Drawing Illinois Central and the Short Lines and Regionals of the 1990s

Through the years, the locomotives and freight cars of the Illinois Central have always caught my eye.  The striking "IC" logo always stood out on IC's brightly painted equipment.  As Illinois Central freight cars traveled through Davis, they made me want to see "The Mainline of Mid-America."  

I finally got to see several Illinois Central locomotives just outside of Chicago in 1991.  Upon returning to my studio, I drew Illinois Central and many of America's railroads that I saw on that trip.

When I first began drawing trains, Illinois Central was trimming down to more or less a Chicago to New Orleans backbone of the Midwest, creating regional railroads Chicago Central and Paducah & Louisville. Many of my first drawings were of the short lines and regional railroads that were spun-off from the Class 1's during this era of railroading.    
To see more of my Illinois Central artwork, visit
http://www.andyfletchertrains.com/illinois-central.html

Having a Cup of Coffee in Rutland, Vermont

I stopped and had a cup of coffee in Rutland, Vermont in 2010.  I always enjoy visiting cities that are an important part of our railroad history.
As I entered town, I saw the tracks of today's Vermont Railway.  About fifty miles to the south, I saw a northbound train making its way across Vermont.
I took in the downtown of Rutland.  The streets were punctuated with the original brick buildings in a town which had grown around the railroad. Rutland, Vermont truly was the nerve center of the Green Mountain Gateway.