Teen Railfan Place - Summer 2009

[B.Erdmann]

i have a trip report today. ill have the pics later

[WCfan]

alstom

EJE818

Brent, nice catches, especially the WC.

Some news that is pretty funny. BNSF found that the turbos are exploding on their GEVOs. They have an advisory for crews not to stand on the walkways of GEVOs. BNSF is also bringing 50 SD75Ms/SD75Is back into service while the GEVOs are looked at. The advisory effects all the BNSF GEVOs on the roster. CN and CP have both found the same problems of turbos exploding. I guess GEVOs aren't just junk to railfans, they are literally junk! I'm hoping BNSF brings back more SD75Ms, and maybe some SD60Ms and/or Oakways, CP brings back some SOO SD60s and CN brings back some older power as well.

BREAKING: This is still unconfirmed, but rumor has it BNSF has just made a new rule. ALL GEVOS FROM ANY RAILWAY are no longer qualified to lead trains on BNSF rails due to the risk of injury until the problems are addressed.

 

 

          This same problem has been an ongoing issue for CSX and Norfolk Southern as well. CSX is slowing pulling the GE AC6000CW's and C40-8W's out of storage, and NS is pulling the aging C40-9's and SD60's from storage.  A total of nine AC6000CW units have come back from their death bed. The 6 GE C40-9W's that were stored on NS' roster are back online, and almost all of the other LUGO'd power at Conway and Enola, PA are back in service on NS. CSX has also brought back at least 20-25 Dash 8's, narrow cab and widecab.

          Norfolk Southern employees received a memo regarding the turbo charger problems with the GEVO's. Apparently all 245 GEVO's on NS' roster are to be pulled from service, and the LUGO'd power will take over during their absence. The story is the same for CSX.

          The prime mover used in GEVO locomotives was manufacturered in China. The problems with the GEVO's will force them to be returned to GE, and have the bugs worked out of them. It could be as minor as a bearing replacement, or a full turbo charger swap. If standing on the walkway, or near the locomotive, you are in danger of being hit by parts of the turbo charger, if it were to explode. It could harm crews. This will give GE an even worse wrap than they already have. It won't be long now until the EMD fans (aka GE haters) will open fire! The GEVO's will be in for upwards of a year or so, while undergoing turbo charger inspections/replacements.

             All I know, is that I'm going to be happy to see the diverse power on intermodal/freight trains again. On CSX, it used to be nice seeing the Super 60's at full speed, whining, with nicely tuned Nathan K5LA horns. Now that day and age may be back, during the GEVO's downfall. I am assuming BNSF, UP, CN, CP and KCS may also do similar things with their GEVO's.

 

 

Well that's great that the older power is coming back!

Noah, great pictures. The one day I don't track ICE 6102, it goes right by me. When did the 170 head through there? Yes that is the last IMRL painted locomotive on the ICE.

Well I did a little chase today, on my bike.

Today it sounded like the local switch job in Wausau was heading up the Graphic Packaging Spur. I decided to check it out as it wasn't that far away, so I hopped on my bike and headed down there. Sure enough they where shoving a string of cars in the plant. Sadly CN replaced the standard cab Geep with a wide cab...but I saw that they didn’t have any other cars on the “main” and where going to be heading back to the yard light. Notice the head light, it's a Canadian style head light.

Well they where just about to leave, to I biked down to another location that I always wanted to get. This picture I normally wouldn't post, but this shows you the dip the tracks make from Graphic Packaging to Bridge Street, and back up.

The reason for the dip is that at one time, back in the MILW/CNW and SOO days, there was a bridge there over Bridge Street. Here is a crappy scan J sent me.

As you make their way up the small hill, you'll find the closest thing to street running in Wausau. This is where the tracks get right up next to the street. Next time I'm going to try a different composition, if I get the chance.

I should have taken it all the way to down town, and got the Dudley building shot, but I decided not too. I'll probably kick my self in the butt as they don't run up here everyday, and it's not often they run light back to the yard.

[Railfan Alex]

With GE power failing left and right, maybe we will see EMD once again take the lead in locomotive manufacturing. Now that would be cool! I have already noticed a change on CP over here, there aren't too many trains with ES44AC's leading, mostly AC4400CW's and SD40-2's. So it's hit or miss, it's either an all GE or all EMD consist. CP doesn't seem to run power from both manufacturers together very often.

[B.Erdmann]

i have my pics finished.

started out a nice day then the weather turned upside.

first off at medina jct. these guys were haulin @$$.

about a hour later i headed 5 miles up the line. i heard the 588 was gonna pull in the siding & have the nb look at a dragging   strap at the end of there train to prevent a reverse move.

heres 588, thankfully they stopped right there provided good time to shoot multiple shots

 NB 301

kinda thought this was funny

this was trailing

[Noah Hofrichter]

 Jordan, 170 told the dispatcher he was out of St. Paul at 0945 and he was out of River Junction at about 1345 without any work. He was going to tie the train down in the siding at Kains. I was suprised to hear him too, as I figured he'd been through much earlier in the day.

Neat shots too. I especially like the one in the dip.

I've got another set of photos to share too. There were a couple of reports Sunday afternoon that there was a UP ballast train in the WSOR yard at Madison, which would be the first one of the season to Rock Springs, and the first since fall 2007. The UP owns the quarry, but they failed to file for a permit to operate it last year and so it shut down. It was reactivated until this year and it does have a new operator now. The UP bridge over the Rock River in Janesville being out of service only helped conspire against the idea that the quarry would actually see another train. But, much to my suprise, it sounded like one was set to run after all. I decided to get over to Rock Springs Monday morning and see what was up.

 

I got there around found the train was indeed loading, but that they were keeping the power on the North end allowing them to load the whole train in one cut, something that I did see them do a few times towards the end of the 2007 rock season. There went my original idea of being able to shoot the power if it was on the south end. But at the same time, they appeared to have a shorter train than normal and only had about 15 cars to load yet, so I decided to stick around and see how long it would take them to finish up.

 

After some waiting and trying to catch glimpses of the power through the trees, they finally finished loading about 10:15, and began their run around move. A short time later the consist of four GP units came into view, cleared the pass switch and backed onto their train. Certainly a different consist for a train that used to rate two or three SD40-2s! A GP60 led a unpatched SSW unit and two GP15-1s. The conductor had been trying to get the dispatcher for a while but they'd been unable to raise him, so they pulled up to the 136 crossing to stop and wait while the conductor went in the crew van to do work at the depot/yard office:

 

At this point a friend of mine who was railfanning for the day up by La Crosse called and said the Disney train was just out of West Salem and was running on number 8's schedule. Amtrak and Disney have partnered to put together a special train promoting Disney's upcomming move, "A Chrismas Carol." The train has been traveling the country and stoping at metropolitain areas for a couple of days to display. We knew it would be making the deadhead move on Monday, but I wasn't expecting to be able to catch it as it was supposed to be though in afternoon when I was supposed to be at work. As we were talking I could hear  my friend's scanner spit out the information at the train had just gone over the detector at MP 269. So I had an hour or so before he would make the Dells.

 

After a few minutes the conductor came out of the depot and the Rock Train finally got on the move south just after 1100. He did have a shorter train, only about 35 cars, which explains the quick turn-around time:

 

 

A shot of the unpatched SSW unit. Too bad this thing wasn't leading, as it still had the "SSW" on the nose and all. It may look a little worse for wear, but I like it!

 

 

 

A quick trip up to the Dells was then made, and along the way I debated where to go to shoot the Disney Special. I didn't like the light angle at Bowman Road in the Dells, so I decided to head to Lewiston West. I got there and decided it was as good as anything in the area. A few minutes after I arrived the maintainer that had been at Kilbourn called for a warrant, so I knew the special must have passed there. I noticed a couple of high big puffy clouds that were about to block the sun, but I thought they'd move through fast enough and then there was a big patch of blue sky behind that. But as the second cloud was passing over, I noticed the signal for the main line had suddenly gone green, and I was still in shadow. Uh-oh! I could see the shadow line, and as the train began blowing it's horn for a crossing just a short ways up the line I cheered on the cloud line to keep moving my way. As the train came into view around the curve I lined up my shot and hoped for the best. And just as the train reached my location the shadow passed over me, illuminating the locomotives at least. Better than nothing!

 

 

Flying into the distance at 79mph:

 

 

It was almost exactly 80 miles from my location to the MP 269 detector, and it was also almost exactly an hour since he hit the detector. He was definitely flying low!

 

The maintainer had gotten a warrent until 1300 meaning nothing would be coming and I needed to get ready for work anyway, so with that I headed home. But it was a good morning of railfanning, especially since I hadn't expected to catch the Disney train.

 

Noah

[BNSF & DMIR 4Ever]

 For what it's worth, listening to the online feeds of the Staples Sub, it would appear as though there's a drastic decrease in GE power, with a lot of talk of SD75s in the lead of some trains. Even here in the Twin Ports, the GE power isn't as plentiful as it has been. UP's were parked in Itasca Yard while two SD70Ms did the switching, and CN's power on the UP transfer were two GTW GPs. The only exceptions seemed to be a BNSF Manifest heading out of the yard south, led by an ES44DC(allowing me to score a pic, now meaning I've finally got good pics of every commonly used locomotive model on the BNSF) with a Dash 9 trailing. Even the All Rails have ditched the GEVOs in favor of SD75s.

[WCL]

B.Erdmann

i have a trip report from yesterday.

new DMIR ore jenns

 

 

I was reading about them in the July 2009 TRAINS magazine on page 13......Sweet pic Brent......

 

Also nice pix there Jordan of the Wausau area.....I shall be in Wausau coming up, so hopefully I'll catch something there this time around.......Any plans for JO coming up??? U should see if you and Brent can come to JO on one of these days and let me know in an email on what day ya choose or if ya can or not......August 4th Tuesday-August 7th Friday.....

 

 

[WCfan]

Great pictures Noah!

J, I'll have to talk to Brent about it; August 7th would be the best for me...

Well I did some quick rail fanning Yesterday. After dropping my Grandpa off at Winchester, my mom and I headed back home. On the scanner I heard that WC 3024 was switching somewhere. We where by the Weyauwega Exit ramp, so we decided to stop in. WC 3024 was shoving back a couple car lengths when we got there, they shoved back too far for me to get a decent picture. After waiting a bit I went back to the truck, as I was about to get in the cross lights went on. Looks like WC 3024 was holding the main while CN 2598 went by.

2598 said they where going to do a meet at Nelsons with the 588. I decided to wait for the WC unit, as the 588 probably didn't have anything good on it. After they cleared the signal, they did some switching at plant. Right at 3:30 they pulled out and gave me a good shot in good light.

Back on highway 10, we went past Nelsons where we saw the 588 passing CN 2598. Good thing I didn't head up there, the 588 only had a C40-8M and a SD60F. Listening to the scanner I heard of a train that was going to pick up paper work at orchard. Getting there is looked promising, but I soon found out that THAT trains head end was at Hoover. Crossing over the CN main I noticed another train from the East. It was CN 2598 that I inadvertently chased...they made good time. These guys where going to pick up their paper work here, which I find odd.

That's it for my little rail fanning trip. Not much was in Point...

[EJE818]

Well, I am still staying in Durand as a type this. I have so far seen numerous steam, CN and shortline trains while in Michigan, with Trainfestival 2009 as well as Durand Union Depot right nearby. I have seen the Great Lakes Central, Hiron Eastern and Central Michigan. The Huron Eastern had a cabless B30-7 on it! I'll have a full Trainfest trip report coming soon! I'll be coming back home tommorrow.

[coborn35]

BNSF & DMIR 4Ever

 For what it's worth, listening to the online feeds of the Staples Sub, it would appear as though there's a drastic decrease in GE power, with a lot of talk of SD75s in the lead of some trains. Even here in the Twin Ports, the GE power isn't as plentiful as it has been. UP's were parked in Itasca Yard while two SD70Ms did the switching, and CN's power on the UP transfer were two GTW GPs. The only exceptions seemed to be a BNSF Manifest heading out of the yard south, led by an ES44DC(allowing me to score a pic, now meaning I've finally got good pics of every commonly used locomotive model on the BNSF) with a Dash 9 trailing. Even the All Rails have ditched the GEVOs in favor of SD75s.

 

 While you are correct in a way, you are also incorrect.

UP's trains out of the Twin Ports usually rate two SD70M's, or similar power. Their transfer jobs rate either two LLPX GP38's, or as was the case yesterday, a UPY GP15-1 and a UP GP38.

The Pokegama transfer power changes, but it never has a GE online. It usually rates an SD38-2 (mostly EJE now, every once in a while a DMIR unit snuck on) and/or a SD40-3. (usally an IC unit)

GE's are a fair rarity in the Twin Ports, with the majority of trains using good EMD power. GEVO's, yes, are common, but then again, its relative, we have 3 GP28M's, 2 GP50's, and GP39M's that are common also.

[Anonymous]

Yesterday I was up camping near White River Junction, VT, and managed to get out railfanning for a few hours. I timed it to catch Amtrak 57, the southbound Vermonter, as well as the Green Mountain Railroad's White River Flier.

First, the Vermonter arrived from the North.

After boarding 50 or so passengers, it departed in a show of GE smoke.



Then I walked over to the White River Flier train, behind the one and only RS1 still operating in the entire world.



After the locomotive was started (see the video link at the bottom of this post!), it boarded the passengers and left northbound, crossing a gravel crossing into the yard.



Then I sprinted the length of the parking lot with DLSR, tripod, and video camera in tow, and watched the interesting car car (the oldest looking cab car I've ever seen!) cross the White River.

I also took a video of all the action, which includes a lot of horn from the Vermonter, starting up the RS1, and the RS1 departing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjxCZU13GSw

Enjoy!

[BNSF & DMIR 4Ever]

coborn35

BNSF & DMIR 4Ever

 For what it's worth, listening to the online feeds of the Staples Sub, it would appear as though there's a drastic decrease in GE power, with a lot of talk of SD75s in the lead of some trains. Even here in the Twin Ports, the GE power isn't as plentiful as it has been. UP's were parked in Itasca Yard while two SD70Ms did the switching, and CN's power on the UP transfer were two GTW GPs. The only exceptions seemed to be a BNSF Manifest heading out of the yard south, led by an ES44DC(allowing me to score a pic, now meaning I've finally got good pics of every commonly used locomotive model on the BNSF) with a Dash 9 trailing. Even the All Rails have ditched the GEVOs in favor of SD75s.

 

 While you are correct in a way, you are also incorrect.

UP's trains out of the Twin Ports usually rate two SD70M's, or similar power. Their transfer jobs rate either two LLPX GP38's, or as was the case yesterday, a UPY GP15-1 and a UP GP38.

The Pokegama transfer power changes, but it never has a GE online. It usually rates an SD38-2 (mostly EJE now, every once in a while a DMIR unit snuck on) and/or a SD40-3. (usally an IC unit)

GE's are a fair rarity in the Twin Ports, with the majority of trains using good EMD power. GEVO's, yes, are common, but then again, its relative, we have 3 GP28M's, 2 GP50's, and GP39M's that are common also.

 

 

 

 

Very true, now that I think about it. I think CP is probably the only place I consistently see GE units, with UP sometimes switching Itasca with one or two of those units, and the occasional one that strays through BNSF or CN trackage.

 

Also, a quick question about Proctor, since you seem to be on top of things in this area. What's the status of the area near the engine facility? I've been told in the past that it's not marked as a no trespassing zone, but I find that a bit hard to believe, and with 211 back in town, I'm finding myself wanting to get decent pics.

[Lord Atmo]

Lots of 4449 reports! I feel guilty posting mine so stinkin' late! But here goes:

So my alarm goes off at 4:30 AM. And I'm excited as all get-out to get going. I gathered my camera equipment, grabbed 2 sodas and some goldfish crackers, and was on my way before dawn! I was so excited the whole time I was driving. I must say I'm a fan of night drives and glad my mom allowed me to do this! But anyway, it was just starting to get blue on the horizon when I arrived in Alma. I took a pit stop there to enjoy the cool summer breeze and watch a barge go through the lock:

 

Just to give you an idea of how dark it still was. After an hour of nothing on the BNSF, I gave up and drove to Winona (And saw nothing on my way either. Whats the deal, BNSF?) I waited by the CP for an hour for my friends to show up. The CP was just as dead too. It's like they knew I was coming! I was getting sick of everyone playing the UP game at this point. But about then, my friends arrived and we huffed it back north to wait on the BNSF for 4449 to arrive. When we arrived at our waiting spot, we were greeted by a southbound intermodal:

 

Sometimes I really hate my camera..... But we decided that after this train passed, we would continue North for a better spot. Arriving at some farm area, we found our location! Back to the waiting game.  Not much was happening..Of course the CP sure got busy as soon as I left it! What a shocker! Anyway, the same NS train Noah saw passed us. And I got a sub par video of it that I still need to upload onto youtube. After that, 4449 finally arrived. We were at a private crossing and each of us shot videos. Mine was angled too low and we didnt get any whistle action! So like true railfans, we gave chase! All the way to Lacrosse we went! They stopped there to take on water and grease it. We took this opportunity to head it off at Stoddard. And it was there that we got some excellent whistle. My video had a great angle too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZFLukm_fAc

Check it out! I only had one camera on me, so I only got video and no photos....Save for this dreadful still I took from the video:

I'm catching it again when it heads back up North anyway, so no problems! I'll get photos then!

Anyway, we headed back north to check out railfair and see what was stirring in the yards. First was the BNSF yard:

This was cool. MOW equipment, BN caboose, EMDX geep, and a BNSF GP35-then-GP38 rebuild!

Just down the line was this pair of SD40-2s too. Good to see some of them still around. Especially those classy yellowbonnets!

Of course the common stuff was never far from the yard. I guess this GEVO was added to the train as its new leader. Soon the train was on its way.

After that, we headed to the north end of the yard from a tip-off that a neat consist was coming. Well...It never came, but this intermodal did!

 

We waited for the other train, but it just wasnt coming. So off we went to check on the CP!

This was all we saw there really. CP was never very active the whole day.

 After all that, we scoped out railfair. I got to blow the CBQ steamer's whistle and operate authentic CNW semaphore signals! After all the excitement, we headed back for Winona...But on the way, we saw a DME trio crossing the river. So we HAD to go after them. But even after THAT, we noticed something even better sitting on the outskirts of the CP yard:

It's been so long since I've seen a bandit. Last time was when Alec took me to the St Paul yard back in 2006.

So we then went back to go after that DME train. As fate would have it, they were stopped! We got to the head end with ease just as they were pulling out. One of my friends knew of a neat bridge just south of where we were so we chased them down there.

I'd say it came out rather well! But the fun didnt end there! After that, we paced them and headed them off at a crossing. I videotaped both

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uATxq70nlSw
Pace vid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoMjNjKV1L0
Crossing vid

So after all that excitement, we hightailed it back to Winona, our adventure almost complete. But on the way, we found something else...

 

The colors, Duke! The colors! What a railroad rainbow! And look how crappy the UP unit looks with all the other flashy neat paint schemes! But nonetheless, an ex-GECX AC44 is always a nice roster addition!

Finally we went back to Winona and parted ways for a little while to eat dinner. I had the usual Little Caesars. We then met up again to watch Amtrak come through.

 My first Amtrak shot too. Not bad eh?

 

After that, it was time for me to go. All in all this trip was PHENOMENAL! I had a great time and saw so much cool stuff! I cant wait to go back for 4449's return trip!

[ns3010]

Ummm, I also saw the 4449... I saw it as it came past my house on the PRR branch from Bay Head to Seaside Park... It was diverted my way because I used my telopathic powers to tell the crew to change the route... Um, yeah...

HA, I wish! And the worst part is that now, this ROW is a State highway, and backyards of Multi-Million dollar homes in Bay Head and Mantoloking. If only it was still there. I could look out my window, and watch the trains. Then I could walk a block to the beach...

[coborn35]

BNSF & DMIR 4Ever

coborn35

BNSF & DMIR 4Ever

 For what it's worth, listening to the online feeds of the Staples Sub, it would appear as though there's a drastic decrease in GE power, with a lot of talk of SD75s in the lead of some trains. Even here in the Twin Ports, the GE power isn't as plentiful as it has been. UP's were parked in Itasca Yard while two SD70Ms did the switching, and CN's power on the UP transfer were two GTW GPs. The only exceptions seemed to be a BNSF Manifest heading out of the yard south, led by an ES44DC(allowing me to score a pic, now meaning I've finally got good pics of every commonly used locomotive model on the BNSF) with a Dash 9 trailing. Even the All Rails have ditched the GEVOs in favor of SD75s.

 

 While you are correct in a way, you are also incorrect.

UP's trains out of the Twin Ports usually rate two SD70M's, or similar power. Their transfer jobs rate either two LLPX GP38's, or as was the case yesterday, a UPY GP15-1 and a UP GP38.

The Pokegama transfer power changes, but it never has a GE online. It usually rates an SD38-2 (mostly EJE now, every once in a while a DMIR unit snuck on) and/or a SD40-3. (usally an IC unit)

GE's are a fair rarity in the Twin Ports, with the majority of trains using good EMD power. GEVO's, yes, are common, but then again, its relative, we have 3 GP28M's, 2 GP50's, and GP39M's that are common also.

 

 

 

 

Very true, now that I think about it. I think CP is probably the only place I consistently see GE units, with UP sometimes switching Itasca with one or two of those units, and the occasional one that strays through BNSF or CN trackage.

 

Also, a quick question about Proctor, since you seem to be on top of things in this area. What's the status of the area near the engine facility? I've been told in the past that it's not marked as a no trespassing zone, but I find that a bit hard to believe, and with 211 back in town, I'm finding myself wanting to get decent pics.

 

Proctor is has trespassing signs, er well they say specifically "No Unescorted Visitors Allowed Beyond This Point" that are very visible and let you get pretty close. Here are some shots I have taken up there.

1

2

I would say just use your head and be careful.

I apologize for not posting any photo's lately, im too lazy lol, also chased the #4449 through MN and Wisconsin and paced it at the head end from La Crosse to Prarie du Chien.

Here is a picture to show what i have been up to lately:

Smoke