Prototype Trains & Historic Aerials of RoWs
USDA images largely from the 1930's and 40's are researched and matched to form a canvas to follow rail, highway and waterway routes. Set to video motion, these 3 minute to over 1 hour presentations allow a slow "journey" over the landscape as it was 75 to 80 years ago. In most cases, captions and highlights are included to identify passing towns and landmarks.
Contemporary videos of railroading from the 1980s to present and a few surprises are also posted here.
Facebook page for more videos and discussion;
https://www.facebook.com/northernilrailfan.trainvideos
Thanks for looking!!
C&NW Nelson, ILL Coal Tower in 1989. ex-Conrail SD45 coming off the SI Line & under chute
C&NW Nelson, ILL Coal Tower in 1988. Falcon w/Conrail loco overtakes a manifest underneath chute.
Iowa Interstate RR special passenger train at LaSalle, IL ex-Rock Island depot 8/21/2025
Ice Cold Iowa Interstate RR train scene. Sub Zero air temperature. Winter scene.
Rochelle, ILL Train Diamond Winter scenes before rail park in 1988
Winter train scenes on the Chicago Central & Pacific in 1988
COLD December train scene along Illinois River. Omnitrax rare bridge move
WINTER & Cold Weather train scenes from the 1980's C&NW
COLD weather train scenes- Last move on this ex-CB&Q Branch? Illinois Railway 100+ car storage.
COLD Weather railcar storage move in Illinois- ex CB&Q branch now closed
C&NW Rwy 1980s winter scenes around Nelson, Illinois
Winter scene on Burlington Northern in Illinois. Eastbound at Burke Siding near Savanna, IL in 1988
C&NW Rwy Winter Scenes late 1980s- Nelson & Dixon, ILL QX crossing shed- Dixon switchbacks.
Trains Shorts 1988 to present. Upper Midwest USA. 2 hours of content
Amtrak roomette stopped at parked coal trains. California Zephyr window view in Iowa. Fun motion.
Union Pacific at Nelson, Illinois in 2024. Fast "Z" train is westbound under the coal tower.
Chicago and North Western SD40-2's at Nelson, ILL in December 1989
Burlington Northern action at Oregon, Illinois in 1989. Before depot upgrade & obs car display
C&NW mostly grain WB at Waterworks Curve Sterling, ILL 1988
When the SOO Line detoured over C&NW across Northern Illinois- Full VHS transfer
Milwaukee Lake Shore & Western RR/C&NW Rwy 1930s Aerial Video Hunting to Clintonville, WIS
Chicago and North Western- Unique video of long abandoned Wisconsin branch line. Kempster to Ormsby
Chicago Central & Pacific RR at Freeport, ILL Winter 1988. Locos at fuel pad
Norfolk Southern local w/NS 4578 & NS 4028 take 90 cars WB near Granville, IL. Sunday June 1 2025
Rio Grande, Cotton Belt, Southern Pacific locos on EB coal at Savanna, IL on the ex-MILW
Three CP Rail SD40-2's lead an eastbound Molten Sulfur unit train past Rochelle train park
Snow scene on the Iowa Interstate RR and a Prime 920 horn at multiple grade xings