GP38-2 Mendota IL Today I took my in-laws to Mendota IL to catch Amtrak back to Kansas City. Whilr there I have a little while before and after they left to take some photos. Caught the first couple from the van window. Then I looked to my right and to my surprise, GP38-2 :angel: Sitting on the siding as a a switcher unit
Great catch! Between the post of the SD60M in H3 and now this GP38-2 in H3, I can see myself busy in the paint shop. Looks like this is freah out of the 1:1 paint shop.
Trip to Mendota IL Made a trip to Mendota to drop off my in-laws to catch Amtrak back to Kansas City. Before they left I caught a west bound. After the Amtrak left I caught some coalies, 2 westbound 1 eastbound. If you've never been to Mendota I'd strongly suggest you go. They have a restored train depot with half Amtrak station and half train museum. The museum has an HO layout of historic Mendota. With a little google map research I plan on returning down there some Sat. and do some railfanning. Great time in Mendota, TIM
6037 must be a ES44AC, if I follow the numering system right. Grab shots of those Grinstien green SD70's while you can:camera: :film:
Tharms77, I just merged these threads since they are about your same outing. Any more pictures to add from today?
Tim, I just did a double look, while the frame on that unit reads GP38-2, it is also a new NRE GP38-2 rebuild. This one started life as a GP35, dead give aways are the frame and the spacing of the two last fans on the long hood. I caught it's brother in Galesburg this past summer during a yard tour.
I find those old warriors in the background behind 2035, to be interesting. Are they still in service? Boxcab E50
BNSF7173 I belive you have created a train fan there. And as long as he has film I hope he always shares his photos. May be they need to give him his own thread HA!:shade: Tim keep to photos coming. Mr Train (It's only a name)
I took those pictures at the Galesburg 2006 RR Days in June of this past year and they were in line to get fuel and sand. The days on these old SD9 are numbered though, most of the switching I saw this year was done by SD40-2's. Get your photos now...
The SD7/9 is my favorite diesel. So it's fun to see any in service these days. I sure miss them out here. Boxcab E50
Mine too Boxcab! Here is one I found in the yard at Galesburg during Tina and I's Honeymoon: Other side of the overpass:
More from the summer of 1998: 6156 was switching the yard and I was in downtown Galesburg next to the Amtrak station when Tina took this picture. If you look carefully you can see me talking with the engineer. He would pull up, talk, back up, stop, pull up, talk etc. I think we were talking about the Cubs if memory serves right.
Battle worn. But still proud. Some of these are over 50 years old now! I hope a couple make their way to a museum! :teeth: Boxcab E50
I'll have to ask my friend who is going thru training there now if these still exsist. Although it may be a couple weeks as he's off due to falling off a car at 10 MPH. Maybe I can convince him to even sign up here and youcan talk to him yourself. We are talking about Galesburg still aren't we.:embarassed:
Slow day in Mendota 10.22.06 Went to Mendota today to see some trains. Traffic was quite light. 3 amtraks and 1 "junk" train in 2 1/2 hrs. Oh well, now I know Sun. afternoon isn't peek time in Mendota.
Well THarms caught #2033 and I got 2035 this past June. While in Rochelle IL, I found 2030 hooked up to 2199 an ex Santa Fe GP38. I'll post more pictures when I get the film back, this was with my digital.
Maybe a slow day, but notice the second unit in your first picture. A good catch for me. The unit is a GP39M, can't tell what the number is but it looks like it is in the 2700 series which makes it a former BN, former CB&Q GP30. Nice shot.
Excursion to Mendota Today BNSF7173 and I made a railfanning trip to Mendota. Along with seeing some new Ferromex units we also saw some BNSF units as well: The next pictures is a westbound "trash" train at Meridan IL After a successful afternoon of railfanning it's nice to top it off with a good sunset shop. Too bad we couln't include a unit in the picture.:sad: If you look closely, in the distance you can see ditch lights. We didn't notice this until we saw this train on the way home. Oh well, it was getting dark anyway
Shabbona on the Aurora Sub Hey Tharms, give Shabbona a try. I grew up there, was on the fire dept. for many years. This is a great place, alot of nice spots in town to take pics. Alot of the BNSF trains stop on the siding, and park right next to Shabbona Rd. at RT.30. If they got to wait for any amount of time, the crew makes a run into Caseys for food. Shabbona use to be a big rail town, had a local switcher, turntable, and branch line to Paw Paw years ago. There is a large siding, and a spur ( which use to be a 3rd siding) they store equipment there, and an occ. engine if it broke down enroute. Some of the good spots is Indian Rd. by the fertilizer plant, the depot in the middle of town, and there is spots to park along the line along 30 at businesses to snap pics. To the west, the line curves out of town to the NW towards Lee, east its a straight shot to Aurora. Est. about 20 or so (give or take each day) freights and intermodals run through. ALl sorts and types of engines run through there, mostly GE's these days though.
