Iron Range Meet by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
Taconite loads running as U789-08 hold the main at Allen Junction to meet empty train U792-08, which can be seen heading away through the siding. The conductor is climbing aboard after completing his roll-by inspection of the empties, and shortly the train will resume it's journey to Two Harbors. Trios of CN's fleet of ex Chicago & North Western C40-8s are the rule on the Iron Range Sub trains for now, but rebuilt Dash 9s are expected to replace them in the near future. 6/8/2023
Elmdale Turn by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
It's train laden with LP Gas for Alto, Y106 will be an Elmdale turn today as the train rounds the curve west of Breton Ave behind GP40-2 #6460. 4/12/2023
Cloquet River Morning by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
The morning peace on the Cloquet River near Taft, MN is momentarily disturbed by south-bound CN freight M35641-07 on the former DW&P. This was a beautiful spot, but my God, the BUGS. 6/8/2023
Clear of the High Wye by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
A faded ES44DC and a veteran SD40-2W (with recently repainted zebra stripes) begin to accelerate south with Flint-Flat Rock long distance local L508. Handling hot automotive and intermodal traffic set out by other trains in Flint, 508 will work Pontiac along the way, as well as Moterm. Seen here passing the switch for the GLC at the south end of Pitt. 6/4/2023
Burnett by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
It's morning in Burnett as a classic pair of SD40-2Ws rolls south with train L586, the International Falls local. 6/8/2023
Grand Rapids Turn by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
Lately the BNSF's Grand Rapids Turn had been operating with an H1 and a BN SD40-2. Of course on the day we went after it, the H1 unit was in the shop and an H3 GP38-2 was substituting. The train is seen here departing the south end of 28th St Yard, with the Cascade Green unit tucked safely behind the blah leader. Oh well! Superior, WI 6/8/2023
Busy Proctor by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
The E-Lead job's usual pair of SD38-2s are going full-out as they pull a heavy string of cars out of one track to set over in another. Meanwhile, a train of taconite loads has just arrived behind a trio of SD40s (IC 6255, CN 5337, DMIR 405). The conductor is in the process of stepping off to the line train into a clear track for staging. In a few hours, a Proctor switch crew will take the loads down the hill to the docks, where the taconite will be unloaded. Proctor, MN 6/9/2023
The Ryerson by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
No trip to the Twin Ports would be complete without a visit to the famed Queen of the Great Lakes, the 730 ft Edward L Ryerson. The classic straight-decker (one of only two left in American hands) was built in 1959 and is regarded as one of the most beautiful ships to ever grace the lakes. Laid up since 2009, the ship was recently moved over to the dock here at Fraser shipyards, where personnel have been seen working on her. Time will tell if a reprieve for the grand old lady is on the horizon or not. 6/9/2023
You Already Know What's Going On by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
Last week, my friends and I took what turned out to be an absolutely incredible trip to the fabled Iron Range and Twin Ports. I will say, it definitely lives up to the hype! If you're a fan of vintage EMDs, there are few better places to be. Here a kick-ass trio of SD40T-3s is seen rolling through Fairlane with empty limestone train U718, headed ultimately back to the docks in Duluth for another load. Forbes, MN 6/8/2023
End-Cab Quintet by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
No less than five Union Railroad MP15s lift a train of coke empties up the hill at Dravosburg, PA, headed for Clairton. 8/14/2022
Close... by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
...but no cigar. Either way, happy to have finally shot CN #8952, the GTW heritage unit, even if it wasn't leading. Trailing an ET44AC on A492 as the train rolls into Bancroft. There's always next time! 6/4/2023
Dolton Memories by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
Newly-repainted SD50-2 #2492 leads a B40-8 around the connection from UP's Villa Grove Sub to CSX's Barr Sub at Doloton, IL back in July of 2006. My friend new the owner of the truck shop here on the north east side of the junction, and he let us spend the day on the roof. Best seat in the house! 7/14/2006
CP Clara by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
The "new" control point in Durand, immediately west of the diamond, is Clara. East-bound freight M396 is coasting through town behind SD70M-2 #8010, an SD75I, and a Dash 9 on Main #1. The reason for the leisurely pace is the approaching E271 on Main #2, which has just cleared up the single track at East Durand. Both trains would meet just east of the depot. 6/4/2023
GTW #5632 by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
Grand Trunk Western K-4-b Pacific #5632 on display at Durand, MI. It was built in 1929 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works. It and sisters 5633 and 5634 were the final Pacifics ordered by the GTW and were thoroughly modern machines for their time. Their operating boiler pressure of 215 psi was respectable for the era, and their 44,000 lbs of tractive effort was typical of a 4-6-2. Their 73" drivers were more than adequate on "the Good Track road", where they would routinely hit 90 mph or better. The K-4-bs were the only GTW Pacifics to feature vestibule cabs, something that would be carried-over to all future GTW (and CN) steam orders. As GTW purchased 4-8-2s and 4-8-4s in the 1930s and 1940s, the Pacifics were bumped from the premier passenger trains, and spent their last decade hauling passenger and commuter trains on the Detroit division between Muskegon and Detroit. Retired in 1960, #5632 was donated to the city of Durand, where it resides on display today. There is a group who oversees the ongoing maintenance of 5632, and it sounds like the paint will be freshened up pretty soon (it was last repainted about 10 years ago). 6/4/2023
In a World of Gevos, Be a 70MAC by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
A refreshing change on the L302/303 rotation for a couple of weeks was SD70AC #4564, seen here leading an ES44AH east on L303 at 36th St. 5/6/2023
Pitt Junction by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
Ethan and Ben look on as a pair of CN's original 25 SD70Is lead Q116 south past the switch for the Great Lakes Central at Pitt. I don't think I've ever seen a pair of the 70Is together before, as the SD75Is far outnumber them on the CN roster. 6/4/2023
Railroad Days Arrival by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
Durand Railroad Days 2006 finds Huron & Eastern 702 arriving from Bay City. Central Michigan U23B #8903 and B30-7AB #2001 provide the power on this pleasant spring day. 5/20/2006
An Oddball by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
With just 53 units built, CSX's fleet of Dash 9s represent an interesting transition between the older Dash 8 and then-new Dash 9 models. While most are now in storage, they were still drawing hot assignments in 2014, which #9012 is illustrating here as it hustles Q146 east at Suman, IN. 8/21/2014
Bottle Train by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
An ex Southern SD40-2 has the hot bottle train in tow as it heads down the IHB at Michigan Ave. I think this was the only time I can remember seeing this train with a 6 axle. The cotton was really flying that day! 5/27/2006
Classic Q334 by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
A pair of SD40-2s are in full dynamics as they roll down the Thornapple grade with Grand Rapids-Toledo freight Q334. The boxcars on the head end were auto parts empties from Shape Logistics on the Michigan Shore in Ferrysburg. 2/17/2012
California Zephyr by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
One of P40DCs rebuilt as part of the TIGER program, #815, barrels through the small town of Wataga, IL with the west-bound CZ. 5/20/2016
D900 by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
An extra D700 job was called out of Grand Rapids on this day to rescue a dead Q326 south of Holland. CSX #2667, still looking much like it did when it got a coat of Seaboard System gray in the 80s, trailed GP38-2S #6134 at Lamar. 8/2/2007
Grand Rapids Eastern by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
The original RailTex paint job on GR #3839 was still holding up well 15 years after being repainted. #3839 would later be among the first units in the state to get the orange dip in 2014, becoming MMRR #2057. 8/21/2008
North Yard Switching by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
Mid Michigan #180 switches out a long cut of slurry tanks as the crew builds their train to head down to Sappi Fine Paper Co. The old C&O engine house stands at the right, now used by MOW. 7/24/2007
Under 94 by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
A Union Pacific SD70AH leads a west-bound NS freight under I-94 in Porter, about to cross Mineral Springs road. 9/5/2020
Pulling Out of Curtis Yard by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
After waiting for a few trains to pass, Y123 pulls out of Curtis Yard with SD40-2 #8357 leading a pair of Dash 8s. The train of 100 cars is all CN traffic interchanged at Curtis, bound for Barr Yard. Another train can be seen approaching on Main 1 down at East Curtis. 3/12/2013
'Round The Wye by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
L303's power negotiates the west leg of the Sunnyside Wye as the crew spins them for the trip east. 2/23/2023
Monongahela in the Flatlands by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
NS #8025 trails an NS SD70ACe and a BNSF ES44AC on an east-bound ethanol train through the heart of Illinois back in 2016. 5/20/2016
Henry Street by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
A quiet summer day at Michigan Shore's former Grand Trunk Western shops finds MMRR #1216 getting some sun while MMRR #2057 gets worked on inside. 8/8/2014
Blades by
Jonathon Leese, on Flickr
My only encounter with the famed Santa Fe semaphores. I'm not much of a signal foamer, but I did at least make a point to snap this photo of the lonely blades at Chapelle, NM while we waited for Amtrak #4 to arrive. 4/12/2018