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8/27/2024
 
 
 
 
 
By:Tony Held
Dates:8/7/2022 - 7/26/2024
Album Info:More train stuff from beyond the Twin Cities.
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A Still Standin' CGW Depot
Title:  A Still Standin' CGW Depot
Description:  The Randolph depot is "still standin' after all this time" as Sir Elton John sang. Now a private residence, the station was surrounded by a sea of quiet on Memorial Day weekend 2023.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/11/2023 8:21:51 PM
Location:  Randolph, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Station,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  30   Comments: 0
The Milwaukee/Great Western Diamond
Title:  The Milwaukee/Great Western Diamond
Description:  The old Milwaukee Road/Chicago Great Western diamond soaks up the sun on the tranquil Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend 2023.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 6/23/2023 12:42:08 PM
Location:  Faribault, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  80   Comments: 0
Where A Signal Once Stood
Title:  Where A Signal Once Stood
Description:  West of the old CGW/MILW crossing is this base for a signal which once guarded the crossing.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 8/4/2023 8:17:31 PM
Location:  Faribault, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  35   Comments: 0
Looking West on the old CGW
Title:  Looking West on the old CGW
Description:  A look west along the old CGW from the Great Western/Milwaukee Road diamond captures CBFX 1101 in the distance, creating the illusion of a train coming east from Mankato, just like in the days Great Western rails ran to that riverside town.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 6/23/2023 12:41:22 PM
Location:  Faribault, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Track
Locomotives:  CBFX 1101(SW1001)
Views:  93   Comments: 0
Red Duo
Title:  Red Duo
Description:  The CPKC Northfield job's red duo waits for its crew to return on a partly-sunny Sunday in May.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 11:50:07 PM
Location:  Northfield, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Yard
Locomotives:  CP 5022(SD30C-ECO) CP 5020(SD30C-ECO)
Views:  25   Comments: 0
PGR And CPKC
Title:  PGR And CPKC
Description:  Progressive Rail's Northfield-based power sits either at rest or stored at left while CPKC's Northfield Job cools its wheels on the beauteous Sunday of Memorial Day weekend 2023.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 6/23/2023 12:53:53 PM
Location:  Northfield, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Yard
Locomotives:  ILSX 1401(GP15-1) PGR 40(SD39) CP 5020(SD30C-ECO) CP 5022(SD30C-ECO)
Views:  149   Comments: 0
Northfield Power Closeup
Title:  Northfield Power Closeup
Description:  A closeup view of the Can Pac Casey's Northfield power reveals how clean these beauties are.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 6/23/2023 12:53:03 PM
Location:  Northfield, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Yard
Locomotives:  CP 5020(SD30C-ECO) CP 5022(SD30C-ECO)
Views:  65   Comments: 0
Low Angle Sure Is The Way To Go!
Title:  Low Angle Sure Is The Way To Go!
Description:  Oh man... Taking shots of trains from a low angle sure is the way to go! Look how dramatic the Northfield job's power looks, even while sitting still awaiting the crew's return on a lovely Sunday in May.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 11:50:53 PM
Location:  Northfield, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Yard
Locomotives:  CP 5020(SD30C-ECO) CP 5022(SD30C-ECO)
Views:  20   Comments: 0
CPKC Northfield Run
Title:  CPKC Northfield Run
Description:  The CPKC's Northfield run sits beneath sunny skies while the crew apparently was out to lunch on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend 2023.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 6/23/2023 12:50:09 PM
Location:  Northfield, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Yard
Locomotives: 
Views:  26   Comments: 0
Dig That Sign!
Title:  Dig That Sign!
Description:  The Depot Bar and Grill sure has a snappy, Rock Island-themed sign. Nice touch, man.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 8/4/2023 8:19:34 PM
Location:  Faribault, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Station
Locomotives: 
Views:  29   Comments: 0
"Great Weedy" All Over Again
Title:  "Great Weedy" All Over Again
Description:  This piece of former Chicago Great Western track curves into and ends at Faribault Foods. What was once the main line is now occupied by a short trail north of here, complete with two trestles over the Cannon River. Progressive Rail has moved shipments for Faribault Foods down to the Faribault Industrial Park, though this piece of the "Great Weedy" seems to be safe regardless.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 8/4/2023 8:15:49 PM
Location:  Faribault, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  55   Comments: 0
"Great Weedy" Redux
Title:  "Great Weedy" Redux
Description:  The east end of the surviving stretch of Chicago Great Western track curves eastward past Second Avenue Northwest down by Faribault Foods. The weeds along the line call the CGW's "Great Weedy" nickname to mind.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 8/4/2023 8:15:23 PM
Location:  Faribault, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  49   Comments: 0
DME Vet Through The Trees
Title:  DME Vet Through The Trees
Description:  A view through the trees of this Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern vet which has now traded blue and gold for blue and white (photo not taken from railway property, btw).
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 11:52:51 PM
Location:  Northfield, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Roster,Yard
Locomotives:  ILSX 1311(GP38)
Views:  17   Comments: 0
PGR's New Kids
Title:  PGR's New Kids
Description:  Progressive Rail's new power for the Jesse James line takes a breather on the Sunday of Memorial Day 2023.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 11:51:51 PM
Location:  Northfield, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Yard
Locomotives:  ILSX 1401(GP15-1) ILSX 1311(GP38)
Views:  23   Comments: 0
Yellow Unit, Blue Unit
Title:  Yellow Unit, Blue Unit
Description:  Progressive Rail's new Jesse James line power soaks up the sun at the Northfield yard while enjoying a Sunday off. (Photo was not taken from any railroad property, btw.)
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 11:54:08 PM
Location:  Northfield, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories: 
Locomotives:  ILSX 1401(GP15-1) ILSX 1311(GP38)
Views:  23   Comments: 0
The Switch That Ended The "Grand Tour"
Title:  The Switch That Ended The "Grand Tour"
Description:  This is the switch off the old Mileaukee Road that saved Chicago and North Western crews from taking the "grand tour of Faribault", which took them on a roundabout loop about town to serve industries along the old Chicago Great Western. After this switch was in, all they had to do was come down from the north on the old Milwaukee Road, get off here, and get to work. Now Progressive Rail traverses this same switch during its runs on tjhe old Great Western.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 11:18:13 PM
Location:  Faribault, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  18   Comments: 0
Diamond Detail
Title:  Diamond Detail
Description:  A detail shot of the old Milwaukee Road/Chicago Great Western diamond on Faribault's north side. The fact on Progressive Rail operates here has kept this diamond in good shape.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 6/23/2023 12:43:01 PM
Location:  Faribault, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  59   Comments: 0
Hey, That's My Name!
Title:  Hey, That's My Name!
Description:  Always nice to see my name on a train station. :-) (Faribault's former Milwaukee Road depot, in this case.)
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/18/2023 9:10:33 PM
Location:  Faribault, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Station
Locomotives: 
Views:  25   Comments: 0
I Did It Again
Title:  I Did It Again
Description:  When I first visited Faribault's Milwaukee Road depot in the summer of 1995, I was so taken by the name stamped on the platform's bricks that (to my brother's bemusement!) I snapped a picture. Revisiting the depot with my railfan friend Andy in 2023, I snapped another photo of these bricks, because I'd forgotten the name stamped on them: Flint Co. That brickmaker sure took pride in its work, no?
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/18/2023 9:09:43 PM
Location:  Faribault, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Station
Locomotives: 
Views:  36   Comments: 0
Revival Delayed
Title:  Revival Delayed
Description:  A shipper was about to have Progressive Rail transport aggregate from down by the old Milwaukee Road depot when, alas, the COVID pandemic struck and put paid to that customer. The tracks were being groomed for revival, but now the weeds have returned. Hopefully that shipper will try again soon, reviving these old Milwaukee rails.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/18/2023 9:09:08 PM
Location:  Faribault, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Station,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  45   Comments: 0
Milwaukee Depot On A Sunday
Title:  Milwaukee Depot On A Sunday
Description:  Faribault's Milwaukee Road depot was decked out for the Memorial Day weekend on a pleasant late May Sunday when my railfan friend Andy and I paid a visit.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/18/2023 9:08:23 PM
Location:  Faribault, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Station
Locomotives: 
Views:  13   Comments: 0
Still Mothballed
Title:  Still Mothballed
Description:  The old Milwaukee Road I&M is still mothballed south of the switch connecting the Milwaukee to the old Chicago Great Western track now operated by Progressive Rail. May the thunder return one day!
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 6/23/2023 12:49:19 PM
Location:  Faribault, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  63   Comments: 0
A Great Future For The Great Western?
Title:  A Great Future For The Great Western?
Description:  This pile of ties at the west end of the old Chicago Great Western in Faribault signaled a great future for this surviving stretch of the Great Western.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 11:19:54 PM
Location:  Faribault, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  17   Comments: 0
Look At All Those Ties!
Title:  Look At All Those Ties!
Description:  Well, this was a nice sight to see. Progressive Rail sure is plowing money into the old Chicago Great Western track in Faribault!
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 11:22:15 PM
Location:  Faribault, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  20   Comments: 0
Golden Oldie Through The Trees
Title:  Golden Oldie Through The Trees
Description:  A view of Progresive Raill's Minneapolis, Northfield, and Southern golden oldies SD39 through the trees (photo not taken on railroad property, btw).
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 11:55:45 PM
Location:  Northfield, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Roster,Yard
Locomotives:  PGR 40(SD39)
Views:  25   Comments: 0
From Alcos To EMDs
Title:  From Alcos To EMDs
Description:  PGR 67 sits in repose at the old MN Malting plant (now a transload center) on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend 2023. And so Alco switchers have given way to EMD ones on this part of the old Chicago Great Western.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 5/30/2023 10:12:55 AM
Location:  Cannon Falls, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  PGR 67(SW1500)
Views:  96   Comments: 0
Inside The Old Malting Plant
Title:  Inside The Old Malting Plant
Description:  Progressive Rail 67 sits tucked inside the old Minnesota Malting plant, now a transload center, on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend 2023.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 5/30/2023 10:12:27 AM
Location:  Cannon Falls, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  PGR 67(SW1500)
Views:  90   Comments: 0
One More Angle
Title:  One More Angle
Description:  A parked locomotive is always good for one more angle, especially when you have plenty of time to set your shots up. PGR 74 sure looks cool from this perspective.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/11/2023 9:08:26 PM
Location:  Randolph, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Roster,Yard
Locomotives:  PGR 74(SW1500)
Views:  58   Comments: 0
"Hello Highway Man"
Title:  "Hello Highway Man"
Description:  A roster shot taken from a low angle reveals how majestic this unit can look. And that sign sure is bold advertising!
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/11/2023 8:29:38 PM
Location:  Randolph, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Roster,Yard
Locomotives:  PGR 74(SW1500)
Views:  172   Comments: 1
Still Stationed On The Old Great Western
Title:  Still Stationed On The Old Great Western
Description:  PGR 74 remains stationed on the old Chicago Great Western at Randolph, a sleepy town whose railway scene Progressive Rail is dynamically turning around. This scene is from Memorial Day weekend 2023.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/11/2023 8:28:28 PM
Location:  Randolph, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Roster,RollingStock,Yard
Locomotives:  PGR 74(SW1500)
Views:  73   Comments: 0
Nice Milepost
Title:  Nice Milepost
Description:  Progressive Rail has installed some classy mileposts along the old Chicago Great Western between Northfield and Cannon Falls. This one can be found in Waterford, near a public works building.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/11/2023 8:32:18 PM
Location:  Waterford, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  18   Comments: 0
Quiet Yard On A Sunday Afternoon
Title:  Quiet Yard On A Sunday Afternoon
Description:  All was quiet at the former Chicago Great Western yard in Randolph on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend 2023. The yard is now half the size it once was, but that hasn't impeded current operator Progressive Rail any in breathing new life into this spot on the old Great Western.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/11/2023 8:22:11 PM
Location:  Randolph, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Yard
Locomotives:  PGR 74(SW1500)
Views:  65   Comments: 0
To The South
Title:  To The South
Description:  A look to the south from up in the yard on Memorial Day weekend 2023. The CGW's main line occupied the area where the blue building at left now stands.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/11/2023 9:06:47 PM
Location:  Randolph, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Yard
Locomotives: 
Views:  31   Comments: 0
Hail The Rock Island!
Title:  Hail The Rock Island!
Description:  The Rock Island logo and "Faribault" station sign adorn the north side of The Depot Bar and Grill, located right next to the patio, which in turn is next to the Spine Line. To think The Rock lives again as a short line in Mississippi! That would be something worth hoisting a beer or two for at the Depot. :-)
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 8/4/2023 8:37:41 PM
Location:  Faribault, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Station
Locomotives: 
Views:  35   Comments: 0
Nice Touch
Title:  Nice Touch
Description:  The Depot Bar and Grill, housed in the old Rock Island depot, now has this nifty, RI-painted "Food Caboose" for nearby events. I'd love to line up at this baby sometime! :-)
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 8/4/2023 8:20:41 PM
Location:  Faribault, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  48   Comments: 0
"CP U312 S. Northfield"
Title:  "CP U312 S. Northfield"
Description:  Sign on the power box for the signals at Northfield yard's south end.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 11:57:06 PM
Location:  Northfield, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  6   Comments: 0
All Quiet On The Spine Line
Title:  All Quiet On The Spine Line
Description:  The Spine Line was all quiet when my friend Andy and I visited Faribault on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend 2023. Here we are looking north from The Depot Bar and Grill towards the Straight River bridge.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 8/4/2023 8:10:58 PM
Location:  Faribault, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Bridge,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  35   Comments: 0
The Depot on a Sunday Afternoon
Title:  The Depot on a Sunday Afternoon
Description:  Apparently The Depot Bar and Grill, operating out of the old Rock Island depot on the Spine Line, isn't open Sundays. At least it wasn't open on the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend 2023, when my friend Andy and I paid a visit. No matter. The station was as cool as ever.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 8/4/2023 8:10:24 PM
Location:  Faribault, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Station,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  39   Comments: 0
Uncle Pete On The CGW
Title:  Uncle Pete On The CGW
Description:  The trailing unit on a parked empty Union Pacific grain train awaiting a post-weekend Progressive Rail crew sits powered down on what was once the Chicago Great Western's route to Red Wing.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/11/2023 8:34:47 PM
Location:  Waterford, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories: 
Locomotives:  UP 5393(AC45CCTE)
Views:  30   Comments: 0
Uncle Pete And Dame's Rocket
Title:  Uncle Pete And Dame's Rocket
Description:  My railfan outing companion Andy pointed out the Dame's Rocket (right foreground) floruishing along the old CGW and encouraged me to snap a photo of them, so I worked some of those flowers into this shot of the tail end of an empty Uncle Pete grain train awaiting to be crewed and loaded at Randolph after the weekend was over.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/11/2023 8:35:16 PM
Location:  Waterford, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Scenic
Locomotives:  UP 5393(AC45CCTE)
Views:  30   Comments: 0
Big Power On The CGW
Title:  Big Power On The CGW
Description:  Two big GEs sit on the point of a parked empty grain train bound for Randolph for loading once the weekend was over. Who could have guessed that the rickety former Chicago Great Western rails here would one day be spruced up so good, big motive power could traverse them?
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/11/2023 8:37:03 PM
Location:  Waterford, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories: 
Locomotives:  UP 8019(AC45CCTE) UP 5611(AC44CWCTE)
Views:  81   Comments: 0
Big Grain Train On The Old Great Western
Title:  Big Grain Train On The Old Great Western
Description:  Awaiting a post-weekend crew, a big grain train bound for the loading facility at Randolph waits beneath mild skies on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend 2023.
Photo Date:  5/28/2023  Upload Date: 7/11/2023 8:37:50 PM
Location:  Waterford, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories: 
Locomotives:  UP 8019(AC45CCTE) UP 5611(AC44CWCTE)
Views:  81   Comments: 0
An Alco Line Catch At Last!
Title:  An Alco Line Catch At Last!
Description:  I'd frequently failed to catch anything on the old Alco Line between Owatonna and Rochester for years until, at last, this golden oldie fell into my hands. The unit was apparently being used for switching at Claremont's ethanol plant, Al-Corn Clean Fuel. This baby is my first "tunnel motor" in quite awhile too.
Photo Date:  7/15/2023  Upload Date: 7/18/2023 9:02:02 PM
Location:  Claremont, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  NPR 2852(SD40T-2)
Views:  50   Comments: 0
Waiting On A Hazy Evening
Title:  Waiting On A Hazy Evening
Description:  An ex-UP SD40T-2 waits down by the ethanol plant on a quiet, hazy Saturday evening in Claremont.
Photo Date:  7/15/2023  Upload Date: 7/18/2023 9:01:35 PM
Location:  Claremont, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  NPR 2852(SD40T-2)
Views:  42   Comments: 0
"Fairfax"
Title:  "Fairfax"
Description:  The east end of the Fairfax depot. I pesume a "Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway" sign once was affixed above the "Fairfax" sign, judging by the space over it.
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 8/15/2023 9:18:10 PM
Location:  Fairfax, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Station
Locomotives: 
Views:  26   Comments: 0
Closed For The Day
Title:  Closed For The Day
Description:  The Fairfax Depot Museum was, alas, closed when my friend Andy and I visited. The museum is currently open on Sunday afternoons, but as we visited on a Saturday due to the weather forecast, we had to miss out on touring the place.
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 8/15/2023 9:18:59 PM
Location:  Fairfax, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Station
Locomotives: 
Views:  33   Comments: 0
The Signal Stands Tall
Title:  The Signal Stands Tall
Description:  The train order signal at the Fairfax Depot Museum stands tall on a Saturday afternoon.
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 8/15/2023 9:19:42 PM
Location:  Fairfax, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Signal,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  17   Comments: 0
All Quiet On The Main
Title:  All Quiet On The Main
Description:  All was quiet on the main line of the old Louie down by the Fairfax depot on the afternoon of the first Saturday of August, 2023.
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 8/15/2023 9:20:49 PM
Location:  Fairfax, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Station,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  31   Comments: 0
Love That Sign
Title:  Love That Sign
Description:  I love that "Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway" sign on the west end of the Fairfax depot. What a nice touch!
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 8/15/2023 9:22:28 PM
Location:  Fairfax, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Station
Locomotives: 
Views:  34   Comments: 0
Vintage Grain Elevator
Title:  Vintage Grain Elevator
Description:  Farmers Co-Op Elevator Co. No 2 stands tall by the old Minneapolis & St. Louis in downtown Fairfax on a quiet Saturday afternoon.
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 8/15/2023 9:23:02 PM
Location:  Fairfax, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  27   Comments: 0


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