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
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-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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