I took US Highway 20 to west of South Bend, to Indiana Highway 2, which I took to Interstate 94 West to Interstate 80, which I took all the way to Ottawa, Illinois. I stopped at a KFC for lunch and then checked into the Red Roof Inn in Ottawa. I worked on one of the stories from the trip and at 2:45 PM, drove north to the BNSF mainline in Earlville.
The former Chicago, Burlington and Quincy station in Earlville.
The westbound California Zephyr passed through town.
BNSF 6226 West was next through here.
That was followed by BNSF 4350 West.
Earlville scene.
The westbound Southwest Chief with private car "Montana" on the rear. I drove back to Ottawa. stopped at Arby's to pick up some dinner to go then went off to explore.
The Rock Island station built in 1910. From there I found my last shortline of the trip, Illinois Railway. The Illinois Railway, a subsidiary of Omnitrax, commenced operations on May 1, 2005 after purchasing the Illinois Railnet from owner North American Railnet. Illinois Railway operates four separate former BNSF lines in Northern Illinois.
Some of the Illinois Railway motive power.
Hudson Bay Railway SD50 5009, ex. Omnitrax Leasing 5087, exx. National Railway Equipment 5087, exxx. Union Pacific 5087, nee Chicago and North Western 7027 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1985.
Illinois Railnet SW1500 1299, ex. Canadian Pacific Railway 1299, nee Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac 2 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1967.
Omnitrax Leasing SW14 1472, ex. Omnitrax Switching Services 1472, exx. Illinois Central 458, nee Illinois Central SW9 9458 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1951.
Illinois Railway SD45T-2 9238, ex. Alabama and Tennessee River Railway 9238, exx. Larry's Truck and Electric 9238, nee Southern Pacific 9238 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1972. From here I returned to the Red Roof Inn for the night.
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