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Freightliner Heavy Haul 66510 has just arrived at the junction at Ravenstruther in a heavy downpour. Two photographers were attempting to shelter from the rain amongst some scrappy trees on the side of the road while trying to keep their cameras dry and capture the action. The train will wait for the signal before pushing back to the loading point to the right of frame. August 2, 2011.
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Freightliner Heavy Haul 66510 has just arrived at the junction at Ravenstruther in a heavy downpour. Two photographers were attempting to shelter from the rain amongst some scrappy trees on the side of the road while trying to keep their cameras dry and capture the action. After receiving a clear signal, the train pushes back to the loading point to the right of frame. August 2, 2011.
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BNSF EMD SD40-2 6717 still sporting its BN green, switches coal cars at Alliance NE on June 28, 2010.
In the background is a line of stored EMD SD70 locos mainly in the Grinstein green & cream made redundant by the downturn in coal traffic due to closure of coal-fired power stations and the Global Financial Crisis (GFC).
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BNSF 6342-6059 with 9297 hidden by trees shoving in the rear, power an empty coal drag past some collapsing hay bales just outside Hyannis NE on a mostly sunny day with some puffy clouds on May 31, 2010.
6342, 6059 = GE ES44AC; 9297 = EMD SD70ACe
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Framed by the spreading limb of a shady tree, BNSF 6425-9895 rolling through Hyannis with an empty coal drag on May 31, 2010
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Matched pair of BNSF GE ES44AC 6075-6142 roll round an s-curve in Nebraska with a load of Powder River coal, passing 8880 (EMD SD70MAC) shoving an empty towards the mine on June 1, 2010.
Note the distinctive green top on 8880!
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BNSF EMD SD70MAC 9844 rolling downgrade through s-curves and green-tinged rolling sandhills near Seneca at 15:35 on May 31, 2010. Pushing at the other end was 9161 (SD70ACe).
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Empty coal drag with a pair of BNSF GE ES44MACs up front (5820-5766), sit in the crossing loop outside Alliance NE waiting to cross (meet) a loaded coal train at 18:50 on May 28, 2010.
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Empty BNSF Coal Drag with 6208-8818 sweeping round a big s-curve in the rolling hills near Ashby Nebraska on May 31, 2010.
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UP 8058, EMD SD9043AC
UP 5825, GE C44ACCTE
BNSF 6173, GE ES44AC
BNSF 5632, GE AC44CW
After the head end passed, I noticed this crossing gate laying alongside the tracks (there was enough debris around that I genuinely didn't see it at first), so I swapped lenses and got a shot with the train going past.
And for those who are wondering, yes, there are two brand new shiny crossing gates at 98th St. now.
A coal empty heads westbound on the Creston Subdivision as a crossing gate lays among tornado debris in Lincoln, Nebraska, April 28, 2024.
I'm sure you've all heard about it by now, but there was a large tornado outbreak in Nebraska and Iowa on Friday. One of the tornadoes touched down on north Lincoln. Thankfully it missed me, but others weren't as fortunate.
The rain has continued throughout the weekend, and after driving to Omaha to photograph a softball match, the rain led them to cancel, so I turned around and headed home. On my way back, I decided to stop to photograph some of the damage between Lincoln and Waverly. While I was turning around to get to the tracks, this guy popped out from under the overpass, so I quickly got to the intersection to shoot him coming past the damage. I got lucky as the slightest bit of light pierced through the storm clouds to illuminate the leader.
Can't say no to that.
BNSF SD70ACe 8585 leads a coal empty westbound on the Creston Subdivision past tornado damage in Lincoln, Nebraska, April 28, 2024.
BNSF 8941, EMD SD70MAC
BN 9443, EMD SD70MAC
BNSF 5948. GE ES44AC
KCS 4696, GE ES44AC
BNSF 8941, EMD SD70MAC
BN 9443, EMD SD70MAC
BNSF 9657, EMD SD70MAC, ex BN 9657
BN 9505, EMD SD70MAC
It's been a bit, huh?
February has been incredibly busy between work and family stuff, so getting out with the camera has been on the backburner for a little while. Not to mention that the sun has only just starting being up late enough for me to get out after work. Time has not been on my side.
Luck hasn't been on my side either, judging by how last night and tonight went.
While on my way to an operation session in Omaha, I saw what looked to be a swoosh geep coming at me on the Creston outside Waverly. I was confused, thinking maybe they ran standard cabs on the LINLIN that day. However, I was even more confused when I saw that it was at GP40X and a GP60M leading a unit coal hopper set. You heard me--geeps on a coal train in 2024. Judging by the symbol, BNSF sent the Havelock power up to Abel on the Sioux City sub to pull a set of coal hoppers out of storage. On top of that, there wasn't a cloud in the sky and the golden hour light was beautiful.
You'll notice that there isn't a photo of that here. That's because I, in my infinite wisdom, had grown accustomed to keeping the camera gear packed up at home for basketball season. You can see where I'm going with this. There was no way I could turn around, get my camera from home, and beat him to the yard before he would be in. So, I had to watch him go by and spent the rest of the night kicking myself for not having the camera along.
Fast forward to this afternoon and I decide I'm going to shoot something if it kills me. Once I got off work, I checked and saw this PAM train with a heavy set at Ashland heading my way. I ran home, got the camera, and booked it up to 84th St. However, dispatch did not have the same sense of urgency that I had, and by the time they were lined into town, the sun had dipped behind the big cottonwood across the field behind me. So, instead of a nice golden hour wedge at the wide open crossing, I instead had to shoot him across the field and with the weeds along the ROW.
I'll learn my lesson one of these days.
BNSF ET44ACH 3304 leads a coal empty westbound on the Creston Subdivision into Lincoln, Nebraska, February 29, 2024.