Howdy from Havana ,Illinois.

 Today I chased two Illinois & Midland trains northbound and a southbound. One was a northbound with Coal empties and the other was a southbound Fully loaded Coal train. The second one was a train I had caught leaving Galesburg on the Peoria Subdivision enroute to Peoria. I filmed that one on February 22nd in Knoxville, Illinois.  BNSF delivers to the TZPR area and parks train probably on siding off Wesley Road or in the area. The BNSF crew leaves the train. The train sits until the power plant needs the coal and IMRR sends crew to it. I wondered since I am staying at Havana if I would see it again. Sure enough today was that day. This train consisted of BNSF 5897 - BNSF 8966 with BNSF 9368 as the DPU. I couldn't get it at Havana due to Havana traffic at that time. I drive down to Kilbourne and film it just south of town. Then i take some quick pictures of the end of the train crossing the Sangamon River before heading down to Petersburg to film the lead locomotives and ta...

 IMRR crossing Quiver Creek, and passing through Forest City and Manito, Illinois on February 23, 2021. I heard a train and go out to the investigate. It was down the tracks by the time I had reached the Route 136 crossing. So I head it out of town it did not stop at the Havana yard so I knew it was Pekin bound. I head to the Quiver Creek trestle where I wanted to catch a train and. beat it by atleast two or three minutes. I film it crossing the creek before going to film it at Forest City and downtown Manito, Illinois. Quiver Creek: Forest City: Manito: Video:

 Today I had planned a boring afternoon of laundry when I was greeted by the sound of a horn. It didnt sound like the usual coal train or coal empty to which Illinois & Midland uses BNSF for. I go investigate and the train stopped at the small yard in Havana. It appeared they dropped off atleast four tank cars before proceeding north. My intention was to film it at this trestle over a creek a few miles outside Havana. The train beat me to it as the road was snow and ice covered and couldn't exactly go speed limit intended. I did catch it leaving the Havana yard on a road i sit off of to determine what a trains movement will be. Coal trains are obvious but locals not so much as they have been seen dropping cars off then proceed back south which is why I wait around.  Pictures of trestle and IMRR leaving Havana: Well I missed my chance to catch the train over the creek so i decide what the hell I will chase it and head toward Forest City. I considered Bishop but didnt deem i...

Off Wagners Avenue in Havana, Illinois the remains of a foundry sits as time goes by. I have no idea who is using or owns the property now but parts of the foundry remains. The plant shut it's doors back in 2004. It has a long history dating back to the 1960's and has changed names and ownership multiple times. It appears there even was a railroad spur into it at one point as a tree line from the IMRR tracks then C&IM suggests. However rail service was in its early days as there was no tracks or service from the 1990's onward. What is known is it was built on the 1960's under the Atwood Company. This is most likely when there was rail activity possibly built to bring in equipment. I do know my father told me he helped install equipment at this place on the 60's and ended up working at this place from 1994-2004.  If it shipped by rail it is unclear but it seems likely equipment could have been shipped to be installed when building the foundry.  The view from Goog...