Trains – October 2019

Ficklin to set out and pick up cars for the
local there. The Decatur local makes daily
runs to ADM’s East and West plants on
CN trackage rights.

BEST VIEWING: U.S. Route 36 closely
follows the line between Decatur
and Hillsdale, although most trains turn
south at Chrisman for Paris. Between
Paris and Terre Haute the line must be
reached on county roads as the line heads
in a southeasterly direction.

WHY VISIT? Newly acquired SD40-2
No. 4234 sports a classic SD45 car-
body. It is often paired with GMD-built
former Canadian National safety cab
GP40-2LW No. 4002 on the Decatur local.

DON’T MISS: The bridge over Lake
Decatur is a nice photo prop, and
grain elevators dot this mostly arrow-
straight “Illiana’’ prairie line. One engineer
decorates his locomotive with a large
American flag on most trips.

NEARBY: Tuscola is the diamond
crossing with the CN main line
between Chicago and New Orleans and
Union Pacific’s former Chicago & Eastern
Illinois line between Chicago and St. Louis.
Farther south on the CN, classic brick de-
pots are located at Arcola and Mattoon.
Just north of Tuscola, Villa Grove is home
to a UP yard and crew change point.
For railroad history, Monticello Rail-
way Museum is close by and operates
weekends between May and September.
— Steve Smedley

GETTING THE SHOT

A POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATION for

decades, the so-called “Twin Ports” of

Duluth, Minn., and Superior, Wis., should

also be on your agenda for great railroad

action. One of the signature spots of the

region is the view from Skyline Parkway

looking down on the harbor. A number of

overlooks along its length from downtown

Duluth to suburban Proctor provide great

views of the action. However, one overlook

near the Rice’s Point area will often be the

most productive for a short stay.

There, just north of U.S. Route 53, visi-

tors can view the trains of four railroads:

BNSF Railway, Canadian Pacific, Canadian

National, and Union Pacific, along with ma-

rine traffic in the Port of Duluth-Superior.

Both BNSF and CP have yards on Rice’s

Point making frequent moves.

Across the water, known as Superior

Bay to the north and St. Louis Bay to the

south, are more rail operations, including

Midwest Energy Resources Co.’s coal dock

and BNSF Railway Dock 5, which handles

taconite traffic. To monitor boat traffic, go

to harborlookout.com, which shows the

location of various craft in the Twin Ports.

While you’re in Duluth, make time to

visit the Lake Superior Railroad Museum

and its North Shore Scenic Railroad.

Photography is best in the late after-

noon on sunny days, especially when the

sun moves farther north in summer. How-

ever, cloudy days can offer less heat distor-

tion with telephoto lenses. In either case,

know that the weather in the Twin Ports

can vary widely from that on the Iron

Range at the same time. — Brian Schmidt

Minnesota overlook combines rail, marine traffic in

the photogenic Twin Ports

D u lut h’s R i c e ’s P o i nt

CP yard

BNSF yard

Railroad

museum

Park here

Rice’s Point

Rice’s Point

N

(^0) Scale 1 mile
© 2019 Kalmbach Media Co.
TRAINS: Rick Johnson
Not all lines shown
35
35
535
53
Skyl
ine^ Parkwa
y
To
Superior
To Two
Harbors
MINN.
Duluth
Fast facts
» Afternoon light is best for photos
from east-facing overlook
» BNSF Railway, Canadian National,
and Canadian Pacific trains visible
» Radio frequencies: BNSF, 160.605
and 161.250; CN, 160.350; CP, 160.770
» Located in the heart of Duluth, Minn.,
just off Interstate 35
TrainsMag.com 55
Road train No. 101 rolls westbound at Ficklin,
Ill., in December 2018 with a former Iowa,
Chicago & Eastern GP40-2 leading.
A westbound train crosses Lake Decatur at
Decatur, Ill., on Sept. 23, 2018, with two for-
mer Norfolk Southern GP38-2s.
Canadian Pacific switches in its yard in Duluth’s Rice’s Point area in October 2018. Across the
water are Superior, Wis., and BNSF Railway’s Dock 5, which handles taconite. TRAINS: Brian Schmidt