Illinois Rails

Producer: Mary McPherson

Locations: Southern and Central Illinois

Timeframe: 2011-2020

Length: 2 hours

Sources: Kurt Jensen, Mary McPherson

Diverging Clear has grown over the years. A fairly extensive catalog these days. DCP loves to shoot trains. Hence, extra footage in the house.

What we have here. A collection of various railroad scenes assembled into this release.

A single DVD-R. Main Chapter Menu. A chapter advance function. On-screen subtitles. No maps. Narrated by Mary McPherson.

Professional equipment has this in a Widescreen format. Natural environmental audio.

A cornucopia of many trains! Two hours of assorted freight and passenger trains. Canadian National is the star of the show.

To the Trains… 👉

Part 1 Canadian National in Southern Illinois

Canadian National. This railroad is the first subject. Southern Illinois. DCP hometown of Dongola. CN 3001 pulls this holiday train. Check the reindeer horns!

CN 2660/8823/2577 are on a curve at Balcom with a freight.

DCP likes to include night trains. This one is better lit. A CN move led by engine 3255 travels through Anna, Illinois.

It is a snowy morning. L-531 is Nortbound at Anna.  CN 2135 on the point of general freight.

Amtrak Saluki has motor 26 cruising at moderate speed. Popular stop is at Carbondale. Plenty of Amtrak is shown.

Part 2- Santa Trains on the Crab Orchard & Egyptian

Shortline CO&E at Marion, Illinois. SW1200 switchers are at each end of their Christmas train. Cab ride on the 1136 for a moment. Some video was also filmed from aboard this train. UP Coal trains pass at a crossing. The Special crosses the mainline. It gets followed around. Now, this is something you don’t see or hear every day!

Part 3- Union Pacific at Tuscola

A former C&EI track crosses Illinois Central rails here. UP 4528/ 6484 haul a double-stack through town. Day and night trains seen. A well-known hotspot.

Part 4 An Engineer Makes His Last Run

One of the advantages the being an Amtrak Conductor. Mary has access! Besides her unique viewpoint as a Railroad employee. She  personally knows people in her capacity.

On August 14, 2020. Engineer Todd makes his final run. The Amtrak City of New Orleans. He departs from Carbondale on engine 189. The train is going to Memphis.

Todd returns 24 later. Happy Retirement, Todd!

Part 5 BNSF at Chillicothe. Several trains.

Part 6 Canadian National on the Bluford Subdivision

March, 2012. CN Coal train crosses the huge Metropolis Bridge. This chapter has the rarely filmed Edgewood Cutoff.

Part 7 Union Pacific in Southern Illinois 63ms

UP Chester sub is a busy mainline. Note that DCP has this sub featured in other titles. This is unreleased footage. Numerous trains and all natural audio. UP Nuts can stop by here!

A long lash-up with end cab switchers. Memorable.

Part 8 Norfolk Southern On the Old Wabash

Lafayette District in Central Illinois. West of Tolono. Last of the Road Railers? Mary says they are still operating at the time of this show. Update from Mary on 09.19.24. Discontinued now.

Part 9  Canadian National in Central Illinois

This chapter is drawn from over a 10 year period. At Kinmundy, Illinois. The SD70 locomotives are still regulars in the area on Canadian National freights. IC 1003 leads CN 1039 with symbol A408 on this southbound train. The 1039 was painted CN after a wreck rebuild in 2006.

Amtrak City of New Orleans is scheduled to Chicago. It waits for CN 2623 to lead its long train clear. Champaign, Illinois.

Illinois Rails

A contemporary assortment of Southern to Central Illinois rail action. On offer is a little something for everyone.

Highlight chapters. Busy mainline freights on: Canadian National, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific. A couple of Christmas trains. One of those on a local Shortline! There are plenty of scheduled Amtrak. Speaking of Amtrak, a brief look at a veteran Engineers last run before retirement. Neatly organized presentation.

Picture quality and soundtrack are excellent. Perhaps there are too many crossing bell sounds at times. On the edge, although this is not a deal-breaker. Editing is tight. Well paced show.

Most Railfans of the contemporary age, should find this an enjoyable variety. Some rarities are the icing on the cake.

Rating: 5 Stars