2011 3Q

A pair of FWWR 38's wait on a new crew to take them back to home base. The large maze of overpasses is the I-30/I-35W interchange.

A pair of robots build a train in Ney Yard.

This pair is building a train in Davidson Yard. 2150 was ordered by Rock Island, served UP and is now a member of the GATX pool. I suppose it's current scheme isn't too different than the last scheme of CRI&P.

Chugging over the bridge and through the woods, this mixed freight is now arriving at Davidson Yard.

Formerly C&NW 8819.

A coal train and grain train wait on fresh crews before racing north.

Woosh! Looks like 7512 took quite a punch suffering a dentend nose, wrinkled outer cab skin, and losing both plow and cab steps. This train has just left Alliance Yard heading north less than 5 minutes ago and is already up to 50 per.

Classy!

Unusual to see a KCS unit leading a northbound BNSF manifest but definitely a nice change.

A loaded coal train heads north(ish) towards Alliance Yard after picking up a fresh crew. 8972 has a large dent between the numberboards, a somewhat unusual location for damage.

After waiting on a UP ballast train to clear the Grapevine Vintage Railroad gets underway for it's final destination at the Fort Worth Stockyards.

The vine covered stalk looks more like a tree than telephone pole.

Another grain train. So many run through Ft. Worth they become as common as coal.

This is former SP 214. Note the UP shields on the nose, the lightening bolt on the lower nose stripe and shaddered cab window.

I was very surprised to catch this unpatched, original paint, Rio Grande switcher parked in Saginaw. The sign in front of the radiator intake states "automatic shutters keep clear". Note the new pilot face and rear stepwell gusset. This shot alone made my day.

This switcher looks like it was ordered with every option available.

Formerly BN/BNSF now a member of the GATX pool and working next to the BNSF North Yard. Note the weedcutter plow.

If Espee had survived, I wonder if this is how this diesel would have ended up looking.

Bit of an oil leak.

New to the database, this loco was built for Mopac with a four holed exhaust manifold and no dynamic brakes. Note the Mars light notch in the nose.

This trio has just delivered a transfer run and is heading to the ready tracks. For some reason these three locomotives have been coupled together for the past two months.

A cement train and acid train wait a turn through the Tower 55 interlocker. I believe the rusted tracks once belonged to either FW&D or CRI&P. Note the lightening stripe on 9655's engine door.

The Heartland Flyer is chugging north to Oklahoma. The building on the left is the former Cotton Belt Freight House turned into apartments. Just to the left of the frame is the complex pool just beyond the fence. I'll bet they thought I was some pervert trying to take pics of chicks instead of trains.

A GP39-2 on a manifest freight? BNSF must be experiencing a power crunch.

I can't remember the last time I saw a 39-2 in Fort Worth.

The late running Texas Eagle arrives in Dallas with the class unit two hours behind schedule. Next stop, Fort Worth.

A BNSF oil train rolls through Dallas on the way south out of town.

A UP local has completed switching the downtown industries and is now waiting on a clear signal to head back to Miller Yard. The huge warehouse in the background is a giant cold storage facility.

My first BC Rail photograph! Sitting in Arlington with empty auto parts boxes and waiting on a crew to head north. Note the clean stripe on the hood of the BCOL unit from crewpeople rubbing off dirt with their clothing.

Working in Davidson Yard. Note the non-standard yellow numberboards on 847.

The elusive 1999. Somewhere along the way a graffiti artist gave this SSW diesel a unique touch. I've been trying to catch this unit for ages.

First these were parked four on each end of this dead line then they were hauled away. One month later five returned. I don't know what their deal is but these are quite distinct looking.

Fire has destroyed BN leaving only SF to carry on.

A pair of EMD four axle units sporting a fresh coat of H3 paint idle at BNSF North Yard in Fort Worth. Both locomotives were originally delivered to Chicago Burlington & Quincy, the leader in 1962 and the trailing unit in 1954. BNSF 2744 arrived as CB&Q GP30 959 in July 1962 and was sent to EMD by Burlington Northern for rebuilding returning as GP39E 2754. BNSF 1537 was delivered to CB&Q as GP9 281 in July 1954 and was sent to Morrison Knudsen for rebuilding returning as GP28M 1537. During rebuilding EMD made very little modification to the exterior of 2744 so other than the addition of an air conditioning pack on the cab roof, this locomotive still looks very much like a GP30. When 1537 was rebuilt into a GP28M the exterior of this locomotive was radically changed and looks nothing like a GP9.

A fresh crew just boarded and will soon be heading north for a fresh load of coal.

Six BNSF road diesels break up a train after delivering it to the Midlothian Yard. A crew van waits to carry the crew to rest. It's a bit unusual to see so many locomotives on one train all working.

A pair of unusual visitors to the BNSF Midlothian Yard.

I saw this train departing Fort Worth and I thought it was a transfer run. I came across it again in Midlothian chugging along at a good clip with both GEs running end first.

The entire PRS Hutchins Yard fleet is coupled together and parked for the weekend. For a long time 555 was sidelined but it appears to be back at work.

Finally this unit is parked in a good spot for me to catch it. Built as MILW SD7 2211, this locomotive last worked for INRD before being purchased by PRS. Note the Indiana Railroad Illinois-Indiana logo on the air intake hood. Although hard to see in this photo the logo has INRD's rail lines painted in the logo. This locomotive is new to the database.

Not the greatest photo but it's not everyday you see a brand new locomotive. This diesel was photographed 6 days ago leading a train out of Los Angeles, it has been in service less than a month. It seems GE uses a lighter shade of yellow and grey than UP repaints. I think it looks a lot better.

An eastbound intermodal is chugging uphill out of Davidson Yard Atlanta bound.

A mixed manifest freight is crossing the Trinity River on the way out of town.

Rounding the third on the way to home (Davidson Yard).

A pair of big GEs are building a freight near the Tarrant County jailhouse.

A loaded coal train is parked at South Saginaw (technically Fort Worth) and waiting on a fresh crew.

Two CSX GE's bang across the diamonds and the famous (or infamous) Tower 55.

Although 6000 would seem like a class unit number, this is one of 334 AC44CWCTEs on UP's roster. UP 6000 awaiting a new crew before proceeding east with an oil train.

Built for SSW and rebuilt for FWWR 2009 looks in good shape but still displays the SP light package scar.

It's a full house at Hodge Yard and a pair of GP38-3s are parked on an industrial spur. 2002 was built in 1965 for DRGW as a GP35 and deturbocharged into a GP38-3 for FWWR. Looks pretty good for a 46 year old locomotive.