Saint Louis Area Railroads Of Today: Part One

Read Description for further details on locations, trains, etc.
During June & July 2023, multiple locations throughout the STL area were documented by WR Productions, with one train at each location. These locations all have some sort of significance to railroading in the area. Once considered to be one of the busiest and most important railroad hubs in the nation, there is still plenty of importance in St. Louis railroading, and for the entire midwestern region, as well.
In part one of this two-part showing, we will visit 13 locations from both sides of the Mighty Mississippi River, with one train running through each. From the recently formed CPKC Rail, to Canadian National and Union Pacific, trains are pretty plentiful in the area. This video features some of those trains.

Location 1: Valley Jct in East St Louis, IL (From 19th St)
Northbound CPKC - CSX Rose Lake Yard Transfer Job, departing CPKC's East St Louis Yard

Location 2: CP Gratiot in Downtown St Louis, MO
Northbound Amtrak 22 "Texas Eagle", departing the STL Amtrak station

Location 3: Desoto Ave in North St Louis, MO
Northbound TRRA 101, Transfer Job from TRRA Madison Yard to NS Luther Yard, nearing its destination

Location 4: Ferguson, MO, on the NS St Louis District
Westbound NS 110, hauling leased Sesquehana SD60s towards KC to have maintenance performed on them. This location, like many others on the line, still feature former Wabash era searchlight signals.

Location 5: Belleville, IL, on the CN (ex-IC) St Louis Subdivision
Northbound CN G870, a loaded grain bound for Oklahoma, passes a 4-way grade crossing on its way to be interchanged with BNSF in St Louis. These unit grain trains run 2-3 times each month, normally.

Location 6: "Hole In The Wall", in East St Louis, IL
A southbound CPKC transfer from CSX's Rose Lake Yard is seen running as light power back to the CPKC yard. Union Pacific, CPKC, TRRA, etc operate the rails thru "HITW". UP trains headed to and from the Chester Subdivision run through the aptly named Hole In The Wall, along with other trains, such as the train seen here.

Location 7: Pacific, MO, on the UP Jefferson City Sub & BNSF Cuba Sub
Westbound UP MASNP rolls through Pacific, AKA "Train Town USA", on the western outskirts of STL. The UP line is ex-MoPac, and BNSF is ex-SLSF.

Location 8: Wood River, IL, on the NS (Ex-Illinois Terminal) Alton District
Northbound NS local job DF-03 heads through town on its way to Alton, IL.
An increasingly uncommon high-hood GP38-2 is sole power.

Location 9: Godfrey, IL, on the UP Springfield Sub
Southbound CPKC LK12 has finished its work in Godfrey and heads down the UP towards the CPKC yard. CPKC trains running to and from ESTL utilize the UP main from "Q Tower" all the way to Godfrey, where they turn onto their own trackage.

Location 10: Near Godfrey, IL, on the CPKC Godfrey Sub
CPKC's Track Inspection Geo Train heads southbound into Godfrey, where it will enter UP trackage and proceed to the TRRA yard.

Location 11: Caseyville, IL, on the CSX St Louis Line Sub
Westbound CSX M373 heads towards Rose Lake Yard to be interchanged with the UP. Naturally, the UP intrerchange train has UP power.

Location 12: Valley Junction in East St Louis, IL (from next to Alton & Southern's Gateway Yard)
A Southbound TRRA Transfer job passes A&S yard with two maroon HLCX leasers for power.

Location 13: Sauget, IL, off of Monsanto Ave
Just north of Valley Junction, yet another CPKC transfer is seen heading northbound on the "Southbound Main", bound for Rose Lake Yard. A Grey Ghost, KCS 1915, leads the way into some awesome late afternoon sunlight.

Be on the lookout for part two, which will be out later this year!
Enjoy. © 2023