Saturday, December 13, 2014 started out sunny but by sunset, clouds moved in over Union Station in Little Rock.  Garth Brooks had a concert here this evening, and I rode a streetcar full of Brooks fans. Plus UP 1989, the Rio Grande heritage locomotive, also paid a visit. Also, CCX 832 Cities Service Company Division hopper, AEX 10300 ex-BN green hopper. And a nice sunset over the tracks.

Locomotives today: UP 9927, 2686 Genset, 1369, 8355, 6599, 9723, 8571, 5998, 6596, 6403 ex-SP, 1989 Rio Grande heritage, 6457, 9233, 5325, 9709, 9726, 4843, 7998, 5231, 8627, 8809, 4210, 5690, 4580, 9372 **** HLCX 1927, 3858 **** BNSF 6131, 271, 6004

UPDATED December 18, 2014 by my UP source to add the train ID's.


Street decorated for the Christmas holidays on Markham and Scott, Little Rock on December 10.


UP 9927, 11:06 a.m. North Little Rock. UP 9927 traces on the CN and Paducah & Louisville since at least January of last year! It shows arriving at the shop at Mayfield, KY on 1/24
It finally was Interchanged back to the UP on 12/1. It is currently on the QNLNP-15 and shows to be routed back to Roseville, CA for service


UP 2686 Genset, showing some wear. UPY 2686 has been retired. It shows "Sold, Route to AKMD in Little Rock" (AKMD is Arkansas Midland Railroad - http://www.pinsly.com/companies/akmd/). AKMD currently operates seven separate branch lines in the state of Arkansas covering 125 miles of track.


HLCX 3858, 1927 and UP 5111, 11:18 a.m. Didn't get the lead unit. HLCX 3858 was on the QSHNL-13 (Consist: UP 6509, 5111, HLCX 1027, HLCX 3858, UP 8355, 1369)


UP 1369.


AEX 10300 ex-BN hopper.


UP 6599, 9723, 11:43 a.m. MFWNL-12


UP 8511.


CCX 832 Cities Service Company Division hopper.


NYC 865 ex-CSX boxcar newly painted.


UP 5998 and 6596, 11:53 a.m. 2CWBBT9-12


UP 6403 ex-SP, dpu of empty coal train.


UP 1989, Rio Grande heritage, 12:25 p.m. ZMXDT-11


UP 6457.


UP 6457 and 1989.


Autorack and stacks.


Streetcar stop 13 on 2nd Street at the U.S. Bankruptcy Courthouse, 2:01 p.m.


Looking east on 2nd Street.


Streetcar 411, 2nd Street.


This is where this streetcar stop is.


Stephens Inc. building, 2nd Street.


On board the streetcar. Lots of these riders were visitors to Little Rock for the Garth Brooks concert tonight, his 3rd in 3 days in the city, all of them selling out.


A wedding at the Doubletree Hotel as seen from the streetcar.


Another photo of the passengers. We're stopped at the Clinton Library, where the pole is reversed, then we head back to the downtown area in the opposite direction. The seat backs easily flip to change to the direction of movement.


Our conductor/driver today, Nelson, has been with the 3.5 mile streetcar system since day one in 2004. Last month there was a 10th anniversary celebration. Ridership has been averaging around 100,000 a year, I believe the last year it was 125,000.


Back at the ranch (i.e., Union Station) at 3:33 p.m., BNSF 6131 and 271 lead an empty oil train northbound. As you can see, clouds have moved in. Plus the sun sets around 4:55 p.m., so these shots will be a little darker. OSJTC-11


BNSF 271. I always use shutter priority of at least 320th of a second to prevent blurring of the 20-30 mph trains. On sunny days, I use 1/500th second.


These crude oil tank cars were build in 8-13.


DPU was BNSF 6004, 3:38 p.m.


3:48 p.m., red, yellow, green northbound signals. According to Barry R, both of the center two tracks are line straight.   Track 1 (3rd track from the right) is line for the running track, probably to Van Buren with the high and low yellows.  Track 2 (2nd track from right)  is line straight.  If the bottom Pot signal was Green or Yellow it would be line for the crossover. - Barry
Bottom line-we'll have two trains coming in short order, both northbound.


UP 9233, 3:52 p.m. This train will cross over to Main 1.  ALDAS-12 Nice catch on the C40-8 leading!


UP 9233.


UP 5325.


UP 9709, 4:15 p.m. RNLAM-13 (Rock- N. Little Rock-Armourdale, KS) Came from Granite Mtn.


UP 9726 and 4843.


UP 7998.


GMQX ballast cars.


GMQX 044 hopper.




UP 5231, 4:26 p.m. KLDMN-12


UP 5231.


4:34 p.m.


UP 8627, 4:36 p.m. AARAS-12


Low sun reflecting off the rails, 4:39 p.m.


4:41 p.m.






UP 8809 and 4210, 4:57 p.m. MDANL-12


UP 4210.


A train on Main 2 starts to pass the one on Main 1 at 4:48 p.m.


UP 5690, 4:58 p.m. KGSMN2-09


UP 4580. The platform lights were on today for some reason, which helped lighten up the locomotives.


UP 9372.


Passing trains at twilight.


Busy scene.




5:04 p.m.

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