Yesterday I heard a train blowing for the crossing out behind our lumber yard. By the sounds of the horn, I figured the train was moving faster than usual. Of course I had to check it out. Instead of unit grain train, or unit rock train, or unit ethanol train, it was just a light engine move- no cars: four 6 axle BNSF pumpkins rolling past at track speed, looking for a train to pull. This type of thing is uncommon in our area. Usually the locomotive stay with the train around here, so it was interesting to see something different. I hope they found their train. ' Seen anything different in your area recently?
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Light locomotive moves to balance power aren't as common as they once were, but they do happen. A few years back I saw a rather odd train on BNSF north of Edwards AFB (east of Mojave) in CA. Six 6-axle behemoths headed west with seven battered MOW service gons in tow. No way was that train in need of 24,000 horsepower. (The locos were en route Barstow-Bakersfield, where they would lift a train or two over the long side of Tehachapi Pass, and the cars just happened to be going the same way.)
Chuck
I see it occasionally in Utica on the CSX Chicago line - oftimes just a couple of units.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
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