I agree that is some high class numbering on that 1610. Does make it interesting. A lot of cool catches posted. For some reason, I am drawn to that BNSF coil car that is green with the aluminum hood. That paint scheme looks really interesting.
I believe that the 1610 was part of a group of demo T4 units that initially went to the UP. Obviously they didn't buy them. Here's a couple of pics from activity in the yard yesterday, This pair of H1 scheme's went east together, And periodic maintenance is now performed outside in any weather, here an electrician and machinist work over the 1593. "Progress."
And a coal empty sliding into the yard at 10mph. It is clattering over a switch, which makes for some great sound,
On the 31st I made a minute to catch a frack train getting a quick crew change and heading west, and this trio working the yard gave me a surprise bonus! Then the frack train,
The day before, this pair were setting waiting for a crew and a call, the GE has burn damage from a DB grid fire and the EMD has peeling stickers, Earlier in the morning it was snowing, then it blew hard and cleared up, A former CNW, And a BN, with conductor walking back up to the power
Lastly, yesterday I made a bit of time to catch what I thought would be just another coal train crawling out of the yard, and was surprised by an H or M train racing west into town. This is just east of the 'hump' and corner with Glendive Creek in the background flowing towards the Yellowstone with the breaks of the river further back.
Have a friend that can let me in on train movements, just got to love the little birdy tweetin away! Anyway, heard this coal train was going east, so headed to Hodges to check my clients place, AND get the coal train going uphill! Takes 45 minutes for me to get there and check things, and about an hour for them to get to Hodges. Perfect! Found a good new spot to try for an early morning overview with good lighting, and waited. And waited. An hour went by, so I knew something wasn't right. On my way back to town, I didn't see them, but finally heard radio chatter. Seems like the 1593 was giving them wheelslip issues! So, after fussing around for an hour more, they got permission to back the entire train back into town and onto the same yard track they left from. NOT a common occurrence! There's some radio chatter going on as they back in, and some interesting noises, enjoy!
To play a bit of catch up, these two are from 2 Apr, that now endangered KCS paint scheme, Late afternoon Easter, I sat and waited for a train that never showed, and enjoyed the river flowing by, While this Red-Tailed hawk soared above the river for a bit, Saturday evening, had some nice sunset shots, And yesterday, this kinda weird arrangement on the west end of the yard, yes the unit was idling away,
On 3 April, this lost CP was on the head end of some coal, And yesterday, the 8th, it was eastbound again, on the same coal train, just a new load of coal. Which kinda tells you this is a Colstrip to Superior train.
And in other news, saw this KCS unit with "de Mexico" stenciling, That train was waiting on the main while these other were just waiting on 1 and 2 tracks,
Worked Saturday, but it snowed yesterday and blew and blew. Decided I didn't want to go out until later on when I headed up to the hospital to check on my friend. There had been a consist sitting most of the morning, then the outbound crew got busy rearranging the power with a drop and a pickup, so when I headed out we had a 'Happy Accident' and intersected at the east end crossing! Earlier in the week, the 8th, I had seen a gravel train on the bridge, And later that day, At the end of the day, 'stuck' by another coal train,
This mornings continuing snow has these units idling in 'high idle' to keep warm, And these cows are wondering what's going on with more white stuff!
