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Around 4:00 on a cool March evening, L441 could be seen rushing around Nickajack Lake with a trio of geeps in the lead. They are bound for Bridgeport, AL where they will work SQSC's Yard before heading to Widow's Creek where they will eventually wye their locomotives and return back to Wauhatchie.

On my first two day visit to the KJRY I was greeted by this lashup that slowly worked its way to Keokuk, Iowa and then back towards Mapleton, Illinois. The 10MPH speed limit made for an easy chase. Although the Illinois landscape isn't as scenic, there are plenty of structures, bridges, and curves to give different angles to work with. More photos coming soon.

SP 7943 leads two sets of GP40-2 and TEBU (tractive effort booster units) into Tucson with the Nogales local. The consist: SP 7943, SP 1605, SP 7942, SP 7949, SP 1604, and SP 7954. The sets were popular assignments on Tucson locals in 1984 before being transferred up to Oregon.

Rio Grande units 3128 and 3090 sit next to SP 9336 with Santa Fe 3006 in the background at the SP West Colton engine facility.

A Severe weather alert got me out of bed and raced down to the SP yard in Tucson. A large thunderstorm was approaching from the west. I grabbed my camera and quickly setup the tripod and tripped the shutter and just watched lightning bolts explode from the sky. As the storm got closer and the thunder got much louder, it was time to close the shutter and make a sprint to the truck before torrential rain and hail hit. This is one of my favorite train/lightning photos I've taken over the years. Note the CP 5901 visiting from the north in the engine facility.

UP 1437 sits at the small yard in Malvern, AR during a severe thunderstorm with very heavy rain. The photo was taken from underneath the roof of the freight depot. The strikes were close and loud.

Western Pacific 3523, Norfolk & Western 1355 is part of a UP consist at the Los Angeles yard in September 1983.

Western Pacific 3532 was the only WP unit post merger that was painted in UP paint with Western Pacific lettering and number. Here 3532 is at UP Los Angeles yard in July 1983.

The mega-merger of the Union Pacific is very evident in this photo of power at the Tucson engine facility. From left to right: SP 8135, UP 3540, Rio Grande 3116, UP 5265, CNW 5534 and SP 7240.

UP 1511 and HLCX 1088 are the local power at the UP Biddle yard in Little Rock under a beautiful sunset sky.

ARR 3011 rests in whitter in between Glacier Discovery runs

Southern Pacific's four GP40X units, 7200, 7201, 7230 and 7231 rest at the West Colton yard in December 1985.

FEC 431, One of FEC's many GP40-2's on the roster, rests quietly at FEC's Bowden yard. A little less than a month rolls by after this photo was taken, 431 was headed up to Patterson, GA for rebuilding.

SP 7616 West leads the CHLAX double stack past the iconic coal tower at Mescal into the setting sun.

Rock Island units 383, 396 and 390 at the Chrome Crankshaft plant in San Bernardino, CA plant in 1985.

Eastern Idaho Railroad WAMX 4040 proudly shows off the new paint scheme at their yard Idaho Falls, Idaho on a beautiful fall morning.

Todays Eastern Idaho Buhl local is overpowered with 3 units and just 4 cars as it rolls into Buhl after a heavy snowstorm.

Eastern Idaho RR WAMX 4041 in a special 20th Anniversary tribute scheme, HLCX 3828 and EIRR WAMX 3918 at the yard in Twin Falls, Idaho with fresh snow on the ground.

WAMX power 4013 and 3920 at the Lewiston engine facility also includes an original BN caboose 12571.

With traffic ahead of it at Plant Bowen, local L810 holds at Old Stilesboro Road with RF&P 6394 on the head end. 6394 is the second unit that has been assigned to this local to receive a nose repaint to “as built” paint, with the first being CSX 6914 receiving the infamous “Chessie System” nose.