Nice photos, Doug. Boy! That pic of the flats loaded with M-1-A-1 Abrams brought back memories of watching flat after flat loaded with Shermans, Howitzers and search lights moving along the EsPee line in the San Fernando Valley during WWII. Thanks for the great pics and memories.
SD45-2s seem to congregate in Texas- besides the one Doug shot at Saginaw, several can be found in & around Conroe down near Houston, and two are on the DGNO in Sherman.The DGNO beasts are Helm rent-a-wrecks from CSX, while the Beansniffers are all ex-Santa Fe.
Doug- several folks on Railspot were there for the bitter end (that is, trying like the devil to keep them eyelids open), and a report is also comeing out on Railspot, one of them by Steve Grabman. Even though we have 50 trains a day thru Cordele, I still miss home......
Great pics Doug. Thanks for the report for those of us who couldn't make it. My daughter and son-in-law (he's a BNSF dispatcher) live off of Blue Mound so I am familiar with the Saginaw "skyline"
Rain, or not, wow, what a day! Plenty of action. Looks like it will be a great memory. :thumbs_up: Boxcab E50
Doug, Thanks for going to the trouble of braving the elements to provide us with all the good photos! Tim, I can't find a scooter small enough to use around the house, but I have racing slicks, buggy whips, double cherries, and a siren on my walker to warn people when I am in a mad dash for the bathroom!
Thanks for the comments guys. It was a lot of fun, no doubt. A little different perspective at night, which is what I wanted to experience. There was some mention on Railspot that the rain slowed down train operations, (hence about a 20 train dropoff from last year) but nobody bothered mentioning UP's work on their diamond which pretty much stopped everything for about two hours. Rain doesn't stop the railroads...although high winds, tornado's, and lightening might. I guess they probably do have to increase inspections and such which might slow things down a tad. Anyway, still a lot of trains. I either missed the final report or it is still under construction but quite a railfan experience, regardless.
Here is the official, final tally, courtesy of Steve Grabman, et al. (reposted from "TheDenverRoad" Yahoo group, among others) ************************************************** For the second year, the North Texas Chapter of the NRHS held 24 Hours at Saginaw at the interlocking in Saginaw, Texas. The event is co-sponsered by the Saginaw Chamber of Commerce. The event is an effort to promote Saginaw as the premier train watching spot in North Texas. Many thanks goes everyone who participated and organized the event, in particular Skip Waters who for the second year went above and beyond the call of duty to make it a fun time for everyone. Friday - 05/25/07 Saginaw, Texas (24 Hours at Saginaw: start at 7 p.m.) 7:11 p.m. Y ALT2101 25T (Transfer Alliance Yd - UP Davidson Yd) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 6741 SD40-2 (In Santa Fe paint) BNSF 6480 SD45-2 (In Santa Fe paint) 63 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 7:29 p.m. 1-OBTWV-22 (Soda Ash Empty Beaumont, TX-Westvale, WY) Direction: N/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. UP 7096 AC6000CW UP 7380 AC6000CW 115 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 7:46 p.m. G ENICPS9 24A (Grain Load Enid, OK-Corpus Christi, TX) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 7787 ES44DC BNSF 4896 C44-9W BNSF 4701 C44-9W (Warbonnet) 110 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 8:37 p.m. C CKMKBB0 10A (Coal Load Coal Creek Mine, WY - Big Brown, TX) Direction: E/B BNSF Wichita Falls Sub. BNSF 9387 SD70ACe BNSF 9334 SD70ACe BNSF 9893 SD70MAC (DPU) BNSF 9641 SD70MAC (DPU/In BN paint) 125 TXUX Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 8:53 p.m. Q SAGKCK1 25A (Intermodal Saginaw, TX-Kansas City, KS) Direction: N/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. NS 9909 C40-9W 107 Triple Crown Roadrailers ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 9:11 p.m. E MONCAM0 19B (Coal Empty Mossville, LA - Caballo Mine, WY) Direction: N/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 9723 SD70MAC CEFX 126 SD9043MAC BNSF 5623 AC4400CW (DPU) BNSF 9942 SD70MAC (DPU) 128 EGSX Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 9:17 p.m. Y SAG2071 25I (Saginaw Yard based Industrial Job) Direction: N/B Burris Mill Lead-S/B BNSF Ft Worth Sub BNSF 2193 GP38-2 (In Santa Fe paint) BNSF 3148 GP50 (In Burlington Northern paint) BNSF 2292 GP38-2 30 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 9:17 p.m. 1-RCITP-24 (Rock Load Chico, TX - Timpson, TX) Direction: S/B UP Duncan Sub. UP 2074 GP60 UP 2047 GP60 (In Southern Pacific paint) UP 1911 GP60 60 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 9:34 p.m. L TEX0721 25T (Local Venus, TX - Alliance, TX) Direction: N/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 2381 GP38-2 BNSF 2351 GP38-2 BNSF 2330 GP38-2 BNSF 8712 GP60 (In Santa Fe paint) BNSF 7047 SD40-2 BNSF 1069 C44-9W (Pumpkin) 83 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 9:37 p.m. Y NYF2081 25I (North Yard based Industry Job) Direction: W/B BNSF Wichita Falls Sub. BNSF 2306 GP38-2 BNSF 2196 GP38-2 (In Santa Fe paint) 02 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 9:51 p.m. H ALTBAR1 25A (Manifest Alliance, TX - Barstow, CA) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 7667 ES44DC BNSF 4300 C44-9W BNSF 4976 C44-9W 74 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 10:23 p.m. 1-MKSFW-24 (Manifest Kansas City, KS - Fort Worth, TX) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. UP 7062 AC6000CW UP 8426 SD70ACe 55 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 10:29 p.m. Y SAG2091 25I (Saginaw Yard based Industry Job) Direction: N/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 6842 SD40-2 (In Burlington Northern paint) BNSF 3174 GP50 (In Santa Fe paint) 08 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 10:43 p.m. C CKMSLP0 12A (Coal Load Coal Creek Mine, WY - Smithers Lake, TX) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 8954 SD70MAC BNSF 9599 SD70MAC (In Burlington Northern paint) BNSF 9856 SD70MAC (DPU) 128 UFIX Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 10:52 p.m. Y NYF2081 25I (North Yard based Industry Job) Direction: E/B BNSF Wichita Falls Sub. BNSF 2196 GP38-2 (In Santa Fe paint) BNSF 2306 GP38-2 00 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 11:10 p.m. H KCKEAP4 22A (Manifest Kansas City, KS-Eagle Pass, TX) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. NS 9375 C40-9W NS 6753 SD60I (In Conrail Quality paint) NS 8200 C39-8 (In Conrail paint) BNSF 5486 C44-9W 114 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 11:42 p.m. L TEX0711 25T (Local Alliance, TX - Venus, TX) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 6771 SD40-2 (In Santa Fe paint) BNSF 3187 GP50 (In Santa Fe paint) BNSF 3145 GP50 (In Burlington Northern paint) BNSF 1720 SD9R 91 Cars ************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ***** Saturday - 05/26/07 12:18 a.m. 1-LBJ76-25 (Local Duncan, OK - Fort Worth, TX) Direction: S/B UP Duncan Sub. UP 2079 GP60 UP 2014 GP60 42 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 12:47 a.m. Y ALT3061 25T (Transfer Alliance Yard - Saginaw Yard) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 3155 GP50 (In Burlington Northern paint) BNSF 2104 GP38-2 (In Burlington Northern paint) 55 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 12:58 a.m. 1-MWTFW-25 (Manifest Wichita, KS - Fort Worth, TX) Direction: S/B UP Duncan Sub. UP 2904 SD40T-2 CEFX 2787 SD40-2M (In Union Pacific paint) UP 8116 SD9043MAC 91 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 1:27 a.m. Y SAG3081 25I (Saginaw Yard based Industry Job) Direction: N/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. - E/B Wichita Falls Sub. BNSF 3177 GP50 (In Santa Fe paint) BNSF 8084 SD40-2 (In Burlington Northern paint) 05 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 1:56 a.m. Y ALT2101 25T (Transfer UP Davidson Yd - Alliance Yd) Direction: N/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 6480 SD45-2 (In Santa Fe paint) BNSF 6741 SD40-2 (In Santa Fe paint) 68 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 2:00 a.m. Y SAG3081 25I (Saginaw Yard based Industry Job) Direction: W/B BNSF Wichita Falls Sub. BNSF 3177 GP50 (In Santa Fe paint) BNSF 8084 SD40-2 (In Burlington Northern paint) 05 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 2:14 a.m. M HOUALT1 24A (Manifest Houston, TX - Alliance, TX) Direction: N/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 4039 C44-9W BNSF 7789 ES44DC BNSF 8033 SD40-2 121 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 2:35 a.m. 1-RRVCI-24 (Rock Empty Cart, LA - Chico, TX) Direction: N/B UP Duncan Sub. UP 1938 GP60 UP 2056 GP60 UP 2724 SD40-2M (In Southern Pacific paint) UP 2752 SD40-2M (In Southern Pacific paint) UP 1931 GP60 100 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 2:48 a.m. C RWMKBB0 33A (Coal Load Rawhide Mine, WY - Big Brown, TX) Direction: E/B BNSF Wichita Falls Sub. BNSF 8825 SD70MAC CEFX 135 SD9043MAC BNSF 6237 ES44AC (DPU) 128 TXUX Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 2:57 a.m. E KBBRWM0 32A (Coal Empty Big Brown, TX - Rawhide Mine, WY) Direction: W/B BNSF Wichita Falls Sub. BNSF 7610 ES44DC BNSF 9882 SD70MAC BNSF 8889 SD70MAC BNSF 5621 AC4400CW (DPU) 127 TXUX Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 3:21 a.m. 1-MFWWT-26 (Manifest Fort Worth, TX - Wichita, KS) Direction: N/B UP Duncan Sub. UP 9698 C44-9W CEFX 3097 SD40-3L UP 4817 SD70M (Flag/Flare) UP 2306 SD60M UP 3934 SD70M (Flag/Flare) 98 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 4:27 a.m. C EBMSLP0 20A (Coal Load Eagle Butte Mine, WY - Smithers Lake, TX) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 8973 SD70MAC BNSF 9933 SD70MAC BNSF 6144 ES44AC (DPU) 128 TGNX Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 4:41 a.m. 1-EFWCIR-25 (Light Power Fort Worth, TX - Chico, TX) Direction: N/B UP Duncan Sub. UP 2097 GP60 UP 2050 GP60 (In Southern Pacific paint) SSW 9693 GP60 00 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 4:51 a.m. Q KCKSAG1 25A (Intermodal Kansas City, KS-Saginaw, TX) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. NS 9536 C40-9W ?? Triple Crown Roadrailers ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 5:19 a.m. X ALGWIC9 25A (Grain Empty Algoa, TX - Wichita, KS) Direction: N/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. CSXT 4767 SD70MAC BNSF 9275 SD60M NS 9924 C40-9W 99 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 5:42 a.m. G TIAGAT9 22A (Grain Load Templeton, IA-Galveston, TX) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 875 C41-8W (In Santa Fe Warbonnet paint) BNSF 4386 C44-9W BNSF 4314 C44-9W 101 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 6:11 a.m. H EMPTEA4 23A (Manifest Emporia, KS - Teague, TX) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. - E/B Wichita Falls Sub. BNSF 4094 C44-9W EMDX 9048 SD60 113 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 6:36 a.m. Y SAG3081 25I (Saginaw Yard Industry Job) Direction: E/B BNSF Wichita Falls Sub. BNSF 8084 SD40-2 (In Burlington Northern paint) BNSF 3177 GP50 (In Santa Fe paint) ?? Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 6:59 a.m. M NEWSAG1 24A (Manifest Newton, KS - Saginaw, TX) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 4342 C44-9W BNSF 4527 C44-9W 107 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 7:21 a.m. Y NYF3051 25I (North Yard Industry Job) Direction: W/B BNSF Wichita Falls Sub. - S/B Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 6399 SD40-2 (In Santa Fe paint) BNSF 6504 SD45-2 (In Santa Fe paint) ?? Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 8:30 a.m. G BNVGAT4 22T (Sulfur Load Bonneville, WY - Galveston, TX) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 4693 C44-9W BNSF 7748 ES44DC BNSF 5841 ES44AC (DPU) 68 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 8:42 a.m. 1-MFWNP-26 (Manifest Fort Worth, TX-North Platte, NE) Direction: N/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. UP 5843 AC4400CTE UP 6746 AC4400CW 55 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 9:05 a.m. H DYTGAL9 24D (Manifest Dayton, TX - Galesburg, IL) Direction: N/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 4633 C44-9W BNSF 4776 C44-9W BNSF 5321 C44-9W 86 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 9:57 a.m. Y NYF3051 25I (North Yard Industry Job) Direction: N/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. - E/B Wichita Falls Sub. BNSF 6399 SD40-2 (In Santa Fe paint) BNSF 6504 SD45-2 (In Santa Fe paint) ?? Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 11:16 a.m. H PTXTUL1 24A (Manifest Pasadena, TX - Tulsa, OK) Direction: N/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 5366 C44-9W BNSF 5094 C44-9W BNSF 5381 C44-9W 65 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 11:33 a.m. X CPSHDN9 23A (Grain Empty Corpus Christi, TX - Harden, MO) Direction: N/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 4113 C44-9W BNSF 4197 C44-9W 92 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 11:48 a.m. H TULTPL1 25A (Manifest Tulsa, OK - Temple, TX) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 1115 C44-9W (Pumpkin) BNSF 8721 GP60 (In Santa Fe paint) 101 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 12:37 p.m. H TPLKCK1 25A (Manifest Temple, TX - Kansas City, KS) Direction: N/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 1114 C44-9W (Pumpkin) BNSF 4532 C44-9W 65 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 1:07 p.m. 821 Heartland Flyer (Okla. City, OK - Fort Worth, TX) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. AMTK 140 AMD-103 04 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 1:12 p.m. C RWMDOL9 14A (Coal Load Rawhide Mine, WY - Donie, TX) Direction: E/B BNSF Wichita Falls Sub. BNSF 9742 SD70MAC BNSF 9367 SD70ACe BNSF 5705 ES44AC (DPU) 128 TGNX Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 1:58 p.m. C CKMHAF0 02A (Coal Load Coal Creek Mine, WY - Halsted, TX) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 8809 SD70MAC BNSF 9866 SD70MAC BNSF 6155 ES44AC (DPU) 128 FPPX Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 2:34 p.m. E DOLRWM9 13B (Coal Empty Donie, TX-Rawhide Mine, WY) Direction: W/B BNSF Wichita Falls Sub. BNSF 9396 SD70ACe BNSF 5965 ES44AC BNSF 9580 SD70MAC (DPU/In BN paint) BNSF 9386 SD70ACe (DPU) BNSF 9356 SD70ACe (DPU) 128 TGNX Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 2:51 p.m. Y ALT1101 26T (Transfer Alliance Yd - UP Davidson Yd) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 6741 SD40-2 (In Santa Fe paint) BNSF 6480 SD45-2 (In Santa Fe paint) 127 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 3:20 p.m. Y NYF1091 26T (Transfer North Yard - Alliance Yard) Direction: W/B BNSF Wichita Falls Sub. - N/B Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 6493 SD45-2 (In Santa Fe paint) BNSF 3163 GP50 74 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 3:24 p.m. 1-RLWCO-25 (Rock Empty Longview, TX - Chico, TX) Direction: N/B UP Duncan Sub. UP 2011 GP60 UP 2061 GP60 SP 9738 GP60 UP 1908 GP60 90 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 3:43 p.m. G SJOLAR9 23A (Grain Load St. Joseph, MO - Laredo, TX) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. FURX 7213 SD40-2 (In Burlington Northern paint) BNSF 7828 SD40-2 FURX 8124 SD40-2 (In Burlington Northern paint) EMDX 9024 SD60 110 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 4:12 p.m. Y NYF5721 26I (North Yard based Hostler Job) Direction: N/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. NS 9536 C40-9W 00 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 4:30 p.m. C JRMSLP0 73A (Coal Load Jacobs Ranch Mine, WY - Smithers Lake, TX) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. BNSF 5788 ES44AC BNSF 6129 ES44AC BNSF 9649 SD70MAC (DPU/In BN paint) BN 9619 SD70MAC (DPU) 127 FURX Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 4:43 p.m. Y NYF5721 26I (North Yard based Hostler Job) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. NS 9536 C40-9W 00 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 4:55 p.m. Y ALT2101 26I (Transfer Alliance Yard - North Yard) Direction: S/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. - E/B Wichita Falls Sub. BNSF 6914 SD40-2 34 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 5:17 p.m. 1-RCILU-24 (Rock Load Chico, TX - Lufkin, TX) Direction: S/B UP Duncan Sub. UP 1931 GP60 UP 2752 SD40-2M (In Southern Pacific paint) UP 2050 GP60 (In Southern Pacific paint) UP 2724 SD40-2M (In Southern Pacific paint) 80 Cars ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- 5:44 p.m. 822 Heartland Flyer (Fort Worth, TX - Okla. City, OK) Direction: N/B BNSF Fort Worth Sub. AMTK 140 AMD-103 04 Cars **Cabbage Car AMTK 90229 on point of train** ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- Amtrak: 02 BNSF: 47 Union Pacific: 11 ------------ ----- Total: 60 While the quantity of trains falls short of last year, everyone still had a great time. A big thanks again to Skip Waters and everyone who made the event happen. Steve Grabman (KD5QGY) Haltom City, Texas
Another attendee, Rick Duncan, built a photo compilation of his experiences at the event. I thought I would post the link here for posterity's sake. http://www.texhoma.net/~trainman/saginaw0705/index.html Some pretty good pics, especially a few showing the HEAVY rain we got. (see http://www.texhoma.net/~trainman/saginaw0705/IMG_2656w.html . I was about 100 yards away, asleep in my truck, when this photo was taken. I can sleep through anything!)
