Christmas Weekend

I got a early start on the weekend's railfanning with a couple of hours on Friday afternoon, but really did not engage in much more than some light train watching for the rest of the weekend.

Friday Dec23rd
I headed over to CB to hunt for the CN/IC but had no luck in finding them in town.

Council Bluffs, IA
Locos laying over in the UP Pool yard
UP 3783-FMX 4082-FMX 4049-UP 4950

KCS grain train at north Bartlett elevator
4582-4580

UP MKCVP
8469-7467

UP eb coal load
7218-5846 DPU 7088

BNSF Council Bluffs switcher
503

UP north yard switcher
UP 586-UPY 591

UP eb stack train
7402-4962-3827-5071-4941-8518

UP MCBDM
7475-9110-8181

UP eb empty grain train
5953-5869-6652

UP MNPCBB
5994-6625-6395-5572-6011-5948

Saturday Dec 23rd
For a change of pace I ventured over to Lincoln and returned to Omaha via Louisville, NE.

Havelock, NE
BNSF power laying over
2660-2770

BNSF switcher
BNSF 2273-EMDX 789

Lincoln, NE
wb coal empty
6416-5655

eb coal load
9841-9406 DPU 9363

AGP Mill
AGPX 1644

Waverly, NE
wb coal empty
5803-6279 DPU-5801

Ashland, NE
wb coal empty
8927-9557 DPU 6261

local tied down in the yard
2024-2751

wb coal empty
6344-9321

South Bend, NE
eb coal load
9204-6226

Sunday Dec 25th
Christmas day was a trip home to Sioux City. The BNSF was running trains but was mostly closed while the UP had a couple of trains during the day.

Sioux City, IA
CN/IC
Inbound Ft Dodge local power
BCR 4614-IC 1000

Local switcher
CN 2413

UP MKCVP
5612-8198

BNSF MLINNTN
8226-5321

BNSF Sioux Falls local

2051-2280-2984

BNSF Core Line local
3008-3033

BNSF switcher power sets
2859-3407 and 2802-3429

BNSF MNTNKCK
8168-8115-913

BNSF MKCKNTN
BNSF 7903-BNSF 686-BNSF 4830-CSX 8068-EMDX 9022

DAIR Hudson local
2513-2512

Monday Dec 26th
I made another attempt at finding the CN in Council Bluffs as the embargo was to be lifted on the 26th and the local switch job was to be reestablished. I only ventured out for about an hour and there was no activity to mention.

Council Bluffs, IA
BNSF Potash empty
8960-8940

IAIS BICB
510

KCS grain train at the south Bartlett elevator
4043-4058

December 17th and 18th

A nice mid December weekend for some railfanning.

Saturday Dec 17th
Saturday was a a day to just relax and see what was going on in the local area.

Council Bluffs, IA
KCS grain train
3816-4583

UP MCBDMX
4075-8035

UP MSXCB
2367-2100-502

UP coal load
5658-7131 DPU 6479

A quick run up to the Honey Creek exit on I-29 for a look at the progress the CN has had on the rebuilding showd that the track was back in place and ballast work was being performed. Lots of progress since the last weekend.

There were two grain trains that were either on the BNSF Council Bluffs sub or where getting ready to head out onto the sub so I headed down river to Pacific Jct, IA to catch them before heading for home.

Pacific Jct., IA
BNSF grain train off the Bayard line
7872-7404-7264

BNSF wb coal empty
5700-5948 DPU 6280-9555

Oreapolis, NE
BNSF wb coal empty
6188-5698

Sunday December 18th
A quick look around Council Bluffs and Missouri Valley before calling it a day.

Council Bluffs, IA

BNSF grain train off the Bayard line
4151-5192-4502

UP MKCVP
7671-8193

UP lite power from the north yard
2381-2474

UP eb coal load
5575-6881

Missouri Valley, IA

UP unit in yard
4665

UP eb stack train
8579-7394 DPU 3957-8380

UP eb stack train
UP 7700 - KCS SD70ACe

Dec 10th and 11th

A nice change of pace for this weekend, Saturday was sunny with a nice layer of frost on everything from the over night ice fog.

Saturday Dec 10th
Started the day out in my normal fashion with a trip to Council Bluffs.

Council Bluffs, IA
BNSF CB local
503

KCS grain train at s Bartlett Elevator
KCS 4027-TFM 1622

BNSF Bayard Local was parked in the old Milw yard
549- EMDX 785-556-3020

UP light power from Island Park
6488-7162

After a drive by the old CNW yard it was north to Missouri Valley to check out the progress on the rebuilding of the CN/IC line into Council Bluffs.

Missouri Valley, IA
UP eb coal load
7218-5846 DPU 5629

A broken rail on the Blair sub had westbound trains backed up in Missouri Valley eastward.

UP wb freight
5624-5172

UP nb grain train
5945-5948

UP ZDLSK
7666-4979-5502

This train went into emergency just south of Canal street due to a air hose coming undone.After watching it pull out of town I headed north to Mondamin to catch the MSXCB with a NS unit leading.

Mondamin, IA
UP MSXCB
NS 9913-2100-2181-5923-5065

UP sb loaded grain train
UP 6696-5990-9680 DPU 7194

After this train, it was time to head back to CB and get some lunch.

Council Bluffs, IA
UP QNPSK
UP 3799-CSX 71-UP 9667

UP Blair, NE local
UP 5116-4961

Sunday Dec 11th
Sunday was more like how the Saturdays have been lately. Cloudy with a little bit of low filtered sunlight to tease you with.

A quick run to the post office reveled a stopped empty grain train to start the day out with.

Bellevue, NE
UP grain empty
8196-7256-6258

Council Bluffs, IA
IAIS BICB/CBBI
508-504

UP eb stack train
8608-5536 DPU 8654

UP lite power move
8223-9264-9132-9101-9175-9297-9319-9226-9284-9185-9139

UP MKCVP
5473-4115

Omaha, NE
I missed the head end of a eb UP freight

BNSF wb loaded potash train
NS 8821 was the sole power.

Dec 3rd and 4th

Finally the first significant snow of the season occurred, so it was a weekend of slipping and sliding.

Saturday Dec 3rd.
The morning started out dark and raining but since it was supposed to change over into snow, I headed out for some snow action.

Council Bluffs, IA
KCS grain train at the north Bartlett elevator.
4621-3932

Missouri Valley, IA
UP wb empty coaler
6669-7010


UP eb stack train
5678-4940 DPU 7775


UP wb empty coaler
6619-6272 DPU 5964


Council Bluffs, IA
UP eb coal load
6839-5629 DPU 6487


UP MCBSX
2181-2100-HLCX 1043


Sunday Dec 4th
The weather guessers had predicted sunny skies for Sunday, well they where sorta correct as the sun came out later in the afternoon.


Oreapolis, NE
BNSF wb ETOH train
4855-6182


Plattsmouth, NE
BNSF wb coal empty
5829-9948 DPU 9277-9473


Pacific Jct, IA
BNSF wb coal empty
5859-9497


BNSF wb coal empty
8922-9214


BNSF eb coal load
9211-9213


Lots of scanner traffic and trains where backed up on the Napier sub but I have found that staying in one place too long around the BNSF invites the SA's


Council Bluffs, IA
IAIS BICB
508-504


UP MKCVP
7832-9482-MJRX 711


UP Special
8695


UP MPRCB
4725-9595


UP eb coal load
5954-7204


BNSF Island Park local
4503-5051


BNSF Council Bluffs switcher
503

November 26th and 27th, 2011

Just a lazy weekend to do some exploring and train watching around the area.

Saturday the 27th
Saturday was a nasty dreary and extremely windy day, but since I had nothing better to do I was out the door around 9am and when to see what was going on.

Council Bluffs
IAIS BICB
507 (one unit today)
This same unit took a 20 car CBBI eastbound later in the afternoon.

KCS grain train south Bartlett elevator
4618-4583

IAIS local switcher
601-650

UP power parked on the Q transfer
5756-5663-8189

KCS grain train north Bartlett elevator
4708-4694

UP MPRCB
8406-7104-5252

UP coal load
5854-6233 DPU 7120

California Jct, IA
UP MVPNP
5976-6750-6178-6929-8114 DPU unknown SD90MAC

The crew of this train called me in and even indicated to the dispatcher that I was a railfan. This didn't stop the road master from taking matter into his own hands by chasing me down out on Hwy 30 and then tailgating me until I did an emergency pull over onto the shoulder. I did file a police report with the Harrison County Sheriff concerning the UPRR's harassment.

UP eb stack train
7646-4807-4444 DPU 7931

Council Bluffs, IA
BNSF Island Park Local
5051-4503

Sunday November 28th
The sun was out but the wind was still blowing.

Bellevue, NE
UP unknown nb freight
4584-3855-4787

UP sb grain train parked next to the freight
Head end units where not view able but the DPU was UP 8227

Council Bluffs, IA
IAIS BICB
511-503

BNSF local
503

Missouri Valley, IA
UP MCHNP
5081-6395

Blair, NE
UP MSSNP
6571-5713 DPU 7236

UP wb stack train
7417-8646 DPU 4709-8668

Fremont, NE
BNSF local power
2751-2392

UP MNPCBB
5781-6609-8081-6625-6226 DPU 88220

Valley, NE
UP wb grain train
5663-5783 DPU 8186

UP local power
2301-2385

Thanksgiving 2011

Having no intention of doing any railfanning during the holiday, I was surprised that I encountered as much activity as I did.

The day started out with me driving up to my parents house in S. Sioux City and once I was in Sioux City a quick drive through the local yards.

I-29 North
I encounter a stopped freight on the old CNW north of Honey Creek, IA. It was too far away to see the units to determine which train it was.

PCI has completed the rebuilding of the section of the CN/IC/CCP main that was washed out south of the Honey Creek I-29 exit. The pulled the old rail back up on the new ROW. No other repair work was observed except for clean up of the debris along the ROW.

The MSXCB was seen parked north of the Boyer River bridge waiting for a clear shot south to Council Bluffs. No other trains where encountered until Sloan, IA.

At Sloan a grain train was sitting at the local elevator. The power for this train wasn't park in Sloan nor Sioux City. At Salix the MCBVP was in the siding waiting for its sb counter part to leave Sioux City.

A Pt. Neal coaler was seen at the SC airport in Sgt Bluff, IA heading for a slow run around the ballon track while it unloads.

Sioux City
As a came into SC a sb BNSF freight was seen crossing the Missouri River and I wasn't able to see the power.

The CN switch job was actively placing empties at the Cargill plant and was using GT 4930 as the power. At the yard office CN 5347 and 5700 were parked.

The UP yard was about half full with a empty Potash train on the track next to the main. Three GP38-2's were resting at the old diesel shop location. Sitting on the main at 28th st was the MVPNP with UP 6473-6888-4368-8065-8077 as the head end power and the DPU (another SD90MAC) was out in Leeds. This train was nearly 2 miles long.

Over on the BNSF side of town was a nb empty grain train with BNSF 4302-5399-4541. Two switch jobs were also working the north and south ends of the yard.

The DAIR is still moving rock trains. 2 GP39-2's, 2 GP50's and DAIR 23 were parked in the yard.

I-29 South
Heading back home I encountered a nb BNSF coaler parked on the Missouri River bridge. The next train was on the UP at Salix. The MKCVP was in the siding waiting for another Pt. Neal bound coaler to run around it. The coaler was seen between Salix and Sloan so the VP didn't have long to wait. The last train for the day was encounter in the narrows in Council Bluffs. A coal load was getting back up to track speed after coming through the north yard are.

November 19th and 20th, 2011

Typical weekend for winter with one day being cloudy and dreary and the other having low filtered sunlight.

Saturday November 19th
Started out the day  with a drive through Council Bluffs and ended up in Missouri Valley, IA.

Council Bluffs, IA
IAIS BICB
500-503

KCS Grain Train at south Bartlett elevator
4127-4599

UP grain train power sitting on the Q connector in the Pool yard
8158-8109-8162

I-29 Honey Creek exit
The washed out CN mainline is now being rebuilt. PCI appears to be the contractor that won the rebuilt contract for the line as they where working on restoring the road bed at this washout spot. The track was cut and pushed to the side of the old roadbed to allow access to the ROW. A couple of dozers had leveled the old roadbed and created a "road" out to the ROW to allow side dump semi's to drive out and dump crushed rock that is being used for the new roadbed. This rock is then being spread out and compacted by a dozer and then a roller.

Missouri Valley, IA
The MPRCB was being held at the Boyer river bridge waiting for a hole in the eastbound parade to make the run to Council Bluffs.

Eastbound Coal load
6520-7073 DPU 6727

Eastbound Coal load
6517-5902 DPU 6536

ZG2SC
8681-4455-4197-4529

After having to deal with a crazed tweaker who was upset that I parked in front of her house on a public street, I had enough of Missouri Valley and headed back toward home.

Council Bluffs, IA
Eastbound Coal load
5903-6831 DPU 5974

Eastbound Coal load
7315-6460 DPU 5966

MCBDM
8153-9397- SD70M

MKCCP
8063-4904-4663

Omaha, NE
I noticed a UP special parked on the spur across from TD Ameritrade and took a short run over to see what was there. UP 7503 was on the point of three passenger cars and a power car.

Sunday November 20th
A typical lazy Sunday day, with me starting out late and only hanging out around the local area.

Council Bluffs, IA
UP MKCCP
7495-4780-5469

UP Eastbound coal load
6784-5753 DPU 5791

UP Eastbound K-line stack train
5054-8441-3928

UP MNPCB
6546-6477

BNSF potash load for the Bayard branch
HLCX 5984- NS 2616

UP Eastbound coal load
5954-7204 DPU 5881

UP Eastbound coal load
7117-6213 DPU 6742

IAIS BICB
507-513

November 5th and 6th, 2011

The first weekend of November and the weekend for the time change back to standard time. Its really hard to believe that the year is almost over.

I started out Saturday with no real plans except to get lost somewhere.The past week had been hell and the cumulative affects of my drawn out 4 year divorce had left me in a pretty foul mood.

Saturday November 5th
Council Bluffs, IA
KCS grain train at south Bartlett Elevator
4692-4016

UP grain train power
6359-6269-7521
Power was laying over on the Q connector after having brought in a grain train for the Bungee facility south of Council Bluffs.

KCS grain train at north Bartlet elevator
4707-3941

UP MOW train
4023-9318
This was a slot train that a excavator was dumping dirt and rock out of along the west side of the UP north yard (old CNW yard)

From Council Bluffs I headed north to Missouri Valley and had turned right on Hwy 30 to head into western Iowa but turned around on the east side of town and headed back west.At Blair I continued west on Hwy 91 until Hwy 275 and then I turned north.

Uehling, NE
BNSF sb empty sand train
BNSF 6238- FMX 4601

Oakland, NE
Central Valley Ag flood loader
BNSF 4674- NS 9487

Continuing north I headed over to Bancroft and Pender, NE to explore the ghosts of the old CStpM&O. At Bancroft the old depot is still standing though its been heavily modified from its original appearance. Heading north along Hwy 16 to Pender the old ROW can be seen in a few places, but is has been pretty much plowed under my the area farmers. The depot at Pender also still stands but is now used by a local concrete company.

On the return trip south, I got off the highway at Uehling and followed the BNSF south to Winslow via the backroads. I was able to explore the new double track project the BNSF has started south of Uehling. Its currently starting out as a new siding but will be expanding over the next couple of years.

Fremont, NE
BNSF nb on the main at Pappa
BNSF 5707 - EMDX 9031

UP power laying over
5653-7491
6713-6059-6273-7111

UP wb freight off the Blair sub
UP 5563 DPU UP 8479

BNSF nb freight
4458-5242

BNSF local power
2309

Valley NE
UP power laying over
6178-6832-6451-4412-6854

Sunday November 6th
The time change had my schedule messed up and after the previous days trip, I just stayed around the local area.

Council Bluffs, IA
IAIS BICB
505-508

KCS grain train for the Cargill elevator
3957-3942

UP MSXCBX
5116-9397-2237-2267

UP eb coal load
UP 5763-6248 DPU 6607

UP MPRCB
5207-9754

UP QNPSK
UP 4844 - CSX 4786 - UP 9355

BNSF Island Park local
4642-4804

BNSF local switcher 3171

Before heading for home, I made one last stop at Oreapolis.

Oreapolis, NE
BNSF eb coal load
BNSF 8821 DPU BNSF 5821

BNSF wb coal empty
BNSF 9152-5830 DPU BNSF 6281

Oct 29th and 30th 2011

October seems to have gone by way too quickly this year. Winter really is only a couple of weeks away as it usually snows in the first part of November. Hopefully this winter is not too bad, I'm not really a fan of the snow and cold.

Saturday 29th
Saturday started out cold but sunny and I was out the door around 9 am. First stop was the usual drive through Council Bluffs. I had thought about going by Gibson to see what was there but wasn't in the mood for the BNSF's bullshit.

Council Bluffs, IA
KCS Grain train at south Bartlett elevator
4127-4599

BNSF Switcher
556

IAIS BICB
511-513

BNSF Island Park local
626-4093

UP unit on the Q connector
7120

KCS Grain train at the north Bartlett Elevator
4596-4706

UP MKCVP
7764-7522

With the MKCVP making a set out in the old CNW yard and the scanner chatter indicating a fleet of eastbounds I headed up to Mo Valley, IA.

Missouri Valley, IA
UP MSXCB
2061-2363

eb Coal load
6848 DPU 6605

eb MOW train off the Sioux City sub
4368-4942

eb Stack train
7644-3792-4635 DPU ES44AC

wb Coal empty
7170-6224 DPU 6592

wb Stack train
5123-8594

eb Coal load
7105-6900 DPU 5974

Another eb coal load got by me without me being able to see the unit numbers.After these trains it was fairly quite so I headed back to Council Bluffs before heading for home.

Council Bluffs, IA
eb Grain empty
5824-6509-6187

eb Coal load
UP 7283 - SP 107

Sunday Oct 30th
Sunday is typically the day I check out the BNSF. I started out the morning heading down to Oreapolis but after only seeing one in an hour I headed over to Pacific Junction, IA before looping back up to Council Bluffs.

Oreapolis, NE
wb Coal empty
5858-9458

Plattesmouth, NE
eb Coal load
6038-9949

Pacific Junction, IA

Tied down sb ballast train on Napier Sub
9429-9145

eb Coal load
9222-9714 DPU 8887

KCS Grain train on the Council Bluffs sub
3902-4008

I also missed the ZCHIDEN and a wb coal empty while driving to the north side of Pac Jct.

Council Bluffs, IA
IAIS BICB
504-503

BNSF yard
KCS 4127-BNSF 556-BNSF 3171-BNSF 3030
KCS 4599

The BNSF Bayard local was also working the southeast end of the old Milw yard with four GP's of various types.

UP eb stack train
7772-3819-4146 DPU 7439

UP wb coal empty
6913-6431

UP MCBDM
UP 4574-NS 9610

The BNSF...Buffets Nasty Security Force

Is BNSF clamping down on photographers?

Unfortunately this is true. Even on public property and non-railroad private property the BNSF Special Agents and employees actively confront and report anyone with a camera. Every time I am near the BNSF Omaha area terminals the scanner cranks up with conversations concerning my vehicle and its description, accusations of me being Arabic, etc.

The other week, one of the Omaha Gibson terminal utility men go into his own personal vehicle drove out of the employee parking lot and parked so I could not pass/drive (he blocked the road) by on Missouri Ave in Omaha. This is a public street mind you. He only moved when I got out of my vehicle with my camera in hand to record his actions. While he was leaving scanner traffic had this individual reporting me as a possible "suspicious" person. Lets see, I'm suspicious and have not broken any laws while this employee blocks a public road and makes a false report of suspicious activity.

This war on railfans is only beginning. The BNSF plays games to entice the gullible with free calendars and a special website designed for the fans of the BNSF. Problem is this is just a front for them to gather fans personal information so they know who you are.

Paranoid...nope, just not one of the sheep.

Oct 15th and 16th

The fall weekends are always the best time of year. The lighting is at its best and traffic on the railroads is high with grain trains and the ramp up to the holidays.

On Saturday I took a run up to the Blair Sub to see what has been going on especially on the NE side as it had been a couple of weeks since I had been on that side of the Blair Sub. To make it interesting I waited for a wb train at Missouri Valley to follow over to Fremont.

Saturday Oct 15th
As with most outings, I started out in Council Bluffs, IA before heading out to Fremont and then returned via the same routing.


Council Bluffs, IA
IAIS BICB
513
The other ES was not seen with the 513.

UP Grain Train power
UP 6376-6305
They were parked on the BN lead east of the pool yard.

UP MKCVP
UP 4197-4538

UP MSXCB
HLCX 5956-UP 2061-827

Missouri Valley, IA
UP eb grain load
UP7273-7207-8633

QSKDL
UP 8695-8656-7418

Fremont, NE
UP Mid America coal load
UP 5622 DPU UP 5872

BNSF local power
BNSF 2770-2358

BNSF nb sand train
BNSF 4326-740

UP switcher
UP 815

UP Ballast train
UP 2334-4552

UP ZDLSK
UP 5375-4824-5114

UP wb coal empty
UP 5830-7095 DPU UP 5933

UP eb load load
UP 7295-6213 DPU 5917

California Jct., IA
UP wb stack train
UP 8670-5476 DPU UP 4845-7347

UP MCHNP
UP 8036-3821

Sunday Oct 16th
Sunday started out sort of gloomy with it trying to rain but this burned off around 11 am revealing a nice and sunny afternoon.I started Sunday out in Oreapolis, NE before heading over to Pacific Jct, IA to check the progress of the Napier Sub reopening. From there is was back up to Council Bluffs.

Oreapolis, NE
BNSF MGALLIN
BNSF 626-4093

BNSF eb coal load
BNSF 6263-9295 DPU BNSF 9783

BNSF eb coal load
BNSF 6318-5890 DPU 6173

BNSF wb coal empty
BNSF 8916-5647

Pacific Jct, IA
The Napier sub was back in business and the BNSF was running empties nb/wb empties nose to tail. In the 30 minutes I was in Pacific Jct, I witnessed 3 trains either coming off the Napier sub or lined up to follow.

BNSF nb/wb coal empty
BNSF 5923 DPU BNSF 5707-5632

BNSF wb coal empty
BNSF 6385-9505-5921

BNSF wb coal empty
Unable to get unit numbers but power was 2 ES44AC's. Train was an empty coal with about 20 loaded company tank cars with diesel fuel on the head end.

BNSF nb/wb coal empty
BNSF 9996-9352-6257-9447

Council Bluffs, IA
IAIS BICB
IAIS 512-506

UP MCBDM
UP 5023-9663 - CN 5738

KCS grain train at N Bartlett Elevator
KCS 4595- TFM 1608

UP MKCVP
UP 4838-4234

A broken rain stopped all traffic so it was time to head for home but a side detour for a look a stopped eb stack train.

Omaha, NE

UP 7432-4508 DPU UP-8655

Oct 8th and 9th 2011

An interesting weekend as both days started out sunny but turned to clouds in the afternoon. Saturday was the worse of the two as it became cloudy around 11 am.

Saturday Oct 8th.
I started the day out in Council Bluffs with a quick trip up to the Missouri Valley, IA area to check out the progress on the double tracking between Allen Creek and California Jct, IA.

Council Bluffs, IA
UP MNCCB
UP 4319-2299-2331

KCS Grain train
KCS 4125 - TFM 1658
This train came in last Sunday to be loaded. Its highly unusual for a loaded train to stay in town.

UP MSXCB
UP 2302-9474-536-826

Missouri Valley, IA
UP PRCB
UP 8044-8204-5188

California Jct, IA
QELNP
UP 8592-NS 7717- HLCX 5956

The new ROW for the double tracking is progressing between Italy Ave west of Mo Valley to California Jct. The north side is projected to be a third track/siding to allow for crew changes and appears to be the furthest along. It is nearly completed between Grover Ave and Italy Ave with fines having been laid up to about a 1/4 mile east of Grover Ave. There is still grading being done on the south side ROW est of Grover Ave. From Grover Ave west to California Jct both sides of the ROW are still being worked on. The UP is also pulling signal cables along the new ROW's.

Sunday Oct 9th
Sundays weather was more promising and I headed out to Oreapolis, NE  and Pacific Jct, IA to see what has been going on there. As I crossed over the tracks at LaPlatte, NE a sb UP coaler was slowly rolling up to the diamond at Oreapolis as an eb BNSF coal load was crossing in front of it. From Pacific Jct I headed back north to Council Bluffs which turned out to be quite busy.

Oreapolis, NE
UP OMAX coal load
UP 6907-6282 UP 7189 DPU

Pacific Jct, IA
BNSF eb coal load
BNSF 6042-5816 DPU BNSF 9148-5780-5659

BNSF eb coal load
BNSF 8869-6252 DPU Unknown SD70MAC

BNSF eb coal load
BNSF 9607 DPU 5702

Council Bluffs, IA
UP light power
UP 2311-2100

UP MPRCB
UP 4961-8077

UP eb coal load
UP 5994-7063 DPU 6443

UP eb coal load
UP 5600-5700 DPU 5724

UP eb coal load
UP 6592-7108 DPU 5556

UP MKCVP
UP 5552-3934

UP light power
SP 187- UP 6013-7280

UP MCBDM
UP 3845-8240-6385

Oct 1st and 2nd

Fall is definitely here. The fields are being harvested and the days are shorter. The low sun and crisp skies are near perfect for photography.

Saturday Oct 1st.
The day started out with a drive to Council Bluffs and ended up taking me to Kennard, NE for a look at the progress of the second main installation.

Council Bluffs, IA
IAIS BICB
512-505

UP MCBPR
4428-4185-4247

UP Lt Power move
8698-8688

KCS Grain Train
3901-4123

UP MKCVP
5605-7260-6433

Missouri Valley, IA
UP Blair local
2100-2311

AMTK 6 detour
UP 6050-AMTK 160- AMTK 60

UP MOW Train
261-5080

UP eb Stack and Auto
7464-5029 DPU 8616-5207

UP eb Freight
4776-4763

UP wb Stack
7731-3812- DPU 4108-8424

UP eb Grain empty
7132-5023 DPU 7242

Between Blair and Kennard, NE
UP MVPNP
8203-6268 DPU 8002

UP wb empty coaler
UP 6453-6161

UP  wb empty coaler
UP 5730 DPU 6827

Omaha, NE
UP MNPBO
6071-6438-3749-6956-unknown AC4400CW

Sunday Oct 2nd

Sunday was a day to just explore around the Omaha and Council Bluffs area.

Omaha, NE
BNSF Gibson Yard
4565, 2024-3111, 746, 2392

UP Display track
UP 7400 RGC Pink Ribbon Unit

Council Bluffs, IA
IAIS BICB
507-502

KCS grain train power
4108-4603

BNSF switcher
3121

UP MSXCB
9474-2302

UP Engineering Special
8988-8998

KCS grain empty
KCS 4125 - TFM 1658

UP MKCVP
UP 4890 - NS 8424

UP eb coal load
5909-6271 DPU 6592

UP eb ETOH empty
5107-3897-4514

UP MKCCP
UP 7676-2366 DPU 7475

Some video from the weekend.

Sept 24th and 25th

Saturday was a trip to Sioux City for a change of pace and to see the family. I-29 was opened the evening of the 23rd so it was a straight shot up interstate to ole Sewer City.

Sioux City, IA
UP Port Neal local
UP 827-828

DAIR Hudson, SD local
DAIR 2512-2511

UP power parked in the stockyards
UP 4149-3981

DAIR switcher power
DAIR 7 & 9

CN Sioux City - Ft Dodge local
CN 2673-2546

CN switcher
CN/IC 9619

UP power in yard
UP 7464-5080-2061

UP MCBVP
UP 7163-5955-8183

BNSF MNTNLIN
BNSF 9323-4781-4766

S. Sioux City, NE
BNSF grain extra at Cargill
BNSF 6678-7525 DPU 4373

On trip back to Omaha encountered an empty UP rail train in the stockyards, a empty coaler south of Blencoe, IA and the MKCVP south of Mondamin, IA.

Sunday I started out by taking a drive by the BNSF Gibson yard in S. Omaha, NE before heading over into Iowa to explore.

Omaha, NE
Power on ready tracks
BNSF 4141-5146-556-4523

Power on an unknown train
BNSF 5261-766

Council Bluffs, IA
North CB Bartlett grain elevator
KCS 4582-4039

UP coal load
UP 5647-6309 DPU 6564

UP coal empty
UP 5884-6167

UP MNPEL
UP 6824-8480-8077-5990 DPU 6441

UP Pool Yard switcher
UP 831-1209

IAIS transfer
IAIS 601-650-720

UP empty grain train
UP 4833-6399-5863

UP Engineering special
UP 8688-8698 and about 15 cars

KCS grain train at S Bartlett elevator
TFM 1606-KCS 4578

Honey Creek, IA
ZG3BR
UP 7454-7733-4915 DPU 7348

I also encountered two westbound coal empties between Mo Valley and CB but was not able to get unit numbers. The UP had a 12 hour curfew on the Blair Sub and was routing westbounds through Omaha.

Sept 10th and 11th

Saturday Sept 10th
After reading that the tie train for the new second track between Blair and Kennard had arrived in Blair on Friday I decided to make a trip up to Blair.

Council Bluffs
IAIS
BICB
501-507

BNSF
Local power
BNSF 3201-3111-2309

Missouri Valley
Blair Local
UP 9474-2302

SB Mixed Freight
UP 8166-2337

Blair
Tie train
UP 8036-3949

MVPNP
UP 8223-6079 DPU 7165

Missouri Valley
WB Ethanol Train
UP 6736-6418

EB mixed Freight
UP 7854-9389-2247-CEFX 1038

wb Coal empty
UP 5886-6466

Council Bluffs
MNPBO
UP 6660-5872-3880-5840-SP 199-UP 5775

Sunday September 11th
Sunday was a day to hang out around town. I did start out in Oreapolis, NE and ended up in Council Bluffs via Pacific Jct.

Council Bluffs
Mid America coal empty
UP 6503 DPU UP AC44W

WEPX Coal load
UP 5719-5920 DPU 6719

MNPPR
UP 7896-9341-CNW 8701 DPU 5587

UP Officer Special
UP 7523

There was lots of coal train traffic on the UP Omaha Sub and I missed about 5 trains moving around town. The BNSF Creston sub was also active with me missing 3 trains between Oreapolis and Pacific Jct.

Sept 4th, 2011

Sunday Sept 4^th

I started the day out in North Platte and followed the UP eastward to Gothenburg. Since I wanted to follow the old CBQ/BN/BNSF line from Sterling CO into Holdrege, NE, I headed south to HWY 23 at Gothenburg, NE.  From There I followed the Nebraska Kansas and Colorado into Holdrege and then the BNSF into Hastings, NE. From Hastings I headed back up to I-80 until Lincoln where I got off on Hwy 6 and followed the BNSF into Ashland, NE.

Along Hwy 30 heading east

UP MP 274

WB grain loads

UP 5682-6467 DPU UP 5959

UP MP 268

WB coal empty

UP 5931-6046 DP UP 6273

UP MP 265

WB grain load

UP 7205 DPU FMX 4622-UP 5654

UP MP 262

WB coal empty

UP 5890-7025 DPU UP 6619

UP MP 258

WB freight

UP 2468-8180-4551

UP MP 253

WB coal empty

UP 5710-5664 DPU UP 5579

Loomis, NE

Grain Elevator

DLCX 2000

Holdrege, NE

Nebraska Kansas Colorado

HLCX 5005

DLCX 1202

NKCR 9259

NKCR 7427

Havelock, NE

WB Freight

BNSF 750-4646

Waverly, NE

EB  freight

BNSF 1103-4776

Ashland, NE

MLINLIN

BNSF 549-520

Sept 3rd, 2011

Saturday September 3

Saturday was the start of my trip to North Platte. This was sort of a spur of the moment trip and I really did not have any goals in mind other than to explore and take pictures of depots and switchers at the various grain elevators on the way.

I left Omaha heading west on Hwy 92 with my first stop being at Mead, NE to capture the Frontier CO-OP GP10 and the UP depot that is in the town park.

After that it was back west on Hwy 92 with a detour stop in Brainard, NE. A drive around the grain elevator didn’t reveal any switchers but a shuttlewagon was parked in the elevator parking lot. Back out on 92, I headed west to Hwy 15 and a run up to David City. I was able to capture both the UP and the old Q depots but there were no switchers in town.

From David City it was north to Columbus and a look at the NCRC. About the time I got into Columbus it started to rain which quickly developed in a steady down pour. A drive out on Hwy 81 to the northwest side of town didn’t produce any NCRC units but the MNCCB had just arrived from Norfolk and the crwew was being taken back to the yard office. Power was UP 4418-3904. UP local power parked in the yard was UP 833, UP 505 and UP 2262.

From Columbus I headed west on Hwy 30. Below is a list of what was seen along the way. Not everything is listed as some slipped by me here and there.

Sliver Creek, NE

Platte Valley CO-OP

Ex CNW 4162

EB coal load

UP 5998 DPU UP 7190

Clarks, NE

EB coal load

UP 6617-SP177 DPU UP 7189

Thumbell, NE

Debruce Grain

JWS 76

MP 120

MNPPR

UP 4262-4048

MP 139

EB coal load

UP 5575-7057 DPU 6625

Grand Island, NE

MGINP

UP 2447-1601-1589

Wood River, NE

MNPCBB

UP 8201-6413-6185-6692-6624 DPU 8171

Grain Elevator

BEBX 2054

EB Light Power

UP 6540-7051-7249

Shelton, NE

Cargill Elevator

Unknown # GP7r

Gibbon, NE

ZSKDL

UP 4920-7881-5114

Cargill Elevator

2002, 9349

Elm Creek

Grain Elevator

AGREX 824

MP 180

EB coal load

UP 6854-7014 DPU 6384

Kearney, NE

EB Mixed Freight

UP 3825-4242-4751

EB Perishable

UP 8659-4261-7844

WB Z train

UP 3922-4194-3792-3889-4097

EB coal load

UP 7200-6222 DPU 6709

Local power

UP 826-504

MP 209

EB coal load

UP 7120-6166 DPU 6812

Lexington, NE

Local Power

UP 508-832

UP 505

In transit to Cozad

DBGX 6634 ex AGP

Grain Elevator

I&M Raillink

612

WB Stack train

UP 8686-4736-2409-2456 DPU4581-8687

EB Stack Train

UP 5452-4000 DPU 4220-8449

Cozad, NE

Peavey Grain 1261

This unit is to be replaced by the DBGX 6634 spotted in Cozad.

MP 246

EB coal load

UP 6789-6268 DPU 6329

Gothenburg, NE

WB coal empty

UP 7170-6837 DPU 5724

Grain Elevator

MJRX 1021

EB Empty Auto

UP 8119

MP 255

EB Stack Train

UP 7730-4820-4953 DPU 7693

MP 257

EB Mixed Freight

UP 7392-4231 DPU 6995

MP 265

EB coal load

UP 5872-6881 DPU 6244

MP 272

EB coal load

UP 5658-7104 DPU 6535

MP 275

QSKNP

UP 8650-CSX 5349- CSX 7564

North Platte, NE

MCA 7515

There were too many UP units to record.