I decided to try and give chase to the NS 951-26 (Blue Ribbon Safety train) with NS 4270, 4276, & 4271 with 17 cars heading from Decatur, IL to Saint Louis, MO today. Route 48 pretty much follows the tracks for about 40-50 miles. After getting to Decatur there was a 33Q stopped at Knights signal and the OCS popped up shortly before 8:00A.M. It is 104 miles from Decatur to Saint Louis and NS 951 left Decatur at 7:47AM making it into Saint Louis about 10:15AM. Enjoy these shots as I did taking them!
Photo 1. NS 951-26 with NS 4270, 4276, & 4271 ease through BD Junction outside Decatur, IL getting ready to hit track speed having a authority all the way to Saint Louis.
Photo 2. Sunny roster of lead engine # 4270 leading NS 952-26 around Blue Mound, IL.
Photo 3. NS 951-26 flies around a curve in my home town of Staunton, IL on 4-26-2013 heading for Luther Yard in Saint Louis, MO.
Photo 4. NS 6943 trails on 33J detour train to Kansas City on 4-25-2013.
Photo 5. NS 301 heads to A.O. Smith in Saint Louis with HLCX Lease motors in trail.
Sincerely,
Kevin Sies
Photo2 is awesome!!
Dan