I finally got out yesterday with the objective of photographing Canadian Pacific's Waseca Local that serves my town, Rochester, Minnesota. This local originates at the yard in Waseca, MN. When I moved to Rochester a couple of years ago CP had a unit permanently assigned to Rochester, but they removed it a year or so ago and now originate the local at Waseca. I am unsure if this train has any scheduled days of operation or just runs on an as needed basis as there are only a couple of customers in Rochester, but others in nearby towns. The largest, and maybe only, railroad customer in Rochester is a very large Seneca Foods Distribution Center. It is located on the remnants of a former Chicago Great Western line about 2 or 3 miles south of a junction with the CP mainline Waseca Sub. in downtown Rochester.
I heard this guy while I was driving in my car as he came into town and since I had my camera with me and lots of free time I took up the chase. The first mile or so is street running in downtown Rochester. This shot is of the train as it crosses 2nd Street SE headed straight south. I have seen lots of pictures of railroads using street running, but this is the first time I have seen “sidewalk running.” That’s the Public Library on the right.
