The Galesburg & Great Eastern operated two scheduled trains per day in each direction, as listed in an Official Guide from the 1930's. In the steam era, a typical train consisted of one of the road's 2-8-0's with about fourteen or fifteen hopper cars, other freight cars and a caboose. Those hopper cars must have been able to support the approximate output capacity of the coal mine which the railroad served; more trains could have been operated if the mining output were higher. It should be noted, however, that photographer Joe Collias recorded a train of forty seven empty hopper cars operating from Wataga to Victoria. Although the traffic was largely meant for the coal mine, other shippers were present on the road, too.

   Since the distance between Wataga and Victoria was about ten miles, the trains easily covered the line in well under one hour. Even with time for switching at each end of the run, the pace of the G&GE was casual, perhaps leading to the railroad's nickname "Go & Go Easy". The G&GE operated passenger trains in the early years of its operation, but references to the railroad after the change of ownership in the 1930's all point to "freight only" operation. At the end of the 1920's, it is probable that passenger traffic had evaporated, drawn away by the presence of a state built highway from Victoria to Wataga.

Photo courtesy William Raia, taken by Paul Stringham at Victoria, August 12, 1954.

     Here, G&GE No. 3 leaves the upper yard of the mine at Victoria with loaded coal hoppers. Going from Victoria to the Burlington interchange at Wataga, the train's caboose was placed at the rear of the train. Returning from Wataga with empty hoppers, the caboose was operated directly behind the locomotive, a position which saved several switching moves. Since there were no turning facilities at either end of the railroad, locomotives returning to Victoria operated tender-first.

Photo courtesy William Raia, taken by Paul Stringham at Alert, August 12, 1954.

     Later the same day, No. 3 nears Wataga, hauling a second train of coal.

     Three months later, Paul Stringham catches No. 4 doing the honors.

Photo courtesy William Raia, taken by Paul Stringham at Victoria, November 12, 1954.

     The engineer is pouring on the sand as No. 4 lifts its load of hoppers out of the mine yard. In the background (right) the spoil piles created by strip mining are clearly visible.

     In a few months, the steam engines will be gone, replaced by two Whitcomb diesels.

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