BNSF ran a unit train on Presidents Day from Northgate to Minot down the Crosby Sub at Aurelia, with a large consist:
I think only the lead 2 GEs and the DPU were loading--the ruling grade eastbound is .43% max. Tonnage was relatively low--only about 4-5000 feet of train, I think, it wasn't a monster. The EMDs trailing the leaders were languishing at Northgate during the extremely cold, severe weather we had recently, probably collected up there due to cold weather shutdowns. Trains head west up the branch, and the crews take a cab back to Minot, even on normal days.
Today I drove by the sight of the collision, derailment and fire that happened on February 23 in Cameron, Texas on the BNSF. An 18 wheeler broadsided some gasoline tank cars.
That must've been pretty scary for the people that lived close to the crossing, wow! I wonder if the duallie skidmarks are from the truck? Cause he must've been moving pretty good AND in the wrong lane of travel!
I believe the truck was coming from the other direction and passed a few cars that were stopped at the crossing. Never heard if his brakes failed or he was not paying attention till it was too late. One account said a pole barn was destroyed but it looks like it is still there, however a little toasted, in the last photo above. Here is the closest structure to the fire from google maps.
The "caboose" on the end of a UFIX coal train unloading at Smither's Lake power plant Southwest of Houston. Cloudy gray day in early 2000s.
