Some accidental railfaning

With a very busy work schedule it seems that all of my railfaning adventures for the last year or so have been accidental. Friday and Saturday were two of those accidental occasions. The plan Friday was to get the Jeep worked on so I took a day of PTO to get it into the shop. To my surprise the work was done in an hour and a half. Not as long as I had anticipated but long enough to check out this Jeep on the dealer lot. Might make a good rig if it wasn't orange and $40k.

JK8 on the dealer lot

Nine AM and the rest of the day off, so what to do? I really had no plans so I headed toward Fremont, NE but first stopped at Elkhorn, NE to investigate where the old UP depot had been moved too. After being moved it had been made into a house and after looking over the only possible house it might be, I decided to not take any photos as it had been modified beyond recognition.

The first train of the day was found in Elkhorn. A loaded WEPX coaler that was stopped just to the west of the Hwy 31 over crossing. Strange place to be stopped but later in the day I would see why. Power was UP 5888-7318-DPU 5608.

East of Valley, NE an eastbound CWEX coal load was stopped on the main. UP 5615-6294-DPU 7291was its power. In Valley, NE the UP has a long string of fallen flag covered hoppers parked on the north siding. Western Pacific, Mopac, CNW, SP, SSW and old paint UP hoppers can be found in this string. There is even a SP ACF that is free of graffiti, which anymore is a rare find. This years poor harvest will cause these to become a common sight as grain loads will be way down from previous years. Unfortunately I missed the Lincoln turn as there was no power to be found in town.

Mercer, NE had the inbound MCOCB holding at the signal with UP 4890-4842 as the power. Though these two units are less than 50 numbers apart, they are in different schemes. 4890 lacks the flag and instead has Union Pacific on the side. Given the deplorable condition of the flags on most units five years or older, I like the non-flagged SD70M's with the flared radiators.

Fremont, NE was fairly quite. An eastbound wind turbine train was spotted headed up the Blair sub. No blades were noted just the turbines.I figured I'd be able to catch this train later so wasn't concerned about missing it. Unfortunately I never did catch it later.

Local activity was pretty quite. The BNSF road switcher was nowhere to be found and the UP switcher was parked near the office. When crossing the UP main at N. Pierce St an eastbound UP was seen in the distance approaching town. This train would need a new crew and there would be plenty of opportunity to see if it will take the Blair or Omaha subs, so it was off to check out Poppa siding on the BNSF. The BNSF holds trains at Poppa while waiting for time to cross the UP diamonds. As usual Poppa was not a disappointment.

Lined up at Poppa.

On the siding was a northbound empty grainer while on the main was a southbound ballast train full of ballast from the Dakota Iowa out of Dell Rapids, SD. BNSF 5256-7046 would take this grainer up to Sioux City while BNSF 9247 was the rear dpu on the ballast train. I wasn't able to get in position to see the head end power on the ballast train. On the Frontier Grain Coop lead the BNSF had parked the Fremont switcher. BNSF 2702 along with a tank car had the lead all to themselves.

Heading out of Fremont on Morningside rd, I "found" that eastbound UP train. It turned out to be a empty grain train with UP 8520-8205-DPU 5504 as power. As I neared the head end three toots signaled the train was restarting its journey east. A quick u-turn and a run over to the s-curve west of CR 15 to get a shot before this section is replaced by the new alignment on the west side of Arlington Hill.

Twisting though the s-curve.

Checking out the work being done on the Blair Sub I noticed that the signals were light up for a westbound. I setup for a shot but after about 20 minutes of waiting I decided to move east to see if I'd catch it over by Kennard. Sitting too long in one location tends to attract the wrong attention anymore even out in the country. As I dropped down the hill toward the Hwy 30 over crossing on the south side of the old Kennard siding, I spotted the westbound I had been waiting for. Unable to get into position to get a shot, I grabbed a backlight going away of the MCHNP with UP 5881-4105-DPU 8232.

West out of Kennard.

This was the last train I saw on the Blair sub and the last one until I got to Council Bluffs, IA. Even the scanner chatter was light until Missouri Valley, IA. DS20 was heard asking where the MSXCB was to position it off the Sioux City sub for a short jog across the Blair sub and then down the Omaha sub. The SX was head sating it was just north of Modale, IA. DS20 then gave instructions to a westbound to slow down a little to allow the SX time to make the transition from the Sioux City sub to the Blair sub and then the new double track west of Mo Valley. Though this set of moves sounded interesting I decided to head on to Council Bluffs and then home.

Coming into Council Bluffs I spotted a train holding at Beanos. UP 3940-3877-8144 were leading an eastbound freight, while the coaler that was stopped in Elkhorn 3 hours earlier passed on the right.  Getting further into town I noticed that the old CNW yard was fairly empty with the day switch crew working the lead on the south end near the Heritage shop buildings. Crossing the main at Ave B, I noticed a UP MOW crew working on the cross overs south of N. 11th Ave. This explained why the trains were backed up west of Omaha and why there was no action on the Omaha sub north of CB.

Over on the IC/CN had the typical stored cars and no power to be seen. Fridays are a day that the local does not come into Council Bluffs and the local switch crew had the North Omaha transfer over on the NE side.

On the old Burlington lead into the UP pool yard, the UP had the power parked from a bean train that had been run down the BNSF Council Bluffs sub to the Bungee bean plant. UP 6954-3498-DPU-6376 had been the power for this train and where waiting for it to be unloaded before heading back down to pick up the empties. UP 3498 was the first SD90MAC that I have seen post renumbering.

One of the rare AC6000CW's to have worn a set of wings on the nose.

Before a quick run over to the BNSF yard another eastbound coaler with UP 6881-5715-DPU-6061 passed by on the main. Parked in the BNSF yard where two KCS belles that had brought in an empty grain train to be loaded at the south house Bartlett elevator. KCS 4110-4129 brought in 72 empties for load out.

Belle power laying over.

Since I had some busy work to accomplish it was time to head back home but only after stopping to get shots of the two NS units parked on the elevator tracks in the UP yard. UP 5826-NS 8898-NS 9545 were positioned to be the power for the MCBDM later in the afternoon.

Saturdays accidental railfaning occurred while heading home after the Nebraska game. West of Adams St in Lincoln an inbound grain train was being tied down on the main. Power was HLCX 6241-BNSF 4546, the HLCX was an unusual sight as it is rare to see lease power on the BNSF. The Havelock switcher was spotted was tied down near the yard office with the BNSF 3171-2778 as  power. Further east an empty coaler was tied down east of N 98th st. Power was BNSF 9249-5834-DPU 9946.

The drive along Hwy 6 didn't reveal any more trains until Ashland, NE. Looking down into the yard from Hwy 6, two loaded  ballast trains where spotted. On that note my accidental railfaning ended.

August Happenings

August was a month to forget with the loss of a close friend and a work schedule that was less than conductive to a good life/work balance. Even with these challenges I was able to get out in the local area and capture some action.

With the month almost half over I was able to get in the first outing of the month. The late afternoon is a good time to catch the MCBDM out of Council Bluffs and its sometimes interesting power. The 14th brought some old friends in the form of two old Sierra dupes. These units followed me from California to be placed in the pool out of North Platte. Showing the scars of operating in the tunnels of Donner Pass, the flags have long ago faded into the soot and oil covering they wore for the entire time they worked the pass.

UP 5577 & 5564 head north out of Beno's along a field that was 10+ feet under water this time last year.

The MNPCCB or as the  yard master likes to call it the double B is a late afternoon arrival into the Council Bluffs terminal area.The double B is actually two complete trains that runs into CB as one long monster (typically 180+ cars) from North Platte. From this train the MCBVP and MCBSS trains are created when the double B is split up in the old CNW north yard.

UP 3958 & 6580 pause on the Big Lake under crossing in  CB as the MNPCBB is broken up into its two trains.

Last years flooding and the wash out of the CN/IC line into Council Bluffs changed the schedule and make up of the three times a week CB local when the line was restored last winter. Traffic appears to have recovered but the trains are now handled by single hp units were they used to be two units.

The North Omaha CN/IC switch job and interchange with the BNSF and UP still generates a fair amount of traffic The job was pushing over 30 cars down the UP main to the CN/IC connector switch on the 14th.

IC 1025 is pushing hard on a large interchange cut.

The UP Ak-Sar-Ben special is a August fixture and this year the Union Pacific used the E-units to power this train. On the 16th the units were run light over to Heritage Park to be positioned on the next days special.

Slowly heading down the switch off the main into Heritage Park.

I hadn't know about this movement, so I was surprised to see them round the curve heading to B0.0 for the run across town to the old CNW yard.

On the 21st I discovered that the IC SD70 had been replaced by the CN 2108. This old CNW C40 is in eye shot of the old GE shop at the CB CNW roundhouse where she and her sisters were maintained.

Old is new on the CN.

Having just pushed her interchange cars into the old IC yard the crew is adding them to the evening outbound train.

Typically the QNPSK is a late morning, early afternoon train but today she must have encountered delays west of Council Bluffs.

UP 5120 leads two CSX units at Beno's

UP 5120 provides needed ATS/CSS controls for the two CSX units as they leave the congested CB/Omaha terminal area.

With Berkshire Hathaway owning both Mid America and the BNSF the sight of an empty UP coaler from the CBEC complex may be rare in a couple of years. The contracts are currently being negotiated for haulage of the coal to the various Mid American plants and it will be interesting to see if its keep in the family of continues to be hauled by the competition.

UP 7251 leads the empty Mid America coaler past the CRI&P depot in Council Bluffs, IA.

The BNSF interchange train between the BNSF Gibson Omaha yard and the UP CB yard often occurs late in the afternoon and typically uses what ever is available in the yard to drag it over to the UP.

The interchange run on the 28th used the Bayard turn power in the form of two warbonnet B40-8W's and a GP 39-2. BNSF 517 is one of the best looking warbonnets I've seen in a very long time. An interesting note is the side says BNSF while the cigar ban on the nose says Santa Fe.

Backing through the yard the BNSF interchange train is heading up track 9 the yard to pick up its cars from the UP.

This train ended my month of observations

KCS Haulage Trains

Background
One of the more interesting sights in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area are the KCS haulage trains that are brought in by the BNSF. Though these are only grain trains they do provide a nice break from the monotony of UP yellow and grey. Currently these KCS trains run on the BNSF even though the KCS has a haulage agreement on the UP into Omaha/Council Bluffs for 199 years that was awarded as part of the 1988 UP- MKT merger. The BNSF agreement is also a result of concessions that were awarded for the 1995 ATSF-BN merger. 


Customers Served
There are currently three customers served by these haulage trains. 

• Cargill at 2401 South 37th St., Council Bluffs, IA.
• 108 Car capacity
• Bartlett Grain Co. (North House) at 1030 Ave L, Council Bluffs, IA.
• 81 Car capacity
• Bartlett Grain Co. (South House) at 2600 S. 4th St., Council Bluffs, IA.



KCS Haulage train departing Lincoln, NE east on the BNSF Creston  Sub

• 85 Car capcity

Operations (Area Map)
The haulage trains are not operated on a set schedule. They can and do operate into and out of the area any day of the week.Typically the Bartlett elevators will receive and load at least two trains a week each while the Cargill elevator will load one train a week.A good indication that a train is about to be loaded at one of the Bartlett elevators is an increase in grain truck traffic unloading grain.

While the  BNSF operates these trains with BNSF crews and symbols they are almost always composed of  KCS family locomotives and grain hoppers. If there is a road failure of one of the KCS units BNSF will add a BNSF unit to the consist. A typical train is composed of two AC traction units and around 80 cars. It is rare to see a TFM or KCSdM locomotive but grain hoppers are always a good mix of KCS, TFM, Ferrosur or leaser names.

Routings

A KCS haulage train is taking the Amtrak connector from the BNSF to the UP in Omaha, NE.

Empties grain trains are typically routed on the St Joe sub from KC to Lincoln. The Creston Sub from Lincoln to Ashland, NE and then the Omaha Sub from Ashland to the Amtrak Depot in Omaha, NE. From the Amtrak connector to BN Jct they use UP trackage rights to gain access to the Council Bluffs Sub and South House or continue to the North House on the UP Omaha Sub. Loaded trains ( from all three customers) are routed down the BNSF Council Bluffs sub to Pacific Jct, IA then west on the Creston Sub to Lincoln, NE and then back down the St Joe sub to KC.

Cargill Elevator
Those trains that are destined to the Cargill elevator take the normal routing into the Omaha/Council Bluffs area. At the Amtrak connector they take the UP bridge into the UP yard and then down the western most yard elevator track. About 3/4 of the way down is the connector switch to the Cargill lead (see map). Trains must roll through the yard and out across S 16th St and around the Chrysler auto unloading ramp to clear this switch. Once they have cleared the switch they will back up the mile or so to the Cargill elevator where they will fit the train into the various tracks for loading.

Cargill uses a ex Amtrak GP10 and a SW1 to move cars through the loader. Since this is not a loop or flood loader, it typically takes a couple of days to load an 80 car train. The KCS locomotives are parked in the UP service area while a train is being loaded, though it is possible that the units maybe parked on one of the yard elevator tracks during this time frame.

KCS 3916 passes the 12th st line in Council Bluffs on its way to the North House.

Once a train is loaded it is routed back out the same way it was brought in. When the train has cleared the Cargill lead switch it is backed out of the yard onto the UP mainline and then pulls down the Omaha Sub to BN Jct where a BNSF crew boards and takes the train down the Council Bluffs Sub to Pacific Jct. , IA.

Bartlett - North House
North House trains follow the typical routing into Council Bluffs but continue on the UP Omaha Sub to the north house. Once they have arrived outside the elevator these trains pull north through the north yard cross overs and are shoved back into the elevator tracks from the southbound the main. The north house elevator trains are only 79 cars inbound or 81 cars total with the two locomotives. Its a very tight fit on the elevator leads for these trains.

ex KCS NW2 at the North House

The north house employs a ex KCS NW2 switcher to position cars under the elevator load outs. This unit is still painted in KCS white but is missing the two exhaust stacks giving it a unique look.The unit is keep inside the load building until needed. When a train is being loaded it will work the load outs from the south end pushing cars toward the north end of the complex. 

The KCS power for the north house trains are parked on the north end of the elevator complex and are easily observed form Mynster Springs Rd. They can be photographed in the mornings, but the best lighting is in the evenings. NOTE - They are parked next to an active mainline and you will have to trespass to photograph with the sun. This area is marked as No Trespassing and you will be confronted by BNSF and UP Special Agents if seen trespassing.

Loaded trains are given a inspection and have there air hoses laced by the UP car department. Bad orders are identified and tagged for set out on the materials salvage lead. A UP extra crew is called and they assemble the train from the north end occupying the southbound main during this process.Once assembled they make a reverse move across Council Bluffs until they clear the BN Jct switch. BNSF crews will then board the train and proceed down the Council Bluffs sub to Pacific Jct., IA.

A north house train is curving through Council Bluffs and crossing the IAIS 

Bartlett - South House
South House trains follow the typical routing into Council Bluffs and take the switch at BN Jct to enter the Council Bluffs Sub. This part of the Council Bluffs sub contains a number of railroad crossings with the UP 12th St line being the first. The IAIS crossings are located just south of 16th St near the ex CRIP depot.

South house trains are pulled down to the elevator and then the train is positioned under the two loading shoots for loading. The south house uses two older shuttle wagons to handle the movement of the cars through the load outs. The road power is typically parked with the BNSF Council Bluffs switcher in the old yard south of 16th St. On occasion this power is "borrowed" and is used to pull a train over to the BNSF S. Omaha Gibson yard. The units can  also be parked in the old Milwaukee Road yard on occasion.

Late afternoons and evenings are the best for photographing the units while they are parked in the BNSF yard. NOTE - If you trespass to get close up photos of the units expect a visit from BNSF Special Agents. There is no need to trespass as photos can be taken from a public road.

A south house train being assembled.

Once the elevator has loaded a train the BNSF car department inspects the train and laces the air hoses. A switch crew from Gibson will then perform the process of assembling the train. The cars are pulled from the north end of the elevator and are parked on the new main. Not all cars will fit on the new main and the road crew will double over a short cut of cars once they have boarded the train.

Once assembled the road crew will take it down the Council Bluffs sub to Pacific Jct., IA to travel west on the Creston Sub.

Occasionally the switch crew will take a train down to Pacific Jct., IA and park it north of town. A road crew will then take the train west later as crews become available.

KCS haulage train awaiting a road crew at Pacific Jct. IA.

The last couple of Fridays

The new year hasn't presented me with too many opportunities for outings but I was able to venture out the last couple of Fridays for some quick train watching in Council Bluffs, IA.

February 24, 2012
An interesting snow squall came into the area during the mid afternoon which was followed by a brilliantly sunny late afternoon.  This low bright lighting convinced me to head out the door and see what was going on over in Council Bluffs.

Before heading across the river, I stopped along I-80 to get a quick grab shot of the DDA40X and Big Boy basking in the sun at Kennefick Park. It is interesting to think of what it took to get these locomotives up there. I wasn't living in the area when these where moved to the park, so I've only been able to see a few pictures of the moves.

Heading back across the river into Iowa and getting off at the Lake Manawa exit, I found the local BNSF switcher with BNSF 2702  parked at the south Bartlett elevator with a short train. There wan't a KCS grain train at this elevator so after a quick stop at Casey's for some gas a run to the north side of town was in order.

The CN had GT 5858 parked along side their yard office. Fridays is not a day that the local comes all the way into Council Bluffs so no road power was found in the yard. The CN of today is a very far cry from the ICG/CCP/IC days that I remeber when I was younger. I sure do miss those orange and white geeps that where the symbol of the ICG and CCP for me..

The old CNW yard or north yard as its called by the UP is still an fairly busy place. Through trains swap blocks, make set outs and pick-ups here and a switch job takes these cars cars back and forth between the original UP yard. A daily monster train (typically >180 cars and 6+ units) comes into Council Bluffs in the afternoons is the MNPCBB (double B as the crews call it) which uses the north yard. This train is broken into two trains; MCBVP and MCBSS for movement to their final terminals. MNPCBB-23 pulled into the yard with 5992-6284-7921-6540-5663-6541 and over 150 cars.

The north Bartlett elevator was busy loading a  KCS grain train. KCS 4621 and 4047 were parked along N.8th st. while the Bartlett ex KCS NW2 4222 was pushing cars through the loader.

The mainline out of the north yard was occupied by two trains. The head end of both of these trains was parked just south of the Beano's crossing at Musical Hills Ln. A northbound empty grain train with UP 5795-5802-8558 was on track one while a mixed freight was on track two with the UP 6718 leading another unknown unit. It is typical to find one train waiting for a southbound to clear before heading north, but with two trains holding there may have been MOW work somewhere between Missouri Valley and here.

With the sun setting I grabbed a burrito and headed over to MP 0.0 to sit and eat while the UP sent me some trains. First up was the MNPCH with UP 7644-4928 which was followed by a eastbound coal load with UP 5975-6381 and DPU 6001.

Since it was now dark, it was time to head for home.

March 2, 2012
Two brilliant Friday afternoons in a row are rare in this area for this time of year.Being able to spend some time out in sun is even rarer for me.

After work I was off to see what was going on and was rewarded with two clean KCS belles relaxing in the sun as a UP grain train was heading down the BNSF Council Bluffs sub to the Bunge bean plant. This is the first time I have seen three SD70Ms handling a UP grain train since I'd moved back to the midwest. Typically AC4400CW and SD90MACs are dragging these trains around. KCS 4779 and 4777 were the units parked in the BNSF yard while UP 4971-4364-3991 had the UP grain train in tow.

The CN switcher was still GT 5858 and since it was Friday no road power was in town.

UP YCB64 job was lined up on the south end of the north yard waiting for permission to head out onto the main, to cross over to track two and then head down the 12th st line. While this was going on the MPRCB was holding at ave G waiting for the yard job to make its movement west.

Once YCB64 was given permission to make its movement UP 826- 586 dragged their cars down the 12th st line and into the Pool yard.

The MRPCB did not have its typical all EMD power lashup.UP 5663-8084 were leading the PR  into Council Bluffs today. Besides having a GE in the consist the PR was about 8 hours late getting into the Bluffs, also. Typically the MPRCB gets into CB in the morning unless it has experienced issues across Iowa. As typical with the PR she will pull down the 12th st. line and head into the Pool yard to call it a day.

While the YCB64 job was making its movement across town the MNPCB-01 pulled up to 9th Ave to begin it preparations for pulling into the north yard. Since this train is so large it is often held at 9th Ave until it can get a straight shot into the yard. Any issues with it pulling into the yard will block all the crossings in Council Bluffs except for the Ave G and Broadway Ave over crossings. This tends to anger most of the town when this occurs.The MNPCBB was pulled by UP 6700-6208-5776-7034-6237-6292 and had over 175 cars to be setout on three tracks in the north yard.

With the double B tying up the town I headed over to the Durham Museum in Omaha to investigate the train that had dies on hours of service there. A dog catch crew had been sent over earlier but had not been able to continue east as the MNPCBB was blocking the mains during its movement into the yard. This train was powered by UP 4800-4885-unknown SD70M-2367.

After grabbing a shot of the train strung out into the setting sun it was time to head for home.

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.

Council Bluffs 03/19/10

A quick run through Council Bluffs, IA before heading for home.

BNSF yard

• KCS 4584
• KCS 4587

Both in gray and there outbound grain train was being loaded at Bartlet Grain.

• EMDX 783

Sitting on the main with a string of cars for Gibson yard.

• BNSF 2277 H1 scheme

Idling behind the KCS units

IAIS Yard

• IAIS 512
• IAIS ES44AC # unknown

Departing the engine terminal for the yard.

Power sitting in the engine terminal (not all engine numbers have been recorded)

• IAIS 703
• IAIS 512
• IAIS 601
• IAIS 721
• IAIS 708
• IAIS 152
• IAIS 155

Over the last month or so the SD38-2's in storage have been disappearing from Council Bluffs.

UP yard

Units in the engine terminal (not all units noted)

• UP 6750
• NS 9479
• UP 4421
• UP 4175
• UP 4809 FF
• UPY 591

Heading into the yard off the main.

• UP 2331
• UP 2363
• MP 13774 caboose
• no cars but a 5 man crew.

Unknown Z Train departing the pool yard.

• UP 7802
• UP 7786
• UP 5266

UP local at the old CNW yard

• UP 501
• UP 502

CN Yard

Road power was two SD40-2w's

• CN 5276
• CN 5321

Local switch unit

• CN 5644

UP at N. Council Bluffs

Unknown freight

• UP 7103
• UP AC44/60CW unit number unknown
• UP 1440