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We waited a little while and then decided to drive around the yard to see what we would find. Back in the engine yard we found the V-KCMPTL power BNSF 4109 and ATSF(BNSF) 2579 along with a couple of yard engines used for switching. Hearing on the scanner that the Z train was getting ready to pull we decided to head to the I-90 bridge to get a couple of shots. On the way we stopped at the UP yard and were pleasantly surprised to find UP 5698 one of the AC45CCTEs couple up with 5858. Also in the yard were UP 2029, 1075 and 2268 (all re#). After getting several pictures we headed out to shoot the Z train. We underestimated about when he was going to pull and how fast he would be going so we got there at the same time with no time to set up for a shot. 
Next we heard about a northbound UP train waiting to head onto the SI. We quickly drove up there only to find that the returning Kettle Falls Local was blocking the SI track on its way into Yardley. We decided to head up to Spalding Auto parts for my dad to return some tires. Then we drove over to the SI track to wait for the northbound UP train. We didn’t wait long before she showed up and with 6 units (CEFX 116, UP 7324, 8558, 3185, 9787, CP 9112). It looked great with the SD90AC and SD90/43MACs. Hearing that there were two short westbounds leaving Yardley we jumped on the freeway and decided to try to beat them to a little bridge up on the high side to Marshall. Well we never did see one of them and the other was the Z-STPPTL9-24A which we didn’t beat to the location (BNSF 4061, BN(BNSF) 2885). On the way we met the V-TACCHI3-25L but didn’t see more than just a quick glance of it (BN 7818, BN(BNSF) 7071). It was to bad too because it was lead by an unpatched BN!! While we were up on the high side we heard another eastbound but couldn’t get close enough to see much other than that is was the V-PTLKCK8-25A (BN 9265, BNSF 6750, ????). Well things weren’t going quite so great and then my dad got a fire call. It was a structure fire and he felt that he needed to go to it so he dropped me off at Marshall and speed back to the Spangle Fire Station. It turned out that he was one of two people who showed up and so it was good he went. The fire happened to just be an outhouse so it wasn’t much. In the meantime I heard on the scanner that finally the MOW people were finally clearing up because there were 7 westbounds in Spokane or almost there!! Well I settled down to wait for them and soon the Z-CHCPTL9-24Z popped around the corner with a CEFX in the consist (BNSF 5205, SF(BNSF) 840, CEFX 2785). After snapping off a couple of pictures I watched as the train rounded the corner in the distance and stopped just before the signal at Scribner, WA. Well I thought that maybe an eastbound was heading my way so I decided to hike down and along the paved bike path. After walking a ways out to a spot I stopped and waited. Pretty soon the Z train left and no eastbound. Then on the scanner I heard that another westbound was approaching fast!! Grr...no good shot here so I had to walk back to my original spot. 
Well I got back just in time to see the H-DILPAS1-22A round the corner at Overlook siding (BN(BNSF) 6389, BNSF 7321, HLCX 567). If rounded the rolled through and just about the time it disappeared I heard an eastbound whistle for the crossing at Scribner, WA. I quickly ran over to the bridge over the tracks and got ready to shoot it. It rounded the corner and I could see that it was the X-KALHUT9-25A with BNSF 4620 and SF 673. It slowed and stopped just before the signal guarding the connecting track at Marshall. No sooner had it stopped then I see another westbound come barreling around the corner up at Overlook siding. I quickly ran back to shoot it as it rolled downhill into Marshall, WA. It was the M-KFAPAS1-26A with BNSF 4938, and SF(BNSF) 616. He continued around the corner and came screeching to a stop at the signals at Scribner. Now I was thoroughly confused as to why all the stopped trains. I decided that if anything came or moved it would be an eastbound so I walked over to the bridge to set up for one. Well after about 20 minutes both the eastbound and the westbound started up and pulled out. Oh well I shot the eastbound hopper train as it came under me and then out of sight. By this time it was 1:00pm and my dad finally returned! I hopped in the car and we drove down to Fish Lake and parked. From here we started walking to Lakeside Jct. about 3/4 mile away when we saw a southbound UP hopper train (CP 9740, 9703, UP 7155). I didn’t have anytime to get in a place to shoot it as we were broadside to it with a lot of trees in between us. The sun finally broke through the clouds and then we heard an eastbound in Cheney, WA. We hurried on to Lakeside Jct. and climbed a nearby hill to get a good vantage point. Since the sun was now out in full force eastbounds weren’t that great to shoot as it was into the sun somewhat. The eastbound arrived at 1:30pm and it was the S-TACBPA1-25V (BNSF 4509, 1106). Then 10 minutes later we heard a westbound coming!!! It came around the corner and stopped at Lakeside Jct. where it goes from 2 tracks down to just one. Using binoculars we could read that the leader was BNSF 5724 which is one of the new BNSF GEVO units! It was the M-PASLAU1-23A which had died on the law the night before up at Sandpoint, ID. We wondered how long he would wait there and we didn’t have to wonder long.
Pretty soon we heard another eastbound in Cheney, WA coming our way. Upon its arrival we were happy to see it was lead by 3 warbonnets and then a BNSF AC4400CW (BNSF 767, 5611, ATSF 696, SF(BNSF) 852). It was the X-RGTFIN9-25A. After he passed the M-LAUPAS didn’t move and soon we found out why, another eastbound was coming. It arrived at 2:30pm and was the Z-PTLCHC9-26Z (BNSF 4984, 5422, SF(BNSF) 910). Finally after the Z had cleared the Jct. the M-LAUPAS started to move. It was a good thing too because we were starting to lose a little bit of light even though it was only 2:35pm. My dad got it all on video while I popped of stills. It was a great consist with BNSF 5724, 5383, BN(BNSF) 7850, NREX 5094 and all elephant style. Well after he left we decided to walk back to the car. When we had almost arrived we heard another westbound going through Lakeside Jct. Oh well time for a chase. We quickly hopped in and drove to Cheney, WA where we found it to be the M-LAUPAS1-24A (BNSF 4872, 4370). Just as we got into town the PCC 3004, 4109, and 4204 were moving across the crossing. We could see that the rails still all had snow on them so we were hoping that it was going to grab a couple of cars and leave and we would pursue it. But not to be for it backed up then onto a different track and then they shut them all off and left! Well the LAUPAS was long gone so we decided to drive over and see if there was a northbound UP in the siding. Sure enough we found a northbound hopper train (CEFX 126, UP 8530, CP 9764). The sun was getting low so it was glinting off pretty good making for an interesting shot. We next drove up to Anderson Rd. to wait for a train but the next thing we heard was that northbound UP train coming up. We quickly drove up to Fish Lake where we heard that they had to stop before they could get on the BNSF. It stopped just 30 ft down the tracks from where we waited for it. The engineer got off and we talked to him a little. After leaving we saw a westbound going through Lakeside Jct. so we drove back to Anderson Rd. Upon reaching there we could see that it had a green light so I got out and soon it came grinding around the corner. It was the G-CVNKAL9-23A with just 3 engines up front and they were all in Run 8 as they went by (BNSF 4541, 4336, 1047). By this time the sun had set so we headed back home via Spokane, WA. We arrived back home around 5:00pm just in time for supper. Overall we saw around 20 trains so it wasn’t such a bad day other than the fact that the sun had to wait until early afternoon to come out. Well enjoy until next time!
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