Railfanning the BN High Prairie Sub

H

hemiadda2d

Member
Jun 15, 2003
162
0
16
47
Cheyenne, WY
www.railimages.com
A local railfan was busy last night...
Here we see M-PASKCK, in the big cut near Granite, ID, headed by a pair of BN Deuces:
aji.sized.jpg

In this shot, a local job with SP&S 45, an aging SW9, in the lead with a cut of empty centerbeam/bulkhead flats to head back onto the Kettle Falls branch to be reloaded with forest products:
ajf.sized.jpg

At the depot, changing crews for the next leg of the journey to the coast, a pair of Oakway SD60's are in charge of a seemingly endless string of coal loads from the Powder River Basin:
ajb.sized.jpg

Almost outta breath, after pulling a classic railfan move--jumping out of the still-moving vehicle, and dashing trackside to snag this shot of a rare SD40 in whiteface livery charging up the grade for Steven's pass. Even with 9,000 HP on tap, this train will no doubt need helpers when they get to Wenatchee:
aiw.sized.jpg
 
After taking a short lunch break, our railfan is back in Coure D'Alene, ID, ready for more action. It doesn't take long for something to catch his eye. Across the yard, at the gravel tipple, a ballast train led by a CB&Q Redbird Geep 20 is spotted at the loader:
aix.sized.jpg

It wasn't too long after the ballast job showed up, so did the Empire Builder, with a gorgeous pair of E9's on the point:
aiz.sized.jpg

Looking from the overpass, the 'Builder silently crossloads passengers, as a grain train sits int he hole, awaiting a green signal:
ajh.sized.jpg

While the pride of the Great Northern is departing for Wenatchee, our photographer shoots a broadside of the Ocean View, an 89' Great Dome lounge car:
ajk.sized.jpg

After what seems like hours, the grain train finally gets permission from the dispatcher in Fort Worth to proceed. Our railfan tears out into the country, and finds his spot in the big fill near Athol, ID:
ajd.sized.jpg
 
Thanks folks! Little did I realize, till I posted the pics here, that the ballast bucket & ballasting tools and a roll of duct tape were in the background of the very first picture!! OOps!:oops:
I need to finish painting that tan color on the entire west side of the layout, and finish making/installing the trees on the false backdrop. Much work left to be done, but it is coming along nicely!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom