Celebrating UP's 150th with Railfanning

[stlgevo51]

Sunday, July 1, 2012, was Uncle Pete's 150th birthday. Is there a better way to celebrate this historic mark than with railfanning? I thought not, so I journeyed to the Chester Sub south of St. Louis to try out a few new locations.

The previous day I'd gone south to track down NS's OCS, only to find out it was delayed. I returned after seeing only a dismal 3 BNSF trains; not quite the results that I'd wanted. Sunday proved to be much better.

I had two high vantage points staked out, but dry heat and smoke from a few nearby wildfires created a thick haze that drenched the river valley and made photography tricky (you can see the haze in almost all of the shots). I will have to try those another day.

Otherwise, it was a good day. Although I didn't get a lot of good photos, I caught a bunch of cool trains, including Salt Lake City Olympic Torch unit UP 2001 and two CNW motors. Overall, UP still showed that they can be a fun railroad to watch. Here's to 150 more!


Good UP Consist by stlgevo51, on Flickr

Happy Birthday, UP! by stlgevo51, on Flickr

CNW Power by stlgevo51, on Flickr

Rural Illinois and a CNW by stlgevo51, on Flickr

Spirit of Southern Pacifc by stlgevo51, on Flickr

It's UP 2001! by stlgevo51, on Flickr

A 2 CNW Day by stlgevo51, on Flickr

North Dupo Meet by stlgevo51, on Flickr

Thanks for looking!

 

[UPSD9043MAC]

Man, that was one heck of a railfanning day! Great shots!

 

[radiokid43]

Good shots and lots different engines.

 

[stlgevo51]

Thanks guys!

 

[Abilene Ks Railfan]

Nice catch on the UP 6361, other side has full SP letters intact

 

[Trainfanne54]

Nice shots.

 

[B_Kosanda]

Nice shots Jake. I guess I need to thank you for steering me to the Chester Sub. It's definitely a railfanning hot spot, with 2-3 trains an hour on that double-track. With this heat, I just wish there were some trees to hang out under

Bill

 

[stlgevo51]

Thanks guys!

Bill- You are right, it is such a great line to railfan. It does get a little hot out there though!

 

[Abilene Ks Railfan]

I got the 6361 and train today on video, did it have UP 7309 as DPU when you saw it by you?

 

[stlgevo51]

Yes. UP 7309 was the DPU. Was the consist up front the same? I think the middle UP yellow unit was inoperable when I saw it.

 

[Abilene Ks Railfan]

Yes. UP 7309 was the DPU. Was the consist up front the same? I think the middle UP yellow unit was inoperable when I saw it.

Yes, it was same consist up front 6361,7297,6172. I believe the 2nd unit was dead when it went by me as well