Railroads at the dawn of the 1990s had a different sound than the railroads of 2016. Much of the locomotive fleet of the era was made up of designs that evolved from the mid-sixties through the mid-seventies. Freight power was dominated by the EMD Dash-2 and GE Dash-7 series, with Amtrak trains headed up by the EMD F40ph. These 32 recordings were made between 1989 and 1995, with both freight and passenger trains featured. This was the era before push-button horns, 70 series and Gevo engines, and double-stack trains.
The dawn of the 90s still found jointed rail on the mainlines, older EMD diesels in daily service, and intermodal trains consisting mostly of 89 foot flatcars.
Track Listing
Track 1 - We are in the waiting crowd as Amtrak’s eastbound River Cities arrives in Jefferson City, Missouri, on February 4, 1990.
Track 2 - The microphones are between the rails as Union Pacific freight ASNL (East St. Louis - North Little Rock) pulls ahead with a block of cars to set out for a train from Chicago. Two SD40-2s bracket a C30-7 at Gorham, Illinois, on May 28, 1992.
Track 3 - ASNL is setting out its cars in the small yard at Gorham as northbound intermodal train MXCHZ (Mexico City to Chicago) comes tearing up main one at high speed with a C40-8W in the lead.
Track 4 - After finishing its switching work, ASNL departs Gorham on its journey through Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas.
Track 5 - On June 29, 1989, a southbound Illinois Central freight comes to a stop at Carbondale, Illinois. With northbound Amtrak 392 loading passengers, the freight will await its departure.
Track 6 - Amtrak 392 is departing Carbondale as the southbound freight gets underway. A Paducah rebuilt GP10 leads the train, with GP38s following. Amtrak is led by F40ph 270.
Track 7 - Climbing Cobden Hill in southern Illinois, GP26 2602, GP8 7728 and GP30 2250 lead local freight 93 on July 22, 1989.
Track 8 - At the Big Muddy River bridge on Union Pacific’s Chester Subdivision, a hotbox detector is heard as a southbound intermodal behind SD40-2s passes on September 15, 1990.
Track 9 - We’re east of Jefferson City, Missouri, on February 4, 1990, as an eastbound Union Pacific intermodal train passes behind a pair of SD40-2s.
Track 10 - Union Pacific’s Chester Subdivision through southern Illinois was jointly operated with Southern Pacific, and southbound SP St. Louis to Pine Bluff freight ASPBM passes behind SD45T-2 6883 and B30-7 7833 on February 10, 1991.
Track 11 - Northbound out of Carbondale, Illinois, on November 4, 1989, Illinois Central SD40A 6006 leads an empty grain train.
Track 12 - On the evening of March 20, 1990, the station agent’s announcement heralds the arrival of Amtrak 391 into Carbondale.
Track 13 - Southbound on Cobden Hill between Makanda and Cobden, Illinois, F40ph 206 leads the southbound City of New Orleans at 1:09am on April 23, 1989.
Track 14 - A while later at 5:12am, GP40R (R for Rebuilt) 3121 leads Illinois Central piggyback train P-51 up Cobden Hill.
Track 15 - Reaching the top of Cobden Hill in downtown Cobden, Illinois, Illinois Central SD40s 6067 and 6001 head up Decatur to Cairo, Illinois, symbol DECA on March 15, 1995.
Track 16 - Southbound AIZ, a Union Pacific train of auto parts and auto racks, passes Murphysboro, Illinois, behind C36-7s 9040 and 9036.
Track 17 - At 1:39am on August 28, 1990, Illinois Central GP40R 3128 leads New Orleans to Chicago intermodal train I-02 on jointed rail north of Carbondale.
Track 18 - Shortly after at 1:51am, Memphis to St. Louis intermodal train I-12 passes behind GP40R 3131.
Track 19 - At 4:52am on September 4, 1990, F40ph 367 and GP40TC #194 lead Amtrak’s northbound City of New Orleans north of Carbondale. Jointed rail lasted fairly late in this area of the I.C.
Track 20 - Amtrak F40ph #341 appeared in many 80s publicity photos, and here it is approaching Carbondale on train 391 on November 4, 1989.
Track 21 - Southern Pacific B39-8 #8039 leads a southbound freight at Aldridge, Illinois, at 2:20am on September 16, 1990.
Track 22 - On October 1, 1991, SD40-2s 3452, 3954, 4109 and 3636 pass directly beneath the microphones on AIZ at Gorham.
Track 23 - Making track speed, Amtrak’s southbound City of New Orleans passes on jointed rail at DeSoto, Illinois, on February 7, 1992.
Track 24 - Shortly after Amtrak’s passage, GP40Rs lead northbound Illinois Central I-02 at DeSoto.
Track 25 - Reaching the top of Cobden Hill, GP40Rs 3104, 3127 and 3137 lead southbound I-01 on April 9, 1992.
Track 26 - Climbing the hill south of Irvington, Illinois, an Illinois Central SD20 rebuild leads a GP40R on Centralia, Illinois, to East St. Louis symbol CEES on March 18, 1993.
Track 27 - Right behind is Chicago to Memphis symbol CHME with GP38s on the point.
Track 28 - On jointed rail south of Carbondale, Amtrak’s southbound City of New Orleans passes on March 13, 1995.
Track 29 - At the same location on September 28, 1994, SD40s lead a southbound mixed freight on the jointed rail.
Track 30 - GP40Rs are accelerating out of Carbondale on jointed rail with southbound I-01 on March 14, 1995.
Track 31 - Shade of things to come, as brand new Amtrak P40DCs lead the southbound City of New Orleans south of Carbondale on September 16, 1994.
Track 32 - A personal favorite, as northbound Illinois Central I-02 passes through downtown Carbondale behind a set of GP40Rs on February 3, 1992. AC/DC is blasting on the sound system at Sidetracks, a local bar, and the railroad action certainly shook us all night long!
