September 6, 2019 - Soo Line/Wisconsin Central FP7 Number 2500-A sits in the station at Two Harbors, Minnesota on the North Shore Scenic Railroad with a photo excursion passenger train. According to Wikipedia: With steam operations on North American Railroads being converted to diesel operations, Electro-Motive, along with other locomotive builders, began building demonstrator units to be tested by various railroads. Electro-Motive built a set of three FP7 units, 7001 (A-unit) and 7002 & 7003 (B-units). In November 1949, Canadian Pacific Railway tested these units. Canadian Pacific owned most of the Soo Line, and after testing the three demonstrator units, they were sent to the Soo Line. In April 1950, Soo Line ran the set from Minneapolis, MN to Portal, ND then Duluth, MN to Winnipeg. 7001 hosted the United Kingdom's Duke of Windsor, the former King Edward VIII, in its cab through North Dakota. Soo Line was so impressed with the set, that it purchased them for use on Wisconsin Central. In May 1950, they were delivered as WC 2500-A, 2500-B, and 2501-B. WC 2500-A often pulled Soo's Laker from Chicago to Duluth. Although numbered as Wisconsin Central, 2500 was painted in Soo Line's maroon and gold scheme. In 1960 Wisconsin Central became part of the Soo Line, and 2500 was repainted into the red and gray Soo Line scheme. When passenger service was discontinued in the 1960s, 2500 was used to pull freight trains.

Soo Line/Wisconsin Central FP7 Number 2500-A…

September 6, 2019 – Soo Line/Wisconsin Central FP7 Number 2500-A sits in the station at Two Harbors, Minnesota on the North Shore Scenic Railroad with a photo excursion passenger train.

According to Wikipedia: With steam operations on North American Railroads being converted to diesel operations, Electro-Motive, along with other locomotive builders, began building demonstrator units to be tested by various railroads. Electro-Motive built a set of three FP7 units, 7001 (A-unit) and 7002 & 7003 (B-units). In November 1949, Canadian Pacific Railway tested these units. Canadian Pacific owned most of the Soo Line, and after testing the three demonstrator units, they were sent to the Soo Line.

In April 1950, Soo Line ran the set from Minneapolis, MN to Portal, ND then Duluth, MN to Winnipeg. 7001 hosted the United Kingdom’s Duke of Windsor, the former King Edward VIII, in its cab through North Dakota. Soo Line was so impressed with the set, that it purchased them for use on Wisconsin Central. In May 1950, they were delivered as WC 2500-A, 2500-B, and 2501-B.

WC 2500-A often pulled Soo’s Laker from Chicago to Duluth. Although numbered as Wisconsin Central, 2500 was painted in Soo Line’s maroon and gold scheme. In 1960 Wisconsin Central became part of the Soo Line, and 2500 was repainted into the red and gray Soo Line scheme. When passenger service was discontinued in the 1960s, 2500 was used to pull freight trains.

September 9, 2019 - Lights reflect off the side of refrigerated reefers as Burlington Northern Railway 1517 works on picking up and dropping off cars at the Americold plant in Rochelle, Illinois on the City of Rochelle Railroad. According to Wikipedia: "The Burlington Junction Railway (reporting mark BJRY) is a Class III short line railroad which was chartered in 1985. Originally operating on the southernmost 3 miles (4.8 km) of the former Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway mainline in Burlington, Iowa after abandonment by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, it provides short freight hauling, switching operations, locomotive repair, and transloading services, the latter currently handling over 3,000 carloads a year. Typical commodity types transported include chemicals and fertilizer." The BJRY operation in Rochelle is more sophisticated than most. First of all, the track is owned by the City of Rochelle Railroad. Second of all, it interchanges with UP as well as BNSF. It has enough track capacity to handle unit trains. It does not provide intermodal service because UP has its Global 3 intermodal yard on the other side of town.

Burlington Junction Railway 1517…

September 9, 2019 – Lights reflect off the side of refrigerated reefers as Burlington Junction Railway 1517 works on picking up and dropping off cars at the Americold plant in Rochelle, Illinois on the City of Rochelle Railroad.

According to Wikipedia: “The Burlington Junction Railway (reporting mark BJRY) is a Class III short line railroad which was chartered in 1985. Originally operating on the southernmost 3 miles (4.8 km) of the former Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway mainline in Burlington, Iowa after abandonment by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, it provides short freight hauling, switching operations, locomotive repair, and transloading services, the latter currently handling over 3,000 carloads a year. Typical commodity types transported include chemicals and fertilizer.”

The BJRY operation in Rochelle is more sophisticated than most. First of all, the track is owned by the City of Rochelle Railroad. Second of all, it interchanges with UP as well as BNSF. It has enough track capacity to handle unit trains. It does not provide intermodal service because UP has its Global 3 intermodal yard on the other side of town.

September 12, 2019 - It has been several weeks since Dotki Mine in Clay, Kentucky shut down and today the town of Providence, Ky turnout for the last load of coal (20 cars or so) from the mine. The last run today was dedicated in honor the miners who worked there–and the miner Jeremy Elder–who died just one week ago in an accident at Warrior Coal Mine outside Madisonville, Ky. The Elder family, from left, brother Adam Elder, wife Kristi Elder, mother Loretta Elder, son Holden Elder and father Terry Elder. Not pictured is son Rylan Elder, who was on a field trip with his school, posing for pictures on Paducah and Louisville Railway's 4522, University of Kentucky engine, which was heading up CSX Z464-12 on the last trip along the CSX Morganfield Branch. Coal trains have been passing through Providence since the 1800's according to a Facebook post by Providence Mayor Doug Hammers and a banner on the last coal car read; for the last 52 years the railroad has hauled a total of over 193 Million tons of coal from the Dotki Mine. The mine was operated by Alliance Resource Partner's (ARP) subsidiary, Webster County Coal LLC and according to recent news reports by the Gleaner Newspaper in Henderson, Kentucky, the mine closed due to a decline in the coal market. "Unfortunately, weak market conditions made this action necessary," said Joseph W. Craft III, chairman, president and chief executive officer of ARP. "We are saddened that production will be ending at the Dotiki Mine, which was opened in 1969 and is the oldest mine operated by ARLP."

Last Train from Dotki Mine at Providence, Kentucky

September 12, 2019 – It has been several weeks since Dotki Mine in Clay, Kentucky shut down and today the town of Providence, Ky turnout for the last load of coal (20 cars or so) from the mine. The last run today was dedicated in honor the miners who worked there–and the miner Jeremy Elder–who died just one week ago at Warrior Coal Mine in Madisonville, Ky.

In this photo we see the Elder family posing for pictures on Paducah and Louisville Railway’s 4522, University of Kentucky engine, which was heading up CSX Z464-12 on the last trip along the CSX Morganfield Branch.

Coal trains have been passing through Providence since the 1800’s according to a Facebook post by Providence Mayor Doug Hammers and a banner on the last coal car read; for the last 52 years the railroad has hauled a total of over 193 Million tons of coal from the Dotki Mine.

The mine was operated by Alliance Resource Partner’s (ARP) subsidiary, Webster County Coal LLC nad according to recent news reports by the Gleaner Newspaper in Henderson, Kentucky, the mine closed due to a decline in the coal market. “Unfortunately, weak market conditions made this action necessary,” said Joseph W. Craft III, chairman, president and chief executive officer of ARP. “We are saddened that production will be ending at the Dotiki Mine, which was opened in 1969 and is the oldest mine operated by ARLP.”

September 5, 2019 - Lake Superior Railroad Museum Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive passes over the trestle before Palmers Siding at milepost 16 as it heads north toward Two Harbors from Duluth, Minnesota. Lake Superior Railroad Museum with an excursion freight. According to Wikipedia: Duluth & Northeastern 28 (also known as Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332) is a restored 2-8-0 (consolidation) locomotive built in 1906 by the Pittsburgh Works of American Locomotive Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was restored to operating condition by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum from 2011-2017, and now operates in excursion service on the North Shore Scenic Railroad.

Lake Superior Railroad Museum Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range…

September 5, 2019 – Lake Superior Railroad Museum Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive passes over the trestle before Palmers Siding at milepost 16 as it heads north toward Two Harbors from Duluth, Minnesota. Lake Superior Railroad Museum with an excursion freight.

According to Wikipedia: Duluth & Northeastern 28 (also known as Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332) is a restored 2-8-0 (consolidation) locomotive built in 1906 by the Pittsburgh Works of American Locomotive Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was restored to operating condition by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum from 2011-2017, and now operates in excursion service on the North Shore Scenic Railroad.

September 5, 2019 - Lake Superior Railroad Museum's Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive approaches the crossing at Palmers Siding at milepost 16 as it heads north toward Twin Harbors from Duluth, Minnesota. Lake Superior Railroad Museum with an excursion freight. According to Wikipedia: Duluth & Northeastern 28 (also known as Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332) is a restored 2-8-0 (consolidation) locomotive built in 1906 by the Pittsburgh Works of American Locomotive Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was restored to operating condition by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum from 2011-2017, and now operates in excursion service on the North Shore Scenic Railroad.

Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive…

September 5, 2019 – Lake Superior Railroad Museum Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive approaches the crossing at Palmers Siding at milepost 16 as it heads north toward Two Harbors from Duluth, Minnesota. Lake Superior Railroad Museum with an excursion freight.

According to Wikipedia: Duluth & Northeastern 28 (also known as Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332) is a restored 2-8-0 (consolidation) locomotive built in 1906 by the Pittsburgh Works of American Locomotive Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was restored to operating condition by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum from 2011-2017, and now operates in excursion service on the North Shore Scenic Railroad.

September 5, 2019 - The Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive from the Lake Superior Railroad Museum passes a small pond under full steam at Palmers around MP 15.5 on the North Shore Line as it pulls a excursion freight train north toward Twin Harbors from Duluth, Minnesota. According to Wikipedia: Duluth & Northeastern 28 (also known as Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332) is a restored 2-8-0 (consolidation) locomotive built in 1906 by the Pittsburgh Works of American Locomotive Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was restored to operating condition by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum from 2011-2017, and now operates in excursion service on the North Shore Scenic Railroad.

The Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive…

September 5, 2019 – The Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive from the Lake Superior Railroad Museum passes a small pond under full steam at Palmers around MP 15.5 on the North Shore Line as it pulls a excursion freight train north toward Twin Harbors from Duluth, Minnesota.

According to Wikipedia: Duluth & Northeastern 28 (also known as Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332) is a restored 2-8-0 (consolidation) locomotive built in 1906 by the Pittsburgh Works of American Locomotive Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was restored to operating condition by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum from 2011-2017, and now operates in excursion service on the North Shore Scenic Railroad.

September, 2019 - Soo Line/Wisconsin Central FP7 Number 2500-A pulls up the grade as it approaches Lakewood on the North Shore Scenic Railroad as it heads to Two Harbors, from the Lake Superior Railroad Museum at Duluth, Minnesota. According to Wikipedia: With steam operations on North American Railroads being converted to diesel operations, Electro-Motive, along with other locomotive builders, began building demonstrator units to be tested by various railroads. Electro-Motive built a set of three FP7 units, 7001 (A-unit) and 7002 & 7003 (B-units). In November 1949, Canadian Pacific Railway tested these units. Canadian Pacific owned most of the Soo Line, and after testing the three demonstrator units, they were sent to the Soo Line. In April 1950, Soo Line ran the set from Minneapolis, MN to Portal, ND then Duluth, MN to Winnipeg. 7001 hosted the United Kingdom's Duke of Windsor, the former King Edward VIII, in its cab through North Dakota. Soo Line was so impressed with the set, that it purchased them for use on Wisconsin Central. In May 1950, they were delivered as WC 2500-A, 2500-B, and 2501-B. WC 2500-A often pulled Soo's Laker from Chicago to Duluth. Although numbered as Wisconsin Central, 2500 was painted in Soo Line's maroon and gold scheme. In 1960 Wisconsin Central became part of the Soo Line, and 2500 was repainted into the red and gray Soo Line scheme. When passenger service was discontinued in the 1960s, 2500 was used to pull freight trains. In 1980, 2500 was converted to provide compressed air and electrical power to snowplows in the winter months. In August 1986, Soo 2500 was donated to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. Soo 2500 went through a lengthy and complete overhaul. Much of its interior was repaired or replaced. Its exterior was repainted back into Soo Line's old maroon and gold scheme. In 1995, Soo Line 2500 pulled passenger trains, this time for the North Shore Scenic Railroad and now for the Lake Superior Railroad Museum.

Soo Line/Wisconsin Central FP7 Number 2500-A…

September, 2019 – Soo Line/Wisconsin Central FP7 Number 2500-A pulls up the grade as it approaches Lakewood on the North Shore Scenic Railroad as it heads to Two Harbors, from the Lake Superior Railroad Museum at Duluth, Minnesota.

According to Wikipedia: With steam operations on North American Railroads being converted to diesel operations, Electro-Motive, along with other locomotive builders, began building demonstrator units to be tested by various railroads. Electro-Motive built a set of three FP7 units, 7001 (A-unit) and 7002 & 7003 (B-units). In November 1949, Canadian Pacific Railway tested these units. Canadian Pacific owned most of the Soo Line, and after testing the three demonstrator units, they were sent to the Soo Line.

In April 1950, Soo Line ran the set from Minneapolis, MN to Portal, ND then Duluth, MN to Winnipeg. 7001 hosted the United Kingdom’s Duke of Windsor, the former King Edward VIII, in its cab through North Dakota. Soo Line was so impressed with the set, that it purchased them for use on Wisconsin Central. In May 1950, they were delivered as WC 2500-A, 2500-B, and 2501-B.

WC 2500-A often pulled Soo’s Laker from Chicago to Duluth. Although numbered as Wisconsin Central, 2500 was painted in Soo Line’s maroon and gold scheme. In 1960 Wisconsin Central became part of the Soo Line, and 2500 was repainted into the red and gray Soo Line scheme. When passenger service was discontinued in the 1960s, 2500 was used to pull freight trains.

In 1980, 2500 was converted to provide compressed air and electrical power to snowplows in the winter months. In August 1986, Soo 2500 was donated to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. Soo 2500 went through a lengthy and complete overhaul. Much of its interior was repaired or replaced. Its exterior was repainted back into Soo Line’s old maroon and gold scheme. In 1995, Soo Line 2500 pulled passenger trains, this time for the North Shore Scenic Railroad and now for the Lake Superior Railroad Museum.

Photo adjusted for color and sharpening in Adobe RAW. September 5, 2019 - The Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive from Lake Superior Railroad Museum rounds a curve under full steam as it heads north toward Two Harbors from Duluth, Minnesota during a recent photo charter from the Lake Superior Railroad Museum on the North Shore Line.

Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive…

September 5, 2019 – The Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive from Lake Superior Railroad Museum rounds a curve under full steam as it heads north toward Twin Harbors from Duluth, Minnesota. Lake Superior Railroad Museum

According to Wikipedia: Duluth & Northeastern 28 (also known as Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332) is a restored 2-8-0 (consolidation) locomotive built in 1906 by the Pittsburgh Works of American Locomotive Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was restored to operating condition by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum from 2011-2017, and now operates in excursion service on the North Shore Scenic Railroad.

September 4, 2019 - The Conductor guides Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive into the shop area at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum at Duluth, Minnesota. According to Wikipedia: Duluth & Northeastern 28 (also known as Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332) is a restored 2-8-0 (consolidation) locomotive built in 1906 by the Pittsburgh Works of American Locomotive Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was restored to operating condition by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum from 2011-2017, and now operates in excursion service on the North Shore Scenic Railroad.

The Conductor guides Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332…

September 4, 2019 – The Conductor guides Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive into the shop area at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum at Duluth, Minnesota.

According to Wikipedia: Duluth & Northeastern 28 (also known as Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332) is a restored 2-8-0 (consolidation) locomotive built in 1906 by the Pittsburgh Works of American Locomotive Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was restored to operating condition by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum from 2011-2017, and now operates in excursion service on the North Shore Scenic Railroad.

August 31, 2019 - Norfolk Southern 975 departs Princeton, Indiana with NS 5642 "Training First Responders" unit pulling the Norfolk Southern Safety Train east on the NS Southern-East District at East Junction. According to their website: At Norfolk Southern, safety is our number one priority. Operation Awareness & Response (OAR), was launched in 2015 to educate the public about the economic importance of the safe movement of hazardous materials by rail and to connect emergency first responders in Norfolk Southern communities with information and training resources. The goal of OAR is to strengthen relationships with the first responders across the NS network. Norfolk Southern has been providing safety training for emergency responders through community outreach programs such as TRANSCAER® for years. OAR will build on those efforts focusing on closer relationships with local and state agencies, increased training opportunities (classroom, web-based, and on-line resources), table-tops drills and participation in full-scale exercises, and providing better resources for emergency responders such as the AskRail mobile app that allows and first responders to use their mobile phones to look up commodity and response information on shipments. The OAR program also includes a continued commitment to providing emergency responders high-level training at the Security and Emergency Response Training Center (SERTC) in Pueblo, Co. In April 2016, Norfolk Southern unveiled a brand new safety train, with a dedicated locomotive, specially equipped classroom box cars, and several tanks cars for additional hands-on training along our lines.

Norfolk Southern 975 departs Princeton, Indiana

August 31, 2019 – Norfolk Southern 975 departs Princeton, Indiana with NS 5642 “Training First Responders” unit pulling the Norfolk Southern Safety Train east on the NS Southern-East District at East Junction.

According to their website: At Norfolk Southern, safety is our number one priority. Operation Awareness & Response (OAR), was launched in 2015 to educate the public about the economic importance of the safe movement of hazardous materials by rail and to connect emergency first responders in Norfolk Southern communities with information and training resources.

The goal of OAR is to strengthen relationships with the first responders across the NS network. Norfolk Southern has been providing safety training for emergency responders through community outreach programs such as TRANSCAER® for years. OAR will build on those efforts focusing on closer relationships with local and state agencies, increased training opportunities (classroom, web-based, and on-line resources), table-tops drills and participation in full-scale exercises, and providing better resources for emergency responders such as the AskRail mobile app that allows and first responders to use their mobile phones to look up commodity and response information on shipments.

The OAR program also includes a continued commitment to providing emergency responders high-level training at the Security and Emergency Response Training Center (SERTC) in Pueblo, Co. In April 2016, Norfolk Southern unveiled a brand new safety train, with a dedicated locomotive, specially equipped classroom box cars, and several tanks cars for additional hands-on training along our lines.