Classic EMD's, Alco and Heritage power for Santa in Illinois

[E.M. Bell]

The weekend of December 8th and 9th, I took Steve Smedley up on his offer to go up to Illinois and spend a couple of days shooting all of the Santa trains that where running. In the span 48 hours, we where treated to the sights and sounds of Santa riding the rails of 3 different roads behind EMD E and F units, NS heritage power and even a ALCO!

Saturday morning was spent with the IC (CN) train with an IC E8 for power, and that afternoon we headed Northwest to shoot the Keokuk Junction Santa train with a pair of F9's for power.  On Sunday, we headed over to Decatur Illinois for the NS Santa train, before I headed home later that afternoon.

The NS train was a real treat, with the Monticello RR museum providing a Wabash F7 and CN Alco, plus several coaches. The EMD/Alco pair lead the Westbound trips, while NS 1070 (The Wabash Heritage unit) led the Eastbound moves.  The weather was nothing short of craptastic (as it had been all weekend) with thick fog and a lot of rain, but I think that just added to the images.

NS has not disappointed us this year with all of the cool stuff they have done, and this was a great way to end the year. Where else can you go and shoot classic diesels AND heritage power in one place! The folks with NS and the Monticello museum where as nice as you would find anywhere, and after shooting 3 trips on Sunday morning, I started the long trip home in the rain on 6 hours sleep in the past 4 days, and smiled all the way. My Illinois jinx was broken!

Below are a few samples from our morning with the NS Santa train. The entire set can be found at this link. >>>   http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/nssanta2012

Wabash 1189 sits in a cold rain at the NS Decatur shop early Sunday morning (12/09/12) as the crew prepares the train for the days work. Soon, the man in the red suit would board, and they would be ready for the passengers.


The 1189 leads the First trip of the day at Niantic, IL


NS 1070 leads the train East past a set of well maintained Wabash searchlight signals at Righter, Il.


Classic EMD and ALCO power races down the valley of grain elevators at Niantic.


Wabash 1070 looking good in the fog.


Wabash 1189 brings the train around a (rare) curve on the outskrits of Decatur. A curve, fence, tree's in the background...scenery almost unheard of in Illinois!



A couple of the guys from the Monticello Museum pose with the 1189 at the Decatur yard between runs.

[E.M. Bell]

And if you are interested in more than just the NS stuff, check this link for my shots of the IC and KJRY Santa trains. Each has its own gallery, and the link will take you to main page...

http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/santatrains2012


IC E9 #101 with the CNIC Santa train at Gibson City, IL 12/08/12






The Keokuk Junction Santa train

[Matt L]

Nice catch on the Alco! Is she an FA or a PA?

[Badhorse79]

FA the PA's were 6 axle I wanna say F for freight and P for passenger ?

Great Shots EM

[E.M. Bell]

I will save Mr. Smoak the trouble of correcting me on this...its not (technically) a ALCO..its a MLW FPA4

[NSMoWandS]

I just hope in that last pic... they were NOT taking a diverging route! LOL! Great shots! Dan

[E.M. Bell]

We had just backed out of the siding on the left, after running around the train to head back to Mapleton. The headlights you see was a company truck hauling the conductor around. I think I took that just as he had lined the switch up... the rest of the night was the best part of the day for me   ;D

I just hope in that last pic... they were NOT taking a diverging route! LOL! Great shots! Dan

[Matt L]

I will save Mr. Smoak the trouble of correcting me on this...its not (technically) a ALCO..its a MLW FPA4

Thanx for the explanation. I couldn't figure out what the loco was/is.