After having spotted SD20 2051 in the yard (on non-rail activities), I head home to get the camera. One of the last skunks on what will likely be my last opportunity to bag one. Camera and tripod in truck, I head back to the yard. Still there, headlights are now dimmed. Hmmm. This could take a while. Back home again to get the scanner (battery needed charging), then with camera and scanner to the office. Might as well get some work done. The scanner crackles to life, something's happening. I finish up work, rush out and fire up my truck. Head toward the yard, but soon find that the train is already crossing under the road I'm on. Turn around quickly, will intercept at McFarland on the bridge. Get there in plenty of time, set up tripod and camera. What camera? Remember, it's in the office! Rats. Back to the office, grab camera, not scanner, though, batteries dead. Figured I'd have to run around the outside via interstate to catch the train. Great, today I'm driving my truck, since my normal transportation is ailing (see story SOO 1003 fall surprise2). It has a 454 V8 in it. That's 7.5 liters, for the metric types. Displacement that is. With a short rear end because it's a 1 ton truck from the late 70ies. Gas prices? Global warming? As I head out (again-for the third time), I can see the train gradually approaching McFarland. Pretty slow today, maybe I can still catch it there or shortly after. Sure can, it's getting ready to set out a car and leaves most of the train outside town. I wait until the engines come back. The squirrel nest is in there cause you can hear the 4001 blowing for a crossing. All that waiting is rewarded by a bridge shaking departure with the cold engines smoking it up (you may want to put headphones on for the sound experience). Then we amble through the countryside through Stoughton to Edgerton, where another car is set out. Finally, after much waiting in Milton, where there are three trains converging, I get the long awaited higher speed shot on the last leg to Janesville. And I finally get to put my foot into it and use some gas for the way home on the interstate.