South on the Pennsy by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
Grand Elk 303 has finished their work in Moline and is now rolling south towards Kalamazoo on the former Grand Rapids & Indiana (PRR). 11/9/2023
Wyoming EMDs by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
L303's power is seen back up the Old Even Lead while Marquette Rail's Z151 pulls ahead to double their train together on the Coach Lead. Wyoming Yard can be a fairly busy place around noon, with 4-5 trains typically arriving or departing.
L303: CSXT 4589-CSXT 3332-CSXT 4045
Z151: MQT 3406-MQT 3389-MQT 3408-MQT 3391
11/14/2023
B47 by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
Norfolk Southern's B47 is headed north back to Hughart Yard in Grand Rapids after working Magic Steel. NS had less than a year left operating the old GR&I. 7/11/2008
Blast From The Past by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
Looking every bit like a circa 2010 CSX freight, L303 works uphill towards Fox behind one of the few remaining active C40-9Ws. 11/13/2023
Lucky Day by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
When new engines come for assignment at Ensel Yard in Lansing, they will often be brought to Grand Rapids first. If needed, they will be turned so that both of the Lansing jobs (L304 and L305) will have a pair of back-to-back units, rather than both facing the same way. With no turning facilities in Lansing, Grand Rapids is the closest spot with a wye. Not only did this day's L303 turning their power on the wye put SD40-3 #4045 facing in the correct direction, it also put SD70AC #4589 in the lead instead of the trailing Gevo. I was happy! The power set is seen here at Godfrey, backing toward the yard with the Conductor, Conductor Trainee, and Trainee Mentor all protecting the shove. 11/14/2023
Ivanhoe Meet by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
L515, lead by a gaggle of EMD products, meets a Kirk-bound CN freight as both trains clatter over the CSX and IHB diamonds at Ivanhoe. 10/1/2023
CP 435 by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
A Wisconsin Electric coal train moves through the control point at 435 on the Chicago Line. A pair of NS units create a BNSF sandwich. 11/4/2023
Proctor-Bound by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
A pair of CN SD60s are clicking off the miles on the Missabe Sub with south-bound L567 from International Falls. 6/10/2023
PNWR GP39-2 #2301 by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
One of the Portland & Western's venerable ex Santa Fe GP39-2s has replaced long-time resident GP9 #1801 as power for the Mac Switcher in McMinnville. Built in 1974 for the ATSF, it was part of the group of GP39-2s that the newly formed BNSF elected not to keep. 10/12/2023
Oliver's by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
L521's pair of GTW SD40-2s move through Oliver's Yard after making a set out. 11/4/2023
E251 by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
With 5 units on the head end, E251 passes a gaggle of foamers at the East Lansing Amtrak station. 11/5/2023
Nutrien by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
Grand Elk 303's power comes up and out of the spur into Nutrien AG after dropping off a few tank cars. Once attached back to their train, the crew will continue south to Kalamazoo. 11/9/2023
Classic 326 by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
There was a time when leased SD40-2s almost outnumbered CSX's own SD40-2s on the railroad. GCFX #3064 and HLCX #8152 are seen here leading a pair of Geeps and a short Q326 across the Thornapple River. 10/15/2006
Mini Geep by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
The bottle train rolls past Dolton Tower on the IHB behind an ex Conrail GP15-1 during the summer of 2006. During this era, this train usually seemed to operate with a Geep on either end, usually these GP15s. The following year, NS would sell all of its GP15s to Larry's Truck & Electric. 7/14/2006
WE Trowbridge by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
After dropping most of its train off at Ensel Yard, L303 continues east across the CN diamonds at Trowbridge behind a pair of aging GEs. 11/5/2023
MACs w/Empties by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
It's 2008. The economy is in the crap, but nearly all BNSF coal trains are still being hauled by SD70MACs, and somehow all is still right with the world. 7/13/2008
Morning on Proctor Hill by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
It's just after sunrise on Spirit Mountain as 3 SD40s grind up the hill towards Proctor with a train of empty ore hoppers (U716). 6/8/2023
Blat by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
With its two-chime K2 horn blatting for the crossing, an IHB SW1500 trundles along the branch line from Whiting with a long string of tanks from the refineries in tow. 10/1/2023
Durand Cowls by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
An SD60F-SD50F pair is rounding the Chicago Wye in Durand with M398. Once clear of the plant, they will back across the diamond and into Durand Yard, where they will make a set out before heading back to their train and continuing east. 3/24/2007
Huntington Rebuild by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
L303's power has just turned on the Sunnyside Wye and is now reversing back to Wyoming Yard to pick up their train. CSXT #4589 was built as Conrail #4144 and was formerly the "Spirit of Nashville". 11/14/2023
M For Mr. by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
With most of the train still going uphill, SD60M #8759 and CW40-8 #7693 are still working hard as Q335 crests the grade at Fox. A friend of mine once described to me his clever way of telling an SD60M from an SD60I when viewed from the front: an SD60M has the door on the right side, while an SD60I's is on the left. "Remember, M for M(R)!" 3/14/2008
Terrible by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
If not for the subject matter, this photo would likely never see the light of day. But when was the last time you saw a BNSF GP60M and SD40-2 leading an intermodal on CSX? I'm sorry to say, this is the only time I have ever shot a GP60M leading. 7/14/2006
Winter Grain by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
CSXT #7737 north with G793 in the double track on the Saginaw Sub, approaching the CN diamonds at Kersley. This is now all single-tracked, and operated by LSRC. 1/15/2010