Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad M.O.W Dept track crew pick up truck. Union Illinois USA. September 1985.

I took this "Working" photo of a C & N W Maintenance of Way crew in their Hi Rail equipped Ford pick up truck, while attending the September 1985 Members weekend at the Illinois Railway Museum. The former Chicago & NorthWestern ( currently Union Pacific) branchline to Belvidere Illinois, runs adjacent to the Illinois Railway Museum's operating demonstration mainline, along the northside of the museum's trackage. This is a rare photograph of an actual Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad Maintenance of Way crew, traveling westbound to perform some crossing repairs at the Olson Road railroad grade crossing. Although sometimes rare, I have spotted an occasional transfer train or two on the former Chicago & northWestern Belvidere line while visiting the Illinois Railway Museum, but this was the first time I photographed a maintenance move.