A typically pastoral Texas scene is laid out in front of me, as a small herd of cattle graze in the company of an ex Santa Fe reefer, and a high plains icon, the windmill, complete the scene. The cows seem unaware of the action unfolding near them, or the Bach cantata Im referencing as this scene plays out.
East of Pampa, the tracks are away from the road for a little over 20 miles, as both highway and railroad go through a significant elevation change, around 500 feet. As the tracks drew back to the road, I caught the tail end of a westbound going around a nearby hillside a good distance below me. The view as I came into the valley Miami sits in was panoramic. If only....I was to be handsomely rewarded: six trains in the next hour. The first to show up was this westbound freight, with 109 cars and 5 auto racks trailing its three units. . I got him down low, then followed up the hill to the west to get an elevated view.
And before the other train has finished passing by, we get this!
BNSF 9058 leads an eastbound manifest through Downers Grove.
Northbound coal empties on the former Mopac, now UP's Coffeyville sub.
EB BNSF Cajon Sub.
EB BNSF Cajon Sub.
EB BNSF Cajon Sub.
BNSF 5982 - BNSF 8817 (in reverse order) northbound with likely empty covered hoppers returning to the grain bins across the northwest interior.
BNSF 5982 leads this AECX coal load south out of Old Monroe, Mo. on the BNSF Hannibal Sub. as the sun has set on this Sunday evening.
Full coal drag waits for this second train to pass, before it will head out.
Empty coal drag, passes the former monster signal, now headless, near Clarksville, MO
Caught this unit again acting as the DPU; 6 and a half years later.
Sb ucex load this train would take 3 days to make it 200 miles to the south and unload and return.
DPU
BNSF Line
BNSF 5982 & BNSF 9367 works as DPU's for a TXUX coal drag in the KC bottoms.
Palos Alabama to North Antalope Mine