Who's train is it?

[broncoman]

I was watching UP's mailine from Roseville to Oakland when a train rolled by led by two Norfolk Southern units, a Canadian National unit, and a ex BN now LLPX owned SD40-2. I am assuming that this was a BN train, but with all the run through power is anyone else having the same problem? Its all so confusing.

[JoeKoh]

nah just borrowed power. ive seen csx on ns and vice versa.just makes it more fun to watch trains.
stay safe
joe

[Mookie]

It's on UP's mainline - so does that still make it a BNSF train or a UP train? Was the BN just using the UP tracks?

We get a lot of run through power here, but always assumed it was always BNSF since it is their mainline.

?

Mook

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Trackage rights can make train-watching very interesting. On Memorial Day, I was on the BNSF at Berwyn. Among the various Metra commuter trains, BNSF intermodals and BNSF coal trains came a UP stack train, operating on trackage rights inherited from SP.

[CShaveRR]

Oh, I just love our cab-signal system! No question about whose unit is going to be on the point.

At this rate, we ain't gonna merge with nobody! [}:)]

[chad thomas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by broncoman

I was watching UP's mailine from Roseville to Oakland when a train rolled by led by two Norfolk Southern units, a Canadian National unit, and a ex BN now LLPX owned SD40-2. I am assuming that this was a BN train, but with all the run through power is anyone else having the same problem? Its all so confusing.

If it was east of Elvas tower (wye) then it could have been a BNSF. I don't think BNSF has rights on the Cal-P line, just the exSP and exWP to Stockton.

[broncoman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

QUOTE: Originally posted by broncoman

I was watching UP's mailine from Roseville to Oakland when a train rolled by led by two Norfolk Southern units, a Canadian National unit, and a ex BN now LLPX owned SD40-2. I am assuming that this was a BN train, but with all the run through power is anyone else having the same problem? Its all so confusing.

If it was east of Elvas tower (wye) then it could have been a BNSF. I don't think BNSF has rights on the Cal-P line, just the exSP and exWP to Stockton.

BNSF has been running east and westbound stack trains on the UP line to oakland for about 2 months now. The eastbound trains have either 5 units on point or 3 units with 2 DPUs on the tail. I would assume they are making a shot towards the feather river route. I figured if they were going south they could pick up power further down the valley.
Anyone else seen anything?

Dave

[chad thomas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by broncoman

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

QUOTE: Originally posted by broncoman

I was watching UP's mailine from Roseville to Oakland when a train rolled by led by two Norfolk Southern units, a Canadian National unit, and a ex BN now LLPX owned SD40-2. I am assuming that this was a BN train, but with all the run through power is anyone else having the same problem? Its all so confusing.

If it was east of Elvas tower (wye) then it could have been a BNSF. I don't think BNSF has rights on the Cal-P line, just the exSP and exWP to Stockton.

BNSF has been running east and westbound stack trains on the UP line to oakland for about 2 months now. The eastbound trains have either 5 units on point or 3 units with 2 DPUs on the tail. I would assume they are making a shot towards the feather river route. I figured if they were going south they could pick up power further down the valley.
Anyone else seen anything?

Dave

Interesting. So you're saying the BNSF is running stack trains to Oakland on the Cal-P?
Are they domestic boxes? Are they going to Richmond?

If they are domestic boxes then they must be from the Feather River. Do they have a connector where the exWP crosses under the exSP in Sac or do they have to switch to the exSP line at Binney jct. and run through Roseville?

[broncoman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

QUOTE: Originally posted by broncoman

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

QUOTE: Originally posted by broncoman

I was watching UP's mailine from Roseville to Oakland when a train rolled by led by two Norfolk Southern units, a Canadian National unit, and a ex BN now LLPX owned SD40-2. I am assuming that this was a BN train, but with all the run through power is anyone else having the same problem? Its all so confusing.

If it was east of Elvas tower (wye) then it could have been a BNSF. I don't think BNSF has rights on the Cal-P line, just the exSP and exWP to Stockton.

BNSF has been running east and westbound stack trains on the UP line to oakland for about 2 months now. The eastbound trains have either 5 units on point or 3 units with 2 DPUs on the tail. I would assume they are making a shot towards the feather river route. I figured if they were going south they could pick up power further down the valley.
Anyone else seen anything?

Dave

Interesting. So you're saying the BNSF is running stack trains to Oakland on the Cal-P?
Are they domestic boxes? Are they going to Richmond?

If they are domestic boxes then they must be from the Feather River. Do they have a connector where the exWP crosses under the exSP in Sac or do they have to switch to the exSP line at Binney jct. and run through Roseville?

They look to be import containers (mostly 20s and 40s Hanjin MOSK) . I have caught up to a eastbound train on my way home from work where 80 crosses over the old WP tracks in N. Sacramento. It looks like they pick up some doublestacks parked on a siding there before they head to the canyon.
I am assuming that they interchange near the east end of the old SP yard onto the WP tracks. Haven't been up there to see the interchange, but I know that's where Challenger turned on its last visit.

[ericsp]

BNSF's CA map (PDF) shows trackage rights on the Sacramento Line (Cal-P) and over Donner. Although I see nothing in the description to indicate that it was a BNSF train. I see ex-BN SD40-2s on UP trains and sitting in UP yards all the time (although they are mainly FURX). I even saw a couple of BNSF 9-44CWs on a FRNPQ.

[broncoman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

BNSF's CA map (PDF) shows trackage rights on the Sacramento Line (Cal-P) and over Donner. Although I see nothing in the description to indicate that it was a BNSF train. I see ex-BN SD40-2s on UP trains and sitting in UP yards all the time (although they are mainly FURX). I even saw a couple of BNSF 9-44CWs on a FRNPQ.

Most of the time it is solid BNSF power. The next time one comes through I'll give you an exact time to see what one it may be. Yesterdays had a couple of patched warbonnets. Normally the power is all 9-44s.

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by broncoman

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

BNSF's CA map (PDF) shows trackage rights on the Sacramento Line (Cal-P) and over Donner. Although I see nothing in the description to indicate that it was a BNSF train. I see ex-BN SD40-2s on UP trains and sitting in UP yards all the time (although they are mainly FURX). I even saw a couple of BNSF 9-44CWs on a FRNPQ.

Most of the time it is solid BNSF power. The next time one comes through I'll give you an exact time to see what one it may be. Yesterdays had a couple of patched warbonnets. Normally the power is all 9-44s.

I am not surprised to find that BNSF is running intermodal trains over the Overland Route. What I was refering to when I said there was nothing to indicate that it was a BNSF train was the particular train in question. I am sure UP runs intermodal trains on this route also.

[broncoman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

QUOTE: Originally posted by broncoman

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

BNSF's CA map (PDF) shows trackage rights on the Sacramento Line (Cal-P) and over Donner. Although I see nothing in the description to indicate that it was a BNSF train. I see ex-BN SD40-2s on UP trains and sitting in UP yards all the time (although they are mainly FURX). I even saw a couple of BNSF 9-44CWs on a FRNPQ.

Most of the time it is solid BNSF power. The next time one comes through I'll give you an exact time to see what one it may be. Yesterdays had a couple of patched warbonnets. Normally the power is all 9-44s.

I am not surprised to find that BNSF is running intermodal trains over the Overland Route. What I was refering to when I said there was nothing to indicate that it was a BNSF train was the particular train in question. I am sure UP runs intermodal trains on this route also.

Sorry 'bout that eric, misunderstood you. I saw another odd one today as it was two NS 9-40s on the point of a westbound doublestack. Do the roads with trackage rights' trains show up on a UP time schedule or are they like an extra of sorts?

[chad thomas]

All freights are extras these days. Some do have rough scheduals & departure times but they are not schedualed like the old days.

[Anonymous]

Well, in the last few years, I have seen BNSf trains with solid UP power, solid NS power, solid CSXT power, and mixed consists with any of those on the point. I have also seen UP trains with the same mixes, and NS trains using other RR"s power... youd almost HAVE to have a train lineup to tell.

[chad thomas]

Yea, around here lately 3 out of 4 BNSF trains will have 1 or more NS units.

[Anonymous]

Probibly BNSF because those companys r close these days

[chad thomas]

I don't know, The UP runs lots of NS power on the Sunset too. I was out there last month and all but 2 trains had at least one NS unit in the consist. We see lots of CSX power out here too but lately there has been LOTS of NS power on both roads. And quite a mix too, everything from raggedy old SD40-2s to new ES40DCs.

[BaltACD]

In today's railroad enviornment you can't tell the players without a scorecard and to get as scorecard you really need to be an employee of the particular railroad.

Between trackage rights, re-routes, and run-through power, visually one really has no positive idea of just who's train is being viewed.

[Anonymous]

My general assumption is that the train belongs to whoever is providing the lead unit. And on general merchandise freight I can confirm that by watching the cars - UP will have primarily UP and UP/Fallen Flag line cars, and BNSF with have BN/SF/BNSF cars. So far my theory has held true, at least on the Sacramento to Stockton line.

That doesn't help, though, if run-through or borrowed power is in the lead, and especially not on intermodal, where the ubiquitous TTEX car doesn't tell you anything either. [(-D]