~PLEASE COMMENT!!~ CRAZY BUSY ACTION ON THE BNSF CHILLICOTHE SUBDIVISION! MANY GREAT CATCHES! 11/12/2009

I wasn't even to my first location when I heard the dispatcher talking to a westbound at Pequot. The westbound was going to stop in Verona to meet an eastbound. Here, three BNSF Dash 9's lead the westbound through a pair of crossbucks in between Coal City and Mazon.

It didn't take the eastbound long to get to Mazon as it flies by, doing every bit of the track speed, considerably quicker than the posted roadway speed limit. What a leader! BNSF 8244, one of the eight still in service SD75M's is in charge, followed by a BNSF Dash 9. Got to love that EMD roar.

The cool leaders continue as a westbound Herzog Rail Testing truck meets the eastbound high priority manifest from Galesburg, Illinois to Selkirk, New York (H GALSEL), which is led by a CSX Dark Future SD70MAC and a CSX YN2 AC4400CW.

Off to Verona I go as the trains just keep on coming. As soon as I got my stuff set up, a westbound came around the corner. This one is a stack train out of LPC, powered by four BNSF Dash 9's (two up front and two DPU's at the rear). The train passes under one of the classic ATSF cantilevers in town.

Shortly after, another westbound appeared. It was the daily UP autorack train from Hammond, IN., powered by a UP SD9043MAC. A UP SD70ACe is at the rear.

Not even a minute after the westbound cleared, an eastbound headlight came into view from a ways away. I relocated to a location a little further east to get this one. Still located in Verona. This stack train is rolling right along, bound for LPC. Six units total on this one (four BNSF Dash 9's up front and a BNSF ES44DC/Dash 9 combo at the rear).

I made it into town (Verona) about three minutes later. Another eastbound was fast approaching. Thankfully, I had enough time to set up. Five units (a pair of BNSF ES44DC's and three BNSF Dash 9's) highball this stack train towards the windy city.

Wow, they just keep on rolling through. Right behind the last eastbound is an autorack train heading east, destined for LPC. From a far distance, I could tell there was a Santa Fe leading. What better place to film it than at one of the ATSF cantilevers in Verona. Classic scene right here! Trailing are a pair of BNSF Dash 9's and a BNSF ES44DC.

Yet another eastbound was right behind the Santa Fe. A stack train rolls along, powered by six BNSF Dash 9's. Filmed in between Kinsman and Verona.

Unbelievably so, right after the eastbound went out of sight, a westbound slowly came into sight. This stack train from Chicago is powered by three BNSF Dash 9's. Filmed just west of downtown Verona (if you call it downtown!)

In Kernan, I saw an eastbound way far away. Three BNSF Dash 9's and a BNSF ES44DC lead this intermodal towards Willow Springs. I love how you can still hear the horn as the train is miles away.

Now, on the outer edges of Streator, an eastbound appeared. A BNSF Dash 9 and a BNSF ES44DC power this stack train under the pair of classic ATSF signal bridges.

Next, I was off to the Route 23 overpass in Streator. A westbound intermodal crosses over from Main 2 to Main 1, powered by three BNSF ES44DC's and a BNSF SD70ACe.

At M.P. 97.1, in between Toluca and Ancona, we see a westbound intermodal making its way through the open. A BNSF ES44DC and three BNSF Dash 9's are in charge.

Now, in Ancona, the Q NYCLAC was next up, powered by a pair of NS C40-9W's and a veteran NS C40-9.

As the gates were going down in Streator, the driver of the SUV thought that it would be a really great idea to hurry across. In the process, he/she came close to the gate coming down on them. Three BNSF ES44DC's and a pair of BNSF Dash 9's are in charge of this Willow Springs bound intermodal.

How's this for luck? The NS Kankakee Line sees one train a day (if everyday) and it's a little B11 local. He had apparently been sitting in town the entire time I was at the diamonds for the last eastbound. As I was leaving, I heard him calling the BNSF dispatcher, looking for permission to cross the BNSF. Had it not been for that scanner conversation, I'd have missed the train. The NS local slowly heads east with a really nice EMD lash-up. NS GP40-2's 3051 and 3028, along with NS GP38-3 5809 are in charge. Cool horn as well! After he passed, I hopped into the car and made it to the wye in town and got him again.

I was nearing Kernan, as I saw a westbound light appear. Three BNSF Dash 9's slowly lead a stack train.

Now, in Verona, a westbound appeared. This stacker is moving right along, powered by a pair of BNSF Dash 9's.

Now, in Coal City, an eastbound intermodal highballs through town, powered by a BNSF ES44DC, a BNSF Dash 9 and an oddly placed BNSF GP38-2.


The westbound L CHI102 was next up at Coal City, powered by a BNSF B40-8W and the SD40-2 duo.

A very fun day, indeed! (less info)