Larry''s Truck Electric (LTEX) 1434 - EMD GP15-1

A front shot of the GP15. Westward we continue!

And just like that, the much anticipated trip of the year was finally here. I am an assistant director with our churchs youth group, and this past summer, I was invited to attend the Higher Things Conference at Concordia University Nebraska in Seward, NE as a chaperone for our youth group. For all of those who are unaware, Higher Things is a set of 3 conferences held every year bringing LCMS Lutheran Youth from all across the US to learn, worship, and grow in Christs Word and Sacraments. Originally, I was supposed to drive our youth group out there in a rental van. But, that later became an impossible option. So, I got the greenlight to go out there myself and meet them. And you cant travel that far without getting some trains here and there! Originally, I was just going to watch trains heading back home from the conference. But, thanks to hernia surgery in June, I was on an extended leave from work that would be coming to an end once I got home from the conference, so I was able to plug in some days of train watching before the conference as well. Early (about 4 AM early) in the morning on the Fourth of July, I set out and began my 15 day journey to Seward and back. I had three days of trains before the conference and another seven afterwards to watch trains for the whole day, and I had plenty of stops in mind. The goal for the first few days was to follow the UP Overland Route, then after the conference to stay solely on the ex-Burlington Ravenna, Creston, Ottumwa, and Mendota Subdivisions. With Rochelle as my overlay point on the first day, I knew I would have a little time to kill here and there grabbing some trains on my way west and north to the UP. Daylight began to break once I hit Rochester. So, I made a quick pitstop to photograph the Rochester and Erie GP15. All is quiet now, but they would be working later in the day in town.

We had gotten word that a TP&W eastbound had departed Hoosier Lift bound for Logansport with CFE 3316, a SD40T-2 "tunnel motor" on the front. So we grabbed Nick one final time at CR 350N north of Rochester, and the four of us following made our way south to Logansport, then west from there on US 24.

Nick leans into the curve at CR 550N south of Tiosa.

L61 heads back south skirting the Tiosa Pond.

Nick gives out a big wave as L61 crosses over CR 200E south of Walnut.

Wide shot of the train crossing over Main Street in Walnut.

L61 works through the weeds as they come into Walnut.

L61 exists the tree tunnel at 19th Road north of Walnut.

A wider shot including the "yard limits" sign, which we believe is at least N&W era. Apparently it was dug out of the dirt just down from the crossing.

Nick lets out a little "poof" as the train begins their climb up the hill at 18th Road.

With the outbound built, L61 departs Argos Yard, passing the N&W No Trespassing sign.

The train was split into two sets of cars, so they had to grab one set, then reverse to grab the second set.

After dropping off their inbound on track 5, L61 comes back to the west side of the yard and grabs their outbound train on Track 4.

The train enters the NS yard in Argos at CP Juniper.

L61 crosses 18th Road, the final crossing before the train enters the NS yard in Argos.

L61 passes a NKP era whistle post at 19th Road north of Walnut.

L61 crosses IN 110 on the south side of Walnut.

L61 skirts north behind the pond in Tiosa.

L61 crosses CR 600N south of Tiosa.

RE L61, as the train is symboled, crosses CR 500N between Rochester and Tiosa.

After about 20 minutes worth of work at OmniSource on the north side of town, the train began making their way north toward Argos. We grabbed our first shot at CR 350N north of Rochester.

After grabbing four tank cars in storage, the train makes their way north again by the grain elevator.

Id say it is quite clear that they dont come down here very often!

The train heads south into the weeds, passing what we believe is a NKP switchstand.

The train crosses IN 25, passing the wooden grain elevator.

After 60N, it was time to get down to Rochester to finally see Nick at work. They were heading downtown today to pick up some storage cars, a move that isnt made very often. So, we definitely wanted to make sure we saw that. We met up with two other railfans there and they accompanied us as be began our chase. The crew was at lunch when we arrived into Rochester. But, as soon as they got back, they immediately fired the engine up and went toward downtown to grab their cars. The train passes an old concrete grain elevator at 8th Street.

Piedmont & Northern power tied down just north of Gastonia. Canon EOS-3, Ektachrome E100VS.

A quite colorful Piedmont and Northern unit awaits pick up by the NS for delivery to Gastonia. Meanwhile, CSX units are tied down on the industrial park lead that crosses Rozzelle Ferry Road.

Piedmont & Northern Railway (owned by LTEX) GP15-1 1434 trails on Q275.

Pgedmont & Northern is part of the Patriot Rail family. Unit looks freshly painted passing through southern Kentucky.

NS 992 a GP15-1 shop move out of Enola heads west on track 1