, so I would guess that their northern tier mainline is also out of commission. The damage hasn’t been held to the Seattle area, though. The storm has been pounding the entire Northwest for several days now, affecting rails from Northern California to Vancouver, BC.

Mudslides halted north-south Amtrak passenger train service between Eugene, Ore., and Vancouver, British Columbia, and flooding forced the indefinite closure of Interstate 5, the main route between Seattle and Portland.

Amtrak service has been stopped by severe flooding north of Vancouver, WA that is inundating the tracks and adjacent I-5. This would also be the joint Union Pacific/BNSF main line between Seattle and Portland. It is expected to be out of service for up to 3 days until the water recedes and repairs can be made.

Now they claim that this storm is heading for the Midwest today. We’re bracing for another round of snow, and we’re bundling up to head out for another round of snow photos.