Dakota Minnesota and Eastern, C and NW and Burlington Northern Locomotives Move Trains

 This Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern SD40-2 carries freight on its way from Rapid City.

In the Twin Cities, we see a Chicago and North Western GP15-1 moving a local train.

Meanwhile, a Burlington Northern SD60M heads west with a general merchandise train.

Railroads of Des Moines 1 Rock Island, Iowa Interstate, Chicago and North Western

In my Railroad Cities series, I focus on cities across America and railroads that served them through the years.  Historically, Des Moines has been served by many railroads.  

Rock Island was known as the "Route of the Rockets."  It's rails connected cities throughout the Midwest and reached as far west as Denver and Tucumcari, New Mexico.  Rock Island out of business in 1980, and its rails are either abandoned , made into rail trails, or served by various short line and regional railroads such as today's Iowa Interstate, our second locomotive.

Iowa Interstate, based in Cedar Rapids, was formed in 1984.  As its name states, it served cities throughout the State of Iowa, connecting Chicago to Council Bluffs. Short line and regional railroads such as Iowa Interstate provide first mile/last mile service that interchange freight to larger Class 1 Railroads who take the freight across North America to customers, other short lines, and to ports. 

Our third locomotive is from the Chicago and North Western.  Chicago and North Western also connected many of the cities throughout the Midwest.  It is now a part of today's Union Pacific.

See my Railroads of Des Moines poster at my website, customtrains.org

 

Railroad Museum Locomotive Narratives: Santa Fe, Chicago and North Western, Pennsylvania Railroad

I have a new Railroad Museum Locomotive Narratives series featuring my artwork on my YouTube channel. I started with the Santa Fe 347 B and C at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, the Chicago & North Western GP7 #1518 at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois and the Pennsylvania Railroad K4s #1361 at the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Let me know what other locomotives and museums you would like me to feature. Watch the video at https://youtu.be/on5N9eOgpCU?si=oM_LTx7VpLvtYXpW

 

Railroads of Des Moines by Andy Fletcher

Through the years, Des Moines has been served by many railroads. Enjoy my Railroads of Des Moines Railroad Narrative #1 about Rock Island, Iowa Interstate Railroad and Chicago & North Western on my Andy Fletcher Trains YouTube https://youtu.be/EpPfCOD1sFU?si=gtZFcwh37gZZ-iXk

 

Railroads of Minneapolis Railroad Narrative by Andy Fletcher

In my Railroads of Minneapolis Railroad Narrative, we see my artwork of a Burlington Northern SD70MAC, a Chicago and North Western GP15-1 and a Soo Line SD40-2.  The Chicago and North Western GP15-1 is painted with the Operation Lifesaver logo which reminds us to cross tracks safely at designated crossings and not to trespass on railroad property.  Watch my Railroads of Minneapolis Railroad Narrative on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/VpHtpwB_hgM

See my Burlington Northern, Chicago and North Western and Soo Line artwork at customtrains.org 

 

Chicago Great Western Locomotives at Oelwein, Iowa

These Chicago Great Western locomotives move trains at Oelwein, Iowa.  The SD40 prepares to lead a train of hopper cars to the Twin Cities.  Chicago Great Western would become part of the Chicago and North Western, however however many C and NW lines were in better repair and were more direct, so much of the CGW is no longer in service.

 

A Chicago and North Western Train Heads To Proviso Yard

A Chicago and North Western train heads towards Proviso Yard.  Today's train has the Wyoming Centennial C40-8 in its consist.

See my Chicago and North Western artwork at customtrains.org

 

Chicago and North Western SD60 8044 by Andy Fletcher

Chicago and North Western SD60 8044 was the first Chicago and North Western locomotive I drew.  At the time, I had just returned back to California from my 1991 trip to Chicago and had seen both C and NW SD60s and C40-8s in Nebraska while staying with friends.  Chicago and North Western 8044 was a great candidate to begin my fleet of Chicago and North Western drawings.

See my Chicago and North Western artwork at customtrains.org

 

Chicago And North Western Train Heads To The Steel Mills

This Chicago and North Western train heads to the steel mills in Chicago.  The rear GP38-2 has a broom mounted to its nose to sweep snow from the switches on this snowy day as the local train does its chores.

This train is carrying scrap from local industries to the mill and returning empty coil steel cars to carry finished steel.

See my Chicago and North Western artwork at customtrains.org

 

A Union Pacific Freight Train Heads For Interchange With Chicago and North Western

These Union Pacific locomotives lead a general merchandise for interchange with the Chicago and North Western.  At Chicago, many of the train's carloads will be interchanged to CSX.

See my Union Pacific, Chicago and North Western and CSX artwork at http://www.customtrains.org
Visit my eBay store at https://www.ebay.com/str/andyfletchercustomtrains

Locomotives of Chicago and North Western

Chicago and North Western served the Midwest and the Great Lakes states.  These Chicago and North Western locomotives worked a variety of freight and passenger trains across the Chicago and North Western system through several eras.

See my Chicago and North Western artwork at http://www.customtrains.org/chicago---north-western-railroad-.html

Chicago and North Western Locomotives Poster by Andy Fletcher

Chicago and North Western served the Midwest and the Great Lakes Region.  C and NW connected agriculture, mining and industry and connected people and places with trains such as The "400."

See my Chicago & North Western artwork at http://www.customtrains.org/chicago---north-western-railroad-.html

A Chessie System Train Heads From Chicago to Cincinnati

This Chessie System train heads from Chicago to Cincinnati. It carries carloads of tools from Chicago, carloads of furniture interchanged from points west from Union Pacific via Chicago and North Western and carloads of toys from Burlington Northern. Chessie System is part of today's CSX. #WhyWeNeedTrains

To see my Chessie System artwork, visit my website customtrains.org

The Milwaukee Road Hiawatha at Chicago Union Station

At Chicago Union Station, the Afternoon Hiawatha prepares to depart for Milwaukee and the Twin Cities. With the sound of highball, the 4-6-4 Baltic begins its northward trek in competition with the Chicago and North Western "400." 

To see many of my Milwaukee Road drawings, visit my website customtrains.org

Railroad Celebration of 4th of July Engines: Bicentennial Locomotives #1

Many of our nation's railroads painted locomotives to celebrate our Bicentennial in 1976.  My railroad celebration of 4th of July engines begins with locomotives painted for Detroit, Toledo and Ironton, Norfolk and Western, Chicago and North Western, Erie Lackawanna and Illinois Central Gulf.  Have a Happy Fourth.

To see my railroad posters, visit my website customtrains.org

Trains of Iowa-Chicago Great Western and Chicago & North Western

Trains of Iowa served connected agriculture and industry.  Out on the plains, we witnessed mile-long Chicago Great Western trains behind four or even five F-units, with the hum of the motors on refrigerated piggyback trailers as Iowa beef headed to market.  From across the Missouri River at Omaha onto Chicago, Chicago Great Western's eventual successor Chicago and North Western connected the trains of the +Union Pacific.


To see my 11"x17" Trains of Iowa poster, visit my website customtrains.org and/or my eBay store

A Union Pacific Freight Train Heads For Omaha at North Platte

A +Union Pacific  freight train heads for Omaha at North Platte, Nebraska.  Today's train has carloads bound for interchange with the Chicago and North Western, some of which are destined for +CSX .

To see my Union Pacific 11"x17" posters, visit my website customtrains.org and/or my eBay store

A Chessie System Train Heads Towards Deshler, Ohio at Gary, Indiana

This Chessie System train heads towards Deshler, Ohio from Gary, Indiana with traffic from Burlington Northern and Chicago and North Western.  Chessie System is part of today's +CSX

To see my Chessie System 11"x17" posters, visit my website, customtrains.org and/or my eBay store

A Chicago & North Western Freight Train at Marshalltown, Iowa

A Chicago and North Western train heads towards Chicago at Marshalltown, Iowa.   Marshalltown was home to a locomotive facility for the Chicago and North Western.  Today's train carries coal from the Powder River Basin and grain from across the Great Plains.  Chicago and North Western is part of today's Union Pacific.

To see my Chicago and North Western 11"x17" poster, visit my website customtrains.org and/or my eBay store

Oakes Ames, The Union Pacific, and a Grain Train at Ames, Iowa

A Union Pacific grain train crosses the former Chicago and North Western trackage at Ames, Iowa.  Today's consist includes Union Pacific's Chicago and North Western Heritage SD70ACe #1995.  

Ames, Iowa is named for Oakes Ames.  Oakes Ames knew the importance of the First Transcontinental Railroad and saw that the Union Pacific got built.

To see my Union Pacific 11"x17" poster, visit my website customtrains.org and/or my eBay store