In Google Earth (or Google Maps) just east of Grand Mound Iowa at the 237th Ave grade crossing choose “street view” & tell me what kind of locomotive it is. Also, is the train moving? Other info?
Then, anyone else have a scavenger hunt for me?
Looks like an SD70ACE. I would think the train is stopped, because of the signal beyond the crossing.
Type in “27640 N. Harris Rd, Libertyville, IL”, fly to the location, choose this addresses’ respective street view, and tell me what kind of train you see at the grade crossing there.
I agree on the SD70ace, I would guess it’s moving. I didn’t look close, but it could be the DP unit of a westbound.
If it is an eastbound and stopped, it’s blocking Grand Mound. It would also be stopped on the Grand Mound Hot Box detector. Both are usually avoided if possible.
Jeff
Jeff, I “inspected” the entire train–it’s all auto racks, and that’s the only unit. Didn’t look like it was blocking any other crossings, though.
I hadn’t thought about the presence of a detector–they seem to be a lot more common in your neck of the woods.
As for the train in Libertyville, I’d say it’s probably typical of those from or to the paper-producing areas of Wisconsin, with plenty of clay-transporting covered hoppers and clay slurry tank cars (the clay is used for coating on glossy paper). When I tried to zoom up to the train, though, it disappeared!