Fill ‘Er Up
A UFIX loaded coal train pauses for diesel, sand, and supplies at Amarillo, TX on Feb. 14, 1981
Just one more trainload of Powder River Basin coal pauses at Burlington Northern’s fuel pad in Amarillo, Texas nearly 30 years ago, on Feb. 14, 1981.
Six locomotives were the norm for Texas-bound coal trains, typically a mixture of SD40-2’s and C30-7’s. On this day however, a solid consist of 3000 HP C30-7 locomotives has drawn the assignment.
Once fuel tanks and sandboxes are filled, cab supplies replenished, and a fresh crew comes aboard, the train will depart southbound to Fort Worth.
At Fort Worth, the train will be interchanged to the Santa Fe for the last 280 miles to Thompsons, Texas, location of Houston Lighting & Power’s Smithers Lake power plant.
Southwest Rails 