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This CPKC train is westbound on the Chicago Division line with loads of ballast in Herzog hoppers. It paused in Davis Junction before resuming its trip.
In the Milwaukee Road era this line was the Davenport & Illinois Division and double tracked. For a number of years it was part of ICE and DM&E before being reacquired by CP. So far the expected uptick in traffic on this line since the CP/KCS merger has not materialized in the last two years from what I have seen.
J & W Classic Auto Sales and Service
Stillman Valley, Illinois 42.107170, -89.178193
August 26, 2022
All the cars from this used car lot
COPYRIGHT 2022, 2025 by JimFrazier All Rights Reserved. This may NOT be used for ANY reason without written consent from Jim Frazier.
220826cz7-9218-2500
A ballast train for the new siding at Monroe Center on CPKC's Chicago sub. Seen here passing a rather large grain complex in town. A solo SD70MAC does the honors with 1800 feet of loaded ballast cars.
J & W Classic Auto Sales and Service
Stillman Valley, Illinois 42.107170, -89.178193
August 26, 2022
All the cars from this used car lot
COPYRIGHT 2022, 2023 by JimFrazier All Rights Reserved. This may NOT be used for ANY reason without written consent from Jim Frazier.
220826cz7-9223-2500
CPKC 181 heads east on an overcast evening on the Chicago Subdivision with a KCS and CP ES44AC for power. Seeing double stacks on the Chicago Subdivision has been pretty cool to see.
CPKC 252 train is stopped among the parched fields of Northern Illinois which is in the middle of a severe drought. Without rain soon the soybeans growing in the field will be lost.
It will resume moving east in a few minutes after letting the westbound CPKC 253 drop off cars at Davis Junction for the South Beloit-based CPKC job. 252 will take the passing siding to go around 253.
This train is on the former Milwaukee Road Dubuque & Iowa line which will see increased traffic from the CP-KCS merger including two new intermodal trains.
J & W Classic Auto Sales and Service
Stillman Valley, Illinois 42.107170, -89.178193
August 26, 2022
All the cars from this used car lot
COPYRIGHT 2022 by JimFrazier All Rights Reserved. This may NOT be used for ANY reason without written consent from Jim Frazier.
42.107215, -89.178080
220826cz7-92161366x768
A beautiful blue 1950 Mercury 4-door sedan
J & W Classic Auto Sales and Service
Stillman Valley, Illinois 42.107170, -89.178193
August 26, 2022
All the cars from this used car lot
COPYRIGHT 2022 by JimFrazier All Rights Reserved. This may NOT be used for ANY reason without written consent from Jim Frazier.
220826cz7-92201366x768
Although I had to work early the next morning, it was worth losing a little sleep over this! Word came down on the Midwest Heads Up group that NS 1066 was trailing on the CP 472 job, but then they cut off the leader and had 1066 on the point. Once that was confirmed, it was a matter of charging batteries, and waiting patiently. I knew exactly what shot I wanted, and how to do it better from the last time I had done this over the summer. With lessons learned, here's the CP 472 job with the Norfolk Southern New York Central "heritage" unit, painted in their scheme, honoring the fallen railroad, and passing by the large grain elevator at Stillman Valley, Illinois. 8 Yongnuo 560iii strobes (aka flashes) were used to accomplish the shot. Thanks to Grant Hansen, R.G. Hough and others for the heads up and progress reports on this train!
Once upon a time, the Milwaukee Road railroad ran F-units and more modern engines through Stillman Valley. These days, Canadian Pacific, who now own the line, run trains twice a day (or should I say, night) here. Tonight was no exception. I just missed an eastbound here, known as the 472 job. The westbound 473 job was waiting to meet him just to the east at Davis Junction, however, so I set up 7 flashes and lit the westbound up. I know, it would have been nicer to get the eastbound. Next time.
A refreshingly clean and dressed up CP locomotive, CP 2246, has the honors of leading the 2016 CP Holiday Train as it passes through the town of Stillman Valley, IL. on December 2, 2016 on its way to the next show at Byron, IL.
A nice crowd has gathered to watch along with the group of happy elementary school students who had recess at the right time of day behind me.
Video: youtu.be/niRrWuExTmA
Some run-through power from CSX and NS run through Stillman Valley, IL, on CP's former Milwaukee Road mainline across northern Illinois on 6-3-16.
Stillman Valley feels the rumble of the Canadian Pacific 472 job as it heads west over Stillman Creek in Stillman Valley, IL.
NS power leads the CP 472 train up the hill from Stillman Valley into Davis Junction, IL, on 8-1-15.
Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern 6056 (the City of Highmore) westbound on the CP near Stillman Valley, Illinois.
