UP Coal Trains

[PwdOpd]

Background: Took the 3985 fan trip Saturday the 12th. Went to Laramie instead of So. Morril-reason given was to many coal trains pluging up the works. Monday went thru Powder River Basin-saw a total of 32 trains not counting those in staging at Bill. Many mts lined up south of Bill. Most traffic was south of Reno Jct. No BNSF north at all except 2 loads and 2 mts at Gillette . No traffic east between Gillette and Moorcroft. Wednesday-saw 18 trains-3 BNSF at Alliance-nothing more to Northport. Three track crews working, so no trains. At Northport picked up UP.-15 Coal trains to North Platte, many sitting, no lights, no crew. Double track reduced to single track. Thursday- followed tracks North Platte to Woodriver-saw 39 trains, 4 eastbound, the rest, westbound. Eastbound, 1 Manifest, 2 loaded coal. Westbound, 1 K-Line doublestack, 4 Manifest, the rest empty coal trains. Of the West bounds, there were between 15 to 20 sitting dead., no crews, no lights-they were just plain parked. One was a Manifest, the other coal empties. Two were split so as not to block crossings. All were on track 1 with the exception of the last three, which were on track 2. Triple track reduced to double track between North Platte and Lexington. Question: Does anyone know the reason for this? Is this just a current problem, or is this just par for the course? Two years ago, I followed the same track, North Platte to Woodriver and everything was fluid. Lots of trains, but the were all moving. Any answers? Just curious about the situation,

[PwdOpd]

Background: Took the 3985 fan trip Saturday the 12th. Went to Laramie instead of So. Morril-reason given was to many coal trains pluging up the works. Monday went thru Powder River Basin-saw a total of 32 trains not counting those in staging at Bill. Many mts lined up south of Bill. Most traffic was south of Reno Jct. No BNSF north at all except 2 loads and 2 mts at Gillette . No traffic east between Gillette and Moorcroft. Wednesday-saw 18 trains-3 BNSF at Alliance-nothing more to Northport. Three track crews working, so no trains. At Northport picked up UP.-15 Coal trains to North Platte, many sitting, no lights, no crew. Double track reduced to single track. Thursday- followed tracks North Platte to Woodriver-saw 39 trains, 4 eastbound, the rest, westbound. Eastbound, 1 Manifest, 2 loaded coal. Westbound, 1 K-Line doublestack, 4 Manifest, the rest empty coal trains. Of the West bounds, there were between 15 to 20 sitting dead., no crews, no lights-they were just plain parked. One was a Manifest, the other coal empties. Two were split so as not to block crossings. All were on track 1 with the exception of the last three, which were on track 2. Triple track reduced to double track between North Platte and Lexington. Question: Does anyone know the reason for this? Is this just a current problem, or is this just par for the course? Two years ago, I followed the same track, North Platte to Woodriver and everything was fluid. Lots of trains, but the were all moving. Any answers? Just curious about the situation,

[JoeKoh]

manifest maybe the crew went dead?Coal trains waiting to go to powder river.Sometimes csx sets grain cars on sidings for future use. but not on the main line.
stay safe
joe

[:I] i do remember one time with the grain cars they sat south of Deshler on a siding with borrowed CP power.hope this helps[;)]

[JoeKoh]

manifest maybe the crew went dead?Coal trains waiting to go to powder river.Sometimes csx sets grain cars on sidings for future use. but not on the main line.
stay safe
joe

[:I] i do remember one time with the grain cars they sat south of Deshler on a siding with borrowed CP power.hope this helps[;)]