Monthly Archives: May 2014

A Local Switching Job

Coming to the crossingTwice a week a local switching  Job is done for Johnson Wax and Graham Packaging in Racine, Wisconsin. The switcher comes on the main from Kenosha, Wi and comes over the bike path crossing where I got this photo. Its coming in with a tank and a hopper. fb-20140529-231-11

It drops the the tanker off on the siding going into Johnson Wax. In the distance was a Union Pacific truck waiting by the switch.

Riding around the Curve

The conductor rides the end of the EMD GP15-1 into the siding for Graham Packaging. This GP15-1 was built in 1976 and used to belong to the C&NW.

Manning the SwitchAfter detaching from the one hopper they pulled two out of Graham Packaging. The conductor is realigning the switch so they can push the full hopper back.

Finished its work

They have just finished all the switching and are on their way out of the siding and back on the Main. They dropped off the tank and the full hopper and are taking out two empty hoppers.

Done with this job

Now they are back on the main and heading for Kenosha. They backed from the switch so the conductor could set the derailer on the siding. All this took about a half hour and was fun to watch. Its one thing to see trains pass but its another to see the beginning and the end of the journey for the cars.

 

On Wards to the West

Empire Builder heading out

 

This is the Amtrak Empire Builder leaving Chicago on its long journey to the west coast.  It is a over 2,000 mile trip that takes a path trough an area rich in scenery. This photo catches it 5 minutes out of Chicago Union Station on the shared. The towers at the top of the Willis (Sears) Tower are visible over the top of the engine.