Approaching South Forest
Date: 05/10/2008
The "South Forest Local" passes the Whistle board as it approaches South Forest.
Arkright Engineering
Date: 04/20/2008
Located at South Forest, this industry makes interesting and useful things out of metal.
Car to be unloaded at the Plymill
Date: 05/07/2008
Two cars wait next to the Plymill unloading platform to be unloaded, one with woodchips, the other with logs.
Feed N Seed
Date: 04/20/2008
South Forest. Seems busy today. Although people seem glued to their spot!
Feed N Seed
Date: 05/07/2008
A track level view of the South Forest Feed N Seed showing some of the trackage at South Forest. Two locals wait patiently for their ride home after a hard day's work.
Garden
Date: 05/10/2008
A garden behind one of the houses at South Forest. The flower beds and small bushes were made from different parts of dish cleaners.
Hoppers at Silos
Date: 04/20/2008
Hoppers at South Forest Silos awaiting pick up by the South Forest Local.
Illinois Mineral Co and Midwest Junction
Date: 05/07/2008
An MWSL Intermodal train rumbles by the Illinois Mineral Co spur. The cars in the Illinois Mineral Co spur are loaded and ready to be picked up by the next Midwest Local.
Illinois Mineral Co.
Date: 04/20/2008
Piles of stone and lots of weeds at the Illinois Mineral Co. bunker.
Illinois Mineral Co.
Date: 04/20/2008
Cars waiting pick up by a Midwest Local at the Illinois Mineral Co. spur.
Illinois Mineral Co. Switching
Date: 04/20/2008
Frisco SW1550 #319, a switcher leased to the C&SFT, switches the Illinois Mineral Co spur.
Illinois Mineral Co. Switching
Date: 04/20/2008
Loco #319 idles on the Illinois Mineral Co. spur as the crew take their lunch break.
Indiana Aggregate and Construction Supplies
Date: 04/20/2008
A panoramic view of the industry. The brown building is the warehouse, and the grey concrete building is the bulk cement receiving building.
Indiana Aggregate and Construction Supplies
Date: 04/20/2008
The Bulk Cement receiving building. The track goes into this building, and there is a receiving pit and roof detailing added inside it.
Indiana Aggregate and Construction Supplies
Date: 04/20/2008
Warehouse building. This receives and despatches freight in box cars, and the occasional gondolla.
Indiana Aggregate and Contruction Supplies
Date: 04/20/2008
Spurs and Bulk Concrete unloading building at end of right hand spur.
Midwest Jcn
Date: 04/20/2008
An MWSL train at Midwest Junction, passing the Illinois Minieral Co. bunker.
Midwest Local
Date: 04/20/2008
A Midwest Local, train number MW01E, passes the tranship spur on it's way to Midwest Junction.
MWSL Grain Train
Date: 04/20/2008
An MWSL grain train passes over Thorn Creek on it's way through Midwest Junction to Galesburg, Ill.
MWSL Grain Train
Date: 04/20/2008
Standing on the South Forest branch trestle bridge, the photographer captured this shot of an MWSL grain train as it passes over the Thorn Creek bridge.
MWSL Intermodal 222I
Date: 04/20/2008
Having gained clearance from the C&SFT General Yardmaster, the crew of MWSL train 222I eases their train out onto the C&SFT Thoroughfare track.
MWSL Intermodal 222I
Date: 04/20/2008
The lengths a photographer will go to! This shot is taken from the top branches of a tree.
MWSL Intermodal at Midwest Jcn
Date: 04/20/2008
A train of Impack Spline cars passes through Midwest Junction on it's way to Barr yard.
MWSL Locos at Midwest Jcn
Date: 04/20/2008
2 MWSL locos at Midwest Junction. The MWSL has some old FT-A units, which have been re-motored. These work well on the flatlands of Illinois where dynamic braking is not really necessary. The MWSL also has some older Geeps like this GP9, some U boats, and some other cab units.
MWSL FT-A with train 184I
Date: 04/20/2008
The MWSL runs through the C&SFT trackage between Midwest Junction, and Dolton Junction, to gain access to the B&OCT's Barr yard. The MWSL also interchanges with the C&SFT at Midwest Junction, and through the C&SFT Interchange Yard at Calumet South.
MWSL Trains at Midwest Junction
Date: 04/20/2008
Two trains meet at Midwest Junction, one on it's way to Galesburg, Ilinois, the other bound for the C&SFT Interchange Yard.
Old Sawmill Machinery
Date: 04/20/2008
The South Forest Plymill upgraded their equipment quite some years ago, and the old equipment has only been moved as far as the back of the plymill building!
Old Sawmill Machinery
Date: 04/20/2008
Weeds and old machinery abound at the back of the South Forest Plymill.
Plymill Loading Platform
Date: 04/20/2008
Another view of the Plymill loading platform, at about scale person eye level.
Railfan Special
Date: 04/20/2008
During a operating session in 2007, a friend of mine brought along some of his Australian outline passenger cars. We ran a Railfan Special over the the C&SFT that session. Here it is at South Forest.
Thorn Creek
Date: 04/20/2008
Some locals brave the industrial sludge of the Thorn Creek seeking out the elusive and rare 3 Eyed Trout.