They were older kids just taking in the view. I'm glad they chose to stand there, adding a bit of human interest to the picture.
I keep looking at the sign. It just has a class all of it's own. Quite an attention getter. Sad that such art is long gone today.
Still some C&NW freight cars out there. This si at Saginaw TX Jan 15, 2023 CNW 174754 CNW 174776 CNW 753529 (Former Rock!!!) CNW 135940 CNW 135832 CNW 135784 (How about those spray painted numbers) CNW 136234 CNW 136186 CNW 135156 CNW 135424
But wait, there's more CNW 135236 CNW 135982 CNW 135527 CNW 136003 CNW 135913 CNW 135843 CNW 136139 CNW 135898
From 08/24/1974, a snapshot from my 126 format Kodak Instamatic at Barrington, IL. The 415 is pushing inbound to Chicago, hence no headlight. Good ol' C&NW with their left-hand running.
Probably taken the same day is this shot of the station at Barrington, with active train order signal. The Barrington station agent also controlled the interlocking to the east where the main reduced from three tracks to two. The station survives as a restaurant, moved some 45 years ago to a new location.
From March 1978, here's the new station. Looking at mapping sites, it's since been doubled in size and the TO signal is gone.
Wow! It looks almost exactly like when they moved the CGW station back to almost exactly its original location in 1996, on the other side of the track because there wasn't enough room between the track and river after flood control work in the eighties. As it looks today: Doug
Three interesting C&NW pictures found on the John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library website. Owatonna, MN Dakota 400 at Rochester, MN C&NW's entire RDC fleet in one picture. Bought in 1950 and sold to the C&O in 1957. That's the CNS&M under wire at left.