Yesterday, I was driving through Montana on I-90, and somewhere between Missoula and Deer Lodge, on the MRL, I saw two BNSF SD70-MACs still in their Green and Cream colors pulling a bulkhead flatcar with a load of lumber. That was it; the entire train: two units pulling one car. I should have gotten a picture of that train, because to me it was hilarious seeing those large locomotives pulling only one car. Unfortunately, I was going too fast and I would have had to get off at the next exit, turn around and head in the opposite direction. And by that time, the little train would have been long gone. I wonder how many other people have had that same problem.
I think most of us have had some variation of that kind of bad timing. You do a fairly good job of painting the picture, though, and the result is easy to imagine...
Haven't wrecked a vehicle yet! Or caused any one else to wreck.....YET! Am sure that I have raised a few eyebrows tho!
If it was "between Missoula and Deer Lodge", it may not have been MRL. BNSF operates an isolated branch line between Garrison and Butte- Which Deer Lodge is on those tracks. Most likely this is what she saw. They bring their cars to Garrison, set out and return to Butte with whatever was at Garrison- Which might be many, one car or even none. There is a mill at Deer Lodge which BNSF might switch as needed. Aside from anything at Butte, there is business at Silver Bow which that station is within and switched by the Port of Montana: MRL does not have a "local" train as such in that vicinity. There is no on-line business to warrant such an operation. It does have daily manifest trains between Missoula and Laurel, Montana. The "ML" and "LM".
Maybe I'm missing the humor, but it is a pretty common thing to see 2 engines pulling 1 car. The power set was already MU'd together. Only one is actually running. The advantage is the crew has a forward facing cab for both directions on the trip. Sometimes they need both engines to switch a facing point spur without doing a flying drop. Business as usual on the railroad. Last week I caught a pair of locals meeting. Each train had 12,000 HP (3 engines) for 6 cars. It may not make sense to us looking on from trackside, but they have their reasons.
On a number of carriers, a Single unit traveling by itself is restricted to 30 MPH. Two units can travel track speed as can one unit and one car. Relay based signal systems need a sustained period of track occupancy for the relays to trip; a single unit at track speed can go faster than the relays can trip.
up runs a local between Bloomington and Joliet that often has two units and one or two cars a lot of local has went to trucks or closed up I'm sure there is a lot more business by Joliet
There are times when a train is seen, with one car. Known as a "hot" car. This is a very high priority move, which might have been planned, but usually was set back by a mechanical failure or other unforeseen circumstance. So now they are out hustling it to the consignee...
That might explain what I saw years ago on CSX NO&M. Twelve (12) six-axles hauling one (1) boxcar towards New Orleans. I'm sure the twelve six-axles was a power balancing move. Now, thanks to you, the one boxcar may have been a priority move previously delayed for a quickie RIP.
I encountered the same situation a few months ago, between Montreal and Ottawa, QC. The train was a freight running on shortline Quebec & Gatineau Railway, at a slow pace, about 25 mph. Fortunately that line is most of the time very close to its matching highway. (And I must admit I purposedly drove on it) That indeed allowed me to take the first exit and quickly run my car on the opposite direction (must admit that I had been widely above allowed speed anyway..). I resisted the temptation to stop at the first grade crossing because I knew it would be too late. I deliberately decided to drive my car about 10 miles further (with the risk to have the train doing some switching at the half way chemical plant). My computation was good, as I saw it coming a few minutes later, allowing me to take a few interesting shots. But in my opinion, this works only with a slow paced line. Useless to do that with a 70-mph Class 1 main line. Dom
