• Friday-What'sUP June 12 - 04:33 pm

When it comes to trains, Bob Gilreath enjoys them, both old and new. Today's photos from Bob were taken at the Escanaba and Lake Superior yard in Wells, MI. This railroad company is a privately owned shortline company that currently operates in Northern Wisconsin and the U.P.

They also operate a railcar repair and paint facility, where they blast, paint and then stencil the railroad cars, all with state-of-the-art technology, which is also environmentally safe.

Bob photographed a variety of rail cars and engines around the grounds there. I have no idea whether they're waiting for repairs, paintjobs or what, but they sure must have some colorful railroad history under all those different paint jobs.

The last two photos are the rail bridge just north of the ELS yard and an iron ore train heading for Escanaba ore dock. Bob said while he was photographing the old engines, he just missed the iron ore train passing over the bridge. Up close like this, you must hear the clickety-clack of the cars rolling over the tracks quite well.

great trains

Fascinating and the bridge is extraordinary.

Nostalgic Pix!

Good morning America how are you?
(Steve Goodman)

I love trains. Last month we went to Duluth and
took the historic train ride that runs up there.
First time ever in a train. Lots of fun!!

Love love love these pictures of a favorite subject with me especially of the old F5 in picture 3!!! The love of trains runs deep in my veins! Gramps worked the Milwaukee Road as did Bob's grampa. Always lived near train tracks yet to this day. I have rode trains up into Canada all the way down to Birmingham Alabama.

Back to the days when the rails were king and the highways were in decent shape. Thanks for the nostalgia. Travel by train is my favorite way to go.

For the Rail Fan...The Steam Railroading Institute Operates the 1225 Pere Marquette for Excursion runs.

https://www.michigansteamtrain.com/

Oops, forgot to mention that the Pere Marquette was recently fully restored again. This is the engine that the Polar Express was patterned after. They used the sounds in the movie also.

Years ago my wife and I , just for the fun of it ,took a train ride. Left Lansing and rode to Chicago, to New Orleans, to L.A. to mid CA and back thru Denver and Chicago and back to Lansing. A lot of pleasant miles, good food, sight seeing layovers and most of all REST. Would do it over in a heart beat. Think I got my love of trains from my dad. He was a traveling salesman before cars were used and told me a lot of stories. Thanks for the menories.

I lived near the Calumet Railroad depot for the first 21 years of my life. As a kid growing up I easily fell in love with trains. The Milwaukee Road and the Duluth South Shore & Atlantic railroads terminated their Upper Michigan routes in Calumet. I actually drove a steam engine of the DSS&ARR several miles turning it around at the "Y" just south of town. I was about 11 or 12 years old. My friend Ronnie Toupin was in the cab too. Mr. Norman LaBonte allowed this memory to happen. He tended the trains while they were at the station getting them ready for departure.

So, I certainly loved these trains and it brought back this memory Thanks for the photos.

I don't believe people will lose interest in trains.