Western Railroad Discussion > IAIS 516 and a bonus at Blue Island

AS previously posted (in some great night photos!), freshly delivered (and painted) Iowa Interstate 516 made its first run to Blue Island IL accompanied by the other heritage unit #513 on Sunday night. After arrival in Blue Island a day crew took over using the 516 only and shoved out of the yard to deliver the cars to the IHB.

Photo #1 shows the start of the shove, led by caboose (er, "shoving platform"?) past the 505 tied onto a tank train. In the background is Metra SW-1 #1.

Photo #2 shows my first view of the 516 as it shoves past the 505.

Photo #3 is a broadside, taken from the adjacent Metra Electric platform

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Photos 4 & 5 show the 516 as it continues its shove out of the yard. It will cross the bridges in the background and then reverse direction down a connecting track before shoving back to the IHB yard.

Photo #6 is the "bonus" - while waiting for the 516 to appear I caught this CN train with one of the ex-GM demonstrators in the lead.

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Looks like an ex AT&SF shove-boose. Whose switcher is that in the left side of photo 1?

stevelv Wrote:
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> Looks like an ex AT&SF shove-boose. Whose
> switcher is that in the left side of photo 1?


think he notes Metra SW-1?


Great set of working around town, not easy to do.

Bob Jordan

Nice shots! The catch of the former EMD demo on the CN train is a really nice catch!

James Nelson
Thornton, CO
www.flickr.com/mojaveflyer

Nice shots.

The 75 year old SW1 is WAY cooler than all of those modern engines with fancy paint.

Posted from Android

For you SW-1 fans, here's another shot as it did a run by just after the IAIS train cleared!

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The Metra SW-1 is an Illinois Central unit via Rock Island 4800 series, then RTA and Metra.



robj Wrote:
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> stevelv Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Looks like an ex AT&SF shove-boose. Whose
> > switcher is that in the left side of photo 1?
>
>
> think he notes Metra SW-1?
>
>
> Great set of working around town, not easy to
> do.
>
> Bob Jordan

Is the Metra station the same for Rock Island district trains and Metra Electric trains? I was surprised to see an EMU at Blue Island.

brc600 Wrote:
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> The Metra SW-1 is an Illinois Central unit via
> Rock Island 4800 series, then RTA and Metra.
>
>

An SW-1 with ditch lights. Now that is a bit unsettling!

Rob

symph1 Wrote:
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> Is the Metra station the same for Rock Island
> district trains and Metra Electric trains? I was
> surprised to see an EMU at Blue Island.


No, two separate stations. In picture 5 the Rock Island station is
on the other side of the hopper cars, on the south (far) side of the street (Vermont St.)
Photographer is standing on IC high level platform.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/15 12:01 by Englewood.

Good stuff!

I was going to mention that the SW1 was previously an RI unit, so that was pretty cool to catch out there, along with the ex-RI hoppers first out on the cut to the IHB.

In addition, that caboose FINALLY got some new paint on it in the last few months, as it was looking pretty bad.

- Jeff Carlson

Posted from iPhone

Nice photos.

Ronda Thomas