Big power, big train

On Sunday, June 8, the kids joined me for a train chase to Cresson. Fort Worth & Western ran a "Cresson Turn" (Ft Worth to Cresson and back) with 5 locomotives (including all three of their SD40-2s) and 51 cars. The Barnett Shale drilling projects southwest of Fort Worth are generating an enormous amount of traffic for our local shortline; FWWR is operating trains this long -- or longer -- just about every day.

Our first photo was this picturesque broadside view of the train crossing Mustang Creek.

Climbing upgrade approaching Cresson - FWWR 2017 in the lead.

Arriving at Cresson, where the crew would set out their entire train to the siding. (Note that the yard tracks in the background were already full).


Santa Fe CTC signals are still in place on the line west of Ft Worth, which FWWR now operates under Track Warrant Control.

We observed a pair of Colossus sketches at Cresson.

Running light back to the yard office after setting their train out.

Coming up next... Day One of the NRHS (National Railway Historical Society) Convention in Fort Worth.

WSC

np: Billy Joe Shaver - "I don't seem to fit anywhere"

Spring switching

In late April, we had a nice stretch of those really nice, north Texas spring days that just make you want to get outside and do something -- anything -- as long as it's outdoors. On Monday 04/28, I headed out to Cresson to see what the Fort Worth & Western was up to.

A great day for railroading: April 28 on the Ft Worth & Western at Cresson, TX

FWWR 2010 works at Cresson on April 28

Fallen flag logos on sand hoppers at Cresson

Colossus drawing

Later, in Fort Worth, I caught a couple of switch jobs working at the south end of UP's Ney Yard (former MKT yard on the south side of town).

Genset trio photographed from the Berry St. overpass

3-point contact

An oddball trio (GP38-2 / MP15 / Genset) works at the south end of Ney yard.

It's hard to do much driving around the south side without finding a few other interesting things to shoot...

Producers Grain Corp - South Main St. in Ft Worth

This "bad bitch" was giving me the evil eye.

WSC

np: Four-Mile Mule - "Black eyed Jane"

Cresson trains, blog hiatus

On Thursday morning, I spent some time watching the Fort Worth & Western switch cars at Cresson. Traffic out there has increased dramatically during the past few years; virtually all of it is related to Barnett Shale petroleum drilling projects. The small yard at Cresson is crammed full of covered hoppers loaded with frac sand and gondola loads of steel pipe.

Fort Worth & Western switches sand cars at Cresson - October 18, 2007.

A crew member studies his switch list.

An interesting collection of fallen-flag logos at Cresson.

B&O "Capitol" logo and ACI tag

Gone vacationin'

Due to my upcoming travel plans, readers will be without my services for about the next 10 days. I should have some interesting stories and photos to share around the end of the month. Until then...

WSC

np: Wayne Hancock - "California Blues"

nr: back issues of TRAINS magazine covering Tehachapi Loop and Cajon Pass