While returning from Galesburg, IL and Railroad Days I took the scenic route and stumbled onto a few things between Galesburg and Milwaukee, WI.
This apparent water tower in Galva, IL is now about 2 blocks from the former BN mainline. It is still in use for something, but probably not water for steam engines.
This was a good find - former Northern Pacific gondola, actually the “N” from "NortherN and “P” of “Pacific” from the original paint. This was in a small yard in Galva, IL on the BN mainline.
Still sporting original NP reporting marks.
Caught some new UP units eastbound at Nelson, IL
Taken Friday June 24th on the way down to Galesburg, the coaling tower at Nelson, IL over the UP mainline. The local is heading eastbound under the tower.
Then a stop at Rochelle and a 10,000ft UP train slowly picks up speed nearing the diamond.
An eastbound BNSF train
Eastbound and Westbound meet under Hwy 38 at Rochelle, IL
Just a couple of things seen driving home from Galesburg, IL
Amazing that coal tower is still standing. Being cheap can be a good thing sometimes… The demo bill is probably about the only thing that’s stopped it from being brought down.
I am not sure “cheap” is the only “problem” that is keeping these coaling towers up (besides the one at Nelson, there’s also one at DeKalb). Both towers straddle the tracks, and demolition and subsequent cleanup would take time that the railroad can’t afford. Even the big wreck at Galt didn’t shut down traffic at these locations sufficiently long for getting rid of the towers.
Thanks for the nice comments. When I take trips I am always looking for fallen flag cars. Especially Great Northern, Northern Pacific those seem to still be around even though that merger was over 30 years ago.
The camera I use to shoot is the Digital Canon Rebel, I am currently using a Sigma 28-250 zoom lens. It’s a nice lens, but I would eventually like to get a lens with Image Stabilization. It was a great trip. The other fallen flag car I caught was in Galesburg, A Frisco covered hopper.
If you can, spend some time in Rochelle. I’ve seen a buncha fallen flags there, including a (highly graffiti’d) Frisco boxcar and lots of the predecessor lines–Espee loco unchanged, Mopac gondolas, etc. [;)]
You make a great case for digital cameras. I don’t think I could have done as well with my SLR, which in its heyday cost almost as much as the entry-level Rebel. [8)]
Have you ever had a chance to snap the (former) C&NW passenger depots that are now part of Metra’s UP North line? When it gets posh, the stations change architecural style. Kenilworth’s, for instance, is in what’s called “Richardsonian Romanesque,” others look tudorish, houselike, and anyone’s Victorian nightmare crossed with Ivanhoe. Great fun, and still in good use. [:0]
