046 BNSF Local Pwr.. Rochelle IL

This BNSF Local Pwr was parked near the site of the now-razed former CB&Q Rochelle station.

047 UP Work Trn.. Rochelle IL

I thought this UP work train was interesting in that it utilized a caboose of obvious Northeastern U.S. origins.

048 BNSF Grain Trn.. E Mendota IL

By mid morning, more storms were rolling into north central Illinois. This BNSF unit grain train was preparing to load on a loop track grain facility near Mendota.

049 BNSF Aurora SD Lkg East.. Mendota (1st Ave) IL

It was raining again by the time I took this view of the ex CB&Q (BNSF) Chi-Denver main line @ First Ave in Mendota. The classic signal installations shout out "Burlington."

050 'Gish Jeweler'.. Mendota IL

This old enamel and neon sign adorns the "Gish Jeweler" shop in downtown Mendota.

051 AMTK # 4.. Mendota IL

The Mendota Amtrak station is new, and contains an interesting railroad museum with artifacts from around the Mendota area. Here # 4 makes its Mendota station stop.

052 BNSF # 2807.. Mendota IL

This rebuilt BNSF GP-30 was serving as the power for a Mendota based local job.

053 BNSF Aurora S.D. Lkg West.. MP 75 IL

Although the remainder of the afternoon was rainy, I enjoyed finding stretches of the former "Q" main line still decorated with an impressive pole line. This view looks west at MP 75, near Earlville IL.

054 BNSF Aurora S.D. Lkg East.. MP 75 IL

To the east, the pole line stretches like a picket fence toward the typical grain elevator horizon at Earlville.