I always take my camera with me on every trip. No matter how many times I've made it, I still manage to see something new each time.

Enjoy!

Crossing the area where the Bonnet Carre Spillway meets Lake Ponchartrain.
The interstate off to the left is I-10. Also, these rails were under water during both Ike and Gustav.


Approaching home today, this was meeting our northbound "City of New Orleans" at a junction. Interestingly, our engine #was 35, and this was #34. Also, this was taken just today, 7 December 08. And this location was also under water during Ike and Gustav. called Franier. It's near the intersection of I-55 and I-10 at LaPlace LA.

Just 2 miles from the end of the trip, we make a sharp turn so that the train can be backed into the station. Notice the engine #35, from the caption of the picture above. Also taken today, 7 December 08



One of the brightest sunsets I've ever seen. This was on the 8th of June and near Sidon, deep in the delta. Picture taken at 80mph.


Sears Tower. Crossing one of the many bridges over the Chicago River. After sunset, this is one of the best views of the Chicago city skyline and unfortunately my camera won't even begin to capture that image.

 

Nice photos. Great that you can have fun & do a little tourist bit along with work. And big honkin machinery is part of it.

 

Dang nice pictures, very interesting.

 

Thank ya'll for the comments.

It was snowing in Chicago as it was the last four hours up there and the first four-five hours on the return. As a result, alot of snow, ice, and slush would get blown up underneath the train particularly on the trucks, and the area around the couplers between the cars. We still had snow and ice on the train all the way into Greenwood.

Will take some more on my next trip.

 

Nice pictures..

Engineer or Conductor?

I work for CN RR in Jackson. Machinist (mechanic)...




Thomas

 

Neither, I'm in Onboard Services. (have to be nice to people as trying as it can be at times). The conductors on this train go from New Orleans - Greenwood, Greenwood - Carbondale, and Carbondale - Chicago and opposite heading south.

I considered transferring to the conductor side, but I like my time off too much. I work three days on, three days off. Our conductors work 6 days a week.

 

3 on, 3 off man I wouldn't know what to do with myself.

In my 14 years of working for railroads, I've only ridden a couple frieght trains a few miles , I've always wondered what'd feel like doing 80 mph down the track.

Maybe our paths will cross one day..


Thomas

 

Easy enough to do. I'll be passing thru Jackson on Thursday evening. Typically we arrive at 5:00pm - 5:15pm (ish) and leave at :44.

You're wondering what it would feel like at 80mph? Rough. Particularly between Yazoo City and Memphis, then once north it's considerably smoother. Northern Louisiana is also bumpy. Come take a ride with us!

 

A few years ago I went to Mardi Gras on the "City of New Orleans". Having grown up in and around all the towns the rails pass through from Jackson to Hammond, it was a neat experience to see them from the train. Being a party train, we drank all the beer you had on board!