Yup, one of the reasons I like it here. Today we, my oldest daughter and I , were working on a basement so didn't get to enjoy the flurries all day! And this evening it was doing sun-snow! Snowing while the sun is shining!
After my college freshman year, I escaped to my folks New Hampshire cabin. The black flies were eating me alive. A local native commented, "Coupla hot days, they'll be gone." "Then have skeetahs". "Coupla hot days, they'll be gone." "Then be Wintah,"
So after humping wet dirt and cement all day while it snowed, the sun came out this evening. Good excuse to go for an evening drive! And on my way in, no trains elsewhere, I managed to just catch this M train, or Dickinson local, as it was leaving town east. My camera struggles in this lighting, but it was nice anyway! Saw another vanishing sight earlier, too. This pair of GP28's
Woke up yesterday morning to this bunch of fluffy white stuff falling down hard! Sooo, being kind of a snow crazy guy, I had to go outside and catch a train or two. I missed one grain train leaving off the mainline shortly after I took these first shots. This empty power was shivering while waiting to go west, Still got red signals though, And the snow didn't even slow down the switch crew, The east end of the empty coal and the east end of the grain train that is just leaving. The snow was so wet and sticky it covered signs, which is unusual here.
And of course a video, forgive the camera jitters as I got out of my pickup at the start of this grain train entering town, Then, 6 hours later, the snow is almost gone as the sun has been out for a few hours and we are now in the 40's! It's a bit breezy, but it isn't often i get to catch the Sidney local heading north and away from town. This is just outside of Stipek where there is a slow order over the old wooden trestle.
This was an interesting train. Why? It was the first half of a double train that ran from Laurel to Glendive using the second trains head end power as DPU's. At least they have figured out that a double is too much trouble going east over Beaver Hill and further on. So this is where the head end had to stop after getting here. Then the second train was uncoupled and released form DPU status. And here we get to watch as the headend starts the train,
i thought about revealing that it was in there, but then again, naw!! Glad someone actually watches trains and sees them little things! Didja hear the one car early in with a really bad flat or spalled spot?
My morning wake up today, a rare unit setting here done with it's maintenance. I saw it hit the service track last week late and head to the roundhouse. Now here she sits waiting for a pickup. I guess we will see if I catch it getting picked up and the train.
The 132 finally got picked up last night just after dark, about ten! Seems to happen a lot, but such is railroading here. Last Sat morning I caught this tank train westbound. Not certain if it wasn't the Miles City run since there is a tank car repair/cleanout facility there.
I have the priviledge of living by the service track, and during my work hours, driving around the railyard since it is kinda right in the middle of everything! Brother of mine says I am spoilt. Naaaaw!
My wife told me yesterday she wants me to take my oldest out more often for railfanning. It gets him out of the house, fresh air, etc, and gives her some quiet time. It also gives bonding time, and for a 14-year old, he still loves his daddy, so I might as well enjoy it while it lasts before he suddenly knows it all and being with dad is uncool.... That said, my trackside time will increase, and just in time for summer!
That's a good plan! Took my now 15 yr old grandson out a few years ago to watch a derailment cleanup, while he was still interested. It was a load of fun! Enjoy it!
Traffic has been sporadic and slow lately, the yard has been getting worked over by section gang. But Thur afternoon I spotted a few units heading in leading a westbound oil can, Here we see the conductor getting set to line switch up for a yard track, And the 9003 leads us in slowly, Oh, hey! Now that's a nice surprise! Alaska! But it is marked CCET, whatever that means. I suppose a leasing outfit? Or? And as an added bonus, a new CAT on a flat! So it is 2 track they end up pulling in to.
So, the news carried a piece stating that the Glendive roundhouse and service track will be closed permanently in 60 days. Along with changes at Minot, (hemi's place,) Mandan and elsewhere. They state it has to do with the economic downturn and whatever else, though I would guess they have multiple reasons. So, in the next two months, I had best get a lot of locomotive pics, and service track, etc. On that note, a 40-2 was here,
Nice paint on that GP39M! Union Pacific will be doing the same, they're Jenks Shops which is huge, is slated to be closed. Sign of the times.
