Fort Worth Bound
This past Christmas we traveled to Fort Worth to visit family, railfan a bit, and just generally get out of Houston.
The plan was to drive State Highway 36 to Temple, following the BNSF Gulf sub track. At Temple, we’d hang a right on IH-35 for the balance of the trip to Fort Worth.
We packed up and were on the road shortly around 1 P.M. on Wednesday, Dec. 22. We encountered a few trains between Sealy and Somerville, but no photos as the weather was pretty uncooperative.
We didn’t see anything else until we passed under the BNSF track at Cameron, where we saw the tail end of a northbound auto train. I didn’t really try to get ahead of the train because Hwy 36 is narrow through here and the train is doing close to 60mph. Besides, the train probably has faded orange power anyway, right?
We caught up to the head end just before Rogers. My indifference to the train changed quickly when I saw the train’s power: two red & silver warbonnets.
Now I had to contend with several issues if I wanted a shot of this train.
- The train is still doing track speed
- The sun is in and out of clouds
- I don’t know the area
- We are less than 10 miles from the fuel racks at Temple.
I picked up the pace while looking for a place to turn in that would get me to the tracks.
By the time we got to Heidenheimer, I knew I was out of options. Now or never.
I made a right turn. I saw a grain silo. That might be nice.
But the street ended about 50 yards short of the track. Wonderful! As I got out of the car, I heard a horn. Run!
I clambered up the embankment to track level. There it is! No time for a test shot or to make camera adjustments.
I almost said the hell with it, because I needed 10 more seconds to get the shot right. I focused on the lead motor and got 5 shots of the train as it passed me at a good 40 mph.
BNSF 723 North at Heidenheimer, TX on Dec. 22, 2010.
BNSF 723 North at Heidenheimer, TX on Dec. 22, 2010.
BNSF 723 North at Heidenheimer, TX on Dec. 22, 2010.
I looked at the back of the camera. The shots were off a bit, but what can you really do?
As it was almost sunset, and we had a way to travel still, I put up the camera. Next stop: Fort Worth.
Epilogue: Thank goodness for digital, because I was able to compensate for a slight under-exposure and end up with a nice souvenir from this chase. All in all, not too shabby for one of the craziest grab shots in all my years doing this.
First Shots of The New Year
Happy New Year to all of you!
Today was the first clear day of this new year, but there just wasn’t much running on the Glidden sub. Around 4:15 PM I heard the DS take up a warrant from the KCS 4025 East at Rosenberg, so I figured I’d better get moving if I wanted to get anything today.
Since the train was an eastbound, the shot was going to be backlit anywhere, so I opted to go to a location where the train would be the most backlit.
I ended up at West Junction about 90 seconds before the train arrived, just enough time to park and compose this sequence of KCS 4025 diverging from the Glidden sub to the Terminal sub:
I’ve always been somewhat of a stickler for proper light for a shot, but I do enjoy “breaking the rules” from time to time. I like how shots 1,2, and 4 have a monochrome feel due to the harsh light.
Unarguably Handsome in Dress Blue
Of all the paint schemes that have departed, Santa Fe’s “dress blue” stands out as being unarguably handsome.
This scheme made its debut on GP20’s and SD24’s that the Santa Fe received in the summer of 1960. The pinstripes and the bold “Santa Fe” on the hoods marked a sharp departure from the austere black with silver “zebra stripes” that had adorned all Santa Fe switchers and road switchers since the late 1930’s.
Sant Fe SD45-2 5645 at Denver, Colorado on July 1, 1978
It was a short-lived scheme. The yellow & blue warbonnet design took its place beginning in mid-1972.
By the 1978 date of the above image, the Santa Fe had re-painted the majority of its fleet into the warbonnet scheme, making the 5648’s dress blue colors an endangered species.
Half and Half
Two Oakway SD60’s on lease to BN and two BN C30-7’s are in run-8 at Larkspur, CO as they drag a loaded coal train up the 1.4% grade of the BN/D&RGW joint line south of Denver.
It’s an interesting power consist in that half of the units are current (for 1989) generation SD60’s, the other two are 1970’s era C30-7’s.
A Texas-bound coal train battles the 1.4% grade at Larkspur,CO on Jan. 16, 1989
Vintage Burlington Northern Transfer
The BN assigned several sets of SD7’s and SD9’s to Fort Worth for use on the numerous transfers to and from its interchange partners.
You could frequently see these transfers in the Tower 55 area as they would have to traverse the renowned interlocking to reach the MP, SP and MKT yards.
- C&S 812 and FW&D 857 hold a BN transfer just north of Tower 55 on Aug. 23, 1975
Due to quirks in Colorado and Texas state law, the Colorado & Southern and Fort Worth & Denver were required to operate as legally independent subsidiaries of the CB&Q, later the BN.
It wasn’t until the early 1980’s that changes to state law took place that finally allowed the BN to legally merge the C&S and FW&D into the BN system.
Happy Holidays!
I knew I scanned this slide for a reason…
A tardy Southwest Chief dashes through the snow at Cajon Pass Summit on Dec. 20, 1987
Here’s to hoping you have a Merry Christmas and a great 2011!
Dallas Layover
A fine looking trio of MKT EMD’s are laying over at the Katy’s Dallas yard on April 11, 1970.
Two MKT GP38's and a GP40 lay over at the MKT's small yard in Dallas on April 11, 1970.
This yard was just north of Dallas Union Terminal. The UP operated the yard for a few years after its acquisition of the the Katy.
The entire area has been re-developed into restaurants, shops and offices. The American Airlines Arena occupies the north end of the property.
Ain’t progress wonderful?
KCS – Two In A Row
We were headed to Houston on Hwy 90 on Oct. 31, 2010 when I saw an oncoming headlight at MP 15 of UP’s Glidden sub mainline. As I had the camera with me, I told my wife that I was going to turn around for a quick shot of this train.
I set up at CP SA019, the west switch of Missouri City for KCS 4684, a loaded 1×1 grain train.
KCS 4684 leads a loaded grain train at Missouri City, TX on Oct. 31, 2010.
An ex-TFM SD70MAC is handling the DPU chores on this 1x1 grain train
KCS 3926 shoving into the long curve that begins at MP 19 of the Glidden sub.
With the grain train by me, I got back on Hwy. 90 to resume my journey to Houston. Approaching Heacker (CP SA 014), I saw another headlight. My first instinct was to let it go as we had things to do.
As I got closer, I could see it was stopped, and it had another KCS Belle on the point. What to do? Rhetorical question, for sure!
I pleaded my case that it wouldn’t take long to turn around (again) to get the shot, all the while my wife is rolling her eyes. I guess that means she’s heard that one before.
Anyhow, I interpreted the eye roll as a yes, so I u-turned and headed west to find an acceptable spot to set up. Not wanting to go too far , I stopped just west of the detector at MP 15.6 to wait for the next train.
- KCSM 4713 is westbound at MP 16 of UP’s Glidden sub on Oct. 31, 2010
As I reviewed the shot on the camera LCD , I was unhappy with the angle of my shot. Since the sun was fairly nosy, I should have gone for a more head-on view. But I wanted both Belles to be visible. What to do? Again.
The solution was to head further west, beyond MP 20, where I knew the sun angle would be better for a 3/4 angle wedgie.
As soon as I got in the car I was spinning. “The light was not good. I need to head back west to a better spot.” My wife made a face and mumbled something under her breath. I took that to be a yes.
I ended up going to a spot near MP 20.5 where the sun was much nicer for a 3/4 view of the train.
KCSM 4713 leads KCS symbol PALR through Stafford, TX on Oct. 31, 2010
I typically don’t care for wide-angle views a locomotive, but I did like this next shot.
KCSM ES44AC at Stafford, TX on Oct. 31, 2010.
One last going-away view before I finally got the car headed toward our destination, vs. going the opposite direction!
Wye The Power at 47
I wasn’t there when the Southern Pacific El Paso roundhouse foreman gave instructions to the hostler, but I suspect the conversation went something like this:
“Wye the power at 47”.
This is how that task looked through the lens of my first 35mm camera, a Minolta SRT-202.
A 5 unit lash-up is being turned at the Tower 47 interlocking in El Paso, TX on Oct. 25, 1978
Tower 47 interlocking is just west of downtown El Paso. It’s where the SP/Rock Island Golden State route joined the Sunset Route.
As this junction was adjacent to the El Paso diesel plant, it was a convenient spot to turn locomotives in preparation for their next trip.
Another Day, Another QEWWC
If there’s a Union Pacific symbol that’s appeared here more than any other, it would be the QEWWC. It’s a daily Houston to West Colton manifest that gets out of Englewood in the early afternoon. It’s the one manifest that always has DPU power on it.
This past November 5th found me squeezing in a few minutes of railfanning while trying to take care of some chores in Houston. The detector at MP 15.6 (Glidden sub)announced a westbound. I set up for a shot at MP 21, near the Stafford / Sugar Land border.
The City of Stafford demanded (and helped fund) the berm and green belt to shield the UP track.
Union Pacific's QEWWC of Nov. 5, 2010 passes MP 21 on UP's Glidden sub.
The going away view as the QEWWC approaches the Dulles Ave. grade crossing
DPU power on UP's QEWWC train of Nov. 5, 2010 passing MP 21 on UP's Glidden sub.
Once the QEWWC got by me, we proceeded into Houston where we encountered a BNSF stack train at T&NO junction.
As the train passed by me, I was able to get this view of the train as it began to cross the Glidden sub mainline at T&NO junction.
As the light was fading fast, I didn’t try to follow this train for any addition photos.
Demolition at Imperial Sugar Mill – Photos
Yesterday, I posted a video of the partial demolition at the old Imperial Sugar mill property here in Sugar Land, Texas. Here’s a series of photos from the event. (Click on any image to view more detail.)
For those of you just tuning in, click here to view my previous posts about this historic property.
The blasting began at 7 A.M. sharp
Flying debris is visible in this view.
The second building slated for demolition is already tilting due to preparatory demolition work.
Note the increased tilt after the blasting took place. The building stayed like this for some 20 minutes before unexpectedly tipping over.
The bin building finally, albeit unexpectedly, crashes to the ground.
Here’s some background on the project, from The Houston Chronicle:
The first step in redeveloping the site of the old Imperial Sugar refinery will happen this weekend with the implosion of two metal buildings.
While the historic char house will remain in tact, the furnace house and bin building will be removed to make way for a mix of retail, commercial, hospitality, restaurants, office and urban residential structures.
The project is part of a 700-acre planned community called Imperial.
Demolition of Imperial Sugar Mill
You might recall I posted last week about the partial demolition of the Imperial Sugar Mill in Sugar Land being postponed from last Sunday.
It took place today, well, kind of…
Southwest Rails 