the Great White South

In case you didn't hear about it, north Texas received a record snowfall back in February. We set a new record for snow on a calendar day when the D-FW Airport measured 11.2 inches on Thursday, February 11, and a separate record for a 24-hour total (12.5 inches fell between 4 a.m. on the 11th and 4 a.m. on the 12th). Wet and sloppy, it was a bitch to get around in, but fun to look at... and of course the first thing I thought about was getting out to snap a few train photos...

Meeting Steve G at "the spot" in Saginaw. He was on the phone with Dave to find out where the trains were.

The snow didn't slow down the southbound "Heartland Flyer" too much; it was close to on time when it passed through Saginaw.

snowy gensets - Saginaw, TX

By Friday morning, the snowfall had ended, but the skies remained overcast, and north Texas continued to resemble the set of a certain Coen Brothers movie...

Snow day # 2: UP Gensets in Roanoke

By Saturday, the skies had cleared, temperatures were warming, and life would begin returning to normal as the snow started to melt...

This southbound at Birds siding in south Fort Worth had just come to a stop and switched off its headlights and ditch lights when I snapped this photo.

a snowman in every yard...

Ironically, Mom was on a trip to Antarctica during our blizzard. She could have seen just as much snow and ice if she'd stayed here.

Coming next... introducing "Miss L" and a review of a Tim Barry performance in Dallas.

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np: Ninja Gun - "Permanent Press"

North Texas White Christmas

We've enjoyed plenty of 70-degree Christmases in Texas over the years, but this year gave us something different: actual snow on Christmas Eve (which remained on the ground on Christmas Day, and then some!) Driven by fierce 40-mph wind gusts which blew it into large drifts, it was the kind of snow that's more enjoyable to stay inside and look at rather than step outside and experience. Of course, I was at work on Christmas Eve, but I stepped outside the NOC long enough to snap this photo of something rarely seen...

White Christmas Eve in north Fort Worth

Before I went to work on the 24th, we celebrated Christmas with the kids at Mom's house.

M had a good haul this year...

L's credo

M's favorite gift - the Lego pirate ship

This "reindeer tongue" sucker was runner-up in the "bad taste in Christmas candy" category...

"Bad taste in Christmas candy" winners: Panda and polar bears that poop brown jelly beans

Even Sprocket got a gift: a chewable rubber tongue

I worked on Christmas, too. Not a single train moved until 7 pm, by which time I had enjoyed the nice catered dinner that the company provides for dispatchers on Christmas Day. Before work, I stopped through Saginaw to snap a photo...

White Christmas in Saginaw.

Hope all of my family and friends had an enjoyable holiday season.

Stay tuned for more coming soon.

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np: Wayne Hancock - "Track 49"

Back to the tracks

I haven't been getting out to shoot trains a whole lot lately -- just once or twice a month. Here are some highlights from the past few months.

BNSF empty coal at Herman, TX - BNSF Wichita Falls Sub

Gensets on the 110 job - Saginaw, TX - July 2009

Brookville Genset in Roanoke, TX - July 2009

UP westbound at Judd (between Weatherford and Ranger, one of my favorite spots on the UP Baird Sub.) August 2009.

Sunset meet - Judd, TX. August 2009.

The "Pig Dance": KCS and BNSF trains exchange UPS trailers. Metro, TX. August 2009.

Out after dark: Ferromex 4662 at 17th Street in Fort Worth.

Behind the power... still flickin' freights. SP auto parts boxcar in Fort Worth.

Benching the storage tracks in Roanoke... M flicks a Whistle Blower.

That's all for now... stay tuned for photos from Anime Fest in Dallas.

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np: Baboon - "You and I"

Springtime in Texas

I can't think of many better ways to celebrate springtime in Texas than being out by the tracks, enjoying clear skies, a cool breeze, and green landscapes (and they're getting greener with the recent rains we've had). M joined me on April 5 for an afternoon north of Ft. Worth.

Pacing a KCS GE through Ponder

BNSF officers' special south of Krum. This was our mission for the day, but we saw lots of other good stuff, too...

M was glad to be along for the ride.

Sunday benchings

car load of wheels

Southbound grain loads south of Krum

When the train stops, we practice our dance moves...

Grain empties in Saginaw

Coming next... ??? Stay tuned.

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np: Husker Du: "Don't want to know if you are lonely"

Native American summer

October is my favorite month to live in north Texas. The weather has cooled off from the heat of summer, the air has dried out, and behind every cold front there's a stretch of sunny days and pleasant temperatures that I wish could last forever. Even when I'm preoccupied with other things in my life, I always try to get out at least a few times to enjoy the weather and shoot some photos...

A BNSF military train with KCS locomotives waits for a crew in Haslet on October 2.

Another look - KCS 669 at Haslet, TX.

After coupling the crossing in Haslet, the conductor caught a taxi down to Blue Mound Road and waited for his train to catch up with him.

KCS 4684 in the "Southern Belle" scheme leads southbound grain loads through Saginaw on the UP Duncan Sub.

KCS 4684 at 17th Street in Fort Worth

A GP15-1 / Genset combo works a switch job south of UP's Ney Yard in Fort Worth.

On October 7, Ft. Worth & Western 2010 switches an industry near Cleburne on the former Santa Fe Cresson Subdivision.

Check back in a few days for more... I've got a Fred Eaglesmith show to review, plus photos from another recent trip to Six Flags... coming soon.

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np: Macon Greyson - "Fine Line"

Day in North America 2008

Well, on Saturday, July 26, it was that time again... time to go shoot photos for "Day in North America". Sponsored by Railroads Illustrated magazine, DINA occurs once a year. It's a date when railfans throughout North America are encouraged to shoot photos of railroad-related subjects, and then submit them for publication in a special issue of the magazine. I have participated almost every year for the past 10 years or so. This year, I was scheduled to work 2nd shift in the afternoon (wonder if anyone photographed any of MY trains...) but I still had the morning free.... here are the results:

I began the day at Saginaw with a pair of Gensets tied down on an industry job...

A Great Northern wood-chip gon, now in BNSF maintenance-of-way service, was on hand on the Saginaw transfer. A great catch!

"Rocky the Goat" logo

BNSF 9614 leads a coal load into Saginaw...

BNSF 5510 leads northbound Z-ALTWSP north of Justin...

KCS 2018 at Metro. This train was delivering UPS loads for BNSF's Z ALTWSP to pick up.

The KCS 220 job waits in the clear while the BNSF train picks up UPS loads...

Finishing the "pig dance"... The KCS gives the BNSF conductor a ride back to the head-end of his train.

A few logos from DINA...

Coming next: "This is my railroad". Stay tuned...

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np: kids still sleeping past 9 am. This is the last week they'll get away with that... school starts August 25!

Recent railroading

I've been preoccupied with things other than trains lately, and haven't gotten out to shoot photos much during most of the summer. But I have been out a couple times... On Sunday, July 13, M joined me for an evening trip to Saginaw, where we shot a couple of BNSF industry jobs, some monikers, and a UP empty rock train.

Hamming it up for Dad...

Waiting for a signal at Saginaw Interlocker

Geeps and gensets side-by-side

"Lost Job"

Thomas-esque

A trio of GP60s leads northbound rock empties.

A southbound waits at Hicks to meet the rock empties.

Coming next... my Day in North America shoot from July 26.

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np: Kentucky Colonels - "Shady Grove"