The Dakota and Iowa, the early years,

My first encounter with what would become the D&I (Dakota and Iowa) was oddly enough a view of their bright orange hoppers while sitting in an orthodontic exam chair. This was more than likely March or April of 1980, but like the building I was in, my the memory of the exact date is gone. I do remember a Milwaukee Road switcher moving the cars around the track beside the old Milwaukee Road freight house, though. This was probably near the end of the Milwaukee Roads cleanup of its Sioux City operations and may have been one of the last Milwaukee Road movements in the area.

Being 15 at the time, I relied on a bicycle and a 126 Instamatic camera to railfan with. Money for film and an obsession with the BN and anything ex Burlington directed my priorities elsewhere. I don't remember seeing anything more that year or have any photos of the LGE operation until the spring of 1981 when two ex-UP GP9's appeared in town with LG Everest logos on the cab sides. These two units moved those orange LGEX hoppers into the old Milwaukee east yard from South Dakota and could occasionally be seen on the ICG or CNW yard leads when they delivered cars. The BN seemed to gather up any cars from LGE when they would interchange with the CNW and ICG.

Spring of 1982 brought about a new image as the two GP9's were both repainted in a nice yellow and gray scheme similar to the old UP one they wore previously. My first encounter with the newly painted units was with LGEX 1 leading empty hoppers north out of Sioux City, Iowa during April of 1982.

LGEX 1 is slowly passing the old Milwaukee Road shop complex in Riverside, IA and will shortly cross the Big Sioux River to South Dakota.

The BN had done a massive tie replacement on the old Milw mainline out of Sioux City during the summer of 1981, but ballast and heavier rail were still in the works. The light rail is evident in the photo of LGEX 1 passing the old Milw shop complex in Riverside, IA. Within a month she would receive D&I logos along with the #2 and new acquired #3.

The spring 1983 brought a new look for the D&I. The GP20 #3 (ex BN 2019) they acquired during the 81-82 winter and the two GP 9's received chopped noses, though the GP20 was still setup to run long hood forward. The three units were often used together on the road trains and could be found on a regular basics in the old Milw east yard.

D&I #1,3,2 and an ex Milwaukee caboose, lay over in the old Milwaukee Road east yard in Sioux City, IA.

1984 revealed that additional units were added over the winter. Five ex-Milwaukee Road GP9's helped the D&I with switching duties along with the increase in train size and frequency. These units continued in their Milwaukee Road orange and black paint and road numbers with the D&I herald on the cab until the winter of 85-86. During that time they received D&I numbers 4 (ex 293), 5 (ex 328), 6 (ex 321), 7 (ex 323) & 8 (ex 303).

During 1985 thru 1987 the D&I continued on with these 8 units with up to 5 units being used on the road trains into Sioux City. December 1986 I left for the Air Force and left the railroad that I called my own. My time away brought many changes to the D&I. Increases in traffic and operations out of state brought 6 axle power to the railroad in the form of SD45's and SD39's. The years between 2012 and 2016 saw the retirement of the old Milw GP9's and the downgrading of the remaining GP9's to switcher status. Newer GP50's and GP39-2's have taken their place along with six SD40-2.

D&I 4 leads a rock train thru the old maze of tracks into the ICG yard for unloading at the cement plants served by the ICG in Sioux City.  

Five D&I units have a loaded rock train in tow thru Jefferson, SD.

Waiting for a BN core line train D&I 3 holds clear on the south leg of the wye at Elk Point, SD.

Snaking back down the CNW main from the old Milw main. D&I is taking the connecting track to the ICG main just west of the Cargill plant in Sioux City, IA.

Plenty of units for an empty rock train, but slow track means this train will take awhile to get to Hawarden. Crossing the Big Sioux river into South Dakota.

Sitting in a cold late fall rain, this is the last time I would see these units in Milwaukee Road paint. D&I 303 and 321 laying over in Sioux City.

During the winter of 85-86, the D&I completed the chop nose conversions on the ex-Milw units and changed to a black and yellow scheme. Rumor at the time was the UP took offense to the gray and yellow and forced the change. 

Parked under the car shaker in Sioux City, D&I 6,7,4 & 5 dead on a cold December day in 1986.

Some finds in a yellow box

Moving has its disadvantages and advantages, especially went it comes to rediscovering lost or forgotten items. While going through a tote with a bunch of photo envelopes I came across a long, thin, yellow plastic slide box. This box contained a roll of 126 slides that were developed in 1986 but had been exposed during the late fall of 1981.

Now before the purist turn their noses up and scream ack, 126 Instamatic wtf, it should be told that as a 15 year old this was the best I had in a camera at the time. I wouldn't get my first 35mm until Christmas 1981 in the form of a Pentax K1000.

So why make a blog post on this find, it's not for the technical purity of the images, but rather for the bit of history that was captured. The late fall of 1981 was a dramatic change for the BN in my hometown. Since 1908 there has been a CB&Q/BN terminal in South Sioux City (Ferry), NE and a separate GN/BN terminal in Sioux City, IA separated by a weight restricted 1888 link pin truss bridge over the Missouri River. Starting in 1980 the BN started the process of replacing this bridge to allow for heavier trains on the Sioux City line. The opening of this bridge in Dec 1981 lead to the closing of the So Sioux City terminal and consolidation of operations into the old GN yard in Sioux City, IA.

Three clean SD40-2's lead the first revenue train across the new Missouri River bridge between So. Sioux City, NE and Sioux City, IA.

Laying over in the old Q Ferry, NE engine terminal, a set of bridge power waits for a northbound train to take across the weight restricted Missouri River bridge to Sioux City, IA.

Road power waits for their train to be dragged over from Sioux City, IA before taking over from the bridge power for the trip south.

At the old GN service track in Sioux City an unusual lashup of U33C and SD9 await service before taking a train north to Wilmar, MN. 

Some other images on this 20 shot roll include a couple of CNW and ICG shots included below for a look back. 

EMNPA power sits in the cold as their train is switched in the Sioux CIty, IA yard.

Having brought in their train earlier in the day these two GP10's rest outside the old IC engine house in Sioux City, IA. This engine house still exist as a machine shop for Cargill but the IC and GP10's are gone.

December Blair Sub Construction Update 21012

A week before Christmas I was able to get out and take a look at the construction progress on the Blair Sub. In short not much has taken place but there are a couple of items worth reporting.

Arlington, NE

The new double track bridge was cut in in late November. This involved replacing the current bridge with the construction of a new double track concrete deck bridge.

At the grain elevator in Arlington MOW crews were noted working with panel track sections. I do not know what they were doing or if these panels are going to be used in the area.

Kennard, NE

The biggest development is the relaying of the old Kennard siding as the second main track. This section was completely rebuilt and two new bridges were installed as part of this rebuild. The track had been laid and connected at the old West Kennard switch but had not been ballasted when I visited. Crews where noted moving ballast regulators and tampers into the spur on the west side of Kennard. Once this track is finished the line will be double tracked from CP Allen Creek to a mile east of California Jct, IA and then from CP Duffy on the southwest side of Blair to the west end of the old Kennard siding.

Fremont to Missouri Valley

From east Fremont, NE to Missouri Valley, IA no new work was noted. The new row that was created from west Kennard to the west side of Arlington is ready for ties and rail to be installed. The crossings that will receive flashers have had the new bases installed and signal boxes all wired for the installations.

A UP conductor was noted as indicating that the union announced that no new work would occur on the project until 2014. There was no indication that the current work would be finished in 2013 or if the project  will be dormant until 2014.

Spring weather and time will tell.

South Central NE

It had been awhile since I really went out and did some exploring and while building a map of industrial locomotives I got the urge to get out and look for some industrial units close by. With my work schedule and always being on call every 3 weeks I don't have much free time but I had a spur of the moment idea to take the 9th off to explore.

I headed out the door a bit later than I had liked but was able to get to all the areas I wanted to before the day was over. Heading to Lincoln to head south for the first planned stop of Hallam, NE I made a detour over to Hwy 6 from I-80 to follow the BNSF into Havelock. \

Ashland was quite and I didn't see my first train until I was west of town about 3 miles. A westbound empty coaler was sitting at the cross overs between Ashland and Greenwood. Since it was just a couple of plain Jane ES44AC's for power I continued on west and was surprised to find a Habsco rail grinder in the house track at Greenwood. This train set has the two ex GE B30-7's as power units for the grinder cars and movement.

RMSX 1101 rail grinder at Greenwood NE

After a brief look around the train it was time to head westbound again. Next up was the MKCKWIL sitting in Waverly, NE and a westbound Maresk double stack stopped between Waverly and Havelock. I stopped to get shots of both because I typically do not get harassed while taking shots from Hwy 6.

MKCKWIL sitting on the main waiting for a new crew at Waverly, NE

BNSF 6712 leads a Maresk double stack sitting east of Havlock, NE

I caught the tail end of the "rush" hour traffic in Lincoln and just headed right on through town on Hwy 6 to Hwy 77 south. Driving over the BNSF yard I caught a glimpse of BNSF 9999 and a number of other units including some SD40-2 hump engines.

The first stop of was Hallam, NE at the NPPD power plant. NPPD has a GP38-2 as the switcher located at the power plant just north of town. This is also the end of the line for the old RI mainline north out of Fairbury NE. Unfortunately there was a coal train being unloaded and the unit was not visibly from the road. I'll have to check it out the next time I'm down in that area.

With Hallam being a bust I got back on Hwy 77 and headed for Beatrice, NE and the Alco that lives at the coop elevator. Relco 707 and SNCC 2004 are used to shuffle empty grain hoppers but today they were being serviced by a mobile Relco crew. SW7 SNCC 2004 was being worked on while I was there. Not sure what they were working on but the fireman side doors for the compressor where open and a guy was noted under the unit working near the air reservoir tanks.

SNCC 2004 and Relco 707 resting under a hazy dusty morning sky.

While finding my way down to the coop I stumbled across some rare surviving freight cars; B17/B24 aircraft wing cars. They are no longer on trucks but were fairly intact with the old Burlington Route herald still visible on one side of each of the cars. Both are sitting on cinder block foundations just east of the coop being used for sheds.

B17/B24 aircraft wind car used as a storage shed.

While two more have been incorporated into a warehouse at the Beatrice Scrap Shredder yard.

Beatrice Scrap Shredder warehouse.

Having found the first Alco of the day I took off for Plymouth NE for the next one on my mental list. RLCX 1051 an S-2 is assigned to the local coop and had just finished loading a grain train in the last day or two. The loads were sitting southwest of the coop waiting for the UP to come and drag them out of town.

My next stop was Jansen, NE. I wasn't really sure what would be found there as both Google Earth and Bing images of the area are of low quality. The images seem to show an Alco switcher on the north east side of the town but only a visual inspection would confirm this. Unfortunately the switcher was not to be found but a rather nice looking GP7 is used to shuffle around the grain cars. The thought of an Alco was nice but the sight of a GP7 in 2012 is also a nice one.

JLCX 101 resting in the mid morning sun in Jansen, NE

Having finished getting my shots and a frame number of the unit it was time to head down to Fairbury and to check out the town. On the agenda was to get a shot of the old RI division point depot/office which I was able to do, but I also tripped over a couple of other interesting items.Over on the UP main an old RI/CNW snowplow was sitting on a spur. This old RI plow was probably used in this area while working for the RI but in her painted CNW colors she looked out of place.

In the area between the RI depot and the road is a small park containing an ex RI gas electric and the ex CB&Q depot from Kesterson, NE. The gas electric is looking pretty rough and the old Q depot is in the grounds of the riding train that is east of the depot. 

ex CRIP gas electric stuff and mounted

ex CB&Q Kesterson NE depot

Fairbury was my turn around point though I wouldn't be going home the same direction I had came, so I continued to travel west to go east. After making the turn north on Hwy 81 at Hebron, NE I headed up to Carlton, NE to check out the Alco S-2 working at the elevator. 

The 'downtown" area of Carlton is south of Hwy 4 and I soon made my way from Hwy 4 down to the elevators only to be disappointed that the Alco was nowhere to be found. I did happen to notice that the new flood loader that had been built on the west side of town had a CN painted loco that needed to be checked out. I was able to drive up to the area where the unit was parked and got a semi distant shot of CGAX 6128. This unit appears to be an the ex IC 6128 but I could not get up close to check for frame numbers to confirm its heritage. The one item I noticed is the unit may have been deturboed and may now be an SD38-2.

CGAX 6128 at Carlton NE

After the side trip to Carlton I back tracked 6 miles to Hwy 81 for the next stop in Fairmont, NE. Before getting to Fairmont a stop in Geneva to grab a quick shot of the derelict ex GTW 0-8-0 that resides on the north side of town was in order. Its strange seeing this loco out in the open miles from active rail

Missing a lot of parts.

After this little diversion it was back on the road to Fairmont. I wanted to catch the GP10 that works the ethanol plant on the west side of Hwy 81 but was only able to catch a long distance glimpse. So I took off for the next objective; Manning Rail.

First unit I was able to get to was the Watco SW2 being prepped for interchange. Railserve was onsite installing alignment couplers and was about half way completed. A local stopped to talk to me and stated that they had to finish the job today so the unit can be moved to Birmingham, AL. Since it was already 2 pm I don't think they got it done in time.

WAMX 105 an SW1 repowered with a Cummins genset.

 After walking around and getting shots of the SW2, I walked over to its replacement unit. Manning Rail 4602 had been delivered in the last couple of weeks and was looking good in red and blue. Unfortunately the unit is positioned so that its a morning photo. Since I'm was about 2 hours from home I took the shots anyway.

Manning Rail 4602 at Fairmont, NE.

Since I had a 4 pm appointment back in Omaha it was time to leave. All in all it was a good trip even though two Alcos couldn't be found. 

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

Blair Sub Construction Update West to East

On June 4th I took the day off to explore the construction progress on the UP Blair sub and for a change of pace started in Fremont, NE and headed east to Missouri Valley, IA. A map of the various observation points is below.




View Blair Sub Changes in a larger map


Fremont to Arlington, NE
Currently there is no activity from east Fremont to the east side of Arlington, NE.The various survey stakes that I have noted in the past around Arlington and near the west side of the Elkhorn river have disappeared again after being placed back out over the winter.

Arlington, NE to Co Rd P34
ROW Grading has progressed up to the creek on the east side of Arlington. 

Looking west at Co Rd P11 at new ROW.

The west side of Co Rd P11 appears to be nearly ready for the laying of the sub base aggregate. The ROW east from Co Rd P11 also appears to also be ready for sub base aggregate work.

Looking east at Co Rd P1.

Foliage is now blocking any views of work being done between Co Rd P11 and Co Rd 15. At the Co Rd 15 crossing UP crews were noted digging trenches to be used for new signaling and crossing gates. The foundations for the new crossing gates have been installed on the east side of the crossing and are awaiting the installation of electrical and signal wiring.

The ROW looking west and east from the crossing appears to be near a state were the aggregate sub base can be installed.

Looking west from Co Rd P34 toward the old narrow cut at the top of Arlington Hill now revels a wide and gently sloping hill on the south side with the north side having remained untouched and fully covered in trees. 

Looking west toward the summit of Arlington Hill. The old cut has been significantly widened.

The ROW west from the Co Rd P34 crossing to Co Rd 15 appears to be in a condition where aggregate sub base could be poured after a little bit of grading working.

Co Rd P34 to the Hwy 30 ovc

Some of the more dramatic work being done is on the east side of Arlington Hill. The area to the east of Co Rd P34 has been dramatically changed and is still being worked on. Most of these changes will allow for more photography opportunities once this project is completed as the hill is being trimmed back and sloped.

Overlooking the curve to the east of Co Rd P34

Crossing view looking east from Co Rd. P34

The once prominent hill side has been cut back along the existing main. This has also cut into the farm land in this area.It will be interesting to see if the field is replanted after the project is completed of if the UP now owns this land.

Eastbound stack train crossing through the work area.

Currently the side of the hill to the east of the curve where Co Rd 17 and Co Rd 34 combine is being cut back from the existing mainline. The cut back process is occurring in stages resembling a stair case. I was able to watch some of the activity but this area has heavy truck traffic and was a beehive of activity while I was there. Be careful if you visit this area during the week as the loaded and empty trucks are moving trough the area at a pretty good clip.

Further down the east side of the hill crews are busy installing a new open deck concrete bridge. This bridge is located between Co Rd 17 and Co Rd 19.

An eastbound stack trains DPU passes the new bridge construction zone on the east side of Arlington Hill.

Current the best viewing spot for this activity if from Co Rd 17 looking down the field toward the creek. The work can also be seen from Co Rd 19 looking west.

Co Rd 19 has had some more ROW work done since I last visited, but there was no activity noted there other than the bridge work to the west of the crossing.

Co Rd 21 east toward the Hwy 30 over crossing is now active, with grading progressing at a pretty good pace. Since I was last out here the ROW has been graded and work is progressing at a fast pace.

Looking east toward Hwy 3o from C Rd 21

The ROW has been graded up to the grade crossing at Co Rd 21. Tractor pulled scrappers were noted working from the Hwy 30 ovc toward the middle of this stretch of ROW but there was no activity near the Co Rd 21 crossing.

Grading work as seen from the Hwy 30 bridge.

At the Co Rd 21 crossing it appears that the alignments will do a swap. The existing main appears to be poised to move to the new ROW that was carved into the side of the hill over the winter, while the existing ROW will be used for the new second main. Time will tell if this is what occurs or not.

Hwy 30 ovc to Kennard, NE
The embankment under the Hwy 30 bridge has been cut back and contoured to allow for the second main to fit under the current bridge. This will create a narrowing of the ROW as it goes through this area.

Westbound stack about to cross under Hwy 30.

Bridge work still continues on the west end of the old Kennard siding. The center line of this bridge has been moved over around 3 feet to allow for a wider distance between the two mains once completed.

West end of  the old Kennard siding bridge work. 

Pilings have been driven for this bridge and the end plates for the abutments are onsite and ready to be installed. Sheet piles have been driven along the existing mainline to add stability while the dirt is excavated for the abutments to be installed.An interesting side observation is the existing bridge on the main is a wooden pile and deck bridge. It will be interesting to see if it is also replaced during this project.

The ROW has been partially graded for the new main along where the old Kennard siding was located up to the Papio creek bridge near the center of the old siding. The old road that was once Hwy 30 is a staging area for the various concrete bridge components for the new bridge over the creek.

Bridge components staged for installation.

Partial grade work on old Kennard siding.

To the west of Linn st in Kennard, the ROW has been "cleaned" up and appears ready for the installation of the cross-over from the existing main to what will be the new second main.

Looking west from the Linn st crossing in Kennard, NE.

From Kennard to CP Duffy the new main has been in place and used since earlier this year.

Corning Ave IA to California Jct. IA

Work is nearing completion on the new bridge over the slough between Corning Ave and Austin Ave. west of California Jct., IA. Crews where seen working on the bridge decking and the west end of the bridge is being prepared for fill work where the bridge will meet the new ROW.

New bridge over the slough east of Corning Ave.

On the east side of the slough the ROW is being worked on with sub grade aggregate being dumped from the bridge to Austin Ave. East of Austin Ave. the sub grade aggregate has been dumped and extended to about the west leg of the wye from the Sioux City sub to the Blair Sub.

Looking west from Austin Ave at the new ROW.

Looking east from Austin Ave at the new ROW.

I did find it interesting that the new ROW appears wide enough to support two additional tracks. My speculation is there will be a third track located here to allow for crew changes to occur much like the third track on the east side of California Jct.

Looking west from Fremont Ave in California Jct., crews where noted working on signal and communication cabling and some ROW grading. This area will be dramatically changed once this project is completed.

Looking west from Fremont Ave in California Jct.

California Jct., IA to Missouri Valley, IA

East from Fremont Ave in California Jct, the UP has laid the new main and the third main east toward Italy Ave. On the 4th there was a string of about 20-25 ballast cars tied down on what will be the new main and a number of track MOW machines parked on what will be the third main. Both of these tracks are not tied into the existing main at Italy Ave, though. Both sets of tracks stop just west of Italy Ave and there is are no tracks laid on the east side of Italy Ave. The new switch that was built earlier in the spring is still located to the east side of Italy Ave.

New third main looking west from Italy Ave.

Italy Ave looking east with the new switch for the main.

New second main track looking west from Italy Ave.

In Missouri Valley there was no work noted except at Canal st where crews were noted preforming maintenance on the cross overs located there. The crossing was also shut down at Canal St making it difficult to observe what was occurring.

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