Unusual tanker unit train

Enjoying the very mild Denver winter weather, I came upon this tanker train, waiting its turn on the congested Joint Line. All these tankers appeared to be fairly new and clean. Between all the buildings it was impossible to count the cars, but the train was just over 0.9 miles long and my guess would be between 70 and 80 cars.

Here's the view toward the front:


And here's the view to the rear:


The last two cars appear to identify the shipper:


If I'm not mistaken (never a given) Abengoa Bioenergy makes ethanol. This shipment may have been from their New Mexico facility.

Interesting power combination, too:



and


That back porch of the C60 almost looks like the bow of an aircraft carrier, doesn't it?

 

Very Different for this area...

 

Now if all the tankers were connected by hoses, we would have to assume that the old SP (now UP) Oil Can train got way off course. We have heard rumors that UP is doing some creative routing, but the oil cans in Colorado?

 

Right, Fitz, that was the first thing I looked for. After having to put on shades for the light reflecting off these CLEAN tankers (very un-oilcan like! )

 

Abengoa Bioenergy is a Spanish company that produces ethanol. They have 5 plants in the USA and Europe.

http://www.abengoabioenergy.com/

More info on Nebraska facility:

http://www.abengoabioenergy.com/about/index.cfm?page=5&lang=1&headline=18

 

Nice shots. I had seen mystery tank trains roll through at night but never these tankers. Cool unit train.

You are just down the line from my house where you shot that series. I live right near Burnham yard. (sp) One does wonder if you weren't on your way to caboose hobbies that day.

I have some shots of the building behind that train in the motive power shots. I miss the old water tower emblem they took down a couple months back. Gates was the only really big industry on that line worth oggling. I used to hang out there lots.

The Breakfast King is a good spot to hang out and eat grub while waiting for the airplane train to roll through on a cold sunday morning.

 

Yeah, Grif, I was actually spying on you, but the train kinda distracted me! I was on one of these five-stop errand runs, which unfortunately did not have the C-word on the list!

Hemi, from the markings (Abengoa Bioenergy) I doubt that it was the sulphur train - more likely an ethanol train. From their website it appears they have plants in New Mexico and Nebraska. Didn't notice any mention of Wyoming...

 

Everyone keep your eyes open as SD70MAC 9647 went through Denver on Saturday the 29th and I did not have the camera in the truck. It was the lead Locomotive. Why is it that everytime that SD70 rolls thourgh Denver its crusty weather. Hope some one can catch it on its return trip.
good luck
Steve

 

I know the feeling..

 

Aww man, you make it sound like a dirty word! lol

 

Along the same lines, I have now seen two power moves of ten or more units without cars just haulin @$$. Both times... No camera. DOH!