Railfanning BNSF & CN in Southern Illinois (January 20 - 22, 2023)

On January 20, 2023, I got off work and made my way to Marion, IL where I booked my hotel for the weekend. While on my way into town, I stopped by Nielson Junction and overheard some chatter on the scanner from BNSF #8564 West on a Paducah-bound loaded coal drag. It took them a bit to show up, but the sound of those EMD's in notch 8 made the wait well-worth it. After that, I headed into town to check into my hotel and get dinner with my good buddy Nathan and his wife at Texas Roadhouse. We waited an hour and a half to get in, however, Texas Roadhouse always makes sure the wait is worthwhile with their top-quality steaks and rolls! After dinner, I decided it would be a good idea to turn in for the night. I'd make my way up to Centralia the following morning for the get-together.

The day started off a bit slow for me, but I was able to catch U759 and Amtrak 391 just south of Irvington before heading into Centralia to meet up with the guys. It would be another 3-ish hours before we would see another train, but little did we know was that CN was about to get very busy for a bit. We caught M396 in town before heading to Irvington to wait on L591 with a classic "zebra-stripe" SD40-2W on the point. While in Irvington, we would see A431, G867, and Amtrak 392 back-to-back before L591. Despite the near lack of light, we were able to get some shots of L591. After that, my buddy Blaise (@‪@trainiac05‬) and I went down to Holly Road to catch an empty Baldwin coal drag returning from Baldwin, IL. We headed back to the station in Centralia where we would see G889, A432, and Amtrak #393 before seeing A431 again. A BNSF coal drag would also make its move as the rear of A431 went by. The crew gave us a "shave and a haircut," too! It's always nice to get a horn show! I would drop Blaise back off at his place a little while later and then make my way back to Marion.

I slept in for a bit before checking out of my hotel and exploring for some train action around the area. Just south of Christopher, I heard a couple BNSF coal drags were going to be meeting nearby at the Cambon siding, so I set up at Yellow Banks Road crossing to wait on them both. A classic CBQ/BN-era signal still stands guard here, making for an excellent opportunity to get a couple trains rolling by it. Both trains would pass by me within about 30 minutes of each other. After receiving word that the last-remaining CN "Blue Devil" C40-8W would be making a run down the Bluford Sub. on G886, albeit trailing, I opted to go to West End Road south of Thompsonville, IL to catch it. About a half hour would pass before the train would roar by. I would then stumble upon a loaded coal train, C738, coming out of Pond Creek Mine, prompting me to try and beat it south to Reevesville. Little did I know, until reaching Reevesville, G886, C738, G888, and a tank train would all be waiting on northbound C739 to get into the siding there before they all would proceed south back-to-back. I would see all of them except the tanker train as it had gotten way too dark for a shot at Metropolis and I had to get home to get a good night's rest for work the following morning. Overall, it was a pretty good weekend and I hope y'all enjoy what I was able to catch!

01/20/2023
Nielson Junction:
BNSF C-BTMPKC0-02A
BNSF EMD SD70ACe #8564
BNSF EMD SD70ACe #9378
BNSF EMD SD70ACe #9345

01/21/2022
South of Irvington:
CN U75971-20
CN GE EF-644za #3157
KCS EMD SD70ACe #4024
KCSM EMD SD70ACe #4077

CN P39191-21 (AMTK #391 "Saluki")
IDTX SM SC-44 #4622

Centralia:
CN M39671-21
CN GE EF-644u (ET44AC) #3094
CN GE EF-644p (ES44AC) #2949

Irvington:
CN A43171-21
CN EMD GF-643h (SD70M-2) #8958
KCSM GE ES44AC #4715

CN G86771-20
CN GE EF-644zb (ES44AC) #3868
CN GE EF-644b (C44-9W) #2532

CN P39291-21 (AMTK #392 "Illini")
IDTX SM SC-44 #4622

CN L59191-21
CN GMDD GF-30q (SD40-2W) #5286
CN GE EF-644b (C44-9W) #2565

South of Irvington:
CN C74591-21
BNSF EMD SD70ACe #9280
BNSF EMD SD70ACe #9329
BNSF GE AC44CW #5671

Centralia:
CN G88971-20
CN EMD GF-643d (SD70M-2) #8008
CN GE EF-644f (C44-9W) #2688

CN A43291-21
CN EMD GF-643h (SD70M-2) #8933
UP EMD SD70M #3814

CN P39391-21 (AMTK #393 "Illini")
IDTX SM SC-44 #4628

CN A43171-21
CN EMD GF-643h (SD70M-2) #8958
KCSM GE ES44AC #4715

BNSF C-WTMPFK0-02A
BNSF EMD SD70ACe #8769
BNSF GE ES44AC #6001
BNSF EMD SD70ACe #9277

01/22/2023
South of Christopher:
BNSF C-BTMCLS0-11A
BNSF EMD SD70ACe #8468
BNSF GE ES44AC #5809
BNSF EMD SD70ACe #9285

BNSF E-PCTBTM0-05A
BNSF EMD SD70ACe #8492
BNSF EMD SD70ACe #9074
BNSF EMD SD70ACe #8543

South of Thompsonville:
CN G88691-20
CN EMD GF-643a (SD75I) #5673
IC (ex-LMSX) GE C40-8W #2466

Reevesville:
CN C73971-20
CN GE EF-644zc (ET44AC) #3190
CN GE EF-644t (ET44AC) #3020

CN G88691-20
CN EMD GF-643a (SD75I) #5673
IC (ex-LMSX) GE C40-8W #2466

CN C73891-22
CN GE EF-644za (ET44AC) #3146
CN GE EF-644zb (ES44AC) #3840

North of Round Knob:
CN G88891-20
BNSF GE ES44DC #7278
UP GE C45ACCTE #7504