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Whoopee! It's 40 degrees! I put my shorts and sleeveless tee shirt on and headed out to Kennard, NE on the old CNW. 2 miles west on the westbound uphill (sometimes referred to as Marshall Hill, for the Marshall Nursery that was at the top) we find the 2755. This may be the ruling grade between Blair and Fremont. Back in Kennard for the 4 other trains. It was a gray, spotty shower kinda day but with sound recorder out, you could here the trains a couple of miles away. I didn't really have shorts on. But I did drive with the window open for bit. This last pic looks westbound and shows the subgrade for double track someday.
Some so-so Council Bluffs IA shots from yesterday. First up is a light power move from the north UP yard. Next two are of a UP intermodal train setting out cars in the UP main CB yard. Since I was last at this location, the car-repair facility that was here has been demolished and the area cleared.
A trip to Grants NM. A couple of views on the way there and some from the hotel room window. The BNSF transcon is a busy place. The Ferromex is southbound at La Joya, on the line to El Paso. The purpose of the trip was not to photograph trains, so a return journey is needed. Some great rugged country there and lots of trains.
Took until March to get a photogenic snow. The road I drove to get here ( at 10am it looks like I was the one who had been on the road this morning), the crossing is one my favorite places along the old CNW, about 2 miles west of Kennard, NE. The mid train DPU on a westbound train that was stopped when I passed it. But due to road conditions beat me to the crossing. And a westbound empty coal about 45 minutes after the intermodal.
Took until March to get a photogenic snow. The road I drove to get here ( at 10am it looks like I was the one who had been on the road this morning), the crossing is one my favorite places along the old CNW, about 2 miles west of Kennard, NE. The mid train DPU on a westbound train that was stopped when I passed it. But due to road conditions beat me to the crossing. And a westbound empty coal about 45 minutes after the intermodel.
Thanks for the photos. I have not been able to get out as I live in the Seattle area (aka Covid-19 Central) and am in all three of the high risk groups. I am stuck doing my railfanning vicariously through members' photos.
Our covid-19 isn't as wide spread as yours is, however our restaurants are restricted to 10 people. Takeout and drive thrus are open. Churches and large group activities are cancelled. It's a good time to drive out into the country and watch trains. Normally about 2 cars per hour pass by on the gravel roads. Now it's one. Hopefully the weather will break and the sun will come out, but blizzard warnings are up for Western Nebraska and temps supposed to drop here. Quick trip to Ashland today yielded only MOW working. Stay safe and out of harm's way.
I believe that this was replaced very recently. At least we can say we rode in the cab of a steam locomotive across this trestle. 2001. Chehalis cowlitz 15. A great 90 Ton Baldwin. What a nice picture and memory.
Hey Tom,
here is a photo from the 15 as we pull towards freighthouse square.
Rick
That is the old Milwaukee Road line. It has been redone as it now serves Sound Transit. Service will eventually reach Dupont. This is also the line that Amtrak will eventually use for passenger service through Tacoma. You may recall the first Cascades train to Portland on the "new" line flew off a curve just past Dupont. Service over the line has yet to be resumed.
Any more vintage photos of trains in the Omaha area from the 60's and 70's? I am always amazed at how many railroads used to serve the Council Bluffs-Omaha area.
8 inches of snow yesterday All melted and a pleasant but windy 60 degrees. Caught the CN train north of Council Bluffs, A EB UP stack train getting a new crew west of Missouri Valley and an EB little bit of everything train, at the west end of Kennard. And 2 Cormorants way high in the sky. Had to resize the last pic and got the number wrong in the filename.
Attempting an Itsed65 impression, minus the sun, is the UP 8184 west of Kennard and east of Fremont with some interesting buildings off in the distance. Also 1 of the UP 5353 at Oreapolis. Or in the spirit of Monty Python, "How to recognize different kinds of locomotives from quite a long way away". The 1738 and a GP38 675 were in the consist of the 8184. Unusual.
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