Windmill Blade Train

[htgguy]

This train passed west across the Staples Sub on Saturday afternoon. This is the second time I have seen a blade train, the first was an eastbound empty.

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/look4trains/3579700658/

Both trains have had power front and rear (DPU's) even though they can't be that heavy. Any idea why they would DPU these trains? Is it for better train handling with a relatively fragile cargo?

Thanks, Jim

[tree68]

htgguy

Both trains have had power front and rear (DPU's) even though they can't be that heavy. Any idea why they would DPU these trains? Is it for better train handling with a relatively fragile cargo?

Not knowing where the train was headed, I can't say for sure, but given the uniqueness of the cargo, it's possible it was going somewhere that a runaround could not be done, so they put power on both ends so they can just swap ends and pull the train back from whence it came.

Or the profile may call for DPU.

[TPWRY]

I've heard from Ft. Madison, IA to Pasco, WA

[kolechovski]

This reminds me of a train hauling bridge spans I saw at Erie years ago, when Conrail still ran.  It's amazing what all can be shipped by rail, eh?

[BNSFwatcher]

We had a bunch of windmill trains pass thru Shelby, MT two years ago.  They came up from Laurel, MT (and beyond) and went up our Sweetgrass Subdivision to Alberta, Canada.  They were DPUd, I think as a convenience for changing directions in Laurel, and in Alberta.  Dunno what the tonnage was, but the trains were impressive.  The 'Loons" are building windmills in my county -- a few hundred.  The components come in on trucks from North Dakota.  Two pilot cars, the tractor and a mega-wheeled set of trailers (self-steer) and two trail cars.  Five employees per blade, and they can only travel in daylight.  Something wrong in the economics there.  It might have been profitable for BNSF to extend its siding in Ethridge, MT to receive the "boondoggle blades".  All our electricity is sold to San Diego Electric & Gas, at exhorbinant prices.  All we get is the taxes!  Boo-hoo, all the way to the bank...