Union Pacific MBNAS, Norfolk Southern D36 5-21-26

On a whim, I decided to head to Bloomington-Normal to catch Norfolk Southern's D36 train, which typically leaves Good Yard by late-afternoon or early evening. The EOT on the rear car was flashing when I arrived, so I knew it would depart shortly.

I had time to check on Union Pacific's MBNAS. Normally, it would have left by now, but turns out it had just left the yard but was paused just to the south. I crossed the Springfield Sub at 6 Points Road and then heard the horn. I immediately turned around. With no time to park and set up, I just shot the train through my windshield. Better than nothing (or chasing it, and missing the NS train!)


CAPTION: Union Pacific MBNAS (Manifest, Bloomington IL to Alton & Southern) rolls across 6 Points Road on Bloomington, Illinois' southwest side early evening Thursday, May 21, 2026. UP 2184 and UP 2205 have 37 cars.

D36 forwards D49 traffic out of East Peoria to Bement (setout for an eastbound manifest) and Decatur (for classification). The first twelve cars are probably for Gibson City. The last 19 are autoracks, some empty, some loaded with Rivian vehicles. The 19 in between (starting with the two OZIX cars) were from TZPR and connections. 


CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D36 (Local, Normal IL to Decatur IL) rolls by Oakland Avenue in downtown Bloomington, Illinois early evening Thursday, May 21, 2026. NS 6407 and NS 6972 have 50 cars.
 
- David P. Jordan

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