October 21st, 2023 – Episode 42 – Saturday Edited Video by Jim Pearson Photography

This week’s rail action is a lot of different power and railroads around Tolono, Illinois on the CN Champaign Subdivision and the NS Lafayette District. At this busy location we see Illinois Central, BNSF, CN and Amtrak power! Enjoy and please Like! Share and Subscribe! Thanks for watching!

Amtrak 393 pulls into the old Illinois Central Depot in downtown Mattoon, Illinois

Amtrak 393 (The Illini) pulls into the old Illinois Central (IC) Depot in downtown Mattoon, Illinois with 4623 leading the Wednesday evening southbound train from Chicago to Carbondale, Illinois bathed in Infrared light on the CN Champaign Subdivision.

According to Wikipedia, The Mattoon station is housed in the former Illinois Central Railroad Depot. The depot was completed in 1918 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. At its height, the building housed a power plant, mail room, luggage room, and restaurant, in addition to the main hall where passengers waited to board trains. As many as ten trains a day departed the depot in the 1950s.

During 2010, a $3 million restoration project, paid for from a mix of private, state, and federal funding, was undertaken, replacing paint, flooring, and other interior fixtures.

The station currently serves as a stop for the Illini, Saluki, and City of New Orleans passenger trains. The tracks themselves, formerly part of the Illinois Central Railroad, are now owned by the Canadian National Railway (CN). Freight trains run by CN pass through frequently.

Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Irex 11mm, f/4, 1/250, ISO 400

Amtrak 393 pulls into the old Illinois Central Depot in downtown Mattoon, Illinois

Amtrak 393 (The Illini) pulls into the old Illinois Central (IC) Depot in downtown Mattoon, Illinois with 4623 leading the Wednesday evening southbound train from Chicago to Carbondale, Illinois bathed in Infrared light on the CN Champaign Subdivision.

According to Wikipedia, The Mattoon station is housed in the former Illinois Central Railroad Depot. The depot was completed in 1918 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. At its height, the building housed a power plant, mail room, luggage room, and restaurant, in addition to the main hall where passengers waited to board trains. As many as ten trains a day departed the depot in the 1950s.

During 2010, a $3 million restoration project, paid for from a mix of private, state, and federal funding, was undertaken, replacing paint, flooring, and other interior fixtures.

The station currently serves as a stop for the Illini, Saluki, and City of New Orleans passenger trains. The tracks themselves, formerly part of the Illinois Central Railroad, are now owned by the Canadian National Railway (CN). Freight trains run by CN pass through frequently.

Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Irex 11mm, f/4, 1/250, ISO 400

AMTRAK 390 heads north across the diamond at Tuscola, IL

AMTRAK Siemens Charger SC-44, IDTX 4617, a morning commuter train, passes over the Decatur & Eastern Illinois, Union Pacific and Canadian National diamond at Tuscola, Illinois, as it leads northbound train 390, The Saluki, to Chicago on July 21st, 2021, on the CN Champaign Subdivision.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

AMTRAK 390 heads north across the diamond at Tuscola, IL

AMTRAK Siemens Charger SC-44, IDTX 4617, a morning commuter train, passes over the Decatur & Eastern Illinois, Union Pacific and Canadian National diamond at Tuscola, Illinois, as it leads northbound train 390, The Saluki, to Chicago on July 21st, 2021, on the CN Champaign Subdivision.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

January 30, 2020 -  Canadian National (CN) A408, led by ex-Illinois Central 1005, makes it's way through the yard, toward the Pike Avenue Overpass, as it prepares to do drop off and pickups at Effingham, Illinois before continuing it's trip south on CN's Champaign Subdivision. Behind IC 1005 was IC 1027, GECX 2037 demo unit headed for repaint to CN colors, CN 5780 and CN 3106.

Canadian National (CN) A408, led by ex-Illinois Central 1005…

January 30, 2020 – Canadian National (CN) A408, led by ex-Illinois Central 1005, makes it’s way through the yard, toward the Pike Avenue Overpass, as it prepares to do drop off and pickups at Effingham, Illinois before continuing it’s trip south on CN’s Champaign Subdivision. Behind IC 1005 was IC 1027, GECX 2037 demo unit headed for repaint to CN colors, CN 5780 and CN 3106.