Council Bluffs, IA
The new track on the southeast side of the yard was being readied for installation. A front end loader was distributing the new ties along the ROW and the switch at 16th Ave was built and ready for installation.
UP MCBNC was pumping air on its train4529-5006-3920
BNSF local switcher
503
IAIS yard job
601-650
IAIS CBBI power
505-501
The CN was heard on the scanner asking the UP for permission to make a move on the UP in N. Omaha and there was no CN road power to be seen in the yard. The UP north yard was nearly empty with only the north yard switcher working. Both the MCBSS and MCBVP had left and the MKCVP was late into Council Bluffs.
Missouri Valley, IA
On the drive north to Mo Valley there wasn't any activity spotted on the UP until the Loveland exit. The MSXCB was spotted rolling under the CN fly-over but the power was on the other side of the incline and could not be identified. At Canal St. the MPRCB was caught heading off the Boone Sub onto the Omaha Sub.UP MPRCB
4072-4333-5474-7397
UP ETOH train in the yard
6602-7192
Missouri Valley to Blair
There was no movements on the Blair Sub and radio traffic was non-existent. At Italy Ave new ribbon rail was seen on both sides of the existing main heading west ready for installation on new ties once they are laid out. The PCI staging area was also pretty empty as all the heavy equipment was gone.
Just east of California Jct the hardware for the new switches has been distributed for the track crews to build the switch from.From the looks of the activity the UP may start laying track in March or April between Allen Creek and east California Jct. As a side note the UP has Grover Ave barricaded and closed at the crossing.
West from Fremont Ave at California Jct. the UP had been doing preliminary prep work on the new ROW. Piles of old ties were spotted at Fremont Ave and Austin Ave. From Austin Ave west to Corning Ave some activities has been occurring on the new ROW (no building/grading) by trucks.
From Corning Ave west to the Missouri River no activity or signs of recent activity were seen. A port-a-potty was seen under the UP Missouri River bridge. I'm not sure why its there as no activity was spotted in that area.
Blair to Kennard
No activity was spotted in Blair until the area around CP Duffy. Lots of MOW crews where seen in the area but no actual work was noted. Driving along the line all the old signals have been deactivated and the heads turned toward the ROW. No train activity was spotted along this stretch either
Kennard to East Fremont
Lots of MOW crews where noted on the southwest side of Kennard with a flagman spotted resting in his pickup in the field on the north side of the ROW near the bridge.
Kennard siding was in a state of disassembly with stick rail having been pulled and laid inside the gauge. The mid siding signal was also dead with the head turned toward the ROW. At the south end of the old Kennard siding a new access road is being build for heavy equipment to use for access off of Hwy 30. The area around the south switch has also been graded and leveled for vehicles.
South of the Hwy 30 bridge to the top of Arlington Hill the south side of the main is being cleared of vegetation. This clearing has changed the look of the area around the County Rd P34 crossing. The greatest change is the removal of the giant Oak tree just to the southwest of the crossing.
On the western slope of Arlington Hill no activity was spotted with the exception of a worker placing survey flags behind the tree farm. The area at the top of the hill looks like it will be changed significantly based on where these flags were being placed.
On the east side of Arlington the survey stakes have reappeared west of S 8th st. If I followed them correctly there appears to be a house that will have to be removed for the new ROW. The old Elkhorn ROW is still being used as an access road in Arlington and as a curious note the current UP bridge over the creek on the east side of Arlington has bridge piers wide enough for a second bridge.
No activity was noted from the west side of the Elkhorn River to East Fremont.
Fremont, NE
Fremont was quite, even scanner traffic was at a minimum. The BNSF had a bit of power tied down on some spurs to the west of the depot but no activity. At the diamonds a UP MOW crew was performing welding on the frogs. Due to this a UP train was tied down for a crew change west of N. Pierce St. This train would end up have some excitement on the east side of Fremont as a car of butter caught fire.
UP switcher510
UP QNPEL
5131-4547-4373
BNSF local power
2751-GP38-3R
2702
BNSF short southbound train tied down
6157
Fremont to Omaha
The QNPEL was stopped short of Hills Farm Rd for a car of butter that was smoking heavily. Radio chatter was heavy as the UP managers where communicating with the conductor to find out what was in the car and the adjacent car. Once it was determined that there were no haz-mat materials in either car the the order to the crew to vacate was rescinded. Fire crews from Fremont Rural Fire Department arrived on scene and began to assess the situation. I was able to observe flames coming out of the car, but it was mostly smoke that was observed.Since the main was shutdown no trains were seen on the way into Omaha.
