Nice modelling!! Here's a shot I took a few years ago of the westbound cresting Ash Hill. It's definitely a cool train.
Dieselfan, I'm loving it. I sat next to one today in St.Paul. For those of us that like grain, it is hard to beat the a BNSF shuttle train. Thanks for the photos!
I have seen them in southern Cal, but I never knew they were called “earthworm”. I also love the photo of yours, I oh so wish I had a layout big enough to run something like that. Thats very cool. :thumbs_up:
This is one of my favorite trains too! I'd love to hear some of Joe's story about running this train over Tehachapi - especially easing the loaded one down the hill. It must be somewhat nerve-wracking sitting down-grade of 20,000 tons of grain and metal... BTW, nice photo! Are those the IM or ExactRail hoppers? Best, Gary
I am a big fan of the "earthworm". Fall is a great time catch them around here coming down the columbia gorge on the BNSF. I currently own 52 IM BNSF 5161's but i have not had the chance to run them yet. :tb-hissyfit:
I would like to hear him elaborate on this, if you wouldn't mind, Joe. The hoppers are all Intermountain, 30 of them. The Exact rail cars aren't quite as nice as the Intermountain cars.
CSX also runs grain shuttles with complete consists of their newer "CSX Grain Express" hoppers. They are the light beigh color, so maybe they can be the "bleached earthworm" train. I picked up the first three Intermountain hoppers over the weekend so I have a long way to go to get to 32 (the max length for a train on my layout). I really like this BNSF train because it reminds me of the old SP oil tanks that used to run over Tehachapi. Jamie
Here are some of my favorite proto-photos of the earthworm: http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=221038&nseq=7 http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=188501&nseq=4 http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=186933&nseq=9 There are several more arial shots by Roger Snyder posted to RailPictures as well. Neat stuff.
That is badass.:thumbs_up::thumbs_up::thumbs_up::thumbs_up: I see you ain't afraid to throw a little power at it too. Awesome layout too. Thats what I come here for.
OK so I'm not the only one trying to get large numbers of the same car. I just happen to be trying a different train, the "Fresh Express". I'd LOVE to build enough of the new Trinity Reefers UP/CSX is using to ship produce out of CA/WA to the East Coast, about 60+. Right now I've had to settle for the Walthers 70ft Cryo cars which are a pain to find. I've been scouring eBay and only been able to come up with five. Even adding 57' reefers I'm at about 15. Of course my layout will only fit a couple engines and 25 cars but NTRAK has opened up the large unit train possibilities. From UP's site http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/releases/service/2008/1006_reefers.shtml
Riiight! Only problem is, ya can't find any (not true - Exact Rail IS available, but I have all their numbers and don't want to go to the trouble of changing numbers). I keep hoping for additional runs...or someone selling a batch. Meanwhile, this is as close as I can come...
