Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at Little Rock, Arkansas, including some shots from the Cantrell Road bridge. There was a BNSF local sitting on the Little Rock & Western tracks when I arrived, then we had a pair of blue & white GATX units and a pair of Ferromex units during the morning. It was a mostly cloudy day, but a couple of times the bright sun broke  through for some unique shots. Included today:

1) BNSF 8602
2) UP 6016, 5746, 2460, 5712, 3846
3) FERROMEX 4623, 4678
4) GATX blue&white 2156 and 2157
5) Long steel beam on 3 flatcars
6) "Hog Heaven" 1950 bus-former US Mail van built in 1950
7) Old baggage-express carts
8) GACX silver tankcar
9) Truck frames on a very long loaded auto train
10) Old hopper of some sort, SMIX 1052

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LEFT-BNSF 8602 on the Little Rock & Western tracks at Union Station at 8:35 a.m. It was waiting on a signal to cross the Baring Cross bridge into the UP yards. RIGHT-GATX 2156 heads a southbound, 8:36 a.m.


LEFT-GATX 2156 and 2157. RIGHT-Passing the waiting BNSF train.


RIGHT-Taken from the Cantrell Road bridge showing the GATX train on the left and the BNSF train. Notice the long beam spanning 3 flatcars.


LEFT-The sun broke out right over Union Station and BNSF 8602 at 8:44 a.m. RIGHT-Almost looks like I set up a strong spotlight on 8602.


LEFT-A third train enters the scene at 8:49 a.m., an empty coal train. RIGHT-UP 6016 switching from UP Main 2 onto Main 1. The train to the left, the GATX train, is using the switch from the Amtrak siding to Main 2. This 'switch dance' routine is used several times a week. The Amtrak siding is limited to 10 mph.


RIGHT-Those 'winding, swinging, snaking' trains!


LEFT-The GATX train started to move and you can see the steel beam remaining straight while the two end flatcars go around the curve. RIGHT-
This van has been parked on a side street next to Union Station for many years. It was built in 1950 as a  Highway Post Office (HPO) truck, the highway equivalent of a railroad RPO, according to Mike Condren (Mike said he has a first day cover for the beginning of this service somewhere. The envelope had an artist rendering of this bus or one like it. ). I don't know when the Razorback signs were put on. The owner, who happened to be here today, told me that the van actually runs and said she got it registered as an antique vehicle a few years ago. The building under construction to the left sits next to Union Station's parking lot. It's upscale condos, selling for a minimum of $250,000 each, up to $500,000 (believe it or not).


LEFT-Notice the BNSF unit to the left.


LEFT-BNSF 8602 and UP-DPU 5746 at 9:05 a.m. RIGHT-Old baggage cart with the BNSF unit in the background.


LEFT-GACX 5557 car. RIGHT-UP 2460, 10:25 a.m. heading south.


LEFT-UP 2460 passing the station. RIGHT-UP 5712 with a long, LOADED auto train at 10:41 a.m.


LEFT-Truck frames. RIGHT-More autoracks.


LEFT-Two Cotton Belt boxcars on the rear of the auto train. RIGHT-UP 3846 with two Ferromex units southbound on the YNL75 to Pine Bluff at 11:07 a.m.


RIGHT-Ferromex 4643 and 4678.


RIGHT-OLD hopper, SMIX 1052. Anyone know who the original railroad was who owned this?

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