Chasing IC 1026 with an awesome Nathan P5! Lots of horn and pace shots!

Adam Auxier and I had set out for a day of railfanning in Southern Illinois. The day was gloomy and as we proceeded north rain showers changed over to snow flurries . . . this however didn't stop us from catching some pretty neat stuff.

13:50 - We were expecting to see M335, a NB Canadian National freight train to roll through Odin, Illnois. But we got a surprise and the CSX ran an eastbound train from St. Louis on their seldom used former B&O line.

CSXT 7541 C40-8
CSXT 7301 C40-8W

13:59 - M33571-05 (Memphis, TN - Fond du Lac, WI)

After running main #1 through Centralia and meeting the southbound Amtrak train 392 this 7,000 foot freight train cruises through Odin at about 30 miles an hour. The Nathan P5 sounds awesome on the 1026!

IC 1026 SD70
CN 5501 SD60F

14:31 - After meeting A43291-05 at Tonti and being held up by the Union Pacific at the Kinmundy Interlocker the engineer gets the train underway again at Kinmundy, Illinois.

14:40 - Rolling along at 40 MPH we pace the train through Farina, Illinois. A large grain elevator stretches along the tracks through town.

14:55 - After M33681-04 went onto the Bluford Subdivision at Edgewood Jct. M335 got the signal and proceeded towards Effingham, Illinois.

15:21 - With the Nathan Airchime P5 blaring IC 1026 rolls through Effingham, Illinois pounding the diamonds with its 7,000 feet of freight.

15:46 - A very short Union Pacific Pacer Stack train rolls through Effingham on the CSXT's St. Louis Line.

UP 4675 SD70M
UP 4735 SD70M