Trackside Log for Saturday, August 18, 2007

Today I was taking Via into Toronto to visit Sam.  I drove down to Grimsby station to catch train 92.  Just as I got there Canadian National train 333 was slowing to a stop at the station.

• 1424 Grimsby - CN 333 east - CN 5543 (photo)

Train 333 was waiting to meet Via 92.  Before long 333 resumed eastward and my Via train arrived at the station.

• 1456 Grimsby - Via 92 west - VIA 6429 (photo)

I boarded the train and enjoyed the ride to visit Sam.

Trackside Log for Saturday, August 11, 2007

Well, here I was in Iowa again. I was on my way back home but I had a couple more stops to make. The first was to check out the Iowa Interstate in Iowa City, Iowa. I found them just fine but there weren't any decent photography opportunities. So I continued eastward. I was going to be passing by Davenport, Iowa once again so I made a quick stop at the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern again. Just as I pulled across the tracks I could see an eastbound pulling into the yard. Good timing!

• 1018 CDT Nahant, Iowa - ICE eastbound - ICE 4202

I also photographed some of the parked power in front of the roundhouse.

• 1021 CDT Nahant, Iowa - ICE power - ICE 6433-ICE 6215-ICE 6415 +1
• 1021 CDT Nahant, Iowa - ICE power - KCS 3108

After a few photographs I departed the Davenport area and got back onto Interstate 80 for the trip home. And so ends Vacation 2007. I think it was rather rewarding.

Trackside Log for Friday, August 10, 2007

I woke up in… Wait, I remember where I am. Sioux Falls, South Dakota! That's it. I first drove downtown to check out the Burlington Northern Santa Fe yard. Just after I got there a switch move was pulling through.

• 0919 CDT Sioux Falls, South Dakota - BNSF switcher - BNSF 3454-BNSF 3464

Then I went to turn around and found some parked power.

• 0923 CDT Sioux Falls, South Dakota - BNSF power - BNSF 2984-BNSF 1527-BNSF 2977-BNSF 3644 (photo)

My first stop of the day was to be Alton, Iowa but while passing through Sioux Center I ran across a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train just pulling in.

• 1100 CDT Sioux Center, Iowa - BNSF northbound - BNSF 4322-KCS 3163 (photo 1, photo 2)

After a few photos I continued on to the grain elevator in Alton to see the GP7 that I knew was located there.

• 1139 CDT Alton, Iowa - Midwest Farmers Coop - #701 (photo 1, photo 2)

My next stop was going to be Mason City, Iowa. Once again while passing through town I discovered a train. This time the town was Spencer, Iowa on the former Milwaukee Road track. The train was a westbound Iowa, Chicago and Eastern. I had to wait for a bit for the train to move, but I was patient.

• 1316 CDT Spencer, Iowa - Iowa, Chicago & Eastern westbound - DME 6053-DME 6078 (photo)

After my waiting paid off I continued on to Mason City by way of Clear Lake. I found the western terminus of the Iowa Traction Railway and followed it east toward Mason City. First I encountered a variety of Iowa Traction Railway equipment.

• 1554 CDT Emery, Iowa - Iowa Traction Railway equipment - IATR 40-IATR 31-IATR 32 (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3)

Behind that was a parked motor outside the shops and in the weeds.

• 1601 CDT Emery, Iowa - Iowa Traction Railway power - IATR 51 (photo)

I continued following the tracks and in short order met a westbound train with a cut of gondolas. Luck was on my side.

• 1611 CDT Mason City, Iowa - Iowa Traction Railway westbound - IATR 50 (photo)

After a few photographs I continued along and discovered a parked motor at the AGP elevator.

• 1621 CDT Mason City, Iowa - Iowa Traction Railway power - IATR 54 (photo)

I figured I did rather well with the Iowa Traction Railway and set off for Greene, Iowa and the Iowa Northern. Just as I arrived at Greene I could see a westbound pulling through town. My timing was spot on. I turned around and found a nice location for a photograph.

• 1717 CDT Greene, Iowa - Iowa Northern Railway westbound - IANR 3811-IANR 3801-IANR 3810-IANR 3804

My luck today was really good. I ran across trains by accident and managed to stay ahead of the ominous clouds that were constantly behind me to the west. Somehow I was always just ahead of them. I continued driving east until I got to Urbana, Iowa. I noticed a Super 8 motel and decided I really didn't want to drive any longer so I called it a day.

Trackside Log for Thursday, August 9, 2007

I got a nice early start before the sun rose. My first destination was to be the Nebkota Railroad in Chadron, Nebraska. While on the way I ran across a parked BNSF empty coal train in Orin, Wyoming, just west of Shawnee Junction. The sun was just above the horizon which led to some interesting lighting.

• 0609 MDT Orin, Wyoming - BNSF eastbound - BNSF 9930-BNSF 9663 w/ DPU (photo)

I continued along and discovered the Union Pacific main into the coal fields. There were coal trains parked all over the place. One loaded train was just leaving Shawnee Junction when I passed so I drove out ahead of it.

• 0632 MDT Lost Springs, Wyoming - UP eastbound - UP 6580-UP 7071 w/ DPU UP 6766-UP 7392
• 0645 MDT Keeline, Wyoming - UP eastbound - UP 6580-UP 7071 w/ DPU UP 6766-UP 7392 (photo)

I drove on leaving that coal train behind only to find another coal train ahead of it. I chased it ahead and photographed it as well.

• 0720 MDT Lusk, Wyoming - UP eastbound - UP 5990-UP 6154 w/ DPU UP 6001-UP 6399
• 0739 MDT Van Tassell, Wyoming - UP eastbound - UP 5990-UP 6154 w/ DPU UP 6001-UP 6399

Before long I arrived at Chadron, Nebraska. I quickly found the engine facility and three locomotives parked outside.

• 0903 MDT Chadron, Nebraska - Nebkota power - NRI 613 (photo)
• 0903 MDT Chadron, Nebraska - Nebkota power - NRI 614-NRI 49 (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3)

After photographing the engines I got some breakfast. While getting breakfast I noted that there were an inordinate number of motorcycles parked around town. I quickly came to the conclusion that I sure know how to pick a week to visit South Dakota. This was Bike Week in Sturgis. The next part of the day was purely sightseeing. First I drove to Mount Rushmore. I've never seen so many Harley Davidsons in my life. They were everywhere. I drove through Rapid City among the motorcycles and photographed a Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern SD40-2 parked by the shops.

• 1246 MDT Rapid City, South Dakota - DME power - DME 6082 (photo)

Next I departed down Interstate 90 for Chamberlain but not before first visiting the Wall Drug Store and Badlands National Park. Now that is a fascinating place. After a long drive I found Chamberlain and the variety of interesting power the Dakota Southern had lying around the grain elevator.

• 1840 CDT Chamberlain, South Dakota - Dakota Southern power - DSRC 719 (photo 1, photo 2)
• 1843 CDT Chamberlain, South Dakota - Dakota Southern power - USS "70-1"-SSOR 75-SSOR 76-DSRC 512 (photo 1, photo 2)
• 1849 CDT Chamberlain, South Dakota - Dakota Southern power - UP 6925 (photo)
• 1858 CDT Chamberlain, South Dakota - Dakota Southern power - SSOR 103 (photo 1, photo 2)
• 1901 CDT Chamberlain, South Dakota - Dakota Southern power - DSRC 506-DSRC 522 (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4)

After taking plenty of photographs I drove first to Mitchell, South Dakota to see the corn palace and then to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where I would spend the night at the Fairfield Inn. It turned out to be an awesome day and one I'll definitely remember.

Trackside Log for Wednesday, August 8, 2007

I awoke to a bright sunny morning. My first destination of the day was to be Heber City, Utah. My goal was to find the Heber Valley Railroad. I drove through the valley between Provo and Heber City and quickly found the railroad in town.

• 0848 MDT Heber City, Utah - Heber Valley Railroad power - HVRR 1813 (photo 1, photo 2)
• 0850 MDT Heber City, Utah - Heber Valley Railroad power - UP 1011 (photo)

I managed to get some nice photos of the operation and then continued on to Ogden, Utah to visit the Utah State Railway Museum. The first thing I ran across was a Southern Pacific engine parked behind the museum.

• 1030 MDT Ogden, Utah - Utah State Railway Museum power - SP 3769 (photo)

I wandered around for a while looking at the museum's equipment. After a while I drove by the Union Pacific yard in town and found a variety of power.

• 1103 MDT Ogden, Utah - UP power - UP 5634-CP 8784-CP 8773-UP 7210-UP xxxx-UP 4765 & UP 9069-UP 9051 (photo)
• 1110 MDT Ogden, Utah - UP northbound - UP 5620-FURX 8120 (photo)

After Ogden I started driving east. I saw a few Union Pacific trains en route, but unfortunately it's pretty impossible to stop and photograph them from Interstate 80. Interstates are a pain. I stopped by a few towns on the way, but didn't find anything terribly interesting. Eventually I arrived at Cheyenne, Wyoming. This time the weather was quite nice so I hunted down the Big Boy steam engine.

• 1814 MDT Cheyenne, Wyoming - UP display - UP 4004 (photo)

I also ran across a pair of Union Pacific SD40-2s and photographed them.

• 1840 MDT Cheyenne, Wyoming - UP power - UP 3200-UP 3203 (photo 1, photo 2)

I began making my way north ultimately bound for Chadron, Nebraska. I made it as far as Wheatland, Wyoming where I bunked down at a Motel 6 for the evening.

Trackside Log for Tuesday, August 7, 2007

This morning I was feeling a bit lazy and decided to make a later start. Once I headed outside I could see mostly clear skies to the west. This was a good sign. I started off by dropping by the yards in Grand Junction, Utah to see what was going on. Union Pacific had a variety of power parked in their yard but it wasn't terribly accessible. I swung by the station where I discovered a lone Burlington Northern Santa Fe C44-9W. A four axle dash-8 was just about to shove some cars onto the engine. I photographed it before that happened.

• 0932 MDT Grand Junction, Colorado - BNSF power - BNSF 4162 (photo)

The dash-8 cut off the cars and the dash-9 began shoving them around the yard. Not much else was going on so I headed west into the desert. I drove for a long time before I finally ran across a moving train north of Green River, Utah. It turned out to be the Burlington Northern Santa Fe trackage rights train.

• 1216 MDT north of Green River, Utah - BNSF eastbound - BNSF 7574-TFM 2657-BNSF 4865-BNSF 5241 w/ DPU BNSF 5328

I decided to give a short chase and photograph the train again since it was the first moving train I'd seen all day.

• 1225 MDT north of Green River, Utah - BNSF eastbound - BNSF 7574-TFM 2657-BNSF 4865-BNSF 5241 w/ DPU BNSF 5328

I continued along to Helper, Utah to see what was going on. There was little in the Union Pacific yard so I began exploring the line westward. I heard the dispatcher talking to a Utah Railway coal train that was going to be cutting their helpers off at Soldier's Summit. Apparently I was just a little too late to catch the train run from Helper to Summit. At least I was able to photograph the helper set returning to Martin. I decided that the Nolan Tunnels would be a good location.

• 1444 MDT Nolan Tunnels, Utah - Utah Railway eastbound helper - UTAH 6060-UTAH 6061-UTAH 6063-UTAH 6064-MPEX 5356-UTAH 5003

On my way back to Helper I found the Utah Railway helper set about to head onto their own tracks. I got a few more photographs there and then returned to the Union Pacific yard to photograph the power there.

• 1512 MDT Heiner, Utah - Utah Railway eastbound helper - UTAH 6060-UTAH 6061-UTAH 6063-UTAH 6064-MPEX 5356-UTAH 5003
• 1524 MDT Helper, Utah - UP power - UP 6212-UP 8065 (photo)

While photographing the power parked in Union Pacific's yard I noticed that a westbound coal train was staged. I drove back out into the Price River canyon to wait for it. Just as I parked I heard an eastbound Utah Railway empty coal train rumble by with Union Pacific power. Oops… I missed that one. Before very long the westbound arrived. I chased it through the canyon for a variety of photographs. The scenery in there is stunning, particularly with the nice lighting I had.

• 1645 MDT west of Royal, Utah - UP westbound - UP 8255-UP 6260-UP 6565 w/ helper UP 5936-UP 6716-UP 5790 w/ DPU UP 6521 (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3)
• 1659 MDT Nolan Tunnels, Utah - UP westbound - UP 8255-UP 6260-UP 6565 w/ helper UP 5936-UP 6716-UP 5790 w/ DPU UP 6521 (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4, photo 5)
• 1711 MDT Colton, Utah - UP westbound - UP 8255-UP 6260-UP 6565 w/ helper UP 5936-UP 6716-UP 5790 w/ DPU UP 6521

The helper set cut off at Colton and the westbound continued with just the DPU power.

• 1745 MDT Soldier's Summit, Utah - UP westbound - UP 8255-UP 6260-UP 6565 w/ DPU UP 6521

Once again I returned to Helper to see if any other trains had arrived. None had but I was now able to photograph a pair of Union Pacific engines that I was previously unable to.

• 1811 MDT Helper, Utah - UP power - UP 6305-UP 3169 (photo)

Well, it didn't appear that much else was going on so I figured I'd go find a room in Price. As it turned out things were pretty booked up. I called up Marriott and found a room at the Fairfield Inn in Provo, Utah. OK, that works for me. I began the drive to Provo and as luck would have it I ran across a Utah Railway westbound coal train rumbling through the canyon. The shadows of the mountains had engulfed the canyon but I figured I might still have some sunlight at Colton. I drove directly there and proved myself correct. It was getting close, but I had light.

• 1958 MDT Colton, Utah - Utah Railway westbound - UP 5859-UP 5305-UP 7224 w/ helper UTAH 5003-MPEX 5356-UTAH 6064-UTAH 6061-UTAH 6060-UTAH 5005

Colton turned out to be the only location with any light left. The Utah Railway left it to the last minutes. Well, obviously I was done with the day's photography so I drove to the Fairfield Inn for the night. The quantity of trains wasn't high, but I had a lot of fun photographing them. The scenery was great. And the best part was the weather. It was a really pleasant day.

Trackside Log for Monday, August 6, 2007

This morning I awoke in Ogallala, Nebraska to a thunder storm. That didn't really set a good tone. I set out by heading yet farther west. As I drove the weather gradually began to improve. The rain soon stopped and it was starting to get brighter. By the time I got to Sydney, Nebraska it was still overcast and not terribly bright, but at least it wasn't storming.

• 0754 MDT Sidney, Nebraska - UP eastbound - UP 6514-UP 6196 (photo 1, photo 2)
• 0755 MDT Sidney, Nebraska - UP power - UP 3422-UP 3420 (photo 1, photo 2)

While photographing the parked power, a westbound passed behind. I was unable to get a photograph. Oh well, I moved on. Just west of Sidney I caught up to another westbound. I drove ahead and photographed it. I looked behind me and noticed an eastbound approaching as well.

• 0823 MDT Sidney, Nebraska - UP westbound - UP 5493-UP 9550-UP 7624-UP 4310 (photo)
• 0824 MDT Sidney, Nebraska - UP eastbound - UP 8433-UP 4464 (photo)

I continued westward and stopped at various locations whenever I noticed a train approaching. The skies were clearing nicely and I was eventually back into sunshine.

• 0838 MDT Brownson, Nebraska - UP eastbound - UP 4980-UP 4563 (photo)
• 0851 MDT Potter, Nebraska - UP eastbound - UP 6591-UP 4225-UP 2186-UP 4529-UP 8438-UP 4040
• 0920 MDT between Bushnell and Kimball, Nebraska - UP eastbound - UP 4875-UP 5160

As I neared Bushnell, Nebraska the sun was out nicely and I could see a row of grain elevators. I had to stop and photograph some trains passing the elevators. The second westbound to arrive was the train I was unable to photograph in Sidney. It all worked out for the best since the weather was much nicer in Bushnell.

• 0934 MDT Bushnell, Nebraska - UP westbound - UP 7322-UP 5815-UP 6546
• 0955 MDT Bushnell, Nebraska - UP westbound - UP 5472-CEFX 3181
• 1015 MDT Bushnell, Nebraska - UP westbound - UP 5493-UP 9550-UP 7624-UP 4310
• 1024 MDT Bushnell, Nebraska - UP westbound - UP 4714-UP 4617 (photo)
• 1046 MDT Bushnell, Nebraska - UP westbound - UP 7691-UP 5037-UP 3910 (photo 1, photo 2)
• 1059 MDT Bushnell, Nebraska - UP westbound - UP 5464-UP 7667-UP 7706 (photo)
• 1106 MDT Bushnell, Nebraska - UP westbound - UP 5086-UP 9175 (photo)

For a while I was trying to figure out the onslaught of westbounds. Eventually the Union Pacific dispatcher talked to an eastbound out of Cheyenne about a break-down. Apparently all the westbounds piled up behind it. A-ha! Now I understand. I'd really been hoping for an eastbound at Bushnell because there was a really nice scene with one of the elevators. No such luck. It didn't seem that any eastbounds were imminent and the westbounds were done.

I continued my trek west. I decided on a whim to stop at Burns, Wyoming to see what was there. It turned out to be a good move since there was a decent looking grain elevator. I decided to try for an eastbound again here. Of course the first train was one of the westbounds I photographed earlier.

• 1154 MDT Burns, Wyoming - UP westbound - UP 5464-UP 7667-UP 7706

But wait! Just after the westbound slowly passed I could see eastbound headlights. At last!

• 1207 MDT Burns, Wyoming - UP eastbound - UP 4151-UP 2485

The skies were beginning to cloud up and look like rain again. I drove to Cheyenne but the skies didn't look inviting at all. I stopped for lunch but ultimately decided to forego Cheyenne for the time being. I vowed to try again on my return trip through Wyoming. So I headed south through Colorado. Unfortunately it was stormy for most of the day. One of the stops I wanted to make in Colorado was the Leadville, Colorado & Southern. Luckily the weather was improving on my way there. By the time I arrived the weather was good enough to yield some reasonable photographs.

• 1702 MDT Leadville, Colorado - Leadville, Colorado & Southern power - LCS 1918 (photo 1, photo 2)
• 1720 MDT Leadville, Colorado - Leadville, Colorado & Southern power - LCS 1714 (photo 1, photo 2)

After chatting with the crew of the train and having a look inside their engine house I took my leave. I figured Grand Junction, Colorado would be my night's destination. The drive there was very nice. I had fun on some of the winding roads until I got back to Interstate 70. Interstate highways tend to be kind of boring.

Trackside Log for Sunday, August 5, 2007

I awoke to a nice sunny morning in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was already getting rather hot at 0800. It was going to be a hot one.

After getting my gear together I set out to see what was in town. I drove to the Omaha, Lincoln & Nebraska but their power is all stored indoors. However, a Burlington Northern Santa Fe eastbound was just coming into town.

• 0814 CDT Lincoln, Nebraska - BNSF eastbound - BNSF 9740-CEFX 1016 w/ DPU BNSF 9646

After the eastbound passed I started my westward trek. I found an interesting location near Seward, Nebraska where I waited for some action. Before long the coal trains started showing up.

• 0934 CDT Seward, Nebraska - BNSF eastbound - BNSF 5964-BNSF 9379 w/ DPU BNSF 9910-BNSF 5798
• 0941 CDT Seward, Nebraska - BNSF westbound - BNSF 9774-BNSF 5952 w/ DPU BNSF 5924-BNSF 8926
• 0952 CDT Seward, Nebraska - BNSF westbound - BNSF 6133-BNSF 9437 w/ DPU BNSF 9703-BNSF 5946
• 1006 CDT Seward, Nebraska - BNSF westbound - BNSF 8899-BNSF 8864

The last eastbound stopped in the distance and I figured it was a good opportunity to continue west. The next town west was Tamora where I ran across three locomotives at a grain elevator.

• 1032 CDT Tamora, Nebraska - elevator switcher - RE 1072 & UFC 1096-IBCX 7309 (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4, photo 5)

Parked in the distance was an eastbound that I couldn't get near. I hung around for a little while and was presented with a pair of westbound coal empties.

• 1036 CDT Tamora, Nebraska - BNSF westbound - BNSF 9787-BNSF 6060-BNSF 8974
• 1053 CDT Tamora, Nebraska - BNSF westbound - BNSF 8818-BNSF 5844 w/ DPU BNSF 5898

While driving westward out of Tamora I came to the conclusion that no eastbounds were getting through Lincoln. They were parked everywhere. Only a couple were accessible for photography.

• 1124 CDT Utica, Nebraska - BNSF eastbound - BNSF 6086 w/ DPU (photo)
• 1139 CDT Waco, Nebraska - BNSF eastbound - BNSF 9393 w/ DPU (photo)

When I arrived at Bradshaw, Nebraska I found a parked westbound rail train on the elevator track, a Cargill switcher and yet another parked eastbound coal train. In total I think I counted nine parked coal trains.

• 1209 CDT Bradshaw, Nebraska - BNSF westbound - BNSF 2324-EMDX 761 (photo 1, photo 2)
• 1218 CDT Bradshaw, Nebraska - Cargill switcher - RE 807 (photo 1, photo 2)

On my continued travels westward I encountered some parked power in Aurora.

• 1248 CDT Aurora, Nebraska - BNSF power - BNSF 1511-BNSF 2966 (photo 1, photo 2)
• 1249 CDT Aurora, Nebraska - BNSF caboose - BN 12121 (photo)

At Grand Island I left the Burlington Northern Santa Fe behind and began following the Union Pacific. Before I encountered any Union Pacific trains I discovered an SD40 elevator switcher in Wood River.

• 1343 CDT Wood River, Nebraska - Cargill switcher - CRGX 2002 (photo 1, photo 2)

Travelling farther west I noticed that the Cargill elevator in Shelton was loading corn into hoppers. Two switchers were at the elevator. One was parked, the other pulling the hoppers through the elevator.

• 1359 CDT Shelton, Nebraska - Cargill switcher - JTPX 62 "Ruth" (photo 1, photo 2)
• 1401 CDT Shelton, Nebraska - Cargill switcher - CRGX 9349 (photo 1, photo 2)

While photographing the switchers I saw the headlights of a westbound approaching.

• 1405 CDT Shelton, Nebraska - UP westbound - UP 9672-UP 9096

I continued westward to Gibbon where I found another elevator switcher but before I could photograph it another Union Pacific westbound was approaching. It was starting to get busy.

• 1427 CDT Gibbon, Nebraska - UP westbound - UP 5947-UP 6206
• 1429 CDT Gibbon, Nebraska - elevator switcher - CRGX no # (photo)
• 1439 CDT Gibbon, Nebraska - UP westbound - UP 4244-UP 9496

I travelled on in search of some more interesting scenery. The town of Odessa afforded me a somewhat better view so I stuck around for a few trains. The previous two westbounds caught up to me after an eastbound.

• 1524 CDT Odessa, Nebraska - UP eastbound - UP 5693-UP 6277 w/ DPU 6833
• 1534 CDT Odessa, Nebraska - UP westbound - UP 5947-UP 6206
• 1547 CDT Odessa, Nebraska - UP westbound - UP 4244-UP 9496
• 1557 CDT Odessa, Nebraska - UP westbound - UP 5895-UP 7261 w/ DPU 6388

I missed a few other trains as well. The traffic was heavy but the day was getting on and it was stinking hot. I wanted to visit the Nebraska Kansas Colorado Railnet so I drove south to Holdrige. As I drove into town I could see a westbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe train pulling through town. My timing was a bit off but I photographed a Chicago, Burlington & Quincy caboose at the station.

• 1639 CDT Holdrege, Nebraska - display caboose - CB&Q 12274 (photo)

I found the NKCR tracks and immediately found the tail end of a pipe train parked on the mainline. I was surprised to find a pair of Canadian Pacific ES44ACs on the head end.

• 1650 CDT Holdrege, Nebraska - Nebraska Kansas Colorado Railnet westbound - CP 8835-CP 8812 (photo)

I started following the tracks west and discovered a former Indiana Railroad SD9 which is now an elevator switcher in Loomis.

• 1700 CDT Loomis, Nebraska - elevator switcher - DLCX 2000 (photo 1, photo 2)

I continued driving along the tracks through some amazing Nebraska scenery and eventually found another pipe train with Canadian Pacific locomotives. This time the train was empty in Maywood. At various places along my route I could see where a pipeline was being laid. Beyond the pipe train was another elevator switcher.

• 1831 CDT Maywood, Nebraska - Nebraska Kansas Colorado Railnet eastbound - CP 9629-CP 8742
• 1834 CDT Maywood, Nebraska - elevator switcher - AGV 7517 (photo)

My ultimate goal for the NKCR was Grant where the railway is headquartered. I was rewarded with three former Detroit Edison SD40s and a Nebraska Kansas Colorado Railnet GP40.

1956 CDT Grant, Nebraska - Nebraska Kansas Colorado Railnet power - HLCX 5004-HLCX 5001-DLCX 6410-HLCX 5005 (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4, photo 5, photo 6)

Wow, what a productive day. It was very hot, but I managed to photograph a wide variety of interesting locomotives. I headed north to the Super 8 Motel in Ogallala, Nebraska for the night. Nebraska was good to me.

Trackside Log for Saturday, August 4, 2007

Today was day two of my 2007 vacation. I departed the hotel in Valparaiso early and headed west. I didn't intend to stop until I got to Iowa. The weather was gradually deteriorating the entire drive. When I arrived at Nahant, Iowa there was a light overcast. As I finished crossing the Mississippi River into Iowa I could see a variety of locomotives parked around the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern roundhouse.

• 1025 CDT Nahant, Iowa - ICE power - ICE 6413-DME 6200-ICE 6421-ICE 6429 (photo 1, photo 2)
• 1026 CDT Nahant, Iowa - ICE power - KCS 3120-KCS 3143 (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3)
• 1027 CDT Nahant, Iowa - ICE power - DME 6087

While photographing the engines parked at the roundhouse a switching move approached the crossing.

• 1028 CDT Nahant, Iowa - ICE switcher - ICE 103
• 1033 CDT Nahant, Iowa - ICE power - ICE 4200 (photo)

The Kansas City Southern locomotives were a pleasant surprise. After taking my photographs I was on my way toward Burlington, Iowa to hunt down the Burlington Junction Railway. The weather was getting worse as I arrived in town. It was starting to rain when I ran across one of their General Electric switchers.

• 1220 CDT Burlington, Iowa - Burlington Junction Railway power - BJRY 44 (photo)

Very shortly after photographing the switcher the skies opened up and it poured. I called off the search for more power and drove westward through the rain. By the time I arrived in Ottumwa, Iowa the rain had stopped and the sun was starting to shine. However, the moisture in the air was stifling. I explored town a bit and ran across a Burlington Junction Railway engine parked beside what was once the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy roundhouse.

• 1410 CDT Ottumwa, Iowa - Burlington Junction Railway power - BJRY 714 (photo 1, photo 2)

I also dropped by the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern yard where another set of Kansas City Southern engines was parked. Unfortunately it was not parked anywhere I could photograph. Next I drove on to Albia, Iowa. The first item of interest I ran across was a Burlington Northern Santa Fe power set coupled to a snow plow. It was way too hot for snow, but what the heck.

• 1455 CDT Albia, Iowa - BNSF power - CEFX 136-BNSF 9921-BN plow 972618 (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3)

I then started to follow the Appanoose County Community Railroad tracks which led me to the Relco facility just south of town. Parked near the switch into the grounds was an Appanoose engine.

• 1514 CDT Albia, Iowa - Appanoose County Community Railroad power - APNC 973-RLCX 913 (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3)

Behind the Relco shops was a large variety of power. Initially I drove in to see if it was possible to photograph, but nobody was around. I thought it best not to galavant around the premises so I simply photographed the Relco switcher which was viewable from the parking lot and left.

• 1522 CDT Albia, Iowa - Relco power - RLCX 1255 (photo)

I followed more of the tracks toward Centerville, Iowa where I discovered that all the tracks in town had been abandoned. I explored a bit but elected to move on. I followed the Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks for a while and eventually heard a westbound obtain a track warrant. It was ahead of me but I managed to catch up to it just east of Creston, Iowa.

• 1829 CDT Creston, Iowa - BNSF westbound - BNSF 6191-BNSF 9414

As I drove through Creston I discovered approximately six parked trains in town. None were photographable so I continued on westward. I stopped briefly at Pacific Junction but it was getting dark so I made my way to Lincoln, Nebraska to stay the night at the Fairfield Inn. It turned out to be a decent day considering I hadn't planned to see very much.

Trackside Log for Friday, August 3, 2007

Today was the first day of my vacation. Well, actually it was my last work day but I left work early. This year my vacation takes me to Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota and Minnesota. I stopped off at home after work to pick up all my gear and I set off. I didn't intend to stop much this day as it was mostly a travel day. However, since it was really close to the interstate, I did decide to stop at Lapeer, Michigan to see the Lapeer Industrial Railroad engine.

• 1754 EDT Lapeer, Michigan - Lapeer Industrial Railroad power - LIRR 5 (photo 1, photo 2)

After a couple photographs I set back off again for my only other rail related stop of the day. I wanted to drop by the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway in Owosso, Michigan. As I arrived at the shops an eastbound freight was also arriving. Unfortunately I was unable to photograph it but was rewarded with a variety of power parked at the shops.

• 1932 EDT Owosso, Michigan - Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway power - TSBY 390-TSBY 393 (photo)
• 1933 EDT Owosso, Michigan - Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway power - TSBY 1977 (photo 1, photo 2)
• 1935 EDT Owosso, Michigan - Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway equipment - steam generator TSBY 15481 (photo)

It was nice and sunny for the photos which is more than I can say for the last time I visited. After the photographs I was off again. I drove to the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Valparaiso, Indiana where I would spend the night. Apparently luck was with me because all the significant traffic delays, like a motor home fire, were in the eastbound direction. I made relatively good time.