Yard Operations and LIGHTNING FAST Trains In Galesburg, IL

In today's video we see a searchlight signal, yard operations at Galesburg's northern wye, a couple rare engines at the locomotive shops, and a few speedy trains in Cameron, IL.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Merch, anyone? okieprint.com/SPR/shop/home

[@AlikStansberry]

That SuperCab GP50 sure does stand out the way it does! I didn’t even know how rare those are actually. Yeah I bet 1755 essentially lives in Galesburg with how many times you’ve caught it there. The MACs and Triclops were nice to see, even if old power like that is often in and out of storage often.

[@kens.3729]

Galesburg, IL, is a Very Busy BNSF Yard in Central Illinois. It’s Cool to see so many Amtrak trains stop at the Station. Galesburg is a College (Arts) Town. 👍

[@chunkpowers]

Nice searchlight signal and it is a Distant signal too.

[@cxmx3295]

Cool video I learned a lot

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@Trainster5009]

I just saw one SuperCab GP50 #3159 recently in my hometown Sioux City IA.

[@chunkpowers]

Nice Catch on that Triclops.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thanks!

[@steverudder3321]

Back in the mid 90's, UP was coming thru my area replacing track signals with new ones. One night as I was driving the highway that runs beside the tracks,I spotted a searchlight signal sitting on the ground near the tracks. I felt compelled to try to save it from scrap. Since I was the only one around, I saw the perfect opportunity to get it. I pulled over, ran over to the signal, grabbed and started dragging it thru the gravel towards my pickup truck. I lowered the tailgate, but with all of my strength, I could not lift the signal! It must have weighed 200-300+ lbs! Sadly, I had to leave my opportunity behind. 😢 What a collectors item it would have been!

[@wildbill9919]

9:13 ln the "Classic Trains 1967-76" DVD, you can see ATSF trains going over CB&Q trains at that overpass.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

That’s super cool!

[@pauljensen5699]

The light power move wasn't two engineers, but a conductor and an engineer. I did get a kick of the UPS truck going past the UPS train. A good video, thank you.

[@Silver_Turtle]

Several years ago, BNSF constructed a "shoo-fly" track at Cameron which connected the two subdivisions. AMTRAK once had two stations in Galesburg; one for the "Southwest Chief" and one for the "California Zephyr." When AMTRAK decided to consolidate stations by using the former CB&Q line from Chicago to Galesburg, they needed a way for the "Chief" to get back on former ATSF track. This is where it could apparently be done easier. DISCLAIMER -- Live close to that area; and used to visit there frequently.

[@jacobpfeifertrains1998]

The key way to spot a dash 9 from an AC44 is the dynamics area. Dash 9s have only 2 vents and a short AC unit under it. AC44's have 2 or 3 dynamics and there is a longer box behind the cab on the conductors side that has the AC converters.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Cool! Thanks for the info.

[@jacobpfeifertrains1998]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan your welcome

[@bentheidioticnerd8993]

In the dash 9 section, I saw the second AC44C6M 4549 leading a train with a BNSF GEVO trailing.

[@paul06660]

I enjoy watching all your videos. Would like to see you do one on cabooses still in operation. Seems as if many RR's especially smaller ones are going back to using cabooses because it offers more safety for the brakeman / conductor than hanging off the side of a car. Also centerbeam flat cars aka window cars would be an interesting obscure RR car to discuss.

[@Shaun7186]

BNSF number 3158 to 3162 is still in service. I wish a model train company would make this engine especially when they was in the BN scheme

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

That’s good to know. Well, you could always do a kit-bash and make one from scratch if you want.

[@brysonfischerrailfan]

Those Intermodal sure fly past my rail fanning spot.

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

The cab on BNSF 3162 looks like something off a CF7. As for the AC44C6Ms on NS, they look like a C40-9/ES44AC hybrid to me.

[@GreenOverRed]

There is a doubleheaded searchlight signal on the east end of the Tacoma yard, here in Washington. I believe I have a pic of it on one of my community posts.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

That's cool!

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Great catches, Video and commentary from the Galesburg Illinois area. We go there quite frequently but not this year yet hopefully more next year. Enjoyed watching and have a nice rest of your Friday.(Steve)

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed the video! You have a good Friday as well.

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan Your very welcome and thank you also.

[@railfanmaximstill7279]

8:06 I just saw one trailing on a Southbound Manifest through Fremont actually.

[@robertf3479]

One nice thing about NS power is they usually have the current class stenciled right on the cab side. This helps old railfans like me who have trouble telling the various GE locomotives apart. I'm old enough that in the back of my mind they are all still classified as "U-Boats."

[@aidenwhite2838]

If you want to see more searchlight signals, go to Deshler, Ohio. There are multiple former Baltimore and Ohio signals that are still burning for CSX.

[@aperson7238]

unrelated but Galesburg was where omc made the lawnboy mowers from the late 50s to 1991

[@johnrobertfox7775]

WHUD UP LOVE YOUR VIDEOS ! THERE TWO SEARCH LIGHT SIGNALS WORKING IN SANTA FE SPRINGS , CALIFORNIA !

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you! I’m so happy you like the videos. Glad to hear those searchlight signals are still in use.

[@johnrobertfox7775]

10 - 4 GOOD BUDDY !

[@greaterhoustonrailfan]

7:37 The Locomotive behind the CP Is a BNSF ES44DC In H2, Which isn’t that common, nice catch!

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thanks! That’s cool, I didn’t know that.

[@cxmx3295]

I saw a search lite signal in Newton Kansas

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Neat!

[@kens.3729]

Hello! Great location to film. You mentioned three (3) Units for a Z train and two (2) Units for a Q train. Are you familiar with what an S train is ? Thanks! 👍

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Yes, but I haven't seen too many of them. I assume their priority level is somewhere between Q and Z, but I'm not entirely sure.

[@NorthernAlbertaRailfanner]

10:23 I seen those before, always wondered what those are. They pass me often. Pretty sure that's a bcol reporting mark centerbeam

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Yeah, I think its BCOL too. Its got that bluish-grey color that I've seen on other BCOL centerbeams.

[@NorthernAlbertaRailfanner]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan yeah, ive seen a few of those half-opera windows centerbeams before

[@oisiaa]

Do you live near Galesburg? You seem to have lots of videos from there.

[@Octa5501]

Gp50 huh nice

[@heatherjenkins1009]

Remember when there was a CP and a KCS

[@goldenplainsrailroadedits]

I seen maybe 64 of the that signals In iowa

[@johnwood2788]

If the brake lines are disconnect the train will not able move. I know this because both my dad and grandfather worked for the nkp/w&le

[@soupdragon12345]

What is the difference between a Q and Z train ? Other than number of engines . Thanks again.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Priority. Z trains are the highest priority freight trains on BNSF, and Q trains are a step down from them, so if a NB Z train and SB Q train are scheduled to meet, the Q train will take the siding while the Z train passes and doesn’t stop. You’re welcome!

[@alexander1485]

Just curious, do you do anything other than BNSF?

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Yep! I’ve got videos on Iowa Interstate, Canadian National, Norfolk Southern, KCS, Union Pacific, The Keokuk Junction Railway, CPKC, and maybe one more that I can’t remember off the top of my head.

[@stateoftexasrailfan]

You can also tell that it’s a Z-Train if it has Fed Ex containers on it the Q Train wouldn’t hav the Fed ex Containers Bnsf Wise.

[@greaterhoustonrailfan]

Dash 9s have shorter sides then ac44s :)

[@Collectorfirearms]

Didn’t trains used to go 90 mph?

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Passenger trains certainly would, and some still do like Amtraks’s Acela. As for freight, I think only select trains would break 75mph. I could be wrong though.

[@drubarlow]

1 like for the super cab GP50!

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Lol, thank you!

[@drubarlow]

FYI, BNSF 1755 is painted in the ATSF yellow bonnet paint scheme, not blue bonnet as mentioned. It's called "yellow bonnet" because the bonnet, or head end, of the locomotive is painted yellow. ATSF's blue bonnet scheme featured the head end painted blue , but it didnt last long based on the little bit of web research I've done.

[@Adam1nToronto]

Some foam over your microphone will do wonders

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Can it just be any old foam or would it be better to get that studio grade noise cancelling foam with the triangular shapes all over it?