They just keep coming! Rochelle, IL is the site of the prototype raifan park. Located at the at grade crossing of the BNSF and UP mains it has all the required traffic to be a great train-watching place. More suited to lazy summer days that can be spent kicked back in the shade of the picnic building. A scanner provides radio info from both dispatchers. Here's a nice shot of a train rolling in from the east (Chicago) on the UP.
Just as we got to Rochelle, things quieted down a bit so we went off to find some activity. It wasn't hard as the UP's new Global 3 intermodal facility is just west of town. Fortunately there is a nice turnaround trackside that is publicly accessible. This guys was pulling the throttle out to get his charge up to speed. There isn't much to slow things down between here and Council Bluffs.
Within five minutes a westbound manifest came through. By this time it was just plain cold. Out of the truck for two to three minutes to take pictures meant frozen hands and slow cameras.
Some trains waste no time anywhere. This guy was flat out and picking up speed. We underestimated his rate of approach and this nice picture is the result. At 70 mph, they close the gap in a hurry.
Following the priority stack train, this guy was able to get back on the line and roll west.