Freight Consists and Locomotive Power Moves Keep America’s Supply Chain Up and Running.

Article and photographs by Divi Logan.

I. Introduction

Railroads as we understand them for transporting people and freight evolved into a fully operational concept beginning in Britain in 1825 with the Stockton and Darlington Railway. America’s railroad roots take hold around 1807 and take on the present idea of freight consists in 1825 with the Granite Railway in Massachusetts. Trains have fascinated me and millions of people have found them marvels of modern engineering since they were invented and brought to the service of the public and economies. Active consists of freight cars and powerful locomotives, passenger consists with baggage and mail cars, quickly integrated into national infrastructures. And rail-related inventions and investments fueled businesses and industries.

Thousands of people continue to maintain and travel America’s railroads, working with dedication and remarkable energy to keep our supply chain running. Thanks to the crews who do this work every day.

II. The Gallery.

II A. Freight Consist Westbound Through LaGrange, Illinois. 6 July 2023. This consist featured four locomotives heading it and two DPUs.

BNSF #7233
BNSF #7233 leads a westbound stacker through LaGrange, IL. 6 July 2023.
BNSF #3732
BNSF #3732 is the second unit of this westbound stacker through LaGrange, IL. 6 July 2023.
BNSF #4662
BNSF #4662 is the third unit in this westbound stacker consist going through LaGrange, Illinois. 6 July 2023.
FXE #4088
FXE #4088 is fourth in this westbound stacker consist through LaGrange, IL. 6 July 2023.
BNSF #7064
BNSF #7064 is the first DPU at the end of the westbound stacker through LaGrange, IL. 6 July 2023.
BNSF ACe #9269
BNSF ACe #9269 is the trailing DPU of this westbound stacker through LaGrange, IL. 6 July 2023.

II B. A Six-Locomotive Lash-up Motors Eastbound Through Riverside, Illinois. Cooperation Between Rail Companies Keeps our Railroads and Economy Working. Riverside Road Crossing. Chicago Sub: Hinsdale-Riverside Corridor.

Canadian Pacific (CP) #8150, a diesel-electric locomotive, leads this eastbound power move of six locomotives through Riverside, Illinois. Locomotive specs for CP #8150: Owner: Canadian Pacific Railway. Model: this is a rebuilt GE AC4400CWM. Built as: CP #9625 (AC44CW). Serial number: 50131. Order number: 1880CP. Built date: 11/1997. Livery: Golden Beaver and CP red body.

The designation of GE AC4400CWM stands for:

GE: Built by General Electric Transportation Systems
AC: The use of AC traction motors
4400: 4,400 horsepower
C: refers to the C-C truck configuration, with three axles per truck
W: refers to the wide cab design
M: a modernized locomotive

CP #8150
CP #8150 leads this eastbound consist through Riverside, Illinois. 14 June 2023.
Norfolk Southern #9628
NS #9628 is the second unit of the eastbound power move. Locomotive specs: Model GE C40-9W (Dash-9). According to data I found using Copilot AI, the builder is General Electric in Erie, PA, and the build date is 02/2001. Serial number: 52950, Order/Frame number: 1934-69. Original Owner: Norfolk Southern. Later Disposition: Sold to Ferromex (reporting mark: FXE) and retained the serial #52950 and re-designated as a model C44-9W.
BNSF #8161
BNSF #8161 is third in the eastbound locomotive consist. Locomotive specs: Model GE ES44C4. Horsepower rating: 4,400. Build date: circa 2013. Built at: GE Fort Worth Locomotive Plant. According to Copilot AI, the serial number is 62235. Livery: Standard Heritage 3.
BNSF #5896 is fourth in the eastbound power Move. 14 June 2023. Locomotive specs: GE ES44AC. Serial number: 46744. Order number: 1900. Built: 02/2006
BNSF #7112
BNSF #7112 is fifth in the eastbound consist. Locomotive specs: GE ES44C4. Serial number: 61526. Built: circa spring 2013.
BNSF #6006
BNSF #6006 catches afternoon light as it brings up the end of the six-locomotive power move eastbound through Riverside, IL. Copilot AI generated some of the information for it.
Locomotive specs: GE ES44AC. Built at: Erie, PA. Serial number: 56854. Order number: 1900. Build date: 06/2006. Livery: H3.

Below is a Corridor Map Schematic showing the triple-track main line event.

                       BNSF CHICAGO SUBDIVISION
                 Triple‑Track Mainline (West → East Movement)

WEST ———————————————————————- EAST

                       ◆ RIVERSIDE ROAD CROSSING
                       ⊠  ENS 079498V

                       📍 OBSERVER POSITION:
                           Platform 1 (North Platform)
                           Riverside METRA Station
                           (Adjacent to MAIN 3)

                       ◉1  Photo 1 — Full Consist Approach
                       ◉2  Photo 2 — Mid‑Consist View

TRACK 3 (MAIN 3) ║══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ⇢ EB
TRACK 2 ║══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
TRACK 1 ║══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

                 [1] CP 8150
                       ⇢
                 [2] NS 9628
                       ⇢
                 [3] BNSF 8161
                       ⇢
                 [4] BNSF 5896
                       ⇢
                 [5] BNSF 7112
                       ⇢
                 [6] BNSF 6006

                                  ⇢  Movement Path
                                  ⇢  Eastbound Progression

                           ◉3  Photo 3 — *Best Shot*
                           ◉4  Photo 4 — 5896 Platform Pass
                           ◉5  Photo 5 — 7112 Motion
                           ◉6  Photo 6 — 6006 Trailing

                       ■ HINSDALE METRA STATION PLATFORM
                       ▭ Station Building / Canopy
                       ▲ Eastbound Home Signal

EAST ———————————————————————>

This is the AI generated Timeline Bar.

RIVERSIDE ROAD CROSSING (ENS 079498V)
|
| OBSERVER POSITION:
| Platform 1 (North Platform)
| Riverside METRA Station
| Movement on MAIN 3 Track
|
| ◉1 Photo 1 — Full Consist Approach
| ◉2 Photo 2 — Mid‑Consist View
|
|–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––⇢ EB Movement (Main 3)
|
| [1] CP 8150
| [2] NS 9628
| [3] BNSF 8161
| [4] BNSF 5896
| [5] BNSF 7112
| [6] BNSF 6006
|
HINSDALE METRA STATION
|
| ◉3 Photo 3 — Best Shot (CP 8150 + NS 9628)
| ◉4 Photo 4 — BNSF 5896 Platform Pass
| ◉5 Photo 5 — BNSF 7112 Motion
| ◉6 Photo 6 — BNSF 6006 Trailing
|
Movement Continues Eastbound

Resources

  1. Shedd, Thomas Clark, Allen, Geoffrey Freeman, Vance, James E.. “railroad”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Dec. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/technology/railroad. Accessed 14 February 2026.
  2. Britannica Editors. “Granite Railway”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Jan. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Granite-Railway. Accessed 14 February 2026.
  3. “Pictures of CP 8150.” RR Picture Archives, https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/LocoPicture.aspx?id=241897. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  4. “Canadian Pacific ‘Beaver’ Livery – Search Results.” Bing, https://www.bing.com/search?q=Canadian+Pacific+%22Beaver%22+livery. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  5. Wikipedia contributors. “GE AC4400CW.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 1 Feb. 2026. Web. 14 Feb. 2026.
  6. “Pictures of NS 9628.” RR Picture Archives, https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/Locopicture.aspx?id=5191. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  7. “NS – Norfolk Southern Locomotive Roster – Page 85.” RR Picture Archives, https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=NS&Page=85. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  8. “Pictures of BNSF 8161.” RR Picture Archives, https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=204151. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  9. “Pictures of BNSF 5896.” RR Picture Archives, https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/Locopicture.aspx?id=56712. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  10. Anderson, David H. “BNSF 7112.” RR Picture Archives, https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3444274. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  11. Beal, Curt. “BNSF 7112.” RR Picture Archives, https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3717983. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  12. “Pictures of BNSF 6006.” RR Picture Archives, https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=66602. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  13. “Pictures of CP 8150.” RR Picture Archives, https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=XXXXX. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  14. “Pictures of NS 9628.” RR Picture Archives, https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=XXXXX. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  15. “Pictures of BNSF 8161.” RR Picture Archives, https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=204151. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  16. “Burlington Northern Santa Fe Roster Summary.” The Diesel Shop, https://www.thedieselshop.us. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  17. “Pictures of BNSF 5896.” RR Picture Archives, https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/Locopicture.aspx?id=56712. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  18. “Pictures of BNSF 7112.” RR Picture Archives, https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/Locopicture.aspx?id=180756. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  19. Anderson, David H. “BNSF 7112.” RR Picture Archives, https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3444274. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  20. Beal, Curt. “BNSF 7112.” RR Picture Archives, https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3717983. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  21. “Pictures of BNSF 6006.” RR Picture Archives, https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=66602. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  22. “Canadian Pacific ‘Beaver’ Livery – Search Results.” Bing, https://www.bing.com/search?q=Canadian+Pacific+%22Beaver%22+livery. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  23. “Riverside Road Grade Crossing, ENS 079498V.” U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory, https://railroads.dot.gov/rail-crossing-inventory. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
  24. Copilot. “Corridor Map Schematic: Riverside Road Crossing to Hinsdale METRA Station, 14 June 2023 Power Move.” Microsoft Copilot, 14 Feb. 2026.
  25. Copilot. “Timeline Bar: Riverside Road Crossing to Hinsdale METRA Station,14 June 2023 Power Move.” Microsoft Copilot, 14 Feb. 2026.

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