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.

WSC

np: Baboon - "You and I"

Family and Fostoria

Friday, June 12... M and I would be starting back toward Chicago, but first the B-family would be hosting a brunch in our honor in Massillon.

Me with my four cousins

The next generation. M (second from left) with 10 of my aunt & uncle's 11 grandkids. (K, who had joined us for the Indians game, was at day camp and was absent for this photo).

We had a great time visiting with my dad's sister and her family... we were long overdue for a visit and we'll try not to take so long before returning for our next one. Thanks, y'all!

The sun came out as we drove west along CSX's former Baltimore & Ohio main line that afternoon, and we made several stops for photos of trains in nice light. The most interesting spot was the town of Fostoria, which features the junctions of three busy rail lines. By some counts, over 150 trains a day pass through the town. Trains rolled through one after another while we were there.

A CSX switch job works on the former B&O line at Fostoria.

Plenty of company: at least a dozen other fans were on hand for Friday night at Fostoria.

Along the NS former Nickel Plate line in Fostoria.

NS westbound Roadrailers on the NKP.

Fostoria station sign and CSX stacks.

NKP lettering on railway overpass.

The other side of the bridge - B&O logo.

We spent the night in Kendallville, Indiana, and would continue toward Chicago on Saturday.

Stay tuned for the next report...

WSC

np: M watching Simpsons dvd's - Season 11

Spring Break breakdown - 4.1

El Camino Real Tour 2009

March 18: Miss C and her son C joined me for a day trip out on the El Camino Real between San Antonio and Santa Fe. Objectives for the day: locate a ghost sign in Socorro, visit the Albuquerque Museum of Art & History to see their Alvarado Hotel exhibit, and photograph the Albuquerque Rail Runner commuter trains on their recently opened line to Santa Fe. It would be a full day, but we were up to the task...

On the road between Carrizozo and San Antonio.

Our first stop would be at San Antonio, where we took a look around town and checked out the Santa Fe's San Antonio depot.

BNSF El Paso Sub: looking north toward Belen.

"This used to be my railroad..."

The old depot has been moved off of the railroad's right-of-way.

What's inside?

faded lettering and peeling paint

Mother and son pose for a photo.

Stay tuned for more. Coming next, a stop in Socorro.

WSC

np: Stevie Ray Vaughan - "Give me back my wig"

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...

WSC

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

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