Locomotives had 5 different roadnames today: UP, Amtrak, CN, CSXT and NS. I saw a bright red sunrise on my way to the station, so I guess the saying is true that says something like "red in the morning, sailors take warning, red at night, sailors delight." Also today, we saw UP 4014, the SD70M that helped pull Big Boy steam engine 4014 to Cheyenne from California. It was in a light engine move. Also seen, a wet bird on a wire, ETCX 84005 4-dome tank car, a waving crew member, and CSXT 180596 hycube with Chessie the Cat.
Locomotives: UP 4756, 5892, 5587, 5178, 4014, 8755, 8811, 9523, 5433, 7455, 4958, 8545, 5620, 6260 (ex-SP), 6415 (ex-SP), 8358, 4199 *** AMTK 64 *** CN 2590 *** CSXT 102 *** NS 9132.
Red sunrise, 5:42 a.m.
A northbound freight passing Union Station at 5:59 a.m. Note the Arkansas State Capitol center and the dark, rolling clouds.
UP 4756, 5:59 a.m. GEWWGL-04 (Grain-Westwego, LA-Council Bluffs, IA)
UP 4756 ready to cross the Arkansas River on UP's Baring Cross Bridge into North Little Rock.
Early morning train and Union Station.
I was listening to the song "Waiting For A Train" on XM satellite radio while waiting for trains. How appropriate.
My view at 6:16 a.m. looking west. That roll cloud over the station will bring lots of raindrops.
UP 5892, 6:30 a.m. CRDBT9-06 (Coal-Rodemacher, LA-Black Thunder Mine)
UP 5587, 6:42 a.m. , the dpu of the empty coal train.
Another northbound at 6:55 a.m .
UP 5178, 6:55 a.m. in steady rain. MDANL-07
Roger, one of the Amtrak agents, is taking the baggage truck out, waiting on Eagle 21 from Chicago and St Louis at 7:22 a.m. The rain was coming down pretty good. The passengers will have to run to their Superliners, but the crew has umbrellas to help keep them dry. Roger is in his last two days of being agent here. He is moving to Washington D.C. after Monday and Richard will be the lone Amtrak Agent at Little Rock until another person is found. Only one agent is on duty at any given time.
Amtrak locomotive 64 leads the Texas Eagle into the station at 7:25 a.m.
Superliner 310031.
The engine is at the platform, still 7:25 a.m. and still heavy rain.
Texas Eagle 21 had 8 passenger cars today instead of the usual 7. That one engine on an 8-car train just seems too little power and the idea that HEP power or the engine power would stall a train on a railroad's main line iseven dangerous. It's happened several times on the Eagles too.
The whole train stopped, 7:27 a.m.
Wider angle.
Seen from the other side of the middle school, you can see the Superliner Sightseer Lounge car at the station.
I'm now on the brick driveway down to track level at Union Station. This iron rod rusty fence has been here over 60 years.
Passengers can leave their cars parked here free while away on trips. Lots of security.
7:33 a.m.
Now I'm parked on the west side of the station (railroad south). Still raining.
Leaving at 7:42 a.m.
UP 4014, 8:06 a.m. on an engine move south. This unit was one SD70M that helped pull the large steam engine Big Boy 4014 from California to Cheyenne a few weeks. ago. ENLPBM-08
UP 8755.
Another shot of the 4014.
UP 8811.
UP 9523.
UP 5433.
This light engine (meaning no freight cars being pulled) stopped here while signals and switches were worked on.
This bird was soaked and probably unhappy.
UP 4958, 8:45 a.m. QLWNL-07
CN 2590.
UP 8545, CN 2590 and UP 4958, 8:46 a.m.
UTLX 201640 blue tank car.
ETCX 84005 4-dome tank car.
Little Rock's Amtrak staffed hours.
UP 5620 on an empty coal train, 9:29 a.m. CTUAT-06 (Coal-Fulton, AR-Antelope Mine, WY)
A friendly wave from UP 5620.
Closeup of the wave.
UP 6260, ex-SP.
UP 6415, ex-SP, 9:38 a.m.
UP 8358, CSXT 102 and NS 9132, 10:59 a.m.
