Sunday,
March 15, 2009 was the date of the annual Little Rock Marathon and I
decided to get some runners and trains in the same picture if possible.
Since the 25-mile marathon course partially went over the Cantrell
bridge overpass, which is a bridge over UP's main lines into Union
Station and the UP yards, I got my chance. Standing on the
overpass, I could see a runner or two in the same shot while looking
down at the tracks at a train. This was the 7th annual marathon, which is a certified single loop course (cert. no. AR05002DLP)
and can be used to help qualify for the Boston Marathon. About
9,000 runners were here from 16 different countries and all 50 states. Since many roads were closed for the race, I had to get to Union Station through the Arkansas State Capitol parking lots. Trains included today:
1) UP 1539, 2285, 4328, 3839 (on the Baring Cross bridge) 2) NS 9510 3) DME boxcar 4) Four CN boxcars in a row 5) Columbian Chemical Company hopper CCX 659 6) Green MCVX tarp-covered hopper 7) New SHPX white/blue hopper 8) Red MKT hopper 11227.
LEFT-Four CN boxcars in a row. RIGHT-UP 2285, 10:12 a.m.
LEFT-Taken from the Cantrell bridge at 10:54 a.m. RIGHT-UP 4328, 10:55 a.m.
LEFT-Looking north across the Arkansas River. RIGHT-Arkansas Railroad Club member Tom Stuart and his wife watch their son (in the blue) run in the Marathon.
LEFT-A runner with Union Station in the background. RIGHT-Refreshment station on Cantrell.
LEFT-Sign on the Baring Cross bridge. RIGHT-NS 9510, 11:08 a.m.
LEFT-Runner
and a train with the Capitol and Union Station in the background.
RIGHT-UP's Downing B. Jenks shops in the background with Baring Cross
bridge to the right.
LEFT-A walker.
LEFT-Northbound
intermodal at 11:31 a.m. RIGHT-Drinking water and running,
probably oblivious to the train beneath the bridge.
RIGHT-One more runner and the train.
LEFT-Singing
Mockingbird. RIGHT-You can see the train's lights on the left track as
it approaches the bridge. This will be the YNL-75 local to Pine Bluff.
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