Rolling Meet at Sealy

BN GP28M 1516 leads a southbound manifest through Sealy, Texas on Nov. 2, 1997

(Click image to see the details referred to below)

Sealy is a small town about 50 miles west of Houston. It’s main claim to fame is being the home town of Eric Dickerson, some guy that played football. Whatever…

Sealy’s main claim to fame these days, besides the McDonald’s on I-10,  is the BNSF’s 10,400′ siding.  Not only is it a popular siding for BNSF dispatchers to meet trains, there’s also a very convenient overpass for photographers near the mid-point of the siding.

Going back a few years, BN GP28M 1516 leads a southbound manifest while an empty Smithers Lake coal train slow-rolls in the siding on a crystal-clear November 2, 1997.

I like the image because of the many interesting details.  Note the block of flats carrying tan U.S. Army light trucks. They were built at the Stewart & Stevenson plant, just west of Sealy.

Just above, and to the right of the trucks, you can see the grade crossing where the UP, ex MKT main, passes through Sealy. You might recall my recent post about the UP Katy Heritage unit being on the Katy, Texas local. The last image in that post was made at this same grade crossing.