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1/2/2025
 
 
 
 
 
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:  44   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:  42   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:  56   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:  45   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:  34   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:  61   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:  58   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:  31   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:  49   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:  54   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:  25   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:  28   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:  43   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:  55   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:  17   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:  27   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:  27   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:  39   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:  114   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:  111   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:  91   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:  44   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:  53   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:  10   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:  38   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:  44   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: 
Views:  62   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: 
Views:  58   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:  31   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:  39   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:  24   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:  37   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:  40   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:  34   Comments: 0
Welcome To Gaylord
Title:  Welcome To Gaylord
Description:  This station sign, like the one up the line in Hamburg, is a nice touch added by the Twin Cities & Western.
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 8/15/2023 9:11:03 PM
Location:  Gaylord, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  20   Comments: 0
Platform Still Looks Good
Title:  Platform Still Looks Good
Description:  On the east side of the Glencoe depot, the platform still looked good, and the sign okay, on this Saturday afternoon.
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 9:15:49 PM
Location:  Glencoe, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Station
Locomotives: 
Views:  8   Comments: 0
Sign Needs A Touch Up
Title:  Sign Needs A Touch Up
Description:  Well, the sign on the west side of the Glencoe depot could use a touch up, but otherwise the place looked good on this Saturday afternoon.
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 9:25:56 PM
Location:  Glencoe, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Station
Locomotives: 
Views:  8   Comments: 0
Joint Sign
Title:  Joint Sign
Description:  This joing Twin Cities & Western/Minnesota Prairie Line sign is a nice touch at the Glencoe depot.
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 9:20:02 PM
Location:  Glencoe, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Station
Locomotives: 
Views:  11   Comments: 0
Still Active
Title:  Still Active
Description:  This baby still looks active, judging by her paint and numberboards. Roll on some more, 2053!
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 9:30:10 PM
Location:  Glencoe, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  RRVW 2053(GP20C)
Views:  35   Comments: 0
Out To Pasture
Title:  Out To Pasture
Description:  This Red River Valley & Western veteran is now out to pasture after many years of service, cooling her wheels at Glencoe on a Saturday afternoon.
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 9:31:28 PM
Location:  Glencoe, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  RRVW 4105(GP15C)
Views:  29   Comments: 0
Empty Grain
Title:  Empty Grain
Description:  A westbound empty grain train idles on the main line east of Franklin on a Saturday afternoon.
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 8/15/2023 9:28:10 PM
Location:  Franklin, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  65   Comments: 0
What's Next, 1206?
Title:  What's Next, 1206?
Description:  Well, last I saw the 1206, her stacks appeared uncapped. Does this Dakota Rail/Milwaukee Road vet still have some kind of future someplace on the TC&W?
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 9:33:40 PM
Location:  Glencoe, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  TCWR 1206(SW9)
Views:  41   Comments: 0
End Of The Line
Title:  End Of The Line
Description:  Sadly, it looks like the end of the line for this Santa Fe gem. Here she sits in the Glencoe dead line on a Saturday afternoon.
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 9:35:05 PM
Location:  Glencoe, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  TCWR 1503(CF7)
Views:  50   Comments: 0
Still Running
Title:  Still Running
Description:  This unit is still runing beyond a doubt. TC&W 2020 soaks up a splash of sunshine on a partly sunny Saturday afternoon in Glencoe.
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 9:35:58 PM
Location:  Glencoe, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  TCWR 2020(GP38-2)
Views:  43   Comments: 0
No More Miles
Title:  No More Miles
Description:  Twin Cities & Western 4300 has, alas, run her last miles. Now she's at Glencoe, awaiting her final disposition.
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 9:42:02 PM
Location:  Glencoe, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  TCWR 4300(GP30C)
Views:  50   Comments: 0
Farewell
Title:  Farewell
Description:  No more miles for the 4301 either. Here she sits in the dead line on a Saturday afternoon, marking time until her final disposition.
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 9:48:27 PM
Location:  Glencoe, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories: 
Locomotives:  TCWR 4301(GP30C)
Views:  43   Comments: 0
Hello Again!
Title:  Hello Again!
Description:  My friend Andy and I hadn't seen this Twin Cities & Western vet in a while.
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 8/15/2023 9:28:38 PM
Location:  Franklin, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives: 
Views:  58   Comments: 0
Out To Pasture Too?
Title:  Out To Pasture Too?
Description:  Is this TC&W snowplow out to pasture along with RRV&W 4105, or just parked? Taken at Glencoe on a Saturday afternoon.
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 7/23/2024 9:39:54 PM
Location:  Glencoe, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  RRVW 4105(GP15C)
Views:  24   Comments: 0
Heading For The MPL
Title:  Heading For The MPL
Description:  The engineer aboard a westbound TC&W-crewed UP ethanol train bound for Wintrhop gets the train in motion again while a Twin Cities & Western pickup truck (at right) carries the train's conductor down to the switch for the Minnesota Prairie Line. There the conductor will unlock the switch and reboard the train, leaving the TC&W employee in the truck to close the switch once the train's last car has entered the MPL.
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 8/15/2023 8:52:57 PM
Location:  Norwood Young Americ, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CSX 7021(CM44AC) UP 7347(AC45CCTE) UP 3059(SD70AH-T4)
Views:  126   Comments: 0
Pausing At Tacoma
Title:  Pausing At Tacoma
Description:  The engineer aboard a westbound Twin Cities & Western-crewed Union Pacific ethanol train brings it to a stop at Tacoma Avenue late on a Saturday afternoon so the conductor can ride the TC&W pickup truck (bottom right) down to unlock the switch for the Minnesota Prairie Line.
Photo Date:  8/5/2023  Upload Date: 8/15/2023 8:51:34 PM
Location:  Norwood Young Americ, MN
Author:  Tony Held
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CSX 7021(CM44AC) UP 7347(AC45CCTE) UP 3059(SD70AH-T4)
Views:  131   Comments: 0


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