This is only the second time I have been railfanning, and this is the first time I have been to this type of event. OK, Here are the pics. Started taking some pics at 7pm on Friday. I only took a few pictures on Friday. Here is the first train of the night, this is a Northbound BNSF Mixed Freight. While I have a better shot of the train, I chose this one so you can see fellow railfans The next train was a Southbound bare table. We had more trains on Friday night, but I didn't take more picture until after dark and most didn't turnout. Here is a couple of night shots of the Grain Facilities that surround the site.
I was going to stay all night, but we saw a drop off in trains, so I headed home to get some rest. I arrived back on Saturday and while it was still a slow train day, i got some great shots. The first train I saw on Saturday was a long northbound grain train. Here is a shot of the old train station at the event. Here is another northbound empty coal train. You can also the people working on the interlocking equipment. They have been working all day. The site, has 3 diamond crossings (1 BNSF track crosses 1 UP Track and 2 additional BNSF Tracks.) Here is the first UP train I saw on Saturday. The second picture shows the UP lead crossing the BNSF track.
Next we saw 4 switcher engines leading a local train, possibly a yard transfer. Next I caught this southbound Mixed Freight, notice the lucky driver. The train is not moving that fast and you can see the crossing guards almost coming down on the truck. Next came the ....
The Heartland Flyer From OKC. The Amtrak is heading into a three way meet. Just south of the interlocking, there are two sidings, one on each side of the main. The Amtrak is using the middle track. You can see the Flyer, on the right track is a waiting BNSF Northbound Train and on the left track is a northbound Ethonal train. You can barely see the engine on the left track. The second picture is really the best picture, but my camera focused in on the truck in front and so the trains are blurry. Here is the Ethonal train that was on the left track. As soon as the Flyer entered the middle track, the switch was thrown to allow the ethonal train onto the main so it didn't have to stop. The second picture shows the engines going through the switch. You can see the Green Box car behind the Engines; its purpose is to protect the engines from the ethonal cars in an accident.
The gf and I stopped by Sat afternoon. Got there around 1:45 and stayed about an hour. Only two trains during that time...a sb UP coal load came around the depot as we pulled up and a sb BNSF empty autorack came thru right before we left. Did get a chance to visit with some folks though so it was worthwhile. (including my friend Tim Blackwell of the Cowcatcher magazine) We ate across the street and still no trains for the next 30m or so. Left and made the loop north past Elevator S and by the Trinity plant (CSX coil cars everywhere!) then the Bailey Boswell crossing (nothing) but as we drove by the depot again the participants were treated to a nb BNSF manifest freight highlighted by a neat transformer load on a depressed center flat right behind the power.
I haven't heard an official count. Last I heard they were at 35 trains and expecting no more than about 15 more before the end at 7pm. I think they got into the 70's one year so this has to be a little disappointing. But really it's all about the fellowship and the programs presented and being able to visit the surrounding railfan locations as well. It will always be worth the trip.
When I left at 2:30, the count was at 35. At about 6pm, one of my train club buddies that lives just north of Saginaw, said that he heard quite a few horn blasts on the UP and BNSF tracks that head to Saginaw. So hopefully the count is higher.
