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Ever since I had moved away from the Spokane area, the stream from Railroad Radio has not been up because there was no one to run it. In the early part of 2007 however, Jeff Kieber from Hope, ID, volunteered to run a new stream for the area. So in March I flew up to help him get things set up and running. I arrived in Spokane, WA, on March 2, 2007, in the evening. After Jeff picked me up we first stopped at the BNSF yard in Spokane to see what the action would be. There were several engines sitting at the west end of the yard, and a westbound manifest train was waiting for a crew before departing the yard. Next we drove down to Hauser, ID. Just as we arrived a westbound stack train pulled out of the yard into the twilight. The moon started climbing the night sky as we found a westbound loaded coal train sitting in Hauser yard. After a couple pictures of the train with the moon in the background we set off to Jeff’s house for the night.

March 2, 2007

5:10pm	Westbound	stack	Hauser, ID	BNSF 5030, ATSF 8720(patched), CSX 8486
5:15pm	Westbound	coal	Hauser, ID	EMD 9049, 9044, 9004, ATSF 8226(patched)

The next morning dawned with snow flurries in the air. Just before 10:00am we heard the MRL detector 111.8 crackle to life as an eastbound rolled passed. A couple minutes later it rumbled into view through the snow at Hope, ID. It was lead by two Dash 9s and turned out to be a manifest train. Along the way somewhere it had picked up several empty Boeing cars as well. After a couple of pictures we decided to head into Sandpoint for church and some more trains. After lunch things were pretty dead until a little after 2pm. A northbound UP train arrived behind a UP/CP lashup. Then just as I was taking a few pictures of that train an eastbound manifest train rolled by on the BNSF. After the BNSF train cleared the northbound UP train rolled over the diamond and into the siding at Sandpoint, ID. About 30 minutes later a southbound UP train arrived at the diamond. It was a manifest train with a couple of Canadian Pacific units for power. After getting few photos we decided to head south of town. I wanted to show Jeff a few of my favorite spots on the northern end of the BNSF funnel. After exploring some we stopped at East Algoma to wait for a train.

After waiting for a little while a whistle sounded through the snow flurries. Soon the headlight of an eastbound appeared down the track. BNSF 858 soon rumbled by with an empty hopper train. After taking some pictures of the head end, I also got a few as it crossed over the bridge into Sandpoint. Then about half an hour later the scanner alerted us that a train had just gone through the detector at Boyer. Within a few minutes a westbound manifest train rolled across the bridge and curved into view along the lake. After the rails had fallen silent once more we drove around a little and then ended up at the depot in Sandpoint. When we arrived we noticed a loaded coal train on the MRL track waiting to get a clear light onto the funnel. We figured that there must be an eastbound it was waiting on, and a couple minutes later our theory was proven true. BNSF 7661 led an eastbound Z-train passed the depot. Then after it had cleared the switch the coal train slowly started up. After the last car had passed we headed up to the UP tracks to find a northbound we had heard on the scanner. It turned out to be a northbound hopper train with a CEFX and UP combination for power. From there we headed to a restaurant for a bite to eat before heading back to Jeff’s house.

March 3, 2007

10:00am	Estbound	Boeing and manifest	Hope, ID	BNSF 5431, 5049
2:20pm	Northbound	hoppers	Sandpoint, ID	UP 8293, CP 8575
2:20pm	Eastbound	manifest	Sandpoint, ID	BNSF 4493, BN 7014(patched), NS 9305
2:50pm	Southbound	manifest	Sandpoint, ID	CP 8818, 9664
3:40pm	Eastbound	hoppers	East Algoma, ID	BNSF 858, 4190, 4982
4:20pm	Westbound	manifest	East Algoma, ID	ATSF 667, 924(both patched), BNSF 4929
5:15pm	Eastbound	stack and TOFC	Sandpoint, ID	BNSF 7661, 4574, 7724
5:20pm	Westbound	coal	Sandpoint, ID	BNSF 6013, 9490, 9633
5:35pm	Northbound	hoppers	Sandpoint, ID	CEFX 101, UP 8275

The next morning I packed up my things, and we finished setting up the railroad stream. Then about 10:30am we got ready to head out to find some trains. Just about then we heard the detector go off a few miles west of his house, so instead of heading into Sandpoint we headed east. I decided to shoot the train just east of the small town of Hope, ID. After a quick run through the snow I found a good location and waited momentarily before the train arrived. It turned out to be an eastbound empty hopper train with a couple Dash 9s up front. We decided not to chase this train since track speed is faster than we could safely go on snowy roads. Instead we headed into Sandpoint to find some action on the funnel. Driving down to Algoma we set up to wait for a train. Soon we could hear the distict rumble of an approaching train. Then rounding the corner came a beautiful set of two BN SD60Ms sandwitched between two EMD oakways. The lead unit was EMD 3. Next came 110 cars loaded to the top with coal bound for the power plant in Boardman, OR. After getting some pictures we jumped into the car to chase the train down to Cocolalla.

After a couple quick shots it was a race down to Athol, ID. Just north of Athol we met an eastbound hopper train. Next we hiked up to a cliff overlooking the large fill near Granite to wait for the coal train. The next train however, turned out to be a westbound Z-train. Next we moved locations to the top of a large cut just north of Athol to wait for the coal train. After it passed we continued west to the town of Athol. While in town we caught another westbound train. This time it turned out to be an 82 car manifest train with a couple SD40-2s for power. From there we drove on down to Hauser where we found a few trains stopped in the yard or refueling. Heading west we ran into an eastbound at Otis Orchards. It was a baretable train being pulled by a lone GP38-2. Even with only empty flat cars the train was only moving at 12mph with the engine in full throttle. After it had passed we drove the rest of the way into Spokane. At the Union Pacific yard we found the M-SKHK ready to depart. By that time it was early afternoon, and I had a plane to catch.

March 4, 2007

10:55am	Eastbound	hoppers	Hope, ID	BNSF 4967, 4757
12:00pm	Westbound	coal	Algoma, ID	EMD 3, 9081, BN 9270, 9239(both patched)
12:45pm	Eastbound	hoppers	Athol, ID	BNSF 7757, 4547, 1025
12:50pm	Westbound	stack and TOFC	Granite, ID	BNSF 4680, 4337, 4486
1:15pm	Westbound	manifest	Athol, ID	FURX 8118, BN 8052(patched)
2:30pm	Eastbound	baretable	Otis Orchards, WA	BN 2075(patched)
2:45pm	Southbound	manifest	Spokane, WA	UP 3143, 3632

Three days later on Wednesday I was flying back home to Tennessee, and I had a layover in Spokane. Jeff drove down to pick me up from the airport so we could spend a few hours out watching trains. In Yardley we found a variety of locomotives including BNSF 7668, 7766, and TFM 1658. As we headed out towards Idaho along the BNSF funnel, I was surprised at how much of the snow had melted in just a couple days. The first train of the morning was an eastbound stack and TOFC train near the WA/ID border. With a ex-ATSF Warbonnet, a BNSF H1, a ex-ATSF blue and yellow, and a KCS unit the consist contained quite a diversity of power. After a few pictures of this train we drove to the west end of Hauser yard to wait for trains. The first train was a westbound hopper train coming out of the yard tracks. The lead unit looked a little funny because the entire nose of the engine was in a redish grey primer paint. Then fifteen minutes later a westbound Z-train rolled by on the main bypassing the refueling station. After a quick check of the yard we found another westbound loaded hopper train and an eastbound stack train waiting to depart. From there we headed back to Spokane so I could catch my flight out. It was a fun trip, and I enjoyed being back in the northwest for a few days!

March 7, 2007

10:25am	Eastbound	stack and TOFC	Otis Orchards, WA	ATSF 895, 6864(both patched), BNSF 6835, KCS 4024
10:45am	Westbound	hoppers	Hauser, ID	BNSF 749, 4933, 4022
11:00am	Westbound	stack and TOFC	Hauser, ID	BNSF 4331, 784, 4199
11:15am	Westbound	hoppers	Hauser, ID	BNSF 4415, 4768, 1112, ????
11:20am	Eastbound	stack	Hauser, ID	BNSF 4065, ????, ????, ????

On Friday after school I arranged to meet up with some of the local railfans. I arrived in Ooltewah at the Jct. between the NS line to Atlanta, GA, and to Cleveland, TN. I was greeted by Robert Duncun and several others (sorry I don’t remember all of your names). The first train took us by surprise at 1:30pm with three engines on an eastbound hopper. It took the south line to GA, and we settled down to discuss the good photography locations and railroad operations. At 2:30pm a westbound empty coal train rounded the corner coming up from GA. We were prepared for this train which was train 731. BNSF 9884 and 5766 led the train and another BNSF AC unit brought up the tail end. I found out that the dispatchers usually fleeted three trains each way between Ooltewah, TN, and Cohutta, GA. And sure enough twenty minutes later another eastbound arrived. This train was a westbound manifest with some interesting lease power in the consist including an ex-SP tunnel motor.

After another twenty minutes a horn sounded in the distance, and another westbound manifest train arrived. This train came off the Cleveland line with and NS and two ex-UP SD50s. After grabbing some more shots of the train we continued our discussion. Over the scanner we heard of an eastbound heading our way, and at 3:30pm train 361 rounded the corner. This was an eastbound manifest train heading down into GA with a colorful lashup of NS, ex-CR, and ex-UP units. The sun came out just long enough for a good photo. We heard another train hit the detector to the west, and a few minutes later NS 8851 rounded the corner leading train 175, an eastbound manifest train. After another set of photos the conversation had barely started back up when a westbound loaded coal train rolled off the Cleveland line. This was train 730 coming from the Appalachian coal fields and heading to a power plant in AL. I tried a few different angles with this train, and I also enjoyed the little bit of sun. The last train of the day arrived just before dark at 4:35pm. It was an eastbound auto train #283 heading to Atlanta, GA. With that the line fell silent, and we parted company. It was great to meet some fellow railfans, and 8 trains in 3 hours was a nice bonus!

1:30pm	Eastbound	hoppers	Ooltewah, TN	CR 8429(patched), NS 2501, UP 9540
2:30pm	Westbound	empty coal	Ooltewah, TN	BNSF 9884, 5766, 6034
2:50pm	Westbound	manifest	Ooltewah, TN	NS 2581, 3038, CEFX 2815, GCFX 8652
3:10pm	Westbound	manifest	Ooltewah, TN	NS 6594, HLCX 5951, 5946
3:30pm	Eastbound	manifest	Ooltewah, TN	NS 8884, 6632, CR 5420(patched), HLCX 5999
3:45pm	Eastbound	manifest	Ooltewah, TN	NS 8851, 8880, 9278
4:00pm	Westbound	coal	Ooltewah, TN	NS 9692, 8955, 8751
4:35pm	Eastbound	auto	Ooltewah, TN	NS 9872, 9298

The weatherman’s forecast of sunny weather came true as my dad and I spent the day chasing trains. We started out on December 23, 2006, in Chattanooga. As we were driving around NS’s DeButts yard we spotted a Powder River coal train with BNSF power. We also noticed a NS train rolling into the north end of the yard and a manifest train heading south. Next we drove down to Wauhatchie yard. On the way we found a CSX manifest train waiting to head into town. At the yard the fog was low and thick which prohibited us from seeing much. We were able to see a few engines at the service tracks but that was all. Next we followed the tracks south for awhile. We explored a few tracks in the area and then headed west. I had just bought a railroad atlas from SPV, and it was nice to see which tracks went were.

We met up with the CSX tracks on the Chattanooga sub around Hooker, GA. For the next 10 miles or so the tracks twist and turn through a heading downhill to lake Nickajack. We explored the route all the way to the lake were we ran into an eastbound Powder River Basin coal train. After a quick U-turn, we beat the train back to the high bridge over I-24 near Whiteside, TN. Because of the steep grade the train was pulling hard and not moving very fast. It was easy to get a picture and then race ahead to find another spot. I took several more photos at three other locations before giving up the chase at Hooker, GA. In the meantime we missed a westbound NS manifest train. Heading back to the lake we continued to explore the tracks. We followed the tracks all the way to New Hope, TN. The road curves away from the tracks here so we decided to head back to Alaten, TN, and wait for a train.

The wait proved to be about an hour before another train showed up. Over the radio we heard a westbound calling out signals, and soon we could see it approaching along the lake. After a quick drive I had just enough time to grab a couple shots before the train arrived. It was another Powder River coal train with more BNSF power. We chased it to Moore Crossing, but we weren’t able to beat it in time for a picture. Next we headed down to Bridgeport, AL. As we arrived we explored the tracks and found several nice photo locations including a high view of the bridge over the Tennessee River east of town. We hadn’t heard anything on the scanner for awhile so we continued to follow the tracks south. We arrived at Stevenson, AL, just in time to catch the eastbound Nashville to Atlanta manifest train with CSX, NS, and UP locomotives for power. We also noticed yet another Powder River coal train waiting to enter the CSX track in town. After a quick chase back to Bridgeport, we didn’t quite beat the manifest train. So we settled down to wait at the bridge for the next train. We heard the detector call out the train and soon three CSX engines rolled onto the bridge with train Q127.

After the train rolled by we drove to were the two main tracks change to only one as they go over the bridge. There is a nice S-curve here for westbound trains. I knew there was that coal train which would have a DPU so I was sure I would get the shot. The coal train arrived shortly, but it was met by red lights. Soon after it stopped, however, the same empty coal train we had seen earlier rounded the corner. It was slowing down, and as I shot several pictures, one of the crew members came out to the front of the locomotive. Then they proceeded down the stairs and got a hand off from the train they met. After this coal train cleared the switch the loaded eastbound got a yellow light and started out. I took several pictures as it pulled through the switch. Next we drove down to Stevenson to wait for another train. On the scanner we had heard of a westbound approaching. After a few minutes the detector alerted us of the train’s presence, and I set up for the shot. I decided to use my tele-converter along with my telephoto lens. With that combination I had the equivalent of 560mm at the longest zoom. The only problem is that I have to manually focus the camera. As the train approached I took multiple pictures. After it rolled by we started following it west.

We barely beat the train to Sherwood, TN, where we found two AC4400CWs waiting on the siding. The Q126 rolled to a stop at the west end of Sherwood, and we could hear the helpers connecting on to the rear of the train. Soon it started out of town and up Cowan Hill. I got several nice shots of the helpers as it rolled by my location west of town. The road doesn’t follow the tracks up the hill so by the time we got to Cowan the train had already cleared town. The helpers were already in the yard and being tied down. Two other helpers were also in the yard and with in a few minutes they headed west towards Decherd, TN. A few minutes later a westbound auto train rolled down the hill into Cowan. I was able to get some nice pictures in the fading sunlight as it was already 4pm. This train rolled into the siding at Cowan, and we decided to head up to Decherd. We arrived in town and found a long cut of hopper cars in the siding. Also the two helper engines were on the west end of the siding. The signals were on for an eastbound so we decided we should start looking for a place to shoot.

Before we could come up with a good place we heard the horn of the train. We thought it would stop so the helpers could couple onto the rear, but it rumbled through town without any hesitation. We still hadn’t found a good location so we raced back down to Cowan. When we arrived the train was stopped blocking the main crossing in town while the other two helper engines connected on the back. We drove down to the next crossing, and I was able to get a couple pictures of the head end. Then back at the main crossing, we waited while the train slowly pulled passed. I decided to incorporate some Christmas cheer into my picture since it was almost Christmas. So I tried to find a good angle to photograph both the train and the manger seen set up next to the tracks. After the train rolled by the sun was almost gone. We decided to head back home. It was a great trip with beautiful weather all day.

December 23, 2006

8:30am	Eastbound	coal	Chattanooga, TN	BNSF 5994, ????, ????
9:00am	Eastbound	manifest	Wauhatchie, TN	CSX 7755, HLCX 7180
10:00am	Westbound	manifest	Whiteside, GA	NS ????, ????, ????, ????
10:25am	Eastbound	coal	Hooker, GA	BNSF 5889, 5634, 5654
11:40am	Westbound	empty coal	Alaten, TN	BNSF 5743, 5992, 6093
12:40pm	Eastbound	manifest	Stevenson, AL	NS ????, CSX ????, UP ????
1:05pm	Eastbound	stack and TOFC	Bridgeport, AL	CSX 4728, 5383, 691
1:55pm	Eastbound	coal	Bridgeport, AL	BNSF 5836, 5910, 6012
2:25pm	Westbound	stack	Stevenson, AL	CSX 4709, 5274, (helpers over Cowan hill CSX 553, 397)
3:50pm	Westbound	auto	Cowan, TN	CSX 7836, 7538
4:55pm	Eastbound	auto	Cowan, TN	CSX 7619, 7368, 6930, 2301, (helpers over Cowan hill CSX 553, 397)

Saturday started as a warm clear day in Chattanooga, TN. I decided to head over to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in the afternoon since I still hadn’t had a chance to see them. The Missionary Ridge Local was on schedule for a departure at 1:15pm and 2:25pm, and I found out that the power was going to be engine 610. As I arrived at the depot the train was just getting ready to depart at 1:15pm. First the train pulled through out of the depot heading east. Then it backed up the wye track and pulled out heading west. The entire length of this line is only about 6.5 miles, and the roads do not parallel the tracks very well. I did not realize this and was quite surprised to find that I couldn’t beat the train to any photography spots. After shooting the train at the Grand Jct. Depot, I next caught up with it after it pulled into the station at East Chattanooga. Here the locomotive dropped the cars and pulled onto the turntable. The passengers all climbed off the train and walked over to watch the operation of turning the locomotive. I took several pictures before heading back to the car. I wanted to find a good spot for the return trip.

The railroad tracks go through a tunnel under Missionary Ridge, and I tried to find access to the east end. After several fruitless attempts I gave up and found a spot a mile after the tunnel. After a few minutes the train rumbled passed. I chased it back to Grand Jct. where the passengers disembarked and the crew prepared for the next trip. Since I had about 10 to 15 minutes I spent some time checking out the NS tracks in the area. The NS tracks run right next to TVRM’s Grand Jct. Depot. And a mile down the TVRM tracks they cross over CSX’s mainline to Atlanta. The signals were all red, and no trains showed up. I needed to find another spot for the next trip on TVRM. I decided to head back towards the tunnel and shoot from the same location I had before. Soon after I set up for the train it rounded the corner and rolled by. I ran back to the car and tried to beat it down to East Chattanooga, but I was too late again. I talked to one of the crew members briefly and found they were planning to run the power back to East Chattanooga after the run because of several other trains running later on in the evening. Since the sun was getting low in the horizon I decided not to shoot the return trip because of bad lighting.

I next explored the NS tracks up to DeButts Yard and the Tennessee River Bridge. I wanted to get a shot of the bridge, but with light running low I decided against walking the mile into the bridge. After some more exploration I drove back to see if the TVRM had left. It was in the process of leaving Grand Jct. and hoping that I could beat it down to the other end I raced off. I should have known from the previous two tries because I was too late yet again. Next I drove back towards the NS tracks. On the way I ran into a southbound CSX auto train. Then I found a southbound BNSF coal train on the NS line. I decided this would be a good train to follow home. I beat the train to Ooltewah where I grabbed a couple shots of the DPU. Then I followed the train east to Cohutta, GA taking a few more pictures. Finally with the last rays of sunlight disappearing I headed back home.

December 16, 2006

1:15pm	Westbound	passenger	Chattanooga, TN	TVRM 610
3:00pm	Southbound	auto	Chattanooga, TN	CSX 5371, 7575
4:45pm	Southbound	coal	Ooltewah, TN	BNSF 5947, 5975, 9902

I had read on the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s website that the first excursion train to run all the way to Copperhill, TN was scheduled for December 2, 2006. The weather looked good so my dad and I got an early start at 6:30am and headed east to Etowah, TN. We arrived at the Hiwassee River Gorge two hours before the train was scheduled to depart. This was because we wanted to explore the route prior to chasing the train. After driving up the gorge all the way to the Hiwassee loop we had just enough time to make a quick trip back to Etowah, TN for the 9:30am departure time. When we arrived at the depot we found passengers boarding a bus and heading south towards the gorge. We followed in the car and soon arrived at the location of the train. They were boarding the last group of passengers as I took several shots of the NC&StL locomotive in the lead. This was a GP9 rebuilt from a GP7.

Next we headed across the river to the road that followed the tracks up the gorge. We stopped for one shot from across the river before driving to Reliance, TN. Here the tracks cross the Hiwassee River on a bridge. After taking several pictures of the train we hit the road hard. After about 45 minutes of speeding along little forest roads we reached the area of the loop. There is no easy access to the loop, but we started searching for a way. After a couple minutes we found a few rocks and a log to cross the river on. On the other side we made a mad dash up the hill as we could hear the train coming. We reached the tracks with just enough time to get in position before the lead engine rounded the corner. After a couple pictures we ran up the hill another couple hundred feet to where the next loop was. The Hiwassee loop is actually a helix as the tracks circle around Bald Mountain almost twice before crossing over itself on a high wooden trestle.

We were able to grab another couple shots as the train came by again. Next we ran around the corner to where the next loop crossed over the tracks on a bridge. I got several more shots as the ran slowly rumbled by. Next we sat down to rest for a few minutes and let our heart rates get back to normal. After hiking back out to the car we drove down to Copperhill, TN. The train had just arrived, and the passengers were disembarking. We parked the car and walked up to the engine for some shots. We talked to several of the crew members and watched as they discussed the loading position. Next the train backed up towards the small CSX yard. On the way, however, it stopped so the crew could do a little maintenance. Someone got a chainsaw out and went to work on the low branches near the tracks. At first they worked from the walkway around the engine but then they climbed up on the top to get easier access. After they finished they came down and the train backed up again until they encountered another tree. After a few minutes they finished all the trees and backed the rest of the way into the yard.

Here they cut off from the train and ran around the cars. On the other end they had a little bit of trouble connecting back up to the cars. But after some discussion and several attempts the couples connected properly and they were done. At that point we decided to head back to the loop for the return trip. This time we walked in from the other direction. It was a much easier hike although quite a bit longer. I took some random shots of tracks, spikes and ties while waiting for the train. After a little while we heard the whistle in the distance. I set up for the shot and took several pictures as it rolled over the bridge. Unfortunately the sun was hidden behind some afternoon clouds. Then the train rolled around and on the lower track now. I took several more shots as it rounded the corner under the bridge. This time the Chattooga and Chickamauga Railway 102 lead the train. After it had disappeared we decided to walk the loop around instead of scrambling up the sides of the hill. After reaching the car we headed home. It was a fun trip and I hope to spend several more days chasing this neat excursion train next year.

After a couple of busy months I was able to break away from school and other appointments to head for the railroad tracks. The first train of the morning was CSX Q120. I ran into this northbound around Ringgold, GA and made a quick u-turn to find a spot for a picture. It was coming mostly out of the sun which proved to be a bit of a challenge. I headed back south. This time I made it only a little farther before I heard the detector go off. I quickly drove to the Ringgold station and waited a couple minutes. It was another stack and TOFC train heading north. I followed the tracks south exploring the line until I reached Tunnel Hill, GA. I still hadn’t heard anything more on the scanner as far as CSX trains went so I made a quick trip over to the NS tracks. All morning long I had heard of NS trains, and I wasn’t disappointed when I reached the line. When I reached Varnell, GA I found a northbound BNSF Powder River Basin empty coal train waiting at the signals. I parked just north of the train and waited for a southbound.

Thirty minutes later another BNSF Powder River Basin coal train arrived. It was a loaded one with 2×1 locomotive configuration. After shooting a couple shots of this train I waited as it rolled by and over the crossover in front of the northbound empty. Then the empty got a light around rolled out with 124 cars. I put on my tele-converter for a going away shot of the DPU on the rear. A few minutes later the G38 (Georgia local) rolled through the crossover with two NS units. I tried a more side shot since the sun was not in a good position for northbounds. Two hours later the scanner picked up some traffic heading my way. Soon another BNSF empty coal train rounded the corner near Waring, GA. I shot a going away of the DPU and then noticed the headlights of an approaching southbound. This proved to be NS train 275 with 34 autoracks. I decided to chase this train south and try to grab another couple shots.

The chase went well until I reached Dalton, GA. The traffic slowed me down quite a bit and then I stopped for a minute to catch a CSX northbound manifest with some interesting power. I saw NS 1649 in the yard south of town and then took off on I-75 for the chase. I could hear this train hit the different detectors as I flew down the freeway. I took the Adairsville exit confident I was ahead of the train. After a short trip I arrived at the NS tracks at Pinson, GA. If I had known where I was going exactly I probably could have gotten a shot, but when I did find the tracks the tail end of the train was just rolling by. I continued the chase down to Rome, GA, but it was fruitless. The train was just going too fast to be able to get ahead of it very well. After giving up on the chase I drove back north to Pinson, GA to wait. About an hour later another southbound rounded the corner. It was a manifest train with 5 engines on the point. After shooting this train I drove north to Reeves, GA following the tracks. The sun was providing some great light but no trains showed up. And unfortunately I had an orchestra concert I had to play in so I had to quickly head for the church. It was a fun day even though traffic levels were a little on the low side.

November 18, 2006

8:55am	Northbound	stack and TOFC	Ringgold, GA	UP 5169, 4338, CSX 4835
9:10am	Northbound	stack and TOFC	Ringgold, GA	CSX 4769, 5118
10:30am	Northbound	empty coal	Varnell, GA	BNSF 9785, 5691, 5815
10:40am	Southbound	coal	Varnell, GA	BNSF 5629, 5816, 5869
10:55am	Northbound	manifest	Varnell, GA	NS 8920, 9253
12:50pm	Northbound	empty coal	Varnell, GA	BNSF 5856, 5760, 5966
12:55pm	Southbound	auto	Varnell, GA	NS 9641, 9281
1:15pm	Northbound	manifest	Dalton, GA	CR 8715(patched CSX), HLCX 6059, CSX 7603
3:00pm	Southbound	manifest	Pinson, GA	NS 8931, 8965, UP 5236, 5514, ????

With college in full swing for me I didn’t have much time off. But on Sunday, September 17, my dad and I decided to spend the day watching trains down in Georgia. We got out of the house about 8am and headed towards Dalton, GA following the NS tracks. On the radio we heard about an approaching train coming down from Cleveland, TN towards Cohutta. We arrived next the tracks with just enough time to jump out of the car and shoot. It was a manifest train with a NS and UP unit for power. After a few shots we chased the train south. The roads to not parallel the tracks very well so as we arrived at Varnell, GA the train was already passing through. But as we looked down the tracks we saw a headlight from a northbound. After a quick set on a overpass I shot the train as it arrived. It was a northbound empty coal train heading back to a mine for reloading.

Continuing on south we caught up to the train we had been chasing. It was stopped just north of Waring, waiting for permission to proceed through Dalton and the junction with CSX. After stopping for a few pictures we headed south to find a good spot to shot the train. About ten minutes later we heard him get permission, and the train started rolling again. I shot several photos around Waring and then headed into Dalton. As we arrived in town we heard a whistle from an approaching CSX train. I found a nice spot to shoot from at a public road crossing and waited for the train. Just as it arrived a cop pulled up and wanted to chat with me. After I told him what I was doing he basically said to be careful because railroads have been really safety conscious after 9-11. I told him I would stay safe, and he left. After the train had finished passing I headed back to the car, and we started following the CSX south. We stopped by the small yard momentarily to grab some pictures of NS 3185.

Our next stop was along the NS near Freeman, GA. We found a great S-curve and parked the car. After about 45 minutes we could hear a train approaching from the south. It turned out to be a northbound manifest train with a NS in primer leading the train. Nothing more arrived on NS and on the scanner we heard about several southbound trains on the CSX, so we headed for Calhoun, GA. First train on the list was a southbound CSX rail train with 34 cars. We first shot this train from an overpass just north of Calhoun. Next we stopped by an elevator to look at the switcher. It was yellow in color, but we couldn’t see a number or reporting marks. We drove down to downtown Calhoun and found 3 engines on a siding track. Then just as I had finished recording the numbers I heard a horn. It turned out to be another southbound. This time a 54 car manifest train. After snapping some pictures we chased it down to Adairsville, GA. We found a nice curve and had just enough time to set up for the shot. The train went into Adairsville siding, and we drove down to check it out. We found that the rail train was also in the siding. They were both lined up nose to tail waiting for a northbound. After a few minutes it arrived with a long line of stack cars.

I got several pictures from the south end of the siding and then headed south another couple miles. I set up for another shot and waited for the rail train. We knew the manifest wouldn’t be far behind so after grabbing these photos we quickly continued south searching for photo locations. A couple miles north of Kingston, GA we set up for the wait. It wasn’t too long before CSX 5283 rounded the curve and rolled passed. Our next stop was Cartersville, GA. Here we found the southbound rail train stopped at a light and five CSX engines idling in the yard. Also a southbound ballast train with 59 cars was rolling off the other CSX line at Junta, Jct. Then at 1pm a northbound autorack train curved into view. After shooting a couple of pictures we drove down to Emerson, GA where we found a northbound MOW of train in the siding. A few minutes later the rail train we had been chasing arrived with its 34 cars. After this shot we continued to follow the train down the bridge over Allatoona Lake. We tried to find a way to the south end of this bridge but gave up when we ran into government property. Next we caught the southbound ballast train a few more miles south. Then at Kennesaw, GA we explored the Georgia Northeastern Railroad yard, and found five engines. After shooting a few pictures we headed south once more. A couple miles farther and we ran into the Q124-17 heading north with its load of trailers and containers. Then 10 minutes later we found a southbound and northbound manifest trains at Fair Oaks, GA.

Finally we arrived at the CSX Tilford yard in Atlanta around 3pm. A southbound manifest was just rolling to a stop in the yard. After shooting a variety of shots of the motive power we made a quick stop at NS’s Inman yard. Here we found two southbound stack, TOFC and auto trains waiting to depart. We also found NS 50 switching the yard at the north end. Next we headed north retracing our steps. We didn’t run into any trains since we stuck to the freeway. At Tunnel Hill, GA we stopped to wait for 30 minutes for a train, but the light soon faded and no train arrived. So it was a quick trip home with no more rail action. We had a fun day and enjoyed our first experience of railfanning in the south.

September 17, 2006

8:50am	Southbound	manifest	Cohutta, GA	NS 9159, UP 9152
9:05am	Northbound	empty coal	Varnell, GA	NS 9555, 9600, 8920
9:45am	Southbound	auto	Dalton, GA	CSX 8778, 8753
10:50am	Northbound	manifest	Freeman, GA	NS 7545, 8554
11:15am	Southbound	rail train	Calhoun, GA	CSX 6467, 2203
11:30am	Southbound	manifest	Calhoun, GA	CSX 5283, CR 7326(CSX patched)
12:00pm	Northbound	stack	Adairsville, GA	CSX 5207, 8782
1:00pm	Southbound	ballast	Cartersville, GA	CSX 49, 384
1:00pm	Northbound	auto	Cartersville, GA	CSX 8103, UP 4187
1:15pm	Northbound	MOW	Emerson, GA	CSX 3229, 6403
2:30pm	Northbound	stack and TOFC	Kennesaw, GA	CSX 5112, 8587
2:40pm	Southbound	manifest	Fair Oaks, GA	CSX 8726, 8093
2:40pm	Northbound	manifest	Fair Oaks, GA	CSX 8120, FURX 3033, HLCX 6320
3:20pm	Southbound	manifest	Atlanta, GA	CSX 384, 4882
3:25pm	Southbound	stack, TOFC & auto	Atlanta, GA	BNSF 5002, CR 8304(NS patched), NS 9832
3:25pm	Southbound	stack	Atlanta, GA	NS 9097, ????

I got a little late start the next morning but by 8:30am I was at Donkey Creek Jct. This is the northern end of the Orin Sub and just east of the junction the yard of Roset serves as a staging yard. When I arrived I found a northbound loaded coal train stopped just before the junction. One of the crew was out washing the windows as they waited. A couple minutes later an empty rolled heading west rolled through the junction heading south on the Orin Sub. This train was lead by a brand new BNSF SD70ACe. I snapped several shots and even got a roster shot as the train passed. I drove down to the rear of the stopped northbound and tried to continue following the tracks but the roads soon turned into private property. Heading to the Roset yard I found several trains waiting to head out on the main line. There were three westbound empties and two eastbound loads resting in the yard. Around 10:30pm one of the eastbounds pulled out and I decided it would be a good time to follow. When I reached Moorcroft, WY I found the line was backed up with trains. The first train was stopped just short of town and was a westbound empty coal train. Then a second empty was stopped at the tail of the first one.

Next I arrived at Thornton, WY. The track slims down to only one track for a little while west of town and so I found another westbound empty stopped just short of the signals. I waited around for a few minutes and an eastbound load crested the hill. After shooting this train I followed it east. At the rear of the stopped westbound I found the next westbound. This train was a westbound manifest. I continued east until I reached the town of Colloid. Here I took a side road which crossed the tracks and waited for the eastbound I had shot at Thornton. While waiting for this train, a local arrived heading west with a few tank cars. After shooting the eastbound, I raced ahead of it again looking for another shot possibility. I decided to wait for it at small town of Osage, WY. It took quite a while to arrive and I almost thought I hadn’t beat the train. Then it finally curved into sight and rumbled up a small hill. I decided to back track several miles and take a side road to see if I could get to the tracks in a more remote area. I made it and had just enough time to set up for a picture before an eastbound coal train arrived.

My next stop was at Pedro, WY. I beat the eastbound coal train I shot last so I was able to get another picture here. Waiting at the end of the double track was a westbound empty. In a couple more miles I arrived at Newcastle, WY. The eastbound I had been following stopped just east of town to change crews. After taking several pictures I headed towards Edgemont, SD. I missed several side roads which paralleled the tracks so it was almost an hour before I reached the town of Edgemont, SD. As I arrived I noticed a westbound manifest train sitting in the yard. A couple minutes later an eastbound coal train pulled through. Next I drove to the east end of town to catch some more action. An eastbound manifest train was switching several cars and within 15 minutes a westbound empty rolled into town. The train barely had enough time to stop, change crews, and leave before the next westbound pulled up to the east end of the yard. Since it was a little after 3pm I wanted to keep heading east towards my destination of Crawford, NE.

Five miles down the track I stopped for a short time to catch another westbound empty coal train duck under the road. It passed an eastbound empty. Over the radio I learned that BNSF was short of crews and many trains were getting backed up waiting to get into Edgemont, SD. My next stop was at Provo, SD. I found another eastbound coal train stopped at the end of the double track. A couple minutes later I spotted the headlight of an approaching train. It turned out to be another westbound empty. The road didn’t follow the tracks for the next several miles until I got to the town of Rumford, SD. In the mean time I missed a westbound empty. There was an eastbound loaded coal train in the siding at Rumford and over the radio I heard the dispatcher inform the train that he only had one more train to wait for. I quickly found a spot for this train and set up. It wasn’t long before it arrived and rushed passed.

The next town was Ardmore, SD. Here I found another westbound empty coal train but without a crew. I also discovered a stack of spikes next to the road which helped create a more artistic shot. I couldn’t find the road that followed the tracks so I ended up having to take the highway for the next 30 miles before I could get back to the tracks. When did finally find the tracks, I also found the road which followed them. I decided to backtrack for a little while to see what I could find. Within a couple miles I found an eastbound coal train stopped at a signal. The back of the train had two DPUs which gave the impression that it was a westbound from that end. After taking several pictures I continued west for another couple miles and found another eastbound. This train was a ballast train. After waiting around for 15 minutes a westbound empty showed up. The tracks have some small hills and my big telephoto lens helped to bring out the hills. The eastbounds still didn’t start moving so I waited another 20 minutes for the next westbound. After this train rolled passed the eastbounds started moving so I headed towards Crawford.

I finally arrived in town about 6:30pm. After stopping for some gas and a snack, I found the small yard. In the yard there were several sets of helper engines and a couple other engines. There was a track heading north from the yard which is the DM&E’s track. A BNSF train was parked on this track as though it were waiting to head north. One interesting thing I found was that on the 2nd locomotive someone had left the sander on. The sander was still going when I saw it, and there was a pile of sand covering the track and part of the wheel. A couple minutes later crew member climbed on board one of the helper sets and headed west to find its train. At the east side of town I was able to catch a westbound empty rolling down the hill in the low sunlight. Next I headed up the hill a little bit and found a good side road. A few minutes later I spotted another westbound descending. I snapped a few shots as it slowed to a stop at a signal. Pretty soon the ballast train I had seen earlier rumbled by heading up the hill. The empty got a light and rolled on down. Soon after it left I could hear the rumble of an eastbound loaded coal train starting up the hill. The sun had just set when it came around the corner. It provided a great ending for the day. After the train had disappeared I headed west for a couple miles to a state park for the night.

August 10, 2006

8:25am	Southbound	empty coal	Donkey Creek, WY	BNSF 9398, 9457, 5326
8:45am	Northbound	coal	Donkey Creek, WY	BNSF 9804, 5689, 9809
9:00am	Westbound	empty coal	Roset, WY	BNSF 5616, 8828, 5463
9:00am	Eastbound	coal	Roset, WY	BN 9714, 9626, BNSF 5776
10:25am	Westbound	empty coal	Roset, WY	BNSF 6022, 9985, BN 9674
10:25am	Westbound	empty coal	Roset, WY	BNSF 9958, 9927, BN 9593
10:35am	Westbound	empty coal	Roset, WY	BNSF 9736, 9414, 9793, 5769
10:35am	Eastbound	coal	Roset, WY	BNSF 9478, 9802, BN 9520
11:15am	Westbound	empty coal	Moorcroft, WY	BNSF 8863, 9439, 8963
11:25am	Westbound	empty coal	Moorcroft, WY	BNSF 9945, 9524, ????
11:45am	Eastbound	coal	Thornton, WY	BNSF 9930, 9872, 4898
11:50am	Westbound	empty coal	Thornton, WY	BNSF 9944, 9472, 5798
11:50am	Westbound	manifest	Thornton, WY	BNSF 1110, 4929
11:55am	Westbound	local	Colloid, WY	BNSF 8210
1:00pm	Westbound	empty coal	Petro, WY	BNSF 9799, 9564, 5778
2:35pm	Westbound	manifest	Edgemont, SD	ATSF 680(patched), BNSF 9249
2:45pm	Eastbound	coal	Edgemont, SD	BNSF 5694, 5933, 5905
3:00pm	Westbound	empty coal	Edgemont, SD	BNSF 5751, 9826, BN 9497
3:10pm	Eastbound	manifest	Edgemont, SD	BNSF 559, 5043, 9893
3:15pm	Westbound	empty coal	Edgemont, SD	BNSF 5708, 9929, ????, ????
3:30pm	Westbound	empty coal	Provo, SD	BNSF 5663, 5954, 9977, BN 9534
3:40pm	Westbound	empty coal	Provo, SD	BNSF 9822, 5620, TFM 1602, 1614
4:15pm	Westbound	empty coal	Rumford, SD	BNSF 5643, 4965, CEFX 1024
4:30pm	Westbound	empty coal	Ardmore, SD	BNSF 8987, 9733, 5735, BN 9709
5:20pm	Eastbound	coal	Joder, NE	BNSF 9666, 9490, 5840, 5932
5:25pm	Eastbound	ballast	Joder, NE	BN 9288(patched), EMD 9056
5:40pm	Westbound	empty coal	Joder, NE	BNSF 9917, 9491, 5975
6:05pm	Westbound	empty coal	Joder, NE	BNSF 9763, 5985, 8838
6:30pm	Northbound	manifest	Crawford, NE	BNSF 7323, BN 9281, 9283(both patched)
7:20pm	Westbound	empty coal	Crawford, NE	BNSF 9956, 8269, 9545
7:40pm	Westbound	empty coal	Crawford, NE	UP 7374, BN 9410, CEFX 124
8:05pm	Eastbound	coal	Crawford, NE	BNSF 9640, 9757, BN 9565. Helpers BN 9225, 9280(patched), ATSF 8205(patched)

I arose early the next morning and headed for Crawford Hill. The sun was just peaking through the clouds on the horizon when I caught my first train of the day. It was a westbound empty descending the hill at 7:15am. After a short wait a helper set slowly rolled by. At the same time an eastbound load rumbled around the corner and into view. I shot the head end of the train and then waited around for a few minutes while it slowly rumbled by. Then just before the tail end appeared, another westbound empty quietly slid around the corner. This train was an E-KCMBKM and I barely had enough time to turn and shoot before the train passed. The sun was playing hide and seek and as the tail end of the loaded train rolled passed I took several pictures despite the poor light. I was amazed at how incredibly LOUD the helpers are!!! This particular train had just 2 engines on the front and 1 DPU and 3 helpers on the back. But the back end was definitely louder than the front. Next I moved down the hill a couple miles to wait for the next train. I could hear the eastbound load well before I could see it. And by 8am it was rolling passed. The day was off to a busy start with 5 train movements in 45 minutes.

Unfortunately traffic started to slow down as it was over an hour before the next train arrived. It was a westbound empty headed for Rawhide Coal Mine. My goal was to photograph Crawford Hill so I parked my car and started walking. Just before 10am a loaded coal train slowly made its way up the hill. I took several pictures and then kept exploring. I found a great overlook high above the tracks and decided to stay there for several hours until the light moved to the other side. I didn’t wait long before a westbound curved into view. It was a manifest train with 3 BN SD60Ms and 13 cars. It almost looked like it was from the old BN days. After taking several pictures as the train rolled down the upper horseshoe I settled down to wait. But within 3 minutes a set of helpers arrived following the manifest train. Then barely after the helpers disappeared an eastbound loaded coal train struggled up the hill. The next westbound empty arrived before the loaded train’s helpers had even disappeared. The tail end of both trains met just across the valley from my position on the upper horseshoe curve.

Within 20 minutes the next train arrived. It was another westbound empty coal train quietly drifting down the hill. After taking several pictures of the train as it rolled by almost 100 feet directly below me I waited for the DPU. It turned out to be adorned with the new BNSF logo. The train came to a stop with the rear just west of my position. I decided to move up to the hill a little bit to the outside end of the horseshoe curve. The sun had been out with full force and lots of blue sky by this time but as the next eastbound approached so did the clouds. I was quite disappointed about this shot since the leader was a brand new SD70ACe, BNSF 9398. As this train was rolling by the previous westbound finally got a signal and rolled down the hill. Then just as the helpers were passing my location one of the helper sets drifted by heading back to Crawford.

Next I moved back to my original position high above the tracks. It was about an hour before a westbound arrived. About the same time I heard an eastbound roaring as it approached. One of the crew members from the westbound walked out the door and waved at me from the front of the locomotive. After taking several pictures I turned and watched it round the far curve out of sight. Just then the nose of the eastbound curved into view. It was another loaded coal train with two engines on the point and a DPU and three helpers on the rear. The sun was out and I was able to get several great shots. After this train passed I decided that the sun had shifted far enough to the west so that I could get some good shots across the valley. I met an empty westbound just before I reached the outside curve across the valley. This is the famous shot from Crawford Hill where the train is pointing right at you and the DPUs are in the background across the valley. Just before I got to this point a loaded eastbound coal train rumbled by.

About 20 minutes later another westbound rounded the bend and snaked around the horseshoe curve. From this vantage point I could use my binoculars and see approaching eastbound trains all the way on the other side of the town of Crawford. I watched as the helpers connected to the back and the train started its long journey up the hill. It would be almost an hour before the train rumbled passed my position. In the meantime an eastbound ahead already almost to my spot rumbled up the steep grade. When this train was about a mile away (by track), a set of helpers quietly rolled by. They approached so quietly that I almost missed a shot. Soon the eastbound arrived. It was a manifest train with a set of helpers on the point along with two other engines. A few minutes after this train was out of sight a westbound empty rolled down the hill. This train proved to be the first train for me to photograph the DPUs and head end on this famous curve. Following close on this train’s tail was yet another westbound empty coal train. This time the sun hid behind a cloud just as the locomotives passed. The train came to a stop just a mile down the tracks at a red light and pretty soon a helper set slowed to a stop just in front of me. Then with all the westbounds backed up an eastbound loaded coal train slowly pulled passed them heading up the hill.

After the eastbound coal train had passed the westbounds started to move down the hill. I decided to hike back out to my car and drive up to the top of the hill. I arrived at the top where eastbound trains pause momentarily to cut off the helpers. The first train was a loaded coal train. Just after the DPU and helpers crested the hill the train stopped and the helpers cut off. I had heard that the helpers would cut off on the fly but unfortunately I did not get to witness this. The helpers crossed over to the other track and then headed back down the hill. At this point I decided to follow the tracks down the hill for a little while. I ran into another eastbound a couple minutes later. I was able to get some good shots as the sun reflected off the nose. After taking pictures of the DPUs I continued down the hill a little farther. I found a good overlook with nice shots for both eastbound and westbounds so I sat down to wait. It was only a couple minutes before another eastbound arrived. It was a manifest train with only a few cars. A set of helpers rolled down and met the train just in front of me. Then the sun disappeared behind a cloud. I heard a westbound approaching and just before it arrived the sun found a hole in the clouds. It turned out to be a westbound empty coal train lead by a UP unit. It also proved to be one of the best shots of the day if not the whole trip.

Next I continued down the hill for a ways until I reached the upper horseshoe curve I had been at earlier in the day. Here a westbound empty coal train rolled down down the hill just after 7pm. It was starting to get dark and there were lots of clouds on the horizon but the sun found a small hole for just a few minutes an eastbound loaded coal train slowly tackled the hill a half an hour later. Then just as this train had passed I again moved down the hill. A few minutes later another westbound empty overtook me. It came to a stop next to me and I was able to get some pictures even though the light was getting really low. After this I decided to head back to camp. It was dark and I wanted to get some sleep to be ready to head east tomorrow.

August 11, 2006

7:15am	Westbound	empty coal	Crawford, NE	BN 9645, BNSF 5644, 5652
7:40am	Eastbound	coal	Crawford, NE	BNSF 9594, 8861, 9795.  Helpers BN 9243(patched), BNSF 8252, ATSF 8237(patched)
7:45am	Westbound	empty coal	Crawford, NE	BNSF 5966, 5784, CEFX 1014
8:05am	Eastbound	coal	Crawford, NE	BNSF 8933, 9761, 5782.  Helpers BN 9225, 9280(patched, ATSF 8205(patched)
9:15am	Westbound	empty coal	Crawford, NE	BNSF 9794, 9481, 5747
10:00am	Eastbound	coal	Crawford, NE	BNSF 9718, 9393, 9731, 8916.  Helpers BN 9243(patched), BNSF 8252, ATSF 8237(patched)
10:30am	Westbound	manifest	Belmont, NE	BN 9267, 9239, 9237(all patched)
10:45am	Eastbound	coal	Belmont, NE	BNSF 9959, 4960, TFM 1667.  Helpers BNSF 9258, BN 9296, 9214(both patched)
10:55am	Westbound	empty coal	Belmont, NE	BNSF 9800, BN 9557, 9710
11:15am	Westbound	empty coal	Belmont, NE	BNSF 5701, 5696, 5834
12:05pm	Eastbound	coal	Belmont, NE	BNSF 9398, 9457, 5326.  Helpers BN 9225, 9280(patched, ATSF 8205(patched)
1:30pm	Westbound	empty coal	Belmont, NE	BNSF 5154, 5375, 4494
1:40pm	Eastbound	coal	Belmont, NE	BN 9674, BNSF 6022, 9985.  Helpers BNSF 9258, BN 9296, 9214(both patched)
2:00pm	Westbound	empty coal	Belmont, NE	BNSF 8937, 5924, BN 9531
2:10pm	Eastbound	coal	Belmont, NE	BNSF 8855, 9996, 8826.  Helpers BN 9225, 9280(patched, ATSF 8205(patched)
2:35pm	Westbound	empty coal	Belmont, NE	BNSF 9487, 8934, BN 9611
3:00pm	Eastbound	manifest	Belmont, NE	BNSF 9748, BN 6913(patched).  Helpers on front BN 9243(patched), BNSF 8252, ATSF 8237(patched)
3:15pm	Westbound	empty coal	Belmont, NE	BNSF 5742, 5656, 5883
3:40pm	Westbound	empty coal	Belmont, NE	BNSF 5935, 4076, 5199, 5950
4:10pm	Eastbound	coal	Belmont, NE	BNSF 8828, 5616, 5463.  Helpers BNSF 9258, BN 9296, 9214(both patched)
5:55pm	Eastbound	coal	Belmont, NE	BNSF 9944, 9472, 5798.  Helpers BN 9225, 9280(patched, ATSF 8205(patched)
6:20pm	Eastbound	coal	Belmont, NE	BNSF 9840, 5624, BN 9697.  Helpers on front BNSF 8252, BN 9243(patched),  ATSF 8237(patched)
6:35pm	Eastbound	manifest	Belmont, NE	BNSF 599, 5043, 9893
6:45pm	Westbound	empty coal	Belmont, NE	UP 6660, BNSF 5688, 9450
7:40pm	Eastbound	coal	Belmont, NE	BNSF 8895, 9914, 8877.  Helpers BNSF 9258, BN 9296, 9214(both patched)
7:45pm	Westbound	empty coal	Belmont, NE	BN 9676, BNSF 5780, 8801

I got up the next morning and packed up my camp. I was planning to see Alliance and North Platte, NE and then camp out east a little bit so I could spend Sunday on UP’s triple track. Heading southeast I found the first train at Marshland, NE. I pulled up to the tracks with enough time to set up as a westbound empty coal train rumbled past. A Loram railgrider was parked in a little spur track in town. As I left I noticed the sign that welcomes you to town. It looked exactly like the BNSF signs along the tracks and funny thing I didn’t see any station sign next the tracks! Continuing south I arrived at Hemmingford, NE around 9am. Parked on the siding was an eastbound manifest train with 50 cars and two BN SD60Ms. Then right next to it on a spur track a MOW train also sat waiting to leave town. In town the residents were preparing for a parade with fire trucks, several horse drawn stagecoaches and many other vehicles.

I headed south of town a mile or so to wait for the westbound. I didn’t have to wait long before a 28 car manifest train rolled by. It stopped in town long enough to pick up several cars. After it cleared the eastbound manifest train rolled out first. I shot it just south of town and then followed it south. It stopped at Berea, NE to pick up a couple tank cars. While stopped a westbound rolled up to the west switch waiting for the manifest train to clear. Then I noticed an eastbound coal train stopped just short of the manifest’s last car. Finally the manifest got under way and the eastbound coal train followed shortly after. I followed these two trains south towards Alliance, NE. After stopping for awhile to talk on the phone I met a westbound empty coal train at the edge of Alliance at 12:15pm. It had a real mix for power and looked more like a UP train than a BNSF. As I pulled up to the yard another westbound was rolling out heading northwest. I was able to catch the two DPUs as they passed.

Alliance is a big staging location for BNSF coal trains destined for the Powder River Basin. From the town they can either go north over Crawford Hill and arrive at the north end of the Orin sub at Gillete or they can go south and then turn west to arrive at the south end of the Orin sub at Douglas, WY. I found another coal train waiting to leave and as I drove down to the east end of the yard another empty coal train was just arriving. In the yard I found a lot of engines. Most of them were the regular ones BNSF uses for its coal trains but there were a few exceptions. These included BN 5391, 5392 and ATSF 5208(patched) which are all C30-7s. Next I drove to the west end of the yard on the south side where all of the staging tracks are located for train heading to the south end of the Orin Sub. There were several westbound empty coal trains but a lot of the trains were missing their power. Heading south I found a westbound at Angora, NE in the siding. I decided to wait for the eastbound loaded coal train and after about 20 minutes it arrived. A surprise turned out to be three helper units on the back. After it rolled into Angora on the main the westbound empty came out of the siding. I followed this train down to were it turned west on the UP tracks.

From there I decided to head east towards North Platte, NE. I didn’t see anything else on the rails until I reached North Platte. Back in the industries I found an old GP10 lettered for Maywood Coop Association. Over at the yard I found three eastbound UP trains getting ready to leave. In the yard I found a variety of locomotives including UP’s heritage unit 1995. Also in the yard I found several slugs and an unpatched SP 144. I dove over to the locomotive shops and was able to get permission to walk around a little inside. It was a huge shop with about 15 locomotives inside. The repairs that I saw going on varied from windshields to exhaust stacks. Just outside the door I found SP 8577, an unpatched SD40-2. It was getting late by then and I decided to head east. The weather didn’t look very promising and my trip was starting to get long. I was feeling like it was about time to sleep in my own bed. So I ended up driving for about 7 hours until I got to Wichita, KS. I found a good rest stop to catch some sleep in my car before dawn.

August 12, 2006

8:30am	Westbound	empty coal	Marshland, NE	BNSF 5828, 5837, BN 9672
9:00am	Eastbound	MOW	Hemmingford, NE	BNSF 9457
9:00am	Eastbound	manifest	Hemmingford, NE	BN 9237, 9280(both patched)
9:15am	Westbound	manifest	Hemmingford, NE	BNSF 1032, BN 7817(patched)
10:35am	Westbound	empty coal	Berea, NE	BNSF 8933, 9419, 5731
10:45am	Eastbound	coal	Berea, NE	UP 7012, ATSF 8208(patched), CEFX 1001
12:15pm	Westbound	empty coal	Alliance, NE	UP 6695, CEFX 1018, 1013
12:25pm	Westbound	empty coal	Alliance, NE	BNSF 5601, ????, ???? CEFX 136
12:30pm	Westbound	empty coal	Alliance, NE	BNSF 5914, 5755, 5737
12:35pm	Westbound	empty coal	Alliance, NE	BN 9716, KCS 4027
1:15pm	Westbound	empty coal	Alliance, NE	BNSF 9698, 9709, ????
1:20pm	Eastbound	coal	Alliance, NE	BNSF 5808, 5604, 5622
2:00pm	Eastbound	coal	Angora, NE	BNSF 6015, 5665, 5729.  Helpers BN 9209, 9256(both patched), ATSF 8212(patched)
2:05pm	Westbound	empty coal	Angora, NE	BNSF 9738, 9896, 4184, 5974
5:50pm	Eastbound	hoppers	North Platte, NE	UP 9749, 9727
6:00pm	Eastbound	manifest and auto	North Platte, NE	UP 5301, 5322
6:05pm	Eastbound	manifest	North Platte, NE	UP 9753, 9635, CSX 8122

I awoke the next morning in my car around 9am. Heading east I arrived at the BNSF tracks west of Kansas City and waited for a train. I didn’t have to wait long before a westbound flew by with a long string of TOFC. Then at 10am an eastbound manifest crested the hill and rumbled passed. After getting pictures of both of these I headed east. But before long I noticed the signals were on for another eastbound. And sure enough a stack and TOFC train soon came into view and rolled by. Next up I arrived at the BNSF yard in Kansas City. At the re-fueling tracks two westbound stack trains were making a quick stop before heading out on the southern Transcon. At the east end of the yard I found a one unit auto train leaving and a eastbound manifest train waiting for its turn. In the yard I discovered I wide assortment of power. This included: MRL 310, 265, NS 9473, 9578, EMD 798, 771, NREX 5809, IC 6007, CN 2527, ATSF 4227, 6416(both patched) and a few BNSF units. Then there was a line of 14 engines which looked like they were not going to see service again. These were ATSF 1306, 1321, 3960, 1362, 1639, 2420, 6489, 6468(all patched), BN 6198, 6326, 6298, 6264(all patched), BNSF 3820 and 3415. BN 6198 used to switch cars at Yardley in Spokane, WA on a regular basis a couple years back so it was sad to see it no longer in service.

From here I headed over to the UP yard. There wasn’t nearly the action going on here but I did see one of the same eastbound manifest trains I had seen the previous day in North Platte, NE. After that I headed east through town. And for the next 10 hours I drove ever east without seeing much in the way of trains. I finally arrived in Chattanooga, TN and then home a few miles farther. It was great to be back to my own room (even though it was a mess because I hadn’t unpacked anything). It was an awesome trip with almost 900 engine numbers logged and over 2000 pictures to look through.

August 13, 2006

9:50am	Westbound	TOFC	Le loup, KS	BNSF 1056, ATSF 8725(patched), NS 9486
10:00am	Eastbound	manifest	Le loup, KS	ATSF 849(patched), BN 8008(patched)
10:10am	Eastbound	stack and TOFC	Le loup, KS	BNSF 5233, 4406, NS 8797, 9747
11:10am	Westbound	stack	Kansas City, KS	BNSF 4794, 4625, 5076, 786
11:10am	Westbound	stack	Kansas City, KS	BNSF 4640, 4816, NS 9399
11:20am	Eastbound	auto	Kansas City, KS	NS 9032
11:20am	Eastbound	manifest	Kansas City, KS	BNSF 4754, 8006, ATSF 6767(patched)
11:45am	Eastbound	manifest and auto	Kansas City, KS	UP 5301, 5327

This summer we moved from Spokane, WA to Chattanooga, TN. Since I was driving out by myself I decided to spend multiple days to out taking pictures. I left on August 1, 2006 and started east on my long journey. The first stop of the way was planned for Marias Pass in Montana. The first train of the trip was just south of Columbia Falls, MT. PCC 2357 was heading west at La Salle, MT bound for Kalispell. After taking a couple of pictures I continued on to Belton. Just east of town there is a relatively photographed spot showing the railroad running along the river. I had never attempted a picture from this point but decided to see what it was like. When I arrived I met a fellow photographer named Jack DeWitt. From him I learned that BNSF was currently involved in major maintenance blitzes throughout much of the day.

Since it was around 3pm the trains were just starting to roll through after waiting most of the day. The first eastbound was a stack train with three Dash 9s. A little bit later in the afternoon a brand new ES44DC lead an eastbound manifest up the pass. Twenty minutes later it was an eastbound hopper train followed by an eastbound baretable. Throughout this time the sun was playing hide and seek which didn’t really matter since what I really wanted was a westbound. But unfortunately when the first westbound stack and TOFC train arrived just before six the sun was hidden. And a few minutes later another westbound stack and TOFC rolled by under cloudy skies. I decided it was probably time to start heading up the pass to the Summit where I planned to camp for the next two nights.

At Red Eagle I met a westbound hopper train with a 2×2 configuration for the locomotives. I continued on to Essex where I stopped to wait for another westbound. The sun was still barely visible to provide some nice nose light as the heavy stack train rolled through. In the yard two ex-ATSF engines sat waiting to pull their work train east. But before they could leave they had to wait for one more westbound which was just pulling through at 6:55pm. BNSF 4723, the Microsoft Train Simulator unit, lead the westbound stack train. After setting up my tent at the campground I ran down to East Glacier for some gas and cell service. While there a westbound hopper train slowly rolled by heading uphill. The finally train of the day came at 8:10pm with a work train backing its load of ties into the siding track at Summit, MT.

August 1, 2006

2:45pm	Westbound	manifest	La Salle, MT	PCC 2357
3:20pm	Eastbound	stack	Belton, MT	BNSF 4986, 4310, 5163
4:30pm	Eastbound	manifest	Belton, MT	BNSF 7624, 730, 821, NS 8631
4:50pm	Eastbound	hoppers	Belton, MT	BNSF 5491, 4705, 4697
5:15pm	Eastbound	baretable	Belton, MT	BNSF 521, FURX 8127
5:50pm	Westbound	stack and TOFC	Belton, MT	BNSF 4390, 562, ATSF 913(patched)
6:10pm	Westbound	stack and TOFC	Belton, MT	BNSF 1021, 328, ATSF 898(patched)
6:25pm	Westbound	hoppers	Red Eagle, MT	BNSF 4349, 4772, 4442, CN 2402
6:40pm	Westbound	stack	Essex, MT	BNSF 1034, CSX 5949, BN 8034, 6395(both patched)
6:55pm	Westbound	stack	Essex, MT	BNSF 4723, BN 6843(patched)
6:55pm	Eastbound	work train	Essex, MT	ATSF 2431, 4262(both patched)
7:50pm	Westbound	hoppers	East Glacier, MT	BNSF 739, 757, 709, CSX 7800
8:10pm	Eastbound	work train	Summit, MT	BN 2917(patched), ATSF 2788(patched)

The next morning I was up by 6am and looking for trains. I had found out that the dispatcher would normally let the MOW crews go to work after Amtrak went through and then open it back up around 4pm. On the radio I heard about several eastbounds heading my way. The first one was a stack and it rolled through Bison just after the sun came up. I chased it down the hill to Grizzly where I got another picture of the train. Next I moved over to Two Medicine Bridge for the next eastbound. It turned out to be a hopper train with a couple of NS locomotives in the consist. He met a westbound stack and auto train at Grizzly so I proceeded up the hill to find a spot to shoot. I waited for the train near Bison siding and took several side shots with the mountains in the background. Next I moved down towards East Glacier again. I heard another westbound coming so quickly found a spot to shoot from. It turned out to be a loaded hopper train with 2 DPUs. I chased this train up the pass taking pictures at Bison and Marias.

Next I continued down the west side to Essex, MT. I found several helper sets and two work trains in the yard. Continuing west I found an eastbound hopper train waiting to head up the hill. Over the radio I found out that this train was supposed to wait for Amtrak and then follow it over the hill. I knew this would signal the end of trains for much of the day so I decided to head west and find Amtrak. I had heard it was at Belton a little bit ago so I decided to wait for it at Pinnacle. Then on the radio I heard that Amtrak had gone into emergency at Red Eagle. They looked the train over and couldn’t find any problems so they built up their air and continued. Then a couple minutes later they ground to a halt in emergency again. The BNSF mechanic was called to help out but in the meantime they looked their train over and again continued on. Several minutes later it again went into emergency. This time, however, the engineer was able to conclude that every time he used his air it would go into emergency.

The BNSF mechanic arrived shortly and after some work they found a problem in the second to last car with an air hose connection. Instead of fixing problem right away, however, the train limped in to Essex because the Amtrak crew was going “dead” in 20 minutes. Meanwhile the BNSF hopper train had been waiting about 3 hours for Amtrak and MOW crews already had major sections of the pass under track and time. Then the dispatcher called up the eastbound hopper train and the following conversation happened.

“Glacier Dispatcher to BNSF 5086.”
“BNSF 5086 over.”
“Well that was a grand waste of time.”
“(laughs), Alright clear block.”

With that the hopper train pulled out and headed up the pass. I was still in the process of following Amtrak, but after they came to a stop at Essex around 1:30pm I headed up the pass to catch the eastbound hopper train. The train had a pretty good head start on me and even though I could do 70mph and they had to do 25mph I barely beat it to the summit. I continued east a little ways before stopping for a picture. Afterwards I decided that the sun was a little high in the sky for most eastbounds and so I headed back down to find Amtrak. On the way I found a work train at East Java with a string of ballast cars. About 3pm Amtrak finally started moving east again. I took several pictures at Essex and then followed the train over to East Glacier. It arrived in the station 6 hours behind schedule and by 4pm it was heading east.

As soon as it left a string of MOW equipment started rolling down the pass from Bison area and into the siding at East Glacier. Amtrak met a westbound Z-train at Grizzly and just after all the MOW had cleared up the Z-train rolled through. I chased this train up to Bison for another picture and then one more up the pass a little farther. Next I caught a westbound stack train at the summit of the pass with a warbonnet BNSF leading. I chased it down to Marias for one more picture. After a little bit of a wait the trains really started to roll through. At 6:25pm a westbound 107 car stack train rolled over the summit and down to the signals at Marias where it waited for a little bit. No sooner had the two DPUs gone around the corner than the next westbound arrived pulling a long string of stack and TOFC. I barely got across the tracks before an eastbound stack and TOFC rumbled passed.

I chased this train down to Bison where I was able to get a decent shot of the train without it coming right out of the sun. It went into the siding for Amtrak which arrived before the Z-train had a chance to stop. After taking multiple pictures of Amtrak I headed back to my car to wait for another train. After a little bit an eastbound manifest train rolled down the hill into East Glacier. It was a heavy 110 car train with five engines on the point and I was surprised to see two helpers on the rear of the train still. But on the radio I heard that these two helpers were needed for a H-NTWPAS which was closing in on Grizzly. So driving over to Grizzly I found the westbound manifest train just pulling up. The helpers on the eastbound cut off and the westbound pulled through Grizzly until the back of the train was just passed the switch. Then the helpers connected to the last car and the shove up the hill started. But this time the sun was almost gone and so I headed back to the tent for some supper.

August 2, 2006

6:25am	Eastbound	stack	Summit, MT	BNSF 1098, 799
7:10am	Eastbound	hoppers	East Glacier, MT	BNSF 5226, NS 9984, 9345
7:45am	Westbound	stack and auto	Bison, MT	BNSF 6867, FURX 8092
8:15am	Westbound	hoppers	East Glacier, MT	BNSF 4922, 4157, 7691, CP 8540
1:20pm	Eastbound	passenger	Pinnacle, MT	Amtrak 175, 11
1:50pm	Eastbound	hoppers	Summit, MT	BNSF 5086, 4041, NS 9952
2:30pm	Westbound	ballast train	East Java, MT	BNSF 6830, BN 7878(patched)
4:10pm	Westbound	stack and TOFC	East Glacier, MT	BNSF 4944, 1093, 4168
4:45pm	Westbound	stack	Summit, MT	BNSF 933, 4638
6:25pm	Westbound	hoppers	Summit, MT	BNSF 7660, 716, 1063, CSX 94
6:40pm	Westbound	stack and TOFC	Summit, MT	BNSF 5236, 4117, 684
6:50pm	Eastbound	stack and TOFC	Bison, MT	BNSF 5293, 4574, NS 8928
7:00pm	Westbound	passenger	Bison, MT	Amtrak 100, 168
7:45pm	Eastbound	manifest	East Glacier, MT	BNSF 4857, 4472, 4086, 8050(helper) NS 2626, CSX 8399, BN 8079(patched, helper)
8:00pm	Westbound	manifest	Grizzly, MT	BN 6842(patched), CSX 8564, MRL 1744

The next morning dawned clear and sunny. The first train crested the summit at 7:00am and was a long 112 car, eastbound, stack and TOFC train. I followed this train down the hill as far as Bison siding taking multiple pictures on the way. By then I decided to head back to the top since I knew there were several more eastbounds coming. And sure enough, I had just enough time to park the car and run up to the tracks for a picture of the next rain which was a 95 car manifest. Again I followed the train down to Bison before calling off the chase and heading back towards Summit. I decided to hike up to the top of a ridge that overlooked the valley where the tracks were. It turned out to be a great spot with a chance to get the entire train into one frame. Next I hiked back to the car and headed west. On the radio the dispatcher was talking to the helper crews and letting them know where the trains where that they needed to help up the hill. From this information I knew there were three more eastbounds that needed helpers and then Amtrak.

I waited for the next train at the bridge at East Java and before long an eastbound stack train rounded the corner and crossed the bridge. After this shot I chased it up the hill stopping at a couple other locations before beating it to Marias. I had just enough time to climb the hill before the train arrived. Then I headed back down the hill to the tracks to catch a going away shot of the helpers. I figured that this would be a good train to follow east so the chase began. The next shot was at Bison siding and then down to Spotted Robe. From there I continued east to Piegan to get another couple shots before arriving at Cut Bank, MT. After the train rumbled over the large bridge I called off the chase in favor of shooting the local in town. A white faced GP39M lead the local and I watched for a little while as they switched some cars. After a little bit I headed out to Ethridge, MT to wait for some action.

After a little while the local came into view and rolled by. Then just 10 minutes later an eastbound stack train flew by doing all of 60mph. I figured that Amtrak couldn’t be too much farther behind so I drove east another couple miles to wait for him. Within 10 minutes I could see the train about 4 miles distant and before long it past doing almost 80mph. I decided it would be fruitless to chase it so I drove down to Teton to wait for another train. Since there had been three trains in front of Amtrak back in Essex I knew that the 3rd train which Amtrak passed couldn’t be too far behind. It did take a little longer than I thought and in the meantime I watched as a falcon kept dive-bombing me. Just before 1pm the H-PASCWY arrived with an assortment of power and I took several pictures. A mile down the track this train met a westbound manifest at the west end of Shelby. After driving around the yard for a little while I decided it was time to head south.

Following the tracks towards Great Falls, MT I heard a northbound on the radio. I quickly got off the freeway at Dutton, MT and managed to grab a couple shots as it headed north. Since these lines are primarily branch lines serving grain elevators BNSF has a little different type of operation running. The train I found had 53 cars and one Dash 9 on each end of the train so that the crew wouldn’t have to turn the power when they were ready to head back south to Great Falls. In town I found a couple of locomotives in the yard but it was relatively quiet so I headed south after grabbing a bite to eat. After a long drive I arrived in Livingston, MT around 6:30pm. On the radio I heard of several westbounds all getting ready to head up Bozeman Pass. A thunderstorm was just stopping as I headed up the hill to find the first train. At Muir, MT I found a westbound hopper train with three engines on the point and four MRL SD70MACs pushing from the back. After taking several pictures I headed down the hill only to run into the next westbound manifest train.

After shooting this train at Muir where it met the previous train’s helpers I followed the westbound down to West End. Next I drove back towards Livingston only to find yet another westbound. I found a couple spots to grab a picture just as the sun was dipping behind the mountains. This train turned out to be a ballast train with a warbonnet SD75M on the point. After shooting this train I made it back to Livingston only to find another westbound stopped at the station waiting for the helpers. It was a long hopper train and it headed up the pass around 8:30pm. Next I drove around the shops in Livingston where I found a large assortment of MRL power and one BNSF slug. It was dark by this time and so I headed south towards Yellowstone. I spent the next four and a half days shooting wildlife, scenery and geysers in Yellowstone and the Tetons.

August 3, 2006

7:00am	Eastbound	stack and TOFC	Summit, MT	BNSF 7742, 508, NS 8782, 8325
7:35am	Eastbound	manifest	Summit, MT	BNSF 7698, 5256, 7860
8:00am	Eastbound	stack	Summit, MT	BNSF 7841, EMD 9098, FURX 8090
8:50am	Eastbound	stack	Java East, MT	BNSF 4145, 5401
11:00am	Eastbound	manifest	Cut Bank, MT	BN 2816(patched), ATSF 4245(patched)
11:45am	Eastbound	stack	Ethridge, MT	BNSF 4625, 5148, 5138, 5287
12:10pm	Eastbound	passenger	Ethridge, MT	Amtrak 89, 55
12:55pm	Eastbound	manifest	Teton, MT	BNSF 4659, 4014, NS 2518, 9182, CEFX 142
1:00pm	Westbound	manifest	Teton, MT	BNSF 7906, FURX 7247, BN 7830(patched)
2:10pm	Northbound	hoppers	Dutton, MT	BNSF 4472, 4086
6:30pm	Westbound	manifest	Livingston, MT	BNSF 1023, NREX 5650(ex-CP), MRL 308, 382
6:50pm	Westbound	hoppers	Muir, MT	FURX 7267, ATSF 6359(patched), NREX 5481(ex-CP), MRL 4308, 4310, 4314, 4315(all helpers)
8:05pm	Westbound	ballast	Muir, MT	ATSF 8224(patched), EMD 9046
8:20pm	Westbound	hoppers	Livingston, MT	BNSF 4028, 4881, 4911

On Tuesday, August 8, I left the Tetons and drove east towards the Powder River Basin. On the way I found a couple interesting switchers in Shoshoni, WY. Next I ran into an eastbound manifest waiting to leave Casper, WY. And a few miles farther I saw the westbound it was waiting for. I arrived in Douglas, WY and stopped by a park with CB&Q 5633 on display. Next I headed north of town and then took a side road over the the tracks. I arrived just north of Shawnee Jct. at 7pm and didn’t wait long until a southbound BNSF coal train arrived. Then before that train had passed a northbound UP empty coal train rounded the corner and rolled by. After these passed I moved to the other side of the track for the next northbound. It wasn’t long before UP 7153 poked its head around the corner. Next I decided to drive north towards Walker, WY. Back at the tracks I just barely caught a northbound empty UP coal train with a CSX and UP serving as DPUs.

The next train up was a southbound BNSF coal train on the middle track. I got several glint shots of the coal cars as it passed under my position on a bridge. It came to a stop at a signal bridge just south of where I was. While stopped a northbound BNSF empty rolled through. It was starting to get dark as a northbound UP empty rumbled uphill on its way to a mine at 8:20pm. Then ten minutes later a southbound UP load passed the stopped BNSF load and disappeared around the corner. The moon came up right over the tracks and signal bridge and since it was a full moon I took the opportunity to get some pictures. After that I decided it was time to get some sleep so I parked the car near the tracks and tilted the seat back. It wasn’t the greatest night of sleep but were else do you sleep when you are in the middle of WY!!

August 8, 2006

3:55pm	Yard	manifest	Shoshoni, WY	BTI 1, BDW 1001
5:25pm	Eastbound	manifest	Casper, WY	BNSF 7631, FURX 7930
7:00pm	Southbound	coal	Shawnee Jct., WY	BNSF 8856, 5685, TFM 1602
7:00pm	Northbound	empty coal	Shawnee Jct., WY	UP 6011, 7073, 6058
7:15pm	Northbound	empty coal	Shawnee Jct., WY	UP 7153, 7401, 5664, SP 6224(patched)
7:55pm	Northbound	empty coal	East Walker, WY	UP 8288, 6484, 5049, CSX 70
8:00pm	Southbound	coal	East Walker, WY	BN 9597, BNSF 9800, 9656
8:05pm	Northbound	empty coal	East Walker, WY	BNSF 5476, 9467, 6012, 8873
8:20pm	Northbound	empty coal	East Walker, WY	UP 6508, 6746, SP 6313(patched)
8:30pm	Southbound	coal	East Walker, WY	UP 6745, 7449, 7174, SP 6288(patched)

I woke up the next morning around 6am. Within 20 minutes I got a northbound empty and a southbound coal train. I decided to start heading north next and soon arrived at Walker. It wasn’t long before a northbound UP empty rolled by. I took several pictures and then turned around to find a southbound load cresting the hill right behind me. I get a few pictures of the meet I drove back to the main road and headed north a couple more miles. A few miles south of Bill, WY I met a southbound load and stopped to get a picture of the unpatched SP unit on the rear. Just as the DPU was disappearing around the corner the nose of a UP unit appeared leading a northbound on track 3. And by the time the lead unit arrived at my location another BNSF load was rolling south on the center track. Next I continued north for a mile or two before finding the next southbound. I took a small side road to get near the tracks to get a picture and then continued on to Bill, WY.

Just south of UP’s Bill yard is the Trinity Rail Car yard. I beat the northbound to this point so I took another picture from the bridge crossing the tracks. I found two BNSF empty coal train sitting in the yard. Continuing on to UP’s Bill yard I found a southbound load pulling out. There were several assorted trains sitting in the yard waiting for a new crew and at the north end I found another southbound entering the yard. It had a nice unpatched SP unit and a patched one as well. After taking some pictures I noticed a single UP engine heading north out of the yard. Next it was on to Logan Hill. I reached the top where there is a nice bridge crossing the tracks. You can see and hear the approaching trains for a couple miles either way. The first train was a northbound empty and as it descended the other side it met a loaded coal train struggling up the hill. After shooting both of these trains I headed north to Antelope Mine.

At the mine I found a UP train slowly loading. Parked next to it was a UP loaded train waiting to get a signal to head south. This mine is only set up to take train from the south since there is no connecting leg for trains heading north. Because of this fact I have seen more UP trains than BNSF ones. But waiting to load was a BNSF and a UP empty. As I was taking pictures of the trains in the loading tracks a northbound UP empty rolled to a stop just short of the switch leading to the Mine tracks. Soon a southbound BNSF load rumbled by heading up Logan hill. After this train cleared the northbound got a light to procede. I followed this train up to Nacco, Jct. where it diverged onto the tracks leading to the North Antelope and Rochelle Mines. After he was clear of the main I could see two UP southbounds waiting on the outer tracks. Soon one of them got a light and pulled out headed for Logan Hill. As he was still pulling by another UP southbound load pulled out of the mine tracks and charged for the hill. I thought it would be a great sight to see two loads on the outer tracks attacking Logan Hill at the same time but decided against driving back up there.

As the DPUs to the 2nd southbound pulled by I was surprised to find two patched SP units. Then after both trains had just about disappeared, two UP light engines rolled down between the trains. They pulled into a short spur track next to two BNSF units. I decided not to wait for the next UP southbound to pull out and instead headed north. I didn’t make it more than a mile before ran into a southbound BNSF load. After stopping to get a picture of the train I headed over to an overlook of the coal pits. I was able to get some shots of the big equipment in the pit. About 45 minutes later another southbound UP coal train rolled down the hill into East Nacco. Before that train had gone by all the way a northbound rolled by on the middle track. After shooting the patched SP on the rear I headed back south. At Antelope mine I found that the UP load was gone and the other one that had been loading was waiting for a light now. The BNSF train which had been waiting was now slowly pulling around the loop.

Continuing on to the top of Logan Hill I found a ton of trains. Traffic heading south on was backed up on one of the outside tracks. The other outside track was flowing south and the middle track had northbounds rolling on it. As I got to the top and looked south I could see the back of a southbound and two more stopped southbounds ahead of it. A northbound crested the hill and started down the other side where it split two southbounds on the outer tracks. In the distance I could see another southbound coming this way as well. After getting pictures of all the action I headed back to East Nacco. When I arrived I found a southbound BNSF coal train waiting and shortly a northbound UP train pulled by and took the mine lead tracks. After it was off the main the southbound started moving. As it rolled by another northbound empty came to a stop just short of the switch and bridge at East Nacco. Barely had the BNSF southbound gone by before a UP southbound load rumbled passed. Next I headed north about a mile or so before I ran into more trains.

The next train was a northbound UP empty on the middle track. Within five minutes a southbound UP load rolled around the corner. Just a couple minutes later another UP southbound rolled by and came to a stop at a red light. Just after it stopped the northbound BNSF empty that had been stopped at East Nacco, rolled passed. I decided this would be a good train to follow heading north. After being away from the tracks for a couple miles I arrived back as a southbound was rolling by. The northbound I had been following stopped at a red light just short of the tail end of another northbound empty. After taking some more pictures I headed up to North Rochelle Mine. Here I found a BNSF loaded coal train waiting for a new crew before coming out on the main. On the main tracks I found the reason for the delay in trains. MOW crews were working on installing two crossovers and two big signal bridges. The middle track was entirely out of service for the time and trains had to wait their turns to use one of the outer tracks.

Just after 2pm a northbound BNSF empty was allowed to roll through the work site and was followed minutes later by a UP northbound. After getting pictures of this I stopped to watch the MOW crews work for a while. Three CAT endloaders lifted a section of track over the outer track and placed it down for the crossover. On one side several of the crew were welding track together. After a little while a southbound UP coal train and a northbound BNSF empty were let through the work area. After the northbound cleared back over to the middle track it met a southbound UP load. I drove up to Reno Jct. where the tracks to Black Thunder and Jacob’s Ranch Mines take off from the main. A UP load was just coming onto the main track. I barely had enough time to set up for the shot before it ducked under the bridge I was standing on. Before that train had a chance to clear another UP load rumbled by on the west track. This train had two CSX units which helped to spice up the consist.

Next I headed out towards the mines. There is a little bit of a staging yard where loaded trains can wait for a new crew and a chance to get out onto the main. In this yard there were two BNSF loads and a UP load. One of the BNSF loads had a couple BN SD60Ms and an EMD to help get some color in the consist. Black Thunder Mine is the largest surface mine in the US and as I drove passed it was loading two trains at the same time. I took a short detour to get some pictures of the enormous dump trucks used to haul the coal. Then I drove out to Jacob’s Ranch mine to see what was going on. There wasn’t a train loading or waiting to load so I headed back to the main line. At Reno Jct. an empty BNSF train was taking the tracks out to mine. I started north and ran into another southbound BNSF empty. Then stopped just short of the that train was yet another southbound empty. I talked to the crew of this train for a little while and found out that both of these trains were heading for Black Thunder Mine. I also found out that BNSF was having trouble with enough crews for all the trains they had.

While these two were waiting another southbound empty BNSF train passed these two and continued on south. A while later a northbound loaded appeared in the distance and the two southbound empties started to move. I drove north to find a spot to shoot the northbound. After getting the picture I followed it north for another mile before stopping to shoot a southbound. This train had three EMDs and an ATSF unit on the point and no DPUs. After taking several shots I continued north for another couple miles before running into the next southbound. This was a UP train but also contained some foreign power in the way of a TFM unit. The next stop was Coal Creek Mine. Here a BNSF empty was stopped after loading the first 9 cars. After taking some nice shots of the coal towers I drove back over to the main line and caught the next southbound. The sun was starting to fade by this time and I decided to head towards Gillete, WY. I arrived in town and found an eastbound manifest at the yard. Then a few minutes later a westbound loaded coal train rolled through town heading for the Pacific Northwest. I decided to spend the night in a motel so I could get a good nights sleep, charge up my camera and get a shower.

August 9, 2006

6:15am	Northbound	empty coal	East Walker, WY	UP 6043, 8028, 5986, 6818
6:20am	Southbound	coal	East Walker, WY	BNSF 9784, 8912, 9778, 9549
6:55am	Northbound	empty coal	Walker, WY	UP 6514, 6774, 6650, CSX 16
7:00am	Southbound	coal	Walker, WY	UP 8137, 5668, 5355
7:10am	Southbound	coal	Bill, WY	UP 5976, 6825, SP 204
7:20am	Southbound	coal	Bill, WY	BNSF 8890, 8909, CEFX 1019
7:20am	Northbound	empty coal	Bill, WY	UP 8130, 6788, SP 6266(patched)
7:35am	Southbound	coal	Bill, WY	UP 8054, 8015, 6532, 8193
7:45am	Northbound	empty coal	Bill, WY	BNSF 5683, 9537, 5977
7:45am	Northbound	empty coal	Bill, WY	BNSF 9445, 5812, 9580, 9599
7:50am	Southbound	coal	Bill, WY	UP 6785, 5953, 7208
8:00am	Southbound	coal	Bill, WY	UP 5872, SP 177, 6325(patched)
8:00am	Northbound	no cars	Bill, WY	UP 7175
8:20am	Northbound	empty coal	Logan, WY	UP 5986, 6818, 6043, 8028
8:25am	Southbound	coal	Logan, WY	UP 6830, 8198, SP 179
8:45am	Loading	empty coal	Antelope Mine, WY	UP 6607, 7372, ????, ????
8:55am	Southbound	coal	Converse Jct., WY	BN 9681, 9487, BNSF 9389
9:10am	Northbound	empty coal	Converse Jct., WY	UP 6050, 8078, 8029
9:10am	Southbound	coal	Antelope Mine, WY	UP 8290, ????, ???? SP 6346(patched)
9:30am	Southbound	coal	East Nacco, WY	UP 5672, 5984, 6444, SP 6287(patched)
9:30am	Southbound	coal	East Nacco, WY	UP 6694, 7159, SP 6211, 6345(both patched)
9:45am	Southbound	coal	East Nacco, WY	UP 6011, 7073, 6058
9:45am	Southbound	coal	East Nacco, WY	BNSF 9887, 6016, 9931, 9861
10:30am	Southbound	coal	East Nacco, WY	UP 6508, 6746, SP 6313(patched)
10:40am	Northbound	empty coal	East Nacco, WY	UP 6077, 7380, 8123, SP 6289(patched)
10:50am	Northbound	empty coal	Converse Jct., WY	BNSF 5928, 8800, 9877, BN 9548
10:55am	Southbound	coal	Converse Jct., WY	UP 6763, 6589, SP 6340(patched)
11:15am	Northbound	empty coal	Logan, WY	BNSF 9804, 5689, 9809
12:00pm	Loading	empty coal	Antelope Mine, WY	BNSF 7758, 9528, ????
12:05pm	Northbound	empty coal	East Nacco, WY	UP 8024, 6799, SP 6360(patched)
12:20pm	Southbound	coal	East Nacco, WY	BNSF 8958, 9412, 9915, 5980
12:30pm	Southbound	coal	East Nacco, WY	UP 7204, 5568, 6405, CSX 480
12:45pm	Southbound	coal	East Nacco, WY	UP 5669, 5671, SP 6361(patched)
12:50pm	Southbound	coal	East Nacco, WY	UP 6675, 7070, 8061
1:15pm	Southbound	coal	East Reno, WY	UP 5841, ????, ????, CSX 70
2:00pm	Northbound	empty coal	North Rochelle Jct., WY	BNSF 5990, 9509, 9902, 6003
2:10pm	Northbound	empty coal	North Rochelle Jct., WY	UP 8130, 6788, SP 6266(patched)
2:45pm	Southbound	coal	North Rochelle Jct., WY	BNSF 5740, 9836, 5973
2:50pm	Southbound	coal	North Rochelle Jct., WY	UP 6016, 8073, 7085, 6719
3:15pm	Southbound	coal	Reno, WY	UP 7165, 6317, 6511
3:20pm	Southbound	coal	Reno, WY	UP 6069, 8218, 6434
3:20pm	Southbound	coal	Reno, WY	UP 7269, 5572, CSX 161, 385
3:35pm	Southbound	coal	Black Thunder Jct., WY	UP 6458, ????, SP 6152(patched)
3:40pm	Westbound	coal	Black Thunder Jct., WY	BN 9253, 9265(both patched), ATSF 8250(patched) EMD 9002
3:40pm	Northbound	coal	Black Thunder Jct., WY	BNSF 9673, 7733, 8894
3:45pm	Westbound	coal	Black Thunder Jct., WY	BNSF 5657, 5908, 5965
3:45pm	Loading	empty coal	Black Thunder Mine	BNSF 9757, ????, ????
4:15pm	Loading	empty coal	Black Thunder Mine	UP 7160, 6821, 6504
4:30pm	Southbound	empty coal	Reno Jct., WY	BN 9594, BNSF 8861, 9795
4:40pm	Southbound	empty coal	Reno Jct., WY	BNSF 5776, 9626, 9714
4:45pm	Southbound	empty coal	Reno Jct., WY	BNSF 8850, BN 9511, CEFX 135
5:25pm	Southbound	coal	Reno Jct., WY	BNSF 9919, 9882, 9499
5:55pm	Southbound	empty coal	Antelope, WY	ATSF 8242(patched), EMD 9012, 9039, 9089
6:00pm	Southbound	coal	Antelope, WY	UP 5909, SP 6380(patched), TFM 1659
6:25pm	Loading	empty coal	Coal Creek Mine, WY	BNSF 9599, 9580, 5812, 9445
6:45pm	Southbound	coal	Antelope, WY	UP 8189, 7025, 8281, 5929
7:45pm	Eastbound	manifest	Gillette, WY	BNSF 559, 5043
8:00pm	Westbound	coal	Gillette, WY	BN 9289(patched), ATSF 8202(patched), EMD 9093, 9070