Three Servings of Pumpkin

There had been very little scanner traffic the afternoon of Dec. 30, 2007, so when I heard the DS  tell BNSF 4825  ( Empty Grain symbol 9GP31C 29) that he’d see one at Sugar Land, I figured that would be my best chance to get a shot or two before the day ended.

A gravel pile affords me some elevation at MP 20.5 of of UP’s Glidden sub (Stafford,TX) as the empty grain train traverses brand-new track resulting from a slight re-alignment of the UP main. Note the engineer appears to be a real Texan.

The 4825 holds the main at the west end of Sugar Land (MP 28) for the eastbound promised by the dispatcher..  The UP 7532  (loaded rock train symbol (RBMBD 29) emits a nice plume of exhaust as the engineer goes to full dynamics as he passes the head end of the 4825.

Freed of the pesky opposing traffic, the 4825 is accelerating to track speed at MP 29, the east end of Harlem.  Seven miles ahead is Tower 17, where the 4825 will depart UP trackage rights to travel on home rails.

This last location has changed somewhat, as the UP extended the Harlem siding one mile to the east.